SATURDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 2023

CBN Reviews Tenure Limits of Banks’ Management, Executives Cumulative tenure limits of EDs/DMDs/MDs and NEDs across the banking industry now 20 years Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revised the regulatory requirements for the tenure of Executive Management

and Non-executive Directors (NEDs) of deposit money banks (DMB) and financial holding companies (HoldCos).

The apex bank, which disclosed this in a circular to all

banks dated February 24, 2023, titled: “Re: Review of Tenure of Executive Management and Non-Executive Directors of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria,” obtained yesterday,

explained that the regulation was in line with the Code of Corporate for Banks and Discount Houses (Ref: FPR/ DIR/CIR/GEN/01/004).

The letter was signed by the

Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, CBN, Mr. Chibuzo Efobi.

According to the CBN, the tenure of Executive Directors (EDs), Deputy Managing

Directors (DMDs) and Managing Directors (MDs), shall be in accordance with the terms of their engagement approved Continued on page 5

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Nigeria’s Moment of Truth Atiku, Tinubu, Obi, Kwankwaso Clash in Historic Poll

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R

PAGE FIVE ATIKU ABUBAKAR STRENGTHS Experience, capacity, competence Broad national support Political pedigree with wide exposure Extensive contacts nationwide Courageous and a team player WEAKNESSES A Northerner disrupting power rotation that may see Fulani to Fulani power transfer Crony capitalist/deal maker Seen as too old Part of the infamous old order

BOLA TINUBU STRENGTHS Huge war chest Rich political experience Nationwide contacts, friends Dogged fighter Seen as a team player WEAKNESSES Perceived as corrupt Could be a dictator if elected Health and age issues Perceived as vengeful Doubtful mental alertness

PETER OBI STRENGTHS Vibrant, focused, determined Seen as an alternative to old order Strong youth support base Robust on policy Urbane, humble Decent, no corruption baggage WEAKNESSES From zone with low voting power Limited war chest Weak in Northwest/Northeast Feeble political platform

RABIU KWANKWASO STRENGTHS Vibrant, Suave Focused, determined Strong on policy Strong political background WEAKNESSES Not a team player Limited war chest Weak southern support base Frail political platform Perceived as stubborn

NIGERIA’S MOMENT OF TRUTH

Our correspondents

On the 24th anniversary of the election that returned Nigeria to Democracy in 1999, Nigerians will today file out to elect a President that will run the country for another four years, effective May 29.

All the 18 registered political parties are fielding candidates for the presidential election, but the four leading candidates are Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

These four men have divided the country across all lines in an election that promises to be keenly contested.

Their campaigns across the 36 states and Abuja have been rancorous, with the candidates feeding fat on tribal, ethnic and religious sentiments.

Candidates of these four political parties also dominate the race for the seats in the National Assembly across the states, also holding today. 109 Senate seats and 360 House of Representatives seats are up for grabs.

It is in the midst of this bitter division that the over 87 million people with Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) will troop out today to determine the fates of Atiku, Tinubu, Obi and Kwankwaso.

As at press time, INEC had distributed sensitive and nonsensitive election materials to all the states of the federation.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, assured Nigerians that the commission would not fail the nation and the international community.

He promised that today’s elections will be free, fair, credible and lead to the outcomes that all Nigerians expect.

Yakubu said yesterday that the results will be declared as quickly as possible.

He said: “I just want to say that we will ensure that result declaration will be done speedily. I can’t put a finger on the number of days or number

of hours it will take, but it will be done speedily. We are aware of the anxiety and the need for us to conclude the process quickly, it will be concluded quickly.”

Police Assure Nigerians on Security

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has urged Nigerians to go out and vote without any fear today, assuring that they will be well protected.

The IG has mobilised 310, 973 officers and men to provide security for today’s election.

Other security outfits, aside the military and the Department of State Service (DSS), would complement efforts of the police with a total of 93,133 personnel, bringing all to 404,106 security agents.

Baba said: “With this layout, a minimum of at least two personnel, drawn from the above agencies, will be jointly deployed to man each of the polling units across the country, while the armed personnel will secure the public space, INEC facilities, vulnerable locations, border areas, as well as undertake armed escort duties for INEC personnel, materials and local and international observers.”

The IG has also ordered restriction of all forms of movement nationwide beginning from 12 AM to 6 PM on election day.

The restriction covers vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, with the exception of those on essential services such as INEC officials, electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, etc.

A statement from the Nigerian Police Force reads: “The order, which is part of measures emplaced to ensure a safe, secure, and conducive environment for the conduct of elections, is aimed at ensuring public order management, the safety of electorates, as well as assisting the security agencies in effective policing, thereby preventing hoodlums and

criminally-minded elements from disrupting the electoral process.

“Similarly, the IGP sternly warns all security aides and escorts to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election as anyone found flouting this directive will be severely sanctioned.

“He emphasises that only security personnel specifically assigned to election duties are to be seen within and around the designated election booths and centres. Also, the ban on the unauthorised use of sirens, revolving lights, covered number plates, and tinted glasses is still in force, and violators would be sanctioned appropriately.”

All state-established and owned security outfits/ organisations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guard and security outfits have also been barred by the IGP from participating in election’s security management.

Similarly, the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Audi, has said that the Corps will deploy 102,000 officials for today’s election.

While assuring Nigerians of general security coverage nationwide, Audi stated that the Anti-vandalism Squad and Special Forces would also be deployed to all critical national assets and infrastructure, including flashpoints in the states and the FCT, to protect them against vandalism, damage, or arson by criminal elements before, during, and after the elections.

Atiku Abubakar

Atiku is carrying all sections of the country along and pledging inclusiveness.

He demonstrated this by picking his Vice-Presidential candidate from the South.

He has also promised power devolution if elected President.

Atiku wants to recover Nigeria from “poverty, disease, hunger and bad government.”

He also wants to restore Nigeria’s unity, which he believes has been badly mismanaged by the Buhari-led

APC federal government.

Being a businessman with hundreds of employees and therefore more amenable to job creation in the face of mass unemployment, Atiku appears attractive.

With the level of poverty, unemployment and Naira crunch in the country, most voters even in the stronghold of APC, are most likely going to resolve their doubts in favour of Atiku by way of seeking alternatives to the present reality, especially with the millions of jobs lost to shady handling of the economy.

The unending killings in the country under an APCled federal government may further make voters want to try alternatives.

In his closing campaign, Atiku declared: “You have the APC, whose candidate for President is the national leader of the party; a party that has, for almost eight years now, brought to our country a period of unspeakable misery, economic decline, mass poverty, massive insecurity, monumental job losses, fractionalisation, disunity, and injustice. A party under whose watch, our country has witnessed a frightening descent into anarchy, multidimensional crises, economic meltdown.

“It was under the APC that our country returned to pauper-nation status with over N77 trillion in debt, and under whose watch, over 22 million of our children are now out of school!

“Then you have my party, the PDP. The PDP midwife the longest period of sustained economic growth in our country, instituted fundamental reforms and new innovations, leading to an explosion in opportunity for our citizens in the telecoms, fintech, financial services and other cutting-edge technology space. It was the PDP that rebuilt Nigeria’s economy and turned it into the largest economy in Africa.

“The APC is asking you to vote for them to renew this misery and destruction; to renew the violence, the wanton destruction, the killings and kidnappings; and to renew the harsh and brutal conditions

CBN REVIEWS TENURE LIMITS OF BANKS' MANAGEMENT, EXECUTIVES by the board of directors of banks, subject to a maximum tenure of 10 years.

Furthermore, the banking sector regulator stated that where an executive, who is a DMD becomes the MD/ CEO of a bank, or any other DMB before the end of his or her maximum tenure, the cumulative tenure of such executive shall not exceed 12 years.

It added: “However, for

an Executive Director (ED), who becomes a DMD of a bank, or any other DMB, his or her cumulative tenure as ED and DMD shall not exceed 10 years. NEDs, with the exception of Independent Non-executive Directors (INEDs), shall serve for a maximum period of 12 years in a bank broken into three terms of four years each.

“EDs, DMDs and MDs who exit from the board of

a bank either upon or prior to the expiration of his or her maximum tenure, shall serve out a cooling off period of one year before being eligible for appointment as a NED to the board of directors.

“NEDs who exits from the board of a bank either upon or prior to the expiration of his or her maximum tenure of 12 years (three terms of four years each), shall serve out a cooling off period of one-year before

being eligible for appointment to the board of directors of any other DMB. “The cumulative tenure limits of EDs/DMDs/MDs and NEDs across the banking industry is 20 years. Please be guided accordingly.”

It pointed out that the regulations were part of measures aimed at strengthening governance practices in the banking industry.

that so many people in our country now live with, on a daily basis.

“In contrast, the PDP, led by me, is asking for your vote to elect a government that will work to Recover Nigeria from the misery, insecurity and economic decline of the last eight years and bring into office a government that works for all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, tongue or religion, based on our founding principles of Unity, Justice and Progress.”

Bola Tinubu

Tinubu’s campaign is anchored on “consolidating Buhari’s achievements.”

He said the Buhari administration had done a lot in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture and poverty alleviation and he is aiming to build on these achievements.

Tinubu said: “There are also some sectors where we must adopt new approaches and stress new priorities. Our administration will work to ensure not just a farewell to poverty but also usher in an era of prosperity in our country. To achieve this, we will re-engineer our security architecture to enhance the capacity of our armed forces and security agencies to guarantee the safety of the lives and properties of our people.

“We will task our ingenuity to drastically enhance the country’s revenue generating capacity so that we can adequately fund and fundamentally improve the quality of social services in education, healthcare and housing, among others. We are determined to ensure that incessant strikes by unions in our public universities become a thing of the past.

“Ensuring adequate and uninterrupted electricity will be one of our cardinal priorities. This will help boost the performance of the industrial sector and create jobs on a massive scale for our teeming youths. We shall put in place a robust and virile credit system so that more people can acquire the basics of life such as housing, cars and household equipment and pay gradually. That will have the immediate effect of reducing the motivation to resort to corrupt means of wealth accumulation.”

Peter Obi

In his campaign, Peter Obi showed capacity, experience and huge understanding of the issues that are wrong with Nigeria, stressing the need for good and incorruptible government as a panacea.

Obi is aiming at building a new Nigeria and promoting a

private-sector driven economy that will create jobs and wealth for the people.

Obi, in his last appeal to Nigerians, said: “We are currently at a crossroads.

We need a leader to show us the way forward. We need a prudent president, a principled president who has what it takes to lead. As we say in Naija, ‘we need person who sabi road; a person we go follow make this country better.’ A new Nigeria is possible. We can make it.

“We want to move our economy from importing and consuming products to producing, consuming less, and exporting more. That is the essence of Consumption to Production.

“I ask you, my people, to empower me as your president and commanderin-chief. I will be in charge.

I have the requirements for correct leadership: character, competence, commitment, compassion, hard work, honesty, humanity, and humility.

“I have the courage and the heart with which to deliver the dividends of democracy freely and fairly to our people. We can change this country. If it takes us making the supreme sacrifice, let us make it for a greater tomorrow.”

Rabiu Kwankwaso

Kwankwaso also promises a new Nigeria, “where equity, justice and fairness are possible.

A new Nigeria where safety and security are guaranteed, a Nigeria where peace and prosperity are ensured.

“A Nigeria where equity and opportunities are available and accessible to all citizens, a Nigeria where quality education and modern healthcare services are accessible and guaranteed to all and a Nigeria where governance is about the yearnings and the aspirations of all the citizens.”

THISDAY Projections

Obi leads in most of South East and South South states with a strong showing in Lagos, Benue and a possible win in Plateau State.

Tinubu on his part, leads in the South-west, Borno and Yobe States, with a strong showing in the North-west.

Atiku has a strong showing in most of the North, while leading in Adamawa, Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Taraba States, with a very strong showing in Zamfara, Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa and Osun States.

Kwankwaso is leading in Kano with a strong showing in Jigawa, Katsina and Taraba States.

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Atiku’s Last Chance

Charles Ajunwa

The political journey of the Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar may end this year if he fails to win today's Presidential election. He will be too old in 2027 for a presidential campaign.

In the build up to the 2019 presidential election, political pundits predicted that the candidate of the opposition PDP, Atiku, would emerge victorious. They had predicted that he would defeat the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari, with a small margin.

At the end of the day, Buhari coasted home to victory with over 15 million votes.

Although Buhari is not going to be on the ballot in today’s presidential election, Atiku has three powerful candidates to contend with - Tinubu, Obi and Kwankwaso. Can Atiku be lucky this time around? Nigerian voters determine this today.

Atiku’s foray into politics was in the early 1980s when he worked behind-the-scenes on the governorship campaign of Bamanga Tukur, who at that time was managing director of the Nigeria Ports Authority. He canvassed for votes on behalf of Tukur, and also donated to the campaign.

Towards the end of his Customs career, he met Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, who had been second-in-command of the military regime that ruled Nigeria between 1976 and 1979.

Atiku was drawn by Yar’Adua into the political meetings that were happening regularly in Yar’Adua’s Lagos home.

In 1989 Atiku was elected a National ViceChairman of the Peoples Front of Nigeria, the political association led by Yar’Adua, to participate in the transition programme initiated by Head of State Ibrahim Babangida.

The Peoples Front of Nigeria included politicians such as Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Babalola Borishade, Bola Tinubu, Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Sabo Bakin Zuwo.

Atiku won a seat to represent his constituency at the 1989 Constituent Assembly, set up to

Atiku

decide a new constitution of Nigeria.

The People’s Front was eventually denied registration by the government (none of the groups that applied was registered) and found a place within the Social Democratic Party, one of the two parties decreed into existence by the regime.

On September 1, 1990, Atiku announced his Gongola State gubernatorial bid. A year later, before the elections could hold, Gongola State

was broken up into two – Adamawa and Taraba states. Atiku fell into the new Adamawa State. After the contest, he won SDP primaries in November 1991 but was soon disqualified by the government from contesting the elections.

A similar fate – disqualification by the military – would befall Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Atiku’s friend and political mentor, in his 1992 bid for the presidential primary of the SDP. With no chance of contesting for the presidency, Yar’Adua decided to push Atiku forward as the focal point of SDP’s ambitions. He came third in the convention primary. But because MKO Abiola, the winner, had won by only about 400 votes a run-off was due.

Atiku stepped down for Abiola, asking his supporters to cast their votes for him, with an unwritten agreement that Abiola would announce Atiku as his running mate.

Abiola won the SDP ticket and announced Babagana Kingibe, the runner-up, as his running mate.

His second gubernatorial run was in 1998 when he launched a bid for the governorship seat on the platform of the PDP. Atiku won the December 1998 elections, but before he could be sworn-in, he was tapped by the PDP’s presidential candidate, former Head of State, Olusegun Obasanjo, as his vice-presidential candidate.

The Obasanjo-Atiku ticket won the February 27, 1999 presidential election with 62.78 per cent of the votes.

Atiku was sworn-in as Vice President of Nigeria on May 29, 1999. He presided over the National Council on Privatisation, overseeing the sale of hundreds of lossmaking and poorly managed public enterprises.

In 2003, he was involved in a bitter public battle with his boss, Obasanjo, ostensibly arising from the latter’s bid for a second term. Atiku wanted to run, claiming Obasanjo promised to do only one term. They also clashed over the failed constitutional amendment aimed

at allowing Obasanjo to run for another term.

Atiku-Obasanjo face-off damaged the once chummy relationship between both men.

Atiku’s second attempt at the presidency was in 2007. On December 20, 2006, he was chosen as the presidential candidate of the then Action Congress (AC).

On March 14, 2007, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the final list of 24 candidates for April 21 presidential election. Atiku’s name was missing from the ballot. The electoral body issued a statement stating that his name was missing because he was on a list of persons indicted for corruption by a panel set up by the government. Atiku headed to the courts on March 16 to have his disqualification overturned. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on April 16 that INEC had no power to disqualify candidates. The ruling allowed Atiku to contest the election.

According to official results, Atiku took third place, behind the PDP candidate, late Umaru Yar’Adua and All Nigeria Peoples Party’s candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, with approximately seven per cent of the votes (2.6 million votes). Atiku rejected the election results and called for its cancellation, describing as Nigeria’s “worst election ever.”

On February 2, 2014, Atiku left the PDP to join the APC, with the intent of contesting the elusive Nigerian presidency in 2015 on the party’s platform. Incumbent President Buhari emerged as APC’s standard bearer.

Atiku, on November 24, 2017, announced his exit from APC, a party he helped to form.

On December 3, 2017, via a Facebook Live broadcast, Atiku announced his return to the PDP. Again, he declared his candidacy for presidential nomination of the PDP mid-2018 and won the nomination at its convention held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on October 7.

Atiku defeated 11 other contestants and got 1,532 votes, 839 more than the runner-up, the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal.

The Adamawa-born politician lost the keenly contested 2019 presidential election to President Buhari of APC.

Tinubu and His Lifelong Ambition Bennett Oghifo It has always been his lifelong ambition to become the President of Nigeria. Tinubu is unapologetic about this. He says he has the confidence, vision and capacity for the office of president and also build on the foundation laid by the President Muhammadu Buhari. “I have done that with unyielding commitment in Lagos State,” declares Tinubu, during one of his visits to Buhari.

In early 2022, having decided to run for President, Tinubu made it known to Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. After the meeting, journalists asked him what the response of the president was to his ambition, and he replied, “That’s our business. He is a democrat. He didn’t ask me to stop. He didn’t ask me not to attempt and pursue my ambition, which is a lifelong ambition.

“So, why do I expect him to say more than that? You are running a democratic dispensation, and you must adopt the principles and the values and the virtues of democracy. That’s it.”

On June 8, 2022, Tinubu won the presidential primary of the ruling All Progressive Congress scoring 1,271, to defeat Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Rotimi Amaechi who scored 235 and 316 respectively.

His political career began in 1992. when he joined the Social Democratic Party where he was a member of the Peoples Front faction led by Shehu Musa Yar'Adua and made up of other politicians such as Umaru Yar'Adua, Atiku Abubakar, Baba Gana Kingibe, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, Magaji Abdullahi, Dapo Sarumi and Yomi Edu. Tinubu was elected to the Senate, representing the Lagos West constituency in the short-lived Nigerian Third Republic.

After the results of the 12 June 1993 presidential elections were annulled, Tinubu became a founding member of the pro-democracy National Democratic Coalition, a group which mobilised support for the restoration of democracy and recognition of Moshood Abiola as winner of the 12 June election. Following the seizure of

Tinubu

power as military head of state of General Sani Abacha, he went into exile in 1994 and returned to the country in 1998 after the death of the military dictator, which ushered in the transition to the Fourth Nigerian Republic.

In the run-up to the 1999 elections, Tinubu was a protégé of Alliance for Democracy (AD) leaders Abraham Adesanya and Ayo Adebanjo. He went on to win the AD primaries for the Lagos State governorship elections in defeating Funsho Williams and Wahab Dosunmu, a former Minister of Works and Housing. In January 1999, he stood for the position of Governor of Lagos State on the AD ticket and was elected

governor.

After he assumed office in May 1999, Tinubu provided multiple housing units in Lagos for the poor. During the eight-year period of being in office, he made large investments in education in the state and also reduced the number of schools in the state by returning many schools to the already settled former owners. He also initiated new road construction, required to meet the needs of the fast-growing population of the state.

Tinubu, alongside a new deputy governor, Femi Pedro, won re-election into office as governor in April 2003. All other states in the South West fell to the People's Democratic

Party in those elections. He was involved in a struggle with the Olusegun Obasanjo-controlled federal government over whether Lagos State had the right to create new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to meet the needs of its large population. The controversy led to the federal government seizing funds meant for local councils in the state. During the latter part of his term in office, he was engaged in continuous clashes with PDP powers such as Adeseye Ogunlewe, a former Lagos State senator who had become minister of works, and Bode George, the southwest chairman of the PDP. Relations between Tinubu and deputy governor Femi Pedro became increasingly tense after Pedro declared his intention to run for the gubernatorial elections. Pedro competed to become the AC candidate for governor in the 2007 elections, but withdrew his name on the eve of the party nomination. He defected to the Labour Party while still keeping his position as deputy governor. Tinubu's tenure as Lagos State Governor ended on 29 May 2007, when his successor Babatunde Fashola of the Action Congress took office.

Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu was born on March 29, 1952, according to affidavits, to Abibatu Mogaji, a trader that later became the Iyaloja of Lagos State.

He is a Muslim and is married to a Christian, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator of Lagos Central senatorial district. He has two chieftaincy titles - the Asiwaju of Lagos and the Jagaban of the Borgu kingdom in Niger State.

He attended St. John's Primary School, Aroloya, Lagos and Children's Home School in Ibadan. Tinubu then went to the United States in 1975, where he studied first at Richard J. Daley College in Chicago and then at Chicago State University. He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

Tinubu worked for the American companies Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, Haskins, & Sells, and GTE Services Corporation. After returning to Nigeria in 1983, Tinubu joined Mobil Oil Nigeria, and later became an executive of the company.

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Peter Obi Seeking to Rewrite History Ahamefula Ogbu He is a man gifted with a Mahatma Ghandi’s stoic disposition, never fighting back but standing on attacks to draw friends through refusal to reply abuses. He also neither initiates attacks nor would he employ invectives in his political campaigns which rhymes with his soft spoken voice to give impression of a forgiving personality. He has come across to every political watcher as not only temperate but humane.

