SUNDAY 23TH MAY 2021

COVID-19: FG’s N2.3trn Intervention Stimulus Kicks off Tomorrow Rolls out with two states per geo-political zone Bauchi touts 828 communities to benefit from package

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi A 2.3 trillion naira stimulus package by the federal government to mitigate the effects of recession and economic impact of the

Covid-19 pandemic in the country kicks-off tomorrow, Monday May 24, in phases across the country.

An initiative being overseen by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster

Management and Social Development, in partnership with the World Bank is tagged: “Covid-19 Rapid Response Register (RRR)”.

With the phased approach beginning tomorrow, two

states each per geo-political zone would first rollout the registration, with Bauchi and Adamawa States from North East Zone commencing from May 24 to 31, of which Bauchi is already touting no fewer

than 828 communities to benefit from the package.

A statement by the communications officer of the State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU) in the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget and

Economic Planning, Mallam Yakubu Mudi, however disclosed the development.

The objective of the Covid-19 Rapid Response Register (RRR) Continued on page 5

Leave Our Party Alone, PDP Governors Warn EFCC… Page 5 Sunday 23 May, 2021 Vol 26. No 9540

www.thisdaylive.com TR

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Buhari: Attahiru was a Brave Soldier Who Led from the Front

Osinbajo: Their death, a depth of sacrifice They died with their boots on, says Jonathan He was determined to end Boko Haram war, Zulum attests Irabor assures sacrifices of fallen officers won’t be in vain Senate president, Mustapha, el-Rufai, Gambari, service chiefs attend burial See story on pgs 15, 16 & 17 The Heroes Who Died in Service to Fatherland... See story on pg 12

Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru

Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Abdulkadir

Brig.-Gen. Olatunji Olayinka

Brig. Gen. Kuliya

Major L A Hayat

Maj Hamza

Sgt Umar

Flt Lt To Asaniyi

Flt Lt Alfred Ayodeji Olufade

Sgt Adesina Opeyemi Deeziah

ACM Olamide Oyedepo

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Inside Story of Ayade’s Defection to APC As party leadership accuses gov of undue complacency Chuks Okocha in Abuja New facts have shown that economic factors far more outweighed the political reasons that necessitated the recent defection of the Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Even more, the governor's alleged complacent attitude also contributed to why members of the National Assembly outplayed him in the wards, local and state congresses elections in the state.

A top source within the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP said the economic issue played out more than the governor losing the PDP structures in the state.

THISDAY gathered a bait of returning some, at least 20 oil wells out of the 76 that were ceded to Akwa Ibom by federal government, largely informed why Ayade left the PDP. According to the source, "Since the APC lost the bids to have a foothold in Bayelsa and later Edo States, out of the desperation to have the APC in the South-south, the ruling shifted attention to Cross River State, using the bait of returning some of the 76 oil ceded to Akwa Ibom State to Cross River."

The source explained that Governor Ayade had since 2019 sought return of some of the 76 oil wells ceded to Akwa Ibom following the ruling of the Supreme Court in 2012, saying the ceding of the oil-rich peninsula was illegal and therefore maintained that

the loss of the oil wells was an “act of gross injustice and the APC jump to it as a working tool.”

Ayade had alleged unconscionable injustices meted out to the state by the federal government, regretting the takeover of Bakassi Peninsula

by Cameroun as well as the non-reimbursement of funds spent on federal roads, which forced him to call for a political solution.

"This was one of the reasons that Senator Ita Giwa has thrown her support for the defection", the source said, explaining that Mama Bakassi as she was called, believed that the offer could help the economic development of the state.

"So, the defection was imminent as the APC-led federal government want to ensure a control of a state in the South-south," the source stressed Ita-Giwa had told newsmen shortly after Ayade defected to the APC that the governor was the political leader in the state and she would always go where he leads.

“We have a leader in the state and wherever he moves to my loyalty is with him”.

Ita-Giwa, who was a founding member of All Nigeria People’ Party, ANPP has moved between PDP and APC four times since 1999.

Giving reasons for his defection, Ayade said injustice and meddling in the affairs of his state led him to move to APC “It is my responsibility to bring back Cross River to the center to enhance our fortune.

We need to work ahead with our

President for the future of our country”, he said, noting that the territorial integrity of the state has been interfered with and that it was his responsibility to “resocket’ the state back to its proper disposition.

However, the national leadership of the PDP, a source claimed, believed that Ayade

lost the control of the party structures in the state due to his complacent attitude to party issues.

The source said it has always been the party policy that governors control political party structures in their state, but "the governor was very complacent and members of the National

Assembly in the state moved and took the party structures from him.

"It was after this slumber that he woke up and demanded that the NWC should intervene and restore the party structures to him. He was the architect of himself missing out in the power structures to members of the

National Assembly.

"As a governor, he ought to have moved to take full charge of affairs in the state.

He was like emperor wining and dinning when members of National Assembly moved against him and took over the party from him," the source stated.

DECISION TIME...

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, casting his vote at Ward 11, Unit 001, Abayomi Iwo-road of Ibadan North East Local Government Area, Ibadan, during the Local Government Election in Oyo State oyo state government

Leave Our Party Alone, PDP Governors Warn EFCC State chairmen insist political parties are under INEC Edo chapter expels Afegbua for anti-party Chuks Okocha in Abuja Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to leave their party alone and not turn the anti-graft agency into a witch-hunting tool against opposition political parties.

Similarly, 36 states chairmen of the PDP and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have also advised the EFCC to trade within its limit as venturing into political witch-hunt was outside the constitutional mandate of the anti-graft agency, saying only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is constitutionally empowered to take up such responsibilities.

This is as the Edo State chapter of the PDP has expelled one of its own, Kazeem Afegbua over allegations of anti-party, more so that he was the one who petitioned the EFCC over finances of the party.

The PDP governors in a statement by the Director General of its secratariat, Cyril Maduabum, said the recent invitation of officials of the PDP by the EFCC acting on a petition by a former member of party raised questions on the seriousness and impartiality of the anti-graft agency to do its work.

The PDP governors said while party as a political entity was accountable to its members and the general public for its actions, "we are, however, concerned that the old tactics of using the EFCC to silence political opposition is creeping into our polity once again. We had expected that the EFCC under a new leadership will learn from the mistakes of its predecessors.

"It is a misplaced priority for EFCC to abandon revelations of monumental fraud by various officials and agencies of the federal government to pursue the PDP, which is the main opposition party doing a

yeoman's job of preventing a descent into chaos and anarchy in Nigeria.

"Perhaps, certain interests in government are worried about the increasingly assertive role the PDP is playing in calling out corruption in government and wants to weaken and silence it," the PDP governors stated.

The governors noted that even the petition in question did not make a single allegation of misuse of government funds, nor cheating of any individual or public authority by the PDP. "It is, therefore, surprising that EFCC should use its scarce human and other resources to begin an investigation into PDP finances. If EFCC is even-handed and non-partisan, it should also conduct an investigation into other political parties including APC, the ruling party.

"PDP is up-to-date in making financial returns as required by the Constitution to INEC and we are not aware that INEC made any complaints to EFCC

on PDP's Returns.

"The times are really perilous.

We face existential threats as a nation and PDP shouldn't be distracted from its main role as a political watchdog on behalf of Nigerians," the statement by the PDP governors stated.

In equal breath, the Forum of PDP State Chairmen, in statement by their spokesman, Hon. Francis Orogu, and chairman, Nassarawa State, said it had taken note of the invitation by the EFCC extended to the national leadership of the PDP and that having consulted among its members, took certain decisions.

"That the monitoring of Political Parties funds is the legal and constitutional duty of INEC and not that of EFCC. That INEC has not raised any issue on the generation and management of the finances of the PDP as a Party. That EFCC has never, to our knowledge, questioned the management of finances of any Political Party

in Nigeria.

"That the laws establishing both EFCC and INEC are very clear as to their respective functions. That Nigeria is a Multi-Party Democracy and not a One Party Democracy and that EFCC and indeed all Government Agencies and Institutions should not be involved in anything that will threaten the growth of Democracy in Nigeria.

"That we will not allow any Agency or Institution of Government to tamper with the cherished rights of Nigerians to hold and share their views through identification with any legally and constitutionally recognised association", the forum said.

The PDP states chairmen, therefore, advised the EFCC to, without delay, terminate this unholy voyage that can only lead the country to doom, advising it also to restrict itself to its core mandate as provided for in its statutes.

According to the PDP state

chairmen, "As 2023 draws near, the muzzling of opposition parties by any group of power drunk individuals, who want to perpetuate themselves in office through undemocratic means will be stiffly resisted.

"Finally, the forum stands very firmly behind the national leadership of our great Party, headed by our National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus. Our confidence in the NWC of the party remains solid and unshaken".

Meanwhile, the PDP in Edo State, in a letter to Secondus, notified the party of the expulsion of Kasim Afrgbua The party in a statement by the state chairman, Dr. Anthony Azigbine, said the decision to first suspend Afegbua was as a result of his anti-party activities.

The Edo PDP further stated that it invited Afegbua several times to appear before the state disciplinary committee, but he refused hence the decision to expel him for his various anti-party activities

receive text messages with USSD codes that would allow them to register, so as to be considered for the federal government’s Covid-19 Cash Assistance,”Mudi said.

While calling on the people from the selected communities to avail themselves the opportunity to be registered in the exercise, Mudi also solicited the assistance of elites within the concerned communities to further enlighten the potential beneficiaries by not rejecting

the offer for fear of fraudsters.

Already, the statement clarified, 12 local government areas in Bauchi had been selected to participate in the Covid-19 RRR intervention and they are Alkaleri, Kirfi, Warji, Toro, Jama’are, Itas/ Gadau, Shira, Tafawa Balewa, Ganjuwa, Dass, Bogoro and Darazo LGAs. Also, a total of 20 Wards were equally selected from the LGAs, with a projected number of 828 communities.

COVID-19: FG’S N2.3TRN INTERVENTION STIMULUS KICKS-OFF TOMORROW intervention, Mudi further explained, was to identify and support individuals and households in semi urban areas, whose livelihoods had been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The statement stated that in Bauchi State alone, about 828 communities in 12 Local Government Areas had been earmarked to benefit from the cash intervention, after fulfilling the criteria for selection through replying

to a text message from their phones using a special USSD codes that will be made available by the State Operation Coordinating Unit to each of the selected LGAs. According to the statement, the general nationwide code of *969# can be dial to get connected to the RRR Call centre for inquiries, with each participating Local Government Area and Ward having their unique USSD codes that the target individuals/households

could text to apply for registration into the RRR. “Already, Bauchi SOCU have held a meeting with state ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chairmen of the selected LGs, as well as ALGON Chairman in the state, informing them on the processes, aims, and objectives of Covid-19 Cash Transfer Rapid Response Register.

“Also, ad-hoc staff are deployed, going round

educating people from the targeted communities to be on the look out for such messages in their phones, with radio jingles and programmes ongoing to further enlighten potential beneficiaries. The potential beneficiaries will be targeted in semi urban wards of the 12 selected LGAs of Bauchi State, using geographic satellite remote sensing technology.

“Those selected in these communities will then

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FRESH ON HOSPITALITY LANDSCAPE...

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Minister of Information & Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed; former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; and CEO, SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, during the formal inauguration of Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja…recently

Bandits Run Riot in Niger, Kill One, Injure One, Kidnap 11 Governor cries out over growing menace Eight killed in herdsmen’s attack on Benue community Laleye Dipo in Minna and George Okoh in Makurdi Bandits, on Thursday, raided the Sabon Rafinsanyin area of Suleja Town, in Niger State at about 2.30am, killing one person and kidnapping 11 others.

The Suleja incident came simultaneously with the raids on some communities in Munya local government of the state, which has been one of the epicentre of bandits’ attacks in the last couple of months, just as the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has cried out that bandits were extending their activities to other parts of the state, particularly, the Niger North Senatorial zone In a related development, suspected herdsmen on saturday attacked Tse Ancha, a community in Makurdi Local Government area of Benue State, killing eight persons and injuring many others.

However, in Niger, the man killed at new Rafinsanyin was identified as Nicholas while his wife and sister in-law, who were staying in the same residence with him were kidnapped.

A staff of the NNPC, whose name was given as Usman Mohammed, a yet-to-be

identified staff of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC were also among those kidnapped.

According to a reliable source within the government, others kidnapped were the sister of the NNPC staff simply called Farina, Mr. Ishola, Mr. Baba Daniel and his brother.

The bandits, who were many and heavily armed were said to have raided the new Suleja layout moving from house to house to kidnap their victims and disposses them of their valuables.

"They were all herded into a bus and taken to unknown destination" the eyewitness further told THISDAY, saying there was panic among other residents, who were helpless, because no security people came to their aid.

THISDAY further learnt that bandits again raided some villages in the Munya Local Government Area of the state, killing two men suspected to be insane.

One person was reported to have been shot and was admitted at the Sarkin-Pawa general hospital for treatment.

These particular raids were said to have taken place between Wednesday and Thursday in broad day light.

An eyewitness told THISDAY

that some of the villages raided included Kuchi, Guni and Chibane.

It was learnt that the bandits moved in large numbers and bore sophisticated weapons .

"They moved from vilage to village rustling cattle and taking away the property of villagers" anothereyewitness said but could not explain why the mentally derailed persons were killed, because the bandits were largely after rustling of cattle and dispossesing people of their valuable items "They (Bandits) must have thought the insane men were normal human being and could attack them," a different eyewitness said.

Shiroro and Munya Local Governments are among two areas where the military began bandits clearance operation last week resulting in those displaced returning to the communities.

Armed soldiers in several trucks were transported to the area on the orders of the new GOC of the I Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army Kaduna, Major General Hamisu Ali-Keffi for the assault on the bandits.

The Police have not confirmed these incidents, because the Public Relations Officer of the Niger State

Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun did not respond to calls made to him afterwards.

Speaking after attending the burial of Bashar Saidu Namaska, son of the Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora,Alhaji Saidu Namaska on Friday, Bello said bandits, who were being dislodged from some communities in the Niger East Senatorial zone of the state had started moving into the hinterlands of the Niger North Senatorial zone to carryout their deadly activities.

The Sardauna Kontagora and three others were killed by bandits on his father's farm at Masuga on the Kontagora - Rijau road on Wednesday evening.

Bello lamented that while efforts were ongoing to tackle the activities of bandits in Munyan and Shiroro Local Government Areas, the bandits had decided to move into the hinter land of zone C to perpetrate their evil acts and therefore reemphasised the need for the security architecture of the state to be strenghtened.

He said the rate at which banditry were thriving in the state and country as a whole called for every Nigerian to reflect, even as government continued to ensure that it supported the Vigilante,

not minding the state's lean resources, which is now being diverted to security issues.

"The situation on ground at the moment calls for every Nigerian to reflect, think and wake up to do the needful. We shouldn't politicise matters, and particularly security matters,” he said.

According to him, armed bandits do not differentiate or carry out their nefarious activities along party or ethnoreligious divide, hence the need for collective efforts in the fight against banditry, saying also that everyone should stand up to his or her responsibility in what ever capacity to bring the evil act of banditry to an end.

Bello, after the interment, paid a condolence visit to the Sarkin Sudan Kontagora, where he described the deceased son as "a close ally whose services will be missed by the emirate and the state" He also described the circumstances surrounding his death as "Most unfortunate" and charged the monarch to take the incident as an act of God. Meanwhile, suspected herdsmen on saturday attacked Tse Ancha, a community in Makurdi Local Government area killing eight persons, in a fresh attack that came less than a month after seven people

were killed at the Abagena IDP camp in Makurdi.

Following the attack, the Executive Chairman of Makurdi Local Government Council, Hon Anthony Dyegeh, visited the scene of the attack for an on-the-spot assessment and evacuation of corpses and the injured to the hospital.

Dyegeh condemned the attacks on innoncent people of Benue State and called on various security agencies to stand up to their duties of securing the lives and properties of the citizens of the state.

The Chairman confirmed a total of eight deaths, seven men and a woman while five were badly injured and had been taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.

