SUNDAY 27TH MARCH 2022

Russia-Ukraine War: Nigeria Ready to Step in as Alternative Gas Supplier to Europe, Says Sylva NEITI: Export of 85% of Nigeria’s solid minerals to China poses economic risk Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Following the war between

Russia and Ukraine, which is threatening the supply of gas to European countries by

Russia, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, has revealed

that Nigeria is ready to offer its services as an alternative gas supplier to Europe.

He urged the European Union (EU) to increase investments in gas and hydrocarbons in Nigeria

to enable the country to meet Continued on page 14

One Year After, Army Uncovers Wreckage of Missing NAF Alpha Jet... Page 5 Sunday 27 March, 2022 Vol 27. No 9847

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Terrorists Prevent Aircraft’s Take-off, Kill One at Kaduna Airport John Shiklam in Kaduna One person was confirmed killed by terrorists in an attack on the Kaduna International Airport in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna

State barely 24 hours after about 50 people were reportedly killed in nine communities in Giwa LGA of the state.

The attack on the airport took place yesterday, amid fear and apprehension by passengers as

the terrorists allegedly prevented an AZMAN aircraft scheduled for Lagos from taking off.

The attackers, numbering over 200 were said to have taken over the runway.

The development caused

panic at the airport as the suspected terrorists reportedly killed a security official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who was on the runway.

The attack, it was gathered,

forced the authority to temporarily shut down activities while the military battled the suspected terrorists.

A source who confided in THISDAY said the terrorists insisted on shutting down

the airport.

Following the presence of the terrorists on the runway, workers attached to the airport were–w said to have left their duty posts.

Continued on page 5

Adamu, Kyari, Eneukwu, Omisore, Others Emerge APC Leaders as Party Affirms Unity List Six chairmanship aspirants step down for former Nasarawa gov Buhari charges party members to remain strong, united Lawan: President will remain the compass of APC beyond 2023 With 41m members, party will remain in power, says Buni Youth groups storm convention, endorse Emefiele for president Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Udora Orizu and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja After a protracted delay of its National Convention, which had led to a leadership crisis, the All Progressives Congress

(APC) yesterday successfully held the exercise where it affirmed a former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu as its National Chairman.

Continued on page 10

NEW APC CHAIRMAN… L-R: Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abubakar; National Chairman-elect, All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; and Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Sule, after Adamu’s victory at the party’s National Convention in Abuja...yesterday

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OKOWA HONOURS ADC… L-R: Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori; Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; Wife of Delta State Governor, Dame Edith Okowa; and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, at the funeral service in honour of the mother of the governor's ADC, Mr. Frank Longe, Mrs. Victoria Longe, at Iyeu-Otuo in Edo State…yesterday

One Year After, Army Uncovers Wreckage of Missing NAF Alpha Jet Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Troops of Operation Desert Sanity on a clearance patrol in Sambisa Forest yesterday uncovered the wreckage of a missing Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet (NAF475).

The fighter jet went off the radar on March 31, 2021, with two crew members.

A statement issued by the

Nigerian Army on its Twitter handle said it uncovered the wreckage in Sambisa Forest.

"Troops of Operation Desert Sanity on a clearance patrol in Sambisa Forest, Borno State, have uncovered the wreckage of crashed Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) that went off the radar with two crew members on 31 March 2021.

Further exploitation ongoing",

it tweeted.

It remained unclear whether the aircraft was brought down by terrorists or crashed.

The jet marked NAF 475, is believed to have gone down 30 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, with two Flight Lieutenants as pilots.

The then Director of Public Relations, NAF, Air

Compliance Officers Seek Renewed Efforts against Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing Ugo Aliogo The Association of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria (ACCOBIN) has called for renewed efforts in curbing money laundering and terrorism financing.

Speaking at a three-day retreat in Lagos with the theme: 'Managing Compliance in a Changing World,' the Chairperson, ACCOBIN, Yemi Ogunmoyela, said the compliance environment was driven by technology, a new generation of customers, very high demands and expectations under a global ecosystem, adding that Working-From-Home (WFH) has now become Working-FromAnywhere (WFA).

He also stated that the world is at the threshold of high internet access, pointing out that these innovations would challenge old models of regulatory thinking.

He also noted that there is a need to look at the trends and patterns of compliance and focus on what needs to be done in 2022.

In his remarks, the former Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Counter Fraud Centre, Mr. Mu’azu Zubairu, said that in Adamawa State alone, there are well over 120 exits with no presence of government or immigration agency.

He further explained that if

the banks are looking at how terrorism financing is conducted in other parts of the world, and want to adopt the same in Nigeria, it would not work.

“We need to understand that the funding and amount of capital needed for Terrorism Financing are not as huge as we have in money laundering, whilst we need to pay attention to these transactions linked to these hotbed areas,” he said.

In his presentation on Terrorism Financing, Managing Director of Mo and Associates, Muhammad AbdulRahman, revealed that: “Boko Haram’s initial funding came from alQueda. They got an initial fund of $3million from Osama Bin Laden. These terrorists have a root and funding somewhere.

The terrorists are devising their means of funding without going through the banks. Some of the funds are gotten through robbery, bombings, car snatching, and mass kidnappings” Highlighting the loopholes in the fight against terrorists, AbdulRahman stated that with porous borders, terrorists move in weapons, and logistics supplies, hence the reasons Nigeria is not winning the war against terrorism. He also argued that cooperating with law enforcement agencies is very important in the fight.

He further stated that the

law enforcement officers should understand that the chief compliance officers who are at the receiving end of the varying degrees of harassment and queries from regulators and law enforcement officers, should be appreciated as collaborators “because they play a very pivotal role.”

Commodore Edward Gabkwet, had confirmed that the fighter jet lost contact with the radar.

Gabkwet said the plane disappeared while on an interdiction mission in support of ground troops in the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the northeast.

“The loss of radar contact occurred at about 5:08 pm on 31 March 2021,” he had said.

“Details of the whereabouts of the aircraft or likely cause of contact loss are still sketchy but will be relayed to the general public as soon as they become clear. Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts are ongoing,” he added.

However, the Boko Haram terror group later released a video showing its fighters shooting down an aircraft believed to be the missing NAF 475 Alpha Jet. In the seven-minute-long video, the jet was seen flying

low to the ground while the insurgents shot at it.

But Gabkwet dismissed the terrorists’ claim, insisting that there was an ongoing search for the missing fighter jet.

“The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to some videos being circulated on Social Media, as well as media reports are drawn from there, alleging that the NAF Alpha Jet aircraft, which was reported missing in Borno State on 31 March 2021 after losing radar contact, was shot down by terrorists. One of such videos, in particular, began with sporadic shooting by several terrorists, including underage children on motorcycles and vehicles. It later skipped abruptly to a scene depicting an aircraft exploding midair, supposedly as a result of enemy action. Another part of the video showed a

terrorist, who, while standing by the wreckage, claimed that they had shot down the NAF aircraft.

“Although the video is still being thoroughly analysed, it is evident that most parts of the video were deliberately doctored to give a false impression that the aircraft was shot down. For instance, the video clip failed to show the correlation between the sporadic shooting, which even from casual observation was aimed at ground targets, and the sudden mid-air aircraft explosion. In addition, it is almost impossible for an aircraft to have exploded midair, in the manner depicted in the video, and still have a good part of its fuselage, including its tail, intact. Indeed, an explosive impact of that nature would have scattered the debris of the aircraft across several miles,” he had said.

TERRORISTS PREVENT AIRCRAFT’S TAKE-OFF, KILL ONE AT KADUNA AIRPORT According to a source at the airport, the AZMAN Air aircraft could not take off at about 12.30 pm because of the presence of the bandits on the runway.

The source added that armed military personnel were immediately deployed for reinforcement and succeeded in dispersing the terrorists, seizing some of their motorcycles.

However, reacting to the incident in a telephone interview, the Airport Manager, Mrs Amina Ozi Salami, told THISDAY that no flight was held hostage by the terrorists as the only two flights had long taken off before the terrorists started firing shots into the runway from the parameter fence.

According to her, the terrorists have their route behind the parameter fence and were always passing there.

She said one of the security guards who were at Runway 05, was hit on the head by the bullet from the terrorists, adding

that he died on the way to the hospital.

“AZMAN had long taken off at the time the bandits started shooting. AZMAN may have forgotten that they came to Kaduna”, the Airport Manager said.

According to her, “What happened was that, whether they wanted to come into the airport or not, they shot a security guard on Runway 05.

“Unfortunately on their way to the hospital, he died.

“Behind the parameter fence is their route, they are always passing through that place.

I don't know whether they wanted to come to the airport.

Unfortunately, they shot at the (runway), unfortunately, their bullet hit the security guard on the head.

“But the two flights we had, had taken off.

“There is military personnel in the airport and they gave it to the terrorists. They seized

some of their motorcycles. The military succeeded in chasing them away.”

On Friday, terrorists reportedly attacked and killed about 50 people in nine villages in Giwa LGA. Several others were reportedly abducted by the terrorists during the attacks.

Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the attacks, however, could not confirm the casualty figures, saying he was awaiting reports from security agencies.

According to reports, the terrorists had on Friday, invaded Dillalai, Zango Tama, Kaya, Barebari, Anguwan Bakko, Gidan Alhajin Kida, Kadanya, and Durumi communities, among others, unleashing mayhem on the villagers.

Many houses were also reportedly burnt while about 100 cows were said to have

been rustled.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has commended security agencies for their prompt response to the attack on the airport.

A statement by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, praised security agencies for repelling the attack “in the vicinity of the airport.”

Aruwan said operations resumed at the airport with scheduled flights departing after the incident.

The statement said: “Security forces have reported that an attack by armed bandits was repelled in the vicinity of the Kaduna International Airport.

“Troops stationed within and around the airport responded and repelled the attackers.

“However, the bandits unfortunately shot and killed a staff member stationed at the perimeter fence who raised the alarm on sighting them.

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NEWS ADAMU, KYARI, ENEUKWU, OMISORE, OTHERS EMERGE APC LEADERS AS PARTY AFFIRMS UNITY LIST Using the voice vote system, the APC delegates at the convention elected Adamu and other consensus candidates on its ‘Unity List’ as its national and zonal officers.

President Muhammadu Buhari used the occasion to call on members of the ruling party to remain strong and united just as the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, said the president would remain the compass of APC even after leaving office by May 2023.

This is also coming as the outgoing chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the ruling APC and Yobe State Governor, Mr. Mai Mala Buni, said with a 41 million membership base, the party would remain in power beyond 2023.

For Adamu to emerge as consensus national chairman, six aspirants vying for the position stepped down from the race and backed the candidate of President Buhari.

This was contained in a letter sent to the Chairman of the APC Election Sub-Committee on Friday, signed by the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, who was also among those vying for the position.

The candidates who stepped down are Senator Tanko AlMakura, Akume, Abdulaziz Yari, Saliu Mustapha, Senator Sani Musa Mohammed, Etsu Mohammed.

Adamu emerged as the National Chairman of the ruling party alongside Senator Abubakar Kyari from Borno State, who emerged as Deputy National Chairman (North); Mr. Emma Eneukwu from Enugu State, who was affirmed as Deputy National Chairman (South); a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who was elected National Secretary; and Mr. Festus Fuanter from Plateau State, who is now Deputy National Secretary.

Other national officers include Mr. Muhazu Bawa Rijau from Niger State, who is the National Vice Chairman (North-central); Mr. Mustapha Salihu from Adamawa State, who is the National Vice Chairman (Northeast); Mr. Salihu Lukman from Kaduna who emerged as the National Vice Chairman (Northeast); Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogwu from Imo State, who emerged as the National Vice Chairman (South-east); Mr. Victor Giadom from Rivers State, who is the National Vice Chairman (South-south); and Mr. Isaacs Kekemeke from Ondo State, who is the National Vice Chairman (South-west).

The rest include Mr. Ahmed El-Marzuk from Katsina State, who is the new National Legal Adviser; Mr. Uguru Matthew Ofoke from Ebonyi State, who emerged as National Treasurer; Mr. Bashir Usman Gumel from Jigawa State, who is the National Financial Secretary; Mr. Suleiman M Argungun from Kebbi State who is the National Organising Secretary; and Mr. Felix Morka from Delta State, who is the new National Publicity Secretary, among others (see table).

Speaking during the convention, President Buhari called on members of the ruling party to remain united and strong and also support the incoming leadership of the party ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general election in the country.

Speaking at the Eagle Square, Abuja, venue of the exercise, the president said the convention

was coming at a crucial time when there is a need to prepare for another round of a general election.

He said: "Therefore, the need to remain strong and united for the Party to exploit the rich and abundant potentials at its disposal cannot be overemphasised. We appreciate the right to hold different opinions and aspirations; however, such differences must not be to the detriment of the party.

“I passionately appeal to you all to support the incoming National Working Committee (NWC) to promote unity and avoid sentiments that are capable of causing disaffection and disunity. For those aspiring for party and public offices,

your failure to realise such aspirations for party offices or to fly the party's flag, should not be a basis for a campaign of calumny against the party.

We should have the spirit of sportsmanship and always support the party to succeed.”

President Buhari enjoined the new NWC members to promote internal democracy and equal opportunities and ensure that party primaries are not influenced by “highest bidders” going into the 2023 elections.

He commended the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee for steering the ship of the party this far including; reconciling aggrieved party members, purchasing a new

party secretariat, and launching an aggressive membership drive that saw three governors defecting into the APC, among others.

“It is gratifying that the party recorded massive and unprecedented defections under the caretaker committee administration. APC received three sitting governors, a deputy governor, senators, members of the House of Representatives and state assemblies, and other key officials from opposition parties who defected along with millions of their supporters.

“I am impressed to learn that the membership registration and revalidation exercise undertaken by the caretaker committee, has recorded over 41 million members. This has proved that

NAMES AND POSITIONS OF NEW NATIONAL OFFICERS OF APC 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78

POSITIONS National Chairman Deputy National Chairman (North) Deputy National Chairman (South) National Secretary Deputy National Secretary National Vice Chairman (North-centra) National Vice Chairman (North-east) National Vice Chairman (North-west) National Vice Chairman (South-east) National Vice Chairman (South-south) National Vice Chairman (South-west) National Legal Adviser National Treasurer National Financial Secretary National Organising Secretary National Welfare Secretary National Publicity Secretary National Auditor National Women Leader National Youth Leader Special Persons with Disability Leader Deputy National Legal Adviser Deputy National Treasurer Deputy National Financial Secretary Deputy National Organising Secretary Deputy National Publicity Secretary National Deputy Welfare Secretary Deputy National Auditor Deputy National Women Leader Deputy National Youth Leader National Ex-Officio (North-central) National Ex-Officio (North-east) National Ex-Officio (North-westl) National Ex-Officio (South-east) National Ex-Officio (South-south) National Ex-Officio (South-west) Zonal Secretary (North-Central) Zonal Secretary (North-east) Zonal Secretary (North-west) Zonal Secretary (South-east) Zonal Secretary (South-south) Zonal Secretary (South-west) Zonal Legal Adviser (North-central) Zonal Legal Adviser (North-east) Zonal Legal Adviser (North-west) Zonal Legal Adviser (South-east) Zonal Legal Adviser (South-south) Zonal Legal Adviser (South-west) Zonal Organising Secretary (North-central) Zonal Organising Secretary (North-east) Zonal Organising Secretary (North-west) Zonal Organising Secretary (South-east) Zonal Organising Secretary (South-south) Zonal Organising Secretary (South-west) Zonal Publicity Secretary (North-central) Zonal Publicity Secretary (North-east) Zonal Publicity Secretary (North-west) Zonal Publicity Secretary (South-east) Zonal Publicity Secretary (South-south) Zonal Publicity Secretary (South-west) Zonal Women Leader (North-central) Zonal Women Leader (North-east) Zonal Women Leader (North-west) Zonal Women Leader (South-east) Zonal Women Leader (South-south) Zonal Women Leader (South-west) Zonal Youth Leader (North-central) Zonal Youth Leader (North-east) Zonal Youth Leader (North-west) Zonal Youth Leader (South-east) Zonal Youth Leader (South-south) Zonal Youth Leader (South-west) Zonal Leader of Persons with Disability (North-central) Zonal Leader of Person with Disability (North-east) Zonal Leader of Person with Disability (North-west) Zonal Leader of Person with Disability (South-east) Zonal Leader of Person with Disability (South-south) Zonal Leader of Person with Disability (South-west)

NAMES Senato Adamu Abdullahi Senator Abubabar Kyari Chief Emma Eneukwu Otunba Iyiola Omisore Barr. Festus Fuanter Muhazu Bawa Rijau Mustapha Saliu Salihu Lukman Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu Chief Victor Giadom D.I Kekemeke Barr. Ahmed El-Marzuk Uguru Matthew Ofoke Bashir Usman Gumel Suleiman M. Argungun Sir F.N. Nwosu Barr. Felix Morka Senator Abubakar Maikafi Dr. Betta Edu Abdullahi Dayo Israel Tolu Bankole Barr Ibrahim Salawu Hon. Omorede Osifo Hon. Hamma-Adama Ali Kumo Nze Chidi Duru Yakubu Murtal Ajaka Dr. Christopher Akpan Olufemi Egbedeyi Zainab Ibrahim Jamaluddeen Kabir Oluwatoyin Opawuye Sirajo Dahuwa Aliyu Ahmed Yako Hon. Agunwa Anekwe Hon. Diriwari Akedewei Mrs. Bunmi Oriniowo Yakubu Mohammed Adamu Mohammed Wali Shettima Barr. Bello Goronyo Azobu Innocent Itapa Dr. Ita Udosen Vincent Bewaji Barr. Hadiza Aliyu Barr. Dauda Chakpo Barr. Dauda Usaini Dutse Barr. Mayor Ogbona Ernest Nil Ismail Kolawole Majoro Hon. Ahmed Attah Ababukar Adamu Musa Salisu Uba Dozie Ikedife Hon. Blessing Agbome Lateef Ibrogba Barr. John Okoho Lamido Mohammed Musa Makitiya Augustine Onyedebelu Nil Ayo Afolabi Oluwatoyin Opawuye Zainab Abubakar Alman Hajiya Hadiza Shagari Mimi Uchenna Diyokah Caroline Owugha Yetunde Adesanya Zubairu Aliyu Jason Baba Kwaghe Abdulhamid Umar Mohammed Ikenna Anyalewechi Comrade Ebimobowe Kolade Lawal Laho Lazarus Audu Mohammed Baba Isa Lawal Na Rago Nwachukwu Stanley Chinedu Chief Edet Asia Mashood Erubami

STATES Nasarawa Borno Enugu Osun Plateau Niger Adamawa Kaduna Imo Rivers Ondo Katsina Eboyin Jigawa Kebbi Abia Delta Bauchi Cross River Lagos Ogun Kwara Edo Gombe Anambra Kogi Akwa Ibom Oyo Taraba Zamfara Kwara Bauchi Kano Anambra Bayelsa Ekiti FCT Yobe Sokoto Ebonyi Akwa Ibom Ekiti Kogi Taraba Jigawa Ebonyi Nil Oyo Kogi Taraba Zamfara Anambra Edo Lagos Benue Gombe Zamfara Imo Nil Osun Kwara Gombe Sokoto Enugu Bayelsa Ogun Kwara Adamawa Kano Abia Delta Ondo Benue Yobe Kano Imo Cross River Oyo

we are indeed Nigeria's leading and largest political party. It also exhibits our numerical strength and the potential to win elections at all given times fairly and squarely.”

The president, who adduced reasons for his recent intervention in the affairs of the party, assured that it was not intended to muzzle dissenting voices.

According to him: “Recently, l had cause to intervene in the leadership crisis which was about to confuse the party. Such internal disputes are common in young democracies such as ours, but we must avoid overheating the polity and not allow our differences to tear and frustrate the party.

“As I said earlier, it does not do anybody or the party any good, when we, as leaders, go down so low and resort to backstabbing and name-calling in the media.”

President Buhari called on all politicians and the electorate to abide by the new Electoral Act “to promote the process of election, enhance transparency, fill in existing gaps and add value to Nigeria's democracy for our democracy to thrive.”

Lawan: President Will Remain the Compass of APC Beyond 2023 Earlier in his remarks at the convention, President of the Senate, Lawan, declared that Buhari would continue to provide leadership to the APC beyond 2023 after his exit from office.

According to him, Buhari’s ability to sustain unity within the party against all odds positioned him favorably as the “compass” needed to give direction to the party at all times.

Lawan said: “Your Excellency, Mr. President, we can compare favorably well with any other party across the world. This is because you have provided the leadership that we need.

“Let me be explicit, you will not be on the ballot in 2023, but you will remain the leading light and moral compass of APC even after your tenure finishes.

“And, therefore, Mr. President, I’m sorry, you will have little rest because we will never allow you to go away.”

Lawan described the National Convention as a strong statement by the APC attesting to its ability to provide leadership for the country and strengthen unity amongst members within its fold.

Also speaking at the event, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila expressed the optimism that the best days of the ruling APC are still in the future.

He said that the success of the convention has triumphed over all cynicism and apathy.

He urged party members to set aside personal interests and ambitions to work together.

With 41m Members, APC Will Remain in Power, Says Buni On his part, the outgoing Chairman of the CECPC of the ruling APC and Yobe State Governor, Buni, has said that with a 41 million membership base, APC will remain in power beyond 2023.

Buni stated this while giving his speech as the interim chairman of the party at the Eagle Square venue of yesterday’s national convention

of the party in Abuja.

According to him, his leadership helped in rescuing the party from collapse and improved its fortune.

“We have collectively rescued the party and improved its fortune. President Buhari’s leadership style helped in building the party.

“We are also grateful for the support of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, National Executive Committee (NEC), the governors, and the National Assembly caucus. We enjoyed tremendous support from other party men,” Buni said.

According to the Yobe State governor, some of his achievements included visits to critical stakeholders that were in crisis, adding that it helped in resolving the crisis without some media publicity.

He added that for every extension of time for the committee, they brought new things to the party, including registration and revalidation of party membership, which helped members to register as legitimate members.

“I am glad to state with all sense of fulfillment that we registered new members and raised the membership from 11 million members to over 41 million members in the country.

“APC under the caretaker committee made history with the defection of three governors of Cross River, Ben Ayade; David Umahi of Ebonyi and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State.

Buni declared that all the defected governors will not lose their cases in court, stressing that their defections did not contravene any law.

“The fortune was enriched with the joining of the former speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and members of the National Assembly. You have nothing to fear. Your defection did not violate any law,” Buni said.

“I am now more confident like never before that with 41 million members, APC can remain in power and continue to be Africa’s biggest political party,” Buni said while calling for the dissolution of the caretaker committee, which was seconded by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State.

Youth Groups Storm Convention Venue, Endorse Emefiele for President Meanwhile, various groups of youths from across the country in their hundreds stormed the venue of the convention and demanded that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, should declare his ambition to contest the 2023 presidential election without further delay.

The mammoth crowd of women, young professionals, and, other Nigerians, who wore Emefiele-branded colourful apparel, were led by the APC League of Young Professionals, Ethnic Youth Leaders' Council, and the Emefiele Support Group.

The groups overran the convention ground with calls on the CBN governor, to contest Presidency in 2023.

Addressing the media, Mallam Kabir Buba, who spoke on behalf of the groups, reiterated the need for a worthy successor for President Buhari.

He argued that Nigeria cannot afford to miss the Continued on page 12

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NEWS

MARITAL BLISS… L-R: Representative of the Father of the Bride, Abdul Jaber Obiagwu; Bride’s Mother, Alhaja Simbiat Lawal; Groom, Mr. Mukhtar Mobolaji Mustapha; Bride, Aisha Aretha; Groom’s Mother, Alhaja Idiat Mofolake Mustapha; and Groom’s Father Alhaji Deji Mustapha, at the wedding of his son held in Abuja… yesterday

Sit-at-home: Soludo Orders Schools, Banks, Shops, Parks to Open on Mondays David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State Governor, Prof.

Chukwuma Soludo, yesterday ordered all markets, schools, banks, public servants and motor parks in the state to resume normal activities with effect from Monday, April 4, 2022.

Speaking at the Women Development Centre in Awka, the state capital, Soludo

expressed unhappiness that the state, and indeed the whole of the South-east, was losing billions of naira in revenue as a result of the boycott of economic activities on Mondays.

He warned that any market leader or chairman, who failed to mobilise traders for business on Mondays in their marketplaces would lose his position, adding that any

ADAMU, KYARI, ENEUKWU, OMISORE, OTHERS EMERGE APC LEADERS AS PARTY AFFIRMS UNITY LIST golden opportunity of electing a financial expert and globally renowned economist like Emefiele at this time in Nigeria's history.

Buba further explained the type of leader Nigeria would deserve in 2023.

He said: "Such a successor must be a professional, loyal to the president, a technocrat, a patriot, and detribalised Nigerian.

"He must be one, who has been part of the progress recorded in this administration, and a less-controversial leader.

"Most importantly, he must be a unifier and peacebuilder, someone to douse the SouthSouth quest for one more term and satisfy the Igbo agitations for the presidency."

He added that Emefiele is the man that would continue to consolidate and expand the progressive legacies of President Buhari.

He emphasised the CBN governor's patriotism and his irrepressible commitment to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy.

Buba stated that the CBN Governor’s good character and attributes made him a worthy successor to the president.

"As an experienced economist with more than 26 years of commercial banking experience, Emefiele is wellequipped to place Nigeria amongst developed and

wealthy nations in the world."

He re-emphasised that Emefiele, having worked in the two political divides, appointed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government, and retained by the APC as the CBN governor, has continued to show great dedication and commitment regardless of political alliances.

Evildoers Didn’t Have Their Way Today, Says Oshiomhole At the event, a former National Chairman of the APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, said the fact that the convention was held was an indication that evildoers did not have their way.

Speaking in a chat with journalists at the venue of the convention, the former Edo State governor expressed satisfaction with developments at the convention.

He said: “I am happy; I am excited that the party will be restored to the leadership position that it ought to be. We are democrats and our party is for the ordinary Nigerians.

It is not a party of big men.

“For us to have our convention today shows that evildoers can have their plans but God has produced someone today. And we have more people of goodwill than the evil ones who wanted this convention to happen today,” Oshiomhole.

trader who also failed to open his shop on Monday would lose his shop in the market.

The warning is coming just a few days after some unknown gunmen sent letters to some Anambra communities warning them of the dangers of not complying with the sit-at-home order on Mondays.

Although the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which introduced the sit-at-home order, had on several occasions, announced the suspension of the order, some hoodlums have continued to enforce the order.

However, the governor, who sternly warned that the Monday sit-at-home must end, also cautioned the market leaders and relevant authorities to ensure compliance.

“Every Monday sit-at-home

must end in Anambra. Normal activities must resume in earnest. With the Monday sit-at-home, the South-east economy is sinking gradually.

When you boycott activities in Anambra or any other part of the region, normal activities are going on in other parts of the country. When normal activities are going on in other places, the person or persons you want to show your anger to is not actually feeling what you are doing. You are only destroying your home.

“It is high time we came back to our senses and do the right thing. We have proper ways and procedures to express our agitations than to engage in activities that can only destroy our home.

“In other parts of the country, schoolchildren attend

classes for five days; but in Anambra and other parts of the South-east, it is only four days. At the end of the day, our children will go into common or unity exams with other children from other parts of the country.

“Today, many businesses and investors are relocating to Asaba and other places. This is killing our economy and we cannot afford to continue that way.

“Personally, I endorsed the joint decision of Igbo elders, bishops and others that there should be a tripartite conversation about the issue of Nnamdi Kanu and Biafra agitation. Therefore, we must do things the right way; while we await such conversation.

“Therefore, with effect from Monday, April 4, 2022,

every school, bank, market, motor pack and other human activities will resume in earnest. Any market leader who fails to mobilise traders in his market will be sanctioned; and any trader who fails to open his shop for business every Monday will also face sanction. School heads and operators of financial institutions should also take note.

“On our part as government, we are mobilising security agencies, including the armed forces and informal security organisations to take charge, and to move all over the state to ensure that lives and property of our people are protected. Very soon, our people will start seeing the heavy presence of the security operatives.”

NCAA Threatens Sanctions against Airlines over Price Fixing Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said that it will sanction airlines against price fixing or any gang up by local and international carriers to fix price of flight tickets without its knowledge.

NCAA’s Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu, made this known at the 46th Annual General Meeting of the National Association of the Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) in Kano at the weekend.

Nuhu, who was reacting to the theme of the AGM, “Antitrust: Opportunities Available for Protection of the Nigeria Travel Market,” said the regulatory agency had taken some steps to protect the customers and travel agencies in this regard and promised to publicise the sanctions so

far taken to forestall possible gang up and price fixing in the industry.

He described antitrust as, when a group of people providing services come together and gang up and fix prices to the detriment of the travelling public and those who are using these services and assure the travel agencies that commercial airlines in Nigeria would be closely monitored to ensure that there was no price fixing.

He reiterated that there were regulations in place that prohibited such practices and efforts were ongoing to ensure such regulations were implemented.

“The travelling public can be rest assured that we are working on them,” Captain Musa said.

Nuhu said that in addition to ensuring that flights operate

safely in Nigeria, NCAA planned to revive the sector after it was economically ravaged by the Coronavirus pandemic with the objective to make the cost of flight tickets affordable to average Nigerian citizens.

“Significant part of our functions are economic regulatory functions,” he said.

Nuhu disclosed at the event that the NCAA was working in collaboration with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to ensure that airlines are not allowed to fix prices of their tickets. “We are working together for the benefits of the industry, we don’t believe in blowing our trumpets,” he added.

Airlines had indicated that the price of aviation fuel might rise further before the end of the month due to its scarcity,

while airlines have continued to delay and cancel flights due to the scarcity of Jet A1 in the last two months.

Also, it was gathered that fuel marketers now ration the product for airlines due to its scarcity.

According to a fuel marketer, most of the domestic airlines could not purchase the fuel because of debts, stressing that “the airlines know what to do.”

He explained that the fuel marketers only decided to withhold supply to the debtor airlines.

Speaking on the high price, the official attributed this to the rise in foreign exchange and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

He said the truth “is airlines owe the marketers. They are collecting money upfront from passengers, but they are not paying the marketers. I don’t want to mention names.”

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NEWS

ASUU Strike: UTAS Failed Quality Assurance Requirements, Says NITDA Emma Okonji The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said that the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) proposed by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has failed to fully pass certain testing and quality assurance requirements.

The agency said this in a statement issued yesterday in response to media reports on its role in the assessment of UTAS. In the statement, NITDA affirmed its mandate, which involves creating a framework for evaluation and regulation of information technology practices in Nigeria.

The statement read in part, “In line with its mandate, the agency has been registering indigenous software solutions.

Part of the registration process requires that solutions are subjected to tests in line with the requirements of the Software Testing and Quality Assurance Framework and Guideline and the Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in ICT.” ASUU has been engaging the federal government on some issues, such as payment of promotion arrears, earned academic allowance, funding for revitalisation of public universities, and adoption of UTAS as a payment platform for universities.

NITDA was invited on October 14, 2020, to participate in an interactive session between ASUU, the federal government, and the legislature.

For the UTAS to be accepted as a payment platform, NITDA

was directed to carry out an integrity test on the software.

“As part of the conditions for acceptance of UTAS as a payment platform for public universities by Federal Government, NITDA was directed to subject the platform to integrity test and advise government appropriately. In doing so, the agency decided to carry three out of the eight tests specified in the Software Testing and Quality Assurance Framework and Guideline. These tests are User Acceptance Test, Stress Test, and Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Test,” the statement read.

NITDA added that some challenges occurred that could hamper the result of the assessment.

The statement read, “Although the UAT was carried out as planned, challenges were encountered that negatively impacted on the outcome of the assessment. For instance, although the invitation emphasised the need for prospective participants to come with ICT tools for the exercise, very few of the participants had these tools.

“This resulted in grouping the participants and very limited hands-on interaction with the Solution was possible.

Furthermore, there was limited connectivity thereby making it difficult for the participants with the relevant tools to follow the demonstration by ASUU. These issues were adequately reported to key stakeholders.”

NITDA also said that certain risks were revealed based on the assessments executed.

It said: “The agency’s

team also carried out series of Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Tests on the UTAS platform. One of these assessments revealed five High-Risk vulnerabilities that are likely to negatively impact the platform if exploited.

“Furthermore, two Low-Risk vulnerabilities were identified.

These were discussed with the ASUU team and a further assessment carried out on the updated version of the Solution revealed that the High-Risk Vulnerabilities have been addressed. However, one Medium Risk, three Low Risks, and forty-four Informational Risks were identified. These also

were adequately communicated to the relevant stakeholders, including ASUU.” It added, “A detailed Functionality/User Acceptance Test on the platform was carried out by our team. A total of 687 test cases were generated in which 529 passed, 156 failed, and 2 cautionary warnings. As some

of the failed cases are critical to the overall functionality of the solution, the agency could not recommend for the solution to be deployed in a production environment.”

NITDA further said that ASUU was asked to work on the solution and submit it for further assessment.

MEDIA CONSULTANTS… L-R: Head of Public Relations, Globacom, Mr. Toni Kan; Managing Director of TeePee Media, Ms. Peju Akande; Editor of Ovation International Magazine, Mr. Michael Effiong; and Managing Director, Fullpage International Communications Limited, Ingram Osigwe, at the 50th birthday celebrations/book presentation by Azu Arinze in Lagos…recently

RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: NIGERIA READY TO STEP IN AS ALTERNATIVE GAS SUPPLIER TO EUROPE, SAYS SYLVA the bloc’s energy needs.

This is coming as the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), has declared that the emergence of China as almost the sole destination for Nigeria’s solid minerals resources export poses a risk to the country’s economy.

NEITI advised the federal government to develop a business relationship with other countries to reduce over-dependence on China.

Sylva spoke when he received a delegation led by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi on a courtesy call to his office in Abuja.

The minister’s call comes on the heels of the festering war between Ukraine and Russia, which threatens gas supply to European countries.

Russia currently supplies about 30-40 per cent of the EU’s gas needs.

In a statement issued yesterday by his Senior Adviser - Media and Communications, Mr Horatius Egua, the minister said Nigeria was ready to step in as an alternative gas supplier to Europe, urging the EU to encourage its oil and gas companies such as Shell, Eni, and Total Energies to scale up investments in the Nigerian gas sector.

“One of the things we warned against earlier was the speed with which EU was taking away investments in fossil fuels.

“We warned that the speed

was faster than they were developing renewable energy.

You can see now that what we were warning against is what is happening now,” the minister said.

He told the delegation that what stunted growth in the development of gas in Nigeria was the lack of fresh investments, and called for a change of attitude on the part of the EU if its requests to increase supplies to Europe would be realised.

According to the minister, one of the biggest challenges the sector has is a lack of investments.

“In the last 10 years, over $70 billion worth of investments came to Africa, but sadly less than $4 billion came to Nigeria.

“Surprisingly, we are the biggest in Africa. If we cannot attract investments to Nigeria, you know where we are heading.

“You have been our longtime friend. As of today, our gas reserve is one of the biggest in the world. We have a proven gas reserve of 206 tcf and if we focus on gas exploitation we can get up to 600 tcf.

“We are already building gas infrastructure such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project, expected to take gas to Algeria, and the West Africa Gas Pipeline project designed to take gas to Morocco,” Sylva explained.

The minister further said that after the Russia-Ukrainian war,

the EU must have a buffer or an alternative source of gas, and collaboration with Nigeria in that regard was paramount.

He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to working with the EU to bridge the gap in terms of gas, adding that from the Russian-Ukranian crisis, it was evident that gas had been weaponised and unless it created an alternative, it would only get worse.

He reassured the EU diplomats of Nigeria’s readiness to be an alternative supplier of gas to the EU but urged its companies operating in the country to invest more here.

“We would like to be reliable partners to solve the energy problem in Europe and we can only achieve this by working together. It is only when investing in these areas is increased that Nigeria can meet that obligation,” Sylva said.

While emphasising the need for the transfer of technology in gas and renewable energy, he said Africa must be allowed to continue to exploit its hydrocarbon deposits to develop the continent.

In her response, Isopi urged Nigeria to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the present crisis in Europe to shore up gas supplies to Europe.

NEITI: Export of 85% of Nigeria’s Solid Minerals to China

Poses Economic Risk Meanwhile, NEITI has declared that the emergence of China as almost the sole destination for Nigeria’s solid minerals resources export poses a risk to the country’s economy.

With at least 85 per cent of the country’s total export going to the Asian country, the NEITI’s audit report covering 2020, observed that Nigeria’s export line is prone to danger in the event of disruptions in relations between both countries.

Due to the dominance of the country, NEITI stated that for instance, Nigeria’s export fell from N124 billion to N17.53 billion between 2019 and 2020, as China began to shut down its industries in 2020 at the peak of the COVID-19-induced restrictions.

“This makes the country over-reliant on China for mineral export, putting the country at risk in the event of a breakdown in a business relationship and natural occurrences.

“For instance, export in 2020 significantly declined by 86 per cent falling from N124.23 billion in 2019 to $17.53 billion in 2020 as a result of the covid-19 pandemic that affected economic activities and forced major minerals consumers or destinations such as China to reduce import drastically,” it stated.

NEITI advised the federal government to mitigate the risk of over-dependence on one

country for its mineral exports by developing strong business relationships with other countries that may require the country’s solid minerals.

It advised the government to promote or support industrialisation and other policies that encourage local industries and local use of the minerals.

“This will reduce overdependence on export for revenue or increased revenue from the sector.

“The major destination of Nigeria's mineral export was China. The country accounted for 80 per cent and 85 per cent of the total export volume and value respectively during the year,” it added.

Out of the 102 companies covered by the audit, the initiative stressed that 96 complied well by providing most of the requested information and data representing 94.12 per cent.

In contrast, it said that six companies did not comply at all as they failed to provide any data. “The material revenue implication of their non-responsiveness was N54.2 million or 1.99 per cent,” it stated.

The audit report noted that royalty receipts from some states - Nasarawa, Plateau and Enugu - was materially low, notwithstanding that the states are known to have large minerals deposits, including high-value minerals such as

columbite, tin ore, lead/zinc, etc.

“The production of these high-value minerals is below expectation,” it added.

The report expressed concern that some of the minerals already identified by the federal government as strategic remained untapped and lacked serious investments.

While the quantity of lead produced in 2020 was 53,988.36 tonnes, the total export of mineral ores and concentrates was 8,776,199.50 tonnes during the period.

Similarly, 58 exploration licences were issued for iron ore, while the total number of valid mineral titles across the country during the year was 187.

“Nigeria has huge deposits of barite cutting across various states -Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Benue, Ebonyi and Cross River - in commercial quantities.

