TUESDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2023

Despite S'Court’s Ex-parte Order, Old Naira Notes Lose Legitimacy Court rejects old banknotes for filing cases Vested interests resisting currency redesign, says CBN MPC member Maintains commercial banks mismanaging distribution process Give order on recirculation of old notes, groups urge Buhari Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja, Wale Igbintade and Segun James in Lagos The old N200, N500 and N1000 have lost their legitimacy in the

eyes of the public such that even courts are rejecting them.

Specifically, lawyers and litigants were yesterday prevented from filing court processes at the Lagos

High Courts, as officials insisted they would only accept new naira notes.

Consequently, many lawyers and litigants were turned back

by court officials at the registry, saying the banks no longer accept the old N200, N500 and N1000 notes as legal tender.

The currency rejections happened

as a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Mike Obadan, yesterday, alleged that the naira redesign policy was

becoming chaotic due to resistance from some powerful Nigerians opposing it for personal interests.

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Sanwo-Olu Meets Lagos Business Community, Reassures Stakeholders of State’s Commitment to Growth ... Page 9 Tuesday 14 February, 2023 Vol 28. No 10170. Price: N250

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Elections: Tinubu Denies Mopping Up New Naira Notes... Page 11

Sultan: We Need to Douse Tension, People Are Hungry, Angry Explains why farmers/herders’ clashes persist in Benue Conflicts claimed 4,000 lives in seven years, IDP president revealed Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, yesterday said there was

need to look for ways of dousing the tension in the country, stressing that people are hungry and at the same time angry.

The Sultan disclosed this in Abuja, at a national conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts organised

by the Kano state government to proffer lasting solution to the farmers-herders’ clashes in the country.

He stressed that the clashes between farmers and herders in Benue state has continued because all the suggestions made to the

government were not implemented.

Abubakar stated: "Let's keep Continued on page 10

11 Days to Presidential Poll: All Eyes on You, Buhari Charges Nigeria Police INEC expresses concern about violent attacks on supporters of political parties Says elections won't hold in 240 polling units, INEC declares Commission finalising issuance of 1,642,386 identification tags for agents Continued on page 10

BRIEFING THE PRESIDENT ON CRITICAL ENERGY ISSUES...

L-R: CEO, Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe ; President Muhammadu Buhari and the GCEO of NNPC, Mr. Mele PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI Kyari during the briefing on critical Upstream oil and Gas issues at the Presidential Villa , Abuja...... yesterday

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

NEWS

BUHARI INAUGURATES NPF OPS VEHICLES...

L-R: Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor; Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha; Cross Rivers State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade; President Muhammadu Buhari; Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman; Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Dingyadi, and FCT Minister, Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE. during the official inauguration of newly procured NPF Operational Assets and other equipment at Abuja…yesterday

In Sustained Move to End Scarcity, NNPC Pushes More 502.21 Million Litres to Depots Raises average daily evacuation to 71.74m litres Company resumes pumping of products through Atlas-Cove to Satellite pipeline After adjustments, NMDPRA refuses to disclose official petrol pump price to Nigerians Peter Uzoho In its sustained effort to wet the country with petrol and finally end the current scarcity and queues being experienced in the past few months, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has ramped up supply of products to major and minor depots across the country with another 502.21 million litres last week.

The latest volume of supply is coming after the NNPC had penultimate week pumped 450 million litres to marketing companies in proof of its claim that the cause of the scarcity was distribution rather than supply.

The company disclosed this in its nationwide weekly petrol evacuation and dispatch report for Week 6, 2023, which it posted on its Twitter handle. It disclosed that its average daily evacuation for the week stood at 71 million litres.

Relatedly, NNPC has also disclosed that it had perfected plans to resume the pumping of petrol to depots through the Atlas-Cove pipeline, otherwise known as the System 2-B pipeline, from yesterday (Monday).

Also, in what appeared to be a case of denying Nigerians the right to know, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) refused to disclose the actual official pump price of petrol.

With the latest supply of 502 million litres to marketers between February 4 to 10, for onward dispatch to filling stations, it means that NNPC has within two weeks pushed 953.13 million litres to the market.

According to the report, the national oil company increased the average daily volume of product evacuated from all major and minor depots and terminals in the country to 71.74 million litres in seven days.

Analysis of the figures showed

that the average volume of petrol evacuated daily at the terminals increased by 7.32 million litres to 71.74 million litres in Week-6 from the 64.42 million litres evacuated in Week-5, 2023.

The report indicated that 87 per cent of the evacuation took place at the top 31 loading depots, with a minimum evacuation of 5 million litres from StockGap terminal in Apapa, Lagos and a maximum evacuation of 71.53 million litres at Pinnacle Oil, Lekki.

The NNPC’s report stated that 28 other loading depots evacuated 13 per cent of the total volume as DANMARNA Petroleum Company recorded the maximum evacuation of 4.86 million litres, while Swift Oil and Gas had the lowest evacuation of 40,000 litres.

However, NNPC has also disclosed that it had perfected plans to resume pumping of petroleum products to depots through the Atlas-Cove pipeline, otherwise known as the System 2-B pipeline, from yesterday (Monday).

The Executive Vice President, Downstream, NNPC, Mr. Adeyemi Adetunji, gave the hint while speaking on Arise News Channel, where he fielded questions bothering on the current petrol scarcity and efforts being made to address it, alongside the Southwest Zonal Coordinator of the NMDPRA, Mr. Ayo Cardoso.

Adetunji said they had brought back the Atlas-Cove to Satellite pipeline since last week and planned to extend similar feet to other locations including Mosimi.

"In terms of the depots, we ensure that the pipeline issues we had with vandalism on our pipeline, we are also working on those. As recent as last week, we've brought back the Atlas-Cove to Satellite depot pipeline.

“What you call the System 2B. We've brought that back and all things are in place to ensure that from tomorrow, we start to load out products from the Satellite

depots in Lagos State.

“We are also going to extend that to other parts, to Mosimi, and indeed, other pipeline systems are being worked on preparatory to having the Build, Operate and Transfer scheme that we have to do a comprehensive rehabilitation again of all the pipelines and depots," Adetunji said.

While apologising to Nigerians over the fuel scarcity and queues

being experienced, the NNPC EVP reiterated that the cause was not supply but distribution.

He assured that there was sufficient volume of petrol to serve the country for the next 27 days, noting that they have 1.6 billion litres in stock.

He explained, "We do have enough PMS. As of today, we have 1.6 billion litres of petrol in the country which is equivalent

to about 27 days of sufficiency of the product. So with 27 days, we can supply Nigeria with adequate petrol even if we don't import any litre going forward.

"But that's not the case. We do import on a daily basis and by the end of this month of February, we expect about 2 billion litres of petrol in the country in stock, that is, daily stock, which is about 33 days of sufficiency."

Meanwhile, the NMDPRA has bluntly refused to disclose the actual official pump price of petrol.

NMDPRA's Zonal Coordinator, Southwest, Mr. Ayo Cardoso, who also fielded questions during the Arise News interview on Sunday night, refused to state the current official pump price of petrol when asked to do so.

Continues online

Climate Change: FG to Introduce Carbon Tax System in Nigeria Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government is set to introduce a carbon tax policy and budgetary system for the country, in line with the approved Energy Transition Plan, as part of the Climate Change Act. Director-General (DG) of NCCC, Salisu Dahiru, disclosed this to newsmen after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the State House, Abuja.

Buhari recently approved the Energy Transition Plan, to be driven by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), in accordance with the Climate Change Act 2021.

A carbon tax or tax on greenhouse gases comes in two broad forms, namely: an emissions tax, which is based on the quantity an entity produces and a tax on goods or services that are generally greenhouse gas-intensive, such as a carbon tax on gasoline.

Under the arrangement, the federal government would be expected to set a price which emitters pay for each ton of greenhouse gas emissions.

The tax, apart from helping to generate revenue for government,

will encourage consumers to take steps to switch fuels, adopt new technologies and reduce emissions to avoid paying the tax.

Dahiru said the agency sought and obtained approval to initiate key deliverables contained in the Climate Change Act, including establishing a carbon budget for the country.

According to him: "The carbon budget is now going to provide allowances for every entity, whether government or private sector, in terms of how much emissions it may be allowed, and exceeding those emissions could also attract penalties.

“What will be the nature of these penalties, these penalties are going to be contained in another deliverable that the Climate Change Act has also requested the council to do.

“That is to develop a framework for a carbon tax system in Nigeria. It will also look at where projects are being implemented in the country.

“These projects are capable of reducing overall carbon or greenhouse gas emissions. The harvest of these emissions reductions are normally contained in what we call emissions reduction certificate,

which can be translated into carbon credit, and then sold to potential buyers within the country and outside."

He further stated that the Council also instructed the Secretariat to develop the framework for carbon trading, and also to develop the framework for establishing the climate change fund for Nigeria, which will serve as the main source of revenue and inflow of funds that will be used for running of the council as well as to undertake projects that will help Nigeria to fulfill all his obligations under the nationally determined contributions, as well as under the net zero target of 2016.

“The president also endorsed the Council as the Designated National Authority for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the DG, NCCC as the UNFCCC National Focal Point, in line with the Climate Change Act 2021.”

Dahiru noted that though some of those things have already been mentioned in the Climate Change Act 2021, the Council needed to sign off on those activities, to give the Secretariat the go ahead, to start

carrying them out.

He said: “Because this is a climate change institution, we want to ensure that we comply with all the requirements of climate change compliance, as it is in the act, and also in Nigeria's obligations under the NDCs." On the net zero target, the DG stated that the institution must reflects its mandate, in terms of its outlook and in terms of the way that it runs its affairs, including, “where it is going to stay, as the structure should be as green as possible, and also to be a net zero building in terms of the carbon emissions that could be associated with it.”

“This means that the office complex must be seen to clearly demonstrate our commitments to renewable energy compliance for the main building and also reduction on its overall operations. And limiting, for instance, the use of paper, which we know comes from trees that have been felled," he added.

Commenting on gas flaring, Dahiru said part of the Council’s mandate is the implementation of the energy transition plan.

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NEWS

A GREATER LAGOS RISING...

L-R: Chairman, Titan Bank, Tunde Lemo; Chairman, organising committee, combined team of Renewed Hope 2023 and A Greater Lagos Rising, Ayo Gbeleyi; senior special adviser to President Mohammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat; Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, and Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, at the interactive session with the organised private sector held in Lagos... yesterday

Shell's Bonga FPSO Hits One Billion Barrels’ Milestone Ejiofor Alike and Peter Uzoho

Nigeria's first deep-water exploration and production vessel, Bonga, hit a one-billion-barrel oil export mark yesterday, three months after a major

turnaround maintenance (TAM) of the facility was completed ahead of schedule.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company

Limited (SNEPCo), Elohor Aiboni, described the milestone as a celebration of excellence, leadership and focused delivery that has brought significant benefits to Nigeria and Nigerians.

"One billion barrels is an exciting milestone," said Aiboni, SNEPCo’ s first female Managing Director, adding, "I'm incredibly proud of all of our employees and contractors who've contributed to the success of

PDP Cancels Presidential Campaign Rally in Rivers over Attacks on Members Wike replies party, says allegations spurious You do not have capacity to fill approved stadium, governor taunts PDP members Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in Rivers State, yesterday announced the cancellation of its planned rally for its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa in the state, following allegation of incessant attacks on its members.

But in a swift reaction, Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, described the allegation as spurious, saying the party took the decision to cancel the rally because they didn’t have the capacity to mobilise the crowd to fill the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

The presidential campaign council had planned to hold the rally today, but there had been series of reported attacks on Atiku’s supporters.

Owing to this, the PCC members told journalists that to avoid serious disaster or loss of lives by some suspected desperate politicians who would not want the rally to hold, they decided to cancel the rally until a date not yet made public.

Leading the PCC members in the briefing held in Port Harcourt, Chairman of the PCC in the state, Senator Lee Maeba, alleged that the state Government House Police and other hoodlums had continued to throw unabated violence, making it difficult for them to secure a peaceful facility for the rally.

Other members at the briefing were the Director General of the PCC in the state, Dr. Abiye Sekibo; the immediate past National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus; former Governor Celestine Omehia; Senator George Sekibo, Dr. Tamunosisi GogoJaja, Hon Chinyere Igwe, others.

Maeba, who recounted the series of attacks on the Atiku/Okowa supporters in the state, disclosed how a supporter was almost shot

dead while pasting posters of the presidential candidate in one of the Rivers communities.

He also recalled the recent attack on the DG of the campaign council few days ago, when he visited the proposed venue for the campaign on alert that the equipment were on fire.

The PCC Chairman alleged that: "Governor of Rivers State in his avowed desire to scuttle and frustrate the campaign program of the party has carried out the following through his agents and acolytes.

"On the apparent bad faith and the invidious design of the Governor, he after a long wait, approved the use of Adokiye Amesiamaka Stadium for the presidential rally, but upon the Campaign Council visiting the Stadium to ascertain the status of the facilities, he berated their visit and put a new rule as they can only visit the stadium 48 hours to the fixed date of the rally.

"Regrettably and predictably, the governor canceled the approval on the flimsy excuse that our part wants to hold a joint rally with APC in Rivers State on the approved date of 11th February, 2023 to foment trouble.

"This unstable and unreliable stand made the Campaign Council to scout for an alternative venue and got a private entity land at Rainbow Town Port Harcourt.

"The Governor with the use of Government House Police and other hoodlums has thrown unabated violence, make it impossible to secure peaceful use of the facility.

"This is in tandem with the instruction of the Governor to his LGA Chairmen and other appointees of Government to exterminate, scuttle and bring to failure any campaign for vote for the candidate of PDP in the Presidential Election.

"This is also supported by the ex parte injunction obtained from the Magistrate court by his Attorney General, a court without jurisdiction to seal all campaign offices of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in Rivers State.

"This is also part of the wider plot to maliciously put away members of the campaign council until the presidential election is over on frivolous charges.

"In the light of the above submission, we the State Campaign Council in total constructive engagement with the National Presidential Campaign Council, the candidate and the party having seen and evaluated the bodily harm and hurt and potential death believes that no loss of human life can be tolerated or accepted before, during and after and agreed with our principals on the need to shelve and or cancel the rally to avoid any deaths.

"This may be painful, but is the best decision to take as no human death can be excused on the insistent of holding the rally due to the brigandage which the security agencies have not been able to rein in and restore confidence security wise on the populace.

"We make bold to say so in the last preceding paragraph as Section 91(1) and (4) of the Electoral Act 2022 gave the part the right to hold rally and processions with police and other security apparatus of the federal government of Nigeria providing adequate security, but it is to forthcoming and we do not intent to take the laws into our hands believing and paying allegiance to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without derogation."

Meanwhile, Wike has explained that the cancellation of the PDP presidential campaign rally was not because of any form of threat to members who are in support of

Atiku/Okowa electoral bid.

The Rivers state governor explained that the PCC in Abuja, had applied to him seeking approval of a venue to use for their rally in the state, which he had approved.

Wike, while speaking yesterday, at the PDP campaign for Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, in the State, further explained that having realised that they do not have the capacity to mobilise the crowd to fill the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, the PCC went to clear another piece of land in Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout owned by the state government, which was not granted.

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the Bonga FPSO and the attainment of this remarkable achievement."

Aiboni also attributed the success of Bonga to the supportive partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and SNEPCo’s co-venturers – TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Agip Oil Company, and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited.

Bonga's floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel, which began operations in 2005 is anchored 120 kilometres offshore in the Gulf of Guinea and has consistently delivered value in national revenue, local capacity development of Nigerian engineers and funding support to the service industry, in addition to its many social investment programmes in health, education and sports.

According to Aiboni, the integrated delivery approach, continuous improvement and the support lever offered by the technological prowess of the Shell Group were the pillars of SNEPCo’s excellence delivery.

“We are building a leading safe, simpler and cost-disciplined deepwater business that brings value to our partners, shareholders and Nigeria which remains a heartland for Shell,” she said.

The Bonga FPSO vessel has enjoyed significant expansion over the years with the further drilling of wells in Bonga Phases 2 and 3 and through a subsea tie-back

that unlocked the nearby Bonga Northwest field in August 2014.

Bonga Northwest can produce approximately 65,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day and was named Engineering Project of the Year 2015 at the prestigious Platts Global Energy Awards in New York.

Speaking on the Bonga billionbarrel milestone, the Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, commended the resilience, focus and dedication of the entire SNEPCo team, most of whom are Nigerians.

“I feel a strong sense of pride knowing that today, over 95 per cent of SNEPCo staff, including those working on the Bonga FPSO, are trained Nigerian deep-water professionals, who daily contribute their quota, in the development of Nigeria’s deep-water hydrocarbon resources. The entire team should be incredibly proud of themselves,” Okunbor said.

In a congratulatory message to SNEPCo and its co-venture partners, Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC’s Nigeria Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Bala Wunti, said, “The many successes recorded

by Bonga have continued to trigger significant development in Nigerian’s deep-water oil and gas exploration and production, for which reason the place of Bonga in Nigeria’s upstream DNA cannot be overemphasised.”

2023: NAPTIP Vows to Arrest, Prosecute Perpetrators of Political Violence Alex Enumah in Abuja The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) has vowed to bring to book anyone who engaged in political violence during the 2023 general elections.

NAPTIP's Director General, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, revealed the agency's commitment during a parley with journalists in Abuja.

According to the DG, Sections 23 and 24 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, 2015, empowers the agency to arrest and prosecute political violence perpetrators as well as their sponsor.

To this extent, she said NAPTIP was set to deploy its, "duly trained personnel" to various polling centers at ward levels that would monitor and ensure a peaceful voting exercise as well as enforce the relevant sections of the VAPP Act.

Waziri-Azi in her remarks observed that, "the meaningful participation of all persons in political processes is key to achieving a more secure, prosperous and democratic society".

She however, pointed out that this could be obstructed by political violence, hence the introduction of Section 23 and 24 of the VAPP Act, which prohibits all forms of political violence by individuals and state actors.

"Based on the forgoing, and in the midst of political violence across the country since the beginning of the present electioneering process including those on INEC facilities, it has become necessary for the agency to deliberately work with other sister law enforcement agencies to implement the above referenced section of the VAPP Act at this time", Waziri-Azi said.

She described political violence as any crime perpetrated in the course of political activities like elections, such as thuggery, mugging, use of force to disrupt meetings; or the use of dangerous weapons that may cause bodily harm or injury.

Section 23 of the Act provides, "imprisonment of up to four years or a fine of up to five hundred thousand or both", for convicts, just as it criminalises any attempt to commit political violence like inciting, aiding, abetting or counseling another person to commit the crime including receiving or assisting a person to commit political crime.

Meanwhile, Section 24 of the VAPP Act holds a state liable for any act of political violence committed by its agents "and the court shall award appropriate compensation commensurate with the extent and amount of damages.

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NEWS

BEHOLD SYLVA THE NEW SARKIN KUDUN HAUSA OF DAURA...

L-R: Chairman Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Mallam Isa Modibo; Chief Executive Officer, NUPRC Engr. Gbenga Komolafe; Mrs. Alanyingi Sylva; Minister of State Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Lucky Irabor; member Board of NNPC Limited, Chief Pius Akinyelure, and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Gabriel Aduda, at a dinner to celebrate the turbaning of Sylva as the Sarkin Kudun Hausa by the Daura Emirate, in Abuja...recently

FG: More Than N158bn Saved after Tackling Crude Oil Theft in Niger Delta Irabor assures electorate election will hold in south-east Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Minister of Defence, Major Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) has said the country’s revenue substantially improved after over N158 billion was saved as the Armed Forces curtailed the stealing of crude oil in the Niger Delta region in 2022.

He made the assertion yesterday, at the 25th edition of PMB Administration Scorecard Series 2015-2023, held in Abuja and attended by all the service chiefs.

Magashi said the significant amount saved was brought about by reduction in illegal bunkering and deactivation of illegal refining sites across the Niger Delta.

He said over 500,000 barrels of crude oil, 41 million litres of diesel, 1.4 million litres of kerosene and over 132 thousand litres of PMS were seized from over 5,840 illegal refineries that were dismantled from across the region.

He disclosed that the Nigerian Navy also arrested 492 vessels up to 2022, adding 139 arrested vessels had been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), while 52 were handed over to Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

He said 143 of the arrested vessels were still in the custody of the Navy, while 82 had been released to their owners upon completion of investigations and trial.

Magashi lauded the Buhari administration for facilitating increased recruitment into the armed forces by over 100 per cent.

He said the Nigeria Army increased

its recruitment from over 3,000 per intake to 6,500 per intake for both ratings and officers.

“The strength of officers between 2015 and 2023 witnessed an increase of 35 per cent while the strength of ratings increased by 84 per cent. In a similar vein, the Nigeria Air Force also boosted its recruitment drive to meet the expansions witnessed within the period,” Magashi said.

The minister said the servicing of the hitherto decrepit platforms in the NAF also improved from 30 per cent to 70 per cent, thus boosting their capabilities in tackling insurgency, banditry and other form of criminalities.

Within the same period, he said the federal government acquired 38 brand new aircraft including 10 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, 5 Mi-35M helicopter gunships, 2 Bell 412 helicopters, 4 Augusta 109 Power attack helicopters and 2 Mi-1714 helicopters and 3JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter aircraft in addition to a number of unmanned combat aerial vehicles.

He decried unhealthy competition for supremacy, mutual suspicion, poor releases, inadequate intelligence and insufficient platform and equipment required for the effective and efficient operations of the Armed Forces as one of the challenges faced by the military from 2015-2023.

He also cited inadequate manpower, saying as at 2022, Nigeria with an estimated population of 220 million had a total military strength of about 223,000 personnel.

He noted that the ratio of military personnel to population stood at approximately 11,000 which he

said was lower than those of the country’s neighbour except Niger.

The minister assured that the armed forces would ensure that the forthcoming general election across the country was peaceful.

Also speaking at the same event, Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Lucky Irabor, assured that in spite of the degrading of Boko Haram, the military was continuing with the operation in the north-east to ensure the decimation of the remaining

terrorist elements.

“And the current report we have should validate the position of the Defence Minister that there is no territory in the North-east under the control of those criminal elements.

That does not mean we are not making efforts to ensure that the last vestiges are removed," Irabor said.

He also asserted that the general election billed for February 25 to March 11 will hold in both the south-east and the north-east in spite

The United States government yesterday said it was not supporting any candidate or political party in the February 25 and March 11th elections in Nigeria.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of Africa Affairs, Molly Phee, stated this yesterday, when she paid visit to the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

She said the concern of the US as an advanced democracy was to encourage a successful election that would be free, fair and peaceful.

Phee stated: "Since 1999, Nigeria has been moving up in solidifying

and consolidating its democratic trajectory. And now, under the leadership of the chairman and the support of his superb team, all Nigerians can have confidence in the integrity of the upcoming election.

"I do want to emphasise the importance of conducting a peaceful election and I do want to emphasise that every citizen, every stakeholder, every party involved in the election has a responsibility before the election, during the campaign period, during the election and after the election, to be peaceful. It's very important. It's a challenge we faced in my own country.”

The Chairman of INEC, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, while respond-

med commended the military for safeguarding the nation’s capital and securing the country in spite of the travel advisory issued by the UK and US Embassies in October last year, warning their citizens to avoid Abuja due to risk of a terrorist attack.

He said three months after the advisory, residents had been going about their businesses without any threat largely due to the gallantry of the military.

Sanwo-Olu Meets Lagos Business Community, Reassures Stakeholders of State’s Commitment to Growth Fashola: We can’t afford to elect people with no experience

Lagos Business Community got a message of reassurance from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday, who reiterated the commitment of his administration to sustain strategic investment in infrastructure to bolster productivity, energise business growth and protect private investments.

The governor during an interactive meeting with the Organised Private Sector in Lagos, spoke of the state’s economic redistribution plans aimed at expanding the Lagos business district to suburbs in the western and eastern parts of the State.

The dialogue was part of the strategic stakeholders’ engagements initiated to keep business leaders and captains of industry in the loop of the comprehensive economic policies of All Progressives Congress (APC)

presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Sanwo-Olu. The Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola; Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat; Director-General of Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Ben Akabueze, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, joined the governor at the meeting with members of the state’s business community.

According to a statement, SanwoOlu said the steady growth rate being recorded by the state economy testified to the efficient supervision and accountability process instituted in the management of the public finances.

We're Supporting Electoral Process, Not Candidates, Says US Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

of the threat of Boko Haram and the Independent People of Biafra to disrupt the exercise.

“I am confident that come February 25 and March 11, that election will hold in all parts of the country, particularly the South-east and North-east. The Armed Forces is working in concert with the police to ensure we put the threat of IPOB under control”.

In remarks, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Moham-

ing reiterated that the commission was not apolitical and has no candidate it was backing.

He reassured that the electoral body would uphold the choice made by Nigerians at the ballot.

Yakubu added: "Like the United States, the commission is not a political party. We have no candidates and will only focus on the process.

"The choice ultimately belongs to the people of Nigeria and the commission will uphold the choice made by Nigerians. We are committed to free, fair, credible, inclusive and verifiable elections in 2023.

"The United States, understandably, is interested in the Nigerian democracy and Nigeria is equally interested in the US democracy. I

have said this in Washington for those who did not hear me. I want to repeat it again. If the United States is the largest presidential democracy in the world, which country is the second largest presidential democracy in the world? It's actually Nigeria.

"Based on the projection of Nigeria's population in the next two years, who knows we may also utterly overtake the United States... the largest presidential democracy in the world. So we're interested in ensuring that we consolidate our democracy. There is no system of government better than a democratic system where the will of the people will continue to prevail," Yakubu added.

Lagos, the governor said, had been led by a political philosophy that transformed its GDP from deficit to a promising growth, accounting for 30 per cent of the nation’s GDP. Given the size and revenue projection of the State, Sanwo-Olu said the state was willing to raise the level of investment in climate-resilient infrastructure to ensure sustainability and more growth.

In promoting rapid economic growth, the governor said his administration had embarked on improving mobility by injecting funds to deliver an integrated mass transit system.

Aside comprehensive road rehabilitation across the state, Sanwo-Olu said the state government had also boosted productivity by expanding transport infrastructure, investing in rail and opening waterways.

He added: “Our economic blueprint captured in the six-pillar THEMES Agenda has been rolled out and implemented in manner to fix the immediate needs of our citizens and the business community.

“In transportation and traffic management, we have intervened in almost a thousand roads across the state and built new roads in total length of 125 kilometres. We activated ferry services to quickly move people at business hours. We have injected ferries of different capacities, just as we open new jetties.

“We have also shored up capacity in public transportation by providing 3,000 vehicles to service our mass transit network and taxi scheme.

Lagos is about to have two fully operational rail lines to encourage mass movement. We embarked on all of this in order to give commuters mobility options, thereby reducing

man-hour spent by people in traffic and raising productivity to support business growth.

“We have seen the completion of Lekki Deep Sea Port which Lagos is a major facilitator. In the next two month, the logistics infrastructure will be fully operational and this will have good revenue projection for the State. Our inaction or attempt not to invest in these infrastructure would have a lot of consequences and cost us more in terms of numbers.

Now, we are beginning to see a city that is a lot more efficient and this gives an understanding of the role businesses play in the economy.”

Sanwo-Olu said the ongoing construction of Lagos-Badagry Highway was being done strategically to open the west flank of the State to more investment and physical development, adding the economic redistribution plan was being supported by extension of Lagos Blue Line to Okokomaiko - densely populated suburb along Badagry.

He said the federal government’s granting of approval for the development of the Badagry sea port would fully catalyse economic growth and create new economic zone in the State.

The governor allayed the fear of the business community about skilled manpower shortages, stressing that his administration’s investment in education and technology is already yielding positive outcomes.

Sanwo-Olu said upgrading of the two state-owned schools to specialised universities would help raise skilled manpower for local businesses and bridge the gap of knowledge.

Continues online

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TEN

Buhari to SGF: Prepare Sustainable Roadmap for HIV/AIDS Eradication for Incoming Govt Valentine Day: Share love, not virus, NACA tells youths 4.2% of young people living with virus Deji Elumoye and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday directed the transition committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha to ensure that the achievements of the HIV programme were clearly highlighted in transition notes and a sustainability roadmap articulated for the incoming government.

The president gave the charge at the State House, Abuja while playing host to the Director–General of National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Gambo Aliyu; the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, and Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard.

Buhari assured the United States Government that Nigeria would continue to prioritise the fight against HIV/AIDS until the disease was no longer a public health threat.

He added that his administration remains committed to eradicating HIV and other public health emergencies and would leave no stone unturned until a sustainable system is put in place.

Welcoming the progress made in the collective fight to end AIDS in Nigeria, Buhari congratulated the NACA DG for a job well done.

He said: ‘‘I wish to acknowledge the important role played in enabling the significant infrastructural investment developed over the years for HIV control, to the fight against COVID-19, Monkeypox, Lassa fever and other emerging infectious

diseases affecting our people. ‘‘Gradually our determined efforts with the support of our friends, the nation’s preparedness and capacity to respond to public health emergencies is growing stronger by the day. ‘‘To this end, the federal government will continue to work with the leadership of the Governors’ Forum and the organised private sector to continue to provide adequate resources and sustainable financing for the national response to HIV".

On her part, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Olly Phee, said the presence of herself and her team, “shows the esteem in which we hold you (President Buhari) and your country,” adding that they were proud to be partners in the battle against HIV/AIDS. “We appreciate your leadership,

and that of the Director General of NACA, and his team. You should all be proud of what you have done,” she added.

She also commended Buhari for not pursuing a third term in office, and for his commitment to free and fair polls in the general elections ahead.

“You are a leader for the subregion, for the continent, and for the world,” Molly Phee submitted.

Also speaking, the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, said she was thrilled at the strides Nigeria took in combating AIDS, describing it as an “amazing achievement.”

Meanwhile, the Director General, NACA, Dr. Gambo Aliyu has urged Nigerians especially the youths to express their love on Valentine Day

11 DAYS TO PRESIDENTIAL POLL: ALL EYES ON YOU, BUHARI CHARGES NIGERIA POLICE Deji Elumoye, Kingsley Nwezeh, Wale Ajimotokan, and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, appraised the security arrangements for this year's general election and reminded the leadership of the Nigeria Police of the high expectations of them in relation to the provision of requisite security during and after the polls.

Buhari also reassured the country that the general election would be peaceful and reflect the free will of the citizens.

However, following the redistribution of voters to new polling units nationwide, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, revealed that there were 240 polling units without registered voters across 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). INEC said elections will not hold in those units.

Buhari gave the assurance of peaceful and credible polls during the inauguration of critical operational assets of the Nigeria Police ahead of the elections.

The assets included Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), 88 Pick Up Patrol vans, 10 Water Canon Trucks, 3,000 hand grenades, 1,502 AK47 rifles and stun guns, 9, 607 bullet proof vests and helmets, and 30 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG).

Buhari pledged to “bequeath to the nation a democratic culture in which the police will not only be apolitical and impartial during the 2023 general election,” but the election process would also be “peaceful and secure, and the outcome truly reflective of the free will of the citizens.”

The president inaugurated the newly acquired operational vehicles, crowd control and anti-riot gadgets, and high-capacity desktop and laptop computers to ensure proper enforcement of electoral laws, seamless electioneering process and stabilisation of the public space before, during, and after the elections.

He said during the event held at Force Headquarters, Abuja, “This vision can best be achieved through an efficient police force and I am delighted that the force leadership is advancing my vision in this regard.

“Looking back at what I inherited as a police force and where we are almost eight years into this administration, I can proudly say that I have significantly attained my re-positioning plan for the Nigeria Police Force and it is my expectation that subsequent national leadership in the country will sustain this initiative.”

Buhari commended the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, and the entire Nigeria Police establishment for the achievement, saying, “I encourage you to sustain your zeal for service to the nation.

You should, however, be reminded of my high expectations of your leadership, particularly, in relation to the provision of requisite police

security that will engender not just a stable security space ahead of the general election but guarantee the credibility of the exercise."

He reminded the security agencies that the country had great expectations with regard to the conduct of a secure election.

The president stated, “In this task, I call on the Inspector General of Police and, indeed, all law enforcement agencies that will be complementing the police in the election security process to note that the eyes of the nation and the global community will be on you all.

“Having been fully briefed by the Inspector General of Police of his detailed Operation Order and Action Plan for the 2023 general elections during the Council of State meeting that was held on Friday, 10th February 2023, I have no doubt of the high level of preparedness of the Nigeria Police for the exercise.

“I trust also that in line with your service oaths and statutory obligation to our beloved country, you will not disappoint us all as you put to effects your election security governance operational plans."

Buhari added, “On my part, I renew the assurances of my firm trust in your leadership and unwavering support for the police.

It is, indeed, in demonstration of this that I recently approved the release of requisite funds to the Nigeria Police Force towards the continuation of the next phase in the annual recruitment exercise of 10,000 constables in line with extant presidential approval.

“It is in cognisance of this that I have remained firmly committed to the reform agenda of our police all through. The overriding goal is to modernise, reform and restore the dwindling primacy of our police within the internal security architecture of the country, our nation’s criminal justice delivery system, and the democratic process.

“To this end, I now move to commission the critical operational assets for effective use by the Nigeria Police Force.”

The IGP, in his address, said the assets assembled were procured as part of the broad strategic plan of the force towards stabilising the security space before, during and after the 2023 general election and for the purpose of enhancing the capacity of the Nigeria Police to manage civil disorder in line with acceptable national legal framework and global law enforcement protocols.

Baba stated, "Assembled here for Mr. President’s commissioning are critical operational assets comprising 88 Pick-Up Patrol Vans; 21 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs); nine Prado Jeeps; one Coaster bus; 10 Water Cannon Trucks.

"Others are two Rapid Razor Security Wires Dispensing Trucks; 9,607 Bullet Proof Vests and Plates; 2,055 Ballistic Helmets; 140,571 Long and Short Range Tear Gas Cell; 1,248 Antiriot Helmets; 3,000

hand grenades; 30 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs); 1,502 Stun Guns and AK47 Rifles with assorted calibres of live ammunition; 300 HP Desktop Computers; 250 HP Laptop Computers; 150Gubabi Fire Proof Safe; 100 Dragon Fire Proof Safe; and 150 Individual Filling Cabinets.”

