SATURDAY 2ND MAY 2020

Buhari to Labour: No Worker Will Be Sacked Without Due Process NLC worries about impact of prolonged lockdown Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday assured Nigerian workers that the federal government would resist their retrenchment without

due process as a result of the economic crisis caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had expressed grave concern about imminent job

cuts in the public and private sectors of the economy at the 2020 International Workers’ Day (May Day) celebration yesterday in Abuja.

But the President, who pledged to ensure that workers

are protected, in his May Day speech, said he was aware of the anxiety that has captured workers' minds as a result of the pandemic, assuring that government would not allow any sack unless it had gone

through what he described as "due process of social dialogue."

The president also told Nigerian workers that he had constituted the Presidential Economic Sustainability

Committee (ESC) with a mandate to come up with plans to reposition the economy both now and after the pandemic.

Continued on page 5

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FG Dispatches Special Medical Team to Kano Squad to drive NCDC’s containment plan Cases now 2170, with 68 deaths SGF warns of spike in cases if protocols are ignored Don't ease lockdown now, NMA warns again Curfew: Task force meets security agencies, plans enforcement Raymond Dokpesi, 7 other family members test positive NCDC: No enough bed spaces in all states WHO: 89 vaccines at different development stages Sanwo-Olu inaugurates 118-bed isolation centre UK evacuates 316 nationals from Lagos

Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Chinedu Eze in Lagos A 14-man team comprising experts in different fields of health has been dispatched to Kano State by the federal government to complement efforts of the state’s government aimed at curbing the rampaging Coronavirus in the state.

On the same day, 238 new cases of Coronavirus were recorded in Nigeria, with Kano State alone accounting for 92 cases. The new figures take the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 2170. 351 people have recovered, while 68 others have died from the disease.

The multi-sectorial team

of 14 specialists, which will arrive Kano State this morning, is made up of persons from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Department of Hospital Services, the Department of Family Health, Infectious Disease Specialists, media and a special adviser.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, who disclosed this yesterday during a briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja, said frontline health workers in Kano would be trained and retrained to effectively manage the pandemic.

Ehanire said: “With regards Continued on page 5

Makinde Cuts Salaries of Political Appointees By 50 Per Cent... Page 10

ENHANCING COVID-19 TREATMENT...

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the opening of a new Isolation Centre for the Coronavirus treatment at the Gbagada General Hospital…yesterday

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PAGE FIVE FG DISPATCHES SPECIAL MEDICAL TEAM TO KANO to Kano, the main focus of the intervention is on training and capacity building of state health care workforce along with their various specialties on a very massive scale. “On case management, medical, nursing, and clinic staff shall be trained or retrained.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency will engage its extensive Kano State network to drive testing demand by grassroots through community mobilisation so that NCDC strategy can be realised.�

The minister also disclosed that government had now activated 18 laboratories nationwide, to increase testing capacity and improve case management.

The Minister of State for Health Olorummibe Mamora deplored complaints that some health workers were extorting money from patients under the guise of buying protective kits for treatment.

"Any demand from patients to pay money for protective kits by health workers in the hospitals is illegal, unacceptable and will be investigated," he warned.

Responding to what may have been the recommendations of the interim report on the situation in Kano State, Mamora said it merely helped the ministry to establish the mode engagement with the state officials in dealing with challenges.

In addition, Mamora said the report led to the deployment of a multi-sectoral team to Kano State.

He said that the PTF would set up a base in Kano to coordinate further measures to find out the causes of the mysterious deaths in the state.

The Director General of the NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu said that efforts were being made to solve the challenges currently facing Kano and other areas where new cases of COVID-19 were reported.

On whether the NCDC would carry out sample collection at the markets, he said all their actions were evidence-driven, adding that if there were sufficient reasons to do that, then the centre would definitely go ahead and do it.

The NCDC boss said the centre tested 2,000 samples on Thursday, stating that it was the highest ever since the outbreak of COVID-19.

On bed space, he said that so far there were altogether 3,500 beds in all the states.

He said that none of the states has met the requirements for beds space for isolation centres, adding that private sector organisations are encouraged to assist the states where they operate with isolation facilities.

SGF Warns of Spike in Cases If Protocols Are Ignored Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Chairman of PTF on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha has warned Nigerians to be prepared for a spike in Coronavirus cases across the country if they ignored the protocols issued following the easing of the lockdown on the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mustapha cited the experience of Ghana, Germany and other countries as nations that have experienced a jump in COVID-19 infections after they eased the lockdown.

He warned that there would be a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country if Nigerians fail to comply with the guidelines and protocols on easing of the lockdown, issued by the federal government. “Ten days after Ghana relaxed the lockdown, the figures went up again. Germany and several other countries have had that experience and everybody is navigating the rough road, trying to find a solution to it. Part of what I see them do is that they try as much as possible in spite of the spike to ensure very strict compliance,�

Mustapha said.

He asked Nigerians to emulate Sweden, which neither imposed a lockdown, nor a mandatory use of mask on its citizens besides compliance, which has been part of their culture. “If we can get our people to realise that this is a collective responsibility, to work together; that these are guidelines that are meant for our own good, I think we will be able to cross that Rubicon,� Mustapha said.

He also called for the issue of border and interstate restriction to be looked into by both Lagos and FCT authorities.

He said the implementation

of that order would be a major challenge given that many workers in both places reside in neigbouring states like Ogun, Niger and Nasarawa from where they commute daily to work.

Raymond Dokpesi, 7 Family Members Test Positive The founder of DAAR Communications, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, his daughterin-law, and six members of his family have tested positive for Coronavirus.

This came three days after his son and Chairman of the board of the company, Raymond Dokpesi Jnr, also tested positive for the virus.

According to ait.live, a test conducted by the NCDC on the Dokpesi family came out positive for eight members of the family.

Dokpesi and the other affected family members were, yesterday, conveyed by the NCDC to the isolation centre at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, where his son is receiving treatment.

The media mogul, who spoke to journalists shortly after the arrival of the ambulance, said “I am quite okay. I feel very well.�

Dokpesi Jnr had tested positive for COVID-19 after having symptoms of malaria.

However, after persistent bouts of cough, he was said to have contacted the NCDC, which later confirmed that he had the infectious virus.

Contact tracing immediately commenced with his family members. The test was later extended to senior management and members of staff who had been in close contact with the company’s index case.

The health authorities in the Federal Capital Territory had also carried out immediate fumigation of the entire DAAR Headquarters building sitting aloft the Kpaduma hills in Asokoro District of Abuja.

Sanwo-Olu inaugurates 118-bed Isolation Centre As the Coronavirus cases in Lagos State near 1,000, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, opened a new 118-bed Isolation Center in the Gbagada area of the state.

The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said on Thursday in Abuja that

there was shortage of bed spaces in Lagos, which has more than 50 per cent of the total COVID-19 cases reported in the country. “Across the country, we have about 3,500 bed spaces identified and available for COVID-19.

But in Lagos, we are already struggling,� Ihekweazu said.

But yesterday, Sanwo-Olu’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Gawat Jubril, tweeted that the governor had commissioned another facility to accommodate COVID-19 patients. “The Incident Commander of COVID-19 in Lagos and Governor of Lagos State, Mr Jide Sanwo-Olu today commissioned the 118-bed Isolation Centre at the Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos,� he tweeted.

Task Force to Meet Security Agencies over Curfew The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 yesterday said it would meet with security agencies this weekend to create modalities for the enforcement of the national curfew beginning on Monday.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on April 27 announced a “gradual and phased easing out� of the cumulative five-week lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory since March 30 to tackle the spread of the Coronavirus and declared a national curfew with effect from May 4.

The PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, called on state government to enforce the new guidelines.

Mustapha said, “As mentioned earlier, the guidelines for phase one of the eased lockdown has been released.

We urge all states to adopt them and ensure the creation of awareness and compliance. “The PTF will be meeting with the security agencies this weekend to fashion out modalities for enforcement.�

WHO: 89 Vaccines at Different Development Stages Globally The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that 89

vaccines globally are currently in development stages for the prevention of COVID-19.

The Officer in Charge of WHO Nigeria, Dr Fiona Braka, made the revelation yesterday at the Presidential Task Force media briefing in Abuja.

Braka also said that seven of the vaccines were currently at the stage of clinical evaluation and trials.

The WHO officer said the organisation was committed to ensuring that once vaccines and medicines are developed they will be shared equitably among all countries and people.

She added that more than 100 countries, including Nigeria have offered to be to be part of the solidarity trial, which WHO and its partners, launched for the effective treatment of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus.

According to Braka, over 1,200 patients have been selected randomly from the first five countries to evaluate the safety and efficacy of four drugs and drug combination.

She described the process for the ceritifcation of vaccine as very rigourous and thorough, because of the need to ensure that products that are approved for use meet the safety requirement.

UK Evacuates 316 from MMIA, Lagos The United Kingdom evacuated about 316 Britons from Nigeria yesterday through a chartered British Airways flight which took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to Heathrow Airport, London at 4.46 pm local time.

Last week, the British High Commission disclosed that it had made arrangements for additional flights that would take 900 people back to the UK from Nigeria on government charter flights to around 2,000, following flights arranged two weeks back from Lagos and Abuja to London.

So far, 1,416 Britons have been evacuated to the UK in six flights in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

have died from the disease.

Kano state accounts for 92 of the new cases, 36 in FCT, 30 in Lagos, 16 in Gombe, 10 in Bauchi, 8 in Delta, 6 in Oyo, 5 in Zamfara, 5 in Sokoto, 4 in Ondo, 4 in Nasarawa, 3 in Kwara, 3 in Edo, 3 in Ekiti, 3 in Borno, 3 in Yobe, 2 in Adamawa, 1 in Niger, 1 in Imo, 1 in Ebonyi, 1 in Rivers, and 1 in Enugu.

Don't Ease Lockdown Now, NMA warns again

Figures yesterday from the NCDC showed that the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria is now 2170. 351 people have recovered, while 68 others

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has again asked the federal and state governments to discard plans to embark on gradual easing of the current lockdown meant to prevent the spread of covid19 across the country.

In a statement issued last night by the NMA President, Dr. Fancis Fraduyile, the doctors said that current trend in the spread of did not support the easing of the measures for now.

It said: "At the point we are today, the Nigerian Medical Association unequivocally states as follows: The easing of the lockdown even in phases is very premature. Nigeria should learn from her neighbour Ghana where the same action produced a 100% increase in infection rate in just a week."

"As the incidence of the COVID-19 hits the 2000th mark by this weekend, just seven days after hitting the 1000th mark, it figuratively tilts the epidemiological curve towards an upward spike. More so, the revelation by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that the nation lacks for bed spaces in Lagos worsens this frightening scenario.

"The confusing situation in Kano is neither unravelled nor resolved. At the same time, some States continue to live in the delusion of zero COVID-19 incidences.�

The Association deplored what it described as "meddlesome pronouncements by some state actors on the management protocols for COVID-19 in the country".

In particular, NMA said it viewed the directive by the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for the use of a specific drug in the treatment of positive cases, as improper and unethical.

celebration in Abuja, expressed worries about the looming mass sack in the country because of COVID-19.

However, the minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige alluded to job protection by the federal government, in a solidarity message sent to workers to mark the day.

Ngige said that the federal government was considering a four - pillar plan of policy responses to COVID-19 crisis laid out by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The NLC said there was genuine premise to worry about possible threats to job retention both in the public and private sectors of the economy following disruptions caused by several weeks of lockdown on economic activities in the country.

For instance, it said the closure of the airspace had seen gross interruption and the near absence of passenger traffic and the associated services in the aviation sector.

It added that the social lockdown and physical distancing had reduced patronage of places of popular gathering, noting that workers in the hotel, recreation and tourism segments would be severely impacted as their workplaces have been largely

shut. NLC said there is cause for worry about the fate of workers in these critical sectors of the economy.

Similarly, the NLC said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated that Nigeria’s economy would shrink by 3.4 per cent and that the consequent recession could last until 2021.

"For a middle-income country like Nigeria, the hard-hit sectors which are the informal sector and semi-informal sectors of the economy represent a high proportion of workers with nonfixed contracts of employment and with limited access to health services and social protection," it said.

NLC further talked about the proposed tax rebate, hailing the House of Representatives for passing the Emergency Economic Stimulus Bill, 2020.

The bill seeks to provide 50 per cent tax rebate for employers and business owners who agree to retain existing staff in 2020, thus seeking to prevent job losses in the formal sector.

However, NLC expressed hope that the exclusion of informal workers from benefitting from the bill should be quickly addressed especially given that over 70% of Nigeria’s workforce and businesses actually operate in the informal sector.

Cases Now 2170

BUHARI TO LABOUR: NO WORKER WILL BE SACKED WITHOUT DUE PROCESS He said the committee had also been saddled with the responsibility of evolving ideas to grow the non-oil sector of the economy with a view to mitigating the effects of COVID-19, protect and create jobs.

"I understand the anxiety which has plagued the minds of workers over the possibility of job losses due to economic downturn caused by the pandemic and lock-down especially in the private sector. In this regard, the Government will ensure that no employer would retrench or lay off workers without going through due process of social dialogue which includes consultations with workers and with the Competent Authority Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

"Furthermore, I had earlier put in place a Presidential Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) with the objective of developing a credible sustainability plan for repositioning the Nigerian economy now and post Covid-19 crisis period.

"The ESC is required to specifically explore ways and means of growing our non-oil sector - all in a bid to minimise the adverse effects of the current crisis and to also protect existing jobs and even create new jobs to help absorb the teeming army

of the unemployed even before the crises," he said.

The President thanked health workers whom he said had been rendering great service to humanity, highlighting incentives the government had provided for them in expressions of appreciation to the workers.

Promising that the provision of personal protective equipment for their protection is non-negotiable, Buhari hailed the resolute spirits of the health workers, noting that with a sense of collective responsibility in the fight, victory would be achieved in the end.

He also tasked the Nigerian workers to observe safety measures as spelt out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) during this pandemic.

"I conclude by expressing my appreciation to medical doctors and healthcare workers as well as their respective organisations, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU). These health workers are doing a great service for humanity. I thank you all.

"I have directed that requisite incentives and hazard allowances enhancement and insurance for lives should be taken at these perilous times in favor of our Health Sector workers as a way of showing our appreciation.

"Also, personal protective

equipment for their safety is also guaranteed. Great Nigerian workers, your resilience in times of adversity is not questionable. I appreciate you all and I know that with collective will and sense of responsibility, as a team, we shall triumph as a nation,� Buhari said.

He lamented the celebration of 2020 workers' day indoors, with the Eagle Square and various stadia across the country empty, following the threat posed by the virulent Coronavirus disease.

He recalled different reasons for setting aside May 1 of every year for workers' celebration, noting that the common enemy of mankind this year aborted the pomp and pageantry that usually characterise such celebrations.

He then proceeded to give account of various measures the federal government had undertaken to contain the scourge.

"Today is a day set aside for workers to celebrate the success of their historical struggles to have a 'voice' in the world of work. It is equally a day to celebrate their partnership with relevant stakeholders to achieve sustainable development and contribute to the progress of nations in contemporary times. It is a day to mark and acclaim workers' productivity in nation - building.

"But today, May 1, 2020, the

usual pomp and ceremony characterized by sounds of drumming and march past by various Trade Unions and their Federations are missing in all the stadia throughout the Federation including our Abuja Eagle Square.

This is so because we are fighting an invisible enemy to humanity termed Covid-19 pandemic.

"In a bid to win this war, we set up a Presidential Task Force (PTF) made up of the relevant sector Ministers and highly skilled health technical experts "The government had to in a well-designed expert advice, lock down some states of the federation where this pandemic is most prevalent - the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Ogun and Lagos States. Lagos State was and still is the EPICENTRE of the disease and of late Kano had to follow because of the new eruptions of Covid-19 in the State," The president advised every citizen to be his brother's keeper "by ensuring that 'I protect myself and protect others from me."

NLC Worries about Retrenchments The NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, in his address at the 2020 International Workers’ Day

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News Editor Ahamefula Ogbu 08116759810 (sms only) Email ahamefula.ogbu@thisdaylive.com

NECA Faults FIRS on Advance Payment of Taxes Dike Onwuamaeze

The Nigeria Employers Consultative Assembly (NECA) has described the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) request for advance payment of taxes by companies as additional pressure on businesses.

A statement issued yesterday by the Director General of NECA, Dr. Timothy Olawale, said the assembly was surprised that the FIRS would be making that request at a time when governments all over the world

were finding ways to support businesses to ease their burdens under the crippling impact of COVID-19 environment.

The NECA said: “The FIRS has not taken into consideration the holistic nature of industries operating within the global context, the constraints imposed

by COVID-19, and its attendant collateral damages on businesses and economies.”

The statement was issued in reaction to the FIRS’ circular, which requested that corporate organisations should commence the payment of their annual

Kano Government Converts Facilities to Isolation Centres Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

Kano State Government is converting some facilities into isolation centres as part of efforts aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna who is also the Chairman of the State Task Force Committee on COVID-19 disclosed this when he paid a visit to the facilities yesterday The facilities are the Abubakar Imam Urology Hospital,Murtala Muhammed Library Complex, Hospitality and Tourism Institute formerly Daula Hotel, Sports Institute at Karfi and the Nigerian Air Force Hospital in Kano.

According to the Deputy Governor, despite having three isolation centres at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Kwanar Dawaki Hospital and Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano Government was converting the facilities with a view to curbing the rising cases of COVID-19 in the state.

He added that the conversion

of the Hospitality and Tourism Institute formerly Daula Hotel to an isolation centre with an estimated 50-bed capacity starts immediately tomorrow (Saturday) followed with 80-bed at Abubakar Imam Urology Hospital on Monday respectively.

“The Isolation Centre at Murtala Muhammad Library Complex is expected to accommodate over 200 beds and also an estimated 300 beds will be provided at Karfi Sports Institute.

“While 20 rooms are to be converted into an isolation centre at the Nigerian Air Force Hospital he explained.”

The Deputy Governor then assured the people that the state government under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was taking all measures to curtail the spread of the dreaded disease, therefore he implored them to always remember that COVID-19 is transmittable.

Thus, they should always adhere to the advice given by the Medical Experts.

Scores Killed as Fighter Jets Attack Terrorist Hideouts in Borno Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Fighter jets of the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole bombed terrorist hideouts and logistic facilities, in Parisu, Borno State, killing scores of insurgents.

The air strikes were conducted following intelligence reports that indicated that Boko Haram fighters had resumed the use of the settlements in the Sambisa Forest area from where they plan to launch attack on troops.

An update on the war against insurgency issued by the Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO) said the attack aircraft unleashed bombs and rocket fire killing many terrorists.

“In furtherance of its objective of restoring peace and security in the North-east of the country, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, through the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole, yesterday neutralised some Boko Haram terrorists and destroyed some of their logistics facilities at Parisu in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State.

“The air strike, which was

executed as a precursor to further air and ground operations, was conducted after intelligence reports revealed that the terrorists had resumed use of the settlement as a staging area to launch attacks against nearby troops’ locations,” it said.

The update signed by the Coordinator of DDMO, Major General John Enenche, said aerial surveillance missions had also shown significant terrorist activities in the area whilst identifying some compounds housing the fighters and their logistics items.

“Consequently, the Air Task Force dispatched its fighter jets to attack the location. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jets, while taking turns to engage the target area, scored accurate bomb and rocket strikes, resulting in the destruction of some of the structures as well as the killing of several terrorists.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue to sustain the offensive against the enemies of the country, until peace and normalcy are restored in all parts of Nigeria,” it said.

returns earlier than their due dates to ease some of the cash flow gaps being experienced by governments.

“We believe, that, this action by the FIRS connotes that the service’s pronouncement was ill-timed, as against a situation when companies were virtually closed due to the lockdown as a result of the pandemic.

“Corporate organisations know when to file their annual returns according to the relevant tax laws and should only be reminded, and not be harassed by such circular not even minding the current predicament that endangers livelihoods and businesses,

wherein sectors were clamoring for further palliatives to support the sustainability of businesses.

“While we appreciate the need for the FIRS to generate income to facilitate cash flow because of the tumbling prices of oil, there is an erroneous assumption that some companies were experiencing a boom during this time of economic lockdown while in reality some companies are on the verge of closing shop,” NECA said.

It added that the assumption of the FIRS was misplaced and does not have a basis in any economic theory as many of the sup-

posed booming sectors were actually struggling under the weight of added responsibilities arising from the need to provide additional measures to keep them running.

“If the government is experiencing the cash crunch effects of the lockdown as admitted by the circular, then businesses should be worst off. The government should stop considering the private sector as a ‘cash-cow.’

Rather, governments should look inwards on how to cut governance costs,” NECA said, adding that businesses in Lagos State experienced about five weeks lockdown as directed by the

federal and Lagos State governments.

“NECA felt that the FIRS probably was not well informed of the practicality in the private sectors as there were zero operations for businesses that obeyed the lockdown directives of the government, which affected several sectors, such as the iron, metal and steel, hospitality, aviation, tourism, transportation, etc.

“We, therefore, urged government to emulate its counterpart in other countries, and to put in place more palliative measures to cushion the effects of the pandemic on corporate Nigeria rather than putting more pressure on them,” it said.

FREE AT LAST. . .

Imo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. C.O.C. Akaolisa (centre), Comptroller, Owerri Correctional Centre, Mr. Chris Chukwuemeka Okoye (right) with his deputy on the left and freed inmate behind... yesterday

JOHESU Demands Equal Hazard Allowance for Members The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has called for a more reliable and accommodating template for the structuring of hazard allowance for health workers in the post-COVID-19 era.

