SATURDAY 2ND APRIL 2022

Buhari: Nigeria Ready to Lead Africa's Digital Tech Race Microsoft opens $200m centre in Abuja Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed the readiness of Nigeria to lead the digital technology aspiration of the 54 African countries.

This is just as Microsoft opened its first engineering hub, the African Development Centre worth $200 million, in Abuja.

Speaking yesterday at the State House, Abuja, while

playing host to the President of Microsoft Corporation, Brad Smith, accompanied by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the President said Nigeria "is ready to

welcome more initiatives and investments in digital technology," while appreciating Microsoft for an engineering hub, worth $200 million.

Buhari said: “I have been informed that the African

Development Centre in Nigeria is Microsoft’s first engineering hub in Africa as the current investment stands at about $200 million.

“I have also been informed of Microsoft’s skilling initiative

that aims to train five million citizens and provide 27,000 jobs over the next three years. These initiatives are commendable and I urge you to expand Continued on page 5

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LCC Resumes Tolling At Lekki Tollgate, Lagos CP Warns against Protest... Page 8

PDP’s Presidential Aspirants Hit 13, More Coming, Party Harvests N486m Abdullahi Adamu: APC has Buhari's marching orders to deliver 2023 elections Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja With 13 presidential aspirants

picking forms, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has harvested N486 million from the sales

of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to these aspirants.

The PDP yesterday also

extended the collection of all nomination forms to April 8, thereby leaving window open for more presidential aspirants

to pick forms.

This is coming on the heels of the declaration by the National Chairman of

the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Continued on page 5

Navy Begins Biggest Operation Ever to Curb Oil Theft in Niger Delta Deploys 40 ships, 5 helicopters, 200 boats Mele Kyari: Nigerians will see measurable results in 3 weeks Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Nigerian Navy yesterday commenced what is evidently its biggest operation aimed at putting an end to oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, with the deployment of 40 ships, five helicopters and 200 boats for “Operation Dakatar Da Barawo” (stop the thief) across the region.

On the same day, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, assured Nigerians that with this special Naval operation against oil theft in

the country, Nigerians would begin to see measurable results in two to three weeks.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Planning, Naval Headquarters, Abuja, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, while flagging off “Operation Dakatar Da Barawo” on board the Nigeria Navy Ship, Okpabana, in Onne, Rivers State, said the move was to intensify previous efforts, as the nation was bleeding as a result of huge losses to the menace of oil theft.

He revealed that Nigeria lost about $3.2 billion in the last 13 Continued on page 5

BRAD SMITH AT THE VILLA… L-R: Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami; President Muhammadu Buhari and the President, Microsoft Corporation, Brad Smith, during Smith’s courtesy visit to President Buhari in Abuja..yesterday.

GODWIN OMOIGUI

Abdullahi Adamu, Deputy Must Resign from Senate, Says Agbakoba… Page 10

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T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R • SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2022

PAGE FIVE NAVY BEGINS BIGGEST OPERATION EVER TO CURB OIL THEFT IN NIGER DELTA months to crude oil theft and illegal bunkering.

Gambo disclosed that “Operation Dakatar Da Barawo” was in collaboration with Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and that it confirms the Nigerian Navy and NNPC’s collective resolute and deep commitments to end the menace of crude oil theft, illegal oil refining and other insecurity within the nation's maritime environment.

The CNS appreciated the contributions of Kyari and his staff for helping to activate the operation, which he said would last for three months. Gambo stressed that the Nigerian Navy on its part, has over the years undertaken several operations geared towards ensuring unhindered exploration and exploitation of the nation's maritime resources for economic growth and national development.

The CNS assured that the Nigerian Navy under his watch remains committed to eradicating all acts of criminality in Nigeria's maritime domain and by extension, the Gulf of Guinea for the economic wellbeing of the people.

He assured that "Operation Dakatar Da Bararwo would involve dominating the nation's backwaters through aggressive and intelligence driven patrols.”

He adds: “It would also be dedicated to monitoring pipelines, block identified strategic estuaries to prevent conveyance of stolen crude oil from inshore to sea and to maintain credible presence along the coastline of areas prone to crude oil theft.

"This initiative became necessary considering the recent reports of massive revenue losses which compelled all efforts to be emplaced to curtail the wanton crude oil theft and illegal bunkering of crude oil in the nation's maritime environment.

"The operation would also involve aerial surveillance, as well as insertion of special forces

to conduct clearance operations.

"The vast expanse of the nation's maritime domain coupled with limited capability of maritime security and law enforcement agencies, including the complex nature of maritime threats, make it expedient for maritime stakeholders to emplace more robust collaborative engagement to surmount these crude oil theft, illegal oil refining and other maritime security challenges.

"We are bringing at least 40 ships, between 100 and 200 Navy boats, also we are deploying between four and five helicopters, some of which will be coming and going throughout the period and all Navy Special Forces and units will also be involved to make sure the operation is successful."

Earlier in his remarks, the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas said the essence and the need for the operation was to deal with the prevailing rise in crude oil theft and operation of illegal refineries.

He said: "In a recent report, the statistics presented at a meeting between the Nigerian

Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Oil Producing Outstretched Section and Independent Petroleum Producers Group, showed that Nigeria lost about $3.2 billion between January 2021 and February 2022, to oil theft.

"The development has brought crude oil production below OPEC approved local price, as well as benchmark of Nigeria's 2022 budget.”

The Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refining Company, Ahmed Dikko, who represented Mele Kyari, noted that the country was losing huge amount of money to oil theft, adding, "We will not like to tolerate any more of this and we had to do anything we can to make sure it stops.

“So, NNPC is really worried and reached out to the Nigerian Navy and we are ready to support the Nigerian Navy anyway we can so we can conduct special operations and make sure that we bring this menace to the barest minimum today.

"We are open to supporting the Nigerian Navy in any way possible to ensure the success of the operation. The situation we have today with crude oil

theft and illegal bunkering of crude oil activities is impacting seriously on NNPC’s operations."

Mele Kyari: Nigerians will See Measurable Results in 3 Weeks The Group Managing Director of the NNPC yesterday assured Nigerians that with the strategies currently being deployed to halt the massive oil theft in the country, Nigerians will begin to see measurable results in two to three weeks.

Speaking during the presentation of the ISO 22301 certificate to the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) and the launch of the Electronic Materials Management Solution (EMMS) in Abuja, the NNPC helmsman described oil theft as disruptive to its operations.

“As we speak, there's massive disruption to our operations as a result of activities of vandals and criminals around pipelines in the Niger Delta area. This has brought down our production to levels as low as we have never seen before.

“Today, we are producing less than 1.5 million barrels per day,

simply because some criminals decided that they should have some infractions on our pipeline.

And that clearly is the biggest form of business disruption that we're facing today,” Kyari said.

He stated that enormous work was going on with relevant government security agencies and community leaders to ensure an end to the menace.

“I am very optimistic that within the next two to three weeks, we will see very measurable outcomes, so that our businesses can continue.

Also, as we speak, the Nigerian Navy is carrying out a massive operation to contain oil theft in the Niger Delta,” he stated.

According to him, the whole essence of the intervention is to ensure that every asset available to the Nigerian navy will be deployed with the support of the industry players to make sure that the problem is arrested.

Less than three 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.

A Co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc, Austin Avuru also recently called 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, Tony Elumelu, similarly bemoaned the worsening state of the industry, stressing that about 95 per cent of oil produced does not get to the terminal.

Likewise, 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 had 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.

broadband access across Nigeria and Microsoft’s connectivity initiative aligns with the plan.

He said, “I believe it would be very useful and mutually beneficial to both Microsoft and Nigeria if your connectivity project is expanded beyond the current four locations in this country.

“Emerging technologies play a key role in digital transformation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and a number of indigenous companies have developed very useful solutions. We are willing to partner with Microsoft to make Nigeria the epicenter for innovative emerging technology in

Africa.”

The President commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and all industry stakeholders for their support for the sector.

He said: “In order to sustain the momentum, I further direct that you and other stakeholders in the technology ecosystem keep the government fully informed of your ongoing and proposed activities that support the growth of our digital economy.

“We have the potential of becoming your most lucrative market in Africa. As such, we urge you to continue to support the development of our digital economy. We also urge you to step up your Corporate Social Responsibility programmes and support for Research and Development that will enhance your services in Nigeria and on the African continent."

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy said he represented President Buhari at the inauguration of the African Development Centre, adding that Microsoft had over 200 Nigerians working for them in Nigeria and in Seattle.

Pantami noted that 320,000 Nigerians had also been trained on digital skills by the technology company.

On his part, the President of Microsoft and Vice Executive Chairman said the company would keep creating jobs to help build technology that would change the world, noting that the “multi-tasking approach” also stretches to digital infrastructure.

“We pledge to train five million people in Nigeria in the future,” Smith said, noting “60,000 people had already enrolled for courses while 300,000 had completed various courses,” said the’ Microsoft President.

Smith said the company had gone into partnership with other companies to increase Internet and broadband penetration, while efforts had been advanced in innovating technology that would fight corruption and preserve cultural heritages, like languages.

BUHARI: NIGERIA READY TO LEAD AFRICA'S DIGITAL TECH RACE them and continue to prioritise Nigeria as you roll out your global initiatives.”

President Buhari told the visiting Microsoft team that as the largest economy and most populous country in Africa, Nigeria was positioned to play a strategic role in the global technology ecosystem and seek the right partnerships to harness the potentials.

He said one of such key partnerships was in the area of capacity building. According to him, his administration has shown great commitment to providing a conducive environment for investors and Nigeria’s massive jump in the Global Ease of Doing Business Ranking was a proof

that the efforts were yielding positive results.

The Nigerian President said: “Our emphasis on the development of our Digital Economy has also positioned the sector as a prominent factor in the Nigerian economy. As the fastest growing sector of the Nigerian economy in 2020, the Information and Communications Technology sector played a very important role in supporting our country to exit the recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are keen about building on the momentum as we continue to implement our National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, along with other related policies.”

Apart from partnership in the area of skills building, President Buhari said he looked forward to further partnerships that would support the digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem, with regard to emerging technologies: “I believe that this meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss how the Nigerian government can support the growth of your business here and how Microsoft can contribute to the growth of our economy through the active support of our policies and programmes."

Buhari said he launched the Nigerian National Broadband Plan on the 19th of March 2020, with the aim of expanding

PDP’S PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS HIT 13, MORE COMING, PARTY HARVESTS N486M Abdullahi Adamu, in Abuja that President Muhammadu Buhari had given the new National Working Committee (NWC) of the party marching orders to deliver the 2023 general elections.

PDP’s presidential nomination form costs N35 million while the Expression of Interest form is N5 million, making a total of N40 million per aspirant.

However, female presidential aspirants pay N1 million and N5 million respectively for nomination and the Expression of Interest forms.

The only female aspirant in the race, Oliver Tareila Diana purchased her presidential nomination form in person last Wednesday, making her the 13th aspirant.

Others that have purchased the PDP presidential forms are former vice president Atiku Abubakar; former senate president Bukola Saraki; former secretary to the government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim and the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed.

Others are Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State; a United States based medical doctor, Nwachukwu Anakwenze; newspaper publisher, Dele Momodu; Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; investment banker and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi;

Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel and a pharmacist, Sam Ohuabunwa.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba defended the large number of presidential aspirants that purchased forms, saying, "the more the merrier."

Ologunagba said the large number shows that Nigerians see the capabilities of the party as the only one capable of rescuing Nigeria from the abyss and misrule of the APC. Though at press time, the party is yet to officially zone its Presidential ticket. It has set up a 37-man committee chaired by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom to resolve this.

The committee is expected to come up with its report between now and next week.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has also approved the extension of sales of Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms for all elective offices in the 2023 general elections from the initial date set yesterday, April 1, 2022 to a new date of Friday, April 8, 2022.

In a statement issued by Ologunagba, the party said the last day for the return of already completed forms is now April 10.

The screening for both the State House of Assembly and National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) will be

held from April 12 to April 14.

All other dates remain as already published, the PDP stated.

The financial fortune of the party is also expected to rise with the sale of forms to governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly aspirants.

With the guidelines released, PDP members aspiring for the governorship seat are to cough out N21 million, with the expression of interest form pegged at N1 million while nomination form is N20 million.

Senatorial aspirants will pay N500,000 for expression of interest and N3 million for nomination form, totaling N3.5 million.

Also, the House of Representatives’ aspirants will pay N2.5 million, with expression of interest at N500,000 and nomination form at N2 million.

Those aspiring for State House of Assembly will pay N100,000 for expression of interest form and N500,000 for nomination form.

The party equally approved a 50 per cent reduction in nomination fees for youths aged 25 to 30 years for various elective positions.

Adamu: We've Buhari's Marching Orders to Deliver 2023 Elections The new National chairman of

the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said President Buhari had given the new National Working Committee (NWC) of the party marching orders to deliver the 2023 general elections.

He disclosed this in Abuja after the members of the NEC received their certificates of return from the National Convention Electoral Committee, led by Jigawa State governor, Abubakar Badaru.

Adamu said there would be no excuses whatsoever as the leadership of the party is putting in efforts to deliver on the President's directive, but noted that all hands must be on deck.

Adamu hinted that he would probe the national secretariat of the ruling party and its directors, stressing that there was a need to know the status of the secretariat.

The chairman said the party could not continue the way things were, adding that his administration would have zero tolerance for failure.

The chairman also noted that the leadership of the party needed the support of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

He said the leadership of the party would interface with the PGF through its chairman and the Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu.

Adamu added: "As for those

of you who just received your certificate just like me, members of the working committee, I've told you during our first meeting of the committee, I am a team player. I want to carry everybody along with me. But to work with me, you have to be loyal. It is not loyalty to me, but loyalty to the party. You have to recognise the authority of the party in all that we do.

And the interest of the party is paramount.

"You are lucky you are around because we had agreed by Wednesday we are having our next meeting because we wanted the committee to give us a report. We want to know where the party is exactly so that we don't get taken by the exuberance of winning an election and just plunge into the pool without knowing how deep it is or the temperature of the water.

"As for you, the director of admin, you have no hiding place. We will count on your loyalty to the party. It is in God's pleasure that we are here at the helm of affairs of this party. We've come with a very open mind but you have to reciprocate in the same spirit.

We will definitely, by the will of God Almighty, the Secretariat, we need to look at you but I’m not saying anything today until the transition committee submits its report."

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 2, 2022

NEWS

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

Defection: Enugu A’Court Affirms Ebonyi High Court’s Ruling Endorsing Umahi, Deputy Alex Enumah in Abuja

Confusion continue to trail the defection of Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, following a judgment of Court of Appeal Enugu Division, which yesterday, affirmed his governorship having defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The appellate court in a judgment affirmed the judgement of Ebonyi High Court, Abakaliki, which quashed a

suit challenging Umahi and his deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, continued stay in office having decamped from the party that brought them to office.

The governor, his deputy and some members of the State House of Assembly had on November 2020 decamped from the PDP to the APC, an action which has provoked current litigations both in Abakaliki and Abuja Federal High Court as well as the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal.

While the Ebonyi High Court

had dismissed the suit against their decampment, the Federal High Court on the other hand had ordered their removal from office.

The suit in Abakaliki was filed by the governorship candidate of the APC in 2019 in Ebonyi State, Senator Suny Ogbuoji and his running mate, Mr. Justin Ogodo, praying the court to hold that the defendant, David Umahi, having defected to the APC from the PDP, ought to vacate the office, so that they would be sworn-in, having come second

in the election.

But, Justice Henry Njoku of the Ebonyi State High Court in his judgment had dismissed the suit for lacking in merit, prompting the plaintiff to approach the appellate court.

However, the appellate court in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice A. O. Belgore, similarly dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

The appellate court held that Governor Umahi and his deputy had the right to move to any political party they so wished,

adding that there was nowhere in the constitution, that barred a sitting governor from defecting to any political party.

Justice Belgore in the judgment said that the governor and his deputy did not offend any provision of the Constitution or the Electoral Act, as there was no consequence under the law against the defection of the holder of the office of the President, Vice President, Governor or Deputy Governor, to another political party from the party that sponsored the election that

brought him or her to office.

It further held that the defection of a political office holder may appear immoral, but it was not the duty of the court to embark on investigation or probe into the provisions of the laws, warning that judicial activism must not be turned into judicial rascality.

The appellate court further held that there was no provision in Sections 180, 188 or 189 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, that empowered the court to remove either a sitting governor or the deputy.

Borno Speaker Calls for Recapture of Guzamala, Kukawa LGAs from Boko Haram Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

The Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, has appealed to the federal government and the military authorities to ensure the recapture of Guzamala and Kukawa local government areas of Borno State from Boko Haram.

The Speaker, who lamented that parts of the two local government areas are still held by the terrorist group, equally asked the military to ensure the return of civil authority to the affected areas.

He said the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, should fast track the ongoing efforts of Operation Desert Sanity by troops of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ to restore civil authority in Guzamala and Kukawa councils.

Lawan made this call at the official flag off ceremony for distribution of Phase IV Scholarship worth N5 million to 446 indigent students of Guzamala, displaced by insurgents in the last six years, studying at various tertiary institutions.

The occasion which took place at the Kashim Ibrahim College of

Education Multi -Purpose Hall in Maiduguri, was attended by traditional rulers, the academia, politicians and many displaced students from Guzamala.

In order to ameliorate the effect of insurgency on the students, Lawan who is the longest serving Speaker in Nigeria, initiated a scholarship scheme to deserving students coordinated by Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan Scholarship Committee (HALSC) chaired by Comrade Wakil Sheriff.

Addressing the gathering yesterday, the Speaker appreciated the efforts of the military and other security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram and other criminalities in Borno and the North-east in general.

He however said, “the entire Guzamala Local Government area where I hail from is still under the control of Boko Haram sect as there is no presence of troops or civilians as I speak, while in Kukawa which is the Council Headquarter, we only have presence of troops without civilian population.”

Again, Terrorists Invade Kaduna Suburb, Kill 3, Abduct 10 John Shiklam in Kaduna Dare devil terrorists struck again on Thursday night in Anguwan Bulus, a suburb in Sabon Tasha, Kaduna metropolis, killing three people while 10 others were confirmed to have been abducted.

Six people were also said to have sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment A community leader in the area who confirmed the attack, said the terrorists invaded the area at about 8:30p.m on Thursday. The community is said to have been under frequent attacks by terrorists. The latest incident was said to have been so daring as the criminals were shooting sporadically.

The community leader described the attack as deadly saying that the terrorists who came in large numbers.

“We are in deep trouble in this community. This is about the fourth time our community is being invaded by these bandits.

“They came around 8:30p.m.

and starting shooting. Some people were able to run to Sabo for safety. They killed three people and injured six others.

“I don’t know how many people they kidnapped, but I can confirmed that I know of 10 people that were taken,” he said.

According to him, many people who escaped from their homes were yet to come back, “so it is difficult to determine the exact number of people that were kidnapped.”

He however confirmed that, “So far, a woman and four children and another woman and her three children were abducted. One other person was also abducted.”

The community leader said, throughout last night residents did not sleep as they were tensed and apprehensive.

“We were helpless, everybody was tense and agitated.

We were at the mercy of the bandits because they were many and they were carrying sophisticated weapons,” he said.

SEE MY DEPUTY OIL MAN… L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari introducing the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva (in black suit) to Nigerien President, Mohammed Bazou, during a working visit to Nigeria...Thursday

Declaring My Seat Vacant is Illegal, Says Kwara Lawmaker Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A member of Kwara State House of Assembly representing Ojomu/Balogun Constituency of Offa Local Government Area of the state, Hon. Saheed Adekeye Popoola, yesterday, described the purported declaration of his seat vacant by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu-Danladi, as illegal and uncalled for over his recent defection from All Progressives Congress(APC) to the Social Democratic Party(SDP).

Popoola said that he had filed a restraining order through the court which the House has acknowledged since Monday 28th March, 2022 and the House decision to declare his seat vacant was illegal and contravened the

court order.

Salihu-Danladi, who read the decision of the House on Thursday, said that the development was borne out of the letter written to the House by the state chapter of the APC to declare the seat of Hon. Popoola vacant for defecting from the party to the SDP. The Speaker said that the decision to declare the lawmaker seat vacant was in consonance with Section 109 (1) G of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

He said that “the constitution is clear as Hon. Saheed Popoola ought to have vacated his seat at Ojomu/Balogun Constituency of Offa Local Government having defected

from All Progressives Congress (APC) to Social Democratic Party, (SDP).”

Popoola while speaking with journalists in Ilorin on the development, said that “No individual or group of persons including the Speaker of the House has any locus standi to declare his seat vacant over his defection from APC to the SDP. According to him, his defection to SDP was borne out of the intra party crisis that ensued during the time of his membership of the APC which was factionalised into two groups .

He said that “I have obtained court injunction which I served all the parties concerned on Monday (28th March, 2022) and which they all acknowledged of the

restraining order on the move to declare my seat vacant.”

According to him, “I want to say that no any individual or group of persons and even INEC have locus standi to declare my seat vacant on the premises of my defection from APC to SDP. “When I heard the rumour, I obtained a court injunction on Monday(28th March, 2022) and which the court served the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu-Danladi and all other parties and which they all acknowledged without any problem.

“So, if any contrary occurs now, it is an illegal action and null and void and the court will take appropriate action without further delay.”

House Introduces Bill Seeking to Make Nigerians CEO of Multinational Companies Udora Orizu in Abuja

A bill to mandate multinational companies operating in the country to appoint qualified Nigerians as their Chief Executive Officers has passed first reading in the House of Representatives.

The proposed legislation titled, ‘Multinational Companies Appointment of Chief Executives (Regulatory) Bill, (HB 1933) and Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act

(Amendment) Bill (HB 1934)’, is sponsored by Hon. Doctor Farah Dagogo.

The Multinational Companies Appointment of Chief Executives (Regulatory) Bill, stipulates that any multinational company that contravenes it would have committed an offence and be convicted.

It states, “Without prejudice to the extant Federal Character Commission Act or any relevant applicable legislation, any ap-

pointment for the position of Chief Executive Officer of any multinational company shall be reserved for a qualified Nigerian with requisite knowledge, proven integrity, cognate experience and capacity to provide leadership in the industry. In Clause 3 it states that any multinational company in Nigeria which contravenes the provisions of this bill through its officers or proxies, commits an offence and shall, on conviction be liable to such penalty as may

be prescribed by regulations issued under this Bill.”

On the other hand the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (Amendment) Bill, states that, “The Board shall implement the provisions of this Bill to ensure a measurable and continuous growth of Nigerian content in oil and gas arrangements, projects, operations, activities or transactions in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.”

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LCC Resumes Tolling At Lekki Tollgate, Lagos CP Warns against Protest Bennett Oghifo The Lekki Concession Company (LCC) yesterday resumed toll collection at the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge, with the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Abiodun Akabi warning against protest that may disrupt operations at the toll gate.

The LCC suspended toll collection at the Lekki-Ikoyi and Admiralty-Lekki toll gates after the violent #EndSARS protest on October 20, 2020 that claimed some lives.

Last March, when the Lagos State Government stated its resolve to reopen the Lekki-Ikoyi

toll gate, there were dissenting voices and planned protests to dissuade the government. Many Nigerian youths and residents of that axis of Lagos insisted that protesters were killed while waving the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem.

However, a statement issued yesterday by the Lagos police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, quoted CP Alabi as warning that protesting at the tollgate was capable of grounding commercial activities in the area and obstructing the flow of traffic.

Alabi advised Nigerians to go about their lawful duties without fear of harassment

and intimidation because the force would ensure the safety of lives and property.

The statement said, “While the command is not averse to the right to freedom of assembly, association and expression, the command will equally live up to its mandate of ensuring that no person or group of persons is allowed to infringe on the fundamental human rights of others, especially the rights to freedom of movement and right to dignity of human persons.

“CP Alabi therefore warns all intending protesters that anyone

found infringing on the rights of other Nigerians will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

“Meanwhile, CP Alabi once again enjoins all peace loving Lagosians to go about their lawful duties without fear of harassment or intimidation, reiterating that adequate security assets have been strategically deployed to ensure their safety and security.”

Regardless of the fact that tolling operations began yesterday at the Lekki-Ikoyi toll gate, the LCC said toll payment would not resume until Saturday,16 April.

LCC CEO, Yomi Omomuwasan said, “Whilst LCC is aware of the concerns by some stakeholders regarding the return to tolling, it is common knowledge that the government cannot, on its own,meetalltheinfrastructuralneeds of the ever-growing population.”

According to Omomuwasan, LCC had a meeting with Lekki communities and residents prior to the reopening and that the company was encouraged by the responses from “vast majority of residents and stakeholders.”

During the #EndSARS protest, the Lekki toll plaza on Lekki-Epe

Expressway was the main protest theatre. An attack by Nigerian security agents on the unarmed protesters forced the closure of the two toll plazas.

A report by the Lagos State judicial panel in November 2021 proposed that the Lekki toll plaza be made a memorial site for the #EndSARS protest and renaming the plaza as #EndSARS Tollgate.

“The panel recommends that October 20th of every year, the day is made a ‘Toll Free Day’ at the Lekki Toll Gate as long as the tollgate exists,” the panel report said.

Three Traders Killed, Seven Injured as Terrorists Invade Katsina Market Francis Sardauna in Katsina There was pandemonium and uneasy calm at Yantumaki community in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State yesterday following the invasion of the community’s market by armed terrorists.

The terrorists who attacked the market with sophisticated weapons at about 3p.m., killed three traders and left seven others with varying degrees of injuries.

One of the ward heads in the area, who craved anonymity, told THISDAY in a telephone interview that the hoodlums also abducted many other traders

at gunpoint and taken away into the forest He added that the miscreants launched the attack when the market was filled to capacity, and carried out the operation for about 34 minutes, shooting sporadically into the air to force traders to abandon their wares.

The credible source explained that the terrorists also carted away food and non-food items after the traders fled the market to nearby villages for safety.

According to him, “We don’t know where many traders are right now because they haven’t started returning. A lot of goods were destroyed, apart from the ones they stole.

Cult Clash: Three Killed in Rivers Community Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Three persons have been reportedly shot dead in Ibaa community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State in alleged cult clash.

THISDAY gathered that the gunmen suspected to be Icelanders cult group members invaded the Mgbuesa Village in Ibaa, early hours of yesterday, killing the victims who were alleged to be members of Deygbam, a rival cult group.

A source from the community who pleaded anonymity disclosed that the killing may not be unconnected to the battle for control of Illegal levy known as ‘matching ground’ between the two alleged cult groups.

The source disclosed that since the LGA Chairman dis-

banded a local vigilante group in the area “OSPAC”, the area is beginning to return back to a den of suspected cult groups.

However, the killing incident caused pandemonium in Ibaa community, as residents and natives were sighted leaving the community for fear of escalation of violence.

It would be recalled that two persons were killed in the same Ibaa in February 2022.

Meanwhile, the State Police Command have confirmed the incident and killing.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Grace Iringe-Koko, who spoke to THISDAY, confirmed that two persons were killed in the cult supremacy battle.