A former governor of Anambra State who stuck to his refusal to “settle” State House of Assembly members as has unfortunately become the norm and in recompense, was impeached, he is seen as uncompromising in matters of graft and adroitly miserly with public funds. His simple appearance belies his wealth that he never flaunts and successfully resisted being swollen headed by either his wealth, knowledge or position so that he cuts the picture of one able to maintain an austere lifestyle even when he can afford virtually anything money can buy.

One thing that even his traducers have admitted is working for him is his ability to be underrated. That was helped by the fact that though he knew he was being credited with less than his abilities and capacities, he smiled away replies that would have given away his game plan. Before those who used this as a bad political joke, he had eaten deep into the trust fabric of an average Nigerian.

Obi reels out statistics and examples in development from working economies and comes across as one who has the proper knowledge of how to steer the ship of state which going by wobbly government policies poorly implemented won him the trust and hope for the future of a tottering giant of a country. Even when facts appear questionable as he reels them out, he confidently challenges his traducers and doubters to “go and verify”.

His bold move in leaving the Peoples Democratic Party where he was previously a Vice presidential candidate to join little known Labour party seem to have distanced him from

Obi

the two main political parties adjudged to have administered harsh conditions on Nigerians. This was added to the fuel scarcity and Naira redesign programmes of the present government which has pulled Nigerians through the worst thereby seeing in Obi, a possible redemption.

Each time he addresses the people, he speaks to their needs and raises hope of their expectations which the regular politicians have failed to. What was meant to deride him like “we no dey give shishi” meant to cast him in derogatory light as a miser and stingy personality soon caught fire and became a sales point

where people saw him as not one to put his hand into the public till in the name of sharing money as regular politicians do while actually helping themselves and their families.

Obi who doesn’t mind swimming against the tide has severally publicly resisted being railroaded into doing anything against his will and philosophy of life like when he publicly resisted being made to pledge money to a faith organisation and rather insisted that they should show him a project to execute. This made people to trust that he would not be easily blackmailed by political scavengers to sacrifice the country’s

common patrimony by the political hyenas of the country.

While others are busy abusing each other and throwing muds that border on corrupt practices, Obi keeps on with messages of hope, often interposing his deliveries with short tours of places where policies that failed in Nigeria are working well to assure the people that he was minded on resolving the issues bedeviling the sector.

One point that has stood him out is the fact that he ruled Anambra for eight years and has since after leaving office, been in public space without any of the anti-graft agencies having anything on him even after scurrilous attack by opponents who realised too late that he was approaching the election as a storm.

Of all then former governors, he has loudly and publicly insisted without any contradiction that unlike his fellow competitors for the office, he was not collecting pension as a former governor nor did he exact from his state like some did, houses, cars and jumbo salaries for life as well as change of cars and domestic staff; he rather stayed on his business earnings to live his life.

Also testimonials like that from Bianca Ojukwu on how Obi prefers both his private monies and public funds should be applied which ignores and even derides ostentation further endeared him to the people who expect for the first time that if he wins the election, he will put the money of the country where development demands instead of siphoning them to foreign lands where they and their families access all the good things of life while Nigerians languish in lack and penury He was born on July 19, 1961 in Onitsha to a business parents and is a businessman whose interest also bestrides banking and other investments. He attended Christ the King College, Onitsha before proceeding to University of Nigeria, Nsukka for his degree.

Obi has maintained being a silent giver and a philanthropist whose kindness is sectional and religious blind. He commits more towards educational upliftment. He is married with children

Kwankwaso: Pulsating, Resolute Charles Ajunwa Political commentators have described former two-term governor of Kano State and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as a grassroots politician whose political career has been eventful so far. But whether Kwankwaso would translate his popularity especially in the North-west to votes, remains to be seen as he goes to the polls today.

Kwankwaso, who became the governor of Kano State from 1999 to 2003 and 2011 to 2015. After he lost his re-election in 2003, he was appointed the first Minister of Defence from 2003 to 2007, under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was later elected to the Senate in 2015, serving one term under the platform of the APC, representing Kano Central Senatorial District.

In 2015, Kwankwaso unsuccessfully contested the presidential primaries nomination under the opposition All Progressives Congress, but lost to President Muhammadu Buhari. In 2018, he returned to the PDP and contested the presidential primaries losing out to Atiku Abubakar.

In 1992, Kwankwaso made his entry into politics on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He was a member of the People's Front faction of the SDP led by General Shehu Yar’Adua and other popular politicians such as his former boss Senator Magaji Abdullahi, Babagana Kingibe, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu, Tony Anehih, Chuba Okadigbo, Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, Abubakar Koko, Lamidi Adedibu, among others.

In 1992, Kwankwaso was elected as a member of the House of Representatives representing Madobi Federal Constituency.

His subsequent election as deputy Speaker in the House brought him to the limelight of national politics. During the 1995 Constitutional Conference, Kwankwaso was elected as one of the delegates from Kano, as a member of the People's Democratic Movement led by Yar'Adua. He later joined the Democratic Party

Kwankwaso

of Nigeria (DPN) in the political transition program of General Sani Abacha.

Kwankwaso joined the PDP in 1998 under the platform of People's Democratic Movement in Kano led

by Mallam Musa Gwadabe, Senator Hamisu Musa and Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila. In 1999, he contested the PDP primaries alongside Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Mukthari Zimit, Alhaji Kabiru Rabiu.

Kwankwaso was elected for his first term as the governor of Kano State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2003. His first tenure as the governor of Kano State was very eventful because of several

other groups who were opposed to his high-handed governorship and his attempt at supporting Yoruba President Obasanjo.

In 2003, he lost re-election to his rival Malam Ibrahim Shekarau.

He was re-elected for a second term in office as governor of Kano State from 29 May 2011 to 29 May 2015. During this time, he set out to rejig the political structure of Kwankwassiya: building roads, hospitals and schools and sending residents to study abroad. In August 2013, Kwankwaso was amongst seven serving governors who formed the G-7 faction within the PDP. In November 2013, Kwankwaso, alongside five members of the G-7, defected to the

new opposition party, the APC. In June 2014, Kwankwaso was at loggerheads with long-time Emir of Kano Ado Bayero over his appointment of Waziri of the Kano Emirate Council. On 6 June 2014, Ado Bayero died and a succession crisis loomed amongst the royals. On 8 June 2014, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi Dan Majen Kano (Son of Emir-Maje) emerged as the new Emir of Kano. His accession led to widespread protests from supporters of Sanusi Ado Bayero, son of the late Emir and Chiroman Kano (Crown Prince), and allegations that Kwankwaso supported Sanusi because of the 2015 presidential election.

In October 2014, Kwankwaso used his large political following in Kano to contest the APC presidential primaries. The presidential primaries results held in Lagos were: Muhammadu Buhari won with 3,430 votes, Kwankwaso with 974 votes, Atiku Abubakar with 954 votes, Rochas Okorocha with 400 votes and Sam Nda-Isiah with 10 votes. Coming in second, Kwankwaso endorsed the winner Muhammadu Buhari.

After losing the bid to contest the 2007 governorship election, he was appointed as the Special Envoy to Somalia and Darfur by President Obasanjo; and was later appointed

by President Yar’Adua as a Board Member of the Niger Delta Development Commission, a position he resigned from in 2010.

In July 2018, Kwankwaso alongside 14 serving senators of the APC defected to the PDP. In October 2018, Kwankwaso contested the PDP presidential primary. At the primary held in Rivers, amongst 12 presidential aspirants Kwankwaso came in fourth behind Atiku with 1,532 votes. He later endorsed the winner Atiku and refused to seek re-election into the Senate, with Ibrahim Shekarau replacing him.

On 22 February 2022, Kwankwaso set up the National Movement as a political movement against the staying power of the two major political parties the APC and the PDP. He co-opted the New Nigeria Peoples Party as the political wing of the movement and became the national leader of the party on 30 March 2022.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • T H I S D AY

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

BUHARI’S FAINT FOOTPRINT ON TOURISM The 2022 Act has some redeeming features for the sector, writes Chuks Akamadu

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bird’s eye view of Nigeria’s tourism landscape would reveal the abundance of unique tourist attractions. However, despite the notable attractions and their inherent benefits to the economic development of the Nigerian society, the resources seem not to add much value to the country because they are largely crude, untapped and undeveloped. It is sad to note that the local and state governments where such potentials are deposited are either ignorant of the benefits of developing those potentials or rather not willing to invest in them.

It is worthy of note also that countries like Malaysia, Kenya, United Arab Emirates (UAE), South Africa among others firmly depend on tourism as a major source of revenue and believe me, they have created niche markets for their respective touristic products. For example, Dubai (UAE) is known for business and conference tourism, Kenya is known for eco-tourism, India for medical tourism, Malaysia for educational tourism and South Africa for adventure tourism.

Little wonder the number of aircraft that land in Dubai airports are on the increase even though they are surrounded by large body of water. Famous for having one of the best education systems on the continent of Asia, Malaysia is aggressively boosting its national economy through educational tourism, Kenya centres on wild life and ecotourism while South Africa exploits adventure tourism. For these countries, tourism is a serious business with massive impact on their respective domestic economies.

On the contrary, tourism is found on the fringes of Nigeria’s economy. Over the years, the private sector has been the chief driver of tourism in Nigeria – and I dare say with avoidable, man-inflicted pain. Tourism employs a lot of people but it is severely handicapped by government’s failure to put the necessary infrastructure in place and, at a minimum, institute a tourism satellite account (TSA) which would make it possible to capture all the revenues accruing to the nation from the sector, as opposed to what the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is doing at present.

Besides, there are issues of obsolete cultural policy and tourism masterplan which have significantly hindered the prosperity of an industry that is not only an obvious low-hanging economic fruit, but also a cash-cow yet to be recognized. That’s not all. Some of the pillars of our tourism superstructure such as National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) which was conceived

IT IS WORTHY OF NOTE THAT COUNTRIES LIKE MALAYSIA, KENYA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, SOUTH AFRICA, AMONG OTHERS, FIRMLY DEPEND ON TOURISM AS A MAJOR SOURCE OF REVENUE AND BELIEVE ME, THEY HAVE CREATED NICHE MARKETS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE TOURISTIC PRODUCTS

to be a busy bakery of the technical expertise and skilled manpower required to standardize and reposition the industry has been harshly limited by successive governments’ unhelpful perception. Regrettably, they preferred to see tourism as an item domiciled in leisure, as opposed to appreciating it, rightly, as a massive job-creator and tool for sustainable economic growth and development.

With the foregoing in mind, I am pleased to say, for all it’s worth, kudos to all stakeholders who worked assiduously for the repeal of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Act (1992) and its replacement with the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority Act (2022) signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari recently. What’s most refreshing - and indeed gratifying - to note in this transmutation is that whereas the former had obvious defects, the latter has supplied reasonable cure. To be prudent with words, the 2022 Act has bridged a gap between and among industry players as well as created a wide-enough room for robust collaboration amongst the three tiers of government and mutually rewarding partnership between the public and private sectors, in the overall interest of our tourism sector.

Something to cheer about, isn’t it?

According to Mr. Folorunsho Coker, director general of NTDA, “the new law provides for a Tourism Partnership Alliance, where willing stakeholders under the alliance can be regulated as well as benefit from the federal advantages, which the alliance has to offer.” This wasn’t the case before now. What obtained in the past was absence of synergy which brought unmitigated mutual loss; and it is on this score that I wish to commend President Buhari for his belated acknowledgement of tourism as a sector that is deserving of federal government’s attention.

Although this singular “feat” by the Buhari administration does not necessarily warrant a call for standing ovation, it has, to be fair, at least provided us an opportunity to lament the ugly state of our tourism sector afresh.

Additionally, it has also supplied the next government enough to chew on with regard to the imperative of energizing and mainstreaming tourism into the economy.

What, however, remains to be seen is the enthusiasm with which the sector’s diverse stakeholder-groups would embrace and optimize the opportunity thus provided, even as Nigerians would also like to see much more robust policy interventions by the next administration.

Akamadu, M.IoD, is Managing Director, Afrocultour Limited

LAGOS RICE MILLS AS GAME CHANGER Tayo Ogunbiyi writes that the Imota rice mill will enhance food security

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t is no longer news that President Muhammadu Buhari has officially commissioned the 32-metric tonnes per hour Lagos Rice Mill in Imota, Ikorodu.

The integrated rice mill at Imota is a 22-hectare facility with the rice mill taking about 8.5 hectares and consists of a complete set of new mills, two warehouses, 16 silos with a storage capacity of 40 metric tonnes each, water treatment plant, effluent processing plant, staff quarters, administrative block, car park and firefighting facility, amongst others.

The President was taken round the facility by the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in company of the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya and other top government officials.

While speaking at the event, Sanwo=Olu noted that the President is happy about the project, adding that the Lagos Rice Mill is part of the state government’s resolve to complement the federal government‘s rice revolution.

According to the governor, the Rice Mill, which is the largest in Africa and third largest in the world, will generate about 250,000 direct and indirect jobs for Lagosians. This, he said, will contribute enormously to the economy of the immediate community where the mill is located, Lagos State and the country as a whole.

He said that the Imota Rice Mill is an effort by the Lagos State to support the country’s rice revolution, adding that the mill will create jobs and help drive sustainable growth. “It will create jobs and help drive sustainable growth and we are glad to be part of the country’s agricultural revolution,” he noted.

The Rice Mill, is a two by 16 metric tonnes per hour standing on an area of 8.5Ha land with an annual paddy requirement of over 240,000MT to produce 2.5 million bags of 50kg rice per annum.

The integrated rice milling operation in Lagos State started on the success of the Rice for Job Programme, which began in 2008. The programme covered all aspects of the rice value chain such as Paddy processing among others.

It graduated about 1,000 rice farmers across the value chain.

From the outset, the Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s accorded the Imota Rice Mill a priority attention.

Recall that one of the earliest tasks of Sanwo-Olu was a working visit to the mill where he promised to speed up the completion of the project.

The governor, who visited the mills in the company of his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola and other top government functionaries, reiterated his administration’s commitment to enhancing food security in the state.

Now, with its completion, the mill is capable of providing for the rice needs of a good proportion of Lagos residents. In order to further ensure that the rice need of Lagosians is adequately catered for, the government is already collaborating with the South West and Northern states, as well as the Rice Farmers Association (REFAN) for the acquisition of rice paddy.

Without a doubt, the state government has demonstrated that it is unreservedly committed to the federal government policy on food production.

Towards this end, it is already in discussion with other states, especially those with the capacity to provide land for rice cultivation. Consequently, some of them have offered to make available about 72,000 hectares of land in their respective states. This is certainly a boost for Lagos’ renewed drive for rice cultivation.

According to the 2017/2018 report from the Rice Farmers Association (REFAN), the apex rice farmers’ body has the ability to produce 10 million tonnes of rice.

Sadly, however, only a tiny fraction of that capacity is being optimally put to use. It is this shortfall that the Lagos Rice Mill is expected to fill.

Fortunately, the World Bank is coming to the aid of the state government in this fresh impetus to promote food security.

This is being done with focus on the value chain with a view to enhancing the capacity of the rice farmers and the entire value chain.

Aside hunger and malnutrition, food insecurity equally results in a wide range of other problems such as health hazards, environmental degradation and high rate of crime. Conversely, to the extent that food security improves, most facets of life improve as well.

Our reliance on importation of rice has been to the disadvantage of our local economy. Resources that could have been spent to boost capacity of agro-economy were channelled to the importation of rice which has lost its nutritional value due to years of preservation. In 2016, Nigeria rice importation stood at 2.3 million tonnes, with $5million averagely spent on each shipment.

Former Minister of Agriculture and current President of the African Development Bank, (ADB) Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, once disclosed that in 2010 alone, the nation spent a staggering N635b on wheat importation, N35b on rice importation, N217b on sugar importation and another N97b spent on fish importation! Just imagine how much impact such amount of money could have had on our nation if it had been invested in improving critical infrastructure across the country.

It is, therefore, heartwarming that Sanwo-Olu fulfilled his solemn pledge to complete the all-important Lagos Integrated Rice Mill in record time.

With a growing population of over 20 million, it is wise and convenient for Lagos State to embrace food security.

Aside hunger and malnutrition, food insecurity equally results in a wide range of other problems such as health, environmental degradation, and high rate of crime.

Being the country’s Center of Excellence, it is pleasing that Lagos has taken a cue from countries such as China, Thailand and Vietnam, by setting up a huge rice mill. This would further enhance the state’s capacity to generate more revenue, thereby meeting more needs of the citizenry.

With the coming on board of the rice mill, Sanwo-Olu has, no doubt, taken another giant leap in his administration’s ‘Greater Lagos’ vision. Surely, a Greater Lagos is rising!

Ogunbiyi is Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

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FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Vote right...

Why Eligible Citizens Must Come Out to Vote

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oting is an essential aspect of democratic governance as it is the only way through which the people can exercise their power to choose their leaders and shape their future. Nigeria, a country blessed with abundant human and natural resources, is poised for another democratic exercise as her citizens head to the polls to elect their leaders. It is time to get it right with a leader that will ensure that ALL citizens partake of the country’s blessedness.

Today, every eligible citizen must come out and vote.

Voting is not just a civic duty; it is also a right and a privilege that must be exercised. Every vote counts, and every vote matters in determining who becomes the leader of our great country.

There are several benefits of voting that we must take into consideration. First and foremost, voting gives us the power to choose our leaders. This means that we have the opportunity to vote for people who have our best interests at heart, people who can drive our country forward and bring about the positive CHANGE that we desire.

In addition, voting is a way to hold our leaders accountable. We vote them into office, and we can vote them out if they fail to deliver on their promises. It is our responsibility to ensure that those who are elected into public office fulfil their campaign promises and work for the betterment of the country. Equally, be ready to ask the hard questions of those you vote into office.

Furthermore, voting helps to foster national unity and integration. Elections provide a platform for all Nigerians to come together, regardless of tribe, religion, or political affiliation, and make a collective decision on the future of the country. It is an opportunity for us to put aside our differences and work towards a common goal. It shouldn’t be based on ethnicity or religion but on capacity, competence and character.

As we head to the polls today, it is important to note that we must avoid inducements or activities that can disrupt the elections. We must remain vigilant and report any attempts to buy votes or engage in any form of malpractice to the appropriate authorities.

It is important that our vote is based on our conviction and not on the amount of money that we have received from any candidate or political party.

Moreover, we must ensure that we conduct ourselves in a peaceful and orderly manner during the election.

We must avoid any form of violence or activities that can

lead to the disruption of the election process. We must remember that the future of our country is in our hands, and we must take responsibility for it. There are several numbers available for this. If you are in Lagos here are the Police Emergency Numbers: 08127155132, 08065154338, 08063299264, 08039344870. Also, remember that 767 and 112 are functional.

These are the Military hotlines for Lagos: 08034025825, 08023190487, 09024409000 08033709434 The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has also dedicated its Consumer Toll-Free Number 622, to serve as the 2023 Presidential Election Incident Hotline to enable voters and members of the public across Nigeria to report any issues that may affect them, or others, during the elections. If you see anything, say something.

If you are a Nigerian and eligible to vote, then by all means come out and vote today. This is an opportunity for us to exercise our power and choose our leaders. We can’t complain for four years and then when it is time to have a say we abdicate.

Elvis Eromosele, Lagos

Hichilema, Chikondo, and Witch Hunting in Zambia

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he Advocacy for Alleged Witches calls on the president of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, to take necessary measures to stop the attack and persecution of persons accused of witchcraft in the country. This call has become necessary following a recent case where an accused person was attacked and buried alive at a funeral. According to a news report, a mob severely beat a village head, Mr. Ndauti, after accusing him of bewitching the son-in-law who died last year. Following the death of his son-in-law, the family decided to conduct a local ritual known as Chikondo or magical moving coffin. People believe that through this ritual, the coffin that contains the dead body, would move and identify the person responsible for the death. In this case, some people performed the Chikondo ritual, and the coffin led the mourners to the home of the village head, Nduati. According to the report, Nduati was beaten and pushed into the grave. He was buried, along with the man that they said he killed through witchcraft. They described area that this incident happened as lawless due to a lack of police presence. There have been reports of other deaths and mob attacks linked to the Chikondo ritual in Zambia before now.

In 2017, Chikondo ritualists assaulted two elders on the suspicion that they killed a young man through witchcraft in the Northwestern province. The elders sustained injuries, one of them was hospitalized. In 2018, the police launched a manhunt for a witch doctor in Kaoma who charged exorbitant fees for magically moving coffins during funerals. A media source says that the Chikondo ritual practice is pervasive in Chikankata, Neganega, and T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE Mazabuka districts in the Southern DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU Province. It explains that during a MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO funeral procession, charms that was DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU placed in the coffin would lead the CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI pallbearers to the person responsible EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI for the death. The persons indicted are THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE attacked or killed, if they could not escape. The homes are burnt, and the livestock and any other possessions, are destroyed. The police said that T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D since last year at least nine persons EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA had been killed during the Chikondo GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, witch hunting in the country.

ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI Zambia : Police hunt ‘moving coffin’ DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI witchdoctor in Kaoma SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH Lusaka - Zambia: Police in Kaoma ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI have launched a manhunt for a CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI witchdoctor behind the moving coffins DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO drama popul...

TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com Leo Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾FEBRUARY 25, 2023

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NEWS

News Editor Charles Ajunwa 09157401421 (sms only) Email charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

NIGERIA DECIDES... NIGERIA DECIDES... NIGERIA DECIDES...