The IGP said the acquisition of the security equipment was to "demonstrate the determination of the force leadership to advance Mr. President’s commitment to a reformed, modernised, fully equipped, highly-motivated and citizens focused police force that is re-oriented to the virtues of professionalism, respect for rule of law, due process, operational efficiency and best international practices in our internal security mandates."

In a related development, the IGP met with Commissioners of Police from the 36 states and FCT, where he charged them to create enabling space for peaceful elections. The meeting, held at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, was also attended by Deputy InspectorsGeneral of Police and members of the Force Management Team, and Assistant Inspectors-General of Police from across the country.

The conference, which was the first this year, was targeted at reviewing the internal security of the country and reassessing the police strategies towards the 2023 general election.

The IGP also charged the police

chiefs to safeguard the public space for the elections in synergy with other security agencies.

While charging them to ensure that quasi-security outfits created and owned by state governments were precluded from the election duty, Baba stressed that national security interest overrode personal interest and as such, in line with the directives of Mr President, the election shall be policed in a civil manner with full compliance with the rule of law.

He warned all officers to remain apolitical and ensure free, fair and credible elections.

Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, informed Buhari that the Ministry of Police Affairs had in recent years rolled out robust logistic support and effective policy environment to complement the efforts of the Nigeria Police.

Elections Won't Hold in 240 Polling Units, INEC Declares

INEC said there were 240 polling units without registered voters spread across 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). As such, the electoral body declared that elections would not be held in the 240 polling units. INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made this known yesterday in Abuja at a meeting with political parties held Continued on page 26

for their loved ones with intention to protect them from all forms of harm and avoid risk factors that could make them vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and other STDs. A statement by the DG to mark this year's Valentine day’s celebration, urged Nigerians, especially young people, to take advantage of the spirit of love and togetherness that Valentine’s Day signifies, to know their HIV status.

"It is important that all Nigerians know their HIV status, as it marks the entry point to Prevention, Treatment and Care of HIV/AIDS. "This occasion though significant in the lives of people globally, brings a lot of cause to worry about, as the expression of love, especially among adolescents, youths and other diverse populations most often fall out of context.

"This period is observed to witness high rate of indiscriminate sexual activities and other amoral behaviours that lead to uninformed decisions among many. This development most often than not, exposes many people to high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases," he said.

“As we express love for our partners during this Valentine’s Day, remember to love wisely. As members of a wider society your health and productivity counts to

both your nuclear, extended families and the entire country.

"Nigeria stands to benefit from the pool of your contributions. So I urge you to desist from practices that might expose you to risks of contracting HIV/AIDS and/or other sexually transmitted diseases as we commemorate these special Days. Once again I urge you to love wisely, share love, and not the virus,” he added.

The NACA boss added that, “it is important to reduce the trend of new HIV infection in Nigerian youths through preaching abstinence, and for those who cannot abstain, to use condom which prevents Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) including HIV and unwanted pregnancies.

“It has become important to ensure condom option is made available as a preventive measure to youths and people of reproductive age who cannot abstain from sex, with new HIV infections highest among young people aged 15-24 years and with the national data suggesting that about 4.2 per cent of young people (ages 15-24) are living with HIV. “As we express love on this day, remember to love wisely. As members of the wider society, your health and productivity is vital to the future of our country. So, I urge you to avoid risky behaviors as we commemorate Valentine’s Day. Love Wisely, Share Love not HIV.”

SULTAN: WE NEED TO DOUSE TENSION, PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY, ANGRY politics aside. The issues of development especially for the common man should not be prioritised. These people that God Almighty gave us leadership over, one day, God forbid, rise up against us.

"After all these English by professors, how do we get these developments down to the common man who is a farmer, the common Fulani man who doesn't know anything about development in his life, he only cares about cattle.

"I have been to Benue at least two times as Sultan to sit with the governors and traditional rulers to discuss peace in the Benue valley.

At the end of it, the suggestions are thrown away. Nothing is done and we are back to square one.

Let this conference not be in the same manner, let's do it and let's do well and now.

“The people are hungry – is there money? Akawi kudi? No cash!

People are angry and hungry, let's see how we can douse the tension."

Also, the Vice President of Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Mansur Muhtar, said various farmers-herders clashes that took place at various times across the country claimed the lives of 4,000 people in seven years, with several thousand others sustaining injuries.

He said while fatalities were initially confined to the North Central, they have since spread across the country, increasing pre-existing religious and ethnic tensions.

Muhtar stressed that the northern parts of Nigeria have been the epicentre of the conflict, noting that the incident has been spreading to other regions.

He added that given the relatively poor performance of the region, in Continued on page 11

DESPITE S'COURT’S EX-PARTE ORDER, OLD NAIRA NOTES LOSE LEGITIMACY At the Lagos High Court, some accounts officers at the registry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told THISDAY that their attempts to deposit old notes they had earlier collected into the government account were rejected by Polaris Bank. He advised lawyers who did not have new naira notes to take advantage of e-Filing, which he said could be done from the comfort of their chambers, homes or anywhere.

The officials further said the only currency acceptable for filing of court processes in the Lagos Judiciary Registry was the new naira notes recently introduced by the CBN. A lawyer at the Lagos High Court, who did not want his name mentioned, said he was at the court registry at Osborne Division, Ikoyi, to file processes, but was turned back because he had only old naira notes.

The Supreme Court had in a ruling on February 8 suspended the CBN’s February 10 deadline to stop the use of old currency notes. The bank had ordered citizens to swap out old N1, 000, N500, and N200 banknotes for a redesigned currency by the deadline. But the apex court, ruling in an ex parte application by three states – Zamfara, Kogi and Kaduna – stopped the CBN from banning the old notes pending the hearing and determination of

the case. It fixed February 15 for hearing. The move to ban the old banknotes had caused confusion among bank customers.

A seven-member panel of the court, led by John Okoro, gave the order of interim injunction.

The order, according to Okoro, who read the lead ruling, was to subsist pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by the states for interlocutory injunction.

Speaking on a panel on the state-owned Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Obadan, a professor of economics, noted that the apex bank was not ill-prepared for the currency redesign exercise, but some unscrupulous persons were sabotaging the process.

The presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, recently alleged that the policy was targeted at him, while several governors in his party have approached the Supreme Court to halt the process as well as allow the new and old notes to circulate together.

But Obadan wondered why the new naira notes appeared to be scarcer the more the CBN pumped new notes into circulation, saying “it seems that snakes are swallowing it.”

He added, “I would like to say that the challenges that Nigerians have seen and the kind of pain

people are experiencing is not due to the fact that the central bank is ill-prepared or was not prepared for the implementation.

This is not because I am connected in a way to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“If you observe the situation, right from the beginning of implementation, you will find that there had been resistance to the implementation of the policy. There are vested interests that right from day one did not want the policy to be implemented because they perceived that implementation of the policy would hurt their own private interests.

“And so they have been at war with the central bank, sort of, doing everything to thwart the implementation of the policy. The Central Bank of Nigeria has been pushing out new Naira notes, invariably every week. I don't know how many times it does that to banks...for onward disbursement to various individuals, enterprises and so on.

“Unfortunately, the more the new notes are given out by the central bank, the more you hear cries that there are shortages and of the central bank not pushing out enough new Naira notes as the monetary authority.”

According to the MPC member, the CBN has the record of all the notes pushed out in recent

days and, therefore, would not deliberately ensure that there are shortages within the system.

He stated, “The central bank knows the quantity of new notes that it expects to be in circulation in line with its set of objectives. And it’s been working in line with the objectives. They know the notes pushed into circulation. But the new notes appeared to be swallowed by snakes, or something else that tend to make the notes generally unavailable.”

He explained that the expectation was that as the new notes were pushed out by the central bank, they would go into circulation and economic agents and actors would use the notes and spread them.

“But you will find that most of the new naira notes are not in circulation,” Obadan said. “They are being hoarded for a purpose, for certain vested interests because more and more notes are being pushed into circulation every week,” he stressed.

Besides, Obadan argued that many Nigerians were already getting used to online payment platforms, which should ease the physical use of the local currency, reason why there should be no serious shortage of the new naira notes in circulation.

“So, it’s not that the central bank Continued on page 27

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NEWS

INTERROGATED FOR FALSE ALARM...

L-R: National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Felix Morka; Director of New Media, APC Presidential Campaign Committee, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Director Publicity for PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, during a press briefing by Fani-Kayode shortly after his release from DSS HQ in Abuja... yesterday

Elections: Tinubu Denies Mopping Up New Naira Notes Insists Nigeria challenges surmountable Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has denied the allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he was mopping up new naira notes ahead of the polls.

Tinubu, in a statement issued yesterday, by his Media Office and by the Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs, Mahmud Jega, described the allegation as simply ludicrous, spurious and a desperate attempt to divert public attention from the anti-people posturing of the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar after he and Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, had asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) not to extend the deadline for the use of old naira notes.

The presidential candidate stressed that both took the position despite the pains Nigerians were experiencing, saying they actively promoted

the sanctity of the deadline in the calculated hope of reaping political windfall from the people’s suffering.

Tinubu said: "Our attention has been drawn to the irresponsible and infantile allegation by Atiku Abubakar’s Peoples Democratic Party, claiming that our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is mopping up new naira notes to buy votes.

"We are not surprised that the PDP made a volte face to conjure a completely unfounded allegation against Tinubu. Having realised that Atiku’s selfish, uncaring position has generated popular anger and resentment against him, it came up with this absurd claim that our candidate is mopping up new currency notes."

Tinubu assured Nigerians that the claim was utterly false.

The APC presidential candidate maintained that there was no iota of truth in the claim which he argued

was concocted for mischievous and devilish purposes by these PDP agents.

He said: "Our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, being always the voice of the voiceless and champion of the underprivileged, at numerous rallies and campaign stops, identified with our people and boldly called on CBN to extend the deadline and end the public suffering.

"Also spurious, devilish and unconscionable is the claim by two UK-based Nigerians, one Bulama Bukarta and one Jafar Jafar, that the currency change was made because Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu stockpiled billions of naira in every state with the intention of vote buying.

"The duo claimed they “heard” the “information” from “knowledgeable sources.” These “sources” clearly exist only in the partisan imagination of

SULTAN: WE NEED TO DOUSE TENSION, PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY, ANGRY terms of education, health and other human development indicators, this situation was untenable and threatens the future of the young, growing, and promising population.

His words: "Conflicts between farmers and herders/pastoralists have been an issue of national concern in recent years. Perhaps the most significant issue of concern is the growing number of casualties associated with it.

“Between 2016 and now, at least 4000 people lost their lives in these conflicts, with several thousand others sustaining injuries, both physical and emotional. While fatalities were initially confined to the north central, they have since spread across the country increasing pre-existing religious and ethnic tensions.

"In addition to the unfortunate loss of lives, this conflict has often been manifested by an increasing number of internally displaced persons, leading to the breakdown of family units, the bedrock of our society, and disruption in education, especially for young girls. This crisis has also undermined agricultural production compromising our nation’s food security, especially during these periods of rising food prices."

Muhtar decried the security challenges caused by the conflict.

He stressed that with the passage of every single day that the crisis goes unresolved, the already

fragile national security was further threatened. According to him, the country cannot continue like this.

On the way forward, he said while ranching was very important, it was insufficient to effectively address the fundamental drivers of the farmer-herder crises, because of the complexity of the crises which calls for a multi-stakeholder intervention.

Muhtar stressed that the abysmal performance of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) showed that there was for far greater political will than has been demonstrated thus far.

He said the NLTP appears to have great potential, but requires community buy-in and the full cooperation of all levels of government.

He was also of the opinion that the modernisation of the livestock sector cannot be left to the government alone given the need for financing and capacity building, while calling for support from private investors, the international donor community, and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).

Declaring the conference open, the Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje said the conference grew out of the need to provide solutions to the age-long conflict between herders and farmers and also propose way forward to economic development of the sector. He stressed that the theme of the conference was relevant in the current scheme of events,

given the appropriateness of the time when Nigeria has been persistently experiencing other security challenges.

Ganduje stated: "For many years in Nigeria, farmers and cattle herders have been in conflict over land rights. But the disputes have reached crisis levels in recent years, killing thousands of people and displacing many thousands more from their homes, left in relics by attacks.

"The livelihoods of farmers and herders have, historically complemented each other. They exchanged produce with one another and when conflicts arose, they were addressed by traditional institutions and existing conflict resolution mechanisms.

"However, over the past few decades, a wide range of factors have resulted in tensions often ending in deadly violent conflicts between the two groups."

The governor noted that climate change which resulted in desertification and soil erosion has enraged competition over natural resources, pushing herders to venture into new areas to seek pasture for their herds.

He noted that the Rural Grazing Areas (RUGA) or ranching, which has been deliberately politicized, remains the only option that would go a long way in mitigating existential problems, as pastoralists would have lands to graze without cattle encroaching on people’s farmlands.

Bulama Bukarti and Jafar Jafar."

Tinubu stressed that they made the serious allegation recklessly without a shred of evidence, believing that by living in the UK, they were beyond the reach of Nigerian laws of defamation.

He, therefore, urged all Nigerians to disregard the allegations being peddled by the PDP and its surrogates, Bukarti and Jafar and continue to exercise patience and to exhibit love, support and determination until the Tinubu/Kashim Shettima ticket is delivered at the polls with a landslide.

Meanwhile, the former Lagos state governor has said while the country was faced with myriad of problems, he expressed optimism that the challenges were surmountable.

He stated this Sunday night at an event tagged, "Meet the Mentor Dinner," organised in his honour by the Progressive Sisters Network (PSN).

Tinubu expressed optimism that with unity and determination of all to pull through the country could overcome all the challenges confronting the nation.

"As a nation, we are facing some

challenges, but we can overcome these challenges. We can find our ways in situations where it seems there is no way. Please let's work together to build the Nigeria of our dreams together.

"I know it is difficult not to look for the easy way in today's Nigeria, but together with our faith in one another and our nation, we can solve our problems," he stressed.

Earlier, the National Coordinator of the group, Rinsola Abiola, said after a critical assessment of all the presidential candidates, Tinubu tower far above all.

She said it was against this background that they resolved to campaign for him among the women folks in the country.

Rinsola, who is the daughter of the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993, presidential election expressed optimism that having done it in Lagos State, when he served as governor for two terms, Tinubu could do it again at the national level if given the opportunity.

She made it clear to any Nigerian woman who was still in doubt, that Tinubu was the candidate that deserved her vote.

Abiola stated: "Tinubu understands that tackling the issue of women’s under-representation in all spheres of life is something that must be done from different angles: political inclusion, economic empowerment, and girl-child education."

She maintained that a man who had demonstrated equity in his own home would deal with Nigerian women equitably when elected as president Abiola added: "Lagos, the state which Tinubu once governed and is being managed by his blueprint, also leads the way in legal protection for women.

"With an agency dedicated to diligently prosecuting all forms of domestic and sexual abuse, Lagos has signaled that there will be zero tolerance for the oppression and violation of women.

"It is also key to note that it was Tinubu who appointed the first female Chief Judge in Lagos State: Justice Ibilola Sotuminu now retired.

"His wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has also shattered records as the first woman in history to serve for three terms in the Nigerian Senate," Abiola said.

Ighodalo Calls for Free, Fair Elections, Condemns Vote-buying, Violence Ugo Aliogo Ahead of the elections, the President of the Africa Leadership Group (ALG), Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the conduct of a free, fair and credible election, devoid of vote buying, violence and all forms of criminalities.

He stated that Nigerians cannot afford to get it wrong this time, urging the electorate to carefully select leaders fit for purpose at this time, “who can lead the country out of the national crisis, facing it.”

Ighodalo, who said disclosed this yesterday, in Lagos, at the launch of the ALG Leadership Assessment Tool, urged Nigerians to maintain peace, use their voices and votes wisely, evaluating all political candidates against clear principles and qualities of strong leadership.

He further explained that with less than 14 days to the general

election, acrimony among the major political parties continues to rise, “and frustration with the nation’s leaders is growing as Nigerians experience severe shortages of fuel and the redesigned bank notes, resulting in public disturbances and riots. throughout the country.”

He revealed that according to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, “Leadership and governance are the biggest problems of Africa today. Nigeria needs a leader with character, competence, compassion, love, one who has the common good of the people at heart, the fear of God and is dedicated to prayer.”

The clergy man further stated that Nigeria was at risk of becoming a failed state due to decades of worsening leadership, poor governance, and endemic corruption, noting that the already fragile fault lines borne from ethno-religious conflicts have escalated.

He lamented that the polity has

worsened with banditry, kidnapping and terrorism, further contributing to national insecurity.

According to him, “Well, at some stage, the African Leadership Group will come up with the name of the candidate. But we want to go through our process like we said, we have our leadership forms which we are distributing to our members, which we are asking them to score, and when they score, they collate, if we will test them according to our scientific analysis among our members, we will choose the person that it is pointing to.

“We are going through our criteria now and getting our members to collate this and sum it up and then we will see according to what we have done scientifically amongst ourselves, using this foreign pattern and this criterion, the person that we think we should vote for, and that is our opinion as African Leadership Group stage of our national development.”

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NEWS

INAUGURATION OF NEW EXCO OF HFN...

L-R: Public relation Secretary, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Abimbola Adebakin; Treasurer, Chinyere Okorocha; Chairman Board of Trustees, Asue Ighodalo; President, Pamela Ajayi; Vice PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN President, Njide Ndili; and Financial Secretary, Segun Ebitanmi during the inauguration of the new exco of HFN in Lagos…. yesterday

At Gombe Rally, Buhari Canvasses Support for All APC Candidates Tinubu: We’ll make Nigeria better Ours is only party anchored on social democracy, says Osinbajo Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Segun Awofadeji in Gombe President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, at Gombe rally, declared that he was one hundred per cent with all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including the party’s presidential hopeful, Bola Tinubu, ahead the national elections.

Also speaking, Tinubu, who led other APC chieftains to the state in continuation of his campaign tour, reassured Nigerians that the APC would make Nigeria better.

This is as the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said the ruling APC remained the only party anchored on social democracy, social protection and social mobility, especially, for the poor.

However, Buhari who assured the APC candidates that he would give all his support at whatever level, spoke through the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami.

Dismissing rumours that he did not support some of the APC candidates, the president, who claimed that there was no such thing, added that observing the kind of projects that his government

had laid out in Gombe, confirmed the support of the people of the state and asked for their favor to support the party’s candidates.

On his party, Tinubu promised to ensure that the state became a business hub of the North-East subregion, considering the available natural resources in the state.

He said on his watch, people of Gombe and Bauchi States would benefit from oil exploration for development, having been blessed with oil, adding also that oil exploration in Gombe and Bauchi States would further open up the zone in terms of economic development and job opportunities which would in turn boost revenue generation of the country.

Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, who is seeking re-election, declared that he was proud he did not embarrass the people of his state, because he has done a lot of development works in the state that he was proud of.

In his speech, the deputy presidential candidate of the APC party, Senator Kasim Shettima, assured the people of Gombe that the APC would keep their trust and would do its best to overcome the existing problems as long as it was given

another chance.

Nevertheless, Osinbajo, who spoke on Monday at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, while inaugurating the APC Legal Compliance Committee, with responsibility for more than 1,400 federal and states elective positions holding on February 25 and March 11, 2023, said, “Ours is the only party anchored on social democracy, social protection, that is, social mobility for the poor, and justice for the wronged."

He noted that the Committee

was crucial to the achievement of the party’s electoral ambitions during the elections both at the federal and state levels.

The Vice President, who urged its members to be proactive and remain committed to the assignment, said, “I am therefore glad that we have here an assembly of very committed members of the party, who, by their calling as lawyers, will be able to offer tremendous value for the party through protection of its interests at every step of this electoral process.

“Those of you that have worked with us in the build-up to the 2015 and the 2019 general election know that the proactive approach we adopted, especially, through the ear-on-the-ground work of the Presidential Legal Team, has provided us crucial head-start in tackling some of the challenges that we were confronted with.”

He added that the party’s manifesto in 2014, 2015 and 2023 contained the most detailed Social Investment Policy.

Earlier, one of the spokespersons

of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, further underscored the importance of the Legal Compliance Committee.

Coordinator of the Committee, Mr El-Marzuq, said the group composed of carefully selected lawyers tasked with the provision of comprehensive legal services to the party during the electioneering period, noting their preparedness to serve in the different capacities assigned to them.

Fani-Kayode: I Was Thoroughly Grilled By DSS, Relays Experience Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Director of Special Projects and New media of the Tinubu/ Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode, has confirmed that he was thoroughly grilled yesterday, when he appeared before the Department of State Security (DSS).

The former Minister of Aviation while addressing a press conference in Abuja after he was released by the secret police said, he was asked

N3bn Fraud: Mix-up Stalls Hearing in Ali Bello, Others' Bail Request

to cause appearance tomorrow.

A sober Fani-Kayode said the worst place to be was to appear before the DSS, saying he didn't not even wished that for his worst enemy.

He said he was told that while an unknown online medium carried the story, his tweet gave prominence to the news, because his tweet would have been read by several people across the globe.

The party chieftain said the secret police had a lot of information about him before he got there, and admitted that though they grilled thoroughly, they were however polite, professional and not biased in any way.

"I have nothing to hide. And though it was very difficult. I have been interrogated by many security agencies, the police, EFCC for the

last 15 years, I've been incarcerated, I've been in and out also, I've seen all sorts, but let me tell you, the place anybody doesn't really want to go, I would suggest it's probably the DSS. It's a very, very challenging place to have to go. But I thank God that it went well," he said.

On the statement issued by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he wasn't working alone, FaniKayode said whatever the main opposition party was insinuating meant nothing.

According to him, “Now my response to that is this. And I hope some of you are familiar with Shakespeare because I love Shakespeare’s responses. This is a tale told by an idiot, full of furry and sound, signifying absolutely nothing.”

Fani-Kayode, who stressed that

the was not in charge of security and could not dictate anything, added that, "If anybody should be investigated, arrested, prosecuted and jailed, it should be their presidential candidate. Why? Because he confessed in a tape, which we all heard, speaking about how he defrauded the whole country and stole public funds through SPVs. “We've discussed this before. So before any of them will cast aspersions against any of us, whether our candidates, our media directors, our party or any of our party leaders, let Atiku come and explain this SPVs and let him subject himself to investigation just as I have done and let others that have refused to go to the DSS, when they were called in, let them show a bit of courage.

You know who these people are; I don't want to mention names."

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has mourned the passing of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 5, Alhaji Lawan Tanko Jimeta.

The governor, in a statement, expressed shock over the news of the death of the senior police officer, describing him as “a consummate officer, who deployed his skill and experience in service of his fatherland.”

“I received the news of the passing of the AIG Zone 5, Alhaji Lawan Tanko Jimeta, with rude shock. A consummate officer, he was passionate about his job and deployed his skill and intellect

in service of his fatherland.

“AIG Jimeta spent considerable time in Edo State as he served as the Commissioner of Police in the state before his higher assignment.

He was a dutiful officer, who contributed to strengthening the state's security architecture. Late AIG Jimeta also played a critical role in the state's efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

“He participated in the government's daily briefings and ensured to enforce the partial restriction of movement in the state in line with government directives, all the while acting responsibly and respecting the rights of citizens.

“He was among a select top brass of officers, who helped in refining the operational readiness of the Edo State Security Network. So, his death hits home.”

The governor added that the late AIG would be remembered for his bravery and compassion, which proved useful in very tough assignments he handled while he served in the state.

“I commiserate with the Nigeria Police Force, the Zonal 5 Police Command and his immediate family and pray that God will grant all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” he added.

Court adjourns to today Gov Bello's wife not a defendant in matter Obaseki Mourns Jimeta’s Passing Alex Enumah in Abuja A slight mix-up, yesterday, stalled hearing in the bail application filed

by Ali Bello and three others in the alleged N3 billion fraud charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ali, a nephew of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello. was on February 8, 2023, arraigned alongside Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege and Iyadai Sadat, on an 18-count criminal charge before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Following their not guilty plea, Justice Egwuatu, adjourned till February 13 for hearing in their bail application, while ordering for their remand at the correctional center.

When the matter came up yesterday, counsel to the defendants, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), told the court that the EFCC had filed a counter affidavit to the bail application.

However, the EFCC counter affidavit, filed on Friday, was not in the court's file and not at the Registry of the court.

Responding, the EFCC informed the court that the counter affidavit was mistakenly taken to another

court, specifically court 7.

After observing that there were no copies of the counter affidavit in his record, the judge, in the light of the mix up, adjourned to February 14, 2023 for hearing of the bail application.

However, contrary to insinuations that the Monday sitting was for ruling on the EFCC case against Ali Bello and 3 others, it was for hearing on the bail application filed by the defendants.

Meanwhile, Governor Yahaya Bello's wife, Mrs. Rasheedat Bello, was not a defendant in the matter as against a press statement released last Sunday by the EFCC.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2023

POLITICS

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

Has PDP’s G-5 Group Run Out of Steam?

With 11 days to the February 25 presidential election, the five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, otherwise known as G-5 appears to have run out of steam, in spite of the fact that there is no reconciliation in sight. Adedayo Akinwale reports

Wike

O

Makinde

n February 25, 2023, eligible Nigerian voters will file out to elect a new president who will pilot the affairs of the country for another four years after the eight-year reign of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Many Nigerians cannot wait for the elections to come, they are eager to pass judgment using their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) on candidates and political parties that have underperformed.

While the main opposition party, the PDP appears to be in a better position to wrestle power from the APC, the crisis within the party especially with the Integrity Group of five governors known as G-5 has made a herculean task for the party in its determination to win back power from the APC. Members of the G-5 are: Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

The PDP kicked the relative peace it was enjoying in its fold goodbye when former the Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged as the presidential candidate of the party and the Delta state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, was named as his running mate in June 2022.

Subsequently, the party put together a campaign council which included the members of the G-5. But the Wike-led G-5 team drew the battlelone when it pulled out of the campaign council.

The G-5 had insisted that since the PDP had violated its own constitution by jettisoning the zoning arrangement, the National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, must resign for them to rescind their decision.

They also maintained that the position of the National Chairman of the party must come to the South for balance, justice, and equity in the party, hence they will not play any role in the Atiku campaign council.

In fairness to the leadership of the party, several efforts were made to reconcile with the group, but all to no avail. After it was clear that the party leadership was not ready to yield to the demands of the G-5 by sacrificing Ayu as the condition for reconciliation, the PDP presidential candidate moved on with his campaign.

“If Dr. Ayu is to be removed from office, it must be done in accordance with the laws that set out the basis for such removal. In any event, you will all recall that the very body that is empowered by law to initiate this removal from office has already passed a vote of confidence on him,” Atiku had explained while responding to the calls for Ayu’s resignation.

Nevertheless, since the commencement of the presidential campaigns on 28th September 2022, the PDP presi-

Ugwuanyi

dential candidate has visited many states for campaigns and stakeholders meeting, but the G-5 have been missing in action. Their refusal to partake in the campaign activities of the party didn’t come has a shock because they already made their stand know by insisting on Ayu’s resignation.

In one of the press conferences addressed by Wike in the heat of the crisis, he boasted that if he leaves the party, the party would lose general election.

Wike said: “If I leave the party today, the PDP cannot win the (general) election. If the five PDP governors say they are leaving today…We are not just ordinary governors, we are very committed and strong. There is nobody that wants to win an election and still continues the way they (PDP leadership) are doing.”

Moreso, the G-5 held meetings with the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi in London with the hope of striking an accord, but that was not to be. The members of the G-5 were unable to reach a compromise on the presidential candidate to support. While some favoured Obi, others favoured Tinubu.

Interestingly, while Ortom adopted Obi and his joint ticket holder, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, for the presidential poll, Wike boasted last December that the G-5 would announce the presidential candidate that they are supporting in January.

Up till this moment no announcement has been made in this regard. Although, there were unconfirmed

Ortom

reports that Wike’s loyalists may have pledged their support for APC presidential candidate.

No doubt, it’s already obvious that the G-5 group has run out of steam.

They no longer meet as usual, neither are they globetrotting for meetings like it was witnessed last year. In truth, both the PDP and Atiku would be making a mistake of the century if they think the support of the five governors amount to nothing.

With the increased popularity and acceptability of Obi in the South-East and South-South zones and even the country as a whole, the main opposition party will need every support it can get to win back power from the APC. While the popularity of Obi is a delight to the ruling party because the former Anambra state governor is eating deep into the potential votes that are supposed to go to PDP in their traditional stronghold. An indication that the support of the G-5 is vital.

On the other hand, the G-5 cannot go for a broke and adopt either Obi or Tinubu to avoid disruption of elections in their states. Though Wike is not on the ballot, but if he adopts Obi or Tinubu, his support for either candidate might have an effect on the governroship election in the state and might scuttle his chances of installing his preferred candidate as Rivers Governor.

The scenario is not so different in Abia, Benue, Enugu and Oyo if the governors were to back Obi, or Tinubu because it may have a ripple effect on their own interest. In Oyo state, Makinde is seeking re-election as governor, while the trio of Ikpeazu, Ugwuanyi and Ortom are contesting for senatorial seats in the National Assembly.

In essence, if they support a presidential candidate of another party different from the PDP, then the chances of winning their own election will be put on the line.

With this on ground, there is no need arguing the fact that both the G-5 and the PDP are in a fix.

Meanwhile, in what appears like a

The question to ask is why did Wike take this unilateral court action without carrying along his other four colleagues in the G-5 group? Is Rivers Governor now saying every member of the Integrity Group should carry his cross? In essence, if the party decides to sanction the other governors so be it as Wike has gotten the nod of the court stopping the main opposition party from suspending or expelling him

Ikpeazu

preemptive move last Monday, the Federal High Court in Abuja barred the PDP from suspending or expelling Wike from the party. The judge, James Omotosho, gave the order following an ex parte application filed by Wike against the PDP. Wike filed his application on February 2, where he asked the court to order the respondents – the PDP; its National Working Committee; National Executive Committee; National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, and the PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu – to maintain the status quo and stay all actions relating to the threat to suspend or expel him from the party pending the determination of the matter.

The question to ask is why did Wike take this unilateral court action without carrying along his other four colleagues in the G-5 group? Is Rivers Governor now saying every member of the Integrity Group should carry his cross? In essence, if the party decides to sanction the other governors so be it as Wike has gotten the nod of the court stopping the main opposition party from suspending or expelling him.

In spite of Wike’s move, the leadership of the party has not foreclosed the window of reconciling with the G-5 Governors. At the presidential rally of the party in Benue state recently, Ayu said the issue with Ikpeazu has been resolved adding that plans are on to reconcile with other aggrieved members of tge group.

His words: “Vote for every PDP candidate, the party is not divided.

There are a few members who have grievances. We are talking to them. We want to make sure they come back and work with us fully. One week is enough to change everything. This thing has been going on and I want to assure you that we’ll receive everybody back.

“I am appealing to my younger brother, Governor Ortom to come back and join us so that we will fight to rescue Nigeria. Governor Ortom has nowhere to go, his only house is the PDP and anytime that he comes, we shall be more than happy to receive him and all the PDP governors.

“Two days ago, Governor Ikpeazu was in my house because he lost his gubernatorial candidate. We have resolved the problem with Governor Ikpeazu and the whole of Abia is coming back. We want all our candidates, all our governors to be with us because if you allow APC to win this election, you will regret it.”

While the G-5 are no longer unanimous on the presidential candidate to support, coupled with the indication that each of them is now fighting his battle alone, a reconciliation will do the PDP a lot of good if the party wants to stand any chance of winning back power at the centre.

15

TUESDAY, ͹ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERVIEW PETER MBAH: My Government Will Be Lean, Agile, Transparent, Focused on Productivity I’ll Raise Enugu’s GDP from $4.4bn to $30bn by 2031 Astute maritime lawyer, key energy sector player and governorship candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Enugu State, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, shares his governance vision with Louis Achi, revealing he will leverage the considerable development grounds covered by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuany to the upscale transformation of the Coal City state

Y

ou have traversed the arenas of law, finance, public administration, energy, and philanthropy and now aspiring to govern Enugu State.

How do these fields align with politics and governance?

These arenas you listed all fundamentally address human development. Energy, for example, is a key driver of human civilisation. Politics and good governance set the stage for a positive transformation of the human condition. So I did not choose this course lightly. Today, Nigeria and Africa stand on the brink of substantial disruptions - and of considerable opportunity as new political and economic models challenge traditional templates. This gripping scenario also applies to Enugu State, an entity whose governance trajectory will indisputably impact both region and country - and this should be positively. Conventional governance playbooks pivoting on traditional templates will ultimately be upgraded to sync with the governance imperatives of the 21st century. Politics and governance are serious responsibilities. Only tested pathfinders with vision, knowledge and courage can provide the critical and inclusive leadership to ensure stability and progression going forward.

The recent development history of our sub-nationals shows significant gaps in both leadership and vision. What will you do differently in Enugu State as governor?

First, Enugu State has, over the last 23 years, but particularly in the past eight years, enjoyed appreciable growth on account of prudent and creative management of resources by the current administration. In this period, the state has been able to engage in a massive buildout of new infrastructure as well as maintenance of existing facilities. It has also fulfilled its obligations to teeming workers in the state civil service through timely and full payment of periodic emoluments.

Above all, this administration which I aspire to succeed has ensured the provision of a high level of security within the state. This has made Enugu arguably the most peaceful state in the country. Sustaining these gains and building on them in the quest for greater heights requires not only an appreciation of the state of things but a commitment to selflessly harness the human and material resources of the state in order to provide and guarantee our people the best quality of life in dignity and true happiness.

The demands of our time require a good head, someone whose experience in both public and private life, as well as whose commitment to the general good, cannot be questioned.

This is essentially an overview. What are the key pinions of your vision to transform Enugu State?

We aspire to deliver quality, people-focused governance by making Enugu the preferred destination for investment, business, tourism and living. We shall transform Enugu into one of the top three states in Nigeria in terms of GDP and achieve a zero per cent rate in the poverty headcount index. The core of our governance vision and mission entails moving our GDP from its current $4.4 billion to at least $30 billion in the next eight years. This will be achieved through a threepronged intervention. The first is an integrated programme to accelerate youth employment for all Enugu citizens. The second prong is integrated rural development programmes, and

Dr. Peter Mbah the third is community policing and the inclusion of all citizens in the governance of the state. This integrated approach is informed by the empirical evidence that youth unemployment and poverty engender insecurity in communities everywhere.