“However, it was observed that companies still import these minerals. 147 barite titles have been issued but production level during the year under review did not reflect this,” it noted.

In addition, Dangote cement accounted for 31.95 per cent of total production and 24.5 per cent of total royalty payment in 2020 while Lafarge Plc was second and accounted for 17 per cent and 12 per cent of total production volume and royalty receipts, respectively.

The report disclosed that Continued on page 74

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SUNDAY MARCH 27, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27, 2022

BUSINESS When Oil Theft Sends Jitters to Business Leaders

Editor: Festus Akanbi

08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com

7KH LQFHVVDQW DWWDFNV RQ RLO IDFLOLWLHV DQG WKH DWWHQGDQW VKRUWIDOO LQ RLO UHYHQXH UHDFKHG D ERLOLQJ SRLQW ODVW ZHHN ZLWK NH\ RSHUDWRUV LQ WKH RLO DQG ÀQDQFH VHFWRUV ZDUQLQJ WKDW XQOHVV RLO FULPLQDOV DQG WKHLU FROODERUDWRUV are smoked out, Nigeria may be heading towards a major economic disaster, reports Festus Akanbi

W

ithin a spate of two weeks, the urgency of the need to stop the growing sabotage to the nation’s oil production trended in the media as the major discussion among leading operators in the petroleum industry.

The kernel of their discussions was the mindEORZLQJ ÀJXUHV RI ORVVHV WKDW VRPH RSHUDWRUV KDYH LQFXUUHG LQ WKH ZDNH RI WKH GDULQJ DFWLYLWLHV RI RLO WKLHYHV ZKR GLYHUW FUXGH RLO WR WKHLU KLGHRXWV GDLO\ And in an apparent response to the danger signal raised by concerned Nigerians, the federal JRYHUQPHQW GLVFORVHG RQ 7XHVGD\ LW KDG VHW XS D SDQHO RI H[SHUWV WR DXGLW WKH DFWLYLWLHV RI RLO companies in the upstream petroleum industry in WKH ODVW WZR \HDUV WR DVFHUWDLQ WKH DFWXDO YROXPH RI FUXGH RLO VWROHQ E\ YDQGDOV SRLQWLQJ RXW WKDW the audit became necessary following allegations by some industry players about the high rate RI RLO WKHIW LQ WKH VHFWRU ZKLFK KDG SUHYHQWHG Nigeria from meeting its production quota as DSSURYHG E\ WKH 2UJDQLVDWLRQ RI 3HWUROHXP Exporting Countries.

Oil Theft 2LO WKHIW KDV EHHQ SHUHQQLDO DQG XQFHDVLQJ and indeed, it gets worse by the year. In its latest audit report made public in July 2021, the Nigeria ([WUDFWLYH ,QGXVWULHV 7UDQVSDUHQF\ ,QLWLDWLYH (NEITI) indicated that in 2019, Nigeria lost 42.25 PLOOLRQ EDUUHOV RI FUXGH RLO WR RLO WKHIW YDOXHG DW $2.77 billion.

According to statistics, Nigeria’s crude oil production was reported at 1,398,000 barrels per day in January 2022. This shows an increase from WKH SUHYLRXV QXPEHU RI EDUUHOV SHU GD\ for December 2021.

3URGXFWLRQ GDWD LV XSGDWHG PRQWKO\ DYHUDJLQJ 1,929,000 barrels per day from January 2002 to January 2022. The data reached an all-time high RI EDUUHOV SHU GD\ LQ 1RYHPEHU and a record low of 1,296,000 barrels per day in August 2021.

Theseriousnessofthesituationwasunderscored E\ D GHFODUDWLRQ E\ WKH IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW ODVW ZHHN WKDW WKH WRWDO YDOXH RI 1LJHULD·V FUXGH RLO stolen between January 2021 and February 2022 is about $3.27bn (representing N1.361tn at the R΀FLDO H[FKDQJH UDWH RI 1 WR WKH GROODU According to a newspapers’ recent editorial, IHHEOH UHPHGLDWLRQ DWWHPSWV E\ WKH JRYHUQPHQW KDYH EHHQ LQHͿHFWLYH ,Q 6HSWHPEHU WKH IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW VHW XS DQ LQWHU PLQLVWHULDO FRPPLWWHH WR WDFNOH WKH LOOHJDO UHÀQLQJ RI FUXGH RLO in the Niger Delta. The group comprised the oil and the security agencies, including the regulators and the military.Yet, the country experienced huge losses throughout the rest of the year despite the HͿRUWV RI WKH FRPPLWWHH The Alarm The alarm raised by these captains of the Nigerian oil industry was yet to settle when the *RYHUQRU RI WKH &HQWUDO %DQN RI 1LJHULD &%1 0U *RGZLQ (PHÀHOH ODVW ZHHN FRQYH\HG WKH IHDUV RI PHPEHUV RI WKH 0RQHWDU\ 3ROLF\ &RPPLWWHH 03& WR WKH IDFW WKDW WKH 1LJHULDQ HFRQRP\ LV KDHPRUUKDJLQJ GXH WR WKH DFWLYLWLHV RI D ZHOO coordinated oil bunkering syndicate which is PDNLQJ D NLOO IURP FUXGH RLO GLYHUVLRQ 2Q 'HFHPEHU 7+,6'$< KDG EURXJKW WKH VHYHULW\ RI RLO WKHIW WR WKH IRUH ZLWK D VFUHDPLQJ headline, ‘With Rising Theft, Nigeria Records 193 PLOOLRQ EDUUHOV RI &UXGH 2LO 'HÀFLW LQ PRQWKV 7KLV ÀJXUH LV RWKHUZLVH WUDQVODWHG LQWR DQ HVWLPDWHG ELOOLRQ RI UHYHQXH ORVW WR FUXGH RLO WKHIW LQ 2021 alone, in other words, about 10 per cent of WKH FRXQWU\·V IRUHLJQ UHVHUYHV

Nigeria loses heavily through illegal activities like this

:KLOH VSHDNLQJ RQ WKH GHFLVLRQ RI WKH 03& DIWHU LWV WK PHHWLQJ ODVW ZHHN (PHÀHOH disclosed that the country is unable to meet its production quota due to unwarranted oil theft in the sector.

7KH JRYHUQRU ZKR VSRNH RQ WKH FXUUHQW IXHO scarcity said, apart from the ongoing Russia and Ukraine war, a high trend of oil theft is another major issue causing disruptions in the nation’s economy.

“ApartfromtheRussia-Ukrainewar,crude SULFHV KDYH LQFUHDVHG GXH WR VXSSO\ VKRUWDJH DQG RI FRXUVH IRU 1LJHULD ZH KDYH QRW been able to meet the export quota primarily becauseofunwarrantedoiltheftthatweseein RXU HQYLURQPHQW WRGD\ 7KLV KDV LQFUHDVHG LQ WKH SULFH RI GLHVHO DQG SHWURO µ (PHÀHOH VDLG Recently, Aiteo Eastern Exploration and 3URGXFWLRQ &RPSDQ\ $((3&2 RSHUDWRUV of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) pipeline, threatened to exit the facility due WR LQFHVVDQW YDQGDOLVP SHUHQQLDO VDERWDJH and outright theft.

The company stated, “All our current efforts to sustain and increase crude production DUH EHLQJ DJJUHVVLYHO\ XQGHUPLQHG HYHQ ZLSHG RXW E\ WKH DFWLYLWLHV RI HFRQRPLF saboteurs whose audacity continues to be growing by the day.”

Alternative Evacuation (DUOLHU IRXQGLQJ 0' &(2 RI 6HSODW (QHUJ\ DQG ([HFXWLYH &KDLUPDQ $$ +ROGLQJV $XVWLQ $YXUX KDG ZDUQHG WKDW 1LJHULD·V RLO productionhadreachedanemergencycritical VWDWXV +H VWDWHG WKDW VRPH RLO SURGXFWLRQ wells don’t get to see 80% of production making it to the terminals due to oil theft. $YXUX PDGH WKLV NQRZQ LQ D UHSRUW WLWOHG ´5HLQLQJ LQ WKH &ROODSVH RI WKH 1LJHULDQ 2LO LQGXVWU\µ SXEOLVKHG E\ WKH $IULFD 2LO *DV report. +H XUJHG WKH 113& DQG UHJXODWRUV WR VHW up a “war room” strategy to deal with the rising issue of oil theft in Nigeria. +H VDLG WKDW WKHUH DUH VRPH SLSHOLQH V\V-

tems now (particularly in the East) where 80% of production injected therein does not make it WR WKH WHUPLQDO +H GLVFORVHG WKDW DOPRVW HYHU\ SURGXFHU LV QRZ FRRNLQJ XS ´DOWHUQDWLYH HYDFXDWLRQµ VFKHPHV WKDW FRVW IRXU WR ÀYH WLPHV ZKDW pipeline export would normally cost. ´7KH VWDUN UHDOLW\ WRGD\ LV WKDW WKH ,2&V DUH OHDYLQJ WKHLU GHFLVLRQ LV RXWVLGH RXU FRQWURO DV D QDWLRQ LQ IDFW RYHU WKH ODVW \HDUV 6KHOO DQG &KHYURQ KDYH GLYHVWHG IURP D WRWDO RI blocks. It is now public knowledge that shell and ExxonMobil are now exiting the onshore/ shallow water altogether. ´, SURMHFW WKDW E\ &KULVWPDV RI 727$/ ZRXOG EH WKH RQO\ ,2& LQ - 9 ZLWK 113& “The situation is the same with domestic gas GHOLYHU\ HYHQ WKRXJK ZH DUH ZHDYLQJ DOO WKH right slogans about the future of gas in Nigeria, in the past 5 years, I can only point at a couple RI 1LJHULDQ LQGHSHQGHQWV ZKR DUH LQYHVWLQJ LQ JDV GHYHORSPHQW DQG SURFHVVLQJ RI WKH GRPHVWLF market,” he said. +H DGGHG WKDW WKH VWDWH RI WKH 1LJHULDQ 3Htroleum Industry is a national emergency, as oil SURGXFWLRQ LV GRZQ WR DERXW PLOOLRQ %3' DQG GHFOLQLQJ DQG WKLV LQFOXGHV . %3' IURP WKH deep-water. Domestic production has stagnated WR DERXW ELOOLRQ FXELF IHHW SHU GD\ RYHU WKH SDVW ÀYH \HDUV DW D WLPH ZKHQ SURMHFWHG SURGXFWLRQ VKRXOG KDYH EHHQ %&I SHU GD\ +LV OLVW RI VXJJHVWLRQV LQFOXGHV WKH QHHG IRU WKH 113& DQG XSVWUHDP UHJXODWRUV WR VHW XS D ZDU URRP VRPH IRUP RI DQ HͿHFWLYH WDVN IRUFH WR GHYHORS D EOXHSULQW +H DOVR FDOOHG IRU D ZHOO RUJDQLVHG WUDQVLWLRQ RI WKH ,2&V GULYHQ E\ D FOHDU SROLF\ GLUHFWLRQ IURP WKH UHWUHDWLQJ ,2&V WR D FURS RI H΀FLHQW independents with the requisite resources that ZLOO KDYH WR EH LPSODQWHG +H DOVR FDOOHG IRU D GHOLEHUDWH SROLF\ GULYHQ UHWXUQ WR WKH WUDGLWLRQDO onshore/shallowwaterterrainsas80%ofNigeria’s UHPDLQLQJ UHVHUYHV DUH VWLOO LQ WKLV EHOW Another business leader that joined the conYHUVDWLRQ ODVW ZHHN ZDV WKH IRXQGHU RI WKH 7RQ\ Elumelu Foundation, a platform that promotes entrepreneurship in Africa, Mr Tony Elumelu.

Elumelu, who is also the Chairman of United %DQN IRU $IULFD 3OF ODPHQWHG WKH VHHPLQJ WULXPSK RI RLO YDQGDOV OHDYLQJ LQYHVWRUV LQ WKH VHFWRUV WR reel in losses.

A National Menace ´+RZ FDQ ZH EH ORVLQJ RYHU SHU FHQW RI RLO SURGXFWLRQ WR WKLHYHV" /RRN DW WKH %RQQ\ 7HUPLQDO WKDW VKRXOG EH UHFHLYLQJ RYHU ESG EDUUHOV RI FUXGH RLO GDLO\ LQVWHDG LW UHFHLYHV OHVV WKDQ EDUUHOV OHDGLQJ WKH RSHUDWRU 6KHOO WR GHFODUH IRUFH PDMHXUH µ KH VDLG LQ KLV YHULÀHG 7ZLWWHU KDQGOH (OXPHOX ZKR LV DOVR WKH &KDLUPDQ RI +HLUV 2LO DQG *DV ZDV VDLG WR KDYH PDGH WKH VKRFNLQJ UHYHODWLRQ ZKLOH VSHDNLQJ DW WKH &RXUVH OHFWXUH at the National Defence College, Kaduna. This UHWXUQV WKH RLO WKHIW DQG YDQGDOLVP LVVXH WR WKH public discourse. $FFRUGLQJ WR KLP +HLUV MXVW OLNH RWKHU RLO FRPSDQLHV VXͿHUV PDMRU ORVVHV GDLO\ ,W UHFRUGV more losses than it sells. “Theft in the Niger Delta LV D QDWLRQDO PHQDFH µ (OXPHOX VDLG ´:H +HLUV ZLOO SURGXFH FUXGH RLO DQG WKH WKLHYHV ZLOO VWHDO like 50,000 barrels per day. In my opinion, it is one of the most lethal threats to our country because there is so much money in the hands of people who don’t pay taxes and people you don’t regulate. The country is not safe.” Apart IURP UHYHQXH ORVV WKLV WKUHDWHQV WKH VHFXULW\ RI WKH FRXQWU\ 7KH WKLHYHV GHSOR\ WKH UHVRXUFHV to acquire sophisticated armouries and can face RͿ ZLWK WKH VWDWH VHFXULW\ DJHQWV WR DFKLHYH WKHLU nefarious aims.

Economy analysts, therefore said the challenge UHVWV VTXDUHO\ RQ WKH VKRXOGHU RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW 0XKDPPDGX %XKDUL DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ WR GHFODUH DQ DOO RXW ZDU DJDLQVW RLO WKLHYHV VR WKDW WKH ZKROH gains of the current sharp increase in crude oil prices will not elude Nigeria.

This is why Nigerians will be expecting a thorough job by the probe panel announced by WKH &KLHI ([HFXWLYH RI WKH 1LJHULDQ 8SVWUHDP 3HWUROHXP 5HJXODWRU\ &RPPLVVLRQ 1835& Mr Gbenga Komolafe. It is a report that must not be put under the carpet, no matter the statuses RI WKRVH LQYROYHG

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27, 2022

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INDUSTRY

Dangote: Fertilising Nigeria Towards Food Self-sufficiency Last week’s launch of the $2.5 billion Dangote Fertiliser Plant has raised the prospect of economic SURVSHULW\ IRRG VX΀FLHQF\ DQG IRUHLJQ H[FKDQJH HDUQLQJV UHSRUWV Festus Akanbi

N

igeria’s stake in the global trade supply has just been increased with the launch of the three million metric tonnes per annum capacity Dangote Fertiliser in Lagos

by President Muhammadu

Buhari.

The Urea Plant, located at Ibeju Lekki Free Trade Zone, within the periphery of the Dangote 5HÀQHU\ FXUUHQWO\ XQGHU FRQVWUXFWLRQ LV SURPRWHG

by Africa’s global enterprise, Dangote Industries /LPLWHG 2I VLJQLÀFDQW LPSRUWDQFH RI WKH WLPLQJ RI theinaugurationisthattheplantwouldbepumping a fresh three million tonnes of granulated Urea into the country and the world supply amid the impact of increasing prices in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine war.

With the current economic malaise facing Nigeria which has decimated foreign exchange intake, the Dangote Fertiliser output would be reversing an unsavoury trend in Nigeria’s balance of trade in which hundreds of millions of dollars is expatriated on fertiliser import annually. According to the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database (COMTRADE) on international trade, as of 2020, Nigeria’s imports of Fertiliser was US$261.69m Since agriculture contributes the highest to Nigeria’s GDPat 27 per cent, the successive government KDV PDGH HͿRUWV WR SURPRWH DJULFXOWXUH WKURXJK various incentives to stakeholders so that the nation can reduce reliance on imported foods by growing what it eats and eats what it grows. This, the JRYHUQRU RI &HQWUDO %DQN *RGZLQ (PHÀHOH VDLG is exactly the economic policy thrust of the present administration. And this, it has been executing, through the deliberate growing of her fertiliser industry.

A major factor in the low food production in 1LJHULD LV WKH QXWULHQW GHÀFLHQW QDWXUH RI 1LJHULDQ ODQG 'HVSLWH WKH JRYHUQPHQW·V HͿRUWV WKH fertiliser consumption rate in Nigeria remains below its peers in Africa and below the world average, albeit recording growth over the recent years. The World Bank, rates Nigeria’s fertiliser consumption in kilogrammes per hectare of arable land at 19.7 in 2018, below Ghana’s 29.4kg/ hectare of arable land, and the average consumption rate in sub-Saharan Africa of about 33kg/ hectare of arable land.

H

ersolutiondoesnotlies in flying her abroad, infact her healing lies here in Nigeria.

She should to God in prayers, she visit Ori oke ede for 3 days and 3night to seek d face of God and ask for Mercy, her prophecies come out in our program last week. Listen to this link https://www.facebook.com/ isrealkolly/videos/347098900517513

Dangote Fertiliser plant, Lagos

cesses being recorded in the bid to increase local productions, the CBN governor said as of 2015, Nigeria had a shortfall of about 3.5 million tonnes per annum compared to the over six million tonnes per annum required in the country. However, with VXVWDLQHG HͿRUWV RWKHU LQGLJHQRXV FRPSDQLHV OLNH Indorama and Notore, with a combined capacity of over 2.5 million tonnes per annum have tried to match the market demand, yet the country is still faced a huge shortfall of fertiliser supply.

Game Changer Africa’s richest man and promoter of the project described the new plant as a game-changer, as it can PDNH 1LJHULD VHOI VX΀FLHQW LQ IHUWLOLVHU SURGXFWLRQ with spare capacity to export to other markets in Africa and the rest of the world. He added that already, Dangote fertiliser has reached the markets in the USA, Brazil, and Mexico.

According to him, the fertiliser plant, which is Private Sector Participation the largest granulated Urea fertiliser complex in (PHÀHOH UHSRUWHG RQ WKH RFFDVLRQ WKDW SULYDWH Africa, occupies 500 hectares of land, was built for sector participation has increased especially since $2.5 billion, and is expected to reduce drastically 2015 as the government continues to drive fertiliser the level of unemployment and youth restiveness consumption through its Presidential Fertiliser in the country through employment opportunities.

Initiative (PFI), with the ultimate aim of achieving To him, the plant is expected to generate new jobs IRRG VHOI VX΀FLHQF\ with top-quality fertiliser being available and in It was against this background that President VX΀FLHQW TXDQWLWLHV IRU WKH IDUPHUV Buhari was excited when he saw the $2.5billion Dangote Fertiliser, according to him, would humongous state-of-the-art Urea plant. He said: ensure the emergence of farmers in the country, “This fertiliser plant is expected to further advance providing hundreds of jobs and ushering in a this administration’s drive towards achieving new era of agricultural agriculture entrepreneurs.

VHOI VX΀FLHQF\ LQ IRRG SURGXFWLRQ LQ RXU EHORYHG “This breed of agroprenuers will take to farming country, Nigeria. on large scales, providing food and raw materials WhilelaudingtheChairmanofDangoteFertiliser for our industries,” he added.

Limited,Aliko Dangote for his economic patriotism and commitment to the socio-economic developInnovation ment of our country as well as the well-being of the An innovation that the company is bringing on people, he assured that the new plant will help his board in the fertiliser industry, Dangote explained JRYHUQPHQW WR UHGXFH SRYHUW\ LQFUHDVH WKH LQÁRZ is the rolling out of soil laboratory, which would of foreign exchange and reduce dependence on transform the agricultural sector in the form of importation of fertiliser. extension services for small and medium-scale “The nation also stands to gain extensively farmers. Dangote fertilizer, he added has set up in earnings of foreign exchange from the excess a well-equipped fertiliser soil testing laboratory production of the plant. I am informed that we WR HQDEOH LW WR DQDO\VH DQG LGHQWLI\ VRLO GHÀFLHQF\ have already started exporting to USA, Brazil, and the appropriate fertiliser blend. This became and India.” necessary because according to him, “studies With the feat attained in local cement produc- have shown that applying the right fertiliser to tion and now fertiliser, the president reassured the soil will boost productivity. This service is to all Nigerians that the government is focused on cover all the geopolitical zones, and will surely providing an enabling environment for private change the agricultural landscape in the country by sector investors to thrive. We will continue to transforming farming into a lucrative profession. improve on infrastructure, power, security and “Dangote Fertiliser is working with Farmer enact relevant laws and regulations that will drive Associations, Corporate Farmers, NPK Blendinvestments in the economy. ers, NGO/development partners and State Crediting the Buhari administration for the suc- Governments all over Nigeria, and governments

Dangote

across Africa and beyond who are looking for a sustainable approach to improving soil quality and farm yields,” he explained.”

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu boasting of the environmental friendliness of the state, a situation that has encouraged investments in the state, commendedAliko Dangote for always blazing the trail, noting that the state government was happy to be hosting many of his businesses.

He added that “with the largest fertiliser plant LQ $IULFD LQ /DJRV DQG WKH ODUJHVW UHÀQHU\ LQ WKH world coming soon, there is nobody that would not be proud of Alhaji Dangote.”

The governor stated that Nigeria would quickly forget its many economic problems if another entrepreneur like Dangote could be replicated in other regions of Nigeria while assuring that private investors could always count on the Lagos State government when it comes to the provision of an enabling environment to make businesses thrive.

Group Executive Director in charge of Capital Projects and portfolio development, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, whose team oversaw the construction of the plant, explained that the new plant was purpose-built with the vision and mission of the company in mind saying the new urea plant is to make Nigeria self-reliant in food production by improving

crop productivity for the farmers and to provide distinctive, high-quality fertiliser products and services with a sustained commitment to customer satisfaction, whilst delivering superior returns to our stakeholders.

Edwin pointed out that part of the strategy of WKH FRPSDQ\ LV WR PDNH IHUWLOLVHU DͿRUGDEOH DQG DYDLODEOH WR IDUPHUV HUDGLFDWH WKH LQÁXHQFH RI PLGGOHPHQ DQG LPSURYH SURGXFWLRQ H΀FLHQF\ through research, innovation, and the latest technology.

“We will ensure customer satisfaction and protect stakeholders’ interest. We will be the leading PDQXIDFWXUHU RI TXDOLW\ DQG DͿRUGDEOH IHUWLOLVHU products all over the world and will become the most preferred manufacturer and supplier of fertilisers and otherAmmonia products inAfrica.”

Given the salient features that stand out in the newUreaplant,theDirectorsaid“DangoteFertiliser complex consists ofAmmonia and Urea plants with associated facilities and infrastructure to produce three MMTPA Urea. The complex consists of 2 x 2,200 MTPD Ammonia Plants based on Halder Topsoe technology; 2 x 4,000 MTPD Melt Urea Plants based on Snamprogetti technology; 2 x 4,000 MTPD Urea Granulation Plants based on Uhde technology; a Captive Power plant comprising of 3 Steam turbine Generators of 40 MW capacity each totaling 120 MW and 3 Auxiliary boilers for 40 ATAsteam generation of 200 TE capacity each.

On the free soil testing service, Edwin explained LW ZRXOG KHOS WR NQRZ QXWULHQW GHÀFLHQF\ WR UHFRPPHQG WKH ULJKW IHUWLOLVHU GRVDJH 1XWULHQW GHÀFLHQW soil cannot give potential yield, hence low returns on the invested agro-inputs and poor farm income.

Balance in fertiliser use will not only reduce the cost of fertiliser but also improve the yield and PD[LPLVH WKH SURÀW $SSO\LQJ WKH ULJKW IHUWLOLVHU to the soil will enable it to yield maximum results.

“Overall, the goal of our soil testing is to provide an accurate assessment of the soil’s fertility to recommend the right dose of fertiliser.

2XU HͿRUWV DUH WR WUDLQ IDUPHUV RQ JRRG DJURnomic practices and provide them with soil testing services. We have established Mobile Soil Testing Labs (MSTL) and Soil Testing Labs to provide soil testing facilities to farmers in remote villages also.

Mobile Soil Testing Laboratory will collect the soil samples from the doorsteps of farmers and soil test results will be provided to farmers at no cost.

With the Nigerian population projected to rise to 262 million by 2030 and 398 million by 2050, Dangote Industries Limited, as a true leader in the Nigerian business space, may have seized the initiative to actualise a vision where Nigeria will be VHOI VX΀FLHQW LQ FDWHULQJ IRU LWV IRRG FRQVXPSWLRQ

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27, 2022

19

FINANCE

CBN’s People-centred Policy Approach in Critical Times James Emejo writes that the apex bank’s resolve to refrain from joining the bandwagon in adopting D FRQWUDFWLRQDU\ PRQHWDU\ SROLF\ VWDQFH DPLGVW WKH JOREDO XSWLFN LQ LQÁDWLRQ GHPRQVWUDWHV WKH bank’s avowed commitment to run a people-focused, growth-stimulating central bank

T

he global commodities and food supply distortions created by the war KDG FDXVHG ULSSOH HͿHFWV worldwide with some advanced economies as well as developing countries already witnessing dramatic increases in energy and food prices.

It simply means that so much money is currently chasing after fewer goods and services as a result.

In reaction, monetary authorities have moved to raise lending rates and applied RWKHU UHVWULFWLYH PHDVXUHV WR UHLQ LQ LQÁDWLRQ and achieve price stability.

Given that Nigeria is not isolated from the HͿHFWV RI WKH JOREDO HQHUJ\ FULVLV ZKLFK KDG DͿHFWHG WKH SULFHV DQG DYDLODELOLW\ RI SHWURO DQG GLHVHO SDVV WKURXJK HͿHFWV RQ RWKHU commodities and services, most analysts had predicted that the CBN would have acted accordingly to raise the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) as well as deploy another restrictive measure towards addressing the situation, especially given that the current interest rate at 11.5 per cent had been sustained since September 2020.

MPC’s Response However, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the central bank at its regular meetings last week, the second in the year, resolved to retain the MPR otherwise known as the interest rate at 11.5 per cent with the asymmetric corridor of +100/-700 basis points around the MPR. The CBN also left other monetary policy parameters unchanged namely the Cash Emefiele Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 27.5 per cent and Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent. out that this had resulted in imported The MPR is the rate at which the CBN lends LQÁDWLRQ RQ WKH 1LJHULDQ HFRQRP\ to commercial banks and often determines 7KH FRPPLWWHH EHOLHYHG WKDW VSHFLÀF the cost of borrowing in the economy. The actions were required to ensure that the MPC also voted to maintain the Cash Reserve trend does not continue given the adverse Ratio (CRR) at 27.5 per cent as well as the consequences and aggressive rising price Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent. level could have on the cost of living and The CBN governor said six out of the purchasing power of Nigerians.

10 MPC members present voted to retain (PHÀHOH QRWHG WKDW EHIRUH WKH 5XVVLD monetary parameters, adding that while Ukraine war, MPC was optimistic that loosening could trigger liquidity surfeit WKH PRGHUDWH GHFOLQH LQ LQÁDWLRQ ZDV in the system, a tightening stance would sustainable due to the positive impact of impact the fragile recovery of the economy, good harvest on price levels but expressed reverse credit expansion and yet, fall short worry that, whereas global prices had RI WDPLQJ LQÁDWLRQ gone up, this had been compounded 7KH &%1 *RYHUQRU 0U *RGZLQ (PHÀHOH by the shortage of supply of petroleum who read the committee’s communiqué, products. however, expressed worry that whereas He added that the rising price of diesel global prices had gone up, this had been had been compounded by the inadequate compounded by a shortage of supply of electricity supply which has adversely petroleum products. impacted domestic prices.

The CBN, however, expressed optimism The MPC, however, advised the CBN that in the medium term, the proposed takeDQG WKH ÀVFDO DXWKRULWLHV WR WDNH VSHRͿ RI WKH 'DQJRWH UHÀQHU\ WKLV \HDU ZRXOG FLÀF DQG XUJHQW DFWLRQV WR DYRLG PDQ\ help to improve the supply of petroleum power generating stations shutdowns products in the country. for turn-around maintenance, resulting (PHÀHOH VDLG WKH &%1 UHPDLQHG RSWLPLVWLF in the current unwarranted shutdown that food prices would trend downwards of generating assets.

LQ DV VHFXULW\ DJHQFLHV VXVWDLQ HͿRUWV The CBN said the committee is nonetheto subdue the activities of bandits to allow OHVV UHOLHYHG WKDW IRRG LQÁDWLRQ GHFOLQHG farmers back to their farmers. marginally due to good harvest.

He said, “And now what we are saying is He added, “Although some scarcity that if farmers can access their farms, do they is expected as we approach the planting have the wherewithal to procure the inputs, season, the Committee is optimistic that seeds, fertilizer and other inputs with which with the high level of strategic grain they can go back to the farm and farm? We reserves of the CBN, it is relieved that are making all those available. And that is food prices would remain relatively why we remain reasonably optimistic that moderated.” food prices would moderate in 2022.”

The committee further advised the He added that the MPC further noted with apex bank to redouble its developmental concern the impact which the global price ÀQDQFH LQLWLDWLYHV DLPHG DW ERRVWLQJ GRincrease in petroleum and other products is mestic food output which would help in having practically on all Economies pointing

credit for MSMEs, deepening our intervention programme in the agricultural sector and building a robust payment system infrastructure that will help drive inclusion, in addition to key macroeconomic concerns VXFK DV H[FKDQJH UDWH VWDELOLW\ ÀQDQFLDO system stability and maintaining a strong external reserve”.

PRGHUDWLQJ IRRG LQÁDWLRQ JRLQJ IRUZDUG WKHUHE\ PRGHUDWLQJ KHDGOLQH LQÁDWLRQ A Commitment to the People The CBN’s careful policy choices FRXOG KRZHYHU EH WUDFHG WR (PHÀHOH·V FRPPLWPHQW VLQFH DVVXPLQJ R΀FH DV the CBN governor in 2014, where he had consistently assured Nigerians that the bank under his leadership would deploy people-focused policies to drive the economy.

This resolve was demonstrated at the last MPC meeting where the CBN has had to restrain itself from joining the bandwagon to raise rates but rather opted to pursue the growth of the economy by continuing with its credit intervention programme for farmers as well as to other critical sectors of the economy even despite criticism from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The CBN had all excuses to tighten monetary policy given the global headwinds but chose to apply wisdom in the general interest of the fragile economy and vulnerable Nigerians.

Apart from the hardship which a contractive policy would have produced, the movie would have also negated the promise made to Nigerians for peoplefriendly policies.

No doubt, today all critical economic sectors particularly agriculture have EHQHÀWWHG LPPHQVHO\ IURP (PHÀHOH·V policy disposition.

(PHÀHOH KDG LQ -XQH XQYHLOHG his vision to ensure that the apex bank is more people-focused with policies and programmes geared towards “supporting job creation, reducing the high level of treasury-bill rates, improving access to

Analysts’ Perspectives Reacting to the CBN’s resolution at the MPC meeting, however, 0DQDJLQJ 'LUHFWRU &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 'LJQLW\ )LQDQFH DQG ,QYHVWPHQW /LPLWHG 'U &KLMLRNH (NHFKXNZX WROG 7+,6'$< WKDW the apex bank had reasoned that tightening the system would amount to more hardship and further reduce money in circulation as well as contract facilities.

He said, “Analysts expected tightening of system, at the last MPC meeting, considering that we are in a global community and both U.K and USA increased their Monetary 3ROLF\ 5DWHV LQ UHDFWLRQ WR WKH LQÁDWLRQDU\ trend arising from the war.

“In the case of Nigeria, cost of living worsened as a result of high prices of petroleum products and their attendant scarcity- the High prices of general goods and services arising therefrom.

“But CBN reasoned that tightening the system would amount to more hardship and further reduction of money in circulation and reduction in the availability of credit facilities. ´&%1 DOVR UHDVRQHG WKDW LQÁDWLRQ UDWH which they had worked so hard to reduce, would begin to go hyper. So in their wisdom, they retained all rates and ratios.” +RZHYHU RQ KLV SDUW 0DQDJLQJ 'LUHFWRU &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 6' ' &DSLWDO 0DQDJHment Limited, Mr Idakolo Gbolade, said the CBN should have instead applied a restrictive monetary policy to respond to current challenges. He argued that raising 035 ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ PRUH EHQHÀFLDO WR the economy.

He said, “The central bank’s continuous maintenance of MPC parameters is not reDOLVWLF JLYHQ WKH SUHVHQW HͿHFW RI WKH ZDU between Russia and Ukraine because the parameters have not changed the continued diminishing value of the Naira.

“The Nigerian people are going to witness more hardship in the coming months because there is a continuous rise in food LQÁDWLRQ DQG HQHUJ\ FRVW ´1LJHULD KDV DOVR QRW EHQHÀWWHG DV LW VKRXOG in the increased price of crude which about $130 per barrel because it has increased subsidy payment by the government which ZLOO LQ WXUQ DͿHFW IXQGV WR EH XVHG IRU capital projects.”

CBN Credit Expansion Programme in Order The CBN governor had also insisted that its credit intervention programme has continued to help stimulate consumption and JURZWK DV ZHOO DV ERRVWHG *URVV 'RPHVWLF 3URGXFW *'3 (PHÀHOH ZKLOH UHDFWLQJ WR WKH UHFHQW FDOO by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) through its 2021 Article IV Consultation Report, that the CBN should consider scaling down its credit expansion programme as this was likely to cause market distortions in the long run, argued that the bank’s credit expansion drive had also stimulated the manufacturing sector and shielded businesses and households from the negative LPSDFW RI WKH &29,' SDQGHPLF DQG RWKHU external vulnerabilities.

20

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27, 2022

DEVELOPMENT

Tackling Energy Crisis in Niger Delta with Solar System Obviously, Nigeria’s power supply problem has reached a crescendo. In resolving the crisis as it were, sourcing power from the national grid is no longer a sustainable option. Therefore, moving forward to arrest the energy situation, which is incessantly appalling, there have been private sector-led efforts to decentralise supply, providing off-grid power solutions. Renewvia Solar Nigeria, a leading light in this onslaught, is manifesting in the Niger Delta region with its recent exploits there in several communities. Kunle Aderinokun reports

A

ccess to constant and reliable electricity supply is the superfood of any economy. From nano, small and medium-scale enterprises to high-impact value creation corporations like the agricultural, healthcare, and manufacturing industries, all facets of the economy depend directly on energy supply for their smooth-running. When there is a shortage RI RU LQFRQVLVWHQF\ LQ SRZHU VXSSO\ WKH HͿHFW is a series of hindrance in the productivity DQG H΀FLHQF\ RI HFRQRPLF DFWLYLWLHV WKHUHE\ hampering the development of the local and larger economy. ,QWHUHVWLQJO\ WKH HͿHFWV RI HQHUJ\ VKRUWDJH do not only stop at economic decadence, but trickle down to the security of lives and properties in a community. This reality is evident because numerous studies have shown that people and properties are remarkably safer in well-lit environments.

In Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, a developing economy, and home to some of the world’s largest deposits of oil, gas, and coal, there is an ongoing energy crisis that has lasted several decades. This actuality has left the country with barely 45 per cent of its population connected to the electricity JULG ZKLOH DQRWKHU SHU FHQW VXͿHU IURP inconsistency in power supply. Even worse is that the power supply is almost inexistent in several Nigerian communities.

The energy crisis has led to a constant economic weakness in the country, and year after year, it becomes more apparent that stakeholders need to take urgent action to redeem this situation. More so, there is a global turnaround in the production and consumption of energy, which is on-going through a worldwide transition from fossilbased energy to zero-carbon or green energy.

Consequently, countries like Nigeria that VXͿHU VLJQLÀFDQWO\ IURP WKH LQDFFHVVLELOLW\ RI fossil-based energy would struggle to catch up with the transitioning of the rest of the world.

This singular task is not only daunting, but DOVR H[WUHPHO\ GL΀FXOW DV LW EHFRPHV D ¶FDUW before the horse’ situation, thereby leaving the nation’s power sector in dire straits.

So, what do these translate into for the people and economy of Nigeria, and what does the future portend?

To answer these questions and provide succour to the Nigerian energy sector, numerous organisations have attempted to ease the power sector into available renewable energy options like solar, wind, and hydropower, attempts that have failed more often than they have succeeded.

However, with solar energy renewable solution, another natural resource that Nigeria has in abundance, the Nigerian Rural (OHFWULÀFDWLRQ $JHQF\ LQ FROODERUDWLRQV ZLWK globally recognised solar companies, plans to ensure there is light at the end of this dark tunnel.

Beyond aligning with today’s global energy WUDQVLWLRQ WR ZKLFK 1LJHULD KDV PDGH D ÀUP commitment, solar power solutions are faster to deliver to enable communities that have been without electricity for years to get connected in just a couple of months. And it is a reliable, FOHDQ PRUH DͿRUGDEOH HQYLURQPHQW IULHQGO\ renewable source of electricity supply.

This strategic solution is being deployed to communities in the oil-rich Niger Delta WKDW KDYH QRW HQMR\HG WKH EHQHÀWV RI WKHLU natural endowment, with Renewvia Energy providing unprecedented market leadership in the region.

Renewvia Minigrid in the Niger Delta Nigeria

In tackling the Nigerian energy crisis, 5HQHZYLD 6RODU 1LJHULD DQ D΀OLDWH RI Renewvia Energy Corporation, a top 500 Global Solar Developer headquartered in Atlanta, United States, now provides eight communities, 10,000 individuals, businesses, and households with constant access to electricity through over 1,834 metered connections to its solar-powered, UXUDO HOHFWULÀFDWLRQ HQHUJ\ JULG LQ WKH Niger Delta region.

These communities include Balep, %HQGHJKH $À (NRQJ $QDNX 2SX DOO LQ Cross River State and Emereoke in Akwa Ibom State. Other communities already connected to the mini-grid are Oloibiri, Akipelia in Bayelsa State and Obokwu Ozuzu in Rivers State.

Interestingly, of the communities that have been impacted, Oloibiri stands out remarkably for its history and legacy in Nigeria’s crude oil discovery and explorations, as it is home to the site where the FRXQWU\ ÀUVW GLVFRYHUHG WKH EODFN JROG Renewvia Solar Nigeria understands the historical implication and sheer irony of Oloibiri’s lacking access to a constant power supply. As such, the Solar Hybrid project meaningfully granted the Oloibiri community access to a renewable, clean, environmentally friendly power supply that would not threaten the sanctity of their environment.

