SUNDAY 15TH MAY 2022

SEC Issues New Guidelines on Digital Assets Mandates crypto exchanges to get commission's permit IMF seeks new payment system to accommodate digital currencies Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The apex regulator of Nigeria's capital market, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has issued fresh guidelines on the issuance and custody of digital

assets in the country, a move that could bolster the adoption of cryptos in the country.

This is coming as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for the development of a new public infrastructure to

connect various payment systems, including digital currencies.

SEC’s latest guidelines: "New Rules on Issuance, Offering Platforms and Custody of Digital Assets," released weekend, are coming after the commission

had declared on September 14, 2020, that it would be taking a three-pronged approach to regulating innovation in the crypto sector, including safety, market deepening and providing solutions to problems.

According to the commission, a digital asset is "a digital token that represents assets such as a debt or equity claim on the issuer."

Divided into five parts, Part A of the new guidelines dwells on Rules on Issuance of Digital Assets

NBS: Nigeria’s GDP Rose 3.98% in Q4 2021…

as Securities; Part B is on Rules on Registration Requirements for Digital Assets Offering Platforms (DAOPs), while Part C is on Rules on Registration Requirements for Continued on page 6

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APC Screens Presidential Aspirants May 23 Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

L-R: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Groom/President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olumide Akpata; his bride, Osayamon; and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during the traditional marriage in Benin City, Edo State...yesterday ABIODUN AJALA

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has scheduled the screening of its 25 presidential aspirants for May 23, 2022, just as the ruling party has raked Continued on page 8

To Avert Major Religious Riots, Tambuwal Declares Curfew as Protests Rock Sokoto

CAN calls for nationwide protests May 22 Kukah suspends Catholic masses, says residence not attacked El-Rufai bans religious protest in Kaduna Tears as Deborah is laid to rest in Niger Ejiofor Alike in Lagos, Chuks Okocha in Abuja, Seriki Adinoyi in Jos, John Shiklam in Kaduna and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto In a move to avert major religious riots over the killing of a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Miss Deborah Samuel, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday, declared a 24-hour curfew in Sokoto metropolis.

Deborah was killed last

Thursday by some fanatical students of the school over an allegation of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in a WhatsApp post.

The curfew came as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan-Kukah, has also suspended all masses in the Sokoto metropolis, but clarified that his residence was not attacked.

Meanwhile, the remains of Continued on page 5

CONDOLENCE VISIT… L-R: Wife of Kwara State Governor, Dr. Olufolake AbdulRazaq; Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; and Ambassador of United Arab Emirates to Nigeria, Mr. Fahad Al-Taffaq, when the governor paid a condolence visit to the envoy on the passing of the President of UAE, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zahedan Al-Nahyan, in Abuja… yesterday

Malami, Ngige Deny Tendering Resignation Letters as Ministers…

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VOTE NOT FIGHT… L-R: Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye; NDI National Ambassador on Women Empowerment Programmes/ Nollywood Actress, Ini Edo; All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji; his wife, Olayemi; and Executive Director of NIGAWD/South-west Convener, Vote Not Fight, Amimbola Aladejare-Salako, during an engagement session with the APC candidate in Ado-Ekiti…weekend

Malami, Ngige Deny Tendering Resignation Letters as Ministers AGF withdraws from Kebbi governorship race Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), yesterday said there was never a time he resigned from office.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige has also clarified that he did not write or tender any resignation letter.

Malami said he only stepped down his ambition to contest the governorship race of Kebbi State.

Malami was one of the 10 ministers whom President Muhammadu Buhari held a valedictory session for on Friday after they had declared interest in elective positions.

Other ministers at the meeting include Ngige; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Paulen Tallen; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr Timipre Sylva; Minister of Science and Innovations, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; and Minister of State for Solid Minerals, Mr Uche Ogah.

There were reports that Malami had equally resigned.

But speaking with THISDAY in Abuja yesterday, Malami’s spokesman, Dr Umar Gwandu, said his boss never resigned as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

“He never resigned as the Attorney General of the Federation; he only withdrew his ambition to contest the Kebbi State governorship race,” Gwandu said.

Asked whether the minister still retains his office or not, Gwandu said, “Of course; he is still the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. He has not resigned.

He withdrew his ambition to contest the 2023 Kebbi State gubernatorial election.

“Malami has the right to choose to voluntarily shelve his gubernatorial ambition. It is a matter of personal conviction and individual rights which didn't violate any law.

“Right thinking members of the society accord respect to individual's right to freedom of choice in matters relating to this,” Gwandu added.

According to the statement, “the decision is not only a demonstration of altruism and patriotism but of contentment,

self-control, placidity and decisiveness in problem-solving at a time shrouded with confusing and competing for stimulus.

It is a commendable posture worthy admiration coming from a paragon of virtue.”

President Buhari had last Wednesday ordered all ministers with political ambitions to resign.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Ngige has also denied resigning from office as minister. He dismissed the claim by human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) that he withdrew his resignation letter after the valedictory session with President Buhari.

In a statement issued by his Media Office in Abuja, Ngige said he neither wrote nor submitted a resignation letter.

He said Falana was embarrassing the public with fake news.

The minister’s statement read in part: “Dear Femi Falana (SAN), you conjured a resignation letter, hung it on Senator Chris Ngige and went to town with it. That is very bad.

How a senior lawyer descended to this trade in falsehood and phantom benumbs!

“You went ahead to extrapolate legal opinion not necessary for reproduction here.

However, the problem is that when there is so much haste to find fault and condemn, fidelity to facts and details is lost and society suffers on account of this.

We pray you fall no further into this demeaning situation.

“Get your facts, right Sir. First is that the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige neither authored nor submitted a resignation letter to the president or ‘any other person authorised by him. Therefore, the resignation letter you referred to does not exist.

“The Circular of May 11, 2022, from the Secretary to the

Government of the Federation, gave on or before Monday, May 16, 2022, as the terminal date for submission of resignation letters, not just for ministers but for all political appointees of the federal government,” the statement said.

The statement noted that Ngige had an audience with Buhari on May 11, 2022, and followed it up with another on May 13, 2022, adding that “in none of these occasions was a resignation letter tendered.”

The statement said that it was a well-considered decision for Ngige to withdraw from the 2023 presidential race in

deference to opinion, arising from consultations with family, constituents, supporters and wellwishers who held the interest of the nation topmost.

The statement disclosed that Ngige did not fill or return the APC’s Expression of Interest/ Nomination form.

“Though his supporters had taxed themselves to procure these forms for him, he did not fill and return them to the party.

The statement urged Falana to “affect the necessary correction within forty-eight hours as a check on the wrong impression your position has created before the public.”

TO AVERT MAJOR RELIGIOUS RIOTS, TAMBUWAL DECLARES CURFEW AS PROTESTS ROCK SOKOTO Deborah were also yesterday laid to rest in her home town, Tunga Magajiya, in the Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State.

Following the protests in Sokoto, Governor Nasir-el-Rufai of Kaduna State has banned any form of religious protest across the state.

But the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on all its members to embark on a peaceful protest nationwide on May 22, 2022.

The declaration of the curfew in Sokoto followed the protests that greeted the condemnation of the killing by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III. Despite the tension that followed the condemnation by the Sultan, more condemnations have, however, greeted the despicable act.

The Sultan had on Friday condemned the killing of Deborah and charged the security agents to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.

This was said to have angered the extremists, who mobilised in the early hours of yesterday to the Sultan’s palace in Sokoto.

The irate youths, who described Sultan’s comment as anti-Islam, demanded that those arrested over the killing should be released with immediate effect.

Palpable fear enveloped the Sokoto metropolis as the protesters, in their hundreds, trooped to the streets to express their displeasure over the detention of the two suspects arrested by the police over the killing of Deborah.

Major streets such as Ahmadu Bello Way, Kano Road, where

banks are located, and Emir Yahaya Road, were deserted with business places and shops closed.

However, an attempt by the protesters to attack the Palace of the Sultan was resisted by security agents.

But despite the heavy presence of security personnel in some strategic areas within the state capital, the protesters stormed Ahmadu Bello Way church line, where Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, ECWA, and Cherubim &Seraphim churches are located.

The protesters set a car ablaze around St. Mary Catholic Church and destroyed properties in the church.

To avert major religious riots, Tambuwal therefore declared a 24-hour curfew within the metropolis.

In a state-wide broadcast, the governor stated that as the Chief Security Officer of the state, he relied on the power conferred on him by sections 176 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sections 1 and 4 of the Public Order Act, as well as Section 15 of Sokoto State Peace Preservation Law, to impose a curfew within the Sokoto metropolis for the next 24 hours.

He appealed to the people of the state to continue to obey law and order.

"Everyone should, please, in the interest of peace go back home and observe these measures, for the re-establishment of peace, law, and order in the state,” he said.

Meanwhile, the remains of Deborah were yesterday been laid to rest in her hometown, Tunga Magajiya, in the Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State.

Tears flowed freely as she was being buried around 6:30 pm at the Christian cemetery in Tunga Magaiya.

Tunga Magaiya youths had insisted that Sokoto State Government should have been responsible for her burial.

Her uncle, who is the Pastor of ECWA in Tunga Magajiya, Emmanuel Maaji, led the prayers at the cemetery.

Kukah Suspends Catholic Masses Also, as part of measures to save the Catholic Church from further attacks, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Hassan-Kukah, has suspended all masses in the Sokoto metropolis.

This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Director of Social Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Fr. Christopher Omotosho.

Omotosho noted that Kukah’s residence was not attacked though rampaging hoodlums vandalised and torched two of the parishes presided over by the fiery preacher during the protests embarked upon by the Muslim youths.

“During the protest, groups of youths led by some adults in the background attacked the Holy Family Catholic Cathedral at Bello Way, destroying church glass windows, those of the Bishop Lawton Secretariat were also attacked and a community bus parked within the premises vandalised.

“St. Kevin’s Catholic Church Gidan Dere, Eastern By-pass, was also attacked and partly burnt; windows of the new hospital

complex under construction, on the same premises, were shattered.

“They were promptly dispersed by a team of Mobile policemen before they could do further damage.

“The hoodlums also attacked the Bakhita Centre located along Aliyu Jodi Road and burnt down a bus within the premises.”

Kukah commended Tambuwal “for acting promptly by declaring the 24-hour curfew to stem the protests”.

He also commended the security forces for promptly rising to the occasion to prevent further damage to the church’s facilities.

The Bishop said no life was lost in the attacks and noted, “Contrary to information in circulation, we wish to disclaim that there was an attack of any sort on the residence of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.

Kukah appealed to Christians to remain law-abiding and pray for the return of normalcy.

“All Masses in Sokoto metropolis have been suspended until the curfew is lifted,” the statement added.

CAN Calls for Nationwide Protests May 22 Meanwhile, CAN has called on all its members to embark on a peaceful protest nationwide.

In a statement issued yesterday by the General Secretary of CAN, Joseph Daramola, the President of the religious body, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, directed all secretariats to stage the protest on Saturday, May 22, 2022.

“I have been directed by the

CAN President, His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle, to request all Church leaders, through your various Churches to organise a peaceful protest in honour of one of our daughters, Deborah Yakubu, who was gruesomely murdered on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto in Sokoto State by some Islamic extremists.

“The protest will take place on May 22, 2022, in the afternoon by 3p.m. in every Secretariat of the Christian Association of Nigeria nationwide and not on the streets to avoid further loss of lives,” Daramola explained.

In a related development, Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State has also banned any form of religious protest across the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, announced the ban in a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna.

He said the ban became imperative “given moves by some unpatriotic elements to organise series of for-and-against protests related to a security development in one of the northern Nigerian states.”

He urged citizens of the state to remain calm as they go about their lawful pursuits and to immediately report any such activity or security concern to the security agencies.

More Condemnations Trail Killing of Deborah Meanwhile,

more

Continued on page 10

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NEWS

10TH CORONATION ANNIVERSARY… L-R: Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; the Olu and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Senator Olamilekan Solomon during the 10th coronation anniversary of the monarch and the Senator's Investiture as Aremo of Yewaland...yesterday

How PDP Govs’ Plot to Hijack Presidential Convention Committee was Foiled Chuks Okocha in Abuja

More revelations have emerged on how the plot by the governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hijack the Presidential Convention Committee was foiled at the last National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, THISDAY has learnt.

THISDAY gathered that the intrigues by other stakeholders in the party foiled the plot by the party's governors to throw up one of their own as the chairman of the presidential convention committee.

The intrigues, it was learnt, eventually saw the emergence of the former Senate President, Senator David Mark as the chairman of the Presidential Convention Committee.

A source within PDP’s NEC, who confided in THISDAY, disclosed that the governors had adopted the same strategy they used in the October 30 National Convention where all the major committees of the convention were headed by governors, thus giving the signal that the party has been taken over by the governors.

However, the test of the capacity of the National Working Committee (NWC) to assert its independence came during the constitution of the presidential convention committee.

In 2018, Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa was the chairman of the presidential convention committee that took place in Port Harcourt.

Investigation however revealed that to ensure that the serving governors do not hijack the May 28 and 29, 2022 presidential convention, other stakeholders, including former governors restrategised to checkmate the gradual takeover of the party by governors.

THISDAY gathered that the governors had planned to install either the Oyo State governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, or his Enugu State counterpart, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the chairman of the convention committee.

But the stakeholders consisting of the national caucus, the Board of Trustees (BoT), and the forum of former governors as well as the former members of the National Assembly kicked against it.

“The position of the stakeholders is that the governors are some of the main presidential aspirants and that other governors

are aligned to the aspirations of their colleagues. They argued that making one of the governors the head of the presidential convention would not guarantee a fair and transparent convention,” the source explained.

According to the source, the stakeholders met at various levels and agreed that the influence of the governors should be whittled down, at least to assure other presidential aspirants that are not governors of fair play at the presidential convention.

"Though we know that some of the governors are not happy about it, that is the only and better

way to go," the NEC member told THISDAY. “It was for this reason that Senator David Mark was chosen.

He was supported in the headship of the presidential convention committee by a former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, and the Enugu State Governor, Ugwuanyi.

The source said that the composition of the convention committee reflected the three major components of the party's stakeholders.

“Mark represents the legislative arm as a former Senate president, while Shema represents the former

governors and partly the executive committee as he was a former deputy national chairman of the PDP. The Enugu State Governor, Ugwuanyi represents the PDP governors’ forum,” the source added.

According to the source, "It should be observed by all that due to the presidential aspirations of some governors, other governors are no longer comfortable with one other. Take, for instance, the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. He is the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and his deputy is the Governor of Abia State, Dr.

Okezie Ikpeazu.

"It is expected that in the absence of the chairman, the deputy should act, but the deputy to Tambuwal is the campaign director of the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and many governors are not comfortable with a meeting that Ikpeazu will head.

"It is for this reason that the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has become the rallying point of the PDP governors’ meetings and other party stakeholders’ meetings.

"In the run-off to the last NEC meeting, all the party's important meetings took place in the Benue

State Government Lodge," the source said.

Highlighting the division among the PDP governors, the NEC member said, "we are not politically blind. We know where each of our governors belongs.

We know that the Adamawa State governor, Ahmad Fintiri is a supporter of the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, while Oyo and Abia State governors are with Wike. We know the body language of the Delta State and Taraba State governors. So, we are careful of our actions to avoid any suspicious blame,” he explained.

There were calls on the commission to clarify whether there was a contradiction in the policies of the two regulators.

SEC had on September 14, 2020, issued a statement announcing its intention to regulate “digital assets” which include cryptocurrencies.

Consequently, SEC on February 11, 2021, stated the effect that it would partner with the CBN to analyse and better understand the identified risks of cryptocurrency to ensure that appropriate regulations are put in place if cryptocurrency transactions were allowed in future.

The capital market regulator said it would not stifle innovation but would work with the CBN to ensure stability.

The Commission said it had suspended the approval of cryptocurrencies and related products after the CBN ordered banks to terminate accounts connected to digital assets.

The new guidelines by SEC on digital assets are coming after the October 25, 2021 launch of Nigeria’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), the eNaira by the CBN. Meanwhile, the IMF has called for the development of a new public infrastructure to connect various payment systems, including digital currencies.

The Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, said countries need to work together to build new ‘roads, railways, bridges, and tunnels’ - using public digital platforms to connect payment systems.

Georgieva said this in a report on the IMF’s website, themed “Confronting Fragmentation: How

to Modernise the International Payment System”.

According to her, the new payment system would help counter the fragmentation of the international monetary system.

“It would be a new way of connecting people, markets, and economies in the digital world,” she said.

She said this would make international payments more efficient, safer, and more inclusive.

“Crucially, it would reduce the risk of fragmentation,” she added.

“That is a tall order, but not an insurmountable one. Scaling this mountain is well worth it.

“And for that, our Swiss friends again can be our guides — with their history of cooperation and, quite literally, their mountaineering expertise.”

The IMF said the world must think like a mountaineer by using state-of-the-art equipment, adapting to the existing terrain, and “relying on our team”.

The Bretton Woods institution said the platform must connect various forms of money countries will use and legally support.

“That includes commercial bank deposits, but potentially also central bank digital currencies, and even some stablecoin arrangements — if they are well-designed and regulated,” it said.

“Such a platform is especially important for economies with less advanced payment systems. By embracing diverse forms of money, we can make payments work for all people, in all countries.”

Furthermore, IMF added that as payments become more efficient, capital flows would also continue to evolve.

SEC ISSUES NEW GUIDELINES ON DIGITAL ASSETS Digital Asset Custodians (DACs).

Part D dwells on Rules on Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASPs) and Part E captures Rules on Digital Assets Exchange (DAX).

In the new guidelines, SEC requires crypto issuers or sponsors to register their digital assets with the commission. The issuers are also required to make an initial assessment filing with it to prove that the assets they issue are securities, followed by filing for proper registration.

According to the new guidelines, those that have already issued assets or engaged in “Initial Coin Offering (ICO) will be given three months to comply with the stated registration requirements.”

Every individual or corporate organisation which engages in any aspect of Blockchain-related and digital asset services must register with the SEC and follow its regulatory guidelines, according to the SEC. It stated: "Such services include, but are not limited to reception, transmission and execution of orders on behalf of other persons, dealers on own account, portfolio management, investment advice, custodian or nominee services.”.

The commission stated that it might require foreign or nonresident startups or companies to establish a branch in Nigeria, adding that foreign firms will be recognised if they belong to a country that either has a reciprocal agreement with Nigeria or is a member of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

With the new guidelines, SEC mandates entities seeking to offer any kind of crypto products and

services in Nigeria or to Nigerians to secure a virtual asset service provider (VASP) licence.

This is besides relevant category licences, implying that an exchange would need a digital asset exchange licence in addition to the VASP permit.

The VASP licence has underlining obligations, including a requirement that licence holders should obtain self-declared risk acknowledgement forms from users while also issuing a disclaimer that losses from investments are not covered by any protection fund.

VASPs must also employ antimoney laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) standards.

Besides the VASP rules, the new SEC rules cover areas such as operating a digital asset exchange, token issuance, operating digital assets offering platform, and requirements for digital asset custodians.

Under the new guidelines, all crypto exchanges providing service to Nigerians are now required to secure a permit, which mandates the commission to have access to their records.

Such exchanges are also expected to submit weekly and monthly trading information as well as quarterly and annual financial and compliance reports.

The new rule inhibits an exchange from facilitating the trading of any digital asset unless SEC has first issued a “no objection” about such asset.

This implies that an exchange will need to submit applications for every asset it intends to list, and the application should prove that the exchange has sufficient

information about the project and its associated risks.

The new guidelines stated that the SEC will allow projects to raise to N10 billion — based on the official exchange rate.

On token issuance, the SEC states that any project seeking to conduct initial coin offerings within Nigeria or targeting Nigerians must register its intent with the Commission by filing an assessment form and submitting a detailed copy of its whitepaper.

Should the SEC consider the proposed token security, the issuer has to comply with the country’s securities laws.

According to SEC, a DAOP operator must of necessity conduct due diligence on any project seeking to offer digital assets through its platform and exercise its judgment on whether the project is fit to raise funds.

Following the October 2020 #EndSARS protests, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had on February 5, 2021, issued a circular to banks and other financial institutions prohibiting the dealing in cryptocurrencies and facilitating payment for cryptocurrency exchanges.

The apex bank further instructed all banks and other financial institutions to identify individuals or entities who transact in cryptocurrency or operate cryptocurrency exchanges and close the accounts of such persons or entities.

The letter had elicited major concern among the public with many concerned about the potential negative effect it could have on Nigeria’s growing cryptocurrency market and innovation in the fintech industry.

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NBS: Nigeria’s GDP Rose 3.98% in Q4 2021 Festus Akanbi The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday disclosed that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose by 3.98 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2021, as the value of the nation’s total merchandise trade stood at N11,707.20 billion, 74.71 per cent higher when compared to the value recorded in Q4, 2020.

The report contained in a statement issued by the NBS presents statistics on Nigeria’s GDP, foreign trade, capital importation, consumer prices index, and social statistics.

According to the report, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.98 per cent year-on-year in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2021.

“This showed sustained growth for the fifth quarter since the recession witnessed in 2020 when output contracted by -6.10 per cent and -3.62 per cent in Q2 and Q3 of 2020 under the COVID pandemic.

“The Q4 2021 growth rate was higher than the 0.11 per cent growth rate recorded in Q4 of 2020 by 3.87 per cent points and lower than 4.03 per cent recorded in Q3 of 2021 by 0.05 per cent points.

“Nevertheless, quarter on quarter, real GDP grew at 9.63 per cent in Q4 of 2021 compared to Q3 of 2021, reflecting a higher economic activity than the preceding quarter.

The report said the real growth of the oil sector was 8.06 per cent year-on-year in Q4 of 2021, indicating an increase by 11.71 per cent points relative to the rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2020.

It said growth increased by 2.68 per cent points when compared to Q3 of 2021 which was 10.73 per cent.

The report revealed that the non-oil sector grew by 4.73 per cent in real terms during Q4 of 2021.

“This rate was higher by 3.05 per cent point compared to the rate recorded same quarter of 2020 and 0.71 per cent point lower than the third quarter of 2021.”

The report showed that

services recorded the highest year-on-year growth rate of 5.58 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2021, followed by agriculture with 3.58 per cent, while industry had -0.05 per cent.

On the contribution to total GDP, the NBS said agriculture contributed the most to GDP with 26.84 per cent, followed

by Trade with 15.66 per cent, and Information and Communication with 15.21 per cent.

“The activity that contributed the least was Administrative and Support Services with 0.02 per cent.

“This is followed by Water Supply, Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation with 0.16 per cent and Arts, Entertainment and Recreation with 0.20 per cent.”

Data on foreign trade revealed that in Q4 of 2021, Nigeria’s Total Merchandise Trade stood at N11,707.20 billion, 74.71 per cent higher when compared to the value recorded in Q4, 2020.

It said export trade in Q4 of 2021 stood at N5.77 Trillion, indicating an increase of 12.27 per cent over the preceding quarter, and the value in 2021 also grew by 80.52 per cent over the corresponding period of 2020.

On the other hand, total imports stood at N5.94 trillion in Q4, 2021, indicating an increase of 11.33 per cent over the preceding quarter and 69.41 per cent over the corresponding period of 2020.

“Export trade by region in Q4 of 2021 shows that Nigeria exported most products to Europe with goods valued at N2,408.39 billion or 41.76 per cent of total exports.

“Asia was N1,875.56 billion, or 32.52 per cent of total exports and Africa was N773.83 billion or 13.42 per cent of total exports, of which N250.52 billion worth of goods were exported to ECOWAS countries.

“Exports to America amounted to N702.74 billion or 12.19 per cent of total exports. ” The report revealed that during Q4 of 2021, Nigeria imported goods mainly from

Asia, valued at N2,743.76 billion or 46.19 per cent of total imports.

“This was followed by

Europe at N2,422.41 billion or 40.78 per cent, America at N571.70 billion or 9.62 per cent, Africa at N161.47

Yahaya Bello; Jigawa governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; and former Zamfara State governor, Senator Ahmed Yerima.

Also on the list are Senator Ajayi Borroffice; the only female aspirant, Mrs Uju Kennedy Ohnenye; Pastor Nicholas Felix Nwagbo; former Speaker of Representative, Hon. Dimeji Bankole; Senate President, Dr Ahmed Lawal, AfBD Managing Director, Dr Akinwumi Adesina; former Minister of State, Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva; former Minister of Information, Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu and Mr Tein Jack Rich.

"The screening for the presidential candidates we have so far 28 aspirants and as you are aware some aspirants have started withdrawing their aspiration and as such on May 23 of this month they will be screened," Argungun explained.

Argungun said 145 governorship, 351 senatorial and 1,197 House of Representatives aspirants would be screened by the screening committees yesterday (Saturday) and today (Sunday) ahead of the party's primaries.

Argungu, however, kept

ECOWAS countries accounted for N35.76 billion, or 0.6 per cent of the value of total imports.

CONSULTATION VISIT… Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri (left), and former Senate President and Peoples Democratic Party presidential aspirant, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, during Saraki’s visit to the Bayelsa State Government House in Yenagoa

Nine APC Presidential Aspirants Set to Step down for Lawan, Says Orji Kalu Ejiofor Alike The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday disclosed that nine presidential aspirants of

the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are set to step down and support the presidential ambition of the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan.

APC SCREENS PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS MAY 23 the sum of N29.02 billion from the sale of forms to aspirants contesting for governorship, and National Assembly seats ahead of the 2023 election.

The Organising Secretary of the party, Mr Suleiman Argungun, stated this in Abuja yesterday during the inauguration of the screening committees.

The 25 presidential aspirants that submitted their nomination forms include Vice President Yemi Osibanjo; Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu; former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; former Minister of Niger Delta Development, Senator Godswill Akpabio; former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; former Imo State governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha and former Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosu.

Others are Pastor Tunde Bakare; Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade; his Ebonyi State counterpart, Governor Dave Umahi; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Minister of State, Education, Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba; former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani; Kogi State governor,

billion or 2.72 per cent, and Oceania at N41.24 billion or 0.69 per cent. ” It said that imports from

mum on the statistics of aspirants that obtained the form to contest for Houses of Assembly seats.

According to the breakdown, the ruling party realised the sum of N2.780 billion from the sale of presidential forms, N7.020 billion from senatorial aspirants, N11.970 billion from the House of Representatives’ aspirants and N7.250 billion from governorship aspirants.

He said: "We have so far 145 aspirants for governorship and we have constituted three panels to screen the governorship aspirant. And also have 351 aspirants that have also returned the senatorial aspiration forms.

We have 1197 aspirants for the House of Representatives with 10 panels.

"The panels for the Senate are going to be four. In addition to that, we have the guidelines of our great party that will be given to each of the panels for screening and indeed the Appeal Committee.

"We also have a set of guidelines, an aspirant assessment and verification form that will be given to each of the committee for the screening and also each of the panel will be given

collections of the names of the form, expression of interest forms and the guidelines of our party, each of these for guidance" Argungun emphasised that the leadership of the party wants the aspirants to be screened between Saturday (yesterday) and Sunday.

Argungun added, "the three panels for the gubernatorial candidate will be here in Fraser suit and the four panels for the senatorial candidate will also be here while that of the House of Representatives will be communicated soon."

Also speaking, the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, said the party was committed to delivering the right candidates for the forthcoming elections.

Adamu who was represented by the Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Abubakar Kyari said he does not doubt that members of the screening committees that have been assembled would do just that.

He said: "I wouldn't want to go into details because we all know ourselves, and we have tried to engage you in a manner that you will also bring your experience to the fore”.

APC has 25 presidential aspirants, who met the deadline for the submission of their forms.

Kalu, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, also revealed that an influential presidential aspirant from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is also planning to join the APC. Kalu, who was the first to drop his presidential ambition in support of Lawan on the grounds of failure of APC to zone the presidential ticket to the South-east, did not, however, disclose the names of the aspirants.

His words: “Lawan’s candidature will rock like hurricane. The issue of the APC presidential candidate will be settled even before the primaries.

“As I am talking to you, about nine presidential aspirants from our party have intimated me of their plans to drop their presidential ambition to support Ahmad Lawan.

“Does that not signify victory before the election?

Lawan’s candidature will rock like hurricane. Lawan is from the Northeast and has similar sympathy with the Southeast that is yet to produce president.

“I have repeated my reasons for dropping my ambition for Lawan severally and I am sure Nigerians

are aware already. We are also expecting an influential presidential aspirant from the opposition (PDP) to join the APC. “So, you can see the party is very progressive and properly ready for Lawan’s emergence.”

On the call for postponement of primary elections by some political parties, the former Abia State governor said that he does not expect the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to listen to them.

He said the parties were duly informed and should have prepared well as mandated by the electoral body.

“Extension of the dates will only support irresponsibility. Nigerians find it difficult to keep to time and appointments and that is why they would always seek for extra time.

“I support INEC to stick to their timetable otherwise we will be living with postponement after postponement. Such a trend is not healthy for a society and its people.

“We complain of indiscipline, but are not ready to be practical about the requirements of discipline.

“INEC should discipline any party that fails to meet up, because that is the only way they can take their jobs seriously,” he explained.

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FARE THEE WELL MOTHER… L-R: Mrs. Chiedu Iriekpen; Mr. Nnamdi Ikem; Mrs. Obioma Agokei; and Mrs. Nkechi Okonta, at the final traditional burial rites of their mother, Mrs. Felicia Ikem, in Ibusa, Delta State…recently

How INEC Plans to Spend N305bn on 2023 Elections Says ASUU strike won't affect Ekiti, Osun elections Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed the sum of N305 billion for the conduct of the 2023 general election.

This was contained in the commission’s Election Project Plan (EPP) document made available to newsmen during the INEC media quarterly meeting ahead of the 2023 general election.

The is coming as the Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has

stated categorically that the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) would not affect the participatory roles of the university lecturers in any of the elections.

According to a copy of the EPP booklet obtained by THISDAY, the commission said it would need N305 billion to conduct the 2023 general election.

EPP Committee document gave a breakdown of what each department of the commission would require as its budget for

the 2023 general election.

According to the EPP documents, INEC has 23 departments and directorates.

INEC said for instance that "for established and stable democracies, the average cost per voter is pegged at $1 to $3.

In transitional democracies, it ranges from $4 to $8, while the cost is fixed at $9 and above in post-conflict and some transitional democracies.”

Because of this, the commission said that elections tend to be more costly in nascent

TO AVERT MAJOR RELIGIOUS RIOTS, TAMBUWAL DECLARES CURFEW AS PROTESTS ROCK SOKOTO condemnations have continued to trail the killing of Deborah.

In its reaction to the gruesome murder, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) expressed outrage over the killing and called on Tambuwal and President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure justice.

In a statement issued yesterday

by ECWA President, Dr Stephen Baba Panya, the church stated that “the brutal killing and burning of Deborah by some misguided Muslim students is nothing short of overt criminality which we at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) roundly condemn.”

Panya queried the legitimacy of a government that cannot guarantee the security of its citizens, saying: “While our faith in this country is still very strong because we know that there are laws that ought to govern the conduct of all citizens like it is in every civilised clime, we are at a loss which provision under our nation’s jurisprudence permits the brutal, senseless and shameful killing and setting ablaze of a fellow Nigerian by any misguided group, under whatever pretext with no one held accountable.”

ECWA called on Buhari to prevail on the Inspector General of Police and all relevant law enforcement agencies “to ensure that all the perpetrators of this dastardly and despicable act are not only fished out, but that they are brought to justice according to law.”

A former President of the Senate, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has also condemned in the strongest terms, the gruesome and unlawful killing of Deborah.

In a statement he signed, Anyim who is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP, described the killing as cruel,

illegal, callous, and inhuman.

NYSC Urges Corps Members Not to Panic Meanwhile, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Sokoto State has enjoined the corps members serving in the state not to panic as their safety is guaranteed.

In a statement issued yesterday, the state Coordinator of NYSC, Alhaji Muhammad Nakamba, urged the corps members to be law-abiding and remain indoors as announced by the government, especially those within the Sokoto metropolis.

He explained that the management of the scheme in the state had contacted all the security agencies to ensure the safety of its corps members throughout the curfew period and beyond.

NBA Rejects Calls to Cancel Sokoto Conference In another development, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), Dr. Monday Ubani, has rejected the call by some lawyers to cancel the conference of the NBA-SPIDEL scheduled in Sokoto to protest the killing.

Ubani advised lawyers to be circumspect over the incident.

He maintained that it was preposterous for lawyers to call for the cancellation of the 2022 NBA-SPIDEL Conference in protest against the killing of Deborah, which was carried out by lawbreakers in the state.

According to him, “the

barbaric act was not authorised or approved by the state government to our knowledge.

The state government has issued a statement condemning the act and requested that the crime perpetrators be brought to book.”

"Having said that, it will be preposterous for someone who is a lawyer to be suggesting that we should cancel our conference that is billed to take place in Sokoto because of the acts of lawbreakers in the state,” he added.

He said he had sent a message to Tambuwal and the Attorney General of Sokoto, requesting a statement that the safety of the lawyers would be guaranteed.

Ubani argued that calling for the cancellation of the Sokoto conference was like asking for conferences billed for Owerri to be cancelled because of the killings of two army personnel - husband and wife - by unknown gunmen or asking for the cancellation of conferences in Abuja because of some of the killings that had taken place there recently.

democratic countries.

Accordingly, INEC has put the cost per voter for the 2023 election at an estimate of $5.39, with a target of 100 million registered voters for the election, using the N565 to $1 parallel market exchange rate the commission quoted in its EPP document.

As a result, the actual figure is N304.54 billion, representing a 61.37 per cent increase over what was spent to conduct the 2019 general election.

The EPP report said that INEC spent N189.2 billion to conduct the last general election, explaining that the cost per voter was fixed at $6.24 at an exchange rate of N305 with a total of 84 million registered voters.

In real terms, the cost per voter for the 2023 election reduced compared to 2019 ($5.39 against $6.24 in 2019), but the exchange rate has skyrocketed since the last general election. In addition, the increase in the number of registered voters — one of the determinants for planning election budgets — and the creation of 56,873 new polling units, among others, may also account for the increase in the proposed budget for the 2023 election.

An analysis of the 2023 proposed election budget shows that nine items account for 76.68 per cent of the total budget.

Procurement of accreditation devices will take the bulk — 34.51 per cent of the entire budget, while provision for run-off elections is 8.89 per cent of the budget. Honoraria for ad hoc staff, logistics, and printing of ballot papers cover 7.79 per cent, 7.54 per cent, and 6.78 per cent, respectively.

On funding the 2023 election budget, INEC explained the federal government would provide the required funds for the commission to cover the fixed and direct costs of elections.

INEC further explained that although it is not reflected either in the fixed budget of the commission or in the core costs for the conduct of elections, it will also receive support from development partners for some of its electoral activities such as training, capacity building, civic and voter education, production of information, education and communication materials, and engagement with stakeholders.

It said all these are geared towards strengthening the integrity of the electoral process, promoting citizens’ participation, and enhancing advocacy for inclusivity concerning women, youths, persons with disability and other marginalised groups.

According to EPP, "for the 2023 election, INEC has projected 100 million registered voters, proposing N305 billion to conduct the election. With the country’s declining voter turnout rate, the possibility of a huge waste of funds is quite concerning. To prevent another situation of huge resources going to waste as a result of lower voter turnout, the electoral commission may need to adopt workable measures to ensure more participation at the 2023 polls.”

The EPP documents said that INEC will spend not less than N239.2bn on procuring voting materials and vehicles that will be used in the 2023 general election.

It also said that N239.2bn, which constitutes 78.44 per cent of its N305billion budget,

would be spent on 10 critical items which included ballot papers, operational vehicles, ballot boxes, allowances of ad hoc workers, the printing of result sheets, logistics and procurement of accreditation devices.