A statement signed and made available the Chairman of the union, Joy Bio Josiah, also urged the federal government to be dispassionate in the approval and disbursement of wages to health workers in Nigeria describing it as the only panacea on any vicious cicle of industrial disharmony in the sector.

Last month, the federal governments facilitated a temporary Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with some Health Sector Professional bodies based on a proposal tabled principally by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) which brought in some of its affiliate professional Associations on the table.

According to the statement, JOHESU which was not originally slated to be a part of the meeting was invited to the latter stages of the deliberation which was to sign an already formulated MOU by the NMA It frowned at NMA decision to present selective list of Health workers who will benefit from COVID-19 hazard allowances insisting that the entire value chain of health workers including non- clinical staff must be beneficiaries of the hazard

allowances.

The release also observed that not all doctors were equally exposed to the air, surfaces and persons carrying Coronavirus and therefore demanded equal pay per hour.

“When you are present for a number of hours, you are paid, when you are absent, you are not paid. As it is now, the ‘top’ and senior doctors staying at home are getting the highest allowances.

“An equal life insurance for every practitioner is the ideal thing. Everybody should be equal appreciated equally.

The attackers and goal scorers in football matches are not isolated for praise, the whole team wins and are equally appreciated. You do not single out health professionals, you call them all Healthcare workers,” it added.

The release further alleged that NMA, aimed to structure a continued dominance as well as create new exclusive benefit packages for its members and claimed that the professional Associations that teamed-up with NMA were not aware of the details of the meeting like JOHESU. “Some other highlights of the NMA catalysed MOU that was fundamentally flawed was the decision to review the JOHESU-driven increase of the retirement age of Health work-

ers from 60 years to 65 years with an amplification that now provides that Medical Doctors on the Consultant Cadre can now retire at the age of 70 years.

“This desire of the NMA should not be allowed to truncate the clamour of JOHESU in this regards for the last seven years. As it stands today, the NICN has given a consent judgement on the increase of the retirement age of Health workers from 60 years to 65 years, so this temporary MOU which should subsist for only three months shouldn’t indeed become a nullity in the overall professional and public interest of consumers of Health in Nigeria.

“The NMA has tied payment of Hazard Allowances to basic salary. Doctors’ basic salaries are relatively higher than anyone else’s, but hazard is not supposed to be tied to how much you earn.” The peculiar job, atmosphere, length of exposure among others should be the determinant factors, not salary level. Each cadre of healthcare worker has peculiar risks. In the same cadre, the seniors may be less exposed, but they get higher pay if this unorthodox method is used. The junior Doctors are much more exposed to environmental hazards than the senior ones, but are paid less”.

“If the dentist has no dental case needing his attention, he

shouldn’t be paid for doing nothing and staying home. Why must such a dental or medical personnel get paid higher than Nurses working 24-hour shifts and the Pharmacists or other health professional on call for 24 hours.

“It therefore maintained that everybody should be paid equally, depending on length of time at work, adding “lf I am the H.O.D but not physically at work, I shouldn’t be paid. If I am junior, I should earn more than my boss who doesn’t sleep in the polluted atmosphere at work like me.”

Maintaining that hazard could not be tied to salary level or seniority, the statement explained that Coronaviruses are in the air and surfaces and that everyone in the vicinity including hospital, isolation centre are equally exposed.

Not all doctors are equally exposed to the air, surfaces and persons carrying coronavirus, but for as it is now, being a doctor qualifies you for the highest pay. Even dentists having no dental case are enjoying free undeserved booties. That is discrimination against the rest.

“The Pharmacist, Laboratory Scientist, Cleaner, Nurse, Front Desk Officer, Record, Administrator and Security Officers, Engineering, Mortuary and all other staff are exposed even when patients’ statuses are not confirmed.

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COVID-19... COVID-19... COVID-19...

LG Development Ekiti Orders Mandatory Test Ejigbo Association Distributes Food for Corpses Entering State HammedShittuinIlorin

Victor Ogunje Ă“Ă˜ ĂŽĂ™ ÕÓÞÓ

Despite the belief that Coronavirus is not active in human remains, the Ekiti State Government has ordered compulsory certification for corpses being brought to the state to ascertain their COVID-19 statuses.

The Coordinator of the State COVID-19 Task Force, Prof. Bolaji Aluko, spoke in Ado Ekiti yesterday while giving an update on the pandemic.

Aluko regretted that some people were still trying to forcefully enter the state through the borders inspite of prohibition, saying those that were intercepted by security

agencies on Thursday at Ido Ile Ekiti, were immediately returned to the borders.

He said: “Movement of corpses had earlier been banned outrightly in Ekiti. But because of this lockdown relaxation, corpses will now be allowed to move in and out of Ekiti from next week every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. “But let me emphasise that corpses that must enter Ekiti must be certified through registration at the Ministry of Health to know their histories.

This is about our health and no compromise will be tolerated.�

Aluko stated that a total of 40,000

food palliatives had been distributed to vulnerable groups in the state, adding that another 50,000 would be added to cushion the effects of the present economic situation on the populace.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, disclosed that all the patients in isolation centres were stable and responding to treatment.

The commissioner however revealed that the second test conducted for the 45- year-old doctor infected by a dead COVID-19 patient was still positive, after the expiration of the 14 days isolation period. “Another set of blood samples

had already been taken from all the patients to ascertain their statuses before any of them can be released, because you have to be negative twice before being let out of the isolation centre.�

The Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Gbenga Agbeyo, said the state had taken delivery of four motorised fumigators donated to the state by Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

Agbeyo said the donation from the traditional ruler would enhance state’s fumigating capacity to be able to cover the 16 local government areas of the state.

Select N’Assembly Staff to Work 2 Days Weekly, Says Clerk

FG Delivers 14 Tricycle Ambulances to Edo

Deji Elumoye Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Chuks Okocha Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The management of the National Assembly has foreclosed the possibility of all Assembly workers resuming duties next week, saying only selected staff would be allowed to work for two days every week.

The Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, in a three-page circular entitled ‘Partial Resumption Of Selected Staff On Essential Legislative Duties’ dated Friday, May 1, and addressed to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, stressed that since the two chambers of the Assembly would henceforth sit on Tuesdays only all essential staff of the two Chambers already identified and cleared, shall come to work on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Clerk also asked legislative aides to work from home while banks and restaurants operating within the Assembly complex were to remain closed until further notice.

Sani-Omolori further constituted a three-man committee made up

of the Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development; Director, Public Affairs and Sergeant-AtArms for the purpose of clearing and facilitating the outlined measures and guidelines.

The circular stated inter alia: “In furtherance of the Federal Government’s decision to ease the lockdown from Monday 4th May 2020, the following guidelines for partial and gradual resumption of selected staff on essential legislative duties are hereby put in place as follows: Clerks to the two Chambers and Secretaries of the Directorates are to come to work on all office days commencing from Monday, 4th May 2020. “Since the Chambers will sit on Tuesdays only, all essential staff of the two Chambers already identified and cleared, shall come to work on Mondays and Tuesdays only.

All National Assembly Directors and Committee Clerks are to come to work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only.

In order to facilitate quick emergency response, the federal government yesterday, gave 14 tricycle ambulances equipped with other essential facilities to Edo State Government to help its efforts to containing the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the state.

Receiving the tricycles from the federal government, the state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, thanked the Office of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Presidency through which the donation was made for the gesture, which he said was the third in the series of donations to the state.

Governor Obaseki said the donation of the 14 tricycle ambulances was coming at the right time, noting that it would further complement the state government’s efforts at curtailing the spread of COVID-19.

He said, “This donation will help complement what we have done in the healthcare sector in Edo State, especially in the primary healthcare system. This donation is important to us because it goes into the heart of

our healthcare reform in the state as it will help us strengthen the system. “The primary healthcare system is the base on which the state’s healthcare system rests. We have taken time to invest in our primary healthcare system as the health of our people is important to us; hence, we are doing all within our reach to ensure our people are fine.�

The governor disclosed that his administration had already refurbished 30 primary healthcare centres, while 30 others were undergoing refurbishment.

He added that the target was to refurbish 70 primary healthcare centres and equip them with constant power, security, water and other equipment to make them effective. “Today, we have screened more than 20,000 persons to know the COVID-19 status of our people. The screening exercise is carried out in these health centres,� he added.

On her part, the focal person, SDGs Office, Edo State, Mrs. Ifueko Alufohai, said the donation of the tricycle ambulances was to cater for quick emergency response needed to save more lives in the rural communities.

Wearing of Face Mask Now Compulsory in Rivers ErnestChinwoinPortHarcourt Rivers State Government has announced that wearing of face masks in public places was now compulsory in the state to check the rising incidence of the Coronavirus.

This is as the state also explained that it rejected the 1,800 bags of rice given to the state as palliatives from the federal government because the rice was expired and the mode of collection an insult to the state.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike who disclosed this during a press conference in Port Harcourt yesterday, also expressed worry at the rising incidence of the pandemic in

the state and blamed lapses by security agents who allowed people to beat the border lockdown announced by the state as responsible for the new wave of infections.

He said, “While we are not under any illusion about the presence of the risk of this virus in our midst, we are making tremendous progress that clearly underscores our belief that our aggressive strategy and targeted measures have been effective in curbing the spread seeing COVID-19 in our state. “Accordingly, the directives and restrictions we have put in place to maintain social distancing must continue and all residents are advised

to strictly follow and comply in the interest of the health and lives of everybody. “In addition, the wearing of face mask in all public places is now compulsory throughout the State.�

He confirmed that six more persons had tested positive to Coronavirus in the state, bringing to 13, the total number of cases recorded in the state.

He stated that out of the 13 confirmed cases, nine were active while two had been discharged and two deaths, pointing out that the active cases were receiving medical attention at the state treatment centre.

The governor said: “As at today 1st May 2020, Rivers State has recorded

13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections, four females and nine males.

Out of this number, two have recovered and discharged, nine are active and receiving medical attention in our treatment centre, while unfortunately, two lost their lives because of COVID-19. “Furthermore, apart from the sixth case who has no travel history, the rest were returnees to the state from Italy, United Kingdom, and Lagos or persons who had close contacts with already affected persons. Indeed, five of the most recent cases are all children and a relative of the second death case.

Katsina NLC Warns Govt Against Deduction of Workers’ Salaries FrancisSardaunainKatsina The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Katsina State has warned the state government against any attempt to deduct workers salary to support the ongoing war against the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

The union, which said salaries were the core elements of employment contracts, described the reduction

of workers’ salaries by some state governments in the country as illogical and illegal.

The state NLC Chairman, Mr. Hussaini Yanduna, in a statement issued to journalists yesterday to mark the International Worker’s Day, said the union would protect jobs, incomes, wages and livelihood of the state workforce against all odds.

He said: “We strongly rise and

stand firmly concerning the deduction of worker’s salaries by some state governments purportedly on the account of COVID-19. We wish to state categorically that any move to deduct the salaries of the state workers is illegal. “Salaries are core elements of employment contracts and most of the times products of collective bargaining process. It is therefore, illogical and

illegal to deduct workers ‘salaries for any reason whatsoever without the explicit consent of the workers.�

He, however, admonished the state government, to as a matter of urgency, ensure proper quarantine of the repatriated Al-majarai from other states of the federation as advocated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) before being reunited with their families.

The Ejigbo Local Government Development Association, an umbrella body of indigenes of Ejigbo Local Government Council in Osun State, has distributed food items worth several millions of Naira to the residents of the area to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down in the state.

The food items were distributed to the people of Ejigbo Local Government (Central), Ejigbo West LCDAand Ejigbo South LCDA. Speaking with journalists in Ejigbo on the distributions of the food items, the secretary of the palliative committee of the COVID-19 in the area, Mr. Tajudeen Oladipupo said that the food items like rice, semovta, garri, among others were meant to support the residents, especially the vulnerable ones during the lockdown.

He said that the development also became imperative in view of the fact

that the lockdown order of the state government had kept many people in the area out of work.

Oladipupo added that, “It is on this fact that sons and daughters of the Ejigbo local government council area of Osun state came together to contribute their widowsmite towards buying these food items for the people of the area.�

He stressed that, “It is note worthy to say that this is the second stanza of our palliatives distributions to the people of the local government council and it has continued to yield positive results in all the places visited across the towns and villages in the local government council area of the state.�

Oladipupo, who advised the people of the area to continue to abide with the laid down protocols to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state, said that they should also continue to keep their environment clean in order to curb the spread of the pandemic disease.

Katsina Convicts 224 Violators of Lockdown Order Francis Sardauna in Katsina The four mobile courts constituted by the Katsina State Government to try violators of its lockdown order has convicted 224 out of the 423 persons arraigned for violating the stay-at-home directive imposed by Governor Aminu Bello Masari.

The Magistrate courts instituted by the state Chief Judge, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar, are situated in Katsina metropolis, Daura and Dutsin-Ma Local Government Areas.

Governor Masari had locked down 10 local governments of Daura, Katsina, Dutsin-Ma, Mani, Safana, Jibia, Kankia, Musawa, Matazu and Batagarawa following the confirmation of 40 cases of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic in the areas by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The State Chief Registrar, Mr. Kabir Shu’aibu, in a statement issued yesterday, said 25 accused persons were convicted and sentenced for community service in the state.

He said 32 returnees from Kano,

Abuja, Lagos and Port-Harcourt were also apprehended and handed over to the rapid response team of the State Taskforce on COVID-19.

The state chief registrar reiterated that 29 of the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and were referred to Police for further interrogation.

He said: “As at 29th April, 2020, 224 accused persons were convicted and sentenced to pay various sums of money as fine.

18 accused persons on transit to Niger Republic were referred to Immigration Service for further action. 25 accused persons were sentenced to community service. “Furthermore, 49 accused persons pleaded not guilty and they were referred to the police for further investigation, while 32 accused persons found to be coming into Katsina from Kano, Abuja, Lagos and Port-Harcourt were referred to the Rapid Response team of the taskforce on COVID-19 for appropriate action.

Invest in Capacity Building, Strengthen Health System Pharmacists under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have urged the federal and state governments to ensure drug availability and security in the country.

The PSN which also called for capacity building and adequate competences in the Nigerian health system, opined that they would help to re-position the nation’s health system for future public health emergencies.

In the statement, titled ‘COVID-19 – Myths and Realities of the Nigerian Health System,’ the PSN Lagos branch, said for many years, through its characteristic forward looking leadership, has always championed the need for a sanitised drug distribution channel in Nigeria.

In the statement signed by Chairman of the Lagos PSN, Gbolagade Iyiola, the group said government at all levels must begin to invest significantly into primary healthcare (PHC) with emphasis on preventive therapy through maximum engagement of Environmental

Health Officers.

According to him, it is a statement of fact that government at all levels must tinker with their budgets to feature preventive care therapy at the expense of curative therapy.

He said government must create the atmosphere for health reforms which would focus on maximising the potentials of its workforce. “Healthcare is a globally inclined endeavour driven by international best practice. This is why each health professional specialises all over the world.�

In an effort to open the restricted borders of progression in healthcare in Nigeria, the PSN urged the Presidency to direct unhindered access of training facilities to all health workers in training at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. “The FG must recognise and approve the consultancy cadre for pharmacists and other deserving health workers to improve competencies/capacities in emergencies and other times.�

9

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08054699539

Nyesom Wike, the Cowboy from Obio-Akpor

N

yesom Wike, the bouncy governor of Rivers State enjoys showboating and all the media attention that comes with it.

He does virtually everything to the extreme and delves into things he has no business with. Wike’s action, more often than not, puts decent indigenes of the state in discomfiture. His aides fear him and are too scared to tell him the truth. This man rules the state with an iron fist. Call him a bully and you would be right. I always add “modern day Benito Mussolini� to his depiction. “Governor Rivers�, who never ceases to amaze many, has now turned efforts to tame Coronavirus to a tool of muscle-flexing, trivial oppression and grandstanding.

When he took on ExxonMobil staff on April 17, you will probably think Heavens will fall. In a manner better described as warped, Wike arrested and quarantined 22 staff of this firm, with a promise to prosecute them for violating his executive order to curtail the spread of the virus. The workers were on their way to an offshore oil platform and dared to pass through Wike’s kingdom.

After the arrest, the niggling Wike, at a press conference, promised a fight to finish, with all sorts of outlandish claims.

He declared: “This one, I will fight this one. I have told the Attorney-General to prepare; we are going to court against them. We will fight this fight legally.

ExxonMobil cannot bring in 22 people illegally into Rivers State. ExxonMobil does not operate in Rivers State. They only make use of the Onne Port. We are not sure of the health status of the people they brought into the state because they can enter Eleme and Onne communities. “This ExxonMobil matter will expose

Tambuwal

A Word for Tambuwal

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State needs to work extra hard to ensure his state does not become the new epicenter of attacks by bandits. His security vote must be properly used and bias avoided; else, this hitherto peaceful state will be worse than Zamfara and Katsina states. Fulani militias called bandits are getting stronger in Sokoto. Just last week, some local governments in the state were raided by the bandits, with dozens of people killed and thousands displaced from their homes. It was largely unreported. Few weeks back, 22 people were killed by same bandits in Dangara village, Sabon Birni Local Government Area. About 6000 indigenes of this state are now refugees in neighbouring Niger Republic. The rampaging bandits are Fulani militias. This is the truth that must be told. Tambuwal has to motivate security agents to come very hard on them. This governor surely knows what I mean. Tambuwal should also be seen putting pressure on President Buhari for better support on this crisis.

Wike

those in Abuja. I am ready for them. Rivers State is not a pariah state and we will not be. Some people want the escalation of the virus in Rivers State. People were paid to canvass a negative narrative on Carveton Pilots. We are doing what we can within available resources to fight Coronavirus.

You can fly, but as you fly and land, don’t enter our territory. People in Abuja are not happy. They want Rivers State to be infected. They want to kill Rivers people and I will not allow it. I was elected to protect Rivers people. Rivers State is not a pariah State.�

First, the arrest of the oil workers was a clear case of lawlessness because they had approval from necessary authorities to move around. Globally, the oil industry is exempted from the COVID-19 lockdown.

Staff in the oil and gas industry can work.

Nigeria is not an exception. I don’t know of any country in the world that shut its oil and gas industry because of COVID-19.

Wike’s order banning the movement of oil workers in his state is evidently absurd.

Wike’s additional claim that there was a deliberate plot by some persons

in Abuja to ensure that people in Rivers State are infected with the Coronavirus is preposterous. Haba! Why would the government at the centre do this to fellow Nigerians? What do they stand to gain?

For me, Wike was just trying to whip up sentiment. It was cheap politics. Well, common sense eventually prevailed and Wike was forced to eat humble pie, by releasing the ExxonMobil workers he abducted. His much-talked about rumble in the court did not take place. Heavens did not fall.

Before this ExxonMobil issue, Wike had viciously arrested 10 oil workers brought to Port Harcourt by Caverton Helicopter in the guise of sustaining the war against COVID-19. He also arrested and detained the two pilots that flew the helicopter to Port Harcourt for allegedly flouting his order banning the landing of aircraft in the state. All of them were arraigned and released on bail. Just imagine Wike thinking that he has the power to close Nigeria’s air space as part of the state’s measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. A state governor closing air space! Caverton had the approval of the needed federal authorities to fly, but this governor cares less. He thinks this power belongs to him. This is what too much power does to a man. Wike knows that civil aviation is on the Exclusive List and only the federal government has the authority to legislate on it, but cares less.

This kind of showoff is dangerous.

This tormenter from Obio-Akpor must learn to work with the federal government in order to tackle Coronavirus and other challenges in Rivers. Magnus Abe, who represented Rivers South-East in the Senate, was apt when he urged Wike to stop being confrontational and embrace dialogue as a means of resolving escalating issues between his administration and the federal government in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the state.

Abe said: “Wisdom is not a weakness. It is one thing to have a political dispute with an individual whose attitude and conduct a lot of people may not approve of, but it is a different matter for a sub-national entity like Rivers State to challenge the sovereignty of Nigeria at this time when we should all be working together to combat an unseen but deadly enemy. The confrontational approach of the Rivers State government will open the flood gates for conflict entrepreneurs who will use the opportunity to feather

their political and economic nest to the detriment of the state. “This conflict will not in any way help the majority of Rivers people in the fight against the coronavirus. This is not the time to settle issues of supremacy between elected and unelected functionaries of government.

The constitution gives power to both the elected and unelected officials; after all, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which has the ultimate power to decide issues in the country, is made up of unelected officials.�

When it comes to unnecessary tonguelashing, Wike is also the master. He does it persistently to the hapless people of Rivers State. One of the occasions indelible in my memory was when Wike lined up River State traditional rulers like school kids and messed them up for not coming to a meeting with their staff of office. It took place few months back. At the event, the governor further berated the traditional rulers for clapping when he announced that a bill sanctioning people who parade themselves as traditional rulers without being recognised by the governor would be sent to the state assembly.

He went further to pick on the traditional ruler of Omuma, King Onyekachi Amaonwu, for shaking his head while he was speaking: “Stop shaking your head!

You! you! You are one of those causing problem. They gave you chieftaincy, you’re a young boy, you don’t know what to do with it and then when I am speaking you’re shaking your head like this. All fake! fake! causing problem everywhere.

He will just go and wear something bigger than him; you will think he is an elderly man. I remember when I was in school, he was running around.�

That’s Wike for you. He does not even respect his own traditional rulers and their offices, but will visit Sokoto State and bow to the Sultan. What a man! This governor should channel his energy towards improving the lives of his people, instead of all these shenanigans. He should be genuinely interested in the progress of this state. Persistently fighting the federal government is not the way to go. I‘m still struggling to think of any major impact Wike has made in Rivers State in five years. While he is busy constructing three bogus/extremely expensive flyovers, roads, public schools and hospitals across the state are depreciating. It’s a shame that most homes in this rich state are without public water. So, what has Wike been doing all the while? My beloved “Governor Rivers�, you have to amend your ways.