She also said that “The Commissioner of Police, Eboka Friday, has deployed six patrol teams to the area.”

Partisan Politics: Leadership of Enugu Traditional Rulers to Sanction Erring Members The Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers has cautioned its members who indulge in partisan politics or take sides with individuals or groups in political contests, to henceforth desist from such activities which contravene Section 10 of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Law, or be ready to face the consequences.

In a statement by the Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, HM Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, the Council “viewed with very grave concern the conduct and activities of some royal fathers who have

failed to adhere to our primary role and responsibility for peace, order, security and welfare of our dear Enugu State”.

Igwe Agubuzu disclosed that the re-affirmation of the Traditional Rulers’ position as “apolitical royal fathers who are not expected to involve ourselves in partisan politics or to take side with individuals or groups of our subjects in political contestations” was one of the resolutions passed by the General Assembly of the State recognized Traditional Rulers at their meeting in Enugu, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS . . .

L-R: Senior Partners, Verraki Partners, Mrs. Toluwaleke Adenmosun; Olaniyi Tayo; Kelvin Balogun; Mrs. Abayomi Olarinmoye; and Managing Partner, Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, at the Verraki Partners 3rd Year Anniversary in Lagos...yesterday.

Photo: Etop Ukutt

Try all Indicted Terror Sponsors, Suspects Now, Insists Falana Ahamefula Ogbu President Muhammadu Buhari has been asked to direct the Inspector General of Police to prosecute all indicted terror suspects and their sponsors in the country since the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, had failed even

after promising to make them face the law.

He was further urged to order an investigation into claims of negligence by the intelligence community and as well as refusal to approve monies for the installation of electronic monitors and drones which made it possible for the terrorists to succeed in their latest

attack on the railway.

Interim Chair, Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, made the call in a statement where he lamented the escalating terror attacks on Nigerians and regretted that lack of decisive actions against the insurgents was to be blamed for the worsening situation.

He also while commiserating with victims of terror attacks, advocated for payment of aggravated compensation to victims by the federal government especially those victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack which claimed eight lives and injured nearly 30 persons while a yet to be determined number said to be in their hundreds were kidnapped.

AFC Invests $1.6bn in 20 Projects in Nigeria Nume Ekeghe Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has noted that on its balance sheet, the corporation has invested in 20 infrastructure projects in Nigeria worth $1.6bn from its balance sheet of $8.6 billion.

The President and Chief Executive Officer, AFC, Mr. Samaila Zubairu, also noted that for Nigeria and the rest of the African continent, credit

enhancement and assurances should be given to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to fund infrastructure deficit.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos yesterday, Zubairu said: “On how much AFC has invested in Nigeria, the number is actually $1.6 billion currently, I mean earlier investments have been paid back, right now on the balance sheet of 8.6 billion, we have $1.6

billion as investments. We’ve invested in over 20 projects in Nigeria, 49 per cent is in natural resources, 38 per cent is in heavy industries, telecoms and technology, 11 per cent is in power and 2 per cent is in transport.

“We have discovered that the trend for infrastructure investment in Nigeria is same as that of the globe. So, if you look at our infrastructure deficits, and the opportuni-

ties to invest in infrastructure, transport and energy is about 80 per cent of the subset which is also consistent with the global average.”

“Now, it turns out that transport and energy is the area where you can easily attract private sector capital. So that is the area that governments should least invest in. And any government investment should be more in the form of credit enhancements.”

Sokoto Debunks Alleged Diversion of N189bn

Ahamefula Ogbu

Sokoto State Government has dismissed as “reckless and provoking”, reports by some online media platforms alleging that it diverted N189 billion and described as a calculated attempt to taint Governor Aminu Tambuwal whose presidential quest was gaining traction.

Debunking the allegation in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Muhammad Bello, he

waved the reports off insisting that “these media reports are false in all material particulars and should be completely disregarded.”

“Our attention has been drawn to reckless and provoking reports by some online news media about alleged diversion of N189 billion by the Sokoto State Government. The reports cited a so-called EFCC interim report on Sokoto State. These media reports are false in all material particulars and should

be completely disregarded.

“We alert the public that these media reports are orchestrated efforts by political hacks to taint the reputation of Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who is a frontline aspirant for 2023 PDP Presidential ticket. The Government of Sokoto State has established a deserved reputation as the champion of budget transparency, fiscal responsibility, and open governance. We have subscribed to the Open Government Partnership (OGP).

“It is noteworthy that in December 2020, the World Bank rated the Sokoto State as number one state in Nigeria in fiscal transparency as a recognition of Governor Tambuwal’s unflinching commitment to the implementation of the State’s Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) and for efforts to champion budgetary transparency in Nigeria. For this commitment, Sokoto State has received up to $34.1million as special grant from the World Bank.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 2, 2022

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NEWS

Moon Sighted, Ramadan Starts Today, Says Sultan Buhari, Lawan, Saraki preach peace, love Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

(today) 2nd of April as the First GD\ RI 5DPDGDQ $+ µ +H VDLG WKH PRRQ ZDV The Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan sighted in some of the towns Sa’ad Abubakar III, has an- in the country by some Islamic nounced today, April 2, 2022 the leaders and scholars including ÀUVW GD\ RI WKH +RO\ 0RQWK RI Sokoto, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Ramadan following the sighting Katsina and Plateau among of the moon in almost every RWKHUV Following the sighting of the part of the country earlier yesterday, which is the 29th PRRQ 3UHVLGHQW 0XKDPPDGX GD\ RI WKH 0RQWK RI 6KDEDQ Buhari joined world leaders DQG ´WKHUHE\ VLJQLÀHV WRPRUURZ in welcoming the month of

Ramadan, the month of fasting and intense devotion for 0XVOLPV ZKLFK EHJLQV WRGD\ Also, President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan and former 3UHVLGHQW RI WKH 6HQDWH 'U Abubakar Bukola Saraki urged prayers for peace, security in Nigeria, while felicitating with WKH 0XVOLP 8PPDK DV WKH\ FRPPHQFH WKHLU IDVWLQJ Sultan Abubakar called on WKH HQWLUH 0XVOLP IDLWKIXO LQ WKH

country to start fast today in accordance with the teachings of Islam +H XUJHG 0XVOLPV WR XVH WKH month of Ramadan to redouble WKHLU HͿRUWV LQ SUD\LQJ DJDLQVW banditry and other forms of insecurity in the country +H DOVR FDOOHG IRU WKH FRQWLQXous prayer for leaders across the country so as to tackle the GLͿHUHQW FKDOOHQJHV IDFLQJ WKH country

NDLEA Arraigns General Overseer for Trafficking in Marijuana Wale Igbintade The founder and General 2YHUVHHU RI &KULVW /LYLQJ +RSH Church, Reverend Ekwem EmPDQXHO 8JRFKXNZX DUUHVWHG for allegedly being in possession of Cannabis Sativa, has been DUUDLJQHG EHIRUH D )HGHUDO +LJK &RXUW LQ /DJRV 5HYHUHQG 8JRFKXNZX ZDV arrested with the banned ZHHG RQ 0DUFK GXULQJ WKH outward clearance of passengers RI (WKLRSLDQ $LUOLQH ÁLJKW WR Kenya at screening 1, Departure +DOO RI 0XUWDOD 0RKDPPHG ,QWHUQDWLRQDO $LUSRUW ,NHMD /DJRV +H ZDV DUUDLJQHG EHIRUH Justice Daniel Osiagor on a count charge of unlawful export of WKH VDLG EDQQHG ZHHG

7KH RͿHQFH DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH SURVHFXWRU 0U $XJXVWLQH Nwagu, contravened Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable XQGHU WKH VDPH $FW The General Overseer pleaded QRW JXLOW\ WR WKH FKDUJH The development, which made the prosecutor ask for a trial date and urged the court to remand KLP LQ 1&R6· FXVWRG\ But the defendant’s counsel, Benson Ndakara, informed the court that he was not opposed to the trial date as requested by the prosecutor but said he had ÀOHG KLV FOLHQW·V EDLO DSSOLFDWLRQ and the same had been served RQ WKH SURVHFXWRU

Tension as Mysterious Thunder Kills Five People in Ondo Fidelis David in Akure

CELEBRATING PROFESSIONALISM… L-R: Board Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Sir Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu and his wife Kofoworola, Deputy Chairman of the Board Ray Ekpu and Provost Gbenga Adefaye when the Board and Management of NIJ at a Special Convocation ceremony conferred a Fellowship on Sir Adebutu at Muson Centre Onikan Lagos... Thursday.

Abdullahi Adamu, Deputy Must Resign from Senate, Says Agbakoba Ahamefula Ogbu An alleged breach of constitutional provisions may force the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Adamu and his Deputy, Abubakar Kyari, both serving senators, to resign from WKH 6HQDWH Experts say their situations foul constitutional provisions as enunciated in the Jegede Vs Akeredolu case, where the apex court held in a minority judgment that the then APC Interim Chairman and Governor of Yobe

6WDWH 0DL 0DOODP %XQL LI KH KDG been included as a party in the appeal, would have vitiated the nomination of Rotimi Akeredolu VLQFH %XQL ZDV DQ HOHFWHG R΀FHU and not supposed to have held the position of the Caretaker Committee Chairmanship of WKH SDUW\ Asked to speak on the position of law regarding Adamu and Kyari, combining party R΀FHV ZLWK HOHFWHG VHQDWRULDO positions, human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Olisa $JEDNRED 6$1 WROG 7+,6'$< yesterday that going by the

position of the Supreme Court on the issue, “the duo of Adamu and Kyari could not legally hold WKRVH SRVLWLRQV µ Agbakoba said “the courts say WKLV LVQ·W SRVVLEOHµ DQG UHIHUUHG to the Supreme Court decision on Akeredolu where he said the court made a comment on an elected politician, also holding DQ R΀FH LQ D SDUW\ ZKLFK ZRXOG invalidate the election, adding, “this was all the wahala of Buni DV DFWLQJ SDUW\ FKDLU µ In the minority judgment of the Jegede Vs Akeredolu case, Justice Peter-Odili upheld the appeal

and dismissed the cross-appeals

by INEC, APC, Akeredolu and $L\HGDWLZD Justice Odili held that since the APC, for which Buni acted, was a party in the case, there was no QHHG WR LQFOXGH KLP DV D SDUW\ She noted that having allowed Buni to act on its behalf in signing the nomination/sponsorship letter of its candidates in Ondo, despite the clear provisions of section 183 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 17(4) of the APC constitution, the party should face the consequences of its ODZOHVVQHVV

tion of policemen and hunters to rescue the village head from Five persons have been struck EHLQJ O\QFKHG :KLOH VSHDNLQJ ZLWK 7+,6dead by mysterious thunderstorm at Ago Dada near Ala DAY, another eyewitness who village in Akure North Local LV D FRFRD IDUPHU 0U *RGZLQ *RYHUQPHQW $UHD RI 2QGR 6WDWH Achon said “the son of my 7+,6'$< JDWKHUHG WKDW WKH friend who is an indigene of five middle aged men were play- Bekwarra Local Government ing football when the incident Area of Cross River State is one KDSSHQHG RQ 7KXUVGD\ HYHQLQJ RI WKH YLFWLPV 0\ IULHQG KDV An eyewitness who is a chief been in the village for a couple KXQWHU WROG 7+,6'$< WKH YLFWLPV RI \HDUV ,W LV VR VKRFNLQJ :H were farmers from other states, are already planning on how noting that the people of the to take the corpse to Ogoja for village accused the head of the EXULDO µ $FKRQ DGGHG When contacted, the Police community of complicity in the mysterious incident, as similar Public Relations Officer in the incident occurred last year in the state, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, area with nine villagers struck confirmed the development noting that only four young E\ WKXQGHUVWRUP 0HDQZKLOH LW ZDV JDWKHUHG men were involved in the that it took the timely interven- GHYHORSPHQW

Gov Makinde Donates Additional 100 Operational Vehicles to Amotekun Oyo State Governor, Seyi 0DNLQGH \HVWHUGD\ GRQDWHG DGGLtional 100 operational vehicles fully equipped with communication gadgets to the Western Nigerian Security Network, Codenamed 2SHUDWLRQ $PRWHNXQ The governor, during the handing over ceremony held at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, expressed happiness that the Corps had totally changed the VHFXULW\ ODQGVFDSH RI WKH VWDWH A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, 0U 7DLZR $GLVD LQGLFDWHG WKDW *RYHUQRU 0DNLQGH HTXDOO\ UHLWHUated that his administration will continue to give zero tolerance

to crimes, adding that adequate support would be given to all VHFXULW\ RXWILWV LQ WKH VWDWH The governor equally used the opportunity to announce that apart from the 1,500 personnel currently engaged by the outfit, more 500 persons would be recruited to further strengthen LWV FDSDFLW\ LQ WKH VWDWH “Today, we are here strengthenLQJ WKH $PRWHNXQ &RUSV :H ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR OLVWHQ WR \RX :H ZLOO continue to fulfill the promises we made to you before you gave us WKH PDQGDWH /HW PH DOVR UHSHDW that if you see something, say something and it will be sorted E\ $PRWHNXQ

Buhari: Nigeria Committed to Fight Gunmen Bomb Imo s Kinsmen Ready for Succession Battle as Commissioner’s House Against Terrorism in Lake Chad Region Ikpeazu’ Ex-ABSU VC Emerges as Ngwa Consensus Candidate According to a release issued 8QNQRZQ DWWDFNHUV LQ WKH HDUO\ was informed that the attackers Deji Elumoye in Abuja

hours of yesterday, Petrol bombed the country home of the Imo State Commissioner for Labour, Employment, and Productivity, )RUG 2]XPED The attackers threw petrol bomb into the country home located in 8PXKX 2NDELD &RPPXQLW\ LQ Orsu Local Government Area of the state, causing panic in WKH YLOODJH According to Ozumba, who spoke to journalists, no life was lost during the attack, and that “there was nobody in the house DW WKH WLPH RI WKH DWWDFN µ The commissioner said that he

threw a petrol bomb into the FRPSRXQG DQG EXUQW WKH KRXVH +H VDLG ´:H ZHUH DOO LQ 2ZHUUL only to learn this morning that my family house had been burnt GRZQ , ZDV WROG WKDW WKH DWWDFNHUV wreaked havoc in the dead of the QLJKW 7KH\ WKUHZ D SHWURO ERPE LQWR WKH FRPSRXQG ´:KDW D VDG GD\ 0\ IDPLO\ compound in my village was razed down by hoodlums last QLJKW µ Ozumba is the third commissioner in the cabinet of Governor +RSH 8]RGLPPD WR KDYH KLV KRPH DWWDFNHG DQG EXUQW E\ JXQPHQ

3UHVLGHQW 0XKDPPDGX Buhari has expressed the commitment of his administration towards ensuring that the terrorism challenge in the Lake Chad region is DGGUHVVHG Speaking yesterday while playing host to Chadian 3UHVLGHQW 0DKDPDW ,GULV 'HE\ DW WKH 6WDWH +RXVH Abuja, President Buhari said Nigeria and Chad had resolved WR FRQWLQXH WKH ÀJKW DJDLQVW terrorism in the Lake Chad UHJLRQ DUHD

by presidential spokesman, 0DOODP *DUED 6KHKX WKH President also received assurances that the transition to democratic rule in Tchad Republic, put in place following the demise of the long-standing ruler, Idris 'HE\ ,WQR LV RQ FRXUVH The country’s current OHDGHU 0DKDPDW ,GULV 'HE\ ,WQR ZKR ÁHZ LQWR $EXMD WR update President Buhari on the ongoing process said there were challenges on the way but assured that they were GHWHUPLQHG WR EH VXFFHVVIXO

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

powered delegation drawn IURP GLͿHUHQW RUJDQLVDWLRQV LQ 8NZD 1JZD XQGHU WKH The plot by Governor aegis of Old Aba Divisional Okezie Ikpeazu’s kinsmen Forum visited his home at to retain power at the end 8PXDKLD DQG WROG KLP WKDW of his tenure next year has he had been chosen to take received a major boost with RYHU IURP ,NSHD]X Leader of the delegation, the adoption of the former Vice-chancellor of Abia State Chief Theo Nkire said that 8QLYHUVLW\ 8WXUX $%68 WKHLU PLVVLRQ ZDV WR WHOO 3URI 3URI 8FKH ,NRQQH DV WKH Ikonne that he is “the chosen consensus candidate for the RQHµ WR Á\ WKH JRYHUQRUVKLS ÁDJ RI 8NZD 1JZD XQGHU 1JZD EORF Ikonne, who has picked his the platform of the ruling nomination form, was drafted Peoples Democratic Party 3'3 into the race after a high

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SATURDAY APRIL 2, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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APRIL 2, 2022 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

ON A TRAIN TO NOWHERE Nigeria is under siege, writes Kene Obiezu

I

n Nigeria`s lavish banquet of snakes and scorpions, it has become popular to dish out iron ironies as favourite fixtures in the menu of maladies the Giant of Africa has to choose from. From the east to the west through the north and south, ironies stretch themselves like snakes bathing in the sun. Examples abound.

In a certain and so-called ruling party paying glamorous lip service to change, practically every member of the executive body once sheltered under the umbrella of the opposition party which it routinely accuses of decimating Nigeria over a 16-year period marked by depredations.

In a state that disproportionately plays host to many of Nigeria`s premier and preeminent defence institutions, terrorists have not only set up shop but school too. In Africa`s largest oil producer, while illegal refineries work a treat to line greedily bottomless private pockets, national refineries lie comatose while citizens have to pay through the nose for that which their soil gives in abundance.

In a country strangled by insecurity, a top cop whose cough once rattled master criminals is in court on accusations of having been found in bed with fraudsters and drug dealers.

In the ailing Giant of Africa, under the glare of the midday sun, ironies are running riot, and now, residents and visitors to Nigeria`s ‘center of learning’ are being forced to learn the hard way the brutal audacity of the insecurity that is both appetizer and dessert on Nigeria`s table of trauma.

With many of the roads leading to Kaduna and passing through Kaduna State having become bridges of blood due to the audacious activities of ferocious criminals, the lot fell on the Kaduna International Airport to be attacked on March 26, 2022. The attack perpetrated by attackers numbering about 200 was not just disruptive but deadly as a staff of the airport was shot dead and activities grounded.

With the stage having been set at the airport, the murderous force found its way to the railway on March 28, 2021.The attackers daringly immobilized a train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna, killed eight passengers and abducted many others to give already pounding Nigerian hearts palpitations.

It begs the question of what is happening in Nigeria and in Kaduna State; of why the venue of vultures is stridently hovering over the skies of one of Nigeria`s most iconic states, even as the clan of hyenas work the grounds.

When in August 2021, criminals fell upon the Nigeria Defence Academy in Kaduna, killed two soldiers and

THE DARK CLOUDS THAT WERE GATHERING FOR A LONG TIME HAVE NOW LET LOOSE AND EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY IN NIGERIA IS GETTING DRENCHED

made away with another, the alarm bells tolled across the country at the ease with which the defenders of the Giant of Africa had been ambushed.

Even that attack and since then, the menace that banditry is has found a productive laboratory in Kaduna State where the liberty of experimenting with terror is matched with lavish resources for the experiments. Both higher institutions and secondary schools in the state have been turned upside down and students carried away like slaves for ransom. Roads in and around the state have become death traps even as entire communities face the prospect of annihilation.

The grim reality is that one of Nigeria`s most iconic states has taken over from Borno State, another iconic state, as Nigeria`s epicentre of terror. The dark clouds that were gathering for a long time have now let loose and everything and everybody in Nigeria is getting drenched.

Nigeria`s security situation has been unravelling since the 2009 when Boko Haram`s attacks against the country suddenly grew more audacious, pulling people and their livelihoods from pillar to post while sending many to their early graves.

While the attacks raged, those who had sown terror in other countries watched from the sidelines and planned their own interventions. Having witnessed just how feebly the Giant of Africa responded, they have since pounced with devastating consequences.

Nigeria is hastening to the day when there will no longer be any hiding place for those who deny the gravity of the country`s insecurity or do nothing serious to put to flight those who are wreaking havoc on Africa`s largest economy.

That people can no longer move about freely without fear of attacks speak to a government that has become grounded in incompetent grandstanding; that terrorists increasingly have nothing to fear from Nigeria`s defense apparatus speaks to a country`s itinerary to impotence; that the lives of innocent Nigerians are snuffed out when terrorists nonchalantly snap their fingers speaks to a country teetering on the edge of disaster.

At the moment, it is not just that Nigeria`s compass is not working well, there is no compass at all. Thus, in a blindness foisted by the thick darkness enveloping a giant country, nothing is found and nothing is felt.

2023 is breathing down upon Nigerian necks and perhaps, with their voter cards as tickets, Nigerians can storm the high places where their wool is exchanged for woe and wheat for weed. Just maybe, they can ring long lasting changes. keneobiezu@gmail.com

PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH CHOLERA CONTROL MEASURES Ogbonnaya Akoma writes that the use safe water, observance of food hygiene and clean environment will help in taming cholera Cholera is a water-borne and feco-oral disease that occurs in the rainy season but now, in this out-going dry season, the cases of the disease has been reported in many states of the federation. In 2021, the first cases of cholera were recorded in some area councils of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja earlier in the year when about 31,430 cases had also been recorded across the country in the first seven months of the year with more than 800 deaths. Out of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, Abuja, 27 states had recorded cholera cases.

Cholera is a disease that is generally associated with dirt, filthy conditions and the intake of unwholesome food items and contaminated water. It kills its victims fast if not treated early as the causative organism, vibrio cholerae, is a bacterium that attacks the walls of the intestines and goes ahead to cause acute and severe gastro-intestinal disorders which include diarrhoea, cramps and abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting and general dehydration, among other clinical presentations, which usually result in death if not treated with dispatch.

This is why the disease has been recognised globally as one of the most serious public health concerns wherever it occurs, and which the local health authorities are expected to report immediately to the higher health authorities including the World Health Organisation for further remedial actions. That the disease occurs in the peak of dry season is surprising.

This is why we need to check further multiplication of causative organism of cholera now before more harm is done.

Since this demeaning and debasing disease occurs as a result of the intake of contaminated water and unwholesome food materials that contain some faecal matters, cholera usually occurs during the rainy season as the faecal matters that are usually deposited in upland areas during the dry season by some members of the public who engage in open defecation are usually carried to sources of water supply by flowing water during rainfalls.

This is why it may not be incorrect here to indicate that cholera is a disease that occurs in the rural areas that lack potable water and where people do not observe personal and food hygiene in their daily lives.

In Nigeria, as in many other parts of the developing world, there are places where potable water supply does not exist. In these rural places, people resort to drinking all manner of water that is available to them. If there are no wells, hand-pumped water or boreholes, streams and other safe water sources that serve the drinking-water purposes of the community, residents go straight to the nearest unsafe water sources and ponds to fetch water to drink and, in doing this, many of such people could come in contact with vibrio cholerae bacterium if they do not boil and filter such water and a good number might contract cholera in the process. It is, therefore, important

to stress that the availability of potable water, proper environmental cleanliness and strict observance of food and personal hygiene at all times will always ensure that people do not contract cholera wherever they reside, whether in the dry or rainy season.

So, as we enter the rainy season in Nigeria with the early rains already recorded in some parts, it behoves all Nigerians, individually and collectively, to ensure that we do not drink water from questionable sources. Water fetched from shallow wells, ponds, paddies and streams that do not flow well should be boiled and filtered before drinking. This will ensure that all the pathogenic organisms contained in such water are killed so that the water becomes safe. This is equivalent to saying that, to a very large extent, we can individually contribute towards the control and containment of cholera that occurs frequently in our midst. We can also ensure that we do not engage in promiscuous defecation within our immediate environments.

This translates to mean that every household should provide sanitary conveniences including toilet facilities for use by the occupiers of such premises in addition to sanitary disposal of domestic refuse. This is what the Public Health Law provides and must be obeyed.

At this juncture, it might be necessary to call on the environmental health officers in our midst to live up to their professional responsibility of carrying out

routine house-to-house, sanitary inspection of all premises in the country with a view to ascertaining the ones that lack adequate sanitary conveniences in them and go ahead to prosecute the defaulting landlords after such landlords have failed to provide the conveniences, in keeping with the provisions of the Public Health Law. It is unfortunate that cholera has continued to kill Nigerians nearly every year through drinking unwholesome water and eating contaminated food items.

On their own part, the three tiers of government in Nigeria should always do their best to provide the people with potable and wholesome water to drink.

These governments should re-activate all the water schemes that have been abandoned in many parts of the country and establish new ones. With safe water, observance of food hygiene and clean environment, there will be reduction in cholera cases and other water-borne diseases in our midst.

It is only in this way that we will, collectively and individually, contribute towards ensuring that the bacterium, vibrio cholerae, that brings about the outbreaks of the cholera disease in many parts of the country will be eliminated from our environment. Indeed, we should collectively do all we can to protect public health by improving on cholera control measures to avoid its outbreaks in particular so that the lives we lose every year because of the disease will be saved.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 2, 2022

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NEWS Eunice, Mother of Leadership Publisher Dies at 80 Ahamefula Ogbu

Editor of New Nigeria and Triumph Newspapers She was fondly called Mother of late Sam NdaIsaiah founder of Leadership “Mama Sam”, improvised Newspapers, Mrs. Eunice IURP WKH QDPH RI KHU ÀUVW Ndanusa Isaiah has died son and founder of Leadership, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah. at 80.

“We will miss Mama A statement from the family issued by Mr. Joseph GHDUO\ IRU KHU VDFULÀFLDO ORYH Nda-Isaiah, said she died at and devotion to her family,” the family statement said.

2.30a.m. yesterday The late matriarch was “We’re comforted that she born in 1942 at old Kabba was a woman of faith and Province of Northern Nigeria has gone to be with the Lord, EXW JUHZ XS DW GLͿHUHQW who loves her more.”

The statement also added times in Kano, Kaduna and that burial arraignments Niger states.

She got married to Clem- would be announced later ent Ndanusa Isaiah, a Senior by the family.

DEEPER COLLABORATIONS… L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf receiving a gift from Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, during Eko NAFEST 2020 International press briefing in Abuja...recently

TUC Gen Sec, Comrade Lawal Ozigi Laid to Rest in Kogi Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The remains of the late Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Musa Lawal Ozigi, have been laid to rest at his country home Ogaminana, in the Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Late Ozigi was one of the victims of the Abuja -Kaduna railway attack on Monday evening along with his Kwara State counterpart, Comrade Akin Akinsola who lost their lives

during the attack by yet to be LGHQWLÀHG EDQGLWV WHUURULVLQJ Kaduna State.

The former TUC General Secretary was buried at his country home at Ogaminana amidst wailing, crying and condemnations by the family and well-wishers for the dastard act that led to the untimely death of Comrade Ozigi.

The Chief Imam of the Central Mosque Ogaminana, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf led the Muslim Janazah prayer for the late Ozigi.

While speaking at the burial of the TUC general secretary, the National President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Quadri Olaleye, advised the federal government to take a proactive step in solving the insecurity problem in the country.

He however urged President Muhammadu Buhari to resign as president if he cannot provide adequate security for the citizens.