Also, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security matters, Colonel Paul Hembah, who accompanied the chairman to the scene, called the people to stop relying on federal security alone but stand up to defend themselves and their Lands.

He extended Governor Samuel Ortom's condolences to the people and prayed for peace to return in the state.

However, at the scene of the attack, an ATM Card bearing Audullahi Sabo with life and empty bullets were recovered.

How Otedola Saved My Life – Ex-Nigerian International The Femi Otedola Foundation has given a lifeline to former Nigerian international and football coach Charles Bassey.

He is currently receiving treatment for a spinal cord problem at the Ibom Specialist Hospital Uyo. Bassey, bedridden until the billionaire businessman came

to his aid, revealed that the Otedola foundation defrayed his medical bills.

"Thanks to Femi Otedola, I can walk again. I could not move on my own. I was helpless as countless letters I wrote seeking help yielded nothing," said Bassey. "Even my state government, the Akwa

Ibom state government, would not even reply to my appeals.

I resigned to fate, waiting for the worst."

The ex-Nigerian international also disclosed that he could now walk with the current treatment regime he is receiving.

Bassey added, "I can walk

now, but I walk with the aid of a walking stick. The hospital is now carrying out conservative management of my ailing spinal cord. The treatment will last for six months. I was told I would be able to walk again, unaided. This has been paid for upfront by the foundation."

The former technical director

of the Nigeria Premier League side Akwa United added that Otedola's foundation's intervention in his health crisis was a lifeline.

Otedola, chairman of Geregu Power Plc, is reputed for providing financial assistance to former Nigerian coach Christian Chukwu, ex-Nigeria goalkeeper

Peter Fregene, veteran actor Victor Alaotan, the late Majek Fashek, and the late Sadiq Aba, among others.

"He is a godsend, and I wished there were more Nigerians like him. I am still in shock for what he has done for many other Nigerians and me," said Bassey.

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Profiles in Courage... Died in Service to Fatherland On Friday, May 21, some 11 military officers and men, led by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen.Ibrahim Attahiru, paid the supreme price in service to fatherland, when a military air plane conveying them on an official assignment, crashed near the Kaduna International Airport, Kaduna State. While many of them had largely functioned behind the scenes of war theatre and in different capacities, the goal remained one: to secure the nation from the claws of vicious non-state actors. Thus, in honour of the memories of these gallant officers, who passed away in the line of duty, Kingsley Nwezeh provides short profiles on them, albeit, in excellence.

Died in Service to Fatherland On Friday, May 21, some 11 military officers and men, led by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen.Ibrahim Attahiru, paid the supreme price in service to fatherland, when a military air plane conveying them on an official assignment, crashed near the Kaduna International Airport, Kaduna State. While many of them had largely functioned behind the scenes of war theatre and in different capacities, the goal remained one: to secure the nation from the claws of vicious non-state actors. Thus, in honour of the memories of these gallant officers, who passed away in the line of duty, Kingsley Nwezeh provides short profiles on them, albeit, in excellence.

Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru A Nigerian Army Lieutenant-General, Attahiru Ibrahim served as the 25th Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army from 26 January until his death on May 21, 2021, in a military plane crash near Kaduna International Airport, Kaduna State.

Born on 10 August 1966 in Doka, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Attahiru was a graduate of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and Nigerian Army School of Infantry.

He commenced officer cadet training in January 1984 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in December 1986 as an Infantry Officer. He held a Masters's degree in Strategic Management and Policy Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy. He also attained a Masters of Science in Human Resources Management and Development from Salford University in the United Kingdom. He was also a Graduate Diploma in International Studies from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.

The late army chief had a tour of duty at the United Nations in Sierra Leone as a military observer, where he facilitated United Kingdom military engagement Operation BARASS in September 2000. He was an operations officer and later company commander in NIBATT 19 ECOMOG operations in Liberia.

He had the unique privilege of having commanded with distinction all through the

chain of command in the Nigerian Army.

Prominent among these appointments were Commanding Officer 146 Battalion Nigerian Army (Operation Harmony IV) in the Bakassi Peninsula, Commander 13 Brigade Nigerian Army (Operation Pulo Shield), and General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army.

He was a one-time Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Doke (the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency outfit in Northeastern Nigeria. It is on record that he brought relative stability to the region with the surrender of several Boko Haram combatants.

While he held sway as staff officer, he was unit Adjutant, 7 Battalion Nigerian Army, Serti, Chief of Staff, 1 Brigade Nigerian Army Sokoto, General Staff Officer Grade 1 Training/ Operations as well as staff Duties/Plans at Headquarters 1, 2 and 81 Divisions of the Nigerian Army.

He was Deputy Director Military Secretary 2 at the AHQ MS (A) and one-time Director Army Public Relations and Spokesperson of the Nigerian Army and later director, staff duties and Deputy Chief of Policy and Plans at the Army Headquarters.

He was equally privileged to serve as Chief of Defence Transformation and Innovation and Chief of Defence Logistics at the apex organ of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Defence Headquarters Abuja.

In that position, he worked with the US Defence Logistics Agency on the Vertically Integrated Logistics Approach (VILA) Programme towards enhancing the operational readiness in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Brigadier-General Mohammed Abdulkadir Born on April 19, 1971 in Kaduna, the late Brig-Gen Mohammed Idris Abdulkadir hailed from Niger State. He was the Chief of Staff to the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru.

He became a Brigadier-General on August 17, 2017. He received many honours including the United Nations operations medal and others from the Nigerian Army.

Brigadier-General Olatunji Olayinka

Brigadier-General Olatunji, who was born January 13, 1970 was from Ikorodu, Lagos State. He was the Provost Marshall of the Nigerian Army and also received a medal of honour from the United Nations.

Fl-Lt on August 15, 2019. Olufade bagged a bachelor of science degree in accounting from the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA).

He was only recently married.

Flight-Lieutenant Taiwo Olufemi Brigadier-General Abdulrahman Asaniyi Kuliya He was the Acting Chief of Military Intelligence. Born on February 2, 1968 from Kano, he rose to the rank of Brigadier-General on September 10, 2017.

He holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and masters degree in national resource strategy as well as strategy and security administration.

Major Lawal Aliyu Hayat Major Lawal Aliyu Hayat hailed from Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

He was born April 11, 1979.

He was promoted to the rank of major on September 27, 2017.

Late Major Hayat bagged a bachelor of science degree in economics and accounting and held several command positions.

Major Nura Hamza Major Nura Hamza was born on November 20, 1979 in Kano State. He hailed from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

He attended Bayero University, Kano from 1999 to 2003, where he obtained a Bachelor of science degree in economics.

Major Hamza also bagged a master’s degree in economics, business administration and was an associate member of National Accountants of Nigeria (NAN). He became a Major on December 2, 2015 and was in office as acting deputy director of finance before his death.

Flight-Lieutenant Alfred Ayodeji Olufade Flight Lieutenant Alfred Ayodeji Olufade hailed from Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.He was born on February 19, 1992.

He joined the Nigerian Airforce on August 15, 2009 and was promoted to the rank of

Flight Lieutenant Olufemi Asaniyi was born on February 25, 1992 in Ibadan, Oyo State. He joined the Nigerian Air Force on August 14, 2010.

He became pilot officer on 12 September 12, 2015, before being promoted to the rank of Flight-Lieutenant on August 14, 2020.

Olufade had a bachelor of science degree in Biology from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). He was married about two months ago and loved singing and reading.

Sergeant Umar Saidu Sergeant Umar Saidu was from Das Local Goment Area of Bauchi State.

He was born on December 11, 1985.

He enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 2006 and was posted to the Army Corps of military police afterwards. Sergeant Umar was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2017 and served as orderly to the Chief of Army Staff.

Sergeant Adesina Isaiah Sergeant Adesina Opeyemi Isaiah was born on April 1989 in Kaduna State.

He was recruited into the Nigerian Air Force on November 2, 2012. He was promoted corporal on November 2, 2012 and became sergeant in September 2016.

Aircraftman Oyedepo Matthew He was born on March 20, 1998 in Osun State. Aircraftman Oyedepo Olamide Matthew joined Nigeria Air Force as non-tradesman.

He was granted the rank as aircraft technician.

After he completed his basic military training at the Military Training Centre in Kaduna, he was posted to 203 Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group in Yola, and later to Abuja before he died.

The Airforce described him as "obedient and dedicated".

EU to Remove Ghana from Money Laundering Countries Considers Ghana as a Manufacturing Hub for Covid-19 Vaccines Tobi Soniyi European Union has announced plans to remove Ghana from the list of countries that are deficient anti-money laundering and terrorism financing.

The decision to remove Ghana from the list followed a two-day working visit by the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to Brussels, Belgium from the 19th to 20th May, 2021.

A statement by the Acting Director of Communications, Office of the President of Ghana, Eugene Arhin said Akufo-Addo met with the President of the European Council Charles Michel where he intimated the EU with efforts of his government in implementing the action plan of the International Country

Risk Guide.

The statement said that the EU acknowledged the efforts made by Ghana in this regard and has decided to remove the country from the list of the countries that are deficient anti-money laundering and terrorism financing.

"It is expected that the Financial Action Task Force, the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, will, in June 2021, announce that Ghana has been taken off its list of high risk , third world countries with strategic deficiencies in Anti-money Laundering and Countering of Terrorism Financing", the statement added.

The statement also said that the Vice President of the European Commission,

Vadis Dombrovskis, the commission indicated the selection of Ghana as a possible manufacturing hub for Covid-19 vaccines in Africa.

This, according to the commission follows the initiatives already taken by the Government of Ghana towards the domestic manufacturing of vaccines.

The statement said taskforce teams from the EU and Ghana will meet shortly to discuss modalities towards the realization of this initiative.

The Ghanian president had already secured one hundred and seventy million euros (€170 million) from EIB for the establishment of the Development Bank, Ghana.

Last month, United Kingdom exempted

Nigeria from its list of high-risk countries for money laundering. The list, comprising 21 countries, was released as part of post-Brexit developments.

Until the end of the Brexit transition period, the list of high-risk countries was determined by the European Union under the 4th Anti Money Laundering Directive.

However, from January 1, 2021, the UK has had its own standalone list. Since then, any amendments made by the European Union to its list do not have effect in the UK. The EU had in March 2019 added Nigeria to countries on its “dirty money blacklist”.

The EU said the nations in this category pose a threat because of lax controls on terrorism financing and money laundering.

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, however, announced that Nigeria was officially withdrawn from the list by the Council of Europe on March 5, 2019.

Ghana, Senegal, Iran and Morocco are among the countries listed in the UK’s Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) (High-Risk Countries) Regulations 2021 which took effect on March 26.

Others include Syria, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Pakistan.

“These Regulations amend the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/692) (“the MLRs”) to insert as Schedule 3ZA a new

UK list of high-risk third countries for the purposes of enhanced customer due diligence requirements,” an explanatory note attached to the regulation read.

Regulation 2 substitutes for the definition of “high-risk third country” in regulation 33(3)(a) of the MLRs a definition which refers to the list of countries in this Schedule, rather than to the list in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675 of 14th July 2016 supplementing Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council by identifying high-risk third countries with strategic deficiencies (“the CDR”). It also makes a consequential amendment to a further reference to the CDR. Regulation 3 revokes the CDR.”

SUNDAY MAY 23, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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I M AG E S F R O M T H E F U N E R A L

L-R: Senator Abubakar Kyari; Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba; Senator Kashim Shettima; Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum; Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Alh. Ibrahim Gambari; Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar Sa’ad III; and Senate President, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan at the National Mosque, Abuja, offering prayers for the souls of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and other fallen officers... yesterday

Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, paying his last respect

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao (L) and SGF, Boss Mustapha at the Funeral Service for the air crash victims in Abuja... yesterday

L-R: Minister of Information, Lai Muhammed, Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, Senate President Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Alh. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo on Saturday at the Military Cemetery, Abuja

Toyin Olayinka, wife of late Brig Gen Olayinka, being consoled by relatives

Magashi (middle), Gambari (4th right) Sa’ad Abubakar (3rd right), Lawan (2nd right), Zulum (4th left) offering prayers for the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and other fallen officers

Gift Adeshina, wife of Sgt Adesina, one of the victims of the air crash with her baby and relatives

Mrs Olufade wife of Flt Lt A A Olufade who got married two months ago being consoled by relatives

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

NEWS BUHARI: ATTAHIRU WAS A BRAVE SOLDIER WHO LED FROM THE FRONT

Army Officers carrying the casket bearing the remains of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in the ill-fated NAF Aircraft in Kaduna Our Correspondents President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, praised the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, for his gallantry in the war against insurgency and described him as a military chief, who led from the front.

Speaking at the burial of the fallen officers and men, President Buhari, who said it was a sad day for Nigeria, hinted that the late army chief was appointed as successor to Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, because of his bravery.

In the same vein, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who joined millions of people across the world to mourn the passing of Attahiru and others said, their deaths in service reflected the depth of their sacrifice.

This is as former President Goodluck Jonathan, in a message of condolence to the families of the deceased officers, described them as patriots, who died with their boots on.

But the Borno State Governor, Professor Babangana Zulum, said the late chief of army staff was evidently committed to the fight against Boko Haram and was determined to significantly contribute to ending the insurgency.

In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, who said the death of the army chief and other personnel was a sad day for the military, however, promised that sacrifices of the deceased would not be in vain.

The late army chief and ten other military officers, who died in an air crash in Kaduna, while on official assignment, were laid to rest at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, at a ceremony attended by the Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan; Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

Others were the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni; Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi; the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar; Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali baba and the Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammed Babandede, amongst other serving and former public office holders, top military officers, families, friends and associates of the deceased.

The senior military officers, who died in the crash include the army chief, Attahiru, Brig-General Idris Abdulkadir, Brig Gen Olayinka, BrigadierGeneral Kuliya, ADC to the late COAS, Major LA Hayat, Major Hamza and Sergeant Umar.

The list of the crew members are Flight. Lt. T.O Asaniyi, Flt. Lt. AA Olufade, Sgt Adesina and ACM Oyedepo.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), said the army chief and the officers served the nation gallantly.

"Lieutenant General Attahiru was an epitome of gallantry and bravery which culminated in his being appointed the chief of army staff.

"He led the Nigerian Army from the front and was emulated by others. He will be remembered for his landmark contributions to the unity of the nation", he said, expressing his heartfelt condolences

to the families of the departed officers and men and all Nigerians.

Irabor, who said the death of the army chief and other personnel was a sad day for the military, described the late army chief as a reliable, professional colleague. He recalled the time both of them served at the army's Training and Doctrine Command in Minna.

"I called him my second in command. We had dreams to take the military to greater heights.

This is what we were doing when we were called by the defence minister to report to Abuja. He has left at a time he was needed most", he said.

The defence chief said the military establishment mourned with the families of the army chief and others.

"We say to you, weep not for the sacrifices of our colleagues will not be in vain", he said, assuring them that the president and the military would continue to support them, adding that the the military remained undaunted by the development with regards to its fight against criminal elements.

"The armed forces remained undaunted. The war against insecurity must be won. For the military, let's march to defend the country from all forms of security threats", he said.

Earlier in his remarks at the funeral service held at the the Nigerian Airforce Protestant Church, Bill Clinton Drive, Airport Road, Abuja, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, spoke in tandem with the Chaplain of the church, Group Captain Dogo Gani, whose sermon was on the topic: "Confidence in God".

"The chaplain said that our confidence is domicille in God. We urge the families to have confidence in God. The God in heaven that watched this happen will be with you and keep you", he said.

He also told the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, who had earlier expressed sadness on the loss of the officers, to be confident.

"I know that CAS will be asking himself, why is this happening under my watch. Be confident in God. Don't doubt God", he said.

Director, Chaplaincy Protestant Church, Nigerian Air Force, Group Capt. Gani, who spoke at the funeral service for the fallen officers, warned Nigerians against undue confidence in riches and position, which he said could lead to disappointment.