European Union Election Observation Mission Condemns Pre-election Violence Michael Olugbode in Abuja The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has condemned the recent acts of severe and coordinated incidents of violence, in particular the recent assassination of the Labour Party senatorial candidate for Enugu East Senatorial District, Chief Oyibo Chukwu and his personal aide associated with politics in Nigeria.

In a press statement yesterday, EU EOM Chief Observer, Barry Andrews,

urged Nigerian authorities to hold those responsible to account.

He called on all electoral stakeholders to engage in a manner that reflects the spirit of the Peace Accord signed on 22 February – on election day and in the days that follow as votes are counted and tabulated, and results are announced.

Andrews said: “Furthermore, we urge security agencies to fulfill their responsibilities and ensure an enabling environment

for peaceful elections.”

He said the EU EOM has been following the preparations for the 25 February general elections, including the just concluded campaign

activities and the conduct of political parties and candidates as well as other stakeholders.

He advised that: “Any concerns about the conduct of the elections or its outcome

should be channeled through designated election tribunals and courts as provided for in the laws of Nigeria “The EU EOM will continue to observe the

electoral process, including the transparency of the election administration, the impartiality of security agencies, and the independence of the judiciary.”

Police Arrest Rivers Lawmaker with $498, 000 Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Rivers State Police Command yesterday said it has arrested a House of Representatives member, Chinyere Igwe, who is also a strong campaigner of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over alleged money laundering amounting to five hundred dollars.

A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, alleged that the federal lawmaker was caught in possession of about $500, 000, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The statement was released hours after the video and picture of the lawmaker had gone viral on social media, suspected to have been circulated by the police who effected the arrest.

It would be recalled that on Tuesday the media house supposedly belonging to the lawmaker in the state, was

attacked by gunmen who threw explosive devices in the premises with intent to destroy the building.

Also, the business outlets of the federal lawmaker were shut down a few months ago by the state government who accused him of bunkering activities.

According to Iringe-Koko, “Police Officers from Rivers State Command deployed to INEC Headquarters Aba Road, today 24/2/2023 at about 0245hrs, while on stop and search, arrested one Ho.n Chinyere Igwe, member House of Representatives representing Port Harcourt II Federal Constituency with a cash sum of 498,100 USD inside a bag in his car.

“Also recovered was a list for distribution of the money. The AIG Election, AIG Abutu Yaro, has ordered swift interrogation and arraignment in court.

“The Command urges all contestants and political parties to comply strictly with provisions of the Electoral Act and other relevant laws.”

Court Grants Perpetual Injunction Restraining INEC from Using Oluomo-led Union Wale Igbintade Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it’s privies or any persons acting under its directions from contracting, partnering or appointing Lagos State Parks Management Committee, being control by Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya known as MC Oluomo or any of its members and drivers to distribute 2023 election materials and personnel in Lagos State Justice Aneke made the order while delivering judgement in a suit marked FHC/L/CS//2023 filed by the Labour Party, its governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-vivour and four others.

Other applicants in the suit are: African Democratic Congress and Boot Party and their governorship candidates, Mr. Funsho Doherty, and Wale Oluwo respectively.

The applicants through their lawyer, Abass Arisekola Ibra-

him, in a motion on notice filed and argued before the court, had asked for the following reliefs: “a declaration that the appointment, partnership, or contracting of Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomo-led Lagos State Parks Management Committee by INEC to distribute 2023 election materials and personnels in Lagos State violates Section 26 and 27 of the Electoral Act 2022 and consequently unlawful, null and void.

“A declaration that the appointment, partnership, or contracting of Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomo-led Lagos State Parks Management Committee (established

by Governor Babajide SanwoOlu, the APC gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State) and any of its members and/or drivers by INEC to distribute election materials and personnels in Lagos State will give room for election sabotage, manipulation, and rigging in favour of the APC and consequently unlawful and illegal.

FOR PEACEFUL POLLS… L-R: Former Ghananian President, John Mahama; former Gambia Vice President, Fatoumaya Tambajang; former Burkina Faso Prime Minister / ECOWAS President, Kadre Ouedraogo and former Deputy Chairman, African Union, Erasus Nwencha, during the West African Elders Forum media briefing on Nigeria’s 2023 general election, held in Abuja... yesterday .

ENOCK REUBEN

EFCC Intercepts N32.4m in Lagos The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday intercepted N32,400 million allegedly suspected to be for vote buying in Lagos State.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement, revealed that the recovery was made by operatives of the Lagos zonal command of the commission.

He noted that the suspect involved had been taken into

custody for further questioning.

The EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, had earlier implored all personnel of the commission deployed for election monitoring duties to show courage and not give room for unscrupulous persons to undermine the integrity of the elections through financial inducement.

Uwujaren added, “Tactical teams of operatives are cur-

rently on the ground in all the states of the federation and the FCT. “Telephone hotlines have already been circulated through social media for members of the public to share information regarding financial malpractices with agents of the commission.

Details of the number are available on EFCC’s social

media platforms.

“Members of the public are encouraged to report anyone trying to buy or sell votes by making use of the EFCC financial crimes reporting App, Eagle Eye, which is available for download on the Google Play or Apple store.

“They can also reach the commission through our social media handle, @officialefcc or by email, info@efcc.gov.ng.”

FG Urges Nigerians to Install N-Alerts App Michael Olugbode in Abuja The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has charged Nigerians to take advantage of the N-Alerts Smart Phone Application to report security emergencies during today’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The minister called on all Nigerians to download and make use of the App to report any situation or incident in and around their polling unit to the Ministry Inter-Agency Situation

Room (MISR) for prompt response.

Aregbesola, while addressing officers manning the Ministry InterAgency Situation Room (MISR) in company of the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, directed that officers must be prompt in response to incidents reported by Nigerians using the App. “I know you have been trained for tomorrow’s (today’s) assignment to ensure that you respond promptly to all incident reports generated during the election

exercise tomorrow (today).

“We have been on the media space advertising to Nigerians to download the App and give us real time report of any incident, so ensure that you don’t disappoint Nigerians,” the minister directed.

The federal government developed and launched the Nigeria Internal Security and Public Safety Alert System (N-Alerts) in May 2022 for Nigerians to send alerts to all security agencies in the Ministry of Interior in real time.

The smart mobile Application

is available for free on Android and IOS devices for Nigerians to download.

The App utilises a combination of audio-visual and geospatial location identification of the caller and scenes of incidents on the Ministry Inter-Agency Situation Room (MISR) and Command and Control Centres, Dashboards of the four agencies under the Ministry of Interior Services and Police Headquarters for joint inter-agency operations.

ECOWAS Leaders: Monitoring of Nigeria’s Election Aimed At Sustaining Democracy Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former heads of states and presidents in West Africa yesterday said that their interest in monitoring and observing today’s presidential election is to essentially help sustain democracy and maintain stability in Nigeria as any threat to Nigeria is a major threat to other West African states.

Former Ghanaian president, John Mahama, leading former president Boni Yayi of Togo, Kadre Ouedraogo, former Deputy Chair of the African Union, Dr. Erastus Mwencha, former

Beninoise former Vice President of The Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang and Prof. Adebayo Olukoshi, board member, Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, disclosed this at press conferences held in Abuja on why they are monitoring the Presidential and National Assembly elections taking place today.

Mahama, who addressed the press said: “We are here to show solidarity and goodwill to Nigeria’s elections and to encourage Nigerians to behave in a manner that would ensure peaceful polling.

“As a forum of former West

African leaders, we are pleased to have been invited by the Nigerian Government to witness this very important election.

“Nigeria is a great country and our big brother in the sub-region.

This is why Nigeria’s election is a big event for all of Africa.

“This year’s election is attracting this level of interest because Nigeria’s success and progress in this regard will go a long way in stabilising democracy, promoting good governance and maintaining peace in the sub-region.

“We are pleased with the

level of preparedness by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security forces policing the elections and other stakeholders involved in the elections, towards conducting a free and fair exercise.”

The former Ghanaian President added, “We are also impressed by the commitment of the candidates to support violent-free elections which they have demonstrated by signing two Peace Accords. This is a tradition that has continued to serve Nigeria well during elections, since it was introduced in 2015.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾FEBRUARY 25, 2023

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yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

Yemi

Adebowale

Still on Naira Confiscation By Buhari

T

he most infuriating aspect of President Muhammadu Buhari’s February 17 address to Nigerians on the Naira redesign/swap was where he said he had directed the CBN to deploy all legitimate resources and legal means to ensure that Nigerians enjoy easy cash withdrawal through availability of appropriate amount of currency and ability to make deposits.

So, has there been any improvement in access to cash in the last 10 days? No! The CBN obviously has no capacity to increase the quantity of new notes in circulation in the short run. Besides, it is deliberate. Part of its cashless policy is to drastically limit printing of Naira.

The intention is basically to seize the Naira and enforce cashless transactions.

That was why just N300 billion was printed and N2.7 trillion confiscated as at January 31. This is why Nigerians can’t take their old Naira notes to the banks and have everything changed into new ones. In most cases, people deposit the old notes without getting a single new note. So, that section of Buhari’s speech was pure deceit to consolidate the confiscation of traumatised Nigerians’ money.

Buhari’s other talks that the Naira redesign is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s economy, enhancing security, blocking vote-buying and blocking leakages associated with illicit financial flows are all nonsense. How can Buhari be talking about enhancing Nigeria’s economy with Naira redesign when it has already created massive economic disruptions with the hopeless Naira redesign? Businesses are closing while many others are gasping for breath. The short transition period has become very costly to small businesses and poor/ vulnerable households. A government that has not shown interest in dismantling its various ludicrous exchange rate windows and moving towards

Buhari

a unified and market-clearing foreign exchange policy (a more sensible manner of enhancing the Naira) is telling us that Naira redesign will do the magic.

This is stupid.

Instead of implementing decisive fiscal and monetary tightening policies to secure macroeconomic stability, combined with structural reforms to improve governance and enhance our depressed economy, the Buhari government is celebrating an imprudent Naira redesign.

Buhari also wants to stop vote-buying with Naira redesign. So, what is the business of ordinary Nigerians with that?

Nigerians must pay with their blood so as to stop vote-buying? Nigerians must be traumatised because Buhari wants to tame politicians? Must people be denied access to their hard-earned

money because Buhari wants to stop vote-buying? Is Buhari saying votes can’t be bought with cashless transfers, food, Dollars and pounds? This votebuying stoppage goal of our President is preposterous.

Buhari and the CBN pretend to be unaware that cash swap in a stressed economy like ours should take at least two years. They pretend to be unaware that payment digitisation is a basic challenge that will take time and require a systematic approach, especially to address inclusion issues. Our President and the CBN governor have decided to ignore the fact that there will be hitches in online payment platforms of banks because of the sudden surge in transactions.

They pretend to be unaware that banks, and GSM service providers will need to expand their facilities if more people are to be pushed into digital transactions; that it will take the banks months, if not years, to put in place enhanced digital payment platforms.

The GSM firms will also need several months to improve bandwidths and expand networks.

Nigerians are bleeding because of this garbage called Naira redesign. The mental well-being of many are challenged by new Naira scarcity. So many people are depressed. Daily, I see adults crying due to inability to access their hard-earned Naira and failed digital transactions. I see families in hunger and severe pain due to inability to access cash. Homes and offices are disturbed.

What about the endless disputes over digital transactions? Daily, they pour.

What about the crisis created by the CBN with the manner it initially wanted Nigerians to deposit their old N500 and N1000 notes at the end of its February 10 deadline? I could not believe it when the CBN rolled out post- February 10 deposit guidelines, part of which was that we should take

Aisha Buhari and Citizen Zainab Kassim

F

or those not following the story, here is a quick recap. Citizen Zainab Kassim was Special Assistant to First Lady, Aisha Buhari. Somewhere along the line, there were some misunderstandings and the First Lady fired her last year. But Aisha Buhari did not stop at that. She went further to demean her, using the Department of State Security officers. Zainab was abducted and taken to the Presidential Villa where she was severely assaulted. To put it aptly, Zainab was flogged and humiliated. This is what hapless citizens suffer in the hands of “big men.” The highly discredited DSS is always a willing tool in the hands of these big men.

The good news is that citizen Zainab has picked up courage, with the aid of some lawyers, commenced a legal action against Aisha Buhari. Zainab is asking for N100 million in damages over alleged illegal detention and assault.

In the case for the enforcement of her fundamental rights, Zainab declared: “Some Department of State Service officers acting on the orders of the First Lady abducted me and took me to the Presidential Villa where I was severely assaulted, dehumanised and abused.”

Other respondents in the case include

the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services. Kassim alleged that the assault was carried out with the support of officers of the DSS and Police.

Her lawyers are asking the court for the following: “A declaration that the abduction, arrest and detention of the applicant between 18th of November, 2022 and 22nd of November, 2022, and the threat to further arrest and detain the applicant by agents of the 2nd and 3rd respondents on the orders and directives of the 1st respondent, without an order of court is unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null, void and constitutes a violation of her rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.

“A declaration that the torture, brutalisation and dehumanisation of the applicant by the 1st respondent and agents of the 2nd and 3rd respondents, on 18th of November, 2022 is unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal and constitutes a violation of her right to dignity of the human person.

“A declaration that the threats by the agents of the 2nd and 3rd respondents to the applicant, of further abduction, arrest, detention and assassination of the applicant if she brings any claims for fundamental rights enforcement

against the respondents is unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, constitutes torture and a violation of her rights to life, fair hearing and dignity of human person.

“An order restraining the respondents either by themselves or their agents or subordinates from further abducting, arresting, detaining, torturing or threatening to abduct, arrest, detain or assassinate the applicant or otherwise violating the fundamental rights of the Applicant.

“An order directing the 2nd respondent to release the applicant’s Note 20 Ultra mobile phone to her immediately. Damages, jointly and severally against the respondents, in the sum of N100,000,000.00.”

This assault on citizen Zainab must not go unpunished. Human rights lawyers and civil society groups must rise in defence of Citizen Zainab. As Zainab begins this legal battle, I would like to see human rights activists join her in court at every sitting. I would like to see human rights lawyers joining her legal team. I would like to see protests at the court premises every time the case is called. This is a just battle. We must all be involved. This is the only way to tackle a culture of impunity in beloved Nigeria. Enough of this nonsense.

our old notes to the CBN offices in our respective states. Haba! The CBN has just one office in each state and obviously won’t be able to cope. This is simple common sense. Unfortunately, common sense is not “common” in the CBN. As it turned out, they could not cope with the crowd when the process started on February 17.

Why did the CBN initially bar money deposit banks from collecting the old notes post-February 10, even when the President said they could also do this through agents? This shows extreme ineptitude and insensitivity. It is shocking that those running the show at the CBN only knew the instruction was rubbish when Nigerians stormed their offices on February 19 in their thousands. The guideline was eventually amended (when it could not cope) to allow money deposit banks collect old notes of not more than N500,000 per person.

The hardship caused by the Naira redesign policy, and President Buhari’s broadcast, which contrary to expectations, approved the return of only old N200 notes while the old N500 and N1000 notes were invalidated, triggered a fresh round of protests across Nigeria early this week. So many banks were vandalised.

I am not in support of violence. My plea today is that all forms of protest against cash swap must be peaceful.

No doubt, Buhari’s February 17 Naira redesign broadcast to Nigerians was a coldblooded speech with all the trappings of an unfeeling government.

Senior lawyer, Mike Ozekhone captures it aptly: “Buhari’s broadcast rather than reassuring and balming the frayed nerves of traumatised citizenry and a beleaguered nation, was the exact opposite; a complete anti-climax. It was a clarion call for total disenchantment, disillusionment, despair and desolation.

The speech was not only highly unpresidential; but was vividly insensate and insensitive to the suffering of Nigerian citizens, who, due to no fault of theirs, can neither now use the old currency, nor access the new one.

“Banks claim not to have the new currency in their vaults. What manner of government would consciously and deliberately throw its country into a spin, and its citizens under the bus, in a policy that could have been handled with better planning and more decency, efficiency and human face? This is the first time in my life I watch Nigerians buy money with money – buying Naira with Naira - at exorbitant exchange rates.”

The Naira crisis worsened when the President in that nationwide broadcast ignored the apex court by extending the validity of old N200 notes while insisting that old N500 and N1,000 remained illegal. Governments exist for the people. Ours can’t be an exception. The redesign is absolutely needless. The implementation is a further mess. The ensuing swap policy is anti-people.

The way forward is very simple: State governors should withdraw all their cases against Buhari and the CBN. On their part, Buhari and the CBN should allow all the old notes to circulate with the new notes till the end of this year. The old N500 and N1000 notes must be returned into the system. The trauma in our land will disappear within hours if this is implemented. Buhari and the CBN must listen to the voice of the people.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾FEBRUARY 25, 2023

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NEWS NIGERIA DECIDES... NIGERIA DECIDES... NIGERIA DECIDES...

Massive Security Cordon in Abuja

,1(& RIÀFHV ,&& KHDYLO\ JXDUGHG Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja In a bid to ensure a secure election in the nation’s capital, a massive security cordon is in place ahead of today’s polls.

THISDAY checks showed that the Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Federal Capital Territory office of INEC and the International Conference Centre (ICC) where electoral materials and other logistics were domiciled are presently heavily guarded.

Security forces are conducting stop and search operations at the major entry points to the city.

The Federal Capital Territory

Police Command, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the military high command had ordered operational deployments at the Nyanya-Mararaba-Keffi axis of the territory while the same operation is in place at the Gwagwalada entry point and Airport Road in a joint security operation aimed at ensuring a peaceful election.

At the FCT INEC office, police operational vehicles were mounted at the entry points with operatives patrolling the area.

At the International Conference Centre, intelligence operatives, the FCT Vehicle Inspection agency, fire-fighting vehicles of the Federal Fire Service, the Federal Road

INEC Suspends Enugu East Senatorial Election Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the Enugu East Senatorial election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, confirmed that the commission had received a formal communication from the Labour Party on the news of the death of its Senatorial candidate in Enugu East, Chief Oyibo Chukwu, leading to the suspension.

He added: “The party also conveyed its intention to participate in the election for that constituency by replacing its deceased candidate.

This request is in line with the provision of the law. For clarity, I wish to quote verbatim the provision of Section 34(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 as follows: “If, after the time for the delivery of nomination paper and before the commencement of the poll, a nominated candidate dies, the

Chief National Electoral Commissioner shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, countermand the poll in which the deceased candidate was to participate and the Commission shall appoint some other convenient date for the election within 14 days.

“The Labour Party has provided satisfactory evidence of the death of its candidate. Consequently, the Commission has suspended the election in the senatorial district as provided by Law. We have already communicated this decision to our Enugu State office.

“Therefore, there will be no senatorial election in Enugu East Senatorial District made up of six Local Government Areas, 77 Wards and 1,630 Polling Units. The election will now be combined with the Governorship and State Assembly elections holding in the next two weeks on 11th March 2023.”

Safety Commission (FRSC), police vehicles and other security agencies swarmed the area. At the INEC headquarters, the same security arrangements were replicated while the area was cordoned off.

Meanwhile, at the shopping centres in the city, there was brisk sales and electronic transactions as residents prepared for the polls.

Residents, who registered for their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in other parts of the territory other than their places of residence made frantic efforts to get to their destination in spite of the cash crunch.

“I stay in Nyanya but I registered in Karimo so I am trying to find my way to Karimo this night,” an FCT resident, David, told THISDAY. The police high command had earlier, in a statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced restriction of movement designed to ensure a safe and secure election.

“Consequent to the first part of the 2023 general election, the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, February

25, 2023, across all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, the IG, Usman Baba, has ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12a.m. to 6p.m. on election day with the exception of those on essential services such as INEC officials, electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, etc,” he said.

The order, the statement said, was part of measures emplaced to ensure a safe, secure, and

conducive environment for the conduct of elections.

It said the order was aimed at ensuring public order management, the safety of electorates, as well as assisting the security agencies in effective policing, thereby preventing hoodlums and criminally-minded elements from disrupting the electoral process.

“Similarly, the IG sternly warns all security aides and escorts to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election as anyone found flouting this directive will be severely sanctioned.

IG: Anti-democratic Conducts of Some Governors, A Challenge Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja As Nigerians go to polls today to elect the next president and National Assembly members to pilot the affairs of the country for the next four years, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, has lamented that anti-democratic conduct of some state governors and strategic political actors remained a challenge.

Baba disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the briefing of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on prepara-

tions for the 2023 general election.

He said as far as the election day was concerned, the police alongside other security agencies had made arrangements in a collaborated and synergised manner to ensure today’s election go on as planned.

The IGP said the police has established a cyber crime centre to monitor cyber threats in real time and to conduct social media analysis of key and non key players in the electoral process.

He added that the personnel to be deployed have a clear

knowledge of their roles and ethical standard to carry out their duties, while assuring that the security challenges that have been identified would be managed.

Baba stressed that the analysis of the current security threats has reduced drastically compared to what the force recorded in the last one month.

He, however, admitted that activities of the separatist movement, especially the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security

Network (ESN) remained a challenge.

The IG added: “Activities of terrorists, bandits, and secessionist self actualisation elements, popularly known has IPOB/ ESN still remain a challenge “Political thuggery, inter-party crisis and intra-party violence still remain a challenge. Hate speeches, political intolerance, extremism and well as antidemocratic conduct of some of the state governors and other strategic political actors.”