Part of the proposal in the N239.2billion budget is the N27.1billion set aside by the commission for possible run-off elections, including the one for the presidential poll.

A breakdown of the document, 2023 EPP indicates that the highest single component will be the procurement of accreditation devices which will gulp N105.2billion. This also constitutes 34.51 per cent of the total election budget of N305bn.

The allowance for ad hoc workers, who will be more than one million people, is pegged at N23.7billion while N23billion was set aside for election logistics expenses which include the movement, deployment and retrieval of men and materials for the elections.

INEC will also spend N20.6billion on the printing of ballot papers and N12.7billion on the procurement of non-sensitive materials. The commission set aside N9.5billion for the printing of result sheets, N7.8billion for the procurement of ballot boxes and a separate N5.39billion for the same purpose. The electoral body will also spend N3.9billion on the procurement of operational vehicles.

INEC is also expected to conduct governorship elections in Ekiti State in June and Osun State in July, while the 2023 general election will commence in February 2023.

A Big Night for 'Rattlesnake - The Ahanna Story' at 8th AMVCA Vanessa Obioha The eighth edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards reached its glittering climax last night when the main ceremony was held at the Eko Convention Centre.

The Ramsey Nouah-directed movie 'Rattlesnake - The Ahanna Story' took home the top three awards, including Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress awards.

The win was a first for its lead actor Stan Nze and an emotional Osas Ighodaro.

The Best Overall Movie sponsored by Amstel Malta

went to Izu Ojukwu and Okey Ogunjiofor's film 'Amina,' which had the highest number of nominations.

In the TV series, film producer and actress Funke Akindele retained her spot as the winner of the Best Actress in Comedy TV Series or Movie for her role in 'Omo Ghetto: The Saga', while actor and skit maker Samuel Perry popularly known as Broda Shaggi for his role in 'Dwindle'.

The trailblazer award went to Teniols Aladese while Industry Award went to Taiwo Ajai-Lycett.

The legendary thespian received a standing ovation as she danced to the stage.

"I'm usually garrulous but I'm lost for words," she began. "This is unusual.”

She added that her greatest joy was coming back home and having the industry embrace her. She also acknowledged the filmmaker Rogers Ofime for bringing her home to work in the industry.

Returning after the pandemic year, The 2022 AMVCA celebrated creative talents in the film, digital and TV platforms.

It retained some of its traditions such as paying tributes to creative talents who passed away in the past two years like Ifeanyi Dike, Obama DMW, Gift Ameh, and

Chico Ejiro among others. For the tribute, winner and runner-up of the last Nigerian Idol Kingdom Kroseide and Akunna performed 'I Was Here', a moving song by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé.

The Best MultiChoice Talent Factory also returned this year with Daisy Masembe taking the award for 'Engaito'.

Uti Nwachukwu, one of the presenters for the Best Dressed Celebrities for the night used the opportunity to urge Nigerians in the audience to get their PVCs. The winners in this category were Denola Grey for the male and Ighodaro for the female.

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News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: gboyega.akinsanmi@thisdaylive.com,08152359253

Invest in People to Curb Extremism, Poverty, Elumelu Tells Nigeria, Others Gboyega Akinsanmi Africa’s leading investor and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu has challenged Nigeria and other African states to invest massively in young Africans as an antidote to permanently nip extremism, poverty and unemployment in the bud on the continent.

Elumelu also identified policy inconsistency, multiple taxation, infrastructure deficit and stifling regulatory environment, among others, as core challenges

frustrating most businesses and entrepreneurs in Nigeria and other African states.

He made the observation at a session at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington on Thursday as part of his global campaign to seek support for young entrepreneurs in Africa.

Elumelu, Chairman, United Bank for Africa Plc, established a $100 million endowment fund, the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) in 2010. The TEF annually supports 1,000

young entrepreneurs across 54 countries of Africa with $5,000 non-refundable grant each.

Since its establishment, the foundation has empowered over 16,000 to help beneficiaries across Africa grow their own businesses; become successful entrepreneurs; address poverty through job creation and help propel the world to be a safer place.

With the success the

foundation had recorded, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported thousands of young entrepreneurs in Africa; European Union committed $25 million to support 3,000; Japan International Cooperation Agency and African Development Bank funded 1,000 each.

Speaking at a session facilitated by the Director, African Programme, CSIS, Mvemba

Dizolele, Elumelu explained that with all he had witnessed across all countries on the continent, the future of Africa “belongs to young entrepreneurs.”

Even when the governments did not prioritise them by creating enabling environment, Elumelu said young entrepreneurs in Africa “have what it takes to succeed if we all prioritise them.”

He said: “I have seen in some of the jurisdictions or countries

that young Africans lack the necessary government support, not just financial support, but also the enabling environment that can make them succeed.

“I have equally seen that the world is beginning to listen and understand that there are better ways of engagement in the 21st century, better ways of helping to prioritise the young people and better ways of helping to create humanitarian impact.”

Bandits Kill One, Abduct 16 in Kaduna John Shiklam in Kaduna One person has been killed while 26 others have been abducted by bandits in Kurmin Sata and Udawa communities in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna State.

A member of the vigilante group in Kurmin Sata, a community in the local council, confirmed the incident, saying the attack took place around 12:30am yesterday.

He said about 20 people were initially abducted, but four of them escaped and the bandits went with 16 people.

He said among those abducted were the village head, some community leaders as well as women and children.

According to him, the bandits were shooting and a bullet hit one

of the residents in his house and he died on the spot.

In Udawa, another community in the local council, the bandits were said to have abducted 10 farmers who were working on their farms.

A resident of the community, who pleaded anonymity, said the incident happened on Friday in the afternoon.

He said the community had been under constant attack by bandits, adding that “going to the farm or going to fetch firewood is very risky now.”

He said the bandits “are camped at the border between Niger and Kaduna States.”

He said since the incident, nobody had gone to the farm for fear of being killed or abducted.

JAMB Releases 2022 UTME Results, Urges Candidates to Use SMS Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) yesterday released results of the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), urging candidates to check their results through short message service (SMS).

JAMB’s Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr Fabian Benjamin made the disclosure in a statement yesterday, advising candidates to send UTMERESULT in one word to 55019 to have their results checked.

He said JAMB had not uploaded the results to its website for obvious reasons; hence candidates could check their results using

the SMS code.

He said: “To check the 2022 UTME result, all a candidate needs to do is to simply send UTMERESULT to 55019 using the same phone number that he or she used for registration.

“The result will be sent as a response to the candidate’s text message. This is the only process of checking the 2022 UTME results for now as the board has not uploaded it on its website for obvious reasons.

“In addition, candidates are forewarned that they would, as usual, receive all kinds of messages from desperate fraudsters on how to check their results different from the aforementioned one.

Adenuga Receives National Productivity Award The Chairman of Globacom Nigeria, Dr Mike Adenuga, Jr. Thursday received the National Productivity Order of Merit Award for his outstanding contribution to the development of Nigeria.

In a statement by Glo Corporate Communications Office yesterday,President Muhammadu Buhari conferred the honour on Dr Adenuga and other recipients at a ceremony in Abuja.

According to the statement, President Buhari said the chairman of Globacom had over the years distinguished himself as a major employer of labour and driver of productivity in the country.

The statement said: “Adenuga was recognised in the ‘Employers of Labour’ category alongside the

Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia; Abdulsamad Rabiu of BUA Group, and Chinedum Anthony Okereke, an industrialist.

“Also recognised were individuals who played principal roles in the fight against Ebola and Covid-19 diseases in the country, including the late Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh. A total of 36 individuals and 10 organisations were honoured at the event.

“Adenuga is also the Chairman of Mike Adenuga Group (MAG), one of Africa’s largest business conglomerates with interests in key sectors of the economy including oil and gas, construction, telecommunications and banking. He also has multi-billion dollar investments in aviation and real estate.

COURTESY VISIT… L-R: Chief Missioner, Narul--Lahil-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Imam Abdul-Azeez Onike; British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Ben LlewellynJones; National General Secretary, NASFAT, Alhaji Gbenga Sunmonu; National Women Affairs Secretary, Alhaja Kupolati Suwebat; and Second Vice President, Prof. Adegbola Abdul Rafiu, during the visit to the envoy’s Ikoyi residence in Lagos… recently.

Nigeria Needs Courageous, Enterprising Bridge-builder, Says Saraki Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba, Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City, Amby Uneze in Owerri and Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa Former Senate President and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Bukola Saraki, has said that Nigeria needs a president who is not only a business-friendly bridge-builder but a man who is truly courageous to do the needful

to rescue the country from the precipice.

Saraki said that Nigeria was sliding towards the unenviable status of a failed state, and stressed the need to choose a president who will courageously and effectively address the country’s security, economic and social challenges to restore the country to the path of peace, progress and economic prosperity.

The former Senate President who was in Delta, Edo, Bayelsa

and Imo states yesterday to meet with delegates as part of his consultations, noted that there was no denying that the country needs urgent and bold measures to rescue and fix Africa’s most promising country.

“There would be dire consequences if we failed at this auspicious time in the nation’s democratic advancement to choose the right person to lead Nigeria out of the woods of insecurity and to put restore her

to the trajectory of progress and prosperity,” he said While promising to be a bridge between the old and young in the country, he urged Nigerians to think of Saraki because widespread suffering and anxiety in the country do not discriminate between ethnic affinity or religious persuasion.

In Edo State, Saraki promised that he would restructure Nigeria and make health services free for all Nigerians if elected president in 2023.

Pray Earnestly to Avert Trouble in 2023, Olukoya Tells Nigerians Udora Orizu in Abuja General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Worldwide, Dr. Daniel Olukoya yesterday urged Nigerians across the federation earnestly to avert situations that could plunge Nigeria during the 2023 general election.

He made the appeal yesterday after dedicating MFM’s new international headquarters annex christened “Prayer, Praise and Power Cathedral” in Wuye

district, Abuja.

He said: “For the 2023 elections, I advise Christians to pray very well and be led by God before they begin to cast their votes so that we do not end up in more trouble”.

On how the new church will impact the lives of residents, the cleric said the new church would change the topography of the place and make the society a better place.

Olukoya, spiritually, said: “It would change the topography of

this place, people will get delivered and healed and we will make the society a better place.

“The basis of all faith is love, when that love is not there, it’s a serious problem indeed. We should have love towards each other and be sensitive to other people’s feelings.”

In his brief remarks, Senior Regional Overseer, MFM Headquarters Annex, Pastor Olumide Oni, said everything being witnessed is all God’s grace.

He thanked the General Over-

seer and all those who took part in bringing the project to fruition.

Speaking on the project, the Project manager, Pastor Gbenga Olumilua narrated how the senior regional overseer foresaw the building of the church back in 2019.

Olumilua thanked God for his intervention, saying the church “faced challenges since commencement of work. A few years ago, God gave Pastor Oni. When he came, he foresaw that we should move to Wuye.

Kudirat’s Murder: Son Asks Buhari to Fulfill Promise Before Tenure Expiration The son of late Kudirat Abiola, Mr. Abdul Abiola, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to make good his promise by bringing those who killed his mother to justice.

He said this yesterday via his Twitter handle @ AbdulMKOAbiola.

He urged the president to bring those who made Kudirat, his mother a martyr at the age of 44 to book, adding that his confidence in Buhari’s bringing his

mother ’s killer to justice was unwavering.

He said that at the early stages of the president’s second presidential campaign, he could remember the things he said, adding that he knew the President was a man of honour and would do it.

“At the early stages of your second presidential campaign. I remember the things you said, so I know that you are a man of justice and equity, hence,

my confidence in you.

“As this administration comes to an end, I would like to call on President Muhammad Buhari to investigate the murder of my mother Kudirat Abiola.

“Her anniversary comes up i n e x a c t l y a m o n t h f r o m n o w. T h e c o n f e s sion of her murderer S e rg e a n t R o g e r s must be investigated “The Oputa Panel is on YouTube and the court statements of your Vice-President

are available serving as facts.

“Since the Vice-President ceased to be the Attorney General of Lagos State the case has suffered a major setback,” he said.

It would be recalled that Kudirat, the wife of late Chief MKO Abiola was assassinated on June 4, 1996, while calling on the president to name her martyr of democracy.

“In the Women hall of Fame, Buhari’s government should name her “the Martyr of Democracy,” he said.

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n Thursday April 28, 2022, one of Nigeria’s leading non-governmental organizations, Grooming Centre, had a book presentation titled ‘Stories Of Impact: Real Women, Real Lives, Real Growth.’ The book was reviewed by former Education Minister and Presidential aspirant, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, and showcased 30 women who are pursuing dreams, building businesses and changing lives. These women are some of Grooming Centre’s over 700,000 active beneficiaries who have received over 12 million loan disbursements since 2006.

Grooming Centre’s Founder and CEO Dr. Godwin Nwabunka, Mr. Alexander Enyinnah (Executive Director, Programmes) and Mrs. Isoken Nwabunka (Executive Director, Administration) were on ground to welcome the dignitaries. Grooming Centre offers financial services and social impact programs for the entrepreneurial poor with little or no access to conventional finance.

PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA

L-R: Mrs. Delphine Misan-Arenyeka, Dr. Noel Ihebuzor (Chairman, Governing Council, Grooming Centre), Mrs. Isoken Nwabunka (Executive Director, Grooming Centre), Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre)

L-R: Mrs. Cecilia Akobundu, Mrs. Delphine Misan-Arenyeka, Dr. Noel Ihebuzor (Chairman, Governing Council), Mrs. Isoken Nwabunka (Executive Director, Grooming Centre) and Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre)

L-R: Mr. Franklin Odoemenam (Governing Council Member), Prof. Remi Sonaiya, Mrs. Isoken Nwabunka (Executive Director, Grooming Centre), Dr. Noel Ihebuzor (Chairman, Governing Council) and Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre)

L-R: Ms. Ier Jonathan-Ichaver (Governing Council Member), Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre), Mrs. Isoken Nwabunka (Executive Director, Grooming Centre), Dr. Noel Ihebuzor (Chairman, Governing Council), and Funke Treasure Durodola, MC of the event

L-R) – Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe (Founder, LAPO) and Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre)

Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre) and guests at the event

Some of the featured Grooming Centre beneficiaries with members of the Governing Council and other guests

L-R) – Ms. Adaobi Okafor (Governing Council Member), Mr. Alex Enyinnah (Executive Director, Grooming Centre), Mrs. Isoken Nwabunka (Executive Director, Grooming Centre), Dr. Noel Ihebuzor (Chairman, Governing Council) and Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre)

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L-R: Dr. Noel Ihebuzor (Chairman, Governing Council), Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre), and CSP Olabisi Okuwobi (Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Police Trust Fund)

Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre) with some of the featured women in the Stories of Impact photobook

Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre) with some of the featured women at the book launch

Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre) with some of the Grooming Centre clients featured in the Stories of Impact photobook

L-R: Barr. Ikechukwu Obi (Legal Counsel, Grooming Centre), Mr. Gabriel Ogugua (President, Rotary Club Okota), Mr. Alex Ajibo, Mr. Alexander (Executive Director, Grooming Centre), Mrs. Isoken Nwabunka (Executive Director, Grooming Centre), Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre), Mr. Ndukaku Nwosu, Mr. Patrick Ukasoanya, Mrs. Anaeto Chidiebere (Programme Cordinator, Grooming Centre) and Mr. Martins Ndigwe

L-R: Mr. Franklin Odoemenam (Governing Council Member), Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe (Founder, LAPO), Mrs. Ier Jonathan-Ichaver (Governing Council Member) and Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre)

L-R: Mrs. Isoken Nwabunka (Executive Director, Grooming Centre), Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre), Mr. Ndukaku Nwosu and Mr. Patrick Ukasoanya

L-R: Mrs. Adaobi Okafor (Governing Council Member), Mrs. Chioma Okafor, Dr. Godwin Nwabunka (CEO, Grooming Centre), Mrs. Isoken Nwabunka (Executive Director, Grooming Centre), Mrs. Elma Ludart (CEO, EG Studios) and Barr. Uju Okafor (Company Secretary, Grooming Centre)

L-R: Tibo Rogers (UNHCR), Prof. Akaneren Essien, Mrs. Felicia Kenbi (one of the featured women), Mrs. Cecilia Akobundu, Mrs. Delphine Misan-Arenyeka, Dr. Noel Ihebuzor (Chairman, Governing Council)

L-R: Cross section of the featured women with the members of the Governing Council, Grooming Centre and invited guests

16

SUNDAY MAY 15, 2022 • T H I S D AY

17

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 15, 2022

BUSINESS

Editor: Festus Akanbi 08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com

An aircraft taking delivery of fuel

Why Airlines Cannot Tame the Increasing Price of Aviation Fuel 'HVSLWH WKHLU FDPSDLJQV DQG DJLWDWLRQV 1LJHULDQ GRPHVWLF FDUULHUV KDYH IDLOHG WR LQÁXHQFH WKH SULFH RI aviation fuel and now they are pitted against oil marketers, writes Chinedu Eze

I

n recent times, the aviation industry has provoked a lot of anxiety and worry in the minds of many Nigerians. Air travellers were aghast when theAirline Operators of Nigeria (AON) announced they would VXVSHQG ÁLJKW RSHUDWLRQV RQ 0D\ 9, 2022, but eventually, that did not happen to the relief of many.

It is all about the price of aviation fuel, known as Jet A1. The airlines said that the prices ranged from N600 per litre to N700 per litre; depending on which part of the country an airline is buying the product. If an operator is buying WKH SURGXFW LQ 0DLGXJXUL KH ZLOO SD\ 1 per litre, in Kano, N680 per litre, in Abuja, N650 per litre and in Lagos, N600 per litre.

But in a recent statement, oil marketers argued that they are not selling the product at N700 per litre. The marketers under the aegis of the 0DMRU 2LO 0DUNHWHUV $VVRFLDWLRQ RI 1LJHULD 020$1 GHQLHG UHSRUWV WKDW $YLDWLRQ 7XUELQH Kerosene (ATK), otherwise known as aviation fuel, was being sold at N700 per litre in some parts of the country.

7KH ([HFXWLYH 6HFUHWDU\ RI 020$1 &OHPent Isong, explained that aviation fuel is sold by marketers at the rate of between N540 and N550 per litre at the tarmac at Lagos airports and N570 to N580 per litre at the farthest airport from Lagos. Isong also denied knowledge of aviation fuel selling at N700 per litre anywhere across the country and acknowledged that WKH 1LJHULDQ 1DWLRQDO 3HWUROHXP &RPSDQ\ 113& KDV LQWHUYHQHG ZLWK WKH LPSRUWDWLRQ of the product.

Cheaper Aviation Fuel 020$1 DOVR DUJXHG WKDW LQ :HVW $IULFD aviation fuel is cheapest in the sub-region. It also said in comparative terms, that the aviaWLRQ LQGXVWU\ ZDV DOUHDG\ EHQHÀWWLQJ IURP WKH government’s intervention when local prices DUH FRPSDUHG WR :HVW $IULFDQ UHJLRQDO SULFHV “despite the deregulated status of aviation fuel”.

The marketers warned that the situation was not sustainable given the already humongous N4 trillion annual subsidy costs being borne by the country.

It explained that concerning aviation fuel, YHULÀDEOH SULFHV LQ :HVW $IULFD UDQJHG IURP

$1.25 per litre in Ghana to as high as $1.51 per litre in Liberia, saying even then, the product has remained scarce across the sub-region.

020$1 PDLQWDLQHG WKDW GXH WR WKH LQWHUYHQWLRQ RI 113& RYHU WKH ODVW VHYHUDO ZHHNV aviation fuel was landed into marine terminal tanks in Nigeria at between N480 and N500 SHU OLWUH GHSHQGLQJ RQ WKH ORJLVWLFV H΀FLHQF\ of the operator.

It further explained that “due to high costs of VSHFLÀF KDQGOLQJ RI -HW $ VSHFLDO WUDQVSRUW DQG FRQWLQXRXV ÀOWUDWLRQ WKH SURGXFW LV VROG RQ WKH tarmac at Ikeja (our benchmark), between N540 and N550 per litre and across other airports at between N570 and N580 per litre. ´'XULQJ WKLV SHULRG RI 113& LQWHUYHQWLRQ DV 113& XVHV WKH QRPLQDO &HQWUDO %DQN RI 1LJHULD &%1 H[FKDQJH UDWH QR LQGHSHQGHQW importer could import aviation fuel as it is unable to access foreign exchange at the same UDWH OHDYLQJ 113& DV WKH PDMRU LPSRUWHU RI aviation fuel for now, even though the product is deregulated.”

However, the marketers admitted that those interventions were sometimes necessary to mitigate shocks and help the economy, the operating environment and the public to adjust WR WKH QHZ UHDOLWLHV ZKLOH HͿRUWV ZHUH EHLQJ made and innovations introduced to optimise FRVWV DQG LQFUHDVH H΀FLHQFLHV :KLOH QRWLQJ WKDW WKRVH LQWHUYHQWLRQV FDQQRW EH SHUPDQHQW 020$1 H[SUHVVHG KRSH WKDW the war in Ukraine should come to a speedy conclusion.

It also expressed the hope that the integration RI SURGXFWV IURP WKH ORFDO UHÀQHULHV LQFOXGLQJ WKH IRXU 113& UHÀQHULHV XQGHU UHKDELOLWDWLRQ WKH 'DQJRWH 5HÀQHU\ XQGHU FRQVWUXFWLRQ DV ZHOO PRGXODU UHÀQHULHV LQWR WKH VXSSO\ FKDLQ would mitigate the high costs being borne by the government and Nigerians.

However, aviation industry observers had DUJXHG WKDW 1LJHULD KDV WKH SDVVHQJHU WUD΀F DQG the number of aircraft so comparing it to other FRXQWULHV LQ :HVW $IULFD ZDV D ZHDN DUJXPHQW They also noted that as an oil producer, there VKRXOG EH VRPH EHQHÀWV WKH FRXQWU\·V FLWL]HQV ought to have just by producing the product locally and lamented that it was a failure of government that Nigeria is not producing petroleum products locally. They also emphasised

that premium motor spirit, which is petrol and GLHVHO SULFHV LQ RWKHU :HVW $IULFDQ FRXQWULHV DUH cheaper than what obtains in Nigeria; so the marketers should not single out aviation fuel. $OVR WKH *RYHUQRU RI WKH &HQWUDO %DQN RI 1LJHULD &%1 *RGZLQ (PHÀHOH KDV said that crude oil theft in the Niger Delta UHJLRQ KDG PDGH LW GL΀FXOW WR JUDQW IRUHLJQ exchange to aviation operators, adding that &%1 ZRXOG QRW JUDQW DQ\ FRQFHVVLRQ WR WKH airline operators because it would amount to giving subsidy (on the price of aviation fuel) to aviation operators.

No Subsidy But the airlines had said that contrary to ZKDW 020$1 ZDV FLUFXODWLQJ WKDW WKH\ never requested subsidies and that they do not even support subsidies in any way. The &(2 RI $HUR &RQWUDFWRUV &DSWDLQ $EGXOODKL 0DKPRRG WROG 7+,6'$< LQ D WHOHSKRQH interview that Nigerian carriers never demanded subsidies from the government but requested that government would review the pricing so that it would come down to the level that Nigerians would be able to travel by air.

He said that airlines do not want to pass the new cost of aviation fuel to the passengers because if they do, passengers would pay between 1 WR 1 IRU RQH KRXU ÁLJKW ´:H GRQ·W ZDQW VXEVLG\ :H FULHG RXW EHFDXVH we are aware that government knows what to GR ZKHQ WKH\ KDYH D FULVLV OLNH WKLV :H DOVR know that if the government takes full charge of the importation the price of the product will be cheaper than what the marketer will bring. $LUOLQHV QHYHU DVNHG IRU D VXEVLG\ :H DUH QRW asking for a reduction in the price of aviation fuel IRU RXU LQWHUHVW :H DUH GRLQJ VR IRU SDVVHQJHUV because if we push the cost to the customers, tickets will cost from N100,000 to N150,000.

The aviation industry is a critical sector. That is why the US government gives bailouts to airlines. All the airlines are privately owned, the government gives them bailout because of the critical role they play in the nation’s economy and the fact that they employ thousands of the FLWL]HQV µ KH VDLG He recalled that in 2008, the US government JDYH D EDLORXW WR *HQHUDO 0RWRUV DQG RWKHU American vehicle manufacturing companies,

which helped them to revamp their production and today they are doing better.

“There was no single airline that said, give XV VXEVLG\ :H ZDQW WKH 1LJHULDQ WUDYHOOHUV WR pay less amount of money for tickets. Airlines JHQHUDOO\ PDNH D PDUJLQDO SURÀW RI WZR SHU FHQW even though establishing an airline is capital intensive.Aviation is the catalyst to any country’s economy and this is because of the movement of people, the economic driver. Even now how many people travel by air at N50,000 for one KRXU ÁLJKW" ´:H SURWHVWHG DERXW WKH LQFUHDVH RI WKH SULFH of aviation fuel because we wanted to draw the attention of the government to look at how it can help. If we continue to increase the cost of tickets passengers will shun the airports.

Airlines might be forced to shut down and the mortality rate of airlines in Nigeria will increase. Employees will lose their jobs and go into the already saturated labour market.

7KDW LV QRW ZKDW WKH RSHUDWRUV ZDQW 0DQ\ RI them have invested so much in aviation. There is a crisis,” he said.

0DKPRRG VDLG WKDW ZKDW PDNHV LW PRUH GLIÀFXOW ZDV WKDW WKH LQFUHDVH FRPHV VXGGHQO\ accusing oil marketers of not giving prior notice before increasing the price of their product.

“There is no airline that will experience such a spike in the price of aviation fuel that will not be VKRFNHG :H EX\ KLJK YROXPHV RI WKH SURGXFW 6XFK D KLJK SULFH LV YHU\ GL΀FXOW EHFDXVH RI WKH volume of litres we buy (Boeing 737 consumes OLWUHV RI IXHO IRU RQH KRXU ÁLJKW :KDW we buy is sector fuel. )OLJKW Á\LQJ IURP /DJRV WR $EXMD IRU H[DPSOH will buy sector fuel. That is taking fuel that will take you to Abuja and extra fuel, which ZLOO HQDEOH \RX WR KRYHU DQG Á\ WR DQ DOWHUQDWH DLUSRUW WR $EXMD ZKLFK LV 0DOODP $PLQX .DQR International Airport, Kano. So you cannot just buy any fuel that is taking you to Abuja. All these have to be taken into consideration,” the $HUR &RQWUDFWRUV &(2 VDLG The airlines and oil marketers seem to have reached a temporary amicable solution with the intervention of the federal government agencies, the National Assembly and others.

But what will bring a permanent solution to WKLV SUREOHP LV WKH ORFDO UHÀQLQJ RI DYLDWLRQ fuel and other petroleum products.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 15, 2022

18

TELECOMS

As NCC Yields to Consumers’ Pressure against Planned Hike in Telcos’ Tariff It is unlikely that the last week’s decision of the Nigerian Communications Commission to GLVDSSURYH WKH SODQQHG WDULͿ LQFUHDVH E\ WKH QDWLRQ·V WHOHFRPV RSHUDWRUV ZLOO FDOP WKH IUD\HG nerves in the sector until the demands of the operators are given a second look, given the realities in the operating environment, writes Emma Okonji

I

n what can be described as a landmark decision, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) last week KDOWHG WKH SODQQHG LQFUHDVH LQ WDULͿV for voice and Short Messaging Services (SMS) by a certain percentage by telecoms operators (telcos) under the aegis of theAssociation of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).

In the letter notifying the regulatory commission of their plan to increase the charges, the telcos had cited the high cost of running their operations as the major reason for their SURSRVHG WDULͿ KLNH However, in throwing away the request contained in ALTON’s letter, the NCC assured subscribers that telcos cannot collectively or unilaterally increase the cost of telecoms services without due process. The commission explained that it ensures its regulatory activities are guided by regular cost-based and empirical studies to GHWHUPLQH WKH DSSURSULDWH FRVW XSSHU DQG ÁRRU price) within which service providers are allowed to charge their subscribers for services delivered.

Telecoms industry watchers believed the NCC action was largely political, explaining that it would be politically suicidal for any government DJHQF\ WR DSSURYH D IUHVK WDULͿ LQFUHDVH RQ WKH eve of a general election.

They explained that given the current rising cost of goods and services, with the attendant frustration and complaints of members of the SXEOLF DSSURYLQJ D QHZ WDULͿ UHJLPH IRU WKH telcos will exacerbate the current economic tension. However, they argued that Nigerians have to choose between paying for better services ZLWK D UHDVRQDEOH WDULͿ KLNH RU PDLQWDLQLQJ WKH status quo in the price regime with its attendant unreliable services.

NCC’s Position In a statement issued by NCC and signed E\ LWV 'LUHFWRU RI 3XEOLF $ͿDLUV 'U ,NHFKXNZX Adinde, NCC allayed subscribers’ fears over the planned hike of the voice call, SMS, and data service costs by 40 per cent.

According to the statement, “For the avoidance

of any doubt, and contrary to MNOs’ agitation WR LQFUHDVH WDULͿV IRU YRLFH DQG 6KRUW 0HVVDJLQJ Services (SMS) by a certain percentage, the commission wishes to categorically inform telecoms subscribers and allay the fears of Nigerians that QR WDULͿ LQFUHDVH ZLOO EH HͿHFWHG E\ WKH RSHUDtors without due regulatory approval by the commission.”

The statement read: “The demand being made

by MNOs under the auspices of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), citing the high cost of running their operations as the major reason for their SURSRVHG WDULͿ KLNH LV FRQWDLQHG LQ D OHWWHU WR the commission.

“Consistent with international best practice and established regulatory procedures, the NCC ensures its regulatory activities are guided by regular cost-based and empirical studies to determine the appropriate cost (upper and ÁRRU SULFH ZLWKLQ ZKLFK VHUYLFH SURYLGHUV DUH allowed to charge their subscribers for services delivered.

“The commission ensures that any cost determined, as an outcome of such transparent studies is fair enough as to enhance healthy competition among operators, provide wider choices for the subscribers as well as ensure the sustainability of the Nigerian telecoms industry.”

1&& QRWHG WKDW WDULͿ UHJXODWLRQV DQG GHWHUminations were made by the commission in line with the provisions of Sections 4, 90, and 92 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, which entrusts the commission with the protection and promotion of the interests of subscribers against unfair practices including EXW QRW OLPLWHG WR PDWWHUV UHODWLQJ WR WDULͿV and charges.

1&& VDLG WKH FXUUHQW WDULͿ UHJLPH DGPLQLVtered by the service providers was a product of NCC’s determination both for voice and SMS in the past.

The Planned 40% Hike In the ALTON’s letter to the NCC, the telcos called for an upward review of the cost of SMS from N4 to N5.61k and voice call termination rate

from N6.40k per minute to N8.95k per minute.

The operators said the move to increase the cost of telecom services became necessary due to the high cost of delivering telecom services across networks, coupled with the harsh business environment and the continuous rise in the cost of various items in various sectors of the Nigeria economy.

They expressed their worries over the negative impact of the economic and security issues on the Nigerian telecommunications industry, ZKLFK WKH\ VDLG KDG DGYHUVHO\ DͿHFWHG WKH FRVW of telecom service delivery across networks.

The telcos had noted that the telecommunicaWLRQ LQGXVWU\ LV KHDYLO\ ÀQDQFLDOO\ LPSDFWHG following Nigeria’s economic recession in 2020 DQG WKH HͿHFW RI WKH RQJRLQJ 8NUDLQH 5XVVLD crisis. According to the letter to the NCC, “This has resulted in an increase in energy costs, which constitutes an appreciable 35 per cent ofALTON’s members’ operating expenses.

“Consequently, the cost of diesel required to power operators’ Towers, Base Stations, and R΀FHV URVH E\ D VWDJJHULQJ SHU FHQW IURP N225 per litre in January 2022 to over N750 per litre in March 2022.Additionally, the introduction RI QHZ OLQHV RI ÀVFDO REOLJDWLRQV YLD WKH UHFHQW ([FLVH 'XW\ RI ÀYH SHU FHQW RQ WHOHFRPPXQLFDtions services further exacerbates the burden of multiple taxes and levies in the sector. As the commission may be aware, the power sector, under the supervision of the Nigerian (OHFWULFLW\ 5HJXODWRU\ &RPPLVVLRQ ´1(5&µ LQ November 2020 undertook a review of electricLW\ WDULͿV WR FDWHU WR WKH HFRQRPLF KHDGZLQGV reported above.”

The letter further said: “Given the foregoing, ALTON considers it expedient for the telecommunications sector to undergo periodic cost adjustments through the commission’s intervention to minimise the impact of the challenging economic issues faced by our members.”

According to them, “Given the state of the economy and the circa 40 per cent increase in the cost of doing business, we wish to request for an interim administrative review of the Mobile 9RLFH 7HUPLQDWLRQ 5DWH 075 IRU 9RLFH $G-

PLQLVWUDWLYH 'DWD ÁRRU SULFH DQG FRVW RI 606 DV UHÁHFWHG LQ H[WDQW LQVWUXPHQWV &RQFHUQLQJ 9RLFH and SMS cost, ALTON respectfully requests the commission to consider a mark-up approach to address the upward price adjustment desirable for the industry.”

For data services, they asked the commission to implement the recommendations in the August .30* 5HSRUW RQ WKH 'HWHUPLQDWLRQ RI &RVW %DVHG 3ULFLQJ IRU :KROHVDOH DQG 5HWDLO Broadband Services in Nigeria.

They also called for the suspension of punitive monetary sanctions; extension of the payment WLPHOLQH RI UHOHYDQW UHJXODWRU\ OHYLHV IHHV LQ compliance with the commission’s mandate by at least three months from the stipulated date RI IXOÀOOPHQW They also want the commission to prevail on the federal government to sign the Executive Order declaring telecommunications infrastructure as a Critical National Infrastructure for the due protection of the infrastructure and to mitigate FRVW H[SHQGHG WRZDUGV UHSODFLQJ WKH GDPDJHG stolen infrastructure and other amenities.

They want reduction or waiver of duties, taxes, and other charges and suspension or reduction of sector fees and other levies. As a way of ameliorating the impact of the tough operating environment, we respectfully request that the proposed upward review of the Frequency 3ULFLQJ 5HJXODWLRQV DQG FXUUHQW DGPLQLVWUDWLYH fees regime for services such as numbering fees, W\SH DSSURYDO IHHV SURPRWLRQ IHHV DQG WDULͿ PRGLÀFDWLRQ UHYDOLGDWLRQ IHHV EH VXVSHQGHG the operators said.

“We expect that the above-mentioned proposals will support our members and ameliorate the challenging economic situation facing the telecommunications industry,” ALTON added.

Telcos’ Initial Complaints Some industry players have continued to react to the telco’s letter to NCC, which called for an XSZDUG UHYLHZ RI WHOHFRPV VHUYLFH RͿHULQJV While some industry stakeholders have justiÀHG WKH FDOO IRU DQ XSZDUG UHYLHZ RI WKH FRVW RI telecoms services, most telecoms subscribers who IHOW GLͿHUHQWO\ VDLG WKH FDOO IRU D KLJKHU FRVW RI telecoms services will further add to the challenges of the masses who are already complaining of the high cost of data that is limiting their activities in the cyberspace while browsing.

7KH LQGXVWU\ VWDNHKROGHUV ZKR MXVWLÀHG WKH call for upward review said since the inception of telecoms service rollout in 2001, the cost of telecoms services has continued to reduce without any iota of increase, even though the cost of items in other sectors of Nigeria’s economy continues to increase year-on-year.