Army 38: Military Must Obey Court Order For those who have not been following the story, sometime in June 2016, 38 senior officers were retired by the Army Council for all sorts of sham offences. Most of the affected officers were retired without query or indictment by any panel. Some were not even in the country when the alleged offences were committed. It was the height of injustice and a contravention of Army rules. The Army clearly breached its own laws by ending the careers of these brilliant officers abruptly. 30 out of the 38 senior officers appealed against their retirement and asked for reinstatement. Some said that they were not granted fair hearing, while others claimed that they were falsely accused and wrongfully retired. But the Army Council refused to budge.

In their quest for justice, some of them went to court and defeated the Army Council. Several months after the court ordered their reinstatement, the Army has refused to obey. The most recent was the judgement from the National Industrial Court (NIC), sitting in Lagos, which ordered the Army to immediately reinstate Lt. Col.

Thomas Arigbe, who was also unjustly retired in 2016.

In his judgement, Justice Paul Bassi declared Arigbe’s retirement as wrongful, unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

He ordered the Army to give the officer all his rights and privileges, including all his entitlements from when he was forcibly retired to date. The judge held that the Nigerian Army compulsorily retired the claimant without fair hearing, adding that the Army failed to place anything before the court to prove any wrong committed by the officer to warrant the compulsory retirement. The Army did not appeal this judgement. So, why have they not reinstated Lt. Col. Arigbe and others that have won in the courts?

This morning, I challenge the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, to do the needful on these cases. The Army is not above the laws of this country. One of those waiting for justice, Lt Col. Ojecho Adah Baba-Ochankpa is dead. Others must not die waiting for justice. The military must respect court orders.

Olonisakin

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NEWS

MAY DAY‌ MAY DAY‌ MAY DAY‌

Secondus, Obi, Felicitate with Workers, Appreciates SacriďŹ ces Chuks Okocha in Abuja

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and the vice presidential candidate of the party in the 2019 general election, Peter Obi have felicitated with workers in Nigeria on the International Labour Day and commended their age long sacrifice for the growth of the nation.

Prince Secondus remarked that even in the current challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigerian health workers and other essential workers had remained in the frontline taking most risks with

little or no reward.

The National Chairman said in a statement from his media office that it was unfortunate that the coming of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), had further worsened the plight of workers because of their inept approach to the economic challenges of the country.

He expressed regret that the APC administration had grossly damaged the economy with numerous actions of harassment and intimidation that scared away investors and critical players whose contributions would have been very impactful. “The workers and the poor

Ogbeide-Ihama Commends Health Workers, Seeks Better Welfare Udora Orizu in Abuja In commemoration of this year’s Worker’s Day, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama has commended health workers across the country in the forefront of the Covid-19 battle, for their selfless service to the nation.

Ogbeide-Ihama who represents Oredo federal constituency in Edo state, in a statement said despite the fact that the celebration had been dampened by the coronavirus pandemic, Nigerian workers deserves to be commended for their dedication and commitment to driving the engine that keeps the nation running.

The lawmaker also said this year’s May Day presents a good opportunity for the leadership to begin to re-examine the issues of workers’ welfare, working conditions, re-organization of administrative structures and systems.

He said, “In ideal circumstances, i should begin by saying Happy Workers Day; but these are not ideal circumstances. Despite the situation

and in line with this year’s theme ‘Stop the Pandemic’ it was important to celebrate Nigerian workers, most especially those in the health sector working to protect citizens from a ravaging enemy.� “The present pandemic has clouded our celebrations with an atmosphere of confusion, fear for our health and those of our families, expectations of a bleak economy post-covid-19, and uncertainty about whether workers will still have jobs when this is over.� “In spite of all the negative permutations, two things are key; one, the spirit of the Edo worker is strong and resolute and their passion and readiness to discharge their duties is unquestionable. Two, if provided the right leadership to work with, most of the concerns mentioned earlier would not be as troubling as they are presently.� “Times like this should awaken us to the need for creative and innovative thinking targeted at improving the lots of our dear workers. I assure you that with fresh ideas and new ways of thinking, the future holds hope and prosperity for you and your loved ones.�

Fayemi Approves Money for Vulnerable, Sick, Bereaved Workers Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

As part of the ways to fortify the cord of unity between the Ekiti State Government and workers, Governor Kayode Fayemi has promised financial help for bedridden, vulnerable and widows in the civil service to mitigate their sufferings.

Fayemi said the COVID-19 pandemic may have robbed the workers of the opportunity of celebrating with the usual fanfare and joy but it will not take away the core values of prompt payment of salaries, pensions, gratuities and the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage across board.

Fayemi spoke in a statewide broadcast to workers to celebrate the 2020 workers’ day, yesterday.

The governor said: “I have accepted the list submitted by the leadership of organised labour, Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress with details of most vulnerable, sick , those that involved in accident, widows and widowers and approved money for them as a little leverage of government support

in commemoration of this year’s May Day. “As a government, we are determined to play our part at making work and its environment conducive for Ekiti workers. This, we believe is the only way that we can inspire our workers to give in their best in the implementation of policies and programmes of our government. “I sincerely appreciate the leadership of the Service in our state for their donations to the COVID-19 account and the Food Bank. These gestures demonstrate the Public Service values of loyalty and service to the people�.

Fayemi said the labour movement in Ekiti State had been resilient and mature, sacrificial and patient, assuring that the welfare and improved working conditions of workers shall continue to be his priority. “Salaries, pensions and gratuities are being paid as and when due.

I am sure you have received your April 2020 salary and all allowances due to our health workers who are at the frontline of COVID-19 response have been paid.

in our society remain vulnerable victims of this unfortunate misrule, a situation that calls for all hands to be on deck as the nation struggles to scale the hurdle of APC,� he said.

He urged the workers to remain resolute and prayerful for God to bring light at the end of the APC tunnel. “Happy Workers Day to

you all.�

Also, Obi in his message to the workers, said, “As I felicitate with you on this special day, I am also aware that your members in the medical sector are in the frontline of the current challenges of COVID-19 pandemic as our heroes in saving lives.�

Obi said that Nigeria could not

forget the huge sacrifice of workers to the growth and development of this country.

According to the former governor of Anambra State, “I therefore wish to urge Nigerian workers to continue to strive in their struggle to secure a good future for themselves and the rest of the vulnerable poor in

our society.�

Obi described the workers as the workforce that remained the bed rock of the socio economic development of any country.

Accordingly, he said, “I urge you therefore to remain focused in you determination to help the country break the barriers of poverty and under development�.

ADC: Nigerian Workers More Committed than Govt As the world continues to battle the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the African Democratic Congress has celebrated Nigerian workers for their steadfastness and commitment to the growth of Nigeria, despite tough working conditions.

In a goodwill message to Nigerian workers, the party commended them for carrying on as true heroes of the nation, amid rising insecurity and economic hardship, occasioned by years of insensitive leadership.

A statement released yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary, Yemi Kolapo, said, “If Nigerian workers, especially the health workers on

the frontline of the intense struggle to contain the spread of COVID-19 and minimise fatalities, and others in the line of essential services, had refused to risk their lives in the face of clear uncertainties, blaming them would have been difficult. “When workers do not earn a living wage, and there is no guarantee that their dependants would not be left in abject poverty and sorrow should they pay the ultimate price, there will always be a temptation to ignore duty calls. But our health workers have demonstrated, in this instance, that they are more committed to Nigeria than those they have elected as captains of

the ship. “They abandoned their families and comfort zones for the battlefront while telling the rest of us to stay safe at home. They are aware that, like in a war situation, there is no strict assurance of returning unscathed, and that in a country, where government officials have performed more as rulers than leaders over the years, the consequences are dicey. But they have continued to lead the fight even when overall conditions of service for workers have been made worse by the many economic goofs of the ruling government. For this, we celebrate them as the indisputable

heroes of our nation.�

While recognising Nigerian workers as the tripod supporting the Nigerian economy against all odds, the party urged the Federal Government to urgently fulfill its part of pending agreements with different categories of workers in Nigeria and ensure that workers earn decent wages that could mitigate the effects of hunger in the land.

The ADC, however, commended the security agencies for stepping up their vigilance during the lockdown period but added that they needed to do more to truly protect both vulnerable and other citizens.

Ondo NLC Flays Withholding Sanwo-Olu Doubles Life Insurance for Health Workers of Workers Deductions Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State yesterday during the May Day anniversary to appreciate frontline health and emergency workers, whom he described as heroes, for sacrificing their personal well-being for the efforts at combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In appreciation of the sacrifices made by health workers in the state who he described as frontline officers against the pandemic, said “we approved a 400 per cent increment in the Hazard Allowance of Health Officers in the state for the month of April. “We have also introduced a COVID-19 Allowance for all our frontline workers, which is a very generous amount that takes cognisance of the heightened risks of the jobs they have to do. All these are intended to appreciate the dedication of all our Health Officers in the fight against COVID-19,� he said.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the state government had procured

additional life and health insurance for all frontline health workers to cater for the hazard they face in the ongoing battle against Coronavirus, bringing it to twolevel protection. This is in addition to the approval of increment in the hazard allowance of frontline emergency workers.

He said: “I should also mention that we have put in place additional health and life insurance for all our frontline health workers in the state to ensure that they are adequately insured. This gives them insurance protection on two levels. “It is only fitting that I dedicate this year’s commemoration of the Workers’ Day to celebrating the true heroes of this season, which are the health workers on the frontline of the battle against Covid-19.

Since this virus started to ravage our communities and disrupt our lives, these heroes have not just been going to work daily, they have been going to war daily against this unseen enemy.

Oyetola Salutes Osun Workers Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun has commended the Organised Labour in the state for the support and cordial working relationship they have accorded the administration since inception. He said this had contributed to the progress of the administration.

The governor who gave the commendation in an address on the occasion of the 2020 Workers Day Celebration, described the state’s workforce as the engine room of his government.

He said his resolve never to toy with workers’ welfare was informed by the injunctions of the two holy books that workers’ sweats must not dry off before they are paid their wages. “Today presents another unique

opportunity to pay tribute to our workers for their dedication and contributions to making government run smoothly. On this auspicious day, we celebrate and appreciate our workforce for their cooperation and dedication to service. “Unfortunately, the 2020 May Day came with unprecedented challenges owing to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Nonetheless, we will celebrate our workers who are the engine room that has kept our government going,� the governor said.

Oyetola also seized the opportunity to applaud front-line health workers fighting the novel Coronavirus in the state for their steadfastness and service in ensuring that the virus is contained.

James Sowole in Akure The organised labour in Ondo State yesterday frowned at the practice of the state government paying workers’ salaries and withholding deductions including cooperatives, loans and union dues.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ondo State, Comrade Oluwole Adeleye expressed the worries of the workers in a speech presented to Governor Oluwatotimi Aketedolu on the occasion of 2020 May Day. Adeleye, who presented the speech to the governor at the Government House, Alagbaka along with the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said the government was owing workers up to four months cooperative deductions which form the bulk of savings for many workers.

According to Adeleye, witholding of cooperative deduction had disrupted operations of many cooperative societies and had put many workers in untold hardships.

Adeleye therefore demanded

that government should henceforth pay full salary of workers without witholding any of the deductions because they all form bulk of workers’ salaries.

The NLC chairman, who lauded government for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of many primary school structures, urged the government to recruit primary school teachers lamenting that only one teacher and a guard are taking pupils in some schools.

Responding, Aketedolu said government would continue to prioritise welfare of workers in the state in terms of payment of salaries, promotions and other welfare packages.

The governor approved disbursement of car loan for primary school teachers in the state so that they too can enjoy what their counterparts in the core civil service are enjoying.

He said the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has commenced recruitment of teachers into primary schools.

Every Government Needs a Vibrant Civil Service, Says Niger Governor LaleyeDipo Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă‹ Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has said that every government needed a vibrant workforce that will push its policies and programmes for the overall development of the society.

Governor Sani Bello made the remark in Minna yesterday in a statement released to mark this year’s Workers Day. In the statement signed by Mary Noel Berje his Chief Press Secretary, Bello noted that civil servants were also “pivotal to the success of policy implementation of any administration “Every government needs a vibrant workforce, therefore priority attention must be accorded to the

critical role the civil service plays in good governance, because it has the onerous duty to execute government’s policies and programmes “The impact of government’s policies and programmes on the citizens is determined by whether they have been implemented excellently or shoddily. This in turn depends on the efficiency and effectiveness of the civil service,� Bello further said.

He maintained that “when the civil service is properly positioned, every aspect of government runs smoothly.�

While felicitating with workers in the state on the occasion of the 2020 Labour Day, Bello said “the Civil Service remains sacrosanct to his administration.�

SATURDAY MAY 2, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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ÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

COVID-19 AND SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS Ayo Oyoze Baje argues the need to explore alternative methods as remedy

T

he ongoing global search for sustainable solutions to raging tide of the Coronavirus pandemic brings to mind the valuable experiences gathered while growing up in the rural area in the ‘sixties. That was especially so in my father’s farmland at Ayere in the then Kabba Province of the Northern Region. They remain cherished. And the reasons are because we lived close to Mother Nature, gained from its helping hands which we still ďŹ nd useful till this day.

One of these features was the use of different herbs in the treatment of various ailments, and they proved efficacious. For instance, some of those herbs came in handy whenever a new child was born in the family. They were prepared in hot water as what the Ebiras call Enyi-Ojozi and given to the young one; to ward off several diseases.

A particular herb called ireru in Ebira language was used to prepare hot soup and given to the nursing mother to drink. The aim was to replenish the calories she lost during childbirth and reinvigorate the production of new red blood cells. Again, it worked!

Furthermore, the minor injuries sustained during cultivation and weeding of farmland as well as snake bites were treated with herbs.

Malaria fever was combated with steamed neem leaves. We drank the infusion as well as inhaled the steam, while covered with calico clothes, until we sweated all the toxins out!

This inspiring scenario therefore, brings to mind the announcement of the discovery of Corona-Organics to do away with the virus, by the President of Madagascar, Andy Rajoelina. While publicly proffering it as a cure, as he drank out of a bottle of the drug, he enthused that, it has shown “encouraging results in fighting off the coronavirus�. That was on April, 20, 2020. Not only did he lift the lockdown on three major cities in Madagascar but has gone ahead to make it compulsory for school children, given free of charge. The drug, produced at the country’s Institute of Applied Research comes as a herbal tea with Artemisia annua, as the main ingredient. It is a green, leafy plant that emits a striking smell known as sweet wormwood.

So far, it has cured the few people that it has been tested on. It gives results within seven days. One of Madagascar’s top medical doctors, Dr. Charles Andrianjara says that it should be used for prevention. Let it be noted that though the country has recorded 121 cases no death has been reported, so far. And Senegal that has taken the drug and recommended it to the citizens has had no cause for regrets.

Yes, the World Health Organization WHO) may have dismissed it with a wave of the hand, stating that there are “no short cuts� and that “tests are on the way�. But is it all the local drugs in different countries that WHO has to recommend for people to treat their peculiar health challenges? Don’t we have evidence-based herbal cures, significant to different people and places? Must all drugs for various diseases come from the western world? The answer is a concerted “no�!

The COVID-19 has come as a wake-up call to different countries to

THE DRUG, PRODUCED AT THE COUNTRY’S INSTITUTE OF APPLIED RESEARCH COMES AS A HERBAL TEA WITH ARTEMISIA ANNUA, AS THE MAIN INGREDIENT. IT IS A GREEN, LEAFY PLANT THAT EMITS A STRIKING SMELL KNOWN AS SWEET WORMWOOD

do the needful, when it comes to looking inwards to finding solutions to endemic diseases. That makes a sense of the position of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan that traditional cure to the virus is on the way.

He had earlier suggested a combination of bitter leaf, onions and parts of neem tree as a means of possible cure.

One’s candid suggestion therefore, is that instead of outright dismissal of claims to cures for the diseases, NAFDAC should come in with laboratory tests to verify such claims without political colouration.

With countries such as Cuba, Israel, India and now Madagascar coming forth with their own drugs Nigerians are waiting to know the outcome of the claim by Prof. Maurice Iwu, to having a cure. The Nigerian professor of pharamcognosy, from the University of Nigeria Nsukka(UNN) who is the Chairman of the Imo State Task Force on COVID-19 has presented the plant-based patented treatment to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. He has also forwarded it to the United States, to test its veracity in the cure of coronavirus. It was produced to cure SARS. Coincidentally, another Nigerian, Dr. Babafemi Taiwo, a medical professor who is the chief of infectious disease at Northwestern Medicine has played a major role in the development of the anti-virus drug, Remdesivir which has received the commendation of posting “fantastic result�. It was originally developed to treat Ebola virus.

The clinical trial of the drug ran with the full supervision of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases(NIAD). It has been tested on 1,063 people and has impressed Dr. Anthony Fauci who heads the agency. Said he: “The data shows that remdesivir has a clearcut, significant, positive effect in diminishing the time of recovery�.

The lessons from all these medical research trajectories are for countries to look inward for likely solutions to evolving health challenges, be proactive, decisive and fund their research institutes well.

Furthermore, they should shed themselves of inferiority complex, do more with regard to researches into the use of local herbs that have been effective in treating ailments in the past, as India has been doing.

Also, the private sector should be brought into the picture to assist in funding some researches or breathe life into useful products that have been dormant at the pilot stage. The media has an important role to play in showcasing such products of creative ingenuity to the public, because the institutes cannot afford to be speaking to themselves!

It behoves on governments - both at the state and federal levels - to sustain and build upon the infrastructure put in place to treat epidemic diseases such as the current coronavirus. Whatever happened to the previous isolation centres that came up for victims of Ebola virus back in 2014!

Again, one must emphasize the need for government to earmark more percentage of the annual budgetary allocations to healthcare delivery. A wealthy nation comes from its healthy citizens.

COVID - 19 AND 2023: AN APPEAL The authorities should ensure that rotational presidency becomes an article in a reviewed constitution, writes Evaristus Bassey

I

don’t know how many people remember Olusegun Obasanjo’s moustache before he became president of Nigeria. In fact when news broke out that Obasanjo who had just come out of prison was going to contest for the seat of the presidency of Nigeria and his photographs were awash in the press with his very native and unkempt moustache, I told my friends that I would not vote for him for no other reason than the moustache! Apparently somebody advised him to shave it, and he got my vote. I understand that when Obasanjo was being conscripted to be president, he ďŹ rst dismissed it as a joke. But the owners of Nigeria had seen that it was better to make concessions and appease the South West region, especially with the manner the June 12 elections were annulled. The strongest conspiracy theory then was that the North never wanted anyone from anywhere else to rule Nigeria and so annulled the freest and fairest election that Nigerians put aside all religious sensitivities to give a win to a MuslimMuslim ticket!

Obasanjo’s ascendancy put paid to such conspiracy theories and gave a sense of belonging to Nigerians that southerners were also born to rule. Obasanjo nearly wasted his legacy, by working for a third term, which he vehemently denies, and by foisting upon Nigerians a sick president from the North who could not complete one term in office. As an understanding had emerged that the presidency would rotate between the north and the south, when it was the turn of the North, Obasanjo, who by now had also become an owner of Nigeria, ignored very active and healthy candidates for Umaru Yar’Ardua because of sentiments. Fate fell upon Goodluck Jonathan to be president at the demise of Yar’Ardua and a child of the region that produces the wealth of the land was given the opportunity to assume leadership of Nigeria.

With hindsight, if Jonathan had finished off Yar’Ardua’s term and done only one term, perhaps we would emerge stronger as a nation. His quest

to do a second term was seen as a betrayal by the powers that be, and so a systematic vilification began to take place that trounced Jonathan’s image and made him look worse than any option available. This provided a conducive environment for anyone to have emerged as president; and with the backing of Tinubu in the South West, for the first time, Buhari made a breakthrough in his quest to rule Nigeria a second time. Because of Jonathan’s insistence on contesting for a second term, the owners of Nigeria backed off from him and aligned forces with Buhari who seemed to be the most promising candidate. Unfortunately Jonathan never emerged an owner of Nigeria.

Buhari whose first term was replete with negative indices such as a reinvigorated Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen invasions, chronic nepotism, economic downturn, kidnapping, nevertheless was still returned as elected, by INEC, because he had found a way of wrestling power from the owners of Nigeria. A new algorithm of succession, primarily based on the workings of INEC was thus firmly established, and it is whoever the new owners of Nigeria determine to be president, that will be. The new owners of Nigeria are obviously the trustees of the current presidency under General Muhammudu Buhari, who have recently lost a great descendant.

I am quite aware of the dynamics of power.

Power is never given on a platter; even Goodluck Jonathan had to struggle to assume his constitutionally provided role as Acting President and then President. Human rights, even when said to be inalienable, are always struggled for. Expectations are quite cheap to have, that power should revert to the South after it would have resided for eight years in the north under Buhari’s hand, and having moved to the south, it should go to the South-East region! The new owners of Nigeria probably see such expectations as sentimental and must chuckle each time they hear such sentiments. This is apart from the fact that the average Muslim northerner

truly believes that no non-Muslim should rule over a Muslim, except where Muslims are in a tiny minority; only the elites of the north can convince their populace that it is alright to vote for people who stand to pass urine; and if they tell the people to not vote for those people, most of them would not.

The current owners of Nigeria could argue that taking turns between north and south is a PDP arrangement and they would want to allow ‘real’ democracy to take place, where party faithful would nominate the party’s candidate, from any region!

But the truth is that, this North and South rotation has served the unity of Nigeria, it has facilitated obscuring the perception that any part of Nigeria is in bondage to another.