He noted that nobody is safe in the country again. “Children

can no longer go to school, you cannot travel again and we cannot close our two eyes when sleeping. If the president cannot provide security for its citizens then he should resign as president.”

According to him, the government would have saved the situation if only they were proactive, stressing that if the federal government had listened to the people about the worsening security situation in the country, this situation wouldn’t have occurred.

NDIC Pays 119bn Depositors, Intensify Prayers for Peace Creditors of Closed Banks Ahead 2023 General Elections Gideon Arinze in Enugu The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has said that it had paid a total of N119.101bn as insured sums to 535,815 depositors, creditors and shareholders of closed banks as at 29th December, 2021.

The corporation said it has also declared full payment of insured and uninsured sums to depositors of eighteen banks in-liquidation.

Managing Director of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Bello Hassan, made this known yesterday during the corporation’s special day at the 33rd edition of the Enugu International Trade

Fair with the theme ‘Opening Up Nigeria’s Business Windows for Competitiveness in the Emerging Global Markets’.

Hassan, who was represented by the deputy director and zonal controller, South East of the NDIC, Stella Henshaw, said that the corporation has paid a total of N101.117bn as uninsured sums.

He said that contributing to financial system stability by reducing the likelihood of bank runs and safeguarding depositors by providing an orderly means of resolution and payment in the event of bank failures was part of the corporation’s principal public policy goals.

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has appealed to the religious leaders in the state to intensify prayers for peace to reign in Bauchi State in particular and Nigeria in general as the country heads towards the 2023 general elections.

Governor Mohammed, who made the appeal while speaking during a special prayer for peace and sustainable development in Bauchi, organised by the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board at the Bauchi

Hajj Camp yesterday, stressed that “We need your prayers as religious leaders, the 2023 election is fast approaching for peace and sustainable development.”

According to him, “We need you to continue to pray for us, the 2023 election is fast approaching and many people have indicated interest in one position or the other, perhaps because of the progress we have recorded, you may discover that about 10 people are aspiring for only one position under the same party and those in the opposition are also contesting.”

Cybersecurity: ONSA, UK Launch Tool Kits for 41m MSMES Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja In a bid to contain cybercrimes and its impact on information and security infrastructure, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), has directed additional cyber security sensitisation for law enforcement agencies and relevant government agencies even as he launched cyber security toolkits for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) aimed at protecting

MSMEs from cyber threats.

The directive was issued at the end of the 9th Cybercrime Advisory Council meeting held Thursday, which updated members on activities and events since the 8th Meeting of the Council in compliance with the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021 and the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.

A statement by the Office of the National Security Adviser said the council was briefed on the protection plan for critical national information infrastructure.

“Council was briefed on measures to protect telecommunications

assets and ongoing efforts to sensitise state governments on emerging threats.

“Council was further informed of two workshops conducted on critical national information infrastructure protection in collaboration with the United Kingdom FCDO and a capacity building workshop held from 31 January-1 February 2022 on the development of a national cybersecurity risk assessment.”

The statement signed by the Head, Strategic Communication, Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakaria Usman, said members of the council were informed of the “ongoing gap

analysis to identify capacity deficit amongst relevant law enforcement agencies pursuant to the Cybercrimes Act 2015 to guide future capacity building efforts.

“The council was briefed on the successful completion of seven sector-based sensitisation workshops by the Office of the National Security Adviser between September - December 2021 and informed stakeholders of two additional sector-based sensitisation workshops on the implementation of the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy for critical organisations scheduled between May-June 2022.”

Edmark’s Multi-billion Naira Project to Tackle Unemployment Mary Nnah

and development to the housing sector and the Nigerian economy. $OVR KH VDLG WKDW WKH ÀUP 7KH &KLHI 2SHUDWLQJ 2΀FHU at Edmark City Development has awarded the superstructure Company, Nigeria, Mr. Bien contract for the entire project to Wapanio, has called on the Al Mansour Engineering and government and private sector Contracting Limited, noting that to invest in the Edmark City Al Mansour is a company with project, a luxury smart city in a long standing track record the heart of Lagos, aimed to and he believes that by working reduce housing challenges and with them, Edmark City will also tackle unemployment rate achieve greater heights as a superstructure with quality in the country.

Wapanio made the call in ÀQLVK “The iconic city located at /DJRV GXULQJ WKH R΀FLDO ODXQFK of the Edmark City luxury Lagos Epe Express Road by apartment that is now selling. 3rd roundabout, Lekki Phase The Edmark City project is I, Lagos, Nigeria is expected to driven by a high sense of growth be completed by 2024.”

Don Lulu Foundation Bags International Award The Don Lulu Foundation has bagged an international award for its consistent economic empowerment of women and youths in Abia State.

The Foundation was conferred this award by the World International Forum for Women(WIFW) in collaboration with Shamar Educational Foundation.

At the event which held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, Abia State , the WIFW stated that the Don Lulu Foundation is

a recipient of the award as an appreciation and recognition RI LWV HͿRUW LQ SURYLGLQJ VXFcour to women, children and youths in Abia State as well as its support for programmes and engagements aimed at educating and empowering women in the state.

Receiving the award on behalf of the Don Lulu Foundation, Mrs. Peace Igbokwe, the mother of the Chairman of the Foundation, Mayor Lucky Igbokwe (Don Lulu) thanked the WIFW for the honour.

Finding Real Hope in Times of Trouble Following the announcement that their in-person religious services will resume from April 1, 2022, Jehovah’s Witnesses are inviting their friends and neighbours to two important programmes that will hold in their Kingdom Halls in the month of April.

These annual programmes have been sources of hope and comfort for millions of participants around the globe.

For more than 20 years, 82-yearold Eunice Oguara, who lives in a nursing home in Abuja, has battled with complications from an accident that resulted in immobility and pain. “It is an unpleasant situation. I cannot walk; I cannot use my hand even to pick calls.”Eunice has held on tight to the hope from the Scriptures that she has appreciated since she became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses some 58 years ago. “My Bible reading and meditation shows that the hope of having healthy bodies

in the new world is sure,” said Eunice. “This is fortifying and comforting.”

In April, Eunice will join millions of Witnesses worldwide, including around 400,000 Witnesses in local congregations in Nigeria, in inviting all to hear the VROLG UHDVRQV IRU FRQÀGHQFH LQ the hope promised in the Bible during a Bible-based lecture to be held during the week of April 4, 2022.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 2, 2022

Buhari is Flippant about Taming Terrorists

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hen terrorists strike and there are no consequences, they are emboldened. This is exactly what has been happening in almost seven years of the Buhari government in Nigeria. Six days after terrorists bombed a train heading to Kaduna from Abuja, killing eight people; injuring and abducting many, not even one of the bastards has been apprehended.

The terrorists operated for about two hours unhindered. The military claimed to have engaged them, without a single one killed. By Thursday, the military regaled the nation with sham stories of success against the terrorists in Kaduna State. We hardly see dead bodies when soldiers kill insurgents. Ground troops hardly mop up when Nigerians are regaled with stories of air strikes against the terrorists.

It took the federal government another 24 hours to react to the train attack. Even after reacting, there was no clear deadline attached to the directives to security agents to smoke out the terrorists. Not even a threat to sack their heads if the terrorists are not apprehended. I can no longer be shocked by the ineptitude of this federal government in all sectors. But the pains of unending killings of the innocents are becoming unbearable.

My pillow is often soaked in tears whenever the terrorists strike; tears for the victims and a country operating on auto-pilot.

Our gallant soldiers are doing their best but their best is not enough to end these killings. Technology, intelligence and high quality manpower are necessities for taming terrorists. Our soldiers lack these; they lack capacity to even effectively monitor the movement of terrorists. This is why these guerrillas move around in hundreds undetected. The advanced world is an era of fighting with drones. The drone that destroyed late Muammar Ghadaffi’s convoy was fired from a station in Alabama, United States. Our security agencies are not in any way close to this. So, this country needs help from climes that can provide these necessities. The service chiefs won’t admit and accept this because of ego and personal interest. This is where the Commander-in-Chief, President Buhari ought to step in based on the results from the battle field. Unfortunately, for almost seven years, he has failed to do this. Buhari has refused to dispassionately scrutinise these very poor results in the battles with terrorists and seek help from abroad.

It is pertinent to highlight some unpalatable terror attacks that took place (without consequences) in last March alone, to justify my persistent campaign to seek help from abroad. Perhaps, these stories would touch the heart of our President and make him do the needful. We must be talking about using military contractors now.

Airports are supposed to be high security zones. But Security at the Kaduna International Airport located in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State was breached last Sunday.

The terrorists, according to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria attacked Runway 05 axis of Kaduna airport, disrupted operations and killed a security personnel of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency. Those behind

Also, right in Zamfara State is the notorious Our gallant soldiers are doing their best but Fulani militia leader, Dogo Gide, who controls the southern part of the Zamfara forest and their best is not enough to end these killings. further into Niger State, killing civilians and security agencies. There is also the blood sucker Bello Turji. He is active in Zamfara, Technology, intelligence and high quality called Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi states. Are these gang leaders enjoying official protection? manpower are necessities for taming terrorists. terror Nigerians need an answer.

Our soldiers lack these; they lack capacity to Governor Zulum even effectively monitor the movement of and IDPs in terrorists. This is why these guerrillas move around in hundreds undetected. The advanced Monguno world is an era of fighting with drones. The drone that destroyed late Muammar Ghadaffi’s convoy was fired from a station in Alabama, United States the attack have not been smoked out.

The Garrison Commander of One Division, Kaduna, Brig-Gen. Uriah Opuene, later told a baffled nation that the terrorists were just passing through the back of the airport when they sighted and killed the security man engaged by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to watch over their metrological equipment around the axis. This is preposterous. Firings were heard at the airport terminal for a while, forcing airport workers to run for cover. According to FAAN, a VHF Omni-Directional Range equipment site at the airport was damaged while a Lagos-bound AZMAN aircraft scheduled to take off at 12:30pm on that day was grounded. It’s a shame that an International Airport can be left exposed.

Few days before the Kaduna Airport attack, terrorists in hundreds invaded nine villages in the Giwa LG Area of Kaduna State killing no fewer than 50 people. While the attack lasted for several hours, the so-called Special Forces were nowhere near Giwa LG. The terrorists returned to Giwa LG last Tuesday night and again killed 23 people in different villages.

On March 7, no fewer than 63 Yan Sakai vigilantes were killed in Zuru, Kebbi State.

On March 13, 37 deaths were recorded, two soldiers inclusive, when terrorists attacked four communities within Kagoro Chiefdom, Kaura LG of Kaduna State.

On March 21, no fewer than 20 people, including the village head, were killed in Ganar-Kiyawa, Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Yet again, 28 days ago, terrorists killed 22 soldiers when they ambushed the convoy of Kebbi Deputy Governor, Sama’ila Dabai in Kanya, Danko/Wasagu LG of the state.

Nothing has happened in terms of ensuring the killers pay a heavy price. Our gallant soldiers were overwhelmed by the guerrillas

roaming in hundreds in Kanya. Besides, the guerrillas were equipped with much heavier weapons than AK-47. Morale is evidently low among officers and men of the 223 Light Tank Battalion, Zuru, the camp of the slaughtered soldiers. The policeman attached to the Kebbi Deputy Governor, ASP Idris Libata was also killed in the Kanya attack.

Likewise, 32 days back, the Divisional Police Officer of Nasko Station in Magama LG of Niger State, CSP Umar Dakingari, and six of his men were killed by terrorists without consequences.

The terrorists were also at a tomato processing company in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State in March and killed four policemen at the premises. The tactics of the terrorists is to operate in hundreds. They did so in Ngaski LG with not less than 200 men.

Yes, terrorists are able to raise this large number of fighters for attacks without appropriate response from heads of our security agencies.

I have listed some of these terror attacks in March alone, without appropriate response from our security agencies, to remind the President that the report card of our security agencies is appalling. From this report, no fewer than 300 innocent lives were lost to terrorists in Nigeria in March this year alone. So, why should the service chiefs continue to tell Buhari that they don’t need help from abroad?

The Commander-in-Chief should unflappably reexamine this March report on killings, and if indeed he wants an end to terrorism, seek help in fruitful climes. Our gallant soldiers lack the abilities to end terrorism.

Another thing I find bizarre is that President Buhari has not declared the known leaders of these terror gangs wanted. They are known to all, yet, there is no deliberate attempt to take them out. The biggest terror kingpin operating in Zamfara and Katsina states is Ada Aleru. Security agents can claim to be unaware of Aleru’s whereabouts.

Growing Poverty in Nigeria

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ow I wish those running the show at all levels of government in this country would spare some time to read the World Bank report titled, “A Better Future for All Nigerians: 2022 Nigeria Poverty Assessment,” released this week. The disapproving report noted that poverty reduction had stagnated in this country since 2015, with more Nigerians falling below the poverty line over the years.

This is a serious indictment of the Buhari-led federal government that has been running the show at the centre since 2015 and the state governors of this era. This report simply declared that the various poverty alleviation programmes at all levels of government in beloved Nigeria since 2015 have been mere greasepaints. Lives in the real sense of it are not being affected.

The report states: “Since the back-casts provide yearly estimates, they also suggest that poverty may have started declining in the first part of the 2010s, but that this trend halted and then

reversed around 2015.

“The COVID-19 crisis is driving up Nigeria’s poverty rate, pushing more than 5 million additional people into poverty by 2022. With real per capita GDP growth being negative in all sectors in 2020, poverty is projected to have deepened for the current poor, while those households that were just above the poverty line prior to the COVID-19 crisis would likely fall into poverty.

“Given the effects of the crisis, however, the poverty headcount rate is instead projected to jump from 40.1 per cent in 2018/19 to 42.0 per cent in 2020 and 42.6 per cent in 2022, implying that the number of poor people was 89.0 million in 2020 and would be 95.1 million in 2022. Taking the difference between these two scenarios, the crisis alone is projected to have driven an additional 3.8 million Nigerians into poverty in 2020, with an additional 5.1 million living in poverty by 2022.”

This World Bank report simply backed an obvious fact across Nigeria. Just look around

your community. More and more people are being pushed into poverty by rising prices of food, fuel, health care, education, transportation and the falling value of earnings. Unending terrorism and falling Naira have also pushed many into poverty. Numerous Nigerians have lost their jobs in the last seven years, with manufacturers struggling for survival; all due to the hopeless economic policies of the Buhari government. So, many now go to bed without dinner and wake up not sure of breakfast.

The recent passionate appeal of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar to the federal government to address the hike in food prices across the country is instructive.

The Sultan told political leaders that they were elected to serve Nigerians and not Nigerians serving them, and charged the federal government to work towards improving the economy.

I doubt if the Sultan will get any pragmatic response.

Zulum

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irtually all the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) forced back to Monguno LG of Borno State by Governor Babagana Zulum, after he shut their camps in Maiduguri, have abandoned their “rebuilt communities” and scampered to an IDP camp on the fringe of Monguno town. This is authoritative. Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters are still roaming freely in these communities contrary to claims by Zulum that they are now safe. At present, no fewer than 12,000 of such “resettled persons” have relocated to the Monguno camp.

An official of Intersos, an NGO operating in the Monguno IDPs camp affirmed that the Monguno LG has about 13 wards, out of which only three are accessible. “The remaining 10 wards are not accessible because of the activities of terrorists. This is why you have the IDPs running to this camp. We are still struggling to contain them in the six camps under our management as there are not enough shelters to accommodate such a large number of households,” declared the official.

The NGO official adds: “12,486 individuals constituting about three thousand households who were sent out of the IDPs camps in Maiduguri returned to the camps in Monguno.

This is besides the other IDPs we already have in the camps we manage in Monguno. We manage six camps and we have 96 thousand IDPs already before these 12 thousand persons came.”

The Borno State Government is yet to react to this development in Monguno, days after it was made public. Of course, it is the truth.

Most of the communities where IDPs were relocated by force are still dominated by Boko Haram and ISWAP. Zulum simply decided to expose these hapless people to peril. Again, most of their communities are yet to be rebuilt in the real sense of it.

In any case, I don’t expect any reasonable person to be executing resettlement programme when security issues have not been fully addressed. Relocating unfortunate IDPs to trouble communities is awful. This is inhumanity to fellow human beings. Zulum has to amend his ways.

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SATURDAY APRIL 2, 2022 • T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 2, 2022

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Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Austen-Peters Exhales ‘The Man of God’ Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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amous theatre and movie practitioner, Bolanle Austen-Peters is enamored in somewhat exultant feeling which best describes her mood following her multiple nominations for the AMVCAs 2022 alongside her recent Netflix original, “The Man of God”, which is set to premiere on April 16, 2022. The global streaming platform recently released an official trailer for the feature film, produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters (BAP) production.

In a post shared on her Instagram page, the filmmaker acknowledged the trailer thus: “Finally! My own trailer, made by Netflix for Man of God! Exhaling... Please post and tag all your friends as we start this movement.

Is it the voice of God or is it the voice of Man? Samuel forsakes his harsh religious upbringing to live his own life but his soul remains caught between the world and the faith he left behind. . .”

Starring Akah Nnani in the lead role, “The Man of God” follows the story of a young man torn between accepting his torturous religious background and living his own life. Nnani stars alongside Osas Ighodaro, Atlanta Bridget, Dorcas Shola Fapson, Patrick Doyle and Jude Chkwuka in the Shola Dada screenplay.

The trailer teases the character’s whirl-

wind life from music to ministry before his well-built life crashes.

There are also hints of murder and intense drama.

This is better captured in the synopsis. “When Samuel Obalolu, the first son of a strict disciplinarian pastor finally liberates himself from his oppressed upbringing, he is hell bent on shedding the facade of “the preacher’s son.” A few failed relationships and heartbreaks, later he ironically finds himself behind the pulpit with a wife he doesn’t love, a deep resentment born of the abuse of his upbringing and the skeletons of his past relationships threatening to upstage his success and ruin his life.

According to the movie director, Austen Peters, it promises to finally give subscribers a praiseworthy story. Austen-Peters is well known and revered for some of the finest works to grace the big screen and theatre stage in the country in the last decade.

Her most notable works include 93 Days, Bling Lagosians, and Collision Course. On stage are Saro The Musical, Wakaa The Musical, Moremi The Musical, Fela and the Kalakuta Queens, The Oluronbi Musical, and, most recently, a biopic on the legendary Funmilayo Ramsome-Kuti takes the icing on the cake.

Bolanle Austen-Peters

Wizkid Drops ‘True Love’ Video Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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izkid has dropped the music video for “True Love”, one of the tracks in his “Made in Lagos” album, which features Tay Iwar and Projexx.

This comes almost two years after the album was released. ‘True Love’ is his last 2020 single after the release of his previous single titled “Smile”, which he featured H.E.R. It’s the 4th music video Wizkid has unveiled on the album, following ‘No Stress’, ‘Ginger’ featuring Burna Boy, ‘Essence’ featuring Tems and the previously released short film which consists of A ‘ noti’, ‘Steady’, and Buju-assisted ‘Mood’. The Grammy winning-artiste an-

nounced few days ago that the official video for ‘True Love’ will be out on streaming platforms and teases with snippets of the video.

The scintillating ‘True Love’ video dropped at exactly 3PM WAT on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, starring Jamaican-Canadian supermodel, Winnie Harlow as the vixen. She is known to the masses as a fashion model and also as one of many who has Vitiligo.

An excited Harlow posted this on her Instagram page shortly after the video release: “True Love music video out now.

Thank you so much @wizkidayo for having me. Capturing stories in film is something that speaks to me so much so when I heard you wanted me to be a part of the storytelling for one of my favourite songs, I was overjoyed!! @ nabil you killed this video and so did everyone

on set, thank you all for a wonderful day I’ll always remember …”

In an exclusive interview with Complex TV, Wizkid talked about how much the 2020 album means to him. According to him, the album is special to him and every song on it was written with love. But Wizkid shook fans after he revealed the Grammy nominated hit track, ‘Essence’ wasn’t his favourite track in the album. According to Big Wiz, his favourites were ‘Blessed’ and ‘True Love’.

Where previous projects were outsized cocktails of club bangers and experimental pursuits, WizKid’s measured take on his fourth album betrays refined maturity. For a project dedicated to the Nigerian city and its country, the core of Made in Lagos highlights the cultural exchange between Africa and the Caribbean.

Wizkid with Winnie Harlow on the set of True Love video

Ruger: Sexually Harassed or Show of Love?

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Ruger

tisagiventhatsomemalemusicianshave no problem with female fans touching their body parts during performances but the case was entirely different for young music star, Ruger who recently had a nasty encounter with a female fan.The action was captured in a video whichwentviralonsocialmediashortlyafterthe incident last Sunday at the Industry Night. The overbearingfanhadreachedforRuger’smanhood in the middle of his performance and grabbed it inappropriately.

The video sparked mixed reactions online with many saying the case would have been different if it had been a male fan against a female musician. The ‘Dior’ crooner had during the performance of his hit song, got closer to the edge of the stage when an obsessed female fan used the opportunity to grab his private part; an action which saw the 22-year old Mavin artiste exit the stage with a strong show of disapproval written on his face.

In a different video, the lady carried on as if nothing had happened and didn’t seem

remorseful for her action. It should be noted that like every profession, music also comes with its exposure, which has proven the extent singers have gone to satisfy their fans.

Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of music stars who have been assaulted by supposed fans who have crossed the line.

In Nigeria, we have seen popular artistes who have been assaulted live on stage and how they handle it; artistes such as Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido. While some have been described as fan love for these artistes, many of these fans have, however, crossed the line in the supposed show of love for the music stars.

On Ruger’s case, a good number of observers believe it was an act which the singer would have turned in his favour and not to get peeved and abruptly end his show.

On the contrary, a couple of others concluded that Ruger brought harassment upon himself. They assume the singer misled many female fans to believe he depicted himself as a bad guy to many of his female fans due

to the lyrics in many of his song. Nigerians have since taken to social media to react as some said Ruger’s lyrics were not a tangible reason for him to be harassed.

Given to a music critic’s reckoning on Ruger, no breakout artiste has been more assertive than Ruger did in 2021. With his pink hair, left eye patch, alluring bravado, and lyrics such as “Ruger is the lockdown, Ruger is the pandemic”, no other afrobeats artiste has commanded attention and staked a claim to be heard like he has since he was discovered by D’Prince.

Two years before Ruger was unveiled, D’Prince had revealed Rema and has since turned him into the vanguard of new age afrobeats artistes. With such precedence, Ruger’s excitement undoubtedly shot through the roof the first time D’Prince messaged him. “I used to do freestyles on Instagram every Saturday. I was getting like 12 to 30 comments and I had four hundred followers — I was just enjoying it. It wasn’t even up to a year before I’d started putting out freestyles when I saw a DM from D’Prince.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 2, 2022

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Lagos Wants to Be Entertainment Capital of Africa, Organises Tour to Show Beauty Justina Uzo

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o fewer than 12 entertainment centres and tourism sites, as well as tourism-reliant organisations, including bars and hotels across Lagos State were visited by lawmakers and tourism promoters earlier this weekastheLagosStateGovernmentorganiseda FAM (familiarisation) tour that focused on wealth creation in the leisure industry.

LagosStateMinistryofTourism,ArtsandCulture hascontinueditsmarketingcampaignwhichisaimed at positioning Lagos as a preferred destination for business and for pleasure in Africa. There has been lots of investment on hotels and on beaches in Lagos. For the tourism chieftains, it was a great opportunityforlawmakersandgovernmentofficials, as well as major tour operators and travel agent partners to get to know the new level.

Tagged “bestoflagosfamtour’22”, the effort is hinged on promotion and marketing of tourist products/offeringsinthestateforwealthcreation.

There were interactions between public officials and private operators of the art constituency and tourism industry.

Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf maintained that there is need to harness the various tourism potential domiciled in the various divisions for economic growth and for the benefits of the local communities. The tour obviously presented a chancefortheprivateoperatorstotelltheindustry regulatorstheproblemstheyarehaving.Generally, they said “public-private partnership is a good option to explore, if Lagos must be positioned as the entertainment capital of Africa.”

Small and medium-size tour companies said getting tour buses remains a big problem. Music promoter, Edi Lawani, wants “the government to re-engineer cultural activities in the state for economic benefits.”

Participants had arrived early for the 3-day programmewhichkicked-offatNdubuisiKanuPark

in Ikeja on Wednesday March 30, 2022.

The tour, said to be the response to the call by different tourism stakeholders to further expose the tourism assets of the statetobothlocalandinternationaltourists, started from Ikeja Division and ended at Ikorodu Division.There were visits to the New Afrika Shrine, Oshodi Bus Terminal andJohnRandleYorubaMuseumCentre (themuseumisstillunderconstructionand the first phase will be ready in August).

The team also visited Freedom Park at Onikan and Glover Memorial Hall before departing for Badagry via Falomo Jetty, exploringthewaterwaystospendanight in Badagry.The visit to the Slave Market, Point-of-No-Returnandothertourismsites withinBadagryonThursdaywasinspiring.

The facility has been given a face-lift and it was heartwarming that both local and international visitors were enjoying themselves during the visit.

At Eti-Osa Local Council, the popular NikeArtGallerywasamajorstop.Needless tosay,EpeFishMarketandSungboEredo also made the participants’ day. Tourism development is huge.

Presentations were made by industry operators,includingentertainerEdiLawani who spoke on ‘Reinforcing Lagos as the Entertainment Capital of Africa and Mr. Theo Lawson who gave a talk on ‘The PositioningofLagosastheArtsandCulture Centre of Africa’ while at Freedom Park.

Inthesamevein,ahighlyratedtourguide, AnagoOsho,saidopportunitiesaboundin Lagosduringhispresentationon ‘ReinventingLagosasthePrimeDestinationforthe African Diaspora.’

It is perhaps this reason the commissioner urged the youths to take up the youth tourism market and engage in the promotionoftourismsites,assuringthem thatthestategovernmentwouldcontinue to create the enabling environment for tourism businesses to thrive.

”Iwanttoappreciateeveryonethathas been on this journey, the main reason we embarkedonthesejourneyswastoenable youtomarketLagosasachoicedestination for tourists.

“For the youths, I want you to come onboard and join this beautiful dream of promoting Lagos tourism potential, considering the beautiful coastal areas, beaches, historical sites, art galleries, museums,recreationalparksandothers.”

She said, ”We have our Masterplan to guide you and the community-based tourism development is ongoing, you have a whole lot of tourism sites to take visitorsto.Ibelievethistourhasimproved your knowledge of the tourism potential in the state.”

According to her, “Exploring these potential and marketing methods will generate huge revenue for you and the state so it will be a win-win situation. We will continue to engage you in training, we takeitseriously,asattoday,wehavetrained over 200 tour guides to ensure tourists havethebest.Onetouroperator,LouisIbe said the beauty of the tour is, members of the House committee on Tourism and CulturewereinvolvedandIthinktheywere able to have first-hand experience of the tourismbusiness.”Atleast,theywillbudget more money for tourism promotion and marketing,” he noted.