President, National Association Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, who spoke on behalf of telecoms subscribers, told THISDAY that there was no need for an increase in the cost of telecoms services, at a time when Nigerian subscribers DUH IDFLQJ VHULRXV ÀQDQFLDO FKDOOHQJHV ´7KH SODQQHG LQFUHDVH ZLOO RQO\ EH MXVWLÀHG LI WKH IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW À[HV WKH HFRQRPLF FKDOlenges in the country. It will be out of place to increase the cost of telecoms services when Nigerians are still battling with the increase in fuel, transportation, and food items in the market,” Ogunbanjo said.

The Solution Telecom subscribers who spoke to THISDAY said NCC must rise to the situation and call for an industry stakeholders’ meeting that will include telecom operators and their subscribers to discuss and address the issues on the ground.

“The operators may be right in their demand for upward review of the cost of telecoms services, but dialogue with telecoms subscribers is key in addressing the issue,” said Mr. Johnson Temitope, a civil servant and a subscriber to the MTN network.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 15, 2022

19

AVIATION

Will Aero Survive These Austere Times?

Nigeria’s oldest carrier, Aero Contractors, is almost down but it has the potential to rise again and become one of Nigeria’s most successful carriers, writes Chinedu Eze

K

ey factors are going in favour of Aero Contractors. These include invaluable goodwill, highly skilled manpower with experience, a training school and a priceless aircraft maintenance facility. What is going against the foremost Nigerian carrier is that it does not have operational funds; it is crippled

by N50 billion debt and save for two aged aircraft, Aero is bereft of operational equipment. These last factors on the downside can be a Nunc dimittis to any airline in Nigeria.

But Aero is still trudging on, hoping for ÀQDQFLDO LQWHUYHQWLRQ 7KH $VVHW 0DQDJHPHQW &RUSRUDWLRQ RI 1LJHULD $0&21 XQGHU which the airline is in receivership has been mum. It might have exhausted itself, but looking at how Arik Air and Aero ContracWRUV KDYH EHHQ GRLQJ XQGHU $0&21 LW LV the opinion of many industry stakeholders that the government agency’s foray into the aviation industry was a failure. According to many industry observers, not being able to put Arik Air and Aero Contractors on a JRRG SURÀWDEOH SHGHVWDO LV D IDLOXUH ´RQ WKH VLGH RI $0&21 µ Maintenance Facility But Aero was a beckoning hope in 2018 and EHIRUH &29,' 7KDW ZDV ZKHQ LW UHjuvenated its maintenance facility. In 2018, the 1LJHULDQ &LYLO $YLDWLRQ $XWKRULW\ 1&$$ LVVXHG $SSURYHG 0DLQWHQDQFH 2UJDQLVDWLRQ $02 FHUWLÀFDWH WR WKH FRPSDQ\ TXDOLI\LQJ it to carry out aircraft maintenance up to C-check level on Boeing Classics: B737-300, B737-400 and B737-500.

Aero went on to extend its maintenance KDQJDU VR WKDW LW FRXOG HͿHFWLYHO\ WDNH LQ D Boeing 737 aircraft and it was partnering with A J Walters of UK for tooling and spares; the South Africa Airways Technical and other international maintenance organisations to ensure that its aircraft maintenance facility was in line with global standards.

For years the airline had been conducting maintenance on helicopters and BombarGLHU 'DVK DLUFUDIW XS WR ' DQG & FKHFN respectively.

The airline also hoped then to secure (XURSHDQ $YLDWLRQ 6DIHW\ $JHQF\ ($6$ and the US Federal Aviation AdministraWLRQ )$$ FHUWLÀFDWLRQ EHIRUH WKH PLGGOH of next year. ´1LJHULDQ &LYLO $YLDWLRQ $XWKRULW\ 1&$$ KDV JLYHQ WKH FHUWLÀFDWLRQ IRU Aero to conduct C-checks on Boeing B737 Classics. I have always said that Aero ConWUDFWRUV 0DLQWHQDQFH 2UJDQLVDWLRQ KDV EHHQ LQ H[LVWHQFH IRU DERXW \HDUV DQG it has been conducting checks and it has EHHQ LPSURYLQJ 2YHU WKH \HDUV LW KDV GRQH remarkably well in maintaining small body DLUFUDIW OLNH %RPEDUGLHU 'DVK +DZNHUV and other private jets. ´%XW WKHUH KDV DOZD\V EHHQ D OLPLWLQJ IDFWRU for Aero Contractors to perform C-checks on bigger aeroplanes. So we now had a comprehensive look at what is needed so that we could achieve the great feat of carrying out C-check maintenance on Boeing B737 classics. Finally, we got all our people and every other thing ready and send them to NCAA to look at everything for approval. :KDW ZH QHHGHG ZDV WR PHHW WKH VSHFLÀFDWLRQ for conducting C-check on bigger aircraft, the Boeing B737 classic, which includes B737 % DQG % µ IRUPHU $HUR &(2 &DSW $GR 6DQXVL KDG WROG 7+,6'$< That maintenance facility was a lifeline for Aero Contractors. When it began to maintain aircraft for other airlines was when it began to earn revenues from another source other than the scheduled operation ad rotors division.

By early 2019, Aero had started getting RͿHUV WR FRQGXFW & FKHFN RQ WKLUG SDUW\ DLUFUDIW DLUFUDIW RI RWKHU DLUOLQHV EXW WKH company started the C-check with its aircraft and would maintain two of its own before conducting the C-check on another, which was already in waiting.

An aircraft belonging to Aero Contractors

Aero Rotors When Aero Contractors was established in 1959, it targeted the oil and gas industry, to provide shuttle and related services and this was the base of the airline’s revenue XQWLO ZKHQ LW VWDUWHG VFKHGXOHG ÁLJKW VHUYLFH ,Q 0DUFK LQGXVWULDO DFWLRQ JURXQGHG ÁLJKWV IRU GD\V LQ D GLVSXWH RYHU RXWVRXUFLQJ DQG UHGXFWLRQ LQ VWDͿ QXPEHUV 7KH VWULNH IURP ² 0DUFK JURXQGHG $HUR·V DFWLYH ÁHHW RI QLQH DLUFUDIW and was reported to have cost the airline at least N10 billion in ticket sales. $0&21 DW WKH ÀQDQFLDOO\ MDXQGLFHG status of Aero took 60 per cent of Aero stakes in 2013 and in August of the same year it took over the management of the airline. But in 2021 Aero shut down its rotors wing, which was money-spinning for the airline because, under receivership, E & P companies were niggard at doing business with the airline. $W WKH WLPH $0&21 WRRN RYHU WKH PDQagement of the airline, Aero Contrac¬tors had no fewer than eight helicopters (a URWDU\ ZLQJ DQG QLQH DLUFUDIW À[HG ZLQJ but its helicopters had dwindled to just RQH E\ 'HFHPEHU 7KH 0DQDJLQJ 'LUHFWRU RI WKH DLUOLQH &DSWDLQ $EGXOODKL 0DKPRRG DGPLWWHG WR 7+,6'$< WKH SUHFDULRXV VWDWH RI WKH DLUOLQH DQG LGHQWLÀHG IDFWRUV WKDW OHG WR WKH debilitating condition of the indigenous carrier. &DSWDLQ 0DKPRRG GLVFORVHG WKDW WKH management was doing everything possible to revive the carrier, saying that the factors that brought Aero to its knees are the contagious ailment infecting other airlines in the industry. +H VDLG WKDW WKH KLJK FRVW RI IRUH[ KLJK maintenance cost, high cost of aviation IXHO DQG ORZ WUD΀F LV UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH bad condition of the airline. ´0DLQWHQDQFH FRVW LV KLJK IRUHLJQ exchange is not available and the high fuel price in addition to the fact that after the high Christmas season, there was low SDVVHQJHU WUD΀F IURP ODWHU -DQXDU\ WLOO Easter period. Then we are also contending with overhead, which is so much. ´:KHQ \RX KDYH QR WUD΀F DQG ZKDW you are generating cannot defray operating costs you cannot survive. We are still operating but from the rate we are

JRLQJ ZH PD\ VKXW GRZQ DQ\WLPH µ WKH 0DQDJLQJ 'LUHFWRU VDLG +H DOVR H[SODLQHG WKDW EHFDXVH WKH DLUFUDIW LQ WKH ÁHHW DUH ROG WKH\ EUHDN down very often so there is a high cost of maintenance and spares have to be imported and even insuring the aircraft requires foreign exchange.

Aero management also said that although the maintenance facility of the airlines was generating revenue it FRXOG QRW PDNH D SURÀW EHFDXVH WKH IXQGV generated are used to pay personnel and overhead.

Revival 7+,6'$< DOVR VSRNH WR WKH LPPHGLDWH SDVW &(2 RI WKH DLUOLQH &DSWDLQ $GR Sanusi, who also said that it was very unlikely that the airline would survive, except it was urgently injected with new aircraft and funds.

Sanusi who took over the airline in February 2017, when it was in comatose, WROG 7+,6'$< WKDW WKH DLUOLQH ZDV FRPLQJ back from shutting down when he began WR SUHVLGH RYHU LWV DͿDLUV +H UHFDOOHG WKDW WKH DLUOLQH KDG WZR aircraft, which were due for major checks, WKH & FKHFN SDVVHQJHU FRQÀGHQFH ZDV low and three of the airline’s aircraft were in maintenance facilities overseas. ´7KH DLUOLQH ZDV DW WKH EULQN RI FROODSVH ZKHQ ZH WRRN LW RYHU µ KH VDLG Sanusi further explained that the airline was under receivership, as it was being PDQDJHG E\ $0&21 VR ZKDW WKH DLUOLQH needed was more aircraft, which would enable it to increase revenue.

7+,6'$< OHDUQW WKDW WKHQ $0&21 KDG invested so much money in the airline but was not ready to invest more, so Sanusi and his team brainstormed on whether the C-check could be conducted in-house and the engineers in the airline went to work. They took the Boeing 737 classic and successfully conducted C-check and UHFHLYHG $LUFUDIW 0DLQWHQDQFH 2UJDQLVDWLRQ $02 FHUWLÀFDWLRQ IURP WKH 1LJHULDQ &LYLO $YLDWLRQ $XWKRULW\ 1&$$ ´7KH VXFFHVV RI WKH & FKHFN RSHQHG the door for us because it restored pasVHQJHU FRQÀGHQFH NQRZLQJ WKDW ZH FRXOG maintain our aircraft and from 40 to 50 SHU FHQW ORDG IDFWRU RXU SDVVHQJHU WUD΀F

JUHZ WR SHU FHQW $0&21 ZDV HODWHG that they continued to support us. We sold assets we didn’t need and we brought back one of the three aircraft ferried overseas for maintenance and now had two Boeing and 2QH %RPEDUGLHU 'DVK 2XU UHYHQXH URVH from N180 million to N2 billion. We did a lot. ´:H ERXJKW WKH HQJLQHV RI 8QLWHG 1LJHULD Airlines Boeing B737-300 aircraft. With our revenue we revamped the rotary-wing of the airline and would have clinched a multimillion-dollar deal with Total for shuttle service but because the airline was under receivership we didn’t. We even went into a strategic partnership with the indigenous company to revive the rotary wing and was in WKDW SURFHVV ZKHQ &29,' FDPH µ 6DQXVL said.

7KH &29,' ORFNGRZQ ZDV WKH XQGRLQJ of the airline, like many others in other parts of the world, Sanusi said, adding that it was GXULQJ WKH ORFNGRZQ WKDW WKH 0DLQWHQDQFH 2YHUKDXO DQG 5HSDLU 052 IDFLOLW\ FDPH alive and began to engage in third party maintenance, which is the maintenance of other airlines’ aircraft. ´,PPHGLDWHO\ DIWHU WKH ORFNGRZQ ZH ZHUH ready to go into business. Passenger demand was unprecedented. The prospect of Aero was very good. It had a chance to recover, EXW WKH ELJJHVW FKDOOHQJH ZDV ÁHHW UHQHZDO The average age of the aircraft was the late 20s or early 30s. We communicated to the VKDUHKROGHUV :H FRXOG QRW GR ' FKHFN ZKLFK was a heavy check, but we later got approval DQG ZH FRQGXFWHG ' FKHFN RQ WKH %RHLQJ 737 after which we would retire the aircraft, KRSLQJ WKDW WKHUH ZRXOG EH ÁHHW UHQHZDO WR SXW WKH DLUOLQH DV DQ RQJRLQJ FRQFHUQ µ 6DQXVL said. Aero is described as a fully made airline because it has a scheduled operations wing, URWDU\ ZLQJ 052 DQG WUDLQLQJ VFKRRO QR other airline in Nigeria came close.

2Q ZK\ WKH DLUOLQH ZDV JRLQJ XQGHU 6DQXVL VDLG ´7KH DLUOLQH QHHGV ÁHHW UHQHZDO ZLWKRXW which it cannot survive. External factors include high cost of aviation fuel, scarcity and high cost of forex, and low passenger WUD΀F ZKLFK ZDV H[WUDRUGLQDULO\ YHU\ ORZ When I left the airline had a good chance of survival, even coming out of receivership. %XW LW QHHGHG VWULFW ÀQDQFLDO PDQDJHPHQW µ he said.

There is still hope that Aero Contractors will rise again.

20

MAY 15, 2022 • T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

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

AYO AROWOLO

GOLD

INVESTING

WEALTH CAPSULE 15

Small Steps and Consistent Actions Win the Game in Wealth Building AThe secret to getting ahead is getting started. While the secret of getting started is breaking complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable units, starting on the first one –Mark Twain

wealth-building goals. I had previously discussed instances where I have failed and have also discussed instances where I have made good successes in my wealthbuilding journey”.

M

ANY STRATEGY FOR AVOIDING PROCRASTINATION? The book that comes highly recommended on this issue is titled; “Eat that Frog” by Bryan Tracy. In that book, Bryan Tracy states 21 ways to avoid procrastination. The Tracy book provides tips for organising one’s life in a way to be more consistent and more productive while avoiding procrastination.

That book is highly recommended to those people who habitually procrastinate. Bryan Tracy, in that book, clearly discusses the dangers of procrastinating in life. As a wealth builder, you must not, as of habit, procrastinate. Wealth builders must organise and plan their daily lives. They must think ahead. Every minute spent in planning saves as much as 10 minutes in execution, as stated in the book. In that book, Tracy also offers us a six-step formula for effective planning. He states that proper and pure planning prevents poor performance and advises that the best way to plan is to beforehand write down every step that is required to complete a task or project”.

“Generally, procrastination leads to failure.

Wealth builders must avoid procrastination because investment opportunities come in flashes. For instance, those who were able to plan in 2014 and bought the dollar at 190 naira to a dollar would not have reaped bountifully if they had waited and procrastinated. Wealth builders must regularly update their lists, and plan and master their lists. They must do the big things first. They must not waste time on smaller things. The book emphasises the 80-20 rule, which is very relevant for wealth building. Brian Tracy, in that book, suggests that it is only 20% of wealth builders’ activities that would account for their key results. It also outlines the consequences of poor task planning by stating that “long-term thinking improves short-term decision making”.

“Brian Tracy’s book has dealt fairly comprehensively with the strategies for overcoming procrastination. These include: you must give the tasks of higher priority first attention; you must be determined and focused on key result areas that are entirely responsible for growing your wealth, and those key areas must be focused on.

He goes on to state that the output of the aforementioned tasks is crucial to the input of other people’s tasks, and therefore, all tasks must be effectively put together as teamwork for effective results. Many more include that, all key result areas as mentioned in the list must be prioritised in terms of how crucial they are. Bryan Tracy also recommended that we follow the law of the first efficiency, in which he stated in the book that there is never enough time to do all things but enough time to do the most important. You must prepare thoroughly for your task of building

y conversation with my Billionaire Friend during our last session started casually, but suddenly, my Friend narrowed the discussion and began to explain what he called ‘a small mystery’ he discovered in the process of building his wealth. He discussed why taking baby steps is a game-changer in the wealth-building process.

My Friend: “Through personal observations and sometimes in the process of interacting with some of my protégés, I reckon that many people think wealth comes by one sudden ‘break’. I try to correct this impression that Artist Impression of my Billionaire Friend real, genuine wealth starts from taking baby steps until everything eventually stacks up”.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE “From personal experience, as I have stated in our past series, I started building wealth by taking advantage of the Nigerian indigenisation decree of 1976 as an undergraduate. I started buying shares that were offered in IPOs at some kobo per share, which over the years have multiplied in hundred folds into valuable assets. This first step then birthed my investment in wider investment portfolios that have now built a solid and sustainable wealth base for me over the years. As I stated in our past series, I moved from buying shares through utilising small savings as an undergraduate and a Youth Corper. I thereafter improved my investment volume when I started employment by saving 20% of my income and consistently investing in them. At that time, investment in shares in Nigeria was much more predictable. They also gave returns and capital gains, such that their return on investments in shares were very encouraging under the then good forex management of our nation’s economy.

This investment in shares thereafter gave way to my investment in properties, money market, bonds, etc. This is how my little consistent investment steps gradually built my sustainable wealth. I gradually moved from investing in shares and then grew my investments into local and international properties, etc. These included growing my investments in corporate and sovereign bonds in the money market to create some level of liquidity and extended widely on a gradual and consistent basis, in little steps and drops of water to build some mighty ocean of sustainable wealth. This process, therefore, comes highly recommended, particularly to the employee and selfemployed wealth builders. It has worked for other wealth builders. We had Chief Olusegun Osunkeye in an interview last week, where he demonstrated with practical examples how he built his wealth on this same gradual and consistent basis while being an employee wealth builder”.

WHAT WAS THE STRATEGY BEHIND IT? “As discussed, this strategy of building wealth has worked for many other successful wealth-builders and me. Wealth builders should not attempt to seek sudden and unplanned breakthroughs in their wealthbuilding activities. Such breakthroughs always usually lead to crashes which wipe off past efforts. My gradual small, consistent wealthbuilding activity also included investing in start-ups which provided me with board

Through personal observations and sometimes in the process of interacting with some of my protégés, I reckon that many people think wealth comes by one sudden ‘break’. I try to correct this impression that real, genuine wealth starts from taking baby steps until everything eventually stacks up

appointments and also investing in existing companies that gave me the ability to add value to such organisations while continuing to build wealth. This strategy is highly recommended for wealth builders”.

“The strategy revolves around wealth builders deciding exactly on what they want in terms of wealth building. They must write down their decisions and think properly about them. They must set out with properly defined and identified goals, and in doing this, they must firmly establish their set goals. They must draw up their lists of sub-tasks, which should be integral to achieving their goals. They just keep adding to these goals from time to time. They must consistently organise their lists of sub-tasks inset plans, with those plans serving as references for measuring their achievements as they grow in wealth. They must take action!

They must be consistent! They must be active in achieving their wealth-building goals. They must constantly move towards achieving their daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals.

As discussed consistently in our past conversations, they must expect some falls and risings in the process of their parabolic movement of achieving their

Generally, procrastination leads to failure. Wealth builders must avoid procrastination because investment opportunities come in flashes. For instance, those who were able to plan in 2014 and bought the dollar at 190 naira to a dollar would not have reaped bountifully if they had waited and procrastinated

wealth before commencing it. You must do your homework properly, and you must identify and deploy your special talents for building wealth”.

CONSEQUENCES OF GOING FOR SUDDEN BREAKS “Generally, any wealth builder who aims to make it big without gradual and consistent planning would be likened to participating in a game of lotteries, which is only a game of chance or be looking to consummate illegal business for building wealth.

Wealth building with reputation, integrity and good name require wealth builders to take gradual steps and plan for long term goals in building their wealth on a gradual basis. Little drops of water, they say, make a mighty ocean. Taking small assured steps at every time is a surer and safer way to build the wealth that would give long-term happiness without in the future ending up with a bad reputation and a soiled generational legacy”.

“Wealth building should therefore be aimed at doing good to others, with a good name intact. This gives long-term happiness, acclaim and respect locally and internationally. Any wealth builder who wants to build wealth without taking his reputation and integrity into consideration but only aiming to make big kills will not be doing himself any good because we must always realise that a good name is better than all the riches in the world. A Yoruba proverb particularly encourages that when we concentrate on building a good name and reputation, then wealth would no doubt follow. However, as has been severally canvassed in this conversation series, the building of wealth requires consistent planning, seeking and acquiring knowledge in the chosen area(s) of wealthbuilding for the achievement of legitimate and sustainable wealth, which will guarantee happiness and fulfilment in the long run, to wealth builders.

This will also leave lasting legacies for the families of wealth builders from which their future lineages would continue to benefit.

This is the type of wealth that should be pursued instead of building wealth that future lineages would not want to be associated with”.

“In general, if you build your wealth around your talents and passion, then you are assured of the best results as a wealth builder.

Wealth builders must identify what they are good at, what has been most responsible for their success in the past, and which would be best if they could engage in any task for building wealth. Wealth builders must identify key constraints in their process of building wealth. They must identify their set speed. Wealth builders must consistently take each step at a time. Wealth builders must maximise their personal prowess (prowess in terms of personal strength).

Personal performance and productivity created through the physical, mental and emotional energies of wealth builders must be harnessed. Wealth builders must motivate themselves to achieve results. The process of building wealth is generally not easy.

Hence wealth builders must continue to motivate themselves to achieve their set goals consistently. They must avoid procrastination.

Procrastination often leads to failure”.

We agreed it was time to end the conversation. And we bade each other bye.

Till next week.

Yours Money-wisely Email: ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com Tel:08086447494

T H I S D AY MONDAYSunday MARCH 14, 2022 15 May, 2022 Vol 27. No 9897

OPI NION

121 TR

A COVID AND UKRAINE IN AFRICAN ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY OKELLO OCULI argues that the Ukraine crisis is being used to hit hard on Russia for its past ‘sins’ See Page 22

WILL SOLUDO SEIZE THE CHANCE TO GROW APGA? There is need to open up the party to other parts of the country, argues Ifeanyi CHUKWU AFUBA

See Page 49

PETER OBI AND HIS SUPPORTERS FREDRICK NWABUFO urges Obi to ask his supporters on social media to be more courteous See Page 51

EDITORIAL ENDING ASUU’S PERENNIAL STRIKES

See Page 52

N

Purchase of forms is a strategy to negotiate their political life in a post-Buhari presidency, contends OLUDAYO TADE

NIGERIA’S BILLIONAIRE PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS

M See Page 21

& RE A S O

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

BRITAIN, IPOB AND TERRORISM IPOB and its affiliates owe themselves a duty to stem violence in the South-east, writes PAUL EJIME

UT H

iffed about the current state of affairs in Nigeria, Late Fela Anikulapo from the land of the dead, looked back and picked the CD containing his song, ‘Teacher don’t sing me Nonsense’ where he theorized about the craziness in the operation of Nigeria’s brand of democracy. Abami Eda reasons that it is inconceivable to see things grow worse from one government to another while the same democracy works well and brings development in other western democracies were it not for demons operating Nigeria’s democracy. Fela recalls the lyrics of his song where he views our retrogressive democracy as blatant demonstration of crazy. He sings: Demo-crazy (Demo-crazy), Crazy demo (Demo-crazy) Demonstration of craze (Demo-crazy), Crazy demonstration (Democrazy), If it no be craze (Demo-crazy), Why for Afrika? (Demo-crazy), As time dey go (Demo-crazy), Things just dey bad (Democrazy), They bad more and more (Democrazy), Poor man dey cry (Demo-crazy), Rich man dey mess (Demo-crazy), Demo-crazy (Demo-crazy), Crazy demo (Demo-crazy), Demonstration of craze (Demo-crazy), Crazy demonstration (Demo-crazy). Is it therefore not crazy demonstration to see those who have been feeding fat on Nigeria’s democracy struggling to buy their way into Aso rock?

These aspirants have formed the billionaire club and with the conspiracy of their party leaders, have put barriers on the way of HOLJLEOH DQG WKH PRVW VXLWDEOH EXW ÀQDQFLDOO\ incapable aspirants to contest with them. They hold on to that structure tenaciously and asks youth to wait for their time despite the fact that the incumbent president, has practically been ruling Nigeria from youth till old age with his other military comrades. Financial inequality has become weaponized as an instrument of strategic exclusion in Nigeria where WKH PRVW TXDOLÀHG DUH VKRYHG DVLGH E\ money bags. These parasitic money bags make strong individuals that can do their bidding. They weaken institutions that ought to be strong enough to check their greed. To what extent has the primitive DFFXPXODWLRQ RI WKH UXOLQJ HOLWH LQÁXHQFH the quest to want to become millionaire and billionaire in Nigeria through illegitimate means?

It was Teniola Apata popularly called Teni Makanaki, who showed through her song the importance of money in achieving upward social mobility. In her song, Billionaire, Teni mirrors the mindset of Nigerian youths and their quest for money.

She lyrically argues that Femi Otedola and Aliko Dangote who are billionaires do not possess two heads (won o lori meji) and that the aspiration to step into their shoes as billionaire will be realized in order to compete effectively within the billionaire club. In our society, ritual killings here and there is all about making money. When some teenagers slaughtered their girlfriend in Ogun State, it was all about making money and using porch cars. Since the arrest of the Billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudimeme Ohamadike, also

known as Evans, the landscape of kidnapping for ransom has changed in the country. It has become a new industry yielding high returns with low cost. Since political parties have used money as barrier for people of legitimate means to compete, there is no doubt that kidnappers and terrorists and their sponsors will purchase forms after joining these parties and contest in 2023. We should know what to expect in post-2023 with the background that we are laying.

A scan through those who have obtained form from both the All-Progressives Congress or Peoples Democratic Party revealed that they are those who have been feeding themselves and their families from the Nigeria’s collective patrimony since return of democracy in 1999. Most of them could not solve small problems in their past and present positions as governors, former governors, serving or former senators. Most of them are part of this failing government; a government that cannot secure her citizens but rather baptized them into poverty. A government that deploys public funds to feed terrorists and train them in foreign schools as repentant. Yet, the same government cannot fund public education for law abiding children. A government that leaves her security men and women vulnerable to the whims and caprices of terrorists, bandits and Fulani invaders.

This is a government that gives order to Service Chiefs to stop insecurity but never bothers to probe why there are no UHVXOWV DQG RXU JDOODQW RIÀFHUV DUH NLOOHG

Having money to purchase the expression of interest form by themselves or through proxies does not imply they have solutions to the problems plaguing the country

almost on a daily basis. These aspirants are among those who deny their countrymen and women quality education, health DQG VHFXULW\ :KLOH LQ RIÀFH WKH\ WRRN so much. When they were leaving, they arranged so much for themselves as severance packages and lifetime social welfare packages. But they make poor pensioners suffer. As those in service see how former colleagues are treated, they learn to corruptly enrich themselves so that they will have something to fall back WR 7KLV LV WKH RULJLQ RI IDNH FHUWLÀFDWH fraud and forgeries in the civil service.

These billionaire presidential aspirants have also started their dramaturgical performances, presenting themselves in the ethnic clothing of other groups. I hope Nigerians are not fooled by such deceit.

Erving Goffman (1922-1982) devoted quality time to interrogate life as a social stage and individuals as actors who struggle to create certain impressions through the presentation of selves. The incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari was presented as pan-Nigeria during campaigns (and as converted democrat), adorning attires of other ethnic nationalities but after election, original Buhari personality governs. This impression management (effort to create VSHFLÀF LPSUHVVLRQV LQ WKH PLQGV RI the people) include performances such as identifying as Yoruba, Ibo or Hausa through dressing, opening your doors to all interest groups, tweeting, dancing to hip-hop during campaigns to appeal to youths, attending any religious events against your own known religious convictions, among others. Having money to purchase the expression of interest form by themselves or through proxies does not imply they have solutions to the problems plaguing the country. Rather, it’s a lifelong ambition for some and investment for majority of them as they scramble for the remains of Nigeria.

Purchase of forms is a political strategy by billionaire pretenders to negotiate their political life in a post-Buhari presidency. Their aspiration is not to solve the problem of unemployment which is about 33.3 percent. They are not bothered about rescuing about 120million Nigeria VZLPPLQJ LQ SRYHUW\ À[LQJ SRZHU RU ending the compromised territorial integrity and insecurity troubling the country.

They use poverty as a weapon for political domination. Fela Anikulapo watches our compromised system and queries the entrenchment of culture and tradition of corruption, mismanagement and embezzlement where there is no accountability to the source of money.

There are consequences for the millions of naira being invested in political activities while critical human capital development is low. As Fela says, rich man dey mess (demo-crazy), and poor man will suffer the consequences of the mess.

Dr Tade, a sociologist writes via dotad2003@yahoo.com

2 22

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 15, 2022

BRITAIN, IPOB AND TERRORISM IPOB and its affiliates owe themselves a duty to stem violence in the South-east, writes PAUL EJIME Two consequential implications stand out in the recent United Kingdom Government statement on separatist groups in Nigeria’s South East region. The first is that the deteriorating security situation in the region, the stomach-churning and senseless bloodletting and barbarism that has lately seized the region, and which is at least in part blamed on IPOB and other groups, has dealt it probably an irreversible damage in the international community.

The second and a corollary to the foregoing is that the United Kingdom which hitherto was a haven for persons associated with IPOB, will no longer be as welcoming, once

such persons are deemed to favour violent methods in the pursuit of their cause. Such sentiments are likely to spread to other Western nations, hitherto tolerant and even sympathetic to the ideals of self-determination which IPOB claimed to be pursuing. This is without doubt, an own goal by IPOB, started off as a peaceful movement, but has now been accused of involvement in at least some of the killings in the South East States.

The statement contained in the British Country Policy and Information Note (CPIN) provides Country of Origin Information (COI) and analysis for use by UK Government decision-makers. It allows officials handling particular types of protection and human rights claims by foreigners seeking refuge in England to do so with more comprehensive information.

In April 2021, a report credited to the CPIN had indicated plans by the U.K. government to grant asylum to persecuted members of IPOB and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), as part of its refugee policy then.

That report said that “if a person who actively and openly supports IPOB is likely to be at risk of arrest and detention, and ill-treatment which is likely to amount to persecution, and if such person could prove persecution, then the IPOB member or supporter could be granted asylum.” That policy note was however, taken down a few days later following strong protest from the Nigerian government.

Subsequently, a revised CPIN on 13th April 2022 said that “If a person has been involved ZLWK ,32% DQG RU DQ DIÀOLDWHG JURXS MASSOB or any other ‘Biafra’ group that incites or uses violence to achieve its aims, decision-makers must consider whether one (or more) of the exclusion clauses under the Refugee Convention is applicable. Persons who commit human rights violations must not be granted asylum.”

The same CPIN explained that “IPOB is proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government, and members of the group and its paramilitary wing - the Eastern Security Network (created in December 2020) - have reportedly committed human rights violations in Nigeria. “MASSOB has been banned but is not a proscribed terrorist group in Nigeria. It too has reportedly been involved in violent clashes with the authorities,” it added.

But some Nigerian media outlets misrepresented this revised CPIN by reporting that the UK government had added IPOB to its list of terror groups. The Nigerian government swiftly waded in to welcome the development.

“It has taken our allies in the U.K. so

long to follow (the Nigerian example in proscribing IPOB),” the statement further said, citing what it called: “the deep pockets of IPOB’s international network of funders that allow for lawyers and influence peddlers to aggressively lobby for and whitewash the activities of their client in Western courts; and… IPOB’s influential communication network of TV and radio stations - including London-based Radio Biafra - employed with great effect to spread misinformation abroad and incite violence at home”.

The government urged the UK to follow up with “confiscation of their assets; shut down their communication channels and sanction the issuance of visas to IPOB’s funders in Nigeria,” adding that the US should also “… heed (Nigeria’s) calls and follow suit in designating this murderous terror group as what it is”.

The Nigerian government statement was hasty and unnecessary. It served no obvious purpose at a time when the international community was independently reviewing its policy towards IPOB and such other groups in the South East of Nigeria. To underscore this point, the British High Commission in Nigeria quickly weighed in to clarify that the UK government did not designate the IPOB as a terrorist organisation.

“We are aware of inaccurate reporting circulating in the media and online that the UK Government has added the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the UK’s list of terrorist groups or organisations banned under UK law,” the High Commission said in a statement.

“These reports are untrue. The ‘Indigenous People of Biafra’ (IPOB) is not a proscribed organisation in the UK. The inaccurate reporting relates to the 13 April 2022 publication by the UK Government of a revised Country Policy and Information note (CPIN) on separatist groups in South East Nigeria, including the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),” the statement said, adding that “only violent members” of the IPOB will be denied asylum in Britain.

“All asylum and human rights claims made in the UK are considered on their individual facts in accordance with our obligations under the UN Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights, taking into account relevant background country information and case law,” the High Commission added. Yet this statement is loud in that it openly admitted that there has been a policy change towards granting asylum to persons associated with IPOB and groups like it. This is very significant and could have lasting effect.

The IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, who also holds a UK citizenship, has been in the custody of the Nigerian government and facing trial, among other charges, for treason.

The circumstances surrounding his trial, the activities and statements of IPOB as an organization and the clashes between its members and the security forces are well documented.

Rather than jump in with both feet into an issue with public statements, gloating or otherwise, the government must see that deft diplomatic efforts do win over friends.

And therefore, it should invest more in this direction. Such an effort provides the government with an additional and cheaper tool for dealing with violent discontent.

On the other hand, this development may serve as the tonic for IPOB and other separatist groups to undertake self-interrogation for a change of their modus operandi. While lawful agitation or pursuit of a legitimate cause is allowed under a democracy, the use of violence and the breakdown of law and order nullifies any claim to such a cause.

Ejime is a Global Affairs Analyst, a former War Correspondent and an Independent Consultant on Corporate StrategicCommunication, Media, Peace & Security and Elections

OKELLO OCULI argues that the Ukraine crisis is being used to hit hard on Russia for its past ‘sins’

COVID AND UKRAINE IN AFRICAN ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY The end of the Cold War raised challenges for access to mineral resources in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Mobutu’s ZAIRE) because they were under increasing threat by liberation movements fed with guns and the social technology of ‘’guerrilla war.

The era has ended with capturing Patrice Lumumba and murdering him with impunity; assassinations of Eduardo Mondlane of Mozambique, the brilliant Ruth First a South Africa in exile, and Amilcar Cabral of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde had not fatally crippled the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMON), the African National Congress (ANC) and PAIGC, respectively.

A new set of African political leaders with strong Russian and Chinese diplomatic and military links were on the rise.

The language of African diplomacy was increasingly dominated by militant economic references to ending EuroAmerican looting of Africa’s mineral and agricultural resources. Strategic countries like Zaire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Algeria were vulnerable to armed struggle fed by Fidel Castro’s Cuba.

NATO hurriedly returned to President Woodrow Wilson’s war slogan of ’’selfdetermination’’ in Europe. The AfricanAmerican thinker W.E.B. Dubois had demanded it against European colonial dictatorship in Africa. NATO’S new ideological weapon became calls for ‘’DEMOCRACY’’ even though previously ignored.

It was imposed on Cold War’s ‘’beautiful brides’’, notably: Daniel arap Moi in Kenya; P.W. Botha in South Africa and Leopold Sedar Senghor in Senegal.

African governments have been stampeded into taking ‘COVID DEBTS’. On 10th May, 2022, an expert reported that South Africa had imported 11 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines. While three million infections had been recorded, 100,000 persons had died from COVID-19.

There is reluctance to get vaccinated and the bulk of the vaccines are likely to expire before being used.

President Biden and Prime Minister Johnson banned their citizens from travelling to Southern African countries. COVID-19 was a weapon for economic diplomacy against the tourism economy of the region.

Closing down 70 percent of African economies consisting of the ‘’informal sector’’ increased starvation.

The ‘’Ukraine Crisis’’ has aroused a new ‘Hot or Cold War’ inspired by revisiting Adolph Hitler’s dream of turning Russia into Germany’s vast colony. NATO’S grip on Its vast QDWXUDO UHVRXUFHV PD\ EH D ÀWWLQJ punishment for her support for liberation movements in Africa to weaken NATO. Cyril Ramaphosa spoke for Africa in refusing to support a military encirclement of a friend.