As long as the smart card reader is not made explicitly compulsory by law and human interferences minimized in the electoral process, the new owners of Nigeria will always have capacity to bring a president anytime from the north or anywhere else with a bogus claim of super majority status, and there is nothing any of us may be able to do about it. On behalf of ordinary Nigerians, therefore, let me appeal that they look down south after the eight years of the presidency of General Muhammadu Buhari. I see on social media persons and groups canvassing for northerners like Atiku, Sanusi, El-Rufai, etc; I appeal that for the interest of one Nigeria, let all northern candidates put their eggs in the basket of the vice-presidential ticket, in all the major parties especially the ruling party; I appeal to Atiku to go and rest.

Is it not possible that the new owners of Nigeria, while working for their self-interests, could also work for the national interest, and look for someone from the South East to be president in 2023? The way Obasanjo was shopped for, couldn’t a Nigerian from the South East be shopped for? Can’t Gov Umahi of Ebonyi be president of Nigeria? Imagine the sense of bonding and nationhood that would

emerge from such a concession! In the event that such a concession is not probable, for reasons best known to them, then for me, any southerner would be the second best option.

The danger with someone like Tinubu picking the ticket would be that we would end up with a Muslim-Muslim ticket, as the north is perhaps not advanced enough to see a Christian vice president as representative of their interests, coupled with the sardonic way northern Muslims look at Yoruba Muslims. Tinubu generates heaps of resentment on social media when he is associated with seeking the presidency; people blame him for being the main tool used in foisting Buhari on Nigerians.

Many who voted for Buhari during the second term hoped that Osinbajo would play a prominent role, and probably take over from his boss; now the perception is that he has been used and dumped.

There are many southerners that could be eligible if only the new owners of Nigeria would choose them. But why do I feel that this government will not be happy handing over to a non-Muslim?

If the only southerner aligning with the new owners of Nigeria is Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and it is either they give the presidency to him or take it to the north, I would rather a Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a southerner, be the next president of Nigeria than an Atiku Abubakar or any other northerner, until it should rotate again to the North.

With the ravages of the coronavirus, it is obvious that at the end what matters the most is one humanity. The virus has shown that all we are struggling for could go down in one fell swoop.

Abba Kyari for instance would never have believed that he wouldn’t see to the emergence of a president in 2023. So let us all know that the dynamics have changed and we should work for the good of all.

Re.Fr. Bassey, a Catholic Priest, was former National Director of Caritas Nigeria and Justice Development and Peace Commissions of the Catholic Church

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ÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Are we ready for this?

Noise Over TB Joshua’s Prayer Mountain Visit

Covid-19 and Wike’s Leadership Style

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari addressed the nation on Monday and intimated all that new guidelines as from Monday 4th May will be in force in respect of our nation’s tortuous ďŹ ght against Covid -19. He spoke like a leader who felt the pains of his people. He acknowledged the fact that people’s livelihood have been cut off. He gave hope that the economy will begin what we all know will be a slow movement of recovery. As of the time of writing this, Nigeria has over 1900 cases of the dreaded Covid- 19. He acknowledged that the lockdown of ďŹ ve weeks cannot continue for long, that there is need to balance the ďŹ ght against the virus and keeping the economy going. Unfortunately, this is a planting season that farmers should be on their farms to avoid food shortage in the future. But the truth is that it is already late, and there is no way this will not affect our food sufďŹ ciency in the future.

This lockdown has made ination so high which was admitted by the president. Above all, the president apologized to Nigerians for the hardship the measures adopted to curb the spread of the Covid- 19 virus would have caused the citizens.

While President Buhari is apologizing to Nigerians for the hardship they are facing and assuring them that life will get back to normal, Governor Nyesom Wike is threatening ďŹ re and brick stones against any one that would challenge his authority. First, he gathered journalists in what he described as a press brieďŹ ng which turned out to be a brow -beating engagement. The governor told us that even his father cannot tell him what to do. We now know that the governor does not listen to anybody.

He has imposed a total lockdown on some parts of Rivers State for violating his closure of market order. He warned that he will acquire any property whose owner allows the place to open during this total lockdown period. The suffering of the people does not matter to him. After all, according to him nobody has died of hunger before. To him there is no third term in ofďŹ ce, so why won’t he do as he pleases? The governor threatened the federal government, companies doing business in the state and just anybody. He is now going out to ensure that the total lockdown is not outed. According to the governor, people must be alive before they eat.

Possibly, he does not know that people must eat in order to stay alive. Honestly, one wouldn’t know why Wike is panicking.

The president in his nationwide broadcast imposed a nationwide curfew from 8pm to 6am every day until further notice which will start from May 4. The President hinted that what other state governors do should be in line with the position of the federal government. No

inconsistency should be allowed. By this, Wike’s indefinite lockdown of parts of Rivers State will collapse by mid night 3th May. This is because the broadcast of the President covers the entire field. What Wike does not know is that locking up people as a way of punishment is a breach of their fundamental rights. While it is expected that economic activities will start on Monday 4th May, it is not yet clear what is Wike’s plan for Rivers State. We are still talking of palliative while others are talking of opening up their economy. The said palliative we are told is being shared on ethnic basis. While this may not be confirmed as true, what is true is that the Rivers State government made a hype of the said palliative when same is a mere drop in the middle of an ocean. Governor Wike has used this period of people’s suffering to score cheap political point.

If he is not at war with the federal government, he is tongue lashing journalists for not praising his efforts in the state or he would be threatening to acquire citizens’ properties. I am not a fan of President Buhari but Wike has some leadership lessons to learn from him as far as the handling of this issue of Covid -19 is concerned.

Chimezie Elemuo, Port Harcourt

I

was mildly surprised recently to read a barrage of vitriolic tweets aimed towards none other than the amiable Pastor of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), TB Joshua. I use the term ‘mildly’ because I know he’s a controversial character whose actions usually tend to provoke strong reactions from both scales of the religious spectrum. However, the subject for this particular session of ‘online dragging’ by sharptongued critics was difďŹ cult to muster. Pictures and video had surfaced of the prominent cleric during a four-day prayer session at an “undisclosed prayer mountainâ€?, in which he offered supplications regarding the world crisis, leaders, doctors, pastors and the coronavirus pandemic.

What baffles me is how the vicious scrutiny these ‘records’ received were so utterly disproportionate to their contents and the constructive message they conveyed. The main grouse of the ‘keyboard warriors’ was the fact that a cameraman followed the cleric for his prayers and such records were subsequently presented to the public. But such argument is an almost audacious display of ignorance. It’s pertinent to point out that TB Joshua is the founder of a massive media organisation called Emmanuel TV, which commands considerable worldwide viewership.

As an Emmanuel TV viewer myself, I can attest that one of Joshua’s regular programs is a session called ‘prayer for viewers’ in which he offers a variety of

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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

prayers for his listeners, the efficacy of which is seen in the multitudinous testimonies that follow. Why then should the fact that the cleric prayed publicly for his viewers – as is his customary practice – elicit such a strange backlash? It is entirely reasonable for a ‘man of people’ of TB Joshua’s stature to inform his viewers regarding his movements and offer reassuring prayers at such a time of uncertainty and fear.

Let me equally point out that ‘the man in the Synagogue’ has an almost giddy reputation for maintaining impeccable records of his life and ministry. The documentary of his life is itself an eye-opener. When the young cleric in several open-air huts surrounded by mostly children declared the beginning of his church in 1989 – a time when his name registered zero recognition – a camera was there to record The SCOAN’s birth. What prompted such a gallant conviction if not a vision of Divine origins?

The records faithfully written in the Bible serve as the basis and inspiration for the faith of millions of believers. The technological advancements of the 21st century have simply enabled an ‘upgrade’ in the manner in which records are kept – a secret TB Joshua has clearly unlocked and championed. Pushing religious inclinations aside, all lovers of technology would agree that the quality of Emmanuel TV’s broadcasting trumps every other local channel in Nigeria. Joshua has tapped into the extraordinary potential of media and social media to reach people with his message and mission. Instead of asking why the cleric would engage in such a broadcast, the question should rather be why wouldn’t he record the prayer for his 1.7million YouTube subscribers and four million Facebook followers?

Another set of moaners on this trending topic arbitrarily quoted the Scripture in Matthew 6 that calls on believers to pray in a secret place rather than the Pharisees who prayed “to be seen by others�. This argument also falls flat under minimal scrutiny. TB Joshua was at ‘the mountain for four days – at least 96 hours – and Emmanuel TV viewers will know he has visited such hallowed grounds for pilgrimage on numerous occasions without any attendant ‘noise’.

So, why would anyone use a 15-minute clip to draw sweeping conclusions on the actions and motives of a man who sacrificed fleshly comforts in the wilderness for the purpose of prayer at a time of global crisis?

Surely all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliations, desire the end to this pandemic and its associated repercussions and thus agree with the premise of his prayers?

Finally, I dare any diligent believer to watch TB Joshua’s sermons and deny that the man is not thoroughly grounded in God’s Word with remarkable spiritual maturity!

Tawia Acheampong, Accra, Ghana

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 2, 2020

SUPER SATURDAY

Nneka

Erica

Chiney

Nigeria’s Ogwumike Household

The First Family of American National Women’s Basketball Just 15 days ago, the New York Liberty selected Nigerian-American Erica Ogwumike as the 26th pick in the 2020 U.S. Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft, and traded her to the Minnesota Lynx. Erica, 22, joins her other two elder sisters, Nneka and Chiney, who are stars in the WNBA, playing for Los Angeles Sparks. This is the first time three siblings will be playing in the WNBA, and the Ogwumike sisters originally from Imo State are feeling great about this historic feat, reports Ferdinand Ekechukwu

T

he expression that captured her mood amid her siblings was euphoric.

Nigerian-American Erica Ogwumike worked so hard to ensure she is drafted by the US Women National Basketball Association (WNBA). Erica shared via Instagram the proud moment her name was called up a fortnight ago. The youngest of the Ogwumike basketball sisters, who hitherto tagged along for her older sisters’ WNBA games, and had immersed herself in the league at a young age, could not easily get over the announcement that her future will also be included in the WNBA. Her backup plan as a student-

athlete was set on going to medical school and becoming a doctor if her name hadn’t been called. “But Erica is so much more than just the little Ogwumike sister. She’s done a tremendous job of making that clear ever since her childhood days at Staples Center, Texas. Erica will be finishing up an anatomy class in the coming weeks as she waits the day she can arrive in Minneapolis for training camp,” a sport report noted. The Lynx’s newest acquisition graduated from Rice University in May of 2019, but her current class is just “for fun.”

No one influenced Erica’s interest in science and medicine. Now she’ll be the first of the Ogwumikes to pursue a medically-related

field if she chooses to do so after her WNBA career. The former Rice women’s basketball star was selected in the third round (No. 26 overall) in the WNBA draft.

She was drafted by the New York Liberty, before having her rights traded to the Minnesota Lynx. One of the most decorated Owls in Rice women’s basketball history, Erica became the fourth Owl in the history of Rice women’s basketball programme to be taken in the draft.

Prior to that, Erica in the past season played with a fourth Ogwumike sister, Olivia, at Rice University.

Expectations had followed Olivia and Erica since they lit up the scoreboard at Hamilton Middle School, with Olivia reaching the 200-point

milestone in 2010 and Erica surpassing 250 in eleven certificates that still proudly hang in the family’s trophy room. They never had their older sisters’ height, but they shined with versatility, high basketball IQ and creativity. Erica was drawn to the field after inquiring with the Owls’ team physicians and finding out their work atmosphere was similar to the one she’d experienced on the court.

Erica spent her freshman year at Pepperdine University before playing her final three years of eligibility at Rice. She also joins her two sisters Nneka and Chiney, forwards with the Los Angeles Sparks, in the WNBA. Heading into the draft, Erica has been able to lean

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 2, 2020

15

SUPERSATURDAY The First Family of American National Women’s Basketball...

Nigeria’s Ogwumike Household - Chiney, Erica, Olivia and Nneka on her sisters for advice. She says she’s asked about 3,000 questions. But what’s been equally valuable has been having a front-row seat to the success of her sisters. Nneka Ogwumike, a 2016 WNBA champion and MVP, has become the President of the WNBA Players Association, and Chiney Ogwumike, a former rookie of the year and two-time All-Star, also works as a sports analyst at ESPN. The older Ogwumike siblings who both are stars for the Los Angeles Sparks and former No. 1 overall WNBA draft picks, attended Stanford University, never failed to always encourage their younger sister to be herself and never take a backseat to themselves or anyone, for that matter. “They always supported me since the beginning,” Erica said. “They never compared me to them, and they’ve just always been really supportive of anything that I’ve done. That also made it really easy to just be myself.” But, even as she navigates her own path, she still carries some of her sisters’ best qualities. At 5’9, Erica won’t be following in her sisters’ footsteps of playing the forward position, but that won’t keep her from racking up rebounds just like her sisters.

Erica averaged over nine rebounds per game in all three years of her Rice career and partially credits her Ogwumike genes for her rebounding gift. “I think it partially is genetics,” Erica said.

“I also think I learned in college of course timing comes into it; my sisters have taught me that, my coaches have taught me that, but it’s also just hard work and just going after it. I think once I realised no one can really stop me from getting this ball.”

Another report had observed that seemingly few had gotten in Erica’s way thus far. She knows making the Lynx’s roster will present

unforeseen challenges and that she’ll need to become a more efficient shooter if she wants to make it in the league.

But she’s ready for the task ahead and is confident in what she has to offer. “I’ve watched my sisters prepare for it, I know what they had to do to get to that level - to physically get there and also mentally get there,” Erica said. “So I think just having that knowledge is something that can probably help me in training camp when I’m trying to make a roster because being prepared is always something that makes people confident. Maybe I’ll be able to come into training camp with a bit more confidence because of that.”

A few years ago, Erica didn’t believe professional basketball was a part of her future at all.

Her path to the WNBA draft had been far different from that of her sisters - from her position to her hype in high school and to the college she attended. Despite winning a state title in high school and being named MVP of the championship game, Erica said she didn’t receive as much attention as other players in her state. But while she wasn’t ranked as a top-10 recruit in the country, she played on an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) club team that included top players who recently won a national championship.

It wasn’t until her sophomore season, after transferring from Pepperdine, to Rice that Erica began to see a future in hoops. She’d go on to become one of the top players in Conference USA and led Rice to its first ranking in the AP Top 25 last season. Erica ended her three-year college career as a two-time conference player of the year. Besides her ability to score, averaging 19 points this season, Erica is one of the best rebounding guards in the nation.

Erica credits her parents, Peter and Ify Og-

wumike, for raising four young women with so much to offer the world and the sport they love.

Last December, she started a YouTube channel to jump-start her own brand. Erica would posts videos on the channel, titled D1 to Dr., about how to beat the Medical College Admission Test, life as a pre-med student-athlete and other topics. While practicing social distancing at home during the pandemic, Ogwumike says she has been inspired by the medical response she’s seen across the country from doctors, nurses and first aid. It’s only further stoked her passion for the medical field.

The Ogwumike siblings

There’s no weak link on #TeamOgwumike.

“Hurricane Nneka,” as her sisters call her, leads the pack. The four-time All-Star for the Los Angeles Sparks at 6’2”, Nneka, 30, is a beast on the boards, even if she’s a grandma off the court.

She played for team USA at the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women, helping team USA beat Spain 77–64 in the gold medal game.

The second-oldest of the Ogwumike sisters, and a broadcaster, Chineyen, 28, at 6’3” is a doubledouble machine that explodes with energy on defense.

Olivia, 24, is a hybrid who can bang inside and drill threes from deep. Erica, 22 is the baby, the shortest and the family’s only guard, but she attacks the basket and scores at will at 5’9”.

The Ogwumikes are the type to play next-afternext-after-next-after-next-after-next in pickup, looking bewildered when everyone else in the gym starts taking off their kicks to call it quits.

Hip-hop freaks, all four Ogwumike women, whose last name means “warrior” in Igbo, their native Nigerian dialect, are regarded hoop-loving sisters.

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NEWS

FG to Inspect Obalende Bridge after Petrol Tanker Fire tOne dies as UBA Firemen to the rescue Bennett Oghifo, Ugo Aliogo and Rebecca Ejifoma The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Adedamola Kuti, has said they would inspect the Obalende Bridge to ascertain the extent of damage, if any, following an unfortunate fire caused by a tanker laden with petrol that fell and exploded yesterday evening.

Fire that resulted from the fallen tanker led to the death of one person and injured others while the fire department of the United Bank for Africa fought gallantly to put out the fire.

Kuti told THISDAY last night that they needed to see the scene clearly during the day and that they would be on ground at Obalende this morning to determine if the fire affected the

structural integrity of the bridge.

The tanker fire, according to eye witness account, occurred under a section of bridge directly opposite a petrol station.

Confirming the gravity of the incident to THISDAY last night, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu said the fire incident occurred in front of NNPC Filling Station, Obalende, Ikoyi.

He said in a text message that at “2100hrs 01 May 2020, the Agency received a distress call on the above (tanker fire) incident concerning a 45,000 litre capacity tanker loaded with PMS (premium motor spirit), which was ablaze having fallen on its side directly

in front of the petrol station."

He said efforts to combat the flames by the agency's officials and men of the Lagos State Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service were successful and that the fire had been extinguished and the station and surrounding buildings protected. “Unfortunately, the inferno has resulted in a single fatality, 15 minor casualties and one major casualty who happens to be a Lagos State Firefighter. He has been subsequently transferred to the Lagos State General Hospital for treatment while minor casualties received on the scene medical attention. “We appeal for calm and urge members of the public to keep away and allow the responders to conclude recovery when we

will be able to clear the road for vehicular traffic. We regret any inconvenience caused.�

Another eye-witness told THISDAY that the Lagos State Fire department was alerted to the fire outbreak and on arrival, the Lagos State Fire Department was overwhelmed by the raging inferno.

However, following a distress call, the UBA fire service department raced to the scene and within minutes, was able to deploy its state-of-the-art, newly acquired fire-fighting equipment to bring the fire under control, a feat that immediately elicited a rousing ovation from the appreciative crowd who started chanting the name of the bank Recall that, in line with global safety standards, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc;

REWARD FOR EXCELLENCE...

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde receiving award of Excellence from Oyo State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Titilola Sodo, during the 2020 Workers Day celebration held at NLC State Secretariat, Ibadan

Buhari Mourns Renowned Economist,Teriba Omololu Ogunmade Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday condoled with the academia, family and friends of renowned economist, Professor Owodunni Teriba, who passed on at the ripe age of 82.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the president lauded

what he described as the can-do spirit of the deceased, whom he said studied privately for his advanced level education and obtained Bachelor of Science in Economics at the University of Ibadan in 1962.

According to the statement, Teriba obtained a scholarship for further studies in the University of Manchester, United Kingdom,

where he earned Masters in Economics in 1963 and PhD in the same discipline in 1965.

The statement added: "Prof Teriba returned to the University of Ibadan in 1966 as a senior lecturer, and was Head of the Department of Economics from 1975 – 1985.

"President Buhari says the deceased stamped his authority

IsokoRainstormTragedy,Ex-CommissionertotheRescue Omon-Julius Onabu Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹ĂŒĂ‹ FormerHousingCommissionerin Delta State, Mr Joseph Ogeh, has broughtsomesuccourtoresidentsof IyedeinIsokoNorthLocalGovernment Area of the state following a rainstorm which devasted the communityattheweekend,leaving a teenager dead and hundreds of houses destroyed.

He has offered to replace the roofs of the Iyede Community Town Hall, which was among the buildings destroyed by the storm as some high-tension electric poles

collapsed on the building and fence.

Moreover, Ogeh has commissioned and mobilised officials of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to replace the damaged electricity poles and restore power to the affected communities.

Contractors working on the repairs of the town hall meeting have also mobilised to site, Hon. Nelson Egware, media aide to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, confided to THISDAY in Asaba yesterday.

While commiserating with the family of the deceased, Ogeh who is an architect said, "This intervention,

which involves changing 30 electric poles, 20 high-tension and 10 lowtension as well as repairs of part of the roof and changing of PVCs ceiling of the Town Hall at Oghara-Iyede, will cost millions of naira.

"I took the decision to intervene because the community can't afford to be in darkness when they have sons like me. So, in thehe next couple of days we will restore electricity to the affected communities and am glad to inform you that the people are quite pleased with our swift response as BEDEC has already commenced work on the project."

on areas like economic principles, monetary, fiscal and development economics, which he taught for many decades. He was also at various times a Visiting Scholar and External Examiner at several universities in Nigeria, the USA, and other parts of Western, Eastern and Southern Africa.

"While on sabbatical from the University of Ibadan, Teriba began working as a consultant to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In 1985 he became the Senior Regional Adviser to the Member States of the Commission on economic surveys, research and planning. He also served as the Commission’s Chief Economist and Director, Socio-Economic Research and Planning Department in 1989, with broader managerial functions and responsibilities until his retirement in 1998.

"According to President Buhari, Teriba hoisted Nigeria’s flag proudly wherever he went, and posterity would be quite kind to him."

Abdulrasaq Frees 101 Inmates in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, has granted executive pardon to 101 inmates at Oke-Kura Maximum and Mandala Medium correctional centres in the state.

The release was in line with the directive of the federal government for the decongestion of prisons across the country as part of efforts towards curtailing the Coronavirus pandemic in the nation.

Speaking with journalists yesterday in Ilorin on the development, the State Comptroller of Correctional Service, Mr. Adebisi Francis, said that 83 of the total number of inmates who benefited the government gestures were released outrightly.

Francis said that the sentences of two inmate were also reduced from eighty years to 10 years while 16 condemned inmates were reduced to life imprisonment.

He urged the freed inmates to always shun all criminalities and be useful to the society at large.