FG Shuts National Borders for Today’s Election Bennett Oghifo The federal government has restricted movement across the national borders on account of the election taking place today.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, gave the directive yesterday, accord-

ing to a statement issued by his Senior Adviser Media, Sola Fasure, which said, “Internal movements have been restricted to the polling units. There will also be no movement of persons across national borders.

“Law enforcement agencies are required to use all

means necessary in providing security for lives and property at the polling units, in the streets, and at the borders.

Every threat must be contained and assurances must be given for lives and property and the success of the elections.”

The minister, the statement said, urged Nigerians to be vigilant

and report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security agency or on the N-Alert application online.

He promised a safe and secure environment before, during, and after the elections, telling all registered voters in Nigeria to go out today to exercise their franchise.

ECOWAS Warns against Harmful Statements Obaseki Charges Citizens to Shun Violence, Obey INEC Guidelines Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has sent a solidarity message to Nigeria as the nation goes into elections to elect political office holders, calling on political parties and their leaders to caution their followers against any acts or pronouncements liable to endanger the peaceful conduct of the elections.

The ECOWAS Commission, in a statement yesterday, said it is “acutely aware of the strategic importance of the 25h February, 2023 presidential election to the region and the African continent at large.”

The ECOWAS Commission commended Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, for his unrelenting efforts to ensure smooth, free, fair, transparent and credible elections, noting the commendable work so far accomplished by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to prepare the electoral machinery for a hitch- free conduct

of the polls.

The statement further read that: “While noting the highly competitive and tense nature of the electoral campaigns, the Commission commends the leaders of all the political parties and their followers for ensuring a relatively peaceful environment for the electoral process. It further commends them for subscribing to the first and second Peace Accord, facilitated by the National Peace Committee.

“The Commission however notes the incidents of fake news, disinformation, misinformation and incitement on social media.

It urges the political parties and their leaders to caution their followers against any acts or pronouncements liable to endanger the peaceful conduct of the elections.”

ECOWAS also urged the electorate to conduct themselves with maturity and a sense of patriotism on Election Day, appearing to the security services to secure the environment for peaceful polls, while maintaining their neutrality.

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged residents of the state to shun electoral violence and other actions that could disrupt the voting process during today’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The governor, in a statewide broadcast, charged the people to

use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to elect only credible leaders with the capacity to deliver and rescue the nation from its many socio-economic challenges and place it on the path of sustainable development.

Obaseki reassured that all security agencies in the state were ready to provide

a safe, peaceful and secure environment for the elections, urging voters to come out en masse tomorrow to perform their constitutional duties without fear of intimidation or harassment.

According to him, “I call on all Edo people, our fathers, mothers, youths, women, and the elderly, to come out en masse to

cast your votes.”

He further urged, “Let us shun all acts of violence and other actions that will disrupt the voting process.

“I trust that we will all act responsibly and adhere to the guidelines specified by the electoral body so that we can have a peaceful, fair and credible voting process.”

Be Peaceful, Eschew Violence, Methodist Prelate Admonishes Voters Mary Nnah As Nigerians head to the polls today, to elect who the next president of the country would be, the Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Oliver Ali Aba, has enjoined electorates to use their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to do the talking and eschew violence of any kind.

He made this known in a release made available by his Media, Public Relations,

and Strategic Communications Advisor, Rev. Oladapo Daramola.

In his words, “The moment in which we are is a historic one. It is a time that, as citizens, we have the opportunity to make a change that we anticipate will bring us muchneeded joy and happiness.

We have endured pain and hardship for too long, and we cannot afford to get it wrong again. To this end, we need to go out there and vote our conscience. All the

candidates have presented us with their manifestos and have referred us to their track records. The choice is now ours.

“In making up our minds on which direction we intend to go, the critical element of that should be the common good of Nigerians and who will secure a better future for our children. While doing this, we must avoid the temptation of being angry and violent. We must ensure we vote peacefully and defend

our votes. Ensure the votes are counted in our presence, and we push back any form of thuggery or brigandage that may jeopardise what we have laboured for. It is pertinent to note that true change doesn’t come easy.

But one thing I know is that if we show determination by going out to vote en masse and we are committed to a peaceful process, a beneficial change will come and a new dawn will shine bright on us all,” Prelate Aba said.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 25, 2023

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NEWS Buhari Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Associate, Abba Ali Deji Elumoye in Abuja

GOING DIGITAL… L-R: Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Isah Jere and International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Head of Mission in Nigeria, Mr. Laurent De Boeck testrunning one of the 40 digitalized Migration Information Data Analysis Systems launched in Kaduna...recently

Abba Kyari Loses Appeal against Bail Denial Alex Enumah in Abuja The Court of Appeal, Abuja has rejected the appeal of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari, against the ruling of a Federal High Court, Abuja which last year refused to admit him to bail.

Kyari, who is a former head of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, is standing trial over alleged complicity in hard drugs dealings.

Kyari and four members of the IRT – ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu were last year arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of

the Federal High Court Abuja.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) KDG VSHFLÀFDOO\ FKDUJHG WKHP with conspiracy to deal in 17.55kg of cocaine.

Although they pleaded not guilty to the charges however, the court refused to grant their bail application on the grounds that they might tamper with evidence.

'LVVDWLVÀHG .\DUL WKHQ DSproached the appellate court seeking for an order reversing the decision of the Federal High Court Abuja which had refused to admit him bail.

But in their ruling yesterday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in a unanimous

decision declined to grant bail to Kyari.

Justice Stephen Adah who read the unanimous judgement of the panel, held that given the nature of the charges pending against Kyari and others before the trial court, such requests for bail needed to be handled with caution.

Justice Adah added that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who earlier rejected bail to Kyari, appropriately exercised his discretion in refusing to release the appellant on bail.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had on March 7, arraigned Kyari alongside Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba and John

Nuhu who are members of the police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

Others are Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne — two DOOHJHG GUXJ WUD΀FNHUV ZKR were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

In the charge marked FHC/ ABJ/57/2022, the agency accused the defendants of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms.

While Umeibe and Ezenwane had pleaded guilty to the charges and have been convicted by the court, Kyari and his IRT members pleaded not guilty and asked the court to release them to bail pending the determination of their trial.

Buhari Directs Security Agencies to Find Killers of Oyibo Chukwu Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned in strong terms the gruesome killing of the Labour Party senatorial candidate for Enugu East Senatorial District, Chief Oyibo Chukwu and his personal aide.

The President, in a release

issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, believed the perpetrators of this ignoble act, in Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, have no respect for human life and dignity, and therefore deserve the wrath of natural and divine justice.

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his avowed commitment to an election that is devoid of violence and rancour.

He reminded all political actors that it is the choice of the electorate that counts, and therefore all eligible Nigerians should boldly exercise their civic rights without any fear of intimidation.

The President, therefore,

directed security agencies to track down the culprits of this heinous crime, just as he commiserated with families of the victims, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Labour Party.

President Buhari prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and comfort for those who mourn.

Stop Militarisation of 2023 General Implementation of New US Visa Validity Elections, Says Falana Policy Begins March 1, Says Aregbesola Bennett Oghifo The Chairman of Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Femi Falana SAN, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to demilitarise the 2023 general elections, stating that it is unconstitutional.

Falana, in a statement yesterday, said, “It is on record that members of the Nigerian armed forces were indicted by the courts for their involvement in the rigging of the 2003 general election. In condemning in the anti democratic role of the military deployed by President Obasanjo to prosecute his “do or die” agenda, the Court of Appeal held in Buhari v Obasanjo (2005) 1 WRN 1 at 200 that “In spite of the non-tolerant nature and behaviour of our political class in this country, we should by all means try to keep armed

personnel of whatever status or nature from being part and parcel of our election process.

The civilian authorities should be left to conduct and carry out, fully, the electoral processes at all levels.”

He said, “On its own part, the Supreme Court (Per PatsAcholonu JSC) said in Buhari vs.

Obasanjo (2005) 50 WRN 1 at 133 that “...in this day and age in this country that has been independent for 45 years we can still witness horrendous acts by security R΀FHUV ZKR RXJKW WR GXWLIXOO\ ensure peace and tranquility in the election process, suddenly turning themselves into agents of destruction, and introduced mayhem to what ordinarily would have been a civilized way of exercising franchise by the people who are sovereign, is regrettable.

Bennett Oghifo Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has said that the new Bilateral Consular Policy Agreements between Nigeria and the United States of America on visa reciprocity for citizens of both countries ZLOO WDNH HͿHFW RQ 0DUFK 2023, following its approval.

This is contained in a statement issued yesterday by the minister’s SA Media, Sola Fasure, adding that the minister said the agreements include the UHFLSURFLW\ RI ÀYH \HDU WRXULVW visa validity for American Citizens pursuant to Section 30 of the Immigration Act, 2015; Extension of visa validity to three years for diplomats and JRYHUQPHQW R΀FLDOV EHWZHHQ the citizens of Nigeria and the United States of America.

The statement said, “As part of the Bilateral Agreement, the United States of America will implement a similar policy for Nigerians wishing to travel on tourist visas to the United States and for our diplomats and ofÀFLDOV YLVLWLQJ WKH FRXQWU\ 7KH United States will thus extend tourist visa validity for Nigerian FLWL]HQV WR ÀYH \HDUV µ President Muhammadu Buhari launched the new Nigeria Visa Policy in 2020 and it is conceived to promote tourism and boost cultural exchange and business, among others, between both nations.

According to the statement, Aregbesola had directed the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, to start the implementation of the policy from March 1, 2023.

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday received in audience members of the bereaved family of his friend and decades long associate, late Senator Abba Ali, in Daura who came to share their common loss of a man who diligently served Nigeria.

The family members, including the children of the deceased, were led to the President by the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar.

In a tribute, the President, according to a release issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, described the death of the Chairman of the National Governance Council of

the African Peer Review-NEPAD as an irreparable loss of an irreplaceable friend whom he said had “a warm personality and DͿDEOH PDQQHUV WKDW ZRQ KLP a lot of respect and admiration.

Words are of little solace at this time.”

The family members, in a speech by Alhaji Usman, Tarnon Katsina, said they were all aware of the social and emotional bonds between President Buhari and their late father and thanked him for his support to the deceased following the tragic accident, and the family, after he passed on.

They prayed for peaceful elections in the country and a safe return home for the President after successful completion of his second term.

Nigeria on Red Alert Over Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak in Equatorial Guinea Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The federal government has put citizens on epidemic alert following the announcement of the Marburg virus disease outbreak in Equatorial Guinea.

Consequently, the federal government has asked all persons with 21 days travel history to Equatorial Guinea to immediately report to the hospital for health check up.

In a statement yesterday and signed by the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, government advised those who experience symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhoea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising not go to any health facility but call 6232 or their State Ministry of Health hotline immediately for assessment and testing.

The NCDC said the Incident Coordination Centre (ICC) has been activated to alert mode and that the development of an emergency incident action plan for responding to the disease

is already on.

It said that a medical countermeasures plan is being developed to address any new outbreak of disease.

NCDC said though there are currently no cases of Marburg virus disease in Nigeria, it has along with relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and partners taken proactive measures to mitigate the risk of cross-border importation.

The statement said: “The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) LV DZDUH RI WKH ÀUVW HYHU outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) announced in Equatorial Guinea on 13th February 2023. The death of nine people prompted laboratory testing on samples of individuals experiencing symptoms of fever, fatigue, blood-stained vomit, and diarrhoea in two communities of the country’s western Kie Ntem province. ´6R IDU RQH FRQÀUPHG FDVH nine deaths and 16 suspected cases of MVD have been reported in Equatorial Guinea.”

PSN: Naira Redesign Crisis Impacting Negatively On Nigerians Life Expectancy Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has expressed fears that the lingering scarcity of the redesigned naira denominations on the lives of Nigerians would impact negatively on the life expectancy of Nigerians.

President of PSN, Prof.

Cyril Usifoh, said when the cash crunch is added to the unduly long weeks of prevailing fuel scarcity, and then it becomes all too obvious that these forces are conspiring to further reduce the unacceptable life expectancy of the Nigerian citizens which .

“We note with consternation that even federal government apparatus and institutions not only reject the old naira notes but insist on payment of services WKURXJK FRQÀUPHG WUDQVIHU services or payments with bank tellers into their accounts.

“Even the judiciary commonly perceived as the hope of the common man has not aligned with people who seek justice in the circumstance because most

of the courts in the land have stopped collecting old naira notes from people gearing to ÀOH SURFHVVHV LQ FRXUW UHJLVWULHV “As it stands today, the economy appears to be grinding to a halt with the full potentials of a geometric rise in cases of morbidity and mortality because disease progression remains a major risk factor in a population where the less privileged who relies on out of pocket expenses to access healthcare is denied access to cash,” he said.

Usifoh expressed worries that the situation certainly makes a huge number of Nigerians vulnerable to death if the unhealthy scenario remains unchecked.

He therefore urged the government at all levels to initiate DFWLRQ LQ WKH UHÁHFWHG DUHDV which includes that: “The CBN PXVW FRPH XS ZLWK D VSHFLÀF position to guide the banks in view of the Supreme Court’s declaration on the naira redesign.

18

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 25, 2023

NEWS Dakuku Accuses Wike of Instigating Violent Attacks on Politicians in Rivers A former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has condemned the growing violent attacks on politicians in Rivers State, especially those perceived to be opposed to Governor Nyesom Wike.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, shortly on arrival from Abuja, Peterside expressed worry at the audacity of those carrying out the attacks without any form of condemnation from Governor Wike, who swore on oath to protect lives and property in the state.

SUSTAINING STEAM… L- R: APC candidate for Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, Hon. Obilor Ogbonna; Abia APC Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu; Deputy governorship candidate, Mrs. Gloria Akara; Governorship candidate, High Chief Ikechi Emenike; his wife and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Dr. Uzoma Emenike, at campaign rally in Umuahia North Local Government Area...recently

UK Considering Barring Spouses, Children of International Students Bennett Oghifo The Times (UK) reported, yesterday, that the government of the United Kingdom may prevent the spouses and children of international students from joining them unless they are studying to acquire what they described as ‘high-power degrees’, which include science, mathematics, and engineering.

The report added that international students would also be banned from bringing families unless they are studying at a higher level, such as a master’s degree or PhD. The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman,

according to the report, “are becoming more concerned after a near-eightfold rise in the number of family members joining foreign students.”

Universities and members of parliament from all parties have since criticised the proposals, pointing to research suggesting that foreign students contribute £35 billion a year to the economy.

The report with the headline: ‘Immigration curbs after huge rise in foreign student families’, VD\V ´,PPLJUDWLRQ ÀJXUHV revealed that 490,763 students were given visas last year.

“Foreign students will be barred from bringing their

spouses and children to the UK unless they study “high-value” degrees under government plans.

“Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman, the home secretary, are increasingly concerned after a near-eightfold rise in the number of family members joining foreign students. ´1HZ LPPLJUDWLRQ ÀJXUHV revealed that 490,763 students were given visas last year. They were accompanied by 135,788 dependants — spouses and children — up from 16,047 in 2019. ´7KH ÀJXUHV DOVR VKRZHG that the asylum backlog hit a record high, with more than

Our Son Complained of Plans to Eliminate Him, Says Family of Slain Enugu LP Senatorial Candidate Gideon Arinze in Enugu Family members of the murdered Labour Party Senatorial candidate for Enugu East Senatorial District, Oyibo Chukwu, have said that their son complained about plans to eliminate him by political opponents in the state.

The family also said that Chukwu told some persons that he was going to write a petition to the security and intelligence agencies in Enugu State on the alleged plans so that the agencies could investigate the persons involved and nip their evil plans in the bud.

Recall that Chukwu who was already gaining popularity ahead of the National Assembly elections- was killed and his body burnt by gunmen suspected to be political thugs on Wednesday while returning from a meeting with family members ahead of the senatorial election in the Amechi area of the state. His personal assistant, Sunday Igwesi, was with him in the same vehicle.

In a Tweet on Thursday, presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi strongly condemned the killing of Oyibo.

He said, “I strongly condemn the killing of Barr. Chukwu in all its entirety. Human lives must remain precious, irrespective of political affiliation. The mindless bloodletting that occurs in the nation is beyond depressing. We must not continue

to toe this dangerous path.”

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had also given the Nigeria Police Force and the Enugu State Government 48 hours to fish out the sponsors and killers of the former chairman and the Labour Party Senatorial candidate for Enugu East Senatorial District, Chukwu.

Addressing journalists yesterday, Head, Department of Professional Ethics and Skills Nigerian Law School Yola campus and family member of the late LP senatorial candidate, Arthur Chukwu, said that the threat to Chukwu’s life spiked when he directed his lawyer, Chukwudi Igwe, to file a suit in the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the legal status of the participation of a former Enugu State governor, Chimaraoke Nnamani, as the PDP candidate in the Enugu East Senatorial Zone since he has been expelled from his party.

“Based on credible intelligence, our worthy son confided in a couple of persons that he was being trailed by members of the Ebeano political group,” he said.

“Chukwu became the assassination target because of the stupendous popularity of the Labour Party in Enugu State in particular and the rest of the country in general, as well as his stellar credentials.”

Arthur noted that Chukwu was already coasting home to victory

by the time the assassins stopped him, adding that it was not just Chukwu that was stopped, but the entire Enugu East senatorial zone whose people have for several years been yearning for effective representation in the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said that it was regrettable that two days after Chukwu and his PA were murdered in the most brutal way, the Enugu State Government has not deemed it important to condemn the killing nor has any of its officials visited the Chukwu family even here in Enugu City.

“Yet, the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi claims that his greatest legacy since his assumption of office almost eight years ago is an atmosphere of peace,” he said.

“We are unable to see how the killing of a foremost lawyer and high-profile politician as well as his PA, which has attracted national and international headlines, is of no importance to the PDP government of Ugwuanyi.”

Speaking further, he said “We are convinced that the founding fathers of Enugu State never imagined for once that politics in our dear state would someday be taken to a level where the lives of the citizens could no longer be considered sacred. Enugu people had presumed that the politics of violence ended 16 years ago. We rejoiced too early.”

160,000 migrants waiting for decisions on their applications.”

Nigerians accounted for the highest increase in the number of dependants accompanying persons with study visas in 2022.

Nigerians also accounted for the largest increase in sponsored study grants compared with 2019, increasing by 57,545 (+686%) to a record high of 65,929, making them the third largest nationality group in the latest year.

He listed several instances where Rivers people have been attacked, harassed, harmed and their residences bombed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) without a whimper of reservations from the state government.

The 2015 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, alleged that “tears, sorrows and blood” have been the hallmark of activities trailing the political life of the governor, who he says relishes in crude politics over ideas and decency.

Guru Magazine Publisher, Aboderin, Solicits Media Support for Hitch-Free Election Mary Nnah To enable a successful and hitch-free election in 2023, the Publisher of Guru Magazine, Chief Abimbola Aboderin, has solicited full media support, participation, and interest to cover and broadcast the general election with real intention to discourage vote manipulation, vote buying, and ballot snatching even as Nigerians head to the polls today for the Presidential and National Assembly elections nationwide.

Addressing journalists, Aboderin said, “In the light of this, I believe the media’s fundamental role and involvement is needed to broadcast or report an event

and enlighten the public for good JRYHUQDQFH WR LQÁXHQFH WKH JOREDO audience to access the growth of democracy through the credible election in our country.”

Speaking on his political antecedent, Aboderin said, “My political experience started in 1979 through my late father who was a close friend of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. UPN was formed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and my Dad.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 25, 2023

19

Ferdinand Ekechukwu - 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Falz Continues Political Drive in New Song Ferdinand Ekechukwu

that merits a place on every playlist. Falz’s consistence in making social-conscious music is nothing short of admirable.

He is truly a patriotic citizen.

This is his second time working with Tekno. They had previously worked on a song together while they were ambassadors for a Telco brand. His most recent release, “BAHD” dropped about some eight months ago.

That was shortly before a voter awareness concert held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, which demands only those with Permanent Voters Cards or temporary voter slips be allowed entry barely 48 hours after he dropped the EP ‘BAHD’. +LV ÀIWK ERG\ RI ZRUN ‘BAHD’ comes three years after the ‘music activist’ last studio album, ‘Moral Instruction’.

Folarin Falana aka Falz has championed an enlightenment of some sort which underlines WKH FRQVFLRXV LQÁXHQFH DQG political undertone his existing songs and popularity has embraced.

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apper/songwriter Falz has teamed up with Tekno for a new single to motivate Nigerians to exercise their franchise in the 2023 elections. In this song titled ‘O wa’, Falz addresses multiple issues currently plaguing the country, from fuel scarcity to cash scarcity, police brutality and so much more.

‘O wa’, an exclamation used in local parlance by passengers within the Nigerian transportation system, predominantly in Lagos State, to signify when they have arrived at their various bus stops, and are ready to come down.

The song is a feel-good, afro-pop track that celebrates the life and the joys that come with it.

Speaking on the song, Falz said: “As regards the current situation of the country, it is time for us to stop and get a New Nigeria. We need new leaders that can move this country to the right destination and at the right time, the time is now, we need to collectively shout O wa!”