COVID diplomacy diverted attention from key killer diseases in Africa, notably: malaria, bilharzias, hunger and increasing youth consumption of narcotic drugs.

In the American healthcare system pharmaceutical companies operate OLNH VHFUHW PDÀD EULELQJ JRYHUQPHQW health policymakers; Ministers of Health; professors in medical schools to ignore nutrition by promoting drugs for cure; nurses who undermine breast milk which give new-born babies protective immunity from PRWKHUV DQG PHGLD ZKLFK SURÀWV from advertising drugs.

In Africa inducements to doctors include funding travel for their families to holiday resorts in the Caribbean, Europe, Dubai, China or Taj Mahal in India. Depositing money in Euro-American bank accounts to ÀQDQFH VKRSSLQJ LQ IDVKLRQ ED]DDUV has long been used by the CIA in South America. In return are imports of expensive medical equipment; blocking the development of cheaper generic drugs, and assassination of brilliant local scientists developing self-reliant inventions.

The vigorous promotion of COVID-19 while denying Africa vaccines, combined with blocked access to wheat, fertilizer and petrol imports from Ukraine and Russia, Military force shoved out social engineers however, opens eyes in Africa to like Mobutu Sese Seko, Uganda’s Milton the urgent Creative measures for combating a post-Cold War American Obote and Sudan’s Omar Bashir.

In Europe, the use of social welfare empire anchored on deepening the to ensure local support against impoverishment of Africa; causing Communism was withdrawn. Millions mass starvation and supporting of angry Greeks and other Europeans violence to get cheap mineral ÀOOHG VWUHHWV LQ SURWHVWV DJDLQVW WKHLU QHZ resources.

Dr Abebe Haile Gebreh of UNDP impoverishment.

They were met with COVID-19, an told South African Broadcasting anti- crowd biological weapon for what Corporation that “there is almost critics called a ‘’Virus Dictatorship’’. QRWKLQJ EHLQJ GRQH WR ÀJKW &OLPDWH Police forces took back streets in Change; failure of one rainy season cities with stay-at-home rules. Drug ruins lives of millions in Africa despite companies which invented ‘’Vaccines’’ 60 per cent of land being cultivatable. against COVID-19 and its siblings The initiative by Kaduna Polytechnic directed governments to advertise their to train creativity of hundreds of preventive products. To avoid losses by mechanics at ‘’PANTECA’’ urban slum drug companies due to public resistance is a model for letting ‘’a thousand to being vaccinated, governments paid ÁRZHUV EORRP·· LQ WKH JHQLXV RI for vaccines upfront.

Transparency millions of rural and urban youths. is silent about the setting of prices of vaccines.

Oculi writes from Abuja

COVID diplomacy diverted attention from key killer diseases in Africa, notably: malaria, bilharzias, hunger and increasing youth consumption of narcotic drugs

SUNDAY MAY 15, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾MAY 15, 2022

GLITZ TRIBUTE

For Ekweremadu: It’s a Life of Service Uche Anichukwu pays glowing tribute to a former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who happens to be the longest serving presiding officer of the parliament in Nigeria’s history

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s an Igbo and a Christian, I am a very strong believer in the concepts of destiny and grace, themes that also run through the names of my children. In Igbo cosmology, for instance, Chi Ukwu/Chukwu and akaraka play very critical roles in the life of every man. Chi Ukwu, the Supreme Being, cuts a preordained path for every man and when a man finds that path and purpose, he ultimately cruises on the wings of grace fulfilling that purpose, despite the challenges on that path.

The function of grace manifests in God using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things as can be seen in the biblical stories of Gideon, Joseph, Esther, and David, among others.

When God sent Prophet Samuel to anoint a new king for the Israelites in the House of Jesse, Samuel almost anointed Eliab, for he said in his heart, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” But God said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The same applied to Jesse’s other sons, Abinadab and Shammah, who had the outward appearance of men of war and king of Israel.

Then the prophet asked Jesse if he had no other sons, to which Jesse answered, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” They sent for David from the wild; and once Samuel sighted him, the Lord said: “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

Born of humble background, there was probably no way, in human estimation, anybody could have imagined that the transformation experienced by Mpu, Aninri, Enugu West, and many parts of Enugu State, including Nomeh Unataeze, my community, would ever come by Ekweremadu. More so when he comes from the smallest senatorial district in Enugu, the smallest local government in that small district, and the smallest community in that local government.

But as already established, God looks at the heart, especially the heart of service, while raising leaders; and this is one virtue even Ekweremadu’s fiercest critics would readily give to him. This, I believe, is the secret of his meteoric rise to power and his political staying power.

For instance, when the priest that conducted the valedictory christian service for outgoing college students asked him to make a request of God, Ekweremadu did not ask for personal riches to “pepper them”. Instead he prayed God to place him in a position that he would be able to lift his people and turn around the fortunes of his state. In return, he promised to build a church for God. Today, that church stands visibly at Mpu, along the Awgu-Ndeaboh-Mpu-Okpanku-Akaeze road attracted by Ekweremadu to wipe away the reproach, tears, and hardship that had been the lot of those communities since the days of their ancestors.

Also, that Ekweremadu was called to leadership at a very early age underscores his call to serve. Born on 12th May 1962, he was elected by his peers as the chairman of their age grade at about age nine. It has been from one service to another ever since, as he later became the President-General of Mpu town union for many years on the insistence of his people. Following the excellent services he rendered to the pressure group that advocated the creation of Aninri from Awgu LGA, the

Ekweremadu

elders of Aninri approached him to take up the responsibility of pioneering the new local government area in 1997. He won the election on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) and later won the Best Council Chairman Award, as he built a local government secretariat on a virgin land at Ndeaboh when Aninri’s contemporaries were still performing groundbreaking ceremonies.

But he couldn’t complete that tenure because the transition to civil rule was short-lived following the death of General Sani Sani Abacha.

Luckily for him, he lost his reelection bid to return to the council to continue his good work. He almost lost his life in the process, given the avalanche of electoral violence unleashed on him. Yes, he was lucky to have lost that reelection bid because it was God using it to in order to redirect his political trajectory to something better and bigger.

Ikeoha, as he is fondly called, joined Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani team and became the Director-General of the Nnamani campaign organisation.

Post-election, he was appointed Chief of Staff by His Excellency, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani in 1999, and later served as Secretary to the State Government in that administration all from 1999 to 2003. He was elected into the Senate in 2003 and was re-elected in 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019.

Ikeoha served as Deputy President of the 6th, 7th, and 8th Senate, making him the longest serving presiding officer of the parliament in Nigeria’s history, with his emergence as Senate number two man in the 8th Assembly being by far the most dramatic and tension-soaked.

The Senator was elected the First Deputy Speaker of the Community Parliament in 2007 and the Speaker of the regional parliament in 2011, as he already earned the respect of critical stakeholders in the region given his outstanding performance as the chairman of the parliament’s interventions in the political

situations in Niger Republic and Guinea.

He was appointed a founding member of the Malta-based International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP) in 2018. He is equally the Chief Coordinator for Africa of the International Parliamentary Congress and a member of the Paris-based Climate Parliament.

Although the primary business of a lawmaker is to make laws and carry out oversight functions on the other arms of government, Ekweremadu has taken the parliamentary function of representation a thousand notches higher. He has been silently working, touching lives, and transforming communities, including mine.

Apart from development projects like school blocks, electricity, and water projects he sponsored in his personal capacity, Ekweremadu has attracted more than 26 projects/interventions in Enugu East senatorial district, including the ongoing Ozalla-Obe-Umueze-Agbani-AkpugoAmagunze-Ihuokpara-Ebonyi road and the also ongoing Nenwe-Nomeh-MburumbuNara road project with a spur to Oduma; over 15 projects in Enugu North senatorial district, including the Awka-Ugwuoba-Oji River-Nachi-Udi-9th Mile-Abor-Ukehe-Opi; more than 270 projects and interventions in Enugu West senatorial district, including the Awgu-Achi-Oji River Road, ongoing Ugwueme-Nenwenta-Nkwe-EzereAwgunta-Obeagu-Mgbidi-Mmaku road project, Ugwueme-Nenwenta-Ezere-NkweMgbidi-Mmaku-Awgunta road projects, and Umulumgbe-Affa-Ikedimkpa-AmaozallaEgede-Awhum road project, just to name a few; and 31 projects outside Enugu State.

These are apart from scholarships, bursary awards, political appointments, employments, and donations to noble causes. For instance, over 4,143 undergraduates have benefitted from the Ikeoha Foundation’s Bursary Awards across the Enugu State, 106 students have

received full university scholarships, going on to become successful professionals and businessmen and women, which 12,207 persons have received education through the Ikeoha Foundation Adult Programme. One can actually go on and on.

But perhaps, one of the greatest decisions that underlines Ekweremadu’s commitment to service of his people is his decision to run for the governorship of Enugu State in 2023. Many, including his friends in the international community thought he would gun for the presidency, given his rich resume.

But Ekweremadu sees things differently. He believes that with Nigeria’s current state and structure, the country stands a better chance of revival and development by getting the states working.

“In the course of this journey (national and international service), I have met world leaders, business leaders, and made friends in both the private and public sectors of the national and global economies. I have had the opportunity to understand how states and nations are transformed. A good example is a city like Dubai, the UAE, which was a desert, but has now become the world most digitalised city and a global investment hub. I have an insight into the economic transformation taking place in Rwanda and Ghana.

“At this point, therefore, I believe it is time to focus on Enugu State and Enugu people without whom I would not be who and what I am today”, Ekweremadu states in manifesto, “My Agenda for Enugu”.

Explaining more during an interview with some newsmen, he added: “If you go to UAE, it is a federal state like us; like in Nigeria, they were in darkness in terms of governance; nothing was working; it was pure desert with poor people everywhere until one of those emirates just like states in Nigeria decided to think differently in Dubai. Dubai now went ahead in the aviation sector to Pakistan and hired one aircraft and started what is today the giant called the Emirates. They went into housing and started building high-rise buildings and asking the whole world to come and invest saying this is heaven.

“So, if by the grace of God we have the opportunity of doing what we intend to do in Enugu, we are hopeful that, that can inspire the rest of the states and that is how Nigeria can also do well”.

Nations in distress pray for leaders that will turn around their fortunes. Ikeoha stands out, for while others are coming with promissory notes, Ikeoha is coming with verifiable achievements and capacity. He represents a turning point for Enugu State and the South-east region.

Undoubtedly, in him, Ndi Enugu now have their own Lee Kuan Yew, who moved Singapore from a Third World to the First World in a generation; Franklin D. Roosevelt, who helped the American people regain faith in themselves in the face of the Great Depression; and their own Park Chung-hee, who charted South Korean transformation from a war-torn, poor nation to one of the world’s leading economies.

As the nation, including President Mohammadu Buhari celebrates this great but silent achiever, patriot, transformational and visionary leader, it is clear that in Ikeoha Ndigbo, God has awarded Ndi Enugu a penalty in their quest for an all-round transformation and a great future. It is now up to them to bury the ball in the net or blow it over the bar, God forbid.

Happy birthday Ikeoha.

Anichukwu is Media Adviser to Senator Ekweremadu

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 15, 2022

WILL SOLUDO SEIZE THE CHANCE TO GROW APGA? There is need to open up the party to other parts of the country, argues IFEANYICHUKWU AFUBA Thank God that Professor Chukwuma Soludo has taken off with a run. There is no issue now whether the pace is of a trot, jog or canter. It’s a long distance race about adding value to people and society, a sensitive task that should have no room for entertaining galloping. What is reassuring is that the march for a prosperous and liveable homeland has commenced. Early pointers include the cost - saving approach to government activities; the initiative against separatist - induced insecurity, and the bid for reclamation of Okpoko. But socio - economic development also has a

political side to it. And the political agenda LV DOUHDG\ RQ WKH ÀOH WDEOH ZLWK WKH general election drawing closer by the day.

APGA, the political party that produced Soludo is in dire need of a push. Nobody but Soludo, APGA’s only Governor, is better placed to reposition the party. And QR WLPH QR VHWWLQJ EXW WKH XQIROGLQJ election process, could be more auspicious for strengthening the party and expanding its reach. $JDLQVW WKH EDFNJURXQG RI LWV \HDUV of existence and the bold vision behind its formation, APGA has not fared well.

Its stunted growth can be located in three main factors, namely, the nature of Nigeria’s electoral contest; management of internal party democracy; and national presence, appeal and engagement. Except for the ruling party on the issue of election, WKH ÀUVW WZR LWHPV ZKLFK DUH OHVV ZHLJKW\ in this discourse applies to all political parties. It will be seen, however, that the WKLUG LWHP E\ IDU RI JUHDWHU VLJQLÀFDQFH poses a ‘unique’ challenge to APGA. Every opposition party has to contend with the consequences of our electoral environment. From the drafting of electoral laws through the conduct of polls in the ÀHOG WR SURVHFXWLRQ RI HOHFWLRQ SHWLWLRQV the odds are stacked against opposition parties and their candidates. In these FLUFXPVWDQFHV RI XQHYHQ SOD\LQJ ÀHOG APGA had its governorship victories LQ (QXJX 6WDWH LQ ,PR 6WDWH LQ DQG $ELD 6WDWH LQ UHYHUVHG The high cost of election litigation aside, the prevalence of technicality LQÁXHQFHG MXGJPHQWV FRPSRXQGV the crisis of our electoral process. The way forward in the quest for free and IDLU SROOV LV VLJQLÀFDQWO\ SURPLVHG LQ the key recommendation of the Justice Mohammed Uwais Panel on Electoral Reform. APGA should seek the joint action of other parties toward divesting the Presidency the power of appointing WKH ,1(& OHDGHUVKLS DV ZHOO DV ÀQDQFLDO control of the electoral body.

Internal party democracy is a problem for all political parties. The rash of leadership

litigations, rival factions and defection from one party to another is traceable to the investment conception of politics.

The popular perception of government and politics as a gold mine creates a FRPSHWLWLRQ IRU LQÁXHQFH DQG FRQWURO 7KH FRQÁLFW LV KHOSHG E\ ZHDN IUDPHZRUNV IRU self regulation and renewal in the parties.

APGA had its share of this derailment in ZLWK VFDQGDORXV SULPDULHV WKH ZRUVW in the history of the party. The widespread DOOHJDWLRQV RI ÀQDQFLDO H[WRUWLRQ DQG imposition of candidates contributed to the party’s poor outing in the national assembly elections. She has not fully healed from the wounds with recommendations of the peace and reconciliation committee yet to be implemented. The lesson here is to always strive for capable leadership WKDW ZLOO UHFRJQLVH WKH ORQJ WHUP EHQHÀW RI SURYLGLQJ D OHYHO SOD\LQJ ÀHOG 2Q WKH RWKHU hand, the grave error of allowing an ad hoc group interfere in the statutory function of party leadership, and most regrettably, to the extent of assuming veto power on the primaries, should never be contemplated again.

However, the issue of national presence, appeal and engagement is fundamental to the realisation of APGA’s potential. At the risk of repetition, it is of greatest consequence and urgent. There are two parts to it.

7KH ÀUVW LV WKH ORFDOLVDWLRQ RI WKH SDUW\ LQ the southeast in general and Anambra State, in particular. A situation where the national chairman of the party, chairman, board of trustees and potential presidential candidate are all from the southeast, nay, Anambra State is unhealthy. There is need to open up the party to other parts of the country.

This requires at the very least, taking the chairmanship of the party to another geo - political zone at expiration of the current tenure. Other measures to create a sense of belonging outside the southeast should be developed.

On the other side, APGA’s abandonment RI WKH SUHVLGHQWLDO SROOV VLQFH KDV EHHQ the single, greatest tragedy of the party. This misguided decision has robbed the party of national presence, denied it a critical voice and identity. It was a costly miscalculation not participating in the most consequential political programme. Why would anyone be desirous to join a political party that does not offer an alternative leadership road; that does not take part in presidential debates; that does not provide a rallying SRLQW IRU SROLWLFDO PLVVLRQ" 7KH DQG SROOV ZHUH ORVW RSSRUWXQLWLHV IRU membership and followership gains.

Adoption of presidential candidates of other parties has consistently led to APGA’s loss of Senate and House of Representatives polls. Given that presidential and national assembly elections are held on the same day, bandwagon effect of adoption takes its toll on APGA candidates. Even APGA members get carried away by the adoption engagement and gradually lose focus. So potent was this factor that the sentiment of Igbo vice presidential SURVSHFW LQ UXLQHG $3*$·V QDWLRQDO assembly chances. And this concession has never been reciprocated. No election has been “yielded” to APGA by these EHQHÀWWLQJ SDUWLHV The effective way of containing this threat is for APGA to have a good presidential candidate and stand by him all the way. There should be no distraction IURP D WRWDO $3*$ UXQ LQ WKH HOHFWLRQV A good performance in the presidential contest will bring APGA into reckoning. afubaifeanyichukwu@gmail.com

PETER OBI AND HIS SUPPORTERS FREDRICK NWABUFO

urges Obi to ask his supporters on social media to be more courteous Ndi Igbo. We know how to jinx a good thing. Perhaps, it is our seeming indomitability, boisterousness and Thanos-will that seduce us to think everyone must believe in what we believe in and must act and think in consonance with our disposition. Anyone who does not support us or share in our sentiments is an enemy deserving the guillotine.

How did we evolve illiberally?

We were not always this philistine, intolerant, angry, minatory and hateful.

Our fathers were peaceful people who lived through a brutal war, yet held out a hand of brotherhood to other Nigerians.

Some have lived and died in the north and in other parts of Nigeria outside the south-east since the civil war. They were accommodating of divergent views, temperate in utterance, graceful and measured in actions.

The Igbo young today, particularly those who take up residence on social PHGLD DUH TXLFN WHPSHUHG RDÀVK DQG ready to maul anyone who holds a plural view. They are rash and uncritical. It must be their way or the highway to hell. What a retrogressive evolutionary trajectory!

How did a critical mass of the Igbo young become so narrow-minded and uncultivated?

Maybe these ones do not know that

Peter Obi is a gentleman, peaceloving, softspoken, refined, expansive and cerebral. I know he will not support the hate his supporters trade on social media.

I think it is wise he addresses the mobilisers of his campaign on social media to put some decency to their crusade for him to be Igbo is to be liberal; it is to be egalitarian; it is to be expansive; it is to be accommodating of all views and people; it is to be critical and circumspect, questioning everything and believing nothing until there is proof. And most importantly, to be Igbo is to not deify any earthling or make any human a god.

Since Peter Obi, former Anambra governor, declared his intention to run for president, a horde of internet contagion has been attacking anyone who does not show support for him.

Some of his supporters have been most intemperate. Wielding virtual cudgels, they bludgeon anyone who refuses to acknowledge Peter Obi as a better presidential candidate. They empty their bowels of invective, hate and threats against anyone who points out the obvious political weaknesses of the former Anambra governor.

Peter Obi’s political network is abysmally limited. As I have always said, he is the creation of an internet fad and does not matter to the hoi polloi. But he is a decent man with the potential of a progressive president.

If only wishes were horses, Peter Obi would ride them to the presidency.

Sadly, they are not.

Only Igbo votes cannot make 3HWHU 2EL SUHVLGHQW +H QHHGV ÀUVW the votes of PDP delegates from across the states. And if by some twist of kismet, he becomes the PDP presidential candidate, he needs the votes of all Nigerians, particularly the north. His supporters are perhaps too self-absorbed or utterly ignorant to understand that belching ethnic slurs against other Nigerians on the internet because they are not so taken in by him is actually not good for his candidature.

This is not how to win popular support in a country like Nigeria with a very diverse population. Instead of pulling moderates and the undecided to the umbrella of Peter Obi, his supporters are setting them apart and even turning the minds of those who are sympathetic to Obi’s candidature.

Who would want a Peter Obi presidency where his supporters are rabid, caustic, bigoted and hateful?

It is becoming obvious that some of Peter Obi’s supporters may be from the same gene-pool as those who promoted south-east secession. It is the same non-strategy – hate, anger and more hate.

Peter Obi’s supporters may think they are aggressively promoting him, but they have only succeeded in reducing him to an ethnic champion.

How unpropitious that a good product should be so jinxed.

It appears the south-east is in dire need of a messiah; so, any person that fate throws up is summarily crowned as a lodestar to lead the Igbo out of eight years of wandering.

But we must realise that we are the messiah we seek. It is our collective action that matters.

Peter Obi is a gentleman, peaceORYLQJ VRIW VSRNHQ UHÀQHG H[SDQVLYH and cerebral. I know he will not support the hate his supporters trade on social media. In fact, what his supporters do is antithetical to what he stands for. I think it is wise he addresses the mobilisers of his campaign on social media to put some decency to their crusade for him. He needs Nigerians to be president.

Nwabufo is a writer and journalist

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 15, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

ENDING ASUU’S PERENNIAL STRIKES

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To resolve the financial crisis in the university system, there is need for alternative sources of funding

fter months of painful idleness, discomfort and waste, there are indications that the three-month old strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) would soon be called off. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige was optimistic last week after the negotiating team had reached some satisfactory agreements. The parties, made up of Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, Chairman of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar 111 of Sokoto, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President, Sampson Ayokunle as well as the ministers of Labour, Finance and Education.

Also at the session were leaders of ASUU and other stakeholders.

The intervention was perhaps triggered by ASUU’s three months extension of its earlier three-month-long strike.

The glooming prospects that the campuses would remain closed for another 12 weeks had provoked protests among students across the country. In some states, students resorted to blocking major roads and highways leading to gridlocks, with others vowing that they would disrupt the political processes leading to the 2023 general election. Their actions were further fuelled by the federal government swift response to the threat by the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) which averted WKH VXVSHQVLRQ RI GRPHVWLF ÁLJKWV LQ WKH FRXQWU\ Meanwhile, the crisis between ASUU and the federal government has been on for several decades. These range from a few days warning strikes to full-scale industrial actions, lasting more than a semester. The current “rollover” strike, like previous ones, was triggered by the government’s inability to meet the 2020 renegotiated agreement. The demands are for improved working conditions in the university system: funding for the revitalisation of public universities, payment of academic earned allowances, the deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as against government’s IPPIS, among others. But even if the federal government decides to address these immediate demands and the universities resume, the problem will soon resurface. Yet, education is too important to be

DGPLQLVWHUHG LQ ÀWV DQG VWDUWV :H QHHG D VXVWDLQDEOH solution, especially on the issue of funding.

7R UHVROYH WKH SHUSHWXDO ÀQDQFLDO FULVLV LQ WKH XQLYHUVLW\ system so that our graduates can compete globally in the knowledge world, we must examine alternative sources of funding. For instance, as we have suggested several WLPHV RQ WKLV SDJH ÀQDQFLDO DVVLVWDQFH IRU SRRU EXW EULJKW students could come in form of scholarships and bursaries, but the idea of tuition-free tertiary education for all is no longer realistic. For the sector to attract quality academic and non-academic staff, provide necessary teaching aids, and ensure conducive learning environment for students, some people must bear the cost.

In most countries where education is taken seriously, universities explore several ways of raising funds for their operations, without any attempt to reinvent the wheel. The common avenues include donations, endowments, professional chairs, gifts, grants, and FRQVXOWDQF\ VHUYLFHV :KLOH some of our universities may be embarking on these measures, they need to scale up their performance. More importantly, the administrators of these universities also need to manage their resources prudently and transparently. A situation in which wives of vice chancellors are behaving like spouses of politicians, travelling abroad at public expense for dubious programmes, is both irresponsible and unconscionable.

2YHUDOO ZH XQGHUVWDQG ZKDW $688 LV ÀJKWLQJ for, even when we disagree with their method. The state of many Nigerian university campuses today is UDWKHU SDWKHWLF 7KHLU ZHDN ÀQDQFLDO FRQGLWLRQV DUH exacerbated by the current crippling economic crisis DIÁLFWLQJ WKH QDWLRQ <HW EHVLGHV SHUVRQQHO FRVWV funds are required to rehabilitate dilapidated facilities, purchase consumables and research capability. But dealing with the challenge of thin liquidity requires more than seasonal strikes by both the academic and non-academic staff while the federal government and authorities in the 36 states must also understand the primacy of constant dialogue. It is particularly important for them to take funding of universities more seriously while working to ensure Industrial peace in the educational sector.

In most countries where education is taken seriously, universities explore several ways of raising funds for their operations. The common avenues include donations, endowments, professional chairs, and consultancy services

Letters to the Editor

Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief(150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer

LETTERS

NIGERIA AND THE GIRLS LEFT BEHIND In Africa, realisation has long dawned that the future belongs to the children who by reason of age will remain long after their parents have joined their ancestors.

This realisation which is eminently funded by reason explains why we always say that children are the leaders of tomorrow and that they are the future.

To prepare children for leadership, to get children ready for tomorrow, it has also been long recognized that there are few better tools than quality education. This realization SD\V WULEXWH WR WKH HIÀFDF\ RI HGXFDWLRQ DV DQ equalizer and the empowering role it plays in the face of life`s daunting challenges.

But for many years, the insipid rot that has slowly but steadily continued to consume the roots of the Nigerian society has also eaten deep into the education sector. As of today, Nigerian public universities remain shut because the Academic Staff Union of Universities has been on months-long strike. %XW DFWXDOO\ XQOLNH ÀVK ZKLFK EHJLQV WR rot from the head, the rot in the country`s

education sector actually begins from the bottom.

Many public primary schools around the country lie in ruins. The dilapidated state of the infrastructure in them perfectly mirrors the state of mind of the disgruntled teachers who teach in them and the bleak future of the students who learn therein. But if the future is bleak for the students who go to public schools in Nigeria, then for many children in Nigeria, there may be no future at all.

The United Nations Children`s Fund recently and damningly painted a disturbing picture of Nigeria`s outof-school children. According to the 81,&() )LHOG 2IÀFH LQ .DQR 0U Rahama Mohammed Farah who was speaking at a Media Dialogue on Girls` Education under the Girls` Education Project (GEP3), “Currently in Nigeria, there are 18.5 million out of school children,60 per cent of these out of school children are girls – that is over 10 million girls are out of school. The majority of these

out-of-school children are from northern Nigeria,” Mr. Farah went further to lament that the situation has heightened gender inequity and inequality with only one in four girls from poor, rural families completing Junior Secondary education.

As Nigeria has disastrously veered towards disintegration in the last decade, education has been worse hit by the activities of terrorists who have been on the rampage in many parts of northern Nigeria since about 2009. Schools have been razed to the ground, teachers and students have been slaughtered alike and with the disruption of families and their livelihoods has come a consequential disruption of life for many students.

In spite of the fact that Nigeria is a signatory to the Safe Schools Declaration, Nigerian schools have been anything but safe. Girls have been especially affected. In 2014, terrorists stormed a girls` secondary school in Chibok,

Borno State and abducted hundreds of girls in an attack that sent shockwaves around the world. More than seven years later, some of the girls have remained in captivity. Many schools across the country have also witnessed similarly GHYDVWLQJ DWWDFNV :LWK DOO WKHVH DWWDFNV coming every now and then, how then can schools be deemed safe so as to encourage the girl child who even before the whole security crises struggled to get into school to return to school.

It is said that when you educate a girl, you educate a nation. As things stand today, girls have to navigate countless hurdles just to go to school. It does not help their case that grave insecurity now also counts as one of those hurdles.

A country serious about its education and prosperity sure knows it must go back to its girls – there is no other way.

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

15.5.2022

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JUSTICE MARY ODILI A Peek into Her Life and Illustrious Career While celebrating her retirement from the bench and 70th birthday with a heart of appreciation, Justice Mary Odili in her valedictory speech unveiled layers of her childhood, surviving the Nigerian civil war, marriage and motherhood, as well as her fulfilling career from the Magistracy to the Supreme Court, capping it all with her position on unemployment, insecurity, policy on state of origin and other issues of national concern. Vanessa Obioha writes

t midnight on May 12, the retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Ukaego Odili turned 70.

This milestone naturally marks her retirement from an illustrious career on the bench, having served at the apex court for 11 years. Spanning 44 years, her entire journey to the Supreme Court trailed a steady climb through the Nigerian Law School Victoria Island in 1976 and was called to the bar the following year.

Shortly after, she participated in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps and fulfilled her primary assignment at the Ministry of Justice in Abeokuta before proceeding to the Ministry of Justice in Bendel State as a pupil state counsel.

For the first time since she became the second most senior justice of the Supreme Court, she had the privilege to speak about herself and the nation that she had served dispassionately for over four decades.

Born May 12, 1952, at Orieonuoha Maternity, in Onicha EzinihitteMbaise, Imo State, young Mary’s father Bernard Chigbu Nzenwa was a reputable lawyer, sports enthusiast and traditional ruler while her mother, Bernadette Nwatuma Nzenwa was a seamstress and textile trader. As a baby, she was raised at Kaima and would later share her family home with six other siblings comprising four females and two males: Martina, Agnes, Nnenna, Onyinye, Okechukwu and Chikere. Summarily, she had a taste of two worlds- the city and the village life.

In her valedictory speech, she recounted how it was to grow up in an African home with an extended family.

Mary experienced this soon after her father left for England in 1955 to study Law. Although away from carrying out his paternal duties, Mary experienced the familiar kind of maternal love her father witnessed growing up.

This translated to them moving back to their hometown, Amudi Obizi Ezinihitte from Kaima to live with her paternal grandmother Nmema Nzenwa.

“Grandma Nmema and our maternal grandparents, Chinyere Otuechere and Nwekenyia imbued in us loads of teaching which enriched us with the knowledge and experiences that have remained invaluable at the same time, indelible.”

Sadly, her grandmother died months before the return of her son in 1959, but in many ways than one sufficiently played a significant role that continually inspired Mary to attain her life goals.

Upon the return of her father, the entire family moved to Umuahia where he set up his private legal practice under the name of Obizi Chamber. Mary confirmed that the practice is still in existence and runs at full capacity. No doubt, the tenacity of her father in more ways than one inspired her to pursue a

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

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COVER . . . JUSTICE SALAMI ASKED ME TO SEND MY RESUME, JUDGMENTS FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE SUPREME COURT career in law, especially with the trajectory of her father’s career that culminated in him serving as the Secretary and Legal Adviser of the Nigerian Airways, a career move that demanded the entire family to relocate to Lagos - a short-lived stay - before the emergence of the precursors of the Nigerian Civil War. The hostility towards the Igbo tribe as the precursor to the Nigerian Civil War ousted many families from Lagos and other cities in the Southwest region. To escape the killings of civilians, the retired Justice Odilli recalled how she and her family fled from their Ikeja GRA home to seek a refuge in a room at Surulere before heading to the east. But the trouble had only begun.

“The crisis dovetailed into the Nigerian Civil War and we were in the theatre of war named Biafra,” she recalled with a deep sense of sadness.

“During the war, we survived the air raids with the bombers and fighters as low as the height of fruit trees with me catching the eyes of one of the pilots on an occasion. I am bringing this period up not to whip up animosities or negative feelings but to call to the mind of all and sundry the emergency situation which now faces our Nation. Some of the actions or speeches that propelled the unfortunate war which took the lives of millions of our people are being re-enacted at this time hence the necessity for this reminder.

“From my recollection, the war ended in January 1970 and we resumed schooling in March of that year and I took the School Certificate in 1971. Upon the release of our results in 1972, I went for ‘A-Levels at the Queen of the Rosary College (QRC) Onitsha which was a brief stint as I got into the University of Nigeria the same year of 1972 to study Law and in 1976 graduated.

The same year of 1976 saw me in the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island Lagos.”

Following her call to the bar on July 1, 1977, Mary saw her dream of having her own family come to fruition. She and Dr. Peter Odili who had long been acquainted right from their days in the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus that housed both the medical and law colleges within it, decided to be joined in holy matrimony in Benin City, two months later (August 26, 1977).

The two were said to have met at a campus party and began a lasting relationship that culminated in a wedding.

Their union welcomed their first child, Adaeze, in 1979. Soon after, they welcomed three other children – Chinelo, Peter, and Njideka. For her, child-bearing was not an easy feat.

“The children did not come without enormous sacrifices, care and attention in the course of duty by the personnel of UBTH between 1977-1984. I am grateful to them all, professors, consultants, doctors, nurses, paramedical, and other staff in the hospital.”

In relaying this journey of childbirth, her eyes lit up with joy acknowledging the ups and down of having all her children through caesarean and surviving them. But prior to those wins, she recalled her miscarriage episode when she was transferred to serve under the NYSC in July of 1977 at the Ministry of Justice in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

“I made a lot of effort to get transferred to Benin and in the course of that period had a

Justice Odili (middle) and her daughters, who are both judges

miscarriage in Benin which the Youth Corps Director, Mr. Soyege chose to disbelieve that I was hospitalised in spite of the medical report. That period of being in hospital earned me a four-month extension of service to be done in Benin City, hence I found myself in the Bendel State Ministry of Justice as a Pupil State Counsel. Before the end of that extension of service, I applied to the Bendel State Judiciary for the post of a magistrate.”

By 1992, she became a High Court Judge. She was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2004 with the encouragement of the then President of the Court of Appeal, Umaru Faruk Abdullahi and a host of others.

She acknowledged the supportive role of her husband especially when the biggest offer yet came- she was asked to submit her resume and 10 judgments to be considered for an appointment to the Supreme Court. Besides being the topmost aspiration for any judge on the bench, the Supreme Court bench was a male-dominated one.

As the Presiding Justice of the Kaduna Division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Odili recounted how she was elevated to the Supreme Court bench, adding that only God could have made it possible.

“In 2011 to my shock the President of the Court of Appeal then Justice Ayo Isa Salami asked me to send my resume and 10 judgments for appointment to the Supreme Court. I did not see the feasibility and Peter and I had a good laugh at the joke. The words of Hon. Justice Salami when I took the papers to his office was soothing and fatherly and I remain grateful to him. I was at the time Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division and as only God would make possible the unreal, I got to the apex court and the pinnacle of my judicial career.”

Justice Odili will be documented in history books as the third woman to rise to the apex court. He support for women’s perseverance in public service may have been understated in her valedictory speech but it stood out nonetheless. While

acknowledging other females on the bench before her, she acknowledged and accorded respect to their supportive husbands as well.

“I cannot fail to acknowledge the trailblazing role of the Hon. Justice Atinuke Ige, Justice of the Court of Appeal of blessed memory; and Hon. Justice Fati Abubakar, retired Chief Judge of Niger State which judicial officers prevailed in their duties despite the political and national positions of their husbands; Chief Bola Ige, Governor of the Oyo State and husband of Justice Atinuke Ige; General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Head of State and husband of Justice Fati Abubakar. The courage and strength of these females to persevere in their professions and duties in spite of those temporary attainments of their spouses were the spur I needed to get on with the task at hand when Peter became the Deputy Governor in the old Rivers State between 1992 and 1993 and later in 1999 when he was the Governor of Rivers State up till 2007.’’

In 1999, following her husband’s election as governor, Justice Odili became the First Lady of Rivers State, serving until May 29, 2007.

Having served for over four decades on the judicial bench, Mary advocated for a change in the way policies were implemented, calling on the government to install appropriate facilities to tackle socio-economic problems and political unrest. Her concerns grew from the eyewitness account of the Civil War which took millions of lives and she fears a re-enactment of that sordid history.

“While one ought not to hold on to the past but must move forward, the lessons of the past should not be dispatched to the dustbins of history but utilised positively to navigate the present and the future.”

She lamented the incessant perennial strike by Nigerian universities which leave students roaming for months or idling away.

Her resolution, she said, is to copy

the efforts of Maryam Abacha as the wife of the Chief of Army Staff who instituted skills acquisition in army barracks for wives of soldiers. By extension, she sees investment in human capital as one of the practical steps towards curbing insecurity and unemployment.