He added that state had given the inmates second chance and they should return their gesture by contributing their quotas to the society.

He said further that the beneficiaries were those that had served 75 per cent out of their jail term, those with challenge and aged inmates.

Francis, however, appreciated the governor for giving the freed inmates palliative that would aide their incorporation into the society.

Kyari: League of Yorubaland, Edo, Delta Imams, Alfas Commiserate with Buhari The League of Immams and Alfas of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states have commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari on the death of his Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari.

The league, in its letter of condolence, quoted the Quran 2:154: “And Say Not of those who are slain in the way of Allah. They are dead. Nay They are living. Though Ye Perceive Not.�

The league commiserated with the president personally and the nation in general “over the tragic death of a beloved brother, your friend and your devoted Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari. “Judged by his personal relationship of over 40years with Your Excellency, his rare commitment and loyalty to your presidency in particular and the Nation in general, there is no gain-saying that his death at this critical point in time will be devastating to you. May Allah (SWT) adequately console you, his family, the Muslim Ummah and the Nation in general for his sudden departure from this planet.�

As Muslims, one of the cardinal

points of our faith at a time like this is the reality that “We all came from Allah and to Him shall we all return,� the statement said. “We are further admonished to thank Allah in all circumstances.

We must therefore thank the Almighty Allah for his eventful and fulfilled life.�

The Imams and Alfas said in the past five years, Malam Abba Kyari had placed his enviable experiences in both the public and private sectors at “the services of Your Excellency, the nation, and the entire humanity. Above all, he was a shining ambassador of the Muslim Ummah in both his public and private lives. “It is an irony of circumstaces that he died of corona virus infection which he contacted while on national service abroad. “This definitely makes him a martyr of our national cause. We beseech the Almighty Allah to forgive all his transgressions and grant him Aljanat Firdauz,� said the condolence message signed by the Baba Adinni, Ogun State, Baba Adinni, Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states.

ASUU Berates AGF, Says BVN Demand for Payment against CBN Act Kemi Olaitan Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ‹ĂŽĂ‹Ă˜ The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), yesterday describedasanactofillegalitythe requestbytheAccountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, thatlecturerswhohadbeendenied their salaries should submit their Biometric Verification Number (BVN) to effect payment.

The union in a May Day release issued in Ibadan by the Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter, Prof. Ayo Akinwole entitled, 'This Mountain Shall be Removed' said it remained committed to the reasons it is currently on strike which are the revitalisation of public universities through adequate funding, renegotiation of her agreements with government, full implementation of outstanding agreements and payment of academic earned allowances from 2012 till date, as well as ensuring that visitation panels are constituted to visit the universities.

It maintained that it was not on strike because of IPPIS but because of the lamentable infrastructure, unfulfilled agreements and demeaning welfare system of Nigerian intellectual community.

President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that all lecturers being owed February and March salaries be paid.

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MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION/RELATIONSHIP

BY

‘Criminals & Hoodlums’ Pleonastic

D

AILY Sun Front Page Banner of April 15 welcomes us today with this schoolboy howler: “Lockdown: anxiety as criminals, hoodlums terrorise (terrorize, preferably) Lagos, Ogunâ€? Without much ado, hoodlums are criminals! “StarTimes develop (develops) videos to curb fake newsâ€? StarTimes is a pay TV operator. “Soldiers take over troubled spotsâ€? Let peace reign: trouble spots. “Post election violence spreadsâ€? Towards a better life for the people: Post-election violence‌. â€œâ€Ślost his life in a ghastly auto crash in Greece.â€?

It was a fatal (not ghastly) accident. “President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, expressed sadness over the sporadic violent protest (protests)‌.â€?

The next headline blunder is from last week’s edition of this medium: “Police arrest four over Maiduguri explosionâ€? Do we arrest the entire editorial team for (not over) lexical recklessness? “Bribery enthrones mediocrity and crucify merit.â€? The Tabernacle of bribery crucifies merit. “Gang up against Buhari will failâ€? Phrasal verb: gang up; noun: gang-up (which applies here). “We were treated to another similar incidence.‌â€? All newspapers should know the difference between ‘incidence’ and ‘incident’ (which applies here). “Although the governor’s last minute romance with the main opposition party is held against him.‌â€? Saturday People: last-minute (take note of the hyphen) romance “Thus, a core investor‌with regards to optimal use of the machinery.‌â€? (THE GUARDIAN, March 12) Either: as regards or with regard to‌. “In the heydays of the goggled General when fuel was often unavailable‌â€? (THE GUARDIAN, March 20) Stranglehold of oil workers: heyday (uncountable). “Last year, many houses of the Igbo in Ajegunle, a suburb of Lagos, were razed down.‌â€? No word abuse: simply razed (not razed down). Discard the contrary views by some registers!

Yet another headline gaffe: “Restrictions on

inter-bank foreign exchange trading is (are) killing the market.� “Armed robbers now have good company– street thugs and unofficial vigilante groups.�

(THE GUARDIAN, March 20) Democracy as a disincentive: vigilance groups. “PDP points accusing fingers at INEC‌.â€?

(DAILY SUN, March 20) People in the news: PDP points the finger. No obtuse addition. “Nigeria is at a crossroadâ€? (VANGUARD, March 20) Fixed expression: at a/the crossroads. “Stationeries badly needed by.‌â€? (DAILY INDEPENDENT, March 20) ‘Stationery’ is non-count. “But what appears criminal is the desire of these off-springs of.‌â€? (DAILY INDEPENDENT, March 20) ‘Offspring’ does not take any inflection. The next three goofs are from VANGUARD of March 20: â€?‌the process of economic integration from which will emerge an economic block (bloc).‌â€? “There is a tussle going on between these two (would it have been three?) arms of government.â€? “Globacom sets (set) to rule domestic marketâ€? (Nigerian Tribune, March 20) “I have been briefed that the wrangling among the leaders of PDP are (is) over.â€?

(SUNDAY VANGUARD, March 29) BusinessDay of April 2 disseminated an embarrassing impropriety: “Now that the Police has (have) taken over the supervision of the‌.â€? â€œâ€Śand ensure it does not reoccur again.â€?

(THE GUARDIAN, April 2) ‘Reoccur again’?

Run for cover, my dear reader! Just recur. Recur, recurrence, recurrent. Occur, occurred, occurrence. “Lack of incentives anger (angers) local manufacturers� (THE GUARDIAN, April 2) “They provide temporary relief.� (Source: as above) ‘Temporary relief? I strongly object to that clumsy expression because there is no permanence in ‘relief’.

THE PUNCH of April 2 circulated three solecisms: “The patients pay for each act of ‘healing’ through their noses.â€? Get it right: they pay through the nose. “At the launching programme in Abuja.‌â€?

Get it right: At the launch in Abuja “A cursory look at the figures show (shows)

that.‌�

Daily Sun of April 1 circulated copious shibboleths: “The end point is that people wait for between three to five hours to pay in their drafts.â€? English without tears: between three and five hours. “With the attainment of the highest office at any strata of government‌.â€? Singular: stratum; plural: strata. “It may be difficult for Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu to resurrect again politically after his disastrous outing in the just-concluded presidential elections.â€? Please, yank off ‘again’ in the interest of lexical sanity and our democracy. “They better not rely on INEC.â€? This way: They had better not rely on INEC. “Like (As) we had said at various forums.‌â€? “So, the government cannot ask the Supreme Court to interprete the law.â€? Spell-check: interpret. â€œâ€Śthe reduction in the number of road accidents and causalities.â€? This way: casualties. “...to that extent, we shall congratulate its authors for (on/upon) hearing the deafening cry of Nigerians for an effective legislature.â€?

(Nigerian Tribune, April 2) â€œâ€Śwere simultaneously a continuation of the power-bloc struggle in Nigeria and unanticipated fallouts from that struggle.â€?

(DAILY INDEPENDENT, April 2) ‘Fallout’ is uncountable. “Out-of-control trailer crushes 15 persons to deathâ€? When people are crushed by a trailer, they cannot be alive except there is divine intervention. So, ‘crushed to death’ smacks of lexical insensitivity. This way: Out-of-control trailer crushes 15 persons “The unprecedented onslaught against PDP faithfuls and other citizens‌.â€? ‘Faithful’ is uncountable. â€œâ€ŚCJN yesterday read a riot act to judicial officers nationwide, threatening to dismiss anyone caught perverting justice.â€? Fixed expression: read the Riot Act. “Buhari,APC plot take over of S/Eastâ€? Noun: takeover (which applies here); phrasal verb: take over. “APC, PDP in neck-to-neck battleâ€? Get it right: neck-and-neck battle. “Tomplo Boys lay siege on Shomolu, Barigaâ€? This

Kano’s COVID-19 Mess: Alarming Prognostications of An Unsung Patriot

M

ore often than not, one is best advised to take most posts on the social media with more than a pinch of salt, and a dab of cinnamon.

Taking countless alarming and hysterical hypotheses, conspiracies, theories, formulas and all what not with anything short of cynicism has the obvious tendency to turn you into an emotional and psychological wreck - especially since the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus disease (aka COVID-19).

Some times though, some gems peeled through the murk, and retain some level of maturity, and a hint of factuality, for you to act or, at worst, embark on further interrogation. At other times, it ends in a howler - like the “Coronavirus was man-made� bunkum allegedly floated by a distinguished Japanese scientist - and Nobelist to boot Prof. Tasuki Hunjo. It turns out that though there exists such a man, in an arcane area of medicine, living and teaching in Japan, he never made that viral and paradigm-shifting declaration! It is bewildering that a faux statement could be dredged out by an obviously well-grounded and intelligent individual, without scruples about the propensity to detract and delude millions around the world into hate-fueled aggression transfered towards nationals of “implicated� countries. That is one extreme.

Another is a long piece attributed to one Dr. Abdullahi Mohammed with a searingly incisive appraisal of the fumblings and headless-chicken-like perambulations of both the Kano State government’s approach to combating the pandemic, and the opaque round-about command structure of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

This is a post you hope is not real, and at once pray that it is correct, such that in exposing the fool-hardiness of our administrators, it will also create an opportunity to reverse and review silly unprofitable procedures and irresponsible attitudes. In other words, if Mohammed’s diatribe is genuine, a window is thrown open to ameliorate the unfortunate missteps of the past months, and to quickly invest smart inputs that can deactivate the waiting catastrophe.

However, if it is proven that it was not penned by the good doctor (we suspect it’s a num de plum), but most of the information therein were correct, unlike the Hunjo hoax, then we have an unknown Patriot to thank for unearthing what is nothing short of monumental mismanagement and criminal lack of organisational intelligence in state and national response to emergencies.

There is a Dr. Abdullahi Mohammed listed on the worldwide medical biometric portal of medpages.info as an endocrinologist in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, an adjunct of Bayero University, Kano. Medpages is described as “the definitive source of health

care provider contact information in Africa�, with a database which “contains 429,229 actively managed healthcare provider records�.

Apart from being viral on social media in the past few days, a couple of blogs have carried the article, “Fight Against Covid-19 In Nigeria: Matters Arising�, without any backlash disclaimer... yet.

We, here, will therefore hazard an attempt to invest the article with enough seriousness by interrogating its pronouncements and condemnations, hoping that if these allegations were true, then appropriate actions should be taken, missteps corrected and issues contextualized promptly, to avoid certain catastrophic consequences.

Copious relevant excerpts from the articles are necessary for elucidation and immediate response, while we make brisk commentaries as accompliments. “First and foremost, I faulted the composition of the committee ab initio and I am now (being) increasingly vindicated. The committee has majority politicians and public servants. The two medical personnel in the committee aside from the Health Minister are Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, who is the Head of NCDC and Dr. Sani Aliyu.

Dr. Chikwe is a public health expert and Epidemiologist while Dr. Sani Aliyu is a Microbiologist. I have no problems with both (being) members of the committee as they are both needed and ably qualified. But curiously and dangerously, no representatives of the umbrella bodies of Nigerian medical professionals like NMA, MDCAN, NARD and JOHESU. The implications of this is that the necessary clinical content of the operational template of the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria wasn’t captured by both the federal and state Covid-19 committeees.�

(True. Apart from the three men mentioned of the 13-member Committee, the fourth, a non-Nigerian, is the WHO country representative, Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu. Realising the unwise shallowness of its composition, the FGN should have reached out to the grand old eggheads of the Nigerian Academy of Sciences, if wary of the combative and sometimes disruptive tendencies of the above-mentioned medical “activists�). “The NCDC’s jobs ends with testing and movement of positive cases to the isolation centres. What happens next is by the medics in the frontline (who) are not sufficiently carried along in design and operations. And no funds or provisions made for the federal health institutions, for instance, to embark on local re-adjustments that would help in combating COVID-19 plague.

Critically, the melting point of public health services and the clinical management of the suspected Covid-19 patients is the provision for HOLDING AREAS in all the federal health institutions as well as all the states health facilities. Holding areas in hospitals would have allowed for holding suspected cases presenting to hospitals safely in designated holding areas/wards, away from regular patients, to

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

way: lay siege to Shomolu, Bariga “JTF arrests four over (for) illegal bunkering in Warriâ€? (DAILY INDEPENDENT Headline, January 21) â€œâ€ŚAfrica’s richest man beseigedâ€? Spell-check: besieged. Nigerian Tribune of January 23 did not confirm its self-adulation: “Under him, the body which comprised of eight countries grew to become 49.â€? The pride of Lagos-Ibadan press: expunge ‘of’ from the extract. “It seems the bickering between the two unions is deepening.â€? (DAILY TRUST, January 23) We can conveniently do without ‘two’ in this excerpt because of its irrelevance. “They are little aware that our great men of yesteryears were able to achieve.‌â€? (Leadership, January 23) What has happened to the reputation of excellence? ‘Yesteryear’, just like ‘heyday’, is uncountable. â€?Bandits kill two police, injure three others in Lagosâ€? One of these: policemen, police officers, constables or cops; not just ‘police’.

Vanguard of January 23 bungled two expressions: “They would rather kill themselves over who is superior‌.â€? Friends of the Niger Delta: They would rather kill one another. It is not yet a suicidal stuff. “But the governor has stuck to his gun, insisting that his action is perfectly constitutional.â€? (THISDAY, January 23) Stuck to his guns (not gun) FEEDBACK Dear Ebere, Do not let the incorrigible nature of colleagues of yours discourage you. It is disheartening that a number of errors you painstakingly correct on a weekly basis are still made by them repeatedly. They have defiantly remained incorrigible. Take for instance this recurring blunder which you have corrected copious times: ‘The beverage industry which is gradually warming (worming) its way back into the hearts consumers...’. The phrasal verb ‘warm your way into something’, though disapproving, means ‘to make somebody like you or trust you in order to gain some advantage for yourself. In this context, the verb ‘worm’is needed, not ‘warm’. –––Dr. Stanley Nduagu/08062925996

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

allow for their management in safe clinical situations pending the availability of their coronavirus test results. So that positive cases will then be moved to isolation centres while the negative cases will be returned to regular wards. This will substantially save everybody including the highly exposed health personnel.�

(If this statement represents the real situation in any form or shape, that should be classified as irresponsible, negligent and downright unintelligent. It makes sense for all healthcare centres to be mobilised and restructured to receive all patients to a sieving unit [holding areas] and thereafter be tested [not the superficial temperature gun] to know their covid status, and thus decide who goes to the isolation centres, and who is referred to the regular out-patient process. It is just commonsensical, isn’t it?) “Based on the aforementioned, this is the aspect that is responsible for the entire failure of (Kano State Government) approach in handling the coronavirus pandemic. Majority of private hospitals in Kano have strategically shut down. Most public hospitals that were not strategically positioned to fight coronavirus have also tactically stopped receiving patients. The only option available to them is to direct patients to AKTH (Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital), which is also not strategically positioned to handle the challenges in terms of organizational rearrangement, facilities and manpower to handle the situation. It is interesting to note that AKTH for instance wasn’t positioned in the template of both Federal and KNSG to handle COVID-19 cases. So no holding area provided and now AKTH ran into troubles with handling the large number of patients (being) pushed to them of which majority have classical Covid-19 signs and symptoms mixed with patients with other serious illnesses.�

(Is this true? Was the Ganduje government aware of this clinical anomaly, and yet was crying all over the place about Federal negligence?) “Again, the PTF COVID-19 committee failed to get inputs from the experts in the field to design our national template. They also failed to input our local peculiarities in their template that will factor in our ailing health institutions and systems and most importantly the KAP (Knowledge, Attitude and Practices) of our people. For instance, if you are designing a template for a relatively naive Northern Nigeria, you must factor in religion and harmful cultural practices and unnecessary dangerous disbelief in western interpretations of situations like this.�

(Excellently well put - the sad note that this scenario was ever allowed to fester is a massive thumps down for our public healthcare architects).

18

SATURDAY MAY 2, 2020 •T H I S D AY

SATURDAY MAY 2, 2020 • T H I S D AY

19

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˜ ˞ MAY 2, 2020

PERSPECTIVE/TRIBUTE

Fani-Kayode: A Spy? Really?

Solomon K. Musa

T

he article, ‘Femi Fani- Kayode: the Spy Who Fooled Us,’ written by one Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi captured my attention. Femi Fani-Kayode a Spy? A Spy? Really? I gobbled the article quickly, searching for proofs of betrayal. The author “exposedâ€? FFK as “Judas Iscariot‌ with 30 pieces of silver in his pocketâ€?. The proofs: that FFK is heir apparent of a traitorous lineage who has been “feeding fat at Kyari’s kitchenâ€? like his father did at the expense of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo; that FFK wrote a glowing tribute at Kyari’s death; that he revealed his friendship with Kyari for over four decades; that he was “lightly dealt with by this government with his bad case with EFCCâ€?; and, inter alia, that FFK “Knows what was really going on in this countryâ€?.

With the above “heavy forensic evidence� the author found against FFK, pronounced him guilty and sentenced him to bear the title of “Judas Iscariot� for life.

Let me say from the outset that I met FFK one-on-one only once in life. I have not had any other privilege of meeting him again except at public gatherings. From 2015-date Southern Kaduna, the Middle Belt and great parts of the Southern States came under serious Fulani terrorist attacks erroneously dubbed “Farmers-Herders conflict� or “Fulani herdsmen� attacks. Several otherwise vociferous voices went mute. Very few voices rose to the occasion. One clear, strident, bold voice of hope was that of Chief Femi FaniKayode.

I cannot forget, nor will I chose to close my eyes to the fact that when we needed friends and voices all across the land, particularly across River Niger and Benue to sound the alarm and to trumpet our agony, our lamentations and our story, FFK did not play the ostrich. At great risk to his safety and life, he cried with us; No, he did not cry with us, he used his voice as a loudspeaker to echo our cries while crying with us so that our story reverberated all across Nigeria and the whole world. Our cries were his cries; our pains were his pains; our sufferings were his sufferings.

He left no one in doubt where he stood: Was it the genocide in Goska and other parts of Southern Kaduna?

He spoke; the denials against Southern Kaduna? He spoke.

The assassination of the Agom Adara? Chief FFK Spoke. As the then President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union (SOKAPU) an umbrella body of 56 ethnic nationalities of Southern Kaduna, I visited and thanked FFK for his contributions to our existential challenge. That was the only time I met him.

Fani-Kayode Back to Akinyemi’s facts relied upon to conclude and convict FFK of betrayal. His “facts� were that since FFK knows what was going on in this country that is enough to secure a conclusion of treachery. Well, all serious journalists to good causes the world over are then Judas Iscariots; Journalists of the ilk of Christian Amanpour; late Dele Giwa; Zainab Badawi will all be convicted in the court of Dr. Akinyemi.

FFK was in prison custody, Sowore was in prison custody, Abiri Jones was in prison custody, Supreme Court Justices were detained by the EFCC some like FFK and the Supreme Court Justices were released on bail or their cases decided in their favour. Is heavy handed dealing and conviction at all cost the only proof of innocence or of not being fifth columnists? How “bad� is FFK’s case? Akinyemi should elucidate with more facts, please.

Another “grievous� charge against FFK is his friendship with Kyari for over 40 years and his knowledge of what was really going on in this country. I may be wrong, but when Germany was divided into Eastern and Western Germany

as well as Korea into Northern and Southern Korea, families and friends were divided by the war, but their kinship and friendship never ceased. Was FFK expected to throw overboard all friends that he disagreed with? Sometimes having and maintaining friendship with people even in the “enemies� camp come in handy to save lives. Ask David and Hushai 2 Samuel 15:32-34.

Journalists have told me that certain times their information were sourced from the most unlikely places. As the then President of SOKAPU (up to 2019), I found this to be true.

Two men revealed certain information to me antithetical to the interest of our killers, terrorists and their sponsors.

Those that revealed the detail information are part of them.

They are alive. I am not at liberty to jeopardize them by revealing our discussion. I may reveal the information in future memoirs or when they are dead, but certainly not now. Ask journalists. They sometimes leash themselves from disclosing all information available to them. It is not all information that you have that you reveal to the public.

You censor yourself for the protection of your informants; for the protection of the source of your information; and for the protection of those the information will benefit. If you share every information you have, you will soon realize that nobody will trust a basket as a container for water. Your information source will dry. So also, will the protection of what you hold dear through the improper release of sources of information atrophy. While Kyari was alive, was FFK expected to disclose to the world their relationship? No Sir. That would have been infantile.

Another “proof� of treachery is the fact that FFK is heir apparent of a traitorous lineage. I do not want to comment on how true or false that assertion is, however, assuming without conceding that it is true that FFK’s father betrayed the Yoruba race, can Akinyemi swear with any holy text that his own forebears were saints? Assuming any of his forebears was a cultist, a ritualist, a murderer, a thief, will anyone be right to impute the same character to Dr. Akinyemi?