The project is Renewvia’s execution of WKH 1LJHULD (OHFWULÀFDWLRQ 3URMHFW 1(3 sponsored by the Federal Government of Nigeria, through its Implementing $JHQF\ ² 5XUDO (OHFWULÀFDWLRQ $JHQF\ 5($ Renewvia’s strategic move also serves as a contributory outlet to help Nigeria achieve the sustainable development

JRDOV E\ LQ WKLV FDVH VSHFLÀFDOO\ SDG 7,8,9 and 11.

SDG 7, as it aligns the aims to “ensure acFHVV WR DͿRUGDEOH UHOLDEOH VXVWDLQDEOH DQG modern energy”; SDG 8, for the promotion of “sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”; SDG 9, for driving sustainable development: infrastructure, industrialisation, and innovation; and SDG 11 for helping to foster “sustainable communities”.

An independent impact study shows that the operations of Renewvia Energy in these communities account for a considerable increase in economic productivity through enhanced ease of conducting their businesses. The continued impact of Renewvia’s activities could also be gleaned IURP WKH VLJQLÀFDQW ULVH UHFRUGHG LQ WKH average monthly income of households post-connection to the mini-grid from N23,564.11 to N27,956.72.

Very satisfyingly, the people of ReQHZYLD·V EHQHÀFLDU\ FRPPXQLWLHV DUH also remarkedly safer after sunset, as their otherwise pitch-dark communities are now well-lit at night. The consistency in power supply has also positively impacted the healthcare centres in these communities as they can run for longer hours than usual when compared to their operations, pre-connection. The residents of these communities can also rest assured that their respiratory health is better protected because they no longer inhale fumes from harmful sources like kerosene lamps.

The scope of Renewvia Energy’s operations in these communities shows the FRPSDQ\·V ÀUP EHOLHI WKDW FUHDWLQJ LPSDFW could healthily co-exist with enterprise and WKDW DQ RUJDQLVDWLRQ QHHG QRW VDFULÀFH RQH

for another. To ensure sustainability, Renewvia is working on expanding its operations to more Nigerian communities and regions that have EHHQ DGYHUVHO\ DͿHFWHG E\ WKH QDWLRQ·V ORRPLQJ energy crisis.

This was reiterated by the Chief Executive 2΀FHU 5HQHZYLD (QHUJ\ 7UH\ -DUUDUG VD\ing, “As a leading renewable energy provider, Renewvia Energy is driven to constantly improve lives, contribute to building a more sustainable environment and advance social impact opportunities in places we operate.

Thus, we are deliberate at helping individuals and small businesses thrive and impact their immediate community.”

Trey opined that Renewvia seeks to support the Nigerian quest for a rapid energy transition in alignment with global best practices. “Our impact extends beyond providing access to FOHDQHU UHOLDEOH DQG DͿRUGDEOH HQHUJ\ EXW DOVR in helping Nigeria actualise her global energy transition mandate of cutting carbon emissions towards net-zero by 2060 as declared at the recently concluded Climate Change Conference &23 µ KH DGGHG $OO WKHVH VWHSV UHD΀UP WKH FRPSDQ\·V mandate of enriching lives by providing precious access to electricity for residents of the communities in which it operates. This is a commitment that Renewvia Energy is taking very seriously, having raised over $10 million to advance its operations in Africa.

There is no doubt that Renewvia is walking the talk of connecting rural African communities WR FOHDQ UHQHZDEOH HQHUJ\ WR IXOÀO LWV SOHGJH of lightning up the African world.

Renewvia’s existing portfolio and growing project pipeline of mini-grids would serve over 350,000 individuals and small businesses in UHPRWH RͿ JULG DUHDV RͿVHWWLQJ WRQQHV RI carbon and creating hundreds of constructions and full-time jobs by the year 2024.

21

ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

CONVERSATION WITH MY BILLIONAIRE FRIEND ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com 08086447494 (SMS only) PERSONAL FINANCE SAVINGS BUDGETING COMMODITIES

AYO AROWOLO

GOLD

INVESTING

WEALTH CAPSULE 8

To Build Enduring Wealth, You Must Imbibe the Habits of Wealthy People (2) WEALTH BUILDERS DO NOT SPEND FLAMBOYANTLY TO IMPRESS

Many people will tell you that they have never had enough money in their lives. The issue is not having sufficient money; the issue is being able to live within your means. The way that God has structured it is that He ensures that everybody on earth has an opportunity to access a certain amount of resources/money that can take care of him to a particular level. But what most of us do is try to change that level on our own. People get into financial difficulty because they want to jump the process - Dayo Lawuyi, THISDAY LLS Mentor

“Wealth builders must, as of habit, resist the temptation of spending ostentatiously. The focus of wealth builders must always be on savings and investments, at building their wealth. Frugality is generally the common trait and habit of wealthy people and those focused on building wealth. Incomes must go to build wealth, except for expenditures on life’s necessaries. There is a general tendency in Nigeria for people to party and generally waste money on consumptive expenditures, which accounts for why the percentage of savings and investments as part of Nigeria’s Gross National Income is considerably very low, given the size of Nigeria’s population. This is also confirmed by Nigeria’s large number of event centres, built for that purpose, as compared to the low and significantly poor number of factories. Yes, it is generally a natural tendency for man to be consumptive, but it is more reasonable for a man to prepare for the inevitabilities of the future, build wealth and engage in philanthropy”.

There is precious treasure and oil in the house of the wise [who prepare for the future], but a short-sighted and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it - Proverbs 21:20 “Whether you realise it or not, you’re already an investor.

Your money is having an impact somewhere, somehow.

This is true even if all you have is a savings account.

Every entity in which you save or invest your money uses your assets for some purpose. The question is whether this supports the things you value — or undermines them.” - Janine Firpo

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his week, we continued with our conversation which centres on how to build wealth by modelling Artist Impression of my Billionaire Friend the positive habits of successful people. We shared five of such habits last week, and we shall share an additional five this week. Are you ready? Let’s go!

Dr Sam Adeyemi, the Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre and President of Success Power Media, once shared with me how he came about paying attention to financial intelligence. It was when he first showed up in Lagos (it is a well-known story to many of his fans). He said that in one of his public engagements he was paid an honorarium, and a week after that, his wife had asked him casually to share with him what happened to the money. When he realised that the entire money was gone, he decided to turn around the simple question into an argument by posing a question back: “are you saying I don’t know what I am doing with the money”. Pastor Nike, his wife, did not argue. She just simply recast the question, asking that he share with him what happened to the money. Dr Adeyemi said he was perplexed that the entire money was gone. And sometime after that experience, he said he went for a seminar on financial management where the trainer, paraphrasing the Proverbs 21:20, said that if you spend everything you earn, your wisdom bank is blocked. He said the message hit him like a thunderbolt, and he left the class sober but with a determination to implement what the facilitator recommended: to open a savings and investment account. He said he opened one for himself and one for his church, and that, according to him, was a turnaround point that changed the way he looked at the money.

I had a near similar experience during an executive seminar recently in central Lagos that focused on real of the scores that would indicate your current status; estate entrepreneurship but with a lot of tips on financial whether you are ready for financial freedom or you are intelligence. We were 20 in the class, and we were all in a red financial alert. By the time the facilitator asked excited to be in the class. But there was something that for volunteers to share their scores, no one was willing threw some spanners into that excitement. to volunteer. The initial enthusiasm had evaporated, and Here are the 11 questions the lead facilitator asked, and as a matter of fact, only a few of the participants went he instructed us to attempt them and share our experience for lunch. Everyone wanted to know the conclusion of in the class: the matter: how to fix their obvious deficiencies. By the 1) Do you operate on a budget and plan your finances way, that training is a powerful, eye-opening one and into the near and/or far future? Yes/No (100) I strongly recommend that anyone following this series 2) Do you have more than one stream of income currently? consider attending (I could share the link if you would Yes/No (150) like, just text “I AM INTERESTED” to 09067059433).

3) Do you have a pension Fund Account? If yes, what is My Billionaire Friend had once told me that building the current value….(150) wealth is serious business, and you must be willing to 4) Do you have an Emergency Fund (EF) equivalent to 1 roll your sleeves and make things happen, including month of your salary/earnings saved up? Yes/No (100) putting into immediate action some of the money-making 5) Do you have a Setback Cushion Fund (SCF) equivalent tips he has shared with us. of 6 months of your salary/earning saved up? Yes/No Here are the next five habits of wealth builders that (50) beginners should model as shared by my Billionaire 6) Are you going to earn any lump sum of money from Friend during our last discussion: your employer at retirement? If yes, how much and how much do you hope to be collecting at retirement?

Yes/No (20) 7) Do you own your own home? If yes, what is the estimated current market value? Yes/No (150) 8) Do you own any piece of rental income generating property? If yes, what are the market rent and estimated current market value? Yes/No (150) 9) Do you own any other property at all? If yes, what is the current estimated value? Yes/No(150) 10) Do you own anything that can be converted to money or off of which you can make money passively at retirement?

If yes, what is the amount of money you intend to make from it? How periodic? How long? What is the current value of the assets? Yes/No (100).

The trainer put at the end of the questions the interpretations

Many people will tell you that they have never had enough money in their lives. The issue is not having sufficient money; the issue is being able to live within your means.The way that God has structured it is that He ensures that everybody on earth has an opportunity to access a certain amount of resources/ money that can take care of him to a particular level. But what most of us do is try to change that level on our own. People get into a financial difficulty because they want to jump the process –DAYO LAWUYI,THISDAY LLS MENTOR”

AS EMPLOYEES, YOU MUST PLAN FOR YOUR RETIREMENT THE VERY FIRST DAY YOU ARE EMPLOYED “Employees must plan for their retirement from the very first day of their employment, not only to better prepare them for their future but also begin to build wealth for their own good, and the good of their families and society in general. I once observed a discussion between a 60-year-old and a 32-year-old man. The 32-year-old man asked the 60-year-old what he was going to do when he retired?

And his answer was surprising that he had not thought about it. Of course, the 32-year-old man expressed shock as to how a 60-year-old man had not planned for his retirement. The 32-year-old man then went ahead to spill the various things he was already doing towards his retirement by the age of 55 (some 20+ years ahead).

The 60-year-old man then asked the younger one why he planned to retire that early? The younger man then told him that retiring early is what those who plan their lives very well generally do. Employees should not wait to retire at 60. They should plan to retire early, from age 50 or at the very worst, by age 55. Of course, the only way this can be achieved is by planning their future from the very first day they commence paid employment. The example of the 60-year-old cited here ended up badly.

He died at 69, with three of his children still schooling, without owning a house and leaving behind his widow and children with nothing to fall back on. The funds for his coffin and grave was provided by good samaritans.

Employees must learn to see themselves as ageing every day and every year and growing feeble as they age, and usually unable to satisfactorily provide for their needs as ageing creeps in”.

WEALTH BUILDERS EDUCATE THEMSELVES BY READING VALUABLE BOOKS AND APPLYING THE INSIGHTS IN THOSE BOOKS “In the last series, we gave examples of the books read by Aig Imoukhuede, Yemisi Shyllon, Warren Buffet and others, which ignited their wealth-building drive. To this end, I hereby recommend the book by Robert Kiyosaki, titled: “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and “ Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant”. In those great books, Kiyosaki discusses this issue very extensively.

He came up with a four-quadrant illustration of the different classes of engagements for earning income by humans. The first quadrant discusses the employee stage of life, the second discusses self-employment, the third discusses business systems, and the fourth discusses investments planning. Those who have their eyes on investment at every stage of their life, whether self-employed or employees, should be operating in

“Self-employed people should aim at disengaging early from being self-employed by the age of fifty-five because being self-employed could be very tasking and exhaustive. All the risks, benefits, burdens, decisions, operations, policies, etc., associated with self-employment are solely shouldered by the self-employed. Therefore, such self-employed must create the plan to move early away from their self-employment to build their firms into business systems”

the fourth quadrant of investment in preparing well for their later lives. And in doing this, they must always, as of habit, avoid eating with all their fingers. Employees must always engage themselves in the fourth quadrant of investment. This is one sure way to avoid 70-year plus old persons from still working for their daily bread and survival. Whereas such elders should be living off the returns of their investments. This habit is what has guided the likes of Yemisi Shyllon, Aig Imoukhuede, Fola Adeola, etc.”

WEALTH BUILDERS WHO ARE SELF EMPLOYED ALSO SET EXIT TIMES FOR THEMSELVES “Self-employed people should aim at disengaging early from being self-employed by the age of fifty-five because being self-employed could be very tasking and exhaustive. All the risks, benefits, burdens, decisions, operations, policies, etc., associated with self-employment are solely shouldered by the self-employed. Therefore, such self-employed must create the plan to move early away from their self-employment to build their firms into business systems. Business systems are defined, in the book, as those businesses owned by business owners who, on leaving and completely detaching themselves from their businesses for over one year, can return to find their businesses doing better than they left them. They are those who are regarded as having built successful business systems. And those who build business systems have their eyes on the ball of investments. Investment is the ultimate in money-earning, and wealth-building instruments should be the ultimate goal of every human.

One must invest one’s time and not waste it, as earlier said. Every time is very important in a man’s life. Every mortal has a definite time of exit, it may be earlier than normal or later than normal, but one must be aware that the number of days a man can live on earth is not up to one thousand years, and the number of hours is finite. One must invest his time and conscious mind in preparing for future unknowns by positively using every available time. One must continuously educate one’s self because knowledge is very vital in the motion shaft for building wealth”.

YOU SHOULD LEARN BY OBSERVING THE WEALTHBUILDING HABITS OF WEALTHY PEOPLE AND APPLY THE SAME “In general, by observing wealthy people and those who build wealth, one tends to understand how to build wealth.

This is the first step to building wealth; from nothing.

One has to understand how to build wealth, orient oneself with an understanding of the rules of finance and investment and build wealth over time by regularly tracking one’s wealth”.

“One must always check his bank balances to discover undue and unlawful deductions. Wealth builders are always prudent, and they always audit their incomes and expenditures regularly to look out for frivolous claims against their wealth”.

“Wasteful expenditure must be avoided at all times.

This is a very important habit with wealthy people. They discipline their spending. You will find, for instance, Aliko Dangote does not share his wealth, Mark Zuckerberg came to Lagos wearing a T-shirt, Bill Gates wearing ordinary clothes. Whereas ignorant ego-infested people go around town showcasing their gold and diamond possessions. Such wealth displaying behaviour and ostentatious lifestyles are not part of the discipline and habit of wealthy people and wealth builders”.

“Wise and wealthy people are conscious of the importance and value of money and do not spend frivolously. Savings must be automated by ensuring that the first thing a wealth builder does, is to deduct savings for continuous investments. They invest in principal guaranteed investments in high-risk investment environments. They minimise their risk exposures at the beginning of their wealth-building life gradually but eventually begin to take calculated risks. They share their wealth with their family, friends and community, and they also share the fruit of their knowledge in building wealth with people”.

Let us stop here. With this, we have concluded the first phase of the 6-part dimensions of wealth-building series we started eight weeks ago. In the first part were able to lay the necessary foundation on which to build the remaining five dimensions of wealth building. Next week, we shall be moving to the second stage.

Tighten your belt! We are eager to catch up with you next week.

Yours Moneywisely.

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T H I S D AY SUNDAYSunday MARCH 20222022 2727, March, Vol 27. No 9847 TR

See page 28 A VOICE FOR THE IGBO NATION Onyeagucha has good prospects in the red chamber, writes ERASMUS C. NDULUE

See page 28 THE SOLUDO SOLUTION: BOLD VISIONS AND GREAT EXPECTATIONS The governor must continually connect with all stakeholders, writes CHIDO NWAKANMA See page 53 ATIKU ABUBAKAR’S SIXTH SENSE Does Atiku have what it takes? asks KENE OBIEZU

See page 53 EDITORIAL DEALING WITH MASSIVE OIL THEFT See page 54

& RE A S O

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

WHO IS AFRAID OF OSINBAJO? RCCG is an institution that opens its doors to all shades of politicians, writes ETIM ETIM

UT H

MOBOLAJI SANUSI pays tribute to Bola Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos State, at age 70

BOLA TINUBU AT 70 “Without Ambition, One Starts Nothing.

Without Work, One Finishes Nothing. The Prize Will Not Be Sent To You. You Have To Win It.” ——Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) The story of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Senator of the federal republic, erstwhile governor of Lagos State, renowned politician and aspiring president of the country come 2023 has so many angles waiting to be explored by friends, foes and knowledge seeking social scientists. Notwithstanding who is narrating it and how that person encountered Tinubu, one thing is certain, Tinubu’s political greatness is assured.

This is because Tinubu had deployed his God endowed talent and wealth to ingrain his name RQ WKH SROLWLFDO ÀUPDPHQW RI WKLV FRXQWU\ 8QOLNH his several co-elite friends on the political turfs whose large heart is seasonal, Tinubu’s large heart is of all time, and strategic. From this writer’s personal experience, Tinubu discerns a talent and courts such long before he needs them, even when he may never need them. That is Tinubu for you.

0\ ÀUVW HQFRXQWHU ZLWK KLP FOHDUO\ H[SODLQV the enigmatic Tinubu. The talent hunter that sees beyond the immediate. It was in 2003 that our paths crossed, deliberately out of his choice. Prior to our meeting, l was serving on the Editorial Board of Vanguard newspaper and also writing a weekly Friday column. At the time, the column ZDV D WRUQ LQ WKH ÁHVK RI WKHQ 3UHVLGHQW 2OXVHJXQ 2EDVDQMR·V FLYLOLDQ DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ 2EDVDQMR·V tyrannical grip on the country did not leave RXW KLV 2ZX $EHRNXWD 2JXQ 6WDWH FRPPXQLW\ where he supplanted the democratic wishes of WKH NLQJPDNHUV WR LQVWDOO UHFHQWO\ GHPLVHG 2ED Adegboyega Dosunmu. He infamously tore the kingship election ballot papers and haughtily damned the majority kingmakers that voted against his wish to go to hell. The rest is history.

Pardon my necessary digression since the raison d’etre of today’s piece is the celebration of Tinubu and not the beaming of searchlight on 2EDVDQMR Surprisingly, the serious issues discussed in my then Vanguard newspaper column must have attracted the attention of Tinubu. And obviously in one of his then conversations with $UHPR 2OXVHJXQ 2VRED IRUPHU JRYHUQRU RI 2JXQ 6WDWH HOGHU VWDWHVPDQ DQG OLYLQJ journalism legend alongside our revered Vanguard publisher, Mr. Sam Amuka (Sad Sam), my name/column came up and Aremo mentioned his fatherly relationship with me. The decision for me to formally meet Tinubu was probably taken at one of their meetings.

Then one night while driving home from Apapa, my phone rang and it was Aremo calling.

I picked the phone and he requested l should meet him at Isaac John in Ikeja. I respectfully asked what was going on there and he said, ‘Bola wants to see you.’ He told me he was going to wait for me in front of the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja so that we could get there together.

From somewhere around Agege where l was

when his call came, l immediately turned my car and headed towards Ikeja, encountering slight WUD΀F RQ P\ ZD\ As I was almost getting there, Aremo called again and requested to know where l got to and when l told him l was nearing the agreed point, he told me he was seated in one black Mercedes’ Benz Coupe and that once l signify my arrival he will lead while l drive behind his own car.

It was when we got to where Tinubu was that l realized that the man behind the wheel, and most likely owner of the Benz Coupe, was the popular Bonsue Fuji exponent, Adewale Ayuba.

Aremo led us in to meet Tinubu at his JRUJHRXV GLQLQJ WDEOH 2QH VWULNLQJ WKLQJ DERXW 7LQXEX GXULQJ RXU ÀUVW PHHWLQJ ZDV KLV VSDUWDQ IRRG FRQVXPSWLRQ DV UHÁHFWHG LQ WKH VSDUVH IRRG items in his plate.

8SRQ JUHHWLQJ KLP KH VWDUWHG UHODWLQJ with me as if we had met years back. That is the relationship building skill of Tinubu. We discussed contemporary issues of that time before he later introduced me to his then Chief of 6WDͿ 0U %DEDWXQGH )DVKROD ZKR VXUSULVLQJO\

Now Tinubu has signified his intention to succeed President Buhari come 2023.

Hate or love him, no right-thinking man can deny the fact that he’s not seeking such coveted office for the sake of going there for mere experiments

succeeded him as governor. He gave him clear instruction to arrange visa of any preferred FRXQWU\ RI P\ FKRLFH IRU PH :K\ KH RͿHUHG PH is a revelation, amongst others to be unfurled in my upcoming book: “My LASAA Days,” to be released very soon.

From then on, l had always been in touch with the patriarch of progressive politics, even after leaving Vanguard for the Editorial Boards of two other newspapers before being appointed MD/ &(2 RI /DJRV 6WDWH 6LJQDJH $GYHUWLVHPHQW Agency (LASAA) in September 2015. Again, courtesy of my commitment to Tinubu’s cause, as always.

Sometime in 2013 when l traveled to England for my routine annual vacation, l didn’t know that Tinubu was in town but only read very nauseating rumors about him online. I called home (Nigeria), and was informed that Tinubu was in London. The next day in the morning, l WRRN RͿ WR KLV KRXVH LQ &DYHQGLVK :KHQ O JRW there, without appointment, l pressed the door bell and the voice from the other end was that of the Lion of Bourdillon himself. ‘Who’s that?’

I answered ‘Bolaji Sanusi’ and without further questioning, he released the lock and said ‘come upstairs.’ l went upstairs where he opened the GRRU 2QH ¶DEXUR· WKDW IROORZHG PH FRXOG QRW believe the great Tinubu’s simplicity thinking he was going to meet a gorgeously dressed man but here’s Tinubu standing before him, without airs.

7KH JX\ OHIW ZLWK VPLOHV DIWHU EHQHÀWLQJ IURP KLV large heart.

I was there with him till evening and told him l was leaving for Nigeria the next day. He insisted l should stay for few more days, and for four more days, l was going to his house every day.

Sunday Dare, current Minister for Sports was the personal assistant staying with him with one younger aide. I discussed virtually everything l wanted with Asiwaju and he actually laughed over the rumors making the round back home.

In line with his routine daily exercise regime that l witnessed, he did seven miles on his static bike every day, putting a lie to the rumor about his legs being bad. I wrote about this in my column of that week in 2013.

It was during that time in 2013 that l met, IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH P\ LQFXPEHQW /DJRV 6WDWH Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, who met me in Tinubu’s house on one of the days that l went there.

'LJQLWDULHV IURP 1LJHULD ÁRRGHG KLV KRXVH yet, it is only abroad that you can get the best of time with Tinubu.

At one time or the other, one has been opportune to work with mentors/egbons like Dele Alake and Tunji Bello; and sometimes with his knowledge alone, to achieve the Asiwaju objectives.

1RZ 7LQXEX KDV VLJQLÀHG KLV LQWHQWLRQ WR succeed President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023.

Sanusi, immediate past MD/CEO of LASAA, writes from Lagos

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY MARCH 27, 2022

RCCG is an institution that opens its doors to all shades of politicians, writes ETIM ETIM

Onyeagucha has good prospects in the red chamber, writes ERASMUS C. NDULUE

WHO IS AFRAID OF OSINBAJO? 7KH DQ[LHW\ DQG SDQLF DWWDFN WKDW KDYH overwhelmed some politicians over the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Á HFWV D FOHDU ODFN RI VHOI FRQÀ GHQFH LQ WKHLU DELOLWLHV %\ UDLVLQJ GXVW RYHU 5&&*·V DQQRXQFHPHQW DQG OLQNLQJ 3URI 2VLQEDMR WR LW DV WKH VROH EHQHÀ FLDU\ RI WKH QHZ SROLF\ WKHVH EXGGLQJ FRQWHVWDQWV ZDQW WR HPEDUUDVV WKH FKXUFK FUHDWH GLVKDUPRQ\ DPRQJ LWV PHPEHUV PRUWLI\ WKH 93 DQG generate religious controversies and acrimony LQ WKH SROLW\ ,W LV D YHU\ PDOHYROHQW ZD\ RI UXQQLQJ D FDPSDLJQ 1RERG\ VKRXOG WU\ WR DGYDQFH KLV SROLWLFDO FDUHHU E\ GHPHDQLQJ RWKHUV DQG VHWWLQJ WKH FKXUFK RQ À UH , KDYH EHHQ D PHPEHU RI 5&&* IRU ZHOO RYHU \HDUV QRZ ZRUVKLSSLQJ UHJXODUO\ LQ SDULVKHV LQ /DJRV $EXMD DQG 8\R P\ KRPH WRZQ , OLVWHQ WR 3DVWRU (QRFK $GHER\H·V VHUPRQV RIWHQ DQG , DP DOZD\V ERZOHG RYHU E\ KLV PHHNQHVV KXPLOLW\ HPSKDVLV RQ KROLQHVV DQG WKH QHHG IRU JRYHUQPHQWV WR OLYH XS WR LWV UHVSRQVLELOLWLHV 3DVWRU $GHER\H LV D TXLQWHVVHQWLDO OHDGHU ZKRVH H[HPSODU\ JXLGDQFH DQG GLUHFWLRQ DUH YLVLEOH :KLOH

In the first two months of this year, its Sunday School teachings were on ‘’Christian and Politics’’ in which members were encouraged to participate in politics and go to the polls to elect good and responsible leaders of their choice.

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were encouraged to participate in politics and JR WR WKH SROOV WR HOHFW JRRG DQG UHVSRQVLEOH OHDGHUV RI WKHLU FKRLFH 7KURXJKRXW WKLV VHULHV QHYHU IRU RQFH GLG WKH SDVWRU EULQJ XS WKH 93·V QDPH RU DQ\ RWKHU SROLWLFLDQ DV WKH SUHIHUUHG choice. I should note that the same Sunday School manual is used in all its congregations throughout the world. $PRQJ PLOOLRQV RI 5&&*·V PHPEHUV DUH SROLWLFLDQV IURP GLͿ HUHQW SROLWLFDO SDUWLHV ,Q IDFW LQ P\ SDULVK LQ 8\R WKH 3UHVLGHQW RI WKH 0HQ·V )HOORZVKLS LV D SURPLQHQW 3'3 SROLWLFLDQ +LV SUHGHFHVVRU ZDV $3& PHPEHU :H DOO ZRUVKLS WKH VDPH *RG LQ KDUPRQ\ IULHQGVKLS DQG FRUGLDOLW\ 3ROLWLFV DQG SDUWLVDQ FRQVLGHUDWLRQV KDYH QHYHU EHHQ D IDFWRU LQ 5&&* ,Q DGGLWLRQ WKH FKXUFK UHJXODUO\ SOD\V KRVW WR SROLWLFLDQV RI GLͿ HUHQW SROLWLFDO KXHV SHUVXDVLRQV )RUPHU 3UHVLGHQW *RRGOXFN -RQDWKDQ *RY 6DPXHO 2UWRP *RY 8GRP (PPDQXHO DQG *RY 'RX\H 'LUL DOO 3'3 FKLHIWDLQV KDYH ZRUVKLSSHG DW WKH FKXUFK PDQ\ WLPHV DQG WKH\ ZHUH KRVWHG E\ 3DVWRU $GHER\H KLPVHOI 7KH *2 KDV SUHDFKHG DW WKH \HDUO\ &KULVWPDV &DUROH VHUYLFH LQ 8\R PDQ\ WLPHV LQ DGGLWLRQ WR EHLQJ D JXHVW RI WKH JRYHUQRU GXULQJ R΀ FLDO YLVLWV $NZD ,ERP KDV EHHQ JRYHUQHG E\ 3'3 JRYHUQRUV VLQFH <HW QRERG\ FRPSODLQHG WKDW WKH FKXUFK ZDV WLOWLQJ WRZDUGV 3'3 5&&* LV DQ LQVWLWXWLRQ WKDW RSHQV LWV GRRUV WR DOO VKDGHV RI SROLWLFLDQV ZLWKRXW GLVFULPLQDWLRQ ,W LV WKHUHIRUH XQWKLQNDEOH that the leadership will contemplate asking DOO WKH PHPEHUV WR YRWH IRU RU VXSSRUW WKH 93 ZKHQHYHU KH GHFODUHV WR UXQ IRU SUHVLGHQW DV UHFHQWO\ VSHFXODWHG E\ 'HOH 0RPRGX WKH 1LJHULDQ MRXUQDOLVW ZKR·V UXQQLQJ IRU 3UHVLGHQW XQGHU 3'3 0RPRGX LV IDFLQJ DQ DUUD\ RI H[SHULHQFHG SROLWLFLDQV OLNH IRUPHU 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW $WLNX $EXEDUNDU IRUPHU 6HQDWH 3UHVLGHQW $EXEDUNDU 6DUDNL *RY $PLQX 7DPEXZDO DQG *RY %DOD 0RKDPPHG LQ WKH SUHVLGHQWLDO UDFH 7KH SUHSRQGHUDQFH RI 1RUWKHUQ FDQGLGDWHV LQ WKH UDFH LV DQ LQGLFDWLRQ RI WKH SDUW\·V ]RQLQJ SUHIHUHQFH &OHDUO\ 0RPRGX IURP (GR 6WDWH ZLWK D OLWWOH political pedigree, is swimming against the WLGH LQ KLV SDUW\ ,I KLV SROO QXPEHUV DUH QRW going up, he should not vent his anger on the 93 RU KLV FKXUFK , KDYH QR GRXEW LQ P\ PLQG WKDW PRVW RI WKH 5&&* PHPEHUV ZLOO YRWH IRU 2VLQEDMR ZLWKRXW EHLQJ SURPSWHG E\ DQ\ERG\ ZKHQHYHU WKH 93 GHFODUHV KLV LQWHUHVW LQ WKH SROLWLFV RI $SDUW IURP EHLQJ D ORQJ VWDQGLQJ SDVWRU LQ WKH FKXUFK WKH 93·V SHUVRQDO DQG R΀ FLDO FRQGXFW DQG KLV VWHUOLQJ SHUIRUPDQFH RQ KLV MRE KDYH HQGHDUHG KLP WR WKH 5&&* Á RFN DQG VHYHUDO PLOOLRQV RI 1LJHULDQV RXWVLGH WKH FKXUFK ,Q WKH ODVW VHYHQ \HDUV RI WKLV DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ WKHUH KDV QHYHU EHHQ D PRPHQW WKH 93 DQG WKH 3UHVLGHQW KDYH GLVDJUHHG RYHU UHOLJLRXV PDWWHUV 7KH 3URI KDV UDWKHU EHHQ FRQVLVWHQW LQ ZRUNLQJ IRU XQLW\ KDUPRQ\ DQG SHDFH DPRQJ Nigerians.

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A VOICE FOR THE IGBO NATION It was as though spells were cast on senators IURP WKH 6RXWK (DVW 5HJLRQ E\ VRPH PDJLF ZDQG ZLHOGLQJ DUGHQW DGYHUVDULHV IURP RWKHU UHJLRQV ZKLFK VXEVHTXHQWO\ WUDQVÀ [HG WKHP WR WKH JURXQG DV SHUHQQLDO EHQFK ZDUPHUV DQG EDFN EHQFKHUV LQ WKH KDOORZHG 5HG &KDPEHU ZKHUH YHUEDO À UHZRUNV SROLWLFDO HQJLQHHULQJ DQG LQWHOOHFWXDO VDJDFLW\ ZHUH WKH EHQFKPDUNV H[SHFWHG WR EH PHW E\ WKH GLVWLQJXLVKHG PHPEHUV RI WKDW QDVFHQW DUP RI JRYHUQPHQW But the dynamics and undercurrents changed, UDGLFDOO\ ZKHQ WKH HUXGLWH &RPUDGH 8FKH &KXNZXPHULMH ZDV HOHFWHG WR UHSUHVHQW $ELD 1RUWK LQ WKH 6HQDWH RQ WKH SODWIRUP RI 3HRSOHV 'HPRFUDWLF 3DUW\ LQ $SULO DQG VXGGHQO\ WKH KLWKHUWR YRLFHOHVV DQG DSRSOHFWLF ,JER QDWLRQ KDG D UHVRXQGLQJ YRLFH WKDW EULOOLDQWO\ DUWLFXODWHG EXUQLQJ QDWLRQDO LVVXHV WKDW ZHUH IXQGDPHQWDO WR WKH H[LVWHQWLDO QXDQFHV RI WKH JURVVO\ PDUJLQDOL]HG 6RXWK (DVW UHJLRQ $SDUW IURP ODWH 6HQDWRU &KXNZXPHULMH and to some extent, Senator Ken Nnamani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and a living legend whose place in the pantheon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another vocal political heavyweight, declared IURP WKH VRDS ER[ WKDW KH ZRXOG YLH IRU WKH ,PR (DVW 2ZHUUL ]RQH VHQDWRULDO VHDW LQ WKH QH[W SROLWLFDO GLVSHQVDWLRQ 7UXO\ ZH QHHG WR FKDQJH the negative narratives in the hallowed Red &KDPEHU DQG WKH HOHFWRUDWH DV WKH EXOZDUN RI democracy, are the change agents that would FRQMXUH DQG FDWDO\VH WKH PXFK DQWLFLSDWHG PXWDWLV PXWDQGLV LQ RXU EDGO\ SLOORULHG UHJLRQ (YLGHQWO\ RQO\ ZHOO LQIRUPHG SXQGLWV ZRXOG VXEVFULEH WR WKH YLHZ WKDW WKH SROLWLFDO FDOFXOXV LQ 1LJHULD LV YHU\ FRPSOLFDWHG WKHUHIRUH RQO\ seasoned and trusted hands would navigate WKH ODE\ULQWKLQH SDWKZD\V WKDW DUH OLWWHUHG ZLWK WKH VWDLQHG JODVV RI VHOI DJJUDQGLVHPHQW and corruption, and emerge erect, without FRPSURPLVLQJ IXQGDPHQWDO SULQFLSOHV 2I course, the lop-sidedness in the polity has generated so much tension, coupled with the JODULQJ SDUWLVDQVKLS RI 3UHVLGHQW %XKDUL ZKR ZLOIXOO\ VWXOWLÀ HG WKH JRRGZLOO KH HQMR\HG IURP 1LJHULDQV LPPHGLDWHO\ DIWHU WKH SUHVLGHQWLDO HOHFWLRQV E\ LQVWLWXWLRQDOL]LQJ SULPRUGLDO DQG SUHEHQGDO VHQWLPHQWV LQ WKH DOUHDG\ VKDN\ SROLW\ ZKHQ KH MHWWLVRQHG WKH WLPH WHVWHG UHJLPH RI HTXLW\ DV LQVFULEHG LQ WKH FRQVWLWXWLRQ WR HQVXUH JHRJUDSKLFDO EDODQFH

and calamitously hand-picked military R΀ FHUV IURP D SDUWLFXODU VHFWLRQ RI WKH FRXQWU\ WR PDQ DOO WKH VHQVLWLYH À HOGV WKDW FRQVWLWXWH WKH VHFXULW\ DUFKLWHFWXUH RI WKH nation. Such an insensitive prognosis, ipso IDFWR IXHOOHG WKH HPEHUV RI QDWLRQDOLVP LQ the South-East, South-West, and Middle Belt 5HJLRQV ZLWK WKH FDOO IRU VHOI GHWHUPLQDWLRQ EHFRPLQJ PRUH VWULGHQW SHUPHDWLQJ WKH FRQVFLRXVQHVV RI YLUWXDOO\ HYHU\ \RXWK LQ

the polity. :H RIWHQ KDG QRVWDOJLF IHHOLQJV ZKHQHYHU ZH UHPHPEHU WKH UHPDUNDEOH PLOHVWRQHV Hon Uche Onyeagucha recorded in the +RXVH RI 5HSUHVHQWDWLYHV EHWZHHQ DQG DV D \RXQJ OHJLVODWRU RQ WKH SODWIRUP RI $OO 3URJUHVVLYHV *UDQG $OOLDQFH $3*$ representing Owerri municipal/ Owerri 1RUWK 2ZHUUL :HVW IHGHUDO FRQVWLWXHQF\ His avant-gardism and radical views on the ZHOIDUH RI WKH FRPPRQHUV DQG SHUVLVWHQW FDOO IRU HTXLW\ VLPSO\ UHLJQLWHG KRSH LQ D FOLPH ZKHUH ERXUJHRLVLH SULYLOHJHV KDG VFXWWOHG WKH DVSLUDWLRQV RI WKH GRZQWURGGHQ :LWK WKH EHQHÀ W RI KLQGVLJKW LI WKH OHWKDUJLF OHDGHUVKLS RI $3*$ KDG QRW VFXWWOHG KLV JXEHUQDWRULDO DPELWLRQ E\ RUJDQL]LQJ D TXHVWLRQDEOH SULPDU\ HOHFWLRQ ZKLFK WKUHZ XS ,IHDQ\L $UDUXPH D SUR HVWDEOLVKPHQW MXJJHUQDXW SHUKDSV Uche Onyeagucha would have won the JRYHUQRUVKLS HOHFWLRQ LQ WKH SROOV DV KH ZDV WKH PDMRU FRQWHQGHU WKDW WKH SHRSOH \HDUQHG IRU $QG ,PR 6WDWH ZRXOG KDYH ZLWQHVVHG WKH VHPEODQFH RI WKH HSRFKDO WUDQVIRUPDWLRQ WKDW ZDV WKH VLJQDWXUH SHUIRUPDQFH RI WKH UHYHUHG 'HGH 6DP 0EDNZH EHWZHHQ DQG <HW WKHVH VHWEDFNV GLG QRW GHWHU 2Q\HDJXFKD DV KH EHFDPH WKH FRQVFLHQFH RI WKH QDWLRQ FRQGHPQLQJ LQ XQHTXLYRFDO PDQQHU EDG leadership, no matter whose ox was gored. $V D IHDUOHVV OHJDO SUDFWLWLRQHU 2Q\HDJXFKD ZDV HQJXOIHG LQ VSHOOV RI À UHVWRUP ZKLOH GHIHQGLQJ WKH XELTXLWRXV 1LJHU 'HOWD PLOLWDQWV ZKR ZHUH À JKWLQJ IRU UHVRXUFH FRQWURO DQG VHOI GHWHUPLQDWLRQ LQ OLQH ZLWK WKH 8QLYHUVDO 'HFODUDWLRQ RI +XPDQ 5LJKWV DQG $IULFDQ &KDUWHU RQ +XPDQ DQG 3HRSOHV· 5LJKWV $UWLFOH

Ndulue is a UK - based climate activist, novelist, poet, and short story writer

353

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MARCH 27, 2022

The governor must continually connect with all stakeholders, writes CHIDO NWAKANMA

THE SOLUDO SOLUTION: BOLD VISIONS AND GREAT EXPECTATIONS Do you know that the average Keke rider LQ 2QLWVKD $QDPEUD 6WDWH FRQWULEXWHV 1 000 to taxes annually? Or that the pepper seller in the market similarly contributes N50, 000 per annum from the N200 she pays daily?