“It was Maryam Babangida that orchestrated the programme up to every local government area of the country down to the community level. The programmes were later to be propelled under the Family Support Programme.

I bring these efforts up because what seems to be happening in our polity is that in denigrating the spouses of those women, the laudable efforts they had espoused and championed are left unattended affairs or women pet projects but treated as NGO instead of having them given full steam by Government at all levels, with success assured and the current menace albeit emergency situation of unemployment with the attendant insecurity that has followed.

The millions of idle youth are not unrelated to the security on ground.”

Justice Odili proposed that the Head of State should take on the garb of Minister of Youth, Employment and Social Welfare or “such related name so that he directs the implementation of what is called for and put in place without middlemen, utilising the assistance of adequate and qualified personnel. Similarly, the governors of the respective states take over such ministries as the situation needs to be done to stem the current tragic situation. The massive unemployment of tertiary institution graduates is a tip of the iceberg as the conditions of the non-graduates who are numerous have made the matter of grave concern. The situation is not helped by the perennial strikes which leave students roaming for months on end or idling away with their thoughts better imagined.”

Mary has tested this solution in Rivers and is confident of its success if well implemented. She shared some thoughts on restructuring, arguing that it should be given immediate attention.

As regards the issue of state of origin, her advice was that a person’s state of origin should be gauged by the number of years he has lived in a given place and his choice. Having lived in different parts of Nigeria, she understands cultural dislocation and the implication of this ‘imposed state of origin’ on citizens who grew up in communities that are different from their parents’ or spouses.

Justice Odili also used the valedictory session to appreciate those who made her judicial journey memorable, some of them are resting with the good Lord and some alive.

“They are Chief Justices, Mohammed Bello, Muhammed Lawal Uwais, Alfa Belgore, Alloysius Katsina-Alu, Dahiru Musdapher, Mahmud Mohammed, Walter Onnoghen and Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad who also was my first Presiding Justice in the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

“I must mention with gratitude Justice O.O. Adekeye, Bode RhodesVivour, Suleiman Galadima, Clara Ogunbiyi, Amiru Sanusi, Sidi Bage Mohammad and the current President of the Court of Appeal, Monica Donghan Mensem, Hon. Justice Constance Momoh, retired Chief Judge of Edo State and Hon. Justice J. Omorodion who I understudied in the magistracy.

“I cannot but put down on paper, the wonderful relationship I have enjoyed with my noble Lords of the Supreme Court who have served with me and who I can no longer refer to as current colleagues having made 70 years at midnight. I cherish and can never forget what we have shared in the spirit of brotherhood while I was in service at this apex court.”

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾MAY 15, 2022

GLITZ ENTERTAINMENT

Toyin Adekeye’s ‘Bigger than Africa’ Documentary Features Obasanjo, Late Alaafin, Ooni Stories by Vanessa Obioha United States-based Nigerian filmmaker, Toyin Adekeye’s cultural documentary, ‘Bigger Than Africa,’ which premiered on Netflix on Friday, May 13, paraded most prominent Yoruba culture enthusiasts. Some of the notable personalities glimpsed in the documentary include the late Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, prolific writer and playwright Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof. Wande Abimbola, Chief Mrs. Nike Okundaye of Nike Art Gallery, Fayemi Elebuibon, Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti among others.

In a statement from Adekeye’s

Motherland Productions, USA, the wellresearched documentary will give an exposé on the historical influence of Yoruba culture and how it transcends continents and connects the Black diaspora.

Adekeye described the documentary as a necessary legacy for the Yoruba heritage.

The Los Angeles Film School alumnus has continued to get accolades for ‘Bigger Than Africa,’ which has screened at film festivals worldwide winning multiple awards including Charlotte Black Film festival, AFI World Peace Initiative Cannes, and Silicon Valley African Film festival.

The documentary is distributed by KAP Film and management agency EGMNY.

Adekeye

Hangout with Tee Champions Women for Greatness, Fun Rebecca Ejifoma Hangout With Tee, a rewarding platform that seeks to inspire women into attaining sterling heights in their various fields while also keeping up with social life, recently held its 7th edition in Lagos. Themed ‘Unwrap Am’, the all-female gathering had motivational speeches from great minds, a dance competition, perks, a raffle draw, music, arts and crafts, photography and lots more.

Participants were treated to a sumptuous musical delicacy by Eniola Larondo: a talking drum artist, DJ Jenny Switch, Kemistree, Ebele the Flutist; and Lydia Johnson. For the convener, Titi Oyemade, her passion is for women to thrive.

“I observed that a lot of women don’t have time for themselves because they are so occupied with work and taking care of everyone around them,” she said.

That is why she felt the need to organise this event for them to loosen up and enjoy themselves. Adding, she expressed that the programme is on the quest to promote self-confidence, positivity and self-love.

On her part, Nollywood star, Marcy Dolapo Oni, charged women to expand their knowledge. “Knowledge

is power. Women should unwrap their skills and talents.

“They should think about what comes to them naturally and nurture it. Women should put themselves out there and keep pushing.”

For Oni, women should strive to put their best foot forward, especially when they find themselves in a male-dominated environment. “I also think women should go out there and do what they need to do.”

How Telemundo New Show is Capturing the Hearts of Nigerians For almost 10 years, Telemundo’s drama-filled series have been a part of Nigeria’s entertainment culture, keeping Nigerian audiences on the edge of their seats. Although Telemundo’s content is originally produced and distributed in the Spanish language, its series are enjoyed by telenovela lovers across the globe. The themes of love, family and romance are relatable to audiences worldwide, making the shows a firm favourite for TV drama lovers in Nigeria.

Its new series ‘The Scent of Passion’ has already captivated many viewers. The telenovela, an adaptation of the 1995 Colombian plot of two lovers who belong to different worlds, tells a love story birthed on a coffee farm in Colombia. It features a stellar cast including Laura Londoño who plays the leading lady ‘Gaviota’ alongside William Levy, who plays Sebastián Vallejo. The new show was launched in Nigeria with an exclusive press event in Lagos, where Passionistas and other guests interacted virtually with actress Laura Londoño and executive producer Yalile Giordanelli, hosted by Tallulah Doherty Adetona.

Speaking at the event, Londoño shared that The Scent of Passion is a story about passion and all kinds of love. “There is the romantic love between a man and a woman, there is also love for mother as well as one’s motherland. This is a universal love that we all feel wherever we are from.”

Viewers will find themselves rooting for Gaviota who finds herself in a challenging love triangle while fighting for what she was promised. Everyone loves a hero, who despite all adversities, becomes victorious in the end. It gives a sense of belonging and hope to the viewers while they derive pleasure from the plot twists and turns.

Londoño and Levy in The Scent of Paasion

AMAA Extends Entry Submission Karan Checker, Mike Ezuruonye and Mayur Jagtap

Checkers Adds Nollywood Actor Mike Ezuronye to its Growing List of Ambassadors Leading Custard brand, Checkers has added another star to its expanding list of brand ambassadors. The latest Nollywood star to become the brand’s face is Mike Ezuruonye, an actor who is known for his iconic roles in films such as ‘Brother Jekwu’, ‘No Divorce Allowed’ and ‘Real Fake Lagos Life’ Ezuruonye was decorated at an event at Top Rank Galaxy Hotel, Asaba, on Friday, May 6, where he spoke passionately about his love for the brand. For Checkers, Ezuruonye’s quality delivery and consistency in the filmmaking industry over the years make him the best choice to represent the brand. His raw

talent and star power coupled with Checkers Custard’s market leadership represent the high-quality partnerships Checkers Custard has made a custom with signing the likes of Nollywood actor, Toyin Abraham-Ajeyemi, and popular Kannywood acting talents, Ali Nuhu and Mansurah Isah.

With the onboarding of Ezuruonye to the family, Checkers Custard aims to bring a cocktail of nourishment and super content as witnessed with Abraham-Ajeyemi’s Toyin Loves Checkers campaign, a feat the brand hopes to replicate and surpass with Ezuruonye.

Following the calls for entry submission in early January, the organisers of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) has extended the entry submission to June 15. Entries were earlier scheduled to close on April 31.

In a recent statement signed by the founder of the awards ceremony, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the organisers called on filmmakers to submit their genres of films to vie for the nomination in almost 30 categories of the 18th edition of the film award. Filmmakers are invited to submit their feature, short, animation, and documentary work for consideration in nearly 30 film categories of the awards,” the statement read in parts. The AMA team also stressed that submission of films is strictly open to films produced within one year.

“This submission is officially open to only films produced and released between May 1 2021 and April 31, 2022. All entries for the 18th AMAAs will be made via Filmfreeway.

The Africa Film Academy will not accept any film that exceeds the 120-minute run as a feature or a short film that is longer than 40 minutes.”

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HighLife

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

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

How Humility and a Large Heart Distinguish Tokunbo Wahab from His Peers

Cheers as Kiekie Becomes the New Face of Ruba Beauty

Wahab

There are many individuals in Nigeria whose deeds can be recorded in a tome. The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide SanwoOlu on Education, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab is one such person. As he joins the golden club to become 50, countless individuals are getting on their knees to say a prayer to God on his behalf.

There is not one thing that can be used to describe Wahab that will not appear as an exaggeration. Due to the man’s humble temperament and complementary self-driven personality, Wahab has won the hearts of Lagosians everywhere with his many good deeds in Lagos. Today, the state is truly a place of excellence in terms of education at the very least. As such, Wahab has inadvertently built himself a legacy that will be passed to newer generations as the waves of time rush by.

Who knew that Wahab was yet to

clock 50? In truth, there was always the assumption that his breadth of wisdom had to have been something that accompanied his many years on the earth.

But this is not the case. Wahab is good at what he does and he does it with deep wisdom, enough to put some elders to shame.

We blame all of this on his humility.

If Wahab was even a bit like some of his peers who would get their homelands a dozen mosquito nets and get newspapers to write about them, we would have known that he is still a very young man. Thus, to have revolutionised the education sector in Lagos state in just a little over three years is something really amazing.

So, as Wahab joins the golden club, there is even greater expectation regarding his ambition and aspirations.

From Pulpit to Politics: Pastor Tunde Bakare’s Path to the Political Space Kiekie

Good things will always be celebrated. This is a principle that is written into the architecture of the world. The same principle applies to human beings. As long as the character and temperament are acceptable, the humble, the high achiever, and the ambitious will be celebrated. And when you are all three, as KieKie is, you are positively loved by all and sundry. KieKie has become the new face of Ruba Beauty and the number of people who are happy for her is enough to start a country.

KieKie (real name Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori) is a professional public figure in Nigeria. She debuted as a TV personality sometime ago but has gone on to become one of the most iconic content creators, models and fashion icons in the industry.

A few days ago, the widely acclaimed Beauty Brand, Ruba Beauty, announced that it had made KieKie the Global Brand Ambassador of the beauty establishment. And KieKie just happens to be the first person to have that honour.

Of course, the ambassador deal was not handed over to KieKie simply because she has a likeable personality. The lady is talented and diligent. Plus, she does not upend her wardrobe or dress sense simply because she wants to be followed on social media. Yet, she has more than 1.3 million followers, a fact that has catapulted her from being a run-of-the-mill content creator to a full grown influencer.

Indeed, KieKie and Ruba Beauty together are a force waiting to rock the world. The brain behind Ruba Beauty, Mo Olowu, is as much a determined and charming individual as is KieKie. So, we can expect rounds and rounds of applause every time they collaborate on a promotional gig.

In the Biblical account of history, there were representatives of God who figuratively belched out fire whenever they wanted to change things. Someone said that these people were a kind of social entrepreneurs, except that their methods were tribulative.

Even though such prophets do not dwell among us today, we have those that continue to make things happen in the name of the Most High God. Have you met Pastor Tunde Bakare, the man who works the pulpit with as much gusto as in Nigeria’s political space?

If you know Pastor Bakare, you will know that some of the men of God that we have today breathe fire in their own unique ways. Bakare is an outspoken public figure, with the Good Book in his For the average Nigerian person, a wedding is a thing of two to three hours, laden with worries about who will come and who won’t, which caterer is owed some money and which might burden the ‘wedding rice’ with an extra bag of salt.

For those of the wealthy class, it is a day of sublime rapture, expressed affection and several other things that generally come with satisfaction. These are the expressions one could see on the faces of the wedding guests at the prestigious Landmark Event Center, Lagos, where Tayo Ayeni gave out his daughter’s hand in marriage.

We can claim to have known and attended classy weddings, but the one that the Skymit boss threw for his daughter, Mathilda Ayeni, is out of this world. Not only were the settings fine and the guests finer, but there is no comparing the joy on the faces of the bride, Mathilda, and her husband, Olamide Akintayo, at having their friends and relatives mingle with the flag bearers of industry in Nigeria.

left hand and a rod of correction in his right.

He is not one to shy away from discourse, be it social, economic, or political. So it came as no surprise that he intends to run for president under no canopy but that of the All Progressives Congress (APC)?

What is Pastor Bakare’s agenda? The clergyman has declared this himself: peace, progress, prosperity and possibilities. With each of these elements, Bakare hopes to pull Nigeria out of the darkness of mediocrity, stagnation in some areas, and full-on relegation in others.

Bakare’s path is blazing and that is primarily because he is coming from a religious angle without apologies. Whether this is enough to get him out of the ‘Presidential Hopeful’ or ‘aspirant’ status and into the title

Roll Call of Political Heavyweights, Global Citizens as Skymit Boss, Tayo Ayeni, Throws High-Octane Wedding Party for Daughter

L-R: Gov. Sanwo-Olu, Mr. Tayo Ayeni and Gov. Abiodun.

Bakare

of ‘Presidential Candidate’ is something else entirely. One thing is for sure, and that is that regardless of the results of his campaign, Bakare will shine in the limelight for a long time.

Among the individuals that graced the occasion were the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who was the Chairman at the event. There was also Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu with whom Abiodun passed the time asides nodding to the music.

Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara was also present and brought his executive-ness to cheer the event.

Several other individuals of national and even international prestige were also available.

These include Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; philanthropist and businessman, Aliko Dangote; BUA founder, AbdulSamad Rabiu, former Ogun Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Otunba Bimbo and Kemi Ashiru; Farouk Saleh; Francis Ogboro; Bola Shagaya, Greg Uanseru; Biola Akinola; Tokunbo Wahab; Senator Lanre Tejuosho; Lanre Ogunlesi; Ibukun Awosika; Oye Odukale; Biodun Shobanjo, and many others more.

A Few Months after Wife’s Death, Teslim Folarin is Fully Back Death has a way of unhinging the mind.

It can upend everything bright and gay about an individual, including ambitions, and turn it all into grey stuff and ashes. It takes a strong heart to throw all of death’s shades back at it and forge on. This is what the lawmaker representing Oyo Central Senatorial District in the Senate, Senator Teslim Folarin, has done. Barely four months after he lost his wife to death, Folarin has turned his eyes back to life and is intent on making the most of it.

In January 2022, quite a number of prominent individuals passed on. One of these was his wife, Angela. Although not much was published about the cause of death, except that the late wife, mother, sister, traditional Chief, and barrister died in the United Kingdom, those she left behind felt her passing strongly. This includes her dear husband, the political figure, Folarin.

Many people assumed that Folarin would continue to mourn the passing of his wife and thereby lose his edge in the deep political waters of Oyo. After all, he is one of the ‘undertakers’ of politics in the state who serve to remind others politics is not for the faint of heart. However, very few people could have imagined that Folarin would be back to himself, that is, an aggressive politician going for the jugular of his opponents, so soon.

This time Folarin has upended the table of expectations by declaring his intention to run for Oyo governorship under the auspices of the All Progressives Congress.

In other words, Folarin will be going against fellow political undertakers, especially Adebayo Adelabu who is also after the seat of Governor Seyi Makinde.

So, for those wondering how one gets over death, Folarin is a good reference.

Folarin

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾MAY 15, 2022

HIGHLIFE

Stella Oduah in the Eyes of the Storm Again Being a public figure and being susceptible to controversies are not mutually exclusive.

For some of the most prominent political figures in Nigeria, being in the eye of the storm is an everyday affair. The routine is simple: mistakenly fall into the storm, get out, lay low for a while until it all blows over, and get back into the limelight. Unfortunately for Senator and former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, the process is taking too long. To make it even worse, she appears to be stuck at the ‘mistakenly fall into the storm’ stage.

Social media has been roused once again to the person of Oduah, former Aviation Minister with controversies trailing behind her. This time, it is not a matter of indebtedness, forged academic certification, or misappropriation of funds. Instead, it is the justice system refusing to hurry things up and allow Oduah the time to rest, get out, lay low for a while until it all blows over, and get back into the limelight.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has reportedly restricted the proceedings of Oduah’s fraud case. Reports on this front state that Oduah was in court a few days ago with several others. The court was supposed to fiddle around with papers and figures, and come to a conclusion about the alleged N7.9 billion money laundering charges levelled against Oduah. But things did not go like this.

The court, for one reason or the other, could not conclude when to begin the proceedings that would see Oduah exonerated or penalised.

Before, Oduah reportedly made a point to hide away from the law and the courtroom.

However, now that she is present, she is being told to return home and come to court to fight another day.

The entire thing can set one on edge, so a few people sympathise with Oduah. After all, this is the fifth time the case is being forced to sit on the bench for a while. In fact, it is very

Oduah

unlikely that Oduah is having the time of her life right now.

Will Tunde Fowler Support Close Pal, Vice President’s Presidential Ambition?

Fowler

Friendship is an interesting concept. Most times, against even the recommendations of the conscience, one may be forced to pick a side on account of friendship. Of course, one might also be willing to go against the rest of the world because of a friend. For the former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), this is exactly the case. Boxed in, the taxman has to choose who to support for the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria.

It is no secret that the incumbent Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, is one of the most promising aspirants for the mantle of Presidency.

Osinbajo, like several other aspirants, has a queue of supporters behind him. Some of these supporters are new friends and others are old pals. However, one of the interesting aspects of this entourage is that someone, Fowler, is suspiciously missing.

From the observations of some political analysts, Fowler has not shown any public support for Osinbajo despite having the

opportunity to do so many times. The argument on account of this vacillation on the part of the former FIRS man has given these analysts enough material to construct new narratives about Osinbajo’s political future.

Fowler and Osinbajo go way back. They refer (or they used to refer) to each other as fellow old boys of Igbobi College, Lagos.

Fortune had it in for them: one went on to be FIRS Chairman, and the other became the Vice President. However, in recent times, neither has had any serious reason to throw a party.

For Fowler, it has been a struggle shrugging off the old weight of the FIRS, the agency out of which he was booted unceremoniously. For Osinbajo, it is a struggle of shrugging off the presidency he deputizes. But Fowler can be a lot of help to Osinbajo. However, it looks as if he is not willing. After all, one of the aspirants that Osinbajo will have to go against is someone who has been a big help to both of them.

Igho Sanomi: The Champion Extraordinaire at 47 …Real Reason He Dedicates More to Charity Work Nigerians are peerless. Put a typical Nigerian in a crowd of people with different nationalities and that Nigerian would stand out. It has nothing to do with having dark skin or ancestors that were colonised by the attention-revelling British. It has to do with being Nigerian. This is why we all celebrate individuals like Igho Sanomi who are doing amazing things in and out of the country. At 47, Sanomi has experienced so much, but he continues to be a cheerful giver, a humble businessman, and a medal-deserving patriot.

Sanomi is as much a businessman as he is a philanthropist. When names are compiled of the most charitable businessmen in Nigeria, his name is almost always among the first five. This is not because he wants to be known as a patron of humanity, as we can see from his very private lifestyle. No. It is just that he

realises that life is meaningful when you help other people.

And Sanomi has been helping a lot of people. The area that is often mentioned to demonstrate Sanomi’s largesse is his contribution/grant to the Bobby Moore Fund for cancer research in the United Kingdom.

He simply got up one day and decided that it was time to put a large amount of money into prostate cancer research. And what a big help that turned out to be.

What about the foundation he established with his siblings to honour his father, the Dickens Sanomi Foundation (DSF)? DSF has done more good for Nigerians than a lot of governments have thought to replicate for their people. All of this Sanomi has done and he is still three years away from the golden age of 50.

At 47, Sanomi is a sight for sore eyes and a

Among men, there are a few that have the grace to make things happen wherever you put them. These are the individuals that just get it: they get the dynamics of life, the flow of resources, the fluctuations of the future, and the vast infiniteness of wisdom. Barrister Allen Onyema, the CEO of Air Peace, is one such man.

His charm is up there with the mythical demi-deities of old Greece, and even amid high-flying peers, he is peerless in his achievements.

This is not the first time that Onyema is getting the limelight spreading around him. From the very start, the man has held that special position in the hearts of informed Nigerians everywhere. Maybe, it is because he had the cojones to start up an airline business where his associates and peers were still busy looking for where to invest their money and get the biggest ROIs. Regardless, Onyema has managed to climb to a height that others are having to crane their

Allen Onyema’s Magic Wand

Onyema

What is Akpabio’s Legacy at NDDC?

Sanomi

beacon of hope for every Nigerian. To give because one can is a rare thing, but that is exactly why Sanomi is given to charitable work.

necks to catch a glimpse of him.

Onyema made his big debut in Nigeria’s corporate corridor in 2013 when he officially established Air Peace. Onyema’s name and brand began to make the rounds back then, and it has continued to the present. After all, it is rare to have businessmen whose minds are fixed on goals other than aggressive profit-making.

With Onyema’s intelligence, it is not surprising that he is also a dedicated philanthropist. He may not be given shots or corners in national dailies, but Onyema has made his contributions to the small people. And he continues to, regardless of the happenings around him, some of which are often very unpleasant to read about.

But Onyema is one of those people with a magic wand to have things go their way.

Thus, regardless of the issues that hold him back a bit, he always bounces back.

Akpabio

“Honourable Speaker, off the mic! Off the mic! Minister Akpabio, off the mic!”This is the fragmented memory that often springs upon the mind at the mention of the name Godswill Akpabio. Whether this recollection is accompanied by amusement, helpless anger, or something altogether different, depends on the individual doing the recollection. Nevertheless, Akpabio remains an individual whose actions cannot be judged without an absorbing and concentrated gaze.

It is with growing helplessness that several news agencies reported that Akpabio, the honourable Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs and most prominent face of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has declared his intention to run for the president position in 2023. The aforementioned helplessness is not only because every reputable and disreputable public figure appears to be gunning for the position, but because it is Akpabio, a man whose ledger of controversies reaches to the moon, that is indeed the subject of discussion.

What is Akpabio’s legacy at the NDDC? Before Akpabio assumed the office of Minister of Niger Delta, he was already battling several individuals who were convinced that he had almost sunk Akwa Ibom, the State over which he was captain between 2007 and 2015.

Of course, Akpabio was elected as a Senator after his gubernatorial tenure, but that period zoomed by without significance, some people say. It was the same spirit of flippancy that Akpabio waltzed into the NDDC. Perhaps people would have ignored Akpabio’s presidential ambition if he had quietly announced it and left the podium.

However, Akpabio made claims regarding what he did at NDDC, which according to some people, is nothing. The least Akpabio could have done before hightailing to Aso Rock would be to constitute an NDDC Board. But the man in question did nothing of the sort, and instead, in his words, “effectively repositioned the agency to meet its core mandate.”

Really, one cannot fault Akpabio. Political figures continue to thrive in Nigeria even when they have never actively contributed to the growth and development of the nation or its people.

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Akinwunmi Ambode: It’s Time to Rumble

Ambode

ARTHUR NZERIBE: HE FINALLY LEFT We will never say evil about the departed but this one is a struggle.

With due respect to his family, teeming fans and admirers and all right-thinking Nigerians, I will say may the Almighty God receive his soul and grant him all mercies.

But the man no try sha. He came into our consciousness in the Second Republic when he took on the establishment. He fought the reigning NPN to a standstill and won the admiration of Nigerians. But from then, I no know wetin happen o. Be like say, something turn the man’s head.

He just started working against the people. They started calling him maverick and he reveled in that.

Contributing immensely to the political instability and all that, that has continued to dog this our country.

One of our problems is that we do not think about our legacies when we take some positions. Like the bowlerhat wearing one who is about to cross carpet to pick form even after being a president of a whole country under

Nzeribe

If you watch mafia films, not of the Igbo movie variant, but the real Italian mafia films, one thing you learn very quickly is that, once you aim and shoot, you kill. No excuses o, you cannot miss or shoot leg or hand. You must kill. Because once you miss, you can be sure that it’s your testicles or head that will be served at the next conference of the mafia lords.

Someone forgot to tell Asiwaju Tinubu this thing. The humiliation that was meted out on Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode that period still rankles and bites.

Ambode was hurriedly kicked out of office in a way and manner unbecoming of someone who had served very diligently.

Everybody begged. Everybody.

Wives of top people, Abuja people, even ordinary Lagos citizens all to no avail. The decision had been taken and like Pontius Pilate, the Asiwaju washed his hands off Ambode’s blood and the rest was history.

Today, that matter has come back to haunt the Asiwaju. Now whether this would go as far as to hurt his presidential ambition is what I cannot decipher from Shomolu. But the fact that it is a talking point or a basis for negotiations in some strategic circles shows that just maybe that incident could have been handled differently.

While all that was going on; I was beginning to hear some rumbles. Mr. Wale Oluwo, the only Commissioner in the

Ambode cabinet and who remains very thick-headed and stubborn has gone to pick form within the ruling APC party.

My sources finger Ambode in this move and I have no reason to doubt it. I hear the strategy is to leverage on the growing and restive rumblings within the Party structure and indeed the whole of the state to attempt a civilian coup.

Wale said the whole thing is looking like a monarchy and his move is to dismantle it and give power back to the people.

Well, what can we do but to stand clear? As you see me so, in this kind of thing, I hide my head make stray bullet no come catch me here o. Like Bola Ige, ‘I siddon look.’

another platform.

What exactly does he think his legacy will be when history wants to judge? See this Nzeribe own now.

He has passed, sadly, after a long and debilitating illness and all I have seen to read about him was the role he played in scuttling June 12. Which kind of legacy is that? Will people want to marry his daughter, although I won’t mind if they fit the criteria – light-skinned and robust.

But seriously, what does it say of a man when almost all of the 12 articles I have read about him since his demise have zeroed it down to June 12? Me, I just tire o. People no dey do like say them get sense. Kai.

push him own trolley for airport na.”

Then the next day, as I was sitting down about to enter EFCC for a ‘meeting’ – if you gerrit, you gerrit. I decided to check Linda Ikeji and see what is happening in the shadowy part of town and lo and behold! I am seeing my brother seated like one big traditional ruler and standing beside him is a very beautiful and delectable damsel taking a pre-wedding shoot.

Kai, my brother is getting married and he no inform me? That bridal train cannot be complete I am telling you. I must be in the bridal train o.

Then I now said, let me go check the comments and I almost died. Mbok, Nigerians are dense and these are the youths we are expecting to come and save us from this APC malaise?

One person asked if Olu was a basketballer? Simply because they had captioned his picture President, Nigerian Bar Association. Kai. Others, especially the ladies, were marvelling that – this man never marry since? Abi na him pikin wey want marry so?

The guys simply concentrated on his bride – see as this girl fine. Na this man come catch this kind girl? Na Bini girl? Where for Bini this kind girl dey o cos I no dey see babe like this o. But who the man come be? Why Linda come dey carry him picture?

I could no longer laugh. Anger took

over my being. So, you could be forgiven for not recognizing Olu Akpata but for you not to know what the Nigerian Bar Association stands for but can decipher a sex tape? It’s really sad.

Nigeria is truly in trouble and I must say that this set are the ones Buhari called lazy that we almost choked him.

Anyways, my brother, well done and I wish you supreme wedding bliss.

Congratulations.

Akpata

Abiodun

OLUMIDE AKPATA: WHO IS THIS MAN? So, my friend Seun who lives in London sent me a picture of my brother Mr. Olumide Akpata and wrote “Duke, see your friend.” Now I don’t know if Seun don get work for airport for London or he was just doing busy body. Anyways, he sent me the picture and I responded: “Wetin you want make I do?

“I no know, I just say make I send am to you.”

“Thank you,” I replied. “Mbok, if you see am with a transvestite or anything like that, send the picture. No just be sending me picture of a man wey dey

PROF. BEN AYADE, PLEASE DON’T MAKE ME LAUGH So, everybody has picked form and my brother too has picked form.

This whole thing is making me feel one kain. No wonder PDP alluded that maybe the federal government is using style to fund APC in preparations for the general elections or how do you explain this Ayade sef picking form.

No be only him o, even Managing Director of Nigerian Security and Minting Company pick form and the

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LOUD WHISPERS INEC had to issue a press statement denying that their Oga had interest.

This Ayade own is even the one that is the funniest. A man that used to cry that he never believed that after five years as governor, his people will still be hungry. So, what kind of food did his wife give him that made him feel that we are ready to extend the drudgery in Cross River State to the whole of Nigeria.

All these funny people jumping up and down instead of going to read nursery rhymes to their children and grandchildren just make me tire for this country.

Ayade? Pick form? To come and do what? Ride a power bike all over the place with a side pattern? Please let me eat my Afang in peace. Come and beat me o. Nigeria has suffered. 200 million people wey we be oo.

DAPO ABIODUN: ENEMIES FROM WITHIN. Your Excellency, at this moment you do not have friends o. One of them is one Dr. AOO Olu-Onagoruwa. He says he is a vegetable farmer and lives in Ilisan Ijebu where that one is, I really don’t know or care.

The man has been circulating some very damaging things about your person. Sadly, he mentioned the unfortunate incident with your son which to me was low. If I ever meet him, I will give him a knock for that one. That is cowardly and vile. He even mentioned madam, which like I have said is weak.

But in the same write-up, he said so many things o. At first I didn’t believe them until I saw the statement purportedly released by your team blaming Amosun for these ‘attacks’ and the response from those people denying such but also challenging you to come out and state your case.

You see, my brother, I don’t want to say no smoke without fire but at the same time, when all these stories are flying everywhere, one can start to want to say that thing o – no smoke without fire.

You see, me I don’t want to be caught in the crossfire, that is why I am not being specific about what this man has said, like the one jumping down from a one storey building. I will not mention it o.

But if you ask me, I think you should be bold enough to stand stout and defend all of these allegations once and for all. They are too plenty and they are not going away and frankly they are making some of us look at you with one eye.

Please clear the air about University of Ife, clear the air about the alleged conviction in the US and clear the air about your relationship with that one that went to defraud thousands of Americans during Covid.

I was at Olumo Rock this last weekend. If you don’t want to face all of these people, just go to any one of the five shrines that are there and swear by them that you are honourable and let all these things end.

If you are afraid, I can follow you but I will not climb the rock o or enter the shrine. I will wait for you at the eatery for you to go and come back and if you no come back...

Please, you people leave me alone o.

Meanwhile I know Onogoruwa, he is my childhood friend, in case we are looking for him, I can help you catch him, from there we catch that one and give him palm oil to drink. Kai. Oga just do the needful, this is getting embarrassing.

APOSTLE SULEIMAN: I STAND BY YOU This girl will just not let go. She has released a video of what she is

GENEVIEVE NNAJI, OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU During the week, some very funny stories about this delectable actress’ health started making the rounds. Some people have debunked it while others are swearing by their pubic hair that the

story is true. Whatever the case is, I really do pray for God to intervene and make you whole again and if there is nothing, He should still continue to protect you and your family.

God bless you, my sister.

Nnaji

claiming is the Apostle’s thing. You see, I have been asking people to show me how to upload on twitter so that I can upload my own thing in solidarity. ‘Wharisit’? Why all these defamation and attacks? For what?

Those of us that our thing is still standing should stand up and stand with the Pastor in this matter.

Please forgive my continuous allusion to the word ‘stand’ in this write-up because if the pastor’s thing was not standing, we would not be distracted by this young girl at this time when them Ayade are collecting presidential forms.

Let me state my grouse. I do not care whatever must have transpired between the pastor and this irritant. It is very obvious that some under hand game involving an exchange of illegal body fluid must have occurred.

My own is that when you slap a woman that has annoyed you, all the women in this country will rush out and tie wrapper and be shouting in those sexy voices of theirs – there can be no justification for hitting a woman.

Now this ‘mumu’ girl has done this one now, and I am asking what is the justification for this? So, the man ‘knacked’ you and didn’t deliver on his promises, he will now deserve to have his pecker on the internet.

Please na, what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

Our mothers will not train their descendants. They will be going around fighting for baseless equality and independence and their daughters are running around the

place rudderless, sleeping with dogs and doing these kinds of things.

Everything I have heard is that it is the pastor’s fault o. It is always the man’s fault. Even the one that slept with a dog, it was the frustration of a man that drove her there. Let’s continue to be fooling ourselves and we will see the kind of mothers, wives and daughters that we will be breeding.

This one is not even ashamed to post the picture, not caring what it will even do to her reputation. Mbok, I have said my mind. What is the worst that will happen to me- they ban me from the other room abi? We go take the punishment; it is not a problem.

Please can someone call me and show me how to upload now that we are still standing before the thing fall o.

Rubbish.

CHRISLAND SEX TAPE: APPEAL FOR CALM Please let me beg the Lagos State Government to temper justice with mercy in this matter. As I write, I hear a man is facing charges in court for distributing the tape – and I warned people o and now four teachers who escorted the kids to Dubai have also been charged for concealment and are facing a likely seven years imprisonment for work wey dem go o.

Please I beg His Excellency or whoever is in charge to please pull back. Although the episode is sordid and has gone against existing laws, it is not banditry or treason and as such we should be looking

at rehabilitation and better public education to mute a reoccurrence.

Picking only one man when almost the whole Lagos saw that video and distributed it, is like looking for a scapegoat, hence my plea.

The teachers too. Na just native intelligence do them. This episode shook the country to a standstill.

Parents lamented and even the authorities were I am a parent. My daughter attends the school and as such I am on ground zero in this matter. Jailing those teachers or the scapegoat will not solve anything but will send untold hardships and suffering to their families. Let’s do like Gowon after the civil war and institute the three Rs for this matter – Rehabilitation… I don forget the other two . No vex, at least you understand me.

MRS F KUKOYI: SHE SPANKED ME Now that our kids and the school system is the main discourse, let me put the matter of Mrs Kukoyi up there. Mrs Kukoyi was our Headmistress at the Command Children School in Ikeja. She has built Army Generals, Captains of Industry and so many upright Nigerians.

She was a no-nonsense teacher who did not spare the rod. She was a disciplinarian who pushed parents to the background as she embarked on the arduous task of molding future leaders. See those days, my mother will use her to threaten me when I was naughty at home. Once she says “I will tell Mrs Kukoyi,” I don weak o. Mrs Kukoyi would give you the spanking of your life and that kept all of us straight.

The other day, I was talking with my brother, Air Vice Marshall Sunday Mankinde (rtd) who went through her tutelage and he confessed that those ethics of discipline she put in him guided him throughout his illustrious military career.

Another person, my brother Wale Oyedeji who was a director at GTB and is now a director at Stanbic also swears by her training.

Even me that is writing here, I can still feel the pangs of the cane on my buttocks that she gave me after catching me at the Leventis Supermarket during school hours buying Fanice. She gave me the treatment that even Putin would be envious of.

She caned us, stripped us.

Sometimes we had to bathe and dressed in new school uniforms all in front of the school. Olumide Ohunayo, an aviation expert, suffered with me and is still alive to tell the story.

Today, we no longer have teachers like Mrs Kukoyi. What we have are petty traders and weaklings masquerading as teachers. When you go on a visit, you will see the teachers losing all sense of decency ‘ragging’ you for money. “I am the one taking care of your son,” they will be telling you. Rubbish.

Anyways., Mrs Kukoyi celebrated her 90th birthday and all her children went to visit her at Obanikoro. Me, I no go o, I have still not forgiven her for the spanking, so I stayed back and watched via Zoom.