The new song is the kind that makes you feel pleased rather than sad, and also an enduring and seductive classic

Falz

Tiwa Savage’s ‘Water and Garri’ Movie Coming Soon Ferdinand Ekechukwu

As she further explores a new facet of her artistic expression, while maintaining her stay in the music front, Tiwa also co-directed the ULRU WR KHU ÀUVW OHDG UROH IHDWXUH ÀOP VHW LQ WKH FLW\ RI &DSH &RDVW as an actress in the yet to Ghana. In a post via her Instagram page, the be released movie titled singer shared her excitement about the new ‘Water and Garri’, queen project. She disclosed that she co-produced of Afrobeats, Tiwa Savage WKH ÀOP DQG DOVR SOD\HG WKH OHDG UROH ´7KLV had made a few acting is about to be an iconic moment. My lead ventures. First as a cast in role as an actor and Executive producer. the third season of the television drama Directed by the GOAT @mejialabi,” she wrote. series Shuga Naija screened in 2013-14 as “Water And Garri the Film Coming soon.”

Shade Banjo. Another chance was given her The title ‘Water and Garri’ originates from in 2016 following a cameo in Jenifa’s Diary, a 6DYDJH·V (3 RI WKH VDPH WLWOH 7KH ÀOP Nigerian television comedy series as herself, tells the story of Aisha, a successful fashion 7LZD 6DYDJH 6KH DOVR KDG PDGH DQ HͿRUW RQ designer in the United States. She returns to stage in the all-star female play ‘For Colour her homeland to confront her past guilt. The Girls’, the Nigerian adaption of Tyler Perry’s 43-year-old singer takes on the lead role while movie and a Broadway theatrical. the supporting cast includes; Mike Afolarin,

P

Tiwa

Andrew Bunting, and Jemima Osunde. The music star also wrote and performed the soundtrack of the movie. The story was penned by Comfort Emmanuel, produced

by Jimi Adesanya and directed Meji Alabi.

Tiwa in a recent chat with Screen Daily, DQ LQWHUQDWLRQDO ÀOP QHZV VLWH VSRNH RI her character and deep connection to the story. “This project was a complete labour of love that has been a dream of mine for a number of years. Performing as Aisha allowed me to be totally vulnerable and pushed me to express myself in a way that I’ve never done before.

It was an honour to share my debut as DQ DFWUHVV ZLWK 0HML ZKLOVW ÀOPLQJ RQ WKH African continent with a cast and crew that I have immense admiration and respect for. ,·P H[FLWHG IRU WKH ZRUOG WR VHH WKLV ÀOP µ

Burna Boy, Tems, Rema’s NBA Halftime Performances Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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his sixth studio album, Love, Damini, which featured appearances from J Balvin, J Hus, Khalid, Popcaan, Kehlani, Blxst, Ed Sheeran, Victony and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

The 19-track album peaked at No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard World Albums chart.

“Nigeria is a football-dominated, soccerdominated country,” Burna Boy said in a

igerian superstars Tems, Burna Boy and Rema GHOLYHUHG ÀUVW RI LWV kind Afrobeats-themed performances at the National Basketball Association (NBA) halftime show held at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, last Sunday night. The catchy tunes of the three A-list artistes had most of the NBA All-Stars held back from the locker room at halftime and stay courtside to watch and record the artistes’ live performances.

The incredible lineup of the trio proves that they were not just internationally acclaimed stars but ones with huge and loyal fan base in the United States and beyond. It PDUNHG WKH ÀUVW WLPH DQ\ 1LJHULDQ DUWLVWH would perform at the NBA halftime Show. *UDPP\ ZLQQLQJ %XUQD %R\ ZDV ÀUVW WR perform, telling the crowd, “I’m about to take you on a journey through Africa without even going on a plane.” Performing his hits “It’s Plenty”, “Alone” and “Last Last.”

Rema came in next to deliver “Calm Down” and “Holiday.” To close the session, Tems danced her way through a medley of her hits “Crazy Tings,” “Free Mind” “Essence” and “Higher.”

Tems Last summer, Burna Boy blessed fans with

Rema

video posted on Monday by the NBA All-Star Twitter account. “But at the same time, we still have some of the best basketball players from here.” “This is a dream,” he added in another clip. “This is amazing.

I had dreams of playing in the NBA as a kid, but you know, I got to perform at the NBA [All-Star game], so I guess I made it either way.”

Burna Boy

)RU 7HPV LW FDSV RͿ D ZKLUOZLQG PRQWK DV VKH UHFHQWO\ PDGH KLVWRU\ E\ EHLQJ WKH ÀUVW Nigerian artist to record an Oscar nomination this year, for her work on Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” - a soundtrack from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” The 27-year-old singer DOVR ZRQ KHU ÀUVW *UDPP\ RQ )HEUXDU\ 2023, in the Best Melodic Rap Performance for her collaboration with Drake and Future on “Wait For U.” However, not a few of the comments following her NBA All-Star performance favoured her. Partly due to the choice of songs.

Meanwhile, Rema is enjoying chart-topping success with the remix of his hit song “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez. The song reached No. 1 on both the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart. It also peaked at No. 3 on the Global 200 chart. The 22-year-old recently released his new singles “Holiday” and “Reason You.” Alongside the Nigerian stars, American rapper, singer and songwriter, Post Malone performed his songs “Wow” DQG ´5RFNVWDUµ EHIRUH WLSRͿ DW WKH JDPH He even surprised the crowd and brought out 21 Savage, who is featured on “Rockstar.”

Performances during the halftime show over the past 71 years have consisted of the best musical superstars or creative troupes on the world stage, making it one of the biggest music shows during a sports game after the Superbowl Halftime show.

20

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 25, 2023

AUTO WORLD

Bennett Oghifo 07052343083 Email:bennett.oghifo@thisdaylive.com

TIPS OF THE WEEK

Driving an Automatic Car: Your Full Step-by-Step Tutorial When you’ve spent all of your driving life behind the wheel of a car with a manual transmission, an automatic might seem confusing.

But really, automatics are a lot easier to drive than manuals once you get the hang of it. If you’re about to drive an automatic for the ÀUVW WLPH DQG \RX·YH JRW TXHVWLRQV DERXW LW you’ve come to the right place! Keep reading WR ÀQG RXW KRZ WR VWDUW DQ DXWRPDWLF JHW LW moving, and park it once you’ve reached your destination. And if you’ve never driven a car at all, take an experienced driver along with you while you’re still getting the basics down.

Interior of new Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Energising Comfort, Climate Control in new Mercedes-Benz E-Class

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any car drivers are familiar with motion sickness (kinetosis) from their own experience. Symptoms include fatigue, sweating, paleness, drowsiness, nausea, headache and vomiting.

The new Motion sickness prevention programme of energizing comfort can alleviate the front passenger’s symptoms or delay their onset, reduce the perceived severity and generally increase well-being.

As with all Energizing Comfort programmes, several comfort systems work together in this new function: The passenger is prompted to incline the seatback slightly to the rear. The seat cushion is adjusted automatically. Fresh air is supplied from the air conditioning system in intermittent bursts. The Active Ambient Lighting is animated in accordance with the speed, ZKLOH WKH DXGLR V\VWHP DQG LI UHTXLUHG WKH ionisation and fragrancing of the optional AIR

BALANCE package are likewise activated. A reduced, atmospheric video animation is shown on the front passenger or central display. The Energizing Comfort programme can be used either while the vehicle is on the move or when it is stationary. When the approximately tenminute program ends, the front passenger seat is automatically returned to its original position.

0HUFHGHV %HQ] DOUHDG\ RͿHUV D FRPSUHKHQVLYH wellness programme with the multi-faceted Energizing Comfort programmes. The ENERGIZING programs in the E-Class have been slightly revised in terms of content, heightening the experience. In the Vitality program, ENERGIZING Seat Kinetics is now activated throughout in parallel with a massage, and supports the muscles with small changes in the seat surface and backrest angles. The music of the ENERGIZING COMFORT programs has also been updated. Depending on the HTXLSPHQW OHYHO WKH V\VWHP QRZ DOVR XVHV 'ROE\ 6XUURXQG LQ WKH ( &ODVV ENERGIZING COACH: more wearables

and bio-feedback New features of the ENERGIZING COACH in the E-Class include the integration of additional wearables and expansion of the vital data shown in the central display[3]. The ENERGIZING COACH is based on an intelligent algorithm.

It recommends the Freshness, Warmth, Vitality or Joy programme depending on the situation and individual. If compatible wearables are integrated, vital data such as stress level or TXDOLW\ RI VOHHS RSWLPLVH WKH DFFXUDF\ RI WKH recommendation. The Mercedes me ENERGIZING app transmits the vital data to the ENERGIZING COACH via a smartwatch. The respective comfort programme can be started directly via the recommendation in the form RI D ´QRWLÀFDWLRQµ LQ WKH 0%8; V\VWHP 7KH aim is to ensure that the driver feels well and relaxed even during demanding or monotonous journeys. In the E-Class, in addition to pulse and stress level, the number of steps taken per day and the calories burned are now also shown on the central display.

Road Accidents Figures increase in Six Years, Says Study

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new study report says road accidents have been on the increase in Nigeria in the last six years.

7KH KLJK DFFLGHQW ÀJXUHV were released in Nigeria Auto Journal published this month by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association.

In the story titled, ‘High Road Crashes, Burden of a Nation’, the World Health Organisation puts the number of people killed yearly via road accidents in Nigeria at ZKLFK LV SHU FHQW RI WKH JOREDO total. ,W UHSRUWHG WKH :RUOG %DQN DV VD\LQJ deaths are recorded on the Nigerian roads annually.

The report read in part, “Local statistics VKRZ D WRWDO RI SHRSOH GLHG LQ RQ 1LJHULDQ URDGV IURP WR DV revealed by Mr. Ayobami Omiyale, a retired assistant corps marshal of the FRSC at a recent retreat by the commission in Lagos. ´4XRWLQJ IURP WKH )56& R΀FLDO VWDWLVWLFV KH VDLG OLYHV ZHUH ORVW LQ ZKLOH DQG OLYHV ZHUH FXW VKRUW LQ DQG UHVSHFWLYHO\ ,Q DQG DERXW DQG OLYHV ZHUH DOVR ORVW UHVSHFWLYHO\ ZKLOH OLYHV SHULVKHG LQ

“The National Bureau of Statistics, relying RQ WKH )56& GDWD UHYHDOHG WKDW SHRSOH GLHG LQ URDG DFFLGHQWV LQ WKH FRXQWU\ EHWZHHQ -DQXDU\ DQG 0DUFK µ $OWKRXJK WKH ÀJXUHV IURP WKH LQWHUQDWLRQDO groups may be higher than those provided by the FRSC, the latter puts the daily average

A cross section of Nigeria Auto Journalists Association Award recipients at the last Nigeria Auto awards held at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos… recently

of road accidents in Nigeria at 36 with high casualties. &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU 6DIHW\ %H\RQG Borders, Mr Patrick Adenusi, explained that many road accidents recorded in the night, especially in northern Nigeria, are hardly reported.

The FRSC Corps Marshal Dauda Biu attributed a recent Ojuelegba Bridge accident in Lagos to wrongful overtaking and excessive speeding by the truck driver. Nine people including two children died in the crash in which a truck carrying a container fell on

a commercial bus.

The FRSC and NBS also listed factors responsible for the road crashes as light/sign violation, dangerous driving and tyre-burst, brake failures, route violation and bad roads.

Segun Ogungbemide, Lagos Sector Commander of the FRSC, tries to exonerate the corps from the rising road crashes saying they only have the capacity to address only 16 per cent of the problem. “The one that will give more impact is to keep policies and regulations in place to prevent the crashes IURP KDSSHQLQJ µ KH VWDWHG

Things You Should Know Depress the brake with your right foot before you start the car.

Move the shifter from P (park) to D (drive) if you want to go forward, or R (reverse) if you want to go backward.

Leave the car in D (drive) while moving forward. The automatic transmission selects the gear that best matches the speed of the car.

Put the car in P (park) before you switch it RͿ DQG HQJDJH WKH SDUNLQJ EUDNH Adjust your seat and mirrors and fasten your seatbelt. When you get into the driver’s seat, PDNH VXUH \RXU ULJKW IRRW FDQ ÀUPO\ SUHVV the accelerator and the brake all the way to WKH ÁRRU $GMXVW \RXU VHDW LI \RX QHHG WR WKHQ check your mirrors for visibility. Then, fasten your seatbelt.[1] Take a look around the cabin and familiarize yourself with the car’s layout. This gives you D FKDQFH WR ORFDWH WKH GLͿHUHQW LQGLFDWRU OLJKWV headlights, windshield wipers, and other features while the car is stationary. ,I \RX FDQ·W ÀQG VRPHWKLQJ \RX IHHO OLNH you’ll need, don’t be afraid to look in the car’s manual (it’s usually in the glove box—if not, \RX FDQ SUREDEO\ ÀQG D GLJLWDO FRS\ RQOLQH > @ Push the brake pedal down with your right IRRW 6DIHW\ ÀUVW 6RPH DXWRPDWLF FDUV ZLOO VWDUW even if you don’t have your foot on the brake pedal, but many won’t. You still want to do it every time. This helps you make extra sure that the car isn’t going anywhere.[3] Turn the key or push the button to start the FDU 'RQ·W WDNH \RXU IRRW RͿ WKH EUDNH DV \RX start the engine. Now that you’re running, do another check around you—turn on the headlights if you need to, connect your phone, set the climate controls, whatever you need to do to maintain comfort and stability while you’re on the road.[4] Shift the car into D or R to leave the parking spot. Push in the lock button—it’s usually on the side or the top of your shifter. Then, move it from P (park) to D (drive) if you need to go forward, or R (reverse) if you need to back out. You’ll feel the shifter click when you line it up with the right gear. Let go of the button and you’re good to go.

7DNH \RXU KDQG DOO WKH ZD\ RͿ WKH VKLIWHU³ especially while driving. If you’re used to driving a stick, you probably rest your hand on the shifter a lot. You don’t need to shift gears at all while you’re driving!

Release the parking brake before you start driving. The parking brake is usually a lever next to the gear shift. Press the button on the HQG RI WKH OHYHU WR ORZHU LW VR LW VLWV ÁXVK 0DNH VXUH \RX GRQ·W WDNH \RXU IRRW RͿ WKH EUDNH :LWK WKH SDUNLQJ EUDNH RͿ WKH FDU ZLOO start rolling as soon as you release the parking brake.[6] In some cars, especially trucks and SUVs, WKH SDUNLQJ EUDNH LV D SHGDO RQ WKH ÁRRU <RX·OO typically push the pedal to release it, unless there’s a separate brake release lever next to it.

Put your car in gear before you release the parking brake. This reduces unnecessary wear and tear on your transmission because you aren’t relying on it to hold your car in place.

It’s especially important if you happen to be parked on a hill.

(Source: wikiHow)

21

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 25, 2023

AUTO WORLD

New Toyota Corolla Commercial Produces More Power, Higher Efficiency

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22

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾FEBRUARY 25, 2023

POLITY

Diplomats Celebrate Outstanding Nigerian Women To celebrate the 2023 the International Women’s Day, diplomatic missions and delegations from across America, Europe and Africa recently converged on the expansive garden of the United States Consular-General’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, to honour and celebrate women who are champions of women’s leadership and gender equality in Nigeria. At the well-attended awards’ gala, the Chief Host and United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Mary Beth Leonard applauded the awardees for their ability to draw support for women through accelerated actions towards gender equality, writes Funke Olaode

I

t was a women’s affairs when on Saturday February 18th, 2023, dignitaries, mostly women from the public and the private sectors, politicians, captains of industry and members of diplomatic missions of Australia, Democratic Republic of Congo, The European Union, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States in partnership with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Development Porgramme (UNDP) collaborated to celebrate outstanding Nigerian women who have made huge contributions to their female counterparts.

The evening of glamour was held at the United States Consular-General’s Residence in ikoyi, Lagos. Following the success of the inaugural edition of the International Women’s Day Awards Gala of 2022, the women diplomats came together again in 2023 to celebrate their own during this second edition. Donning glittering native attires, the female diplomats let their hair down as they mingled freely as one man orchestral serenaded all invited guests.

The Awards Gala 2023 celebrates and recognizes champions in promoting women’s leadership and gender equality in Nigeria whilst providing inspiration for accelerated actions toward this mandate. The 2023 edition also placed emphasis on the importance of male allies in advancing gender equality by recognizing contributions of key male allies through the newly introduced HeForShe Award.

Among the dignitaries at the event were Chief Host and the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Mary Beth Leonard; Charge d’ Affaires, Australian High Commission to Nigeria, Ms. Leann Johnston; Head European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Samuela Isopi; U.S. Consul General, Will Stevens; German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther; Congolese Ambassador to Nigeria, Pascaline Gerengbo; French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann; British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms. Catriona Laing; UN Women Representative to Nigeria and Ecowas, Ms. Beatrice Eyong and The Resident Representative of UNDP, Mr. Muhamed Yahya.

Leading the Nigerian guests were Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; former minister, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili; Chairman, The Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mr. Niyi Yusuf; Senator Florence Ita-Giwa; Wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Folake AbdulRazaq; Former First Lady of Ekiti State, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi; former top executive at MTN, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola amongst other.

Speaking to journalists, Amb. Beth Leonard said it began as the brainchild of several of the females’ diplomatic missions in Nigeria. UK, US, Germany, France, European Union and this year we were joined by Australian and the Republic of the Congo: “The idea was that as women in diplomatic positions to come together and celebrate prominent Nigerian women who have contributed to ideals and gender equality in Nigeria. Not only that to really highlight the work that they do and what can be done to promote women in this country.

Speaking further, Amb. Beth Leonard said, “We feel in celebrating these role models, others can aspire to what they want to achieve in their careers whether in politics, technology, arts etc. So, we are here again tonight to

L-R: U.S. Consul General, Mr. Will Stevens; Keynote Speaker, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili and U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard at the awards ceremony.

PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA recognize those who are doing their best to promote gender equality in Nigeria.”

On the role being played by the international community to promote gender equality, the US Envoy said, “Most of our embassies have gender equality and women’s inclusion as a permanent role in their diplomatic missions.

For instance, in the US mission, we have African Women Entrepreneur, Young African Leaders Initiatives which objective is to come together to horn their ideas, to figure out how to network and see their visions being achieved.

In education and business women have always been at the centre because half of the population of Nigeria is so important to the success of Nigeria. No country will succeed without contributions of both genders.”

On the elections, she said every Nigerian has a crucial role to play as individuals: “United States doesn’t have a special candidate we only support the process. We want peaceful elections so one can have confidence in the results.”

On her take on women and politics and their participation and out of school children particularly girls, she noted that women’s participation in politics had gone backwards.

“And for all Nigerians voters whether they are men or women, it is not about casting their votes; it is about when someone is in the office think of what you wanted from them, when they get to the office demand what you want and remind them of the pledges you wanted them to make and hold them to account.

“I can tell you that United States Agency for International Development looks at that areas too. Some states are involved and engaged to ensure that girls stay in

Africa Magic Premieres New Yoruba Series ‘Ìrora Ìyá’ Africa Magic is set to premiere its Yoruba series production, ‘Ìrora Ìyá’ (Agony of Motherhood), on GOtv. The series, fully subtitled in English, will premiere on Africa Magic Yoruba (GOtv Channel 5) on March 1, at 6:30pm.

Produced by MultiChoice Talent Factory alumni, Allen Onyige and Adeniyi Joseph-Omobulejo, Ìrora Ìyá follows the story of Morayo, a teenage girl who got pregnant and fled home. In her bid to take care of herself and the baby, Morayo falls into the hands of an infant trafficker.

Commenting on the new series, Dr. Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content and West Africa Channels, MultiChoice Nigeria, said Ìrora Ìyá is an Africa Magic production that tells a unique indigenous story which will keep the audience glued and entertained. “Ìrora Ìyá is the third of indigenous Africa Magic series premiered in 2023. This plot will take the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions. The storyline will keep our customers engrossed and on lookout for every episode, ” Tejumola said.

The series features an array of Nollywood stars such as Modupe Jaiyesimi, Raphael Niyi Stephen, Taiwo Ibikunle, Fehintoluwa Jebutu and others. Ìrora Ìyá will be showing weekdays on Africa Magic Yoruba at 6:30pm and open to GOtv Jolli, Max and Supa subscribers.

To keep up with the series and many other interesting programmes, take advantage of the GOtv Step Up offer by upgrading your package and GOtv will step you up to an

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school,” Amb. Leonard said.

Keynote speaker at the event and former minster, Dr. Obi Ezekwesili gave kudos to the diplomatic chiefs for the initiative: “Celebrating Nigerian women who are shaping industries in all spheres gladdened my heart. In an evening like this it is an opportunity to let our hair down. I am always excited when the issues affecting women are raised. For many decades, the issues of women participation in politics have been on the front burner. Gender inclusion is important for national development. Therefore, policy evidence is necessary in order to foster gender equity. Gender equality and inclusion are not free gifts and that is why policies that support gender equality and inclusion should be focused on. She believes ‘it will spur us from evidence to action.’

She congratulated and commended all the women Ambassadors that put this year’s programme together, praising their power of collaboration. “Outstanding women become role models in the society. Women have a lot to contribute to the development of their nation.

And society that identifies the barriers that can stand as impediment against women such as social cultural norms, finance will help women advancement as they begin to flourish.”

The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of awards. Amongst the recipients was Priscilla Iyari, a young private sector leader and brand marketing manager of Quickteller who won the Private Sector Award.

Digital innovation ad Technology Gender Equality went to Ms. Aisha Tofa, Founder of Startup Kano Hub, a technology incubation hub based in Kano.

Grassroots and Civil Society went to Aisha Zannah, an Outreach Volunteer and girl child activist from Maiduguri.