Gani, who anchored his sermon on Psalm 23, warned against undue confidence in riches and position,which could lead to disappointment. He urged the families of the departed, the armed forces and Nigerians to put their confidence in the Lord.

"No matter the challenge, the situation, don't give up. Our Lord is willing and able", he reassured.

Osinbajo, who was said to have received the news of the mishap with great sadness, however, said the gallantry of the deceased officers would always be remembered.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said,"Their death while in active service in the defense of our country reflects the depth of

sacrifice our military officers, men and women of the other ranks are often prepared to make."

His three-paragraph statement stated further: "I received with great sadness the news of an air crash involving the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, and other officers of the Nigerian military yesterday.

“We honour the service of the Army Chief and all those involved in this unfortunate accident even as we continue to demonstrate our profound appreciation to all in our military services and in harm's way. The gallantry of this heroes would always be remembered.

“I join the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to commiserate with families, friends and colleagues of these gallant officers and men, who died in the crash.

I pray that God grants them the fortitude to bear the loss. May the memories of the departed remain ever blessed."

Jonathan, in his message of condolence to the families of the deceased said, “I extend my condolences to the Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerian Armed Forces and the families of Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the late Chief of Army Staff and other military officers, who died on Friday in an air crash in Kaduna State.

“The death of these officers is a national tragedy, as the victims were patriots, who died with their boots on, in our collective quest for peace and security. May God console the families of all the bereaved and restore unto them strength and peace.”

In his comment, Zulum said Attahiru was evidently committed to the fight against Boko Haram and was determined to significantly contribute to ending the insurgency.

“The commitment of the late chief of army staff to the fight against Boko Haram was very obvious.

Within the short time he served, he had been to Borno on multiple occasions, meeting operational commanders and troops at battle fronts. In all his interactions, he regularly motivated troops. The people of Borno thank him and all our gallant fallen heroes for their unquantifiable service to Borno and rest of Nigeria” Zulum said.

Zulum was however joined by his predecessor, Senator Kashim Shettima, Senator Abubakar Kyari and other top dignitaries and hundreds of sympathizers for the jana’iza (funeral prayers) in honour ofAttahiru.

Bodies of the late COAS and five others were brought by military ambulances to the national mosque for the funeral prayers that took place immediately after zuhr prayers.

The fallen officers were given the traditional 21-gun salute, amidst a mammoth crowd of sympathisers, before the interment which took place at 4:15pm. Each fallen personnel including the late army chief were buried by their course mates and service chiefs.

The late chief of army staff had since his appointment, been to Borno state more than six times, to supervise ongoing military operations against Boko Haram. He had visited different army formations, mobilised and motivated troops

˾See more images on page 14

in front lines in peace building efforts.

Sanwo-Olu: A Dutiful, Committed Soldier Is Gone Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, as a dutiful and committed soldier, who served Nigeria passionately.

Commiserating with President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Army over the death of the 21stArmy chief, Sanwo-Olu also sympathised with families, friends and associates of the late Chief of Army Staff as well as other victims of the unfortunate crash.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu praised the late Attahiru's contributions to Nigeria's efforts in the war against insurgency, saying the country would miss the rich experience and knowledge of the late Army General.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Lagos State, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the Nigerian Army, families, friends and associates of the late Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru and other officers, who were involved in the unfortunate air crash.

“The late Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru will be sorely missed by Nigerians, especially, at this period when the country is intensifying the fight against insurgency and other criminal elements in different parts of the country,” Sanwo-Olu said, praying God to grant the deceased eternal rest and the families they left behind, the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable losses.

Fayemi: He Was Patriotic, Fearless Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has described the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, as a patriotic and fearless officer, who was always ready go the extra mile to protect the sovereignty of his beloved country, a quality he said was the hallmark of his military career.

While condoling with families of other military personnel in the air crash Friday, a situation he described as a national tragedy, the Governor said it was a black Friday for the country as 11 gallant officers fell, making the third of such disaster involving military aircrafts in the last few months.

Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, said the late General Attahiru, who resumed office as COAS in January, brought in a fresh hope in the fight against insecurity and insurgency in the country, adding that the COAS’ determination had emboldened the military personnel and spurred them on to reclaim some territories hitherto lost to the terrorists.

The Ekiti State Governor said he was not surprised at the feat recorded by Attahiru within his very short stint as COAS, stressing that the deceased had earlier proven his worth in previous Continued on page 16

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NEWS BUHARI: ATTAHIRU WAS A BRAVE SOLDIER WHO LED FROM THE FRONT assignments including as Commander of the Operation Lafia Dole in the North East.

Fayemi, however, prayed God to console the families of the COAS and 10 other military personnel,who died in the crash and grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

“The Government and good people of Ekiti State express deep condolences to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed forces, President Mohammadu Buhari, immediate and extended family members of the late General Attahiru and other military officers, who died in the crash.

“We also pray Almighty Allah to grant the families of dear departed the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” the governor said.

It’s a Sad Day in Nigeria’s History, Say Northern Governors The Northern Governors Forum has expressed shock over the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and his entourage in an ill-fated air crash in Kaduna, describing the incident as sad history in the country.

Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong in a statement said the forum was distressed that the Army Chief and other officers and men of the Nigerian armed forces died while on official assignment in the course of advancing the security and peace of the country.

Lalong lamented that the country has lost patriotic Nigerians, who gave their lives to the defence of the territorial integrity of the country, and also ensured that its citizens lived in peace and security.

He said, "Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru was a committed soldier, whose passion for defending Nigeria was very clear throughout his military career even before his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff. Since his appointment, we have engaged him as Northern Governors Forum and individually as governors towards enhancing the security and safety of our states, region and the nation at large.

"Within the few months he held sway, we have seen improvements and high resolve to bringing an end to insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities. We had been working on consolidating this before this tragic incident that took his life and that of others working with him. We are highly shocked and pained".

While condoling President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Army, families of the deceased officers and men, as well as the entire Nigerian Armed Forces, the governors said the sad event was regrettable but should not deter the Armed Forces from giving their best in the service of the nation just as the deceased COAS, officers and men did before their tragic death.

Buni: Attahiru’s Death, a National Loss Yobe State Governor, Mai-Mala Buni has described the death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and the other senior military officers in an air crash as a great national loss.

Buni, who is also the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, in a statement on Saturday by his spokesman, Mallam Mamman Mohammed, said he was shocked, heartbroken and saddened by the unfortunate air crash that claimed the lives of the Chief of Army staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and other military officers.

He said: "The demise of these top military officers at this moment, when Nigeria needs their services most, is indeed a great loss to the army and Nigeria and the people of the country.

"I, therefore, condole with His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, the Nigeria Army and the families of the deceased officers.”

Buni also described the death of the officers as fallen heroes, who laid their lives for the service of the country, optimistic that Nigeria would overcome her security challenges and emerge victorious.

He said: “The Nigerian Army should re-dedicate itself to defeat the security challenges as a mark of honour and respect to the deceased Chief of Army Staff and the other fallen officers."

Ortom: It’s Shocking, Painful Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has described the death of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, in an air crash as shocking and painful.

The governor, in a press statement by his media aide, Mr Terver Akase, said the loss of Attahiru and the other military officers on board the aircraft was a major setback to the fight against insecurity in the country.

He stated that the late Chief of Army Staff demonstrated commitment to tackling the wave of insecurity since assuming office earlier this year.

Ortom, therefore, sympathised with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Army and the bereaved families.

He prayed God to grant the soul of Attahiru as well as those of the other military officers

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, sympathising with one of the widows of the military officers, who died along with late Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, in the ill-fated NAF Aircraft, during the burial at the Military Cemetery in Abuja... yesterday eternal rest and their families the strength to bear the losses.

It’s Devastating, Says Niger Governor Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has described the death of the Chief of Army Staff,Lt General Ibrahim Attaihiru and 11 other officers in a plane crash in Kaduna on Friday as "very devastating to the nation at its trying moment of insecurity", saying he received the news with "deep shock".

In a statement made available to newsmen in Minna yesterday, the governor added that, "The death of COAS and others came at a time, when the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff along with other service chiefs had developed renewed efforts in tackling insecurity in the country.

"The late Chief of Army Staff has within his short time in office demonstrated and showed remarkable commitment and professionalism in the course of discharging his duty", Bello said in the statement.

He, therefore, urged the family, the Nigerian Army, friends and associates to accept the deaths as "the will of Allah and bear the irreparable loss with equanimity".

A Gallant Warrior Just Passed, Say PDP Governors Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, mourned the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Attahiru Ibrahim and some other members of the Armed Forces in an unfortunate aircraft crash on Friday in Kaduna State, saying the nation just lost a gallant warrior.

A statement by the chairman of the PDP governors, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, stated: "It is most painful that this tragedy is coming at a time the Army Chief is leading the war against insecurity in the land, having just recently taken command of the Nigerian Army. This is a very sad loss and a huge blow to our nation and her effort to secure the nation", he said.

The chairman of the PDP governors also said late General Attahiru served the nation with dedication, skill, gallantry, and total commitment, employing his long years of experience and expertise in the service of his fatherland.

He prayed God to rest his soul and those of his colleagues, who died in the aircraft and also God forgive them their sins, noting that death is inevitable for all mortals.

The PDP governors also commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Army, the entire Armed Forces, and Nigeria for this sudden and irreparable loss.

"We admonish the Military and all security Agencies to redouble their efforts to vanquish insecurity in Nigeria as a fitting tribute to the departed Chief, as we pledge our continued support to the Nigerian Armed Forces and Security Agencies", the PDP governors maintained.

House Mourns Army Chief,

Attahiru, Others Members of the House of Representatives have expressed sadness over the death of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and his entourage in an air crash in Kaduna.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, in a statement described as shocking and sad the death Attahiru and others involved in the plane crash.

Gbajabiamila said the death of the Army Chief was unfortunate coming at a time the Nigerian military was finding solutions to the security challenges in the country.

He said having taken over from the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, a couple of months ago, Attahiru has shown a lot of commitment in tackling the security situation in the country.

He said the Nigerian military, especially, the Nigeria Army, has lost a dedicated and committed senior officer, whose services to fatherland will be sorely missed.

The Speaker sent his condolences to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian military, and the Attahiru family over the loss.

Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase, on his part said, he was pained by the tragic loss of the gallant officers, who had served the nation with honour and dignity.

He also commiserated with the president, the Nigerian Military and the families of the deceased, and prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the departed souls eternal rest.

Also, the Minority Caucus of the House in a statement issued by its leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, said the lawmakers were grief-stricken by this huge tragedy, demanding a full scale investigation into the unfortunate incident .

The caucus, described Attahiru and the other officers as courageous and patriotic soldiers, who gave all in the defence of our dear fatherland.

The caucus charged the military not to be weighed down by the tragic event but to remain focused and undeterred so as to ensure that the heroes did not die in vain.

The House Committee on Army, while expressing deep shock to the tragic news, said Attahiru was an energetic officer, who was committed to improving the security of the country, especially, prosecuting the war against insurgency.

The Committee, in a statement by its Chairman, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas said, in his brief stay in office as the COAS, the late Attahiru had a rolled-out plan on how to defeat Boko Haram and bring under control, other security threats, which the country faced in recent years.

The committee lamented that it was unfortunate that Attahiru did not live to see to the successful execution of his counter-terrorism strategies.

The House Committee on Airforce also expressed sadness over the tragic death of Attahiru and other gallant officers.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Shehu Koko, in a statement said the news came to him as a shock, having embarked on an official duty to Makurdi, Benue State on Thursday with the late chief of army staff. ''The news of the crash is still a shock to me

as I am aware of his hard work and tour to states across the federation in a bid to find a lasting solution to the security challenges facing the country. It is unfortunate that this is coming at a time, when the country's service chiefs are doing everything possible to win the war against insurgency in Nigeria. This is painful and shocking, as I condole with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Military, Nigerian Army and Airforce.''

…Lawan, Ekweremadu Too, Say It’s a National Disaster President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan and a former Deputy President of the, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, have described the Friday air crash that claimed the lives of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru and ten other soldiers as a national disaster.

The ranking Senators, in separate condolence messages on Saturday, said the incident has thrown the entire nation into mourning.

Lawan, while expressing deep sadness over the tragic death of General Attahiru, and other military officers killed in the Kaduna air crash, described the incident as a national disaster of immense proportion.

He said: "I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Chief of Defence Staff and the entire members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria over this tragedy.

This incident is saddening, coming at a time there is a fresh momentum in the nation's war against insurgency, banditry and other violent crimes.

"The Chief of Army Staff and the other officers gave their lives for the security and unity of Nigeria and will be remembered as heroes in the history of the country.

"I commiserate with the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari and the families of the deceased over the tragic incident and wish the departed souls eternal peace".

In his condolence message, Ekweremadu described the late Army Chief and the other soldiers as patriots, who gave their best to fatherland, adding that the deaths were a heavy loss to the nation.

“What a dark Friday it was for the entire nation.

The late Lieutenant General Attahiru was a man of high professional pedigree and his experience, leadership qualities, and patriotism stood him out. This is, therefore, a grievous loss to the entire nation.

“My heart goes out to his family and the families of other deceased compatriots, the Nigerian Army, the armed forces, and the President and Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari”, Ekweremadu said.

Obaseki: He Brought Skills, Expertise, Experience to Bear The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has mourned the passing of Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, saying he brought skills, expertise and experience to bear Continued on page 17

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NEWS BUHARI: ATTAHIRU WAS A BRAVE SOLDIER WHO LED FROM THE FRONT in the fight against insurgency.

In a statement, Obaseki expressed shock and sadness over the unfortunate incident, praying God to grant the repose of their souls.

"We pray for the repose of the souls of those, who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident and admonish the military to continue with the patriotic efforts to secure the country.

"Lt. Gen. Attahiru served Nigeria meritoriously, bringing his skill, experience and expertise to bear in prosecuting the war against terror.

"He will always be remembered for his gallantry, commitment to service and dedication to our fatherland," Obaseki said.

He Died When His Services Were Badly Needed, Says Uzodimma Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has expressed shock and regret over the death ofNigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others, who lost their lives Friday when an Air Force Kingair 350 plane crashed near the Kaduna airport runway, saying the COAS met his untimely death when his services were badly needed.

Uzodimma, who described Attahiru as a gallant and intelligent officer said, from the day he was appointed COAS on January 26, 2021, he showed signs of capacity to deal with the rising cases of insecurity in different parts of the country.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser Oguwike Nwachuku,described the day the ill-fated plane crashed as dark Friday, noting that Lt. Gen Attahiru’s career trajectory indicated that of an officer, who was prepared to give his best to the country that also gave him the opportunity to be the best he could be as a professional soldier.

Uzodimma regretted that Attahiru’s life and that of his colleagues were cut short in such painful manner, when their services were badly needed, and urged Nigerians to uphold the families they have left behind in prayers.

He said because the deceased COAS and his colleagues paid the ultimate price pursuing peace, unity and security for the land in line of duty, patriotic Nigerians will forever remember their good works.

NMA: Nigeria Has Lost a Rare Breed The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has extended its condolences to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Armed Forces and families of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, and other officers who died in the fatal plane crash, near Kaduna Airport on Friday, saying the nation has lost a rare breed.

In a condolence message jointly signed its president, Prof. Innocent. Ujah and Secretary General, Dr. Philips Uche Ekpe, the association said it was particularly pained, bearing in mind that the nation has lost a rare breed and one of her most decorated intelligent tactical officer.

"The NMA joins other Nigerians in sharing the pains and grief of the Presidency and other well-meaning Nigerians and prays that their souls find peace in God's Kingdom while praying for the families the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss," it said.

Fintiri: He Was Determined to Change the Narrative Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has said the unfortunate demise of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, has denied the nation of one of her finest officers,who was determined to change the narratives in the battle against the myriad security challenges facing Nigeria.

In a press release by his Press Secretary, Mr. Humwashi Wonosikou, the governor described the death as painful and shocking, such that requested the nation's prayers.

"I join the President and Commander-in-Chief as he leads the country in mourning 11 active and finest Officers killed in a plane crash in Kaduna.