Alawmakerandactorwhoparticipated inthetour,DesmondEliot,declinedtogive apressinterview.Hesaidtheywerejustobservingthings.Ahotelmanagerofapopular hotel in Epe who gave his name simply as Seunsaidthetour“isagoodinitiative.” He continued,“wehavebeenreassuredbythe governmentwhichpromisedtocreatean enablingenvironmentfortourismbusiness tothrive.Itwillbeawin-winsituation.”Hotel roomoccupancylevel,hesaid,“willimprove and,ofcourse,wewillpayourtaxeswithout foot-dragging.”

Samuel Nwachukwu: Charting His Own Musical Course Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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ifted and insanely talented 27-year-old British-Nigerian producer, singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and MOBO Award winner, Samuel Nwachukwu, known as CalledOut Music is a rare specimen of talent who moved to the UK with his family when he was 12 years old. A peep into his God-given music talent was revealed at the tender age of 7 in his home church after his father bought him a piano.

From that auspicious moment, his dream to become one of the widelyrecognizedartistesontheglobe,tookoff.Throughtheyears, CalledOutMusichasdividedhistimebetweenwritinghundredsof songs in his bedroom and his education; and after many years of producingoriginalsongsformusicalsandfeaturingonotherartistes’ songs, he decided to embark on a solo music career, releasing his first single ‘Working On Me’ in 2016.

That marked the beginning of CalledOut From his homegrown skillsofsongwritingandsoundcompilationstoperfectingandbeingmoreintentionalwithhisownsound.Hehasfeaturedontracks withseveralartistes,includingthe2011MoboAwardwinner,Triple O–GoodThing,andsuccessfullycapturinghisessenceoffaithand hope, spreading joy and positivity.

DuringtheglobalCovid-19pandemic,hisfansmadehishitsong, ‘WarmEmbrace’—asongoffaithandcomfort—ananthemtoget through ‘tough times’; a glimpse of the influence his music has had on the UK and the global scene in recent times as his albums and collaborations became internationally highly acclaimed.

Workingwithanumberofinternationalcollaborations,themost recent one, with multi-award winner “Dena Mwana”, on the track ‘Close To You’, CalledOut Music has acquired a combined tally of over13.6MillionstreamsonSpotify,4.3mstreamsoniTunesand 15.07MillionviewsonYouTubewithhislabelHFPMusicwherehis single“MyPrayer”,becamehisfirstsongtoreachalandslideofover 4.9Million views — a feat only held by a few UK Gospel artistes.

Notonlyhasthemulti-talentedartisteestablishedhimselfonthe “A Step Forward” Gospel chart as #1 for his hit song “I Am Free”, he hasalsobeenonatrailoftriumphincludingbeingthe“Breakthrough ArtisteofExcellence”attheAfricanGospelMusicandMediaAwards 2018.Hissuccessalso“BestSong”(You’reMine)atPremierGospel Awards2018whereheperformed‘MyPrayer’alongwithnominations for “Best Male” and “Best Song” at Tru Life Gospel Awards.

And“UKArtisteoftheYear”atGospelTouchMusicAwards2018.

2Baba, Cavemen, Rema to Thrill Fans On Afrikashrine Tv Tosin Clegg

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he legendary platform that birthed and nurtured the Afrobeat music genre, the New Afrika Shrine, is expanding its services into a global, live-streaming platform starting this Easter weekend with a trio of performances by Rema, 2BABA and Cavemen on afrikashrine.tv. It is a platform where all Afrobeat lovers can tap into and be part of magical performances and happenings at the New Afrika Shrine, any time and

from anywhere in the world.

The original Shrine was created in the 70s by Abami Eda himself, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Following his death in 1997, his eldest children, Femi and Yeni, lovingly built the New Afrika Shrine in his honour. The entertainment centre located in Ikeja, Lagos, which serves as the host location of the annual Felabration music festival is set to take the magic that is Afrobeat to every nook and cranny of the world through this exciting new direction.

From May 1, 2022, www.afrikashrine.tv will broadcast live, everything that takes place in the iconic, 2,500 capacity venue. With a monthly

payment of just $5, subscribers will gain full access to the programme which is packed full to the brim with outstanding live performances from Aramide, Chike, Falana, Discovery Night, Ayra Starr, Peruzzi, Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Made Kuti, and many more!

All live-streamed performances are available for a further seven days.

In addition to the addictive sounds from the shrine, there will be sprinkles of comedy, dance and drama - a package where subscribers will have unfettered access to Fela documentaries, historical recordings and concerts, including never-beforeseen footage, from anywhere in the world.

2Baba

Chinonso Arubayi’s Debut Production Now in Cinemas Tosin Clegg

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Chinonso Arubayi

ollywood has ushered in a new era, with movies spreading awareness about mental health, while delivering the romance and lighthearted comedy that we all enjoy. At the forefront of this movement is the upcoming movie, “I am Nazzy.”

It is a film about life, dreams, and hope. In it, a fast rising music- artiste’s

picture-perfect life suddenly goes haywire when the lady accidentally switches places with a doppelganger. All attempts to prove her identity were futile and she was subjected to a whole new life without the glitz and glamour. Will she lose herself or embark on a journey of self-discovery?

The movie is brought to you by Film City Studios and Blue Pictures Entertainment. It is the debut movie production for leading actress,

Chinonso Arubayi and directed by director extraordinaire Kayode Peters.

The Movie premiered at EbonyLife Cinemas with an elaborate red carpet event on Sunday 27th March 2022.

Gracing the beautifully decorated red carpet were actors, media personalities, and influencers such as Bolanle Ninalowo, Stan and Blessing Nze, Elozonam, Denrele Edun, Nons Miraj, Tomi Odunsi, Simi Drey, and many more.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 2, 2022

INTERVIEW Adewole Adebayo

Why I’m in the Race for Nigeria’s Presidency Prince Adewole Adebayo is the youngest presidential aspirant ahead of the 2023 general election. Adebayo, a lawyer, believes he is the sling in the hands of the Nigerian electorate to ‘kill all the corrupt Goliath politicians.” He is very passionate about Nigerians and that things can get better if the right leadership is in place. In this interviewwithTHISDAY, Adebayo,whoisaimingattheticketoftheSocialDemocratic Party, SDP, says insecurity will be history the moment he assumes office

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hereofficesthroughwhichyoucan serve other than the presidency.

Whythetopmostofficeintheland?

I have been offered appointment many times in the past. I know there isaplacecalledthesenatebutIdon’t have any business there because the problem of society is that of leadership. The executive power of the federation is vested in one man, and that man is the president. I have waited all my adult life, looking for one president that I will serve under. I am yet to meet that president traveling the direction I want the country to go.

Which direction is this?

ThedirectionofJustice.Thiscountry,has,unfortunately, been deformed to accommodate injustice.

This is a country, in the beginning, the leaders in the first republic, knew the importance of justice.

It meant that they understood that public office was a trust and that nothing inside it belonged to them. They knew that exercising public powers was to use it to serve the people. They started their journey by serving the less privileged in the society by establishing school systems that catered to the needs of those who had no opportunity. They fought and were eradicating childhood diseases with immunization for everyone and by living close to the people and in modest manner as well.

If I had been born at that time, perhaps there is an Awolowo (Chief Obafemi) I would serve under him as a minister or even a clerk, or even just to be carryinghisbag,IwoulddosogladlybecauseIwould know that this is a man who has come to do justice.

In politics, the leader that inspires me the most and whose work I follow is late Mallam Aminu Kano. He lived with the people, he lived for the people and he made sure that social justice was the centre point of his political life. He criticised the court system even though he was a son of an Alkali, sharia judge.

He said the court system wasn’t bringing justice to thepeopleandensuredthepeopleformedtheirown political party, the Northern Element Progressive Union,NEPUandpushedcommonpeopletopower.

When he was made a minister of health and later, communication in Gowon’s government, he stood on the side of the people.

When you take leaders of that time and compare to what we have now, you will see that we have selfserving leaders. If he is the president, he will be self-serving. Why would I go and serve him? I will just be part of his apparatus of self- service. If a political party is set up to confiscate and siphon the wealth of the society and perpetuate injustice, why would I go and serve there? I don’t believe in the system they are running now because it is a system of theft, unfairness, injustice. It’s a system of ordinary people who were given free education, who were the children of nobody, who were picked up from the lowliest waters of Nigeria. Some were sent to the armed forces, some to the Civil service.

The expectation of the founding fathers was that these children of nobody that were sent to school, likepresidentBuhari,whowasanorphan,ordinarily, heshouldhavebeenfollowingcattle,butthesystems set up by Sir Ahmadu Bello, who ensured that he waspickedandputinboardinghouse,fromprimary education even up to the when he joined the army.

He lived in boarding house all his life till he retired as head of state. As we speak, he still lives in boarding house in the Villa. All his life, Nigeria has catered for him. Will Ahmadu Bello be proud of him now?

How many Nigerians has he lifted out of poverty?

All those people who were picked up from cocoa

Adebayo

farms by Awolowo and put in schools who became emeritus professor of medicine, professor of all disciplines, vice chancellors, are they not now living in plenty while the universities are on strike? So, where would I join in this?

You can have the same executive powers in the office of a state governor. They are not different in terms of performance.

But the jurisdiction is too narrow. Would I be a governor of a state and be able to take care of my brothers and sisters in other states? If I am crying because of the injustice in Zamfara, how would the governorship of Lagos help me? The penury you findinBorno,Cross-River,Lagosandurbanpoverty you find in Ibadan, how would being governor of one state help me? Will I overlook the root cause, which is the collapsed federal government that we have now. My mandate is to make Nigeria a great country. Anybody suffering poverty in Malunfashi is as painful to me as someone who is suffering in my family. I have to solve the problem from the top and across the country.

You are contesting on the platform of Social Democratic Party, SDP. Why this party, and not APC or PDP? You cannot say before you join the fire service, you will first of all be an arsonist. You cannot say I have to be a reckless driver before I can join Road Safety Corps. You cannot say I should be an armed robber before joining the police. You cannot say beforeIjoinEFCCtofighteconomiccrimes,Ishould first be a yahoo person. This country is where it

is today because of PDP and APC. Why should I join them? They are deliberately impoverishing the people.

These two parties are well grounded in terms structure Their victories are not from the people but from rigging and that’s why you see them struggling with the electoral act and all the manipulations. In any case, what is the essence of the power if you are not using it to help the people? Do you think president Jonathan is a happy man today? He is not. He tasted power but he made no difference in the life of anybody. Do you think President Buhari is happy man today, if he can reflect? He has gone from hero to zero. I am following the mantle of the late Chief MKO Abiola which is farewell to poverty.

And now I say farewell to poverty and insecurity. If I am saying farewell to poverty, who is the author of poverty except PDP. If I am saying farewell to insecurity, who are the architects, custodians, profiteers of insecurity except APC? How can I go and join them to stop their business? You cannot join the wrong coalition in order to win at all cost. If you join the looters, the compromised, the riggers, the manipulators, you can travel fast, but you will not go far.

You speak so confidently as if you are sure of victory?

Myconfidenceiscomingfromtheplaceofjustice.

I believe that God didn’t create a country like this of 200 million people to be enslaved. That is not the believe I have. I believe God is showing us an

experiment and in the fullness of time, this people will over reach themselves and an ordinary person will come and knock them down. This is the David/ Goliath situation. I believe the David is the Nigerian collective people. I am not the David, the Nigerians are. I am just the sling.

That sling cannot direct itself but David was divinely inspired to throw that sling. I am that sling that would hit the head of looters in this country.

All of these things are testimony to the conclusion of a wicked system. I am not competing with them in the area of bullion vans and I am not competing with them in the area of bogus consensus they are doing, manipulations and the breach of trust they are doing, I am just taking my message to the people that journey that began in 1993 which Abiola was killed and everything came to a halt has begun again. These people have asked power, they have been given, they did nothing with it. They rob crèches, primary school, hospitals and mortuaries.

Everything that has money in it is stolen in this country. Enough is enough.

Inthe course of consultationround the country, whatwasthereceptionlike,especiallythepower that you visited?

I have gone round the country. I am still touring. I have seen former heads of state, traditional rulers, fformer governors, politicians, religious leaders, market men and women. The response has been m warm and the message is clear. The former rulers w hhavegiventheirperspectiveandwherethingswent wrong and what they want to see. None of them, w I can tell you, is happy. Whether you contributed one way or another to where the country is today. o None of them thought things would go this bad.

N They have become victims themselves. They have T equally lost hope in the generation that is ruling e nnow but that is compensated for by the fact that tthey have great hope in our generation.

What would you do differently in the area of iinsecurityifgiventheopportunitytorunNigeria?

Insecurity is the easiest problem to solve. The iinsecurity in the country is government-induced iinsecurity. Nigerian government is the source of tthe insecurity because it has become a business.

JJust like fuel scarcity, they have turned it into businness. Lack of electricity is a problem they have tturned into business. None of Nigerian problem iis difficult to solve. The solutions to our problems aare already there. The Nigerian army of today is b better than the Nigerian army of ECOMOG time.

B But what is happening now is that they have turned iinsecurity into multi-billion businesses for the g generals, permanent secretaries, contractors aand politicians.

When you talk to some members of the armed fforces, they would tell you that they are not lazy aand that they can finish these rogue fighters within a short time. Even during the civil war, there were a few who saw the war as a business, majority of m membersofthearmedforcestookthewarseriously aand that was why we were able to fight the war w without borrowing a Kobo. Awolowo was finance m minister in the Gowon’s government. It was a policy of that government at that time that they would not borrow money to execute the war. Awolowo was auditing and editing almost every bullet used.

Clement Using was governor of Central Bank. He protected the bank against the government. A governmentcancontinuetoperpetuateinsecurity as long they want to make money out of it. I will put an end to that.

Thefederalgovernmentoftentalksaboutcash crisis. How does it make you feel?

Honestly,wehavemoremoneytodaythanwehad yesterday. The government is awash with money.

If anybody tells you there is no money, you should know that that person is your number one enemy.

But we are borrowing to execute our budget?

We are borrowing because their greed is so big.

They don’t just want to steal the money of today, but they want to rob the children unborn. The Nigerian leadership quest for money is a special mental disease, particularly when they steal what theydon’tneed.Wemustremovetheoriginalcurse of Nigeria which is bad governance. There is this unhealthycompetition:Ifonegovernorisusingstate moneytocontrolapoliticalparty,spendingmillions of dollars to remove chairman and do whatever, the other governor wants to copy it too. So you nowhaveawell-knowncriminalorganisationcalled Governors Forum. Everyone there are supposed to, as a matter of patriotism, report themselves to the nearest police station. They corner substantial revenueofthefederationandstealthemoneyofthe local government. So, some of the poverty people are ascribing to Buhari us not totally his; Buhari has become an angel of disappointment though.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 2, 2022

PEOPLE Obi Cubana: Nigeria’s Nightlife King and his Midas Touch Chidiebere Nwobodo

“The entrepreneur is essentially a visualizer.

He can visualize something, and when he visualizes it, he sees exactly how to make it happen.”

— Robert L. Schwartz

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rior to the much-publicized funeral of Ezinne Uche Iyiegbu in July, 2021, only few Nigerians knew the propelling force behind the Cubana Group of companies. Chief Obinna Iyiegbu was only known by family members, friends, business associates and close customers of his business outlets. But what was supposed to be a befitting burial for his late mother, changed the dynamics for him. Obi Cubana became a golden fish that could not hid again.

The media spotlight he avoided for years, while industriously and ingeniously building his businesses, trailed him to Oba—his home town, beamed searchlight on the consummate entrepreneur and literally catapulted him to the olympian height of limelight. The publicity frenzy was so much that many Nigerians saw the burial of his mother as more of a carnival than a celebration of life.

Actually, the real exchange that transpired at Oba, Anambra State, was not a “lavish burial” or an “ostentatious outing”, as some people erroneously inferred. It was a return of massive goodwill Obi Cubana had invested in the lives of others for decades. The funeral provided the opportunity for those who felt indebted to him to reciprocate the gestures.

It was more like “Return on Investment” (RoI).

Obi never planned it to be that big.

If you genuinely invest in people without attaching strings, it is like sowing seeds of goodwill that will certainly return as avalanche of harvest one day. Those who has been following Obi Cubana’s trajectory rise to wealth cum stardom know that he is not given to wealth exhibitionist tendencies— even though his business is mostly about luxury. He is an exemplar of humility and a paragon of civility. He embodies humanitarianism and symbolizes elegance.

When his mother’s burial happened, some curious and impetuous analysts went overdrive in the media with an uninformed narrative, trying to create a blurred optics that Obi Cubana was an “overnight success who just stumbled on humongous wealth he lacked the capacity to manage, apart from throwing it around”. Some of us who knew the failure and success stories of chairman of Cubana Group were flabbergasted at such prejudiced and malicious propaganda disguised as opinions.

In 1999, then young Obinna Iyiegbu, after graduating from University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as a political scientist with Second Class Honors (Upper Division), left for the nation’s capital to serve his fatherland. As an NYSC member, he was among the first set of corp members that served at National Assembly at the return of democracy in 1999.

While he was serving, Obinna Iyiegbu wished to work in one of the primed government offices at the end of his national assignment like NNPC, CBN, etcetera. When the curtain of NYSC was drawn, it dawned on him that wishes were not horses and there were limited choice jobs at out there. Obinna Iyiegbu had the option to pick up his bags, return to his parents home and start lamenting about joblessness and how “hopeless” the country was.

He chose to turn his own stones into bread.

Energetic and ambitious Obinna Iyiegbu entered the street. He took a deep dive into the ocean of entrepreneurship. He had in mind the inspiring words of Martin Luther

Obi Cubana:

So, when some people out of sheer ignorance referred to Obi Cubana as an overnight success, I screamed: “overnight what?! If you don’t know a man’s story, don’t try to cook up one for him.

Obi Cubana has been through thick and thorns of entrepreneurship. He worked (still working) for every dime he has today. The Anambra-born billionaire entrepreneur shares Ralph Waldo Emerson’s ideal here—”the prize will not be sent to; you have to win it King, Jr: ‘take the first step even when you do not see the entire staircase.’ He began as a low level contractor, got his first major breakthrough via a contract from Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), where he made his first one million naira.

He resisted the usual temptation to “paint the town red” with the money, which many youth face when they experience their first major financial openings.

Instead, he used it as proceed to venture into hospitality business. Obinna Iyiegbu started his first restaurant outlet at Noo Gardens, Area 7, Abuja. For those who understand the terrain of FCT very well, Noo Gardens was situated between Garki Hospital and the popular UTC Plaza.

Like a mustard seed planted on a good soil and being well-watered, the restaurant where he specialized in African delicacies, palm wine, all sorts of soft drinks, alcohol, etcetera, began to grow in

publicity and traffic. When Obinna Iyiegbu thought he had broken the gravitational pull of unemployment and poverty with the success of his restaurant business, the tornado struck! The young entrepreneur ran into troubled waters.

Few days to Valentine Day—which usually comes with business boom for those in the hospitality industry, adventurous Iyiegbu had stockpiled his restaurant to the brim for anticipated huge traffic; synonymous with Lovers Day celebration, unannounced came the storm. It was on 12th February, 2006, when the day suddenly became night for this young entrepreneur. His efforts and sweat for few years were neutralized by bulldozers from Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

The fear of Malami Nasir el-Rufai as FCT minister was the beginning of wisdom.

The demolition of the structures at the garden returned Obinna Iyiegbu to

ground zero. To add salt to injury, it happened the day his then fiancée, Ebere—now wife, came from her place of national assignment (NYSC) in Kano to spend the Valentine Day with her sweetheart. As she alighted from vehicle, she saw Obinna, with the help of few sympathizers trying to scavenge the pile of rumbles crushed by bulldozers. Tears gushed like water.

Like Thomas Edison said when his factory was razed: “We just got rid of a lot of years of mistakes. Although I am over 67 years old, I’ll start all over again”. Obinna Iyiegbu could have wept, yelled in anger, locked himself in a state of depression, or quit out of frustration, but he persevered. A lot of then young entrepreneurs like him whose businesses were cut short by el-Rufai’s demolition exercise, left the city with palpable feeling of despondency. But Obinna saw the drawback as an opportunity to experiment superior business ideas.

He had a deep understanding that without death there would never be resurrection— that the good had to give away for the better—even the best. He picked up the pieces of what were left, went back to the drawing board, conceived bigger idea of business and gave birth to Ibiza Restaurant.

With great success of Ibiza, it became the springboard that heralded Cubana Group and other associated business outlets, carving a niche in the hospitality cum entertainment industry, today. It was a painful entrepreneurial voyage that required sacrifices, eagle-eyed vision and surgical precision of focus.

So, when some people out of sheer ignorance referred to Obi Cubana as an overnight success, I screamed: “overnight what If you don’t know a man’s story, don’t try to cook up one for him. Obi Cubana has been through thick and thorns of entrepreneurship. He worked (still working) for every dime he has today. The Anambraborn billionaire entrepreneur shares Ralph Waldo Emerson’s ideal here—”the prize will not be sent to; you have to win it.”

Since the advent of Cubana brand in 2009, it has been from one success feat to another. A conspicuous signature on every business under Cubana Group, is the midas touch of Obinna Iyiegbu aka Obi Cubana. He has the ingenuity and grace to turn coal to diamond. His business grit as well as emotional intelligence is outstanding. These sterling attributes he has demonstrated in running his night clubs, bars, hotels, restaurants, etcetera.

From Ibiza Restaurant (Abuja) to Crave Cubana (Abuja) to Opium Cubana (Owerri) to Cubana Rhapsody (Lagos) to Gustavo Cubana (Enugu) to Hustle and Bustle (Abuja) to Grand Cubana Hotels (Abuja), etcetera, the story is the same—midas touch and spirit of excellence embodied in Obi Cubana. Cubana Group is a conglomerate of platforms for demonstration of Obi Cubana’s superior ideas, sense of quality and entrepreneurial acumen in hospitality/entertainment industry.

As the indisputable king of nightlife and grandmaster of showbiz in Nigeria of today, Obi Cubana has not only redefined business of hospitality and entertainment in the country but has equally created thousands of jobs for the youths—and still opening more frontiers of opportunities for the younger generation.

His massive support for up-and-coming entertainers is very encouraging. He is a huge asset to the nation’s economy. Obi Cubana, with his midas touch, has set a high benchmark of excellence in the hospitality industry that will be difficult to equal.

Nwobodo writes from Abuja via chidieberenwobodo@yahoo.com.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 2, 2022

PEOPLE Kayode Oladele: Focused on Quality Representation Human rights lawyer and former member of the House of Representatives, Kayode Oladele is on the march again. His antecedent speaks volumes. He is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent Yewa North/Imeko Afon Federal Constituency of Ogun State. Oladele had previously served the constituents in 8th National Assembly on the same platform without blemish. However, he lost the seat in the 2019 general elections due to a “No-Retreat, No-Surrender” scenario that split the APC into two. Now, Oladele wants to take back the seat and continue his good work

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ne of the banes of the Nigerian legislature is the high turnover of members at each turn of the election, making it difficult for the sustenance of institutional memory needed to enhance speed and efficiency in the law-making process. Therefore, giving Oladele another opportunity will not only ensure effective representation but also make a huge difference in terms of vast experience and good focus.

For the record, Oladele was one of those who made the House of Representatives in the last National Assembly thick through the sponsorship of a number of bills bordering on matters of public interest. One of the major highlights of his legislative activities in the National Assembly was the sponsorship of Public Holiday Act (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which gave legal backing to June 12 as Democracy Day. It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had in June 2018 declared the date as the new Democracy Day celebration to replace May 29, which marks the official handing over from military to a civilian administration in 1999. To give the declaration legal backing, Public Holiday Act( Amendment) Bill, 2019 was co-sponsored by Oladele and Edward Pwajok from Plateau State.

Beyond the normal call of duty, there is a strong reason Oladele holds June 12 very dear to his heart.

Oladele was part of the pro-democracy groups that championed the sustained campaign for the enthronement of the present democratic rule after the annulment of the 12 June presidential election which was adjudged by both the local and international community to be the freest and most credible election in the history of Nigeria and won by MKO Abiola. As a young activist then, he was involved in the effort towards the revalidation of the historic election, occupying the front role in the entire pro-democracy struggle spearheaded by NADECO at the risk of his life.

According to the Wikipedia page on Kayode Oladele , “as a consequence of his involvement in pro-democracy activities in Nigeria, the administration of Ibrahim Babangida put Oladele under security watch and sometimes prevented him from traveling out of Nigeria.

The same actions were repeated by General Sani Abacha as he was arrested by the State Security Service (SSS). As a consequence of his involvement in pro-democracy activities, the administration of Ibrahim Babangida put Oladele under security watch and sometimes prevented him from traveling out of Nigeria.

The same actions were repeated by Abacha as he was arrested and his international passport routinely seized”.

Like most notable crusaders, activism in him dates back to his school days at Ile-Ife, Osun State. He had this story to tell: “It was my encounter with Femi Falana that truly ignited the activism in me. I was then a student of Oyo State College of Arts and Science (OSCAS), Ile-Ife. And Falana had come to the school to form a branch of the Movement for Students Awareness, a socialist students’ movement. I was the first student he met at the school gate and he found a willing tool in me. Not only did I provide a platform for the formation of MOSA at OSCAS, the movement became a strong vehicle for students’ activism on campus.

“With the help of Falana, I was introduced to the Alliance of Progressive Students at Obafemi Awolowo University, then the University of Ife, where I met people like Lanre Arogundade, who later became the National Association of Nigerian Students President; Segun Sango; Bunmi Oyewole, now Justice of the Court of Appeal; Wole Iyamu, and a host of other student activists.

“At that time, OSCAS used to be run like a satel-

Oladele

Oladele was part of the pro-democracy groups that championed the sustained campaign for the enthronement of the present democratic rule after the annulment of the 12 June presidential election which was adjudged by both the local and international community to be the freest and most credible election in the history of Nigeria and won by MKO Abiola lite campus of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife). With the help of these people, I ran for the Secretary-General of OSCAS Students’ Union and won. I also became a member of NANS Senate and a member of the Progressive Youth Movement. When I left OSCAS, I moved to the University of Lagos where I met other student activists like Kayode Fayemi, now Ekiti State Governor,Tokunbo Afikuyomi (who later became a Senator), Morenike Ransome- Kuti, Dayo Onabajo, Rasak Ojikutu, Abubakar Momoh, the late Bala Mohammed, Niyi Akinsiju, Sola Ayebola of AIT and a host of other student activists.

“We ran some of the very strong socialist movements on campus at the time and the students union was in our tight control. Throughout this period, Falana was

always behind, providing leadership and support from the chambers of Alao Aka-Bashorun. While I was a student at the University of Lagos, I was also appointed as the International Coordinator of “Free Fela International” by the duo of late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti and Femi Falana to coordinate the international campaigns for the release of Fela when he was jailed by the then Buhari/Idiagbon regime on allegations of currency trafficking even though, there were reports that the judge who sentenced Fela later apologized to him. Incidentally, it was also a period that set the stage for pro-democracy and human rights activism in Nigeria.”