Perhaps Akinyemi has carried out a historical survey of his lineage and found all his forebears to be above board? His answer will educate us.

Lastly, Akinyemi asserted that FFK has lined his pockets with “30 pieces of silver� and fed fat at Kyari’s kitchen. I give up. I am not in a position to comment, however, I will like to ask Akinyemi the question: “Sir, what were you doing in that kitchen?�

It will be interesting to ask Akinyemi to substantiate his “facts� further. ––Barr. Musa is former President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU).

Mohammed Goni: Requiem for a Statesman Inuwa Bwala

F

ormer Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Mohammed Goni who died recently was like the baobab tree: nobody can describe him holistically from a single standpoint, rather, one could only describe him from what one sees, and others from their own view side. Those who knew him more closely described him as the humblest of them all: honest and unassuming: practical and pragmatic. I have not had the privilege of coming very close to him or interacting with him on any issue. I can therefore only speak about him from what I know of him as former Governor of Borno State, who did so well in his tenure. He sought to return to the same office later, but the people seemed to have forgotten all that he did during his tenure, so he failed. And later as member of the National Constitutional Conference, where he always spoke from a pan Nigerian view point.

The best I could also make out is to desribe Mohammed Goni as a man of average height, with a life story richer than the richest man in Borno state. His earlier life before he became Governor may not be well known, but it was common knowledge in Borno that he was a rather reluctant bride in the race for the Government House at that time. After he was persuaded to run, and eventually won as Governor, he did so well, to the effect that, most Government projects in Borno state since 1983 have either been an addition or a replication of his so many legacies.

Political analysts of the then regency were of the opinion that, Mohammed Goni lost the re-election bid on the platform of the defunct UPN in 1983 to Ashiek Jarma not because he was not popular, but because he could out outmaneuver the intrigues of the ruling party, the equally defunct NPN. He could not make it in 2011 either, because he contested against a sitting Government, which candidate was no less popular. There is no doubt that he gave the Government under the tutelage of then Governor Ali Modu Sheriff a run for her money. In his second coming, he hinged his campaigns on his performances during the first tenure, which was tied to the so many projects he executed, spanning all sectors of governance.

Like other prominent Borno people that passed on in the heat

Goni of the COVID19 pandemic, one is at pain to have to mourn only through the media.Many people would have loved to physically pay their last respects to Mohammed Goni, and I could not resist the temptation of making my presence felt through what has become my best pastime: writing tributes.

As far as I can remember, Mohammed Goni is on record to have constructed the famous Lagos street, the bridge on the street and the famous Lagos House, also along the same street.

It is today one of the widest streets in Maiduguri, having been dualized and reconstructed by the Government of Kashim Shettima. The Maiduguri Monday market is one of hiss legacies, just as he built the Ramat Shopping complex, the biggest single shopping arcade in Maiduguri the Borno state capital. He

equally fenced and reconstructed the Ramat Race Course, which is directly behind the shopping arena.

Mohammed Goni was reputed to have created 53 Local Government Areas Across Borno state, which tended to adequately addressed the yearnings of all parts and interests in the state. He built 50 housing units each for the 18 Local Governments of old Borno Stste, and completed the construction of the famous Abaganaram Low Cost Housing estate in Maiduguri.

Mohammed Goni established 50 secondary schools and doubled the students’ intake into the schools. The Flour Mills, Rural Electrification Board, the only state radio and television station to date, the Borno Radio Televission Corporation, BRTV, the NEITAL Shoe Factory, Borno Clay Industry, Borno Wire Industry, the Maiduguri International Hotel, Alau Dam WATER Treatment Plant are others. Goni initiated the construction of the abandoned Biu Dam, in the Southern part of the state. Goni was the brain behind the establishment of the College of Education, Waka-Biu, College of Agriculture, Damboa, Schools of Nursing and Midwivery, School of Health Technology as well as the Ramat Polytechnic.

One remembers the exploits of A G Ferraro, a construction giant, reputed to have designed and constructed the the roads and drainages in Gwange and the Pompomari Housing estate. While, Borini Prono another construction giant during Goni’s time constructed the Dikwa-Gulumba-Banki road, all under the administration of Mohammed Goni. Mohammed Goni constructed the third phase of the State secretariat, and the International Conference Center within the complex. Eye Hospital, Dental Hospital, General Hospital Gwoza, and many of the rural link roads, including: Kwaya-Kusar/Milda Road, Shani Road, Gwoza-Damboa Road, Damasak-Cross Kauwa Road, amongst others.

I may not be in the position to mention most the Project Mohammed Gono did during his tenure, but this roll list presupposes that he had paid his dues. His death goes with the saying, that, people seldom value what they have at hand, until the day they loose it. At his death, Borno seemed to have realized that they had a treasurable asset in Goni.

May God forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest. –––Inuwa Bwala resides in Abuja, Nigeria.

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Crazy World of Amanda Ebeye Bovi is Back to School Again pg. 23

Judging Matters with a Dose of Entertainment pg. 24

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Crazy World of Amanda Ebeye A new television series, ‘It’s a Crazy World’ by Nollywood actress/producer, Amanda Ebeye was inspired by how people like to make their life seem perfect and the raging competition that sets the social media on fire, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu As husband to Adaeze Okpalla, Udokwu plays Don Chukwunma Okpalla, a smooth talker that knows how to get his way with women. He presently has two other women living with him because once a woman gets pregnant for him, he brings her in as he wants all his children under one roof but he never marries them eventually.

Tunbosun Aiyedehin As Adaeze Okpalla, Don’s only legitimate wife, she’s what you would typically call “the good wife�.

She believes that someday, what was used on her husband would expire and she would once again have him all to herself.

Kunle Coker As Chief Balogun, a Yoruba businessman, and Don’s friend and confidant, the wives don’t like him because they feel he’s a bad influence on Don, after all, rumor has it he has a wife in all 36 states in Nigeria.

Grace Ama As Kemi, who’s one of Don’s mistresses, she is a teacher who hails from the Yoruba speaking part of Nigeria. She has an eleven-yearold son for Don who has refused to match her intelligence.

Amanda Ebeye As Meks, she is the slay queen, always-on social media searching for clout through her celebrity friends. Meks happens to be one of Don Chukwuma Okpalla’s lovers.

She has her nose in every body’s business and hardly has time for her own business.

Treasure Obasi As Anita, she is the second child of Don and Adaeze and the only daughter in the family. She’s 19 years old, and a fresh school leaver waiting for entry into University.

She’s young, beautiful, and loves taking and posting photos, videos on social media platforms for herself and her mom.

Cast of It’s a Crazy World

F

rom Clinic Matters, a popular television series, where she played a young nurse, Amanda Ebeye has upped her game. The actress turn producer premiered her first television series on April 30th, on Silverbird Network. Titled “It’s a Crazy World�, the sitcom, which features seasoned actors such as Bob Manuel Udokwu, Grace Amah, Frances Odega, Kunle Coker, and Amanda Ebeye herself, expounds the impact of social media on the society.

The script woven around women and social media was initially conceived as ‘The Wives’, but for lots of movies with similar names. According to Ebeye, whose favourite social media tool is Instagram, the new TV series was inspired by how people

like to make their life seem perfect and the raging competition that sets the social media on fire, while everyone tries to outdo the other. To her, “There is also a lot to learn from it. It’s a family drama, comedy and very educative. We want to teach young girls and boys that there’s more than life on the gram, people posting perfect lives does not make their lives perfect, actually most of the time, their lives are far from perfect.�

The modern-day 30-minute sitcom, majorly directed by KC Muel and Amanda Ebeye, tells the story of a very wealthy man with three women and three children. It’s a hilarious sitcom that addresses the competition women go through in general trying to outdo one another and constantly vying for the man’s attention. In this case, these women

would use any means available to them, with social media being their number one go-to tool.

The other two women are constantly trying to win the favorite spot which the first wife already occupies as the man of the house constantly reminds them that besides pregnancy and the children from the other women; he’s a man with a one-man-one-woman personality.

On the choice of cast, Ebeye said, “Delivery and carriage were the main things and we also wanted a perfect fit for the roles. All the actors are amazing actors that we have seen pull off equally challenging roles in other films/series.�

Here are some of the cast and their roles: Bob Manuel Udokwu

Francis Odega As the security man “China�, he nicknamed himself “China� and lies to people that he used to be in China but chose to come back home to Nigeria because of how loyal he is to his country. He refuses to be called a gateman but “Chief Security Officer�.

Adekunle Salawu Kunle is one of the scriptwriters and also stars as Bassey, the chef. His character is hilarious; he speaks with a Calabar accent and feels his food is the best in Africa.

He is torn most of the time between the wives and doesn’t know who to please.

Bassey and China are either gossiping about the household or bickering at each other.

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Bovi is Back to School Again Comedian Bovi Ugboma (Bovi) excites with a new episode of his “Back to School� series.

Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

C

omedian Bovi Ugboma (Bovi) is out with a new episode of his “Back to School (Third Term)� series.

The web drama series returns with fresh episodes with the latest being “Principal’s Daughter�. In this episode, the students were introduced to a new student who is the principal’s daughter.

The series, which is set in a secondary school, parades fast-rising comedians and actors like Save, Desmond, Efe, Omini, Nonso, Ese, Novo, Sylvester alongside Bovi.

The 10-minute long episode features a classroom situation where the school principal (Odogwu Sylvester) enters a classroom full of students. He has a specific instruction for the day which is the starting point for the evolving plot of the drama.

The bespectacled principal (Sylvester) warns the class ahead of a new addition to the class enrollment. He repeatedly directed the warning to the four male back benchers in the class. “My job here is very simple. I have a new student that I’m introducing to you now. This is Patience. Patience, these are your classmates. It’s okay. Do you know her? (The class chorused “No.�) She is my daughter. I know the reason why I’m saying this. Please, I beg o. I beg you in the name of God o. She is my prized asset. Please, the people I am talking to can hear me. And they are looking at me and I am looking at them.

Please o, Patience, you can be friends with anybody here but you see that dark path, that wilderness, that desert, you see those four fools. I beg you my daughter in the name of God, avoid them,� the principal warned.

The drama brings to life the backseat phenomenon in school life. It is a general conception and perhaps a misconception that back benchers in class are the most unserious and irresponsible students you can conceive. They hide behind other students to play pranks, crack jokes and generally stir up mischief in the classroom. Bovi alongside his three friends form this category in the unfolding drama. After the warning had been issued, the principal summons them into his office for further warning. But upon their return to the classroom, the principal’s daughter, Patience has started to relish the class attention. Instead of avoiding the four young men in compliance with her father ’s laid-down rule, she begins to flirt with the boys who decided to turn the situation around for their own amusement. The principal walks in on them and that leads the conflict of the plot.

Back to School is a Kountry Kulture Network Production and is written by Bovi. The dramatic narrative draws upon the ridiculous and makes a buffoonery of a real life situation. The “four fools� in the class are the negative stereotypes in secondary schools who usually manifest youthful exuberance along with their delinquency. A look at the students in the classroom suggests that it is an uncommon classroom scenario what with the manner of hairstyles that some of the students sported. The impres-

Bovi back to School

sion that gives to the viewer is that the school has no dress code or even if there is, it is flagrantly broken. The principal’s daughter is portrayed as a teenage girl who is experiencing crush but has to deal with her father ’s strict mentality first.

The ace comedian, actor and movie producer, Bovi started the “Back to School� series in 2018 which he uploads on his YouTube channel. The stand-up comedian and actor worked alongside other Nigerian comedians such as I Go Dye, I Go Save, Basketmouth, Buchi, Okey Bakassi, Julius Agwu amongst others. His works has earned him several AMVCA nominations and recognition as he is no doubt one of the most sought stand-up comedians in Nigeria.

The comic act and social media enthusiast, who started his career in April 2007, got his big break as a stand-up comedian in Nite of 1000 Laughs organized by Opa Williams.

Bovi wrote and produced the sitcom Extended Family in the same year while also featuring in the soap.

Bovi

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Judging Matters with a Dose of Entertainment Vanessa Obioha

T

he concept of justice is why society feels safe and confident in not being voiceless, indicating that if dispensed accordingly, without favour or rancour, it is the most reliable form of defence against unbridled maltreatment or oppression. It is convenient to take this definition as ideal, but in a fidgety sociopolitical environment like Nigeria’s, there is so much more attached to ensuring that the long arm of the law is judiciously stretched to the people in a just and fair manner. Unexplained delay in the execution of court cases has been identified as one of the reasons the Nigerian prison system suffers from congestion and why many suffer unjustly.

In August 2019, VOA reported that only about 24,000 inmates have been convicted out of the nearly 74,000 inmates in about 250 prisons in the country. That statistics puts the total prison population that are awaiting trial at 68%. This in many ways contributes to the terrible living conditions in the prisons that are being reported daily. The worrying statistics was perfectly demonstrated in President Muhammadu Buhari’s desperate call to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad on April 20, on the need for a speedy trial of cases and decongestion of custodial centres in the country in view of COVID-19 pandemic. “From available records, the inmates’ population at various custodial centres across the country presently stands at about 74,127 out of which 52,226 are Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs),� the President noted, adding that “most of these custodial centres are presently housing inmates beyond their capacities and the overcrowded facilities pose a potent threat to the health of the inmates and the public in general in view of the present circumstances, hence the need for urgent steps to bring the situation under control.�

Whether the situation that has gotten

Ebuka and Justice Olusola Williams

the attention of the President is a different conversation entirely, as an imminent resolution remains to be seen. But in an attempt to play a part and lend a helping hand to the struggling judicial system, MultiChoice has launched a new, insidethe-box reality TV show, Judging Matters.

Like its name stipulates, the show is aimed at solving problems that have not received

sufficient attention in court. Overseen by an experienced but retired Lagos State Judge, Justice Olusola Williams, Judging Matters will address small claims and minor cases in Lagos which present a huge challenge for the established courts to deal with, often resulting in cases being in courts for long periods without an amicable resolution.

The recorded reality TV show which is in

partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice will see real people get justice from minor claims in the court.

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu who has hitherto made a name as one of Nigeria’s most respected media personalities features on Judging Matters as a counsellor who brings out the finer points on the cases before Justice Williams to enable her make a final but fair decision. Ebuka’s background as a lawyer, which not many of his admirers are familiar with, and his deep roots in entertainment makes him an ideal candidate to bridge a fine gap between justice and fun in the courtroom. In fact, MultiChoice, organisers of the show, have tasked the TV host with bringing out the emotional, entertaining and local elements of the show based on the cases presented.

In a rather peculiar and praiseworthy pronouncement, Judging Matters offers sweet candies as it requires no lawyers’ fees nor filing costs from the defendants or accusers. It also has no long delays or adjournments. When Ebuka wrote of the show on his Instagram in the week preceding the launch, asking millions of his followers if they would watch “real people with real cases being judged in court with pure unadulterated Naija drama� and if they are “ready to start judging matters�, he gave a good glimpse into what is to be expected from the show - justice, with an added spice of entertainment.

On Judging Matters, which began airing on Monday, April 27, 2020, viewers are presented with the most bizarre narration and defence of cases bordering on marital disputes, business engagements, thefts, quarrels and many more. What’s more, the defendants and accusers are rest assured that justice will be dispensed accordingly - without favour or rancour.

While MultiChoice has gained a reputation for consistently serving Nigerians dishes of delightful shows, it is outdoing itself by providing a show which will not just be entertaining but also a source of education and information on the Lagos State Justice system.

MultiChoice: Fulfilling Brand Promise Amid Covid-91 Beyond cushioning the effect of lockdown on subscribers, Raheem Akingbolu reckons that “We’ve Got You� campaign, recently unveiled by the promoters of DStv and GOtv, is a positive response that would resonate well with consumers In the last few months, local and multinational companieshavebeencompelledtogotothedrawing board on how best to relate with consumers at this trying period. Despite the worries in the land, experts have consistently hammered that smart brands should not let down their consumers. This is important because it’s believed that in this time of panic, consumers are turning their attention towards the brands they’re most loyal to, to decide whether they’re worthy of support. After the crisis, the relationship will continue –more reason many experts think brands should so empathy.

For MultiChoice, its handlers consider making life interesting for Nigerians while they remain at home.

To this end, the company recently launched a new campaign, We’ve Got You, to show appreciation to subscribers for their support and patronage during these challenging times, by offering them discount on their subscription. The key messages of DStv #ThereforYou and #GOtvDeyYourSide are about lessening the impact of the ongoing socio-economic crisis, brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The campaign, which comes with a reward package offers discounts of up to 44% for DStv customers, while GOtv customers will enjoy a rebate of up to 75%. This serves as a way of thanking subscribers for their loyalty and also giving everyone an opportunity on experiencing a wider range of content available on higher packages.

Speaking on the offer, Chief Customer Officer MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, said it is a way of thanking customers for their consistent loyalty. He also stated that the discount given is in line with MultiChoice’s mission to provide quality content and a chance for their loyal and valued customer base to experience a wider range of content on higher packages.

With the new offering, DStv Access customers will be able to view international shows on Real Time and the finest of Nollywood on Africa Magic Epic & ROK 2. DStv Family customers will get to explore movies and TV shows to suit every mood on TNT Africa and BET. Customers on the DStv Compact package will have access to international

and local entertainment on 1 Magic, brand new reality shows onAfrica Magic Showcase and an array of movies on M-Net Movies Binge. DStv Compact Plus customers will get the best of international series and movies on M-Net, M-Net Movies Premier and much more on Comedy Central.

GOtv Lite and Value customers will get to view programmes on E! Entertainment, Fox Life and PBS for the kids. GOtv Plus customers will have access to channels on GOtv Jolli package such as CBS Reality and TNT Africa. GOtv Jolli customers can now get a variety of over 75 channel options on GOtv Max such as BET, Star Life, Discovery ID and Cartoon Network.

Active and disconnected DStv and GOtv customers are eligible to enjoy this massive discount on upgraded viewing. You can stay connected or reconnect if you’re on any of these DStv packagesDStv Compact Plus, Compact, Confam, Family, Yanga and Access, and for GOtv packages- GOtv Jolli, GOtv Plus, GOtv Jinja, Value and Lite packages From companies to individuals, strategies are

changing, depending on how best a brand decides to touch lives during this pandemic. It’s encouraging to see banks and some manufacturing companies donating cash and products to government and recovery and research efforts. MultiChoice approach is considered novel because of the direct impact it has on consumers.

In a time of crisis, brand response and message companies send to the world will have a significant impact on their ability to preserve brand loyalty and affinity from their customers. For some companies, the best strategy will be to preserve as much as their existing image as possible. Showing that they’re willing to follow through on the promises that they’ve made in the past, and demonstrate how much they care with authentic action.

In times of crisis, if indeed good brand positioning is about keeping core messages and images strong as well as showing concern for consumers, then MultiChoice appears be on the right track and indeed moving fast with “We’ve Got You� campaign.

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Tosin Clegg 07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

Gists Ikechukwu Nnakenyi Miracle, aka BigLabo Dol, Olabisi Akanbi’s Group is an artiste in his own class with musical creatives that are designed as audible art.

He draws inspirations from the likesTalents of Fela, Goes for Music Wizkid, Davido, Olamide and a lot more.

With new sense of purpose and fresh ideas, Labo Group, a firm with multiple interests in real estate, automobiles and enter-

He talks Tosin about music, tainment, runwith

by Olabisi Akanbi,Clegg has shown a stronghis desire to make a mark in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Under its entertainment subsidiary known as Labo Entertainment, his forthcoming projects and more the music label pulled its weight by inking a deal with popular singer,

Dotman, to help reposition the singer’s career. The Akube crooner aligns with the label to help develop and promote his talent to a global audience. Labo Entertainment is no stranger to the terrain. The label, which birthed in 2004 and later got registered in 2008, has previously worked with commercially successful artistes. In its first coming, the label had under its roaster wave-making artistes, such as Konga, Sideone, Ecoman and Smapee. Although it took a break to expand its business interests in real estate and automobile dealership, Labo has never taken its eye off Nigeria’s fast-growing creative sector. The Epe, Lagos-born brain behind the label, Olabisi Akanbi has vast business background, studying International Business Management at Cavendish College, London before he proceeded to broaden his skills at St’ Patrick’s College, also in London. As a product of humble beginnings, Akanbi can relate very well to challenge of funding faced by most Nigerian talents. He said, “Some of Nigeria’s biggest talents are on the streets, not on the stage. My goal is to discover and develop such talents for a global audience.�

With an honour as City People’s Music Special Recognition Award for 2018, the showbiz man has more goodies up his sleeves. He said: “With the benefit of my long term experience in the game, I am excited that we will make a big impact this time around. That’s what I want to achieve with Dotman. He has an hunger to go global and that’s something we both share. “Our entertainment industry has gone far beyond our thinking. When I first ventured into entertainment Olabisi Akanbi in 2004, the industry was highly underestimated by people who have capacity to support it to move forward. I think we need to create more content to be able to meet up with our goal.

Doro Music Team

Playboycasted: What I want to Achieve with Music Singer/songwriter/music enthusiast, Ogundayomi Olawale, famously known as Playboycasted, does not only make music for fame or money but also to keep the world a better and safer place for everybody. For somebody whose music career started at the age of nine, as a church chorister, Playboycasted knew what he wanted to get out of life and has remained truthful to himself and craft over the years. With music being his calling in life, the singer who is famed for releasing wave-making songs, and being the brain behind popular songs from top Nigerian music stars, there seems to be more than music to the young man which many people have not felt.

Playboycasted, who loves to rap, recalled how he released his first rap single: Shemi among other freestyles, as far back as 2013. He would later bag four awards as a rapper at the SLIC Campus recognition awards, held yearly at the Gateway ICT Polytechnic, where he obtained Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication.