Leadership and Governance award was won by Grace Alache Jerru, Founder and Executive Director of Inclusive Friends Association.

Prince Clem Agba won the HEforSHE category. Agba is a the current Minister of State for Budget and National Planning who has shown commitment to the prioritization of gender issues by working towards attaining of a genderresponsive national budget and gender inclusive national planning processes.

Media and Culture award went to Kemi Adetiba , an acclaimed Nigerian film maker, music video director, and television producer and director.

Receiving Lifetime Achievement Award was Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen who is renowned as a longstanding advocate of the inclusion of women in political leadershio and governance. In her speech she said, “I feel humbled this evening. I dedicate this award to all women. Tonight, I appreciate our women Ambassadors who have always supported issues affecting women. The world will be a better place when both genders work together in harmony.”

Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Nigerian lawyer, activist and founder of Women Advocates Research and Documentation and Womanifestos, a coalition of over 400 women’s right groups won Outstanding Leader award. She dedicated the award to all women who have been sexually assaulted.

“No women no Nation. We have moved from agonising to organizing. We won’t stop as we continue to advocate for women’s right in Nigeria.”

23

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾FEBRUARY 25, 2023

POLITY

Sunday Babalola: Nigeria Can Surpass OPEC Quota Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

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retired Deputy Director of the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources, Engineer Sunday Adebayo Babalola says Nigeria can surpass its quota from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) with the right environment.

He specifically said Nigeria can produce or supply three million barrels of crude oil per day, if it harnesses its crude resources, operate within the right environment and address oil theft, insecurity and vandalism of pipelines and other oil installations.

Babalola, who spoke with select journalists recently, also said Nigeria was losing a lot of revenue by not meeting its OPEC+ quota.

He called on the federal government to intensify the fight against oil theft and vandalism, adding that the government should activate and energise all necessary mechanisms and strategies to address the menace.

Though Nigeria’s oil production has increased, the country is yet to meet its oil supply quota by the OPEC+ which is 1.84 million barrels per day (mbpd).

Nigeria’s crude oil production figure in January 2022, was 1.39 million bpd, which was the highest in the year.

Babalola said, “I am happy that Nigeria’s crude production rose above one million bpd in January 2023. It should get better by the day because we are losing so much money without Nigeria meeting its OPEC quota. We are losing much money and the oil companies are losing much money. Now if our productions are improving and Nigeria earns those revenues, it will be a good development which can translate to the provision of infrastructure and good welfare for the people and improved living standards.

“We can reach three million barrels per day. Now if our production is improving and we have the facilities to reach almost 3m barrels per day and we have the OPEC go-ahead, the more we produced, the better for the economy of this country. It is a positive development that we are improving our

production.

“To reach it, we need to overcome the current challenges. We need to make security very good so that people will not tamper with the pipelines or the flow lines. Most of those things are shut in. Not that they cannot produce. They are shut in because of security or community issues. It is just for you to solve those security and community issues. You need to open them up if the security situation will permit.

“You need to rework some wells; you need to swap some wells. You need to do a lot of technical things. When you do those things, production will increase. That will be a lot of money for Nigeria.

The country today has a lot of wells. We have a lot of production facilities and systems for oil. It is not the same with gas. Because the gas turn to oil, you have to gather the free gas separately and sometimes, some of the free gas are actually tied to oil. If it is a gas cap. It is tied to oil. The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has tried to solve that. How far it can go, I do not know.”

Babalola who is currently, Director of All Grace Energy and also a former acting Managing Director of Belema Oil Nigeria Limited, stated that deregulation of the downstream sector will end the scarcity or crisis of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol.

He said though there are fears that the price of petrol would skyrocket after deregulation, it would later stabilise as was the case in the telephone subsector.

Babalola said, “We will continue to have this situation of petrol crisis until we deregulate. We have to recognise that the pricing is not the same as the scarcity. If you have your money and you cannot get it, think about it. The government has to implement deregulation of the downstream sector. If we do not do that, and if the market is not a willing buyer, and a willing seller kind of a thing, which is a free market, we will continue to have this same problem that we are having currently.

“If you follow the trend in the developed world, the prices of gasoline or petrol go down as the prices of crude oil go down. As long as we are putting money in that drain pipe called subsidy, we are

Babalola

going to continue to have the same problem.

“There are many causes of the petrol crisis. Refineries that you have in the country are not working. The Naira value has fallen greatly when considered with the value of the dollar which is one of the international exchange currencies and the one used in the international oil market or in importing petrol into the country. People are not allowed to import on their own and sell at their own price. It is going to be like that until there is deregulation and the market is liberalised.

“The fears that petrol prices will skyrocket after deregulation are real. But when you deregulate and the product is coming in, everything will come down to normal pricing. You cannot tell me that you want to sell petrol in Lagos for the same price you are selling in Sokoto, Ilorin, Aba, Port Harcourt or Uyo. What of the transportation?

You put this and put that. There is too much burden on the government.”

L-R: ISN Medical Regional Sales Manager (West), Mr. Victor Ngene; Director Consumer Health Care Products, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Chioke; the Managing Director, Graceland Nigeria ltd /Grand Prize winner of Toyota Highlander of ISN Medical 2022 Customer Business Award,Mr. Okwudili Udoye; ISN Medical CEO, Mr. Felix Ofungwu, and the Area Sales Manager for Lagos Area, Pharm. Daniel Odo during the ISN 2023 Customer Forum and car presentation held at ISN Headquarters in Lagos…. recently

L-R; Director General, Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Segun Ajayi –Kadir; Chairman, (CICAN), Mr. Charles Okonji; President, Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN), Otunba Frances Meshioye; Chairperson, Corporate Affairs and Strategic Planning Committee (MAN), Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe; Director, (MAN) Mr. Ambrose Oruche and the Corporate Affairs Manager, Mrs. Omotayo Okewunmi at the MAN Presidential Media Luncheon and Reporter of the Year Award held in Lagos … yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R;; Associate Director, Mediacraft Associates, Melvin Awolowo; COO, Mediacraft Associates, Laura Oloyede; and Country Representative, United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Michael David at the media unveiling of the Right To Protein campaign held in Lagos ….recently

L-R: Navy Captain OEA Izileiri; Air Commodore Taiwo Oji; Senior Pastor Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; First Military Governor of Rivers State / Amanayanbo of Twin Brass, His Excellency King Alfred Diete Spiff; and Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command Ikeja, Air-Vice Marshall Emmanuel Shobande during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day and Celebration Service held at Trinity House church in Lagos…recently

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 25, 2023

24

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

L-R:Chief Technology Officer, Wakanow, Mr.Oyedeji Ojo; Chief Commercial Officer, ValueJet, Mr. Trevor Henry; Chief Executive Officer, Wakanow Nigeria, Adenike Macaulay; and Managing Director, ValueJet, Capt.

Omololu Majekodunmi, during the courtesy visit of the Wakanow team to ValueJet office to commence the partnership of both organizations in Ikeja, Lagos... recently

L-R: Community Relations Officer ND Western Nigeria Limited Mr. Ilesanmi Obazu; Management Accountant; Mr. Sunday Okunbor; Commercial Manager, Mrs. Nneka Idam; Senior Human Resources Executive and Corporate Communications Lead; Mrs. Eunice Akpurhobo, receiving the Independent of the Year Award won for the second year at the Sub-Saharan Independent Africa Petroleum Exhibition and Conference’s (SAIPEC) Award Gala Night held in Lagos... recently

MasterCard Announces Partnership with NowNow on Cybersecurity 0DVWHU&DUG 7UXVW &HQWUH KDV DQQRXQFHG SODQV WR SDUWQHU ZLWK 1LJHULDQ ÀQWHFK startup, NowNow to tighten cybersecurity IRU VPDOO DQG PHGLXP VL]HG HQWHUSULVHV 60(V According to the organisation, the partnership will address the security QHHGV RI 60(V E\ SURYLGLQJ WKHP ZLWK free resources to educate and improve their cybersecurity ecosystem.

It stated further that the partnership ZLOO PDNH WKH 0DVWHU&DUG 7UXVW &HQWUH

PRUH DFFHVVLEOH WR LWV SDUWQHU 60(V $QQRXQFLQJ WKH SDUWQHUVKLS ([HFXWLYH 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW 3URGXFW 2SWLPL]DWLRQ and Customer Advancement, Cyber and ,QWHOOLJHQFH DW 0DVWHU&DUG 3DXO 7UXHman, decried the surge in cybercrimes in recent times, which according to Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, cost the country up to $500,000,000 yearly.

He said, “As we bring the next billion people into the digital economy, it is

vital that business owners feel as secure and safe from cybercrime as possible.

Our partnership with NowNow is key to achieving this. Whether large or small, businesses deserve the peace of mind to operate knowing that they are being kept safe.” &RPPHQWLQJ &(2 RI 1RZ1RZ 6DKLU %HUU\ UHLWHUDWHG WKH ÀUP·V FRPPLWPHQW WR ÀQDQFLDO DQG GLJLWDO LQFOXVLRQ IRU customers in rural and urban comPXQLWLHV XVLQJ VLPSOLÀHG EUDQFKOHVV

banking initiatives.

“We are excited to partner with the 0DVWHU&DUG 7UXVW &HQWUH WR KHOS RXU customers improve the security of their cyber ecosystem, and better protect themselves from cyber criminals”, he said.

0DVWHU&DUG VWDWHG WKDW LW GHYHORSV partnerships with external businesses such DV 1RZ1RZ QRQ SURÀW RUJDQLVDWLRQV and governments to bring its Trust Centre WR LWV SDUWQHUV 60( FRPPXQLWLHV

7Up Rebrands, Unveils Experts Harp on Sustainability in Telecommunications Sector New Identity PepsiCo has announced a rebranding of its 7Up product with a new packaging and identity.

According to the company, the rebrandLQJ H[HUFLVH KDSSHQHG WR EH 8S ÀUVW major overhaul in over seven years.

Speaking on the development, PepsiCo 693 DQG &KLHI 'HVLJQ 2΀FHU 0DXUR Porcini disclosed that the move aligned with its new ‘UPliftment’ brand strategy to elevate its international positioning.

He stated that the new design launched with the expression, ‘New Get Up, Same 7UP’ would be used globally for both 7UP and 7UP Zero Sugar.

Porcini said, “UPliftment is a concept that resonates with people globally. Our new visual identity for 7UP was inspired ÀUVW DQG IRUHPRVW E\ WKH EUDQG·V FUHDWLRQ of moments of UPliftment throughout its history.

“The PepsiCo design and innovation WHDP FUHDWHG D EULJKW DQG FRQÀGHQW YLVXDO

identity system that will echo across cultures, regions, and languages. The new 7UP features the brand’s signature punchy green, but with added citrus hues and distinct high-contrast lines that portray a feeling of upward energy.”

Also commenting, 7UP Vice President, *OREDO %UDQG 0DUNHWLQJ (ULF 0HOLV VDLG “We’re excited to shine a light on our international positioning and reveal our visual identity system to the world. 7UP has always provided people with refreshing UPliftment through consumption and WKDW·V ZK\ LW IHHOV OLNH D QDWXUDO ÀW IRU XV to drive this narrative forward and center UPliftment within everything we do.

“We’ve got one brand with two JUHDW SURGXFW RͿHULQJV DQG ZH FDQ·W wait for the world to see what else we have planned.”

He added that new identity will be UROOHG RXW JOREDOO\ HͿHFWLYH IURP 0DUFK 2023.

Tech experts have stressed the need for sustainability in the telecommunications sector.

The experts who gathered for The Telecommunication and Technology Sustainability Working Group (TTSWG), get-together event in Lagos DOVR LGHQWLÀHG WKH QHHG IRU JRYHUQPHQW WR harmonise technology and telecommunications policies to enable sustainability.

Tagged ‘Sip and Tech’, the event provided an opportunity for stakeholders to meet, bond, and GLVFXVV (QYLURQPHQWDO 6RFLDO DQG *RYHUQDQFH (6* OHDGHUVKLS IRU WHFKQRORJ\ DQG WHOHFRP companies.

The well-attended event had experts discussed and examined options of sustainability enablers, while tasking ICT operators to be innovative in their approach to sustenance.

The experts also suggested the need for the federal government to bridge the gap between generations and get more young people involved in driving sustainability.

6SHDNLQJ DW WKH HYHQW 0DQDJHU 6XVWDLQDELOLW\ DQG ,PSDFW 5HSRUWLQJ 071 )RXQGDWLRQ 0U (GZDUG )DJERKXQ VDLG ´$IULFD LV WKH

next hub for ICT innovations and Nigeria is the frontrunner in that regard. Being sustainability-focused helps us as individuals in the industry to focus on the three pillars RI VXVWDLQDELOLW\ 3HRSOH 3ODQHW DQG 3URÀW and ethically do business.”

On her part, President, CSR-in-Action and Lead Consultant for TTSWG, Bekeme Olowola charged organisations to prioritise their future goals.

She said, “We need to be proactive on the matter of sustainability as an industry. The technology and the telecommunications industry PLJKW QRW EH WKH ÀUVW RQ SHRSOH·V PLQGV ZKHQ they think of sustainability but we know that DOWKRXJK WKH QHJDWLYH HͿHFW RI RXU DFWLYLWLHV as an industry might not be conspicuous, they exist and they require attention before they become a matter of emergency.”

0HPEHUV RI 776:* DOVR VHL]HG WKH RFFDVLRQ to brief stakeholders on their activities for 2023 which included provision of internship opportunities for students as it matches with discipline.

Heineken Partners Red Bull Racing Business Strategists Meet to Promote Responsible Drinking for Switch Conference %UHZLQJ ÀUP +HLQHNHQ KDV LQNHG D QHZ deal with the Oracle Red Bull Racing to further deepen advocacy for responsible consumption.

Heineken disclosed this via its LinkedIn page, stating that the move aimed to improve customers experience and promote responsible drinking.

Announcing the partnership Heineken VDLG ´)RUPXOD VXSHUVWDU 0D[ 9HUVWDSSHQ LV R΀FLDOO\ WKH JOREDO +HLQHNHQ DPEDVsador championing responsible consumption.

Ahead of what promises to be a thrilling ) UDFLQJ VHDVRQ 0D[ MRLQV XV WR SURPRWH responsible drinking and take a leading role in our ‘When You Drive Never Drink’ Campaigns.

“Heineken also announces a partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing -bringing together two innovators and giants of the sport to deliver fans unforgettable trackside experiences”.

The company reiterated that the partnership ZDV LQWHQGHG WR HPSKDVL]H LWV SRVLWLRQ RQ responsible drinking while giving consumers LQFUHGLEOH DQG IXQ ÀOOHG H[SHULHQFHV Heineken has always advocated responsible consumption of its products through building global partnerships and executing worldwide campaigns, moreso, committed to investing SHUFHQW RI DOO PHGLD EXGJHW WR VXSSRUW these programmes.

Responding to the partnership and endorsement, Head of Integrated Communication, Nigeria Breweries, a member of the Heineken group, Uchenna Ibemere said,” we are delighted to announce a partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing &Red Bull Technology and Heineken 0.0- the perfect pairing to deliver exceptional fan experiences around the race weekend. Can’t wait to see what 2023 season has in store.”

Organisers of Switch Conference has said that this year’s programme has been designed to address leadership gaps limiting human capital development and business growth.

7KH FRQIHUHQFH KRVW 3DVWRU &KDUOHV 2VD]XZD stated that the idea of the conference was to inspire and equip business owners, C-Level executives, corporate professionals and church leaders towards improved growth and success. +H QRWHG WKDW WKH HYHQW KROGLQJ EHWZHHQ 0DUFK KDV D OLQHG XS RI EXVLQHVV VWUDWHJLVWV WKRXJKW leaders and church leaders who will engage and equip participants with leadership skills relevant for this period.

7KHPHG ¶%XLOW WR /DVW· 2VD]XZD IXUWKHU H[SODLQHG that the conference which will hold in Beninwill City provide a platform that will aggregate top H[SHUWV WR V\QWKHVL]H XVHIXO NQRZOHGJH IRU VXFFHVV in both business and ministry.

2VD]XZD ZKR LV DOVR WKH 3UHVLGHQW RI 5RFN RI

Ages Christian Assembly International (RACAI), said, “Switch is part of our divine mandate and a manifestation of our capacity to set the pace for the next generation of leaders. We believe that we have been rightly positioned to harness the potentials of individuals and organisations through mental transformation and human capital development.

“We have carefully selected a range of topics to help achieve our objective of equipping and XQYHLOLQJ OHDGHUV DQG DOVR VSHDN WR WKH VSHFLÀF needs of attendees, including ministers and leaders, to enable them refresh and refuel for greater works in their organisations.”

Some of the resource persons lined up for the HYHQW LQFOXGHG LQÁXHQWLDO VWUDWHJLVW DQG )RUEHV author, Olakunle Soriyan; British-Nigerian journalist and Senior Advisor to the President of the African Development Bank Group in Abidjan, Victor Oladokun and the common sense guru, 2OXPLGH (PPDQXHO DPRQJVW RWKHUV

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • T H I S D AY

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 25, 2023

26

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

Marching Orders, Not ‘Order’

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

Y

OU are welcome to this edition as we begin the countdown to Easter! Do you know that most Bibles in Ephesians chapter six verse six used ‘eye-service’ instead of ‘lip-service’—even New King James Version?

I hope I will not be accused of blasphemy! I recollect Ndaeyo Uko questioning the correctness of ‘The wages of sin is death’ in the heyday of our Daily Times of Nigeria.

“PSN advocates workforce to train undergraduates/postgraduates pharmacists” No more news: undergraduate/postgraduate pharmacists Wrong: “We are all out-of-school” (THISDAY COMMENTARY Headline, February 18) Right: We’re (in line with headline convention) all out of school—the excerpt would have been correct if the phrase had been adjectival: out-of-school children “Okoku, ex-internationals, (sic) commiserate with Siasia over late dad” Please delete ‘late’ because it is simply otiose!

“You’re key to our consumption to production policy, Obi tells Nnewi residents” Get it right: consumption-to-production policy “Elections: Lagos new CP reads riot act to trouble makers (troublemakers), police” This way: the riot act “EFCC: ‘Bawa must go’ protesters besiege Lagos Assembly” Write right: Bawa-must-go (note the hyphenation) protesters “The First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, in May 2019, said the NSIP failed woefully (abysmally) to achieve its aim in Kano and most parts of northern Nigeria.” Please nobody should misquote our delectable and vivacious First Lady in the name of reportage!

“Petroleum marketers seek Customs CG’s arrest over (for) auction of N1.56bn petrol laden tankers” Maritime: petrol-laden tankers DAILY INDEPENDENT of January 29 continues the lexical race this week with headline blunders:

“Buhari gives advisers marching order as he begins to round off his tenure” Voice of arrested independence: marching orders.

“Bishop, Monarch (sic) commend Buhari over (for) commitment to police reform” Is it not when somebody does something extraordinary that we commend the person? Not performance of statutory functions!

“Igbo hunted (haunted) by spirits of those who died during the war” Lastly from DAILY INDEPENDENT: “Rest in the bossom (bosom) of the Lord….” (Full-page advertorial by schoolmates (UNN) & friends of….)

THE GUARDIAN of January 28 laboured in vain on six occasions beginning from its Editorial: “It should not become another white elephant project….” Military industry and national economy: yank away ‘project’ because of its redundancy!

“But projects like this are not always favoured by the industrial giants….” Either projects like these or a project like this—no mix-up, my dear Rutham friends.

“Mix (Mixed) reactions trail NUT’s call for review of teachers’ retirement age” “I appeal to PHCN workers to settle the present crisis through dialogue instead of resorting to strike action and disruption of the system.” Delete ‘action’ or alternatively: industrial action/work stoppage/service withdrawal….

“In as much as I refrain from….” Not my own opinion: Inasmuch as I refrain from….

Finally from THE GUARDIAN: “…whom they value between $15-$19 million.” Premiership: between $15 and $19 million.

Last Tuesday’s edition of THE NATION circulated four Comment and general school-boy howlers: “…the continuing quest for a restoration of normalcy in (to) the country.”

“Olympics (Olympic) gold medalist speaks out” “…his interests include, but not limited to, financial advisory, investment advisory, marketing, among others.” ‘Include’, ‘but not limited to’ and ‘among others’ cannot all function in this environ-

ment—just one of them will suffice. This is what I call lexical superfluity (redundancy/verbosity/ padding)!

BUSINESSDAY of January 23 did not show any commitment to the English language on many occasions: “The state government is not a charity organization that will commit millions of naira on (to) a project with a view to….”

“Are the motorcycle riders (why not motorcyclists?) aware of and sufficiently sensitized (sic) about (to) the new law?” Next time round, let government use ‘pidgin English’ to address the marginally-literate members of the society.

“Tunisia journalists protest against Islamist govt” World news: Tunisian journalists…

“31 killed in Syrian forces onslaughts in Damascus” Get it right: forces’ onslaughts “Turkish-Cypriot’s tycoon convicted after 17 years on run” This way: on the run “I remember once when he came to Port Harcourt we worked on a case till 5 p.m. in the evening.” Not allowed! Consult dictionaries/reference books on ‘a. m.’ and ‘p.m.’ “…in the meantime, there has been series (a series) of systems collapse....”

“It was sometimes (sometime) in 1993 while I was still in Abuja….”