Nigeria will never forget your services and always honour them," he said.

The statement said, "Fintiri regretted that the trip, which was supposed to be a Military assignment claimed the lives of the Officers. These soldiers, who have given their lives in service to protect the nation were taken far too soon. Their memory would endure through the life of our nation.

"It was love for country that inspired these fallen heroes to put on the uniform and joined the greatest Army Africa has ever known," he said.

Nigeria Will Miss His Patriotism, Says Marwa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), has described the death of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru and other senior officers in a military plane crash in Kaduna on Friday as a great loss to the country.

Marwa, who sent his condolence message from Vienna, Austria, where he was attending a meeting of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, recalled his recent meeting with Gen. Attahiru and said he was impressed with the late Army Chief’s plans to tackle the security challenges confronting the country.

“The nation will miss Gen. Attahiru and the other gallant officers, who died in active service.

I recall my recent meeting with him at the Army Headquarters, where I was impressed with his patriotism and plans for tackling the myriad security challenges facing our country.

“This is a great loss for Nigeria. Our condolences go to his family, the Nigerian Army and also to the families of the other gallant officers and men in his entourage as well as the flight crew, who died in the crash. May their souls rest in peace”, he stated.

They Died as Heroes, Say Mark, Saraki, Omo-Agege Two former Presidents of the Senate, Senator David Mark and Dr. Bukola Saraki and the current Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, have joined millions to mourn the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other officers and men, who lost their lives in the Kaduna air crash on Friday, saying they died as heroes.

The trio in separate statements on Saturday described their deaths in service as reflecting their commitment to national service which has now made them heroes.

In his condolence message, Mark described the fallen officers as gallant, patriotic and heroes, who were committed to the Defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria as well as the restoration of peace, unity and security of the nation.

Mark, is a retired Army Brigadier-General, lamented that the tragedy was not only heartbreaking but one too many, noting that the demise of the COAS and others at this time, when their services were needed to rid the nation of security challenges was a huge setback.

He however told the Nigerian Armed Forces not to be deterred by the incident but rather be spurred towards winning the war against insurgency.

“The only way to immortalise the departed soldiers is to do all that is needed to win the war against insurgents and restore the citizens’ hope and confidence in the Armed Forces,” Mark said.

In a two-paragraph statement, Saraki said, “As the nation mourns the passing of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and the ten military personnel that were onboard the aircraft that crashed in Kaduna, I send my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to their families.

“Undoubtedly, this is a difficult loss for the entire Armed Forces, especially, at this time when we are confronted by insecurity on several fronts. It is my prayer that Almighty Allah (SWT) grants the families and the Armed Forces the strength that is needed at this time.”

Omo-Agege, on his part, described the death of General Attahiru as a personal loss to him just as it is to the bereaved families and the entire nation, saying the loss of the Army Chief and 10 others was a rude shock and a great loss to the military hierarchy.

“I feel deeply saddened by the loss of this great friend and exemplary Nigerian in whom President Muhammadu Buhari reposed so much trust and confidence about leading the gallant men and women of the Nigerian Army through the current challenges of insecurity towards making Nigeria a safer place for us all,” he said.

Tinubu: It’s an Unspeakable Loss for Nigeria One of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described the death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 others in an air mishap in Kaduna on Friday is a tragic and unspeakable loss for the nation.

Tinubu, in a condolence message on Saturday by his Media Office in Abuja, condoled President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Army, the Defence Headquarters and families of the deceased military officers over the unfortunate incident.

He said: “The death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 others in an air mishap in Kaduna on Friday is a tragic, unspeakable loss for the nation.

“COAS Lt. Gen. Attahiru and the others were stalwarts and brave soldiers, who had dedicated their careers, and now their very lives, in the service of this nation and toward the realisation of the noble aspirations this nation represents.

“COAS Attahiru had a most distinguished career.

The army and the nation will miss his excellent character and fine leadership at this moment when we are fighting terrorism or banditry in many parts of the nation. Lt. Gen. Attahiru, just like the others involved in this tragic incident, served his country with zeal and vigour. He was known as a soldier's soldier.

“Their untimely and sad departure hurts.

However, we owe it to them and to the nation to gather our strength and fortitude. We must gird ourselves that we finish the job to which they dedicated and gave their lives.

“Let us remember these brave patriots not with our tears but by achieving victory over the terrorism and violence that seek to rob our nation of its finest destiny. Let this unfortunate accident not deter us but spur us and our valiant military to continue to defend this land from violence and evil.”

PDP Mourns, Demands Probe into Military Plane Crashes The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said though it was grieved by the death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and other officers in a military plane crash on Friday, it however demanded a probe into constant military plane crashes in the country.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party described Gen. Attahiru and the other officers as heroes, who gave their lives for the security of the nation, adding that the tragic incident was a huge blow to Nigeria.

"Our party commiserates with the military high command, the families of Lt. General Attahiru and the other officers and men, who have paid the supreme price for the security of our nation and prays God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss", the PDP said.

The opposition party, however, demanded an extensive inquest into this military plane crash as well as the last two in which lives of officers were lost.

The party urged Nigerians to be at alert and continue to pray for the fighting men and women, who are risking their lives at the front to secure the nation.

AbdulRazaq: We’ll Never Forget the Date Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has described the death of 11 military top brass, including the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, in an air crash as a national tragedy, saying Nigeria would never forget the date.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor said, "I join our compatriots worldwide to commiserate with the military establishment, especially, the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force, on this devastating development.

"It was indeed a black Friday for the fatherland.

It is a date we will forever remember for the loss of true heroes and a significant depletion in the ranks of the Nigerian military "On behalf of the people and government of Kwara State, I commiserate with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Defence Staff, the entire military establishment and the immediate and extended families of the fallen officers of our great Armed Forces.

"It is our prayers that God Almighty will spare our nation and indeed our world of a recurrence of such calamities in the future. We pray for the repose the souls of these fine officers. We have no doubt in the resolve of the federal government to unravel the causes of the devastating air accident with a view to preventing such occurrence in the future," the statement stated.

It’s a Moment of Grief and Sorrow, Says Mustapha Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha has described the death of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other officers and service members, who were killed in military plane crash in Kaduna on Friday as a moment filled with sorrow and grief.

Mustapha made the remarks yesterday at the church service for the five victims of the crash at the Air Force Protestant Church, Airport Road, Abuja, while delivering the message of President Muhammadu Buhari on the altar.

He expressed the government’s deepest condolences and prayed for strength for the families of the deceased and the Nigerian Army at large to shoulder the loss.

The SGF said: “Our safety is domiciled in the confidence of God. I extend the deepest condolences to the families of the late officers and the entire members of the Nigerian Armed Forces,” he said.

Also, in a different statement issued from his office yesterday, Mustapha said on behalf of members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), he received with deep shock, the news of the fatal air crash.

He expressed the consensus of all members of the FEC on the passion and professionalism with which General Attahiru discharged the responsibilities of his office especially, the prosecution of internal security operations across the country, since his appointment in January, 2021.

He also conveyed the condolences of members

of the FEC to President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the defence and security forces as well as government and people of Kaduna State.

Particularly, he commiserated with families of the departed heroes and prayed to God to grant them comfort and peace of mind at these trying times.

FCT Minister Mourns Attahiru The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has expressed sadness over the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other members of the Nigerian Armed Forces in a plane crash that occurred in Kaduna on Friday.

In a statement issued yesterday on behalf of the FCT Administration and residents of the FCT, the minister extended his deepest condolences to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen Bashir Magashi, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Isiaka Amao, the officers and men of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Airforce as well as the families of the deceased.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed, and for the Almighty to spare Nigeria such a national tragedy in the future.

NEMA: It’s a Big Blow to Nigeria The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commiserated with the Nigerian Army over the death its Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others, in an air crash, in Kaduna, on Friday.

According to NEMA’s Director-General, AVM. Muhammadu Muhammed (rtd.), “The untimely death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, in an air crash in Kaduna, on Friday, is a big blow to our country. It came at a period our military forces are on the brink of ending the security challenges confronting our dear nation.”

The NEMA Director-General, in the statement by Manzo Ezekiel, Head, Media and Public Relations, also condoled with families of the other brave service men and air crew that perished in the crash and prayed that Almighty God would console and strengthen them at this period.

“To the grieving families of the service men and aircrew that died in the crash, we share your grief and pray that the Almighty God consoles and strengthens you all,” he said.

Abiodun: Winning the war would be greatest tribute to memory of the departed Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, condoles with President Muhammadu Buhari; family and friends of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and those of other officers and men who died in the ill-fated plane crash that claimed 11 military officers on Friday.

Governor Abiodun laments that these accomplished officers died while their services were most needed in the nation's search for peace and security.

"Notwithstanding their young ages, they served meritoriously in the military and their untimely exit is very painful", he said.

The governor commiserated with the Defence headquarters, other service chiefs and all officers and men of the Armed Forces, saying that losing an army chief appointed only four months ago is devastating.

He adds that the greatest tribute to the memory of the departed would be to win the war against insurgency and insecurity in the country, urging all to find comfort in the good works of the gallant officers.

"Lt-Gen. Attahiru stood firm in defence of the country's indivisibility. Nigeria will remember him as one officer who held unto its indivisibility until he breathed his last.

"Well decorated, level-headed, the deceased was a thoroughbred officer and gentleman who led from the front, and will be sorely missed," he said.

Governor Abiodun prays that the Almighty God receives the souls

Boss Mustapha: He was a Forthright and Courageous Soldier The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, yesterday also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Nigerian Army, over the untimely death of its gallant Chief of Army Staff (COAS), in the Kaduna air crash, on Friday.

According to the SGF, “The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru was a forthright and courageous soldier whose professional career stands him out as a committed and patriotic man.

His sudden death in the Kaduna air crash on Friday represents a major setback for the nation’s renewed fight against the existing security challenges.

“As I commiserate with the Nigeria Army, his first constituency and his grieving family, I also condole with the families of the other courageous service men and air crew that died in the unfortunate crash.”

He prayed that the Almighty God grant his soul, as well as other fallen servicemen’s, eternal rest and comfort their families.

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MAY 23, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

EDITORIAL

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

DEATH A ND T HE GENERALS

There may be need to review aircraft maintenance schedules and operational procedures in the Air Force

A

t a solemn ceremony yesterday in Abuja, the remains of the Chief of Army staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other officers who died on Friday in a plane crash in Kaduna were laid to rest. Their death while in active service, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, reflects the depth of sacrifice our military officers are often prepared to make in defence of our country. Attahiru, who spent just four months in office was the second army chief to die in a plane crash after Lt. Col. Joseph Akaahan who was killed in a helicopter crash during the civil war in May 1968.

However, with three fatal crashes by the military within a period of 90 days--claiming 20 fatalities, all of them senior officers of our armed forces--questions are being asked by critical stakeholders. As air accidents go, the objects of blame usually range from human error, the vagaries of nature (i.e. weather condition) and equipment malfunction.

While the details of the exact causes of this unfortunate accident remain yet unknown, we join other Nigerians in mourning the loss of General Attahiru and the other service men.

We condole with their families and the entire armed forces.

In line with extant regulations, accident investigation results in respect of military aircraft are classified. So, like previous such investigations, we may never really know the real cause of this tragedy.

But the public is entitled to express concern about the frequency of these mishaps and the high toll in human lives. On 21 February, a Minna-bound military aircraft (King Air 350) crashed near the Abuja

Whileoccasional airmishaps wouldqualify as accidents, a quicksuccession oftragedies cannot be overlooked because theymay indicatemore fundamental problems

Letters to the Editor

runway after reporting engine failure. All the seven passengers on board the aircraft died.

On 31 March, an Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) went off the radar with two crew members while on their way to offer air support for ground troops fighting Boko Haram insurgents. The two pilots, both flight lieutenants with the air force, were later confirmed dead.

O

S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS OLAWALE OLALEYE, TOBI SONIYI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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rdinarily, we can assume a reasonable level of professionalism before military officers are chosen for these assignments that claimed their lives.

Only the leadership of the Air Force can attest to the level of maintenance of their fleet of aircraft. But it is worrisome that the lives of 20 senior officers of our armed forces would be terminated in plane crashes within three months. While occasional air mishaps would qualify as accidents, a quick succession of tragedies cannot be overlooked because they may indicate more fundamental problems. The challenge is to review aircraft maintenance schedules and operational procedures in the Air Force, especially the experience and proficiency of their crew members involved in VIP movements. In an atmosphere replete with security challenges, every aspect of the military’s tactical and logistical operations requires rigorous review.

Already, there are fears that the needlessly prolonged stay in office of former service chiefs which led to the premature and sometimes unjust retirement of several experienced hands in the armed forces may now be taking its toll. In the last two Air Force plane crashes, the pilots in charge were young officers. Pilots get better with age but in recent years, many senior officers were retired between ages 45 and 55 despite the investment made on them. Which country spends billions training military human resources and just discard them the way we do in Nigeria? This is an area the military authorities must investigate.

Meanwhile, we hope the effect of these deaths on the morale and psych of our troops will not negatively impact the ongoing military operations in the country.

With the vacancy now created by the death of the army chief, President Muhammadu Buhari must act swiftly to appoint a replacement. The military is not an institution where you “hand over to the next most senior officer”, especially in the middle of a war on insurgency. There is need for certainty in the leadership command chain. We also hope the consideration for the choice of who succeeds Attahiru will be based on professionalism and not on any other consideration so that whoever is chosen can quickly move in to reassure the troops who must now be demoralised with the death of their chief in such a tragic circumstance.

TO OUR READERS 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.

CRIMINAL GANGS AND KIDNAPPING IN THE NORTH

T

he first time I heard the issue of paying ransom in northern Nigeria was in 2018 when twin-sisters were abducted by an armed group in Dauran village, Zamfara State. Their abductors demanded a ransom of N150 million. Their demand generated attention and concern in most of the communities of the state and some neighboring states, but especially in mosques where imams were requesting the congregation to contribute money for their release. They were later freed after the payment of N15 million.

This is one of the many stories of agony and trauma people are facing in paying of ransoms. The payment of ransom has pushed many people into bankruptcy, poverty and destruction of busi-

nesses in cities and rural communities. Apart from an excessive levy on many farmers in local communities of Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Sokoto States, one must pay a huge amount of money to have access to his farmland. I can recall my engagement with some local farmers in Zamfara, they revealed that armed groups warned them several times not to go near their farmlands even if they paid the levy. For them, there is no farming this year.

Recently, the Senate considered a bill that seeks to prohibit the payment of ransom for the release of any person kidnapped, imprisoned or wrongfully confined.

The bill is said to have been cited under Terrorism Prevention Act which has scaled second reading.

If the bill is passed into law, the offenders will remain in prison for 15 years. Paying ransom to

kidnappers is absolutely bad, but the humanity in us will not allow leaving our loved ones in the hands of these criminal armed groups. Even the sponsor of the bill will not watch a kidnapper kill or molest his wife, mother, daughter or relatives.

Nigerians are paying ransom because they have lost confidence in security operatives whom they sometimes see as collaborators and informants to the kidnappers and other armed groups engaged in the business. As I am writing, a sitting judge of Sharia court in Katsina was abducted in broad daylight during court proceedings. The security agencies blamed the judge for going to that community.

However, the paying of ransom is motivating many to join the business since it involves millions of naira. Government opened

the eyes of the kidnappers and other armed groups when they first abducted Chibok and Daphchi girls in Borno and Yobe States respectively. An undisclosed amount of money and other gifts were handsomely released to the abductors for the freedom of the school girls. Last year, over 300 boys of Government Science School Kankara were abducted by heartless criminals, and it was said the state government paid the group over N30 million as ransom.

Likewise, similar incidents happened in Niger, Kaduna, and most recently in Zamfara State. This caused tension and distrust among Nigerians because people opined that the government is sponsoring insecurity indirectly.