Development history has shown that the best way to achieve peace and security in societies is to address the root causes of fragility and insecurity in communities, create opportunities for productive employment for youths and women, lift people out of extreme poverty and build prosperous societies: peace, progress, and sustainable prosperity.

Expanding on the earlier grounds I have laid out, we will grow Enugu State’s GDP sevenfold in the next eight years, from the current level of $4.4 billion in 2022 to $30 billion by 2031. This will be achieved through targeted policy incentives that enhance public-private investments in key growth-enabling sectors - namely: energy and natural resources development, agro-allied industrialisation and rural development, private sector development, and integrated, productive infrastructure inextricably linked.

Without sustainable peace, there can be no sustainable development. We need urgent programmes to turn our youths

The core of our governance vision and mission entails moving our GDP from its current $4.4 billion to at least $30 billion in the next eight years. This will be achieved through a three-pronged intervention.

into productive assets for economic growth and social progress, not sources of fragility in our communities.

Our goal of inclusive economic development will be achieved through inclusive servant-leadership, transformative governance reforms, economic diplomacy, and preventive diplomacy with the singular objective of improving the quality of lives of the citizens of Enugu State. Founded on the core principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law, my government will be lean and agile, transparent, inclusive, and focused on enhancing productivity and value addition in all sectors of social, economic, and environmental progress of the state. On the agricultural front, the objective of our programmes is e to feed Enugu State and turn it into a food basket for Nigeria and a hub for the export of cash crops. The target is to eliminate food insecurity in the state by 2031 through massive investments in technologies for agricultural productivity in the state, technology-enabled agricultural extension services, implementation of specialised agro-allied industrial zones in all senatorial zones of the state and accelerated technologies for agricultural systems transformation in Enugu State.

To transform Enugu State and align it with the human development imperatives of the 21st century certainly requires a significant level of organisational cultural transformation, especially in a milieu that has long been driven by traditional metrics. More, it requires bold, game-changing leadership.

You can connect the dots yourself as a senior media practitioner. But I must state that these challenges have been made reasonably easier because considerable development is on the ground already. We intend to considerably upscale it.

Enugu citizens are reputed to be some of the most republican in the region to govern. Isn’t this a tough call, or how would you engage them to achieve your set socio-economic targets?

Mind you, I am also a product of the construct you described - Enugu State. To build confidence and de-risk investment flows, my government shall foster a sense of belonging and unity among Ndi Enugu through proactive and transparent engagement with all stakeholders, seamless and periodic sharing of information on policies, programmes, projects implemented and their impacts on the quality of lives of citizens. We shall develop and launch an electronic dashboard that will host reports on government actions, contracts, policies, programmes, and projects accessible to all citizens of the state. We shall develop, codify, and publish an Enugu State citizen’s charter, which shall define our promises to Ndi Enugu regarding fiscal responsibility, public financial management and economic development. Through proactive community engagement and the use of digital technologies, we shall execute a performance-based social contract with the citizens of Enugu and be fully transparent and accountable to them on a continuous basis. Trust flows from transparency and accountability.

What’s your message to the Enugu people?

I have, with all humility, heeded the call to serve my people, Ndi Enugu. I seek your mandate and support as we journey together.

My life’s journey has taught me courage, to persist and to give my best in whatever endeavour I embark on. I, therefore, offer myself to serve as governor of Enugu State on the platform of our great party, the PDP, for the 2023 general elections, so we can build on the achievements recorded to move our state from Good to great. Together, we can create wealth and prosperity for all. Ndi Enugu, tomorrow is here.

16 T H I S D AY TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2023 TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Tuesday February 14, 2023 Vol 27. No 10168

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU argues that some judgements emanating from the country’s Supreme Court are bewildering

LAGOS AND MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH The state government’s investment in maternal health care is paying off, writes TAYO OGUNBIYI

See page 17

VALENTINE: CELEBRATING LOVE IN A SEASON OF ‘LOVELESSNESS’ CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE contends love is increasingly becoming a scarce commodity

See page 17 EDITORIAL

THE CASTRATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

18

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The state government’s investment in maternal health care is paying off, writes TAYO OGUNBIYI

LAGOS AND MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH with ramps at the main entrance into the ÁRRUV DQG WKH ÀUH VHUYLFH VWDLUZD\ DW WKH other end. ,Q DGGLWLRQ WKH EXLOGLQJ LV ÁDQNHG E\ two waiting sheds/holding areas to further accommodate the attending clients and their relatives. In order to complement the services being rendered, the gas station, public toilets, the power room, the engineering section, and the water tank stands were constructed proximal to the main building.

These facilities were uniquely designed to suit the pre-conceptual integrated VHUYLFHV RͿHUHG E\ WKH & HQWUHV FRQVLVWLQJ of the reception, patient waiting section, the medical records section and the outpatient consulting rooms.

Others are the resuscitation room, the family planning clinic section, the call room, the laboratory, pharmacy, Ultrasound scan room, labour rooms, delivery rooms, theatre, recovery room, intensive care baby unit, treatment room, pre-natal ward, the postnatal ward and nursery.

These centres, apart from being primarily equipped to reduce maternal and child mortality, also serve as training grounds for VWDͿ 6LQFH WKH FRPPLVVLRQLQJ RI WKH 0&&V available statistics have indicated a reduction in the incidence of maternal deaths, which Although the maternal and child health often occur as a result of delivery by unskilled index of Lagos State is slightly better than birth attendants, haemorrhage, infection, the national average, it is still unacceptable obstructed labour and malaria among others.

No doubt, the state’s MCC strategy is as the goal of every government is to ensure already yielding positive results as evident the sanctity and preservation of human lives.

In realisation of the need to sharply reduce in the key performance indicator. For occurrence of maternal and child mortality, instance, no fewer than 1,156 people accessed the Lagos State Government evolved the reproductive, maternal and child health Integrated Maternal and Child Centers services within one month of operations after the 110-bed Eti-Osa MCC was commissioned.

Policy.

Statistics of service utilization at the As it is doing in many other aspects of the health sector, the Babajide Olusola specialized facility for women and children Sanwo-Olu administration is setting new ZLWKLQ WKH ÀUVW PRQWK RI RSHUDWLRQ DOVR pace towards reducing maternal and child showed that 162 pregnant women were booked for ante-natal care (ANC) services, mortality level to zero in the state Local and national statistics of maternal 147 others accessed gynaecology services and child mortality and morbidity rate were while a total of 346 paediatrics patients were of utmost concern to the state government, also attended to.

During this period also, 234 emergency hence its resolve to tackle it head-on.

One of the ways of doing this is via the cases were attended to, 75 people were establishment of Maternal Child Centers placed on admission while 18 caesarean (MCCs). These are specialized healthcare sessions and seven spontaneous vaginal centres for mothers and children aimed at deliveries were carried out. Till date, over taking maternal and child health care closer 31,000 persons have accessed diverse to the people by reducing the travel time maternal or child care services at the Center.

At the 149-bed Alimosho MCC, over 10,000 and improving quality care to the highest SHUVRQV HTXDOO\ EHQHÀWHG IURP PDWHUQDO DQG possible standard.

The idea behind the construction of the FKLOG FDUH VHUYLFHV ZLWKLQ WKH ÀUVW VL[ PRQWKV MCCs was rooted in the conviction that these of operations. This represents 40% of the total interventions would impact positively on the number of hospital attendance in Alimosho health indices of mothers and children who *HQHUDO +RVSLWDO 7KLV LQ LWVHOI LV D VLJQLÀFDQW FRQVWLWXWH D VLJQLÀFDQW SHUFHQWDJH RI FOLHQWV indicator to the steady increase in utilization of health care services in Alimosho LGA and attended to at public health facilities.

In the last three and half years, the a great deal in attaining universal coverage administration has completed and for Lagos.

Evidently, the conceptualization and commissioned four MCCs. The Centres are implementation of the MCC project as a equipped with the latest medical and other facilities to enhance access to quality health key policy in addressing the issue of health infrastructure in reducing maternal and care for mothers and children.

The Centers are located in Eti-Osa, Igando, child mortality has recorded some gains in Badagry and Epe. The commissioning of the reversing the ugly trending of unacceptable four MCCs amply demonstrates the Sanwo- maternal and child mortality.

Thus, the drive of the Sanwo-Olu Olu administration’s resolve to enhance administration towards sustaining the MCCs’ residents’ access to healthcare.

(DFK RI WKH FHQWUHV KDV ÀYH FOLQLFV IRU concept has enhanced access to maternal and mothers, babies and children, neonatal unit child care services and ultimately improved for premature babies, labour ward with the state’s health indices. It is hoped that delivery room, emergency clinic and a the completion of more of these MCCs will theatre for Caesarean sections in complicated further bridge the gap of delay in accessing health services, especially by rural dwellers. deliveries among others.

The MCCs’ design was mooted as a Four Ogunbiyi 6WRUH\ HGLÀFH ZLWK EHWZHHQ DQG EHG LV 'HSXW\ 'LUHFWRU 3XEOLF $ͿDLUV 0LQLVWU\ RI complement. The building was fashioned Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly 20% of all global maternal deaths occur in Nigeria.

Between 2005 and 2015, it is estimated that over 600,000 maternal deaths and no less than 900, 000 maternal near-miss cases occurred in the country.

In 2015, Nigeria’s estimated maternal mortality ratio was over 800 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, with approximately 58,000 maternal deaths during that year.

The 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey indicate that 545 women die in every 100,000 live births and 157 children out of every thousand do not live to the age RI ÀYH \HDUV LQ 1LJHULD

CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE contends love is increasingly becoming a scarce commodity

VALENTINE: CELEBRATING LOVE IN A SEASON OF ‘LOVELESSNESS’ Is the thematic concern of countless literary people. In fact, he embodied the virtue of classics written by renowned writers not love in his person. love? The legendary love relationships, which But does love still exist in our today’s KLVWRULFDO ÀJXUHV KDG ZHUH WKH DÁDWXV WKDW world, especially in Nigeria? This a impelled dramatists, poets, and novelists rhetorical question given the frequency to produce works that centre on love. For of the perpetration of evil deeds by evilexample, William Shakespeare, the greatest minded people on a daily basis in Nigeria. dramatist of all times, wrote a play called So nobody can gainsay or controvert the “Romeo and Juliet”, a dramatic literary classic, fact that we are living in a season and the chief theme of which is love. milieu of lovelessness.

And the mention of the word, “love” causes For example, now, in Nigeria, we joy to well up in our hearts. Don’t we feel have hard-hearted and unscrupulous happy when other people tell us that they love politicians, who do corner our collective us; that we are the apples of their eyes? But ÀQDQFLDO UHVRXUFHV WR VDWLVI\ WKHLU YDQLWLHV love is a shop-soiled word that is put to bad use thereby subjecting the masses to avoidable by womanizers and incorrigible philanderers. but excruciating economic hardship.

At the three tiers of government, we have political leaders, who are adept at FRPPLWWLQJ ÀQDQFLDO ODUFHQ\ DQG ORRWLQJ of our collective money. Are those thieving politicians, who are unscrupulous people, actuated by feelings of love? The answer to this question is an emphatic no.

Again, daily, in Nigeria, we are regaled with gory and mind-boggling tales of homicidal deeds, which are executed by self-professed Christians and Moslems. In the north, for example, the Boko Haram insurgents, Fulani herdsmen, and terrorists take a great delight in killing other people VR DV WR DFKLHYH WKHLU WKHRFUDWLF DQG VHOÀVK goals. And cult killings and the menace of They use the word “love” to deceive and lure the gunmen are ravaging the southeast, lovelorn ladies to bed. now. Kidnapping people for ransom has And it is a known fact that one of the become a thriving business in the area, too. meanings of love connote and denote the But do murderers and kidnappers possess erotic relationship that exists between a man the virtue of love? and woman. Two persons who belong to More so, religious leaders, who should the same sex can have erotic relationship, EH HͿHFWLQJ PRUDO UHJHQHUDWLRQ DPRQJ XV too. The romantic relationship, which exists have morphed to religious mountebanks. between two persons can be described as a They beguile vulnerable women and love relationship because there is exchange gullible men into parting with their money.

RI DͿHFWLRQ EHWZHHQ WKHP $QG WKH\ PD\ EH They hide behind the veneer of faked indulging in coitus. spirituality and chastity to perform such But there is a higher type of love to which atrocious and abominable deeds. So it Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity, is obvious to us that those purveyors of commended us. It is called agape love. Christ spiritual charlatanism do not possess the demonstrated agape love when he laid down virtue of love. his life, and became a ransom for our sins. He More so, in many homes in Nigeria, chose to die for us because of the immense love husbands and wives squabble over he bore for humanity. He died so that we may diverse issues, which cause the spike in live. divorce and separation rate in Nigeria.

But what is love? The Longman Dictionary And domestic violence, which is prevalent RI &RQWHPSRUDU\ (QJOLVK GHÀQHV ORYH DV among spouses in Nigeria, has caused “a strong feeling of caring about someone, the deaths of countless Nigerians. A man, especially a member of your family; a strong ZKR LV ÀOOHG ZLWK WKH YLUWXH RI ORYH FDQQRW feeling of liking and caring about someone, abuse his wife, physically, not to talk of him HVSHFLDOO\ FRPELQHG ZLWK VH[XDO DͿHFWLRQ µ murdering her. And can a woman, who To me, love is the act of benefaction, which genuinely loves her husband, cuckold him? a person performs for his or her spouse or So to say that love is a scarce commodity friend or relatives without anticipating and/or among us is to state an obvious and demanding reciprocity from the recipient of his incontrovertible fact. We have become or her benefaction. Love is the unconditional egotists, narcissists, and self-centered help, which a person gives to other people, who people, who are pachydermatous to the are in dire need of help, not minding whether feelings of other people. Gone are the days they are his friends, relations, and parents. when a man was his brother’s keeper. Our And dating back to many years ago, St insatiable cravings for material possessions Valentine has become the symbol of love. So, on and pursuit of money have made us become every February 14, peoples from diverse racial unfeeling and wicked human beings. backgrounds will mark the St. Valentine’s day.

Our non- possession of the virtue of ,W LV D GD\ SHRSOH GHPRQVWUDWH WKHLU DͿHFWLRQ love is intrinsically linked to the problems for their hubbies, wives, parents, relations, and militating against the political stability of friends. It is characterized by exchange of gifts Nigeria and her economic and technological among people. So, there is no doubt that St. development. A man who is possessed Valentine is a symbol of love. of the virtue of love will not kill other However, there are myths woven around people for religious and political reasons.

St. Valentine. Some people feel that the story A political leader, who embodies love in of St. Valentine is a mythologized tale that his person will not steal public money has literary conceits about the importance of entrusted in his care for the development of love. Our reading the St. Valentine story will his country. help us to imbibe the virtue of love. But there are convincing proofs that St. Valentine was Okoye, a historical person, who actually lived in the a poet, writes from time past, and performed acts of love for other Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State

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EDITORIAL

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

THE CASTRATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT Local governments must be functional, responsive and accountable to the people

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An effective local government system, where the chairmen are prepared to work and where they are not stifled by the governors, is much needed for human development T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

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19

TUESDAY, ͹ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

FOCUS

Between Naira Redesign Project and Politicians’ Vested Interest Recent developments around the Central Bank of Nigeria’s naira redesign show that politicians with vested interest and stashed funds are bent on stalling the retirement of the use of the old banknotes, writes Oluchi Chibuzor

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) move to phase out the old N200, N500 and N1,000 has clearly assumed as political dimension. Politicians showed their hands last week as they forced the Supreme Court to halt the enforcement of the February 10 deadline.

The court while entertaining a suit filed by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states, had ruled that the February 10 deadline previously fixed by the apex bank to ban the use of the old naira notes should be temporarily halted until February 15, when the matter would be heard.

The seven-member panel led by Justice John Okoro, halted the move of the federal government in a ruling in an ex parte application brought by three northern states.

The states had specifically applied for an order of Interim Injunction restraining “the federal government through the CBN or the commercial banks from suspending or determining or ending on February 10, 2023, the time frame with which the now older version of the N200, N500 and N1,000 denomination of the naira may no longer be legal tender pending the hearing and determination of their motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

The move and desperation shown by governors of the ruling party confirmed allegation by a lot of persons, including some opposition political parties that governors of the ruling party had stashed funds to negatively influence the outcome of the election.

It also confirmed the insinuation that politicians who stashed billions of naira outside the banking system to prosecute the general election had been moving against the policy since it was announced in October last year.

The initiative aimed at fighting corruption, checkmating money laundering, eliminating counterfeits, and ending the hoarding of the naira by kidnappers and others, appears to have thrown the politicians who had stashed billions of the Nigerian currency ahead of the general election into confusion.

Investigations revealed that many of the politicians who had perfected plans of rigging next year’s election through vote-buying and had stock-pilled the naira in their houses had vowed to do everything to stall the policy.

In line with that vicious move, as part of efforts to deliberately stall the Supreme Court ruling scheduled for tomorrow, governors of some states in the country have chosen to continue to file for joinder in the matter. The suit originally filed by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states has been joined by Ondo, Kano and Ekiti states, with Rivers state also indicating its preparedness to do same.

Sources at the Federal Ministry of Justice that disclosed this, noted that the design of the state governors joining the suit was to delay the judgement and have the old currency run till after the election.

One of the sources, who pleaded to remain anonymous, said, “It is the design of the governors, who are adding many joinder suits, to delay the judgement and try to keep the state of affairs whereby the old currency would continue to be in use, while they lobby Supreme Court justices so that they cannot reach a judgement, and to push the Supreme Court decision on this matter until after the presidential election.

“They want to use the cash for the presidential election. So, they are adding more joinder suits to delay the outcome of the judgement so that the two currencies can work together. So, what we see is that the vote-buyers are fighting back.”

This revelation came just as governors of the 36 states of the federation rose from a meeting in Abuja, with a resolution to direct their Attorneys General to review the suit with a view to consolidating the legal reliefs pursued by the states.

The 36 governors also asked the federal government and the CBN to respect the rule of law and halt the currency restrictions, which they argued were causing an economic crisis.

The governors made the assertions in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), which was signed by the forum’s chairman, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.

The demonetisation policy is in continuation of the CBN’s push for a cashless economy and political analysts have pointed out that it would help minimise vote buying and other forms of financial inducement to the voters. Also, despite the short-term hardship being faced presently, it is believed that by phasing out the use of the old banknotes, INEC workers

Emefiele or election entrepreneurs bent on rigging the election would be frustrated.

That is why despite the push by mostly APC governors for the continuous use of the old currencies, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has charged Nigerians to resist the dubious practice of vote buying. The bishops also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to toy with the confidence and trust Nigerians placed on them by ensuring that the processes involved in the forthcoming elections are bereft of all forms ambiguity capable of offending the collective sensibility of Nigerians.

In his Pastoral Letter delivered yesterday, at the opening of the conference, CBCN President, Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, said the practice of inducing the poor and vulnerable voters to cast their votes for a particular candidate in exchange for some financial reward seeks to deny such citizens their real voice and choice in the electoral process.

“More to the point, such brazen use of wealth offends the dignity of the poor and vulnerable while making it increasingly difficult for good but poor candidates to contest and win elections.

“Therefore, we urge Nigerians to stoutly resist the odious practice and resolve to vote according to one’s conscience and convictions,” he said.

No doubt, Nigerians are facing scarcity of cash and the central bank has disclosed that it is doing everything to improve supply of the new banknotes.

Contrary to a misleading report, which misquoted the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, as attributing the current challenge in the distribution of the redesigned naira banknotes to a shortage of printing materials at the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) Plc, the apex bank clarified that the printing company has the capacity and enough materials to produce the required indent

of the Naira.

The CBN’s position was further reinforced by the Managing Director/Chief Executive of NSPMC, Mr. Ahmed Halilu, who said adequate arrangements had been made to continuously produce the redesigned banknotes and other denominations in line with the CBN indent for 2023.

Halilu, in a statement, also clarified that contrary to mischievous claims, De-La-Rue of the United Kingdom does not produce or supply paper substrate within the currency industry.

The central bank also said it is working assiduously to increase the circulation of the newly redesigned banknotes across the country.

The apex bank has also insisted that the redesign of the naira notes was not targeted at any individual but was done in the overall interest of the country and the economy.

It also clarified that there were no plans to close down any bank in any part of the country.

The CBN’s assurances came against the backdrop of a misleading report which misquoted Emefiele as attributing the naira banknotes to a shortage of printing materials at the NSPMC known as the Mint.

CBN Director in charge of the Corporate Communications Department, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, stated that the CBN governor did not disclose during his presentation to the National Council of States that the Mint could not print the required banknotes.

He said: “For the records, what Mr. Emefiele told the meeting was that the NSPMC was working on printing all denominations of the Naira to meet the transaction needs of Nigerians.”

The central bank further appealed to the public to disregard the misleading report and exercise more restraint “even as we work assiduously to increase the circulation of the new notes in the country.”

Similarly, the CBN also raised the alarm over

a misleading voice note trending in social media alleging that the CBN planned to shut down some banks, particularly in a particular geo-political region of the country.

Nwanisobi said: “We wish to state unequivocally that there is no such plan and that the claims are illogical and do not comply with the workings of the Nigerian banking system.”

The apex bank said it remained committed to performing its monetary policy functions, as stipulated in the CBN Act, 2007, as amended.

The CBN, however, welcomed concerns shown by all stakeholders about the distribution of the naira, stressing that “we are alarmed at the extent to which vested interests are attempting to manipulate facts and pitch the public against the bank.”

The apex bank advised well-meaning Nigerians to ignore such recordings as they did not represent its policy thrust, adding that such was part of the desperate attempts by some persons bent on inciting the public against the bank.

The CBN also insisted that the redesign of some naira notes was not targeted at any individual but was done in the country’s overall interest and the economy. Nwanisobi stated this in an address delivered at the CBN’s Special Day at the 44th Kaduna International Trade Fair.

Nwanisobi urged Nigerians to embrace alternative payment channels such as e-Naira and internet banking in the face of the cashless policy.

According to the apex bank’s Director of Capacity Development, Mohammed Abbah, who represented Nwanisobi, a major challenge that emerging countries like Nigeria continue to face is “our inability to seamlessly integrate into the global trading system, owing largely to the quality and technological content of the goods and services we produce for export.”

He said the CBN governor has always emphasised that the redesign of the naira notes was “not targeted at anyone or any group of persons; rather, it derived from the bank’s in-house analysis to strengthen macroeconomic fundamentals and better our socio-economic conditions.”

Nwanusobi said: “The principal aim of the bank, with the currency redesign initiative, is to make our monetary policy decisions more efficacious.

“Nigerians will observe that there has been a downward trend in inflation, and the exchange rates have been relatively stable.

“Furthermore, we aim to increase financial inclusion in the country by reducing the number of the unbanked population.

“Thirdly, our aim is to support the efforts of our security agencies in combating banditry and ransom-taking in Nigeria through this programme.”

According to him, “the CBN is not unmindful of the challenges some citizens have faced in the past few weeks in getting money from their banks or other alternative channels. Indeed, there have been reports of occasional transaction failures. However, we wish to assure you that the Nigerian payment system infrastructure is robust enough to handle the surging transaction volumes across all channels.

“We, therefore, urge Nigerians to embrace alternative payment channels, such as e-Naira and internet banking, as we embrace the cashless policy.”

He added that the advantages of the currency redesign are overwhelmingly enormous and will benefit the economy in the long run.

Also, the central bank has told the Federal High Court, in Akure, that extending the expiry date for the old naira notes would jeopardise the fight against fraud, corruption and criminal activities in the country.

The apex bank, in a counter-affidavit to a suit filed against it by a group, the Social Rehabilitation Grace and Supportive Initiative (SRG), justified its reluctance to extend the expiry date for the old naira notes, and said it was to save Nigeria’s democracy.

The apex bank, in a counter-affidavit filed by its counsel, Oyetola Atoyebi (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the suit, averring that the plaintiffs have no justifiable reason for filing it.

Atoyebi argued that the extension of expiry date for old naira notes of N200, N500 and N1000 would give room for vote-buying and undermine the forthcoming election.

He argued, “The extension of the timeline will jeopardise the fight against fraud, corruption and criminal activities perpetrated with the use of the old currencies.”

The CBN specifically cited the festering kidnapping crime, claiming a change in currency notes will end it.

Therefore, Nigerians must look beyond the outburst of some selfish politicians and support the naira redesign policy as well as efforts to phase-out the use of the old banknotes.

20

TUEDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS 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

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 10Feb-2023, unless otherwise stated.

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 199.47 200.62 5.48% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 11.30% Nigeria International Debt Fund 317.70 317.70 2.91% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 106.37 107.47 0.90% 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 13.45% AIICO Balanced Fund 4.64 4.71 36.23% 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 8.61% Anchoria Equity Fund 153.96 155.60 6.22% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.22 1.22 -0.63% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com info@anchoriaam.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 23.46 24.16 6.89% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 549.27 565.83 5.38% ARM Ethical Fund 46.49 47.89 3.04% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.13 1.13 0.65% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.12 1.07% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.19% ARM Short Term Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 0.77% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 96.36 96.36 1.32% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,103.78 1,103.78 -2.01% 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 2.14 2.14 3.76% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.37 2.41 7.72% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.01 1.01 0.96% 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 12.30% Paramount Equity Fund 18.53 18.87 7.21% Women's Investment Fund 152.42 154.30 4.85% CHD Nigeria Bond Fund 108.25 108.25 10.88% CHD Nigeria Dollar Income Fund 1.06 1.06 9.31% 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 10.06% Cordros Milestone Fund 142.74 143.64 3.66% Cordros Fixed Income Fund 106.65 106.65 10.00% Cordros Halal Fixed Income Fund 104.03 104.03 6.04% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 116.79 116.79 5.54% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 1.00 11.76% Coronation Money Market Fund 1.22 1.23 2.02% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.37 1.37 -2.62% Coronation Fixed Income Fund EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A 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 EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1491.91 1491.91 12.51% FBN Balanced Fund 210.65 212.16 5.49% FBN Halal Fund 124.76 124.76 12.87% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.27% FBN Dollar Fund 121.15 121.15 6.83% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 177.27 179.91 7.04% FBN Specialized Dollar Fund 105.14 105.14 9.29% 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 8.96% Legacy Debt Fund 3.54 3.54 -11.58% Legacy Equity Fund 2.08 2.13 19.85% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.27 1.27 5.27% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1

Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

Bid Price 4,354.49 3,745.68 100.00

Offer Price 4,386.22 3,745.68 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 31.00% 8.05% 12.02%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.14 1.14 5.80% GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.gtcoplc.bank; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A 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 1.80 1.83 2.99% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,168.41 1,168.41 0.71% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 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 NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.63 101.63 8.94% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 11.38% 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 1.62 1.67 3.44% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.50 11.71 3.72% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.53% PACAM Equity Fund 1.51 1.54 6.43% PACAM EuroBond Fund 121.50 124.59 6.75% 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 131.80 134.14 0.05% 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 1.00 1.00 11.03% 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 3,794.83 3,825.99 11.95% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 246.18 246.18 4.50% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.51 1.53 20.63% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 334.88 334.88 6.95% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 275.35 278.40 17.83% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.91% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,933.52 13,090.97 18.46% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.38 1.38 6.48% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 121.92 121.92 4.29% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 116.11 116.11 9.15% Stanbic IBTC Absolute Fund 4,611.67 4,611.67 8.40% Stanbic IBTC Aggressive Fund 3,441.24 3,484.85 23.79% Stanbic IBTC Conservative Fund 4,355.41 4,372.31 14.41% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 1.02 1.04 6.99% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.54 1.56 12.14% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.21 1.23 3.89% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.12 1.12 10.03% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.97 1.97 7.50% United Capital Eurobond Fund 126.13 126.13 5.55% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.71% 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 Balanced Strategy Fund 14.40 14.54 3.85% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.40 16.56 3.75% Zenith Income Fund 23.76 23.76 0.84% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.94% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

114.09 53.06 101.31 9.92

7.63% 3.98% -13.13%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

16.68 141.65 110.30 17.40 16.40

16.78 144.12 112.21 17.50 16.50

7.80% 11.00% 10.32% -1.31% 2.88%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

106.75

0.00%

Fund Name

SFS REIT Union Homes REIT Nigeria Real Estate Investment Trust UPDC REIT

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

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.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023

21

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

F E B R U A R Y

S & P INDEX

1 3 , 2 0 2 3

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

After Initial Improvement, Nigeria’s Oil Output S l ow s i n Ja n u a r y

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Nigeria’s oil production grew by a meagre 28,000 barrels per day in January this year, compared to the over 55,000 bpd increase in December, 2022 a THISDAY review of data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has shown.

The figure dampens the initial excitement over what appeared a rebound in the country’s oil output after a long period of steady decline, culminating in a multi-decade low.

The rise in volume of oil drilled

by Nigeria came after months of stalling in its crude oil production projection and inability to meet its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production quota.

But the NUPRC data for the first month of 2023 showed that while production in December was 1.235 million bpd, growing by 55,000 bpd from November, the January production was 1.258 million bpd, a rise by a small volume of 28,000 bpd.

However, when condensates, which are outside OPEC

computations are added, the country’s total daily output for the month was 1.494 million bpd, with blended condensates at 48,978 bpd and unblended at 187,180 bpd during the period under review.

When calculated for the entire month of January, Nigeria produced a total of 39 million barrels for the month without condensates and 46.3 million barrels when the low-density oil is added.

As expected, the biggest oil production asset was Forcados,

with 6.84 million barrels for the month, followed by Qua Iboe with 4.73 million barrels and Escravos terminal with an output of 4.71 million.

During the month, Bonga’s output was 3.4 million barrels, Egina produced 3.2 million while Odudu (Amenam) produced 3 million barrels. Bonny’s output for the period was 1.61 million barrels for the month.

However, the country’s production per day released by the NUPRC differed markedly

from the estimate of 1.59 million bpd announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) earlier.

Although still significantly lower than the about 1.8 million bpd OPEC allocation, the January data showed that crude oil production would be the highest production level since March 2022, when the country’s production averaged 1.237 million bpd.

Nigeria has been unable to meet its OPEC production quota for over a year, thereby hobbling the

country’s main source of foreign exchange and putting immense pressure on the local currency, the naira, against the American dollar.

In February, March, April, and May 2022 respectively, oil production fell steadily to 1.25 million bpd, 1.24 million bpd, 1.22 million bpd, and 1.02 million bpd, while in June it rose marginally to 1.15 million bpd, before falling to 1.08 million bpd in July.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

KPMG: Low Tax Obligation, Negligible Security Risk Make Seven Deep Offshore Blocks Attractive Peter Uzoho The Partner in charge of Energy and Natural Resources at the KPMG Professional Services, Mr. Ayo Salami, has said that the oil blocks recently advertised by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), should be attractive to

investors.

Salami told THISDAY in a phone chat that the Deep Offshore blocks would attract interests from local and foreign businessmen because of their low tax obligation, in addition to the absence of security risks such as theft and vandalism that are associated with onshore assets.

He explained that under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), Deep Offshore fields were very lucrative because the tax rate is 30 per cent, stressing that the fiscals of the assets remain competitive enough to attract any potential foreign investment.

NUPRC Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe had in

FOOD

December, 2022 announced the beginning of the 2022/2023 mini bid round for seven Deep Offshore blocks otherwise called Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs).

The deep offshore blocks include PPL-300-DO, PPL-301-DO, PPL-302DO, PPL-303-DO, PPL-304-DO, PPL-305-DO and PPL-306-DO.

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N35,000 – N45,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N35,000 – N45,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N32,500 – N42,000

50KG

KWARA

N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

N35,000 – N45,000

50KG

RIVERS

N36,500 – N46,500

50KG

SOKOTO

50KG

EDO

PRICE

The blocks covering an area of approximately 6,700 square kilometres in water depths ranging from 1,150metres to 3,100metres, are located outside the coast of Lagos.

Komolafe had announced during the pre-bid round conference in Lagos in January that winners of the mini-bid for deep offshore

licensing round would be announced in the next four months, revealing that a renowned global firm, Wood Mackenzie had been contracted as the consultant for the mini-bid.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

T O D AY

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N30,000

BEANS

MAIDU GURI

N22,000 – N30,000

100KG

BENUE

N32,000

50KG BAG

100KG

N32,000

100KG LAGOS

N36,000

KADUNA

50KG

ENUGU

N24,000

100KG

KANO

N35,000

50KG

LAGOS

N26,000

100KG

DELTA

N36,000

N60,000 – N70,000

100KG

DELTA

N35,000

N17,000–N20,000

100KG

ABIA

N36,000

100KG

ABIA

N35,700

SIZE

22

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

BayelsaPRIME: Gov. Diri’s Basic Education Masterstroke BayelsaPRIME, a technology based basic education reform programme, is aimed at delivering dramatic improvements in learning outcomes in public schools across Bayelsa state, writes Oluchi Chibuzor

A

s the sun rose on Monday 30, January 2023 in Trofani town Bayelsa state, primary school pupils, teachers and headteachers also rose in anticipation of a new term and beginning.

Teachers were particularly excited yet apprehensive about the prospect of the new start.

Two weeks before resumption day, over 2,000 teachers and headteachers drawn from four local government areas had been in Yenagoa for a special reason. They were at the BayelsaPRIME Induction Training which kickstarted Governor Douye Diri’s basic education reform programme.

Coined out of the words Bayelsa Promoting Reform to Improve & Modernise Education, BayelsaPRIME is designed to cause a major transformation in the way classes are conducted and how pupils across the pilot 222 primary schools receive learning.

The induction training provided an opportunity to upskill teachers and steer their energies in the direction of a whole new methodology which has been proven to deliver exceptional results, especially in low income and minority communities.

“We came into school knowing that we had been equipped to do things differently and better. But we just didn’t know what the result or the response of the children was going to be on day-one,” said Amanda Akpogumere, who is a teacher at Community Primary School II, Trofani, Sagbama local government area.

“By the third day we started seeing things we had never seen before,” she said, her eyes widening in excitement. “The children were the ones inviting their fellow pupils to come to school because the environment was suddenly more inviting, exciting, accommodation and child-friendly.”