“For a NAFDAC that has in almost two years been performing creditably towards ensuring that food and drugs need of Nigerians are (is) given standard manufacturing preparation….” “…his predecessors who were on (in) seat for years without actually doing the work for which they were paid.”

“It is also on record that the same government shot itself at (in) the foot by dismissing the audit report as a junk.” This way: audit report as junk.

The last word in the extract is non-count.

Let us welcome thisdaylive.com to this column for the first time: “Omolememen said the Federal Government has terminated a contract for the reconstruction of the Ikorodu-Sagamu road it awarded to Impresit Bakolori for non-

Advisories for 2023 Elections

N

ow the day is upon us.

Today is the beginning of what most Nigerians wish would be the beginning of the reversal of all the negativity and mediocrity of the past 23 or 24 years.

Today, as we go to the polls, most Nigerians look forward to a peaceful, free and utterly pivotal electoral activity, in which INEC officials would be “on time” at their different duty posts; where eligible voters would comport themselves on orderly and friendly queues; where our aspirations in picking the right president and legislators would be transparently respected and manifested; where cries of rigging, violence, cheating, underhand agendas and such blemishes of our past elections would be so relegated that 2023 elections would appear like a divine dream.

However, the success, or God forbid, failure of our attempts at choosing our new sets of leaders by uninduced freewill would not only depend on the efficiency and even-handedness of INEC, we the voters, eligible or not, would also have to pull up our sleeves, and put determined hands to the plows. Nigerians must take ownership of the process, and make sure that we give our best shot in creating the atmosphere and circumstances that will enable free, fair and conducive elections all across the over 176,000 polling units scattered in this far-flung country.

Here, therefore, are a few things we should keep in mind to do, and make possible, as we go to the polls today. Of course, we are in a country where there are no vehicular movements nationwide during national

elections. When we vote, everything else stands still - may God help you if an emergency necessitates driving out. So, it is not unusual to see some level of recreational latitude during elections in our neighbourhoods, especially where opposition parties are not equally well represented.

Some areas have such a carnival feel, while some appear like war zones.

Whichever area you find yourself, do comport yourself with dignity and controlled animation today.

If your PVCs have “k-leg” or some unresolved issues, don’t use the day of election to “drag shege” with INEC adhoc officials. It is unhelpful and likely to cause a breach of peace.

Simply resist the urge to go and see “what’s going on”. Elections are serious business, not Silverbird Galleria.

Stay at home!

Before you leave your house to go to the polling unit, hopefully, just a couple of streets away, be sure you eat breakfast. Time for accreditation is usually about 8am, however most units should be up and running by 9am… in Nigeria, that could stretch up to three hours behind schedule.

Keep some snacks about you, anticipate that a good eight hours may be sacrificed for the sake of a quality transition process. Remember, only those accredited would be opportune to vote, and your search for food during a prolonged process of accreditation and voting may cause you to forfeit your chance to complete the process.

Secondly, if you must eat with your hand before going to the polling units, ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly so that the BVAS capturing does not query your fingerprints. And for those in love with make-ups, be sure that your cosmetic

application does not confuse the BVAS, such that it is unable to recognise your facial appearance, especially if your picture with BVAS has a copy where you used little or no make-up. Some men sometimes are unable to recognise their female partners who undergo serious makeup strokes. If you can, do not dress as if you are going to an Owambe party, or redesign your hands with henna.

You hardly can blame BVAS for your fashion mishap - be modest.

Then, at the end of voting, and you feel a compelling need to await the collation of votes, the announcement of results, and the immediate transmission of results to INEC portal, do not use the intervening moment to conduct a mini-campaign of how to vote right “for the sake of our children”, or the need to use faces of presidential candidates on the ballot papers, instead of only their party logos which may not be familiar to uneducated voters, and all that.

Such a “campaign” is illegal. Do not harass or harangue the INEC officials without cogent evidence of malpractice or fraud. Even when you do have verifiable evidence to support your claims, do not turn yourself to a member of the intelligence security forces to “correct an unjust action”.

A word for our energetic and change-hungry youth: those still under parental care should listen to their parents who have passed these valleys a couple of times…those who are themselves parents should hearken to this suggestion. When confronted with actions that brazenly offend established regulations and your understanding of the tenets of democracy, do not seek to “get justice” by self-help. Do not, for the sake of the future you so vehemently

performance.” Reported speech: the FG had (not has)….

“More grease (power) to their elbow” (AIT Sports, August 10) “The highest number universities can accomodate is 150,000 students.” Spell-check: accommodate.

“Whose actions or inactions rubs (rub) off negatively almost all the time on the image of the industry?”

“This is the time for them to prove what they have learnt from the sordid events of yesteryears.”

‘Yesteryear’ is an uncountable entry. “…unless our real politicians put their acts together and learn from the ugly events of yesteryear, we may be in for yet another serious trouble in the land.” Fixed expression: put their act (not acts) together.

“Out of almost 62 years of Nigeria’s independence, the military held the reins of power for a period of….” Standard phrase: reins of government.

Wrong: on the saddle; right: in the saddle “Coalition of parties protest election results in….” Not yet proximity: coalition of parties protests.

“Time for warring artistes to sheath sword” Get it right: sheathe their swords.

“UNIBEN alumni holds award night” Either alumni association holds or alumni hold.

“The music impressario makes a final bow” The music impresario (note the spelling) takes (not makes) a bow. “…the main stumbling block to the restoration of lasting peace in (to) the nation’s universities.”

“The threatened sympathy strike by NUPENG can be averted if only government should tow (toe) the path of honour.”

“The University of Ibadan recently compiled list of hundreds of students who had no entry qualification but had gained admission into the institution” Either: a list or lists of students, depending on the desired context.

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON fajalive1@gmail.com 08033622806- (SMS Only)

campaigned for, up until the day before the election, rush to effect instant justice or “jungle justice”.

We all know that there are deputies of the devil who are thirsty for blood and are quick to shed blood - waiting in the wings for just such opportunities to escalate and explode your protestations to irresponsible levels beyond your aspirational imaginations. Do not provide antinfested firewood for the rampaging appetites of shadowy arsonists and narcissists whose goal is anarchy, whose charge is the abrogation of rule of law, and whose endgame is the cessation of democracy. By the way, ant-infested firewood is brittle, incredibly inflammable and burns rapidly. By all means, let us make those firewood scarce in our communities: Nigeria must deal with her distortions and agitations with calmness, civility, common sense and the belief that the day after a challenging day would most likely be beneficial if handled with wisdom, firmness and contextual understanding.

Finally, if your candidate, or political party eventually wins your polling unit, either by a landslide or marginal votes, kindly celebrate modestly.

And if you are on the losing side, simply shrug your shoulders, and let the loss slide. In life, as in every human activity, you win some, you lose some. After all, you are merely one polling unit out of several thousands all over the country - in fact, 176,846 units, at the last count!

GLOBAL SOCCER

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

25.02.2023

NEWS

Targeting Super-Six PAGE. 29

Victor Osimhen Next African Footballer of the Year?

28

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾FEBRUARY 25, 2023

GLOBAL SOCCER

Victor Osimhen was on song again against Eintraht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League

Victor Osimhen

Next African Footballer of the Year?

With perennial winners of the CAF African Footballer of theYear Award- Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané of Senegal and Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez not enjoying the best of the season; the trio having shared the top spots among themselves since 2016, Nigeria international and Napoli of Italy striker, Victor Osimhem is set to break their monopoly. With the form of the Serie A top scorer, nobody would want to bet against him winning the CAF top prize, last won by a Nigerian in 1999

W

ith no African Nations Cup or World Cup competitions, Victor Osimhen is even more favourabletoemergewinner of the African Player of the Year in 2023.

In 1997, Victor Ikpeba, then at AS Monaco, emerged as the best Player in Africa having not featured in an African tournament.

The AFCON tournament that was set to for this year was postponed till 2024 and Ikpeba has advised the 24-year-old to keep his form at Napoli to stay ahead.

“Victor Osimhen has done well, he has been fantastic and he is on form. It’s not easy to score 20 goals in all competitions just in February which is a proof of how good he is.

“Time will tell, the only thing Victor Osimhen needs to do is to keep his head down, focusing on winning the Serie A, and emerging as top scorer.”

“The Nations Cup and the World Cup was last year so it shouldn’t factor in much, Osimhen has won individual awards already and he currently is the best African player.”

“Remember that there is no AFCON this year so it makes Osimhen have a strong case especially if Napoli wins the Serie A. “In 1997 when I won (African POTY award), there was no AFCON so I was judged based on my performance at my club side.

“So, he just needs to remain focused and keep doing what he’s doing because he has a huge chance to win the award.”

The Nigeria international has recently been tagged as one of the best attackers in Africa after tallying 18 goals in 19 league matches for

the Parthenopeans.

The Super Eagles striker has garnered attention recently for his performance, winning various accolades and tallying a sizable number of goals.

The 24-year-old has been compared with Drogba by former Chelsea boss, José Mourinho, who once managed his Ivorian Idol. After Napoli’s 2-1 triumph against The She-Wolf, the current AS Roma manager told Soccernet.ng that the Nigerian is on “the same level” as the Ivorian great.

However, this might be the consequence of Osimhen emulating his idol for years, Osimhen confessed that he enjoys the way he plays and thinks he is the finest in a video posted on the club’s social media page.

“I watched Drogba a lot, how he played. I consider him one of the best attackers ever.” he said.

Former Real Sociedad midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju has backed Napoli’s Victor Osimhen to beat all other challengers to this year’s Africa Player of the Year award.

Regular suspects – Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mané, and Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez – start as frontrunners for the honours.

The trio have shared the top spots among themselves since 2016, and it will take something, someone special, to break their monopoly, especially since they are still active at the top level.

But if anyone can usurp the status quo and power to a podium finish, it is the seemingly unstoppable Victor Osimhen.

The Napoli forward has been by a country

mile the best striker in the Italian Serie A with 18 goals from 19 games, at least three more than his closest rival.

The former Lille lad was named the best player in the league for January after scooping the best goal award in the same month.

Winning the CAF Africa Footballer of the Year award, however, goes beyond just scoring goals. And Osimhen may have to lift the league title with Napoli before he can be considered one of the favourites for the prestigious honour.

But former Nigerian international, Mutiu Adepoju believes Osimhen is already deserving of the award ahead of others.

“Nobody is at the level he is now, and I believe he still has time to do more,” Adepoju told Brila FM. “If now was the moment to pick the Africa best player, he would win it easily.

No Nigerian has scooped the prestigious award since Nwankwo Kanu was named the continent’s best in 1999.

Nigerian players – Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba, and Nwankwo Kanu – won five of the first eight Player of the Year awards CAF started issuing in 1992. But no Nigerian has claimed the honour since Kanu last won it in 1999.

Osimhen’s excellent form in Italy also suggests that PSG’s Kylian Mbappé and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland are no longer the sole heirs to take over from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as perennial winners of the Ballon d’Or. Messi and Ronaldo won 11 of the last 14

Ballon d’Or awards, but with age no longer on their sides, both superstars will likely not be in the running in a few years.

Frenchman Kylian Mbappe and Norwegian striker Erling Haaland are the two youngsters already considered world-class.

Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Barcelona’s Pedri may have recently been introduced into the conversation of future winners of the award.

But Osimhen’s remarkable exploits in the Italian top flight this term indicate that a new superstar has been lifted into that exalted class.

The Super Eagles forward is without equal at the top of Serie A’s goalscorer chart, with 18 goals in 19 appearances – the most he has ever managed in his professional career.

In netting his latest league strike in Napoli’s 2-0 win over Sassuolo at the weekend, Osimhen struck his 100th professional goal, which he achieved in 197 games.

Incredibly, that is faster than it took Lionel Messi (210 matches) and Cristiano Ronaldo (301 games) to reach their first century of goals.

Winning the Ballon d’Or and becoming its first Nigerian recipient, though, will require more than just scoring goals. It must also involve winning titles.

Fortunately for Osimhen, he is leading Napoli’s charge for a first Serie A title in over thirty years while the club is performing excellently in the UEFA Champions League, where they are one leg in the quarter final after defeating German side, Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of the round of 16.

29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾FEBRUARY 25, 2023

GLOBAL SOCCER NPFL TABLE GROUP A TEAM

Bendel Bendel Enyimba Akwa Utd Plateau Utd Remo Stars Gombe Shooting Kwara Nasarawa El Kanemi

P W D L 8 6 2 9 7 2 9 5 1 9 4 3 9 4 2 9 4 2 9 2 4 9 2 4 9 2 3 9 2 1 9 1 2

PTS 0 0 3 2 3 3 3 3 4 6 6

20 23 16 15 14 14 10 10 9 7 5

P W D L

PTS

GROUP B TEAM

Lobi Stars 9 6 1 2 Sunshine 9 4 3 2 Rivers Utd 7 4 2 1 Abia Warriors 8 4 1 3 Tornadoes 9 3 3 3 Doma Utd 9 3 3 3 Rangers 8 2 3 3 Bayelsa Utd 9 1 5 3 Wikki Tourist 9 2 2 5 Dakkada 9 2 1 6

19 15 14 13 12 12 9 8 8 7

ROUND 7 FIXTURES Abia Warriors Enugu Rangers Enyimba Akwa Utd Dakkada Doma Utd Kwara Plateau Remo Stars Rivers Utd Wikki Tourist

v Rivers Utd v Bayelsa 16:00 v Bendel 16:00 v Shooting 16:00 vTornadoes 16:00 v Lobi Stars 16:00 vEl Kanemi 16:00 v Gombe 16:00 v Nasarawa 16:00 vWarriors 16:00 v Sunshine 16:00

RESULTS El Kanemi in battle with Rangers in an NPFL match during the weekend

Rangers Optimistic of Qualifying for Super-Six

I

n spite of still placing seventh after amassing nine points from eight games in the Group B of the 2022/23 abridged league, seven times league champions, Enugu Rangers are optimistic of qualifying for the Super-six league.

Speaking after the Flying Antelopes were forced to a 1-1 draw last weekend

by Bayelsa United at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, team striker, Godwin Obaje, said, “We played against a very determined side but got a good result that would have been better as we actually came here for a win.

With my opening goal today, I hope to score more with the assistance of the entire team. I urge our fans to believe in this team, and be patient with us as we hope to work hard to ensure we qualify for the super-six contest at the end of the season.”

Coach Mbwas Mangut, in a postmatch chat, said, “It was a good game that we really wanted to win but the opponent proved very difficult to break. We continue to work hard on the noticed lapses as we go into the second round of the league.”

All efforts by the coach Abdul Maikaba tutored Rangers International F.C to annex the maximum points at stake in their match day 9, against Bayelsa United F.C in Yenagoa were stoutly rebuffed by the host.

Meanwhile, players and coaches of the ‘Flying Antelopes’, have started returning from the one-week break, necessitated by the national elections, to start preparations for the outstanding fixture against Rivers United and the second-round fixtures.

Under the guidance of Mangut and assistant coach, Benedict Ugwu, the players were taken through several drills to knock them in shape for the task at hand.

Mangut said ahead of the expected return of all the playing staff, “We need to work harder in training so as to have a good start in the second round just as we are hopeful of getting a good result from our outstanding match with Rivers United. We did not get it right in the first stanza, but I believe that the second round would witness a different approach and results.”

Before embarking on the one-week

break, the players were charged to make the holiday a worthwhile exercise challenging them to maintain their fitness level.

Ferdinand Ugwuarua, Administrative Secretary of Rangers charged the players thus, “We are going on this break not that we are comfortable with our position on the table but for the sake of national civic duties. I charge you to be upright in this short period so that when you return, we shall have what it takes to challenge and catch up with those at the top of the log.”

Coach Abdul Maikaba on his part, said, “I urge you to make the oneweek period an active rest. I expect us back with much vigor, vitality, and determination to turn the tide in our favor in the second round of the season.”

The second round of the 2022/2023 NPFL Abridge season is expected to commence on March 25, with Rangers trading tackles with Bayelsa United. The rescheduled encounter against Rivers United will happen on March 15, in Port Harcourt.

Coaches Scramble for El Kanemi’s Job Former Akwa United tactician, Rafael Everton and Henry Makinwa are reported to have applied for the vacant El-Kanemi Warriors coaching position.

Everton, who has also managed Nigeria National League outfit, Vandrezzer FC in the past is seeking a return to the Nigeria Premier Football League.

Makinwa’s last job was also with Vandrezzer FC.

“I can tell you now that Makinwa and Everton, the Brazilian, have both shown interest in El Kanemi Warriors’ coaching job,” a source in the club said.

The Maiduguri club sacked their erstwhile head coach, Abubakar Hassan Mai Zubairu on Thursday following a string of poor results.

El-Kanemi have recorded just one win from nine league outings this season The Maiduguri club lost 2-1

against Kwara United in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League clash on Wednesday.

El-Kanemi Warriors are winless in their last seven games, losing six and drawing one.

Mai Zubairu was sacked with the entire technical crew.

The club is expected to compose a new technical crew before the start of the second half of the season.

Abia Warriors 2-2 Rivers Utd El Kanemi 1-2 Kwara Gombe 3-2 Plateau Utd Nasarawa 2-0 Remo Stars Bayelsa Utd 1-1 Enugu Rangers Bendel 1-0 Enyimba Lobi Stars 2-0 Doma United Tornadoes 1-0 Dakkada Shooting 2-2 Akwa Utd Sunshine 1-0 Wikki Tourist

TOP SCORERS C. Obioma Enyimba I. Osarenkhoe Insurance R. Mizo Bayelsa O. Ifeanyi Plateau K. Suur Lobi Y. Taiye Gombe I. Seriki Bendel J. Atule Lobi U. Abba Lobi

7 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4

‘Doma Utd won’t Lose Players to Top Clubs’ Doma United head coach, Akinade Onigbinde is determined to keep his key players from the claws of top clubs in the Nigeria Premier Football League.

The Gombe-based club, who are making their debut appearance in the NPFL, have fared well despite their low budget.

A number of their players have caught the eye and are being monitored by the big guns.

“We are not ready to sell any of our key players for now,” Onigbinde said.

“We have read about interest in some of our players but I can assure you they will remain with us for the entire part of the season.”

Doma United are in sixth position on the NPFL Group B table.

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾FEBRUARY 25, 2023

GLOBAL SOCCER

Tottenham Set to Consolidate Hold on Top-four with Chelsea Visit

With the chance to consolidate their hold on fourth place in the Premier League table, Tottenham Hotspur welcome Chelsea to North London for a capital derby on Sunday afternoon Premier League Table TEAM

P

GD

Arsenal Man City Man Utd Tottenham Newcastle Fulham Brighton Liverpool Brentford Chelsea Aston Villa Crystal Palace Nottm Forest Leicester Wolves Everton Bournemouth West Ham Leeds Southampton

23 24 24 24 23 24 22 22 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23

28 54 36 52 13 49 9 42 20 41 5 38 10 35 10 35 7 35 0 31 -10 28 -10 26 -20 25 -5 24 -15 23 -13 21 -23 21 -10 20 -11 19 -21 18

PTS

PREMIER LEAGUE TODAY

Everton v Leeds Utd v Leicester v West Ham v Bournemouth v Crystal Palace v

Aston Villa 15:00 Southampton 15:00 Arsenal 15:00 Nottm Forest 15:00 Man City 17:30 Liverpool 19:45

SUNDAY

Tottenham

v

Chelsea 13:30

LA LIGA TODAY Chelsea defender Thiago Silva dispossess Harry Kane of the ball

T

he Lilywhites ran out 2-0 winners over West Ham United in their most recent contest, while the Blues’ misfortune continued in a 1-0 home defeat to Southampton.

While former Chelsea coach Antonio Conte is unlikely to take the reins against his former club as he continues to recover from gallbladder surgery, Cristian Stellini’s perfect record in charge remains intact - going three for three during the visit of West Ham last weekend.

The only noteworthy event of a dull opening 45 was West Ham escaping another controversial handball penalty claim - Spurs and Chelsea can empathise with each other there - but ‘Second half FC’ came to the fore as Emerson Royal and Son Heung-min sent Spurs into the Champions League spots.

With fifth-placed Newcastle United and third-placed Manchester United doing battle in the EFL Cup final later on Sunday, this weekend’s London derby is a magnificent opportunity for Spurs to steer clear of the Magpies and reduce the gap to the Red Devils - who will subsequently have a game in hand - to just four points.

Trying to predict which version of Tottenham will show up every weekend is a fool’s errand, but Spurs are now on the brink of winning three successive Premier League home games with clean sheets for the first time since 2019, and not since December 2021 have the Lilywhites drawn a league match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Conte will no doubt be keeping a watchful eye on proceedings from his Ital-

ian base this weekend, having been at the centre of a heated exchange with Thomas Tuchel back in August’s Stamford Bridge draw, but the German’s replacement is falling victim to the poisoned chalice.

Calls from some sections of the Chelsea fanbase to give Graham Potter the boot are growing louder and louder following last weekend’s miserable 1-0 loss to basement side Southampton, but such demands are still falling on deaf ears as the Blues board retain their faith in the under-fire Englishman.

Fresh from giving their own manager the boot, Southampton relied on a trademark James Ward-Prowse free kick to get the job done at Stamford Bridge, leading to boos from the home crowd that could be heard all across the capital at the full-time whistle.

A fourth game without victory in the top flight leaves Chelsea mired in

mid-table obscurity in 10th place - 11 points worse off than their upcoming opponents - but Todd Boehly is reportedly still continuing to back Potter, even if some members of the board do not share his sentiment.