Or that the taxes they pay ends up in private SRFNHWV UDWKHU WKDQ LQ JRYHUQPHQW FRͿ HUV whether local or state? *RYHUQRU &KXNZXPD &KDUOHV 6ROXGR outlined on 17 March 2022 his bold vision for $QDPEUD 6WDWH LQFRUSRUDWLQJ DQ ´DJHQGD IRU an itinerant tribe in search of a liveable and prosperous homeland”.

7D[DWLRQ ZLOO IRUP D VLJQLÀ FDQW SDUW RI WKH vision to transform and develop the state DV ZLOO WHFKQRORJ\ 6ROXGR DLPV WR ´WUDQVLW beyond petroleum into the digital world of WKH WK ,QGXVWULDO 5HYROXWLRQ DQG HQYLVLRQ Anambra as an industrial, technology, and leisure/entertainment hub of West Africa”.

7KH JRYHUQRU GURSSHG D VLJQLÀ FDQW DQG symbolic hint. He intends to live in Anambra 6WDWH DIWHU JRYHUQLQJ LW $OOXVLRQ" 7D[DWLRQ 7ULSRG 7KH JRYHUQRU VSRNH RQ taxation in three areas. First is the promise to ensure that citizens derive value for their WD[HV 6ROXGR GLVFORVHG WKDW KH SDLG DERYH N10million tax in 2021. He promised a YDOXH IRU \RXU WD[HV GLVSHQVDWLRQ 7KHUH will be a litmus test for expenditure based on WZR TXHVWLRQV ´D LI WKLV LV P\ KDUG HDUQHG PRQH\ IURP ZRUN DQG SURÀ W FDQ , VSHQG LW WKLV ZD\" E ,V WKLV WKH EHVW ZD\ WR VSHQG the taxes and levies collected from the poor WUDGHUV DQG 2NDGD ULGHUV" ,I , FDQQRW DQVZHU <HV WR ERWK TXHVWLRQV , ZLOO KHVLWDWH WR GR VRµ 6HFRQG *RYHUQRU 6ROXGR H[SHFWV HYHU\ Anambra Citizen to pay their taxes. He wants them to count on his pledge of accountability, transparency, impactful and careful management.

7KLUG KH HQYLVLRQV DQ $QDPEUD 'LDVSRUD 7D[ ZKHUHE\ $QDPEUDULDQV OLYLQJ RXWVLGH WKH state contribute to taxation. However, seeing as citizens pay taxes where they live, how ZRXOG WKH $QDPEUD 'LDVSRUD 7D[ ZRUN" What would be the parameters? Would be LW Á DW RU JUDGXDWHG" :RXOG LW QRW DPRXQW WR double or triple taxation for such citizens? %ROG LGHDV DQG YLVLRQV 7KH LQDXJXUDO speech resounded with ideas and bold YLVLRQV EHÀ WWLQJ D SURIHVVRU RI HFRQRPLFV DQG À UVW FODVV EUDLQ ,W ZDV DQ H[DPSOH RI WKH Big, Hairy and Audacious Goal syndrome articulated by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in WKHLU ERRN %XLOW WR /DVW 6XFFHVVIXO +DELWV RI Visionary Companies. “A big hairy audacious JRDO %+$* LV D FOHDU DQG FRPSHOOLQJ ORQJ term goal guided by a company’s values and purpose”.

Characteristics of BHAG include paradigm shift, working outside comfort zones and an ambitious yet accessible to explain goal. +HDU 6ROXGR ´7R HͿ HFWLYHO\ LPSOHPHQW RXU DPELWLRXV DJHQGD ZH QHHG RI state gross domestic product (GDP) annual LQYHVWPHQW OHYHOV ZKLFK LV DERXW ² billion. Public sector investment is less than PLOOLRQ SHU DQQXP DW FXUUHQW OHYHOV 7KH gap seems daunting, but we are undaunted.

7KH LQWHUQDOO\ JHQHUDWHG UHYHQXH LV EDUely RI VWDWH *'3 µ 7KH &RQWUDFW ZLWK $QDPEUD 3HRSOH 6ROXGR DGGHG ´GHULYHV IURP WKUHH VHPLQDO GRFXPHQWV D ´$QDPEUD 9LVLRQ ³D <HDU 'HYHORSPHQW 3ODQµ ZKLFK , FKDLUHG WKH GUDIWLQJ E ´7KH 6ROXGR 6ROXWLRQ $ 3HRSOH·V Manifesto for a Greater Anambra”; and (c)

´7KH 7UDQVLWLRQ &RPPLWWHH &RPELQHG 5HSRUWµ³ZKLFK EXLOW XSRQ WKH À UVW WZRµ Presenting Anambra Vision 2070 GRFXPHQW 7KH SKLORVRSKLFDO GULYHUV DUH 2QH $QDPEUD 2QH 3HRSOH 2QH $JHQGD 7KH goal is to “build Anambra into a liveable and prosperous smart megacity”.

7KH $QDPEUD 6WDWH 6ROXGR 6ROXWLRQ KDV À YH SLOODUV 2QH ODZ DQG RUGHU KRPHODQG peace and security); two, economic transformation as Nigeria’s next axis of LQGXVWULDO WHFK DQG OHLVXUH WKUHH FRPSHWLWLYH and progressive social agenda (education, health, youth, women, and vulnerable groups); four, governance, the rule of law DQG D UHELUWK RI RXU YDOXH V\VWHP DQG À YH aggressively tackling our existential threat posed by the environment—towards clean, green, planned, and sustainable cities, communities, and markets. ,W DOVR LQFOXGHV D YLVLRQ RI D QHZ IUDPHZRUN for service delivery and development in 3XEOLF &RPPXQLW\ 3ULYDWH 3DUWQHUVKLS 3&33 7DVNV XQGHU 3&33 LQFOXGH DGRSWLQJ schools, building roads/infrastructure, managing government assets, receiving and managing development matching grants, participating in sanitation and securing law and order.

2WKHU HOHPHQWV RI WKH 6ROXGR 6ROXWLRQ include: Made in Anambra and concentric FLUFOH RI SDWURQDJH ´7KH $QDPEUD 6WDWH Government will only patronise Made in Anambra products and services unless such goods or services are not currently made in Anambra, then made in Nigeria, Africa, in that sequence. We are making a statement ZKHQ \RX VHH PH LQ ,QQRVRQ YHKLFOHV RU P\ Akwete dress with a pair of shoes made in Ogbunike/Nkwelle Ezunaka and Onitsha.”

0U *RYHUQRU DQG KLV GHSXW\ FKRVH DQ ,90 DOO WHUUDLQ YHKLFOH MHHS DV R΀ FLDO YHKLFOH DQG served local delicacies at the function.

(YHU\WKLQJ 7HFKQRORJ\ 7HFKQRORJ\ will be a driver of production in Anambra, connecting it to the world and the world to $QDPEUD 7KH VWDWH ZLOO SOXJ LQWR DQG WDNH advantage of the African Continental Free 7UDGH $UHD $I&7$ ([SHFW D KLJK OHYHO RI digitisation in services.

“We will soon inaugurate the Anambra ,QQRYDWLRQ DQG 7HFKQRORJ\ $GYLVRU\ Council to drive the emergence of the digital tribe and mainstream technology and innovation across all aspects of our lives, RXU ,QWHUQDWLRQDO ,QYHVWPHQW &RXQFLO RXU Global Friends of Anambra in Development, as well as the Council on the Ease of Doing Business.” $QDPEUD 6WDQGDUGV ,W ZLOO VHUYH DV D QHZ benchmark with a focus on excellence. Goods DQG VHUYLFHV SURGXFHG LQ $QDPEUD 6WDWH PXVW meet the relevant criterion. Opportunity lies in having a committee to work with various professional and occupational groups to GLPHQVLRQ WKH $QDPEUD 6WDQGDUGV IRU various goods and services.

6ZRUGV LQ SORXJKVKDUHV 6ROXGR FDOOHG RQ the combatants who have turned Anambra 6WDWH DQG WKH (DVW LQWR D FULPH VFHQH WR SXW GRZQ WKHLU DUPV +H UHSULVHV ,VDLDK “We can’t build this homeland by turning the sword against each other. Ndi Anambra love their land, but the recent upsurge in criminality poses a great threat.

Nwakanma is a journalist and communication strategist

Does Atiku have what it takes? asks KENE OBIEZU

ATIKU ABUBAKAR’S SIXTH SENSE With Nigeria stuttering under the weight of so many challenges which today nip at the heels of everyday Nigerians with frightening ferocity, there is a consensus in the court of public opinion and the market of the masses where the ruination RI SXEOLF R΀ FH DQG SXEOLF YDOXHV UHVRXQG PRVW that 2023 will prove a pivotal year in determining whether the Giant of Africa will head for safer waters or hit the rocks.

For one, it is the year Mr. Muhammadu Buhari ZLOO OHDYH R΀ FH DIWHU HLJKW \HDUV GXULQJ ZKLFK Nigerians would have combed the heights of hope and plumbed the depths of despair.

ZRXOG DOVR DͿ RUG WKH FRXQWU\ DQRWKHU opportunity to taste the leadership of someone else and compare and contrast same with what WKH\ KDG IURP LQ À GHOLW\ WR WKH ZHOO ZRUQ

of the country when Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo ZDV 3UHVLGHQW RI WKH FRXQWU\ ,Q WKDW FDSDFLW\ and overshadowed by his pugnacious boss, Mr. Atiku Abubakar could not be fairly assessed for what he brought to the table given the constraints deputies of highhanded public R΀ FH KROGHUV OLYH ZLWK LQ 1LJHULD But does Mr. Atiku have what it takes to lead Nigeria? Does he have what it would take to make something better out of the leadership of the country beyond the mighty mess of the last seven years?

His supporters think so: they point to his exposure, cosmopolitan disposition and humble beginnings which have today roared into a chain of successful businesses to show that he has the complete skillset necessary to

saying that variety is the spice of life.

A blazing question however remains about what Nigerians can do to shape the course of 2023 and beyond, and just how much water they can squeeze out from a year that is poised to pile on so many rocks.

On March 23, 2022, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, declared his presidential aspiration in Abuja for the sixth time. He followed it up by XQYHLOLQJ D À YH SRLQW DJHQGD ZKLFK KLJKOLJKWHG the unity of Nigeria, security, economy, education and devolving more resources and powers to the federating units.

Mr. Atiku is having a sixth shot as Nigeria`s KLJKHVW R΀ FH 7KH À UVW WLPH ZDV LQ ,Q DQG KH ZDV FRQWHQW WR SOD\ VHFRQG À GGOH WR his boss Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo who was then President of Nigeria. Attempts in 2007, 2011, 2015 DQG IHOO MXVW VKRUW HDFK WLPH +RZHYHU IRU WKH VL[WK WLPH WKH $GDPDZD 6WDWH ERUQ EXVLQHVV mogul seems to have a sixth sense that his time has come. ,W VHHPV KH FDQ DOVR KHDU WKH GUXPV RI GHVWLQ\ pounding wildly. At the declaration, alluding to his humble beginnings to highlight the unstoppable power of dreams and possibilities for Nigeria, Atiku said, “Who could have ever LPDJLQHG DQ \HDU ROG YLOODJH RUSKDQ ZKR KDG to rear other people`s cattle to raise money to feed his family, would have the opportunity to go to school for free, rise through the cadre of a decent profession, establish successful businesses, and become Vice President of this country?”

Mr. Atiku`s ambition already has tongues ZDJJLQJ ,W LV DOVR VXQGHULQJ RSLQLRQV OLNH KRW NQLIH FRXUVLQJ WKURXJK EXWWHU 7KH IRUPHU *RYHUQRU HOHFW RI $GDPDZD 6WDWH KDV RQO\ VHUYHG Nigeria in a public capacity as the Vice President

canvass Nigeria`s delicate diversity.

His detractors disagree: they point to the fact that Mr. Atiku is seemingly wedded to sleaze which trailed him from his time as FKDLUPDQ RI 1LJHULD &XVWRPV 6HUYLFHV WR KLV WLPH LQ R΀ FH DV 1LJHULDCV 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW %XW he has never been convicted for anything.

7KH TXHVWLRQ RI ZKLFK UHJLRQ WKDW VKRXOG produce the President of Nigeria in 2023 is DOVR UDJLQJ 7KH ,JERV RI 6RXWKHDVW 1LJHULD are unwavering in their belief that it is their turn to have a go. Many others agree that in WKH LQWHUHVW RI HTXLW\ WKH ,JERV VKRXOG JHW LW but not Mr. Atiku or Mr. Raymond Dokpesi of DAAR Communications, one of his most ardent supporters, who have since rubbished any claim about zoning.

Mr. Atiku is running on the platform of the PDP, a behemoth political party which SUDFWLFDOO\ UDQ 1LJHULD DJURXQG EHWZHHQ and 2015. Whether Nigerians have properly recovered as to be willing to hop into the rollercoaster of the PDP again remains to be seen. ,W LV VREHULQJ WKDW DW D WLPH ZKHQ 1LJHULD stands in critical need of men who can step up, seize the moment and save the day, such men are in critically short supply.

At 75, only time will tell whether Mr. Atiku`s sixth sense that the time has ripened for him to lead Nigeria will prove correct.

Meanwhile, Nigerians can dust up their voter cards and take their fate into their hands when WKH GD\ DSSRLQWHG E\ GHVWLQ\ À QDOO\ PDNHV LWV long awaited descent.

keneobiezu@gmail.com

4 54

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MARCH 27, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

DEALING WITH MASSIVE OIL THEFT The authorities must do more to stem the economic haemorrhage

T

he recent alarms on the massive oil theft in the country raised by the trio of Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, former CEO of Seplat Energy, Austin Avuru, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, *RGZLQ (PHÀHOH FDPH DV QR VXUSULVH %XW WKH capacity to undertake such criminality to the magnitude EHLQJ UHSRUWHG LV QRW RQH WKDW LV DYDLODEOH RQ WKH VWUHHWV It is nothing but an organised crime that must necessarily involve big actors in the communities as well as industry DQG VHFXULW\ FROODERUDWRUV 3UHVLGHQW 0XKDPPDGX %XKDUL must therefore muster the courage to deal decisively with what clearly threatens the economic well-being of Nigeria and our national VHFXULW\ Last Tuesday, the federal government delegation visited the Niger Delta creeks, pledging to end the DFWLYLWLHV RI LOOHJDO UHÀQHUV pipeline vandals and sundry other criminal cartels in the VHFWRU 0LQLVWHU RI 6WDWH IRU 3HWUROHXP 5HVRXUFHV 7LPLSUH 6\OYD ZKR OHG WKH WHDP VSRNH ZLWK R΀FHUV RI WKH Battalion of Nigerian army and personnel of other security DJHQFLHV %XW WDON LV FKHDS 7KH FKDOOHQJH LV WR ÀQG VROXWLRQ WR WKH SUREOHP :KLOH RLO WKHIW LV QRW QHZ LQ 1LJHULD LW XVHG WR EH GRQH ZLWK VRPH PRGLFXP RI IHDU 1RW DQ\ ORQJHU The volume of crude being stolen almost on daily basis is now so staggering that it is already threatening the entire RLO DQG JDV LQGXVWU\ 2Q 7KXUVGD\ WKH IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW HVWLPDWHG WKH WRWDO YDOXH RI RLO WKHIW EHWZHHQ -DQXDU\ DQG )HEUXDU\ DW ELOOLRQ 7KLV LV D VFDQGDORXV OHDNDJH IRU DQ\ FRXQWU\ WR EHDU Following incessant attacks on their crude oil pipelines, many of the international oil companies (IOCs) in the FRXQWU\ DUH VXVSHQGLQJ WKHLU RSHUDWLRQV (YHQ LI VRPH RI WKH ÀJXUHV EHLQJ WRXWHG DUH D OLWWOH H[DJJHUDWHG LQGHHG WKH FRXQWU\ GRHV QRW NQRZ WKH H[DFW QXPEHU RI EDUUHOV LW produces) the fact remains that the menace of oil theft is JURZLQJ LQ WKH OHYHO RI VNLOOV DQG VRSKLVWLFDWLRQ ,QGHHG as these criminal cartels get more and more emboldened, they are investing in barges, canoes, speed boats and large ZRRGHQ ERDWV ZKLFK WKH\ XVH LQ WKHLU LOOLFLW EXVLQHVV 7R

compound the challenge, crude theft is likely to increase ZLWK KLJK RLO SULFHV As things stand, some of the oil producers are avoiding the notorious pipelines, resorting to trucking, and barging to JHW WKHLU FUXGH WR WHUPLQDOV 7KLV LQFUHDVHV WKHLU SURGXFWLRQ FRVW DQG LPSDFWV RQ WKHLU PDUJLQV ,QWHUHVWLQJO\ ZKLOH WKH EXON RI RLO SURGXFWLRQ LQ 1LJHULD FRPHV IURP RͿVKRUH PRVW RI WKH UHVHUYHV DUH RQVKRUH 7KH FRPSDQLHV DQG WKH FRXQWU\ DUH ORVLQJ VLJQLÀFDQW UHYHQXHV DQG RSSRUWXQLWLHV IURP WKH QHDU LQGXVWULDO VFDOH WKHIW 7KLV LV RQH RI WKH UHDVRQV ZH DUH QRW OLNHO\ WR GHULYH FRUUHVSRQGLQJ EHQHÀWV IURP KLJK RLO SULFHV UHVXOWLQJ IURP WKH 5XVVLDQ LQYDVLRQ RI 8NUDLQH :LWK LOOHJDO ORFDO UHÀQHULHV springing up on daily basis in the creeks, the implications IRU WKH HQYLURQPHQW LV GLUH Besides, this is coming at a period Nigeria is in desperate need of all the funds it can muster to meet pressing QDWLRQDO FKDOOHQJH ,W LV therefore time that the federal government and its agencies WRRN VHULRXV PHDVXUHV WR FRQWDLQ WKH XJO\ VLWXDWLRQ 0RVW reasonable people believe that the menace is growing in the level of skills and sophistication only because some law HQIRUFHPHQW DJHQWV PD\ KDYH EHHQ FRPSURPLVHG 0RUH worrying is that the trials of the few apprehended suspects in the past were impeded by the interference of some LQÁXHQWLDO LQGLYLGXDOV ZKR WKHPVHOYHV FRXOG EH FRPSOLFLW LQ WKLV KLJKO\ OXFUDWLYH FULPLQDO HQWHUSULVH At the session with the federal government during the ZHHN WKH 0DQDJLQJ 'LUHFWRU ([[RQ0RELO 1LJHULD 5LFKDUG Laing, reportedly described the situation as organised crime because “the sophistication of the engineering involved points towards a high degree of sophistication DQG WHFKQRORJ\ DV ZHOO DV WKH GLVWULEXWLRQ µ ,W LV GL΀FXOW WR DUJXH ZLWK WKDW VXPPDWLRQ <HW WR LPDJLQH WKDW WKH FRXQWU\ VXͿHUV VXFK HQRUPRXV UHYHQXH GHSOHWLRQ ZKLOH EHJJLQJ IRU IRUHLJQ ORDQV WR ÀQDQFH SURMHFWV LV WR VD\ WKH OHDVW ODPHQWDEOH ,W LV WKHUHIRUH LPSRUWDQW WR WUHDW WKLV DV an emergency and introduce drastic measures, including UHMLJJLQJ WKH VHFXULW\ LQIUDVWUXFWXUH IRU SURWHFWLQJ RLO DVVHWV DQG OHYHUDJLQJ WHFKQRORJ\ %XW ÀUVW WKH DXWKRULWLHV PXVW VWRS WKH KDHPRUUKDJH

It is important to treat this as an emergency and introduce drastic measures, including rejigging the security infrastructure for protecting oil assets and leveraging technology T H I S D AY EDITOR DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN DEPUTY EDITORS FESTUS AKANBI, EJIOFOR ALIKE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS WHY NIGERIANS SHOULD KEY INTO TINUBU’S PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION Nigeria is a country undergoing HFRQRPLF LQVWDELOLW\ $W WKLV WLPH DQG more than ever before, our country QHHGV DQ H[SHULHQFHG FHUHEUDO XUbane, suave and detribalised leader with a country-wide appeal and necessary connections to pull it from the GROGUXPV (YLGHQWO\ $VLZDMX %ROD $KPHG 7LQXEX LV WKDW OHDGHU +H LV WKH NLQG of politician who could innovatively strategize ideas and tailor them toZDUGV UHIRUPLQJ 1LJHULD·V HFRQRP\ $VLZDMX·V H[SHULHQFH DV D WZR WLPH Lagos State governor and his ability to transform the state and made it the envy of the world highly recommends KLP WR WKH H[DOWHG R΀FH RI WKH SUHVL-

GHQF\ RI 1LJHULD He has done it before and will do it DJDLQ WKLV WLPH DURXQG IRU 1LJHULD $VLZDMX KDV WKH H\HV IRU WKH EHVW EHVW RI KXPDQ UHVRXUFHV $V JRYHUQRU KH assembled a team of best brains to help KLP JLYH /DJRV TXDOLW\ JRYHUQDQFH Nigerians today bear witnesses to the HOHJDQW UHVXOW RI WKDW IRUHVLJKWHGQHVV It is no secret that some of such best EUDLQV $VLZDMX VSRWWHG DQG JLYHQ leadership and governance responsibilities are today part of the team at the IHGHUDO OHYHO KHOSLQJ 3UHVLGHQW %XKDUL WR À[ 1LJHULD 7DON RI WKH 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW 3URIHVVRU <HPL 2VLQEDMR 6$1 2JEHQL 5DXI $UHJEHVKROD ,QWHULRU 0LQLVWHU %DEDWXQGH )DVKROD 6$1

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A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

27.3.2021

Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello

Anatomy of an Academic Life

She is an epitome of grace and strength. Her indomitable spirit shines through her remarkable academic exploits. Professor Ibiyemi OlatunjiBello, Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU) has shattered many glass ceilings through consistency and determination to excel. The renowned Professor of Physiology’s incredible journey began at the University of Ibadan where she bagged a first degree in Physiology in 1985.

And over the last 37 years since she had left the premier university, she has distinguished herself as an erudite scholar. Her brilliance, consistency and determination have seen her towering above her peers, earning her doctorate degree at less than 40 and becoming a professor at 43. The icing on the cake of her academic journey was her appointment as VC of LASU in September 2021. Funke Olaode recounts story behind the Professor’s rise to academic leadership.

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

56

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MARCH 27, 2022

COVER

Part of My Six Strategic Goals for LASU is to Become a Scientific Research Hub

Olatunji-Bello

S

he is one of the few women who have broken the glass ceiling in academic leadership.

Prof. lbiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU) is indeed a gem. Looking resplendent in a beautiful flowing ‘adire’ gown and a red turban and surrounded by her aides, she exuded confidence, commanding attention and admiration. The helmswoman at LASU is a woman of great exploits. She is a mother, wife, pastor and a school administrator who has recorded many firsts in her endeavours.

She has worked and thrived in academics through dint of hard work.

“I don’t know whether it is because I am a public person or not, but I know that I am a friendly person, and I like making friends,’’ she began. “I like to make people happy. I have met many people and I made sure that by the time I leave the place they would remember that yes I have been there. And that means they will want to always have a very good impression about the situation. So that is me, it is not because I am a public person, it has always been like that.’’

During her time in the classrooms, Prof.

Olatunji-Bello had risen slowly and steadily to the highest heights of academic achievements.

All this she attributes to her family support particularly her parents who played key roles in her early life. Talking glowingly about her late father, Meshach Emiola Ibidapo, she said, “Any time I think of my father, I am always grateful that I had a very loving father, a very caring father and the one that was a role model to me and also a mentor. My father made stupendous money from hard work.

He was a federal government contractor and he had relationships with many people. He was industrious, focused and he worked till almost his very old age. Even at 70, he was still going to the office. My mother, Jadesola Ibidapo, still alive, now 90, is a homemaker.

She is somebody that takes keen interest in the children and wants them to achieve greatness. She makes her children her friend and any time we are with her, we are usually very comfortable with her. So, I thank God for the parents that I have and it has helped us children to be industrious.”

Apart from parental support, she drew strength from reading the bible, listening to sermons, a combination of both which shaped her persona.

“No distraction, you don’t cut corners, and all those things, you just want to work and you are very forthright. The integrity is there. So, it is my parents and the word of God,” she affirmed.

With her primary and post-primary school education in Lagos, she proceeded to the University of Ibadan where she got a B.Sc. in Physiology in 1985. After the mandatory one-year youth service, she further deepened her academic exploits by enrolling at University of Lagos for a Master’s degree and capped it with a doctorate degree in 1998.

She has held several positions within the university and has equally acquired several certificates of recognition from National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Plateau State, fellow Physiological Society of the United Kingdom, 2007 and Nigeria. Like a child of destiny, Prof. OlatunjiBello’s journey into academia was accidental, having set out to be a pharmacist.

“I wanted to be a pharmacist but I could not make the points for pharmacy so I was admitted for pharmacology. And UNILAG admitted me for Dentistry. I did not want to stay in Lagos having spent all my life and school days in Lagos. I wanted a change of environment so I opted for University of Ibadan to do pharmacology.

After the first year, the Senate had scrapped B.Sc. Pharmacology. Those of us who were admitted for pharmacology were moved to other sciences. Only two or three of us were

retained at the College of Medicine and for physiology because of our outstanding grade. That was the journey to physiology.

Again, I loved biology, it was my best subject.”

Scrapping pharmacology for Prof.

Olatunji-Bello was a blessing in disguise because it altered her career trajectory. She thought physiology was easy and with pharmacology, she might end up in the industry sector. Hence, she opted for the former and decided to study for her PhD having completed the Masters, as a mother of two children. She was determined, strong-willed and bent on fulfilling her dreams. She became the first Professor of Physiology at Lagos State University College of Medicine.

“It was a very nice feeling. I was elated being the very first female professor of physiology of LASUCOM. At that time when I took up the appointment, it did not occur to me that I was the first. It was in the course of the duty that I realised I am the first professor of physiology in that university. And that was a great feeling for me. It was a fulfillment of my dream because at that time I wanted to be a professor. I wanted to be a professor before age 40 but when the professorial position came at age 43, I said it is still okay. But then when I got to know that I was the first professor of physiology in the university, I felt very happy,” she gushed.

Apart from being the first professor of Physiology in the Lagos State University College of Medicine having been an Associate Professor at Lagos University College of Medicine between 2005 and 2007, her other early achievements include being the first female acting ViceChancellor of LASU between July 2010 and October 2011. She was also the first Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university between December 2008 and December 2010. The first substantive head of the Department of Physiology, LASU and the pioneering director of LASU Directorate of Advancement (LASUDA).

Multi-talented, she would try her hands on several skills while as a child. She baked her 12th birthday cake and decorated it.

“I could sew and when my mother saw that, she decided to buy a sewing machine for me. I could cut patterns to sew and I could even sew my nightie with my hands. And I just love cooking. And at the same time when I want to study, I make sure I am studying. Despite all the talents that I have, I just focused on being successful academically. Also, I got a lot of encouragement from my husband, my children and also my parents. And my mentors too such as Prof. Sofola and Prof.

Bolarinwa- those are the ones from my undergraduate days.”

Being passionate about teaching and impacting knowledge, led her to becoming a school administrator and finally made it to the league of scholars like Prof. Grace Alele Williams, the late Prof. Jadesola Akande and others.

“Again, it is a great feeling getting to the top. I have been acting Vice-Chancellor but then LASU was not as big as it is now at that time. And there is so much to do but because one is determined to be successful and because I had a vision.

So, I have written my vision down and I have to run with it to achieve it. And that is the propelling force. The position is really challenging but I am up to the task,’’ she said confidently.

The erudite scholar and mother of three is a staunch advocate of qualitative education. She doesn’t simply talk but also takes action. Since the mantle of administration fell on her shoulders, she hit the ground running, extensively embarking on transformational programmes that would take the university to an enviable height. She explained her transformational agenda for LASU. “Well, my plans for LASU have been well documented, well publicised but I will just summarise it. We have six strategic goals but the main vision is to take LASU to the top of all the citadels of learning in Nigeria. It is not only being in Nigeria but West Africa and not only in West Africa and the world. That is the vision and we need to run with it. And to achieve this vision, we have set out six strategic goals. Number one goal is to make all our academic programmes and professional programmes accredited and those that have been accredited will sustain it. And

the second one is to make sure that we make LASU a scientific research hub. When we are talking about research, we are talking about innovation, we are talking about technology.

Cutting-edge research would be done Also, we want to ensure that infrastructural facilities are improved upon and are made readily available for seamless performance of administrative and academic duties. The fourth strategic goal is also to improve our internal generation of revenue with the aim of achieving financial sustainability of the university. We have done that by resuscitating the school of part-time studies.

We are making sure that our LASU venture is empowered to do more. And also the creation of three new faculties will ensure that we have more intakes of students, which will improve our income generation,” she revealed.

Another matter close to her heart is the welfare of her staff both academic and nonacademic staff. She listed it as the fifth of the strategic goals.

“We will promote participation in sports and recreational activities which we have also done. We are improving the staff club, we are looking at improving the sports centre also and so many other things. We just need to make our presence felt on the web, and that is improving our website, making sure that all our academic staff and even non-academic, their profiles are on the website and all their research and also well documented on. All these will improve our ranking.”

Back to the subject matter of her faith, Prof is also Pastor in The Redeemed Christian Church of God, trailing from a spiritual journey that began in secondary school. In form three, she became a born again Christian at Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar School. She was an active member of the Scripture Union and even served as the treasurer for the Union. In 1999, she rededicated her life to Christ with a vow to learn more about God. “I decided to go to Bible College in 2000.

I finished the 18 months course and I was awarded the post graduate diploma in the college. Like I said, I went to Bible College because there was that hunger for the word of God. Five years after Baptism, I was put for promotion to be Deaconess. Five years later, I became an Assistant Pastor and after five years a full pastor. I was a bit reluctant to ‘pastor’ a church initially but I accepted it after counselling.

And when the opportunity came, they said I should go and pastor a church. I then became a parish pastor. Not quite three years of being a parish pastor, I was promoted as an Area Pastor.

And about three years after I became a Zonal Pastor. So, this is the journey.”

Married to an accomplished journalist, lawyer and politician, Hon. Olatunji Bello, the current Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, recalled how she met her husband in her first year in the University of Ibadan during the Students’ Union political campaign. Recounting the 1982 encounter, she described it as love at first sight.

“I met him in my room (hostel) Queens Hall F8 at UI. He was campaigning for the position of the Vice President of the Students’ Union and I had just come in as a ‘fresher.’ When he came in with his friends, and one of my friends said I should come and meet him. I asked, ‘Who is this person?’ He just smiled at me and I smiled at him and that was it. So, it was love at first sight. We just followed him and we campaigned all-round the hostel and of course he won the election and that was it.”

Seven years after that loving encounter, the Bellos said ‘I do’ on June 3rd, 1989. She relived the memory of the glamorous party that followed and one could almost picture the shimmering sequin clothes of the 80s. “It was a big society wedding. We got married on June 3, 1989. It was Shina Peters that played at my wedding and Shina Peters was the most famous artist at that time. The marriage has been very eventful, peaceful and we thank God for where we are today. God blessed us with beautiful children and manifold blessings.”

When she is not presiding over the school administration, Prof. Olatunji-Bello unwinds at home by watching television and more often than not, the ones on church activities. Rounding off the encounter, she gave a few tips on life lessons.

“Life has taught me to be determined, to be focused and to rely on God. Everything I have passed through is a lesson. I don’t think I regret any part of my life because I saw it as a lesson to prepare me for greater heights. Again, when you have God, you have peace of mind because no matter the life challenge, there is always hope because with God all things are possible. So, nothing really bothers me. I have gone through a lot to let anything bother me because I have God who is always by my side.”

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MARCH 27, 2022

57

GLITZ PERSONALITY

Ifebuche Madu on Reviving the Nigerian Textile Industry From winning the Dare 2 Dream competition a few years ago to owning one of the sought after textile companies in Nigeria, Ifebuche Madu, is on a mission to build a model for economic development through fashion and preserving African craftsmanship, writes Vanessa Obioha

Madu

I

n a makeshift workspace at the Bariga area of Lagos, Ifebuche Madu and her team of artisans worked ardently to transform plain fabrics into eyecatching adire designs. In one of the spaces is a shelf full of unused dyes.

There were also pots of reusable dyes.

In another space, an artisan works meticulously to apply the hot wax to a piece of fabric.

For some time now, Madu has been working from this space, supplying to clients within and outside the country. Her textile company, Afrikstabel, is home to many fashion designers who seek bespoke pieces. Her unique designs have fetched her recognition and placed her on a high pedestal such that she was among the designers tapped to design the Nigerian team uniform at the just-concluded Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. Madu and her team made the hand-dyed green Adire of the tech Agbada outfits the team wore at the opening and closing ceremonies.

To deliver the designs, Madu explained that she had been working with Amen, Amen, the brand behind Jordan Jackson.

“He called this year that we needed to work on projects for the Olympics. The idea was to make a fashion statement that would resonate. We wanted people to see the efforts we put in when they see the attire as well as representing Nigeria as Nigerians.”

In her thirties, Madu’s creativity came into full bloom when she participated in the Dare 2 Dream competition organised by fashion house Kinabuti. At the time, she was a student at the University of Port

The Nigerian team at the 2022 Winter Olympics

Harcourt. Urged by her friends to join the competition, Madu emerged winner in the fashion designing section even though her forte was in textile.

Her emergence baffled her because she was convinced that she would not be crowned the winner.

“From the way they called out the winners in the artists’ section, I knew it was only one person that would be picked and

it wasn’t me. I was still in shock when they called my name. My friends had to shake me to bring me back to reality.”

The win, she said, helped her to overcome her insecurity as well as made her realise that she had a talent to offer.

Although she participated in other competitions including the African Entrepreneurship Award (AEA) in 2017 where she emerged as one of the top

50 entrepreneurs in Africa with the most significant and sustainable impact to create jobs, Madu revealed that it was the Dare 2 Dream competition that spurred her to explore her creativity.

While she evinced a passion for fashion from an early age, Madu disclosed that it was her way of dealing with insecurity.

“I came from a family of tall people. I’m the only one closer to the ground so fashion was the way to deal with my insecurity,” said the fair-skinned lady.

She honed her skills in tie and dye at Nike Art Gallery but fully became involved during her National Youth Service Corps year in Ondo. It was in the South-west state she mingled with artisans who were dexterous in tie and dye and aso-oke textile designs. She also got to know about their struggles and limitations.

“My textile is more about the people and not the fabric. People come first,” she emphasized.

“During my encounter with the artisans then, I discovered they do not have access to other markets, were underpaid and do not live a desirable life for the kind of work they do.”

Today, Madu works and partners with artisans across the country. The goal for her is to give them access to markets beyond their environment. Occasionally, she organises workshops where she teaches them how to make money from their work.

“It is a selfless thing that I do,” she said.

Most of the artisans are from different parts of Africa such as Ghana, Senegal, the Benin Republic among others.

Her big break came in 2019 when she received a call from a radio station in South Africa to participate in a conversation organised by the African Fashion Lab. “A lot of fashion designers listened in on the programme and were impressed by my works and thoughts on the Nigerian fashion scene. I started getting calls after the show.

I started with 60 per cent of my clients from overseas and have maintained it since then,” she explained.

Some of the fashion brands she works with are based in the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. They include brands and individuals like Island Tribe, and Sabina from Spain.

The perception of Nigerian textiles by her foreign clients often makes her feel like a superhuman.

“They are being wowed by our textiles and the fact that I made it with my hands.

They see it as something precious and cherish it.”

She added that demand for Nigerian textiles is high, particularly the Adire.

“That’s the only textile that is really putting Nigeria textile out there. These fabrics have been abandoned for a long while but once a designer starts using them and gets international recognition, Nigerians start appreciating our fabrics.

Take for instance Kenneth Ize, no one was really paying him attention but when he started using the aso-oke to showcase on international runways, everyone started noticing him.”

Madu disclosed that her next line of action is to revive those textiles.

“Just like we have the Adire in high demand, I want other textiles like the Akwete to also be in high demand.”

She hinted at plans to visit states where these weavers are domiciled and helped them access new markets because according to her, some of them abandoned their fabric businesses because of low patronage.

“Once they know that people are willing to buy their fabrics, they will easily return to the business.”

There will also be workshops for those who want to hone their skills too.

This way, she can contribute to economic development while helping many to live their Nigerian dream.

“My plan is to make sure that those textiles do not disappear from the face of the earth. “ Keen on sustainable fashion, Madu ensures that the tie and dye process is very eco-friendly by reusing dyes with less amount of water. Also, the fabrics used are biodegradable.

For her, Nigeria is yet to embrace the term.

“It’s a decision one has to make because we have limitations here,” she concluded.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MARCH 27, 2022

GLITZ ENTERTAINMENT

For AMVCA 8th Edition, Africa Magic Pushes the Envelope

Timini Egbuson won the Best Actor at 2020 AMVCA

Held last in 2020, the AMVCA is returning with few changes. Apart from the introduction of the new category Best Online Social Content Creator which recognises skit makers, Following the nominees’ announcement for the this year’s event is going to be an eight-day affair. eighth edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards Revealing plans for the awards at a press conference (AMVCA), campaigns for votes are now in full swing as recently, the Executive Head, Content and West Africa nominees share their excitement on social media.

Hosted by Nollywood acts Adesua Etomi-Wellington and Channels, MultiChoice Nigeria, Busola Tejumola, stated that Daniel Etim Effiong, notable nominees for the edition include the introduction of the eight-day series of events will bring exciting changes to the awards which had its first edition in Femi Odugbemi’s documentary ‘Unmasked: Leadership, Trust and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria’ and TV drama 2013.

“We are focused on shining the light on the many aspects series ‘Movement-Japa’. They were respectively voted in the that make the African film and television industry truly Best Documentary and Best Africa Magic Original Drama magical and beaming that magic to millions of Africans who Series. Others include ‘Amina’ which bagged the highest watch the awards every year. number of nominations including Best Overall Movie “These curated events will feature a celebration of fashion, and Best Director for Izu Ojukwu. Larry Gaaga who was nominated in the Best Soundtrack category for his production technology, food and African culture. There will also be panel discussions and film screenings from our MultiChoice Talent of the soundtracks in the movie ‘Rattle Snake: The Ahanna Story’ will battle it out with other contenders for One Million Factory, industry sessions, and competitions for digital content creators and budding fashion designers,” she said.