It, therefore, goes without saying that President Buhari’s decision to declare June 12 as Democracy Day merely completes the circle of the struggle to give the late MKO and his family a befitting honour they deserve. And so, he took it upon him to do the legislative aspect of it by sponsoring

the bill to give it legal backing. “Many people had thought that the President’s declaration alone was sufficient but we had to amend the law in order to prevent mischief-makers from changing the policy in future and as I said, no one in the 8th Assembly had that responsibility than me. In fact, the former Speaker (Yakubu Dogara) would always naturally refer anything on June 12 to me and no member had ever questioned his decision on that,” he added.

Apart from all this, Oladele also has several other bills to his credit while the tenure of the 8th National Assembly lasted. These included the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (alteration) Bill, 2016, to change Egbado North Local Government Area and Egbado South Local Government Area to Yewa North Local Government Area and Yewa South Local Government Area; City Technical University, Yaba Lagos, Bill, 2016; Special Crimes Court Bill, 2017; Whistle Blower Protection Bill, 2017; Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre Bill, 2017; Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017; Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency Establishment Bill, 2017; Terrorism Prevention Act and the Chartered Institute of Forensic and investigation Auditors of Nigeria Establishment Bill, 2018.

As the Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, he sponsored the EFCC (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Proceed of Crimes Bill, 2016. Oladele was also a member of other Standing Committees, including the Committees on Justice, Healthcare Service, Human Rights, Rules and Business, and Agricultural Institutions.

He also served on several panels and ad-hoc committees, including the House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness which investigated the violation of public trust in the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in 2018 and the Presidential Ad-Hoc Committee on the Autonomy of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to ensure the restoration of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit’s membership of the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units and Nigeria’s membership of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to boost the country’s capacity to deploy global Financial Intelligence in the fight against corruption in 2017.

In fulfillment of his desire to immortalize MKO Abiola, the Public Holiday Amendment Act which he sponsored was signed into law

by President Buhari on June 11, 2019. Ditto the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Act was also signed into law by President Buhari, setting up a central body for processing intelligence related to financial transactions in Nigeria.

While the Proceeds of Crimes Bill, 2017, which made comprehensive provisions for the confiscation, forfeiture, and management of properties derived from unlawful activities was passed by the National Assembly in May 2019, President Buhari declined assent to the Bill. He subsequently forwarded an Executive Bill on the Proceeds of Crime which seeks, among others, to address the problem of lack of transparency and accountability associated with the management of recovered funds by anti-corruption agencies in the country to the Nineth National Assembly for necessary legislative work and passage.

In all this, he combined his active role as the Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes with the membership of Committees on Justice, Human Rights, Rules and Business, Environment, Healthcare Services, and Agricultural Institutions.

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SATURDAY APRIL 2, 2022 • T H I S D AY

SATURDAY APRIL 2, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 2, 2022

POLITY

Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa

I Want to Make Nigeria an Investment Haven Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa is a member of the New Nigerian Group (NNG) on whose platform he is propagating his ideal of a new Nigeria. The Presidential aspirant seeking to carry the PDP flag in the 2023 Presidential election, spoke to Nduka Nwosu on why he wants to be the next President of Nigeria. Excerpts

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riting about Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa at this time the PDP Southeast Presidential platform has become more populated than expected, is challenging. Ohuabunwa comes from the tribe of corporate chieftains who have excelled in their territory, transcending from, or if you like transiting from the board room to the political arena. Ernest Shonekan remains the shining star for showing the way forward, a board room chieftain elevated to the rank of Head of State, an inspiration for such candidates seeking for the highest office in the land.

Ohuabunwa parades a sterling track record of performance at Pfizer, one of the world’s premier pharmaceutical companies. A prince of corporate Nigeria, what are his strengths and weaknesses? Is he intimidated by this ‘Dance of the Masquerades,’ hosting such big masquerades like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and one time Minister of State for Education, former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and incumbent Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Senate President and Governor of Kwara State Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Governor of Bauchi State and former FCT Minister Bala Mohammed?

He shrugs off the question with a smile reminding you these are members of the old brigade, whose baggage is the very reason the country is in search of something refreshingly new, from his rank where competence, probity, strength of character and visionary leadership count in choosing the candidate to steer the ship christened Corporate Nigeria.

First, he belongs to a political movement he calls the New Nigeria Group, “with a life of its own,” and populated by people from all sides of the political equation, “left and right, even non-political people but they believe in the New Nigeria vision. They believe there is a Nigeria that is possible, that is different from what we are seeing, that will be a globally competitive nation and a country that will work for everybody.”

Ohuabunwa says he draws huge support across the polity even outside the New Nigeria Group, from both divides of the two major political parties, the PDP on whose platform he is seeking to contest and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Mazi Ohuabunwa exudes the image of a class captain, a senior prefect, or the anchor point of propriety, who does not believe the end justifies the means. On the contrary, his foray into the ring of presidential contest, began with a challenge in New York after being crowned best graduating student during a Pfizer programme for its sales managers worldwide.

He became the focus of attention regarding the African continent and its people with Nigeria as a case study, a Nigeria that was being advertised for the wrong reasons, yet known for her academic excellence, producing such promising technocrats as Ohuabunwa with universities accredited with global excellence, the University of Ibadan, the University of Nigeria, the University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, Ohuabunwa’s Alma mater, the University of Ife, and the University of Benin but unknown to his interrogators Why is your country known for the wrong reasons, he was asked. The all-familiar stereotype of bias towards all things African notwithstanding, Ohuabunwa gave a thought to the narrative. Is there something I can do to create a trajectory that will reposition my country’s potential greatness, to one of real greatness, a true giant of Africa? Can Nigeria for once be known as an exportoriented economy away from the mono-oil producing economy for which it is known? Can it grow to be known less as a consuming nation and more as an export-oriented economy, from a third world economy to a highly industrialised or fast developing economy? He knew it was possible but how?

Corruption remains an issue just as leadership by example is also an issue. As Achebe put it in The Trouble with Nigeria, bad leadership till date has not eluded our country. Ohuabunwa reasoned that changing the status quo must begin with evangelism, not just on the pulpit, a familiar platform though. He created a media outlet through the Guardian, Businessday and Vanguard newspapers as a columnist expounding his political and economic evangelical message of a New Nigeria where governance that gives the average Nigerian the good life,

Ohuabunwa is possible.

Ohuabunwa has headed numerous committees advising Nigerian governments and the corporate sector on the way forward. His gut feeling tells him he has what it takes to turn around the economy of a third world country to at least that of a fast-developing economy, which we cannot lay claim to right now.

Despite all the efforts he has made, trying to help recreate his country, none is more plausible now than the bubbling desire for ascent to the Presidency and calling the shots from there. Lee Kuan Yew did it in Singapore and succeeded; Chairman Mao did it in China and succeeded. The Rwandan wonder boy Paul Kagame is turning around his once economically moribund country Rwanda into an investment haven, with huge response from Western investors. Nicephore Soglo, a former World Bank and IMF staff, though a politician before his ascent to the Presidency in the Republic of Benin, is also a good example of a technocrat who operated at the global level.

Why can’t Nigeria succeed in solving her problems?

Ohuabunwa asks rhetorically. To be able to do this, he has identified what he calls the Nigerian problem, which is not farfetched, just as Chinua Achebe did.

“I am coming to change Nigeria’s narrative,” he enthuses, arguing that Nigerians are tired of listening to the all too familiar refrain of failure and all the ugly

The Presidential aspirant believes once poverty is gotten rid of, half the problem plaguing the country would have gone. With 53 percent of the Nigerian youths jobless, and 22 percent of those working are under-employed, and doing the wrong job, jobs not in sync with their educational experience, and 33 percent of the population being jobless, is it any wonder the World Bank has said 71 percent of Nigerians are poor? He asks.

How do we reverse this trend?

His answer is that when Nigeria becomes an investment haven, poverty will be eradicated

issues associated with a failed state. The Presidential aspirant insists Nigeria has a chronic leadership deficit at the political level. People come to office unprepared or ill prepared, and they come with minimum or no vision.

“Some are outrightly incompetent and even if they are competent, they lack character; if they are competent with character, they lack the courage to make bold decisions.

A visionary leader with all these traits will change the Nigerian story,” he argues. What are the issues a visionary leader needs to address to turn around the polity? He responds: “There are four principal demons afflicting the country. The first demon is poverty; the second demon is corruption; the third demon is injustice, and the fourth demon is insecurity.”

The Presidential aspirant believes once poverty is gotten rid of, half the problem plaguing the country would have gone. With 53 percent of the Nigerian youths jobless, and 22 percent of those working are under-employed, and doing the wrong job, jobs not in sync with their educational experience, and 33 percent of the population being jobless, is it any wonder the World Bank has said 71 percent of Nigerians are poor? He asks. How do we reverse this trend? His answer is that when Nigeria becomes an investment haven, poverty will be eradicated as people are kept busy doing the right jobs that will create a sense of wellbeing for them.

“We need three things to create wealth as a nation. We need human capital, financial capital, and a market. What we lack among these three is the financial capital.

“When I become President, I will have the additional portfolio of Minister of Investment. If I can make the country a preferred investment destination for four years, I would have changed the narrative because people become less fanatical and criminally minded if they have a better life. The moment you satisfy them economically they would stop all these things they are doing. They embrace religion and fanaticism as an escape route from the pangs of poverty and degradation. Why are the British and American people who brought religion to us becoming less religious? They have sophistication and a sense of wellbeing and worship God with less hassle, in an environment of well-being.”

He uses his community’s approach to security as a near example of what he would do at the national level when in office. “In the village I come from, in a town called Arochukwu, if people go to the farm and they are assaulted, if people’s houses are being broken into by unknown people, my chief will go round calling the elders in the village to come around. The elders will gather, and he will say my people, what is happening in our village now is strange; we are not used to seeing this before. They are raping women, breaking into houses and they are assaulting people on the farm. What have we done wrong?

Have we offended our gods? Or is the fault with us? Chief Okonkwo will say, no wonder yesterday he saw Okafor’s son with a group of people under one coconut tree and he was wondering what they were doing there.

“Right there they would start calling the names of those who were caught causing the trouble and a decision is made. When a decision is made, the youths are mandated to execute order or new rule made and the fine for infringement. That is the way it is done, and suddenly the problem is resolved. But when you as Eze or king decides to stay back in your palace and be pontificating, you will not know the problem. There is a saying that says armed robbers are not spirits but human beings who live among us. They live in the same communities with us. It is possible through intelligence gathering out the culprits from their holes or hideouts, just before they embark on “So, our problems in this country are not insurmountable, but we have hard hearted people who do not love the people they claim they are governing, because if they did, they would sleep and wake up worrying about how to solve their problems and not to engage in frivolous activities that add little value to the welfare of the citizens.”

On rotation or zoning of the Presidency, Ohuabunwa adds: “The rotation that has served us well should continue. Everybody I have met who in my own estimation loves this country has come to that conclusion that the people of the Southeast should be given an opportunity to present a candidate in 2023. Other regions have had opportunities. So, this has become something that I think people would like to support. It will achieve two things: the first is the fact that the Southeast will give the country a competent president from an array of very competent Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 2, 2022

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POLITY

2023 Ogun Governorship Race: Who the Cap Fits?

Hakeem Adebayo

S

ince the release of the timelines for the 2023 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerians have been inundated by deluge of declarations of intent by the aspirants seeking for elective offices at all levels of government. In Nigeria, governance has become an all-comers’ affair. Everybody now seeks access to power to have a good bite of the national cake which no one is genuinely prepared to partake in the baking.

In Ogun State, the contest for the governorship is getting hotter by the day. According to available reports, Jimi Lawal, Ladi Adebutu, Segun Showunmi and Modele Sarafa-Yusuf have declared their intentions to join the race. While the number of contenders and pretenders continues to swirl, some people have been wondering why Governor Dapo Abiodun has not caught the declaration fever. The point is that no one changes a winning team. Prince Abiodun being the Captain of the team in this case cannot but keep his focus on how to deliver on his electoral promises to make the state an envy of all. Doing so is a huge task that demands deep thinking, resourcefulness, sharp focus and purposeful leadership. These are the characters that define an executive with a track record of performance from the private sector background as against crass political opportunists who seek access to power as a means of self-enrichment.

To be sure, this administration still has about eleven months and some days before the next governorship election. So, why the need for hurried declaration of interest when there are still more works to do? As a wise man, he knows fully well that the people who gave him the mandate in the first instance will be the ones who would examine his scorecard and then, return it with an affirmation at the end of the tenure in an appreciation of a job well-done. In other words, it is given that the people already know that he has the constitutional rights to run for his second term. And as Yoruba would say, “One good turn deserves another.”

For now, Abiodun’s major preoccupation is to justify the confidence reposed in him by his election and he is not going to rest on his oars until he achieves his desires to make the state great for the good of all. That is the covenant he signed when he took the oath of office on May 29, 2019. So, no one can hoodwink the electorate not even in a state like Ogun with enlightened citizenry. In a democracy, sovereignty belongs to the people and they alone will decide what to do with their votes. By the time the elections are over, not only

Abiodun the political adversaries of the governor will be put to shame; those who have entered into the race just to play the ‘spoilers’ role’ will also be kept appropriately where they belong.

Already, there is a loud whisper that Lawal is coming to wrest power from Abiodun with the strong backing of his bosom friend, the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. They want to use him to test their grit or settle some political differences. They will meet the good people of Ogun State at the poll who will tell them that blood is thicker than water. No one has said that it is a crime for anyone to aspire to the highest office in the state. But when the desperation for power has gone to a level of inviting a Fulani stalwart to come and fight a course in Yoruba land, it becomes a dangerous political voyage indeed.

It is an engrossing historical irony that a true son of Yoruba would contemplate such an unholy alliance. The handshake has obviously gone beyond the elbow. That individual needs to be recalled forthwith. He needs to be taught some lessons of history with particular reference to the genesis of the rivalry between the descendants of Afonja and Alimi in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. A word, they say, is enough for the wise.

That is by way of digression anyway! Now, let’s go back to the basics. Let’s take a quick peep into the antecedents of the aspirant concerned. Until his recent defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Lawal was a member of the All

Progressives Congress (APC). While in the party, he was and still is a close associate of erstwhile governor Ibikunle Amosun.

They both enjoy a convivial relationship and still in alliance even though on different platforms. In his latest political adventure, Amosun wants to use him to wrest power from Abiodun in the same way he did when his anointed candidate for the 2019 gubernatorial election, Hon Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade, defected from the APC to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to pick the ticket of the party to slug it out with the APC candidate (Abiodun).

The alliance, it is evident, is bound to fall flat again like a pack of cards, just in the same way it crumbed in the 2019 election in the face of overwhelming support of the electorate. That acceptance has even gone a notch higher especially now that they have seen the good work of the administration and it can only get better.

Another factor that will likely truncate Lawal’s ambition to be governor of the Gateway State is the albatross of being a former Managing Director (MD) of the defunct Alpha Merchant Bank.

There are so many myths surrounding his stint as the boss of the failed bank. At the height of the ensuring trial, he had to run out of the country to escape the long arm of the law.

Ogun State people who are known for being an embodiment of the Yoruba ethos of Omoluabi (good virtues) will certainly not want to take a gamble with their historical peculiarity as the land of nobility.

Beyond that, there is also the question of trust. The image Lawal is currently carrying within the PDP is that of a mole. In fact, some stalwarts of the party have already called on the state and national bodies to be cautious of his acceptance into the fold, warning that El-Rufai might be using him for some hatchet job.

In 2019, Lawal ran for the APC gubernatorial ticket in Ogun and came last. They are asking that he should be rejected for being what he is. What a way to treat an unstable character?

Ladi Adebutu is another front runner in the governorship race.

He represented the Remo Federal Constituency on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). In 2015, he was elected again into the House of Representatives using the banner of the PDP. For him also, there is a strong feeling of alienation which is further accentuated by the fear of the stakeholders in Ogun West (Yewa-Awori) that if the ticket is giving to any aspirant outside the Senatorial district, it will truncate the zoning arrangement the Abiodun administration has put in place to enable one of their owns to become the next governor after the expiration of his second tenure.

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PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Chairman, Conference Planning Committee, Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF) 2nd Annual Conference, Adetola Bucknor-Taiwo; Deputy Governor, Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; first lady, Taraba State, Anna Ishaku; General Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joyce Oduah; Chairperson, Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF), Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose; and Vice Chairperson, Chinyere Okorocha; at the 2nd NBAWF Annual Conference in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2022 in Lagos, yesterday....

SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Indomie Fan Club (IFC) Mum, Oluwabunmi Adamolekun; IFC National Coordinator, Faith Ogechukwu Joshua; Nollywood Actress/ Celebrity Mum, Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi; IFC Mum Adolisa Nwankwo; and IFC Mum, Adenike Ale at the Indomie Mother’s Day Celebration and Unveiling of Indomie “Unconditional Love” Campaign in Lagos…. recently

L-R: Creative Director, Chain Reactions Africa, Colin Morris; Youth representative, Femi Daniel; PR and Communications Manager at OMNIBIZ, Elizabeth Adebanjo; Managing Director/Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Africa, Israel Jaiye Opayemi; Chief Business Officer, Cellulant, Sike Bamisebi; and Group Chief Operating Officer, Palton Morgan, Nidal Turjman at the 15th Anniversary of Chain Reactions Africa and unveiling of Goodnews Nigeria website at Radisson Blu, Ikeja GRA in Lagos….

SUNDAY ADIGUN.

L-R: Marketing Manager (West Africa), Shalina Healthcare, Folorunsho Alaran Deputy Registrar National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria,, Dr. Salami Sule, Vice President/ Head, Shalina West Africa, Shalina Healthcare Arun Raj, winner of the maiden edition of Shalina Rising Star Contest, Adebayo Olaolu and National Editor of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Omoniyi Ayooluwa, at the grand finale of the maiden edition of Shalina Rising Star Contest in Lagos... Yesterday.

DAN UKANA.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 2, 2022

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

Precedent, Not ‘Precedence’

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AILY Sun Editorial of March 30 welcomes us today with this schoolboy howler: “We must be careful of the precedence (precedent) we are setting.” “…the outcome of the committee’s work would be in their favors (American spelling).” Get it right: in their favour—not in their ‘favors’. (Politics & Power, March 30) News around the city of March 30: “…members of the gang were arrested around the Patani axis few (a few) days before the abduction.”

“He said the gang has (had) been terrorising (terrorizing, preferably) the area….”

“Police constable stabs two (2, professionally for headlines) Bauchi youths to death” (THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER, March 25) Who is a constable? A police officer of the lowest rank or someone who has powers of arrest based on a warrant….

Back to front-page basics: “Fireworks at (in) Senate over court (court’s) judgment on Electoral Act” “…2 military personnel (men/officers—depending on ranking) among casualties” ‘Personnel’ is a collective word and cannot, therefore, be individualized or even pluralized. “…I heartily felicitate with (delete ‘with’ and allow it to just flow seamlessly) Your Excellency the Executive Governor of…on your (his) 58th birthday anniversary.” Just end it at ‘birthday’ and forget the otiose ‘anniversary’.

“You have lived an examplary (exemplary) and fulfilling life that is worthy of emulation to serve humanity “I join you, your family, well wishers (well-wishers) and the people of….”

“Awa jubilates as echoes of the solution spreads (spread).” “…is going to be a make or mar (make-or-mar) encounter.” Little things that matter to purists “…what led to the Eagles (Eagles’) crash in Cameroon and effect the necessary corrections….”

Would it have been ‘unnecessary’ corrections? Let us think as we collocate, please.

A reminder: Corrected entries are in brackets immediately after the error. Of course, the attributions are excluded. Some readers seem confused on this hence the explanation.

THISDAY of March 21 goofed: “It also speaks volume (volumes) about the character of the people that have been put in charge of our affairs….”

BUSINESSDAY of March 21 could not be trusted: “The politics and intrigues that attended the bill during its first, second, and third readings at (on) the floor of the National Assembly tends (tend) to suggest….”

“Customs flay (flays) poor payment of WCO levies” (The PUNCH, March 21) “CBN to probe banks involvement in pension scam” (THE NATION, March 21) Why not banks’ involvement? “…in line with the 7th Senate’s avowal of being on an historic mission” Politics: a historic mission.

The next two errors are from Vanguard of March 21: “Suicide: EFCC may intervene as Police assures (assure) of investigation” Who did the police assure?

“Kano police arrest man over (for) lady’s murder” Must this blunder keep recurring? A ‘ rrest’ takes ‘for’ exclusively. I do not know how the ubiquitous clownishness of ‘arrest over’ came about!

“A media and high impact entertainment company with affiliates in 3 continents of the world” Immediate Employment: affiliates on 3 continents “ASUU decries insecurity in (on) campuses” (The PUNCH, March 20) “Egba chief buried amid controversy” (The Guardian, March 20) The man was either buried in controversy or amid controversies—depending on circumstantial evidence and/or contextual application.

THISDAY of March 19 failed to spell-check: “FG’s commited (committed) to quality low income housing” “Portable (potable) water as solution to building collapse” (Source: as above) “Community solicits FG’s support on (for) erosion

control” (BUSINESSDAY, March 19) Vanguard of March 19 contributed three infelicities to the pool this week: “Lagos Motor Fair: More firms justle (jostle) for space” “Derivation formula (2): North gets lion share of N-Delta oil wealth” Special Report: lion’s share.

“The level of infrastructural decay is enormous and will take some time to resuscitate and return the city back to glory.” Delete ‘back’ lest we all get drowned in Kirikiri canal!

“How peace can be restored in (to) Plateau…”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY of March 27 contained two slips: “It’s too late for Nigeria to breakup” Phrasal verb: break up. Noun: breakup/ break-up.

Renown Evangelist…spoke with selected reporters last week on national issues.” This way: Renowned evangelist…..

“This is absurd and regretable.” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, March 16) The misspelling here is equally regrettable! “…the ruling political party is obviously in need of a complementary transformational hand at the helms of affairs….” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, March 16) The race: just at the helm.

“Yes, Nigeria is dead alright (all right).” (Source: as above) A ‘ lright’ (informal word) is not good for formal writing like standard newspapering—except, perhaps, in celebrity journalism where there are no grammatical rules!

“Nigerian Idol: Shina Peters poise (poised) for a come back (sic)” (DAILY INDEPENDENT Life, March 16) THISDAY Back Page Column of March 15 did not conform to 27 years of robust journalism since 1995: “Sometimes in 1997, in my capacity as the deputy editor of the defunct Sunday Concord….”

My own verdict: Sometime in 1997….

“The only way to forestall the Nigerian Spring is by dousing people’s anger and diffusing (defusing) the pent-up frustration before it becomes explosive.” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, March 15) “…the absence of these checks and balances provide (provides) avenues for impunity in the

Perspectives On Perception 2023

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oday, we have turned the column over to keen readers and regular commentators of what we serve weekly in Counterpoint. From January 15, 2022 that the series on “Perceptions 2023” started, and until the ninth week when it wrapped off, every edition witnessed a blizzard of opinions, some overly more than others, for obvious reasons. Yet, the tone and stature of the commentaries are mostly well-intentioned, civil, yet robust, and on few occasions a little uncharitable.

It is to be expected, especially when issues touch on persons of great interest and adoration, for some; and a matter of conscientious objection to certain political actors, for others.

Below are excerpts of selected comments, high and low, on each week’s article. They are marginally edited to retain the persona and mood of each contributor: ON PERCEPTIONS 2023 INTRO - JANUARY 15, 2022: Oga, check the ‘Laws of Power’, perception can be corrupted and be changed. Perception is dynamic, it’s not permanent. The media is fond of using their narrow thoughts to distort or create unreal perception... Media do not have a monopoly of wisdom to judge or determine perception, let’s allow the candidates and people to create, recreate or determine their perceptions with their votes.

- Tinubu Akinwunmi Are these men the best we’ve got? NO. Same people. Same orientation. Same mindsets.

Probably the same or worse results. I just pray the next President is ready to govern, not rule.

- Tayo Baba-Oruns People can throw their hats into the ring, but the electorate have the final say.

- Obafemi Lasode Electorates have never been allowed to have the final say. The political parties choose their ideal candidates, it moves to the kingmakers and then, you have INEC that determines the winner.

What the electorates are left with is a TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT situation.

- Ubong Nelson ON ROCHAS OKOROCHA - JANUARY 15: Yes it’s time for Igbo but not his type, please.

- Bakare Ola I’m looking forward to your analysis of other contenders and pretenders to the Presidency. The piece on Okorocha is so apt and I know those of others won’t disappoint.

- Bamidele Deleism Olajide Can’t agree less with your analysis on Owelle Rochas. If you permit me though, I will suggest we dwell more on Agenda setting for the would-be President, post Buhari.

I am of the opinion that we have allowed Candidates to set the Agenda, through campaign promises that they often don’t deliver on, once they get to office.

If we can help in highlighting what challenges we currently face, and the ones we can foresee in the immediate future, we can get Nigerians to engage the Aspirants properly. Just my thoughts o.

- Sola Adesokan ON BUKOLA SARAKI - JANUARY 22: I’m surprised you lent yourself to this type of maliced (I will say ma-laced) post. So, with all the very many bad things ascribed to him in the write-up, not a single thing did he do right - or well, in his political life? Really? Not one single thing! So, you can see that the intention of the writer is obvious. But we want to read good and well-thought-out writings. But if you, as a reputed journalist, would be denying us of that, then we wouldn’t bother with your page anymore. I don’t know Saraki from Adam, and I’m NOT his fan for president. But as an accomplished individual, likened to self, he has done well. He is a trained medical doctor and has excelled in politics. Is it to say he has only done bad things all the way in and out of government? Sorry, I don’t agree with that. And to cap it, in the end, the writer asked what was meant to be a rhetorical question and still proceeded to answer it. That act alone belies the intent.

- Adebola Orolugbagbe Good write up bro. But it will be unfair if you do not write on the aspiration of Tinubu, his personality, his brand of wealth accumulating politics, his

questionable age, his questionable identity, his questionable origin. He was the first to declare before Saraki but you ignored him and pounced on Saraki whose inefficiency and baggage could still be tolerated by Nigerians.

- Victor Adegbembo Your write up is so myopic that all the fabrics reflect hate! hate hate… your passion to dwell on some fabricated lies against a personality was overwhelming while your apathy for story balancing is too elusive… however you said it all “your moribund perception” Pls note: I am never a fan of your subject but I hate useless write-ups - Talabi Olufemi Olukayode The ‘otoge’ tsunami that swept him and his structure off.

- Oludotun Adesua No integrity… not to be trusted… A snake.

- Duncan Victor Ayemere Idokogi ON KINGSLEY MOGHALU - JANUARY 29: Moghalu should borrow a leaf from Soludo.

He should go back to Anambra to vie for either Senate or House Of Reps seat. The fact that he is trying to climb the political ladder from the top means he has an exaggerated sense of importance, and in my own view, is not fit to lead.

- Ade Omisakin He has all it takes to man the post of a President. I will admonish him to get the circle first via senatorial accomplishment, thereafter stepping up the game for more engagement. The ropes need to be learned properly.