A facilitator at the Bayelsa Induction Training

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri

Teachers taking part in activities during the Bayelsa Induction Training

Cross section of graduating teachers at the BayelsaPRIME Induction training

WHAT MAKES BAYELSAPRIME DIFFERENT?

BayelsaPRIME is a technology based basic education reform programme aimed at delivering dramatic improvements in learning outcomes in public schools across Bayelsa state. The programme is transforming government primary schools into powerful public schools using innovative technology and data-driven platforms, quality learning materials, effective teacher professional development and ongoing coaching, and technology-enabled support teams who deliver 360-degree support to all stakeholders in the school ecosystem on a daily basis.

Regardless of a child’s location, income or education levels of the child’s parents, all children in state-owned schools now have a chance to thrive and succeed academically.

Under BayelsaPRIME all children are properly profiled into a database that enables policy makers track their academic progress with a view of helping them succeed. Under the programme, learning outcomes are critical and strategies aimed at improving them are at the core of school activities.

It all begins with the training of the teachers. During their 10-day induction training, teachers are taught to develop a whole new mindset of possibilities. They are accultured to look on the bright side and consider all pupils as potential champions who should be assisted and encouraged to attain their full potential.

Key themes at the training include pupil motivation, modern classroom management techniques, child protection, the place of technology in deliver of impactful lessons, amongst other important topics.

During the training, each teacher is assigned a teacher-tablets which facilitates teaching and learning back in school. Lesson guides are sent to the teachers through the tablets to ensure that a structured approach to teaching is attained across all schools and classrooms simultaneously. Through the tablets, teachers who are not teaching and those who are not punctual in school can be identified for counselling and reorientation.

The tablets also serve as a source of information and news from the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (Bayelsa SUBEB) and the State Ministry of Education. It is the tool through which school attendance is electronically recorded for teachers and pupils.

“On the first day of resumption teachers were enthusiastic to mark arrival using the teacher tablet. Unlike in the past when teachers could come late and still sign 7.30am in the school register, most teachers were in school at the right time to sync with the headteacher’s smartphone,” said Amanda.

The headteacher smartphone of which Amanda spoke is the smartphone assigned to each headteacher.

Applications in it ensure that schools and teachers are optimally managed. It is the only device required to access the internet periodically for BayelsaPRIME to function.

THE GAP EVERYONE KNOWS

BayelsaPRIME was launched by Governor Diri to address specific gaps in the basic education system which are not peculiar to Bayelsa state. Nigeria is experiencing learning poverty as an estimated 70 percent of 10-year-olds cannot read, understand a simple sentence or perform basic numeracy task, according to the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

The challenge has been attributed to factors including, poor funding of schools, low quality and skill level of teachers, availability of teachers in schools and other factors outside the school system.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says the current number of out-of-school children in Nigeria stands at 20 million. Globally the figure is 244 million with India, Nigeria and Pakistan

“It all begins with the training of the teachers.

During their 10-day induction training, teachers are taught to develop a whole new mindset of possibilities. They are accultured to look on the bright side and consider all pupils as potential champions who should be assisted and encouraged to attain their full potential.”

contributing the highest figures globally.

At a seminar in 2022, UNICEF Communication Specialist, Geoffrey Njoku, noted that there is no way the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be achieved by 2030 without focusing on children’s rights and education.

BayelsaPRIME is designed to place Bayelsa state on the path of attaining SDG 4 which specifically addresses education and lifelong learning. Governor Diri is ensuring that the right amount of time and resources are being deployed to attain the programme’s objectives.

In complete compliance to the governor’s intentions, the Ministry of Education and State Universal Basic Education Board are working hand-in-hand to see to the success of BayelsaPRIME. While speaking at the last Bayelsa Education Summit, the Honourable commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah noted that “the educational sector which lies in the plans, policies for pedagogical engagement and strategies of government would require proper evaluation and overhauling to meet with the needs of society as we gradually approach the first half of the 21st Century.”

BayelsaPRIME is a strategic programme aimed at meeting that need through better learning outcomes.

Speaking on her initial assessment of the programme in her school Amanda notes that, “if we are able to maintain this tempo with which we started, the children will benefit. We are using songs, cheers, energizers to make the classrooms more interesting for them. From what we can see they are learning better.”

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023

23

BUSINESSWORLD FOOD NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

NEWS

COMMODITIES

PRICE

T O D AY

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

GROUNDNUT

100KG KANO

N20,500

N24,000 – N35,000

100KG BENUE

N27,000

25CL IBADAN N22,000 — N35,000

100KG LAGOS

N32,000

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N35000 25CL

PH

25CL

IMO

N24,000 – N36,500

100KG DELTA

N34,000

25CL

EDO

N20,000 – N35,000

100KG

ABIA

N27,000

100KG ENUGU

N23 000

25CL ABUJA N25,500 – N35,000 NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N60,000

MAIZE

100KG

OYO

N10,000

100KG KANO

N30,000

100KG ENUGU

N16,500

100KG BENUE

N65,000

100KG DELTA

N14,000

100KG PLATEAU

N45,000

100KG

ABIA

N11,000

100KG DELTA

N50,000

50KG

LAGOS

N9,000

100KG LAGOS

N60,000

100KG KANO

N9,400

100KG ENUGU

N45,000

50KG

N6,000

BENUE

Goldman Sachs: Oil Prices Won’t Hit $100 Until December Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Goldman Sachs still expects Brent Crude prices to hit $100 per barrel this year, but only in December, compared to earlier expectations of $100 oil as soon as mid-2023, the bank said in a new note in which it cut its average Brent price to $92 a barrel this year from $98.

Despite the cut in oil price forecasts, Goldman Sachs is still one of the most bullish Wall Street banks on crude oil and commodities in general.

Goldman continues to believe that there is a new ‘supercycle’ in the making.

However, higher expected supply from Russia and the United States could lead to a slight surplus of 150,000

barrels per day (bpd) in 2023, according to Goldman’s note quoted by Bloomberg.

Goldman Sachs expects China’s oil demand to grow by 1.1 million bpd this year, after the reopening from Covid-19 restrictions.

For next year, the bank sees Brent crude prices averaging $100 per barrel, down from its previous projection of an average of $105 a barrel Brent.

“This adjustment reflects a modest softening to our 2023 balance,” Goldman’s strategists wrote in the note, commenting on the downgrade as quoted

by Oilprice.com.

In January, Goldman Sachs said that solid growth in global oil demand was set to drive oil prices to above $100 this year and

Brent Crude could trade at $105 per barrel by the fourth quarter.

In mid-December, Goldman predicted that supply shortages and insufficient investment in new supply would result in a bumper year for commodities in 2023.

Commodities are set to be the best-performing asset class in 2023, the bank’s strategists said.

The first quarter of 2023 could be more underwhelming than the rest of the year due to the expected slowdown in economies, but the low levels of investment in oil, gas, and key metals will continue to underpin what Goldman has called a new supercycle in commodities.

FG Begins Work on 132km Kano-Kongolom Road Under Tax Credit Scheme Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government has commenced the ‘dualisation’ of the 132 km Kano- Kongolom Road under the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme (RITCS) funding mechanism adopted by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, performed the ministerial flag-off, supported by his counterpart from the Ministry of Water Resources, Suleman Adamu, according to a statement by the ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Blessing LereAdams.

In his address at the event, Fashola reiterated the determination of the Buhari administration to address the road infrastructure gap in the country even at the twilight of his government.

He also pointed out that the continued participation of the private sector in the road tax credit scheme was a statement of confidence in the

administration, highlighting the huge economic importance of road construction to include: job creation, reduced travel time and cost.

He appealed to traditional institutions in the area to advice their subjects who are occupying the right of way within government’s roads to vacate in order to give the contractors hitch-free movement during the construction.

In his message, Adamu said the project would have great economic impact on the people and promised to provide all the necessary assistance to the contractors to deliver the road as specified.

In his remarks, the Minister of State , Works and Housing, Umar ElYakub stated that the current administration would leave no stone unturned in terms of such developmental projects He appealed to motorists to bear with the government over the temporary inconveniences during the period of construction.

The Group Executive Director of BUA, International Limited, the Construction Company handling the project, Kabiru Rabiu , promised that the company would deliver quality job and on schedule.

The 132km road originates from Dawanau roundabout in Kano town and terminates at Kongolom, a border town with Niger Republic. The road covers 61.15km across Kano State, spans 28.85km through Jigawa State and 41.50km through Daura to Kongolom border town in Katsina State.

LAWYER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023

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WEEKLY PULLOUT

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GOVERNOR OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, GODWIN EMEFIELE

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PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, MUHAMMADU_BUHARI, GCFR

ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION & MINISTER OF JUSTICE, ABUBAKAR MALAMI, SAN

Does the Supreme Court Have Original Jurisdiction Over Naira Deadline Case?

II

TueSday, february 14, 2023 • T H I S D AY

In this edition

Quotable

‘We practise Judocracy, a system of government in which voters vote…..then the quarrelling politicians go before a court of law, and fight each other. A Governor is midwifed and delivered in the bowels of either the High Court, Court of Appeal or Supreme Court, which may be against the will of the people as expressed in the ballot box.” – Chief Mike Ozekhome CON, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer & Activist

Use of Arms: Whether Necessary to Ground Conviction for Armed Robbery Page IV

columnist STEPHEN KOLA-BALOGUN Stephen Kola Balogun, is a vastly experienced Legal Practioner who obtained his LL.B from University of Ife and LL.M from School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London. He has Post-Graduate Diplomas in Intellectual Property Law, Construction Law, Management and Arbitration. He has served in various capacities since his Call to the Nigerian Bar in 1982, including practicing at Akinjide & Co., and lecturing part-time at Oxbridge Tutorial College. He was the Honourable Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Special Needs, State of Osun, August, 2011 to November, 2014. He is currently the Principal Partner at Kola Balogun & Partners. SKB, as he is fondly called, is accredited with several publications to his name, both International and Domestic.

lawyer

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

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023

Supreme Court: A Tale of Two Rulings Naira Redesign Policy: A Fiasco? hat exactly is going on in Nigeria?

We seem to be reaching a total state of anarchy. And, isn't it bizarre that the Government who has the constitutional duty to ensure that the people are safe, and is mandated to ”secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice”, is one of the major contributors to the chaotic state that we are in? See Sections 14(2)(b) & 16(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2018) (the Constitution). This currency redesign policy seems to have snowballed into a fiasco, having a disastrous effect on our polity, as the people are frustrated and outraged because of their immense suffering caused by a lack of availability of the new currency in a country where millions of Nigerians depend on cash for their daily living, while giving an impossible deadline for the old currency to cease to be legal tender. Such a policy should be a gradual one, usually lasting for between six and twenty-four months, instead of the three months period that the CBN gave for the policy it introduced on October 26, 2022.

And, you would imagine that a Government that actually cares about its people, would step down what ordinarily should not be such a catastrophic policy, if not for its ‘shot gun’ bad timing; but, instead, the CBN has insisted that the unreasonable deadline should remain sacrosanct, despite the fact that, nationwide, the people do not have money to spend. The CBN Governor went further to inform the Council of State last Friday, that the Nigerian Mint doesn’t have the capacity to print more currency, because it is short of papers to print the new N500 & N1,000 notes, and they are on the waiting list of their foreign suppliers for the papers. Where then is the sense, in insisting on a policy that cannot be properly implemented, and is causing Nigerians so much anguish? Section 20(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 (CBN Act) mentions ‘reasonable notice’ to be given for such a policy where currency will cease to be legal tender; I submit that three months notice is obviously not reasonable notice, as we can see from the amount of mayhem that this irrational deadline has caused nationwide, including pockets of violence.

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Indian Example: Losses Outweigh Benefits I read an article on a similar abrupt currency policy that the Indian Government introduced in 2016, which had some of the same goals as CBN's - to mop up 'black' money, stamp out corruption, counterfeiting and so on, withdrawing Rs1,000 and Rs500 denominations over night. Indians referred to this policy, as 'Demonetisation'.

It is obvious that for most of the politicians/parties who support CBN’s policy, they are not looking beyond their jubilation at the fact that such a policy may be a blow to chronic vote-buyers in the leading political parties, thereby possibly putting them in a better stead in the coming elections. But, if they were truly altruistic, they would look beyond their political ambitions to what majority of Nigerians are experiencing - pure pain, suffering and hardship. People who don’t even have enough money in the first place, now have to pay a premium to be able to purchase cash, that is, if they are even able to get!

According to Deepa Krishnan's December 7, 2018 article in strategy + business a pwc publication on India’s 2016 policy: “There was no precedent, anywhere in the world, for a sudden economic shock of this scale….There was a rush at banks and ATMs to exchange old notes and withdraw new currency…..many people suffered, especially the poor…..and dozens of deaths resulting from the crisis were reported…..Two years later, the dust has settled, and it has become obvious that demonetisation was not the resounding success the government expected it to be….It would have been better to push those plans gradually, bearing in mind the needs of the weakest sections of society….At the end of two years, the benefits do not seem to have been worth the enormous financial losses and suffering”. As far as our own policy goes, these failures of the Indian policy are also plaguing ours.

Kudos to the Supreme Court So far, on the Currency Issue Therefore, I give kudos to the Supreme Court for the ruling delivered by Honourable Justice John Inyang Okoro JSC, issuing an interim order restraining the Government from enforcing the February 10 deadline, pending the further hearing of the motion for interlocutory injunction tomorrow. If the Government and CBN don’t care about the people, in this case, for now, the Supreme Court has shown some concern by granting the Ex-Parte motion of Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara State in the meantime.

As for the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, Section 232(1) of the Constitution provides that the Apex Court has original jurisdiction, that is, being a court of first instance, inter alia, in any dispute between a State and the Federation. Federation is the central government/ authority, in our case, the Federal Government headed by the President, and the AGF is the Chief Law Officer of

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

The

Advocate “In the case of the Machina/Lawan decision handed down by the Supreme Court recently, I align myself with the minority judgement/dissenting opinion. Rule IV(1) of the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions 2022 provides that, every pre-election matter shall be commenced by way of Originating Summons, and being constrained by the Practice Directions so to do, this is how Counsel instituted Machina’s pre-election matter” the Federation. See Section 150(1) of the Constitution.

Also see the case of AG Kano State v AGF 2007 6 N.W.L.R. Part 1029 Page 182-183.

In this matter, I see no problem with the three State Governments, Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara suing the Federation, the Federal Government represented by the AGF. By virtue of Section 251(1)(d) of the Constitution, the suit could also have been instituted at the Federal High Court (Judicial Review would have been the ideal method to bring it by), instituted within three months that the policy was introduced.

However, since the policy is not in itself a bad one, save for its implementation, and it’s only now, over three months later, that we are seeing it’s extremely negative effects on the people because of its ill-timing, there may have been no reason to approach the Federal High Court initially (I suppose there can be an application for extension of time now). I was therefore, astounded to discover that some Political Parties had instituted an action on this same currency issue at the High Court of the FCT, which has absolutely no jurisdiction to hear the matter, and instead of the trial Judge to strike out the matter for lack of jurisdiction, he went ahead to issue an interim injunction restraining the CBN, President and the Banks from extending the February 10 deadline - an abuse of court process.

I submit that the order of the Supreme Court dated 8/2/23 in the AG Kaduna & 2 Ors v AGF currency case, is binding on the CBN who was not a party to the action; the CBN is indirectly bound. By virtue of the aforementioned Section 20(3) of the CBN Act which provides inter alia that “…. the Bank shall have power, if directed to do so by the President….”, in the matter of calling in notes and coins and determining the

date when same shall cease to be legal tender, by the order of the Supreme Court being binding on the President who directs the CBN in this matter, I submit that the said Apex Court’s interim order restrains that directive given by the President to the CBN, and the directive being the CBN’s authority to perform this particular function, thereby keeping it in abeyance until the February 15 adjournment date. Without the President’s directive which is the CBN’s authority to carry out this particular function, the CBN cannot enforce the February 10 deadline.

The Machina/Lawan Decision In the case of the Machina/Lawan decision handed down by the Supreme Court recently, I align myself with the minority judgement/ dissenting opinions.

Rule IV(1) of the Federal High Court (PreElection) Practice Directions 2022 provides that, every pre-election matter shall be commenced by way of Originating Summons, and being constrained by the Practice Directions so to do, this is how Counsel instituted Machina’s pre-election matter.

The Federal High Court Registry wouldn’t have accepted Machina’s court process for his pre-election matter; and the Federal High Court would have rightfully declined jurisdiction in this case, had Machina’s case had been brought by any means other than by way of an Originating Summons, as provided by the Court’s Practice Directions.

We are aware that where there are disputes in a matter, Writ of Summons is the process normally used to commence such action, but the Federal High Court Practice Directions do not require this usual originating process for pre-election matters. I submit that Machina’s case bordered on questions as to the unlawfulness (illegality) of not recognising

him as the winner of May 28 Primary and submitting his name to INEC (non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 (EA)). And, assuming but not conceding that there was a controversy arising from the provision of the Practice Directions and the normal rules of court, as to the type of originating process to be deployed, I submit that such controversy should have been resolved in Machina’s favour, and at best, been treated as an irregularity, because firstly, Machina was constrained to use Originating Summons by virtue of the Practice Directions, and secondly, because of the glaring facts of his case. In Ikpeazu v Otti 2015 18 N.W.L.R. Part 1490 Page 47 at 71-72 per Oseji JCA (as he then was), the Intermediate Court stated succinctly that “In all election matters, the use of technicalities merely helps to shut issues in controversy. Once it is agreed that election petitions are in a class of their own, the handling of the matter too, must take a form devoid of legal technicalities that tend to leave the litigants more confused”. I submit that the Supreme Court majority judgement in Machina’s should have been decided on the merits of the case, rather than a perceived error in procedure. See the case of Jim Nwobodo v Onoh 1984 1 S.C.N.L.R. 1 Page 195 per Uwais JSC (as he then was) where the Supreme Court stated thus: “It is the duty of the courts to hear them, without allowing technicalities to unduly fetter their jurisdiction”.

Space constraints do not allow for me to go into the whole case, but there are some facts therein which are glaring: 1) The Primary for the Yobe North Senatorial District took place on May 28, 2022, duly monitored by INEC and Machina won; Lawan did not participate in this Primary as he was a Presidential aspirant as at that day; 2) That Section 30 of the EA provides inter alia that a candidate for an election shall be nominated in writing by registered voters in the constituency; it doesn’t envisage a candidate being nominated for more than one election. See Section 115(1)(d) of the EA; How could Lawan be a Presidential aspirant on June 8 and transform into a Senatorial candidate the very next day, June 9?; 3) The May 28 Yobe North Senatorial Primary was never cancelled, and what would have been the valid reason for the cancellation, if it had been?; 4) Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2022 (EA) provides for only two situations in which a party can change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted as the candidate being sponsored by the Party, having emerged from a valid primary - Death and Withdrawal.

Though Machina’s name wasn’t submitted to INEC, he neither died, nor did he withdraw. What was the valid reason for any other primary? Because Senator Lawan failed to clinch the APC Presidential ticket, and had to have an elective position by all means? I submit that this reason doesn’t qualify as one of the reasons for change of candidates; 5) That Senator Lawan took part in theAPC Presidential Primary which took place on June 8, 2022; 6) That the Senatorial primaries which Lawan purportedly participated in allegedly took place on June 9, 2022, the day after the Presidential Primary and 12 days after the May 28 Primary and based on the questionable June 9 Primary, Lawan’s name was unlawfully submitted to INEC instead of Machina’s; 7) That in the event that a Party is holding a Primary election (not as a result of Section 33 where 14 days notice is required) as in the alleged June 9 Primary, Section 82(1) of the EA provides that INEC shall be given at least 21 days notice of such Primary, and from the three relevant dates, that is, May 28, June 8 & June 9, it is obvious that INEC was not given the requisite 21 days notice, because as of June 8, Lawan was still a Presidential aspirant, and if at all, no subsequent Yobe North Senatorial primary could lawfully and validly been held before June 30; 8) Consequently, Senator Ahmad Lawan could not have lawfully emerged as the APC Senatorial candidate for Yobe North.

Conclusion It is discouraging that with all the hullabaloo about the Electoral Act 2022 and electoral reform, they may not have the desired effect of improving Nigeria’s electoral process, as politicians are continuing with the old trajectory of electoral malpractice and political shenanigans, with even more gusto and aplomb. Going forward, how should pre-election matters be commenced? In pre-election matters, should Counsel engage in a fishing expedition, by applying to the court to order pleadings to be on the safe side, to forestall what happened in Machina’s case? Considering the fact that pre-election matters and election petitions seem to have come to stay in Nigeria’s legal jurisprudence, the judicial process must continually be fine-tuned until it becomes seamless.

Rather unfortunately, there seems to be no remedy left open to Machina, as far as judicial process is concerned.

See the dictum of Oputa JSC in Adegoke Motors Ltd & Anor v Adesanya & Anor 1989 3 N.W.L.R. Part 109 Page 250 at 274: “We are final not because we are infallible; rather, we are infallible because we are final”. However, also see the case of Iteogu v LPDC 2018 LPELR-43845(SC) on the instances in which the Apex Court has the discretion to set aside its own judgement.

IV

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023˾ T H I S D AY

Use of Arms: Whether Necessary to Ground Conviction for Armed Robbery Facts On the 8th day of April, 2015, at about 8pm, a three-man gang armed with guns, came on a motor cycle and attacked one Dosunmu Stephen, a DSS Officer on his way home from a government rally at Abusoro Area, Ijoka Road, Akure, and robbed him of his mobile phones.

PW1 was attacked by three persons who alighted from a motorcycle and took positions, one in front of PW1’s car, one at the back, while the third person who was masked went to the side windscreen and ordered PW1 to turn off the ignition of the car, handover the car key and phone to him. PW1 told the masked robber who had a gun pointed at him that there was money in the trunk of his car, and he would give them the money if only his life could be spared. The masked robber pushed PW1 to the trunk of the car, to get the money.

On getting there, PW1 while pretending to bring out the money, brought out his service rifle and shot the masked robber, while the robber in front of the car ran away. PW1 shot the Appellant at the back while trying to run away, and he fell from the motorcycle with the gun he was holding. With the aid of some security agents, the masked robber was taken to the mortuary, while the Appellant was taken to the hospital.

At the trial, the Prosecution called two witnesses and tendered Exhibits in proof of its case. The Appellant as the Defendant, testified on his own behalf and called one other witness who was more of a character witness than a witness of the crime. The trial court, in its judgement, found the Appellant guilty of the offence of armed robbery. He was convicted, and sentenced to death.

Dissatisfied with the verdict, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal, which court affirmed the conviction and sentence. Further aggrieved, the Appellant appealed to the Supreme Court.

not have any intention of committing the crime, while present at the scene of crime.

Relying on the decision in UMAR v THE STATE (2014) LPELR 23190 (SC), he urged the court to uphold the concurrent decision of the lower courts.

Honourable Chima Centus Nweze, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 2nd Day of December, 2022 ÏÐÙÜÏ ÒÏÓÜ ÙÜÎÝÒÓÚÝ Musa Dattijo Muhammad Chima Centus Nweze Uwani Musa Abba Aji Mohammed Lawal Garba Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju Justices, Supreme Court

Issue for Determination The sole issue considered by the Apex Court in its determination of the appeal was: Whether the Court of Appeal was right in upholding the judgement of the trial court, that the Respondent proved its case of armed robbery against the Appellant beyond reasonable doubt.

Arguments On the sole issue, counsel for the Appellant contended that the conviction and sentence of the Appellant, affirmed by the Court of Appeal, is not premised on the evidence contained in the printed record of appeal. He drew the attention of the appellate court to the findings of the lower court in the record of appeal, in support of his submission. Counsel posited that the lower court affirmed the judgement of the trial court, based on the fact that the Appellant fired a gun shot at PW1, and the presence of the Appellant with the other two guys at the scene of crime. He argued further that from the printed record, there is no iota of evidence to support the findings that the Appellant fired a gunshot at the victim. He added that PW1’s testimony, did not, at any point, give credence to the fact that the Appellant shot a gun fire either at the victim or any person, though he held a gun. He reasoned that the lower court lacked the power, to read into the printed record what is not contained therein. In his submission, the findings of the lower court in this regard, are perverse. He therefore, invited the court to interfere with the said findings, relying on OLUFEAGBA & ORS v ABDURAHEEM & ORS (2009) LPELR - 2613 (SC) 1, 23; F-B. Counsel contended that the third ingredient of the offence of armed robbery – that the Appellant was one of the robbers – which the trial

SC/845c/2019 Between ABIOLA OYEYEMI

APPELLANT ØÎ

THE STATE

RESPONDENT

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Chima Centus Nweze, JSC)

court held to have been established by the testimonies of PW1, is against the evidence on record before the court. He argued that by Exhibit D, which was tendered

by PW2, the Appellant was not the owner of the motorcycle which he rode on the day in question. He was merely asked to convey the deceased to the scene, and he was not holding a gun as alleged by PW1. Counsel submitted that the mere presence of the Appellant at the scene of the crime, is not proof that he committed the offence of armed robbery - YAKUBU MOHAMMED AND ANOR v THE STATE (1980) ALL NLR 138.

Responding, counsel argued on behalf of the Respondent that at the lower court, the Appellant had conceded that the Prosecution had established two of the three ingredients necessary to convict the Appellant. He added that the lower court had highlighted this fact, in the Record

“The essential ingredient of the offence of armed robbery….inter alia, is simply that, at the time of the robbery, the accused was carrying arms, or in company of any person carrying such arms, or any offensive weapons as defined by law. Whether there was shooting or not, or whether the Appellant carried the gun, triggered the shot, or even if it was not shot at all, is immaterial”

of Appeal. He submitted further that the Appellant stated in his examination-inchief, that he conveyed Dare Oluwateru (Soldier), to the scene of the crime as a commercial motorcyclist. He, the Appellant, claimed that Bishop (the deceased person), did not tell him he was going to rob.

Under cross-examination, the Appellant also reaffirmed being at the scene of the crime. He further pointed out that, the Appellant’s testimony corroborated PW1 and PW2’s testimonies before the lower court. Thus, the presence of the Appellant at the scene, where PW1 was robbed on April 8, 2015, is not in doubt; further, the Appellant was armed. The Appellant, at the trial court did not contradict the evidence led by the Respondent as to his presence at the scene of the crime where he sustained a gunshot injury, as well as evidence that two locally made guns were recovered at the crime scene.

The Appellant, in the learned counsel’s submission, had not shown that the above findings of the lower court were perverse. Counsel submitted further that the Prosecution, at the trial court, had established and proved the ingredients of armed robbery to warrant the conviction of the Appellant; the Respondent need not further prove the intention of the Appellant alone at the scene of the crime, and that he held a gun. Counsel posited further that it was apparent from the face of Exhibit D, that the Appellant knew the deceased person very well and they worked in concert. Hence, the Appellant could not turn around and say that he did

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the sole issue, the Supreme Court reiterated the attitude of the Supreme Court not to interfere with concurrent findings of facts by the trial court and Court of Appeal, unless such findings are shown to be perverse, erroneous or have occasioned a miscarriage of justice – SHOLA v STATE (2020) 8 NWLR (Pt. 1727) 530. Elucidating on the meaning of the word “perverse”, the Supreme Court referred to various English, legal texts and decided authorities, to explain when Lawyers can adequately have recourse to the time-worn phrase – “the decision of the lower court is perverse”.

Scrutinising the evidence on record before it, the Supreme Court affirmed the position that the testimony and credibility of PW1 remained unshaken throughout cross-examination, as he was able to clearly identify the Appellant as one of the robbers at the scene of crime, who was armed with a gun. The testimony of Appellant as to his presence at the scene of crime (though he alleged conveying another party there as a commercial motorcyclist), corroborated the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses.

The Supreme Court held that the argument put forward on behalf of the Appellant, that there is no evidence before the court that the Appellant shot a gun fire at PW1, stemmed from ignorance, as the issue of who shot amongst the robbers is not material. The essential ingredient of the offence of armed robbery by the provisions of Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, inter alia, is simply that, at the time of the robbery, the accused was carrying arms, or in company of any person carrying such arms, or any offensive weapons as defined by law. Whether there was shooting or not, or whether the Appellant carried the gun, triggered the shot, or even if it was not shot at all, is immaterial. The material fact is the holding of such arms, in such a way as to cause violence or instil fear of injury on the victim, against him or his property, and for that reason he (the victim) surrendered such property for fearing that he will be injured.

Therefore, whether the gun was real or not, loaded with bullets or not loaded, fired a shot with or not shot at all, the offence was armed robbery - BOBORINDE v STATE (2013) LPELR-21896 (SC).

In this case, the testimonies showed, unequivocally, that the Appellant was at the scene of the crime when the robbery took place, and had a gun on him. The objective behind the use or display of a gun by the robbers, was to intimidate or scare the victim, PW1, to surrender his properties by force. That objective was accomplished, when PW1, for fear of being killed, began begging the masked robber and after having surrendered the car key and phones to them, informed the masked robber of the location of the money at the trunk of the car. The essential ingredients required to be established to prove the offence of armed robbery beyond reasonable doubt, as outlined in several cases, were found established by the Respondent beyond reasonable doubt – AFOLALU v STATE (2016) 16 NWLR (Pt. 1220) 584. Given the foregoing, the Supreme Court held that the Appellant was unable to convince the Supreme Court, to set aside the concurrent findings of the lower courts.

Appeal Dismissed; Conviction and Sentence Affirmed.

Representation Musiban A. Adetunbi, SAN with M.O. Folorunsho, Esq for the Appellant.

Shehu J. Abdullahi, Esq. for the Respondent.

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

V

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

My Brief by SKB STEPHEN KOLA-BALOGUN

stephenkolabalogun@yahoo.com

The Dividing Line Between Positive and Negative Judicial Activism Introduction he primary limitation of judicial review in its wider context, lies within the concept of judicial activism. At the same time, it is becoming ever more apparent that when the courts over-reach without good intention, negative activism takes over. Within this concept of negative judicial activism lies all the limitations of judicial review, especially when it comes to evaluating those cases where this concept is not properly applied. The above observation is perhaps, best encapsulated in two decisions of the Supreme Court and one by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) Abuja, all of which were handed down last week.

I will now in turn proceed to analyse each of these three controversial judgements.

SC/CBN/1689/2023: All Progressives Congress v Bashir Sheriff, Ahmad Lawan & INEC In a split decision of 3:2 the Supreme Court declared Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, as the APC Senatorial candidate for Yobe North Senatorial district in the forthcoming elections.

In its judgement delivered on Monday the 6th of February, 2023, the Supreme Court allowed the appeal filed by the APC against Bashir Machina’s candidature; three out of a five man Supreme Court panel decided that the suit at the trial court ought not to have been commenced by Originating Summons, since according to them, it contained allegations of fraud.

The lead judgement which was delivered by Hon. Chima Centus Nweze JSC, the majority decision faulted the approach of Bashir Machina in commencing the suit at the Federal High Court by Originating Summons, because oral evidence could not possibly be led to prove allegations of fraud. In such situations, the Court pointed out there is always a need to call witnesses to prove these allegations of fraud.

The Supreme Court also set aside the decision of the Appeal Court, Gombe Division, which affirmed the decision of the trial court declaring Machina the Senatorial Candidate for Yobe North Senatorial district, and instead, pronounced Senator Ahmed Lawan as the authentic APC Senatorial candidate for Yobe North.

T

Evaluation and Analysis In my humble opinion, it is difficult not to fault the reasoning of the Supreme Court in this case. To begin with, this was an appeal in which the APC as a Party was arguing against itself, in that it never cancelled the initial Primaries. How absurd. Secondly, any passing reference to fraud as observed by the Supreme Court, is not enough to vitiate the Respondent/Plaintiff’s case, especially since the Originating Summons was predicated on more than just fraud. What’s the justification for throwing out an entire case, for merely making reference to the word fraud? The Prayers of the Respondent in the Originating Summons was centred more on Unlawfulness, and the fact that INEC and the APC were acting contrary to the new Electoral Act 2022. Neither unlawfulness or Illegality, require you to necessarily give evidence. It’s sufficient to show that one acted contrary to relevant legislation, in this case the new Electoral Act 2022. To ignore this fundamental point, and hinge the Respondent/Plaintiff’s case on a passing reference to fraud, is perverse in the extreme.

The Federal High Court has also issued a practice direction to the effect that all pre-election cases brought to Court under the Electoral Act 2022, must be initiated

by Originating Summons. This means that a Plaintiff will not be allowed to file his papers at the Court Registry, unless he complies with this Federal High Court Practice direction. This meant the Respondent had no other alternative or choice. Surely, the Supreme Court knew this fact. The Supreme Court also ought to know that the Federal High Court Rules and indeed, other High Court Civil Procedure Rules empower Judges to order Claimants to convert Originating Summons applications to a writ, whenever evidence needs to be adduced to prove facts that can’t be settled by affidavit evidence. In short, the onus is more on the Judge than the litigant. So, what really is the Supreme Court’s point? The Supreme Court should have ordinarily, discountenanced any passing reference to fraud since it wasn’t even included in Machina’s prayers before the

various Courts. In any case, why visit the error of Counsel or Court as the case may be on the litigant, and leave him without a remedy due to no fault of his own?

The Supreme Court must have equally deduced that the APC Presidential Primary which Senator Lawan participated in was on the 8th of June, 2022; yet, Senator Lawan is supposed to have won a new NWCAPC Primary for Yobe North Senatorial district on the 9th of June, one day after the Presidential Primaries in which he was an active participant and candidate. How was this possible or lawful, since you can’t participate in two Primaries for two different positions at the same time under the Act? The Electoral Act 2022 clearly states under Section 82(1) that 21 days notice must be given to INEC before a Primary can be conducted. This can be reduced to 14 days under Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2022 in the event of death or withdrawal, neither of which seem to apply in this case. We also know, as we have already noted earlier, that the APC never officially communicated to anyone that it had cancelled its first Primary conducted on 28th May, 2022. These are the pertinent issues which have been proven through the facts, and makes it completely illogical to say the very least, for the Supreme Court to declare Senator Lawan as the authentic candidate of the Yobe North Senatorial district seat. This judgement take’s negative judicial activism, to a completely new level.