Naira which is now tied to the award.

Stories by Vanessa Obioha

Nnaebue Takes International Students on a Nollywood Ride

Nnaebue in ‘No U-turn

The eight-day event will commence with an Opening Night on Saturday, May 7. This will be followed by a first-ever AMVCA runway show in partnership with Bella Naija Style on Sunday, May 8. On Monday, May 9 will be MultiChoice Talent Factory Day with movie screenings and panel discussions by students of the MTF academy.

Africa Magic will host industry stakeholders to a special Content Market Day on Tuesday, May 10; and a pan-African food festival and cultural day on Wednesday, May 11. A Digital Content Creators’ Day to spotlight the growing popularity of online content creators will be held on Thursday, May 12 while a special gala for nominees will take place on Friday, May 13.

The series of events will culminate on Saturday, May 14, the scheduled date for the main award ceremony Tejumola also noted that the AMVCA was conceived in line with Africa Magic’s vision of providing entertainment for Africans by Africans. She added that the AMVCA has fostered the development of the African film and television industry since it was introduced.

For the second time, Nollywood filmmaker Ike Nnaebue is mentoring international students on how to make films the Nollywood way. Last year, he had a session with students of Bournemouth University which ended in a virtual co-production.

This year, the students of Film Academy BadenWürttemberg in Germany will be benefiting from his vast knowledge.

“My program with the students already started with the screening of my new film ‘No U-Turn’,’’ he said. “I will be mentoring the students as they try to make a short film here in Lagos the Nollywood way.

It’s an exchange program so this means the German students have some Nigerian film students joining in the training and mentorship.”

For Nnaebue, he has always been fascinated by the exchange of cultures and mindsets.

“Aside from the fact that I enjoy sharing my experiences and the skills I’ve picked up in over 20 years of working in the industry, teaching international film classes is also an exciting research process for me.”

In 2021, Nnaebue embarked on a journey to his past as he relives his migration ordeal to Europe by land. The creative product of that experience ‘No U-turn’ was applauded at the recently held Berlinale International Film Festival. It is yet to debut in Nigeria.

US Arts Envoy Thrills Nigerian Audiences in 11-day Cultural Diplomacy Visit Committed to strengthening its cultural diplomacy with Nigeria, the United States Arts Envoy was recently in Nigeria to entertain, educate and collaborate with Nigerian creatives.

Starting from March 13 to 23, the visiting U.S. Arts Envoy and classical pianist, Pauline Yang, played to packed houses, taught emerging and established musicians through masterclasses across Abuja, Lagos, and Ibadan.

Pauline who performed to a Lagos audience alongside the United States Ambassador Beth Leonard on Friday, March 18, at Terra Kulture Arena mesmerised many with her dexterity on the piano. Cumulatively, she performed American, European, and Mexican piano compositions to over 1,000 guests who enjoyed a world-class classical concert at the

Chief of Mission Residence in Abuja, Consul General Residence in Lagos, Terra Kulture Arena in Lagos, and at the Manhattan Hall in Ibadan.

Her selection of pieces included a delightful mix of composers, styles, and eras from the piano literature featuring works by Bach, Scarlatti, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Schumann, Liszt, and Bolcom.

She began each of her concerts with Sicilienne, an original orchestral piece by the famous French composer Gabriel Faure, with Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard on flute. Her impressive performance of Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11, an exciting piece considered quite complex and challenging elicited wide applause from audiences across the three cities.

Pauline’s passion for music and desire to share knowledge with aspiring

young artists, as well as her passion to explore other cultures, resulted in tremendous appreciation from music students, art enthusiasts, Nigerian cultural leaders, and alumni of U.S. government exchange programs.

In an interview, she explained to students that U.S. universities encourage musicians to double major in a subject outside of music.

She described what prospective Nigerian students can expect in terms of curriculum and opportunities for studying music in the United States.

“It has been so wonderful for me to see and feel the warmth of the Nigerian people,” Pauline said.

“I am so lucky to be here in Nigeria on behalf of the U.S. Department of State as an Arts Envoy. My experience has been nothing short of amazing.”

L-R U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard, U.S. Arts Envoy and classical pianist Pauline Yang, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama shortly after Pauline’s opening performance in Abuja

SUNDAY MARCH 27, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27, 2022

INTERNATIONAL Making Politics Work for Citizens, Governance and Development: Beyond the Edo Doctrine

‘M

aking PoliticsWork for Citizens, Governance and Development: The Edo State Experience’wasthetitleofthelecturedeliveredon Tuesday,22ndMarch2022aspartofthe2022 DistinguishedLectureSeriesoftheNigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State, Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

Intrinsic in the lecture topic is the hypothesis that politics in Edo State has not impacted well for citizens, particularly for Edo State citizens and for governance and development in the State before now. Has politics really been working for governance and development of the whole people of Nigeria? If yes, how? How does politics work for other constitutive States of Nigeria and internationally? How does politics work for citizens, governance, and development internationally?

In Nigeria, politics, especially in its mania of playing, has been more of an inhibition to national growth and development. Governance has been largely fraught with institutional corruption and political chicanery. Political parties are managed by doctrines of god-fatherism.

They do not have ideologies and internal democracy. In fact, in many of their elections, votes do not count. Politics is grosso modo that of the jungle.

In the eyes of Tunde Odunlami, politics in Nigeria is baffling, especially from the perspective of excessive interplay of ethnic politics.

As he noted,‘some scholars tend to over-emphasize the dominance of ethnic interplay in the understanding of Nigerian politics. What perhaps baffles one is that there is no nation in the world that does not have different ethnic groups within its boundaries. The Basques, Catalans and Galicians are examples in Spain, while we have the Irish, Welsh, Scotts in the United Kingdom. It is therefore a phenomenon that is visible in every human society that is pluralistic.’

Additionally, Odunlami has it that‘what sustains a nation is the ability to manage relations amongst the various groups on the face of scarce resources. For Nigerians, this has been one of the most difficult tasks and it has played the issue of ethnicity to the highest level’(vide,Tunde Odunlami,“Ethnic Militias, Political Agitations and National Security,” in John A. A. Ayoade, Adeoye A. Akinsanya, and Olatunde JB Ojo, eds., The Jonathan Presidency:The FirstYear (Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America, 2014, p. 197).

Without any whiff of doubt, ethnic politics is an issue in Nigeria but why is it an issue? Is it, rightly or wrongly, believed that Nigeria is not a nation but a ‘geographical expression? If it is nothing more than a ‘geographicalexpression,’whatpreventsNigeriansfrommovingNigeria beyond being a mere geographical expression? And perhaps more inquisitively, how is politics played in Nigeria? Why is politics not a good tool for good governance and development in Nigeria? Answers can be found in what can now be called the Obaseki Doctrine or EDO Doctrine on Governance and Development.

The EDO Doctrine Governor Obaseki’s lecture can be summarized into three main parts: E, D, and O. From the lecture title, by talking about‘making politics work.’necessarily implies that politics had not been working well before he took over power.The first intellectual challenge therefore is to seek self-education on why politics had not been working and well.

Besides, there is the need, not only for self-education on the generality of problems in EDO State, but also on educational enlightenment of the people to create awareness about the challenges to be addressed.

This is part‘E,’the first pillar of the Obaseki doctrine.

Asregardspart‘D,’itisaboutdeterminationtoaddresswhatevermight be responsible for non-workability of politics for citizens, governance, and development in EDO State. Determination requires doing what is needful at all costs. It means not looking backwards. It means achieving set objectives with courage and hope that better days are still coming.

And more importantly, it requires carrying people that matter along and keeping the public abreast. Part‘O’is about the organization of the efforts to be deployed in translating the education acquired and the determinationtosucceedintoactionandmanifestdestiny.Organisation is about orderliness, programmatic arrangements, with emphasis on periodic evaluation and articulation of challenges.

Thus, Governor Obaseki has adopted the strategy of Education, Determination, and Organisation, which is synonymous with the name of his state, EDO, as the triangular pillars of his people-driven development policy. Deductively speaking, Nigeria’s problem of bad governance and non-development, which is partly induced by ethnic

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Obaseki politics, exists largely because of miseducation or lack of good education on Nigeria’s problems, lack of objective determination to resolve Nigeria’s problems based on honesty of purpose, and lack of constructive organization of efforts that are free from corruption and political chicanery.

Atthelevelofeducation,GovernorObasekiadoptedacomparative methodology, comparing the non-development at the level of the Federal Government and non-development at the level of Edo State government.The problematique he identified here is ‘why our democratic experience to date has not provided good governance; why our economic and socio-political development have remained stunted’; and why ‘the political elite who have responsibility not only to institutionalise the democratic process but also to develop a political culture which should foster and enhance development, have failed to do so.’

In explaining some of the rationales for the problematique, he discussed the contradiction between existential challenges and the people’s democratic hopes; the promotion of individuals to the detriment of institutions; the inability to manage diversity; and the flaws of unitary federalism. As he put it, for instance,‘our country is faced with existential challenges as it tries to cope with several transitions, from political transition in a few months, to the demographic transition and economic transition occurring locally and globally.’And true enough, he observed that politics in Nigeria is that of bribery and money politics, use of thugs and dangerous physical weapons, and godfatherism.

Perhaps more disturbingly, he noted that the political system in Nigeria ‘is not designed to attract selfless service,’ for various reasons: unnecessary entry barriers to the political system (age restriction, high cost of nomination and expression of interest); prohibitive cost of the electioneering process; proliferation of

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For sure, the EDO model can be replicated in other States of Nigeria based on the educational enlightenment of the people, if the people acknowledge their own peculiar problems, if there is collective determination to succeed, and if there is collectivity of organizational skills. In this regard, the Nigerian environmental conditionings must first be changed by determination and organizational restructuring of the polity. Without making a united Nigeria a philosophy in which Nigerians unrepentantly believe, the EDO doctrine may be quite difficult to replicate elsewhere. Besides, since many Nigerians believe that winning election is essentially by fraud, this belief must be repolished. EDO model cannot work if PMB has either Islamisation or Fulanisation agenda, because most Nigerians have been made to believe to believe that PMB has that agenda. In fact, the EDO model cannot but be most inapplicable with Muammar Gaddafi’s postulation that there will never be any enduring peace in Nigeria until Nigeria is partitioned into Muslim North and Christian South. These issues go beyond the Obaseki doctrine

political parties with no clear ideology; electoral malpractices; and hyper-commercialisation of the political process which makes the system inaccessible to honest people.

Whilethesechallengesexist,thedemocraticexpectationsofthepeople remain undaunted. As explicated by Governor Obaseki, democracy is to provide opportunity to participate in decision making within the political process. In other words,‘democracy, be it liberal, African or modern, must include equal opportunity for all, there must be the fundamental recognition of popular sovereignty, representativeness, majority rule, protection of minority rights, popular consultation, the right of choice between alternative programmes and consensus on fundamental issues, as well as periodic elections.’

Most importantly, the expectation of the people is that democracy will create‘a climate of true political and civil freedom which will enable the country achieve the fundamental conditions for development,’ aand that it will ‘produce responsible government that is committed tto the advancement of the public goods rather than private interest of the political actors.’ o In recognition of the foregoing problematique, Governor Obaseki rresolved to address it. He explained his determination in the form of sseeking to promote strong institutions rather than strong individuals, promote Edo State as a constituent of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, p iin the strong belief that such effort will help remove the flaws of unitary ffederalism in Nigeria, and more significantly, promote governmental aaccountabilitybyshowingleadershipbyexample.ThebeliefofGovernor Obaseki is that ‘a properly functioning democracy should not only O provide basic social and economic goods’, but it should also‘provide the p rright of groups and individuals to hold their governments accountable.’

And most importantly, he said, ‘it is only when citizens can hold government accountable that the State would improve on its ability to g get things done accountably to citizens and be responsive to citizens’ g rrights and needs.’This is the philosophy of determination that informs political governance in Edo State. p As regards the third pillar, organization of all efforts, this is about the policy actions taken and to be taken. Concerning the policy actions p aalreadytaken,theyincludetheretoolingofpoliticstoengenderdevelopment; adoption of people-centric policies and programmes; opening m up the political space to a broad range of players to the chagrin of the u godfathers;embarkingoninstitutionalreforms;revampingofthepublic g sservice to reduce the cost of governance; opening up the business environment;curbinghumantraffickingandirregularmigration;rolling e out infrastructure projects and further strengthening people-centric o politics with emphasis on the education sector (Edo Basic Education p SectorTransformation, EdoBEST), which has transformed the lives of over 400,000 pupils across the State; strengthening partnership with the private sector, especially with the Ossiomo Power Company to provide stable power supply to government institutions; and making the environment more conducive for air traffic and high occupancy rate of hotels. The improvement is to the extent that the number of airlines flying to Edo State has increased from two when Governor Obaseki came to power, to five as at today.

Above all, not only has the security situation in the state improved with the Edo State Security Network with the federal security structure, but the youths have also been upskilled, especially with the EdoTech Park Programme, which is done in partnership with Decagon to train 15,000 software engineers in the next five years. Based on the EDO doctrine, Governor Obaseki advised that ‘it is time to set sentiments aside. The country is adrift. It is time to take tough decisions to rescue the country from the brink. We must now adopt proven methods and innovations in retooling our politics and democracy and make them work for the delivery of good governance and development of our people.’

Beyond EDO Doctrine: Nigeria’s Adriftness For Governor Obaseki, there is an EDO model from which national development policy can always borrow and which can make politics to work nationally for citizens, governance, and development. This is true. However, national, and international perception of politics and politicians raise more questions than answers. For instance, at the international level, while Otto von Bismarck argued in 1863 that politics is the doctrine of the possible and the attainable, SirWinston (Leonard Spencer) Churchill had it in 1920 that politics are almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous. In war you can only be killed once, but in politics many times.’ If politicians die many times, the Holy Bible also says we all die every day regardless of whether we are politicians.

In this regard, politics considered as a possibility and the attainable, the issue of Obaseki’s determination is necessarily raised. If a set target can be attained, why not resolve to achieve it? More important, if politics is likened to a war, it means that the attainability of a set target may require the use of force or going to war. This shows that politics has a multi-dimensional character and must not always be taken with kid gloves.

Perhaps more interestingly, it was Ambrose (Gwinnett) Bierce who once told us that‘politics is a strive of interests masquerading as a contest of principles and the conduct of public affairs for private advantage.’If politics is believed to only serve private interests, in which way is politics in Nigeria different? How do we ensure that the conduct of public affairs serves public interest? Additionally, why is it that politicians are not statesmanlike? A former French president, George Pompidou, has noted that‘a statesman is a politician who places himself at the service of his nation. A politician is a statesman who places the nation at his service.’Are Nigerian politicians statesmanlike?

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HighLife

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

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

How Tokunbo Ogundeyin is Cleaning out with Multi-billion Dollar Nigeria Defence Contracts

Fasae

Right Man for the Job: Kayode Fasae Throws Hat into the Ring

True politics, the art of state management and development, has to do with standing up for what is right. It is presenting oneself to be burned by public opinion if need be if only the people would be better as one. This is what Otunba Kayode Fasae (OKF) is set to accomplish with his political ambition to stand in for Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1 in the House of Representatives.

Ekiti is a blessed state in Nigeria. Each senatorial district and federal constituency has brilliant people representing them at the top. It is consequently obvious that the people are continually chasing the goals of the whole rather than those of the self. No selfishness, one might conclude. And this is the case for OKF. It is generally believed that to know the true character of an individual, one only needs to observe how they have managed the role they have been given. For OKF, this position is the DG of Ekiti State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA). This is the institution responsible for the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ekiti State.

As one might guess, OKF’s leadership at MEDA requires him to be very close to the innovative people of Ekiti. And so it is. OKF has greatly improved the conditions of SMEs in the state, helping to increase the access of their operators to needed resources and tools to ensure that there is a high degree of participation in the socio-economic growth and development process in Ekiti.

Judging from OKF’s many accomplishments in MEDA, there is every likelihood that he is going to exten d t h e same line of performance to the House of Reps position h e i s c urrently vying for.

Can one think of a better person for the job? Surely not.

There is a particular kind of grace reserved for only Nigerians. That grace earned the country the status of Africa’s Big Brother. Now, thanks to individuals like Tokunbo Ogundeyin who are hard at their jobs, Nigeria will soon climb to a new status and perhaps compete with the ‘Big Boy Nations’ of the world.

Ogundeyin is indeed Nigeria’s pride. The man in charge of Proforce Limited has contributed time and again to the country and earned many bragging rights on our behalf.

Recently, Ogundeyin delivered, as he always does, by making a deal with the European country, Belarus, to supply defence equipment, particularly armoured vehicles.

The star of Ogundeyin once again rose into the midday sky when photos of a powerful armoured vehicle began making the rounds on social media.

Judging from the background and colour, Nigerians could only speculate that the vehicle was most likely recently acquired from one of the superpowers.

Imagine the excitement when Nigerians found out that the armoured vehicles were made in Nigeria by Ogundeyin’s Proforce company.

Ogundeyin’s reputation was further thrown up into the starry sky when it was rumoured that that particular armoured vehicle had been purchased

by Belarus as part of a deal the country had signed with Ogundeyin. Thus, with Ogundeyin behind Nigeria, more nations are definitely paying more attention to us now.

For those who don’t know Ogundeyin’s history, the defence industry was not his first option. Legends claim that he used to be a cleaner in Kuwait until his breakthrough with the Nigerian Army. Now, Ogundeyin makes military equipment, armoured vehicles, and foundations for Nigerians to stand tall among other Africans.

Those that know Ogundeyin personally say that he is a humble man, a quiet man, someone who would be changing the world from behind the

Ogundeyin

curtains and still hold his tongue and opinions. How lucky that he is Nigerian!

Maven of Luxury Jewelry, Sade Adesoye at 60 They say that gold and other in her gaining mastery of the

Adesoye

shining things are a lady’s best friend. What is to be said about the lady that provides access to these friends? This is why Otunba Folasade Adunni Adesoye, the Yeye Otunba Gbaderogun of Ijebu, is so popular among Nigerian ladies.

Even after clocking 60 a few days ago, her sparkling reputation did not dim, nor did her attractive demeanour.

There is a category of women in Nigeria whose names are written with golden letters. Adesoye is one of such women for the most obvious reason that she is a bestseller of all things jewellery. Her appropriately styled Jewelry Affairs has been making waves since it came to the forefront of the industry as a registered business in 2007.

It was in 2007 that many Nigerians came to know of the damsel. In truth, she had been in the business of jewellery sales for two decades prior. This culminated

trade, which is something rare.

Even so, her blazing trail has left every person that knows her truly charmed.

Many times, comparisons have been made between Adesoye and other brilliant and powerful women like oil and gas tycoon, Hajia Bola Shagaya. The similarity comes from the ageless charm that they exude. With Adesoye, you get that peerless charm with humility that beggars the question: is she really as wealthy as the papers make her out to be? And the answer is a resounding yes.

But Adesoye is not like the wealthy people that most folks are familiar with: people that thumb their noses at others and throw a tantrum when someone with a smaller pool of funds looks sideways at them.

All in all, at 60, Otunba Adesoye shines with the same glow as her jewellery.

Sammie Okposo Regains Groove amid Infidelity Scandal Who is a man of God? Is it a perfect person representing the interests of the Divine Being that made everything?

Or maybe it is the imperfect person representing both his interests and those of his God? Your view would determine whether and how you accept gospel musician, Sammie Okposo, back to the limelight. It doesn’t look like he particularly cares for anybody’s acceptance.

Okposo has started making attempts to return to the embrace of society. According to findings, the CEO of Zamar Entertainment announced that he is organising an audition for gospel musicians. The audition was held on March 23, 2022, at Zamar Entertainment office, Surulere, Lagos.

The turnout was meh compared to what would have been, but that is nobody’s fault but the formerly trailblazing minister.

Okposo has not completely gotten out from under the shadow of shame that took the world by storm in

Okposo

February 2022. This was the incident that evolved from a lady’s narration that Okposo had gotten to know her biblically, gotten her pregnant, and then advised her (in no gentle tones) to get an abortion.

Okposo is married to a lovely woman, everybody knows that. Thus, when the US-based women reported this, there was some hesitation over whether or not to believe the tale. But Okposo himself confirmed it. Then he went on to apologise to his wife with an Instagram post. Then he appeared to disappear from the limelight. And now, he is back.

Nigerians do take a while to get over such things, especially when religion is involved. However, Okposo seems to have leapt over the gate of continuous public condemnation. This is good, as some have explained. After all, Okposo owes his God and conscience (his wife and vast following, also) the oath of faithfulness. But the man has regained his groove, and that matters too.

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HIGHLIFE “Et tu, Brute” are the words that William Shakespeare put in the mouth of Julius Caesar, the great emperor of Rome. It was an exclamation of shock and despair and one of the biggest turnarounds in scripted theatre. It is also what former Anambra Governor Willie Obiano is likely chanting inside his mind.

It is not news that the ascension of former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo, to Anambra Governor was accompanied by a number of events. Among these events, the slap was the most prominent, especially because it happened while Soludo was being sworn in. The runner-up is the arrest of Soludo’s predecessor, Obiano.

While Soludo might not have had anything to do with Obiano’s tangle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), experts at these things have begun saying that Soludo is not helping matters. This is after the newly instated governor revealed that the finance of Anambra State was in jeopardy.

As people who are up-to-date on the matter are well aware, Soludo declared that he inherited about N300 million from the old (Obiano’s) administration, as well as debts that were over N109 billion in value. Any

Between Soludo and Obiano: Changed in Only the Twinkling of an Eye? mathematician can tell that the accounts do not balance and Obiano’s administration virtually handed over a mountain of debt to Soludo. At least, that is the vibe that Soludo’s declaration almost immediately after his swearing-in ceremony brings.

Here’s the question some people are asking: is it not too early for Soludo to throw Obiano under a bus? It would be a different matter if they were enemies before Soludo’s victory but they were not. One could argue that Soludo climbed to the gubernatorial position because Obiano had cleared the way for him. So, the question again: Is it not too early for Soludo to throw Obiano under a bus?

Maybe there is indeed more to the story, as some analysts have commented. Soludo himself has said that he won’t have problems with Obiano. But it is not looking like that to the rest of the world, not with Obiano with his red shorts in police detention.

Soludo

Who Will Rotimi Amaechi Support Between Dakuku Peterside and Tonye Cole?

The political game in Nigeria often dissolves into an exercise of repetitions.

At the end of the day, it looks like the same individuals keep emerging as the gubernatorial and senatorial candidates, contesting against themselves.

Rivers State is an enchanting political and economic space. Due to the many resources in the state, human, natural, and infrastructural, it is really no surprise that the dream of emerging as the state’s governor lasts for more than a handful of years. This is the table that the former DG of Nigeria Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and Sahara Group boss, Tonye Cole, are on.

Ahead of the next gubernatorial election in Rivers, there are reports of Peterside and Cole sharpening their figurative blades of influence against each other. Apart from the mobilization of youths and other pipeline components, there is also the role of a godfather that would hold their hands and introduce them to the public.

Interestingly, former Rivers Governor and Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, is that man.

There is no denying the traction that

Amaechi

Amaechi has in Rivers’ political space, especially inside the All Progressives Congress (APC). After all, fewer men have direct access to the ears of the President of the Republic of Nigeria like him. But it is more than that: Amaechi has been described as being in Rivers what a certain kingmaker is in Lagos.

So, between Peterside and Cole, who will Amaechi support? Based on the calculations of yesteryears, Cole is more likely to come up on top with Amaechi’s right hand on his shoulders. After all, there were rumours at the tail end of the 2019 general elections that Amaechi had decided to throw his weight behind Cole, leaving some other unspecified office for Peterside.

Whether this is true or otherwise remains to be seen. Even though Peterside looks to have inherited Amaechi’s sour relationship with the incumbent Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, Cole is clearly the preferred choice. But who knows, something else might fit into the picture and Cole would be thrown aside for Peterside. Or somebody completely out of the left field.

John Keats said: “A thing of beauty is a joy forever, whose loveliness increases (continually).”

In other words, truly beautiful things only come to stay, never becoming things of the past or wisps of memories. And so it seems to be with Rahmat Indimi and her former husband, Mohammed Babangida. The union that was torn apart with suspicions and heated debates appears to be whole again.

Social media in Nigeria has been thrown into excitement at the news of the Babangidas, Rahmat and Mohammed, back together. This news began making the rounds after Rahmat posted on her Instagram handle that she was grateful to several people for contributing to the reunion that has been a long time coming.

“Reunited at last after so many years apart… ” are the words that keep coming back to participating Nigerians who want nothing but the best for the two of them.

This is the first time this year that Rahmat, the daughter of the Maiduguri billionaire and Founder/Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources, will be trending with her ex-husband (if the rumours turn out to be true) Mohammed, the first son of former Nigeria’s military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB).

For those that did not follow the story of their breakup, the marriage that took place in 2004 came to an abrupt close in 2016. It was messy and even required Nigeria’s judicial

Best News of the Year: Rahmat Indimi and Her Exhusband, Mohammed Babangida are Back Together!

system to mediate. But even that intervention did not accomplish much by way of total resolution, especially as the couple vied for the custody of their children.

Now, that horrendous past is truly the

past. There’s only goodness and joy to look forward to now. Going by the photo that Rahmat posted, even the thing with the children has been settled. Indeed, happy families are all alike; all devoted, all together.

With the way things are going, Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is likely to see a lot of action this year. Too many cards have already been played, and Matrix Energy Group, one of the toppers in the industry, has decided to upend the table with its new move — a new stately corporate office in the heart of Lagos State.

Matrix Energy Group is the latest apex company in Nigeria to establish a branch that is as ergonomic as it is excellently made.

According to reports, the building was constructed with the company’s mandate in mind. Thus, it is an architectural splendour, painted in white and blue, to operationalize ingenuity and imagination, and complete with the definitive Western design, and

Giaantt Stride: Abdu ulk kab bir Alliu’s Matriix En nergy y Gro oup Openss Neew &RUSR RUDWHH 2IÀ ÀFHH LQ Q / /DJ JRV

Apart from the dignitaries from the oil and gas industry, there were also several bigwigs from the banking sector. This gathering of power and purpose gave credence to the fact that Matrix Energy Group is a leading institution currently spearheading some of the biggest oil and gas projects in the country.

Since Matric Energy organised a free six-day medical eye treatment in Delta State in 2021, Nigerians of all walks of life have come to know this company started by Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu. The company’s client-centred approach gave them a head start right from 2004 when the company emerged from Aliu’s mind. With the new Lagos office, things are bound to get better for them and their clients.

Unstoppable: Aliko Dangote Becomes Nigeria’s Biggest Employer of Labour with the Launch of his New Fertilizer Plant From the way things are going in Nigeria, it wouldn’t be too fantastic to declare 2022 as a year for new things, new achievements, and breakthroughs, considering the many milestones that the country’s super business people have begun erecting. Take Aliko Dangote’s new fertility plant, for example. That single project has established the man as the biggest employer of labour in the country. But more than that, the project is a sure guarantee that more youths are going to stop dusting their school certificates as they trudge through dusty streets for work.

President Muhammadu Buhari recently inaugurated the Dangote Fertilizer Plant in Lagos a few days ago. Speaking on the plant, Buhari said that Nigeria will not have to depend on multinationals and the generosity of foreign nations for the development of its agricultural sector. Now that there is a fertilizer plant, the possibility of exporting these products to the United States, Brazil, India, etc., is very high.

Indeed, Dangote’s establishment of the plant is a big opportunity for growth on every side. Regarded as Africa’s largest Granulated Urea Fertilizer complex, the plant will be a source of employment for Nigerians and also a source of pride.

Dangote has been making moves to revolutionise Nigeria’s economy. In February 2022, he was joined by the Kano and Kaduna State governments as he announced the partnership of his company with Stellantis Group, the parent company of car-making multinational, Peugeot. From then on, there have been calculations on end about how many Nigerians will be employed in the Peugeotassembling factory in Nigeria.

Indeed, in terms of the provision of employment opportunities, Dangote is ahead of his peers in Nigeria and Africa. He should be the model used for the encouraging phrase that we rise by lifting others.

Rahmat Indimi and Her Ex-husband, Mohammed Babangida

overflowing with the same elegance with which Matrix Energy Group made its debut a few years ago and has continued to dominate.

To celebrate the development, the brains at Matrix Energy Group organised a party that was held on Friday, March 18, 2022. Thus, to clink glasses to the new head office situated at Ademola Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, many well-known people, especially ‘landlords’ of the oil and gas industry, came out in style for Matrix Energy Group.

Dangote

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Ogiame Atuwatse III: An Enthralling Visit

Ogiame Atuwatse III, flanked by Edgar (left) and the Ogwa-Olusan of Warri, Chief Mene Brown

they said was very fine. This king was a king o.

Not like all that ‘kobo kobo’ king we used to see at bus stops all over the place throwing banga.

This one was tall, extremely handsome and almost superhuman. His apparels were truly kingly. He walked with a majestic gait, smiling intermittently and in slow motion.

My head was just swelling. Piss was catching me and goose pimples full my body. Tears started coming out of my eyes as cold was catching me.

I cried as I watched with immense pride, culture in its full essence. Its richness and suppleness transfixed me as I wept for our people who not knowing our proud heritage continue to roll in the mud in collective servitude.

We introduced ourselves and Evans spoke for our group. They asked me to speak o. I stood up and gave the speech of my life. I talk o and Ogiame was just smiling as I spoke. I spoke like an orator singing like a cannery and I saw that the Ogiame loved me o.

Then he asked, “Why Duke of Shomolu?”

I cannot lie for Ogiame before I turn into a clay of salt. I told him the truth that it was my ‘maiguard’ in Shomolu that gave me the name.

He laughed.

Then he spoke and I cried again. In very deliberate and studied mannerism stemming from a well cultured background, the Ogiame grabbed a member of our team, Scott and said “I have never met your grandmother but I see her face in your face. Your grandfather was an Ogiame but he stayed for only 18 months.”

Scott started shaking like someone with Ebola.

He held me to steady himself as Ogiame

continued with the history of Scott’s family.

Me, I was just thanking God that Scott’s grandfather didn’t steal any of Ogiame’s grandfather’s wife because that is how we would have carried ourselves enter this one.

Me, I for turn to cockroach and escape to Shomolu. When Ogiame finished with Scott, he was a mess. Scott cried for the next three hours.

“Edgar, I will fly in for the show and fly out again to honour you, thank you so much.”

My people, by this time, I wished I had worn pampers because the piss just dribbled out.

The charisma, the essence, the rich tradition, the beauty, the power and the Ogiame himself, I just fall down in front of him with my head on the floor in total humility and submission to a rich people as symbolised by this handsome king.

At the end of it all and over plates of banga soup and starch – me, I ate melon pepper soup with Theo taking all the fish – we recalled what just happened.

My mouth is still wide open. Even as I recounted everything to Julius, my mouth was wide open. One Itsekiri man I met said: “Edgar, what you saw was not a human being. Ogiame represents the Itsekiri spirit and that is what you saw.”

My people, if I try to see that spirit one more time, my head go explode. It was just too much.

Long live this king, long live Ogiame and may the people of Iwere land progress and find long lasting peace during and long after his reign.

Kai.

that one is showing his people ‘shege.’

My take is very simple. Every Nigerian has the inalienable right to support any candidate of their choice and we should all just stop this rubbish. Every time someone goes to visit Tinubu we will be abusing them. That is how they abuse my brother Tope Fasua for writing an essay in support of Tinibu’s ambition. The day I go to Bourdillon and anybody abuse me, I will just slap them because I don’t have time for rubbish. You see that Bianca’s slap will be a small thing compared to the one I will give the first person that comes near me after any such visit.

The main thing in this is the failed strategy of approaching this group.

Those who planned this visit were obviously hoping for nostalgic followership not taking into consideration that this would have no bearing whatsoever in electoral value.

That motley crew of journeymen that was packed to see Asiwaju is

My people, my mouth is still wide open after three days. I am in a pleasant shock. That was how my brother Julius Rone set up an appointment with the Olu of Warri on the back of my upcoming play, ‘Ogiame Erejuwa II’ coming up this Easter in Warri.

My team was complete. We had Evans JohnsJakpa, my Co-Executive Producer; influential insurance guru, Austin Ebose Osaghae of Anchor Insurance; Theo John Phillips — no be oyinbo, forget the name, na Yoruba-Igbo man; Oneal, a great Itsekiri son; Ejiro A.Eghagha, my

Itsekiri-Urhobo brother from Okpe Kingdom; and Scott Igbene a wonderful Itsekiri media expert.

My people, as we enter the throne room, my head start to dey swell. The place was regal. Well apportioned with sweetly royal ambience. Chief Dr Eugene Ikomi gave us the guidelines before we go and offend tradition. Nice man, very warm and fatherly. I really like him.

Wait o, that was how the Ogiame walked in.

God, it was like I was seeing that angel — I don forget him name o — that one that in the Bible

FUNSHO DOHERTY: THE BATTLE OF EKO Would you call this a battle? My friends have all been calling, “Edgar, don’t you know Funsho Doherty, he is contesting for Lagos governorship and you should support.”

I know him and will not support him.

Funsho is one of the most brilliant and astute financial people you will find. Integrity is his other name and you will not find any one more disciplined but an ‘aje butter’ he is.

I met someone recently in Shomolu and I wept for Nigeria. The man is one of those people you call enforcers in politics with his own underground army. By the time he finished telling me about the underground cartels that control the political space, I just gave up.

Even my senatorial ambition in 2027 is shaky now. How will I understand the gun politics, the thuggish power and the maiming and killings that is needed to ensure not only victory and sustain a race in power. You have not added the juju and clannish cultism that comes to play.

My people, e be like say na ‘blue film’ actor go get me for retirement instead of this politics thing. Nigeria will survive. I will not be involved in all these to win an election.

So, when I compare Funsho and his ilk’s involvement in politics for altruistic reasons, I just smirk and walk away.

Can this Funsho engage MC Oluomo?

Does he know who controls the markets, the agbero’s all over the place? Does he understand that the INEC polling delineations are not the real ones but the ones controlled by these underground agents? Does he know how the structures that permeate the state are controlled and by who? Can he carry ‘ebo’ complete with ostrich feather and scrota of a Lizard with sperm of a dead tortoise to Third Mainland bridge at midnight?

My people, after that man talked to me, showing me pictures and other evidence permeating all over southern Nigeria, I just gave up.

So, my brother Funsho, come and join me make we dey do theatre, this thing

no be the way we see am o. Leave am.

My brotherly advice.

Doherty

Taribo

Tinubu

PASTOR TARIBO WEST AND BROTHERS: TRUE AGENTS OF CHANGE My own is how ‘wowo’ these people have emerged after such illustrious careers. As I looked at the images, I began to ask myself just what happened. Our golden boys of yesteryears, our superstars, why dem no come fine again. They are not aging well o. Even Okocha come look like Ngige for my eye.

Anyways, the visit of our old time heroes to the frontrunner of the race, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has created so much furore in the country. Now, everybody that visits any candidate will receive a lot of odium and abuse.

As I write, Timi Dakolo is receiving his own for going to sing for Atiku.

You know that one, he is fighting back. He no send anybody o.

Taribo has been singled out. He has been compared to his former colleague George Weah who is now President of Liberia forgetting that

Obiano

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LOUD WHISPERS like carrying 1929 Enugu Coal men to canvass for votes. Nothing will be gained both on the electoral field and in the public space.

This begins to make me suspect the competence of those handling Tinubu’s strategy. What demographics were they trying to capture – youths who love football?

Middle aged ones like me who adored these old soldiers or the critical mass who actually vote?

If you look at these three questions, the answer would be staring at you.

These gangs cannot do anything in those spaces.

They do not command any major interest amongst the football mad youths who have moved on with new heroes. My generation – 35- 55 are more discerning and wiser who will not even give Taribo or Kanu a fair hearing when serious political debate is going on. Can Taribo stand a heated debate on the dialectics of post-colonial hubris in the political space and its devastating effect on political cohesion in present day Nigerian state?

So, you see why Asiwaju has to look at his strategy team and ask them some very critical questions. I hope they are not just eating Amala and losing focus o.

WHEN IS TINUBU COMING TO AKWA IBOM? I have been watching and observing.

All the tours and trips being carried out

by Baba, he never reach our side o. Why hasn’t he visited us or is it because we are only six million people?

This thing is annoying me o. Reminds me of my former driver at BGL who once told me that his wife was worried that he was not cheating, asking him if she was the only woman in the world that wanted him.

My oga, even though we are not plenty and are fully right of centre making us lean more towards PDP than your APC, you should still come and at least eat our Afang.

Something tells me that even you, you know that by the time you come, we will distract you with our delicious soups, our wonderful topography both physical and human that Nigeria may just be saved with your decision to retire and spend the rest of your life with us on the beaches of Ibeno, swigging fresh palm wine and taking tours of our famed fattening rooms where you would be opened to the very best in curvy and voluptuous wonders.

Happened to my father-in-law, David Olude, the great war photographer from Ogun State who retired to Calabar with a wonderful number and only came back to Lagos to die and be buried by his wonderful son in law, me.

Mbok, someone should push Baba to Akwa Ibom o.

UNCLE SONI IRABOR: HAPPY 70TH Let me quickly send out a birthday shout out to my Uncle, Soni Irabor.

I spoke with him over the week and he mentioned he would be turning 70. I quickly used the opportunity to beg him to put me back into his WhatsApp group. They had kicked me out for putting nudity in the group.

Anyhow, Uncle agreed but till date he never put me back. I no vex, you know how old people dey forget easily. Uncle Soni don old, he don reach the stage where he would need to take a younger wife…….

Aghhhhhh sorry o I didn’t mean that o before Aunty Betty will come and knock my head.

Uncle has been an icon with his very

brilliant wife Aunty Betty. They have contributed significantly to the growth of the media industry and I wish them very well at this auspicious moment of Uncle Soni’s birthday. Happy birthday my lord.

WILLIE OBIANO: BUT WHY? Well, I heard the EFCC has disciplined the erring official who did that. That was low. Very low especially as nothing has been proven against the erstwhile governor. That was humiliating not only to him but to Nigerians as a whole.

The man had just had his wife slapped, 24 hours after being arrested and now this. Just how much can a man take? Not fair at all.

You see, the dignity of every man must be protected at all times, especially by our law enforcement agencies. Those days of military madness, when they go and plot a coup against themselves, they will still salute and say ‘Sir, you are under arrest’. In fact, as they are pushing them into Kirikiri, they still reserve their respect and dignity.