However, the Englishman can only boast a paltry three wins from his last 16 games in charge of the Blues, who cannot rise any higher up the rankings no matter what transpires this weekend, and scoring just three goals in their last nine matches in all tournaments is simply unacceptable for a club of Chelsea’s calibre.

The visitors’ form on the road makes for incredibly bleak reading too, as they have embarrassingly failed to win any of their last nine away games since beating Red Bull Salzburg in October, but August’s fiery 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge extended Chelsea’s unbeaten run against Spurs to a respectable six matches.

Espanyol Cádiz Madrid Valencia Bilbao Celta Vigo Almería Sevilla

v Mallorca v Vallecano v Atlético v Sociedad v Girona v Valladolid v Barcelona v Osasuna

13:00 15:15 17:30 20:00 13:00 15:15 17:30 20:00

Head -to -Head 14/08/22 Chelsea 2: 2Tottenham 23/01/22 Chelsea 2: 0 Tottenham 19/09/21 Tottenham 0: 3 Chelsea 04/02/21 Tottenham 0: 1Chelsea 29/11/20 Chelsea 0: 0 Tottenham 22/02/20 Chelsea 2: 1 Tottenham 22/12/19 Tottenham 0 : 2 Chelsea 27/02/19 Chelsea 2: 0 Tottenham 24/11/18 Tottenham 3 : 1 Chelsea 01/04/18 Chelsea 1 : 3 Tottenham 20/08/17 Tottenham 1 : 2 Chelsea 04/01/17 Tottenham 2: 0 Chelsea

Man Utd, Newcastle Go for Broke in Carabao Cup Final The final of the Carabao Cup takes centre stage tomorrow as Manchester United and Newcastle United go head-to-head at Wembley Stadium.

The two sides have been in fine form this season, with each of them mounting a strong bid to finish in the top four in the Premier League.

However, their immediate focus will be on this weekend, which provides both clubs with an opportunity to end their respective trophy droughts.

Man United have not lifted silverware since winning the Europa League in 2016/17 – a poor statistic for a club of their stature.

You have to go back to 1955 to find the last time Newcastle won a major trophy courtesy of a victory over Manchester City in the final of the FA Cup. The Red Devils are marginal favourites with the bookmakers to record their sixth win in this competition and fifth since the turn of the century.

The latest odds on the sportsbooks listed at betyou.ie rate United as 4/6 shots to get their hands on the trophy, which looks good value given their current form.

Erik ten Hag’s side are unbeaten in their last eight outings in all competitions and will fancy

their chances of success this weekend.

They have beaten Aston Villa, Burnley, Charlton Athletic and Nottingham Forest to reach the final and have rarely been troubled on the road to Wembley.

Man United put Forest to the sword in the semi-finals, winning 3-0 at the City Ground before completing the job with a comfortable 2-0 home victory.

Their recent record against Newcastle bodes well for their chances, with the Manchester club winning four and drawing two of their last six meetings.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾FEBRUARY 25, 2023

31

GLOBAL SOCCER

Flying Eagles of Nigeria get the better of host, Egypt, in the U20 AFCON

CAF Appoints Congolese Referee for Nigeria, Mozambique Clash The Confederation of African Football has appointed Yannick Malala Kabanga from the Democratic Republic of Congo as referee for today’s Africa Cup of Nations Group A clash between Nigeria and Mozambique in Ismailia.

Kabanga will be assisted by Styven Moutsassi Moyo from the Republic of Congo (assistant referee 1), Pascal Ndimunzigo from Burundi (assistant referee 2) and Moroccan Jalal Jayed, who will serve as fourth official.

Justin Mumba from Zambia will be the match commissioner while Beninoise Rosalie N’dah will be the referee assessor.

Yesterday morning, the delegation of seven-time champions

Nigeria left the Jewel Sport City Hotel in Al Nasr, Cairo for the 90-minute road trip to Ismailia immediately after breakfast.

Head Coach Isah Ladan Bosso told thenff.com that the squad’s confidence and go-go spirit is back with the defeat of host nation Egypt on Wednesday, and he expects a strong performance against the southern Africans whom they confront at the 22,000 -capacity Suez Canal Stadium this evening.

“The win over Egypt has kept the nerves down and the boys can now focus on playing their game; the way we know they can play. We must stamp our authority on the game from the

beginning as we have no idea what will happen in the match between Egypt and Senegal. Our fate is in our hands.”

Table-toppers Senegal are walking a few inches taller around the Jewel Sport City, having amassed a maximum six points from their two matches and looking forward to taking on the host nation at the Cairo International Stadium today.

Both matches kick off simultaneously at 7pm Egypt time (6pm Nigeria time).

The Flying Eagles will welcome back Belgium-based forward Ahmed Abdullahi, who was expelled for a second bookable offence in the opening day defeat to Senegal.

Osayi-Samuel, Chukwueze, Moffi, Musa, Discover UEL, UECL Opponents The draws for the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League last 16 took place yesterday with at least 13 Nigeria-eligible players discovering their next opponents in the respective competitions.

Belgian Pro League side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, with Victor Boniface in their ranks, will take on Union Berlin in the Europa League.

The first leg at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei will take place on Thursday, March 9, with the second leg a week later on March 16 at Lotto Park in Anderlecht.

Fenerbahce’s opponent in the round of 16 is six-time winners of the Europa League, Sevilla.

Super Eagles fullback Bright Osayi-Samuel started four of the six matches played

by Fenerbahce in the group stage, and will be hoping to be involved when the Turkish Super Lig side face the Spanish team away on March 9 and the second match on March 16 in Kadıköy.

Anderson Esiti’s Ferencvarosi TC will take on German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.

The Hungarians will be away in the first leg on March 9, before hosting the Germans on March 16 in Budapest, at the Puskás Arena.

In the Europa Conference League, West Ham drew AEK Larnaca in the round of 16, with the first leg set to be played away on Thursday, March 9 and the second leg at the London Stadium.

Irish-Nigerian winger Armstrong Okoflex has been included

in the Hammers’ UECL squad.

Uche Agbo’s Slovan Bratislava will meet FC Basel in the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa Conference League, while Ahmed Musa and Leke James’ Sivasspor were drawn against Fiorentina.

Djurgardens’ opponent in the round of 16 is Lech Poznan, with the first leg away on March 9, followed by a home match on March 16.

Joel Asoro has shone for the Swedish side in the UECL with a goal involvement of 10 (7 goals, 3 assists) in 12 matches combined in the group stage and qualifying rounds.

Sheriff were paired with OGC Nice, Villarreal take on Anderlecht and Gent face Istanbul Basaksehir in the other ties in which Nigerian players are in contention to feature.

Lagos Country Club Celebrates Armed Forces Remembrance Day with Tennis Games In commemoration of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the Lagos Country Club initiated a first-of-its-kind sporting event which was used to celebrate the nation’s fallen heroes.

The invitational tennis featured teams from all the major Nigerian service outfits – The Nigerian Army, Airforce, Navy and Police.

Players from each service outfit were randomly paired in four teams which were then named accordingly as – Team Olusegun Obasanjo, Team IGP Usman Alkali Baba, Team Vice Admiral Auwal Gambo and Team Air Marshall Oladayo Amao.

The games commenced with a minute silence in recognition of our fallen heroes and the celebration of peace with the release of the symbolic white balloons by Commissioner of Police Sam Okaula (Rtd).

In his remarks, Tennis Section Chairman Babatunde Fashanu (SAN), said the Lagos Country Club decided to initiate the event as a way of honoring Nigerian service personnel who paid the supreme price while trying to protect and secure the country.

The highpoint of the event was the donation of N530, 000 to the Nigerian Legion by members of the tennis section of the Lagos

Country Club.

Team Obasanjo, led by ACP Adedeji Afolarin emerged overall winners with Team Usman Alkali Baba in second position while Team Vice Admiral Auwal Gambo and Team Air Marshall Oladayo Amao finished third and fourth respectively.

President, Lagos Country Club, Funmi Bamkole expressed delight at the initiative pointing that it’s a great honour for the club to kickstart a sporting event that would henceforth be used in commemoration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day which is marked yearly on the 15th of January.

Green (Faith House) celebrating their victory the 19th edition of New Estate Baptist School, Surulere, Lagos

Faith House Wins New Estate Baptist School’s 19th Inter-house Sport Faith House (Green) has emerged winner of the New Estate Baptist School, Adisa Bashua Street, Surulere, Lagos, 19th biennial inter-house Sports at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Sports Center.

To emerge overall winner, Faith House amassed 18 gold, 14 silver and 10 bronze medals. Yellow (Good News House) came 2nd with 16 gold, 9 siver and 12 bronze medals.

Red(Salvation House) was 3rd with 14 gold, 23 silver and 13 bronze, while Blue (Salvation House) was 4th with 8 gold, 10 dilver, and 23 bronze medals.

In 400m boys junior race,

Green House was 1st, Blue House took second position while Yellow House came 3rd.

The football match saw Green House emerge 1st position, Red House was 2nd, with Blue House taking the 3rd position.

In a very competitive 400m senior girls race, Green House was 1st, Red House came 2nd, and Yellow House 3rd.

If the 400m senior girls was competitive, the boys version was explosive, but at the end it was Yellow House that won 1st position, with Red House coming 2nd and Green House taking the 3rd position.

Some of the other events that took the centre stage are filling the bottle boys and girls, pIcking the ball boys and girls, tiny tot race 25 meters in which Green House won the boys category and Blue House were winners in the girls version.

Present at the occasion were the Proprietor of the school, Rev. Amos Achi Kunat, the School Administrator, Mrs Uche Agbazue, School’s Principal, Mrs Anthonia Muogbo, P.T.A Chairman, Mr. Jonathan Nwabeke and Inter-house Sport Chairman, Mr. Onyemaechi Emdin.

Parents also came out in large numbers to cheer the children/wards.

Rio Ferdinand Backs Osimhen ahead of Kane for Man Utd If Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand had his way, he would prefer the Red Devils to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen instead of Tottenham Hotspur superstar Harry Kane.

Manchester United bolstered their attack with the capture of Wout Weghorst on loan in the January transfer window but it was only a stopgap solution as the 2022 World Cup star is expected to return to parent club Burnley at the end of the season.

Kane’s future at Tottenham Hotspur has been the subject of speculation with his contract set to run out at the end of next season.

Manchester United have emerged as potential candidates for the signature

of the England skipper, who is unlikely to move abroad should he decide to leave Tottenham Hotspur as he’s targeting breaking Alan Shearer’s Premier League record of 260 goals.

Osimhen has earned plenty of plaudits for his outstanding performances for Napoli this season and the Italian Serie A table toppers have a fight on their hands to keep hold of the striker who is valued at more than 100 million euros.

Explaining why he would prefer a move for Osimhen, Ferdinand said to BT Sport, via Football365: “I think if I was talking about investing and looking after my money, I’d probably go for Osimhen.

“There’s resale value with his age at 24 years old. It’s gonna be a huge outlay.

“I’d take either. I’ve got be honest with you, if Manchester United add either of those two players you mentioned to their roster they become title contenders. On form he’s [Osimhen] flying.

“You’ve got Rashford and him who are absolutely flying in terms of form. But when you talk about the best players in the world, the Mbappes of this world are still levels above” Chelsea and Paris SaintGermain are also interested in signing Osimhen in the summer, which could spark a bidding war for the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup Golden Boot winner.

Aribo, Onuachu Get New Manager at Southampton Premier League club Southampton have announced that Rubén Sellés has been appointed as Men’s First Team Manager until the end of the 2022-2023 season.

The Valencia native becomes the sixth Spaniard currently coaching a Premier League club, following in the footsteps of Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Unai Emery (Aston Villa), Javi Gracia (Leeds United) and Ju-

len Lopetegui (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Sellés was initially appointed on an interim basis after Nathan Jones was dismissed a couple of weeks ago.

And in his first game in the dugout, the Spaniard tactically outwitted Graham Potter as the Saints earned a shock 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Premier League last weekend.

Two Super Eagles stars in the shape of Joe Aribo and

Paul Onuachu, plus England youth international of Nigerian descent Samuel Edozie will be working with Sellés and their priority is to avoid relegation at the end of the season.

While Aribo is currently out of favour at the St Mary’s Stadium having logged only 11 minutes in the last five matches, Onuachu has started the last two league games after making his debut off the bench at Brentford.

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Saturday, February 25, 2023

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Onyike to Umahi

“Many innocent citizens are still languishing in jail as a result of the excesses of Umahi’s Ebubeagu. Those in jail should be released immediately and unconditionally” –A former Commissioner for Information, Ebonyi State, Abia Onyike chiding Governor David Umahi for terrorizing Abians with Ebubeagwu.

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5( $ 62

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MIKEOZEKHOME GUEST COLUMNIST

Nigerian Law Firms and Foreign Names: Matters Arising

J

uliet, soliloquizing in one of the most romantic scenes (the balcony scene) in Shakespeare’s epic, Romeo and Juliet (Act 2 Scene 2), said, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”.

Juliet was telling Romeo that a name is just a name; with no meaning behind it. What matters is what something is, not what it is called. To Juliet, Romeo would still remain the handsome young man, even if he had a different name.

Certain questions criss-crossing my mind as I attempt to critically analyse the above quote in the light of some Nigerian law firms and legal practitioners adopting Western/ foreign/white-sounding names in preference over their Nigerian names. Why “Mungo Park & Clapperton”, instead of “Aluko & Oyebode”; “Banwo & Ighodalo” or “Ozekhome & Femi?”

Why “McCullough & Clyde” and not “Sobowale & Okonkwo”, when the firm is neither owned by nor affiliated with the former? Why “Westborough Partners” and not “Mustapha & Oche”, when none of the partners bear “Westborough?”.

Why “Greenfields, Everest & Associates”, “Westbrook, Blackberg & Co”, “Bracebridge Attorneys”, “Bladerstone & Cottingham”, “Stone & Cozens LLP”, “Woodpecker & Bird Solicitors” when none of the partners bear such foreign names?

Why not simply “The Prestige Chambers” or “God is Marvellous LLP?” Why must it be names given to natural persons of Western origin, usually English?

The Oxford Dictionary defines a name as “a word or set of words by which a person or thing is known, addressed, or referred to”.

Wikipedia defines a name as “a term used for identification by an external observer. They can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. The entity identified by a name is called its referent. A personal name identifies, not necessarily uniquely, a specific individual human.”

Just google some names of Nigerian law firms bearing foreign names, and you will appreciate my great concerns. Does this mindset suggest a bias against Nigerian names? Cultural cringe? An internalized, but undisclosed inferiority complex, leading to the dismissal of one’s culture as inferior?

Is it a belief that Western/foreign names are more polished and easily roll off the tongue? Is it an identity management/ destigmatization strategy for foreign businesses with foreign content? Is it believed that the use of such names gives one a particular status? Or is it just a matter of fashion, vogue, fad, fancy, or trend? I do not know. Or, do you?

It is conceded that name choice is purely within the discretion of founders/partners of a law firm and as permitted by Nigerian laws. But, should native identities, for the sake of profit or fashion, be lost to foreign influence? Names are markers of identity and denote one’s community membership.

My concern arises from the fact that, rather than indigenous names, none of these adopted Western/foreign names is associated with the names of any persons within such firms.

I must not be misunderstood to argue that law firms in Nigeria cannot bear names that are by patent, invented or abstract, or religious names. Nor do I mean that Nigerians who bear European/foreign names as their indigenous names cannot establish law firms using such foreign names. I also must not be understood to posit that a firm cannot coin a name from the names of its Head or Partners; e.g., MOC, coined from Mike Ozekhome’s Chambers.

My concern rather, is when individuals who neither bear such names, nor are in partnership with foreign bearers of such names; nor affiliated to or constitute subsidiaries of the foreign law firms bearing such foreign names, decide, for whatever reason, to take on western or white-sounding names belonging to natural persons, in establishing their law firms.

The reason for these may oftentimes be attributed to fashionability; ease of recognition, spelling, and pronunciation; for international business transactions conducted by these law firms; and perhaps to emphasize the founder’s or partners’ foreign qualifications. I respectfully submit that it is most demeaning to elevate foreign names over native identities. It is equally insulting to posit that “Saoirse Whitsborough & Partners”, or “Livingstone & Churchill Solicitors”, are better easily pronounced than “Gani Fawehinmi’s Chambers” or “Chief Rotimi Williams Chambers” or “Wole Olanipekun & Co” or “Mike Ozekhome’s Chambers” or “Olisa Agbakoba LLP” or “Uzoamaka Okeke & Co” or “Aluko & Oyebode” or “Udo Udoma & Bello Osagie” or “Banwo & Ighodalo” or “Olaniwu Ajayi LP.” To me, it amounts to sheer cultural cringe to hold that Nigerian names are less fashionable than Western/foreign names.

Conversely, ‘Juggernaut Chambers’, ‘Divine Mercy Law Firm’, ‘Salam LLP’ and ‘Shalom

Chambers’, are examples of appealing abstracts; coined or invented names; and religious names, couched in English and other foreign languages. Founders or partners may settle for such where they prefer not to use their indigenous given, middle, or surnames.

Names such as ‘Rosenblerg LLP’, ‘Witheresburg & Co’, or ‘Bottomleg & Neck Partners’, have unfortunately become the vogue. I experienced this aberration firsthand.

A foreigner wanted to do business in Nigeria.

I easily recommended a friend of mine who is an expert in that field of law where I am not. I told him so clearly. His google search revealed my friend’s name, quite alright, but not his law firm. He raised concerns, as he wanted to deal directly with a law firm and not an individual. It was then I got across to my Nigerian bossom friend, who disclosed to me, to my utter amazement, his law firm’s foreign name. I asked him why. He simply said, “oh boy, leave matter”. Really?

My concern is that this practice is not, by the same token, embraced by Western/foreign legal practitioners and law firms, whether practising law in Nigeria, or other African countries. Never has it been heard of that Western/foreign Legal practitioners or law firms, for example, ‘Rodriguez Salamasor’ and ‘John Hawthorne’, that for the purpose of doing business, ease of recognition and easier pronunciation of names, or for any other reason howsoever, established a law firm with a wholly indigenous Nigerian or African name, say, ‘Agbedor, Adekunle & Obiora LLP’ ;a law firm which neither has an affiliation with an Agbedor, Adekunle or an Obiora; nor has a partner with such names. They do not and will never ever adopt Nigerian or African names in establishing their law firms. Why then must we continue on this degrading path? I do not know. Or, do you?

I dare say that use of foreign names does not constitute any stronger factor in revenue generation than the solid reputation of the driving minds and brains behind such law firms. Many of the biggest law firms in Nigeria bear wholly indigenous names. Firms

that earn the highest revenues and income across the world do not borrow African or Nigerian names; yet they thrive. According to the ‘2021 Am Law 100 Report’, the largest law firms in the world are found in the US. They collectively earned $111 billion in total revenue in 2020.

In Canada an article by Statista Research Department shows that the Canadian law firm of Toronto-based ‘Borden Ladner Gervais’, though not a global mammoth, is one of the top generators of revenue in the global legal market, competing with United States law firms. Not a single African or Nigerian name ever featured in these. Indeed, no Nigerian law firm can boast of 250 lawyers, a minuscule for small-time law firms in the USA, UK, and other Western countries.

None of the above-listed law firms has taken on African or Nigerian names (whether for the ease of conducting foreign transactions; indicating a wide geographical spread of its offices; or for any of the reasons usually given by Nigerian Firms for the preference of western/foreign names). Yet they thrive.

Do they not?

Although revenue, as shown earlier, is undoubtedly key to the sustainability and success of any business and constitutes an important tool for law firm owners/ partners to track growth and improve profitability, the name chosen by a law firm does not necessarily affect the ability of a law firm to generate income.

A person is his own name. I humbly submit that the choice of using Western/foreign names, or white/foreign-sounding names in setting up law firms, oftentimes indicates the pitiable perception of one’s name through the blurred lenses of prejudice, inferiority complex, cultural cringe, colonial and neo-colonial mentality.

It is said that “the worst form of colonialism is the colonialism of the mind”. This choice of foreign names is absolutely unnecessary.

A colonialism of the mind reflects in another man’s name being preferred to one’s name.

We should never again opt for western or foreign names of natural persons. We should instead, be proud of using the original names of partners. It could also be indigenous, abstract, invented, coined, or religious names; but certainly not foreign or English names.

What is in a name? “Though that which we call a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet”, I respectfully submit that naming one’s law firm by the given foreign name of a natural person of western/ foreign descent with whom one shares no tie or affinity whatsoever, would not smell any sweeter than one’s indigenous name; an abstract; or patented name. What is of utmost importance is the value brought to bear on one’s law practice. It is about the content and not the form; the substance and not the shadow.

Just google some names of Nigerian law firms bearing foreign names, and you will appreciate my great concerns.

Does this mindset suggest a bias against Nigerian names?

Cultural cringe?An internalized,but undisclosed inferiority complex,leading to the dismissal of one’s culture as inferior?

Is it a belief that Western/foreign names are more polished and easily roll off the tongue? Is it an identity management/ destigmatization strategy for foreign businesses with foreign All names (except those known content? Is it believed that the use of such names gives •Disclaimer: to me or from stated sources) mentioned in one a particular status? Or is it just a matter of fashion, this piece are fictitious. No identification with persons (living or dead) is intended vogue, fad, fancy, or trend? I do not know. Or, do you? actual or should be inferred.

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