She still has her fearful and strict mien.

Even as I was watching, fear was still catching me. They no longer have these kinds of teachers. Mrs Kukoyi is the last of that breed.

We thank God for her life and for the lives of all the Nigerians she has molded and gifted this nation. Kai, sex tape for Mrs. Kukoyi’s time? That one na to just run away. You and your parents. She will not only spank you; she will spank your Mama and Papa too, I tell you. God bless her.

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

7KH :RUOG &HOHEUDWHV 4XLQWHVVHQWLDO %XVLQHVVZRPDQ 3ULQFHVV )LÀ (MLQGX DW

Standing Ovation for Mo Abudu

Unarguably, Fifi Ejindu is living up to the description of her name, Offiong, which means Full Moon. In her six decades of existence, the quintessential woman illuminates during a time of heightened emotions and adds brilliant colours to the lives of many in need.

First, as a wife, her husband cannot wish for a better lover, soul mate and ‘gist’ mate. As a mother, the sophisticated and elegant woman is sweet and wonderful, like her middle name, Ekanem, which means ‘Sweet Mother’. This is seen in the way she raised her children. But her biological children are not only the beneficiaries of her motherly care. Anyone who has crossed paths with her will easily testify to her tenderness.

Even in her business, her profile is continually on the rise. Her competitors easily agree that she is blessed with the proverbial Midas touch!

Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that the princess’ life epitomises a tenacity of purpose.

Her ability as a strategist and winner has never been in doubt. Every move she makes, either in her business or private life, has never escaped the attention of newshounds; she is a delight to professional journalists and biographers.

A well-loved woman by members of her immediate environment, Ejindu is acknowledged as one of the few successful individuals who see the need to give back to society as a priority.

The light-skinned princess is one of the few

Ejindu.

women whose beauty would make any fullblooded man drool. She is not an attentionseeker, but if you meet her at a social event, you will pause to appreciate her God-given endowments. Were there a beauty competition

for people her age, this drop-dead beauty will certainly come tops. So many features, including her curvature, come-hither-look and shape, will qualify her for the diadem. Such is the power of her beauty, even as she clocks 60.

At her age, Ejindu still boasts glowing skin.

It was all these rare qualities, in addition to her commanding dress sense, that usually make her the cynosure of eyes at any public event.

So, whenever her birthday is approaching, her family, friends and others who have benefitted from her large-heartedness and benevolence always see the day as another golden opportunity to celebrate her. The eulogies, no doubt, usually come in torrents.

Society Watch gathered that they often do this out of deep respect for the woman with the uncommon milk of kindness.Surprisingly, however, as she clocks 60 on Saturday, May 21, 2022, the woman does not seem to see the day as significantly different from the others. She is grateful to the Creator for the gift of life.

The philanthropist’s passion for empowering the African youth is demonstrated through the NGO she founded known as the “African Arts and Fashion Initiative”, with the mission to ignite the modern African generation in arts and fashion by driving youths into various fields of their desire through fundraisers, scholarships.

Tears, Anguish as Abuja Billionaire, Hajia Habiba Abubakar, Dies Mo Abudu

If Mo Abudu’s story has not caught your attention as a movie lover, definitely no other will do. The multiple award-winner, who is also the first African woman in the continent to own a pan-African TV channel, EbonyLife TV, is definitely not one of your run-of-themill movie producers. She is unequivocally being rated among the world-class film producers.

That she is a woman of ideas is undoubtedly not fulsome praise, if you consider the fact that she is the creative mind behind many soar-away and award-winning movies as well as series such as ‘The Wedding Party 1’, ‘Wedding Party 2’, ‘Oloture’, ‘Chief Daddy 1’, ‘Chief Daddy 2’, ‘Tales of Eve’ and ‘Fifty’, among others.

Interestingly, her muse has not left, as she has once again delighted her fans with yet another rave series, ‘Blood Sisters’.

Indeed, since it was released last week, the viewership has consistently been on the upward trend.

While it has received a commendable response from movie buffs across the world, the feedback from those who have seen the series in Nigeria and beyond has been most encouraging. It shows many appreciate the new wholesome and inspiring dimension of series entertainment that the brilliant woman has offered. This is evident that her desire to rule the world of moviedom, as well as entertainment, is being established.

By virtue of her rare accomplishments, Abudu is one of the few women in the continent who have written their names in gold. Her ingenuity has earned her accolades, recognition, fame and awards around the globe.

Some years back, she had dared mighty things, in pursuit of glorious triumphs.

With persistence and unwavering commitment to the attainment of excellence in her endeavours, things had begun to work for her; and today, she is a reference point in the business world.

Even so, she is celebrated at home and abroad as one of the crème of Nigeria’s league of extraordinary entrepreneurs. Her success, despite all odds, is attributable to hard work and valuable lessons she had learnt in her growing up days through adulthood.

Abudu, also the Founder of Vic Lawrence & Associates, one of Nigeria’s leading outsourcing firms and media, was born in Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom. She obtained a Master’s degree in Human Resources Development from the University of Westminster in London. The TV goddess started her professional career as a Recruitment Consultant with the Atlas Recruitment Consultancy firm in the UK. She was later headhunted by Starform Group, a very successful business information group in the UK, in 1990. Between 1990 and 1992, she assumed responsibility for the research, design and production of several conferences and seminars whilst at Starform.

On Saturday, April 23, 2022, Hajia Habiba Abubakar, a prominent businesswoman, passed on, thereby throwing her family and loved ones in grief.

Following her passing, the hearts of her family and friends have been indescribably heavy, just as tears have ceaselessly cascaded down their faces. They are, however, comforted by the fact that she lived a fulfilled life and impacted humanity positively.

It is a fact that the deceased succeeded in a male-dominated milieu, as she invested heavily in the hospitality business in her hometown, Kano. As proof of her success story in the hospitality industry, she was working on a project that had reached an advanced stage before she passed on.

She left behind her husband, Amb. Abdullahi Abubakar, and three children — Khaleed, Khadijah and Nabil.

In life, she was reputed for her great philanthropic deeds, which endeared her to the common people, especially the physically challenged and the elderly, in Abuja and parts of the North. It was no surprise that she received awards for her humane gestures.

Besides the awards she received in Nigeria, the light-skinned woman was also honoured in Holland and some other countries for her humanitarian activities. Her Non-Government Organisation (NGO), the Foundation for the Elderly and the Poor, founded in 2006, transcends national, ethnic and religious borders.

Abubakar

Hard Times for Political Serial Contender, Segun Adewale

Adewale

Otunba Segun Adewale, the Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and boss of Aeroland Travels Limited, is reportedly in trouble at the moment.

Contrary to the thinking in some quarters, his headache, Society Watch gathered, has nothing to do with his unfulfilled political ambition.

Trouble began for him, following the February 7, 2022 judgment delivered by Justice D.E. Osiagor the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. Adewale had been dragged before the court by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) over a N1.8bn loan.

In compliance with the enforcement order of the court, AMCON had, on

Friday, May 6, 2022, taken effective possession of his nine properties listed by the court through its debt recovery agent, Robert Ohuoba & Co. Some of the properties include Plot 4 & 4B, Block 66, Magodo Scheme, Lagos State; Plot 9, Block 44c, Adetoro Adelaja Street, Magodo Lagos; 4C Maiye Ogundana Street, Magodo, Lagos; 10 Oluyomi Oshikoya Street, Magodo Residential Scheme, Lagos; Plot 8, Block 66, Residential Scheme, Sangisha, Lagos; 2A John Olugbo Street, Ikeja, Lagos; 2 Fadeyi Street, off Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos; 8 Surulere Alelor Street, Millenium, Gbagada and 14 Jerry Iriabe Street, off Bashorun Okusanya, off Admiralty Road, Lekki Peninsula.

Ex-Ogun Governorship Candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, Out of Hibernation Abdulkabir Akinlade, the flagbearer of the Allied Progressives Movement (APM) in the last governorship election in Ogun State, would never forget his experience in a hurry. In fact, the 2019 episode will remain indelible in his mind for the rest of his life. And if he has to write a book on his political odyssey, this will occupy more chapters of the book.

When his godfather and the former governor, Ibikunle Amosun, picked him as his anointed candidate to succeed him towards the twilight of his tenure, many kicked against it based on his antecedent. The ‘war’ in the All Progressives Congress (APC) was too much and too hot to handle then. It was a tug of war and Amosun and his loyalists lost out.

Not totally done, the former member of the House of Representatives moved out en masse to a totally unknown party, APM. However, this was the beginning of his political albatross. He lost the governorship election to the candidate of APC, Prince Dapo Abiodun. But with the advice of his godfather, he refused to accept the result of the election and pursued it to the supreme court, where he lost woefully.

Maybe if had known he would have accepted his fate in good faith. But like an unrepentant optimist, he decided to challenge the outcome of the election.

Today, the Yewa, Ogun State-born politician is literally gnashing his teeth in anger after the Supreme Court affirmed the victory of the governor, thereby putting paid to his ambition of becoming the number one citizen of the state.

Many in the state were not surprised with the outcome of the result for many reasons: the party was not popular and his emergence was also condemned across the state.

Shortly after the Apex Court ruling against his party that finally nailed the coffin on his ambition, he went back to APC and also directed others to bury their grievances and return to the fold.

The struggle to actualise his mandate and redress the injustice allegedly meted out to him and his supporters made him seek an alternative platform. He had urged his supporters to set their grievances aside and display the same courage and high sense of responsibility that kept them on the course of justice through the

Akinlade

last 15 months.

However, since then he has remained in his cocoon while he was nowhere to be found in the political situation in the state. But Society Watch gathered that the man who many say has been in a befuddled state since he lost the election in 2019 has suddenly found his voice and he is presently warming up for his next political aspiration.

69

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾MAY 15, 2022

NEWSXTRA NLC Faults AGF, Says Civil Servants Can Engage in Partisan Politics Sunday Ehigiator The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has faulted the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) for opposing civil servants to partake in partisan politics during the forthcoming general elections.

Like other Nigerians, NLC argued that civil servants “can

play partisan politics in line with section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”

This was contained in a letter addressed to the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba.

The letter, dated May 9,

was titled “Re-clarification on the Provision of Public Service Rules (PSR) vis-a-vis the Supreme Court Judgement as it Relates to Participation of Civil Servants in Partisan Politics.”

In the six-page letter, NLC pointed out that the position of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice “impugns the character and principles of constitutionality.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the ground norm and mother womb of all laws in Nigeria supersedes and overrides every other law. As a matter of legal fact, all other laws in Nigeria are as lawful as they are consistent with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

“Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution is explicit in its

unqualified provision and guarantee of the right of every Nigerian including civil servants to assemble freely and associate with other persons.

“The verbatim rendering of Section 40 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution states that ‘Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to a

political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interest’.

“It is the well-considered position of the Nigeria Labour Congress that the afore-stated provision of the Constitution is very explicit and does not need any other legal opinion to interpret, explain, credit or discredit it.”

Jibrin: Why I Quit Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano A former Director General of Bola Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has given reasons for dumping the presidential campaign of the exgovernor of Lagos State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement yesterday, Jibrin said he had no choice but to quit Tinubu’s presidential campaign after his exit from the APC to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) led by former Kano governor and NNPP presidential aspirant, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The former member of the House of Representatives, however, reiterated that he had no issues with Tinubu but with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.

In his statement titled, ‘Why I left the APC – Hon Abdulmumin

Jibrin’, the ex-lawmaker said his political life had been miserable in the last seven years due to the overbearing nature of the party’s leaders in his home state in Kano. He said, “in my twenty-three years of postgraduate experience, the last seven years were my most unremarkable, so much that my long-established career almost reached a point of utter implosion…

“The horrifying disappointments of my past seven years revolved around this character who’s determined to destroy anybody that activates his glaring inferiority complex. His sadistic instincts make him quite a frightening ally, so much that he feels the need to treat his allies as the marginalised black Africans in apartheid-era South Africans to feel a sense of superiority and misguided advantage.

Buhari Congratulates New UAE President, Sheikh Zayed Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the new President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who was elected President by a Federal Supreme Council to succeed his half-brother, the late Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed.

Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu yesterday, congratulated UAE’s new leader upon his emergence.

He said: “I know that stepping into the shoes of the late Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed is no easy task because of his vast experience and visionary skills. but I am confident that his successor is equally well equipped for the task ahead.

“Your predecessor made a mark in the impressive transformation of the UAE, making it a vast business and tourist attraction, building infrastructure, and creating one of the best living standards in the world.

“I am confident that you’re going to build on this great legacy created by your halfbrother. Nigeria looks forward to greater cooperation with the UAE which has tremendously helped Nigeria in tracking down illegal assets and tracing terrorist funds.”

He added that Dubai “is a reliable partner for the progress of Nigeria and I’m confident that under the new leader, such cooperation will grow bigger and stronger.

Court Voids Restriction of Estate Residents’ Movement A Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja, has nullified a movement restriction order placed on homeowners in Pearl Garden Estate at Sangotedo in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state by CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company Limited.

The trial judge, Mufutau Olokoba, declared the restriction illegal while delivering verdict in the suit filed by some of the homeowners against CMB (property and the estate management agents) and the Oyetubo Jokotade Estate Resource Limited (previous landowners).

The claimants, Messrs Francis Adesuyi, Felix Obiakor, Martin Ajayi-Obe and Peter Afenotan filed the N100 million suit on

February 9, 2015 on behalf of themselves and other estate residents against the property developers.

While delivering the judgement, Justice Olokoba observed that the property developers trampled on the claimants’ rights by restricting their movement in and out of the estate.

He also declared as null and void an estate charge of N35,000 imposed by the second defendant on the claimants.

The judge, however, refused to cede the claimants’ requests, which demanded the defendants to pay them the sum of N100 million in damages. Instead, he ordered the defendants to bear the cost of the action.

STAKEHOLDERS… L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Apian Holdings and Investment, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe; Chief Executive Officer, Chimex Holdings Limited, Chief Chimezie Osuala; and Managing Director, Full Page Communications Limited, Chief Ingram Osigwe, at the 2021 Sun Awards in Lagos… recently

Anyim: I’ll Reintroduce 2014 Confab Report for Review by Nigerians Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim yesterday said if elected president in the 2023 presidential election, he would reintroduce the 2014 conference report for review.

He added that the 2014 conference report “remains the main foundation of the unity of Nigeria, as it contains all that Nigeria needs for a united country.”

Anyim made the promise when he met all members of

the former National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP from 1999 to date.

Anyim said the report of his former boss, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan contesting the presidential election “is all based on speculation as he put it. If he is contesting the presidential election, I will know. “ “2014 confab report is what is needed to stabilise the country and a united country. I will send the report back to the people for a review. The only thing

that I will not consider is the issue of state creation because in Nigeria today, some states are not economically viable.”

On gender representation, he said his administration would surpass that of gender representation in the Jonathan administration According to Anyim, if given the opportunity, I will ensure that a woman is made my running mate in line with gender representation. “ The former senate president

attributed the crisis in Nigeria to lack of adequate political will to address the insecurity in the country He explained that with a consensus and technology, he would tackle the security challenges in the country, stating that it was not insurmountable to address.

On the zoning decision as announced by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, Anyim said the party “has also asked the aspirants to commence talks on consensus.

FCTA Demolishes N700m Mansion Belonging to Tonto Dikeh’s Estranged Partner Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has pulled down a N700 million mansion belonging to Prince Joseph Kpokpogiri, the estranged partner of Nollywood star, Tonto Dikeh in the upscale Guzape District, Abuja.

Kpokpogiri, however, decried the action by the FCTA, describing it as an act of oppression due to his refusal to sell the building to some powerful persons who had sought to buy it.

FCTA’s Director, Department

of Development Control, Muktar Galadima said the mansion was an unapproved structure, and could not be allowed to override public interest.

The sprawling structure, which straddled on top of a rock, was bulldozed after FCTA officials said that it had no approved building plan before it was built on a plot of land belonging to the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) for the purpose of its mass housing programme.

After the demolition exercise yesterday, Galadima said that the edifice built in the fast developing

district, apparently obstructed a major road network, connecting the popular Apo Bridge to many parts of the city.

He also denied lack of interagency collaboration between FCTA and FHA, stating that all necessary communications were properly documented.

“There was adequate interagency co-operation. The Federal Housing Authority approached the Federal Capital Territory Administration for allocation and they were given global approval and were asked to make sure that whatever they do aligns with the

approval “The plot in question was part of what was in the allocation, but because of the importance of the road, we wrote to FHA, notifying it that a number of its plots have been affected by the realignment of the road, and that we were going to give them replacement plots.

“We told them that no development should be allowed on the plots, and this was around 2019, we came for site visit and have given them notice. We even marked the building for demolition, but the owner cleaned it off”, Galadima said.

Dukia Gold, Philoro Sign Agreement to Deepen Precious Metals Value Chain Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refining and Philoro Global Trading AG Switzerland have signed an agreement to collaborate in the development of small-scale and artisanal gold mining value chain in Africa.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Investing in African Mining Indaba currently taking place in Capetown, South Africa, allowing the firms to work together in the sector.

After signing the contract, Chief

Operating Officer and Executive Director, Dukia Gold, Paul Beesley said it would deepen participation in the extractive industry as well as consolidate strategies in the development of programmes needed to exploit the expected benefits in the sector.

Beesley said the objective of agreement “is to bring about the establishment of a precious metals trading program centred in Nigeria to service and support the Nigerian market and

potentially use it as a basis to offer similar products to other African markets.”

He added that the partnership would assist in developing finance and technical support solutions to unlock Dukia Gold’s responsible sourcing of dore strategies, including evaluation and development of new projects and supporting Small scale and Artisanal mining programmes.

“The partnership will strengthen and expand the Dukia Gold Precious Metals Refinery to aggregate gold doré

from third-party sources in Nigeria and across West Africa. He said the ultimate targetis toproduceworldclass Good Delivery Bars and Coins.

“Our commitment to work together withDukiaGoldwillfurtherpromoteand develop other important and relevant opportunities in the Precious Metals value chain in Nigeria and West Africa, through skills and knowledge transfer, capacity and capability building and the institution of beneficial engagements with host communities.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

Ikeogu Oke, the 2017 Nigeria Literature Prize Winner

15.5.2022

Tade Ipadeola the 2013 Nigeria Literature Prize winner

Professor Sule Emmanuel Egya, the head of this year's Nigeria Literature Prize's judging panel

IN SEARCH OF NIGERIA’S NEXT POET LAUREATE This year, poetry returns in the spotlight of the Nigeria Literature Prize spotlight, with the promise of innovations and inclusiveness. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

T

o all appearances, it is poetry, of all literary genres, that wears the diadem as the literary community's most favoured one. This year’s announcement of as many as 287 entries vying for the Nigeria Literature Prize’s $100,000 cash prize, DV DJDLQVW HQWULHV IRU SURVH ÀFWLRQ ODVW \HDU VHHPV WR FRQÀUP SRHWU\ DV DOZD\V KDYLQJ KDG the most entries in the annals of the literary prize, which rotates annually among four OLWHUDU\ JHQUHV SURVH ÀFWLRQ SRHWU\ GUDPD and children’s literature. A cursory glance DW WKH SDVW HQWU\ ÀJXUHV LQ DQG for instance, shows that the literary genre had 201 and 184 entries, respectively. And these were way ahead of the entries recorded during the years when the spotlight was on the other genres.

Flashback to 2005, the year after the Nigeria Literature Prize wormed its way into public consciousness. The literary community, still VXONLQJ DQG FKDÀQJ DW LWV QRQ DZDUG GXULQJ its inaugural edition, was somewhat consoled E\ WKH HYHQWXDO HPHUJHQFH RI WZR FR ZLQQHUV Gabriel Okara (for his entry, The Dreamer: His Vision) and Ezenwa Ohaeto (for his entry, Chants of Minstrel). This was even when the expectations swirled around a single winner IRU WKH ZLQQHU WDNHV DOO FDVK SUL]H $QRWKHU QRQ DZDUG DV ZDV WKH FDVH LQ would not only have been deemed a failure by the organisers to match their words with action but also probably hurt the credibility of the prize, which was still in its toddling years.

But then, with "excellence" being the judg ing panel’s stated condition for the award

of the prize, there was no way the QRQ DZDUG VSHFWUH ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ fully exorcised. Hence, the organisers ZHUH XQDEOH WR VWDYH RͿ WKH GROHIXO FRQVHTXHQFHV RI D QR ZLQQHU YHUGLFW returned for poetry in 2009. Crushed by the fact that not even one of the VKRUWOLVWHG SRHWV ² SUHPDWXUHO\ FHO HEUDWHG DV WKH ÀUVW HOHYHQ RI 1LJHULDQ poetry by the poet and polemicist Odia 2IHLPXP ² FRXOG ZLQ WKH RYHUDOO SUL]H which was then $50,000, critics of the prize ramped up their attacks.

The din of these criticisms would HYHQWXDOO\ SHWHU RXW ZKHQ LQ WKH second year of the prize’s third cycle, Tade Ipadeola, for his poetry collection, The Sahara Testaments, became the ÀUVW HYHU VROH ZLQQHU RI WKH RYHUDOO prize in poetry. By then, the prize’s cash value had been upped to $100,000.

This same feat would be replicated in 2017 by the late Ikeogu Ike with his entry, The Heresiad.

With the four consecutive years that witnessed the awards of the prize for WKH GLͿHUHQW OLWHUDU\ JHQUHV GXULQJ WKH IRXUWK F\FOH ² LQ DQG ² LW ZRXOG VHHP WKDW WKH JKRVW RI WKH QRQ DZDUG RI WKH SUL]H KDV DW last been laid to rest. By now, lingering doubts and rumours swirling about the prize’s credibility would have been dispelled. Possibly, this also helped EROVWHU WKH FRQÀGHQFH RI D SURPLVLQJ new generation of writers and partially explains the increase in the number of entries.

Equally helpful for the growing ac

ceptance of the prize this year is the inclusion RI WZR QRQ DFDGHPLFV ² DZDUG ZLQQLQJ SRHW 7R\LQ $GHZDOH *DEULHO DQG QRWDEOH SHUIRU PDQFH SRHW 'LNH &KXNZXPHULMH ² LQ WKH WKUHH PDQ MXGJLQJ SDQHO FKDLUHG E\ 3URIHVVRU Sule Emmanuel Egya. "Be assured that their credentials are solid and they speak to their craft and contributions to the literary world," NLNG’s General Manager for External Rela tions and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh, said at a ceremony in Lagos, during which the Chair of the Prize’s Advisory Board, 3URIHVVRU $NDFKL $GLPRUD (]HLJER KDQGHG over the 287 entries to the panel of judges.

According to Odeh, the decision by the Advisory Board to appoint two out of the three judges who are practitioners from outside academia was based on feedback from various stakeholders.

Indeed, there is every reason to be upbeat about the composition of the judging panel.

First, there is Professor Egya, a professor of African Literature and Cultural Studies at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, and also a renowned poet and novelist who writes under the pen name E. E. Sule. He has written over a hundred scholarly articles and literary es VD\V :KLOH KLV ÀUVW QRYHO 6WHULOH 6N\ ZRQ WKH &RPPRQZHDOWK %RRN 3UL]H IRU WKH Africa Region, his poetry collection, which includes ‘What the Sea Told Me’, won the 2009 ANA/Gabriel Okara Prize. $V IRU $GHZDOH *DEULHO NQRZQ LQ OLWHUDU\ circles as "the most beautiful and outstanding voice of the new African poetry," she is a poet and narrator who has worked as a literary critic for The Guardian, Post Express, and The Daily Times.

7KHQ WKHUH LV &KXNZXPHULMH ZKR ² DV WKH brain behind ‘Night of the Spoken Word’, a live poetry show and a theatre production, ¶0DGH LQ 1LJHULD 3RHWU\ 6KRZ· ² LV DUJXDEO\ Nigeria’s most prominent spoken word and SHUIRUPDQFH SRHWU\ DUWLVW $Q DZDUG ZLQQLQJ author who has published several books, KH ZRQ WKH $VVRFLDWLRQ RI 1LJHULDQ Authors (ANA) Prize for Prose Fiction.

There were also hints by the prize’s sponsors, Nigeria LNG, during that media session about possible innovations to make the adjudication of the prize more inclusive DQG DOO HPEUDFLQJ 1RWDEOH DPRQJ WKHVH innovations is the NLNG’s recent launch RI WKH ZHEVLWH ² ZZZ WKHQLJHULDSUL]HV RUJ ² DV D RQH SRLQW LQIRUPDWLRQ KXE IRU WKH prizes. "This site served as the submission portal for entries received this year," Odeh continued.

7KH OLTXHÀHG QDWXUDO JDV SURGXFHU KRSHV that this new portal will make information about the prizes, process, governance, win ning works, and winners more accessible to the general public.

Meanwhile, it is with bated breath that the local literati watch the big buildup to October when this year’s overall winner will be announced.

Also handed over during the ceremony in Lagos were over 87 entries received for the NLNG’s Prize for Literary Criticism. The prize, valued at N1 million, is awarded annually to the best critical essay by a Nigerian writer or critic. Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike, a &DQDGD EDVHG 1LJHULDQ DFDGHPLF ZRQ WKH SUL]H IRU KLV DUWLFOH 6HOI SXEOLVKLQJ LQ WKH (UD of Military Rule," published in the Journal of African Cultural Studies.

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

62

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 15, 2022

ARTS & REVIEW\\POTPOURRI

LAGOS MAINLAND’S TASTE OF LAGOS INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL 2022 Yinka Olatunbosun

F

or a jazz tradition that has been domiciled on Lagos Island, the Lagos International Jazz Festival (LIJF) 2022 was a surprise treat for music fans on Lagos Mainland from the organisers.

Powered by Inspiro Productions, the festival was founded by Ayoola Sadare as one of the city’s cultural staples designed to entertain and drive tourism.

This year, the festival was moved from its traditional venue – Freedom Park – to Baylounge in Lekki, Lagos. In response to popular demand by WKH IHVWLYDO EXͿV LQ RWKHU SDUWV RI WKH FLW\ /,-) was birthed at Fish Farm, a cozy relaxation spot in Ogudu. In an atmosphere of grills, the audience grew in numbers and resilience, defying the rain WKDW DOPRVW UXLQHG WKH ÀUVW QLJKW RQ WKH PDLQODQG Taking cover from the heavy downpour at the carwash, many were seen dancing to the music covers from the live band.

After the showers came the soothing voice of Olumide Baritone, who made his debut on the LIJF stage despite being ‘a friend of the house’ for some years. His mind-blowing cover of Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ felt like a movie soundtrack; DQ LQÀQLWH WXQQHO RI HPRWLRQV 7KH HQUDSWXUHG audience was quiet and attentive, waiting to applaud at the end of the awesome delivery of the classic swing track. Described as one of the world’s favourite funeral songs, it seemed like

MUSIC the song itself was a well-deserved tribute to Mrs. Margaret Olatokunbo Sadare, the matriarch to whom the 2022 edition of LIJF had been dedicated. The LIJF founder, Sadare who lost his mother on October 1, 2021 at 85 was sporting the ‘funeral aso-ebi’ trousers at the festival- a fashion tribute to Mrs Sadare who was described as one of the festival's strongest supporters.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti's spirit was evoked that night at the Fish Farm with the exhilarating showmanship from the 10 Strings All Stars Band. The band served some Afrobeat classics from Abami Eda, WKH OHJHQGDU\ PXVLFLDQ ZKR ZDV WKH ÀUVW Nigerian to release a jazz album.

The night of performances was capped when the Queen of improvisation and Afrojazz singer, Yinka Davies seduced the crowd and later dedicated a song to her late son, Jeremiah who died on January 29, 2021 at 27. Performing alongside the master saxophonist, Mikifa, Davies reclaimed her position as a centre-stage act.

Pamela Scott, CJ the poet, ace guitarist YPick, Afrobeats artist, Sam Derry, Poshryna Oyin, Tunji Adeyemi and the duo of Pa Jimi Solanke were some of the headliners at the Baylounge waterfront

Yinka Davis cluster of the LIJF. Aspecial birthday session in honour of Mrs Bose Idonije snr, the wife of veteran broadcaster, music FULWLF DQG IRUPHU )HOD V ÀUVW PDQDJHU %HQVRQ Idonije was one of the highlights of the island show. Mrs Idonije, also known as Burna Boy's

grandmother, has been a huge supporter of her grandson's music career behind the scenes.

No doubt, LIJF has been a breeding ground of music talents in Nigeria parading some of 1LJHULD V ÀQHVW LQ DIURIXVLRQ DOWHUQDWLYH VRXO and even fuji served on the platter of jazz.

CHATROOM MOVIE PREMIERES IN LAGOS Yinka Olatunbosun

C

HATROOM, a contemporary 98-minute star-studded movie, is itself an all-star parade. Multiple award-winning actors like Tony Umez, Omawumi Megbele, Akpororo, Odunlade Adekola, Rykardo Agbor, Sambasa Nzeribe, Vivian Anani, Ibrahim Suleiman formed its cast strength. Produced

by Peju Ibekwe with Adesuwa Onyenokwe as its associate producer, the movie has unique themes of societal reform, gender-based violence, mental health, among others.

Also starring Canada-trained actor, NengiAdoki, Israeli actor, singer and dancer, Ronya Man, Ghanaian actor, Kobby Acheampong, Cameroonian actor and dancer, Lea Dibebe, the recent premiere at the Wheatbaker Hotel was witnessed by several dignitaries, including the Minister RI :RPHQ $ͿDLUV DQG 6RFLDO 'HYHORSPHQW Mrs. Pauline Tallen and Managing Director/ &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU )LQDQFLDO ,QVWLWXWLRQV Training Centre (FITC), Chizor Malize.

CHATROOM, a movie set against the background of a reality television show tells the inspiring story of Ebiere who enters a dancing reality show to escape the haunting ghost of her past. Written and directed by Chike Ibekwe, CHATROOM is inspired by true life events.

MOVIES Set in Lagos, CHATROOM tells a very relatable story of resilience, fear of trusting, denial to acceptance, love notwithstanding hurt and hope for a better future. It also uncovers what happens behind the scenes of a reality television show of which audiences are oblivious.

7KH 0LQLVWHU RI :RPHQ $ͿDLUV DQG 6RFLDO 'HYHOopment, who was represented by the Director, *HQGHU $ͿDLUV LQ WKH PLQLVWU\ 0UV )UL\D .LPGH Bulus, revealed during a keynote address that the sustenance of gender equality perspectives should be coordinated in the plans, projects and programmes of the government. With reference to the case of Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu, she pointed out that the movie is very timely in the light of recent developments.

The director-scriptwriter, Chike Ibekwe noted that he chose to write a story of hope, rather than that of silence and misery that most victims of sexual abuse have to endure. The premiere also featured the launch of the virtual CHATROOM on the movie website which doubles as a safe place for victims of abuse or mental health issues to break their silence and get help.

The said CHATROOM can be accessed anonymously and enjoy free counselling supported by the Nigerian Institute of Counsellors. The toll-free

L-R, Chief Human Resources Officer, Sterling Bank, Temi Dalley; Producer, CHATROOM, Peju Ibekwe; General Manager, Corporate and Investment Banking, Sterling Bank, Mojisola Bakare and Mrs Friya Kimde Bulus, Director, Gender Affairs, representing the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen line and cases that need additional attention beyond counselling ranging from medical to

legal cases will be supported by Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF).

AWORAKAN PARTNERS WITH FRIENDS OF AZERBAIJAN ON ART, CULTURAL EXCHANGE Yinka Olatunbosun

VISUAL ARTS

T Ana Acha and Billura Bayramova-Bernard

he onlineAfrican marketplace for arts and advisory Aworanka is partnering with Friends ofAzerEDLMDQ D QRQ SURÀW RUJDQLVDWLRQ in Nigeria to promote social and cultural exchange between Azerbaijan and African, with special emphasis on Nigerian art.

The agreement was signed on March 25 in Lagos by Ana Acha, founder of Aworanka, and Billura Bayramova-Bernard, founder and president of Friends of Azerbaijan. The 0R8 LV IRFXVHG RQ SURPRWLQJ IRXU GLͿHUHQW types of cultural exchanges that can stimulate intercultural dialogue.

These four pillars include the exchange of

specialists, the organisation of art exhibitions, cooperation in terms of art media coverage, and the promotion of artistic events that can contribute to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.

“International art exchanges increase creativity and contribute to creating a genuine and diverse environment where artists can collaborate,”Acha, Founder/CEO ofAworanka VDLG ´2XU REMHFWLYH LV WR RͿHU RSSRUWXQLWLHV thatcreateresponsiblecitizenryandcontribute to the socio-economic development of the country.”

Bayramova also said: “Communities that collaborate artistically breed positive social interaction and innovation."

Friends of Azerbaijan is a social network of real friends ofAzerbaijan in Nigeria involved in interactions, dialogues and debates that promote the exchange of ideas and cultures

in an environment that encourages interfaith religious harmony. This MoU will further H[SDQG WKHLU LQYROYHPHQW LQ WKH DUW ÀHOGV especially painting, sculpture, drawing and design.

Aworanka is an online marketplace to not only acquire African art but also a platform that cultivates knowledge by giving universal access to African art information that before ZDV VHJUHJDWHG DQG ZDV DUGXRXV WR ÀQG ,Q terms of exhibitions,Aworanka had her debut show in October 2021 with an exhibition titled Framing Her, which featured 83 artworks IURP GLͿHUHQW DUWLVWV The sophomore art exhibition of February 2022, EVE, featured 77 works by 15 women DUWLVWV IURP ÀYH GLͿHUHQW FRXQWULHV 7KH 0R8 signed with Friends ofAzerbaijan will further facilitate the diversity of artists inAworanka’s future exhibitions.

63

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 15, 2022

CICERO

Editor: Ejiofor Alike SMS: 08066066268 email:ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com

IN THE ARENA

When Panicky Political Parties Seek Electoral Timetable Alteration

The unconscionable internal disorganisation of political parties prompting them to seek alteration of the timetable for the 2023 general election must not be countenanced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, writes Louis Achi

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ast week, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wisely declined a request by the 18 political parties to alter the timetable for the 2023 general election to obviously accommodate their inexcusably tardy preparations. The parties sought for a 37-day extension of the poll timetable. According to INEC, agreeing to the request would upset its other scheduled activities and create “unnecessary tension” that could negatively affect the general election programmed to commence February 25, next year.

Political parties are core institutions of democracy and by competing in elections offer citizens and members opportunities for political participation and choices in governance.

While in opposition they can hold governments accountable. Generally they provide order and stability from which civilised, related processes unfold.

Parties also have self-evolved philosophies and constitutions that guide their trajectories.

Herein lies the key pitfalls that tend to consume these institutions when lack of principle and greed takes centre stage. This scenario clearly seems to be at the heart of the strong headwinds buffeting the major political parties in organising simple preliminary processes leading to the general election proper.

Most culpable here are the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Perhaps these curious disorganisation and contrived fog have linkages with the fact that Nigeria has entered a transition period - a crucial leadership changeover phase. This is spawning some frenzy which cannot be decoupled from the nation’s peculiar political history.

The electoral commission had reviewed its schedules for the 2023 general election in February after President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the Electoral Act, 2022. In compliance with the new legislation, INEC earmarked April 4 to June 3 for the conduct of party primaries, clarifying that due to the late signing of the law guiding the election, it was running against time. Penultimate week, INEC again reiterated

Yakubu that the deadline for the conduct of primaries remains “firm and fixed”.

However, notwithstanding INEC’s clear warning that it would not alter its current electoral schedules, the mule-headed political parties, under the aegis of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), surprisingly on Tuesday made a fervent appeal to the electoral commission for an extension of the timetable of the 2023 general election.

National Chairman of IPAC, Yusuf Yabagi Sani, made the demand tongue-in-cheek request during their quarterly consultative meeting with INEC, noting that the request for an adjusted timetable would ensure a free and credible election.