This Obiano’s picture has brought this matter to the fore. If you mistakenly

enter police trouble in this country, you will see the way they will take your testicles and wrap it around your legs and if you like some of us have small testicles then you have to look for something and give them to wrap o.

That picture was despicable, mischievous and a disgrace to the organisation it emanated from, serving no purpose. It should never happen again and I thank God they have done the needful. Good.

LAGOS STATE TASK FORCE OF THIEVES That was how I fell into a booby trap set up by the Lagos Task Force in Iganmu.

The management of the National Theatre had diligently put a ‘no entry’ sign by the road just before the iconic institution currently undergoing renovation but the ‘yeye’ task force people had removed the sign so that unwitting motorists would fall into their devilish trap.

That was how I fell o. I was going to the National Theatre to watch the rehearsal of my new play “Baba Kekere’ when I fell into their trap.

Before I realised it, three bikes carrying six of the dirtiest policemen

GLORY ETIM-EZIEKIEL: HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mayen is my only sister and she celebrated her birthday recently so you will permit me to serenade her here. She has always said, “Joe, won’t you ever write about me in your column? My friends all read you and will be saying when will your brother write about you.”

Na lie o, na style to be written about.

But why won’t I even write about my only sister?

She is my mother now. She stands like an Iroko tree in our family and envelopes all of us with her warmth. I love her so desperately, so madly that I fail to fathom life without her.

When I was arrested, people came to visit me inside the cell with all sorts of- why did they do this to you, you are the Duke of Shomolu. Let’s fight, let’s get Gani, let’s call Ambode. You never call Kekere-Ekun? Make we

Etim-Eziekel

jump fence, make we run away.

But Mayen came and just cried. That was all I needed at the time and she knew. She just held me and cried her eyes out. Me sef, I cry with am.

Na family thing, na only us sabi the thing. We both cried so tey the EFCC people weak sef. After the tear fest, she gave me Afang and walked away. That is my sister o, the great Mayen Glory Ezekiel. Ezekiel is her lovely husband who has been nothing but a true angel to the family.

Mayen will continue to be an illuminating and powerful figure in my life. I will love her for eternity and will continue to pray to God that she keeps her for me. She will grow and flourish in the name of Almighty God. All the prayer is because I never get money buy gift yet so we dey soften her with this write up so she no go remember say we never buy the perfume.

I have ever encountered in my life appeared, oozing alcohol and just smelly.

“Oga that na one way,” they barked.

I said “No, that turning is not one way by any stretch of the imagination.

I have taken the road all of my life.”

That was English.

Before I knew what was going on, they had ‘captured’ my car. Told me to jump in so that “we go talk.”

I said, “At least, make una wear facemask.”

They drove me towards Iganmu and the negotiations started. They said N350,000 or we ticket you and take you to the station.

“We are governor’s task force,” they kept saying with glee.

I said, “Please una no know me o. I be Duke of Shomolu, one phone call and career don end o. Make una just leave me and catch another mumu.”

They didn’t listen o. They were being commanded by an officer over the walkie talkie and he was screaming, “Anything over N300k collect and na cash.”

They said, “You see. It is over our heads.”

I told them to wait, let me call someone.

I called my Oga, a very diligent policeman and he spoke to them and their reply to him was “Oga, we have heard.” They turned to me and said, “That is English. Him dey office we dey road dey suffer. He cannot command us. Oya, as you don talk to oga bring N200,000.”

These policemen wanted to collect their pension and gratuity from me o. Me that used to defend their rights. Please anything that want to happen to the police let it happen abeg. Even if they want to owe their salary for eternity, their business. I no do again. I have suffered in police hand too much. Kai. Finally, we had found ourselves in the middle of nowhere between the National Theatre and Ijora. This was no man’s land and I was being robbed by those paid to protect me. The real robbers were just laughing as they walked past. One even said, “Oga when you finish with am send am here make I collect him wristwatch.”

Then I noticed that one of them spoke English with an Ishan accent. So, I said to him “my wife na Fugar, why you dey do me like this?”

He screamed “Na lie.”

So, I called my third wife who spoke their language and the man suddenly turned saviour. You see why polygamy is good.

Na “my in-law” he screamed. “No wonder I don dey look am since. Na my in-law.”

He told his brothers in crime to let me go and turned to me and said, “please give us anything wey you get, hungry too much. The one on the walkie talkie threatened to kill him and he blasted that one.

“I no fit do this kind thing to my in-law, he marry my sister.”

I gave him N50,000 as dash not bribe, because he saved me from his gang.

They now escorted me back to the theatre and waved me bye.

Now anytime I write about this kind of experience, police will now call me and be saying please can you identify the people the exact location. Mbok make nobody call me. I am not interested. This whole thing reeks from the low to the top as they were receiving instructions on a walkie talkie from someone with authority. If you are serious about ending this, you will know what to do. Please don’t call me o. I have not had an erection since that trauma, make una leave me let me go sort out my pain. Rubbish.

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Proud Moment for Abiodun Akinlade at 55

Celebrating Tony Elumelu, the Colossus of Africa’s Business at 59 It was Prof. Femi Osofisan, an acclaimed literary giant, who aptly titled one of his awardwinning plays, “Birthdays Are Not For Dying’’.

Indeed, birthdays are supposed to be occasions for the celebration of life by the living.

Birthdays are also a period when the celebrator takes stock of his or her life and feels like climbing the mountaintop to shout Hallelujah.

Undoubtedly, if there is any human being who has experienced the proverbial Seventh Heaven, typical of a woman who has just safely been delivered of a baby, it is no other than Tony Elumelu, the quintessential banker, businessman and philanthropist.

As this financial wizard celebrated his 59th birthday last Tuesday, not a few shared in his joy.

The reason is not far-fetched. The “birthday boy” means so many things to so many people in and outside the country.

Many of his friends, business associates as well as mentees, fans and admirers rained encomiums, goodwill and birthday messages on him.

Adewale Tinubu, Oando Group Chief Executive wrote on his Instagram account: “I

celebrate an energetic, vibrant and inspirational leader. Your steadfast commitment to sustainable prosperity via enterprise has made a profound difference in the lives of young entrepreneurs.

“Your support for the older entrepreneurs in the African business community as a whole has changed the narrative for the positive transformation of the continent. Wishing you many more transformative years. Happy Birthday Tony Elumelu.’’

Also, one of his mentees at Tony Elumelu Foundation wrote: “Today is a special day at the Tony Elumelu Foundation as it is our Founder @tonyoelumelu birthday!

We are wishing Africa’s foremost visionary a most wonderful birthday! TOE is a figure that embodies a total commitment to the growth of the African continent and all of our people.

His vision to democratise luck sits at the heart of all we do here at the Foundation in empowering African entrepreneurs, and his phenomenal journey remains an inspiration to many across the world.

Elumelu

Former Ondo Lawmaker, Olumide Araoyinbo, Gives Mother Grand Farewell

Akinlade

Call Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade a symbol of the true Ogun State dream, and you would be stating the obvious. By a mixture of sheer grit and hard work, he has become a rising star, a beacon of hope and a reference point not only in Yewa, Aworiland but in Ogun.

Akinlade, a former threeterm member of House of Representatives between 2003 and 2015, who turned 55 on March 21, is a man of destiny whose circumstances of his birth were unique and divine as he turned out to be the only surviving child of his mother from all previous eight female children. Little wonder, this amiable man has dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity.

Currently serving as Ogun State Federal Commissioner at the Federal Character Commission (FCC), the downto-earth, philanthropist and ever-smiling gentleman has received the endorsements of All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’, youths and the general public for the Ogun West senatorial seat in 2023.

With his avid drive to ensure that youths and women in Ogun are gainfully employed and empowered, he has continued to facilitate federal jobs for his people, support indigent folks, build and commission infrastructure, among others.

Aptly described by his admirers and supporters as Baba Omo Keke (father of young ones) for his large heart to the youths, especially in the Ogun West zone, the birthday boy who is the Baba Adinni of Yewaland, is a close ally of Governor Dapo Abiodun and leader of SWAGA for Bola Tinubu in Ogun.

A mother’s love is priceless. And losing a mother is, without doubts, one of the deepest sorrows that a man’s heart can experience.

Therefore, a child giving his mother a grand farewell is the least he can do for a caring mother.

That was exactly what Otunba Olumide Araoyinbo did when he buried his dear mum, Deaconess Roseline Oluwakemi Araoyinbo, last weekend.

The former Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, astute businessman and philanthropist spared no expenses to make the event a memorable one.

Expectedly, the historic town of Irun Akoko in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo stood still for days as the event turned into a festival of celebrations that lasted seven days.

Signs of what to expect began early in the week when activities kicked off with the traditional rites. Each day was allocated to traditional groups and musicians who danced around the length and breadth of the ancient town with plenty of food and drinks.

This was even as close friends and allies of

Araoyinbo

the chief mourner began to troop in days to the final ceremony to have a taste of the rustic town.

Olumide Araoyinbo, popularly known as Sokoto among his pals, did not disappoint, as he left no stone unturned in his bid to give his precious mum a befitting burial.

The ceremony, which began on Monday, climaxed on Friday when the A-list guests began to troop into the town.

Among the guests at the church service were former Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Adetokunbo Kayode; former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, former Attorney-General of Ondo State, Seinde Kumuyi and the APC Chairman in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin.

Others include former speakers of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oluwasegunota Bolarinwa and Rt. Hon. Abdusallam Taofik, Rear Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade (rtd), former deputy speaker, Rt. Hon Iroju Ogundeji and several members of the State’s House of Assembly.

Folashade Okoya’s Under-reported Adroitness

Okoya

Forty-four-year-old Folashade Okoya is a dazzling beauty. She is one of the few women whose beauty would make any full-blooded man drool.

With four kids, she still has what many

models will spend fortunes to possess: attractive curvature, come-hither-look and shape. Such is the power of her beauty. And it is all these rare qualities, in addition to her commanding dress sense, that usually makes the stunning beauty the cynosure of eyes at any public event.

She is a showstopper any time, any day. The light-complexioned woman lives like a queen; and even when she attends a function with A-list society women, her style and fashion sense stand out. But if you think this is all there is about this stunningly beautiful woman, you are wrong.

The dazzling beauty may seem fragile, but what is enveloped inside is a very intelligent and powerful woman.

This is definitely what is not reported about the woman of substance.

She has turned her husband’s company over since she assumed the position of Managing Director of the company in 2013.

Society Watch gathered that the mother of four is a very hardworking woman; and she has used her ingenuity, shrewdness and brilliance to turn around the almost moribund Eleganza Industries. She has successfully re-jigged the company from its former declining state to a flourishing one that became a brand to beat in the sector.

It was revealed that she had literally wrought a lot of wonders in the areas of restructuring, organising and saving costs through leadership at the new Eleganza Industrial City, which is being positioned as the number one manufacturing organisation in the whole of Africa. ‘’Since she assumed office as Managing Director, MD of Eleganza Industrial City, she has repositioned the company in a positive environment. The company had suffered major lapses in the past. However, the company has undergone major improvements and is now bigger, better structured. Under her leadership, Eleganza has new visions, a new mission and a culture aimed to propel the company in the direction of being the number one producer of all household items. Today I am proud to say that Eleganza is stronger and with higher quality products,” our source added.

Many will recall that when the tall and beautiful lady got married to her billionaire husband, not many gave the marriage any chance of survival, given the age difference between them and how many celebrity marriages had crashed in the past.

But 23 years later, the couple has shamed their critics, as the marriage has endured.

Real Estate Guru, Dele Phillips Bags Award When you are good at what you do, you will always be recognized and placed high among your peers.

So it was for the very enterprising and officious Dele Phillips, a real estate player and hospitality business guru when he bagged the Outstanding Businessman and Inspiring Leadership Award at the fourth Timeline Awareness Initiatives/Award that held at The Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja Lagos.

This year’s edition which had ‘Imperative of Harmonised Working Relationship between Arms of Government’ as its theme, had many

distinguished personalities in attendance.

Phillips, according to the organisers, was recognised and awarded based on his exemplary business sagacity and leadership qualities, which have severally and individually distinguished him from his peers over the years.

The very focused and well-intentioned businessman is a native of Aramoko in Ekiti State. He owns the Shores Group that has in its stable the Shores Hotel and Restaurant and Lounge, both in Lekki and Victoria Island, and also the Shores Resort, at the Free Trade Zone, which is ongoing at the moment.

Phillips

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

27.3.2022

AT THE ABUJA ART FAIR, IT WAS A HARVEST OF TALENTS A recent international art fair in Abuja – thanks to a collaboration between the National Gallery of Art (NGA) and the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) – offers private galleries in the federal capital city a rare opportunity to put their best foot forward, says Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

T

hat Thursday, March 17, early afternoon, the festive ambience of the elegant – albeit slightly old-fashioned – Cyprian Ekwensi Cultural Centre had nothing to do with St. Patrick’s Day. Besides, who celebrates that here, anyway? Rather, it has to do with the works by diverse artists, which, by proclaiming their quirks and career paths, adorned the stalls in its village square-like FRXUW\DUG 7XFNHG DZD\ VRPHZKHUH RͿ D winding, bustling thoroughfare in Abuja's Garki Area 10, this venue, which used to be originally known as the Arts and Culture Complex, is well-positioned as an edifying oasis amid the bedlam of this cultural wasteland. For the city’s growing art comPXQLW\ LWV VHUHQH DPELHQFH RͿHUV DQ HVFDSH and a welcome respite from the mammondriven activities of its surroundings.

Is it surprising, therefore, that it got the nod as the favoured venue for the maiden edition of the Abuja International Art Fair, which the National Gallery of Art (NGA) organised in collaboration with the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA)?

This art fair, which ended on Wednesday, March 23, is a long-overdue addition to the federal capital city's calendar of cultural events. Local cognoscenti can't help but draw parallels between its advent and WKH SUHFXUVRU\ FROODERUDWLYH HͿRUWV between the NGA and gallery owners operating under the aegis of the Art Galleries Association of Nigeria (AGAN).

The collaboration, it was, that subseTXHQWO\ ELUWKHG ÀYH XQLQWHUUXSWHG \HDUV RI Art Expo Lagos. And about the art expo, the current NGA’s director-general, Ebeten William Ivara, said it “was designed with the intention to showcase the best of Nigerian art besides those of master artists in the national collection.”

This was while delivering his welcome address before an audience during the art fair’s well-attended opening ceremony in DQ DGMRLQLQJ QHDU FDSDFLW\ ÀOOHG KDOO WR WKH courtyard.

Meanwhile, the parastatal’s dogged HͿRUWV DW LQFOXVLYHQHVV IRXQG H[SUHVVLRQ LQ its extension of the art fair largesse beyond Lagos and Abuja to other cities like Jos and Enugu, among others. The idea, according to Ivara, was “to showcase artworks peculiar to the zones in the country.”

With the promise of more such outreach events to come, the NGA hopes to regale DÀFLRQDGRV ZLWK D FRFNWDLO RI YLVXDO IDUHV from virtually every part of Nigeria. “What we have today,” Ivara stressed, “are the best of the best from the private galleries in WKH )&7 (ͿRUWV DUH RQ WR JHW HPEDVVLHV LQ Abuja to participate.”

Talking about embassies’ participation, a strong representation of the Chinese Embassy at the opening ceremony led by LWV &XOWXUDO &RXQVHOORU /L ;XGD RͿHUV D glimmer of hope in this regard.

If the recently concluded harvest of

R - L: President, SNA, Muhammad Sulaiman, Cultural Counselor, Embassy of China, Li Xuda, DG, NCAC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe and DG, NGA, Ebeten Ivara at the opening of the maiden International Art Fair Abuja

talents – dubbed the International Art Fair – seemed like a pale reprise of the NGA's previous ambitious projects, one of which was the African Regional Summit on the Visual Arts (ARESUVA), it is because the current conditions GR VHHP VWLÁLQJ WR FUHDWLYH HQGHDYRXUV Back then, the gallery seemed able to FRPIRUWDEO\ DͿRUG WR KRVW D FRWHULH RI artists from a handful of other African countries for about a week in Abuja.

Of course, the weeklong art fair was not just about displaying the creative potential of Nigerian artists. It also opened further channels for their empowerment through networking, which the following day's meet-andgreet event was meant to achieve.

Besides, there was the lurking expectation that visitors to the fair would ultimately wish to acquire some of the artworks.

Back to the opening ceremony. It was an ideal setting for a renewed appeal by the NGA director-general “for a SHUPDQHQW HGLÀFH IRU WKH 1DWLRQDO Gallery of Art, which will house the national collection and host future events such as this.” This was further backed by his prediction that the patronage of the local and international art enthusiasts would, in the long run, generate enormous revenue for the government. ´,QGHHG VLQFH , DVVXPHG R΀FH , VFDOHG XS HͿRUWV WRZDUGV JHWWLQJ D

JDOOHU\ HGLÀFH IRU 1*$ µ KH FRQWLQXHG ´, wish to state clearly that Nigeria is one of the few countries in Africa and the world at ODUJH WKDW GRHV QRW KDYH D EHÀWWLQJ HGLÀFH DV its National Gallery of Art. The result is that most of the artworks in our national collection are kept in an unconducive environment. This situation cannot continue.

“I am determined to ensure that NGA JHWV D EHÀWWLQJ HGLÀFH DW WKH VKRUWHVW possible time. Besides having a conducive environment to display our artworks, visual artists will now have alternative spaces to exhibit their works. In the same vein, [the] government will begin to earn revenue as fees will be charged [to] visitors who come to view the artworks on permanent and temporary exhibitions. Also, a sculpture garden will be available for sculptors to do their work.”

Such unwavering dedication to realisLQJ WKH JDOOHU\ V HGLÀFH GUHDP WKUHDWHQV to overshadow his willingness to carry along the industry's stakeholders. Back in December 2020, the NGA, under his watch, held a stakeholders’ meeting to chart a way forward for the visual arts in Nigeria. “A major takeaway from that meeting was the resolve to make NGA revenue-generating and visual artists gainfully engaged.”

Speaking about "takeaways", the information, culture and tourism minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was represented by the National Council for Arts and Culture’s director-general, Otumba Olusegun Runsewe, found it “instructive” that the

event was held in Abuja, which among the cognoscenti is not a traditional destination for the visual arts. “I commend the National Gallery of Art for this event ZKLFK , EHOLHYH ZLOO KDYH WKH ULSSOH HͿHFW of scaling up art exhibitions in the FCT and spurring patronage of artworks by art connoisseurs and other art lovers,” he enthused, saying that he was “particularly thrilled” by the collaboration with the SNA. “The federal government encourages partnerships and other forms of bridge-building across the board for its Ministries, Departments and Agencies for HͿHFWLYH VHUYLFH GHOLYHU\ µ The minister also disclosed the federal government’s willingness to make art a viable venture. This is premised on the need to diversify the nation’s economy and make it less reliant on oil. “I encourage all of you to see art not just as a vocation but [also] as a lucrative profession. It is in the light of this that I view today’s programme as a building block to an enduring future for our teeming youth.”

Also present at the occasion was the representative of the Senate Committee Chairman on Culture and Tourism, Senator Rochas Okorocha, and the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello; the Sakaruyi of Karu, Emmanuel Kyauta Yepwi; Tai Solarin University of Education art lecturer, Professor Funke Ifeta; and Ahmadu Bello 8QLYHUVLW\ =DULD ÀQH DUWV SURIHVVRU -HUU\ Buhari, among others.

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

68

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MARCH 27, 2022

APC CONVENTION IN PICTURES

L-R: Former National Chairmen of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Mr. Adams Oshiomhole; and National Chairman-elect, Senator Abdullahi Adamu

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai

L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari; and Caretaker Committee Chairman, Alahji Mai Mala Buni L-R: Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Fani Kayode; Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello; and his deputy, Edward Onoja

L-R: Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamza, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire

L-R: National Leader of APC, Senator Bola Tinubu; former Interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande; and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi

69

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27, 2022

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Mitigating Nigeria’s Oil Theft Quagmire Emmanuel Addeh, in this piece, chronicles the seemingly deep-seated challenge that the growing crude oil theft poses to Nigeria’s economy as well as national security, touching on the renewed efforts being currently mounted by the authorities to resolve the intractable problem

C

rude oil theft is not new in Nigeria. Indeed, the first report of stealing of the commodity dates back to the 80s when the military was still firmly in charge of administering the country. Since then, discussions surrounding the phenomenon have gained national prominence.

However, what is different now is the sheer volume of crude oil lost to non-state actors and the manner the situation has disrupted the nation’s economy.

To be sure, as far as a decade ago, oil theft was already an issue in the country’s hydrocarbons sector. In fact, precisely in 2012, a former Managing Director of the multinational oil giant, Shell, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, had after a tour of bunkering described the development as “extremely saddening and worrisome.”

If anything was done like Sunmonu suggested, what has become abundantly clear, is that it was too little and too half-hearted to have any meaningful impact.

Although several layers of security arrangements and special units have been set up by the federal government under various names, the problem has, as it were, gone from bad to worse.

This is so much so that it is not only pinching the industry players, dwarfing government revenues, but has indeed despoiled the environment.

In its wake, crude oil theft in Nigeria, rumoured to be carried out with the connivance of security personnel, community actors and even with the endorsement of top government officials, is not only threatening the Nigerian economy, but has imperilled the operations of the companies in the sector.

Finally, it is hitting home as the International Oil Companies (IOCs) begin divestment of their assets and indigenous Nigerian businessmen take over the running of the facilities.

As it is, whereas over 30 years ago, Nigeria could produce over two million barrels of oil per day seamlessly, today it struggles to drill as little as 1.4 million, even though the quota handed down by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is almost climbing 1.8 million bpd.

While oil producing nations are boosting their foreign reserves and National Oil Companies (NOCs) are declaring massive profits and bonuses, Nigeria, ironically, is worried about the rising price of oil which has now settled above

Silva the $100 per barrel mark.

Prospective investors in the sector are literally on the run. Those caught in the space already are lamenting their unfortunate situations as they count their losses.

The cacophony of voices bewailing the complete deterioration of the country’s oil and gas industry has increased in the last few weeks.

Ordinarily reticent and conservative players in the industry have spoken up vehemently about the weight of losses they carry.

From the angry to the helpless, some of the players have expressed their despondency at the intractable crisis in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

Last week, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, who spoke at the end of the 284th monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja, blamed the trend of oil theft for the inability of Nigeria to meet its oil production quota.

Describing the situation as unprecedented, he stated that the occurrence has had a debilitating

effect on government revenue and accretion to reserves, adding that the global prices have gone up and are compounded by the shortage of supply of petroleum products.

Chairman, IPPG, Mr. Abdulrasaq Isa, speaking a fortnight ago at the 5th Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES), like Sunmonu said that the challenge should be tackled before it finally kills the sector.

Less than two weeks ago, Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO), operators of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) pipeline, threatened to exit the facility due to incessant vandalism, sabotage and outright theft.

Last Monday, THISDAY reported a Co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc, Mr Austin Avuru as calling for a state of emergency in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, revealing that up to 80 per cent of oil pumped in the country, particularly in the East, is stolen.

Incidentally, Avuru’s comments came days after a businessman and Chairman Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu, similarly bemoaned the worsening

state of the industry, stressing that about 95 per cent of oil production does not get to the terminal. Elumelu has his oil assets in the Niger Delta.

Dissatisfied with the rising complaints, during the week, President Muhammadu Buhari deployed the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, in the Niger Delta to assess and put a final stop to the problem.

Speaking during the on-the-spot assessment, Kyari stated that the government had concluded plans to move against oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and illegal activities threatening the country’s oil sector.

He noted that the government would leave no stone unturned to arrest the increasing spate of oil theft and destruction of the environment which had cost the country foreign exchange earnings.

The NNPC GMD stressed that no stakeholders will be left out in the quest to find a lasting solution, adding that the Navy were also on top of the situation. He assured that the task of destroying illegal oil refineries will not stop until the problem is resolved.

Subsequently, along with the team, Kyari visited the 146 Battalion, Finima, Bonny Island, where he tasked the special outfit to ensure that there is zero tolerance for illegal activities across the oil and gas sector.

Also shut down were the Gogokiri site, said to be the biggest bunkering area in Bayelsa, in addition to the destruction of a storage facility at Igbalele in the state as well as the demolition of the Okarki site where oil thieves laid pipeline and tapped oil from a community in Abua community, near Rivers.

In Ahoada, Rivers, the GMD stated that the bid to put an end to the activities of the saboteurs will be relentless until the country got rid of them, pointing out that the strategy being adopted will finally arrest the situation.

Also on the team deployed by the president were the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor and the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe.

If anything, the recent renewed vigour by the federal government, gives some hope that perhaps, very soon the theft of Nigeria’s commonwealth will be a thing of the past and that the country can truly enjoy its God-given resources.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

Al-Makura’s Unusual Reward for Loyalty

Al-Makura

Asthedustcreatedbysomeoftheeventsthatled toyesterday’snationalconventionoftheAllProgressivesCongress(APC)struggletosettle,manypeople have been left with permanent emotional damage, because of how the party leadership handled the competing interests with reckless abandon.

But one man whose disappointment comes with an eternally painful scar, is a former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Tanko Al-Makura. From many of the loyalists of the president to other stakeholders of the party, no one has been able to rationalise, let alone defend the factors that informed the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari, to ditch Al-Makura.

First off, understand this. Aside the mythical 15 million votes, which had always been attributed

to Buhari’s electoral value, even though those humongous votes had failed to elect him at three different epochs, Al-Makura was the only equity, being the only Congress for Progressive Change state, that Buhari took with him to the negotiating table, and ultimately entitled the CPC partners to a stake in the APC merger.

In other words, had there not been an Al-Makura, Buhari would not have been able to boast of any entitlementatall,letalonethedegreehearrogantly lays claim to today. Yet, he didn’t deem it fit to consider Al-Makura for the office of the chairman of the party, even when he knew that the man desired to be in that office.

Interestingly, not only did Al-Makura set out early to indicate interest in the party chairman-

ship, every major APC member with a stake and sense of history, had also been working for the realisation of his aspiration, thinking he had not only the competence and capacity, but a moral right to aspire to the office.

But,suddenly,withoutanyexplanationorapology, Buhari woke up one day and chose a man from the same state and predecessor to Al-Makura; a man, who migrated from the opposition PDP and one of those,whocreatedproblemsforAl-MakuraasCPC governor, as his choice for party chairman. What a precious reward for loyalty! An unusual reward for staying the cause and standing strong for the Buharibrandandideals.Al-Makurawillneverforget this day and deservedly so. Perhaps, this is just the Buhari they all never really knew.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27, 2022

70

BRIEFINGNOTES Is National Assembly Daring Buhari on Electoral Act? With the refusal of the members of the National Assembly to expunge the controversial section of the Electoral Act as requested by President Muhammadu Buhari and their decision to challenge the court’s judgment that ordered the deletion of the section, Ejiofor Alike writes that the federal lawmakers have reneged on the promise made by their leadership to accede to every good request made by the president

F

ollowing the frosty relationship between the presidency and the leadership of the eighth National Assembly led by a former PresidentoftheSenate,Dr.Bukola Saraki, and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the presidency had shown interest in the emergence of the leadership of the ninth National Assembly. To ensure the emergence of a leadership that would be loyal to him, President Muhammadu Buhari, as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was said to have anointed Dr. Ahmad Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to lead the ninth National Assembly. Lawan and Gbajabiamila had in June 2019 emerged as the President of the Senate and the Speaker of House of Representatives, respectively, with Buhari’s support. The Senator representing Yobe North had polled 79 votes to defeat the Senator representing Borno-South senatorial district, Ali Ndume, who polled less than 28 votes. On his part, Gbajabiamila had also polled 281 votes to defeat Hon. Umar Bago, who scored 76 votes. In return for the president’s support, the two leaders had promised that the federal lawmakers would work collaboratively with the executive.

Unlike the Saraki-led National Assembly, which rejected some of the president’s request, Lawan had on several occasions promised that the ninth National Assembly would approve any request made by President Buhari because it would be for the good of the country. He had on one occasion declared that any request President Buhari sent to the Senate would make Nigeria better.

For instance, while receiving the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay in his office in Abuja, Lawan had declared that: “I want to assure you that any request that comes from Mr. President is a request that will make Nigeria a better place in terms of appointments or legislation and the Senate will act expeditiously to ensure that we play our part in the confirmation or passing of legislation appropriately.”

The high level of collaboration between the National Assembly and the executive arm eventually earned the Lawan-led federal lawmakers a rubber-stamp status. The legislature has been accused of backing the president is his borrowing spree.

Despite the criticisms that followed Buhari’s requesttotheSenatefortheapprovalofa$29.96 billion loan, the National Assembly eventually granted his request.

In November 2018, the Saraki-led Eighth Senate had unanimously thrown out the presi-

Buhari dent’s request for the loan, insisting that the letter conveying it was not accompanied by a borrowing plan.

However, with the recent turn of events, this promised collaboration between the two arms of government appears to be shaky as the ambitions of the lawmakers ahead of the 2023 general election may have become their top priority.The latest test of their loyalty came recently when President Buhari signed the ElectoralActwiththebeliefthatthelawmakers would accede to his request as usual and delete a portion of it considered unconstitutional.

Buhari while signing the amended bill into law in February 2022, had urged the lawmakers to expunge Section 84(12) of the Act, in line with the agreement he had with their leadership.

The clause reads: “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomina-

tion of candidates for any election.” However, the Federal High Court in Abuja, later barred President Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Senate President from tampering with the newly amended Act. The judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on an ex-parte application by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the Electoral Act having become a valid law could not be altered without following the due process of law.

Ekwo agreed with the PDP’s lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), that the proper place to challenge the validity of any existing law is a court of competent jurisdiction.

Before the court judgment, there were feelers that the National Assembly was already plotting to renege on their agreement with the president. But reacting to the court order, Lawanhadvowedthatthecourtrulingwouldnot

stop the legislature from amending the bill again.

“I find it very necessary to talk at this point because with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, our governance system is based on the presidential system of government where there is a clear cut separation of powers and exercise of powers.

“The judiciary under no circumstance can stop the legislature, the National Assembly from performing its legislative duties. We know what our due processes are. Just like we won’t venture in what the judiciary does, the judiciary should understand that we have our processes.

“IbelievethemembersoftheNationalAssembly know their work, know their onions and would do what is right. This is due process, we are not doing anything outside the law. It is within our exclusive right to consider whatever request we receive from Nigerians either from the Executive or private member bill,” he reportedly said during plenary,” Lawan said.

But when the president’s request came up at the plenary, the Senate bluntly rejected it, despite Lawan’s promise. The bill had scaled the first reading, but was rejected after Senator Yahaya Abdullahi made the lead debate for its second reading.

But a fast one was played on the federal lawmakers when a Federal High Court in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, presided by Justice Evelyn Anyadike declared illegal the disputed section of the Act, and directed the federal government to delete it. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, promptly said his office would soon comply with the court order.

But strong indications that they were not sincere in their promise to amend the Act as requested by Buhari emerged when the Senate and the House of Representatives separately condemned the court order and vowed to take immediate action on it.

The Senate and the House of Representatives had separately reached a decision to appeal the judgment at their plenary on Wednesday.

The House had also resolved to report Justice Anyadike to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for empowering Malami to delete the section from the Act. Is the National Assembly daring Buhari because his tenure is coming to an end? Is their rejection of the president’s request a sign of greater challenges they will give the president in the coming months? While Nigerians wait for the events of the next few months to provide answers to these questions, the rejection of the president’s request was against the collaboration between these two arms of government.

NOTES FOR FILE

Bizarre Crowning of Murder Suspect by Kirikiri Prison

Haliru Nababa

Nigerians recently witnessed a bizarre development when the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Kirikiri, unveiled a murder suspect and 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Miss Chidinma Ojukwu, as the winner of its beauty pageant.

Ojukwu is standing trial at the Lagos High Court, for the alleged murder on June 21, 2021 of the Chief Executive Officer of SuperTV, Mr. Usifo Ataga.

There was outrage on social media when pictures of the pageant flooded the internet.

The beauty pageant was held within the Kirikiri prison onTuesday, March 8, 2022 where Ojukwu was said to have been crowned Miss Cell 2022.

Though she is presumed innocent until convicted

by a court of law, never in the history of the Nigeria Prisons was a murder suspect treated with so much love and affection by the prison authorities as in her case.

The Kirikiri Prison authorities ignored the psychological trauma being suffered by Ataga’s friends and family members and organised such image-laundering event for a suspect who should focus all her energy on how to prove her innocence of such heinous crime.

What gave Chidinma the peace of mind to prepare for such competition if her fate is actually uncertain?Tongues are already wagging that those behind the killing may have been responsible for the love and affection she is receiving so that she

won’t spill the beans. Is there something the prison authorities know, which Nigerians do not know about her case? Why did the prison organise the beauty pageant and allow such awaiting trial inmate to participate?

In its shameful defence of this ignoble act, the prisons’ Lagos State Command said the pageant was only one of several other activities organised to mark International Women’s Day (IWD).

Kirikiri Prison’s action was a disgrace to women because IWD is celebrated annually on March 8, to commemorate the social, political and economic achievements of women.The question is: What are the social, political and economic achievements of Chidinma that she should deserve such honour?

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27, 2022

CICERO/ISSSUES

Fanning the Embers of Religious Discord Ahead of 2023 Elections The recent creation of the Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance by the Redeemed Christian Church of God to mobilise support for members who engage in politics, and the call by the Senator Bola Tinubu on the Supreme Council for Shari’ah to emulate the church, are capable of aggravating the current polarisation of Nigerians along religious lines, Vanessa Obioha reports

T

he Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) recently stirred the hornet’s nest when it created the Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance to engage members willing to be involved in politics and “mobilise support for them when required.”

The church, led by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, revealed this in a memo addressed to all regions, provinces, zones and other levels of the church. The mission said the directorate was created for the political education of its members. The directorate, it was learnt, would also prod members of the church to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2023 general election.

The memo dated February 28, 2022, and titled, ‘Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance’ has the reference number: RCCG/ AGO/ADM/AA/MEMO/20/01/2022. It was signed by the Assistant General Overseer in charge of Administration and Personnel, Pastor John Odesola.

The memo partly read, “We write to formally notify you that the mission authority has created the Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance in the RCCG. Further to this, Pastor Timothy Olaniyan (PICP Lagos Province 12) has been appointed to lead the Office.

“You are kindly requested to appoint with immediate effect a Provincial Officer for your province and also ensure that the same is done at all levels of the church – zone, area and parish. The essence of this directorate is to help coordinate the engagement of our people who are willing to be involved in politics as well as mobilise support for them when required.”

RCCG directed its parishes to send the details of its nominated coordinators for the office to Odesola within two weeks of receipt of the letter. Its Head of Media and Public Relations, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, said the directorate would sensitise members of the church for active political participation.

“One thing I know is that we have a directorate on politics and governance to galvanise opinion and views to discuss issues as they occur, not only in Nigeria but globally, because as Christians we cannot afford to act ignorantly. It is to serve as a form of sensitisation (for those interested in politics) and to mobilise our people to register and play their own roles, collect PVCs. Those who are interested, let them join the political party they choose.”

Olubiyi further emphasised that while the church supports active political involvement by its members, it does not have a preferred political party. “As far as the Redeemed Christian Church of God is concerned, we don’t have any favourite party,” the official added.

Arguably the largest church in Nigeria with parishes in over 190 nations of the world, RCCG has prominent members and pastors in politics, including Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); wife of the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Remi Tinubu; among others.

The decision to create the new directorate sparked varied reactions among Nigerians, with some accusing the church of God of pandering to partisanship, which many believed was an aberration to Christendom and its ecclesiastical norms.

However, churches have always been mobilising their members to always obtain their voters’ cards. They have also encouraged Christians with the fear of God to join politics in order to curb massive corruption and other vices that have stunted development in the country.

But with the sensitivity of religious issues

Adeboye in Nigeria, care should be taken not to mix religious and politics in Nigeria so as not to plunge the country into religious war.

First to publicly react to the RCCG’s decision was the publisher of Ovation Magazine, Mr. Dele Momodu, who warned the church that it might face a moral crisis if it supports Osinbajo and the presidential ambition he’s allegedly nursing.

Momodu warned that the easiest way to create trouble in Nigeria today is to attempt to mix religion with politics.

“Naturally, I feel that I owe it a duty to tell our church leaders, and our Church in general, the Gospel truth and nothing but the absolute truth. In the light of my relationship with the RCCG, this duty is even more imperative and compelling. I believe the leaders of the RCCG have laboured so hard to build one of the most formidable churches in the world.

Nothing must be done to inadvertently cause a cataclysmic storm in the House of God. “And the easiest way to create trouble in Nigeria today is any attempt to mix religion with politics. It goes beyond lighting the blue touch paper. It is like combining some highly combustible ingredients in a chemical laboratory. It is not just that the effect may not be too pleasant; it is that the result and consequences will be catastrophic. God forbid.”

Momodu reminded the RCCG that Osinbajo is not the only member of the church who might have an ambition for the presidency.

According to him, he’s also a member of the RCCG with his ambition for the 2023 Presidency already public. Momodu also reminded RCCG that Senator Remi Tinubu is a member of the church, while her husband, Senator Bola Tinubu, a Muslim, has declared his ambition for the 2023 presidency.

Momodu argued that the churches should avoid anything that could further escalate the huge religious and socio-political conflagration already ravaging the country.

But the Executive Director, Centre for Free Speech Organisation, Mr. Richard Akinnola, described the negative reactions generated over the decision as mischievous and out-

Tinubu of-order. Akinnola, a veteran journalist and activist, opined that the criticism of the church was a ploy by certain ‘political actors’ to cause division within the “Body of Christ”.

“In the run-up to the 2015 election, Vice President Osinbajo was the running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari, but to the best of my knowledge, Pastor Adeboye did not at any time come out to ask members of his church to vote for Osinbajo, who is a senior pastor in the church. Rather, recall that Adeboye actually prayed for the then President Goodluck Jonathan who had come to him for his blessings right in the presence of Osinbajo,” he said.

Akinnola noted that politicians of different parties, regardless of political affiliations, attend the RCCG, including governors Samuel Ortom of Benue and Duoye Diri of Bayelsa – both of PDP. “So, it is disingenuous for anyone to suggest that the memo of the RCCG on politics was targeted at garnering support for the presidential ambition of the vice president, a clarification which the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Christian Association of Nigeria have made,” he added.

Despite the explanation by the church to counter whatever displeasure people have with the creation of the new department, Senator Bola Tinubu, through Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Chief Tunde Badmus, has urged the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria to equally create a political directorate that will garner support for Muslim ummah interested in vying for political posts.