The Naira Redesign Matter: Case 1 & 2 Case 1: Political Parties v President, CBN & Ors at the FCT High Court In a Motion Ex- Parte application before Hon Justice Eneojo Eneche, the Claimants were granted an Interim order restraining the Defendants from stopping, extending or interfering with the currency redesign and terminal date of 10th February, 2023, or from Issuing any directive contrary to the 10th of February, 2023 deadline amongst other orders. The interim order which was granted on 6th February, 2023 was valid for 7 days, and the Court adjourned the Suit till today for a hearing of all concerned Parties.

Analysis By virtue of Section 251 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, the FCT High Court Abuja clearly had no jurisdiction to grant the above interim order, neither do the political parties have locus standi to file this action at the FCT High Court. Since however, an order of court is binding until set aside, the Defendants have to comply with the order until it is possibly set aside or made the subject of an appeal. Once again, this is yet another example of negative judicial activism.

“The CBN has circulated an opinion viewed by many online, to the effect that it doesn’t think it is bound by the Supreme Court’s Interim order. Even if true, as I am more or less arguing, it would be a fundamental mistake to ignore the Supreme Court’s interim directives, in that, all court orders must be obeyed until set aside”

Case 2: 3 AGs v AGF at the Supreme Court In this suit as filed, the three States in question were granted an interim order temporarily halting any move by the Federal Government and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to phase out the old N200, N500 and N1, 000 currency notes as from 10th February, 2023.

The interim order is due to expire on 15th February, 2023, after which all arguments involving the Parties will be heard. Under Section 232(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Supreme Court shall, to the exclusion of any other court, have original jurisdiction in any dispute between the Federation and a State or between States, if and in so far as that dispute involves any question ( whether of law or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends or under Section 232(2) of the Constitution and by extension the Supreme Court Additional Jurisdiction Act 2002, between the National Assembly and the President; the National Assembly and any State House of Assembly, or the National Assembly and a State of the Federation.

Original jurisdiction means the Supreme Court can entertain this suit at first instance.

Analysis Kaduna, Zamfara and Kogi State Governments brought this suit, by invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has granted them an interim order of injunction which expires on the 15th of February, 2023, when all arguments as to whether the Supreme Court has jurisdiction or not to hear this suit will be taken.

The Central Bank is not a party to the proceedings, since if it were a party, it couldn’t be instituted at the Supreme Court. Instead, the suit would have ordinarily in such circumstances be instituted at the Federal High Court, because suits in which the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is invoked can only have State Governments, the Federal Government or the National Assembly as parties and no other. The moment you add any other party other than those specified, above the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction cannot be utilised.

This suit as filed raises two fundamental issues in my view.

Firstly, is there any real dispute before the Supreme Court, if the CBN is not belng joined or made a Party? Section 20(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN ) Act 2007 states : “(3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the bank shall have power, if directed to do so by the President and after giving reasonable notice on that behalf, to call in any of its notes or coins on payment of the face value thereof and any note or coin with respect to which a notice has been given under this sub-section, shall, on the expiration of the notice, cease to be legal tender, but, subject to the Section 22 of this Act, shall be redeemed by the Bank upon demand” There is an essential difference between the President’s consent or directive to the CBN under Section 20(3) of the CBN Act, and a dispute between the Federation and States that can invoke the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Section 232 (1) of the Constitution. It can’t by any stretch of imagination be deemed to be the same thing.

The Supreme Court Additional Jurisdiction Act

2002, makes reference to disputes between the President and the National Assembly. Neither the Constitution or the Supreme Court Additional Jurisdiction Act make reference to disputes between States and any agency of Government. Furthermore, the President’s directive to the CBN under Section 20(3) above, has already been granted. All the courts can now do under the circumstances, is to judicially review that directive or consent and assess and ensure that it wasn’t exercised illegally, irrationally or without following due process or procedures Secondly how can you enforce an order of court against the CBN, if it is not a Party? The CBN is autonomous, and no longer under the Ministry of Finance. In 1997 the Federal Government of Nigeria enacted the CBN (Amendment Decree No. 3 and BOFID (Amended)] Decree No. 4 to remove completely the limited autonomy which the Bank enjoyed since 1991. The 1997 amendments brought the CBN back under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance, but the CBN (Amendment) Decree No. 37 of 1998 repealed the CBN (Amended) Decree No. 3 of 1997. This Decree once again provided a measure of operational autonomy to the CBN to carry out its traditional functions, and enhanced its versatility.

It is therefore, not sufficient, in my view, to merely join the Attorney-General of the Federation in the present circumstances, in order to bind the CBN. The CBN has circulated an opinion viewed by many online, to the effect that it doesn’t think it is bound by the Supreme Court’s Interim order. Even if true, as I am more or less arguing, it would be a fundamental mistake to ignore the Supreme Court’s interim directives, in that, all court orders must be obeyed until set aside. All the Supreme Court would need to do if the CBN adopts such a recalcitrant stance, is to deny the Attorney-General a hearing until its order is complied with. This would instantly place the Attorney-General, the CBN Governor and the CBN itself in contempt of court, while the interim measures put in place by the Supreme Court would continue to be the official law in place.

Conclusion The real cause of all this judicial chaos, stems from the aversion of the Nigerian Lawyer to judicial review proceedings. We don’t quite understand or know how to utilise it. Neither do we appreciate its benefits. All our rules of court have judicial review embedded in them, but they are never really utilised.

The Abuja High Court decision, was another issue that may have precipitated the Supreme Court’s positive judicial activism. The Parties that went to court had no locus standi, neither did the court have the jurisdiction to make the interim orders it did; so, this means an appeal would have to be lodged to keep the decision in abeyance. In short and in reality, there is was no time to do all this, hence, the Supreme Court’s timely intervention.

In my opinion, this case as filed at the Supreme Court will almost certainly be thrown out (I may yet be proven wrong ) at a full hearing of all Parties concerned, but they have at least bought us valuable time. The Lawyers should therefore, be preparing for their next move which ideally, should be an application for judicial review at the Federal High Court. If the application is made and a stay of proceedings also obtained, that may just bring this entire fiasco to a temporary halt, and buy us all the valuable time that ordinarily, any policy of currency change by the Government ought to have anticipated.

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CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

Does the Supreme Court Have Original Jurisdiction Over Naira Deadline Case?

The epic battle over the retention or ban of old Naira currency notes in the 200, 500 and 1,000 denominations shifted to the Supreme Court last week, when the Attorneys-General of three States, Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara approached the Apex Court on the issue of the deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for them to cease to be legal tender, by virtue of the directive of the President for same. The Attorney-General of the Federation promptly joined the fray, by challenging the jurisdiction of the Apex Court to entertain the case. Although, the Supreme Court in a considered ruling, issued an interim order restraining the Federal Government either by itself or acting through the CBN, Commercial Banks and others from banning the use of the old Naira notes on February 10, 2023 pending the hearing of the motion on notice adjourned till tomorrow, Femi Falana, SAN, Sylvester Udemezue, Sam Kargbo, SAN and Inibehe Effiong in this Special Edition, share their different views on the exercise of the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in this matter. This is Crossfire!

Currency Redesign Case: Apex Court Has Original Jurisdiction –Femi Falana, SAN Introduction

I

n 1984, the Buhari military junta changed the colour of the Naira. Although the population of the country at the material time was 81 million, bank customers and other citizens were given only two weeks to deposit old notes and replace them with new ones. The maximum amount that was allowed to be withdrawn at the material time, was N5,000. The poor implementation of the policy destroyed businesses and caused untold hardships, including loss of lives in many parts of the country. The policy was not challenged in any court of law, because the country was under a neo-fascist military junta.

Having not studied the shoddy implementation of the reckless 1984 currency policy, the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, had on October 26, 2022, announced

the decision of the Central Bank to redesign, produce and circulate new series of the N200, N500, and N1,000 denominations. Mr Emefiele had said that the move would help to manage money supply, tackle currency counterfeiting and terrorism, among others. The CBN gave a period of about 100 days for bank customers in a country of 223 million people to deposit the old Naira notes, and collect the redesigned notes.

However, the failure of the banks to replace the old Naira notes with new ones, has unleashed untold hardship on the masses. The escapist explanation is that some fifth columnists are responsible for the unprecedented scarcity of the Naira, fuel scarcity and skyrocketing rise in fuel prices on the eve of the 2023 general elections.

Sporadic peaceful protests have erupted throughout the country, as the fuel and currency scarcity is

“Even though the CBN knew that enough new currency notes had not been printed, it directed millions of customers to deposit their old notes in the Banks and collect the new notes from the ATM”

Naira Redesign and Swap: Supreme Court Lacks Original Jurisdiction –Sylvester Udemezue Issues relating to whether or not a court of law has jurisdiction are fundamental, and lack of jurisdiction is fatal. See OTUKPO v JOHN (2000) 8 NWLR (669) 507; BRONIK MOTORS v. WEMA BANK (1983)6 S.C. 158. In the Supreme Court case of MADUKOLU v NKEMDILIM (1962) 1 ALL NLR 589, the Supreme Court provided the following guide for determining whether a court has jurisdiction. Hon Justice Vahe Bairamian (FJ) while delivering the lead judgement in that, case stated as follows: “Put briefly, a court is competent when: (1) the court is properly constituted as regards numbers and qualifications of the members of the Bench, and no member is disqualified for one reason or another; and (2) the subject matter of the case is within its jurisdiction, and there is no feature in the case which prevents the court from exercising its jurisdiction: and (3) the case comes before the court initiated by due process of law, and upon fulfilment of any condition precedent to the exercise of jurisdiction. Any defect in competence is fatal, for the proceedings are a nullity, however well conducted and decided: the defect is extrinsic to the adjudication”.

Background Now, in October 2022, the Central Bank of

Nigeria rolled out the Naira Redesign and Daily Cash Withdrawal Limit policies, announcing 31 January, 2023 as the deadline for use of old Naira Notes (N1,000, N500, and N200 notes) in Nigeria.

The deadline was however, later extended to 10 February, 2023. Meanwhile, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kogi States filed a case at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, against the Attorney-General of the Federation, challenging the polices and asking the Supreme Court to restrain the Federal Government from enforcing the 10 February, 2023 deadline on Naira swap. The Supreme Court has granted an ex parte order, directing that the new Naira notes and the old ones should continue to coexist until 15 February, 2023 when the Motion on Notice in the case would be heard.

Does the Supreme Court Have Jurisdiction in the Matter?

My worry is, does the Supreme Court of Nigeria have jurisdiction in this matter? I respectfully answer the question in the negative, with due respect, for the following reasons: The Naira Redesign and Daily Cash Withdrawal Limit policies, are policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Only the Federal High Court has jurisdiction in disputes arising from or related to Central Bank policies, and anything having to do with the Naira as the Legal Tender in Nigeria. Section 251(1)(d) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 provides: “Notwithstanding anything to

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Femi Falana, SAN

Sylvester Udemezue

Currency Redesign Case: Apex Court Has Original Jurisdiction –Femi Falana, SAN

Naira Redesign and Swap: Supreme Court Lacks Original Jurisdiction –Sylvester Udemezue

cont'd fron page VIII

Thus, the Federal Government has shirked its obligation to guarantee the security and welfare of the Nigerian people, as provided under Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

President Buhari has personally witnessed the anger of the people in Katsina and Kano State, where many youths stoned the Presidential convoy. In the midst of the mass anger, the President gave assurance that the Federal Government would ensure that citizens were unharmed in their businesses, and no disruption is caused to the entire supply chain arising from the currency swap due to end shortly. But, contrary to the assurance, citizens have been harmed already, while their businesses have been disrupted. To prevent physical attack on management staff and employees by aggrieved customers, some Banks have suspended operations until further notice.

Presidential Approval for Redesigned Currency Notes When the Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed claimed that she was not consulted before the announcement of the policy, Mr Emefiele said that the Board of the Central Bank had sought and obtained the approval of the President in line, with Section 20 of the Central Bank Act. The approval was confirmed

by President Buhari, who stated that the policy was designed to stop the monetisation of the 2023 elections.

The people of Nigeria hailed the policy, but demanded for adequate time to replace the old currency notes with new ones.

Even though the CBN knew that enough new currency notes have not been printed, it directed millions of customers to deposit their old notes in the Banks and collect the new notes from the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM). But, the ATMs have no new notes to dispense to customers. Hence, the long queues in the banks. The situation is worse in the rural areas, where majority of people have no bank accounts. The crisis has engendered mass anger in all the States of the Federation, and Federal Capital Territory. Consequently, some bank employees have been attacked, as Bank buildings have been damaged by angry customers.

The deadline for currency swap, was January 31.

It was later extended to February 10. And, during his meeting with APC Governors last week, the President gave a 7-day extension within which to resolve the twin crises of currency and fuel scarcity.

The intervention of the President is in line with Section 20(3) of the Central Bank Act which provides that "Notwithstanding Sub-sections (1) and (2) of this section, the Bank shall have power, if directed to do so by the President and after giving reasonable notice in that behalf, to call in any of its notes or coins on payment of the face value thereof and any note or coin with respect to which a notice has been given under this Sub-section, shall, on the expiration of the notice, cease to be legal tender, but, subject to section 22 of this Act, shall be redeemed by the Bank upon demand.”

Furthermore, in exercise of his power under the Constitution, the President summoned a meeting of the Council of State for advice on the resolution of the currency scarcity crisis. The Council advised the President to direct the CBN to print more money, and if it is unable to do so, to allow the use of the old and new notes to reduce the suffering of citizens.

The Governors of the 36 States of the Federation are

members of the Council of State. The President has equally held a meeting with the heads of the anti-graft agencies and two Governors, that is, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor Abubakar Bagudu the chairman of the APC Governors Forum.

Dispute Between States and Federal Government Completely dissatisfied with the denial of access to accounts of public institutions, corporate bodies and individual citizens the Governments of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara States dragged the Federal Government over the constitutional validity of the Naira redesign policy. Not a few Lawyers have questioned the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to hear and determine the case of the Attorney-General of Kaduna State & 2 Ors v Attorney-General of the Federation, on the ground that there is no dispute between the Federal Government and the Plaintiffs. As far as they are concerned, the dispute is between the Plaintiffs and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Lawyers have referred to the case of Attorney-General of Lagos State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2014) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1412) 217 which pertained to the operation of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) against an agency of Lagos State Government, which the Federal Government contended accrued to it. With respect, the case of the Attorney-General of Lagos State v Attorney-General of the Federation (Supra), is completely irrelevant to the facts of this case.

In that case, the President was not involved in the operations of the statutory functions of the FIRS. But, in this case, the President approved the issuance of the redesigned Naira notes. He also approved the deadline for depositing the old currency notes, as well as the restriction of cash withdrawal to facilitate the demonetisation of the 2023 general elections.

It is curious to note that Lawyers have not cited the case of Attorney-General of Lagos State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2005) 2 WRN 1 which pertained to the directive of President Olusegun Obasanjo to the Minister of Finance to seize the statutory allocations of the Lagos State Local Government Councils over the creation of 57 additional local governments.

Even though it was found that the establishment of Local Government Councils was inchoate, the Supreme Court declared the seizure of the funds belonging to the Local Government Councils illegal and unconstitutional.

It is pertinent to draw attention to Section 39 of the CBN Act, which provides that the CBN may act as banker to States and Local Governments and to funds, institutions or corporations established by Federal, State and Local Governments, while Section 40 thereof stipulates that the Bank may act generally as agent for the Federal Government, State Governments or Local Governments. It is the case of the Plaintiffs that new currency policy of the Defendant, has had deleterious effect on the operations of their accounts in the CBN and other commercial banks in the country.

It is therefore submitted that, the main

the contained in this Constitution and in addition to such other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly, the Federal High Court shall have and exercise jurisdiction to the exclusion of any other court in civil causes and matters — connected with or pertaining to banking, banks, other financial institutions, including any action between one bank and another, any action by or against the Central Bank of Nigeria arising from banking, foreign exchange, coinage, Legal Tender , bills of exchange, letters of credit, promissory notes and other fiscal measures…”. Thus, it is submitted that the proper court to have filed the case is the Federal High Court, and not the Supreme Court. Besides, it is submitted that, the proper party to sue is the CBN. Section 232 (1)(a) of the Constitution, 1999, provides that “The Supreme Court shall, to the exclusion of any other Court, have original jurisdiction in any dispute between the Federation and a State or between States if and in so far as that dispute involves any question (whether of law or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends”. In line with this section, there must be a live dispute between the Federation and a State, or between two States, before the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court can be activated. It’s submitted that in the present scenario, there is no dispute between the Federation and any of Kaduna/Zamfara/ Kogi States over the Naira Redesign and Daily Cash Withdrawal Limit policies. These policies are policies of the Central Bank; the Supreme Court in its original jurisdiction, has no business with the case. And, if any State in Nigeria has any problems with the deadline fixed by the CBN, the State is free to drag the CBN before the Federal High Court. After all, the CBN is not immune from Civil actions; Section 1(2) of the CBN Act provides that the CBN may sue or be sued. In my opinion, one major problem is that it appears some people are used to confusing the term Federation with Federal Government or the Office of the President. In AG Kano v AG Federation (2007) 3 SC (PT 1) the Supreme Court explained that “The word “Federation” in Section 232 of the 1999 Constitution bears the same meaning as “Federal Republic of Nigeria” or“Federation of Nigeria”. The Plaintiffs’ claim did not accuse the Federation of Nigeria or the Federal Republic of Nigeria of taking any action against the Hisbah Law of Kano State or the operation of the Hisbah Corps in Kano State; or of arresting and detaining

commanders of the Hisbah Corps in Kano State. There was no dispute between Kano State in its status as a component unit of the Federation and the unit of the Federation itself” - per Mohammed JSC at 38.

With due respect to the AG’s of Kaduna State, et al, the Attorney-General of the Federation is the proper Defendant or Plaintiff only in suits against or by the Federation; a quarrel over the action of the CBN in respect of the Legal Tender does not qualify as or translate to a dispute between a State and the Federation as provided for in Section 232(1) of the Constitution, to justify the filing of the case at the Supreme Court. In the same A.G. Kano State v A.G. Federation (Supra), the Attorney-General of Kano State had dragged the AG of the Federation to the Supreme Court over an action taken by the Inspector-General of Police, and Mahmud Mohammed, JSC (as he then was) held, while dealing with the … provisions of Section 232(1) in the lead judgement that: “Any complaints against the Government of the Federation or any person who exercises power or authority on its behalf like the Inspector-General of Police as asserted by the learned senior for the Plaintiff in his address before this Court, are completely outside the jurisdiction of this Court”. Continuing, the Apex Court said: “The statement of claim disclosed a dispute between the Government of Kano State and its Agencies, and the Government of the Federation through the Inspector-General of Police and Minister of Information, exercising their power or authority on behalf of the Government of the Federation. The venue for settlement of such disputes (i.e. against Inspector-General of Police and Minister of Information), was in the various courts of first instance whose jurisdictions were clearly outlined in the same 1999 Constitution – and not the Supreme Court” - per Mohammed, JSC at Page 38.

Another question is whether the ex parte order made by the Supreme Court of Nigeria is binding on the Central Bank of Nigeria or on any of the Commercial Banks in Nigeria, in view of the fact that neither the Central Bank nor the Commercial Banks are a party to the case at the Supreme Court?

It is a settled principle of law, that an order of court binds only parties to the case before the court. It’s a principle of joinder of parties.

Thus, if a person is not joined, that person is deemed to not be a party to the case, and is therefore, not bound by any order made in the case or the outcome of the case. See Babatola v Aladejana (2001) 6 SC 124. Section 1(3) or the Central Bank Act 2007 provides that the Central cont'd on page VIII

“My worry is, does the Supreme Court of Nigeria have jurisdiction in this matter? I respectfully answer the question in the negative….”

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Currency Redesign Case: Apex Court Has Original Jurisdiction Naira Redesign and Swap: Supreme Court Lacks Original Jurisdiction –Sylvester Udemezue –Femi Falana, SAN cont'd from page VII

dispute between the Federal Government and the affected State Governments, is that the issuance of redesigned Naira notes by the Central Bank with the approval of the President, and the deadline approved by the President for the currency swap, as well as insufficiency of the new currency notes have created economic crisis in Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara State.

Furthermore, the restriction of the amount of cash withdrawals from the bank accounts of the State Governments approved by the President, has also constituted a dispute between the Federal Government and the Plaintiffs.

In view of the foregoing, it is grossly misleading to contend that the Supreme Court lacks the jurisdictional competence to hear and determine the case of Attorney-General of Kaduna State & 2 Ors v Attorney-General of the Federation. In other words, to the extent that the President gave approval for the issuance of the new currency notes and approval for the extension of the deadline for the deadline of February 10, 2023 for the currency swap, as well as approval for the restriction of cash withdrawals, it is indisputable that the dispute is completely outside the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

Printing of Redesigned Naira Notes Without Appropriation It was recently reported that Mrs Aisha Ahmad, Deputy Governor, of the Financial System Stability Directorate of the Apex Bank, who represented the CBN Governor before a House of Representatives Committee, disclosed that N500 million worth of new currency notes had been ordered from the mint. She however, failed to answer questions on how much was expended to produce the same. The National Assembly members ought to have drawn her attention to Section 59 of the Constitution, which requires the President to submit a money bill for appropriation of the fund for printing the redesigned currency notes.

In Dr Uzor Ikebudu v Central Bank of Nigeria (Suit No FHC/L/CS/343/2013), the Federal High Court declared that the refusal to submit its budget for appropriation by the National Assembly, was illegal and unconstitutional. The court proceeded to grant a perpetual injunction, restraining the Central Bank from failing or refusing to submit its budget to the National Assembly for appropriation on a yearly basis. But, in defiance of the judgement of the Federal High Court and in utter breach of the Constitution, the CBN has been spending trillions of Naira to print currency notes without appropriation by the National Assembly.

Ex Parte Order Granted by the Supreme Court By virtue of Section 22 of the CBNAct which provides that the CBN shall redeem old currency notes, I had

said that the deadline of February 10 given by the CBN for the currency swap was not sacrosanct. When Mr Emefiele appeared before the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee looking into the implementation of the policy on January 31, he said commercial banks must accept the old Naira notes even after the expiration of the 10 February deadline.

He has since turned round to state that, only the CBN could redeem the old currency notes after the deadline.

The Supreme Court was therefore, on a strong legal wicket when it granted the ex parte order to halt the deadline of February 10 and fixed the hearing of the substantive suit to February 15. In other words, having been seized of the matter, the Apex Court acted under its Rules in intervening by granting the ex parte order to preserve the res. The judicial intervention is justified by the decision of the Apex Court to hear the case with dispatch, in spite of the several time bound appeals which are currently being attended to by their Lordships.

Why CBN Must Comply With the Ex Parte Order Granted by the Supreme Court Apparently, with the support of some Lawyers, the Authorities of the CBN said that they would not comply with the ex parte order issued by the Supreme Court, on the ground that the CBN is not a party to the case of Attorney-General of Kaduna State & 2 Ors v Attorney-General of the Federation (Suit No: SC/CV/162/2023).

It is pertinent to remind the Management of the CBN of the case of Nkwo Augustine Eddiego v Board of Central Bank of Nigeria (Suit No: HCIK/38/2022), where the Delta State High Court granted an ex parte order, which restrained the Defendants from preventing the Governor of the CBN from seeking political office pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice in the case.

Even though Mr Emefiele was not a party to the suit, he took advantage of the ex parte order to join the APC to contest the presidential primary of the APC before he was stopped by President Buhari. Similarly, in the case of Incorporated Trustees of the Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership v Attorney-General of the Federation & Ors. (Suit No: FCT/HC/ GAR/CV/41/2022) the High Court of the

“….the main dispute between the Federal Government and the affected State Governments, is that the issuance of redesigned Naira notes by the Central Bank with the approval of the President, and the deadline approved by the President for the currency swap, as well as insufficiency of the new currency notes have created economic crisis in Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara State”

Bank of Nigeria “is an independent body in the discharge of its functions”. Further, Section 17 of the CBN Act provides that “The Bank shall have the sole right of issuing currency notes and coins throughout Nigeria and neither the Federal Government nor any State Government, Local Government other person or authority shall issue currency notes, bank notes or coins or any documents or token payable to bearer on demand being document or token which are likely to pass as legal tender”. Section 19(1) (b) provides that “The currency notes and coins issued by the Bank shall be of such forms and designs and bear such devices as shall be approved by the President on the recommendation of the Board”.

Section 20(1) of the CBN Act provides that “The currency notes issued by the Bank shall be the legal tender in Nigeria at their face value for the payment of any amount”. Section 20(3) of the CBN Act provides that “….the bank shall have power, if so directed by the President and after giving reasonable notice in that behalf, to call in any of its notes or coins on payment of the face value thereof and any note or coins with respect to which a notice has been given under this subsection shall, on the expiration of the notice, cease to be the legal tender, but subject to section 22 of this Act, shall be redeemed by the Bank upon demand”. From the above it appears that the CBN has the responsibility and power to issue a legal tender for Nigeria and to redesign any denomination of the legal Tender. Also, fixing of deadline for cessation of validity of the old Naira notes are issues falling within the sole powers of the CBN under the President’s directive, pursuant to Sections 19(1) (b) and 20(3) of the CBN Act. Accordingly, one is surprised that anyone who has a complaint or grievance in respect of either the redesign of the legal tender by the CBN, could commence such a case at the Supreme Court.

Section 251(1)(d) of the Constitution doesn’t mince words that every dispute arising from or related to the Legal Tender, including Naira redesign and phasing out, must be commenced at the Federal High Court. Besides, the CBN is a necessary party to such a suit. Further, the declaration of the Supreme Court in AG Kano v AG Federation (Supra) leaves no one in doubt: the Hon. AGF has no business whatsoever with the suit. And to this end, two major suggestions are made: While the CBN is a necessary party to the suit, actions cannot be commenced or maintained against the CBN at the Supreme Court of Nigeria in its original jurisdiction. Perhaps, this is why the Plaintiffs carefully avoided joining the CBN, an essential party to the suit. But, then, in leaving the CBN out, the Plaintiffs still fell into a grave error of dragging to the Supreme Court, a suit legally suitable for only the Federal High Court. In AG Kano v AG FEDERATION (Supra), the Supreme Court clarified that “The relief claimed by the Plaintiff was against the Inspector-General of Police, who was not subject to the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. The jurisdiction of that Court could not be invoked in the absence of a justiciable dispute between the parties, and where the Defendant was not the Federal Republic of Nigeria” - per Mohammed JSC

at 38.

A combined reading of Sections 17 to 20 of the CBN Act appears to suggest that the job of Naira Redesign, and fixing a deadline when old Naira notes would cease to be legal tender, is the business of the CBN, even if the deadline is fixed by the CBN under a directive of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. CBN is accordingly, a necessary party to any dispute arising from any such issues.

Aside from the CBN which is an essential party to the suit, the only other person who may be properly joined to the suit is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, considering his role as set out in Section 20(3) of the CBN Act (supra).

Luckily, the Office of the President is a Corporation Sole capable of suing and being sued in its official capacity in a Court of law, subject to Section 308 of the Constitution. Section 308(2) provides: “The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to civil proceedings against a person to whom this section applies in his official capacity, or to civil or criminal proceedings in which such a person is only a nominal party”.

There appears to be no provision in any extant law in Nigeria, authorising or permitting any State in Nigeria to commence any action against the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the Supreme Court. Actions against the Office of the President may only be commenced at the Supreme Court by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by virtue of Section 1 of the Supreme Court (Additional Original Jurisdiction) Act, 2002, made pursuant to the Constitution, which creates three additional instances in which an action may be commenced at the Supreme Court in its original jurisdiction: (i) dispute between the National Assembly and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; (ii) dispute between the National Assembly and a State; and (iii) dispute between the National Assembly and a State House of Assembly in Nigeria. In view of the aforesaid, the only forum at which an action may be maintained against the President of Nigeria in his official capacity is at the Federal High Court, the NICN or a State High Court, dependent on the circumstances. Thus, with regard to the present scenario, if Kaduna State et al have any grievance against Mr President in respect of his role in CBN’s redesign or swap of the legal tender (the Naira), the proper forum is the Federal High Court and not the Supreme Court.

Interestingly, in their bid to institute the case at the Supreme Court, the Plaintiffs (Kaduna, Zamfara and Kogi State) carefully excluded the President, and instead, went for the Hon. AGF. Unfortunately for them, while a State is entitled to invoke the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court against the AGF, there is a mandatory condition precedent to a State dragging the Hon, AGF before the Supreme Court: there must be a live dispute between the affected State and the Federation. In my opinion, if any dispute or grievance exists at all in the present scenario, it is an alleged grievance

by Kaduna, Zamfara and Kogi State against the CBN in respect of the latter’s redesign of the legal tender (pursuant to Section 19(1)(b) CBN Act) or in respect of the CBN fixing of a deadline (February cont'd on page IX

IX COVER

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

CROSSFIRE!

Sam Kargbo, SAN

Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN

Currency Redesign Case: Apex Court Has Original Jurisdiction –Femi Falana, SAN

Naira Redesign and Swap: Supreme Court Lacks Original Jurisdiction –Sylvester Udemezue

cont'd from page VIII

Federal Capital Territory granted an injunction, restraining the State Security Services from arresting, investigating and prosecuting Mr Emefiele for terrorism financing. Although, he was not a party to the suit Mr Emefiele has not been arrested by the State Security Services on the basis of the court order.

Therefore, it is height of arrogance of power for Mr Emefiele to treat the ex parte of the Supreme Court with provocative contempt. In view of the looming anarchy in the country, we are compelled to draw the attention of the Central Bank Management of the rule of law to the case of Attorney-General of Lagos State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2005) 2 WRN 1 at 109 where Tobi JSC of blessed memory cautioned all authorities and persons in Nigeria thus: “In a society where the rule of law prevails, self-help is not available to the executive or any arm of government. In view of the fact that such a conduct could breed anarchy and totalitarianism, and since anarchy and totalitarianism are antitheses to democracy, courts operating the rule of law, the life-blood of democracy, are under a constitutional duty to stand against such action.

“The courts are available to accommodate all sorts of grievances that are justiciable in law, and Section 6 of the Constitution gives the courts power to adjudicate on matters between two or more competing parties.

In our democracy all the governments of this country, as well as organisations and individuals must kowtow to the due process of the law, and this they can vindicate by resorting to the courts for redress in the event of any grievance.”

It is public knowledge that the Federal Government has filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, to hear and determine the case of the Attorney-General of Kaduna State & 2 Ors v Attorney-General of the Federation (Supra). In the interim, the Federal Government of Nigeria and its agencies, including the CBN, are bound by the valid and subsisting ex parte order of the Supreme Court of

Nigeria until it is set aside by the same court. The alternative is to compound the ongoing anarchy and chaos in the land.

10, 2023) beyond which the old Naira notes would cease to be legal tender (pursuant to Section 20(3) CBN Act).

Conclusion The currency and fuel crises constitute unprecedented challenge to the economic survival of ordinary people, that may threaten the 2023 elections which provide an opportunity for the people to choose a party considered to be representative of their aspirations.

The officials of the CBN and other banks involved in hoarding fuel and selling the new currency notes, should be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other economic saboteurs. However, since it is now clear that enough Naira notes have not been printed, the CBN should allow the old and new Naira notes to be legal tender in Nigeria. This suggestion is in line with Section 22 of the CBN Act, which permits the replacement of old currency notes with new ones after the deadline fixed by the CBN has expired.

Happily, the Supreme Court has decided to hear the case of the Attorney-General of Kaduna State & 2 Ors v Attorney-General of the Federation (Supra). It is hoped that the Apex Court will clarify the issues raised by the Plaintiffs, and the preliminary objection of the Defendant.

Whatever may be the outcome of the judgement of the court, the members of the ruling class should not be allowed to truncate the fragile democratic process. Therefore, all hands must be on deck to prevent the desperate enemies of democracy from unleashing anarchy and chaos on the people of Nigeria.

Finally, because of the poor implementation of the Naira design policy, the forthcoming elections may witness the worst case of vote-buying in the history of the country. Having completely starved people of their legitimate fund in the banks, the politicians who are alleged to have cornered the bulk of the money collected by the banks from the CBN, will buy votes with as little as N500 or less. And, that will be a tragic consequence of a good policy that has been poorly executed.

Federal High Court: The Proper Venue It appears that from whatever standpoint one looks at this matter, one would hardly deny that the current scenario revolves around Naira as Nigeria’s legal tender; thus, any dispute arising therefrom is fitting but only for the Federal High Court, pursuant to Section 251(1)(d) of the Constitution. Happily, Kaduna, Zamfara and Kogi State have the opportunity of validly maintaining an action against the principal actor in this scenario (the CBN), and (even if the Plaintiffs decide to join him) the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the Federal High Court, for purposes of ventilating their grievances, whatever their grievances are. In other words, it’s not as if the Plaintiffs in this scenario were/are legally hamstrung or otherwise frustrated, regarding finding the appropriate forum for ventilating their grievances. It is just that, as it appears, they chose to avoid the Federal High Court which is the court with exclusive original jurisdiction by virtue of Section 251(1)(d) of the Constitution, and also completely left out the CBN which is the principal actor in this scenario looking at Sections 17-20 of the CBN Act. One more interesting thing to note, especially with respect to the present scenario, is that the Plaintiffs appear to have completely also forgotten that Section 251(1)(d) of the Constitution is superior to any and all other provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, even in the case of conflict (save where the Constitution itself otherwise expressly provides). Section 251(1)(d) of the Constitution begins with the expression “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Constitution….”, thus, asserting its superiority over all other sections of the Constitution in respect of any dispute regarding or arising from anything revolving around the Naira as Nigeria’s legal tender.

Finally, the Plaintiffs completely forgot the legal implications of failure to join the necessary parties to a civil action such as this one.

(A) Can a State in Nigeria maintain a civil

Femi Falana, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer; Recipient of the Bernard Simmons Award of the International Bar Association

Attorneys-General of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara v AG Federation –Sam Kargbo, SAN The Essence of ‘Sub Judice’ I am old enough to know that this case is sub judice. Matters are considered to be sub judice (Latin for “under judge”), once they are before a court or Judge for determination. The proceedings of the case of the Attorneys-General of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara against the Attorney-General of the Federation became very active, and, therefore, sub judice the very moment the Supreme Court heard and determined the Ex-Parte Motion filed by those three Plaintiffs, and granted the interim reliefs they sought on 8 February, 2023.