The meeting with the electoral umpire was attended by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu and National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; PDP National Chairman, Iyorcha Ayu and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) National Chairman Victor Oye and IPAC Chairman Yabagi Sani.

According to the IPAC chairman, all the registered 18 political parties are united in their demand for an adjustment of the timetable. His words: “All the eighteen registered political par-

ties on the platform of IPAC are jointly, without exception, requesting the INEC to consider a slight adjustment to the recently announced timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election.

“The General Assembly of IPAC, after an exhaustive examination of the INEC timetable and related issues, arrived at a unanimous decision to request for an extension of thirty-seven (37) days to the deadline of the time frame for the conduct of party primaries and resolution of conflicts arising from the primaries.

“By implication, the IPAC leadership is appealing to the INEC to extend the deadline for the conduct of party primaries and resolution of ensuing conflicts from the present INEC given date of 3rd June, 2022 to the 7th July 2022.”

For good measure, IPAC explained that the commission did not factor in the religious calendar of the two major religions in the country before drawing the timetable.

In Sani’s words: “Some of the constraining developments which, we believe were not considered and therefore, not factored in by the INEC while drawing up its schedule of activities includes the following: the Christian Lenten season and the Muslim fasting in the month of Ramadan, respectively, followed by the celebrations of Easter and Eid El Fitr (Sallah), in which the vast majority of party members were involved.

“The developments inevitably, therefore, greatly disrupted planned activities and programmes of the political parties, leading to the loss of about two weeks out of the allotted time of the timetable.”

These cock and bull stories about public holidays interfering with their preparations cut little ice with the watching public. Worse, public perception and emerging consensus on prepoll preparations by political parties view the parties’ capacities and discipline in a poor light.

Their request again exposes just how disorganised they are in putting their houses in order.

Be it late organisations of primaries, breaching their own guidelines as the PDP had done by adopting open-ticket method for picking its presidential candidate against its own constitutional stipulation of power rotation, or outright refusal to organise primaries, political parties

have often brazenly breached the rules given to them.

This foregoing scenario may have informed INEC’s justifiable tough stance on the matter aptly captured by the agency’s chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu who bluntly rejected their request.

Hear him: “The commission will not review the timelines,” reminding the parties that the period earmarked for the conduct of their primaries commenced April 4, 2022, and would end June 3. He, however, acknowledged the fact that the parties had forwarded to INEC, the schedules for their primaries.

Further according to Yakubu, “Any review to extend the timeline for one activity will affect other activities and put unnecessary pressure on political parties and the commission. This meeting is the first since the Electoral Act 2022 came into force on February 25 2022. It is also our first meeting since the commission released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election over two months ago.

“Already, all 18 political parties have forwarded the schedules of their primaries to the Commission, and some have commenced the process of choosing their candidates by conducting ward and local government congresses.”

It could be recalled that the period earmarked for the conduct of primaries by political parties commenced on April 4, 2022, and will end in about 24 days. Twice in the last two weeks, the commission had had to remind political parties of the necessity for strict compliance with the timelines for party primaries.

Fittingly, the INEC boss nailed the matter with professorial exactitude stating that there are so many inter-related activities that are associated with the timelines which must be timeously carried out.

His words: “Therefore, the commission will not review the timelines. Working together, we should ensure fidelity to the timelines in conducting transparent and democratic primaries for the purpose of electing candidates for the 1,491 constituencies for which elections will be held on 25th February and 11th March 2023.”

INEC must wield its statutory powers and use the big stick to stop any recalcitrant party in this connection

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

Deborah, Politics and the Nigerian Tragedy

Deborah

Deborah Samuel, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was murdered by her fellowstudentsoverallegedblasphemy.Shewasstoned andburntaliveforallegedlydescribingsomereligious postsonaschoolWhatsAppgroup,inatonetheother students considered condescending. The students reportedly overpowered the school security, took in the “infidel” and killed her.

Oneofthefirstpersonsreportedtohavereactedto the development and condemned the act on Twitter wasformerVice-PresidentAtikuAbubakar,whosoon after, deleted his tweets, because he was reportedly threatenedbyreligiousextremiststhattheywouldnot voteforhiminthe2023polls.Ofcourse,thecourageto standbywhatisrightwaslessimportanttoanintending presidentialhopefulthanthesanityandgeneralhealth

of the society.

Then, a social critic, Aisha Yefusu, while condemning the killing of Deborah, also attacked those, who administered jungle justice on some thieves caught recentlyinLagosandestablishedalinkbetweenthem and Deborah’s killers. Unfortunately, her comparison didn’tgowellwithsomepeople,whothoughcondemned thejunglejustice,however,disagreedwiththecomparison.Yet,Aishawasnottotallywrong.Inall,shewanted justice for all and at all times. Certainly, not out of line!

Firstoff,nothingcanexplainawayorjustifyDeborah’s gruesomemurderbyfellowstudents,nomatterwhather offencewas.Thesanctityoflifecannotbenegotiated on the altar of some religious doctrines that are not verifiable or established in any of the holy books. Any wrongdoing can be reported appropriately to higher

authoritiesandthisiswhytherearelawenforcement agencies everywhere to enforce law and order.

Whilethatistrueandevidentlyimmutable,theimportanceofpeopleunderstandingtheenvironmentthey livecannotalsobeoveremphasisedeither.Thereaction ofsomepeopleincertainpartsofthecountrytoboth real and imagined attacks on their faiths or beliefs is publicknowledge.Therefore,foranyonelivinginthose partsofthecountry,moresoanadult,whoshouldknow better, it is almost inexcusable to cross certain lines, knowing full well those people will never take kindly to it. Once you live among them, it behooves you to imbibe or at the very least, understand their culture and tradition and learn their dos and don’ts. Respect begetsrespect.Itiswhattheywantanddefinitelynot too much to ask.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 15, 2022

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BRIEFINGNOTES At Last, Buhari Floors National Assembly on Electoral Act The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja last Wednesday held that Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, 2022 contravenes the provision of Section 42 (1)(a) of the Constitution. Ejiofor Alike writes that the court’s declaration has vindicated President Muhammadu Buhari, who had requested the National Assembly to delete the controversial section to no avail

I

n an apparent move to whittle down the overbearing influence of governors in the emergence of candidates of political parties, the National Assembly had inserted the controversial Section 84 (12) into the Electoral Act, 2022. Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act bars serving political office holders, including commissioners, ministersandspecialadvisers,fromparticipating as delegate for the primaries in their respective parties or as candidates for any election.

It was a strategy by the federal lawmakers to clip the wings of governors who use their hordes of political appointees to determine who gets the parties’ tickets for all elective positions. When the bill was submitted to Buhari for his assent, he raised the alarm on the unconstitutionality of this section.

The president had expressed concerns in his letter to the National Assembly that the clause in the Electoral Act would disenfranchise serving political officers. He could have returned the bill to the National Assembly but because the Electoral Act would be used to conduct the 2023 general election, there was a time limit allowed by the law for it to be amended before the election.This time limit was already elapsing.

There was no time for Buhari to return it to the federal lawmakers unless it was not going to be used for the 2023 elections.

Again, Buhari was already being accused of insincerity to reform the country’s electoral system because of his previous refusal to sign the bill. So, he signed the bill based on the condition that the lawmakers would delete the section.

The president was said to have received adequate assurances by the leadership of the National Assembly that lawmakers would revisit the clause as soon as the president signed the bill into law.

Unfortunately, it was a shock to him when the two chambers of the National Assembly rejected the bill he sent to them to delete the illegal section.

The unanimous refusal of both chambers to remove the clause after it had been passed had obviously bruised the ego of the presidency.

However, as pressure was being mounted on the lawmakers to honour the gentleman’s agreement they reached with the president, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filed an ex-parte motion against the federal government at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop attempts to tamper with the Act. Thesuitwasmarked:FHC/ABJ/CS/247/2022.

In his ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo restrained the National Assembly from tampering with the Act. While the order by Justice Ekwo had sparked debate as to whether the court can bar the National Assembly from performing its duties, a Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia

Buhari

on March 18 declared the disputed section of the Act as “unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”

Justice Evelyn Anyadike who presided over the court directed that the section “be struck down as it cannot stand when it is in violation of the clear provisions of the Constitution.”

She ordered the AGF to “forthwith delete the said sub-section 12 of Section 84 from the body of the Electoral Act, 2022”.

The judge while delivering judgment in a suitmarked:FHC/UM/CS/26/2022heldthat Sections 66(1)(f), 107(1)(f), 137(1)(f) and 182(1)(f) of the 1999 Constitution already stipulated that appointees of government seeking to contest elections were only to resign at least 30 days to the date of the election. She held that any other law that mandated such appointees to resign or leave the office at any time before that was unconstitutional, invalid, illegal null and void to the extent of its inconsistency to the clear provisions of the Constitution.

A top chieftain of the Action Alliance (AA), Nduka Edede, filed the suit. Unfortunately,

the National Assembly which passed the bill was not joined in the contentious suit.

Barely few hours after the judgment, Malami said he would accordingly give effect to the court judgment in line with the dictates of the law and the spirit of the judgment. He further pledged that the judgment would be recognised by government printers in printing the Electoral Act. ”The Act will be gazetted factoring the effect of the judgment into consideration and deleting the constitutionally offensive provision accordingly.

“The provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 is not part of our law and will be treated accordingly.

“This is in line with the dictates of chapter 7, Part 4, Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) on enforcement of decisions that make it a point of duty and obligation on all authorities and persons to have the judgment of the Federal High Court, among others, to be enforced,” Malami argued.

But the Owerri Division of the Court of

Appeal ordered Malami, and others to suspend the execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court, which struck down Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act. A three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Rita Pemu, made the order in a ruling granting a request by the PDP to be joined as a party to the appeal challenging the judgment of the lower court.

The appellate court, in its ruling, ordered parties to refrain from taking steps capable of frustrating the pending appeal against the contested judgment.

But respite came the way of Malami when the Court of Appeal on Wednesday declared the controversial Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act as unconstitutional even though it set aside the judgment of a Federal High Court, Umuahia, which voided this provision.

The appellate court held that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit and subsequently voided the judgment of Justice Anyadike.

In a unanimous decision, the three-member panel of the appellate court presided by Justice Hamma Barka held that the Federal High Court, Umuahia, had no jurisdiction to have entertained the case in the first case because the plaintiff, Edede, did not have the legal authority to initiate the suit.

The panel acknowledged that there are divergent views on what they should do in the circumstance, “having arrived at the decision that the lower court lacked the necessary jurisdiction to entertain the action, in the first leg.”

While they submitted that there was the need and duty to avail the apex court a view on the matter being agitated, the panel subsequently delved into the merit of the suit. It held that the said Section 84 (12) was unconstitutional because it breaches Section 42 (1)(a) of the Constitution by denying a class of Nigerian citizens their right to participate in an election.

The court held that “the provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 specifically targets political appointees and disqualified them from being voting delegates or from being voted for at convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election. This provision does not disqualify any other class of person.”

“Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act expressly subjects them to disabilities and restrictions from other citizens of Nigeria, other communities, political interests and political views and thereby contravenes the provision of Section 42 (1)(a) of the Constitution and thereby null and void,” Barka said.

With the Appeal Court’s decision, Buhari has been vindicated at last.

NOTES FOR FILE

How Selfish Can National Assembly Be?

Ahmed

When it always comes to making laws that suit them, membersoftheNationalAssemblyareexperts.Theypass such laws with immediate alacrity, sometimes within 24 hours. This was the case last week when they amended the Electoral Act, 2022, to allow ‘statutory delegates’ participate and vote in the conventions, congresses or meetings of political parties.

The bill allows statutory delegates, which include the president, governors, National Assembly members, state assembly members, local government chairmen, councillors, National Working Committee members of political parties, amongst others, to vote in conventions, congresses or meetings of political parties.

The bill to amend the 2022 Electoral Act No. 13 was sponsoredbytheDeputySenatePresident,SenatorOvie

Omo-Agege.Omo-Agege,whoinhispresentation,saidthe bill seeks to amend the provision of Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act. WhatperhapsbaffledNigerianswashowthebillwasgiven anunprecedentedacceleratedpassage.IntheSenate,the billwasgivenexpeditiousconsideration.Injustoneday,the billwasintroduced,scaledfirst,secondandthirdreadings, respectively,andwaspassedduringplenarybythechamber after consideration by the Committee of theWhole.

Having seen what the Senators did, members of the House of Representatives who were on recess due to the ongoing renovation of their chamber, reconvened on the following day and pronto, passed the bill.

ThisiswhatmostNigerianshavecometoknowtheNational Assemblyfor.Whenitcomestomakinglawsfortheirselfish

interests,theyputintheirutmostbestbyspeedilyexecuting it and throwing caution to the wind. But when it comes to theonetheydonothaveinterest,mostofthemeitherstay away from plenary or foot-drag with the process.

Foroverthreemonthsnow,theAcademicStaffUnionof Universities (ASUU) are on strike with students at home, roamingthestreets,yetthelawmakerscannotinterveneor mediate.Theycannotevenholdaspecialsessiontodebate the issue and mandate the executive arm of government to implement the agreements reached with the union in order to resolve the strike.To them, it is not their business.

A lot of the lawmakers cannot travel by roads to their villagesandtownsduetobanditry.Buttheyrefusedtotake seriousactionsagainsttheexecutiveforfailingtoprotect Nigerians.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 15, 2022

CICERO/ISSUES

Guidelines for Primaries Unsettle Aspirants in APC The nine guidelines released by the All Progressives Congress for the conduct of its aspirants to the various elective offices ahead of its primaries, are causing disquiet in the ruling party, writes Vanessa Obioha

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espite efforts to downplay the apprehensionamongitsaspirants, especiallythoseseekingtosucceed PresidentMuhammaduBuhariin 2023, all may not be well with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).Tensioninthepartyisalmost

at a boiling point.

Last week, the party released nine guidelines for the conduct of presidential, governorship and parliamentary aspirants ahead of the primaries.

The guidelines bar contenders from going to court withoutfirstexhaustingtheavenuesforredressand ventilationofgrievances.Theyarealsoexpectedtosign undertakingstoaccepttheoutcomesoftheshadow polls and support whoever emerges as a candidate for the general election.

Italsodirectedthemtotakeoathsnottoengagein thuggery,anti-partyactivities,factionalisationorthe creation of parallel congresses and party organs at anylevel.Theseconditionsarecontainedonpage17 ofthenominationformgiventotheaspirants. Itwas gathered that the nine guidelines for the primaries werereleasedaspartoftheparty’sstrategytomanage looming crises and intrigues.

Thepartyissaidtobehavingdifficultyinhandling the unprecedented long list of aspirants seeking to succeedPresidentBuhari.Therearestrongindications thatsomeoftheaspirantsareintheracetonegotiate theirpoliticalfuture,whileothersaresimplyintherace toblocktheircolleaguesfromgettingtheparty’sticket.

Cross River State Governor, lent credence to this belief when he declared that he would not mind steppingdownoncethepresidentandthepartyask him to do so.

Although the APC leadership claimed that the guidelines were in line with Article 21. 2 (i — xii) of the APC Constitution, many aspirants have faulted theconditionsdescribingthemasinconsistentwith their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

Theconditionsare:“Abidetopreserve,protectand defendtheConstitutionoftheAPCandtheFederal Republic of Nigeria; Abide by the primary election

guidelinesofAPCandNigerianElectoralAct;Abide to place APC above selfish interests; I, my primary campaignorganisationandmysupportersundertake to accept the outcome of the primary and support whoeveremergesasAPCcandidateforthegeneral election.

“Abide not to engage in dishonest practices, thuggery, being absent from meetings to which he/sheisinvitedwithoutreasonablecause;carrying out anti-party activities which tend to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient organisation of the party or which are inconsistent with the aims and objectives of the party.

“Abidenottogivewronginformationtoanyorgan ofthepartyorunauthorisedpublicityofapartydisputewithoutexhaustingallavenuesorsettlement orredresswithintheparty;Abidenottofileanyaction inacourtoflawagainstthepartyoranyofitsofficers onanymattersrelatingtothedischargeoftheduties ofthepartywithoutfirstexhaustingallavenuesfor redress provided.

“Abidetoalwaysfollowthepathofjustice,honesty and unity amongst fellow contestants and party members.SohelpmeGod.Abidenottofactionalise orcreateaparallelcongress,election,orpartyorgan at any level.”

Butofthenineconditions,mostoftheaspirants, especially presidential heavyweights, are uncomfortable with the “voluntary letter of withdrawal,” contained on page 18.

Theletter,titled:LetterofVoluntaryWithdrawal, says:“I…oftheaboveaddress…vyingfor…hereby voluntarilywithdrawmycandidacyfromthecontest… scheduledtoholdon…2023.Mywithdrawalisinthe best interest of our great party, the APC.” ApartfromaddressingthelettertotheNational Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, each aspirant is expected to endorse the letter before a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public.

Manybelievethatthewithdrawalletterisaimed atexoneratingthepartyfromanyliabilityshouldany oftheaspirantsbedissatisfiedwiththeprocessand want to proceed to court.

A party source described the withdrawal letter

as an indemnity d to prevent members b ffrom taking k legalactionagainstthepartyiftheyarenotelected or selected as the consensus candidate.

Theyallegedthatthewithdrawalclausemaylead to either imposition of a presidential candidate or abuse of the consensus clause in the Electoral Act 2022.Itwaslearntthatmostpresidentialaspirants have been seeking legal advice on Page 18 of the nominationform,whichtheyconsideredaboobytrap.

Anaspirant,whohaspurchasedthenomination formsaid:“Thisisthefirsttimeweareseeingthiskind offormforaspirantsandweseeitasanattemptto enforceconsensusoptionsthroughthebackdoor.

Thisisunconstitutional.Signingthatlettermeans thepartyleaderscanimposeanycandidateandyou will not have any right to challenge them in court.

Something is fishy and we must be very careful becausetherearesurreptitiousmovesnottoallow delegates to decide the fate of aspirants.”

Despitethis,twoaspirantsarestillwaitingforthe positionsoftheirlegalteams,theotherwassaidto havevowednottosignsuchaformandwillexclude thecontroversialform18fromotherdocumentsto bereturnedtotheNationalSecretariatoftheparty for submission.

Respondingtothewithdrawalletter,theNational Secretaryoftheparty,SenatorIyiolaOmisore,said filling out the controversial form is optional, as the partyhasnotdecidedonwhichoptiontouseinpicking its candidates.

Explaining why the ruling party inserted a withdrawalsheetforaspirantsthatprocurednomination and expression of interest forms, APC’s National PublicitySecretary,Mr.FelixMorka,hadreportedly argued that the measure was in tandem with the party’sconstitutionandtheElectoralAmendment Act 2022. He added that aspirants are obliged to fillthewithdrawalsheetiftheydecidetowithdraw from the race of their own volition.

“Yes,thesheetispartoftheform.Ourconstitution and the Electoral Act recognised three modes for theelectionofourcandidates–direct,indirectand consensus. Now, the aspirants are not required as theycompletetheformtofillthatpage.Thepageis thereonlyforthosewhomakethedecisionatsome

point to withdraw from the race.”

However,aconstitutional lawyer and chieftain of APC,Dr.TunjiAbayomi,hascautionedtheAdamu-led NWCofthepartyagainstthecontroversialForm18 ‘Letter of Withdrawal’ attached to the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, describing it as an arm-twisting tactics that defeats freedoms of democracy.

Abayomi noted that in a democracy no one compels aspirants to sign the so-called voluntary letters of withdrawal saying that holding aspirants to ransom defeats the freedoms of democracy.

The human rights activist in a statement tilted, “A note to NWC and APC Chairman” stated that democracy is unalterably placed on written laws saying,“IseenothinginAPC,NigerianConstitutionor ElectoralAct2022oreventhenormsofdemocracy that supports subjectingaspirantstoanyinvidious withdrawal before contest.

HespecificallycalledontheNationalChairmanand membersoftheAPCNWCtoasamatterofurgency dosomethingontheissue, sayingthatdemocracyis all about the wish and will of the people and not the desire of leaders for a particular end.

Abayomi noted that in view of the new criteria attached to APC Nomination form, it is important to clarify some issues if the present NWC wishes to sustain respect and avoid falling into infamy.

He went on: “First, in a democracy you don’t tell peoplenottogotocourtunlessyouguaranteethem the right to due process.The right to approach the court for remedy is a preeminent constitutional right in all democracies.

“Second, in a democracy you don’t ask the people to accept the result of any election unless it is free, fair,unencumberedanddemocratic.Theconstitution grants each partaker the right to challenge unfair elections in court.

“In consequence, the additional conditions or criteria at page 18 of your Nomonation Form being contrary to the laws and norms of democracy, particularlythesocalledvoluntaryletterofwithdrawal before participating in the forthcoming primary and as these conditions are invidious, improper, unconstitutional they should.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 15, 2022

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CICERO/INTERVIEW

UDOM EMMANUEL:

Agitations, Banditry will Stop, If I Succeed Buhari A presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has claimed he has the magic wand to end agitations, banditry and all forms of criminality in Nigeria, if given the mandate to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari next year. Besides, Emmanuel, who spoke with select journalists in Abuja recently, also revealed his plans to fix the nation’s economy, ensure the unity of Nigeria, as he also addressed other pertinent issues. Sunday Aborisade brings the excerpts

Y

ou’re aiming for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).We want to know why you’re making that move.

I wish to thank our party, the PDP for showing the difference between the time we were in power and the time another party had been in power, in the past seven years. If we didn’t give chance to another party, Nigerians would still think that the messiah is yet to come. Now, the person they thought was the messiah is in power and the difference is clear. On the issue of having the capacity to become the president, I want to believe that my curriculum vitae is in the public. In terms of capacity, in terms of training, in terms of exposure- because your vision is limited to your exposure. In terms of education, in terms of antecedents, and in terms of private and public sector balancing. Above all, the sincerity of purpose in serving Nigeria because that is what make up decision-making. If we look at all these put together, you could see that whenever people keep challenging us that we had all that God has provided for us, but what we don’t have is leadership. There is no trait of a good leader that you would not find, by the grace of God, in me. Since I possess all these qualities, it gives me the courage to step forward and ask for the mandate to lead Nigeria.

If you invariably become the president, why do you want to take up the responsibility of fixing what cannot be fixed by the present administration?

Regarding the fact that Nigeria is in a mess and why do I want to go and carry the whole mess, it is the same question that even my children had asked me and I have to tell them that from my leadership book, I read that there was a point where the water was bad, just as the way the Nigeria’s water is bad now, it was only one man that God showed something by asking him to put salt into the water and it was made good. So, what I need to let Nigerians know is that shying away from the problem would not allow the problem to go. Also, ignoring the problem will not allow the problem to go. Likewise, criticising the problem can never let it go. If you have a problem, you must tackle it headlong. If the waters of our economy, of our social structure, and of the unity and security of this country are bad and God is about to do something, he will not wait for somebody. If you don’t step out, God won’t come down to fix it. He will definitely use a man. God must use a man to rescue and restore Nigeria. He will look for such a man that has the capacity.

I think in this case, I believe that I possess all that it takes, and I can guarantee that I have what it takes to get things working again. So I am not afraid to take up the challenge because somebody must definitely correct the bad situation. If we don’t correct it now, when are we going to correct it? Shall we allow the whole country to crumble? What would our children ask us when they know that we had all it takes to fix the mess? We are stepping up today very well to say Nigerians, here I am, vote me. Then, let us see what would happen within the period that the constitution will allow me to do my very best and I am sure we would be able to rescue and restore all the lost glory and the past things we use to enjoy in this country.

Why do you think you are the man that should emerge as the flag bearer of the PDP out of the 15 of you who have so far shown serious interest?

We have 14 aspirants, plus me, making 15. All the people in the PDP are Nigerians. They will vote for me. I have presented my CV and they can see. As a leader, you don’t just wake up one morning and take up the mantle of leadership. God must have prepared you to be a leader.

If you look at who God has prepared for 2023, I think I am the one.

Outside that preparation by God, you must also be trained. In this race, how many trained leaders do we have? By the last count I still believe that looking at our ages in the race, let anyone come and say whether they were trained by the top three. The likes of Price Water, Arthur Anderson and the Deloitte of those days. Let us leave the preparation of God that we have not seen and let us see those who had been trained to be leaders. Let any of the aspirants come out, apart from what they had promised, and show us what they had done. In my own case, I have a lot to show. I can match my capacity with what is on ground. For example, let us consider certain things that we put on ground. How many other aspirants had done so either in the private or public sector and have them to show? I had managed the private sector and after my exit, my employers were the best in all ratings including Moody’s. I came into the public sector at a time we suffered two recessions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with that, we’ve always been top in foreign direct investment, which means we have our capacity and something

No one can go far in life without discipline. If you don’t have discipline, you should know what to expect. If you don’t respect certain structures and systems then you are gone. I am one of those who believe that party is supreme. So, whatsoever the party says, I am going to abide by it because I am a party member. If I don’t want it, then I can go to another party. As far as the PDP is concerned, whatever the party comes up with, I must abide by it. If my party agree on consensus, it is going to be Udom Emmanuel because of all these things that I have told you.

Throwing the ticket open, to both the North and South does not eliminate the qualities I am bringing to rescue Nigeria. If the PDP really wants to rescue Nigeria and restore the lost glory, they know it is only one man that can do it for now, who has thrown his hat into the ring. There are other people but they have not shown up. For the man who have the strength, the energy, capacity and any other things it would take, is me.

Nigeria doesn’t need an 80-year-old man.

Governor Wike said he had invested so much in the PDP hence he deserved the party’s ticket. What’s your take on this?

So what’s wrong in that? There is nothing wrong in that. Everybody is an aspirant. Go and check the meaning of that word -aspiring, aspiration.

It doesn’t take anything away from him. He has the right, he is a citizen of Nigeria. He can request for it. It is like, at times, I don’t understand why some people misinterpreted some things. For instance, someone once ask me why Wike and I are in the race despite being brothers and I ask the fellow, why should being brothers stop any of us from running?

It means that we are trying to let the world know that if we are looking for human capacity, we have it in excess in the PDP. If we don’t have excess, it means only one of us that would have shown up. That is why we are now giving Nigerians the options to choose who they want. Even if 10 aspirants came out from the same region, there is no love lost. We were first brothers before we became aspirants. It doesn’t affect our friendship and love for one another. What we are telling Nigerians is that, you people said you’re looking for a good leader, we are now saying that we have more than enough from our own region, just pick one.

Emmanuel to follow follow. In the areas of challenges in Africa Africa, we’ve taken it headlong and received results already in terms of infrastructure, and the three gateways that can actually make things better in in Nigeria.

When you eventually emerge as the President of Nigeria, how do you want to positively engage the youths in productive activity to stem the ongoing brain drain?

There is no how the economy can be better if you are not taking care of the youths? No matter how you speak, it is grammar. Once you fix the economy, you had fixed the youths. The two must be addressed simultaneously. While you are promising youths what you are going to do for them, you are also preparing for an enabling environment that would get them engaged. Right now, even as a state governor, I am working on a deep sea port that would employ over 5,000 youths overnight. We have attracted fertiliser industry and two petrochemical industries now. Work is ongoing on them as I am talking to you. We have an LNG project that is private sector driven, coming to our state. These are things that we have on ground that is attracting what will be a better living standard and a better per capital for the youths. There is no how these projects would not employ the youths. If I am given the chance of becoming president, I am one of the major advocates of capacity building. The problem we have is not unemployment. Capacity building will dovetail to the fact that we need to review the entire educational curricular from the basic to tertiary. This can only be done based on what we have and what we can give which will take care of the youths. Also, since the management principles are the same, I have managed a state successfully, nothing stops me from effectively managing the entire Nigeria. For me to attract direct foreign investment, it means there is reasonable security and safety in my state despite the fact that it is the same country and same youths in Akwa Ibom that we have in other parts of the country. It means we adopted persuasion, involvement and engagement of the youths. If we can do this at the sub national, I can also push this into national. I have a lot to show that will also speak to the fact that we have a solution to the country’s problems.

Will you support the idea of a consensus candidate if your party bring it up?

Are you not scared that the current security situation in the country could frustrate plans to achieve free, fair and credible elections next year?

I can bet it with you that the day those youths hear that I am the candidate of the PDP and I am stepping out as the next president, they will down tool. This is because they are looking forward to somebody like me to take over. It has once happened in my state. There were three local government areas where youths were in the bush, causing a lot of havoc, but when I emerged governor in my first term, they said I was the type of governor they were looking for and they voluntarily came out and surrendered their arms. The video of the incident is in the public domain. Today, we are all working together. Those people perpetrating insecurity are waiting for someone like me to emerge so that they could lay down their arms because I carry hope. What makes people go into these criminality is because there is no hope. Youths of this country are travelling to live and work abroad because they could not see hope here.

Once they see hope, they would not leave. They won’t go anywhere once they see that someone is coming to improve on the GDP and not to bring it down by 22.3 per cent, they would stay. The agitations are going on because they could see total loss of hope. How can we wake up in a country and the leaders are not providing any direction to follow?

The factories put in place by our past leaders in northern Nigeria are no longer functioning again. So, the youths are not engaged, they are idle.

They saw that the country is sinking but they need someone who would come in, speak to those problems and proffer solutions. Here is a man, who knows what to do and how to do it. You will see, the youths would embrace my emergence and would offer to lay down their arms and work with me. We would start the process of engagement with them, and their communities the moment I emerge as the presidential candidate of the PDP. We will surely listen to their agitations and offered solutions to the problems confronting them. They are actually needed a listening president. If we ignore them, the problems would linger, so we would find a way to interact and interface with them. That however, does not mean that we would tolerate illegality because we have to separate agitations from illegality. Genuine agitations are there while illegality and criminality are also there. The concept of behaviour is individual and environment. If we create an environment that would not make such behaviour to thrive, they won’t go into it and rather embrace what the environment offers.

(See the concluding part interview on www.thisdaylive.com)

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R MAY 15, 2022

INTERNATIONAL Political Governance and Legality of Illegality in Nigeria: Foreign Policy Implications

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igeria has, by force of necessity, become the terra cognita of all manners of illegality, but which political governors consciously try to legalise in different climes. And yet, the people not only consciously acquiesce to the situation, but joyfully complain about non-development and national disunity. And true enough, political governance is largely predicated on dishonesty in which the gospel of godliness and goodness is preached to the people, but the preachers and governing authorities do exactly the contrary. Look at these two examples.

First is the allegation of southern hostility towards their northern brothers on the matter of open grazing. Northern politicians consciously opted for delivery of economized truths.They are vehemently against southern governors who reportedly opposed open grazing.

The untold aspect of the truths is the silence of the use of force by the Fulani herders to acquire titled land of the legitimate owners.

It is the silence over the possession of unlawful AK-47 guns while herding. It is also the silence over kidnapping, maiming, killing and mistreatment of local people. More disturbingly, it is the silence over the destruction of farm products and forceful claim of right to operate in any part of Nigeria, in the wrong belief that Fulani own the whole of any land in Nigeria. It is on this basis that the ordinary people, who have been living harmoniously with northerners began to develop unnecessary animosity vis-à-vis one another.

Without any jot of doubt, President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) is on record to have vainly tried to use different ways to acquire land, particularly by manu militari, for the Fulani herdsmen in the southern parts of Nigeria. Various arguments ranging from legality of colonial cattle routes and climatic changes to the 1978 Land Use Act and ownership of land by government have been raised. They forget that such lands are held in trust by state Governors for their people. The question is why the forceful acquisition of land for the Fulani herders? Why is the Federal Government having particular interest in private business of cattle herding?

Many explications there are, especially the twin allegations of Islamic and Fulanisation agenda. More important is dishonesty and legality of illegalities that has come to characterize political governance in Nigeria. Explained differently, Government and people of Nigeria do know that an act or an action is illegal, but rather than seek to remove the illegality, they prefer to ‘panel beat’ it. The panel beating, most unfortunately, does not always last long. It only creates recidivist tensions that deepen agitations for separation.

Manifestations of Legality of Illegalities The foundation of political governance under Nigeria’s Fourth Republic is the 1999 Constitution as amended and it is, most unfortunately, believed by many to be very fraudulent. The fraud is derived from the preambular provision that ‘We the People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’have firmly resolved to unite. Questions have therefore been asked as to who are the people of Nigeria that ‘firmly and solemnly resolved to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble Sovereign Nation under God’?

PMB is very happy with this provision that makes Nigeria indivisible and indissoluble. Good enough, but the foundation of the provision is fraudulent.The 1999 Constitution is not a resultant from the people’s will. The people of Nigeria have been complaining about this and have called for the writing of a new constitution because the 1999 Constitution is military in character and origin. It is also manu militari in delivery. Rather than allow for negotiated new constitution, the political stakeholders simply preferred amending, reviewing, and modifying controversial sections of the Constitution. What is more disturbing is that when it is convenient, the Constitution is referred to as the ground norm that cannot be derogated. Any law that is made and runs into conflict with it is frapped with nullity, and yet it is fraudulent in origin. The continuous use of the Constitution is believed to translate into acquiescence by the people and conferment of legitimacy on the Constitution.

When Chief Afe Babalola suggested that the political lull in the country can lead to national disintegration and that there is the need to prevent the imminent disaster, he suggested the establishment of an interim government for about six months, in the hope that there would be room to sort out existing political grievances, the argument of non-provision for such interim government in the Constitution was raised. But the same Constitution is the root cause for the various agitations for separation.

The Constitution is fraudulent, but it is still used to govern. How do

“

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Onyeama we then explain the contradiction? Is it the military that came up with the 1999 Constitution that can rightly say that Nigeria is indivisible or indissoluble? Arguably, GeneralYakubu Gowon adopted a war doctrine in 1967: ‘to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done.’ Additionally, he asked Nigerians not to sit on the fence but to join the defence. Comparatively speaking, the approach of PMB is completely different in that he wants to enforce national unity without carrying the people along.

And most unfortunately, he always acts contrarily to what has the potential to enhance national unity. Unbelievable, but true, PMB preaches the principle of Federal Character but acts contrarily to it. PMB is on record to be the most nepotistic president Nigeria has ever had. He does not care about any complaints about nepotism, mainly because of this argument of legality of illegality. In other words, it is lawful for him to appoint whoever he desires to appoint. There is no problem with legality here. But when, in his position as the Minister of Petroleum and as the President of Nigeria, how do we explain the fact that the 20 topmost officials of the NNPC are people of his ethnic stock? How do we also explain his submission that he only works with people he knows? If PMB is openly and unnecessarily northernizing the public service with his people, people cannot but begin to complain. This is illegality of the worst order.

PMB’s governance creates unnecessary tension amongst peoples in the country. There is currently a north-south dichotomy in political governance. At the level of religion, there is serious misunderstanding between Muslims and Christians.

Muslims have generally been attacking Christians in the North but there are also very fantastic, very godly Muslim who have saved and assisted Christians in trouble. There was the case, for example, of Imam Abdullahi Abubakar in Plateau State who kept about three hundred Christians in his own personal house

Explained differently, we can talk about legality of the judgment of the High Court in Umuahia that Section 84(12) of the 2022 Electoral Act conflicts with the 1999 Constitution. Submission of letters of resignation to PMB is also legal but the withdrawal of the same letters of resignation after their official acknowledgement is an expression of illegality, the foreign policy implications of which do taint Nigeria’s international image. In the same vein, while PMB’s ultimatum to cabinet members to resign not later than May 16, 2022, may be consistent with his right as President to hire and fire, it is politically incorrect for any cabinet member to have declared non-preparedness to resign in the first place, then decide to resign, and finally opting to withdraw their resignation. Do Nigerian politicians, particularly cabinet members, think deeply before acting? Why is the governance of Nigeria like that of a Banana Republic?