Badmus spoke in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, at the Annual National Conference and Pre-Ramadan.

The religious leader, who represented ex-Lagos State governor, at the event, noted that other religious groups had commenced creating such a directorate that would promote their preferred candidates.

He also emphasized the need to support Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, and ensure he was re-elected for another term, being the only Muslim governor in the

South-west.

“Other religious groups have commenced political participation by creating political departments or directorates among themselves to promote their own. You should create a political wing among yourselves so that it will further gear your participation in politics. It will be a good platform to support your brothers who are vying for political positions.”

Tinubu himself, who has declared his intention to run for president of the country, urged the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in the country to emulate RCCG by creating a department of political affairs. He said creating the department would help to promote political awareness among the faithful towards producing a Muslim president in 2023.

While soliciting the congregation’s support towards realising his presidential bid, Tinubu stressed the need to ensure that Muslims, like other groups must ensure that followers participate in the country’s political process effectively. He disclosed that he would visit the council across the state to solicit support to make his presidential ambition a reality.

Many have faulted Tinubu’s call, describing it as the height of bigotry. They noted that having enjoyed massive support from Christians over the years, his request is not only divisive but smacks of ungratefulness.

They equally called on political leaders and religious organisations to avoid anything that could further escalate the huge religious and socio-political problems already ravaging the country. They argued that toeing this path would only create palpable anarchy that would end up in a cacophony and cause misery and upheaval to the people.

RCCG’s decision and Tinubu’s subtle sensitisation of Muslims are capable of fueling further division of Nigerians along religious lines. Nigerian politicians have by their actions and inactions demonstrated that they are only interested in their selfish agenda and would not mind setting a section of the country on fire to realise their ambitions. The use of religion as a tool to pursue their ambition will only worsen the threat to Nigeria’s unity.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27, 2022

CICERO/REPORT

AbdulRazaq

Lawan

Lawan Rates AbdulRazaq’s Performance High in Kwara Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, during his visit to Kwara State recently, rated Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq very high on performance and project deliveries, saying his administration’s achievements have surpassed that of his predecessors, Kayode Alfred writes

A

sudden excitement seizes on Kwara as you read; it’s subdued yet electric. The chatter pauses for an instant, then erupts with cultured determination, sometimes, in wild abandon. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is on song. He is the poetised visionary and the crowning progressive, the nurturant leader on whose watch Kwara has regained its greening.

Governor AbdulRazaq has earned the citizenry’s good graces, no doubt. He is a revolutionary leader and Prince Charming in one breadth. Before him there was nothing. Kwara careened and listed to the plunder of rapacious oligarchs. But at Abdulrazaq’s foray into the state’s political arena, Kwara, hitherto distraught, like the proverbial bride who lost her beauty and allure to the ravage of foul-minded suitors.

Kwara, proudly identified as the “State of Harmony,” lost its congruent repose amid the ruckus of rancorous oligarchs. The state, erstwhile notable for its rich melange of culture and ethnicity, lost its fabled peace and unity to the dissembling of felonious sons of the soil.

But no sooner did Governor AbdulRazaq assume the mantle of office than Kwara experienced the rejuvenation that eluded it throughout the locust years of the Bukola Saraki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government and Saraki’s successor, Abdulfattah Ahmed’s unremarkable administration.

Infinitely gracious and sagacious, yet elaborately simple, Governor AbdulRazaq, has redirected the affairs of the state towards more promising trajectories, since he took over.

With unequalled grace, he has quietly gained the confidence of his people courtesy of the massive developmental projects that he initiated in the state. Many of these projects are ongoing in the state.

For instance, before his administration came into being, pipe-borne water was hard to come by in the state. Most residents relied on water tankers for their daily usage, while some who have the means provided their personal water supply system. Even the Government House suffered a dearth of water supply hence it also patronised the water vendors. This was

undoubtedly an eyesore in the estimation of concerned citizens and illustrious sons of Kwara State, like Abdulrazaq, hence he intervened.

To put an end to this ugly situation, within his first year in office, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq embarked on projects that will ensure a seamless supply of water in the state.

These include; rehabilitation of Lafiagi Water Works, rehabilitation of Asa-Dam Water Works, rehabilitation of Patigi Water Works, rehabilitation of Igbaja Water Works, rehabilitation of Kaiama Water Works, rehabilitation of Gwanara Water Works, rehabilitation of Up Kwara Water.

The Governor also ensured the refurbishment of Agbabiaka Water Tanks Ilorin, rehabilitation of Yashikira Waterworks, rehabilitation of Oro-Ago Water Works, Inter-connection of Eastern Reservoir, and Awolowo Road in Tanke, diversion of ductile iron pipes across Alagbado stream, repair of Lafiagi Water Works and its environment, among others.

Abdulrazaq’s intervention attains better resonance at the heel of water scarcity foisted on the state by previous administrations. In 2019, for instance, just about 6,725 households were connected to public water sources in Kwara. However, none of these households was getting water since the waterworks were either non-active, inoperative even as water corporation staffs were on strike to protest their unpaid salaries. The people were left at the mercy of politicians who moved round with water tankers in exchange for votes.

This has changed. To date, Governor Abdulrazaq’s administration has increased the number of households connected to public water supply to 10,426, that is, about 55 percent with defined access to potable water.

The number of public water stand pipes has risen by 1,107 more, or 72.31%. Measured against the population of the state, the figure is low but it represents a significant turnaround in the system. The administration has not only revived many of the moribund waterworks, including the one in Oyun, it is also building two new ones in Jebba (Moro) and Dumagi (Edu).

Aside from his remarkable success at restoring the state’s water supply, Governor

AbdulRazaq has scored inspiring feats in the state’s erstwhile comatose education sector.

Since he assumed office, Governor AbdulRazaq has given priority to education in the state.

The sector had hitherto suffered neglect by previous administrations leading to the state being blacklisted from accessing the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) fund for more than seven years before his emergence as the governor.

It would be recalled that, prior to AbdulRazaq’s emergence as Kwara governor, the state foundered under the leadership of his immediate past predecessor, Ahmed. A major legacy of the Ahmed and Saraki administrations was the ghostly nature of the Kwara hinterlands.

That was a function of many things, atop of which is the lack of basic amenities like functional schools with teachers, healthcare facilities, drinkable water, and access roads.

Most schools in the Kwara hinterlands were without teachers, worsening the out-of-school children syndrome and drastically reducing the quality of education. In Isin and Oke Ero local governments, for instance, less than 50 percent of their senior secondary school teachers’ needs were met. Kaiama had just 68 teachers, falling below 45 percent of its needs, across its vast communities. Patigi had just 121, while Ekiti boasted just 135.

AbdulRazaq’s intervention in education, however, ensured new dawn of effectiveness and promise in the state; on his watch, Kwara accessed a backlog of N7.1 billion UBEC counterpart funds with a matching grant of N7.1 billion - these funds have been instrumental in no small measure to the gradual repositioning of schools and general improvement in education delivery in Kwara.

The state is also carrying out renovation works in, at least, 43 basic schools. With the grants from UBEC now in the state coffers, about 600 basic schools are to get a facelift while teachers are also to be trained.

In order to increase the quality of education in the state, the governor recruited 4,701 qualified and competent teachers into the

public primary, junior and senior secondary schools in the state.

The private school owners have also profited from his developmental efforts in the education sector. During the COVID-19 pandemic, proprietors of 1,119 private schools were given soft loans to help cushion the effects of the pandemic due to the shutdown.

Enthusing about AbdulRazaq’s achievements, incumbent Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, recently rated him very high on performance and project deliveries, saying his administration’s achievements have surpassed that of his predecessors, Bukola Saraki, and Abdulfatah Ahmed. According to Lawan, Governor AbdulRazaq has achieved in two years, what Saraki and Ahmed struggled to achieve all through 16 years of their administration.

Saraki, who is also Lawan’s predecessor as Senate President was Kwara’s governor from 2003 to 2011, while Ahmed took over from him in 2011 to 2019 before the ‘Otoge’ movement that ushered in the incumbent governor on the platform of All Progressives Congress.

Speaking in Kwara, at the mega constituency empowerment programme organised

by Senator Umar Sadiq representing Kwara North in the National Assembly, Lawan urged Kwara residents to support AbdulRazaq in consolidating on his remarkable achievements in the last two years.

The Senate president said the governor’s administration has delivered on key components of governance in a style not seen before over the past decade in the state.

Likewise, a former member of Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulmumin Katibi, said, “In May 2019, water tankers were the source of potable water in most parts of Ilorin, the capital city, even in the Government House. Today, pipe-borne water is back and stable in the metropolis while nearly 500 boreholes have either been dug or rehabilitated across the state. No fewer than nine waterworks have been fixed since this governor came on board while contracts for more have been awarded.”

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27, 2022

GAVEL

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

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hetwochambersoftheNational Assemblylastweekresolvedto appeal a court judgment which nullified Section 84 (12) of the ElectoralAct2022.TheSenate and the House of Representatives respectively announced their resolve to challenge the court ruling at their plenary sessions Wednesday, March 23.

The Federal Government of Nigeria is composed of three distinct branches namely the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, whose powers are vested by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The constitution provides a separation and balance of powers among the three branches and aims to prevent the repetition of past mistakes made by the government. While the legislative branch makes the law, the executive branch enforces the law, and the judiciary interprets the law.

However, penultimate week, the separate functions of the three arms of government were breached by the judiciary, which disregarded the powers of the legislature by directing the executive to delete a section of a law of parliament.

The rift started a fortnight ago when the federal lawmakers for the first time, since the return of democratic rule in 1999, went against agreement reached with a sitting president by throwing out President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to amend Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 which states that; “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election”.

Buhari had on December 21, 2021, again rejected the bill based on the provision on direct primaries. Buhari had during an interview on Channels TV, January 5, 2022 stated his readiness to sign the proposed legislation if the National Assembly made the necessary adjustments. He said such changes must include the addition of consensus candidates, indirect primary options to the mode of selecting candidates for an election, as against the initial direct mode as the only option to conduct primaries by political parties.

The new bill passed on to the president on January 31, 2022 corrected the issue of direct primaries and added the indirect and consensus means of selecting candidates as alternatives. However, the House of Representatives again introduced another controversial provision in which it proposes that all political appointees seeking to contest elective offices should resign long before declaring their interest. The provision led to some close aides of the president and governors moving against the bill and urging the president not to sign it into law.

Before Buhari finally agreed to sign the bill into law on February 25, 2022, he was said to have reached an agreement with both the Senate and the House of Representatives for the lawmakers to expunge the controversial Section 84(12) in the Act which deprived federal appointees their constitutional rights to vote and be voted for ahead of primary elections of political parties.

However, despite the alleged commitment to the president, the lawmakers reneged on that agreement and overwhelmingly threw out the motions seeking to amend section 84(12) of the newly signed law. The lawmakers hinged their decision on a court ruling delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, on an ex-parte application by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), barring the President Buhari, the Attorney General

the executive to delete a law made by National Assembly.

In his ruling, Gbajabiamila noted that while he agrees that President Buhari was entitled to take legal advice from the AGF, Abubakar Malami, he, however, won’t allow the institution which he heads currently to be ridiculed under his watch.

The Speaker, described the plaintiff as a meddlesome interloper who is worried about something that doesn’t affect him.

While wondering why the judgment was taken in Abia State where the defendants don’t reside, Gbajabiamila said the judiciary while interpreting a law as stipulated in the constitution should have come to the parliament for clarity.

He, therefore, ordered the AGF, Malami to desist from implementing the court ruling until the matter is resolved.

Buhari of the Federation and the Senate President from tampering with the newly amended Act. The court maintained that the Electoral Act, having become a valid law could not be altered without following the due process of law.

Following the lawmakers’ refusal to amend the Act, Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) had revealed that options were being explored by the federal government to address the controversial section. Few days later, a Federal High Court in Umuahia, struck down the section, insisting that it was at variance with the provisions of the 199 Constitution.

A member of Action Alliance, Nduka Edede, had filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Umuahia, challenging the section. In the suit marked FHC/UM/CS/26/2022, the plaintiff asked the court to determine if the section in question was legal and to strike it out if it was at variance with the constitution. The AGF, who was a defendant in the case, did not oppose the suit but agreed with the applicant.

National Assembly Heads to Court Following the court ruling, in a unanimous decision at plenary, the red and green chambers of the National Assembly resolved to appeal the judgment for the court to set the judgment aside. Citing Order 42 of the Senate Standing Orders on Personal Explanation, Senator George Thompson Sekibo (PDP, Rivers East) during plenary, challenged the judgment of the court on Section 84(12).

He cited Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which stated that the National Assembly was empowered by virtue of the

provisions of the constitution to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of Nigeria. The motion had 84 co-sponsors apart from Sekibo.

Sekibo observed that the judge in his ruling held that Section 81(12) of the Electoral Act 2022, was inconsistent with Sections 66(1)(f), 107(1)(f), 137(1)(g) and 182(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

The lawmaker warned further that, “letting the judgment go without concern will become a precedence on which any person could go to court and obtain judgment to ridicule the good intentions of the National Assembly as an institution.”

At the House of Representatives, the lawmakers while resolving to appeal the judgment, also resolved to file a complaint to the National Judicial Council (NJC) against the conduct of the judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, who gave judgment against the National Assembly despite not being parties to the suit.

The resolutions of the lawmakers were sequel to the adoption of the prayers of the motion moved by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who converted as a motion, the matter of privilege on the issue presented by Hon. Sada Soli (APC, Katsina).

Members of the House, across party lines took turns to condemn the court judgment, describing it as encroaching on the principle of separation of powers.

Soli described the court judgment as an attempt to oust the jurisdiction of the parliament in making laws by directing an appointee of

Malami Insists on Implementing Court Ruling Despite the directive from the lawmakers urging him to desist from implementing the court ruling until the matter is resolved. The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has said implementing the court ruling was a work in progress. Malami who made this known, while speaking with newsmen at the State House, Abuja, at the end of the weekly virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Buhari said: “My clear response is the fact that truly there exist a court judgment. By the judgment, the court directed the Office of the Attorney-General, to take the necessary steps to delete the provision, which in essence implies that the provision should not form part of our laws. Whether it has been deleted, or has not been deleted, is indeed a function of agencies of government and associated relevant parastatals, but the true position of it in that respect, is the fact that government printers, and indeed Law Reform Commission, among others, that are responsible for the codification and gazetting of our laws, are working naturally, hand in hand with the Office of the Attorney-General for the purpose of ensuring that what goes into our laws are indeed in line with the provision of the law.”

What Next?

With the federal government’s stance, it appears that a fierce legal battle looms ahead among the three arms of government.

The House Spokesman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu briefing journalists, last Thursday, disclosed that the parliament will be heading to court next week to appeal the judgment. He insisted that the law is still alive pending Supreme Court decision on its appeal.

He said, “One thing I want Nigerians to know is that the Electoral Act is alive and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is working with the Act. There is no impediment on the act until our right of appeal has been fully exercised. If possible, by next week, we will be in court. If we miss it by tomorrow, by next week, we will be in court.

So, exercise no fear, the Act is alive. A difference should be made between who is a public servant and a political appointee knowing fully well what the provision of 84(12) was not addressing public servants. It was addressing political appointees.”

He, however, wasn’t clear on what will be the parliament’s next line of action if the case gets thrown out by the court.

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ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

N E W SX T R A

FG: Lack of Proper Education Root Cause of Crises in Nigeria Udora Orizu in Abuja The federal government has blamed the crises in Nigeria on ignorance and lack of proper education, saying the problem can only be addressed through the provision of proper education.

It has also tasked universities to begin to develop curricula

on self-education, saying a shift in focus and orientation of students was very necessary at the moment.

President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this yesterday at the 11th convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) held in Abuja.

Represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary, the Federal

Ministry of Education, Mr David Gende, the president said his administration was committed to making education affordable to all, through Open and Distance Learning (ODL).

He said his “administration has done and will continue to do several things to support the operations of the university by placing priority in the

provision of critical human and material infrastructure through annual budgetary allocations and interventions from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

“It is common knowledge that the root cause of most of the recorded crises of nationhood we experience in Nigeria is as a result of ignorance which can

Newly-appointed Vice Chancellor of Nile University, Prof. Dili Dogo (left), and the new Chancellor and Shehu of Borno, HRH, Dr. Abubakar Garbai, exchanging official documents after their appointments in Lagos...recently

Okowa, Obaseki, UNIBEN Mourn Alele-Williams Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his Edo State counterpart, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNIBEN branch, have condoled with the family of renowned mathematician and first female Vice-Chancellor of a Nigerian university, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, over the passing of the scholar and administrator.

Alele-Williams passed on Friday in Lagos at 89.

In a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Olisa Ifeajika, yesterday, Okowa said late Alele-Williams was a great role model to the female gender whom she inspired with her brilliance and diligence.

The governor joined family members, the academia and the Itsekiri nation in mourning the renowned scholar who, in 1963, earned a doctoral degree and became the first Nigerian female to attain such academic height.

"On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I condole with the deceased's family, the academia and the Itsekiri nation

and all Deltans on the passing of the renowned mathematician and scholar, Professor Grace Alele-Williams.

"We received the news of her passing with shock, but thanked God that she lived a life of great impact.

"She was a great role model and worked assiduously to stamp out cultism at the University of Benin where she was vice-chancellor," he said.

Okowa noted that the late scholar’s drive and love for knowledge earned her many recognitions and awards in Nigeria and across the globe.

"Prof. Alele-Williams was an illustrious daughter of the state, and only recently, we honoured her and other illustrious Deltans during the state's 30th anniversary celebration,” Okowa explained.

On his part, Obaseki in a statement, described AleleWilliams as an Amazon, who tread where others dreaded, hailing her unmatched devotion to national development.

“It is with a heavy heart that I received the sad news of the passing of renowned academic and administrator, Prof. Grace

The president said: “It is gratifying to note that the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) continues to record more successes at the national level by expanding access to higher education as well as making it affordable through the establishment of more Study Centres across the country.”

“In this regard, the National Open University of Nigeria has created a niche for itself in both national and global spaces,” he further said.

The president, while noting that, “it is pertinent to restate that the nation’s educational curriculum be geared towards placing emphasis on entrepreneurship education”, said there must be a paradigm shift in the focus and orientation of our graduates towards employment opportunities.”

“The realisation of this objective lies with our universities to develop new curricula that will emphasize self-employment,” he insisted.

But the president said: “It is pleasing to note that the National Universities Commission (NUC) is about to conclude the comprehensive review of the curricula of all programmes in our universities and placing a premium on entrepreneurship.”

“This as we all know is a driver to increase productivity and reduction in unemployment figures among our youths.

“The federal government through various interventions has created an enabling environment in support of this drive. We hope that our graduates will utilise these opportunities by embracing all the various programmes that have been put in place,” he said.

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Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

only be through the provision of education.

“The university, as the only single-mode, ODL institution in Nigeria, was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to bring equitable access to all eligible Nigerians who are being constrained by the limited space in the Conventional Universities.

“I am extremely happy to note that the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is indeed delivering on its mandate by taking affordable university education to the doorsteps of Nigerians irrespective of their location, tribe, sex, and religion,” the president said.

Açcording to him, “education as we all know, supports all efforts and developments in terms of social, economic, political and religious undertakings.

“It is common knowledge that the root cause of most of the recorded crises of nationhood we experience in Nigeria is as a result of ignorance which can only be through the provision of education.

“This is why this Administration is committed to making education affordable to all, through the ODL. In this connection, the National Policy on Education (NPE) had provided for Lifelong Learning that transcends all barriers through ODL. “This administration has done and will continue to do several things to support the operations of the university by placing priority in the provision of critical human and material infrastructure through annual budgetary allocations and interventions from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND),” he added.

Alele-Williams.

The governor said AleleWilliams was a thoroughbred academic who throughout her life left an indelible mark of dutiful service, hard work, diligence and determination.

He said: “As the first female Nigerian to earn a doctorate degree in mathematics, Prof.

Alele-Williams was a woman of many firsts. She shattered the glass ceiling and didn't look back thereafter.

“When she became the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin - at the time the first ever female Vice Chancellor of a Nigerian university - she shone brightly as a fearless administrator and restored sanity to the higher institution during a period of social upheaval.

“Prof. Alele-Williams will be remembered for her insight, dedication to duty and courage as well as her commitment to breaking barriers limiting advancement of women in uncharted territories.”

Also, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Lilian Salami, has mourned the passing of Alele- Williams. In a statement signed by the

university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, Prof. Salami described the late former and first female ViceChancellor of UNIBEN as an iconic giant who broke the glass ceiling for other women to blossom. She said having spoken with her daughter, Orode Doherty, to commiserate with the family, she was consoled that the late Professor of Mathematics is being celebrated, rather than mourned.

On its part, the University of Benin branch of ASUU, has described the demise of Alele-Williams as saddening.

UNIBEN Chairman of the ASUU, Dr. Ray Chikogu, said the late former vice-chancellor was at the helm of affairs of the institution at the time that it was clearly in need of a direction and strong leadership, which he said she provided.

“She was an icon in the University of Benin and we missed her greatly.

“The University of Benin misses her because of the remarkable landmarks she left in the university in terms of good infrastructure and human development.

38 different minerals were produced in Nigeria in 2020, with granite, limestone, sand and laterite having a combined contribution of 90 per cent and 87 per cent of total production volume and royalty receipts, respectively.

“The implication is that barite, coal and other precious minerals such as gold, have remained very low in terms of investments,” it stated.

To underscore the low level of activities in the solid minerals sector, the report revealed that out of the 850 companies that were in operation during the year, only 102 met the materiality threshold of N3 million for the audit and accounted for 90 per cent of total royalty payments.

The report also noted that during the period under review (2020) there was no active stateowned enterprise operating in the sector.

The audit report disclosed that in the last five years, 7,605 mining titles were issued in the solid minerals sector. However, as of 31 December 2020, only 6009 were valid.

“A breakdown shows that 2,795 exploration licences, 123 mining leases, 1,082 small scale mining leases and 981 reconnaissance permits were issued. Out of the 7,605 mining titles issued in the sector in the past years, 1,482 of them were

issued in 2020.

“During the period under review, there was no consolidation or revocation of licences. However, 26 licenses were transferred,” it stated.

It said that the revenue generated from the sector was below expectation due to the attitude of small scale miners towards filing their monthly production returns.

In addition, it pointed out that there was weak monitoring of mining activities due to insufficient or lack of manpower at the states’ mine offices, poor deployment of technology and security challenges.

The report established that Nigeria has a huge bitumen deposit of about 42.74 billion metric tonnes that spreads across Lagos, Ogun, and Ondo, states with just 71,151,029.89 tonnes of the commodity valued at N3,106,582.236 produced in 2020.

During the period under review, there were 1,273 solid minerals operators within the six geographical zones of the country, with South-south having 146, South-east, 170; South-west, 182; North-east, 184; North-west, 236; and North-central, 355.

She appealed to Nigeria to step into that gap supply chain as an alternative to Russia, adding that the country must not allow the opportunity to pass it by.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27, 2022

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Campus Babalawos and Cyber Ritualists

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sayoungteacheratIfe,oneoftheclimacticmomentsofmycareerwas theriseof Prof.WandeAbimbolaas ViceChancellor.Amoderntertiary institution founded on a futuristic vision of national greatness was to be led by a scholar steeped in Yoruba tradition with its pillar of superstition and ancestor worship. A renowned cultural scholar and accomplished traditionalist, Professor Wande Abimbola was undoubtedly a leading authority in traditional religions as well a devout follower of Yoruba ancestral divinities. Some accused him of being an Ifa priest, a charge that he never denied, but instead tended to affirm by often prefacing his scholarly presentations with short incantations and brief divinations.

Somefearedthathisascensiontothevicechancellorship of the university would dilute the national character of the university and its modernist thrust and ethos.To his credit, however, Wande Abimbola, though a Yoruba native son, served out his term without reducing the stature of the university or localising its cosmopolitan cultural orientation.

For many of us then, the University of Ife was the perfect synthesis of a certain fidelity to national culturalauthenticityandtheurgentneedfornational development and modernisation.The modernising instinct at Ife was rooted in the belief in cutting edge researchinscienceandtechnologyaswellasacultural rootedness in its symbolic location. No wonder, Ife wasdesignatedacentreforthethennationalnuclear power programme. In fact, an experimental reactor wasintheprocessofbeingbuilttherehencemyfriend Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, then Foreign Minister, could boast of the imminence of the black bomb as Nigeria’s answer to the mania of nuclear power threats that saw Pakistan, Libya and even South Africa at various stages of joining the nuclear club.

Inmanyways,Ifewaspoweredbyacertainfidelity to the guidance of its founding motto: For Learning and Culture. The learning aspect was global and perfectionist in the pursuit of excellence in diverse fields.Ifeassembledsomeofthebestscholarsfrom all over the world in a community of learning that respected excellence and diversity. The culture aspect was animated by a certain closeness to the symbolism of Ife itself as the spiritual epicenter and fountainoftheYorubanationasoneofthemainhubs of Nigeria’s cultural ecosystem.The University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) was simultaneously national and international. Our humanities and social sciences were animated by lively ideological fightsdictatedbytherealityofColdWarpartisanship.

Those arguments animated academic debates and also made the cold beer sessions at the Staff Club unforgettable.

Imustconfessfromtheonsetthatonmattersthat concern the University of Ife or Obafemi Awolowo University, I am not likely to be totally dispassionate.

I am a proud alumnus of that great institution. But on one matter, I am pretty certain. Ife remains a centre of important learning in our country. Those of us who attended that university have not only distinguished ourselves in various fields nationally and globally, holding our own among the best in the most distinguished centres of learning and industry all over the world.

The current news from Ife is disheartening. A viral videodoingtheroundsofthesocialmediahasshown a parade of devotees of sundry traditional worship clad in all white and a motley other costumes invade the campus of the university in a protest mode. I understand the macabre parade is in aid of some matter that has nothing to do with either tradition, faith or culture.The media reports indicate that the strange protesters were indigenous Ife traditional worshipperswhowereonthecampustoprotestthe recent appointment of the 12thVice Chancellor of the institution. Media reports on the trouble at Ife are united in the common story strand.

In line with its extant traditions and processes, the university council duly selected one Professor Adebayo Bamire as the 12thVice Chancellor of the University. Like his predecessors, Professor Bamire parades the full gamut of academic qualifications and the usual litany of publications, research and teaching records. His other 15 colleagues who vied for the position but failed to clinch the job were no less qualified. A university is first and foremost a meritocratic institution.

But in a rather dramatic development, one of the unsuccessful contenders in the vice chancellorship race, a Professor Rufus Adedoyin, has challenged the process that saw the emergence of Bamire as fraught with lack of fairness and irregularities.

The aggrieved contender has petitioned the Uni-

Prof. Abimbola versity’s Governing Council, alleging some procedural defects. It has been established that the petitioning professor came a distant ninth in the process that produced the new leadership. Apart from the unproven grounds of procedural irregularity, the grounds of protest has expanded to include the charge that the protesting Professor Adedoyin was discriminated against in the process because he happens to be “an Ife indigene.”

Therefore,withoutwaitingfortheoutcome of the petition to the university’s governing council,thetoolsofprotesthavebeenexpanded toincludeaviolentprocessionofworshippers of some traditional Ife cults and ancient sects.

A violent pageant of juju priests and worshippers have invaded the campus of the Obafemi Awolowo University. They came armed with charms,amulets,cudgels,machetesandother dangerous weapons to upset the peace and order of the campus. In addition to incantations and curses, the embarrassing ancestral train also inflicted injuries on innocent staff while damages to public property have been reported.Themainthrustoftheirgrouseisthat Professor Bamire, the new vice chancellor, is not a native son of Ife. No one has however questionedtheman’sacademiccredentialsor otherqualificationsfortheposition.Tothebest of my knowledge, the university authorities have stood by the transparency and fairness of the process that produced the new vice chancellor. Beyond the purely meritocratic requirements of the due process required in the selection of a vice chancellor, there is noindicationthatindigeneshipandnativityare partofthequalificationsforvicechancellorship in this or any other Nigerian federal university.

The world outside is not too interested in how the Ile Ife academic community resolves its internal leadership tussle. It is purely an internaladministrativeritual.Whatisamatter of urgent national interest and curiosity is the unusual turn of events in what is ordinarily a routine leadership selection matter. Matters of administrative or procedural irregularity are best settled following the due process of petition,investigationandremedialresolution.I amnotawarethatourfederaluniversitieshave intheirstatutesanyprescriptionrequiringthat their vice chancellors should be selected from among scholars from the immediate catchment locality or community.The location of a universityinone’svillagedoesnotautomatically entitle a son or daughter of that village to the headship of the institution.

Nor does the Nigerian regressive political rhetoric of ‘turn by turn’ have any place in the hallowed precincts of a university campus wheremeritinitspurestdefinitionshouldguide

appointmentsespeciallyintoacademicleadership positions.However,asaformerteacher,Iamaware that the vast majority of junior and intermediate staff in each federal university where I taught were drawn from the local communities. I am also not aware of any statutory or other requirement that the headship of these institutions should be drawn fromamongpersonsofanyreligious,geographical or cultural persuasion.

The most disconcerting aspect of the recent happenings at Ife is perhaps its symbolism for presentdayNigeria.Theembarrassmenthasspread to opinion and political leaders. The Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Akeredolu has cried out against the sacrilege at Ife. So has Wole Soyinka, himself a former Ife teacher. Here is a university, a citadel of learning and modernity in an enlightened part of the country suddenly overrun by the forces of ancientancestry.Theforcesofancientsuperstition in their most undiluted form have been invoked by ambitious academic politicians.The powers of ancient gods and deities have been summoned to wreak evil repercussions on enemies of the soil on which the university is planted.That these ancient customs and their agents are being summoned to fight the cause of a learned professor is indicative of how far Nigeria’s regression has gone.

The Ife incident is by no means isolated. It in fact containsthemajorelementsofthecurrentNigerian malaise. The basic impulses behind the actions at Ife are coming from a larger Nigerian national canvasormoralderailment.Thisisanationinwhich the patronage of all manner of esoteric cults and faiths has drowned all pretensions to modernity.

This is a country in which even the high priesthood of Christianity visit juju priests and fortune tellers at night to enrich their prophetic ensemble.

Our politicians are devout Christians doing the rounds of Pentecostal crusade locations in the day and reverting into Ogboni cultists at night.

Our leaders are clients of sleek worldly pastors in the morning and patrons of ritual fetish cultists atnight.Investigationsintorecentepisodesofpolitics related corruption revealed the allocation of hundreds of millions of naira for ‘spiritual services’.

Our politicians of a particular persuasion spend millionsofdollarsannuallytoimportmaraboutsfrom placesasfarawayasMauritania,Egypt,Yemenand Istanbul.Aparticularleadingfigureonceconfessed that he imported a barefoot Buhdist monk from the Himalayas who walked all the way to Nigeria to reside in his study for years to tell him in advance what might happen to him on a daily basis. After years when the monk had exhausted his financial quarry,itwastimetodepart.TheNigerianpolitician demanded a parting prediction. He got one: You Shall Live Long! Maybe he was right as the politicians,nowretiredisapproachingage90!Themonk probably forgot that he had “trekked” to Nigeria.

He requested and got a first class ticket home!

Afrighteningdimensiontoourregressionintothe depths of superstition and the occult is its relative popularityamongouryouth.Itisnotjusttheyouthout on the urban streets or in the rural areas or the ones who did not go to school. On most of our university campuses, students have recently graduated from the mindless violence of cultism in the early 2000s tothepresentviralpopularityofcybercrimes.Nearly every Nigerian university campus now has a cyber crime cell of students.The EFCC and other security agencies have a hard time keeping track of these groups of “Yahoo Yahoo” undergraduates. Among these students and youth is the belief that cyber scams or 419 are better instruments for attaining instant wealth than the ancient grind of study and excruciating hard work that we older generations endured to get to this junction.The successful cyber scammersoncampushaveoutlandishautomobiles, troves of cash and assorted designer wares to show for their valiant exploits.

Tobeacybercriminalistohaveadvancedmastery of information technology. This is one step above basicscientificknowledge.Tobeamasterofcutting edge internet know how and still be so backward as tobelieveintheefficacyofthesuperstitiousworldof ritualsandtheoccultisthedefiningpuzzleofmodern day Nigeria. And yet our future is founded on this anachronism because it is now the home ground of our youth.

As things stand today, the dividing line between cyber crimes and involvement in real organized criminal activity is hazy. A new gruesome logic has followed. A gruesome logic has emerged that says the chances of success in cyber crimes and instant wealth are increased by a bit of human sacrifice.

Consequently, youth are kidnapping and killing their matestoharvestbodypartsforsaletofetishagents who promise them instant prosperity.This is why of late the police has had far too many cases of ritual murder and harvesting of body parts cases. No one hashadthecouragetoexposethearrantfoolishness ofbelievingthatthereisanyconnectionwhatsoever betweenritualmurderandwealthcreation.Theentire humanorgantradeandepidemicofritualmurdersis basedonthenewcurrencyofacultureofsuperstition.

Worsestill,asintheIfeuniversityincident,acertain sense of sectional or nativist entitlement has created a nation in which the elite when beaten in the meritocraticcontestforprivilegesandpatronageat the national level quickly run back to their ancestral roots to demand those same privileges as rights of ancestry.They insist on positions that should accrue to their zone, tribe, ethnic group or faith. What follows is the failure of meritocracy and the systemic dilution of quality to please the mobs of tribe, faith andgeopoliticalnonsense.Itskeydriversrejuvenate the powers of ancient customs and traditions and re-enact gruesome practices such as ritual murder for sacrifice in order to frighten their opponents with the sight of the blood of their innocent victims.

Thenationsufferstheconsequences.Firstviolence rules the waves. Human life is reduced to numbers on the front page of daily journals. A new paradigm of heroism is created. The politicians as hoodlum, patron of thugs and assorted touts is assumed to be normalinanewdefinitionofnormalthatbenumbsall rationality.Thegunman,‘known’or‘unknown’,becomes the national dread of everyman. Agents of death are waiting at the street corner to exact tributes or terminal justice.

Of all the damages done to our progress by the resurgenceofallformsofarbitrariness,impunityand regression into ancient customs and superstition, the most lethal is the damage to the emergence of a scientific sensibility.The greatest marker of human progress is the transition from superstition to the scientific spirit. The logical relationship between cause and effect governed by the laws of logic and evidence is what distinguishes primitive societies fromthemodernones.Evidence,observation,experimentation and inference is the logical sequence of thescientificmindset.Thelogicofhumanprogressis themovementawayfromsuperstitionandillogicality to the realm of science, of cause and effect and of logic. Without the scientific spirit there is neither progress nor even justice based on the rule of law on which society and democracy are based.

Nigeria’s future is caught in a tragic trap that looks more like self cancelling charmed circle straddled by three ominous agents. The politician leading us to a new world of modern development but who is alsoapatronofdecadentsuperstitionsfromchurch, mosque and shrine. The professor of science who invites ancient juju priests to validate his academic credentials. The young internet wiz kid who is also a cyber criminal and ritual cultist.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MARCH 27, 2022

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NEWS

News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: gboyega.akinsanmi@thisdaylive.com,08152359253

Nigeria High Commission in UK Suspends e-Passport Biometric Capture The Nigeria High Commission in London has suspended biometric capturing for persons interested in applying for the e-passport.

This was contained in a statement the commission issued yesterday, saying the biometrics capture was suspended after a meeting to deliberate on issues surrounding assault of staff members.

The federal government had launched the enhanced e-passport to address issues

of forgery and improve the application process.

But in its statement yesterday, the commission noted that suspension is effective from March 28.

“At the launch of Enhanced E-passport operations in London on 23rd November 2021, Nigerians in the United Kingdom were quite optimistic of improvements in service by the Immigration Section, on the issuance of Passports,” the statement reads.

“The issuance, renewal, and operations since the introduction of the new Enhanced E-passport have been fraught with many challenges, particularly on the issuance of National Identification Number (NIN) and the appointments for biometrics capture.

“The Mission feels and shares in the pains of teeming

Nigerians since the launching of the new Enhanced E-passport scheme in the United Kingdom by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

“The staff of the High Commission are currently being assaulted on regular basis on account of attendant frustrations, particularly by Nigerians who travel long

distances from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, etc., to the Mission in London without positive resolution of their respective consular issues.

“Nigerians with dual citizenship desirable of renewing their British Passports and those seeking the issuance of British Resident Permit (BRP) are also usually on edge because of

the inability of the Mission to resolve their legitimate needs and requirements.

“The meeting deliberated extensively on the current challenges associated with the issuance of passports as enumerated above and agreed that drastic actions must be taken to bring succour to Nigerians in the UK. A stitch in time saves nine.

Police Foil Bandits’ Attack in Zamfara, Recover AK-47 Rifles Innocent Onuminya in Gusau Zamfara State Police Command has foiled a banditry attack in Kwaren Ganuwa Village of Tsafe Local Government Area of the state and recovered two AK-47 rifles.

The command’s spokesperson, Mohammed Shehu disclosed this at a session with journalists in Gusau, Zamfara State capital at the weekend.

Speaking at the session, Shehu said the police tactical operatives attached to 42 PMF Gusau had received a call that armed bandits were sighted heading towards Kwaren Ganuwa Village of Tsafe LGA with intent to attack the community.

Shehu, a Superintendent of Police, said: “On receiving the information, the operatives swung into action and mobilised to the scene where they engaged the hoodlums to an extensive gun duel.

“Luckily enough, the attack was repelled, one of the bandits was fatally injured while others escaped to the forest with possible gunshot wounds.

“An AK-47 rifle was recovered at the scene. In the same vein, DPO Tsafe and his team while on confidence-building patrol along Nasarawar Maifara Village had an encounter with some group of bandits

who ran to the forest and abandoned one AK-47 rifle.”

Similarly, the command also smashed a motorcycle-snatching syndicate, arrested one suspect and recovered a motorcycle.

He said, “On March 23, at about 2100hrs, the suspect conspired with his partners in crime now at large, and hired Okada Rider, Adamu Bello ‘M’ of Rawuyya Village in Gusau LGA, to transport him from Unguwar Gwaza area to an unknown destination within Gusau.

“On reaching Unguwar Gwaza cemetery, two other suspects, Zakari Hassan and Bashir Shehu, now at large, intercepted the victim and knocked him down with an iron.

“Police operatives, on receiving the report, swung into action and arrested one of the suspects, Rilwanu Ahmed, and recovered the motorcycle while the two other suspects escaped to an unknown destination.

“The victim was rushed to Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, where he is currently receiving treatment.”