May it, however, be noted that the principle of sub judice is not a gagging principle, and it does not seek to prevent or suppress the right of speech or the right of citizens to freely, and in public, comment on the subject of the suit.

What it seeks to prevent, is a parallel public trial that undermines the integrity of the court and

the respective rights of the parties. Remarks or views that seek to influence the proceedings or outcome of the proceedings, run afoul of the principle and constitute contempt of court.

Catch-22 It is in that spirit, that I will be cautious and tentative in expressing my views on the matter.

Many critics have already passed unfavourable verdicts on the case, principally for what, in the first place, they consider to be the failure of the Plaintiffs (the three Attorneys-General) to join the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the case. It is their view that the CBN is a necessary party, because the case cannot be fairly dealt with or properly resolved without the CBN being a party to it. If their view is correct, the Plaintiffs are faced with a catch-22. If they do not join the CBN, the case will be struck out. If they,

action against the CBN at the Federal High Court over the Naira Redesign, Daily Cash Withdrawal Limit or in respect of the deadline set by the CBN for old Naira notes to cease to be legal tender?

The answer is yes. See Section 251(1)(d).

(B) Can a State maintain a civil action at the Federal High Court against the President of Nigeria in his official capacity, over the deadline set by the CBN pursuant to the President’s directive in line with Section 20(3) of the CBN Act? The answer is yes, from all I’ve explained with relevant legal authorities, above.

One then wonders why the Plaintiffs proceeded to a court without jurisdiction, as against the Court that has jurisdiction, and which even affords the Plaintiffs the opportunity of joining all necessary parties [(1) the CBN, and probably (2) the President], so that the matter and all issues surrounding it could be exhaustively and justly determined with finality?

This is a question for the Plaintiffs to answer.

Conclusion Without prejudice to whatever their Lordships of the Supreme Court may choose to decide in the present case, (because their decision is supreme/ final), I respectfully submit, based on the above provisions, explanations and the reasons I have given, that the Supreme Court of Nigeria does not have Original jurisdiction to hear or entertain the suits filed at the Supreme Court by Kaduna, Zamfara, Kogi and any other State or States over the Naira Redesign and Daily Cash Withdrawal Limit policies recently announced by the CBN, or in respect of the deadline of 10 February set by the CBN pursuant to Section 20(3) of the CBN Act 2007, for old Naira notes to cease to be legal tender in Nigeria. It is respectfully, further submitted that, except where otherwise expressly stated in the Constitution, Section 251(1)(d) (which confers exclusive jurisdiction on the Federal High Court in all and any matters relating to the Naira as the Legal Tender of Nigeria) is superior to all other sections of the Constitution, including Section 232 which provides for the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, although there appears to be no conflict between Section 251(1)(d) and Section 232 of the Constitution.

Sylvester Udemezue, Legal Practitioner, Lagos cont'd on page X

“The power of the CBN to print banknotes and mint coins under Sections 18 and 19, is different from the power to act on the directive of Mr President on the withdrawal of old notes. That distinction is fundamentally relevant, to the cause of action of the three Attorneys-General”

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COVER

CROSSFIRE!

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu_Buhari, GCFR

Attorneys-General of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara v AG Federation –Sam Kargbo, SAN cont'd from page IX

however, join the CBN, the Supreme Court will hands-off the case and strike it out for want of jurisdiction.

I, for one, will always give a colleague who has taken his time to prepare an originating process the benefit of the doubt. If I were the Defendant’s counsel, I would always take my time to study his case as expressed in his pleadings.

Many of the informed commentators who have published their views on the matter, did not give our colleagues the benefit of the doubt. They just offhandedly dismiss the case, and thereby, ignore the fact that the Apex Court does not brook academic or frivolous cases. It is not an overgenerous Father Christmas, but one that must have considered whether on the face of it, it is properly constituted and has merit.

In the first place, it is a truism that extrapolations from analogous cases are not entirely helpful, where a case in issue has its nuance and a remarkable point of departure. It is my unfinished thought that the case of the three Attorneys-General comes with its peculiar slant that is worth examining.

Section 20 of the CBN Act Thankfully, the overarching issue is narrow and revolves around the interpretation of Section 20 of the CBN Act, 2007. My good friend, the lead counsel in the matter, demonstrated the skills of a warrior. His language is calm, but decisive. What he harps on – and what I suspect that those who spat on his process ignore – is the fact that unlike all other powers of the CBN, the power to recall banknotes and coins is performed only upon the Directive of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In that power, the CBN is only an agent of a known principal. For emphasis, I will hereby reproduce Section 20(3) of the Act: (3) Notwithstanding Sub-section (1) and (2) of this section, the Bank shall have power, if directed to do so by the President and after giving reasonable notice in that behalf, to call in any of its notes or coins on payment of the face value thereof and any note or coin with respect to which a notice has been given under this Sub-section, shall on the expiration of the notice, cease to be legal tender, but, subject to Section 22 of this Act, shall be redeemed by the Bank upon demand.

The power of the CBN to print banknotes and mint coins under Sections 18 and 19, is different from the power to act on the directive of Mr President on the withdrawal of old notes. That distinction is fundamentally relevant, to the cause of action of the three Attorneys-General.

Both Mr President and the Governor of CBN were relying on Section 20(3) of the CBN Act, when Mr President claimed the credit for the policy (to fight banditry and vote buying?), and

when the CBN Governor flew to Daura to seek Mr President’s approval for the extension of the deadline.

The proposition that the withdrawal of the old Naira notes is Mr President’s baby, and he should, therefore, be held accountable may not be entirely nonsensical.

The Apex Court may have to determine whether the relationship between Mr President and the CBN as regards the withdrawal of the old notes, constitutes that of "agency". In law, an agency can arise when a person called the agent acts on behalf of another called the principal, whereby the latter becomes answerable for the lawful acts of the former, carried out within the scope of his authority, as to affect the legal relations between the principal and a third party. If, and only if, the Apex Court finds that the CBN acted as an agent of Mr President, the question that will then arise is, if the failure to join the CBN is fatal to the case of the three Attorneys-General. It is the law that an agent acting on behalf of a known and disclosed principal, incurs no liability. This is because the act of the agent, is the act of the principal. The situation is as if it was the principal that did what the agent did, or omitted to do what the agent omitted to do. Simply put, he who does an act through another, is deemed in law to do it himself.

In the same vein, a disclosed principal can be sued for the actions of his agent.

Another issue that may impact the question of whether or not the three Attorneys-General properly activated the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, is the distinction between the provisions Section 232 and Section 251 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 on matters that concern the Federation or the Federal Government of Nigeria and/or it arms or agencies. The subject-matters of the two sections are different. Section 232 speaks about a dispute between the States and the Federation or disputes between States. Under Section 232(1) & (2) of the Constitution, the exclusive original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is restricted to any dispute between the Federation and a State or between States, if and in so far as that dispute involves any question (whether of law or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends. The original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court has also been extended by the National Assembly, but those expanded areas are not relevant to this discussion. Where, however, a dispute concerns the administration or management and control of the Federal Government or any of its agencies or the operation and interpretation of the Constitution, in so far as it affects the Federal Government or any of its agencies, the court that has original jurisdiction is the Federal High Court. The Federal High Court also has original jurisdiction over matters or actions or proceedings for a declaration, or injunction affecting the validity of any executive or administrative action or decision by the Federal Government or any of its agencies.

In summary, the formidable preliminary hurdles the case of the three Attorneys-General will have to overcome are 1) to establish that Mr President is responsible for the policy of withdrawing the Naira Notes and Coins. 2) to establish that there is a dispute over the policy and that the dispute is between the aggrieved States and Mr President.

3) To establish that Mr President can be said to represent or personify the Federation, that is to say, that what Mr President did is an exercise of the “Federal Might”.

Sam Kargbo, SAN

Inibehe Effiong

Case of Three States Over New Naira Notes –Inibehe Effiong I agree with the objection filed by the A.G.F, Abubakar Malami, SAN, challenging the competence of the suit filed by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara State on the new Naira notes. The Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction under Section 232 of the Constitution, shouldn’t be invoked in this case.

We shouldn’t bastardise the legal system, due to political expediency. For the Supreme Court to have original jurisdiction, there must be a dispute between the three States and the Federation; not a dispute between the States and the Federal Government. What’s the dispute here?

There’s a difference in law, between the Federation and the Federal Government. I’m unable to see how the redesign of the currency by the CBN, has clothed the Supreme Court with the requisite original jurisdiction in this matter. This is a case for the Federal High Court.

It is also intriguing that the very agency that is responsible for this policy, was not joined as a party to the suit. The three States are only being crafty by half. They know that joining the CBN, will automatically rob the Apex Court of jurisdiction. This is still very problematic.

The CBN ought to be heard directly, in any suit challenging its policy. It is not enough to sue the AGF, simply because the CBN is an agency of the Federal Government. The CBN ought to be independent, and should be heard.

Can the AGF direct or control the CBN? Going by precedents, like the case of A.G Lagos State v A.G Federation (2014) 9 NWLR (Pt.1412) 217, where the Supreme Court declined jurisdiction over a dispute involving a State and an agency of the Federal Government, it will be interesting to see the outcome of this suit.

Section 251(1)(d) of the Constitution, specifically vests the Federal High Court with exclusive jurisdiction on Legal Tender. The case brought by the three States, is on legal tender. They should have first approached the Federal High Court. Let’s hope for a quick resolution.

As an addendum, I have seen and read the Originating Summons filed by the three States, their reliefs are couched in a disputable manner.

It’s doubtful whether the reliefs they’re seeking as presently constituted, are grantable in law.

They are claiming that the three months deadline set by the CBN for the expiration of the new notes, is not reasonable. I have three issues with this: 1. The CBN Act gives the CBN the power to set a deadline (give reasonable notice). The CBN Act doesn’t define reasonable notice.

2. The suit was brought after the expiration of the said three months on the 31st of January, 2023. Why didn’t they file the suit during the lifespan of the three months? The CBN only extended the deadline. Their reliefs don’t reflect the extension. This will be interesting.

3. Section 20 of the CBN Act makes the old notes redeemable upon the expiration of the deadline. While the old notes will no longer be accepted as legal tender, those who possess them can redeem their value by submitting them to the banks in exchange for the new notes.

The CBN has clarified this position, as we witnessed when the CBN Governor appeared before the House of Representatives. The issue remains that the new notes are in short supply, largely because the banks are hoarding them. We have seen evidence of this.

It is true that Nigerians are suffering.

It is for the CBN to make the new notes sufficiently available, and for the banks to honestly release them to customers and the public. It seems that, the CBN has already taken possession of a large chunk of the old Naira notes.

Conclusion It is left to be seen how this lawsuit as presently constituted, will change the situation after February 10. I reiterate that the appropriate court, in my opinion, is the Federal High Court, and not the Supreme Court. However, I’ll defer to My Lords at the Supreme Court.

Inibehe Effiong, Human Rights Lawyer, Lagos

“There’s a difference in law, between the Federation and the Federal Government. I’m unable to see how the redesign of the currency by the CBN, has clothed the Supreme Court with the requisite original jurisdiction in this matter”

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XV

TUESDAY, ͹ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

How IPOB Can Turn Things Around For The Southeast

W

hile Buhari’s ‘dot in a circle’ comment was a mean-spirited dig at the Southeast and its people, it also shows how isolated the region is in terms of access to ports, sufficient fresh water, and enough arable land to agriculturally sustain its population, without dependence on others.

Borno state alone is two and a half times the land mass of the entire Southeast, and Kano alone has a population that is at least equal, and possibly more than Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo combined.

So, perhaps more than some other regions, the Southeast needs cooperation with her neighbours.

But that is very difficult due to the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra, which has raised the political temperature in the region to the extent that it is almost a necessity to have troops stationed there, like the British had in Northern Ireland.

Of course, Buhari has not helped matters by arresting Nnamdi Kanu. Before his arrest, Mr. Kanu was not known globally, or even nationally. He was pretty much circulating amongst fringe elements in the Southeast, who felt left out of the scheme of things in the region and in the nation.

But his arrest gave him a status, and a voice that reverberated beyond his initial captive audience.

He became rather like a demigod.

Due to the president’s tactless handling of the IPOB problem, Mr. Kanu has benefited from the Modi effect.

Narendra Modi was little known outside India, and even within India, he was considered a Hindu irredentist. He was accused by the West of inspiring religious killings in India and placed on a very public visa ban by the United Kingdom and the United States.

The result of that action showed how naive the West still is about India. Because, rather than minimise him, he became an anti-imperialist hero in his country, and a groundswell of support grew and he was swept into office, and is now the Prime Minister of India.

And now, the very nations which visa banned him, were themselves forced to receive him, because you cannot ignore the leader of a nation whose population is more than that of the entire Western hemisphere, and which produces much of the goods and services they consume.

By arresting Nnamdi Kanu, Buhari made him the most popular individual in the Southeast. Popular, I said. Not famous. Nnamdi Kanu is both well-known and well liked in the Southeast, in a way that nobody has been since Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

But now he is in jail, having been rearrested.

And those who succeeded him in IPOB have made life very difficult indeed in the Southeast.

You have the most commercially active people being forced to observe a sit-at-home on the most commercially significant day of the week (Monday).

Add to this mix, the Eastern Security Network and its activities. Then you have ‘unknown gunmen’.

And the infighting and power struggle within IPOB has led to orders and counter orders to the populace.

And the end result is that the lot of the Southeast is not anymore better today than it was before Buhari.

In fact, it is now worse. Much worse.

The Enugu International Airport, which was meant to boost aviation in the region, has suffered,

Nnamdi Kanu because aviation is averse to where there is insecurity.

Interstate commerce within the region has reduced, because people fear being caught by unknown gunmen, Ebube agu, or facing harassment at the many roadblocks that have sadly had to be set up all over the region.

Politically, the region had also seen regression, as the general insecurity has meant that it has not been able to increase its registered voters in the quantum that neighbouring regions have been able to.

And nothing appears to be changing. So much fear in the region has meant that its philosophers are wary of philosophising. And on and on it goes.

But is there not a better way? I think there is.

I think there is.

Instead of destroying offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, perhaps IPOB may

want to study the Sinn Féin model of Northern Ireland. They are already popular in the Southeast.

Why not metamorphose into a political party.

Democratically seize control of all Southeastern states, and make them a model of good governance in Nigeria?

And then from there, expand your political influence to other zones, and when you have substantial representation in the National Assembly, you use that influence to amend Nigeria’s constitution to your advantage, and block or promote appointments requiring Senate approval that do not favour your agenda. It is not every time you fight. Fighting and violence are a last resort. Utilising party politics to achieve your aims does not mean you are cowards.

It shows you are smart.

Look at Northern Ireland. In less than four years of politicking, Sinn Féin achieved more than 80

‘Reuters Should Apologise to Nigeria over Report on Military’ Michael Olugbode in Abuja A former Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) of the Counter Insurgency Operations in the North East, Major General Christopher Musa, has demanded an apology from Reuters over its report of human rights violations against the Nigeria military, insisting it must be a mistaken identity of another country or perhaps there was a motive.

According to a statement, yesterday, spokesperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Fatimah Mohammed, the former Theatre Com-

mander at the headquarters of JTF also known as Operation Hadin Kai stated this in Maiduguri, Borno State, when he testified before the Special Investigative Panel on the allegations of Human Rights Violations in Counter Insurgency Operations in North East Nigeria (SIIP North East).

According to her, the top military officer, told the SIIP-NE chaired by Justice Abdu Aboki (rtd) that Reuters should apologise to the Nigerian military for the allegations of secret, involuntary, and illegal abortions of 10,000 pregnancies involving women and girls, infanticide, and other Sexual

and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), which he dismissed as fallacious.

The high-ranking military officer stated that the report was also an indictment of the United Nations system working with the military towards addressing the various issues elicited by insurgency in the North East, noting that of all stakeholders and media organisations, only Reuters made the allegations.

Musa said it is illogical for anybody or any institution to associate the Nigeria military with the deliberate killing of civilians, because it was rather concerned about saving lives,

particularly, women and children whom he noted were usually taken to faraway from the frontline, and subsequently profiled before handing them over to State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for further necessary action.

He said the military should be commended given the level of sacrifices it has made to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria instead of being maligned, adding that during his time, he lost about 200 troops at Madagali.

He said since July 2021, over 84,000 returnees had surrendered to the military and that the number comprised women, children, and men.

years of violence by the Irish Republican Army.

Cooperation is always better than confrontation.

IPOB may achieve more for the Southeast in one year as a political party than in 100 years as a secessionist group.

And just as Buhari was able to find his way into the Villa by finding a Southern bride, a future IPOB political party can produce a President, if such a person is able to work with political forces in other regions, even if it means a power-sharing arrangement.

Some people may point to what Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and his associates did with the All Progressives Grand Alliance, but that is not quite the same thing.

What I am about to say next may upset some people. Truth is often bitter. That is why it can be upsetting.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance was created as a vehicle to contest elections. It was not created as the logical result of a groundswell of support in the Southeast as a vehicle to assert their own agenda. Big difference.

As proof, I will quote from a press conference Chekwas Okorie, the founder of APGA gave in 2017: “On the 24th of December 2002, he (Ojukwu) agreed to become a member of APGA after I had consented to propose him as our presidential candidate for the 2003 presidential election.”

What I am counselling IPOB to do is to metamorphose into a genuine grassroots movement, not a contraption so bohemian that its Presidential ticket can be negotiated away commercially.

The point I am trying to make here is that the hard way is not the only way. There is time for nzobu nzobu eyimba eyi, and there is time for ebeano. As long as it helps you attain your political goals, it should not matter what strategy you use.

Only a mad man fights because he likes fighting.

Rational men fight for their interests.

What interests will secession from Nigeria serve, that cannot be better served by remaining in Nigeria and influencing the direction of the country?

The Indigenous People of Biafra have a lot to learn from Government Ekpemupolo, AKA Tompolo, and his Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.

From being a wanted Niger-Delta militant warlord, and heading a movement that fought the Nigerian state, Tompolo has now transformed into a political godfather, who provides mutually beneficial services to the Nigerian state, which has enabled him achieve through politics what years of Niger-Delta militancy did not achieve.

Tompolo and someone like Asari Dokubo have demonstrated that cooperation is better than confrontation. And by taking a more pragmatic approach to meeting theirs and their people’s longterm goals, one of them has become a billionaire oil and gas tycoon, while the other is a billionaire oil Sheikh with his own government recognised stool in Rivers state.

Let us learn from Deng Xiaoping, who after a lifetime of almost militant communism, became China’s leader in 1976, and then abandoned his belief in Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution, replacing it with the "one country, two systems" policy which permitted communism and capitalism to coexist in China.

When tasked with justifying his volte face, Mr. Xiaoping said, "It doesn't matter whether a cat is black or white, if it catches mice it is a good cat".

In the same vein, IPOB may want to consider that it does not matter if the means is violence or politics, as long as it yields results. And as the violence is yielding retrogression, perhaps politics will bring progress.

Reno’s Nuggets People don’t need to know your weaknesses, plans, or sins. Keep them secret. Those are things people can use against you when they turn against you. You can be friends today and fiends tomorrow. Don’t tell them what can be used to bring you down, or make you drown! There is a very thin line between love and hate, and an even leaner one between friendship and enmity. Even in heaven, former angels turned to formal demons. That is why you should not be an open book, even to your friends. When people know your weakness, they can become your sickness! Don’t be the eagle killed by an arrow made from its feathers. #RenosNuggets #FreeLeahSharibu

XVI

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2023

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Makarios Estate Evolves in Ibeju-Lekki Lagos Bennett Oghifo

A

high-profile real estate is evolving in Ibeju-Lekki, an area that is popularly being described as ‘new Lagos’ for various reasons, but more importantly because of the massive construction of houses and factories in this axis of Lagos.

In the heart of this growth is a new estate called Makarios Luxury Place, being developed

by Makarios Luxury Properties, whose Chairman and promoter is Matthew Shimolowo. The estate is designed to give a 5-star experience.

Makarios Luxury Place is seated nicely between two major expressways. facing the Lekki-Epe expressway to the north and a

major coastal road to the south.

This provides residents with unusual access and flexibility when traveling.

Makarios management had spent billions on a vast network of roads in the area before any plot was sold or built. Three major roads, 22 streets, and two pedestrian walkways make up the road network in Makarios. Three major roads are tarred to the highest standard, while twenty-two roads and the walkways have paving stones installed.

The policy of Makarios is for residents to allow two meters in front of their homes for greenery and a walkway. Increasing the eco-friendly atmosphere.

The estate has three areasresidential, commercial and recreational. “Makarios greets

you with a massive, world-class water fountain that dances to music, and shoots very high.”

Specifically, he said: “Makarios Water Display will come alive in May, this year, explaining, “With a flagship, first-of-its-kind edifice of water extravaganza as its anchor attraction, the Makarios Water Display will make a splash! From dancing fountains to the beautiful light displays, water has never looked so elegant. The Makarios Water Display will rejuvenate even the most tired of souls.”

During the groundbreaking ceremony last week, Shimolowo stated what homeowners, residents and visitors are sure to experience. “Makarios is a place of five-star living and entertainment. excellent working environment with over 800 living spaces. You can choose an apartment in one of

the 11 units of our iconic ten-story buildings, powerfully christened Imperial Towers, from 230 service plots, 192 terraced houses, and

18 detached houses.”

Some features of this development include professional facility management, 24-hour

utilities management, water treatment, sewage treatment, a fire and smoke detection system, and much more.

Matthew Shimolowo (m) and some staff of his Makarios Luxury Properties

Alaro City Readies First Privately-owned Eight-lane Road in Africa Bennett Oghifo Alaro City’s main boulevard, stretching eight lanes wide, is the widest privately owned road in Africa and marks another historic milestone for Lagos’ new city.

Currently completing construction, the boulevard symbolises the remarkable infrastructure development in Africa and Alaro City’s economic strength within the Lekki Free Zone.

The road adopts the best global standards with storm drainage and greenery systems, as well as cycling and pedestrian lanes. Experts see it as a model for the future of increased publicprivate partnerships in road construction and other critical infrastructure development.

According to Femi Akindele, Alaro City’s Construction Manager, the road is the second of four major access points from the Lekki-Epe Expressway into

the city.

“Same as everything else we are building here, our main boulevard, which is being constructed by Craneburg, meets the highest international standards and will be seen as a model by other players in the industry,” Akindele told journalists during a recent tour of the city. “Our second major road, the main boulevard also plays a critical role in creating access to several parts of the

city’s residential, commercial, and light industrial zones.”

More than 60 local, regional and global companies are operational or under development in Alaro City, signaling the city’s rapid infrastructure rollout since development started in 2019.

Notable companies include BUA Group, Kenol FZE, HMD, Mantrac Caterpillar, Ariel Foods, Sana Group and Sterling Healthcare, among others.

Landmark developments

in the free zone, such as the new seaport commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as the recent approval to construct the Lekki International Airport, both located in close proximity to Alaro City, are clear drivers and indicators of value appreciation in the axis.

Managing Director of Alaro City, Yomi Ademola said the location of the new city was strategically chosen to contribute to national and

economic growth. “Citizens of Alaro City, be they businesses or residents, will benefit from the air and sea ports, as well as other significant surrounding infrastructure,” he said. “These economic growth machines, on the other hand, will also benefit from their proximity to Alaro City because we are positioned to provide critical supporting amenities – businesses, homes, schools, shops and green space – for their operations.”

PINCOOP Launches Global Realtors Connect to Empower Nigerians Fadekemi Ajakaiye Paradise Investment Network Cooperative (PINCOOP) has launched Global Realtors Connect, a real estate consultants

Kanu

community network aimed at incentivising and equipping realtors with professional knowledge of the industry.

At the launch and first breakfast event of Global Realtors Connect in Lagos which brought together experts in different fields of the real estate industry, participants were enlightened about the industry trends and the processes of making positive impacts.

According to PINCOOP and Global Realtors Connect founder, Christy Kanu, the initiative is designed to create a community of real estate professionals who will be trained to

acquire relevant knowledge and expertise of the industry where members will be exposed to various opportunities in the real estate sector.

Christy said, “Global Realtors Connect is projected to becoming the largest realtors and marketers network in Africa in the next five years with members open to several opportunities including, direct property sales, mouthwatering commission plans, bonuses and incentives, all-expenses-paid overseas familiarisation trips and standard referral tree programme amongst others.

“We are constantly thinking and putting into practice ideas

Building Collapse: Gwarimpa Residents Seek End to Commercialisation of 6th Avenue Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Residents Association of Adkan Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja have urged the authority to facilitate the suspension of the development of commercial buildings on 6th Avenue after the recent incident of a collapsed threestorey shopping complex in the area where three persons were killed.

The Chairman of Adkan Estate Residents Association, Kabir Akanbi made the appeal when he briefed the media over the weekend.

He said the collapse of the commercial building under construction on 6th Avenue in Gwarinpa,

represented the culmination of the continuing trend of illegally converting buildings and green areas purposely designed as residences and public utilities for commercial purposes.

“We are seizing this occasion to demand that all commercial buildings under construction along 6th Avenue be stopped forthwith. As there is an urgent need to conduct structural integrity tests on the existing buildings to forestall a similar catastrophe.

Like the saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine. We must be more compliant with the building regulations and as we have seen, the costs of deviance far outweigh that

of compliance, if compliance has any downsides at all,” Akanbi said.

The residents also decried the recent increase of commercial buildings in the neigbourhood contrary to the original design as set in the Abuja Model City II plan when Adkan Estate was first conceived.

“We have equally been grappling with the numerous costs of these forced conversions such as the traffic logjams we now experience on a daily basis, the increase in insecurity, which naturally follows commercialisation as criminals, suddenly see opportunities for nefarious acts,” he said.

and processes that will leave a lasting legacy on majority of Nigerians, hence we are introducing the Global Realtors Connect community to train and foster a network of professional realtors to serve the Nigeria real estate industry perfectly.”

Specifically, at the first breakfast event of the Global Realtors Connect, Christy expressed excitement at the first training of the community borne from her passion for the industry.

“I am so happy that we had our first training and different beginners and consultants participated with the aim to learn about the rudiments of the real estate sector as well as get impactful knowledge that will lead to sales closures and make them better network marketers,” she stated.

In the same vein, one of the leading facilitators at the first Global Realtors Connect breakfast, Kemal Onuoha,

COO of Buxstone Properties shared interesting insights on how the participants could leverage opportunities in the society to make a winning and lasting impact.

Several participants at the Global Realtors Connect programme expressed their happiness at the relevance of what they learnt including building confidence, potential client identification and meeting, networking and sales closures.

OAU Enhances Vision for Glass Innovation Bennett Oghifo Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and an environmental outfit, Arcline Beehive Design Foundation (ABDF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the awareness and education about glass innovation while celebrating its contribution, especially towards the attainment of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, Obafemi

OAU VC, Bamire

Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State, “The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on 18th May 2021 declaring 2022 as the International Year of Glass to ‘shine a light on the role of glass in our societies’ and show how glass can contribute to sustainable development. This has drawn attention to its importance in various sectors, from aerospace, automobile and construction industries to healthcare. Glass has always been with us and was recognized and celebrated during the United Nations International Year of Glass (IYOG) 2022.”

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and Arcline Beehive Design Foundation (ABDF) continue the celebration of the essential role of Glass through the ages from Mesopotamia to Rome, Europe, the near and far East, Africa and the rest of the world.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of Arcline Beehive Design Foundation, Architect Adeolu Okulaja confirms the partnership is geared towards championing and promoting research and innovation in

Glass with a sustainable development approach.

Prof. Olubola Babalola, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) who is also he Facilitator and Focal Person at Obafemi Awolowo University, stated that the University is pleased to be involved in this noble cause and will do its best to boost the provision of infrastructure for glass innovation as part of the learning curriculum and vocational training, while pushing to explore avenues for boosting its capacity to promote programmes in Glass technology for entrepreneurship.

Okulaja

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BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Rewane: Naira Crunch May Cause $18m GDP Loss Per Month Dike Onwuamaeze

The Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane has projected that Nigeria would suffer a total GDP loss of $18 million and total man hour loss of 120 hours (five days) per month due to the disruption in economic activities that is triggered by the implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s currency swap of old currency notes of N1,000, N500 and N200 for newly printed Naira notes.

Rewane, during his presentation on February 9 at the Lagos Business School, attributed the decline in GDP growth to

reduction in velocity of money circulation and total man-hours loss in the economy.

He projected that the “total man hour loss in a month will be 120 hours and ttal GDP loss in a month will be $18 million.

“Trade is settled mainly in cash and POS (though) 70 per cent of trading transactions are settled by cash. Therefore, velocity of circulation in the trading sector (16 times) is approximately four times more than the formal sector. A decline in the velocity of circulation could reduce output in the trading sector. Hence its contribution to GDP will fall,” he said.

According to him, trade

contributed 16 per cent of the formal GDP and employed 17 per cent of the total labour force in Nigeria.

His projection was distilled from the following facts: that total money supply in the economy is N52 trillion while the total cash in circulation is N3.01trillion. In addition, three of the eight denominations is N2.71trillion.

However, he estimated that the “total new naira notes printed is N400 billion, which left a Naira cash shortfall of N2.31trillion, which is about 77 per cent of total cash in circulation that has lead “to near paralysis of commercial activities.”

SKLD Integrated Services Announces Successful Redemption of N553m CP Kayode Tokede SKLD Integrated Services Limited has stated it redeemed its N553 million Commercial Paper (CP) and repaid all subscribers.

This marks the successful conclusion of SKLD’s debut in the Nigerian debt capital market, which saw the firm raising N553 million in a programme jointly sponsored by Coronation Merchant Bank Limited and Afrinvest Capital Limited.

The Manging Director of SKLD Integrated Services Limited, Mrs. Temilola Adepetun in a statement said, “We are thrilled to have fully redeemed our commercial paper and repaid our subscribers, and we are grateful for the support and confidence of the market.

“This success is a testament to

the strength of our business and our commitment to delivering value to our stakeholders.

“We look forward to pursuing further growth opportunities and continuing to execute our business plan. SKLD would continue to tap into the domestic capital market and take advantage of market conditions to exponentially grow its business.”

The Nigeria’s educational supplies company and a leading provider of relief products and solutions to local and international organizations, said it leveraged the successful CP programme to achieve significant growth and success, including the expansion of its retail footprint with the opening of its Surulere store to cater to the teeming population in Lagos Mainland.

The company also used the fund to diversify its offerings to cater to office and lifestyle categories, bringing in new customer demography.

“We grew our customer base in the humanitarian aid supply segment by over 50per cent with a turnover growth of over 70per cent and drove the expansion of our school uniform supplies business from 18 cities and 380 schools to cover 24 cities and 500 schools in 2022.

“We expanded our local production capacity and expanded our partnership engagement with foreign suppliers for raw materials whilst furthering our pathway to import substitution by increasing the output of our domestic production team and bolstering our local specialized production infrastructure,” the statement said.

Leading-Edge Wins Charter Flight Award A foremost aircraft management and charter flight company, Leading-Edge Aviation, has emerged as the best operator in the Charter Flight Category of the Nigeria Aviation Awards.

The company won the Charter Flight Award at the 12th edition of the Nigeria Aviation Awards and Ministerial Dinner in Lagos.

Leading-Edge Aviation emerged as the best from the over eight companies voted in the category.

According to the organisers of the award, Leading-Edge got 180 votes, followed by Executive Jet with 117 votes, Dornier Aviation got 33 votes, while Arik Air Executive Jet Charter got 29 votes. Easy Jet got 13 votes

while Fly West Link Airlines got and PrivateFly got five votes each respectively, among others.

Receiving the plaque of the award on behalf of the company, the Executive Director, Human Resources and Administration, Leading-Edge Aviation, Mrs Olusola Ogunseye, appreciated the organisers of the award for recognising the firm’s achievements.

According to her, the award is a call on the company to raise the bar of service, promising that Leading-Edge will not disappoint its numerous customers and the country.

“We dedicate this award to our numerous customers and other stakeholders in the aviation sectors who are working

to raise the bar of service in the airline and charter aviation segment.”

Also commenting on the award, the Managing Director, Leading-Edge Aviation, Mr Victor Mgbachi, said the company would continue to give its best to its customers and the airline industry.

He said, “ We will continue to give our best to the industry.

This award is a call to do more and we thank the organisers for recognising our efforts.”

The Chairman, Nigerian Aviation Event Committee, Mr Fortune Idu, said the organisers of the award would continue to recognise companies raising the bar of service and safety in the aviation industry.

L-R Director of Operations, Leading-Edge Aviation, Mr Kenneth Mordi; Technical Adviser to the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mahmud Yakubu; Director, Human Resources/ Administration, Leading-EdgeAviation,MrsOlusolaOgunseye;ManagingDirector,Leading-EdgeAviation,MrVictorMgbachi;and Assistant Publicity Secretary, Aviation RoundTable, Mr Olumide Ohunayo, shortly after Leading-Edge Aviation wontheCharteredFlightAwardoftheNigeriaAviationAwardinLagos...recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA) AUGUST 2022 Money Supply (M3)

49,356,443.6

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

50,601.36

Money Supply (M2)

49,305,842.3

-- Quasi Money

27,869,678.3

-- Narrow Money (M1)

21,436,164

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,680,236.81

---- Demand Deposits

18,755,927.2

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,074,909.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

27,869,678.3

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

61,195,142.4

---- Credit to Government (Net)

21,001,401.5

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

40,193,740.9

--Other Assets Net

6,785,979.22

Reserve Money (Base Money

14,040,351.9

--Currency in Circulation

3,210,664.98

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,829,686.9 390,557.8

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

July 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

13.00

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.76

Savings Deposit Rate

1.42

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.64

FICO, FPG Technologies Partner to Drive Digital Transformation in W/Africa

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.96

6 Months Deposit Rate

5.87

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.76

Nosa Alekhuogie

Prime Lending rate

12.10

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

FICO, a global analytics software provider and FPG Technologies & Solutions LTD, a member of FlexiP Group, have partnered to bring advanced decision management and analytics tools to companies across West Africa.