He showed the world a glimpse of what to expect when in 2017, he released series of singles including his official single Mapamilekun, a song widely regarded as one in a lifetime inspirational hit. This was followed by a street anthem, Rollercoaster and another collaboration with former YBNL star Lyta, in the song entitled Success.

With a newly released EP, Top Boy, the singer hinted that there was more to come from him as he continues to push his music career to a new level and showing many music lovers what they may have been missing.

Laced with Afro-fusion sounds that appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of African ladies across the continent, the EP has songs like No Yawa, Person, Oremi Ti, Governor, Be There, Shayo, Holla and Enough, as the singer attempted to create something unique in his own way.

Playboycated

Lekan Olaleye Speaks on New Film

Playboycated

Lekan Olaleye’s production company, Kingkong Productions, in partnership with Dan Akinlolu Films, is set to release their ultra-modern Yoruba flick, “Boju Boju�. With the production recently wrapped up in South Africa, the film features notable Yoruba personalities and celebrities. Shedding more light on the movie, the Executive Producer, Lekan Olaleye, popularly known as Agba Inaki said: “I felt it was time to do more and expand my interest in developing more Yoruba stories and content that resonate with our modern society without compromising on quality.

That’s the reason I pulled up skills with my amazing and highly respected film director partner - Dan Akinlolu to initiate BojuBoju web series. There is so much we are developing for our fans and followers, especially towards the launch of our Inaki TV.�

Dan Akinlolu says the project focuses on telling stories that people or viewers can easily relate with: “I think it is important to take the advantage of the Yorubas in the Diaspora and tell beautiful stories about situations that they are familiar with.�

The Varsity Teledrama Revs up for Online Streaming in May Ferdinand Ekechukwu Ateledrama set in a campus titled, ‘The Varsity,’ is revving up for online streaming on May 5. The production, conceived by Abiodun Olayiwola, a senior lecturer at the Department of Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife was created to crystallize some theoretical canons of film and television productions. It is one production that unifies members of the academic community with professionals in the movie industry.

PoweredbyMagnumEntertainmentNetwork,IbadanandIfePerformance Circle, the project is necessitated by the urgent need to develop a culture of film and media production within the serene city of Ife that boasts of unique historical and natural ambience suitable for film productions. For some, Ife has been grossly underutilized by movie makers particularly from the academia. Past records of OAU, Ile Ife showed a rich cultural life that produced the likes of Ori Olokun theatre, as well as the Institute of Cultural Studies.

Produced and directed by Olayiwola, an award-winning film maker and lecturer, the teledrama focuses on the interesting occurrences in a fictional university setting; drawing heavily upon the enviable precept of the Obafemi Awolowo University in tackling anti-social vices that cannot be wished away in every human society. The visual narrative extols the importance of hard work, uprightness and the pursuit of dreams while condemning misdemeanors such as exam malpractices, cultism, internet fraud, premarital sex, sexual harassment and bribery and corruption. It beams light on the facets of staff-student relations in the university community.

The project offers students of the Department of Dramatic Arts, as well as those from all other departments a robust opportunity to hone their skills in various areas of film production. The idea, which is Olayiwola’s brainchild was translated into teledrama scripts by students, some of whom have now graduated but now constitute a part of the cast alongside some Awovarsity Theatre members. The written episodes were assembled into a piece by a post-graduate student of the department who also doubles as theAssistant Director of the project,Adetokunbo Shittu. The fifteen-episode teledrama will be broadcast on Youtube in May and other prominent cable channels later in the year.

The story features multiple plot strands showing students in various situations involving life-altering decisions. Tokunbo Coker (Ojuolape Kayode), is a spendthrift son of Professor Coker(Tunde Adeyemo), an erudite legal scholar. The Professor, excited about his son’s admission to study computer engineering, lavishes his son with money for his upkeep while he was out of the country. The young man however squanders the money on frivolities much to his father’s annoyance. Prof. Coker, in a bid to chastise Tokunbo his wayward son, decides to withdraw all financial supports from the boy for a period of six months. Desperate to keep up with the expensive lifestyle which he has adopted since getting the huge amount from his father, he jumps from one criminal gang to the other with the aid of his friends until he meets his waterloo in the hands of the school security and the Police.

Next is Funmi Lawson (Judith Bada), daughter of Barrister and Mrs. Lawson (Yemi Oyewo and Busayo Olayiwola). She is a girl with talent and passion for music whose parents insist that she pursues a career in law in order to inherit her father’s law firm. She meets Moses (Tolu Laloye), a 300-level music student who helps her hone her music skills. Funmi’s friendship with Moses however triggers bitter jealousy in Onome (Adesuwa Omoh), a cultist ex-girlfriend of Moses. Onome has vowed to ensure that, after her breakup with Moses, no other girl would be allowed to come near him. On a peaceful evening while Funmi is studying alone in her room, someone attacks her.

This brings a detective twist to the plot and necessitates the intervention of The Varsity’s student union and security apparatus.

Another important strand in the multi-plot world of ‘The Varsity’ is seen in the exploits and anguishes of Chidinma (Fadunsin Gbotemi), a lonely girl and her like, Silvia (Princess Obuseh). Though unrelated in the current season, the two share a common link in the use and abuse of their femininity.

Another sub-plot reveals Mr. Johnson (Taiwo Ibikunle) a lecturer who uses his positions to exploit students financially and sexually. This character is juxtaposed against Dr. Adeleke(Dolapo Adewale) and H.O.D. (Wale Adedeji), two incorruptible staff of The Varsity. The day of reckoning soon comes for Mr. Johnson, when Elizabeth his victim is caught cheating in the mid-semester test by the H.O.D. Further investigation reveals the lecturer’s illicit affairs with the girl and necessitates a strict sanction of the lecturer by the school’s disciplinary committee.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 2, 2020

INTERVIEW/POLITY Runsewe: To Avoid Economic Pandemic, We Need to Look Inwards One agency of government at the forefront of educating Nigerians and producing locally made sanitisers and face masks using Adire fabrics is the National Council for Arts And Culture. Charles Ajunwa spoke with its Director General, Otunba Segun Runsewe some are developing scientific approach to the future, while some believe this is the time to increase the price of whatever they are doing to make more money, that’s where I come in to appeal to them because people are going through a lot now and I feel for them, that’s why I engaged tailors and those producing sanitisers.

Looking Inwards

I

n the middle of this COVID-19, we should look at what we can do and how best we can position our local industries to help. Two countries of the world today, Madagascar and Senegal have looked inwards up to the extent that they produced a $1 test kit for COVID-19, they also produced ventilators which only cost $60. This normally would have cost about $16, 000 for one. I heard that our Ministry of Science and Technology is looking at one. But what I know is that, for us here, we have been able to come out with a sanitiser that meets the standard of the world, in fact, ours have 70 per cent contents alcohol.

Secondly, our sanitiser is produced with organic materials, so why do have to import it? We cannot sit down and allow people take advantage of us, we shouldn’t allow economic pandemic to catch up with the global pandemic we are battling with.

Special Funding Support

Runsewe

I must confess that the scenario is difficult for everyone, government losing revenue fast than ever before, the budget being slashed which again will affect project deliveries and the effects on those who work to eat. It’s a humongous reality but as a people, Nigerians have always in one accord, risen to put down clouds of darkness which threatened our collective existence in the past and this COVID-19 cannot be an exception.

for this country.

Because of NCAC strategy on face mask, many people are now producing and it now goes as low as N100, this is to tell people that we can do it and we are also going to the community level, if we stay at home, wash our hands, wear masks, this will reduce drastically.

We are going to the local level to sensitise people and tell them how important the mask is, that’s why we have posters, we are going to put them in every strategic places.

Distributions

Your Agency’s Effort

Impact of COVID-19 on Budget, Economy

We have been able to distribute to media houses, security personnel, stakeholders among others. I have sent a lot to Lagos too. I believe that this is the time we must give our best to Nigeria, we must add up to whatever we have done and this is the time also to address some of the problems.

Kano State Dire Situation

What is happening in Kano State today is because of the ignorance of not believing in what should be done. I have given a recommendation that the state government should call all the Local Government Chairmen and all appointees of the state to move to their local governments to enlighten the people because they speak the same language and understand them better.

Need for Collaboration

A lot of Nigerians are still ignorant of what the cause of Coronavirus is and what we can do to get out of this. Three renowned Professors in University of Ibadan have come out to solve this, also former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. We have a lot of credible and tested scientists who specialise in this area, NCDC, NAFDAC and others can collaborate to come out with something that will make a change

Our agency have succeeded in doing one thing, we even produced the mask that is being used internationally for the police which we are planning to present to Nigerian Police. If everybody will do a little bit like this, we will get all of this in no time.

Figures of Local Production so Far

On the number of face masks, for the first start, we’ve done up to 8,000, for the sanitisers, we have hit seven drums. These things are easily being produced and all these ones we have done was given out free and we wrote it there, ‘Not for Sale’. The reason why we targeted Nigerian media is because of information, if the media is not aware, who will give the correct information?

With this, there will be no room for fake news.

Collective Effort

This is the time we must tolerate each other, this is not the time to play politics or apportioning blames. This is the time we must face reality and come together to resolve this problem that we have. Nigeria will be a reference point pretty soon.

This is the time of reflection and we must look inward, this is the time we can use to plan, some people are writing books,

People are asking questions if what we are doing is part of the budget and finding out where we are getting funds from but I tell them that this is a national emergency and the truth is that we have to be prepared. All of us must come and plan for postCOVID-19. I commend President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort, from the 1.6 million beneficiaries for the palliative; he increased it with additional 1 million making it 2.6 million.

PMB’s Support

President Buhari, as the father of the nation, is pained about the effects of pandemic on the Nigerian people, hence the very visible interventions and public engagement to discourage panic and fear. For those that will take care of this palliatives, I appeal to them to feel the pain of the President and do the needful by ensuring it reaches the poorest Nigerians.

Cultural History

He recalled the many values of the country’s cultural history, obedience to constituted authorities and respect for the welfare and safety of neighbours as face of several culture value chain, which Nigerians from all works of life must put to practice by observing social distancing, regular cleaning of our hands and other protocols meant to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Post COVID-19 Intervention

NCAC will unfold a post COVID-19 cultural intervention through skills acquisition across the nation to help unskilled Nigerians, particularly women to support their families and to help the rural economy to rebound.

Message to Traditional Leaders

Traditional rulers, clergymen and Muslim leaders should not see the COVID-19 protocols and consequent lockdown across country as targeted against them but a sacrifice, which everybody must bear to keep the people and our future safe.

Take a global look at what is happening today and everyone can see even the greater impact. The Saudi Arabia government cancelled the Hajj activities and programmes, the Pope also shut down the Vatican and other grounding of travel, culture and tourism structures, so we cannot pretend these clear potential dangers and damage of COVID-19 in our country and take to behaviours that would endanger the life of our people.

Curtailing the Spread of COVID-19 in Katsina Francis Sardauna chronicles the efforts of the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, aimed at curtailing the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic in the state

S

ince the dreaded COVID-19 sneaked into Nigeria in February 2020, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has shown purposeful leadership by adopting all workable measures that would tame the spread of the virus. The state, as at April 18, 2020, had 12 confirmed cases and one death in Daura, Dutsin-Ma and Katsina local government areas, which became problematic to the state government and residents of the affected council areas.

From the time the index case was confirmed by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the state governor began building a broad based coalition across every spectrum, beginning with government functionaries, political leaders, traditional and religious leaders, the business class and every Katsina citizen to stop the spread of the virus in the state.

Even before the outbreak in the state, the government acted promptly by putting up three well-equipped isolation centres at the Katsina General Hospital, Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, and General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital (GARSH) with over 200 bed spaces for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The state government had also proposed additional isolation centres at NSCDC Training School, Babbar Ruga, which would serve as centre for 150 patients awaiting confirmation tests; Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp centre at Gidan Kwakwa, expected to be a bigger isolation centre, with capacity for 160 patients.

Others included the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp, which is also capable of accommodating 160 patients, and General Hospitals in Daura, Baure, Funtua, Malumfashi, Dutsin-Ma, Kankia and Jibia Local Government Areas respec-

Equipment at the GARSH Isolation Centre tively.

Considering the ravaging nature of this global disease, the governor had on March 30, 2020 inaugurated the State COVID-19 Emergency Response Committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, to identify and seek

donations from individuals and corporate organizations in order to support the government’s ward against the pandemic. The committee is entrusted with the mandate of procuring all the needed medical equipment and medicament as well as to monitor and coordinate containment measures adopted by the state government to tame the spread of the disease across the 34 local government areas of the state.

The state emergency response committee, by the instrumentality of Governor Masari, swung into action immediately after its inauguration and had so far raised N207,573,800 as donations by individuals and corporate organisations in the state. In its doggedness to tackle the spread, the committee has trained 66 medical personnel and 102 Disease Surveillance Nursing Officers (DSNOs) from the 34 Local Government Areas. The committee also procured numerable COVID-19 fighting materials and distributed to mosques and churches across the state.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

2.05.2020

Victor Osimhen Is Anfield Next Destination?

NEWS S

A LONG JOURNEY TO NFL DRAFT PAGE. 29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 2, 2020

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Victor Osimhen: Is Anfield the Next Destination?

From Catalan giants- Barcelona to Serie A rivals-AC Milan and Inter, not to mention the several top English clubs his name has been linked with, Osimhen’s name has no doubt been linked more than any other ahead of the summer transfer window.

With Liverpool back in the fray, Lille’s wizkid may be heading in the direction of Anfield

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hat offers to prize away one of Nigeria’s biggest soccer export to Europe- Victor Osimhen from French club Lille is no longer news, so much so that Lille president Gerard Lopez has revealed that he has received offers for the attacker.

Liverpool have reportedly begun the process of completing a move for Lille star by opening talks with the player’s representatives.

The 21-year-old is having a stunning debut season for the French outfit, scoring 18 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions, and is valued at £60million.

Le10Sport in France claim that Jurgen Klopp’s men were at the front of the queue to sign him and had already set the ball rolling by speaking to his agent.

The Reds are in the market for a new forward, with doubts now lingering over a proposed move for Leipzig frontman Tomo Werner, while the likes of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane continue to be linked with Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Manchester United, Leicester and Chelsea have also been credited with an interest in Osimhen, who was signed from Charleroi in Belgium last summer.

The highly rated youngster has also drawn links to Spanish giants Barcelona as of late and it is understood that Inter have identified him as a player they could move for in the event that Lautaro Martinez is to depart the club in the coming months with him continually being linked with Barcelona.

Inter’s city rivals AC Milan have also been linked with making a move for the young forward, who joined LOSC Lille this past Summer from Belgian Pro League club Charleroi.

The former Wolfsburg player has made 38

appearances across all competitions to date this term. In just over 3000 minutes on the park, the 21-year-old has scored 18 goals and he has also provided six assists for his teammates.

Only Neymar, Moussa Dembele, Wissam Ben Yedder and Kylian Mbappe have scored more goals than the promising 21-year-old in the French top flight this term.

The young forward, who Red Devils loanee Odion Ighalo claims is ‘future of Nigerian football’, and there are expected to be a number of clubs trying to land him once the summer transfer window opens up.

The powerful forward had previously spoken of his ambitions to play in England during his career, while also warning interested parties that he would not settle for a bench-warming role.

Earlier this month, Osimhen revealed his ambitions to ‘play for a big club in England’ and thanked fellow countryman Odion Ighalo for the advice he’s given him at the start of his career.

‘Of course, one day I’d like to play for a big club in England,’ he told The Independent. ‘I’ve spoken to Odion about it. He gave me very good advice, he’s a legend and a big brother.

‘My goal is to play at one of the biggest clubs in the world but now I’m very happy in Lille. ‘My priority is to play a lot of games.

Signing for a big club and being on the bench is not exciting for me.’

Meanwhile, transfer expert Duncan Castles has stated that Osimhen would be allowed to leave Lille this summer if the French club get the fee they want for the player.

Lille believe Osimhen has the potential of becoming one of Europe’s top forwards

in the next few years and they would be willing to let him go only if they feel they get enough money in return.

“The information I have is that Liverpool have been in contact with Lille about their Nigeria centre-forward Victor Osimhen,” Castles said on the Transfer Window podcast.

“He’s attracting attention from a lot of clubs and has been fulfilling the potential he showed when he won the Golden Boot at the World Youth Cup a few years ago, scoring 10 goals in that particular tournament in Chile “They are open to selling him this summer but only if the market provides them with the right price.

“And they’re very conscious that this may well not be the transfer window to sell a player of his talent. That will factor into their thinking.

“They believe they’ve got a player who is going to turn into one of the top centreforwards in European football.”

Castles says the figure Lille want for Osimhen is around €80million (£69.5m) and are prepared to keep the player if that price is not matched.

The 21-year-old is having a stunning debut season for the French side, and Lille are said to value the player at £60million if he is to leave in the summer.

Meanwhile, there will be no chance for the Nigerian forward to clinch the top scorer award in the French top flight and his club to nick a UEFA Champions League spot, following the premature conclusion of the league campaign.

Lille have been denied the opportunity to appear in a second consecutive Champions League after the LFP Board of Directors formally voted in favour of the stoppage of the 2019/20 Ligue 1 & Ligue 2 seasons.

The development comes after the French government shut down sports events until September.

Paris Saint-Germain have been declared champions, despite the season being ended early due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Olympique Marseille and Rennes are the clubs set to join the champions for next season’s Champions League challenge.

Before the break induced by the pandemic, Lille were placed fourth on the Ligue 1 table, a solitary point behind Rennes in third.

Les Dogues, by their position, will compete in the Europa League next term.

Also, Monaco’s Yedder and PSG’s Mbappe will share the top scorer award after netting 18 goals this term.

Osimhen is a further five goals behind in the fifth position and would feel disappointed that he was denied the chance to make up grounds on the winners in the 10 cancelled games.

It’s a further blow for the Super Eagles striker, whose club has also been knocked into the Europa League for the 2020/21 campaign.

With Real Madrid Manager Zinedine Zidane is still said to be searching for Cristiano Ronaldo’s replacement at the Bernabeu, especially given big-money signing Eden Hazard’s injury problems since his switch to Spain.

The Reds front man, Mane has emerged as a top target for the La Liga giants after another impressive campaign on Merseyside, which is why Liverpool are craving for the signature of Osimhen should they lose the Senegalese to Bernabeu.

In 2016, Osimhen turned down a move to Arsenal after Arsene Wenger had revealed he was close to bringing him to the Emirates.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKWU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾MAY 2 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

Tega Wanogho’s Long Journey to NFL Draft It wasn’t until he was thousands of feet in the air, looking out the window as the highlands and rivers of Nigeria disappeared from view that Prince Tega Wanogho started to question his decision to leave home.

It all happened so quickly. One minute, he was practicing his jump shot in a barren gym, and the next he was pooling money to rent a van and drive seven hours to a camp where basketball coaches from the United States might be watching.

He thought he was playing poorly until the camp’s organiser, Eyo Effiong, pulled him aside and asked for his contact information.

His film caught the attention of Todd Taylor, a high school coach in Montgomery, Alabama, who saw beyond the rough edges. In no time, Wanogho and Taylor were chatting on Facebook and making plans for him to move in with the Taylors and spend his junior year at Edgewood Academy. When Wanogho was officially offered a scholarship, “I went crazy,” he recalled. “I still didn’t believe it was happening.”

He went to the embassy a bundle of nerves, imagining all the ways they could turn down his visa application. When he was told he was in the clear, he screamed at the top of his lungs. His mother was sad he would be leaving, but she understood the opportunity -- “not just for myself but for the family, too,” he said.

The six-foot-five Wanogho, the seventh of nine children from the Nigerian city of Warri, had always viewed basketball as his way out.

To where, he didn’t know. He couldn’t locate Alabama on a map if his life depended on it. When he

found out he was flying into Montgomery Airport, he immediately thought of one of Edgewood’s administrators, Susan Montgomery. In what would later become a running joke, he’d ask Todd, “Does Susan own the airport?”

More than five years have passed since then, and everything has changed. He’s a continent away, starring in a sport he’d only seen in the movies. Now a standout offensive lineman for Auburn, Wanogho has the potential to be an early-round NFL draft pick in 2020.

“It was exciting,” Wanogho said of leaving home. “I was ready for a new adventure. But, then again, as soon as I got in the plane I got low.

I started thinking about my sisters, my mom. I’m leaving everybody.”

Doubt washed over him. What if where I’m going they don’t like me? What if I don’t do what I’m supposed to?

He didn’t know it at the time, but the Taylors were nervous as well. They’d never done anything like this. When Todd told his wife, Christy, his plans to house and feed a teenage boy they’d never met, she thought it was a joke.

When Wanogho arrived in August 2014, neither side let on how out of place they felt. His flight got in late, so they all went to Wendy’s for hamburgers and fries, then straight home to bed. The next morning, it was off to Waffle House. Overwhelmed by the size of the menu, Wanogho copied Todd’s selection: the All-Star Special.

It’s the only thing he has ordered since.

He’d only brought the clothes on his back, so Christy took him shopping. Wanogho’s mother raised him

to be respectful and he could tell the Taylors were trying, but it was still an awkward situation.

“I tried to put on a smile even though I didn’t feel like it,” he said. “Even though I missed my family back home, feeling sad, I put on a smile and just showed my appreciation because they don’t really owe me nothing and they’re here buying me clothes, feeding me.”

Time would eventually smooth out the rough edges of their relationship as he’d come to love and trust the Taylors. They went on a cruise together this summer. These days, he wraps his enormous arms around their 21-year-old son, Zack, and they joke that they’re twins even though they look nothing alike. But deep down, they mean it.

But time can’t heal everything.