A serious government will not pay any money to criminal armed groups in the name of ransom. It is a crime that requires proactive and prompt security operatives to curb. We have seen this seriousness in the American

government when one of its citizens was abducted along the border community with Nigeria and Niger republic. They silently sent some few soldiers and rescued him without paying a penny.

Economic hardship, unemployment and climate change pushed many young people especially from the Northern part of the country to join either kidnapping gangs or criminal armed groups. Many local farmers lost their farmlands due to desert encroachment; herders have limited spaces to rear their animals and an explosive population with no strategic plan to accommodate them.

Government must come up with economic policies that will provide opportunities for the teeming population. Good governance remains the most important key to everything including engaging the vulnerable youths on productive concerns.

––Idris Mohammed, Funtua.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 23, 2021

BUSINESS

Editor: Kunle Aderinokun 08033204315, 08111813084 Email:kunle.aderinoku@thisdaylive.com

Proposed N385/litre Pump Price: Matters Arising For all the arguments for deregulation and the need to arrive at an appropriate pricing for fuel, the N385 per litre pump price of fuel approved by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, if implemented, may have serious implications on the nation, particularly, heighten the tension in the country.

Like bullets from an AK 47, this new ‘deregulated’ price or pricing is capable of puncturing more holes in the heart of an already bleeding nation. Chris Paul reports

A

t a virtual meeting that lasted till late night on May 19, 2021, held by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), a decision was made to deregulate the downstream end of the Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and increase the pump price of fuel from the current N162 per litre to N385 per litre.

The decision was among the resolutions reached by the Governors in a joint communique, which was generated based on a report by the Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai-led Committee.

In the communique, the governors made known their desire for government to privatised three reÀneries after rehabilitation. They also want the government to purchase 113 buses to cushion eͿects of the price increase.

Held ahead of the FederationAccountsAllocations Committee (FAAC) meeting, scheduled for the ne[t day, the governors Àngered el-Rufai as the man, who gave the brieÀng on the appropriate pricing of petrol in Nigeria, where he called for full deregulation.

The el-Rufai- chaired six-man committee was set up early this year by the National Economic Council (NEC), headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to examine causes of the dwindling revenues of states and come up with revenuegenerating windows to the council.

Members of the committee include Governors of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki; Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi; and Ebonyi State, David Umahi. The other members of the committee are the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin EmeÀele, and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Malam Mele Kyari.

According to the el-Rufai committee report, every month government subsidises fuel price at N162 per litre, between N70 billion and N210 billion bleeds out of nation’s Ànancial veins.

Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Rivers and Abuja were identiÀed by the committee as the top consumers of petrol.

To further convince his colleagues the Kaduna State Governor, in his report, stated that one of the beneÀts derivable from the proposed price increase is that, it will discourage and curb the unceasing smuggling of the product to neighbouring countries.

The other more juicy beneÀt is that it will increase FAAC annual income to between N1.3 trillion and N2. 2.3 trillion.

Among the committee’s recommendations is that the government should sell the three reÀneries after rehabilitation. Purchase and distribution of over 113 buses to states and major cities as a palliative was also recommended.

Although, subject to Ànal approval by the NEC, it is feared that the government may see some sense in the governors’ communique and implement the recommendations therein.

Worthy of note is the fact that not many agreed with the recommendations as they believe they will deepen the hardship Nigerians are going through today.

One of the South-west governors was more skeptical saying, it would be very di΀cult to convince Nigerians and labour to accept the report. His other colleagues, however, maintained that the earlier there is full deregulation, the better for the country as it remains an evil

A fuel dispenser

day postponed.

The problem that got the Nigeria to this point began during last year’s COVID-19 attack when the nation lost billions of dollars due to the global lockdown arising from the spread of the pandemic.

This occurred when the states were already experiencing a cash crunch. The huge and unabating cost of subsidising petrol had taken a toll on the one corporation the country rely on to foot the bill; the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

This had made the national oil company to admit it would remit zero allocation to FAAC. As if reading the handwriting on the wall of a possible backlash from the Nigerian people, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources doused the simmering tension on the street by reiterating government’s stand on the existing pump price.

In a press statement issued on Friday inAbuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, assured that there will be no petrol price increase in June.

Recall that in April, the NNPC Group Managing Director (GMD), Mele Kyari, had announced that the price of petrol will not be increased until on-going negotiations between labour unions and government are concluded.

The humongous fuel subsidy bill that ranges between N100-120 billion a month to keep the pump price at the current levels had become so overwhelming, the GMD had to warn that the nation’s oil company could not continue to carry the subsidy burden on its dwindling Ànances.

The huge burden of under-recovery, notwithstanding, Sylva maintained that the federal government was in no hurry to increase the price of petrol to reÁect current market realities.

Sylva said the clariÀcation had become necessary in the light of recent reports regarding the resolution of the Nigeria Governors Forum to increase the pump price of petrol.

“In this regard, I would like to strongly urge petroleum products marketers not to engage in any activity that could jeopardise the seamless supply and distribution system in place.

It was in this regard that the Minister had

urged members of the public to avoid panic buying because the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has enough stock of petroleum products to keep the nation wet.

That was a relieving intervention by the federal government as it has reduced the rising social temperature in the country amid the increasing insecurity the government and the citizens are dealing with daily.

On the social front, the resolutions of the governors have only further exposed them as leaders who care less about the plights of the people they govern. Their resolutions are a discomforting demonstration of their disheartening ignorance and appreciation of the harsh realities currently confronting the nation.

Sylva’s intervention, on behalf of the federal government, illustrates the point that the administration is aware that the proposed price could explode the nation into an unending crisis that may snowball into a civil unrest.

To those who are downstream-deregulation thirsty, the el-Rufai’s fuel price solution should give them a dangerous picture of what they are wishing for.

It is noteworthy that the el-Rufai committee’s recommendations conveniently left out existing Private ReÀneries such as the Dangote ReÀnery and other modular versions that are springing up.

One would have thought that the governors would have harped on the need to fast-track the completion of these reÀneries with other support especially in the area of supplying crude oil to them at a great discount. For instance, Dangote’s 650,000 barrels per day facility can su΀ciently feed domestic demand and still have enough left for export.

What the governors should have done and can still do is to have a meeting with the relevant players in the evolving private reÀneries circuit and be enlightened on how their window can be explored and exploited to Àll the gap. No one needs to be a soothsayer or some expert to recognise this low hanging fruits.

The question then is why would the governors ignore this all important option?

Perhaps, government do not appreciate the

fact that petrol has gone beyond a mere business to an essential product that holds the soul of the nation, today.

That this aspect is conspicuously missing in the committee’s recommendations shows that the thinkers that generated the solutions had other ideas that are not in tandem with the objective of serving the Nigerian people.

Rather, their solution is for government to sell oͿ the reÀneries. As sweet as the idea may taste in the mouth of ‘deregulationists’, that measure is not new; because it has always been on the table; and it does not in any way solve the need for now, in terms of ensuring available and aͿordable petrol to Nigerians.

Coming from an el-Rufai-led committee, those familiar with his style can see in the recommendations some ideas from his days as the chief executive of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE). Back in the day, the only solution the agency had for rescuing an ailing government asset or concern was to sell them oͿ to private hands.

His idea for such a price is also a reminder of his days as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where he ordered the demolition of any building he believed was not legally or legitimately situated.

Unfortunately, many homes and o΀ces were mowed down, in error, on his directives. Though, he was honest enough to admit his error of judgement, but that singular order had destroyed lives, properties, homes and businesses.

Coming from that experience, therefore, it would seem the Sylva Team do not want to risk the possibility of the country going up in Áames before they can admit an error of judgement over the ashes of Nigeria and Nigerians, on this fuel matter.

To serve as palliative, the committee recommended the purchase of 113 buses for the states. This recommendation gave away the minds that prepared the report as uninformed about the magnitude of their assignment and the impact of their report/recommendations on the Nigerian people.

If Lagos State, alone, can purchase over 500 buses to Àll the state as replacement for the Okadas and tricycles, what will 113 buses do for all the states of the federation?

One of the reasons the committee oͿered for Àxing the price at N385 per litre is that it will discourage smuggling of the product across the border into neighboring countries.

The committee should have known this is an overused excuse just as the bus solution is an overused palliative measure each time government wants increase the price of petrol.

From the quick response of the petroleum minister, it is obvious that the dangerous reality of the cost of the much-touted deregulation of the downstream struck home when they imagined the possible anarchy and mayhem the N385 per litre, approved by the governors based on el-Rufai committee’s recommendations could cause Nigeria.

They did a quick scan of the immediate future and could see the streets Àlled with youths destroying properties, looting, violence that could degenerate into a worse and endless ‘EndSARS’ situation.

They could see that endorsing such a price at this tense moment in the country could trigger a bad response from the citizenry. And, that is no place any government, especially the Preside Muhammadu Buhari administration wants to Ànd itself at this point in time.

20

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 16, 2021

MONEY

L-R: The CEO, NGX RegCo Ltd, Ms. Tinuade Awe; Group Chief Executive Officer, NGX Group Plc, Mr. Oscar Onyema and Chief Executive Officer, NGX Ltd, Mr. Temi Popoola

A Presidential Endorsement for NGX Festus Akanbi

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari last Wednesday threw his weight behind the ongoing transformation of The Exchange Group, saying the recently concluded demutualisation of the group should be seen as a proud moment for Nigerians.

Buhari’s endorsement was in consonance with the excitement and optimism expressed by shareholders and investment analysts who spoke with our correspondent on Friday.

According to him, the history of NGX Group was tied to that of the nation itself founded 61 years ago at a pivotal time when Nigeria gained her independence.

Speaking at the Closing Gong Ceremony held virtually, Buhari noted that the exchange continued to play its part in nationbuilding by stimulating economic growth and providing a platform for businesses and individual to save and raise capital through innovation, diversiÀed products and services, enabling regulatory environment and much more.

“The occasion of the demutualisation of The Nigerian Stock Exchange is yet a proud moment for all of us, and indeed all Nigerians deserve congratulations for this feat as it is the beginning of a new era for the capital market,” he said.

Shareholders’ Expectations Presenting the interest of shareholders, National Leader Emeritus, Independent Shareholders Association, Sir. Sunny Nwosu, told THISDAY the transition of the exchange was a welcome development.

However, he stressed the fact that the development has placed the exchange in competition with other stocks and that it would be expected to pay dividends to shareholders and it would be expected to ensure the operation of corporate governance in its activities.

“It will have to avoid power play since it is now at the same level with other companies.”

In his opinion, the Founder and Chairman, Proshare Nigeria Limited, Mr. Femi Awoyemi said “The demutualisation of the Nigerian Exchange is expected to improve the Corporate governance structure of the entity. I expect to see less or no SEC intervention in the leadership of the Exchange i.e. the Arunma Oteh/Ndi Onyuike-Okereke Scenario; the NSE management/Council power tussle between Alhaji Aliko and Prof Ndi Onyuike-Okereke…”

Awoyemi, who is also an investment coach, explained further that the emerging entities, listed on NASD, will give interested publics the opportunity to invest in the entity and be part of the decision making process that can help unlock more potential opportunities.

“Also, with the right market related laws put in place, the demutualisation can help to get new companies on board to list, this will improve the market capitalisation of the entity and this may eventually be the driving factor that will help the Exchange achieve the $1trn Market CAP set by Oscar Onyema, during his Àrst tenure.”

The Transformation As part of its transformation agenda, the NGX Group, on May 18 kicked oͿ a campaign, “The Stock Africa Is Made Of” to amplify its new positioning and commitment to the African Ànancial markets as a leading capital market infrastructure provider, connecting Nigeria, Africa, and the world. The campaign which also spotlights the growth potential of the African continent was supported by President, Muhammadu Buhari.

The Group Chief Executive O΀cer, NGX Group Plc, Mr. Oscar Onyema, in his speech said “The Stock Africa Is Made Of” campaign is built around the new corporate identity.

He explained further that the campaign emphasises the vibrancy and dynamism of NGX Group and its subsidiaries, adding that it provides stakeholders with an unforgettable experience through creative messaging and opportunities for direct engagement with the brand.

“Our goal is not only to celebrate this pivotal point in our journey but to also show

our stakeholders that we are ready and able to explore new frontiers in our quest to be the partner and platform of choice for meeting their business, Ànancial and investment objectives”, Onyema stated.

The kick-oͿ event, which held virtually, consisted of two parts ² the o΀cial unveiling of the new brand and positioning, and a Closing Gong Ceremony where President Buhari sounded the virtual gong to bring the day’s trading to a close.

Speaking at the unveiling event, the Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo, stated, “The Exchange has come a long way, through diͿerent leadership regimes – civilian and military – that have overseen multiple booms and bust economic dispensations within the Nigerian economy, to emerge as a leading integrated market infrastructure in Africa and as the engine of growth for Africa’s largest economy.”

He explained that with demutualisation, NGX Group is well positioned to enable strong economic growth and contribute its quota to the development of the Nigerian capital market, and the African Continent.

Demutualisation is a process that changes a mutual or cooperative association into a public company by converting the interests of the members into shareholdings. These holdings can then be traded like the shares of a company. The idea is to change the structure of exchanges that were originally formed as trusts.

It is also an idea that had taken root in developed economies long before it materialised in Nigeria. Since the Àrst demutualisation of the Stockholm Stock Exchange in 1993, leading stock exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, Toronto Stock Exchange, Singapore Stock Exchange, and Australian Stock Exchange have followed suit. Some stock exchanges in emerging market jurisdictions also followed suit. The NSE will become the 57th stock exchange to do so.

New Structures Demutualisation, therefore, led to a change in the structure of the old Nigeria Stock Exchange, giving rise to Nigerian Exchange

Group (NGX Group) Plc, a non-operating holding company with three subsidiaries – Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, the operating exchange; NGX Regulation (NGX RegCo) Limited, the independent regulatory arm; and NGX Real Estate (NGX RelCo) Limited, the real estate company.

A major announcement that quickly followed the restructuring was the appointment of leaders for the group and its subsidiaries.

Following the approval of SEC, the erstwhile Chief Executive O΀cer (CEO) of former NSE, Onyema, having completed his 10year tenure was appointed as the Group Chief Executive O΀cer, NGX Group Plc. Onyema joined the former NSE in 2011 in the wake of a takeover by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Before relocating to Nigeria, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative O΀cer at American Stock Exchange (Amex).

He also ran the NYSE Amex equity business following the merger of NYSE Euronext and Amex in 2008.

For NGX Ltd, Mr. Temi Popoola, was appointed as the chief executive o΀cer. A Wall Street-trained investment banker, Mr. Popoola joined NGX Ltd. from Renaissance Capital (Rencap) where he was Managing Director and CEO for West Africa.

Ms. Tinuade Awe was appointed as the CEO, NGX RegCo Ltd. Before attaining this position, she was the Executive Director, Regulation at The Exchange. She also served as the General Counsel and Head of the Legal and Regulation Division, as well as Council Secretary before becoming an Executive Director.

Speaking on the new brand identity, Onyema, stated that the new identity is a reÁection of the resolve to deliver superior value to stakeholders.

He said, “We are very excited about the launch of our new brand identity and website at this pivotal time in our history.

“InÁuenced by the dynamism and resilience of our market in both good and challenging times, our new identity, which builds on our rich heritage, reÁects who we are today, our ambitions for the future, and our resolve to deliver superior value to our stakeholders.”

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 16, 2021

21

ECONOMY

Buhari

Ahmed

Emefiele

Peculiar Economic Mess and the Way out The Nigerian economy is in a peculiar mess. Bad macroeconomic and microeconomic policies, a blasé attitude to national inclusiveness and an expansive lack of conÀdence in the economy and local currency have all coalesced to drive the economy into the ‘valley of the shadow of death’. But there is a way out, if only the government is really desirous of doing the right things for the economy and the people. Nosa James-Igbinadolor looks at the recent diagnosis and prognoses of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council on the timorous economic situation in the country, and the way out of the economic Golgotha

U

narguable, the Nigerian economy is currently facing the worst of times since independence 61 years ago. The unconscionably depressingunemployment, inÁation, production and monetary policy Àgures, starkly support the truth of an economy so thoroughly mismanaged by its minders over the past six years.