How is Nigeria perceived regarding party disregard for zoning policy which was adopted to ensure equity, fairness, and justice? Can there be free and fair elections in 2023? Time will tell but without first removing the attitude of legitimizing illegality in the governance of Nigeria, that there will still be a Nigeria playing host to any 2023 election is, at best, a dream.

and in the mosque when there was a terrorist herdsmen invasion of Nghar village, Gashish District in the Barkin Ladi Local Government, on June 24, 2018.

Imagine the good quality of this type of Muslim? Imagine his Nigerian personality? Imagine his altruism and patriotism. Imagine the goodness of his character. Why will anyone want to fight any Muslim or any Northerner bearing in mind this story of a Northern Muslim saving the lives of other compatriots? PMB really did well by asking Governor Lalong to bring Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar, aged 83, to Abuja for Presidential Handshake and National Honour. In fact, the international appreciation of Alhaji Abubakar’s good gesture prompted the award of the 2019 International Religious Freedom Award to him in the United States.

Admittedly perhaps, this may be one isolated case. However, there is no disputing the fact that there are many others living harmoniously aand peacefully with other Nigerian peoples. But many are the cases of religion-driven brutalities. In fact, Nigeria under PMB is playing o host to religious fanaticism with Islamic adherents taking the lead. h R Religion extremism has now become a major threat to national ssecurity, but it is being carelessly left to the religious leaders to handle.

Even though the 1999 Constitution as amended provides for ssecularity, or no state religion, the Federal Government has completely iignored this constitutional provision by sponsoring people to Mecca aand Jerusalem. Thus, political governance is always visibly in the breach. As it is today, religion has the great potential to disintegrate b Nigeria voluntarily or otherwise.

N It is not simply because of the fears arising from the prescriptions of Muammar Gaddafi, who said that there would not be peace in Nigeria M until the country is divided into Muslim North and Christian South, u b but particularly because of the recent manifestations between and aamong Nigerians, young and old, who are faced with the challenges, aand who apparently and ridiculously often condone religious hatred.

In 2016, a 74-year-old Christian, Bridget Abgahime, was beaten to death by a Muslim mob because she allegedly blasphemed in front of d her shop in Sokoto, which was said to be under Sharia law, and which h ssanctions any blasphemy with death. 2021 witnessed the killing of other people by a Muslim mob in the Darazo district in Bauchi State, o while a teacher suffered the same fate when his secondary school w sstudents beat him to death allegedly for not respecting the Quran.

Again, the example of Deborah Samuel, a Christian and 200-level home economics student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education h iin Sokoto State is very heart breaking. She was killed brutally based on allegation of blasphemy. When she was being burnt to death, o the killers were reported to be shouting‘Allahu Akbar.’She was first beaten to death and then her corpse was burnt to ashes. This is an unacceptable gruesome murder.

If the offence is blasphemy, who has responsibility to sanction the offence? Is it any Muslim who discovers a breach that should kill?When there is an allegation of blasphemy, is there no process of confirmation before jungle killing? When is an act of blasphemy considered committed? Is it every Muslim faithful that has the competence to determine when blasphemy is committed? If yes, where is the role of the Sharia Court? Must the killing be jungle-like? Why should any Muslim faithful take laws into his or her hand?

Whatever is the case, a growing Christian-Muslim animosity cannot but emerge if this situation is not objectively brought under control. It is already gradually becoming an issue in Nigeria. Muammar Gaddafi may after all be right by suggesting that Nigeria cannot have peace unless the country is partitioned into Muslim North and Christian South. In the event of such a partition, and to ensure sustainability of peaceful coexistence, there should not be any good reason for a non-Muslim to go and live in the North and similarly, no good reason for non-Christians to go and settle in the Christian South.

There should be a clear distinction between Christians and Muslims as their cultures are perceived to be very conflicting.

In the southern parts of Nigeria, many older men have both Christian and Muslim wives who happily co-habit and celebrate Christian and Muslim holidays together. Why is religion a reason for killing one another? How do Muslims understand Chapter 109 and its six paragraphs in this regard? Why is whatever comment made by someone a pretext for jungle killing? The current situational reality of Nigeria does not present Nigeria in good light internationally.

The Foreign Policy Implications Without iota of doubt in my mind, the international perception of political governance in Nigeria cannot be good. Nigeria is no longer simply a country of fantastic corruption but a country of fantastic lawlessness and insecurity, and most disturbingly of impunity. Crimes are regularly committed and regularly too, Government sympathize with the relations of the victims, while promising to arrest the culprits.

Beyond presentation of condolences and meaningless promises to deal with the criminals, Nigerians are often kept in the dark. This cannot but be a herculean task for Nigeria’s plenipotentiaries in projecting a good image in their host countries.

One serious way of deterring inhuman and gruesome killings, either by armed bandits, boko haramists, or religious fanatics, in Nigeria, is to always ensure the apprehension of the killers and ensuring that they too are killed in the same way they had killed other compatriots.

Criminals in Nigeria are very hardened, and they are even presented as foreigners. If foreigners engage in brutal killings in Nigeria, they should be found and given a reciprocal brutal killing.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 15, 2022

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with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

ENGAGEMENTS

Overcrowding the Presidential Doorway

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emocracy was never intended to amuse nor was politics meant to offend. The ritual of periodic leadership renewal through elections was instead meant to be a serious business to guarantee the health of the polis. The Athenian and Roman senates were collections of people of knowledge and wisdom who were respected and also held the populace in utmost regard. Representative leadership selection was never designed as an endless charade, a crowded circus. Neither was democracy meant to annoy or insult the populace. Staging pageants of unlikely pretenders as aspirants to the highest office is a deliberate annoyance of the populace.

But despite its Nigerian debasement, democracy remains a serious and noble enterprise.

But politics is a different matter. Politics may not score too highly on the scale of seriousness.

But even the most cavalier traditions of transactional politics recognize the hazard of insulting the people. They will be waiting at the polls! Yet politics remains a strange drama of absurdity.

Unlikely people in laughable costume show up to say what they neither mean nor believe.

Politicians on the campaign trail are salesmen without wares who promise to promptly deliver what they do not have or even know. When held down to account for their lies, politicians say they were misquoted! What politics unfailingly offers us however is an endless parade of unserious people who however want to be taken seriously.

That ambiguity is the staple of the political undertaking especially in these parts. And nowhere else is this cavalier tradition of politics more widespread than in today’s Nigeria: a nation of good people ruled by the cast of a perpetual self recruiting circus.

In the countdown to the 2023 elections, Nigerians are now challenged to manage a combination of the seriousness of democracy and the comedy of politics.

Nigeria’s 2023 election season is offering us an abundance of both cruel humour and casual mass insult.

The evidence in chief is the sheer quantum of people aspiring to be president. At the last count, about 30 aspirants had indicated serious interest in the presidency in the ruling APC alone. Two thirds of that number have so far filed papers and paid up in the opposition PDP. This is in addition to 350 senate aspirants, about 900 House of Representatives aspirants in the APC alone.

For the PDP, the record is 17 presidential aspirants, over 300 senate aspirants and 1,300 House of Representatives aspirants.

As for the governorships, we could get dizzy with the mathematical possibilities. Let us liberally multiply the 36 governorships by five aspirants for each of the two major parties. That is 360 pretend governors. Discount states whose governorships overlap this election season and the number comes down by about Let us not discount the minor parties because each of them has a constitutional right to field candidates for elective offices at every level. Let us not even go down the ladder to state Houses of Assembly.

The democracy market is in full session.

By most accounts, this is a deluge. It is by far the largest number of aspirants to elective offices in the history of Nigeria’s sporadic encounters with democracy. Some have argued that as a function of our population, the number of sundry aspirants may just be justifiable. But it is a large congregation nonetheless, only slightly outdone by India’s quantum democracy.

But let us focus attention on the most consequential elective office, the presidency.

The search for explanations for the overcrowded

presidential aspirants bus needs not go so far or deep. The large turnout of presidential aspirants may indicate that democracy is becoming more popular among us. It could mean that citizens consciousness of their right to actively participate in the democratic process has heightened after over 20 years of uninterrupted democratic rule. It might as well be that so many are angered by the abysmal misrule and disastrous governance that have become our lot of late. They may justifiably be trooping out to right the wrongs.

There is nothing wrong with so many citizens trooping out to vie for the top job.

The right to vote and be voted for is the most fundamental right in any democracy.

Subject to the constitutional requirements and the applicable electoral laws, any number of citizens can crowd the aspiration queue for the office of President. In the observance of these rights, then, there is no numerical limitation.

On the face of it and for the sake of those worried about this many ‘presidents’ on the queue, I suspect so many things are at work simultaneously. The caption of ‘former presidential aspirant’ probably sounds good for the resume of all manner of political journey men. Do not be surprised to see a new breed of call cards after the election season with the prefix: ‘former presidential aspirant XYZ Party’! Also, given the huge price tag of presidential nomination forms in both major parties, the mere ability to buy these expensive gate passes marks out a super elite class in parties that are already elite collectives. No successful contender for the presidential mantle can ignore the interests of those who have vicariously contributed 50 or 100 million Naira to party coffers in the run up to a general election. Political patronage in the form of significant appointments and contracts go mostly to those who contribute ‘something’ to the winning party and ticket. These huge sums to buy presidential gate passes may have been stolen, borrowed, coughed out or leased with a common promissory note as investment in the political industry in this season of political casino.

It would be unwise to ignore the role of the socio economics of the political industry in a matter like this. The times are hard. Most sectors have closed shop.

Businesses are ghosts of what they were intended to be. For the better part of the last decade, Nigeria has been mass producing elite destitutes on an industrial scale. The natural recourse has been to the political industry.

Nigeria’s elite joblessness figures are among the highest in the world. Big names with fat certificates but without productive engagements. Charge and bail lawyers that have never seen the outer walls of a court let alone file a suit or win a minor case. Businessmen with offices condensed to the size of their fancy call cards. Young professionals in search of challenges. And of course a few good men and women, fiery idealists in whose eyes burns the unquenchable desire to serve our public and make this place a happier land. It is from this mixed army of desperate elite that our political industry draws its incoherent practitioners.

Our political sector is the only industry with lax entry requirements. It has the

Adamu

highest rate of return on investment over a relatively short time. Moreover, you do not have to do much work to come by stupendous wealth and astonishing influence. The Nigerian political industry is one of the most profitable in the world. It has an unbelievable risk to reward ratio and an inverse relationship between work and wealth. A destitute of yesterday can turn out a billionaire in less than a four year term. People who used to go for political meetings in Abuja by night bus have been known to fly first class relentlessly ever after becoming ‘something’ in Abuja. In a free racket economy, the political rags to riches stories in Nigeria Will make useful teachable case studies in some good business schools.

This may not totally account for the over crowding of the 2023 presidential bus. In fairness to our political class, some of them have developed a certain ‘can do’ confidence.

The role of president has become very ordinary and trivialized that practically any street side hustler or high school dropout can aspire to and actually become president in Nigeria.

You do not need to be able to spell your name, read anything beyond three paragraphs or understand the contents of the annual budget.

No need to break your head over what bookish columnists in silly newspapers are rationalizing.

Flip to the cartoon pages instead and enjoy a good laugh. The world is not such a serious place after all.

Nothing can justify the audacity of some of the more unserious and laughable aspirations.

Unserious aspirants have a way of debasing and trivializing the target office. The laughable aspirants show a basic lack of respect for the dignified office of president of Nigeria.

Inherent in that is also a disrespect for the people themselves. A sitting Central Bank Governor that defies the non- partisan nature of his office to openly aspire and campaign for the presidency is patently disrespectful of his office and the very people whose money and financial well-being are in his custody.

On a normal day, an aspirant to the position of president should possess certain irreducible minimum qualities. A basic track record of service with demonstrable results, a clear knowledge of Nigeria and the world, an executive capacity to manage people and resources in a diverse polity are some of the minimum requirements. Keeping their hands and eyes off the public till is an even greater prerequisite.

Yet in the long queue of presidential aspirants, we can pick out only a few good men, people with good public service records and sound education. Even fewer in the pack are people who can fix problems that require courage and innovativeness.

In the minor parties, my friend Kingsley Moghalu stands out for knowledge about Nigeria and informed options on how to rescue the nation from the present prison house of tragic misgovernance. From the PDP queue, I can see Pius Anyim, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar. Each comes with options outside the box and undeniable experience in getting good things done.

In the APC, there is Bola Tinubu who set Lagos on the path to a modern mega city status and introduced a tradition of enlightened governance.

Rotimi Amaechi stands tall in the APC pack as one man with an unusual courage and boldness to fix frightening problems. He has fixed things we can see and feel in his Rivers state and all around Nigeria. There is Yemi Osinbajo, exemplary Vice President, an unusual combination of morality, ideas and practical solutions. I hardly know about the rest of the crowded choir.

In real terms then, only about seven from the multitude of presidential aspirants have any business aspiring to lead anything beyond a local government or town union.

The party primaries had better come quickly.

Nigerians need to be spared the deafening cacophony of this motley crowd at the gate of the 2023 presidency. The messages from this crowd are clashing and increasing the tumult. Only the impending binary choice after the primaries can spare us the rowdy shouting match.

MAY 15, 2022 • T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

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B AC K PAG E C O N T I N UAT I O N BEFORE ANOTHER DEBORAH IS LYNCHED it only offers more than a passing glance at the future. The factory for the production of Boko Haram and ISIS militants is very much in full production. We typically think these terrorists recruit street urchins, but the conduct of the tertiary school students in Sokoto shows clearly that the pool of talents, as it were, is larger than the uneducated and unemployed youths out there. Boko Haram would have their eyes on them.

Before I proceed, I need to make something very clear: I do not support insulting people’s religious sensibilities in the name of “free speech” — although I must emphasise here that nothing on earth can justify jungle justice. Deborah’s killing remains outrageous and stands condemned. But every freedom comes with responsibility. For some people, religion provides the highest form of emotions and any attack on their beliefs will trigger the worst in them. It is important that we understand our differences and respect the boundaries. It is, however, also very important to respond to offences within the limits of the law. Even if somebody kills your mother, there is a process to seek justice.

Meanwhile, I want to commend all the Muslims and Muslim groups who have been courageous enough to condemn the killing of Deborah. It is a hard thing to do because they too can be attacked by the extremists. Every Muslim is hurt when the Prophet is insulted, but everyone doesn’t react the same way. You can be angry and still restrain yourself from taking an

irreversible action. Many Muslims have been sending messages to me quoting verses in the Qur’an that condemn jungle justice. In an Islamic society, if someone is accused of blasphemy, there is a laid-down process to deal with it. This is to avoid miscarriage of justice. The extremists, however, always act differently.

I have read some comments on social media that show how ignorant many people are about the ethnic and religious make-up of Nigeria. Some are using this opportunity to call for “restructuring”.

But Deborah was a Christian from Kebbi state, not Ondo or Rivers. Will “restructuring” relocate Zuru Christians from Kebbi to Anambra? Some are asking what Christians “are still doing in the north”, perhaps unaware that there are indigenous Christians in every northern state. Many attacked Lord Lugard yet again for the amalgamation of 1914. But was it Lugard that created northern Christians?

I am not against people playing politics but a little dose of logical reasoning will not kill anybody.

Having said that, however, I admit that our society has been shaped for ages to think and act in a particular way and this cannot change overnight. We need to work on it. In the north, religion is a major marker of identity. People identify themselves first by their religion before their ethnicities. This should put in perspective the unending conflicts and tensions along religious lines. (This is what some people are trying to introduce to Yorubaland, egged on by busybodies. As I warned in

a previous write-up, it never ends well and I hope Yoruba people will not take the bait.) Ethnic groups in the north are dominated by a religion. Hence, ethnic conflicts inevitably appear to be religious.

How do we prevent more Deborah cases? The starting point is for religious leaders across the divides to continue to preach the message of mutual respect and tolerance. The message of disrespect and jungle justice has to stop. The message of peace and love must become pervasive.

Christians and Muslims must commit to respecting each other’s beliefs. We need to be sensitive to what others hold dear and also know how to react with civility when we are offended. I have Catholic buddies whose beliefs about the Virgin Mary I do not share, but I am sensible enough not to go there. They may not lynch me because Christians take these things differently, but they will still be offended.

Two, government has to work with religious leaders and experts in conflict management to develop a system that will promote peace and pre-empt conflicts.

There should be an alert procedure when tensions arise to prevent people from taking the law into their hands.

There is no jurisprudence in the world that does not allow for fair hearing. In fact, Islamic jurisprudence allows for fair hearing, contrary to what the extremists want us to believe. Also, there should be an improved early-warning mechanism to flag potential confrontations and violence.

Tensions can be nipped in the bud before

things get out of hand. Interfaith dialogues must also be strengthened for better cooperation.

Three — and this is a long-term project — cross-religious education is very critical to dealing with our mindsets. I think the education ministry recently tried to introduce it but it was shot down because of the fear of “Islamisation”. It is tragic that in many parts of the north today, all a Christian student knows about Islam is what fellow Christians teach them and all a Muslim knows about Christianity is as taught by fellow Muslims. What they are taught is left to the imagination.

People grow up with resentment, hate and disdain towards each other. Being a friend to someone of a different religion is taught as “contamination” — punishable by hellfire. This is full of dangers.

Finally, there must be consequences for jungle justice. Nobody should ever get away with taking the law into their hands — whether over religion or something else. It is most unfortunate that violence broke out in Sokoto on Saturday with people taking to the streets to demand the release of suspects. This is impunity.

It is annoying. In a state ravaged by under-reported killings by bandits, where lies their priority? Truly, the government has a long way to go. A peace-building project is complicated and will take sincere and thinking leadership to deliver. The killing of Deborah was not just because of the WhatsApp message. That was just a trigger. This jungle justice mindset needs overhauling.

And Four Other Things…

THUMBS UP! With President Muhammadu Buhari failing to do the needful when his ministers started campaigning all over the country without resigning, one rare Nigerian stood out. His name is Dr Chukwuemeka Uwaezuoke Nwajiuba, a 54-year-old lawyer from Imo state who is seeking APC’s presidential ticket.

He did the honourable thing by resigning. No desperation to hold on to his job. This most likely influenced Buhari’s belated decision to ask his politicking ministers to resign.

Nwajiuba, a founding member of APP/ANPP, was elected into the house of reps in 1999 aged 32. He unsuccessfully contested for Imo governorship in 2003, 2007 and 2011. He is a rare Nigerian politician. Exemplary.

BIRD IN HAND Dr Chris Ngige, the (former) minister of labour and productivity, dramatically pulled out of the presidential race on Friday by opting to return to the cabinet — after attending a valedictory session presided over

by President Buhari. We seem to understand why he pulled out — a bird in hand, as our forefathers would say, is worth two in the bush. But he tried to mask the entire drama around the withdrawal of his resignation as being in the “overall interest of the nation”.

Come on! How can serving 12 more months as minister be of more “national interest” than being president for a possible eight years? As they say on Naija Twitter, we play too much in this country. Hilarious.

FREE ZONE The PDP has finally ditched power rotation, obviously based on its calculations on how to reclaim power from the APC. I foresee its northern presidential hopefuls eventually agreeing to queue up behind one of their own to ward off the challenge from Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state and Mr Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra state. The potential biggest loser would be the southeast which has always voted for the PDP in presidential elections since 1999 and desires to finally produce an Igbo president. PDP’s new disposition is all the more intriguing because it was the party that “created” power rotation. Compliance, or lack of it, has done much damage since 2010. Politics!

DANGER AHEAD On Monday, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) decided to extend its strike by three months. That is almost a whole semester, if I am not mistaken. There has been no love lost between ASUU and the government since this year’s strikes started on February 14. Our children in public universities are going to lose a whole academic year again. I remember my younger sister spending six years on a four-year course in the 1990s because of long ASUU strikes.

The federal government and university teachers have to reach an agreement by any means. There are irreparable consequences of keeping teenagers idle for so long. Our future is in serious danger. Alarming.

BUHARI AND THE ANOINTED SUCCESSOR THESIS governors not only choose their successors but also determine who stands for elections at federal, state and local levels in their respective states with little or no inputs from or imposition by the president. This will be a persuasive argument. Even those who will be disadvantaged by it won’t be able to muster compelling counter arguments against it. This is largely because most of them are notorious for being absolute sovereigns in their political fiefdoms.

It is a combination of the factors listed above and others that is fuelling the hopes of a sizeable number of aspirants who collected and submitted the N100 million APC presidential forms. Most of the aspirants in this category know that, given the state of play today, their chance of emerging as APC’s candidate on their own ranges from slim to nil. But being anointed by Buhari can magically transform their fortunes, the same way Obasanjo transformed Yar’Adua’s. Not only do they think that the president will anoint someone, each of them believes, for different reasons, that he will be the beneficiary of that game-changing presidential endorsement.

For the foregoing, it is not in doubt that Buhari Buhari has the incentives, the purchase and the argument to insist on picking APC’s As at today, there is no certainty about candidate. But what is not clear yet is if who he wants. It is possible that he is he will exercise that option, how he will keeping his preference close to his chest, exercise it if he chooses to, and whether his that he wants to keep everyone guessing, leverage in this matter may not have been and that he may spring a surprise at the last circumscribed by time and his cultivated minute. He is a general after all. But this is demeanour. For one, time is not on his politics and this approach comes with the side. It is now roughly two weeks to APC’s risk of active or passive resistance. Some presidential primaries. Even when it is aspirants and even governors, including acknowledged that a day is a long time those who have never looked him in the in politics, he may have run out of the face, can nicely say that they would have time required to whip everyone into line. easily obliged him if he had told them what

to do long before they made irreversible commitments. Something similar to this happened in 2015 in the election of the principal officers of the National Assembly.

Also, it is very unlikely that Buhari would pull an Obasanjo and be ready to steamroll anyone who stands on his path. Buhari seems to care about being reminded of 1984 and strives to show that he is at home with democratic practice.

He may be more inclined to support an open election for three other reasons: one, APC’s National Working Committee is barely two months old and not in a position to enforce garrison-type intentions; two, those defeated will be easier to manage if they contest and fail and not just forced to concede or elbowed out of the party; and three, APC is not as strong as PDP was in 2006/2007 and needs to carefully manage the fallout of its primaries in a way that will not further increase its vulnerabilities.

There is a school of thought that believes that Buhari doesn’t think anyone should get the ticket on a platter of silver. He reportedly references himself here: he ran four times before clinching the post. So, he believes, the line goes, that anyone interested should be ready to sweat hard for it.

It is inconceivable that Buhari doesn’t really care about who succeeds him or that he doesn’t have a preferred aspirant or at least a shortlist of three. It is also very unlikely that anyone that he is strongly against or lukewarm to will emerge. But the fact that he has not openly anointed anyone has thrown the race wide open, to the excitement of some and the frustration of others. This has also expanded possibilities

about the extent of his influence on the process and the likely outcome of the primaries. I see four scenarios in terms of the president’s next steps.

The first is that a week or a few days to the primaries, Buhari finally shows his hand. He calls the party leaders to a meeting and makes a pitch for and discloses his anointed, with most of the leaders readily conceding to him, making his preference a fait accompli. Whichever the form of primaries adopted, it is likely to end as a coronation for his candidate. The second scenario is that some of the party leaders may push back especially if his anointed is not one of the front-runners, and the president either backs off or stands his ground. This scenario offers an interesting proposition to the party.

The third scenario is that having sampled the opinions of those in charge of the delegates, he may tacitly align himself with the room as a true party man. The fourth is that he chooses to play the role of the even-handed, father-of-all: he insists on a level playing ground and fair contest, urges everyone to accept the outcome in good faith and to rally behind the eventual winner.

Since the president is not giving much away, either in words or with signs, we have to wait on the next two weeks to know which of these four or other scenarios will play out. But my sense is that APC’s flagbearer is most likely to be someone who enjoys Buhari’s support, has broad backing within the party and has put in the shift. But will Buhari repeat the brazen antecedent of 2007 for that person in next year’s general election? My wager is that he will not.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY15, 2022

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SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

NPFL: Heartland Shock Rivers Utd 2-0

Liverpool players celebrating their hard-earned FA Cup after defeating Chelsea 6-5 in penalty shootouts

Rivers United’s dream to extend the leadership oftheNigerianProfessionalFootballLeague(NPFL) was aborted by hosts Heartland FC yesterday.

The Naze Millionaires snatched a 2-0 victory to leave the Pride of Rivers People on their 58 points from 28 matches.

Second placed Plateau United on 51 points are at host toWikkiTourists to see if they can do some catch up with Rivers United.

Heartland missed the chance to take the lead early in the first half when Chukwudi Nwaodu missed from the penalty spot.

The Imo State owned team however went in front in the 54th minute, with Sunday Chinedu nodding home Nwaodu’s corner-kick.

ChijokeMbaomaputthegamebeyondthehosts seven minutes later following a defence-splitting pass from substitute, Alexander Alfred.

Former champions Enyimba moved up to fifth position courtesy of a 2-1 win against Lobi Stars in Aba. Samuel Kalu headed in Sadiq Abubakar’s cross in the 54th minute to hand Enyimba the lead.

SamuelStonescoredthesecondgoalforEnyimba fourminutesfromtimeafterAustineOladapo’sshot was deflected to his path inside the box.

Liverpool End FA Cup Trophy Drought, Win Shootouts with Chelsea ȱ ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱę Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report

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iverpool ended their FA Cup trophy droughtsince2006yesterday,defeating Chelsea 6-5 in penalty shootouts to claim their second silverware of the 2021/2022 season. If was also their first eight FA Cup in their history.

The Reds remain in the hunt for a historic quadruple with the Champions League and the English Premier League still within their touching distance.

Regulation and extra time deadlocked goalless at Wembley before the shootouts.

Jurgen Klopp’s side repeated their Carabao Cup

PREMIER LEAGUE final victory in February, the decisive moment coming when Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson saved Mason Mount’s spot-kick, leaving Kostas Tsimikas to secure Liverpool’s second trophy of the season.

The Reds are still in the Premier League title race and have the Champions League final to come against Real Madrid.

Liverpool had the better of an eventful final, with the outstanding Luis Diaz and Andrew Robertson hitting the woodwork, although it may come at a price with Mohamed Salah going off injured in the first half and Virgil van Dijk going off after 90 minutes.

ItwasadevastatingblowforChelseaandmanager Thomas Tuchel to lose in this manner yet again as they had chances - with Marcos Alonso hitting the post and also being denied by Alisson - but become the first side to lose three successive FA Cup finals.

When Edouard Mendy saved Senegal teammate Sadio Mane’s penalty in the shootout, when the Liverpool forward only needed to score to win the FA Cup, it just seemed for one moment that the Reds’ assault on four trophies might just be interrupted.

Alisson put Liverpool back on course when he saved from Mount, who was inconsolable as Tsimikas sent the Liverpool fans wild by converting the final penalty.

Flying Eagles in Make or Mar Battle with Côte d’Ivoire

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igeria’s Flying Eagles will know on Tuesday In Niamey, Niger Republic if they will qualify for the African U20 AFCON in Egypt next year as they confront Côte d’Ivoire in a make or mar clash.

The Ladan Bosso wards emerged winners of Group B of the qualifying tournament for the U20 AFCON after Burkina Faso eliminated defending champions Ghana in a final group game.

Burkina Faso pipped Ghana 2-1 in a match that the Black Satellites needed to win to stay alive The Ivorians finished second in Group A after they beat hosts Niger 1-0 in the opening game of the qualifying series.

Tuesday’s semifinal between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire will kick off at 8pm.

The overall winners of this tie will join the winners of the other semifinal between Group A winners Togo and Group B runners-up Burkina Faso in the final.

The two finalists will advance to the U20 AFCON in Egypt in February.

Bayern Munich

Lewandowksi Rejects New Bayern Munich Deal Sriker Robert Lewandowksi has confirmed he will not sign a new contract at Bayern Munich after the club said he wanted to leave.

Director Hasan Salihamidzic said the Pole, whose contract runs until next June, had told him he wants to leave.

Lewandowski said:“I told the club that if an offer comes in, then we have to think about it - also for the club.“Wehavetofindthebestsolutionforbothsides.”

He added:“I won’t sign a new contract.”

Lewandowski, winner of the past two FIFA player of the year awards, was speaking after scoring in Bayern’s final match of the Bundesliga season, a 2-2 draw away at Wolfsburg.

He has scored 344 times in 374 games for Bayern since arriving in 2014 and is their second-highest scorer of all time behind Gerd Muller.

Salihamidzic suggested the striker, also the second-highest goal scorer in Bundesliga history behind Muller, would not be allowed to leave.

“Our position has not changed,”he said.“The fact is he has a contract to 30 June, 2023.”

Since joining from Borussia Dortmund, Lewandowski has won the league in all eight of his seasons at Bayern and also won the Champions League in 2019-20.

Last year, Lewandowski broke Muller’s 49-year record for most Bundesliga goals in a calendar year with 43 in 34 games.

Hehasscored49in45appearancesinallcompetitions going into Bayern’s final Bundesliga game of the season, away to Wolfsburg.

RESULTS Flying Eagles have a make or mar clash with Côte d’Ivoire on Tuesday after topping their Group B of the WAFU B tournament in Niamey, Niger Republic

Enyimba

2-1

Lobi Stars

Heartland

2-0

Rivers Utd

Tornadoes

1-0

Gombe Utd

Sunday May 15, 2022

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Price: N400

MISSILE

Ngige to Falana “The problem is that when there is so much haste to find fault and condemn, fidelity to facts and details is lost and the society suffers on account of this.

We pray you fall no further to this demeaning situation” – Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, debunking claim by human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), that he resigned his position as minister.

SIMONKOLAWOLE Before Another Deborah is Lynched SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

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he stoning to death of Deborah Samuel, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, over alleged blasphemy is a timely reminder that retail religious extremism is very much alive and kicking in northern Nigeria. It has been quite a while since killings over “blasphemy” took place in the north and the tendency is to think we have overcome this impulsive, irreversible reaction to a perceived religious offence. We are certainly not yet out of the woods. Deborah’s killing, which I learnt was recorded on video and shared on social media, shocked many young Nigerians who were likely seeing such a gory incident on our shores for the first time in their lives.

Perhaps the most unforgettable case took place in Kano in December 1994.

Gideon Akaluka, a trader, was accused of “desecrating the Qur’an” and beheaded. His head was mounted on a stick and paraded on the streets of Kano like a trophy. We heard that Gen Sani Abacha, then-head of state and himself a Muslim, was so furious he did not subject the suspects to a formal trial before executing them. In the end, the sheet of paper that Akaluka

Deborah “desecrated” was apparently the leaflet instructions of a medication, written in English and Arabic. There are people who still don’t know that Arabic is a language and not a religion — and that there is an Arabic Bible for Arab Christians.

Another religion-fuelled lynching that I can immediately recall happened in March 2007. The victim was Mrs Christianah Oluwaseesin, a secondary school teacher in Gandu, Gombe state.

She was supervising an Islamic Religious Studies exam. According to what we were told, a student wanted to take her bag into the hall. The teacher seized and threw it outside, and the student screamed that it contained a Qur’an. The mother-of-two was subsequently lynched “for desecrating and mutilating the Qur’an”. The principal, a Muslim, who tried to save her was battered while three classroom blocks, the school clinic and the library were burnt. Suspects were arrested and that was it.

For a while, there seems to be a pause in Muslim/Christian hostilities in the north — save for the intractable crisis in southern Kaduna, which dates back to at least 1987, and the Plateau killings that exploded in 2001 and keep exploding till today. The general lull, in my opinion, is not because anything has changed in the animosity but possibly because there is a bigger enemy at the door: Boko Haram.

Since the group launched into full-scale terrorism in 2009, it has been taking victims from both religions. Contrary to what

you read on social media, Boko Haram has evidently killed more Muslims than Christians and was at a time targeting mosques in Kano, Yobe and Borno states.

Surely, before the Boko Haram era, religious killings were common in the north but it was usually as a result of confrontations between Christians and Muslims. With Boko Haram becoming a common threat, the confrontations reduced. The sense flowing from this is that by the time the Boko Haram era is subdued or exterminated, normal hostilities between Christians and Muslims may resume. It appears to be a conflict without end, always on ice and waiting for the opportunity to rupture. There are many reasons responsible for this perpetual state of hostilities and I would think that a country that has responsible leadership will work day and night to manage this animosity with dexterity.

Will this enmity end anytime soon? The Sokoto incident is not an encouraging signal.

If students of a higher institution — where teachers are being trained — can take law into their hands in this manner, lynching and burning the body of a fellow student, Continued on page 70

WAZIRIADIO POSTSCRIPT

Buhari and the Anointed Successor Thesis

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any politicians and pundits strongly believe that President Muhammadu Buhari will handpick his party’s flagbearer and, possibly, his successor in office. This belief hinges on incentives, history and hope. But this belief throws up some questions: will President Buhari pull all the stops to foist his preferred aspirant on his party and, ultimately, on the country; and if he will, can he get his way on both counts? The first part of these questions will be resolved in the next two weeks; the second, in ten months.

Let’s start with the incentives bit. One of our received wisdoms is that departing chief executives, especially those as powerful as presidents and governors, should take more than a passing interest in who succeeds them. This is expected, and even advised, for a number of public and personal reasons: to ensure continuity of policies and programmes, to insulate the departing leader from a turbulent retirement, and to maintain both relevance and influence outside of office.

We are all witnesses to how misguided the expectations that undergird the incentive theory can be. Many godfathers have come to grief from the very hands of their previously meek godsons, some from as early as the morning after the official transfer of power. This notwithstanding, the pull of incentive is strong: politicians will continue to go to great lengths to instal their successors. Even if nothing is guaranteed, they reckon it is better to try and fail, than not to try at all.

The historical bit has two reference points. The first goes back to 16 years ago when the search for President Olusegun Obasanjo’s successor gathered pace following the sudden collapse of the Third Term agenda on 16th May 2006. With the twoterm limit for the president and governors unchanged, that was the first time ever in our history that an incumbent president would be term-barred. And that generated a lot of interest within the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), similar to what is going on in the current ruling party.

Ahead of retired generals and more popular and better resourced governors,

a then little-known Governor Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of Katsina State who didn’t even aspire to be president won 75% of the 4, 007 valid votes cast at the PDP primaries on 17 December 2006. Yar’Adua was Obasanjo’s parting project, for whom no means, fair or foul, was deemed too little or too much. Obasanjo not only rammed his project (some say revenge) through the throat of his party but of the country too.

Given PDP’s clear dominance at that time and the fact that the party pulled together after its primaries, it is reasonable to expect Yar’Adua to win in the April 2007 polls. But nothing was left to chances: Yar’Adua was awarded 24.6 million votes in the general election and the candidate next to him, a certain Buhari, was allocated 6.6 million votes. The beneficiary of that enhanced electoral performance was more than a little embarrassed by the results that one of his first acts in office was to set up a committee on electoral reforms.

The second historical reference happened just six weeks ago when Buhari easily got Senator Abdullahi Adamu, his preferred aspirant, adopted as the consensus candidate for the position of Chairman of the ruling

All Progressives Congress (APC). The logic of history is that based on this antecedent, Buhari can easily get his way again in APC. The two historical references underscore the weight of the powers and influence of presidents in determining electoral outcomes within and outside their parties.

Apart from incentives and history, two other factors may make it easy for Buhari to insist on choosing APC’s presidential flagbearer. One is that he enjoys a lot of respect from the APC governors and other party leaders. They readily defer to him—some will say they almost worship him even. So, if he says this is where he wants the party to go, it is very unlikely he will encounter major or widespread resistance. It is even possible that the party leaders may go to him and ask him, as the leader of leaders, to tell them what to do.

Second is that Buhari can urge the governors and other party leaders to concede to him the privilege of choosing his successor, especially since he doesn’t interfere with what they do in their different domains. It is an open secret that the Continued on page 70

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