- Kingsley Obiegbu With no grassroot politicking experience whatsoever, Kingsley Moghalu should go and start his politics from his state legislature, or contest for the National Assembly.

- Rotimi Adebayo II The Nigerian State is a JALOPY; not a smooth functional Ferrari!

We may require the service of a Driver-Mechanic to take it out of the woods; thereafter we can afford the luxury of assigning it to the fine and cultured Driver, that the Moghalus of this nation represent.

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

other….” (DAILY INDEPENDENT Agenda, March 15) “JAMB 2022: What’s the cut-off-marks for universities” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, March 15) A rewrite: JAMB 2022: What’re the cut-off marks for varsities?

“Their hands are literarily full: they will hit the ground running.” (Vanguard COMMENT, March 15) New envoys, new mandate: literally full “Outrage greets Reps at witch hunting” (BUSINESSDAY, March 15) I was also outraged by lawmakers’ witch-hunt of the former Director-General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh, a first-class, delectable and global lady with multifarious international job opportunities before the currency of her employment.

The next three infelicities are from DAILY INDEPENDENT of March 15: “Tambuwal condoles police over John’s death” The governor condoled with police “…popped Champaign at the Makurdi Airport to celebrate victory at all levels” Spell-check: Champagne.

“Otherwise, somewhere down the line with their loots, these men would continue to come back to rape the polity.” ‘Loot’ is uncountable.

“Resident doctors in neighbouring Ghana went on strike less than a week before our own strike and theirs have (has) since been resolved.”

“Others are outrightly ugly.” This is lexical corruption. Standard English: Others are ugly outright.

“They point accusing fingers towards female prostitutes who are girlfriends to the armed robbers and provide those anti-social miscreants accommodation and succour to perpetuate their despicable crimes.” Yank away ‘accusing’ and point the finger at (not towards) prostitutes. And this: ‘anti-social miscreants’? This is noisy collocation!

“It will present events in the two chambers, record achievements, gossips and behind the scene (no hyphen?) moves of the assembly men” ‘Gossip’, in this context, is uncountable.

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON

fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

- Sola Adesokan I will continue to ask: Does this man UNDERSTAND Nigerian politics?

- Ọmọ Bọlanle He is still a baby... governing Nigeria requires more of a political acumen than all those academic dossiers… he should go and lecture.

- Musa Rilwanu Sharif He hasn’t studied the art of Nigerian politics.

He’s lacking there. He needs tutelage. Tell him.

- Kayode Témi Ogunfeyitimi Hahaha! Brilliantly put, yet bitterly pragmatic.

Ire gbogbo o (all round goodness).

- Seyi Fasuyi In Nigeria, those who claim to love Nigeria will ignore all these qualifications and experience, and bring in... you know who.

- Christy Avwoghore Umanah If he really is serious & determined to deploy his knowledge & skill-set in good governance in Nigeria, he should have built a progressive career in it by building & developing followership among the elites and the masses. He will continue to be regarded as a pretender if his style is to always come out when the country is preparing for another round of election, only for him to disappear after the elections.

- Dahud Olanrewaju Adeboye Eminently qualified on paper. Let him deliver at a lower level, then we will see the correlation between his theory and practical governance.

Presidency is not a learning rope.

- Adesegun Ogundeji Good material, but needs to go up the ladder.

Maybe house or senate first.

- Femi Jolaolu Moghalu should start creating structures of his own now, if 2027 is to be taken seriously.

- Segun Akintade (To Continue)

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

2.4.2022

NEWS

TOP-FOUR TICKET AT STAKE PAGE. 29

Emmanuel Dennis Another ‘Missionary Journey’ Looms

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 2, 2022

28

GLOBAL SOCCER

Emmanuel Dennis

Another ‘Missionary Journey’ Looms Emmanuel Dennis was on target against West Ham

Since moving to Europe in 2016, he had gone on to play for four different clubs and when he seems to have found a home at Vicarage Road, another move is in the offing for Emmanuel Dennis. His joining Watford from Club Brugge has proven to be a good buy contributing to more than half of the Hornet’s goals so far this season.However,after just a season atWatford,Dennis may begin another ‘missionary journey’except theYellow Army somehow escape being relegated to the Championship and with Spanish side,Villarreal lurking

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remier League strugglers, Watford may be bidding goodbye to their jewel, Emmanuel Dennis at the end of the season after just one season except the Hornets manage to avoid relegation.

The Super Eagles striker joined Watford from Club Brugge last summer on a five-year deal worth £4.5m and with the Yellow Army currently placed 18th in the Premier League table with 22 points from 29 games and just three points off safety the 24-year-old Nigerian may be looking elsewhere at the end of the season.

The former Cologne star has taken the Premier League by storm this season, scoring nine goals and registering five assists in 27 league matches, directly involved in almost half of Watford’s goals this term.

Indeed, his performance has caught the eye of a number of big clubs, including Spanish LaLiga side, Villarreal, according to a report on Daily Mail.

The club will consider offloading several players if they are unable to avoid relegation in a bid to lower their wage bill and will demand for a fee of £25m for the Nigerian international.

Dennis has emerged as one of the bargain signings of the summer transfer window, with Watford paying four million euros to Club Brugge to sign the striker.

West Ham captain Mark Noble had labelled Dennis’ early strike in the Hammers’ 4-1 rout of Watford a great goal when the Hornets suffered their fifth successive loss in the Premier League despite their Nigerian talisman giving them the lead.

Dennis fired a rising shot into the top corner to break the deadlock after evading the challenge of Craig Dawson, taking his tally in the top-flight to eight goals in the process.

Speaking to BBC Sport post-match, the Hammers captain said: “They started with a great goal for Dennis but then I think we controlled the half and deserved to go 2-1 up.”

Only Liverpool’s Egypt winger Mohamed Salah has had more goal involvements than Dennis in the Premier League so far this season.

Indeed, Arsenal icon Ian Wright has highlighted the importance of Dennis to the Watford side after the red-hot striker scored again in a 4-1 loss to West Ham United in a Premier League clash at Vicarage Road.

With his strike against the Hammers, the Nigerian international has been directly involved in 10 goals in his last eight Premier League games for the Hornets (six goals, four assists), having a hand in 66.7 per cent of the goals Watford have scored in these games.

Statistically, those numbers clearly show Dennis’ importance to Watford, who could be without their talisman for at least three matches in the coming weeks.

Speaking on Premier League Productions’ Premier League Wrap, Wright said: “At the start Tim Sherwood mentioned that Dennis is the one if anything could happen it’s probably going to come from him.

“That’s beautifully taken, composure, he’s not rushing that.

“He’s going to be sorely missed when he goes to the AFCON because that’s exactly what Watford need.”

Dennis was called up by Nigeria for AFCON and the 24-year-old was due to meet up with his national side after New Year’s Day but was denied by Watford in their quest to battle relegation with the Hornets’ erstwhile boss Claudio Ranieri saying Nigeria failed to send a ‘pre-call’ before a specific deadline.

A Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) statement had said Dennis had been excused because Watford were “baring fangs”.

“Of course he wanted to go to play for Nigeria but he also wanted to help Watford,” Ranieri had said.

Dennis was part of the Super Eagles team that failed to qualify Nigeria to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after playing a lacklus-

tre 1-1 draw with Ghana at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Before the return leg of their World Cup play-off against Ghana on Tuesday, the former Brugge striker said he was prepared to leave “his blood and sweat on the pitch”.

“These games are the biggest games of my life and my career. We must go all out for our country. It’s do or die. Players must be ready to drop our blood and sweat on the pitch to qualify for the World Cup,” Dennis told BBC Sport Africa.

“I’ve never thought in my head that we didn’t qualify. Impossible. If I’m going to die on the pitch, let me die playing for my people,” Dennis added.

“You play this tournament one time every four years, and before the four years, you don’t even know what can happen. You can even die before the next one.

“You might not even be playing football.

So many things can happen. So, if you get the opportunity, you need to write history. We have to come out and give everything.

“We don’t need all the criticism as we must all come together as one to support the players, the country and make sure we are the ones going to the World Cup and not our opponent.

“Did you see the crowd at our training session? You could see how happy they were to come watch us train,” Dennis said.

“We cannot let them down. They should not panic but believe in us because we are going to leave it all on the pitch for them.”

Even Dennis’ Watford teammate, William Troost-Ekong had backed him to score against Ghana.

“I think you can look at it in two ways. We have players known to score goals, including Emmanuel Dennis and Odion Ighalo and I would back all of them,” Troost-Ekong had said.

“I think they are going to feel even more challenged to score and show everyone that they can do that.”

But it was not to be as it was the Black Stars that booked the ticket to Qatar.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 2, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

Man Utd Top-four Quest Faces Leicester Test Manchester United will be bidding to give their top-four hopes a boost when they welcome Leicester City to Old Trafford in the Premier League this evening.

The Red Devils are currently sixth on the log, four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand, while Leicester sit 10th, 14 points behind their opponents this weekend

Premiership Table Man City Liverpool Chelsea Arsenal Tottenham Man Utd West Ham Wolves Aston Villa Leicester Southampton Crystal Palace Brighton Newcastle Brentford Leeds Everton Watford Burnley

29 29 28 28 29 29 30 30 29 27 29 29 29 29 30 30 27 29 27

50 55 38 13 11 8 10 5 1 -4 -9 1 -10 -17 -14 -33 -18 -26 -16

70 69 59 54 51 50 48 46 36 36 35 34 33 31 30 29 25 22 21

Premier League TODAY

Liverpool v Watford 12:30 Burnley v Man City 15:00 Brighton v Norwich City 15:00 Chelsea v Brentford 15:00 Leeds Utd v Southampton 15:00 Wolves v Aston Villa 15:00 Man United v Leicester 17:30 SUNDAY

West Ham v Everton 14:00 Tottenham v Newcastle 16:30 MONDAY

Crystal Palace v Arsenal 20:00

La Liga TODAY

Leicester City’s Nigeria striker, Kelechi Iheanacho was a torn in flesh of Manchester United defece in the Foxes 4-2 victory in the first leg

anchester United have not been in action since suffering a 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their last16 Champions League on March 15, which saw them lose 2-1 on aggregate, but the Red Devils cannot afford to dwell on the disappointment, as they bid to salvage a top-four finish in the league.

Ralf Rangnick’s side recorded a 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur in their last league match on March 12, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting three times, but the 20-time English champions are playing catch up, currently sitting sixth in the table, four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.

The Gunners also have a match in hand, while Tottenham and West Ham United are also firmly in the picture, meaning that Man United face a serious scrap to secure Champions League football for next season.

Over the international break, the club have been working behind the scenes, interviewing Ajax’s Erik ten Hag over the managerial position, but missing out on the Champions League for next season would be a huge blow when it comes to their plans for the summer transfer window.

A busy April will see the Red Devils take on Leicester, Everton, Norwich City, Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League, but the absence of European football means that Rangnick should be able to keep his players fresh, and it will be fascinating to see how the campaign finishes for the club.

Leicester, meanwhile, were expected to again be top-four challengers in the Premier League this season, but they have been well short of that standard in 2021-22, currently sitting down in 10th spot in the table.

The Foxes are 10 points off eighthplaced Wolverhampton Wanderers heading into this weekend’s fixtures,

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but they have three games in hand on both Wolves and seventh-placed West Ham, and it would be a surprise if they were unable to finish in the top half of the table.

Leicester are also fighting for European silverware this term, having overcome Rennes to reach the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League, and they will take on PSV Eindhoven over two legs next month.

Brendan Rodgers side entered the international break off the back of a 2-1 win over Brentford in the Premier League and will be bidding to record their 11th Premier League victory of the campaign this weekend.

Leicester have the fourth-worst away record in the Premier League this season, but they have won their last three matches against the Red Devils in all competitions, including a 4-2 victory at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League back in October.

With 16 places and 47 points separating them on the Premier League table, Liverpool and Watford resume top-flight action with today’s lunchtime kickoff at Anfield.

The second-placed Reds find themselves just one point behind Manchester City at the summit, while Roy Hodgson’s side are three points adrift of safety in 18th.

Only a couple of months after Liverpool had seemingly conceded the crown to Man City once again, we have a title race on our hands, and Jurgen Klopp’s side are showing no signs of faltering as they continue their pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple.

Diogo Jota’s close-range effort against Nottingham Forest saw Liverpool advance to the semi-finals of the FA Cup just before the international break - with the FA controversially refusing to move the fixture from Wembley despite travel disruption - and there is the small matter of next week’s Champions League quarter-final first

leg with Benfica to come as well.

With their only defeat in any competition since the turn of the year being that inconsequential loss to Inter Milan on their own turf, Liverpool are now within touching distance of Man City at the summit before the two heavyweights meet in a mouthwatering showdown on April 10 and would go top with a win here for at least a couple of hours before the champions meet Burnley.

It is now nine Premier League victories in a row for this rampant Liverpool outfit - who have kept clean sheets in each of their last four in the top flight and have scored 23 in their sparkling winning run - and Anfield is not often a happy hunting ground for visiting teams.

Indeed, Klopp’s crop welcome Watford to Merseyside having won each of their last nine Premier League games at Anfield - where they are unbeaten domestically for over a year - and their tally of seven home goals conceded this term is unlikely to worsen against the goal-shy Hornets.

Roy Hodgson’s stint in the home dugout at Anfield may have been incredibly short-lived, but the 74-yearold is no stranger to taking his spot in the visiting end, and he may just have uncovered a hidden gem in his side’s fight against the drop.

A couple of weeks on from his stunning yet inconsequential bicycle kick against Arsenal, Cucho Hernandez was at the double for Watford to propel them to a crucial 2-1 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s, with the Hornets holding on for the entire second half.

Hernandez has had to be patient for his opportunities in black and yellow but has certainly staked his claim for a regular first-team role now - Colombia could have done with him after missing out on a spot in the World Cup - but Watford’s

Getafe v Mallorca 13:00 Levante v Villarreal 15:15 Celta Vigo v Madrid 17:30 Atlético v Alavés 20:00 SUNDAY

Bilbao v Elche 13:00 Real Betis v Osasuna 15:15 Granada v Vallecano 17:30 Valencia v Cádiz 17:30 Barcelona v Sevilla 20:00 MONDAY

Sociedad v Espanyol 20:00

Hot Shot PLAYERS

CLUB

Mo Salah Liverpool Heung Son Tottenham Diogo Jota Liverpool Harry Kane Tottenham Cristiano Ronaldo Man Utd Sadio Mané Liverpool Ivan Toney Brentford Riyad Mahrez Man City Jamie Vardy Leicester Raheem Sterling Man City Bruno Fernandes Man Utd Bukayo Saka Arsenal Emmanuel Dennis Watford Kevin De Bruyne Man City Emile Smith Rowe Arsenal Raphinha Leeds

GOALS

20 13 13 12 12 12 11 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 9

survival destiny is still out of their own hands.

Indeed, Hodgson’s side remain below the dotted line in 18th and sit three points adrift of 17th-placed Everton - who have two games in hand - but a record of just two defeats from their last seven league games away from home is a cause for slight optimism.

However, Liverpool produced a five-star showing to thrash their upcoming opponents 5-0 at Vicarage Road back in October, and Watford are on a six-game Premier League losing run at Anfield since a 1-0 win in August 1999.

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 2, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

World Cup Groups

Rivers United set to consolidate at the top of the NPFL as the second stanza resumes this weekend

QATAR 2022 WORLD CUP

NPFL: How Eunisell Powered Rivers Utd to the Top

Ghana Set for Portugal’s Confrontation, Senegal Get Decent Draws The draws for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 took place in Doha today ahead of the Mundial scheduled for November this year.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the first time in 16 years after they were eliminated by the Black Stars of Ghana.

However, Africa is well represented, as Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Cameroon, and Ghana picked the tickets to do battle

in Qatar.

African Champions Senegal got a decent draw, as they were placed in group A. They face hosts Qatar, Netherlands, and Ecuador.

Morocco was drawn into Group F, where they will trade tackles with Belgium, Canada, and Croatia.

Africa Cup of Nations Bronze medallists Cameroon got a very tough draw in Group G.

They face Brazil, Serbia, and Switzerland.

Tunisia, who beat eliminated Nigeria at the last AFCON, were drawn into Group D, where they will face France, Denmark, and the winner of the playoff between Peru, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Nigeria’s nemesis Ghana was placed in a very tough group against Portugal, Uruguay, and Korea.

NFF Debunks FIFA Ban on Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Says VAR not Stolen The Nigeria Football Federation has decried a stream of incorrect reports being peddled in sections of the media, in connection with Tuesday’s FIFA World Cup playoff match between Nigeria and Ghana at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said yesterday: “We are alarmed at the influx of incorrect reports, otherwise known as fake news, mostly in the social media. There is no truth to the reports that the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja has been banned for any length of time by

FIFA. It is a concoction by some persons with fertile imagination.

The NFF has not received any such communication from either FIFA or CAF. “There has also been an outlandish report that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) equipment that was installed for the match had been stolen. We initially thought this was an April Fool prank but it is alarming that some media outlets are taking it serious. Nothing of such happened. The VAR equipment remains intact and has been returned to the FIFA

office in Zurich, Switzerland

by Sebastian Runge, FIFA’s Head of Technology.”

Sanusi added: “The NFF understands that Nigerians in their generality were sorely disappointed by the result of the match, which came short of having the Super Eagles at the World Cup. It is a painful situation for everyone, including ourselves at the Federation. However, we are appealing that the propensity for half truths and outright falsehood be discouraged. We believe that the present squad of Super Eagles is still capable of achieving great things.”

Adekalu Bulls Win S’West Baseball5 Adekalu Bulls Baseball club emerged the winners of the maiden edition of South West Five Baseball Tournament in Lagos.

Adekalu Bulls defeated Glorious Liberty Baseball Club of Ekiti in a highly contested final by 5 to 4 runs in 5 innings. All efforts by Glorious Liberty Chuckles Baseball to thwart Adekalu Bulls effort was checked to maintain their runs.

The spectators described the final encounter between Adekalu Bulls Baseball and Softball Club final with Glorious Liberty Chuckles Baseball club of Ekiti as worth watching without any doubt.

After the mind-blowing final, President of Adekalu Bulls Baseball and Softball Club of

Oshodi, Tope Alabi, said the final encounter of the five Baseball would be a talk of the moment in Baseball community in the country.

According to Alabi, the newly introduced Baseball five was organised to get the country involve in the modern-day Baseball and Softball techniques and activity.

“The South West Baseball five tournament will be a talk of the town in Baseball and Softball community for a while.

There was no dull moment throughout the explosive final between Adekalu and Glorious Liberty Chuckles Baseball, it worth watching and we are looking forward to perfect the new format of the baseball and

Softball game.

“This new format is an eye opener and we will leverage on it, it will improve Nigeria status in Baseball five” said Alabi.

Meanwhile the Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association, Robert Anthony applauded the organisers of the South West Baseball for thinking outside the box to stage a tournament like this.

Mr. Anthony, an exinternational hinted that the just concluded tournament has given the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association (NBSA), and Engineer Tope Alabi opportunity to become pioneers of the Baseball five in the country.

Barcelona Target Second Spot with Sevilla Live on StarTimes Barcelona fans are used to seeing their team compete for honours, but this year, things have not gone to plan.

Knocked out in the Champions League and the Copa Del Rey, Barça have been playing catch-up with their big rivals Real Madrid from the first match-day.

With just 10 matches to play, one more than Real Madrid, Barcelona are 12 points behind the club from the capital and catching CarloAncelotti’s side is surely too high a mountain

to climb.

However, despite the huge deficit, Barcelona players have not given up in the title race.

“We have that hope [of winning the title] and we will have it until the end. We have to win and wait. We have a very good streak. This is the mentality to have in order to have any minimal option,” midfielder Sergio Busquets said.

But realistically, presumably, the next best thing to winning the league is finishing runnerup and currently, Sevilla are

still ahead of Barcelona, but all of that could change on Sunday as Sevilla travel to Camp Nou. The match is the stand-out feature in Spain and will grab headlines all over the world.

African fans will have an opportunity to watch the game live and exclusively on the StarTimes channels as the continent’s leading digital-TV operator shows all the best action from the best leagues in Europe, including La Liga.

Olu Osagie Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt have been on fire this season. Game after game, the club gave superlative performances, thrashing title holders and country’s record champions, Akwa United FC and Enyimba respectively.

This weekend, teams in the Nigerian topflight will resume from the midway break with the pride of Rivers people hoping to consolidate on their good fortunes in the first stanza and ride to the title of the 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season. They are tenaciously holding on at the top of the chart on 42 points from 19 matches so far.

The club has won 12 games, drew six and lost just once by a lone goal from Plateau United’s Akila Jidima. Rivers United are having the season’s top two leading goal scorers in Ishaq Kayode and Chijoke Akuneto with 11 and nine goals respectively.

Some of the key players attributed the success story to hard work and support from Eunisell Limited, its front of shirt sponsor.

Eunisell, West Africa’s largest specialty chemicals and oil

and gas productions solutions company has consistently sponsored Rivers United FC for over five seasons.

The players said the company’s sponsorship deal has helped the club to channel the right energy and provide necessary resources for the team.

The club’s top scorer who doubles as the league’s highest goal scorer so far, Ishaq Kayode on Tuesday said Eunisell’s sponsorship with Rivers United, one of the best in the NPFL, has aided the club and players to dig deep and produce impressive results.

Looking back at the 2021/2022 mid-season performances and last three seasons, he said, “With our performances up till the midseason, I will say kudos to our sponsor. They have greatly fueled our energy and the sponsorship has been very helpful to our club.

A lot has changed in the last three seasons. “There are more sponsorships and supports in the league, and that is helping to promote our league. With Sponsors like Eunisell and the good coordinators we have, we are happy to keep going stronger.

The league has improved and that is quite encouraging,”

observed the leading NPFL marksman.

Ishaq who joined Rivers United in 2019 believes that with similar sponsorship deals and more supports from corporate organsations for the NPFL and “bringing back the NPFL TV for robust match coverage, will go a long way to growing the domestic club football in Nigeria.”

According to Ishaq, what has kept the team going “is the winning mentality at both home and away games. We see all our matches like the final that we must win. This is working well for us as a team.”

He pledged that Rivers United will fight hard for the league trophy and go all the way to the continental championships to make their teeming supporters and stakeholders proud.

Ishaq added that officiating has improved remarkably and that has encouraged players to go all out for results even at away games.

“Refereeing has been better and helped to improve the league, because they (referees) let teams know that the better team, irrespective of away or home will win games now,” he remarked with joy.

STER Fights Rape with Former Man Utd Star, Patrice Evra Stand to End Rape Initiative (STER) hosts World Health Organisation alongside an international footballer and former Manchester United footballer, Patrice Evra, to discuss the intricacies of violence against children, learn about the organisation’s sexual violence prevention and response interventions in Nigeria and find areas for collaboration.

Violence against children is a growing public health concern and one of Nigeria’s most common forms of violence.

A 2016 UNICEF reported that six out of every ten children

in Nigeria is suffering one or more forms of physical, sexual or emotional violence before age 18. Organisations, activists and international stars like Patrice Evra are championing the advocacy to prevent violence against children in Nigeria.

As part of the event, Stand To End Rape Initiative (STER) and Patrice Evra engaged one of STER’s focus all-boys schools for a follow-up class on consent education with a question and answer session with Patrice Evra.

Selected boys from the school also had the opportunity to play a mini football game

with Patrice Evra.

As an organisation entrusted with advocating against sexual violence, providing prevention mechanisms, influencing policy change, and supporting survivors in Nigeria, our mission and vision align with the primary purpose of the World Health Organisation and Patrice Evra’s visit. The visit enabled us to learn, discuss, and share ideas to support further and create awareness around STER’s mission and vision. We look forward to more impactful collaborations in the future.

Two Iseyin Teams Emerge Finalists of PUC Season II Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan Two teams from Iseyin local government area of Oyo State, Iseyin City FC and Iseyin United FC, have qualified for the final of the ongoing Peller Unity Cup (PUC) Season II. The mesmerising Iseyin City boys defeated hard fighting Itesiwaju Lions FC three goals to one in the first semi final match held at the OYSADEP Stadium, Saki.

In the second semifinal match, Iseyin United FC defeated Itesiwaju Rangers by two goals to nil.

The tension-soaked matches

were watched by the sponsor of the tournament, Hon. Shina Peller, his friends and political associates, traditional rulers as well as scores of football fans from the 10 local government councils in Oke Ogun area of Oyo State.

Peller, member of the House of Representatives, representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa, said the tournament was put together to foster unity among the youths in the Oke-Ogun area and to empower them.

According to him, football being a universal language that everyone understands, helps connect people together irrespective of tribal, political,

or religious belief.

While speaking on the final of the competition, the lawmaker said it would attract youth driven personalities that include governors, former Nigerian internationals and artistes, stating that to change the face of the country there is the need to look into the direction of the youths.

He said, “The last time, we had the likes of Davido, Olamide, Small Doctor and many others, so I can tell you that a lot of artistes are more interested in making the final grand this time around. We have a long list of those who will be gracing the final and I think it’s better to make it a suspense.”

31

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 2, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

Asoniyi

Taiwo Awoniyi Premier League Return in the Offing Despite an impressive season with Union Berlin, scoring 16 goals in 35 matches,Taiwo Awoniyi would still jump at any opportunity to return to England having failed to play once for Liverpool. With Newcastle, West Ham and Southampton probing, the Nigerian may cash-in on the opportunity for a return to the Premier League uper Eagles striker, Taiwo Awoniyi is being courted by Premier League clubs and has become the subject of a £25m move.

According to GOAL, the former Liverpool attacker’s splendid performances at Union Berlin is catching the eye in England and he may be making a move pretty soon if the money is deemed too good to be rejected.

West Ham, Southampton and Newcastle have been listed as potential destinations for the attacker who was on Liverpool’s books for six years without kicking a ball.

He went on seven loan spells and the last was a major stint as he did enough to convince the capital club to splash £6.5m to tie him down.

Union are a selling club and may listen to offers if it’s good for them.

They sold Awoniyi’s strike partner Max Kruse to Wolfsburg in the January transfer window and may consider letting Awoniyi go as a decent option too.

Awoniyi joined Liverpool in 2015 as an 18-year-old but didn’t play as he didn’t have a work permit.

The attacker has scored 16 goals

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in 35 games since he joined Union Berlin.

He has become a full Nigerian international since then, representing the country in a major tournament earlier in the year and such issues will not be faced again.

Meanwhile, Liverpool could be set for a multi-million pound windfall this summer thanks to former Reds striker Awoniyi. The Nigerian left Anfield to join Union Berlin on a permanent basis in a £6.5m deal last summer and has been flourishing in Germany, gaining reported interest from Premier League clubs in the process.

The striker has scored 16 goals this season, including 11 from 24 Bundesliga appearances and four in the inaugural Europa Conference League. With Union Berlin currently ninth in the Bundesliga table, six points off the top six and European places, he’ll be hoping to retain such form to help his club again qualify for Europe.