Six years ago, President Muhammadu Buhari had campaigned on a promise to grow the economy, end insecurity and create jobs. He had promised to deliver annual economic growth of some 10 per cent annually. He has failed in all his promises; unable to end insecurity, create jobs and grow the economy.

On the contrary, the jobless rate under Buhari has more than doubled in size from 2015. Insecurity and poverty have expanded horrendously and the country slipped twice into recession in 2016 and 2020. Nigeria under Buhari’s watch overtook India to become the poverty capital of the World. Since 2015, the local currency has lost more than half of its value on the o΀cial exchange rate window, corruption remains undiminished and unrelenting.

For a government not known for sound policy making and deaf to calls for social and political inclusiveness to help propel growth, Buhari’s policies have led to widespread distrust by Nigerians and lack of conÀdence by foreign investors leading to large-scale capital Áight out of the country especially as many who do not see any reason to bet on the local currency.

Dr. Uche Igwe, a Senior Political Economy Analyst and Visiting Fellow at the LSE Firoz Lalji Centre for Africa argued in an October 6, 2020 analysis that, “With an unenviable reputation as the world’s new poverty capital, about 40 per cent (82 million people) of Nigeria’s population are living on less than 1$US per day, according to Àgures from National Bureau of Statistics.

Amidst repeated claims by the government of undertaking measured to alleviate poverty, the

recent increase in fuel pump prices and electricity tariͿs has triggered questions about Buhari’s commitments and priorities. Considering the economic downtown experienced by many Nigerians in a period marked by a remarkable loss of jobs and income, owing to the severity of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the decision to eliminate the expensive but popular petrol subsidyprogramme,andlikewisetheprogramme for electricity tariͿs, is considered insensitive to the realities on ground and generally an act in bad-timing.

“This further raises questions on the patterns of decisions, actions and mechanisms for feedback that have been undertaken by this government and the conÁict they pose for the administration’s mandate for tackling poverty and achieving economic growth. A plethora of misunderstood, miscommunicated or outright problematic government decisions easily come to mind.

“In the last Àve years, the price of food items has risen steadily, with rice that used to sell for N9,000 per bag in 2015 now tripled up to about N26,000 – a fact acknowledged by the Nigeria’s MinisterforFinance,BudgetandPlanning,Zainab Ahmed. This has impacted disproportionately the poor in a country that is said to be already hosting a high population of the world’s poorest citizens. Considering the increasing prices of food commodities, Nigeria’s decision to close its borders, despite being a signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), may have been considered as something done in the country’s best interest, with the intent of improving local production and agriculture. But even with the continued closure of the border and huge investments in domestic agricultural production, nothing seems to have changed substantially.”

Earlier this month, the Presidential Economic AdvisoryCouncil(PEAC),setupin2019byBuhari toadvisehimon“economicpolicymatters,including Àscal analysis, economic growth and a range of internal and global economic issues” sat down

with the President and his economic advisers, and again intimated him on the parlous state of the economy and the need for quick-win policy decisions to remediate the dangerous trajectory the economy has been on since 2015.

While the global economy has continued to improve as COVID-19 infections drop and rollout of vaccination strengthens, PEAC noted the Nigerian economy “remains fragile with inÁation continuing to rise, unemployment remains high and external account very weak.”

In addition, rising prices of goods and services continue to be a cause for apprehension with the “main drivers of rising prices including disruption to farming activities and inter-state trade as a result of worsening security conditions. In addition, the eͿect of depreciation in the exchange rate and the residual impact of border closure contributed to higher prices. As a result of the factors above, overall prices rose by 18.17 per cent whilst food prices increased by almost 23 per cent in March 2021 when compared with a year ago.”

InÁation, they pointed out, aͿects all Nigerians especiallythepoorveryunfavourablybyreducing the value of savings and purchasing power while at the same time reinforcing expectations and reducing Nigeria’s price competitiveness with regard to its trading partners.

PEAC further expressed grave concern over the intensifying rate of overall unemployment and youth unemployment currently o΀cially recorded at 33.3per cent and 42.5per cent as at the end of 2020. According to PEAC, the high level of unemployment is explained by factors which include: slow growth in output resulting from recession in 2016/17 and between March and September, 2020.

The members of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council also brought to the fore the country’s weak external trading account despite the increase in global oil prices, which has led to increasing pressure on the Naira at the foreign exchange market. They pointed out the country’s cumulative trade deÀcit of N7.4trillion between January-September, 2020, a current account deÀcit

of -3.7percent of GDP in same period and the fact that almost 30 per cent of foreign exchange used in Nigeria come from non-o΀cial sources.

“Though Interest rates are now rising,” they noted, “the value of returns to savers and investors remain negative because prices are rising faster than interest. In consequence, savers and investors are actually losing money by holding the Naira. This continues to provide an incentive for Nigerians moving money into foreign currency. It also creates a distortion in capital markets resulting in misallocation of resources.”

The peculiar mess called the Nigerian economy no doubt, requires an unprecedented policy response from the Nigerian government and its implementing institutions.

The President’s Advisory Council members urged for credible and sensible short, medium, and long-term policy responses to counteract the recklessly haemorrhaging economy.

On the oil and gas sector, they urged the need for clarity and consistency in petrol pricing policy and the urgent reality of ensuring that, “subsidy on petrol be removed and a pricing regime which reÁects the cost of petrol adopted…The cost of retaining the subsidy outweighs the beneÀts, or that the beneÀts of removing the subsidy are far greater than the costs…That in addition to further worsening government revenue, re-introduction of subsidies will jeopardise investment in the oil sector and also create uncertainty about general government policy on pricing.”

The morbid state of insecurity in the country has impacted heavily with expansive human and economic costs. While there is a growing consensus in the country that Buhari has been very blasé about the security challenges, its impact of the economy was well identiÀed by his economic advisory team.

They posited that conÁicts and heightened insecurityreducebusinessconÀdence,manifesting in declining foreign and domestic investment, deteriorating Ànancial sector performance, higher Àscal cost and security spending. According to the UNDP, between 2007 and 2019, Nigeria lost 141.9 billion USD of production to security related violence.

To put an end to the threat posed by general insecurity to the economy, the Nigerian government was counselled by its advisory council to among other actions, defeat Boko Haram decisively, as a conclusive defeat is essential to permanently keep the insurgency at bay. In addition, Buhari was urged to resolve grievances around exclusion from access to power, opportunity, and representation through dialogue, hasten the implementation of agricultural reform policies especially transformation of livestock farming to reduce potential for conÁict and implement existinglawoncompulsoryattendanceofprimary school to reduce the number of out of school children, a key recruiting ground for thugs.

Nigeria’s political, social and economic challenges have a long history that predates Buhari’s government. What is unique about the challenges today, is that they have become more heightened in scope and quality as a result of Buhari’s actions and inactions; including his refusal to acknowledge the reality of the incapacity of his economic team to make any headway of the economy. In addition, his penchant for socio-economic and political discrimination and insensitivity to social and economic inclusiveness have succeeded in raising the acidic temperature in the country that have culminated in violent responses to government’s policies.

Hispositiveassessmentofhisownperformance during a ministerial retreat last year shows a genuine insensitivity to the pulse of the street.

For the economy to leave its ‘current residence at the valley of the shadow of death’, the President and his economic team would do well to listen to the advice of his Presidential EconomicAdvisory Council.

As it stands, a large share of revenues from oil and gas is spent on the country’s public debt service payments, leaving insu΀cient Àscal space for critical social and infrastructure spending and to cushion an economic downturn. In this context, the advice of the World Bank to mobilse revenues through e΀ciency-enhancing and progressive measuresisatopnear-termpriority.“Revisitingtax exemptions and customs duty waivers, increasing and broadening the base for excise taxes, developing a high-integrity taxpayer register, enhancing digital infrastructure, and improving on-time Àling and payment are important measures” are critical to driving economic growth.

For a country whose real GDP growth has laggedbehindAsianeconomiesthathaveadopted export-oriented policies, the government needs to reject statist policies and embrace more open trade and competition policies that would help diversify the economy and reinvigorate growth, particularly as theAfrican Continental Free Trade Area takes eͿect.

22

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 16, 2021

WOMEN ENTERPRENEURS

BOSE ADEGUNWA

My Greatest Fear was Not Achieving My Goals Mrs. Bose Adegunwa, CEO of Lawiza Creations, has made an impact in the lives of over 150 individuals in the fashion industry. Although she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from University of Ilorin, Kwara State, her passion for fashion led her to acquire her CertiÀcate in Fashion Design from Nobel Afrique in 2004. Adegunwa’s journey into the fashion industry was Àlled with many twist and turns, because she was a serial entrepreneur that ventured into several businesses.

She Àrst started with selling groceries, then jewelry and lastly fabrics before she eventually went fully into the fashion industry and established Lawiza Creations. Lawiza Creations has grown from a small business to a multi-million naira fashion empire that has a fashion school, ready-to-wear fashion and more. The company has set a standard in the fashion industry with multiple awards they have won over the years. Lawiza Creations is a winner of Blueprint Magazine Fashion Designer of the year in 2010 and 2011. It also received an award of Outstanding Performance in the Fashion Industry from National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS). The company’s recent victory was the Award from City People Online Fashion and Beauty Magazine Awards as the Most Creative Fashion Brand of the year. Adegunwa is also proud to be an exclusive distributor of Rite Foods, Makers of Bigi Beverages. Adegunwa takes Oyinlola Sale through her journey into the fashion industry

P

lease tell us the story behind the name Lawiza Creations?

The name Lawiza Creations was coined from all the names of everyone in my family, my husband’s name, my own name and my children’s name.

The journey was an interesting one, because I didn’t start out as a fashion designer, I was actually an entrepreneur that was into buying and selling. I used to sell gold which incurred a lot of bad debt.

So I decided to do something that is tied to rendering service, and that was how I ventured into the fashion industry and then I decided to get my certiÀcate in fashion design from Nobel Afrique.

We have that Lawiza touch, wherever you go and you see our dress, you can easily identify it.

We cater for everyone, and our signature is the ready to wear in diͿerent sizes and styles.

We have something for the conservative and the outgoing individual and that has made us to stand out over the years.

What were some of your biggest fears, when you ventured into this business?

My greatest fear was not achieving my goals, so I was always on my guard and I was always concerned about what can make this business go down.

We have set a standard and we must not go below that standard. Our clients know us as a fashion brand that has styles for diͿerent types of individuals and we have to ensure we remain consistent.

As a fashion designer, what inspires your creativity?

My creativity as a fashion designer is inborn, it just comes naturally to me when I am sketching a design for my client and also my environment determines what I create. Sometimes, when I just go out and I see colours from nature, it helps me to conceptualise and create unique designs.

Canyouelaborateonthegrowthofthefashion industry and what has changed, compared to when you started?

The fashion industry has really evolved; it has changed from what it used to be. The industry has changed from cutting, sewing and marketing.

In terms of cutting, we now use patterns and in the area of sewing, we use industrial machines and lastly selling your clothes doesn’t require you to have a shop, the internet and social media generally have created that platform for us to showcase and market our designs to the world.

What are the challenges you have faced so far in running Lawiza Creations?

The Àrst challenge that I have encountered in this business is manpower, some youths come to work, but they don’t know the job, and despite the fact that we have a lot of tailors, some of the tailors are not committed to the job, they can decide to leave anytime, which aͿects the business.

However, we have been able to set up a system that has made tailors to be more committed to the job.

Another challenge we have faced is power, the government needs to provide stable electricity, because it is very overwhelming, the amount of money one spends on buying diesel and fuel aͿects the proÀt we make at the end of the day.

The Industry is churning out a lot of creative designers, what is your view about this growth?

How can the government create an enabling environment for businesses like yours to thrive?

We want the government to help us in the area of Ànance. The process for application for funding is rigorous, which is always not encouraging.

The government can also ensure we have constant electricity and reduce the rate of tax in the country.

Ialsobelievethatanempowermentprogramme can be created to support the youth, we would be willing to train them for a token, so that we can reduce the rate of unemployment in Nigeria.

Adegunwa

I am very happy with the growth in the fashion industry, because it has made the business competitive. It also makes you as a fashion designer to be on top of your game in every aspect and it makes me happy to see fashion designers I have trained, who are doing great things in the industry.

As a woman with so many responsibilities, how do you start your day?

On a good day, I start my day by saying my prayers,thenIgoformywalkafterIcookbreakfast for the family, then by 9am, I am out of the house to start work for that day.

of selling my gold jewelry, just to ensure that the business didn’t fail. When we were in Adeniyi Jones, we had to leave because the owner of the place died so they had to sell the house. Now this made us move back to the house, which made us to lose some of our materials. It certainly wasn’t conducive, because of the exposure.

I later got a place in Magodo and it was a good one, we had enough space to showcase and for the fashion school, but unfortunately one day I got a call that we need to leave the building, so I started looking for another place.

Now, the places I found would cost about 20 million, in terms of the furnishing and rent. So I sat back and thought about it, that instead of spending that money, let use it to buy our own property and to the glory of God, we got this place which is not far from where my last shop used to be. It was really tough but we overcame it.

+RZ GLG \RX ÀQDQFH WKLV IDVKLRQ EXVLQHVV in its early days?

I started very small, with just one machine, some thread, lining and small materials. So it grew from that and to us expanding and getting industrial machines. In the course of the business, when things were tough and I didn’t have money So, how have you been able to carve a niche to pay my staͿ salary, I would go to the extent for yourself, despite the competition out there?

7HOO XV DERXW D KLJKO\ GLͿFXOW SHULRG ZKHQ you thought of giving up and how you managed to overcome that situation?

The most di΀cult time was when I couldn’t pay my staͿ their salary and I had to sell my gold jewelry to meet up and ensure the business doesn’t fail.

I have had to do this several times to Àll in the gaps and ensure whatever happens, I am not going to allow it to aͿect my business.

A young female entrepreneur out there is thinking of following your footsteps, what advice will you give to her?

I will tell her to be consistent and to have a positive mindset, so that no matter the challenges in the business, she won’t give up.

What is your growth projection for Lawiza &UHDWLRQV LQ WKH QH[W ÀYH \HDUV" In the next Àve years, we hope to have a big hostel and fashion school to cater to individuals that want to go into this business. We also hope to expand beyond what we are now to increase the number of our clients and to make a great impact in the fashion industry.

23

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 23, 2021

PERSPECTIVE

Technology Will Lead Emerging Africa Businesses into Digital Future Habib Mahakian

W

e are well into 2021 and are already seeing that organizations across Emerging Africa are investing in technology as an accelerator to fuel socio-economic growth and business success. It’s clear that innovation has been a key contributing factor to sustaining some of our most vital sectors and the sheer speed and scale at which digital transformation took place and supported entire industries as they adapted has been remarkable. Technology took the spotlight; keeping businesses open, students in (virtual) classrooms, social lives connected, and essential services Áowing.

Technology as an enabler Last year we were reminded of the force for good that technology can be – providing a glimpse of what is possible now and, in the future, and we have learnt that a digital future will be a central pillar within our societal evolution. If harnessed eͿectively, tech will continue to lead global eͿorts to support recovery, playing a pivotal role in enabling governments to ‘build back better’ for the long-term.

As businesses across Emerging Africa design and implement recovery strategies, it is not surprising that across the board we are seeing a real emphasis on technology, connectivity and bridging digital divides.

Today, we are seeing the positive impact of digital transformation – with remote working, online education, digital banking services and tele-medicine becoming the norm. In fact, digital transformation is at the heart of national digital strategies in major African countries, with ICT powering socio-economic transformation.

However, continuous digital transformation is not easy, with many businesses facing entrenched barriers to transformation as they navigate their future.