When Wanogho reflects on his journey, a certain wistfulness bleeds through. The Taylors notice it, too. They realise what he’s given up to get here and what he’s lost along the way. It’s why they supported him putting the NFL on hold and returning for his senior season. Christy’s eyes well up thinking about it. Given everything he’s been through, he deserves to be a kid a while longer, she says.

Wanogho didn’t really need to be at school in August, seeing as classes hadn’t started and basketball practice was still several weeks away. But he was curious. He knew Zach, who was also 16 years old, left home earlier that morning for football practice, and he wanted to see what the fuss was about.

Fine, Todd told him, we’ll take a look. He figured either way, it would

be a good idea to get Wanogho acclimated with Edgewood Academy, a small private school in rural Alabama.

Wanogho and another basketball player milled around the sidelines.

Bored and looking for something to do, they picked up a football and tossed it back and forth. Sizing up the boys from afar, head coach Bobby Carr asked whether they wanted to give it a try. Wanogho figured, “Why not?”

The school didn’t have any Size 16 cleats, so he tightened the laces on his Air Jordans and strapped on a helmet.

He’d seen “The Blind Side,” “Remember the Titans” and “The Longest Yard,” but that was the beginning and end of his football knowledge.

Carr made it simple. He put the sixfoot-five, 230-pounder at defensive end and told him, “Go get the quarterback.

Go get the ball.”

All Wanogho had was a basic swim move and a bull rush, but it was more than enough. Right away, he dominated. And seeing how excited his teammates got made him excited to keep going. When he ran a 40-yard dash -- in those same Jordans -- he clocked in at a blistering 4.6 seconds.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn remembers the initial staff meeting when his defensive line coach, Rodney Garner, turned on the tape.

“A big guy that can run and be fluid,” Malzahn said. “You look at his body and say, ‘If he gets in a weight room and on a food program, boy, he’s going to be a big man.’”

He knows that home will never look or feel the same. The road back is almost unrecognisable. But he’s come this far, and there’s no stopping now. t $VMMFE GSPN 64" 50%": 4QPSUT

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾MAY 2 2020

31

GLOBAL SOCCER

Victor Moses

Romance with Conte Threatened?

After several loan spells in his Chelsea career, it was the arrival of Antonio Conte that ensured that Victor Moses eventually dons the Stamford Bridge colours in a competitive game. It indeed came as a little surprise when the Italian signed Moses on loan on arrival at Inter Milan. After managing just one start in seven games and with the impending arrival of Barcelona defender, Nelson Semedo, the 2013 AFCON winner’s romance with the former Azzuri’s Manager may be nearing an end, writes Kunle Adewale

A

fter several loan stints and when it was almost obvious he would never star for Chelsea in a competitive game again, the arrival of Antonio Conte as the Blues Manager changed the whole narratives for Victor Moses. The Italian saw what no previous Chelsea manager saw in the Nigerian and for the two years Conte was at the Bridge Moses was a regular figure.

All that changed with the arrival of Maurizio Sarri as the AFCON gold medalist was once again sent on loan to Turkey.

However, Conte in his Inter Milan’s revival mission still sees Moses as an important tool and he reunited with his old reliable, but all that may change with the exchange of players about to take place between Nerrazzurri and Barcelona.

The former Nigerian international is facing a contract extension hurdle at Inter Milan if reports emanating from the Italian media are anything to go by.

According to the electronic edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter Milan are ready to negotiate with Barcelona for Nelson Semedo and this is unconnected to Lautaro Martinez’s proposed move from the Nerazzurri to the Blaugrana.

If Semedo arrives Inter Milan, the Portugal right-back could replace Moses at the right wing-back role in the 3-5-2 formation usually favoured by Antonio Conte.

Inter have a purchase option set at 10 million Euros for the permanent signing of the former Crystal Palace and Wigan Athletic man but they are under no obligation to trigger the clause.

Since the former Africa Cup of Nations winner joined Inter in January, he has been playing second fiddle to Antonio Candreva, starting only one game in the Serie A, before suffering an injury.

Conte revived Moses’ career during his time as Chelsea coach by converting him to a right wing-back but since the Italian departed Stamford Bridge in July 2018, the Nigerian has been sent on loan to two different clubs.

The 29-year-old, who is Chelsea’s joint-longest serving player, is tied to the Blues until June 2021.

Moses has however, revealed he is ‘working hard every day’ to remain fit during the Coronavirus outbreak.

“Working hard every day. Stay home and stay safe,” Moses tweeted.

Moses has made seven appearances across all competitions since moving to the Italian club amid other dazzling displays, helping Conte’s men to third in the league table.

The versatile player will hope to continue from where he stopped when football activities resume in Italy.

Meanwhile, Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has named Moses as one of the toughest opponents he has played against.

Speaking to the official United website, Shaw said: “People always think I am joking, but one of my hardest games ever was against Victor Moses when I was coming in as a 17-year-old at Southampton.

“Maybe because I was so young. He was really quick, direct, and strong and that was a challenge for me.

“I’ve played against the likes of Gareth Bale, Lionel Messi and Eden Hazard, and they were all so good, but I always remember Victor Moses as a really tough opponent as well.”

Moses chalked up seven appearances in all competitions for Conte’s side prior to the Coronavirus suspension.

Moses joined on loan for the rest of the season with a view to making the deal permanent for £8.5million in the summer with an option of a permanent move.

The 29-year-old became the fourth Premier League

player to move to the Serie A club this season, following Ashley Young, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez’s transfers from Manchester United.

Moses, whose deal at Stamford Bridge is due to expire in June 2020, arrived at Chelsea in 2012 from Wigan Athletic and since then has enjoyed loan spells at Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham. In a telephone chat with THISDAY, former Nigerian international Paul Okoku said Moses reaped the hard work and effort at improving his game while on loan.

“It was not that Conte just woke up and decided on Moses. He had come to trust him during their time at Chelsea. Conte definitely had watched him play during his loan spell and knew he suits his style of play. Moreover, Moses too had put in so much effort to improve his game and that is what he is enjoying,” Okoku said then.

“I played as a wing-back a lot during my career, particularly when I was younger in the mid-to-late 1990s when that system was least popular in the Premier League. I used to enjoy it because, like Moses, it suited my game.

Like him, I was more of an attacker than a defender and wing-backs have the freedom to get forward when they want.

“You have to be disciplined defensively and decide when to join the attack or hold back, but you have the freedom of the touchline and the ability to impose yourself on the game far more than you can as a normal winger. By timing your runs, you can come from deep with a head of steam and burst into great positions - the sort of thing that Moses does when he used his power and pace to great effect,” Conte said.

Moses has spent the past year on loan at Fenerbahce, after falling out of favour at Chelsea He featured 34 times in the league that term, scoring three times.

Overall the pair worked together at Stamford Bridge for two seasons before Conte was sacked just two months after the end of the 2017-18 campaign. The last season saw them win the FA Cup too.

Moses attended Stanley Technical High School, now known as the Harris Academy, in South Norwood.

Scouted playing football in the local Tandridge League for Cosmos 90 FC Crystal Palace approached him, with the club’s Selhurst Park stadium just streets away from his school.

Moses first came to prominence at 14 after scoring 50 goals for Palace’s under-14s side. Playing for three years at both Whitgift and Palace, Moses scored over 100 goals as well as helping Whitgift win many School Cups, including a National Cup where he scored all five goals in the final against Healing School of Grimsby at the Walkers Stadium, Leicester.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 2, 2020

POLITY

How Sylva, Mele Kyari are Changing the Oil Industry Tajudeen Suleiman

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he two are from diverse backgrounds but seem driven by the same passion- the desire to make things better. Timipre Sylva, Minister for State for Petroleum and Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are two of a kind.

The two were appointed to their respective offices

by President Muhammadu Buhari almost at the same time. Kyari came in July 2019 while Sylva came on board in August of the same year. But the two have been able to forge a rare collaboration that has brought synergy to operations in the oil and gas industry and ensured calm in the highly combustible Niger Delta.

This is an extraordinary accomplishment in view of recent history where rivalries and insubordination have defined relationships between the minister of state petroleum and the GMD of NNPC. These are two different people who have found common grounds and aggregate a progressive vision for the oil sector. The two are perfectionists who’re known not to compromise and who;re willing to go the extra mile to achieve their ambitions.

Kyari, a geologist who has spent his working life in the oil and gas industry, was born in Maiduguri, Borno State. Sylva trained as a linguist and was born in Okpoama-Brass, Brass LG of Bayelsa. But Sylva cut his teeth at the Shell Petroleum Development Company where he did his National Youth Service Corp and developed interest in oil and gas. He later became a special assistant to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Edmund Dakouru, in 2004.

Today, Sylva his occupying the position of his former boss and showing he’d had some extraordinary tutelage under Dakouru. He’s showing remarkable capacity as minister of state for petroleum in an industry driven by knowledge, technical competence and transparency.

This perhaps is why he and Kyari have been able to forge a productive partnership that is transforming the industry. In the last one year they’ve been in the saddle, the two have combined positively to chart a new course for the NNPC and the oil and gas industry.

It started off with NNPC developing a five-step approach to attain global excellence via the TAPE agenda (Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence), with the active support of the minister of state who has acted has a bulwark for Kyari’s transparency initiatives.

The TAPE agenda has led to well defined processes benchmarked to World-class Oil & Gas company standards, right cost structure that guarantees value realization and profitability, Goals, priorities and performance guarantee, among others.

Among achievements they’ve shared together is the completion of Phase1 of the Port Harcourt Refinery Rehabilitation exercise and the

Sylva

Kyari

re-opening of OML 25 flow station in Rivers State after two years of inactivity as a result of community issues between the host community/Belema Oil and Shell Petroleum Development Company.

Kyari, working with Sylva, was able to restore oil production in the community and get youths of the area engaged, thereby bringing peace and stability to a hitherto volatile community. It is easy to downplay the significance of that development, but when you think of how many years production had stopped in the area and what Nigeria and the community were losing, then the impact of the action would be better appreciated. The reopening of the oil station would add 35,000 barrels of crude oil per day to Nigeria’s daily production.

In a statement issued by the NNPC after the historic peace agreement, Kyari acknowledged the role of the minister of state in ensuring the settlement of the dispute, and said Sylva had shown alignment with the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari. He said the minister was working tirelessly to ensure harmonious relations between host communities and oil industry operators in the country. The two, together with stakeholders, have also worked to address challenges in the upstream and downstream oil sector in a manner that has promoted transparency and industrial harmony.

Unlike previous years, the industry has witnessed better synergy, a situation has also promoted investment into the sector.

It is the existence of this kind of productive collaboration that led to the recent unprecedented rally of international and local oil companies in the country to support Nigeria’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. s NNPC and its partners mobilized a N21 billion intervention fund to support federal and state governments in the country. The money went into the purchase of ambulances

for emergencies, medical equipment, including donation of fully equipped intensive care units to states which have recorded high cases of the pandemic. Every state in the country received at least one ambulance from the fund.

The intervention was mobilized within days of the pandemic and the purchase and delivery of the items kicked off a few days after it was announced. This synergy between the minister and the GMD has been glaring during the cross country tour to deliver the intervention items. The two were often seen together in the same delegation with each taking turns to make a speech.

Sylva is not a minister just enjoying the cruise. Neither is Kyari.

Both share a passion for the people. The people are the centre of their universe.

Before his appointment as GMD, Kyari had been a unionist, fighting the cause of those working in the industry. He built a reputation for transparency, diligence and commitment.

Sylva is no different. Sylvia’s life has been about people. He first demonstrated this trait when appointed Executive Secretary of the National minority Business Council, Port Harcourt, where he saw to the creation of employment opportunities for his people. This was the passion that led him into politics where he became a hero for the youths of the Niger Delta.

Sylva’s political acumen and capital have combined admirably with Kyari’s industry capacity and reputation. One complements the other without false airs. Unlike in the past when efficiency was compromised by unnecessary rivalries, the two are focused on the same agenda and not working at cross purposes. The industry is no doubt the better for it. And Nigeria, the ultimate beneficiary.

––Suleiman wrote in from Abuja.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Director General, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Dolapo Fasawe; beneficiaries, Mr. Enijesiku Moses; Deputy Chairman, Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria, Ododoguyan Phase One, Mr. Hammed Daropale; and Director General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, during the distribution of palliatives at the Social Distancing Advocacy in Ikorodu , Lagos...recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji; member of the House, Hon. Chukwu Chijioke, and Hon. Abraham Oba, in COVID-19 and social distance demonstration at the Assembly Complex in Umuahia...recently

R-L: Commander RRS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr.Tunji Disu; Awe Ayomide and Ibirongbe Blessing painting during the Art-surance projet with Slum Art Foundation held at Ijora badia community in a bid to take children off the streets in Lagos...recently SUNDAYADIGUN

L-R: Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King, representative of Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Youth Leader, Lagos Central Senatorial District, Ahmed Mohammed; and Women Leader, Mrs. Fadekemi Otitolaye, during the distribution of COVID-19 palliatives by Senator Oluremi Tinubu to the residents of 13 Local Government Areas under her senatorial zone, held at Police College, Ikeja, Lagos...recently KOLAOLASUPO

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NEF on COVID-19 “The forum regrets attempts by many state governments to play politics with numbers for what appears to be expectations that more funds from the Federal Government and foreign donors will be allocated to them” – The Northern Elders Forum raising the alarm about some states allegedly playing politics with the number of COVID-19 cases in order to attract more funds.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Time to Protect Nigerian Companies and Jobs

F

ellow Nigerians, every now and then, aggrieved persons run to the media seeking refuge from State persecution or hoping for opportunities to attack competitors.

Examples of the former abound more than the latter. In a country where unemployment is of chronic and pandemic proportions, it is sad that the State finds it hard to resolve issues amicably and soonest, thus limiting its ability to reduce, if not eliminate potential liabilities, and instead make significant savings of scarce and overburdened resources. However, the State seems to prefer taking the option to destroy an “offending” company and its owner, in particular. And when the State succeeds in cutting its nose to spite its face, it is usually the vulnerable mass of the citizenry that gets thrown into the unemployment market for starters, it is they that also and feel the edge and brunt of the ensuing imbroglio. The impact on the populace through the attendant indirect taxation, hiking of various consumer prices and inflation can only be best imagined.

In this regard, I want to specifically appeal to the office of the Vice President for two reasons. The number two office is occupied by a legal luminary, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria for that matter. Also, the occupier is supposed to coordinate the economy which is at its lowest ebb today.

It is within his purview to ensure and guarantee the ease of doing business in Nigeria and he is to be commended for the giant strides already taken in this respect.

Frankly though, Nigeria has not been too kind to most of its local investors who make the effort and take the pain to start something at home. There is some kind of envious green giant which seems to sit like a massive chip on the shoulders of our government functionaries that makes them prepared to be pliant tools for those who seek to drag their rivals down. The Government’s attitude bringing down the sledgehammer on people perceived to be breaching laws and regulations without as much as a fair hearing is scary to say the least. No attempt is made to find alternatives ways of resolving disputes yet Government trumpets ADR as one of the most potent tools of economic revival and growth. By refusing to subject itself to proper judicial and arbitral processes and by ignoring court judgments, the State imperils investor confidence as there is no certainty that agreements will be kept.

This can only frighten foreign investors who have huge choices in more stable economic climes in Africa and beyond.

Successive governments, including the present one are all guilty of this alarming and petrifying phenomenon.

A few examples of government obduracy in not seeking rapproachement and conciliation when stakeholders and the entire country would benefit will suffice before I go into the main meat of my epistle today.

Once upon a time, the Chicago-based Nigerian businessman, Chief Harry Akande, brought the Hilton Hotel franchise to Lagos. I find it astounding that prior to that time Lagos did not boast any hotel in the Hilton chain, not even the lowliest,

Osinbajo

despite the well-known status of Lagos as one of the great economic cosmopolitan cities of the world. Anyway, I digress. The impressive foundation laying ceremony of the first showpiece hotel of the Hilton brand, which Chief Akande was fronting, took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. That was the first and the last we heard of this hotel and the Hilton brand in Lagos until the advent of two swashbuckling, effervescent and never say die entrepreneurs who are great leaders in their respective industries, the international business magnate, billionaire and monumental philanthropist, Tony Elumelu and the aviation guru, Sam Iwuajoku. Both have launched themselves into the Lagos hospitality scene in a big way with the Hilton brand. Elumelu with limited success with the Hilton Hotel Ikoyi which is still in infancy having been bogged down by the kind of impasse I have been describing, and Iwuajoku, with great aplomb, by the establishment of Legend Hotel Curio Collection by Hilton at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport perimeter in Ikeja. In order not to be robbed of the fruits of his hard work and not wanting to have his expectant hopes dashed, Akande proceeded to the Courts for refuge and relief. Litigation upon litigation ensued, thereafter. In total frustration and exasperation, Chief Akande resorted to self-help when some powerful people in government wanted to take over the portion of land allocated to him aeons ago. The stalemate still persists till today.

Another unfortunate example is the matter of Mr Wale Babalakin. Walahi, that man has suffered in Nigeria. If our country had given this man wings to fly, as he sought, our airports would have been far better than what we have today. His flagship Terminal Two, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, which presently operates as one of the two domestic terminals of the Lagos airport is testament to what could have been. The hotel he was building across remains a wasted monument on the road to International airport. Babalakin was pursued remorselessly and relentlessly and suffered media trial and great prejudice.

Again, Wale’s company bought the old

Federal Secretariat in Lagos. But one thing led to the other as Babalakin became an inadvertent cannon fodder in the grand old battle between the Federal and Lagos State Governments. As they say when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. It did not matter that in this case, Babalakin himself could be described as an elephant. In this battle royale he was practically a baby. Till this day, the place that was once the pride of Lagos has virtually become squalid, dilapidated and useless to man and God. How our leaders are able to sleep seeing or knowing about such gargantuan waste is beyond me.

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is another tale of woe in the Babalakin-Government saga. The on-off-on-off denouement has also given birth to a spate of lawsuits.

Contract, constitutional and administrative law students and lecturers alike will in future have a field day dissecting the myriad of consequential Judgements and precedents that this palaver has spawned.

Travel around Nigeria, and you will weep to see the deluge of abandoned projects.

Nothing stops these projects from being revived. Talking would probably resolve most of the problems. However, in some cases it has come to the stage where the contractors have sadly passed on and the companies involved become moribund because Government failed to act when it should have done. The effect of the abandonment of these projects is often that it would cost more to revive them than to scrap them and start afresh on a lower scale. That is why I just cannot understand why it is it so difficult for Government to speed up processes and enter negotiations with investors, when there are issues or problems. Seems the State, of whatever hue, simply hates dialogue. The State hands over the power of life and death to one man who would in turn brutalise anyone in sight. I am not opposed to culprits being tried and punished, but not by media trial and equally ruining the accused before justice comes. What happens if the court finds the State, rather than the individual or entity, culpable? How would the State compensate the innocent man or company unjustifiably dragged in the mud?

Nigeria has no better time to wake up from seeming slumber, other than now, in view of the radical challenges and changes as well as the disastrous effects of COVID-19. The next few months will be bloody globally. The world has practically been brought to its knees. Acclaimed leaders have suddenly become like petulant little boys. Unsung leaders have suddenly found their mojo and shown the stuff of which they are made. It has been a rude awakening for everybody. Nigeria cannot afford to continue with the lack of vision and unbelievable recklessness that has almost driven our already parlous economy to perdition because of our lack of preparedness and vision. I know everyone is anxious to get life back to normal, but I am sorry to be a Prophet of doom. Our lives cannot and will not return to normal no matter our degree of wishful thinking.

Sadder still is the fact that our country is never prepared for eventualities and we are usually caught napping. And this

is another almost mortal illustration of this fact.

The first thing that must change is our style of governance. Our leaders must face stark realities now or forever shut up about the country called Nigeria. The politicians who see political offices and positions as invitation to treat must wake up from their deep somnambulistic state, smell the coffee and wake up to the new fresh realities of life. I will make three recommendations today which are as follows.

President Muhammadu Buhari should constitute an emergency committee to whittle down waste and glut in federal institutions to be headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. Principal officers in the legislature and the judiciary should be included as well as all Ministers.

A few Permanent Secretaries should serve on the Committee, including the Secretary to the Federal Government for administrative and logistic support. Their remit should be that they must arrive at very drastic pay cuts in salaries, allowances and other emoluments. They must surgically excise all areas of profligacy and waste. State governments should replicate this model in their respective states with their deputy governors as heads. Give them a chance to prove their mettle.

Secondly, the Government should ensure that square pegs are put in square holes and round pegs in round holes. There are those who have no business messing around with policies that is way beyond their scope of operations. When institutions dabble into what is outside their scope, things can only fall apart. It is the same reason why the head of our COVID-19 response should be the Vice President and failing which it should be headed jointly by the Minister of Health and the Minister of Finance. The twin essential pillars of health (life) and the economy need to be harmonised. The Secretary to the Government, no matter how distinguished is simply not able to effectively coordinate something of this magnitude in two areas where he has limited expertise or experience.

One thing is clear, we must begin to act differently, but sensibly.

The third recommendation is that in all things, we must now think virtual.

That is the new world reality. I take the example of Parliament, or the National Assembly as we know it, which we have all been used to seeing sitting physically in their respective Chambers. Now, the world over, from Australia to Canada to England and Wales recourse is being had to virtual proceedings. Even America is seeking to find a way of changing its rigid ways in this regard.

If we can do these things and cultivate these new habits and ways our lives will be different. Any other way will lead us further into the abyss. Our failures in the past in respect of some of these matters are the main reasons our country is littered with unemployed and uncontrolled youths because the few creating jobs are permanently hounded and there is too much evident waste, recklessness, profligacy and state sanctioned brigandage.

It is time for real CHANGE!

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