Such form has seen the 24-year-old capped by Nigeria, with him even scoring in January’s Africa Cup of Nations as the Super Eagles suffered a round-of-16 exit. It also earned him January interest

from VfL Wolfsburg as they looked to replace Wout Weghorst, according to Kicker, though Awoniyi rejected their advances in order to stay put at Union Berlin, having also snubbed them down the previous summer when leaving Anfield.

But it could be a different story for the striker this summer, with West Ham United, Southampton and Newcastle United all said to be interested and considering making a move at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, he is said to be keen to prove himself in England, having never had that opportunity while at Liverpool after joining them in a £400k deal in 2015.

Awoniyi never made an appearance during his time with the Reds, having failed to gain a work permit as he instead was sent on a series of loans.

However, he was granted one before joining Union Berlin. And now as a Nigeria international, would hope to be granted one again if any of the trio did follow up their interest.

And if the striker did make a further move, Liverpool would be certain to profit after negotiating a 10 per cent sell-

on clause in the deal taking him back to the Bundesliga on a permanent basis.

Such a clause would entitle the Reds to a small percentage of any profit Union Berlin made when selling the striker.

So, if Awoniyi returned to the Premier League in a £25m move, Union Berlin would make an £18.5m profit on their initial purchase with Liverpool receiving £1.85m as a result. After banking £6.5m when selling him last summer, it would see the overall value of the transfer rise to £8.35m - nearly £8m more than the Reds spent on him in the first place seven years ago.

Not bad for a player who never even played for the club!

Should Awoniyi continue scoring for fun, the price could rise further.

Either way, Reds bosses will watch on with interest and continue to include such sell-on clauses in transfer deals when selling players, ensuring they will continue to profit long after the initial ink has dried.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMIFULA OGBU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

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SATURDAY APRIL 2, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 2, 2022

AUTO WORLD

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

TIPS OF THE WEEK

5 Essential Tips for Driving a Lowered Car

The new Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series

New Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series Limited to 55 Units

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t is the most powerful customer sports car ever to have been developed by Mercedes-AMG: the Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series, conceptualised for use during track days and club sport events.

The automaker said with the exclusive limited edition, the Mercedes-AMG motorsport department is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Affalterbach-based company in a very special way. Limited to 55 units, the Mercedes AMG GT Track Series is the spiritual bridge to AMG founders Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher and their philosophy: making the best even better yet. The result is an uncompromised and exclusive performance car that is reflecting the automotive constructors’ art of Mercedes-AMG in a unique way.

New Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series limited

to 55 units

visual features.

Most powerful customer sports car ever to be developed by Mercedes-AMG Extension of der AMG portfolio by an exclusive member for track days and club sport events The Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series is extending the GT legacy by a new iconic model. The legendary top performer Mercedes AMG GT Black Series (combined fuel consumption 12.8 l/100 km, combined CO2 emission 292 g/km) [1] served as the basis for the development.

Like the latter model, the GT Track Series stands out for its vehicle concept aimed at top-level performance, combining it with the racetrackproven qualities of the GT3 and GT4 models.

Ineligible for road use approval, the GT Track Series additionally underlines its high exclusivity by means of numerous unique technical and

Fascinating performance offer The heart of the Mercedes-AMG GT Track Series is the 4.0 litre V8 biturbo engine from the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, the engineers from Affalterbach having enhanced its impressive performance figures even further. For instance, thanks to custom motorsport injectors and a specific engine application, the power unit equipped with a flat crankshaft now delivers 540 kW (734 hp) and a maximum torque of 850 Nm. The sequential Hewland HLS 6-speed racing gearbox with adjustable differential transfers the power to the rear axle. Like in all the models from the GT family, it has been installed on the rear axle in transaxle configuration and has a torsion and torque resistant connection to the engine by means of a carbon fibre torque tube.

Hyundai Motor, Shell Expand Collaboration for Transition to Clean Mobility

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yundai Motor Company and Shell plc (Shell) are embarking on a new strategic collaboration to explore ways to offer lower carbon emissions products and services and to reduce emissions across their operations.

Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, and Huibert Vigeveno, Shell’s Downstream Director, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in a ceremony held at Hyundai Motor America headquarters in Fountain Valley, California.

The MOU builds on a strong foundation of several years of collaboration and will draw on the companies’ expertise in electric vehicle (EV) charging, hydrogen, low carbon energy solutions and digital technology as potential opportunities for both companies to reduce carbon emissions.

“Through this collaboration, we see ample opportunities for the transformation of our respective businesses and have identified promising synergies that will allow Hyundai Motor and Shell to thrive during the transition to future mobility and clean energy solutions,” said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company.

“Through our joint endeavors, we will pursue strategic alliance initiatives designed to achieve common goals, such as carbon neutrality.”

Huibert Vigeveno, Shell’s Downstream Director added “Strategic collaborations like this will be fundamental in the world’s transition to cleaner energy. To succeed we will have to break into new growth markets and work at a scale we have not seen before. Today’s agreement is the latest

2022 Hyundai Kona Electric

example of how we work with our customers to help accelerate their carbon emission reduction plans”.

Areas of focus for the two companies will include: The selection of Shell Recharge Solutions as the Charge Point Operator (CPO) and Mobility Service Provider (MSP) for premium brand, Genesis.

Genesis drivers will be able to charge on-the-go, at home and at destinations with Shell. Initially focusing on the UK, Germany and Switzerland, the ambition is to grow the partnership throughout Europe. Through this partnership, Genesis expects

to meet its EV owner’s needs seamlessly through the service, supporting its ambition for all new car models to be zero emissions by 2025 and 100% of the line up by 2030. Shell also looks forward to consolidating its position as the leading charging provider.

Pursuing combined EV network and service offerings in key markets including the US, Europe and Asia.

Providing integrated hydrogen solutions, where Hyundai Motor could provide fuel cell trucks and Shell offers hydrogen infrastructure for targeted fleet customers.

Anyone who drives a lowered car knows one thing for sure: they wouldn’t go back to a high suspension ever again.

The reason is simple. Lowered cars deliver a superior driving experience that doesn’t come with a vehicle sporting a conventional suspension.

In comparison to driving a heightened car, WKH EHQHÀWV RI GULYLQJ D FDU ZLWK D ORZHUHG suspension include but are not limited to: Increased control over your drive.

Lower risk of the car rolling over.

Greater handling over turns.

Lesser wind drag.

Better aesthetic.

Keeping these features in mind, it’s easy to see why you may prefer a car with a lowered suspension height. But even as ORZHUHG FDUV RͿHU PDVVLYH LPSURYHPHQWV to your drive, they also come with their own challenges. Driving a Lowered Car Comes With Unique Requirements Running into curbsides, facing regular impact, and absorbing shock through speed bumps are just a few of the issues that lowered car owners face on a regular basis. When these problems go unresolved, they can result in noticeable damage, massive repair costs, and a world of trouble. In order to steer clear of these problems, lowered car owners need to pay attention to the nuances of driving with a decreased suspension height.

If you have recently started driving a ORZHUHG FDU RU LI \RX ZDQW WR EHQHÀW IURP the array of advantages that this suspension height brings to the table, these unique requirements may seem stressful to meet DW ÀUVW %XW DV ORQJ DV \RX SD\ DWWHQWLRQ WR what a lowered car needs out of you, you are able to have your ideal driving experience ZLWKRXW JRLQJ WKURXJK WKH VLGH HͿHFWV RI this suspension model. No more scraped paint, no more scratched bumpers.

Sounds interesting? We thought so. To help you along the way, here are a few choice tips on how to drive your lowered car with the utmost ease. These tried-and-tested suggestions will help you get the most out of your vehicle - all without unnecessary repair expenses.

1) Avoid Hitting the Curb Whenever you are driving a lowered car, make it a point to be wary of curbsides.

While these roadside structures are not your active enemy, they can make for pretty challenging obstructions that hit right against your car’s bumper or its chassis. It goes without saying that you should drive while keeping a safe distance from the curb at all times. But other than that, you should also be extremely careful while parking in a crowded area.

Don’t get too close to the curb whenever you are doing street parking, and never take the space between your car and another vehicle for granted. If your car has a backup camera, it would be the ideal time to use it to the fullest extent, especially if you are parallel parking in a tight space.

2) Be Careful on Inclines or Slopes Cruising through the road in a lowered car can be as smooth of an experience as you can imagine. But you shouldn’t let it get your guard down. This approach holds true for your overall drive. However, it is most applicable when you are making your way through inclines, slopes or bridges.

Since a decreased suspension height automatically relates to a lowered front, it makes it a bit more challenging to drive through slopes. If you drive straight into an incline, you are bound to hit your front bumper lip against the road before your wheels even make contact with it.

But if you take an angled approach towards the incline, then you can safely prevent any contact to your front bumper lip. Once your wheels have hit the incline or slope, you can easily turn them straighter to make your way up the incline without running into either side of the path.

(Source: SopDem)

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 2, 2022

AUTO WORLD

Nord Promises Best Pricing in Automotive Sector, Endorse Funmi Ayinke Brand Ambassador

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Nigerian automotive brand assembler, Nord Automobiles Limited, with its assembly plant in Epe, Lagos, has promised to remain competiWLYH LQ SULFLQJ DQG RͿHU WKH best price in the sector.

7KLV LV FRPLQJ DV WKH DXWR ÀUP HQGRUVHG Funmi Ayinke, an Engineer, astute business ZRPDQ DQG D VRFLDO LQÁXHQFHU DV LWV EUDQG ambassador and presented her a Nord Tank Pickup.

The presentation of the Nord Tank Pick-up, which was preceded by the signing of a contract agreement, was executed in Lekki, Lagos recently between the new brand ambassador and the Nord team, led by the company’s Chief ExecuWLYH 2΀FHU 2OXZDWREL $MD\L According to Ajayi, the purpose of using the vehicle was to ensure that it is always on the road. “So the aftersales of this vehicle is our headache basically, and I’d like to use this opportunity to state that we are going to start a service campaign which is key to the business that we do; and which is to satisfy our teeming customers.

“We know that we do excellent work, and we already have a technical team that is sound, but the issue is that we need to be a lot more popular. Because popularity is what drives sales in this industry, and more importantly, we have

L-R: Business personality, Funmi Ayinde after her endorsement as ‘Brand Ambassador’ being presented with the keys to NORD Tank Pick-Up by Oluwatobi Ajayi, chairman/chief executive of NORD Automobiles Limited inside the company”s showroom in Lekki, Lagos... recently always had the capacity, “Presently, we have an assembly plant that FDQ SURGXFH ÀYH YHKLFOHV SHU GD\ DQG ZLWK more investments, we will be able to increase that volume to 25 vehicles a day and by the

period we increase it to two shifts, production capacity can reach 50 vehicles per day. So the question is not capacity, but rather patronage of the locally assembled vehicles.”

Ajayi stated that the most important thing was

the demand for these vehicles and once this is assured with increase in volume of units locally assembled, more Nigerians will be employed and this will by extension boost the economy.

“Financially, we have some of the biggest EDFNLQJV LQ RXU EXVLQHVV UDQJLQJ IURP ÀQDQFLDOV to the shareholders, to everybody and as a result of this; we can actually meet the market demand. All that Nord as an automobile company needed is just somebody like her to take us out there to show Nigerians what they have been missing in terms of good product quality.

“At Nord, I think we have the widest after-sales network in Nigeria and we can parade ourselves as the greatest of all brands.

Nord as customer-centric automobile companies with strong emphasis on strong aftersales service delivery have after-sales points in Lagos, Abuja, Ijebu ode, Abeokuta, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and in Abuja, the federal capital, we have two outlets, while four are located in Lagos,” he said.

Ajayi disclosed that before signing the deal with Funmi Ayinke, many people had come to Nord with proposals for brand ambassadorship.

“For me, I was looking for someone at this level who will do this for us and for me and I wanted a business person and someone in the business ZRUOG WKDW ZRXOG EH DEOH WR WUXO\ LQÁXHQFH people.

2022 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series Packs Unique Designs

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or more than five years, Inspiration Series has taken iconic Lexus vehicles and elevated them to a new level of exclusivity. The anything-but-standard Lexus LC 500 turns heads on its own, but each Inspiration Series levels up that experience via unique designs, thoughtful grand touring experiences and fierce performance enhancements. The 2022 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series continues that legacy while focusing on a meditative in-cabin experience that a select few can enjoy.

Just 150 units will arrive in dealerships beginning in late spring 2022.

The Inspiration Series Difference The 2022 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series stands apart from the standard LC 500 with subtle but alluring touches. This limited-edition vehicle is offered in an exclusive aesthetic combination: Iridium exterior and black ornamentation paired with an enticing Black and Dark Rose interior that promotes endless driving enjoyment.

Building on the LC 500 Touring Package, the 2022 LC 500 Inspiration Series adds unique, 3D-machined 21-inch wheels paired with bold black finishes on the grille, headlamp, taillamp and rocker garnish and a sleek, coupe-exclusive rear air wing spoiler. The

Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series

can’t-miss convertible adds a Dark Rose fabric top — a stunning contrast to the Iridium exterior.

Exclusivity continues in-cabin with stainless-steel Inspiration Series scuff plate door accents and a serialized badge on the center console numerically recognizing the limited 150 units produced.

The calming Dark Rose interior accents contribute to the meditative in-cabin experience. Semi-Aniline leather-trimmed comfort (coupe) and sport (convertible) seats are beautifully contrasted with Dark Rose stitching, perforation and Dark Rose front seat belts.

The 2022 LC 500 Inspiration Series Convertible also offers a unique climate concierge with upper body heating and NuLuxe Headliner. Drivers can continue the relaxing experience with their soundtrack of choice projecting from the standard Mark Levinson 13-speaker 915-watt Reference Surround Sound Audio system.

The LC Inspiration Series comes standard with a SmartAccess Key Card and a Head Up Display (HUD) that projects a range of information onto the bottom of the windshield glass. Relevant information can be displayed to the driver without taking their focus from the road such as: road speed, gear, engine speed, turn-by-turn directions, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control status, Pre-Collision System, Lane Keep Assist/Lane Departure Alert, warning indicator information icons and clearance sonar.

The Road Side Story-I Lost 14 Family Members

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kem Momah is a medical doctor based in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. He is the brain behind Lifeline Care Association, a NonGovernmental Organisation dedicated to providing ambulance services for road crash victims. Dr Momah has been a partner especially in the current road safety stakeholders’ forum being run by his Organisation in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps, Zone 7 Abuja where I recently was redeployed from to the National Headquarters. The road side story was conceptualised by him as part of strategies to raise road safety awareness and also build a stronger network of partners in driving the road safety agenda.

From this week, I have chosen to toe the path of Dr Momah by running stories of some victims of road traffic crashes, hoping that their stories would be the elixir that would cause a drastic change in irresponsible driving habits that pervade, as well as avoidable road traffic crashes and deaths. I hope these stories would cause us to self-regulate our driving behaviors .Today, I intend to run the first among a series of stories I was privileged to listen to at a function I attended recently. The theme of that function was Road Traffic Crashes and Human Security in Nigeria.

For the record, the story is real. It is no fiction nor a concoction by a Nollywood director but a true life

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa Assistant Corps Marshal Zonal Commanding Officer Federal Road Safety Corps.

story testified by the victims who were invited by the organisers to drive home the trauma, and pain of survivors and or families. I couldn’t confirm his age but he certainly is an adult and a married man with defendants. His story was the last but elicited the needed concern among participants to drive home the essence of the theme.

The first story is that of Abdulhazeez whose surname I have chosen to keep. He was perhaps in his late forties or fifties and a civil servant. Please let me allow you to read the sad story directly from the man whom God showed mercy. The story of a man who lost 14 members of his family in one single road traffic crash.

The family includes his wife and other close family members. Please patiently read as he tells the story with so much pain and tears.

My name is Abdulhazeez Sanusi and I live in Bauchi. My father died on the 24th April 2012 and

on the 30th of the same month, I travelled with my family members in a Peugeot J5 bus. On our way back from the journey, I remember vividly that we passed Kwai junction towards Gidan Waya. When we got to the junction, I looked back inside the car and saw that everybody was sleeping. The driver and I were the only two still awake. I reminded myself that this is a journey where we shouldn’t be sleeping as we should jointly drive this car with the driver by keeping vigilance. So I struggled to remain awake, but I think I later slept-off.

I woke up after seven days; I didn’t know where I was but from the story, I heard that after Gidan Waya, at a village called Mailafiya, a road traffic crash occurred. I was shown some of the pictures of the accident. According to the story, a nine-eleven truck carrier conveying Vitafoam and other products, had a head-on collision with our J5 which caught fire. How I got out of that car, up-till now I can’t tell. Some, I was told when I got to Bauchi, presumed that I was dead, so when I went back to Bauchi, people were rushing out to confirm if I was truly the one or not, saying it is a lie because they visited the hospital and saw me lifeless.

I was told that I was carried from Kafanchan to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Teaching Hospital Zaria and that I did not know where I was all this while. It was after seven days, as I told you earlier that I woke up from the hospital bed and I saw my

younger brother, who did not travel with me. I asked Ibrahim what happened. He said accident! I wanted to get up from the bed but he said no! Where are the rest, I asked him? He said they are all fine, then I answered ok!

I woke up and saw my broken hand with a POP and some injuries around the body. I noticed that they punctured my knee and put on weight. My hand was later amputated because it was burnt during the crash and was not healing. After four months of the incident, I kept asking myself so many questions because during this period, my mother and my wife who was carrying a nine months old child were not there. I kept asking myself several questions; what happened? Why are they not here to take care of me when I need them most? But nobody was willing to give me an answer. All they said was that they are doing fine. As for my mother, I made an excuse for her saying that since my father died, maybe she doesn’t know how to locate me.

When I was discharged from the hospital, I was later taken to Kaduna where my step-brother resides.

It was there that some of my fathers’ friends and Clerics came to greet me and also to preach and pray for me. After the prayers, I asked them about my family member that I travelled with on that day?

Nobody told me anything meaningful except that there was an accident! So I asked them about Dauda and they said he was late.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 2, 2022

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THEFRONTLINES

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2023: On What Record is APC Positioning to Return?

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defining feature of the present President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is its proclivity for telling lies. Oftentimes, very straightforward and overtly obvious issues are twisted, turned into propaganda and a spin is introduced to hoodwink ‘gullible’ Nigerians.

The reason for this is not far-fetched. In the 2015 presidential elections, the party propaganda machinery of the All Progressives Congress (APC) headed by Lai Mohammed, utilized a combination of half-truths, misinformation, and subterfuge to demonize then President Goodluck Jonathan as clueless and corrupt and to convince Nigerians that Buhari was the messiah Nigeria needed to solve all of its problems.

Recall that, at the time Boko Haram was buffeting the northeast with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), suicide bombers, and launching consistent attacks on churches, it was Mohammed who came out to deceive Nigerians with the news that the sect had ‘technically been defeated’. Shortly afterward, an unprecedented number of students and people from Chibok and several other communities were abducted and a majority of them are still unaccounted for to this day.

Last Monday, barely 12 hours after he boastfully claimed that the administration had secured the whole of the country making it easier for Nigerians to travel safely to any part of the country without fear of terror attacks, the terrorists struck along the Kaduna - Abuja railway, blew up the rail track, shot several passengers, kidnapped scores of others and killing no fewer than eight persons in their wake. At this moment, out of the 970 persons reported to be on board the train when they struck, several persons are yet to be accounted for because they have been kidnapped by the terrorists for ransom.

The rail attack this week would be the third in

a series of coordinated attacks initiated by the terrorists to announce that they are confidently in charge. They first attacked Kaduna International Airport killing a Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) staff and holding up an Azman Airline with its passengers billed for Abuja for several hours on the tarmac before they were dislodged by security forces.

Not done yet, a few hours later, they proceeded to commandeer the Abuja - Kaduna expressway blocking it effectively to prevent movement and facilitate the kidnapping of victims for ransom. In the end, neither the roads, rail nor airports in Nigeria are safe today.

A confirmation of this is the latest resolve by Azman and Airpeace Airlines to stop flights into Kaduna airport. It is also evident in passenger traffic at rail terminus, airports, and road transportation. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has already announced the suspension of rail travel to Kaduna from Abuja.

However, a week before this unfolding drama, and after several months of uncertainty occasioned by the internal wranglings in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the party finally conducted its convention where a new National Working Committee (NWC) was elected by consensus.

Addressing the newly inaugurated National Working Committee (NWC) members, the President enjoined NWC members to work toward reenacting its 2015, 2019 victories in 2023. He said the success of the convention was a good sign, signposting its victory in 2023. He blamed the opposition for stirring up agitations and striving to discredit the good works of the APC. Hear him: “The APC convention hosted this weekend sets the scene for an APC victory in the presidential and general elections next year. It is a victory over naysayers, who believed the party was divided but are now disappointed.

“We believe that it is equally a victory for the president who has ensured unity across all party positions; and it is a victory for the voters of Nigeria, who can now be assured of a smooth succession to new leadership in 2023.

“What the convention made clear was how the media has been peddling fake news of division, when the hard reality of unity, cohesion, and, indeed, personal warmth between members of the party’s leaders – incoming and outgoing – was evident for all to see.

“Of course, the blame for this mindset ought rightly to go to the opposition, who in all these years had done the work to only divide the country, leading to all manner of separatist agitations. But this is not the wish, nor is it in the character of the citizens, as was clear for everyone to see at Eagle Square”, he said.

In all this, it would appear the President is oblivious to what Nigerians are currently passing through. If not for anything else, the President’s primary preoccupation is how to retain power without sparing a thought on how he has fared with the mandate he was given about seven years ago.

So since the President has run his full two-term tenure and is set to exit in 2023, on what record is the APC running on and hoping to retain power in 2023?

By their own self-admission, the current insecurity bedeviling the country is self-inflicted if statements credited to Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el Rufai and Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, both key players in the party and administration.

In separate interviews, Amaechi said he had forewarned of this attack, pointing out that his request for the fortification of the rail track was bogged down by bureaucracy. The minister speaking shortly after the Monday attack said he had requested digital security apparatus to

JOSEPH USHIGIALE jushigiale@yahoo.co.uk, joseph.ushigiale@thisdaylive.com 08023422660 (sms only)

forestall such an incident. He pointed out that the equipment would have eliminated all blind spots on the train corridors across Nigeria adding that his request was never approved by the Federal Executive Council(FEC).

According to Amaechi, “We knew what the problem will be. We knew we needed to have digital security equipment. We told the country that is what we needed. We applied for it. If we had that equipment, you will see nobody on that track for Christ’s sake. The cost of what we have lost is more than N3billion.”

The most damning account which exemplified the administration’s complicity in the ongoing drama came from the governor of Kaduna state.

A frontline critic of the former administration, it was the same El Rufai who professed to have answers to the country’s insecurity problems assuring that, with Buhari, a retired general, insecurity would be a thing of the past shortly after assuming office.

It is rather ironic that even his own state has become a hotbed of violence and killing fields where the people of Southern Kaduna have pointedly accused him of complicity in what they termed ethnic cleansing by his Fulani kinsmen who are on territorial expansion seeking to completely wipe off and take over their land.

On the recent railway attack, the governor acknowledged that “We know where their camps are. We know their camps, we have the maps; we know everything. We have their phone numbers and listen to their conversation sometimes. But it has to be done across the five states.

“We know what they (terrorists) are planning.

We get the reports. The problem is for the agencies to take action. Don’t wait until they attack before you respond. The Army should go after their enclaves to wipe them out. Let the Air Force bomb them,” he said.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

Justice Ajama: Fulfilled in Retirement Etofolam Sydney

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omanywhounderstandthepopular Yoruba poetry, ‘Ise L’ogun Ise’, JusticeChristopherEbaraghaTamuno Ajama,whoretiredfromtheOndo State Judiciary will always remind youthatitshouldbethewatchword of every young man who strives to be the best in life. It simply means hard work is the way out of poverty. One of the very few men from Arogbo-Ibe Kingdom who possesses vast experience as a teacher, lawyer, farmer and a diligent servant and equally turned out to be the first from Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State to be appointed a High Court Judge.

A legal practitioner of repute, Justice Ajama is not only a principled builder with a progressive mindset, he is a blessed father that positively affects every area he finds himself - farming, construction, religion, family, history or even politics.

JusticeAjama,stillwittywithastrongknowledge oflocalandinternationalpolitics,bornonthe5thof April,1950,grewupinOgidigba,goesdownmemory lanetoexplainhowhisenvironmentplayedahuge impact in his life. The retired Judge explains that while starting his primary education at the Local Authority Primary School and living in the village, he was equally assisting his mother Mrs. Alice Maromapa Ajama who caught fishes in the river as a means of complementing her trade.

In1960,hemovedtoArogbotostaywithhisfather, Mr. Nathaniel Ajama, the first to open a bread factory and distribution business in Okitipupa, the Southern part of Ondo which was already making waves,sohecouldcompletehisprimaryeducation at St. Peters UNA Primary School, Arogbo in 1961.

Thereafter, he moved to Okitipupa with his father who had already become a regional distributor of bread in the between 1961 and 1965. He worked in the family business while waiting to commence his secondary education. His elder brothers were still in secondary school, hence he had to wait for his father to raise enough funds which will take care of the additional bill..

Justice Ajama In1965,theyoungChristopherwrotetheCommon Entrance Examination to Ondo Boys High School and was offered admission. There he excelled in learning and was inspired by the popular Yoruba poetry “Ise L’ogun Ise” - a poem that preaches hard worktoeveryprogressivemindedyouth.Hereads this poem till date not just to his offspring but also to friends and relations who visit him from time to time.It is boldly written in a board strategically placed in his Living room for all to read and get the message.

Hisacademicandotherexperiencesexposedhim into what life entails as he finished top of his class in 1970. He went ahead to write the London GCE wherehemadeallhispapers.Havingcompletedhis Secondary Education, the search for a job began.

He moved to Lagos to stay with his elder brother, late Mr. Theophilus Elehibiri, a Police Officer.

In1972,hehadhisfirstjobwiththeNursingCouncil ofNigeria(NCN).WhileworkinginIbadan,hewrote the preliminary exam to further his education at theUniversityofIbadanandwasadmittedbutdue to paucity of funds, opted for Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo where tuition was free to study

English and Geography Education.

HegraduatedfromtheCollegeofEducationin1976 tobecomethefirstIjawmanfromArogbotoattain this height and was amongst the first set of NCE graduates to be mobilized for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the then Oyo State (now Osun State) where he was posted to Government Teacher Training College Ilesha.

AfterTeachinginFourdifferentTeacherTraining CollegesduringhisNCEandserviceyear,hegothis first official teaching job with Divisional Teacher Training College, Ile-Ife, Osun State in 1977. While at Ilesha, he encountered a Canadian lady who advised him to pursue a career in Law because he was argumentative in nature. She accompanied him to University of Ife (now OAU) to obtain the admission form but was disappointed to find out that the University no longer offered part-time studiesinLaw.Thus,heappliedtotheUniversityof Nigeria Nsukka (Enugu) and was offered to study Lawonapart-timebasis.Hewasschoolmateswith Pastor Chris Okotie, Onyeka Onwenu and former Minister of state Petroleum Dr. Ibe Kachikwu. He lefttheDivisionalTeachers’TrainingCollegein1977 to commence his studies in Enugu and worked as a teacher at Queens College, Enugu for five years.