Staying connected is key Many countries across Emerging Africa, such as Nigeria, Kenya, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Angola and more, have a high number of internet users, vibrant e-commerce ecosystems, large youth populations and diverse digital banking and Ànancial inclusion policies. In order to leverage and drive growth across these sectors and others, it is crucial for government and businesses to harness the transformative power of ICT. Connective technologies will support the roll-out of digital services, keeping organizations, businesses and public sector services operating e΀ciently. This is underscored with a focus on connectivity in recovery planning, setting out to improve internet access and preparing for bandwidth connectivity.

Another key element is the potential of technology to make a meaningful impact in education and youth skills development. As a growing number of students are exploring careers in computer science and machine learning, we are seeing a large, untapped pool of talent who want to pursue careers in ICT. Furthermore, the digital skills gap must be closed to build the digital workforce of the future.

Keeping up the pace of innovation to account for major shifts As countries across Emerging Africa, continue to push forward with their efforts for a diverse and digital economy, organisations must continue to accelerate

Habib Mahakian

their digital transformation plans as three major shifts are expected to dominate the business and IT landscape.

Cloud adoption is no longer a nice to have, it has become a necessity Investments in cloud operating models that span public, private and edge environments will continue to grow, enabling rapid scale and management of IT everywhere, with the security and visibility organizations need to keep their data protected. In fact, in conversations with our customers in the region, one thing is clear. Many have already begun their cloud journey or are currently in the process of implementing cloud-based technologies. Moreover, for many businesses, the increasingly diverse cloud landscape is resulting in an enormous amount of IT complexity and having a multi-cloud strategy that uniÀes environments and reduces risk, will be the way forward.

Data protection and business resiliency planning is critical In today’s always-on economy, businesses are under pressure to enhance their

cybersecurity strategy.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2020 ranks cyber-attacks as the second risk of greatest concern to businesses in the coming decade. As the tools of the Darknet become more sophisticated and accessible, cyber-attacks are increasingly borderless – taking advantage of jurisdictional constraints of regional authorities.

In cyber-security, new threats and vulnerabilities appear at break-neck speed, so, as new technologies create opportunities to innovate, we’re seeing more large-scale data loss and the rise of ransomware attacks – so business resiliency planning is key to survival.

Work is an outcome, not a place In 2020, we experienced work as an outcome, not a place, and this mindset is here to stay. In addition, in many countries across Emerging Africa, businesses are using remote working as one of the partial solutions to address connectivity challenges, address the needs of millennial workers and to encourage women to be part of the workforce while having

Áexible careers.

As the future of work continues to be a hybrid model, businesses will need technologies that drive business continuity and collaboration – all at reduced costs.

As a result, businesses may Ànd that consumption and ‘as-a-service’ solutions on-premise will help – particularly with economics and the short turn-around they have been faced with. For example, ‘Virtual Desktop Infrastructure’ (VDI) provides secure, high-performance access for critical users while the ‘Hybrid Cloud’ can scale data-centre resources.

Conclusion With the tremendous push for recovery and businesses to remain successful for the long-term, ICT will be key drivers of progress in accelerating the digital transformation agenda across Emerging Africa. It is simply a matter of choice – do organizations want to wait and fall behind, or do they want to be the digital disruptors of the future?

0DKDNLDQ 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW (PHUJLQJ Africa, Dell Technologies

24

SUNDAY MAY 23, 2021 • T H I S D AY

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

23.5.2021

KENNY OGUNGBE King of Nigeria’s Air Wave Kenny Ogungbe is a broadcaster extraordinaire who created his own world behind the microphone. He got the swag and captivates his listeners with his voice. Ogungbe, popularly known as ‘Keke,’ bestrides the Nigerian airwaves like a colossus and continues to shine brilliantly, having emerged as one of the modern broadcasters and music producers in Nigeria. Innovative, versatile and industrious, the Kennis Music boss no doubt has made an indelible mark in a career spanning two decades. Currently the CEO of Kennis 104.1 FM and TV, in this encounter with Funke Olaode, the media mogul talks about his life as a broadcaster, music producer and now media owner ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

50

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ Ͱͱ ˜ ͰͮͰͯ​ͯ

COVER

KENNY OGUNGBE

How I’m Opening a New Chapter with New Radio and TV Stations

T

hose born in the mid-90s may not be familiar with his larger-thanlife image as that era marked the revolution of radio broadcasting in Nigeria under Ray Power FM, the sister station of African Independent Television under Daar Communications. With his captivating voice, innovation and swag with which he brought into radio broadcasting, Kenny Ogungbe, popularly known as ‘Keke,’ redefined radio broadcasting.

After plying his trade with Ray Power FM for close to 20 years, today, Keke is a proud media owner of Kennis 104.1 FM, a commercial radio station located in the neighbourhood of Ajao Estate, Lagos, licensed in 2015. The TV station, which has been on air in a few stations across six locations, was equally launched in Lagos two weeks ago with the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, in attendance.

Keke is ageing gracefully and hasn’t lost the allure of ‘old’ as he looks boyish and polished in his casual wears as he welcomes this reporter into his radio studio located somewhere in Ajao Estate, Lagos. Is there a secret behind his boyish looks?

“Nothing special, really,” he replies casually.

“I eat anything. I have no special food that I eat.

I eat dinner early because of my age. Somebody of my age should eat before 7 pm. I eat rice, amala, lots of okra, lots of vegetables – Efo, that is all I eat.”

Keke stormed the Nigerian airwaves back in 1994 with his captivating voice. But he didn’t just break into the limelight. His career trajectory was step by step. One can say he had a natural talent. “Ironically, my first day was not behind the microphone. My first exposure to broadcasting was television. It was at NTA Channels 12 Abeokuta in the late 80s, which was newly opened. I just finished my ‘A’ level in Abeokuta, and I saw an advert from the newly established station that they wanted to recruit staff members. About 50 applicants turned up for the interview, but they hired just two people, myself and Yemi Shodimu, for the same job at NTA Abeokuta. That was my instinct into the media house,” he recollects.

You may say Keke’s career as a media mogul is divine. His father wanted him to be a lawyer because he had a friend who was a judge. “He wanted me to be a lawyer, but he wasn’t forcing it. He just felt I should study law or go to work at the Ministry of Justices or that I should go and work at the law court. But I decided to do media.”

After gaining experience at NTA, he travelled to the United States, where he first earned a BSc degree in accounting. He is CPA Accountant of California. Again, he had a master’s in Mass communication. “I knew that I had an interest in broadcasting and that masters in communication, being an accountant, I will be able to account naira and kobo, dollars and cents while doing the media business. So I am designed by college, by education to do whatever I am doing in media and managing media house also.”

Keke has spent 26 years of his career in the media, specialising in radio broadcasting. He admits that his staying power is passion. “All what we did when we started out was not done for money. It was done for the love of it.

Myself, Dayo D1 Adeneye, ID Ogungbe, grew up in Hollywood. We grew up in Los Angeles.

If you grow up in Lagos, you know Ebute Meta, Isale Eko, Lekki. I know Los Angeles like my palm, and again I was exposed to radio stations. If you are in LA, every frequency or radio band is occupied by radio stations. If it is not rock, it is R’n’B; if it is not R’n’B; it is sports.

If it is not sports, then it is Latino. From 88.1 to 107.5 radio stations. And again, I studied mass communication. I was exposed to TV, also exposed to OGBC before travelling. So, I knew exactly what I wanted. That also kind of energised me to want to be a media person.

And that is what it takes to be a successful anything, not only a media person: hard work, seriousness and passion together will equal success.”

Apart from being a renowned broadcaster, he was also a music producer. He pioneered the Nigerian version on R & B under his Kennis Music, which was an instant hit and brought Nigerian artiste on the global music map. The likes of Tuface Idibia was a testimony. Kennis music has recorded over 80 albums, averaging 12 songs per album. “If you multiply 12 songs times 80 albums, you have a lot of songs. And

Ogungbe

those songs are on the platforms, on the global market.”

His record label may have slowed down though he currently has one artiste is promoting, Keke is delighted that he has left his foot on the sands of time as his legacy as a music producer will outlive him. “When Fela recorded his songs many years ago, he didn’t know it would go that far. They are now downloading, streaming the songs globally.

Wherever you are, anywhere you go, you can download ‘Africa Queen,’ ‘Nigeria Jagajaga,’ ‘Omode Meta Nsere,’ and that will go on for ever and ever, even when I am gone the music will still be available for people to buy globally.”

But why the preference for music show? “It was by choice. Working at AIT also was great because I worked with a boss that understands me, respects me, that allows me to do anything I want to do. If I wanted to be a newscaster, I would have been a newscaster. If I wanted to be a host of a political show, I would have been a political show host because I was the General Manager, Managing Director. Again I was like the Chief Operations Officer (COO). Anything I wanted, I could have easily done it. But I decided to say, you know what, Nigeria music is void when we came. I remember some of those old players or musicians; they said Nigerian music is dead. Nobody was doing music. We grew this Nigerian music during Abacha’s period. What can you say if you are into music during Abacha’s period doing any business? And again, the business stood up for itself and now is a multi-billion dollar investment.”

Speaking further, he stated, “Somebody must give you accolades, but we are not looking for accolades from anybody. We grew from the entertainment capital of the world. Music is very strong in Los Angeles.

We felt if that can be replicated here, it will help the economy. Nigerians are involved with music content, music production, video production, music aggregation, music distribution is all organised now. In those good old days, there was no social media.

We put all those songs in our car boot, took them to Ebute Meta, Oshodi, Alaba, Idumota. They almost beat me up in Oshodi and Alaba, but we knew this thing would work. So keep at it and to God be the glory it has worked.”

If anything gladdens his heart, it is the honour the Nigerian artistes have brought to

the continent. With Burna Boy and Wizkid winning the Grammy Award and Davido and others doing an international collaboration, the sky is not the limit. “Where were we 10 years or 20 years ago? The projection will keep on going high. Whatever level we are at now, we will be grateful, but it will keep on.

Nigerian music is becoming popular. Look at the population of Jamaica. Jamaica is less than four million people, and reggae music is known globally. Nigeria has a population of about 200 million people scattered all over the world, and our music is growing. It is at a speed that nobody can measure. And it is very good for our industry, is good for the country because we are doing a lot of PR. We used to see Nigerian doing all kind of negative vices, like cybercrime, but now they see Nigerian music, they hear Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido performing or singing a song with so many superstars. Those are good PR that government needs to tap into, expanded it so that Nigeria can be seen as a positive country.”

From Daar Communications, where he reigned supreme and retired, Keke is now the proud radio/TV stations owner.

Relaying experience from being a radio host to becoming his own boss, it was a journey that started six years ago. “I was given a licence in 2015 by Dr Ebele Jonathan’s government.

I was still managing director at Ray Power FM when I was given the licence. High Chief Dokpesi granted me that permission. He also had a hand in me getting the licence. He actually helped me. So after leaving Daar communication, I now established Kennis FM in 2016, which was when we came on air.

“We officially started broadcasting as approved by the regulatory body, National Broadcasting Commission, NBC in December 2016. We were just playing music all through because it is a music station. We read news, sports, traffic, weather, business news, but majorly embedded with music. It is the first radio station that will be within Ajao Estate.

Kennis Communications Headquarter is in Ajao Estate, and we have been here for donkey years. But our studio was in Arepo. During the COVID period, I was broadcasting from here. People did not know until I said so. And the signal was the same, so that encouraged us because we thought if it can be like that, we can even set up our studio here to guard against traffic.”

Talking passionately about his radio

station, Keke says Lagosians should get set to swim in the water of Kennis 104.1 FM entertainment. “Kennis 104.1 FM is a commercial station, and it is the first radio station in Ajao Estate, and we have been broadcasting here since November 2020. It is an entertainment station, music station, and we run specifically music and entertainment. We have our morning show in the morning, which has two hostesses, and after that, I come on. I do the afternoon shift, 12 pm to 4 pm.

And again evening, we have Bukky. Bukky runs from 4 pm to 8 pm, and from 8 pm to 12 am, we have DJs. And Kennis FM is the only radio station in Nigeria currently that has the DJs every day.

“I have a TV licence which many probably don’t know. It has been on air in six locations: Abuja, Jos, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu and Osogbo.

Kennis TV was also launched in Lagos two weeks ago. The station is on air in Lagos currently and was launched by the Hon. Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed. Arise TV was also there and even interviewed me. That is my projection, my next line of work. We are about to start doing Kennis music TV for Lagosians, and the station is on air currently. If you have a satellite that has a free TV satellite or free TV decoder, you can be able to watch it.”

Blessed with an amiable wife and wonderful children. His first daughter is already toeing his line. “My first daughter has a degree in Communications from Texas A&M University and has already developed an interest in my line of business. She did productions of some concert series, which we previewed while she was here because of COVID. She used the time to produce 2Baba, Eedris Abdulkareem, Sound Sultan, and Daddy Shockey concerts. We did the private screening before she travelled back to the United States.”

Keke has had a wonderful career, no doubt, but if he could turn back the hands of the clock, were there things he would have done differently.

“Nothing,” he says. “I am a religious person. I believe whatever happens to me is the will of God. And the will of God cannot be tampered with because it is written. I can’t change anything.

I just pray for guidance and pray for the best. With modesty, Kennis music or Kenny Ogungbe has touched many lives either physically or under my umbrella. Today, they too have become an institution, and they too have lots of people they are feeding directly or indirectly. They have done so beautifully well for themselves. That gives me happiness that kind of situation touches me, and I am happy to be associated with somebody with success.”

SUNDAY MAY 23, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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HighLife Dr Babatunde Okewale’s Leading by a Mile

Okewale

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

Abdulfatah Out of His Anonymous Cocoon The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is not pulling any punches in the number of high-profile individuals it is going after. A few weeks ago, it was an oil magnate. A few days ago, it was a former personal assistant to a former governor. Currently, it is the immediate-past Governor of Kwara, Abdulfatah Ahmed.

According to reliable reports, the exgovernor was the guest at the EFCC Jabi area office in Abuja a few days ago. Ahmed was reportedly queried on his many dealings while in office, particularly the ones that somehow ushered 9 billion out of Kwara coffers on his watch. The ex-governor was said to have undergone seven hours of questioning before he was released.

The details of Ahmed’s interrogation eventually crept out after a few hours.

Ahmed’s time at the EFCC headquarters required him to write statements regarding the funds lost during his tenure and those that disappeared between 2003 and 2009 while serving under Governor Bukola Saraki as the Commissioner for Finance It is interesting that before the ongoing drama with the EFCC, Ahmed had retired from the limelight. Furthermore, contrary to the tradition, Ahmed did not declare any

T

he old Hasidic adage has it that “the virtue of angels is that they cannot deteriorate; their flaw is that they cannot improve. Man’s flaw is that he can deteriorate, and his virtue is that he can improve.” In his work and service to humanity, one would be right to mention that Dr Babatunde Okewale continues to improve and shows no sign of deteriorating or slowing down. A few months ago, it was a book with golden words; not it is something else—but something just as golden.

Dr Babatunde Okewale has started a new trend on his Women FM (WFM 91.7), which promises to address health problems live and for free. RadioDoctor is exactly what it reads like—a doctor on the radio waiting to advise people on how best to maintain their health and avoid unnecessary knots that force them onto hospital beds or life medication.

Okewale has also gotten several other credible doctors to share their knowledge on RadioDoctor. This means that different kinds of doctors, obstetricians, and gynaecologists like Dr Okewale, paediatricians, psychiatrists, you name it. Essentially, following RadioDoctor is similar to having a room full of doctors waiting to advise you.

According to the schedule, RadioDoctor will be on WFM 91.7 every day of the week (except Sunday) from 10 am to 11 am. Mondays are for children’s health with expert paediatricians; Tuesdays are for women’s health; Wednesdays are for general health; Thursdays are for elderly/mental health; Fridays are for general/mental health; Saturdays are for teenage health.

Dr Okewale has also announced that doctors with specialities in these areas are welcome to the board. This just goes to show how rich a free health CSR consultation radio programme RadioDoctor is. This, it seems, is the next step for Dr Babatunde Okewale.

After more than two decades on women’s health and infertility, the good doctor extends his expertise, experience and influence to children, the elderly and the mentally challenged.