FPG will sell, implement and support FICO Blaze Advisor decision rules management system and FICO Xpress Optimization, leading tools that businesses use to automate high-volume decisions, rapidly

change strategies and leverage advanced analytics to improve performance.

In a statement released to the media, the CEO of FlexiP Group, a leading enterprise IT solutions provider and systems integrator, Mr. Rex Mafiana, said: “West African companies are engaged in digital transformation initiatives that have gotten extra momentum from the pandemic. Across all industries, it’s critical to be able to automate more decisions, to change strategies faster, and to increase efficiency. FICO

has world-class tools that can help our customers be more competitive, and also help our own development team develop new products.”

Mark Farmer, who manages partner relationships for FICO in EMEA, said: “Rules management and mathematical optimization are the core technologies for better decisions. FPG has deep domain expertise in multiple industries in West Africa, and can help businesses there use these technologies to transform their performance.”

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 10 JANUARY, 2023

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $82.78 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $81.86 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela)

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

SEC, NAIC to Partner on Commodities Trading Ecosystem Kayode Tokede The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has stated its readiness to partner with the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) in a bid to further deepen the commodities trading ecosystem.

Director General of the SEC, Mr. Lamido Yuguda stated this during a meeting with the Management of NAIC in

Abuja recently.

Yuguda stated that the commission is committed to developing the commodities ecosystem as a potent way forward in Nigeria’s quest for sustainable foreign exchange earnings and economic development.

According to him, “In the past few months, this has been exacerbated by low oil production and oil theft in the country. This has often resulted in

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foreign exchange shortages and balance-of-payment problems.

He said the Commission as part of its implementation of the 10-year Capital Market Master Plan, constituted a Technical Committee on commodities Trading Ecosystem whose mandate was to identify challenges of the existing framework and develop a Roadmap for a vibrant ecosystem.

“A committee comprising of various stakeholders including the SON was set up to drive the implementation of the report.

One of the recommendations in the report identified the development of grading and standardisation system in line with international best practice.

We are therefore willing to also work with NAIC to grow the commodities sector.”

Yuguda stated that the

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SEC and NAIC have a lot of things in common as both organisations are government agencies working towards the growth of the commodities sector of the economy.

According to Yuguda, “The SEC has been doing a lot of things in the commodities sector and the role of NAIC in this sector cannot be over emphasised and based on that, we would like to explore areas

AS O F

of collaboration to see how far we can help grow that sector together.

The SEC DG said there are markets that need these commodities that are produced in Nigeria but lamented that the only impediment at the moment is lack of standards which he stated, is the reason why some of the commodities are not being accepted in the international market for now.

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NEWS

SUPPORT THE RE-ELECTION OF GOVERNOR BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU...

L-R: Chairman, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Youth Professional Support (BOSYOPS) Clergy, Sam Samuel; Executive Secretary, Steven Ogedengbe; Chairman, Alimosho Christian Forum, Samuel Oladiti; National President, All Christian Leaders/Ministers Forum, Samuel Ogedengbe; Assistant Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dickson Asaaju and Chairman, PFN Alimosho, James Iyanda, during BOSYOPS Clergy giving a special pledge to support the re-election of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, held in Alimosho, Lagos …yesterday

PDP to Tinubu: Attacking Nigerians in Lagos, Other States, Won’t Help You Bayelsa suspends ceremonies for 3rd anniversary Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation has condemned the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Bola Tinubu’s resort to violent attacks against innocent Nigerians especially in Lagos State, just because they were not supporting his “ill-fated and elusive life ambition” of becoming the President of Nigeria.

Spokesperson of the Campaign, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement yesterday said it was appalling that instead of humbly accepting his rejection by Nigerians across the country given his baggage of incapacity, the Tinubu had resorted to venting his frustrations by unleashing violence on innocent Nigerians.

"Our Campaign describes the attack as an inexcusable act of cowardice that can only come from

a deflated Presidential candidate of the APC who is now clutching at straws.

"Nigerians are shocked by the viral video showing victims of Tinubu’s agents crying and calling for help over their destroyed property and means of livelihood in Lagos State just because they have chosen to support Atiku Abubakar, who embodies the hope of Nigerians for a better nation.

"The public is invited to note the

eyewitness account of the involvement of Tinubu’s agents including the “SA to the Governor of Lagos State, Hadji Awondu, Jamiu Erin, Muri Bebe, Saheed Leader among others in the violent attack," he said.

The PDP Campaign said it was not surprised that Tinubu would descend this low given the evidence of his proclivity for brawling and thuggery as well as sustained incitement of his followers for insurrection, in his desperation to

Fulani Leaders Endorse Tinubu as APC Candidate, Vows to Solve Farmers-Herders’ Crisis Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Leaders of Fulani communities (Ardos) nationwide have endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.

The Fulani leaders under the auspices of Fulbe United for Peace and Development endorsed Tinubu on Sunday evening in Abuja at an event held in collaboration with Arewa New Agenda.

The Fulani leaders vowed to use its 33,661 members to mobilise millions of their members to vote for Tinubu in the presidential election.

The leader of the group, Ardo Aliyu Bobboi, while addressing the gathering after performing the kolanut-sharing tradition, said the leaders would go back with the message to their people on the decision reached at the meeting.

"The Ardos, as leaders of the people, have final say on the position of their people and would follow it to the latter to ensure compliance," he said, expressing optimism that the Tinubu-led presidency would ensure the well-being of the Fulani ethnic nationality in Nigeria.

The group also conferred on Tinubu, the title of "Barkindo" (the blessed one) which they described as a revered title among the Fulani.

Speaking, Tinubu reiterated his commitment to creating an enabling environment for all Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic and religious backgrounds to cohabit and live peaceably with one another.

The former governor of Lagos State expressed gratitude for the show of love and support for his

ambition, and assured them that the perennial problem farmersherders clashes would be solved permanently if elected president.

"Prior to this day, I never thought I would meet a Fulani man, who speaks better Yoruba.

That is very wonderful. This is the Nigeria that we want, we

expect Nigeria to be united with one voice, sharing of culture and belief in each other. I want to tell you if we stay here for the next five hours it's the same story you would be hearing from me. Thank Almighty Allah.

"We have had problems with herders. But I guarantee you today

that the problem would be solved permanently. The blueprint is almost ready. We will plan with it. The world is fair and good for all of us," Tinubu said, stressing that, there was a need for Nigerians to live in peace not only because of today but because of their children and grand-children.

derail our electoral process because he has been rejected.

Meanwhile, the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in Rivers State, has cancelled the planned rally for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa in the state, following incessant deadly attacks on the campaign council members.

The presidential campaign council had planned to hold a rally for the party’s candidates today, Tuesday February 14, but the series of reported attacks on supporters of i Atiku halted it.

The PCC members told journalists, that to avoid serious disaster or loss of lives by some suspected desperate politicians, who would not want the rally hold, decided to cancel it pending subsequent date not yet made public.

Leading the PCC members in the briefing held in Port Harcourt, Senator Lee Maeba, Chairman of the PCC alleged that the state Government House Police and other hoodlums had continued to throw unabated violence, making

it difficult for the party to secure a peaceful facility for the rally.

In a related development, the Bayelsa State Government has announced the suspension of all activities commemorating the three-year anniversary of the Senator Douye Diri-led administration.

The two weeks long programme, which began last week with the inauguration of some key projects in the state was put on hold in a Government House statement by the Commissioner of Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ayibaina Duba.

While the state government regretted any inconveniences the suspension might have caused, he said the anniversary activities would now take place after the presidential election.

Though no reason was given for the suspension, the passage of the Governor's father, Pa. Abraham Michael Diri, and the security challenges being posed by the increasing cash scarcity, may not be unconnected to the suspension.

11 DAYS TO PRESIDENTIAL POLL: ALL EYES ON YOU, BUHARI CHARGES NIGERIA POLICE at the commission's headquarters.

Yakubu recalled that in 2021, with the support of political parties and other critical stakeholders, the commission successfully expanded voter access to polling units 25 years after the last delimitation exercise in 1996. He said, consequently, the number of polling units increased from 119,973 to the current figure of 176,846.

He noted that at previous meetings, the commission had briefed political parties on efforts to redistribute voters to the polling units in order to avoid the congestion that made voting cumbersome in many of them nationwide.

Yakubu stated, "This requires the redistribution of voters to new polling units in proximate locations. Where they are separated by distance, this must be done after consultation with the voters. This has been done by our state offices nationwide.

"However, there are 240 polling units without registered voters spread across 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

They range from one polling unit to 12 polling units in each state and the FCT, except Taraba and Imo States with 34 and 38 polling units, respectively.

"No new registrants chose the polling units and no voters

indicated interest to transfer to them during the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), mainly for security reasons. This means that no elections will hold in these polling units."

The INEC chairman stressed that in line with its commitment to transparency, the commission was making available to Nigerians a comprehensive list of these polling units by name, code number, and their locations by state, local government and Registration Area.

He said with this development, "The number of polling units where elections will hold nationwide on 25th February 2023 and 11th March 2023 is now 176,606."

Yakubu stressed that Nigerians deserved the right to know the locations of these polling units, adding that the soft copy of the list has been uploaded to INEC website and social media platforms for public information and guidance.

He added, "Closely related to the distribution of voters is the identification of polling units. From the feedback we received from our officials and accredited observers following the recent nationwide mock accreditation using the BVAS, it is clear that some voters could not easily identify their polling units.

“This should not happen on election day. Consequently, the

commission is advising voters to confirm the locations of their polling units through a dedicated portal on our website."

In addition, Yakubu noted that all voters who had been assigned to new polling units would receive text messages from the commission indicating their polling units. He said the commission had also compiled the register of such voters, stressing that INEC state offices would give it wide publicity, especially for those who may not have provided their telephone numbers during voter registration or those whose numbers may have changed.

He urged voters to locate and confirm their polling units before election day by sending a regular text or WhatsApp message to a dedicated telephone number, saying details of the simple procedure would be uploaded to the commission’s social media platforms shortly.

Yakubu revealed, "As you are already aware, we have less than two weeks to the 2023 general election. The commission is finalising the issuance of 1,642,386 identification tags for the Polling and Collation Agents nominated by the 18 political parties made up of 1,574,301 Polling Agents and 68,085 Collation Agents."

He urged the chairmen and leaders of political parties to ensure that only agents accredited by the commission and wearing the correct identification tags appeared at polling units and collation centres during elections.

Yakubu said a situation where two or more agents would claim to represent a political party, resulting in commotion at polling units or collation centres, will not be tolerated. He maintained that only Identification tags issued by the commission would be recognised on election day and violators were liable to arrest and prosecution for impersonation.

The INEC chairman noted, "Turning to the ongoing electioneering campaigns, the commission is concerned about violent attacks on supporters of political parties across the board, resulting in the loss of life in some cases.

“Let me once again appeal to chairmen and leaders of political parties to continue to call your candidates and supporters to order."

The commission called on the security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies to arrest, investigate and prosecute anyone involved in violent conduct, including incendiary statements capable of inciting a breach of the peace.

Speaking at the occasion also, the

chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yabagi Yusuf, reaffirmed the confidence of IPAC in the leadership of INEC for its consistent demonstration of diligence, uncommon zeal and patriotism in the pursuit of the agency’s statutory mandate. Yusuf said the 2023 general election would be a watershed in the history of elections in Nigeria, stressing that the tide has changed, because an unknown party could pull a surprise.

He stated that it was necessary to advise INEC to keep its date with history, which must not be wasted.

The IPAC chairman stated that under no circumstances should the general election be postponed.

According to him, “INEC should create a golden niche for herself, especially the chairman, who has become the child of history.

Nigerians are watching, the international community is watching and the parties are palpitating. I, therefore, call on all Nigerians of good conscience to take credible results of the election the way it is.

"At worst, parties should resort to the law court for adjudication.

Today, it is an abhorrence and crudity, if not savagery, to see states governors denying campaign venues to political parties other than their own. This is crude, primitive and uncivilised.”

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NEWS

FIRST ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE NIGERIA DATA PROTECTION BUREAU (NDPB)...

L-R: Head, New Media and Information Security, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Chidi Diugwu; Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Reuben Muoka; Board Member, Prof. Mansur Bindawa; Director General/Chief Executive Officer, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, and Director, Financial Services, NCC, Mr. Yakubu Gontor, during the presentation of the ‘Pillar of Support Award’ to the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, at the first anniversary celebration of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB) which held in Abuja ... recently

Ezeife: Reject Northern Candidates, Elect Credible Southerner Says no more bullion van politics Sunday Aborisade in Abuja A former governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has canvassed support for presidential candidates from the southern part of Nigeria in the interest of peace He stated this on Monday in Abuja at the Obi/Datti International Conference, 2023 and Public Presentation of a book, "Business Unusual: Postulating Peter Obi’s Presidency".

Ezeife urged Nigerians to reject the idea of voting for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who

is also a former vice president.

He also asked the electorate to reject the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and any other candidates from the North.

Ezeife asked the electorate to chose between the the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, (LP), Peter Obi and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, who are from the South.

He, however, said Nigerians should jettison what he described as "Bullion Van Politics" which he attributed to the PDP and the APC. "We want a system that works.

OML 130: Court Declines to Halt Indigenous Oil Firm’s Case against NUIMS, TotalEnergies Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Justice Rasul Olukolu of the Lagos High Court, has declined to halt a suit instituted by an indigenous oil firm, Palmeron Nigeria Limited, against a Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited subsidiary, the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS) and TotalEnergies.

NUIMS and TotalEnergies had prayed the court for an order declining to exercise jurisdiction in the suit and an order striking out or staying further proceedings in the Palmeron case pending the exhaustion of the arbitration process for Oil Mining Lease (OML) 130.

The ongoing dispute is over a rig contract for which the local Nigerian company, Palmeron, complains that it offered the Deep Value Driller at a lower price during a tender, but was rigged out of the process without explanation.

THISDAY learnt that Total operates the block, which holds the Akpo and Egina fields. The energy company intended to carry out infill drilling on Egina this year, possibly anytime from the second quarter.

The NNPC subsidiary and TotalEnergies had hoped the matter will be taken to arbitration, in court papers obtained, but an interim injunction granted by the court now means the company must wait for a court hearing on March 1.

According to Palmeron, the company had expressed interest after TotalEnergies published the first tender. But to its chagrin, Palmeron

insisted that the French oil company then called off the tender process after much progress had been made and a lot of expenditure had been made without the company giving any reason.

The “tender process was called off without giving any reasons,” the firm told the court, with the contract later awarded to a consortium of Tirex Petroleum, Pidwal and Noble.

Palmeron is raising posers about the way in which TotalEnergies awarded the work and has expressed reservation over the role played by NUIMS, the NNPC subsidiary that ‘oversees’ the upstream on behalf of the national oil company.

Although the 2nd Defendant (NUIMS) did not file any process in reaction to the suit and the instant application, but court papers showed that it informed the court in plenary that it would be aligning with the 1st Defendant's application.

NUIMS and TotalEnergies argued before the judge that the Claimant expressed its consent to the procedure and conditions of the tender by endorsing the tender documents, and that article 8 of the Specimen Contract, forming part of the tender documents, laid down a procedure for the settlement of disputes between the parties.

They contended that the Claimant had not initiated an arbitration following the parties' inability to reach an amicable settlement which it ought to have done before approaching the court.

Continues online

We want Nigeria to work from now henceforth. Bullion Van Politics, Enough is enough. We don't want Bullion Van Politics, which enables politicians to buy votes and do what they like for the next four years.

"I've been saying that people should take money from politicians because it's their money stolen from them. Bullion Van Politics being PDP

and APC must come to end. Today, any northern politician who says he wants to be president doesn't want Nigeria to survive.

“When you embrace injustice and shun inclusiveness, you don't want Nigeria to survive. Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Kwankwaso are from the North while Peter Obi and Bola Tinubu are from the South. The Yoruba has been president and

vice president but the Igbo has not had the opportunity.

"The truth must be told. Only Southern candidates are qualified by the decision of Nigerians to contest.

We have Tinubu and Peter Obi. The choice is between Tinubu and Peter Obi." The Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, was represented on the occasion by the Director of

Research of the Organisation, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, who said, "The Afenifere has lots of expectations from Peter Obi. The mantra of Afenifere is that Nigeria must be restructured. We are not breaking up Nigeria.

"We will have common passport, common currency, common defence.

Each region would live the way they want. Afenifere has the blueprint."

LP Kicks against Alleged Plan to Use MC Oluomo to Distribute Election Materials Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

The Labour Party has raised the alarm over alleged plan by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to engage the services of the Lagos State Park and Garage Management Committee, led by Mr Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, to distribute election materials for the upcoming elections.

This is even as the party condemned the continued attacks on its members, especially, the recent one in Lagos State during the Peter Obi rally.

Director General of the campaign council, Balogun Akin Osuntokun, at a press conference in Abuja,

yesterday, said the party strongly rejected the idea and demanded that the logistical contract be immediately terminated.

Osuntokun, who described the purported plan as an act of insensitivity by the INEC, lamented that the Commission has continued to give disturbing signals and strong reasons for doubt and suspicion, on its impartiality, and with total disregard for the current mood of the nation.

"A few days ago also, speculation and rumours emerged, that INEC had engaged the services of Lagos State Park and Garage Management Committee, led by Mr Musiliu Akinsanya, also known

as MC Oluomo, a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and a known loyalist of the presidential candidate of the APC, in the distribution of sensitive election materials in the forthcoming presidential election in Lagos.

“We initially took the allegation with a pinch of salt, believing that INEC was conscious of red lines in these elections and that common sense and logic would not permit such arbitrariness.

“However, as days passed by, it became clear to us, that the news report was correct, especially, as the explanation given by Mr Festus Okoye, INEC Director of Information and Voter Education,

does not go far enough in refuting this association.

“This partisan and provocative action by INEC, in entrusting the conveyance of election materials into the hands of agents of an interested political party in Lagos State, is reprehensible and unprecedented in the annals of Nigeria’s electoral and political history.

“It is a matter of grave concern, that barely 12 days to the 2023 presidential election, the INEC leadership led by Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, has continued to give disturbing signals and strong reason for doubt and suspicion, on its impartiality, and with total disregard for the mood of the nation, at this time.”

DESPITE S'COURT’S EX-PARTE ORDER, OLD NAIRA NOTES LOSE LEGITIMACY had a fault at the beginning in respect of implementation,” he noted.

However, he admitted that, perhaps, the central bank could have pushed out the lower denominations, which are less amenable to the counterfeiters.

He said, “the central bank is not an enemy of the Nigerian people. It is working in line with its mandate and taking actions and implementing them in line with what will enable them to accomplish the mandate, bearing the Nigerian people in mind.

“Ultimately monetary and price stability, which are the primary objective affect the Nigerian people.

So, my point is that let us not continue to blame the central bank's implementation, otherwise, how would it have been implemented?

“Initially, the central bank allowed over the counter withdrawals of the new naira notes and that was very strongly abused. And then the bank changed gear to Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and the findings now show that even the commercial banks have not been

helpful in implementing the policy of withdrawal through the ATMs. So the blame must be put at the doorstep of those who need to be blamed.”

Give Order on Recirculation of Old Naira Notes, Groups Urge Buhari

The Youth Awake Now (YAN) and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to reissue the old notes in large quantity in order to cushion the effects of naira scarcity in the country.

The groups also urged the federal government to order the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately clear the bottlenecks around petroleum supply chains.

Representatives of the groups, who spoke in Lagos, included the Yoruba Youth Leader, Eric Oluwole; Yoruba Youth Alliance, Lekan Wilki; Yoruba Youth Com-

munity Policing, Abiodun Rosanwo; Yoruba Afenifere Youths, Adewale Adeyemo; and Congress of Yoruba Youths, Yinka Adedugbe.

They stressed the urgent need for normalisation of all petroleum supply chains through which petroleum products that constituted the life blood of all economic activities of the peoples got to the consumers.

YAN expressed optimism that if the twin problems of scarcity of fuel and physical cash would be addressed, normalcy would return speedily to the Nigerian economy, while government would have succeeded in averting any threat to the successful conduct of the February 25 presidential election and all the other scheduled elections.

They stated, “Ahead of the 2023 general election, the youth leaders in the South-west are getting concerned about the building momentum, lingering crisis over the biting scarcity of the new naira notes and fuel. The bottled-up anger and the threat of violence being unleashed over the frustrations being experienced, the

youths cannot continue with this hardship in our region.

“We feel saddened by the prevailing conditions in which Nigerians generally in recent weeks have been forced to eke a living, compelled to do so by the artificially induced scarcity of physical cash due to the hasty and untidy implementation of the currency design, currency swap and cashless policies by the CBN as approved by the federal government.

“These conditions are aggravated by the worsening fuel scarcity across the country, with its adverse consequences, which literally have grounded the socio-economic activities of our people, making living in Nigeria now difficult and almost unbearable.”

The groups that added that the youths had consistently been at the receiving end of policies made by various administrations in the country. They lamented that the youths had repeatedly been denied opportunities to explore their youthful potential for their own advancement and to the overall benefit of the society.

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NEWS

STANDARD CHARTERED BANK GLOBAL MARKET OUTLOOK PRESENTATION...

L-R: Head of Consumer, Private and Business Banking (CPBB), Nigeria and West Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, Mr. David Idoru; A guest, Mr. Ayoola Lawal; Chief Investment Officer for Africa and Middle East and Head of Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities (FICC) Strategy, Mr. Manpreet Gill, and Head of Financial Markets, Nigeria and West Africa, Ayodeji Adelagun, at the Global Market Outlook event in Lagos… recently ETOP UKUTT

Police Kill Gunman during Attack on Anambra Station as Youths Abduct Soldier David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The Police in Anambra State have killed one gunman during an attack on Ogidi Police Station in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

This is as irate youths in Anaku community of Ayamelum

Local Government Area reportedly adducted a soldier who was in the community on peace mission while seizing his service gun.

The Anambra State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP. Tochukwu Ikenga, who disclosed the attack on

Ogidi Police Station in a press release to journalists, said: “Today February 13, 2023, by 2:15 a.m. police operatives foiled an attack by armed men on the Ogidi Police Station, demobilise one of the armed men, and recovered

many expended cartridges and 25 litres of PMS.” He added that the hoodlums suspected to have come to burn down the police facility arrived at about 2 a.m. in large number, using cars and motorcycles.

“They came in their numbers with an unmarked Toyota Hiace bus, a Toyota Hilux and three motorcycles, and started shooting indiscriminately and attempted to gain access in Ogidi Police Station, Idemili North.

“They were fiercely resisted by police officers on duty and due to the superior gunfire of the operatives; the hoodlums fled the scene while one of the armed men was neutralised by the operatives.”

Supreme Court Warning: Veteran Journalist NAWOJ Urges Women to Participate Accuses CJN of Plot to Gag Free Speech, Criticism in Peace, Security Process Wale Igbintade

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

The Sokoto Chapter of National Women of Journalists (NAWOJ), at the weekend, urged women to participate in the process of peace building in the nation.

At One-Day Special Platform on the Role of Women in Peace and Security organised by the NAWOJ, the Guest Speaker, Professor Tukur M. Baba of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, noted that every citizen has the responsibility to ensure security and peace.

Baba said that doing so would mitigate the challenges of insecurity, peace and unity being faced by the nation.

He noted that women were critical factors and could be instrumental in driving the agenda for sustained peace and security for nation building.

However, Baba regretted that women were relegated without given them free space to encourage themselves educationally, adding that they suffered most in the chain and process of survival.

NDLEA Inaugurates Drug Rehabilitation Centre in A’Ibom Okon Bassey inUyo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has inaugurated drug rehabilitation centre in Akwa Ibom State.

Inaugurating the centre, the Chairman of NDLEA, Brig.Gen. Mohammed Marwa (rtd) stressed that effective treatment and rehabilitation of victims could cure illnesses caused by substance abuse in Nigeria.

Marwa, represented by the former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom, Col. Yakubu Bako (rtd), said those who were

already addicted must be treated and reintegrated into the society to contribute positively. ”Treatment and rehabilitation are part of the panacea to the substance abuse problem bedevilling the contemporary society. ”We can arrest a thousand and one traffickers every month but substance war will be in vain if we fail to apply professionalism in treatment and rehabilitation.

For any country to make any headway in reducing abuse to the barest minimum, there must be a remarkable impact in drug demand reduction,” Marwa said.

A veteran journalist and rights activist, Mr. Richard Akinnola, has accused the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, of an unprecedented step to gag the public and stop criticising and subjecting apex court’s judgments to public scrutiny.

Akinnola in an open letter to

the Chief Justice of Nigeria, titled: ‘I Would Criticise The Supreme Court’, said what he would not subscribed to are personal and scurrilous attacks of justices.

“With the greatest respect my Lord, your judgments are subject to public scrutiny, particularly when they impart on public policy or political processes.

Perhaps, my Lord is oblivious of the perception out there in the

public domain, that the Supreme Court in the past couple years has been compromised, compared to the Supreme Court of yore during the time of Kayode Eso, Otutu Obaseki,” he stated.

According to him, while the Supreme Court has a lot to do to change the public perception, the apex court could not achieve it through threats and gagging members of the public from

criticising its judgments.

The statement read: “In the past 40 years, l have written on the judiciary, right from the time Chief Justices Atanda Fatai-Williams, George Sowemimo, Ayo Irikefe, till date and l haven’t seen a situation where the Supreme Court would attempt to gag members of the public, legal practitioners inclusive, from criticising the judgments or even conducts of judicial officers.”

NASENI Moves to Save Artisans from Job Loss, Trains 100 in Ogun James Sowole in Abeokuta

Determined to check influx of artisans, who often come to take jobs of Nigerians and in continuation of its skill acquisition training and youth empowerment, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has begun a four- day training programme on electrical installation and maintenance.

The training, which involved about 100 participants, was the

second in the series, after NASENI and its team of trainers organised capacity building programme, in modern plumbing and installations for some youths in Ibadan, Oyo State, as part of the first-phase of regional skill development programme.

The four day training, with the theme “Modern Methods of Electrical Installations and Maintenance”, was held in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government area of Ogun State and drew

participants from the tree Senatorial districts of the state.

Speaking at the opening of the training, the NASENI Executive Vice Chairman, Professor Mohammed Haruna, noted that the development in cutting edge technologies or frontier technologies are the innovations that are shaped by the fourth industrial revolution.

Haruna, who was represented by the NASENI Co-ordinating Director, Finance, Ibrahim Dauda,

said all aspects of engineering technologies, require electricity, as well as advanced electric energy.

Haruna said: “Electrical installation, repairs and maintenance will no longer be metre conduiting, piping or trucking of cable channel and streaming overhead conductors only. It is beyond provision of lighting points and socket outlets.

Rather it is about automation remote sensing, remote control and wireless operation.

if he re-elected for a second term.

The governor, who stated this while addressing the Alado of Ado-Awaye, Oba Ademola Folakanmi and his chiefs, said the state government would build a world-class resort at Ado-Awaye.

He equally added that his administration would commence the payment of 10 per cent of

local government allocations to the traditional council in the state by end of February.

He said:”Four years ago, I was here to seek your support and we got it. As Kabiyesi rightly pointed out, Ado-Awaye should be the tourism hub, not only for us in Oyo State but also for the South-west region of Nigeria.

Under Omituntun 2.0, that is

what we will achieve with Ado-Awaye.

“We made some promises under Omituntun1.0 and have fulfilled them, ranging from the proscription of N3,000 education levy to the renovation and equipment of Category 3 PHC in each ward throughout Oyo State and the creation of Amotekun security outfit.

the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State in a legal battle.

The Supreme Court had on February 9, 2023 in a unanimous verdict affirmed Chief Ikechi Emenike as the duly nominated governorship candidate of the APC in Abia State.

With Emenike’s victory, Ogah was expected to congratulate him and join hands with his party’s candidate to

win the forthcoming governorship poll in Abia.

But it was learnt that the former minister has already taken a first step in his new romance with PDP, his former party by donating his billboards to the party’s governorship flag bearer, Ahiwe.

To this effect, Ogah’s billboard at the Imo/Abia border towards Owerrinta has been replaced with

Ahiwe’s banner while Ogah’s two billboards at Ogbor Hill Aba have equally been converted to the use of PDP candidate.

Chairman of Abia APC, Dr Kingsley Ononogbu said that Ogah’s move has not come as a surprise to the Abia APC family, adding that “everyone knew that Ogah was sponsored by external elements to destabilise Abia APC.”

Makinde: Ado-Awaye Suspended Lake ‘ll Become Tourism Hub in South-west Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, yesterday resumed his campaign ahead of the March 11 governorship election, in Iseyin local government, where he announced that his administration would make Ado-Awaye suspended lake a tourism hub for South-west,

‘Tinubu a Beacon of Light and Hope for Nigerians’ Ogah Moves to Support Abia PDP Guber Candidate GbengaSodeindeinAdoEkiti

The presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a beacon of light and hope for Nigerians, Co-ordinator of Tinubu/ Shettima Independent Campaign Council, Prince Akintade Olayisade, has said.

Making the declaration in an interview, Olayisade, a former

SUBEB chairman in Ekiti State, said Tinubu had been tested and proven, having done it in Lagos state when he came as a governor in 1999.

Olayisade said:” He met a mess that was called Lagos, he met a state that was nothing to write home about and from there, he turned the state around and today, Lagos has become the 5th largest economy in Africa and it’s still growing.”

EmmanuelUgwu-Nwogoin Umuahia

The former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Uche Ogah appears set to throw his weight behind the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Okechukwu Ahiwe.

Ogah’s move is coming barely few days after he lost his bid to claim

tuesday february 14, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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NEWSxtra

EMPOWERING ARTISANS...

L-R: The Coordinating Director, Finance and Account, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Alhaji Ibrahim Baba Dauda; the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaja Salimot Badru; a trainee, and NASENI’s Director of Procurement, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, during presentation of training/working tools to one of the beneficiaries of the NASENI skill acquisition training and youth empowerment programme in Ilaro, Ogun State…yesterday

Court Remands Nollywood Actress for Spraying, Stepping on New Naira Notes Wale Igbintade

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, in Lagos has ordered the remand of an actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, in Kirikiri prison pending the determination of her bail application, for tampering with the Naira notes.

Omoseyin was arraigned on a two-count charge by the

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for spraying and stepping on the newly redesigned Naira notes at a party.

One of the count reads: “That you Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin on the 28th day of January, 2023 at Monarch Event Centre, Lekki within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while dancing during a social occasion tampered with the sum of N100, 000 issued

‘Peace an Ingredient for Sustainable Development’ Olusegun Samuel inYenagoa President of the Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, has said that peace is a priceless ingredient for accelerated development of a people, community and society, even as he called for the sustenance of peace across the globe.

Eruani, who spoke while delivering an address at the annual Ayakoro Community Festival (ACF) in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, said that stable economy is a product of sustainable peace.

Speaking as Chairman of the ACF, he reiterated that progressive growth and development made

by nations, states and regions could not be unconnected with the peaceful disposition of the people, tranquility and harmony inherent in the area.

The Azikel Chief Executive averred that the sacrifices made by the founding fathers of Ayakoro moved the community from their previous settlement where tidal erosion is recurring decimals to a new settlement in which the people have continue to enjoy sustained peace, growth and development.

He said: “Our history, culture and heritage defines us as people, and so as we celebrate we create a map for generations unborn.

Olawepo-Hashim: Only Commitment to Ideology,Principle‘llBringSanitytoPolitics

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A former presidential aspirant of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has disclosed that the present brand of politics in the country is being driven by personal ambition and self-interests.

Olawepo-Hashim, however, said this was the reason why politics is currently

meaningless in Nigeria.

Conversing with journalists in Ilorin yesterday on the state of the nation, OlawepoHashim explained that only commitment to ideology and principle can bring the desired sanity and stability to our political landscape since the same brand of selfish politics has been the reason “why it seems like Nigeria’s past seems more meaningful than its present.”

Numero Homes Boss Calls for Sanitisation of Real Estate Industry

Ayodeji Ake

The Chief Executive Officer, Numero Homes, Mrs. Omowunmi Olalere, has frowned at activities of fraudulent operators in the real estate industry, saying government policies should regulate and guide practices within the industry.

Speaking with newsmen recently at the twin event of Numero Homes Head Office and Dozen Price Supermarket dedication, in Lagos, Omowunmi noted that there have been allocation scams, whereby members of the public are extorted of their finances in the name of real estate business.

by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)by spraying same in the said occasion and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21

(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.

The second count reads: “That you Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin on the 28th day of January, 2023 at Monarch Event Centre,

Lekki within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst dancing during a social occasion tampered with the sum of N100, 000 issued by the Central Bank of

Nigeria by dancing on same in the said occasion and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21 (1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.

Cultists Kidnap, Rape Pastor’s Wife to Death in Rivers

Blessing Ibunge inPortHarcourt

Amother of two, Mrs Chigbewejim Lawyer at the early hour of Sunday, was kidnapped from her house in Abarikpo community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, by suspected cultists and was sexually abused to death.

THISDAY learned that

Chigbewejim, a wife to a pastor with Seventh Day Adventist Church in the area, was abducted at about 1.00am and later found dead at about 10.00 am same morning in her community.

It was gathered that the victim’s abductors left her with multiple injuries and blood in her private parts.

In tears, husband to the victim, Pastor Lawyer Steward, an Assistant Pastor in Seventh Day Adventist, explained how his wife was gruesomely murdered.

“I am the husband of Chigbewejim Lawyer who was murdered by some group of boys.

After raping her they murdered her.

“I am not a cultist, I am an Assistant Pastor in-charge of Evangelism in Seventh Day Adventist Church Abarikpo.

Everybody in my community knows I am not a cultist.

“She gave birth to three children one is late. The surviving ones are aged seven, a female and the male aged three years.”

Adeleke Hosts Osun Lawmakers , Unveils First Executive Bill Yinka KolawoleinOsogbo

The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, yesterday hosted members of the Osun State House of Assembly, unveiling the first Executive bill of his administration.

Addressing the lawmakers led by the House of Assembly Speaker, RT Hon. Timothy Owoeye,

Governor Adeleke expressed his conviction that the visit would strengthen the bond of partnership, commending the open arms of fellowship from the legislature.