When he graduated with LLB Hons in 1982, he proceededtotheNigerianLawSchoolinLagosand was called to Bar in 1983. On leaving Law School, he had his first practice with Gboyega Famodu & Co. before working with Chief J.O. Nyiwari & Co, a foremost Ijaw lawyer, all in Lagos.

Justice Ajama is quick to tell you that the year 1985 was a ground-breaking for him as he opened his chambers, C.E. Ajama & Co, Opokio Chambers at No 34 Mba Street Ajegunle, Apapa Lagos and practiced there till 2002 when he was appointed High Court Judge in Ondo State. He is the first Ijaw man in Ondo state to attain this height, a position he occupied till he retired. During this period of service as a High Court Judge, he served at Ondo, Oka, Ifon and Akure High Courts.

Vastly experienced in judicial matters, he was appointed Chairman, Ondo State Chieftaincy Review Commission by former Governor Mimiko

andequallybecamethefirstIjawmantoattainsuch heightafterhisretirement.Thisservicehediligently rendered until 2016. He is the current Chairman of the Committee on Alternative Dispute resolution of the Federal University of Technology Akure.

During his service years, Hon. Justice Ajama attended several refresher courses for Judges and KhadisorganizedbytheNationalJudicialInstitute (NJI).In2005,heparticipatedintheExecutiveStress Management Workshop organized by The Byron Institute. In July, 2010, he was a participant in the Law Pavilion Training on Electronic Law Report and Research. Also in 2010, he participated in the International Bar Association Conference held in Vancouver, Canada. In 2013, he attended the International Bar Association Conference held in Dublin, Ireland. In S September, 2011 he attended the 29th International Symposium on Economic Crime in Jesus College, Cambridge, England. In searchofinnerpeaceandknowledgeofGod,Justice Ajama in 2014 and 2015, embarked on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem and later became a Justice of Peace.

Interestingly, while Justice Ajama retired from the Ondo State Judiciary, his wife Mrs. Grace Ajamawhohasbeenholdingforthathomelooking after the family decided to study law. Mrs Ajama who said that she was challenged to study law after seeing her husband obtain NCE and degree in law, rising to the position of a State Judge before retiring, having reached the pinnacle of his chosen profession. She decided to dust her books and enter the classroom to study law.

On graduation she proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja. She is expected to graduate later this year.

The baby of the Ajama family Priye Ajama is also expected to proceed the law School into the Law School after graduating from the Igbinedion UniversityinOkada,EdoState.Anotherdaughter of Justice Agama, Keni Ajama is also studying law as a second degree after obtaining a Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy,Achievers University Owo. She is also expected to graduate this year.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

37

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 2, 2022

FEATURES

Blood on the Rail Tracks Monday’s attack on a passenger train around Kateri-Rijana axis in Kaduna, leading to the killing of some passengers and abduction of others, have once again thrown up the issue of insecurity which has ravaged the country. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

F

arida Sule Mohammed, a 29-year-old lawyer boarded the Abuja to Kaduna train last Monday night, hoping to join her family in about two hours in Kaduna. It did not happen. Farida was one of the eight passengers killed when terrorists attacked the train with 369 passengers on-board. Farida, like many others, left home without any iota of what was to happen. The deceased was the daughter of the National Organising Secretary of the Peoples Redemption Party, Mallam Sule Mohammed.

Farida’s death was confirmed by Babatunde Alli, PRP National Secretary: “Our Chairman, Mallam Falalu Bello OFR, and the father of this slain heroine are currently at the hospital to collect the corpse. This indeed is a sober moment for the entire PRP family. While asking the Almighty Allah to grant her soul eternal rest, and to bring an end to evil in our nation, let us please remember this great family in our prayers” A friend, Zahida Barau on Twitter described the late Farida as a good person with a good heart. “Innalillahi wa inna alaihi rajiun. We lost Farida yesterday in the kaduna-Abuja train attack. I believe she’s in a better place now.

She was a very good person with a good heart.

Halinki nagari ya biki Farida. Allah ka isar mana.

The blood of the innocent will never go in vain.

Please pray for my friend,” she wrote.

The Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, Barrister Musa-Lawal Ozigi, was another passenger killed. President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Comrade Quadri Olaleye, who confirmed the killing of Ozigi said he was killed alongside the Kwara State Chairman of the union, Comrade Akin Akinsola.

According to Olaleye, they were on their way to Kaduna for an official assignment slated for Tuesday, 29 March 2022.

A medical doctor working with Saint Gerald Hospital Kaduna, Dr. Chinelo Megafu Nwando was also among those killed by the terrorists. The Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kaduna branch, Dr. Aisha Mustapha confirmed the death of the dentist saying she was to leave for Canada in few days time.

A Director with the National Board for Tecnical Education (NBTE), Abdu Isa Kofa Mata, was another passenger killed by the terrorist.

One Maiwada Dammallam, a friend to the 55-year-old father of five, said they both communicated on Monday morning, before the ill-fated journey. Similarly, a director at the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Abdu Isa Kofarmata was killed by the terrorists. Family sources described the deceased as an easy-going man.

Some passengers were lucky. A former Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, was shot during the attack but survived. Another victim, Muhammad Amin Mahmood, an aspirant in the just-concluded National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Northwest Zonal Youth Leadership, was also shot and survived.

Among those abducted was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan. Also taken away by the terrorists was, Sadiq, the son of Professor Ango Abdullahi, the Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF). A Nigerian woman identified as Maryam Bobbo, her husband and children was declared missing following the attack.

Twitter user @Muazzamz who disclosed this on Twitter wrote; ‘’Maryam Bobbo, her husband & children still missing from what happened last night during the train attack may Allah SWT bring them back alive &

Chinelo

Maimuna Ibrahim

healthy’’.

Many passengers who escaped by the whiskers narrated their experiences. One of them, who identified himself as Sani Carpenter, said he escaped hours after he and several other passengers were kidnapped.

He said he hid in the forest and waited for security agents who accompanied the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police to reveal himself. Narrating his ordeal, he said, “The terrorists took me along with other passengers when they attacked the train in their large numbers, but as they were taking us into the bush, I managed to run away. They

took many people away but I escaped through the darkness into the bush.

While I was roaming in the bush, I saw security agencies that came this morning (Tuesday) to the scene so they picked me.”

As of last Tuesday morning, 41 victims who sustained gunshot wounds were receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, and St. Gerald Hospital, both in Kaduna.

A survivor recounted her ordeal, saying terrorists were shouting ‘Allahuhakubar’ as they shot sporadically. Speaking to journalists on her hospital bed, one of the survivors, Maimuna Ibrahim, who was shot on the thigh, said it was a horrible

experience. “We saw hell, I prayed and prayed and prayed”, she said. “I went to a workshop in Abuja in the morning and I was on my way back to Kaduna that same day after the workshop,” she narrated.

She added that “I was shot on the thigh. But the bullet did not touch my bone. The bullet penetrated out of my thigh. Honestly, we suffered seriously, but thank God soldiers came and they really helped us.” Maimuna who was unable to walk after she was shot said soldiers had to carry her out of the train to a vehicle by the expressway.

“I was unable to walk; it was the soldiers who carried me on the back to the vehicle that brought us to the hospital. They were able to pass over the cliff, carrying us on their backs!

Seriously, they tried because it was not easy climbing the cliff,” she said.

Giving graphic account of the incident, she said, “The terrorists came, were moving about in the train, but they did not come to where I was seated. I was hit by the bullet through the window. They entered SP17. As they were shooting, the police security on the train asked us to lie down on the floor of the train so that the bullet will not get at us. Unfortunately before I could lie down the bullet hit me.”

Another survivor, Fatima Shuaibu, a student of College of Education, Gidan Waya, Kaduna state, who lost her sister in the attack, corroborated Maimuna’s account in a way. “My sister, Zainab Awal, was shot on the stormach and she died,” she said amid tears from her hospital bed. Shuaibu was seated by the window when she started noticing flashes of torch lights.

She said initially, she thought it was the villagers around the area, but when she suddenly heard a loud explosion and the train went off track, she knew there was trouble as her heart started palpitating. “We started shouting and praying. As soon as the train stopped, we started hearing gunshots. The security personnel on the train announced that everybody should lie down on the floor of the train. They attacked the VIP couch, they abducted some people and took them to the bush, [and] they shot other people. They operated for about two hours or so before soldiers and Airforce arrived and they exchanged gunshots.”

The incident has once again thrown up the issue of insecurity which has ravaged the country. The Dutse village is just a few kilometres from the Rigasa Train Station, which was said to be the last transit point of the train.

The bandits were said to have opened fire, shooting sporadically at the train, and later gained access to the train. This attack comes barely six months after the same AbujaKaduna rail line was attacked in October 2021.

Quite worrisome is the level of insecurity in the country has risen to alarming rate in recent years. From attacks, kidnappings of school students, banditry along major highways, killings by insurgents to Fulani Herdsmen/ indigenous community clashes, living in most regions of the country has become a nightmare. Travelling along many routes in Nigeria has also become unsafe, especially the Abuja-Kaduna highway which is considered the most dangerous route in the country.

The Abuja-Kaduna expressway is notorious for kidnapping and banditry. The expressway, which is the link Abuja and the North-western part of the country, makes a suitable spot for kidnappers because many travellers use the route. The recent attack on the train, a relatively safe means of transport by many, has been described as callous in a statement issued by the presidency after a meeting with the country’s service chiefs.

Since the commencement of rail transportation between Abuja and Kaduna, thousands of travellers have avoided the highway and opted for the train, which appeared safer.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 2, 2022

38

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L-R - Olasunkanmi Atolagbe, Provost, AdCademy; Barry Van Zyl, Business Development Director, Henley Africa and Jenkins Alumona, Vice President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) during a courtesy visit to discuss the 2022 AdCademy Masterclass Programme, in Lagos, on Friday.

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Edmark Nigeria, Mr Bien Wapanio ; Property Consultant, Barr Donald Anih; CEO AlMansour Engineering and Contracting Ltd, Mr Wael Mansour and Manager, Mr Wade Badejo at a press briefing to herald Edmark City Development project in Lagos...recently

Chivita Drives Competitive Edge Firm Empowers Women in a New Documentary in New Marketing Campaign Leading Juice brand, Chivita, is raising consumer consciousness about its various RͿHULQJV ZLWK D EUDQG QHZ FDPSDLJQ tagged “Everyone has a Chivita”. It would be launched across multiple platforms VXFK DV 79 5DGLR RXW RI KRPH VLWHV digital and print, from the 8th of March, to reinforce category leadership of Chivita in Juices, Nectar and Still Drinks category.

CHI Limited Marketing Director, Mrs Toyin Nnodi, stated that the objective of the “Everyone has a Chivita” campaign is to remind consumers of the high quality, nourishing and fruity goodness that the innovative Chivita brand provides to meet their varying needs.

Known for its high quality, health and nutrition, Chivita includes Chivita

100%, Chivita Active, Chi Exotic Nectar, Happy Hour by Chivita, Chivita Ice Tea and very recently, Chivita Smart Malt Drink - which is uniquely positioned to give children all the energy they require to learn and play.

The award-winning Chivita 100% Fruit Juice is a 100% fruit juice produced from real natural fruits with no added sugar, DUWLÀFLDO FRORXUV RU SUHVHUYDWLYHV :KLOH Chivita Active is a smart and tasty way to get the right dose of antioxidants and stamina for an active, healthy lifestyle.

Chi Exotic variants are a range of rich, XQLTXH IUXLW\ EOHQGV WKDW RͿHU LUUHVLVWLEOH taste and distinctive nourishment, making it ideal for indulgence and relaxation.

Happy Hour by Chivita is rated the

fastest growing juice brand with innovative variants that keep consumers refreshed. while Chivita Ice Tea is the perfect beverage for rejuvenation and provides valuable nutrients required by the body.

Chivita consistently prides itself on innovation, prioritizing consumers’ expectations as well as their need for health, nutrition and refreshment with the best quality juices.

In essence, whether the occasion calls for indulgent taste, distinctive refreshment, rejuvenation, enablement for active health or preference for fruit juice made from QDWXUDO LQJUHGLHQWV ZLWK QR DUWLÀFLDO FRORXU SUHVHUYDWLYHV ÁDYRXUV WKHUH is a Chivita to guarantee satisfaction.

Firms Urged to Rev up Investment in Fraud Detection

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) has advised organisations to invest more on measures that would guide on early fraud detection to mitigate loss on them.

The association gave the advice as part of measures to mitigate the effects of fraud, during its fifth annual Anti-Fraud Conference that held virtually recently.

Speaking on the theme: “Fighting Crimes in Digital Economy: Fraud Examiners Tool Kits” , a fraud expert and non-Executive 'LUHFWRU RI )LQDQFLDO 5HSRUWLQJ &RXQFLO RI Nigeria, Prof. Suleiman Aruwa recognised that while fraud tendency cannot be com-

pletely prevented, a timely and targeted response is instrumental to cushioning extreme effect.

He averred that fraud, which is a global reality, has become more evident with COVID-19 pandemic and advancement in technology.

He explained that the policies and procedures currently adopted by organisations to report incidence were not sufficient to address latest fraud techniques.

5DWKHU KH XUJHG EXVLQHVVHV WR XS WKHLU game by being proactive to be able to prevent, detect and mitigate occurrences.

On his part, President of ACFE, Lagos State

Chapter, Prof. Godwin Oyedokun expressed worries on the growing number of fraud cases in organisations globally, adding that Nigeria especially has suffered economic and image setback as a result.

Quoting report, Oyedokun revealed that Nigeria lost over N5 billion to fraud alone in 2020 and about the most affected globally in Q3 2020.

He said, “The challenge of fraud is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, but in Q3 2020, Nigeria appeared to be the worst hit by a wide margin according to the industry fraud report released by The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS).

Foremost sustainability consulting and advocacy RXWÀW &65 LQ $FWLRQ KDV announced that it would be extending its support to women in a docudrama titled, “Earth Women”.

The company noted that the initiative was part of its HͿRUWV LQ WHOOLQJ WKH VWRULHV RI ZRPHQ DͿHFWHG E\ WKH activities of the extractive industries in Nigeria, while also empowering them.

Funded by Ford Foundation, “Earth Women” is a 30-minute documentary that explores the negative impact of extractive activities such as oil exploration and mining on women in host communities.

Speaking further on the documentary, Chief ([HFXWLYH RI &65 LQ $FWLRQ Bekeme Masade-Olowola said the creative piece was a result of two years hard ZRUN UHVHDUFK DQG GLͿHUHQW conversations.

“Women are often the worst victims of the adverse HͿHFWV RI PLQLQJ DQG RLO and gas exploration, but their stories have remained largely untold because their voices are often silenced in male-dominated societies.

“As an African woman

and reformer, I embrace my calling to use storytelling to bring focus to issues that matter to us most in Africa. No one but us must tell those stories in our own voice”, she said.

The documentary’s creative director, Dolapo Adeleke reiterated that it exposes challenges and discrimination faced by women within the extractive communities.

She said, “There are disturbing revelations and tales told by the women who live in these communities and have faced generational marginalisation and discrimination. This docudrama unearths their struggles and aims to highlight very important issues that have continued to plague women and children even in these supposed modern times.”

Masade-Olowola revealed also that during the premiere of the work, the organisation would be holding its third Community and Human 5LJKWV &$+5 $ZDUGV WR honour individuals and organisations that have FRQWULEXWHG VHOÁHVVO\ WR social justice and community development in Africa.

System Specs Announces Neimeth Unveils Plans to TomTom Charges Youths Children’s Day Essay Contest Increase Production Capacity on Productivity at Summit Financial Technology company, SystemSpecs has announced the 2022 edition of its National Children’s Day Essay Competition and urged TXDOLÀHG FKLOGUHQ WR VHQG LQ their entries.

According to the organisation, the initiative is aimed at enhancing capacity development for national prosperity through technology.

The annual competition is divided into two categories which include the junior category for children between ages 9 and 12 and the senior category for children between ages 13 and 16.

Participants are required to submit entries on the topic “Improving the Quality of Education in Nigeria through Technology”, through the competition portal which closes by April 20, 2022.

“Entries into the junior category should not exceed 1,000 words while entries into the senior category should not exceed 1,500 words. Entries must be participants’ original ideas, devoid of plagiarism, written in English and endorsed by DQ DFFUHGLWHG VFKRRO R΀FLDO parent or legal guardian”, the organisation stated.

Speaking on the competition, Group Head, Corporate Services at SystemSpecs, Segun Adesanya explained the initiative was launched in 2020, adding that this year’s edition was a special one to commemorate the organisation’s 30th anniversary.

He added that as one of the motives of the competition was to gather new ideas from the young chaps which would be harnessed for the country’s growth.

Pharmaceutical firm, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc has announced that it would be expanding its manufacturing capacity by 300 percent to improve customers’ experience.

The Managing Director/CEO of organisation, Matthew Azoji noted that the expansion move followed the organisation’s ongoing facility upgrade of its factory in Oregun, Lagos.

Azoji expressed that the upgrade would increase Neimeth’s turnover and profits.

He explained that the developmental move had been on course since 2020, when the company announced two new projects - the construction of a new manufacturing plant in Amawbia, Anambra State, and the upgrade of Oregun plant in Lagos.

He disclosed that the two

major projects were nearing completion to commence full operations soon.

Azoji said, “Neimeth’s fortunes have improved since ZKHQ LW WXUQHG D SURÀW after nearly a decade of losses.

From a loss of N404.9 million in 2017, the company earned N166.4 million in 2018, N304.4 million in 2019, N297.3 million in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, and N365.2 million in 2021.”

Chairman of Neimeth’s Board of Directors, Dr. Ambrosie B.C. Orjiako stated that the board was working with management to ensure that the company’s growth trajectory was maintained, adding that Neimeth has transitioned from a period of constant losses to one of consistent growth in both turnover and profitability.

Flagship Cadbury brand, TomTom has advised youths in the country to aim for success in the midst of challenges.

The brand gave the advice at a virtual summit themed -”Breathe For It” organised as part of efforts to champion and encourage youth creativity and drive.

The “Breathe for it” campaign was initiated to inspire, focus and build clarity in the pursuit of the passion of Nigerian youths.

The summit which had stakeholders in the entertainment industry in attendance had a panel session moderated by Strategic Partnerships and Lead, Pulse Podcast Network at Pulse Nigeria, Motolani Alake where industry players shared insights for success in the business.

Speaking, Cadbury’s Category Lead (Gum and Candy) in West

Africa, Morolake Emokpaire reaffirmed the motive of the summit to build resilience in youths.

She said, “The reception we got from the audience on the summit further emphasizes the reason we launched the “Breathe for it” campaign. Our panelists were spot on in their delivery.

You will agree with me that conversations about the music industry have to be made because it has become one of our largest exports as Nigerians and Africans.

“As we aim to engage more Nigerian youths to breathe deeply no matter the challenges they face, we have lined up activities like MTV Base Cypher that is ongoing, “Breathe for it” Verses Challenge 2.0 which is about to start and so much more for them to show their talents in what interests them the most.”

SATURDAY APRIL 2, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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Saturday, April 2, 2022

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MISSILE

Falana to Malami “No doubt, this is the first time in the entire history of Nigeria that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has engaged in forum shopping for favourable orders of the Federal High Court or any other court” –Femi Falana (SAN) chiding the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami over his role in the Electoral Act 2022 judgement in Umuahia.

OKEYIKECHUKWU EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

So, Where is the North?

T

here is now absolute silence from all those who, once and often repeatedly, spoke up for the bandits ravaging The North.

They had no doubt, at the time, that they were defending the interests of The North. They said that we should not call them bandits. Sheik Abubakar Gumi was upfront in his many recommendations, including the demand that the Federal Government should liaise with, and pay, “good bandits” to help us fight the bad ones. No one asked him the meaning of the word “bandit,” and how there could ever be a nexus between banditry and goodness. He would have us believe that it was a matter of talking to them, of seeing their point of view and of understanding that they are just pleasant people who “only kidnap people for ransom.” They are not killers, or anything of the sort, he declared repeatedly. He met regularly with them, to prove that they were accessible and reasonable, even as they ravaged the land.

Well, see where we are today? And we cannot see, hear or smell Gumi as The North trembles under the ungovernable trampling.

Perhaps, the likes of Prof Ango Abdullahi would like to answer the question “Where is the North?” No, let Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State please give it a shot. He is probably better positioned to settle this matter once and for all. Afterall, he boldly told us on national television that all Fulani from anywhere whatsoever in the world are welcome here. They should be left alone to roam and rave as they pleased, he said. No one should make any issues if they decided to occupy any place that caught their fancy anywhere in Nigeria. These “global citizens,” to use the governor’s words, should be allowed to graze their cattle and munch their way through people’s farmlands and gardens, all over the country.

Now, hold on! If you do not consider him a viable candidate for a comprehensive answer to the above question, perhaps you would then like to recommend Miyetti Allah? Yes, the leadership and its General Assembly might just rise to the occasion. So, what are they saying today, as the entire northern Nigeria stands devastated, traumatized, vandalized and routinely plundered? Resolute, relentless, redoubtable and unremitting trampling on lives is the norm. Burning of villages and merciless assaults on travelers and road users everywhere. Ungoverned spaces have since become ungovernable spaces. Re-desertification has taken over previously inhabited and cultivated lands.

The population of beggars in The North grows by the day. So does unemployment and unemployable youths. And sustained banditry beats time to the onward march of sociopolitical Armageddon in The North. Yet The North is in power, they say. How? By merely holding positions

Gumi

in government, heading various agencies, ownership of oil wells, and membership of choice Boards, while their homeland is overrun and they actually cannot go home?

Welcome to the views expressed on this page on April 17, 2019, under the caption “Anglo Abdullahi’s Tenor and Tenure,” Wherein it was said: “Professor Ango Abdullahi was recently reported to have assured Nigerians, and the world at large, that the Fulani in Nigeria and West Africa can take on all comers, overrun any place and emerge victorious in any battle. But he did not say how the Fulani would develop holistically as a people and become part of a forward-looking, 21st century world that is leaving behind certain modes of living. He also did not say anything about the dangers faced by an elite that seems focused on breeding a younger, “replacement” generation that is not being tooled to follow in the footsteps of the likes of an Ango Abdullahi in education, or that of a Chanchangi, Dantatta and Dangote in entrepreneurship, business and industry. He is conjuring, instead, images of knife and gun wielding, scraggly-looking, persons; perhaps even triumphantly displaying decapitated heads, burnt out villages and farmlands as background to their group photographs. This is not what a professor, learned or not, should wish to bring up in a fractious society with strong disruptive tensions.”

I reproduce below, in substantial measure, the views expressed in the aforementioned article, as they adequately address some of the worries now further thrown up by the emerging security situation in the country. The write-up continued thus: “A man like Ango Abdullahi should,

at this point in his life, be speaking with greater discretion and less like the average activist that could pop out of any street corner. An elder, and even a grand elder and former Vice Chancellor of one of the few universities set up in this country deliberately to develop the badly needed human capital for a section of the country, should be focused on development. An elder and professor from a section of the country with an average poverty index of over 73%, with most of them being progressively wiped out by marauders on a daily basis, should be worried about the fact that his part of the country houses some of the poorest people on earth today. The poverty is not genetic, or an indication of some kind of inferiority. It is the result of misrule, as a simple look at the statistics on literacy and other indices of development show appalling details.

Prof. Ango Abdullahi should not just speak of “his” people, but should speak of how the current capacities of the people in question would guarantee their long term survival in a world of galloping technology and climate change. It should occur to him that he is denigrating his own people when he presents them as largely a marauding, warring band of survivalists, who are ever ready to mete out inhuman killings at the slightest provocation. It should also occur to him that he is adding to the growing negative profiling of the Fulani person today. This new profile is progressively overshadowing the fact that we have lived peacefully with the Fulani for decades here.

The strength of the criminals all over the country today, some of them Fulani from outside Nigeria, actually comes from the fact that they are unchallenged for now. When the government of Ghana took concrete and firm steps to contain their excesses it became obvious that they had no capacity to do anything. But that is because the Ghanaian State took its own survival seriously. The Fulanis, and Myetti Allah, did nothing when Sule Lamido, as governor of Jigawa State, forbade open wandering of cattle in his state. They also did nothing when Lamido authorized every citizen of Jigawa State to kill and barbecue any cattle found roaming in the city. No one heard their whimper about this “Lamido’s free gift to the people of Jigawa State,” as it was then called. And Lamido is Fulani, and of the right breed if you like, like the professor.

So how come that Prof. Ango Abdullahi, who should be thinking of Sir Ahmadu Bello’s dream of a developed Northern Nigeria … is mistaking the contrived impotence of the Nigerian State for the invulnerability of his Fulani kinsmen?

How come he is taking the reluctance of the government to deal with a matter that can be clearly seen for what it is, for a superior survival template for a people that are in danger of being left behind by

the march of history? If Ango Abdullahi actually believes that his thesis has the strength of a feather, let him contemplate the following questions: (1) How many bullets do you have in a fully loaded AK47 magazine? (2) How many people will a man holding a loaded AK47 kill, assuming every bullet hits the mark? (3) How many such magazines, loaded or not, does the average gun-wielding herdsman have on him at any time, as he walks farmlands and ruins their crops? (4) Can any of the presumably impregnable Fulani herder with a gun engage in a full-blown, 10 minutes, non-stop shooting war without needing reinforcement? (5) Will such reinforcement come quickly enough to guarantee his survival? (6) Can he have two days of sustained engagement, even with the reinforcements coming via bags of garri, etc. stuffed with bullets and guns? (7) Will he not soon run out of bullets, men and other resources if he takes on even unarmed villagers and his escape routes are cut off?

Look at Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Borno, and most other northern states and tell us how these places would be in 10 years’ time. Zamfara State has one of the lowest education enrolments, one of the lowest school retention rates, one of the lowest positive education outcomes, and one of the highest school dropout rates. Many in the Ahmadu Bello University, particularly from the South, remember Ango Abdullahi’s tenure as Vice Chancellor. The ratio of 10% of admissions for the entire South and 90% for the North was rigorously enforced under him. “Go to the University of JAMB” was sometimes the refrain during registration, for successful candidates with letters of admission from JAMB, but whose names did not appear in the ABU admissions list. The School of Basic Studies (SBS), set up to quicken direct entry admissions through the Interim Joint Admissions Matriculations Board (IJMB), was handy.

So were Certificate programmes in disciplines like Law, Islamic Law, Library Science, etc. for candidates with barely tolerable O’Level papers. The certificate course qualified them for admission into Diploma programmes, while the Diploma led to degree programmes. The question for Ango Abdullahi today is: “Are we developing the North,” assuming there is still a “North.”

Returning to our original question, “Where is The North?” the worry here is that many terrible things have been allowed to fester for too long. The transport Minister mentioned the possibility of using fighter jets to escort the Abuja-Kaduna train service. Please, at what cost per trip? At what speed will the aircraft be flying? And who will be escorting road users, other trains and also protecting hapless villagers who are being routinely wiped out by marauders? Just asking.

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