Shehu said the Commissioner of Police, Ayuba N. Elkanah had reaffirmed the total commitment of officers and men of the command to discharging their duties in accordance with professional ethics and other constitutional provisions.

Dance Contests Shift to Crew on Glo Battle of the Year Globacom, a Nigerian multinational telecommunications company, yesterday said its sponsored reality dance TV show, Glo Battle of the Year Nigeria, would this weekend move into its last lap with Episode 8.

The telecom giant made this disclosure in a statement by its Corporate Communication Office following its captivating episodes of Afro dance battles last week In its statement, the firm said the episode, which showcases the coolest leg of the competition‘Dance Crew’ contests, would be on air from 8pm on the mobile streaming app of Globacom (GloTV) this weekend.

The statement noted that the first seven episodes featured amazing dance moves, loads of drama and many unforgettable moments including spellbinding live music performances by superstars Simi and Teni who

thrilled the live audience with her hit songs.

It said the twists and turns “have been unpredictable as even some of the fans’ favorites missed out on automatic qualifications to the finals.

“The BBoy/BGirl & Locking dance contests, which were the first dance categories to be featured, had among its winners Bboy Whirlz, BBoy Valley and BBoyLil Monster.

They will go up against the best dancers from the other regions in the finals scheduled to be held in Lagos in April.

These early contests were spiced up with commentary provided

by BBoy, JC Jedor and Big Flo. “Equally, we saw ‘Girl-power’ in action, as Christiana Gift defeated CFly, a Port Harcourt based Locking dancer to emerge as the only female Locking dancer in the competition.

WORKING FOR S’WEST UNITY… L-R: Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; former National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, and Ogun State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, at a meeting with the South-west APC leaders at Osoba’s residence in Abuja…weekend

US Provides $2m Counter-Nuclear Smuggling Support to Nigeria Gboyega Akinsanmi Amid intractable security challenges nationwide, the United States at the weekend provided a $2 million counter-nuclear smuggling assistance to Nigeria aimed at boosting efforts to create a more peaceful, prosperous country.

The world power said its decision was aimed at working closely with the security services to provide technical assistance, equipment, professional exchange

and training opportunities that would support the efforts of the governments.

US Consulate Assistant Regional Security Officer, Jon Dvorak explained this decision Friday during the handover of the security equipment in Lagos.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of Explosive Ordinance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Command, Zannah Shettima,

received the equipment on behalf of the Nigeria Police.

While handing over the equipment, Dvorak described the transfer of the equipment as an important step in advancing the robust US-Nigeria security cooperation.

He added that the US Department of Energy/ National Nuclear Security Administration, through its Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (NSDD) transferred five new

mobile radiation detection systems valued at over $2 million to the Nigeria Police.

He said the equipment transfer and associated training would enhance the police’s ability “to interdict the smuggling of nuclear and radioactive material into and within Nigeria.

“Nigeria remains one of the United States’ key partners in combating the smuggling of illicit nuclear and radioactive material,” the mission’s regional security officer said.

Momodu: I Have What It Takes to Win 2023 Presidential Election Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja A presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu at the weekend said that he possessed requirements to win the 2023 presidential election.

Momodu, the publisher of Ovation Magazine, added that he was a unifier, who would help to promote the unity of the country, thereby urging his party to provide a level playground

for aspirants irrespective of region.

He said this remark Friday at the People Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Abuja where he picked up the expression of interest and nomination forms.

He said: “I humbly come into this political contest with a pedigree of integrity, reputation, solid education, tolerance, business acumen, sharp vision, and competence.

“I possess everything it takes to win the 2023 presidential election on behalf of my party PDP and

I will be greatly honoured to get the ticket and support of my party for this purpose,” he said.

The Ovation Magazine publisher also urged the party to align with morally upright aspirants who are keen to work for the good of Nigeria.

Momodu said he believes he is a unifier, and that he will help to promote the unity of the country and also urged his party to provide a level playground for aspirants irrespective of region.

He also said the 2023 election

is time for Nigerians to stand against those he describes as career politicians who are bent on running the country aground.

Momodu had in January made his intention to run for the 2023 presidential race known to the PDP Chairman. He joins the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and popular politician and businessman Peter Obi in the race under the same party.

Ramadan: Sultan Urges Traders Not to Increase Food Prices Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar III has called on traders to avoid increasing prices of foodstuffs as Muslims’ month of fasting approaches.

The Sultan made this call yesterday in Bauchi at the close of a week-long 2022 National Qur’an Recitation Competition hosted by the Bauchi State government in collaboration with Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto.

Muslims across the world will observe a 30-day fasting period

(Ramadan) beginning in April.

Ahead of the Ramadan fasting, the monarch stressed the need for traders to be wary of the day of judgement and to avoid extortion of patrons.

He said: “I use this medium to call on all market people who sell things to be fearful of what Almighty God will ask them when they get to him on the day of judgement.

“Instead of increasing prices of foodstuffs and other essentials, please try to reduce the prices so as to get the blessing of Almighty

God,’’ he said.

The sultan, who is also President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, also called on governments at all levels to evolve measures to reduce cost of living in the country.

He lamented increasing cost of living, especially foodstuffs and called on government to try and reverse the trend by providing an enabling environment.

“I think it is left to all of us in authority to work together and bring this rise in cost of foodstuffs

to affordable levels so all of us can have a successful Ramadan.

“I believe it is not too much to ask the government after all, we elected you into office to serve us and not for us to serve you,’’ the sultan said.

Alhaji Abubakar also called on politicians to play politics with the fear of God, especially as the 2023 general elections approach.

He reminded all that it is only God who gives power to whom He wants; at the time He wishes and that He will take it when He wants.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MARCH 27, 2022

NEWSXTRA Bandits Abduct Two Relatives in Delta, Reverend Father in Kaduna Idowu Sylvester inWarri and Onuminya Innocent In Sokoto Gunmen at the weekend have abducted two relatives who were travelling to Ekuku-Agbor, Delta State for the burial of their father.

In a similar incident Friday night, Reverend Father Felix Zakari of the St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Zango Tama parish, in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna was kidnapped by bandits.

The relatives, according to THISDAY findings, were coming to their father’s burial on Friday when the gunmen accosted them and whisked them away.

A family source alleged that the suspected Fulani herdsmen demanded N13 million in ransom.

The source said: “Chukwuyem Afam, a son to late Sunday Afam whose burial was slated for Saturday, March 26 at Ekuku-

Agbor, and one of their in-laws, Eric Etunim, who was called up to come and pick up Afam from the train station at Owa Oyibu.

“They were driving to EkukuAgbor when they were accosted by kidnappers, they were Fulani herdsmen who shot sporadically into the air, before they were whisked away.

“Chukwuyem travelled down from Abuja on Friday for the burial of his father and called on one of their inlaws, Etunim to pick him up but unfortunately they were kidnapped.

“They had contacted the family with an initial demand of N13 million ransom, which they later brought down to N5 million per person based on their last contact,” the source said.

He noted that the burial ceremony of the late Afam turned into a very painful ordeal as the family members went ahead to

bury their father since they had fixed the date amidst anxiety and apprehension.

In response yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe

said he was yet to get information as of the time of filing this report.

Edafe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “I have not gotten information on the incident, I will find out and get back to

you.”

In his own case, Zakari was said to be among those abducted by bandits during attacks on the villages.

The church called on all men

and women to pray for the safe release of the priest.

This was contained in a statement by the Chancellor, Catholic Diocese of Zaria, Patrict Adikwu Odeh.

Fidelity Bank Finances New Bitters Factory Chief Executive Officer, Odogwu Bitters, Mr. Obinna Oyiegbu said the company will create 5,000 direct jobs in five years.

Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, disclosed this during a media chat in Lagos, where he also said about N20 billion would be invested in the company within the next two years.

According to him, the company will also create tens of thousands of indirect jobs through local sourcing of raw materials, haulage and packaging.

“The project is funded by Fidelity Bank Plc. For the first phase, N2 billion was approved. But we are looking at injecting additional N20 billion into the business within the next 24 months,” Oyiegbu said.

Oyiegbu, who has already made a name in the hospitality industry and real estate, said he decided

to go into bitters production to bridge the gap in the industry.

“What we want to achieve with Odogwu Bitters is to luxuriate bitters. Bitters is usually consumed by those in the lower stratum of the societal ladder. But we want to change that. We want to improve the quality of bitters so much that those in the upper echelon of the society will desire it.

“We deploy high quality technology to blend it and we have even added some other ingredients such as honey and ginger to improve its quality, yet the price is at par with others in the market,” Oyiegbu said.

Speaking on the impact of the new product on the economy, Oyiegbu said the new product would add to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and also generate foreign exchange.

Lasun Won’t Be Missed, Says Osun APC Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State yesterday said it would not miss a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf, who recently left the party.

Yussuf had on Friday resigned his membership of the APC. He was a former gubernatorial aspirant of APC in Osun State in 2018. He also aspired to be the governorship candidate of the party in the party’s 2022 primary election.

He submitted his resignation letter on Friday at the party’s state secretariat, along Gbongan Road, Ogo Oluwa, in Osogbo,

the state capital. Efforts to get the content of his letter failed as principal officers of the party had left the state capital for the party’s national convention in Abuja.

When contacted, the former federal lawmaker, who confirmed his resignation from APC, said he would give reason for his action and disclose his next line of action in due course.

But APC said it remained unperturbed, and would not lose sleep over the defection, adding that, in the last seven years, the former federal lawmaker did not add any value to the development of the APC in the state.

Reinvent Conference Kicks off March 29 Sunday Ehigiator

A popular gospel artiste, Nathaniel Bassey, has been named alongside other discussants expected to speak at a three-day Reinvent Conference scheduled to hold between March 29 and 31.

This was contained in a statement the Convener, Pastor Chris Ugoh issued yesterday.

According to the statement, the Reinvent conference is a gathering of Leaders seeking to retool,

repurpose and reestablish their relevance in a world so dynamic, it takes staying on the cutting edge of information and all your abilities to succeed.

It said: “Following the COVID-19, Nations at war, political unrest, fast-paced technology to changing relationship etiquette, the world doesn’t stay still, the changes are quick, unplanned, unforeseen and make demands on you as an individual, and as a leader.

IN THE SPIRIT OF BROTHER HOOD …

L-R: Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN); Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja...yesterday

Turkish Nizamiye Hospital Celebrates 60 Successful Open-heart Surgeries The Turkish Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja has said its Open Heart Surgery Clinic has successfully carried out 60 open heart surgeries since its inception in 2017.

This was contained in a statement signed by Mohammed Abubakar, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer.

He said: “The Turkish Nizamiye Hospital celebrates the success of its Open Heart Surgery Clinic

since inception in 2017 that saw it performed 60 open heart surgeries that consist of 45 coronary bypass and 15 aortic valve replacement surgeries.”

“We are proud of our modest achievements and pledge to continue to render quality services to Nigeria.

We took the bold step to invest in a world-class medical facility in Nigeria to reduce the number of monies spent on medical tourism,” he said.

“The Open Heart Surgery Team of the Nizamiye hospital can boast of some of the best hands in cardiovascular surgeries. Ours is a combination of expertise, experience and the fact that the team is resident in Nigeria within the hospital premises and operate on a 24/7 basis.”

Abubakar added that there is no need for Nigerians to travel abroad for medical treatment when

in most cases, some of the illnesses can be treated in Nigeria.

“We have some outstanding hospitals in Nigeria that can handle most of the medical cases Nigerians travel abroad.

The Nizamiye Hospital boasts of a functional Cathlab, an MRI machine, a CT scan machine and other advanced medical equipment.

We also operate 24 hours, seven days a week emergency clinic. “

CBN, Ministry Differ over Delay in Scholars’ Allowance Funmi Ogundare The Federal Ministry of Education and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have disagreed on the delay in the payment of scholarship allowance to Nigerians currently studying in Russia, THISDAY findings have revealed.

While the education ministry claimed that the delay was caused by the activities of the apex bank, the CBN disputed the claim, insisting that it was still waiting for the payment mandate from the ministry.

Further checks showed that the students under

the Nigeria-Russia Bilateral Scholarship had been mounting pressures on their parents following the failure of the federal government to pay the allowance since September 2021.

The students’ challenge was said to have been compounded by the high cost of food and other commodities as a result of the global sanctions against Russia over its current war in Ukraine.

The students, who have to contend with the astronomical rise in the cost of living in Russia, are beginning to mount pressure on their parents to send money to them from Nigeria.

As a result of this, a delegation from the parents’ association met with the Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.

At the meeting, according to our checks, the minister assured the parents that the federal government was working on the payment of the outstanding allowance to the students in Russia.

During the meeting, the parents expressed appreciation for the government’s support for the Nigerian students in Russia. They, however, pleaded for a rescue plan to make the students comfortable.

During the meeting, the

minister told the parents that the education ministry had concluded arrangements for the payment but that the ball was now in the CBN’s court to disburse the money. He disclosed that their counterparts in Morocco had just been paid.

However, when contacted, spokesperson for the CBN, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, dismissed the Minister’s claims, saying there was no way the CBN would hold on to the payment if the education ministry had done its bits.

“It won’t take the CBN up to five days to ensure the payment once we get the mandate to do so,” he said.

Sarafa-Yusuf Unveils Action Plan to Tackle Insecurity, Unemployment in Ogun James Sowole in Abeokuta A governorship aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC), Modele arafa-Yusuf yesterday reeled out antidotes to stem the rising tide of insecurity and unemployment in Ogun State if elected the governor of the state.

Sarafa-Yusuf, the immediate past Special Adviser on Information to Governor Dapo Abiodun, suggested a security plan, which would provide for pursuing youthfocused policies, guaranteeing food security, improving preventive

healthcare and mainstreaming environmental protection.

He made this suggestion in a statement he personally signed yesterday, lamenting the orgy of violence in Ogun State, which had in recent times left her heartbroken and worried for the future She said Ogun State’s strength “is in location, land, natural resources & human resources.

For a state so blessed, what we witness in cult and gang-related activities, ritual killings are totally unacceptable.

“Security of lives and property is the number one duty of a responsible government. We must do more to keep the citizenry safe and the state secure in order to retain the current investment levels and attract more.

“In most societies, criminal offending and victimisation are disproportionately concentrated among individuals with low socio-economic status living in economically disadvantaged areas,” Modele arafa-Yusuf said.

In Ogun state, the governor-

ship hopeful noted that the youth “comprises about 70 per cent of the population with the majority being underemployed and unemployed. By the way, young people are three times more likely than adults to be unemployed.

“Because mass unemployment and underemployment exacerbate inequalities and fuel a sense of resentment, unemployed and underemployed people are often more at risk of depression, anxiety and stress.

ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

78

B AC K PAG E C O N T I N UAT I O N NIGERIA AND THE SPIRIT OF ‘AṢIṢE’ (PIB) in 2008 with the stated purpose of reforming the sector and making it conform WR PRGHUQ JOREDO JRYHUQDQFH DQG ¿VFDO standards. Our leaders, mostly in the legislature, kept playing games (under the LQÀXHQFH" DQG DOORZHG WKH ELOO WR JDWKHU dust for ages. International investors, unsure of the laws under which they would be operating, held back their capital. There was bound to be consequences. In the year 2022, we are seeing and suffering WKH FRQVHTXHQFHV RI WKH DৢLৢH The JVs that used to deliver 800,000 barrels/day to the federation now yield D PLVHUO\ RU VR :K\" 7KH RLO companies are not in Nigeria to count bridges. They are here for business. For one, Nigeria perpetually failed to fund its own share of the cost of oil production, what we call “cash calls”. We can’t be doing joint business while you continue to fail to play your part and expect to be reaping the same reward. Two, attacks on oil facilities onshore make life miserable for the oil companies. Offshore production is PRUH ¿QDQFLDOO\ UHZDUGLQJ IRU RLO FRPSDQLHV because of the terms and because they do not have to deal with host community issues, vandalism and theft. :KDW DERXW JDV" :H VKRXOG EH WKDQNIXO that we have not been able to destroy the 1LJHULD 1/* SURMHFW ZLWK RXU VSLULW RI DৢLৢH although I must admit here that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) did everything possible to ruin the project in 2013 by blockading NLNG cargoes because of a dispute over $140m

fees. Read that again. An investment that regularly delivers $1bn in annual dividends to the Federal Republic of Nigeria was being impeded by a government agency over a dispute that could be resolved over a pot of coffee and a few biscuits. This LV QRW MXVW FODVVLF DৢLৢH ² WKHUH LV DQ qGu element to it, as if we are under a spell.

Back to Ukraine. With Western countries now looking elsewhere for gas, Nigeria should be a natural shop for them. We have the 9th largest gas reserves in the world and hold nearly a third of Africa’s proven reserves. It is a known fact that we have far more gas than oil. There is the associated gas that comes with oil production and there is the natural gas.

We have gas aplenty. But we are importing OLTXL¿HG SHWUROHXP JDV WKH RQH ZH FDOO cooking gas. We are unable to produce enough gas for local consumption much less have extra to export. I do not deny the fact that we are making some progress in exploring the gas potential, but we have no business being where we are today.

6KRXOG , WDON DERXW WKH UH¿QHULHV" 1R I will let it pass. From the time of Gen Sani Abacha till this day, we have been UHSDLULQJ UH¿QHULHV UHJXODUO\ ZLWK ELOOLRQV of dollars and also importing petroleum products regularly with billions of dollars.

What we have paid for demurrage alone on fuel imports in the last 10 years could build D QXPEHU RI UH¿QHULHV ,W LV QRW WKDW WKH SROLF\ PDNHUV GR QRW NQRZ WKLV IDFW ² EXW ZKHQ \RX DUH XQGHU WKH VSLULW RI DৢLৢH you will be committing one blunder after

the other. Of course, people sometimes do WKLQJV IRU VHO¿VK UHDVRQV EHFDXVH RI WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR SUR¿W EXW KRZ PXFK PRQH\ GRHV D KXPDQ EHLQJ QHHG LQ D OLIHWLPH" 7KH DৢLৢH LV LQ WKH EUDLQ /HW¶V OHDYH RLO DQG JDV DVLGH DQG EULHÀ\ go green. I mean agriculture. Sometime in 2009, late Dr. Sayyadi Abba Ruma, then minister of agriculture and water resources, took me through some dizzying statistics on our potential. This depressed me for days. He said we were the world’s largest producer of cassava at 40m metric tonnes per year. But while the world’s average yield per hectare was 100 tonnes, we were doing less than 20 tonnes. That meant we could do far more than we were doing.

More so, the post-harvest loss was huge because cassava has to be dewatered within 24 hours, if not it would start fermenting.

He didn’t need to tell me how much more we could do.

Ruma said Nigeria’s shrimps were adjudged the best in the world and that we had a potential to produce 6m metric tonnes yearly but we were doing only 600,000.

He said Saudi Arabia was importing over 10 million rams and goats for the annual sacrifice during Hajj, but Nigeria was not benefiting from the $2 billion business as at then. Nigeria was the world’s 15th largest producer of tomato, he said, but our yield per hectare was a mere 16-20 tonnes because of technical and economic FRQVWUDLQV ² FRPSDUHG WR WKH JOREDO average of 150 tonnes. Over 70 per cent of our produce was lost post-harvest, he

said, because of poor grave storage and transportation difficulties.

Ruma was not lamenting over all these statistics. Rather, he was telling me Nigeria’s huge agricultural potential while explaining his plans and programmes to me. Really, Nigeria can be great. Some things are so simple, clear and doable. Nigeria should be refining petroleum products and selling to the whole of Africa. Singapore does not have crude oil but it is the hub for refining in Asia. Given our potential, Nigeria should be feeding the whole of Africa with tomato, yam and cassava. I agree we have recorded big progress in rice farming as a result of CBN’s muchcriticised anchor borrowers programme, but we need to ask ourselves what took us to long to wake up.

I have deliberately avoided talking about solid minerals. That is even more depressing. But if we are going to stop lamenting, we must cast out the spirit RI DৢLৢH 7R EH FOHDU , DP QRW VD\LQJ we have a spiritual problem. That job LV IRU FOHULFV 7KH VSLULW RI DৢLৢH WKDW , am talking about lives in the brain. We do not have the right values. We place personal and sectional interests above national development. Except we begin to think and act in a new way, we will FRQWLQXH WR PRYH IURP DৢLৢH WR DৢLৢH ² DV LI ZH DUH XQGHU qGu :H FDQ QHYHU FDVW RXW WKH VSLULW RI DৢLৢH DV ORQJ DV ZH NHHS voting the wrong people into power at all levels. We cannot sow pounded yam and expect to reap yam.

And Four Other Things…

ACID TEST In The All Progressives Congress (APC) faced a major test of its resilience yesterday as it held its national convention to elect officers who will lead the party to the 2023 general election. Everything that happens in APC is everybody’s business — it is the ruling party and the fortunes of Nigerians depend largely on its action and inaction. APC may not look healthy, but with 22 states under its control, it is still the party to beat. I think the major forces in the party managed to paper over the cracks to hold a rancour-free convention, but the real test is how it manages the different tendencies before and after the presidential and governorship primaries in May/June.

Crunchy.

SWEET STRIKE The joint action committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions (NASU) on Friday declared a two-week warning strike.

They say they are protesting the “nonchalant attitude” of the federal government to their demands. The Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) is already on an endless strike — or “paid vacation”, as Dr Chidi Amuta puts it. Although there are several issues with our university system which have to be addressed, I maintain that strikes create more problems than they solve. But when you are fully paid while on strike, the incentive is unmistakable. Perverse.

DSTV SUBSIDY With the way Nigerian government agencies get excited over anything DStv, we would soon have to create a Ministry of DStv Affairs. Although every sector of the economy is witnessing price hikes because of the adverse economic situation (even the price of pure water has gone up), we insist DStv should not be allowed to add even one kobo to its rates — although it pays for rights to foreign programmes in dollars. I am getting the impression that subscription TV is now officially regarded as essential commodity.

I won’t be surprised if one lawmaker comes up with the idea of “DStv subsidy” to “protect the poor” — the same way we are raising Eurobonds to pay for petrol subsidy. Comical.

NIGERIA VS GHANA The Super Eagles, after a promising but disappointing outing at Afcon, look poised to qualify for Qatar 2022 World Cup after a gritty away display against Ghana on Friday.

I do not want to get ahead of myself because anything can still happen in the second leg in Abuja on Tuesday, but I am cautiously hopeful that the Eagles can get their groove back after a spell of indifferent performances.

They are an excellent collection of players but the technical input from the bench still leaves much to be desired. It seems we have only one dimension to our game, as we saw again in the goalless draw. Even if we qualify this way, we need a lot of rejigging to make an impact at the World Cup. Go!

NOW THAT OIL THEFT IS ON THE RADAR didn’t make themselves clear enough or were misreported. It is very bad if those fields and pipelines experience 80% to 95% thefts whether regularly or occasionally.

It is important to address the peculiar vulnerabilities of these fields and pipelines, as well as those not so heavily impacted.

But the danger of allowing sector-wide misrepresentation to stand, which may not be obvious to many, is that it may form the basis for some dubious expense on the public or serve as the premise for some spurious alibi.

Without trying to diminish the magnitude of the current challenges, it is worth noting that oil thieves have been an unfortunate feature of the oil industry for about four decades. The real shock for me is that we are shocked that this has now gone out of hand. From small operations in the dead of the night initially visible via blurry satellite images, the oil thieves got more emboldened and moved to plain sight. In the classic Broken Window Theory pattern, the unattended or ineffectively tackled graduated into an epidemic. Illegal refineries, serviced with stolen crude, now litter the Kyari landscape. Unintended consequences from The impact is felt more now because some interventions designed to solve other oil thieves do not obey OPEC quota. problems provided fuel for a well-oiled Strangely too, they have the incentives and sophisticated syndicate with local and to steal more both when oil prices are international linkages to feed the booming low and high. Even if they had stayed market for stolen crude. within their previous extraction levels, this As far back as ten years ago, estimates means Nigeria could be losing up to a of oil theft ranged between 150, 000 barrels quarter of its production to oil theft. The and 300, 000 barrels per day, between 7.5% agitation by the operators has coincided to 15% of our previous production of 2 with zero remittance by the national oil million barrels per day. Even at that time, company from oil sales to FAAC at a time that should be seen as an emergency. Alarms of record high oil prices. Hopefully, this were raised, but beyond moving personnel convergence may tip the equilibrium for of the Joint Task Force around, making a needed, consequential action this time. show of seizing some vessels or destroying But I won’t hold my breath. some illegal refineries, little else happened.

When I was the head of NEITI, we Briefly interrupted, regular service resumed, undertook a study to look at losses incurred then expanded.

by the Federation from theft of crude oil and products, vandalization, and deferred production between 2009 and 2018. The report established that the losses incurred in ten years that NEITI had data for then amounted to $41.9 billion ($40.10 billion for crude oil and $1.84 billion for refined products). That $41.9 billion is an average of $4.19 billion per year, $349 million per month and $11.47 million per day. The thought of losing about $4.2 billion per annum for ten years gave me chills, not just in terms of the opportunity cost but also in the risk to the country.

Entitled ‘Stemming the Increasing Cost of Oil Theft to Nigeria,’ the 16-page policy brief

by NEITI was released in November 2019.

Apart from disaggregating the losses, the paper examined the scale of oil theft, the types and limits of containment measures deployed, and the reasons why the problem has lingered.

It concluded with recommendations such as the need for more stringent and more strictly enforced laws on crude theft, and the need to overhaul the security architecture for the protection of our expansive oil assets, to increase in community stake-holding and engagement, to leverage technology, and to launch a diplomatic campaign on the danger posed by stolen crude oil to global security.

The policy brief was well circulated to all the people in a position to act. A month later, specifically on 10th December 2019, NEITI organised a policy dialogue on oil theft in Nigeria. The dialogue was attended by high-level officials of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC, DPR, JTF, ONSA and the oil companies. Based on presentation of NEITI’s report, we had a very frank discussion about the extent of the problem, the challenges and the options for addressing the increasing menace of oil theft.

After the meeting, I sent a covering note and an executive summary of the deliberation and all the key presentations to major decision makers. Earlier the National Economic Council (NEC) had reconstituted its Ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Prevention and Control and appointed as its chairman Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State. The Obaseki Committee and even NNPC had alerted the country that the Federation lost 22.8 million barrels of crude, valued at $1.35 billion, in six months in 2019 alone. We invited Obaseki to deliver the keynote address at the NEITI event and he graciously agreed.

The was a lot of alignment between the findings of his committee and that of NEITI and the submission of the key stakeholders who attended the NEITI policy dialogue. I am inclined to believe that his committee submitted a report to NEC. In any case, we sent our reports to NEC too. So, between the report of NEITI, the Obaseki Committee and possibly many others, the fact that oil theft is a problem has long been established and recommendations on what to do abound.

Surely, issues have different gestation periods. Now that oil theft has finally got our attention, it is important we go beyond just putting up appearances, making a grand show of destroying illegal refineries as if that is all there is to oil theft, devising schemes to further milk the state, and presenting oil theft as the sole reason for the decline in oil production and revenue. We have no option but to tackle oil theft. It has become an existential challenge. But we need to address this in a comprehensive and strategic way, not in the usual impulsive and episodic manner.

And in the little time left for oil, we need to pay serious attention to the many issues, including suboptimal decisions and choices, that have led to the underperformance of our hydrocarbon sector.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MARCH 27, 2022

79

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Premier League Blocks Victor Moses’ Attempt to Join Burnley

Super Eagles trained yesterday in Abuja after playing a goalless draw with the Black Stars of Ghana in Kumasi on Friday night. The reverse fixture will hold on Tuesday at the MKO Stadium in the Federal Capital City

NIGERIA V GHANA

Attempts by Victor Moses to switch from Spartak Moscow to Burnley has been blocked by the English Premier league.

Burnley’s attempt to sign Victor Moses has been blocked by the Premier League.

The Clarets, according to UK‘s Sportsmail, tried to lure the winger back to England from Russia, who are in midst of war with Ukraine.

The Premier League rule that they will not accept any requests for new transfers due to concerns over the sporting integrity of the competition.

Italy’s Serie A and Germany’s Bundesliga have alsopreventedtransfersforsimilarreasons,though Spain’sLa Liga isallowingclubstosigntheplayers from the two leagues.

Moses, Spartak Moscow and Burnely were all opentotheformerNigeriainternationalreturning to England.

Russia’sinvasionofUkraineinFebruaryresulted in both the domestic leagues being suspended.

As a result, FIFA and UEFA made the joint decision to allow players from teams in Ukraine and RussiatojoinotherEuropeanteamsonshort-term deals until the end of the season – even though the transfer window is shut.

Eguavoen: Super Eagles Half Way Through to Qatar 2022 Duro Ikhazuagbe

I

nterim Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Augustine Eguavoen, is upbeat over the goalless draw with Ghana last Friday in Kumasi. He believes his wards are more than half way through to qualifying for this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

The three-time African champions were held Ghana to a goalless draw, despite coming up to a vociferous home crowd inside the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Friday.

They were unlucky not to take the lead after a penalty call was overturned by VAR. After Friday’s encounter, the Eagles had their first training yesterday ahead of Tuesday’s second leg.

And Eguavoen stated the Eagles are close to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“The team is in high spirit we are more than half way through I had a word with them and praise them because they were resilient,”Eguavoen said on NFF TV last night. “They worked hard in such an atmosphere so I think it was a fair result.

“Some players didn’t get involved now because one or two had a knock yesterday and recover training, people that played 90 and 94 minutes usually we do just a little bit and then rest.

“People who didn’t play up to 70 minutes will do more, that’s exactly what we just did like

few of them that had knocks like Chukwueze we just want to rest him and he can probably resume tomorrow.”

And speaking ahead of the reverse fixture, Eguavoen said the Eagles must go all out to seal qualification for the World Cup. “We have to take the game to Ghana.We tried to take it to them yesterday (Friday) but they were tough at the back especially the defence led by Amartey he was good “But we had two, three clear cut chances we should have buried but we were not just calm enough in the box. But we will try to work on how we will try to give those finals balls to our attackers to have easy passage to goal.”

...Ghana Coach Says It is Not Over Yet for Black Stars Despite failing to beat the Super Eagles in Kumasi last Friday, Ghana’s Head Coach, Otto Addo, believes the race is not over yet for the Black Stars. He even dismissed the favorite tag hung on the Super Eagles ahead ofTuesday’s second leg of their crunchWorld Cup play-off.

The first leg ended 0-0 on Friday in Kumasi, meaning a home win in Abuja would be enough to send the Super Eagles through to their seventh finals.

Addo is confident that Ghana, who crashed out of this 2021 Africa Cup of Nations at the Group Stage, can still reach Qatar.

“The result doesn’t change anything. When we go there we want to win.”

“Even though our Africa Cup of Nations was not good this year, you saw we matched Nigeria in the first leg,”said the former Black Star.

“So I don’t see them as favourites, the pressure will be on them at home and away goals can hurt a lot.”

The twoWest African rivals came into the crunch tie having both suffered early Nations Cup exits earlier this year, but in contrasting styles.

Ghanaexitedwithoutawinandahumblingdefeat to Comoros to exit bottom of their group, which also included Morocco and Gabon, in Cameroon.

Nigeria, meanwhile, won all three of their group games to become many people’s favourites for the title only to be stunned byTunisia in the Round of 16.

Addo, who was appointed interim coach after Milovan Rajevac was sacked after the Nations Cup,

is confident his squad can more than match their Abuja hosts on Tuesday.

“They have high quality players but they’ve got respect for us and I thought the match in Kumasi was equal in terms of performance.”

Addo also praised Ghana’s young Ajax star Mohammed Kudus for his performance in the first leg but has called on him to be more positive going forward in the return fixture.

“He did well, and he’s obviously a player Ghana missed during the Nations Cup (when he was injured)”, said Addo, who played for Ghana.

“I know the fans in Kumasi loved it when Kudus was doing his thing but sometimes he could be more precise and determined to go forward.

“He has the speed and if he is in front of an opponent I think he can create more, but he’s an exceptional player, no doubt.”

Falconets Beat Senegal to Pick Ticket to U20 World Cup Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Nigeria’s U20 girls, Falconets on Saturday in Benin City earned a ticket to the 2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup after a comfortable 4-1 win over their counterpartsfromSenegal,fora7-2aggregatevictory.

First leg heroine, Flourish Sebastine was again the cynosure,scoringabrace,inthe8thand19thminutes to denude the visitors of any hope of a dramatic comeback at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

Sebastinecruisedtoahat-trickattheStadeLat-Dior inThies two weeks ago and was not to be stopped in the Edo State capital, whipping the ball into the net after only eight minutes to compound the situation for the Senegal girls.

Elegant midfielder Esther Onyenezide made

it three on 25 minutes after converting from the penalty spot. However, just as they did at home in Senegal, the Young Lionesses of Teranga scored from the spot as well, putting away from six yards after one of their strikers was upended in the Nigerian box.

In the second half, the Falconets sat comfortably on the game and allowed it run their way, taking things easy and cutting off the few onslaughts of the visitors. Just before the final whistle of Eswatini referee Letticia Antonella Viana, Joy Jerry made it four for the two-time FIFA World Cup runners-up.

TheresultsendstheFalconetsstraighttotheWorld Cup holding 10th – 28th August in Costa Rica, and is a positive development just 72 hours before the Super Eagles go big for Qatar 2022 FIFAWorld Cup ticket against the Black Stars of Ghana in Abuja.

Victor Moses...attempts to switch to Burnley

Eunisell Extols Rivers Utd after First Round NPFL Feat Eunisell Limited, one of Africa’s top chemical and specialty fluids management company, has praised Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Rivers United FC for finishing in top spot after the first round of the 2021/22 season.

Rivers United ended the first round of the ongoing season with 42 points, one ahead of second-placed Plateau United, from 19 matches.

Eunisell Managing Director, Chika Ikenga expressed happiness that the Port Harcourt club has shown excellent form since the start of the season.

Ikenga believes that Rivers United can top their first round performance by“going all the way to win the league title this season.”

“The achievement of Rivers United this season goes to show that the entire club is ready to win something this season. They have previously gone unbeaten during the campaign and now they have finished the first round in number one position on the table. It is no mean feat and this is as a result of hard work and dedication put in place by the players, coaches, backroom staff and management of the club.

“At Eunisell, we are also excited to be associated with a club that is ambitious and we urge them to go one step further by going all the way to win the league title this season. We believe this is achievable going by the quality in the playing squad of the club.

“We look forward to the end of the season when we will join in celebrating the title win by Rivers United,” Ikenga said.

The company’s boss further stated its support for Rivers United saying “the club remains an important part of our project and that is why we are in this partnership for the long haul.”

Sunday March 27, 2022

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“With the Monday sit-at-home, the South-east economy is sinking gradually. When you boycott activities in Anambra or any other part of the region, normal activities are going on in other parts of the country. When normal activities are going on in other places, the person or persons you want to show your anger to is not actually feeling what you are doing” – Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, ordering all markets, schools, banks, public servants to resume normal activities Mondays.

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SIMONKOLAWOLE Nigeria and the Spirit of ‘$̓L̓H’ SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

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WAZIRIADIO POSTSCRIPT

Now that Oil Theft is on the Radar

I

n the last few days, there has been a flurry of statements and activities on crude oil theft in Nigeria. It seems this important issue has finally become a priority for decision makers. If truly so, this is commendable—better late than never. Without a doubt, the increasingly audacious and humongous theft of crude oil and refined products poses a multiplicity of threats to oil companies and all tiers of governments, to the environment, to the livelihoods of citizens and communities, and, mostly importantly, to national security.

That a country will allow such a multidimensional risk to linger for so long is beyond belief.

Now that those in a position to act have seemingly been roused either by the country’s increasingly dire fiscal conditions or by the decibel of the voices of some key parties, it is important to go beyond clever soundbites and photo-ops. It will also be necessary not to return to the same measures that have proven grossly ineffective over the time, and not to succumb to schemes designed merely to take advantage of the situation.

And while we are at it, it will equally be vital to shun the beguiling narrative that oil theft alone fully explains the precipitous

decline in and the underperformance of Nigeria’s petroleum production and revenue.

The haemorrhage from oil theft needs to stop but so should other debilities that are afflicting the still strategic oil and gas sector.

Tackling only one malaise, no matter how important, and leaving the others will at best provide only temporary relief. What the sector needs is comprehensive treatment.

A good place to start will be getting accurate picture of things. There have been screaming headlines and viral tweets that between 80% and 95% of Nigeria’s crude oil is lost to oil thieves. This cannot be true.

Anyone with little familiarity with the sector, and this should include most Nigerians, should question the figures being touted.

Without doubt, oil theft is worsening at a time the country desperately needs all the revenue it can get. A sizeable portion of resources belonging to companies and the country is ending up in the hands of increasingly emboldened criminals who can in turn put private enterprise and the commonwealth at greater risk. This is bad and sobering enough. It doesn’t need any further sensation. While hyperbole can help to focus minds and can sometimes provide the jolt for needed action, it can also serve

other disguised purposes.

Nigeria’s oil production figures can easily be accessed locally and internationally.

Our oil production, minus condensates, has hovered between 1.2 million and 1.4 million barrels per day for some time now, due to reduced OPEC quota and other factors. As low as they are, these figures do not represent 20% or 5% of our daily production. Even if we put Nigeria’s daily oil production at one million barrels, saying the country is losing between 80% to 95% of its oil production will suggest that Nigeria is producing between five million and 20 million barrels of crude oil per day. That would be nice but it is simply not true. Our record daily production till date remains 2.7 million barrels, and that record was set in 2005.

Another way of looking at the figures being bandied will be to say we are actually producing between 1.2 million and 1.4 million barrels per day but losing between 80% to 95% of these to oil thieves. This would mean that the thieves leave between 60, 000 barrels and 280, 000 barrels per day for the oil companies and the Federation to share after carting away between 80% and 95% of oil production. This is simply

implausible. Given that the Federation gets about 30% of oil produced, are they suggesting that the Federation now gets only between 18, 000 barrels and 84, 000 barrels of crude oil per day?

My sense is that some misreporting or misrepresentation is going on here, and those with the responsibility to provide clarity are looking away for less than noble reasons.

Meanwhile, even some data-conscious and ordinarily inquisitive people are ready to pause their questioning spirit on this. Worse, some are not just swallowing but avidly sharing mis-presented or misrepresented data. I need to repeat that oil theft, no matter the scale, is an economic sabotage and a security risk that must be tackled head-on. But we don’t need to sex up the numbers or encourage misrepresentation.

There are onshore oil fields and oil pipelines that are more heavily impacted by oil theft than others, especially pipelines like the Nembe Creek Trunkline (NCTL) and the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP). My sense is that those quoted in screaming headlines were most likely referring to certain fields and pipelines and either Continued on page 78

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