“I also want to use this opportunity to give a hint about the legislative agenda of our administration. First, we want to support genuine upgrades of facilities at the State House of

Assembly Complex. It is a task I am committed to”.

“Secondly, I will soon be submitting some executive bills for the consideration of the legislature”.

“The first bill is about Nigeria’s Start Up Act. My administration wants it domesticated so we can access local and international support for our youth entrepreneurs. The bill will align

Osun with federal efforts and open doors for our start up innovators to get easy funding,” he said.

Restating his commitment to state unity, the number one Citizen of Osun State assured the House Speaker that he remains a Governor for all Osun people, promising that “all projects started by the previous administration are to be completed.”

Abia Moves to Ease Impact of Cashless Policy on Traders Abia State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu has stated that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is deeply worried about the effect of the new cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and redesigning of Naira notes on traders in the state.

Speaking to newsmen in his

office in Umuahia yesterday , Chief Okiyi informed that the state government was looking at multiple ways to ease the negative effect of the policies on traders hence the announcement by the Governor that Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service should immediately suspend collection of 2023

revenue from all markets in the state till June 2023.

He said: “The governor has visited many markets in the state since the cashless policy came into effect along with the scarcity of new currency notes as a result of the naira redesign, and observed that traders in the state are possibly the worst hit.

“Many of our traders are unable to transact with buyers as the policy implementers failed to capture their peculiar needs while rolling out the new policies.

“The traders are really bearing the brunt, and as a responsible government, we are looking at various options to support them.

Otegbeye Promise to Revisit People-oriented Projects James SowoleinAbeokuta

The Ogun State gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Biyi Otegbeye, has promised the people of the state a rebirth of people-oriented projects if elected governor in the next month election.

According to a statement issued by the Director Media and Publicity

of Biyi Otegbeye Campaign Organisation, Otegbeye made the promise during his campaign tour of Odeda Local Government Area of the state.

The administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun has been accused of deliberately destroying legacy projects in Egbaland and stalling development in the Ogun Central senatorial district of the state.

This was stated last Sunday during the campaign tour of the ADC in Odeda Local Government Area.

Speaking at the palace of the Olu of Odeda, Oba David Olusola, Otegbeye said the incoming administration would revisit those legacy projects in Egbaland, which have been maliciously abandoned by the current administration

He said the legacy projects initiated by the predecessor of Abiodun’s administration have been abandoned, like the airport project scheduled for Wasimi.

The ADC chieftain said: “An airport was scheduled already in the Wasinmi area of Egbaland and preliminary works are ongoing, but was systematically killed for reasons that are not clear till today.”

FG Pledges Improved Trade Relations with ECOWAS States Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The federal government has reiterated its commitment to the elimination of bottlenecks and promotion of efficient operations at the Seme-Krake border to enhance trade and economic integration with member countries of the Economic Community of West African Sates

(ECOWAS).

The Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, re-echoed the government’s position at the inauguration of three multi-million naira projects executed by the Federal Ministry of Transportation at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post in Lagos.

The projects included roofing of three walkways for arriving and departing passengers, construction of 20 toilet facilities and provision of two solar-powered boreholes/ water treatment plants. Ten air conditioners had earlier been supplied and installed in offices within the joint border post.

Adegoroye in a statement issued

yesterday in Abuja hinted that the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post has remained a symbol of integration between the people of Nigeria and Republic of Benin, being one of the busiest boundary lines on the continent, stating that: “The border post has enhanced free movement of persons and goods in the sub-region.”

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BACK PAGE CONTINUATION 2 0 2 3 E L E CT I O N S A N D T H E DA N G E R O F V I O L E N C E have been issued or professional associations and so on where people have been told to vote according to communal dictates, not their conscience, and to face the consequences if they were to act otherwise?

The potency of the threat lies in the reality that Nigeria has neither the mechanism nor the personnel to checkmate this. It is not impossible that a few days to this year’s general elections, the contest will be determined not by the people’s choices but by ethnic bigots, shamanists, and clerics of different persuasion who will invoke dubious piety and ask the people to vote in a particular manner. The majority of Nigerian voters do not know any better. They could vote like zombies in deference to what they have been told.

Nigeria’s literacy rate is less than 50%; ethnic and religious leaders wield a disproportionate amount of power in Africa’s biggest democracy.

It is for this reason that we must worry more about the threat of violence in Nigeria’s coming elections.

Ignorant people, further empowered with election cards, under the influence of corrupt Godfathers could resort to violence at the slightest provocation. They may not even need to be prompted to behave violently. They have been programmed and incentivized to do so. A drunken, hyper-sensitive political crowd could initiate violence even without being provoked. It is the biggest threat that the world has to pay attention to as Nigeria goes to the polls, and the potency of that threat. Last Saturday, the Labour Party held its mega rally in Lagos, with the party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Ibo, 61, former Governor of the South East state of Anambra, leading the charge. It was meant to be the final rally to end Obi’s total of 37 rallies across Nigeria. Lagos is one of the most critical states in Nigeria’s general elections with a large voting population. No serious Presidential candidate can ignore the state’s voting bloc.

Lagos is in the South West, the political stronghold of the candidate of the ruling party - the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu who had also been Governor for two terms and Godfather of politics in the same state since 1999. Peter Obi daring to hold a final rally in Lagos, was the equivalent of daring to challenge the lion in its own den. Tinubu is widely acclaimed as the “Lion of Bourdillon”, an upscale quarter of Lagos Island. On Saturday, the Lion said nothing. But Labour Party supporters are alleging that

the cubs roared, and that those cubs bared their fangs and drew blood. As of yesterday, over 30 supporters of the Labour Party were said to be on admission in different hospitals across the city, nursing different grades of pain and injury. Anyone who wore vests bearing Obi’s image or the logo of the Labour Party was attacked. Vehicles were destroyed, stomachs were ripped open, sharp machetes were used to crack skulls and chests open, many sustained injuries. A determined crowd of Obidients, as they are called still made it to the Tafawa Balewa Square, venue of the rally and managed to express their support for Peter Obi, the most striking revelation of the 2023 electoral process in Nigeria, who built an electoral alternative from nothing into something. He created a movement in the process.

Nigeria’s Electoral Act at Section 128, thereof, frowns at any attempt to apply threat or to do so directly or indirectly against anyone involved in an election or to inflict serious injury, damage, harm or by any means whatsoever. Section 128 (d) prescribes a fine of one million Naira or imprisonment for a term of three years, in the event of an infraction but the wholesale problem with this electoral act touted as a major game-changer in terms of its provisions, is that no serious attempt has been made to enforce it.

Nigerian politicians have carried on in open defiance of the law and in contemptuous disregard of the legal framework. They have simply continued with their old ways. Even those lawmakers who made the law do not understand it, leading to the controversy in March 2022 over the constitutionality or otherwise, of Section 84(12) of the same Electoral Act. There is no evidence either that the law enforcement agencies know what the law says or care about their law enforcement responsibilities. The law forbids vote buying, but one of the leading topics in Nigeria today is how politicians are struggling to buy votes, through access to old or new notes and how a naira redesign policy on the eve of the elections has frustrated access to cash.

The law talks about the felony of hate speech, abuse, vitriol and heating up the polity. Nobody cares. The level of verbal diarrhea, hate and abuse in this election is unprecedented. Presidential candidates and their surrogates shoot typhoon missiles from the mouth, and they all use expressions such as “civil war” and “World War III” to characterize a general election. One

spokesperson even accused a Presidential candidate of holding meetings with Army Chiefs to precipitate a coup.

The military hierarchy has reaffirmed its commitment to the constitutional order. State security agents have invited the party agent for a conversation! Nigeria is overtaken by tension, uncertainty and anxiety. More privileged Nigerians have fled town till after the elections.

They are in the safe quarters of London, Dubai and the Americas, ready to watch the elections from a distance. Only the poor defend Nigeria’s future. The rich run away at critical times, in brazen demonstration of opportunism. When the elections are over, they return to collect positions and contracts from whoever wins and thus make more profits at the people’s expense.

The ones who stay behind may or may not vote. Very few big men and their women venture out to vote on election days in Nigeria.

This is why the needless spectre of destruction, death, disaster and injury that attends every election cycle in Nigeria is condemnable and unjustifiable. The country’s electoral commission, INEC lifted the ban on campaigns in September 2022. Since then, indeed since 2019, when the last general elections were held, more than 50 INEC facilities have been attacked in 22 states across the country, placing the commission in a heavily compromised position. The security agencies have not been able to protect INEC offices despite the existence of an Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). The National Security Adviser advertises ICCES as some kind of great initiative but sorry, we cannot see the impact. I want to hope that none of the agencies involved in that committee has received state funds that they have refused to deploy appropriately. Apart from the attacks on INEC facilities, the political parties especially: the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) have all complained about attacks on their members and supporters across the country. This year alone, there has been an attack on the residence of the spokesperson of the Coalition of United Political parties in Imo State. Peter Obi of the Labour Party and his entourage were attacked after a rally in Katsina on January 24. PDP accused APC members of attacking its members in Lagos on January 27. APC members in Rivers state reported an attack on them in Opobo and Port Harcourt in January,

and on February 9, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers narrowly escaped death when his bullet-proof vehicles were riddled with bullets, two of which got through but missed target. Just after that incident in Rivers, there was the report of a clash between APC and PDP supporters in Jigawa. There was also a similar clash between both parties in Lagos in the Aiyetoro, Surulere area on January 27, and yet another incident in Osun on January 30.

What Nigeria is going into looks like war, not an election and that makes it scary. This may affect the efficiency of the electoral body, voter turn-out, and the post-election scenario in the country, especially as the security agencies seem completely overwhelmed and aloof. Labour Party alleges that as the party’s supporters were being attacked in Lagos, security officers simply looked the other way! Nigerians have so badly mismanaged the people’s trust that even law enforcement officers do not want a share of their war.

The biggest loser will be President Muhammadu Buhari whose attempt to define his legacy in eight years will be thrown under the bus. The bigger loser would be the Nigerian people who will suffer the consequences of the derailment of their future, and the uncertainty that accompanies that.

Nigeria is in a dilemma right now, and that is putting it mildly. Even the shamanists of diverse colours, pastors and the Bar Beach crowd of fortune gazers have not been able to tell Nigerians what the immediate future portends. In a highly superstitious and religious country, religious leaders are as bad as the street thugs. They inflict their own kind of violence that is not even covered by the law. The international community is in a wait-and-see mode. International investors too. Our conclusion is that this country is in urgent need of patriots, persons who would place the country first and above their personal ambitions.

The scarcity of that special breed makes all of us look bad. But Nigeria is one country that never crosses the edge of the precipice. We are a resilient people; we always manage to survive. This is probably Nigeria’s moment in the Garden of Gethsemane. But even this shall pass. And please, what happened to all those peace accords Nigerian politicians signed with so much fanfare? Another hollow ritual?

Makinde: We’ll Make Ado-Awaye Lake Tourism Hub for S’West

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, yesterday, resumed his campaign ahead of the March 11 governorship election, in Iseyin Local Government Area, where he announced that his administration would make the AdoAwaye suspended lake a tourism hub for South West, if he re-elected for a second term.

The governor, who stated

this while addressing the Alado of Ado-Awaye, Oba Ademola Folakanmi and his Chiefs, at the Alado’s Palace, Ado-Awaye, said the state government would build a world-class resort at Ado-Awaye.

He equally added that his administration would commence the payment of 10 per cent of local government allocations to the traditional council by the end of February.

According to him, “Four years

Ex-agitators Seek Arrest of Blackmailers of Ndiomu Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region have called on security agencies to unravel and arrest those blackmailing the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu.

The ex-agitators recalled that they had earlier raised the alarm that enemies of the region had launched a campaign of calumny against President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Security Adviser (NSA) and Ndiomu, to discredit their achievements in PAP. The ex-agitators’ joint statement was signed yesterday by the Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Strategic Communication Committee (STRACOM), Mr. Nature Dumale, and the National President, First Phase Ex-Agitators, HRH Henry Ekes, Egbema I. The stakeholders in the statement, which was also signed by Heads of First Phase Ex-Agitators, Rivers State, Granville Ideye; Bayelsa State, Ebite Ifiemi; Second Phase, Sylvester Tambo, and National Chairman, Third Phase, Tonye Bobo, described the attack against Ndiomu as criminal and unwarranted.

Dumale, who read the statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said the detractors circulated a report claiming that the Niger Delta elders and traditional rulers petitioned Buhari and asked for the suspension of Ndiomu over alleged corrupt practices.

He said names contained in the report were fictitious and could neither be traced to any elder nor traditional ruler in the Niger Delta.

Dumale insisted that all the allega-

tions contained in the report were as fictitious, false and preposterous as the faceless individuals making the claims.

He said: “The only interpretation to the action of these faceless individuals and groups is that they are desperately trying to stoke crisis in the Niger Delta.

“They want the Buhari’s administration to further lose credibility by targeting the only region that has remained peaceful despite the turbulence and separatist agitations in other parts of the country.

“Using the revered traditional institutions to make false claims about one of the most illustrious sons of the Niger Delta like Ndiomu is criminal and blackmail taking too far. This is why we are calling on security agencies to investigate these characters, unmask their identities and arrest them.”

Dumale said all ex-agitators were behind Ndiomu and his efficient management of the amnesty programme, especially after all their investigations into allegations levelled against him gave him a clean bill of health.

He said traditional rulers in the Niger Delta, elders, chiefs and other stakeholders had also thrown their weight behind Ndiomu for sanitising PAP and sustaining the peace in the region.

Dumale said: “We, again, warn that we, the owners of PAP, will not fold our arms and allow few unscrupulous elements, whose source of corrupt enrichment in PAP, had been blocked by Ndiomu’s ongoing reforms, to continue to stoke crisis in the region.

ago, I was here to seek your support and we got it. As Kabiyesi rightly pointed out, Ado-Awaye should be the tourism hub, not only for us in Oyo State but also for the South West region of Nigeria. Under Omituntun 2.0, that is what we will achieve with Ado-Awaye.

“We made some promises under Omituntun1.0 and have fulfilled them, ranging from the proscription of N3,000 education levy to the renovation and equipment of Category 3 PHC in each ward throughout Oyo State and the creation of Amotekun security outfit.

“I promised lately that the allocation of money received by our

traditional rulers will be increased to 10 per cent, and I want to assure you that it will take effect on the 24th of this month. All of the things we were able to achieve were under Omituntun 1.0 and Omituntun 2.0 will be better.

“The suspended lake project is under Omituntun 2.0. Whoever wants to come there from Ibadan or Ogbomoso, it is less than one hour.

They will do the internal roads here and we will put up a world-class resort here in Ado-Awaye.”

The governor, who met with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the First Baptist Church, Oluwole,

Iseyin, urged religious leaders to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates in the National Assembly, state Assembly and governorship elections.

He also stated that everything his administration has been able to achieve under Omituntun 1.0 will be consolidated under Omituntun 2.0.

Speaking during his meeting with the League of Imams and Alfas at Imam Olajori’s House, Oke Suna, Oke Ola, Iseyin, he said he would continue to be fair to all religious faiths in the state.

At Ode-Oba, Makinde, said his administration had been able to deliver on its 2019 campaign prom-

ises, including free and qualitative education, expansion of the state’s economy through agribusiness and infrastructure development, security of lives and property through the creation of Amotekun and support for the federal security agencies, among others.

Oba Folakanmi, in his remarks, described Makinde as an exceptional governor in the history of the state, and noted that the tourism sector in Ado-Awaye has benefited from the reconstruction of the Ibadan-Iseyin road.

He, therefore, charged the state government to further explore other tourism potentials in the axis.

Ogah Moves to Support Abia PDP Guber Candidate after Losing out in APC Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia The former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Uche Ogah, is set to throw his weight behind the Governorship Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Dr. Okechukwu Ahiwe.

Ogah’s move is coming few days after he lost a legal battle to claim the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State.

The Supreme Court had on February 9, 2023, in a unanimous

verdict affirmed Mr. Ikechi Emenike as the duly nominated governorship candidate of the APC in Abia State.

The former minister has already taken a first step in his renewed relationship with the PDP, his former party, by donating his billboards to the party’s governorship flag bearer, Ahiwe.

Ogah’s billboard at the Imo/Abia border towards Owerrinta has been replaced with Ahiwe’s banner while Ogah’s two billboards at Ogbor Hill Aba have equally been converted to the use of PDP candidate.

The Abia State Chairman of APC,

Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, said that Ogah’s move did not come as a surprise to the party because “everyone knew that Ogah was sponsored by external elements to destabilise Abia APC.” He said: “It is on record that he (Ogah) did not participate in the governorship primary of our party. Neither did he even conduct the purported personal primary he claimed to have won. But he believed that with forged documents he could hoodwink the judiciary and earn another pay day from his sponsors.”

Ononogbu said that “the least

2023: Boost for APC as Ayodele Kusamotu Directs Loyalists to Support Tinubu, APC Candidates in Osun Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo A Former House of Representatives Aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Boripe,Odo-Otin and Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Osun State, Mr. Musbaudeed Ayodele Kusamotu, has directed all his supporters in Osun Central Senatorial District to give overwhelming support to the APC’s Presidential Candidate, Mr. Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and

other candidates of the party in the coming elections.

Other candidates, he said, included Senator Ajibola Bashiru; House of Representatives candidate in Ifelodun, Boripe and Odo-otin Federal Constituency, Dr. Moshood Oluawo, and the incumbent Osun House of Assembly Member, Dr. Mulikat Abiola, among others.

Kusamotu said: “We are in full support of Tinubu, and the immediate Past Governor of Osun

State, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, as well as all the APC’s candidates in the state.

Kusamotu, however, commended the APC’s supporters for their courage and resolve to join the winning team.

He pledged that the incoming government under APC would not let them down in all ramifications.

He commended his supporters for their prayers and support for Oyetola, saying that their efforts would not be in vain.

we had expected from Ogah is to congratulate Emenike and direct his supporters to queue behind the governorship candidate of our party to further ensure victory for the APC in Abia.”

He however, insisted that “the door of Abia APC is still open to all aggrieved members as well as prospective members.”

The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has consistently maintained that Ogah “is a mole in Abia APC” hence his legal fights over the party’s governorship ticket was just a ruse.

Another chieftain of APC, Mr. Benedict Benjamin Apugo, had also stated publicly that in 2019 Ogah had compromised the governorship ticket of the party, hence he could not be trusted with another chance.

The Presidential Candidate of the APC, Mr. Ahmed Bola Tinubu, during his presidential campaign rally in Abia State, urged Ogah to end all feuds and legal tussles and seek in-house resolution of his grievances.

Tinubu said: “Uche Ogah please, stop all court actions and come and see me. Come home and let us resolve our matter in our living room. Our position here is clear: Ikechi Emenike is holding the flag of our party, APC.”

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Eguma Gives Reasons Why Rivers Utd Lost in Congo CAF CONFED CUP

R-L: Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar were amongst PSG players that trained yesterday ahead of today’s Last 16 UEFA Champions League clash with Bayern Munich in Paris

Messi, Mbappe Fit for Bayern’s Visit to PSG Tonight Christophe Galtier has been handed a timely boost with both Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe training ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern Munich Both Messi and Mbappe had been doubts for the first leg at the Parc des Princes tonight.

The Argentine picked up a hamstring injury in the loss to Olympique Marseille in the Coupe de France last week, with it reported in the days after that he could be set to miss the game on Tuesday night.

Galtier was pictured deep in conversation with Mbappe as they walked out onto the training ground.

The two players were pictured in training yesterday morning as the squad were put through their final paces ahead of the first instalment

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE of what promises to be an exciting last-16 tie.

Manager Galtier will welcome the potential return of both to his squad with pressure beginning to ramp up on his position at the club.

Marco Verratti, who also missed the trip to Monaco, owing to a hip injury, also trained.

The players appeared in a jovial mood on a brisk morning in the Parisian suburbs, with Messi and Neymar sharing a laugh with other members of the squad.

The players were pictured taking part in what appeared to be a casual rondo before Galtier put his final touches on their preparations for Tuesday night's tie.

PSG have endured a difficult start to the New Year, with the club

TODAY AC Milan v Tottenham PSG v Bayern Munich having lost four times already including defeats at Lens and Rennes in the league and rivals Olympique Marseille in the Coupe de France.

Speaking after their latest defeat, which leaves them looking over their shoulders at Marseille in second and Monaco just back in third, Galtier said he was 'furious' with the catastrophic' start to the game and urged his players to bounce back quickly' against Bayern Munich.

“I am furious because the start is catastrophic,” he told Amazon

Prime Video. “We had hope with the goal and we concede a third on a transition. Going back to 3-1 is more complicated.

“There is anger. There were absentees, a virus. It's a difficult time for everyone, the players and the fans.”

“We have a big meeting on Tuesday (against Bayern Munich) and we need to regain energy, confidence and available players,” Marquinhos added.

“After a disappointment, we know that we have to bounce back quickly,” he said. “We have to talk to each other, let everyone look at each other to see what they can do better.

“You must not let go. We lost the cup, we have the Champions League, we are first in the championship... why would we give up now?'

Haaland Doubtful for Man City's Charge against Arsenal Tomorrow Erling Haaland is a doubt for Manchester City's top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal on Wednesday, Pep Guadiola said, after the striker was forced off with an injury during the 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Haaland was substituted at half-time and Guardiola says the Norway international will be assessed ahead of the trip to the Emirates after taking a knock to his leg.

Victory over Arsenal will see City leapfrog Mikel Arteta's side at the top after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brentford on

Saturday.

"Erling has a kick and we will see in the next days how he will do," Guardiola told a news conference on Sunday.

"At halftime I spoke with the doctors and they said maybe don't take risks at 3-0 up and I agree with the doctors. Maybe if it was more tight then I don't do it.

"I think it is not injured but tomorrow (Monday) we will see.

Maybe (he can play) Wednesday but if there is some risks he is not going to play."

Guardiola has been critical of his team since the turn of the year,

particularly after games home and away against Tottenham Hotspur.

But the City boss revealed he has sensed a change in his squad on the training pitch and believes his players are "focused" on the title race.

"The way we are behaving in the training sessions, we improve a lot," he said. "Everyone is so focused. We play a really good game (against Villa).

"In general, a very good game.

I'm happy with that and the team, it was important to take this opportunity to reduce the gap (with Arsenal)."

Guardiola also revealed he is planning to speak to Haaland, Rodri and Riyad Mahrez after there appeared to be a disagreement on the pitch about who should take a penalty against Villa late in the first half.

Haaland is the designated taker but Rodri became involved in a decision to hand the ball to Mahrez, who scored to put City 3-0 up.

"I don't know, I need to talk to them," Guardiola said. "Normally Erling (Haaland) is the first taker and Riyad (Mahrez) is the second one, Rodri was involved so we will see what they say tomorrow."

The Technical Adviser of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma, has said that his players’ loss of momentum after the first quarter was the main reason why the team lost scandalously 3-0 in the first match in Group B of the CAF Confederation match against host, Diables Noirs.

The only Nigerian club side left in continental battle are rooted at the bottom of the table after the other two clubs, ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire and Motema Pembe played out a goalless outing earlier on Saturday.

At the post match interview, the Nigerian tactician said his players played very well but lost concentration after 30 minutes.

"We never expected this result because we prepared for a better result but unfortunately, we got beaten 3-0.

“I'm not surprised because I knew they were on the good side. The scoreline did not reflect the standard of the game.

“You could see that in the first 30 minutes, the games were balanced and we got two corner kicks which shows that we were attacking when we conceded the first goal. My players lost concentration as a result of tactical indiscipline.

“We came out in the second half for goals, we got a lot of chances including a penalty but we lost them.

“This is not the end, we've had games to play, and we have to go back and prepare for Asec Mimosa", he said.

The Nigerian team will host ASEC Mimosas on Sunday at the Nest of Champions stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Leighton Kings Reclaim Majekodunmi Cup Femi Solaja Lagos Leighton Kings team at the weekend emerged winners of the Majekodunmi Cup after defeating arch rivals, Kano Lintex- Intercontra 10-6, in an epic final at the NPA/ GTCO Lagos International Polo Tournament. They reclaimed the tournament’s biggest prize they lost last year on sudden death goal to the same team.

With this victory the Bowale Jolaoso-powered team has now won four major titles to emerge the overall champions of the prestigious polo festival that enters its home stretch this week, with 26 teams jostling for the Low Cup, Silver Cup and three subsidiary prizes.

Before the weekend’s epic final, the Lagos kings had earlier won the Dapo Ojora Memorial Cup, the Open Cup and the Independence Cup where they edged their Kanobased opponents in a six-chukka cracker that was witnessed by a crowded stands at the Ribadu polo ground in koyi, Lagos.

Lintex-intercontra boasting Baba Dantata, Genaro Ringer, Alejo Aramburu and their patron, Bashir Dantata had started the final with a spark, scoring two quick goals in the opening chukka. The Kings however leveled up in the second chukka and pulled away in fifth chukka to win.

“It’s going to be difficult to

2023 LAGOS POLO put it in words, it’s like our first Majekodunmi Cup victory four years ago, and I want to thank our teeming supporters and my team mates for their commitment and fighting spirits, “ Leighton Kings Patron Jolaoso who won the MVP award, declared moments after the game.

“Let me congratulate Leighton Kings for their hard earned victory.

We will be back and better next year, Dantata, whose LintexIntercontra had earlier defeated NexGen debutants, to retain the Italian Ambassador’s Cup, stated.

Other winners of the loaded second weekend that had the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the stand as a Special Guest, include, Lagos Elektron-Aragon team that defeated Kaduna Dattaku 7-21/2 to clinch the Governor’s Cup and Golden Ranch that secured an extra chukka 6-4 victory over Iba Oil & Gas team to win the Lagos heritage Cup. One of the biggest winners of the opening week of the 2023 Lagos international polo festival are debuting Art Hotel that paraded the only female professional in the tournament, Neku Edun. They edged Dangote/ Sublime in a tense finale, to earn their first Oba of Lagos Cup crown.

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Agbakoba to INEC “The 2023 general election is a crucial one for Nigeria. INEC must work very hard to ensure the process is free, fair, and credible. There must be strict compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC regulations. INEC much also deal decisively with corrupt practices of its staff as proven in the Osun governorship;otherwise, it could undermine the entire electoral process” --Former President of NBA, Olisa Agbakoba, tasking the electoral umpire to by all means, deliver free, fair and credible polls.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

2023 Elections and the Danger ofViolence I

n Africa, this year, there would be a total of more than 10 general elections in countries across the continent, particularly Sierra Leone in June, Sudan in July, Zimbabwe in July, Liberia in October, Gabon in October, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in December but Nigeria’s general election, the seventh in the cycle since the country’ return to civilian rule in 1999 is the bellwether election, given Nigeria’s leadership position in the continent, the country’s population which grants it many automatic advantages from market to political leverage, and that makes it clearly an election that both the local and the international community must worry about.

Whatever happens in Nigeria’s elections, this month till March 11, 2023 and thereafter could have implications for the stability of the West African sub-region, and by extension, Africa. The big problem that the international community faces is that major stakeholders in the Nigerian election do not care. They think only of their individual and group, party ambitions. They can’t be bothered by any big picture about Nigeria’s role or place in the world. They are not interested in the country. They just want to win. It is a dangerous scenario, and that is why the grammar of politics in Nigeria has been coloured, characterized, determined by vitriol, hate as well as religious and ethnic extremism.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu People that we consider otherwise sensible, at least on the surface of it, and going by their antecedents, have been threatening that they will either commit suicide or burn down the country’s roof if their principal does not win because it is their candidate’s

turn to run the country. That is not democracy, that is psychosis, and no country should be subjected to such end-game. Who are those scallywags who have appropriated unto themselves the right to dictate who the identity of the next Nigerian President must be?

This is majorly the substance of political conversation in Nigeria today. Nobody must be allowed to do that.

The people of Nigeria, the 93.4 million voters who are registered for the 2023 general election must be allowed to exercise their franchise and choose feely and wisely, without let or hindrance.

Those who claim that they will commit suicide if their candidate fails, should please go ahead and do so, having chosen to die in other people’s war, but they must be reminded ahead of the fact, that here in Nigeria, it is a felony to attempt suicide and fail at it. If you want to die because Atiku or Tinubu or Peter Obi or Kwankwaso or any other Presidential candidate does not win, please go ahead and harvest your idiocy. Under section 327 of the Criminal Code, (applicable in Southern Nigeria), it is stated clearly that “Any person who attempts to kill himself is guilty of a misdemeanor, and is liable to imprisonment for one year.” This is on all fours with Section 231 of the Penal code, applicable to Northern Nigeria. It is important therefore that as Dele Farotimi, lawyer and activist, has pointed out in a book of the same title, “nobody should die in their war” that is - nobody should lose their lives because politicians simply want to realize their personal ambitions, the same politicians who want other people’s children to die while they have all taken theirs to safe havens in different parts of the

world, the same politicians who are using Nigeria to play games, indeed the same politicians who do not care whether you live or die.

The big caveat, as Nigeria goes to the polls on February 25, 11 days from today, is: voter beware! It must be possible for every voter to go to the polls on election day and vote freely. Over the weekend, two incidents occurred that should attract attention and concern. In Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, a certain traditional ruler in Igbara community reportedly summoned a meeting of about 60 persons from the community where he told them that every member of the community must vote for “our party”.

He directed further, that voters must take pictures of their ballot papers to show compliance, otherwise they would have problems within the community after the election. It was an open threat, no holds barred.

The Baale, as such persons are called, even asked the members in attendance to show their Permanent Voters’ Cards. Out of 60 persons, 20 had their PVCs. Notwithstanding, he warned the 20 persons that nobody in the community would be allowed to jeopardize his own future and the future of his children by failing to follow his directive. In a democracy, this is most absurd.

How can a traditional ruler arrogate to himself the rights of every member within his domain? That is not democracy, that is feudalism. But does anyone know how many other communities in Nigeria where people have been similarly threatened, in open, undisguised space, places of religious worship where same threats Continued on page 30

ADENIRANOGUNSANYA GUEST COLUMNIST

G5 Political Rascality Against Atiku

I

n the month of May, 2022 former vice-president Atiku Abubakar from the North-East was elected the PDP presidential candidate for the 2023 general election polled 371 votes to defeat his closest rival, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike from the South-South who polled 237 votes. Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki from the North Central scored 70 votes to come a distant third.

The members of the G5 thereafter petitioned that the party presidential candidate and the National Chairman of the party should not come from the same Zone and demanded for the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu from the North Central geo-political Zone as Chairman of the Party, believing that the rotation and zoning policy of the party has been breached by Atiku Abubakar.

They upheld it should rotate to the South after eight years of Buhari as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

From the month of October 2010 to 2014, my traverse on the rotation and zoning policy of the PDP Constitution has taken me to meet with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Late Solomon Lar, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Late Mallam Adamu Ciroma who was then leader of the Northern Political Leaders Forum, Chief Bode George and lastly former vice-president Atiku Abubakar.

Article 7.3(C) of the PDP Constitution states, “In pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels”.

The Party Constitution established and recognized six geo-political zones namely, the North-West, North-East and North Central. The South West, South-South and South-East. Understanding the zoning policy, the rotation

Atiku is on North and South basis. The zoning relates to the six geopolitical zones, one after the other premised on the principle of equity, justice and fairness.

At the 1999 general elections, Olusegun Obasanjo was PDP Presidential candidate. At the 2003 presidential election, again President Olusegun Obasanjo from the South-West was the party presidential candidate. At the 2007 presidential election, the party presidential candidate rotate to the North and President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua from the North-West was elected President. At the 2011 presidential primary, the party presidential candidacy rotate to the South and Goodluck Jonathan from the South-South emerged the Party

Presidential candidate. At the 2015 Presidential election, again President Goodluck Jonathan emerged as the Party Presidential Candidate. At the 2019 Presidential primary, the party presidential candidacy rotate to the North and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from the North-East emerged as the Party Presidential candidate. And at the 2022 Party Presidential Primary, again Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from the North-East emerged as the Party Presidential candidate for the 2023 general election.

Henceforth in 2007, the party presidential must rotate to the South and Zone to the South-East and thereafter must rotate to the North and zone to the North-Central geo-political Zone. This is the spirit of the rotation and zoning policy of the PDP Constitution.

It is clear that the South-West had the Party Presidential candidate in 1999 and 2003 and the South-South in 2011 and 2015. A Party precedent had thereby been established and no breach of the rotation and zoning policy had been committed by the North-East under Atiku Abubakar being PDP Presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023.

If Nyseon Wike from the South-South had been elected Party Presidential candidate for the 2023 general election, there would have been a fundamental breach and destruction of the rotation and zoning policy because Wike’s South-South geo-political zone produced President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and 2015. The G5 erred in their decision in allowing all Southern candidates contest for the Party Presidential candidate whereas it was the turn of South-East candidates by virtue of the rotation and zoning policy and not South-South.

The rotation and zoning policy is strictly a PDP affair and has nothing to do with APC that presented a North-West President in 2015 and 2019 elections. If the APC had respected the rotation and zoning policy

which they do not have in their party Constitution, they should not have presented President Buhari from the North-West after President Yar-Adua from the North-West was elected President in 2007.

The APC has done same again electing a South-West Presidential candidate after President Olusegun Obasanjo from the South-West was President from 1999 to 2007, whereas the North-East, North-Central and South-East has not yet produced a President.

The complaint of the G5 after Atiku Abubakar from the North-East was elected party Presidential candidate was that the National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu from the North-Central should resign on the premise that both Atiku and Ayu are from the North. There is no provision of the Party Constitution that stipulate that the Presidential candidate of the Party and National Chairman cannot or should not emerge from the same North or South region. There is therefore no legal or moral justification for this complaint. Atiku Abubakar has no powers whatsoever to remove or demand for the resignation of the National Chairman who was legally elected to serve a term in office in accordance with the provisions of the party Constitution not having been found guilty of any breach of the party Constitution. To the members of the G5 we ask and beg for an answer; where were they in 2010, June 17th when Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo from the South-East was elected the National Chairman of the Party at the time President Goodluck Jonathan from the South-South was President? For the leaders of the G5 who are members of the PDP to agree to support a presidential candidate not being a member of their party is nothing short of Political rascality within the border of political insanity. r"EFOJSBO 0HVOTBOZB JT B -FHBM 1SBDUJUJPOFS

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