A man committed to all is a man worth admiring. And that is Dr Babatunde Okewale.

with KAYODE ALFRED ͮͶͯ​ͯʹ͵ͳͷͶͮ͵˜ E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com

intention to join the Senate. (It is also interesting that several governors who left office in 2019 have kept to themselves, living under the radar.) This might be because the EFCC chased after him not long after in an allegation of financial fraud of 2 billion.

In other words, this is the second time that Ahmed has had to dance with the EFCC over the dealings of the past. Details on this matter are still pouring in, so the photo of an unsmiling Ahmed may continue to grace the front pages of many newspapers. To put it all in perspective, the EFCC has smoked the man out of his anonymous cocoon.

Abdulfatah

The Game-Changer: Innocent Ike Changes Face of Polaris Bank

Ike

Whoever it is that first suggested that Innocent Ike take over from Tokunbo Abiru must be floating on high heavens now. This is likely the best decision that the Executive Board of Polaris Bank has taken in recent times. It appears that Ike

and his merry band of workaholics will not rest until Polaris has taken first place in all things banking in the Nigerian corporate ecosystem.

The latest reports from the bank have it that Innocent Ike and his team are ready to have the customers of Polaris Bank join the digital world of banking. However, the infrastructure in place is smoother, more flexible, and more adequate for customers’ needs and demands than what other banks are offering.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic chased folks and institutions into the comfort of technology and online devices, most banks in Nigeria have had their motors running for digital and innovative banking. Polaris has just joined the wagon but looks ready to win the hearts of Nigerians (and drag their loyalties away from its peers) The digital bank of Polaris offers the

same services as the others, but with a little bit more. Rather than the typical self-service options for balance checking and transfers, Polaris’ digital platform allows its customers to apply for and get instant loans. Even those who aren’t customers can play around the platform and even open an account. Moreover, Innocent is targeting the ocean of potential customers and making provisions for the trending ecosystem of e-commerce.

To be sure, since Innocent took over from Tokunbo Abiru as Polaris MD/CEO, the bank has taken off as if handing in its textile wings for titanium ones. Perhaps this results from the consolidation of Ike’s 30+ years of banking experience or the harmony of Ike’s visionary team. Regardless, Innocent Ike is changing the face of Polaris Bank.

Jewel of Abia : Bende Youths Host Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje People are not idiots. As far as the grassroots are from the halls of political power, the common folks know when self-interests are running the show and when commitments are genuine. Thus, when almost all of the good people of Bende Local Government Area (LGA) in Abia State came out to celebrate the homecoming of their representative at the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Hon. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, they were saying something about her commitment to their cause.

On May 12, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje was treated to a grand ceremony by youths of her constituency, Bende. The ceremony held at the Bende stadium saw all levels of people from within the LGA and beyond trooping in to show respect to a wellknown and well-loved woman. To top things, Abia Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, was also there, heaping compliment after compliment on Elendu-Ukeje.

Governor Ikpeazu (who is known for speaking his mind) stated that the Bende representative is the Jewel of Abia State politics and one of the brightest lights responsible for the welcome visibility of the state in the National Assembly all around Nigeria. With the many Abians present at the ceremony, Ikpeazu’s praise hit the spot and showed Elendu-Ukeje as a woman worth emulating.

Among the female politicians in Nigeria, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje occupies a special spot. She probably takes first place as the female House of Reps member who has received the most insults and disparagement and faces hostility and aggression from threatened folks in high places. But that has never stopped her from doing her thing.

In her three terms in the Green Chamber, Elendu-Ukeje has served as the House committee chairman on foreign affairs. Even now, she is one of the

Elendu-Ukeje

staunchest voices calling for women participation in politics in Nigeria. She is well-loved in her constituency, with even the Governor of her state as one of her big fans.

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HIGHLIFE

Access Bank MD Herbert Wigwe: The Extraordinary Banker Marches on

Wigwe

With a grander momentum than 1000 people can offer, Herbert Wigwe is proving himself to be the corporate treasure of Nigeria. Access Bank has grown from one of the middle-grade Nigerian banks into a top-level bank of continental renown on his watch. Wigwe recently commandeered the bank to swallow up yet another bank

in a different African country, earning him accolades worldwide.

Herbert Wigwe has proved yet again that the sky is not the limit for everybody, not when there are heights beyond. This is how folks interpreted the news of Access Bank acquiring and assimilating African Banking Corporation, a banking institution based in Mozambique. It is not every day that a bank with a Nigerian at the helm acquires another bank in another country—maybe not every day for Access Bank, but definitely every year!

The acquisition of African Banking Corporation is the fifth in four years. A few weeks ago, Wigwe’s team took command of the South African banking institution, Grobank and renamed it Access Bank South Africa Limited. A few months ago, in January, Wigwe shook hands with the former authorities in charge of Cavmont

Bank Limited, Zambia, and took control of the bank. In 2019, Access Bank broke the internet with its acquisition of Diamond Bank, making it the largest bank in Africa, according to some analysts. Close to the end of 2019, Access Bank acquired 100 per cent of Kenya’s Transnational Bank.

While other banks are consolidating their resources after the COVID-19 crisis, Access Bank continues to look like it could swallow a few more banks before it is full. And who is responsible for this but the bank’s CEO and Group MD, Herbert Wigwe?

With his accomplishments, one might say that he is no longer to his Nigerian peers but has jumped out of the limits of national corporate banking. In less than 20 years, Higwe has transformed Access Bank and made it into the monster it is today. If this is not the true spirit of corporate leadership, what is?

Giant Strides of Otunba Timehin Adelegbe Otunba Timehin Adelegbe, the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency representative at the lower chamber of the National Assembly and proud number one fan of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, has proved to all sundry that his heart beats for his people. His commitment was laid out for all to see last weekend.

In the presence of Akeredolu, Otunba Adelegbe gathered more than 1,750 members of Owo and Ose Local Government Areas and provided them with funds to improve themselves, their businesses and immediate society. While they were all members of the All Progressives Congress, the beneficiaries of Adelegbe’s grace were also small-time business owners, artisans and craftspeople, so the gesture really touched them.

It was noted after the event that this is the biggest gesture to the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency from a member of the House of Reps. In other words, in the minds and memory of the people, no other political figure has represented them so well and relieved them of their burdens as Otunba Adelegbe.

Otunba Adelegbe’s gesture is coming at a time when folks from such remote areas are still picking up the pieces of their lives after the economy-collapsing waves of the COVID-19 virus and pandemic. Thus, the empowerment scheme combines compassion and empathy with visionary planning. Then again, Otunba Timehin Adelegbe has never been one to pull punches or adhere unreasonably to conventions (such as improving the lives of your citizens only a few weeks before elections).

Furthermore, the presence of Governor Akeredolu at the event shows that Otunba Adelegbe has full approval and support from his role model.

One might even say that the latter is starting to walk in the steps of the former: unapologetically focused on what is at hand, never playing with the hearts and loyalty of the people. To quote Neil Armstrong, the gesture of Otunba Timehin Adelegbe is one small step for him but a giant step for the members of his constituency.

Adelegbe

Former Osun Guber Candidate Ademola Adeleke Wipes off Stain on Record

Adeleke

One of the most interesting things about being a politician is the ‘stigma scare’ or the fear of a past blemish suddenly floating to the surface. This is what happened to Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke (alias Dancing Senator) while he was on the cusp of taking the

Osun governorship chair for himself. With the most recent development, that will not happen a second time.

News media houses are buzzing with reports and photos of Senator Ademola Adeleke following his graduation from the Atlanta Metropolitan State College, Georgia, in the U.S. As friends and close colleagues are tilting wine bottles to celebrate Ademola’s new certificate, others are calling to mind the difficulties and torrents of humiliation he faced in the last Osun gubernatorial election.

Recall that the Osun State guber of 2019 was one of the most interesting elections at the time.

While there were several contenders, the frontrunners were incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the dancing Senator, Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At the time, some analysts noted that

Oyetola had the momentum of an incumbent governor on his side. In contrast, Adeleke had his big brother, the wealthy Adedeji Adeleke, and the people of Osun. After many judicial somersaults, Adeleke was declared the winner. And then came the bomb that he forged his SSCE testimonial and WAEC result and the submitted Diploma in Criminology from Jacksonville State University (JSU). At the end of the drama, Adeleke lost the dance to Oyetola and soon after decided to solidify his academic qualifications for all the world to see.

And now, he has. With the Diploma in Criminal Justice, maybe the dancing Senator will step up and step out for the next Osun State gubernatorial electoral royale. In any case, Senator Ademola Adeleke’s slate is cleaner now than it was three years ago.

Gov. Udom Throws Weight Behind Akanimo Udofia’s Gubernatorial Ambition The march towards the next series of elections in Nigeria is raising enough dust to bury all potential losers under.

In Akwa Ibom, the query of the identity of his preferred successor (which has long been submitted to Governor Udom Emmanuel’s table) has reportedly gotten an answer: Akanimo Udofia. How valuable is Governor Emmanuel’s alleged support?

That is the question.

Interestingly, the other person who has been asked the same question on behalf of the veterans in Akwa Ibom politics, former Governor Godswill Akpabio, has also been supportive of Akanimo Udofia. However, a handful of folks have stated that Akpabio’s alleged choice has more to do with his

dislike of the alternative choice (the current national secretary of the APC caretaker committee, Senator John Akpaudoedehe) than the merits of Udofia.

The game of politics is a sentimental one, so one cannot take oaths on behalf of this politician or that. Nevertheless, Governor Udom Emmanuel has shown that he is reliable, meaning that whoever he supports is more likely to be reliable than otherwise.

Or so people think. And the man himself— Udofia?

The well-to-do CEO of Desicon Engineering Limited has not presented himself on any platform as a politician, much less a potential gubernatorial candidate.

However, several coalitions have sprung up

in recent weeks requesting that he do so for the sake of the progress of Akwa Ibom.

A youth coalition said it wanted Udofia because he could be “a governor whom the people can look up from his past and current development drive and economic pursuits and connections within and around the nation and the world...a detribalized Akwa Ibomite, a national and internationally known and recognised figure who could break even at any stage in the world for the good of the State.” Is this what even Governor Udom Emmanuel thinks of Udofia? Is that why Governor Emmanuel allegedly approved of his supposed intention to succeed him?

Lawal

Dr Waheed Babatunde Lawal’s Double Celebration These are truly the best of times for notable Offa businessman, CEO of Turner Wright Group of companies, and prestigious philanthropist, Dr Waheed Babatunde Lawal.

In a few months, the man will be stepping into the circle of elite sexagenarians with regalia of nobility to accompany him.

Some spend all their lives and ready to give their arms and legs to earn the acclaim of their homeland and people. But Dr Lawal got it based on his character and contributions to society.

It appears as if 2021 has been split into two periods of distinction for Dr Waheed Babatunde Lawal. Lawal would remain a prominent business personality, a foremost philanthropist, and a celebrated son of the Offa (Kwara State) soil in the first period. In the second period, Lawal would still be a prominent businessman, but one in his 60s, with the blessings of his hometown in the form of a chieftaincy title upon his brow. This is the double conferment that Dr Lawal is set to enjoy this year.

The preparations for Dr Lawal’s 60th birthday (June 3) are already underway.

According to those in the know, the relatives and friends of Dr Lawal will not be holding back but will go all out to celebrate him. After all, it is not every day that someone of Dr Lawal’s stature steps into his 60th year on earth. But this group will likely be outdone by the natives of Dr Lawal’s hometown, Offa, Kwara.

The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Mohammed Gbadamosi Okikiola Ajagungbade I, Esuwoye II, will confer the title of Parakoyi of Offa on Dr Lawal, raising his social status a few grades.

Interestingly, the Olofa’s conferment will be held on June 5, just two days after Dr Lawal’s 60th birthday. Thus, the buzz on social media for the soon-to-be Parakoyi of Offa cannot be more widespread. Doubtless, Dr Waheed Babatunde Lawal will remember 2021 as the year that the double celebration in his life took a grander turn.

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

El-Rufai – Please, Exercise Restraint Look, at times, you can spoil a good case with all this gragra. You see, I am squarely on your side on this matter. The wage bill is astronomical. The revenues are shrinking. Of the wages, a good percentage are most likely ghost workers or workers that technology has rendered irrelevant or, in some cases, duplication of roles. So, what will a short, extremely brilliant governor do but redress the situation by right-sizing? Unfortunately, this is not business. This is governance where market forces do not hold sway. This is where we have na-me, na-me people struggling for relevance and positioning. Me, I don’t like those NLC people. I even hear in their secretariat that they have not even implemented the minimum wage they are fighting for. Those ones don’t understand the issues. Their own is to run around in faded Ankara and be singing out-of-tune solidarity songs. They never understand the issues.

They are just overgrown daddies playing with their privates, trying to see which one is bigger on the national stage. Despite these, how do you engage them, Mallam? It is not by standing on TV and be talking like Fidel Castro or Abacha—we are going to break the strike. We are going to deal with them.

We are going to fry their balls. We are going to this and that. And be calling them names like economic saboteurs and be sacking all the nurses in one fell swoop. My brother, no be like that o otherwise, you will lose your moral authority. That is what Caroline told me when Osa accused me of always playing to the gallery on our WhatsApp group. Osa is always looking for my trouble taunting and provoking me, and like you, be like say, I get small temper, so I unleash. Then the sweet and, I must say, very beautiful Caroline came on and said, “Duke, don’t say anything again; otherwise, you will lose your moral high

ground.” Sound advice which I am giving you today, Mallam, on this issue. As I said, I am very much in support of you on this one, but then again, you must open the doors for compromise, negotiations, and a middle-ofthe-road solution.

You cannot win this one with a despotic approach. No matter how vacuous their position is, they will have some arguments, so let’s listen. I am happy the strike has been called off as I write, and the federal government has offered to mediate. Please, Mallam, as you go for the negotiations, calm down, you hear? I can even escort you sef. It is not a personal thing. Marshal out your points, show them the figures and ask them how they want you to continue throwing money away when there are critical infrastructural needs all over the state. These NLC people, me, I no just like them. Dragons.

SENATE – WORSE THAN RUBBER STAMP Me, I did not call them rubber stamp o. Far from it, I fear and respect them too much to call them rubber stamp.

The only thing that I just want to say very peacefully, and if anybody vex, I will quickly withdraw it is that this particular Senate be like say them all don take ‘Lexotan’ go sleep. Nothing is happening there, no excitement, nothing. Na just to be approving request for external borrowings o. I do not think they are even asking what happened to the previous ones. They will just approve fiam, and they will go back on recess. The only time you get anything from this lot, is when Senator Smart Adeyemi type will stand up and be railing and pouring spit all over the place shouting on insecurity after maybe his maiguard had been beaten up by a herdsman. And have you noticed that each time we get these kinds of speeches, the hall is usually empty with just about six or seven senators sitting down there looking as bored as ever? They will be saying in their minds, ‘abeg Smart talk finish make we dey go abeg, there is a new sex toy in town, need to go sample.’

My people, these ones are looking like they have never heard of checks and balances. They are just looking like an extension of the executive, and everything is just going smoothly sef.

Mbok, help me remember the name of the oga of the place. I don’t even remember that is how bad the thing is in my head. When I call people like Chuba Okadigbo, Joe Wayas, Dr Saraki, even that big Igbo man with big belle and small head, who will be wearing red cap even try. But this one, make I keep quiet. I be orphan. Sad.

ABUBAKAR MALAMI – WRONG ANALOGY My brother, that your example no work. Comparing the herdsmen crisis in the country and the suggestions by the southern governors banning open grazing with an illustrated ban on spare parts selling is a very mischievous attempt at diverting attention. It is even risky sef, in a country like this where you have a large population that don’t read and, even if they do, do not have the power to discern. That is how one street urchin seeing this statement in Kano will shout, ‘They have banned sale of spare parts,’ and another round of looting and maiming will start. I agree with your position on the rights and freedom of movement enshrined in the Constitution and all that, but when the issue of violence associated with this movement has become rife to the extent that it is making the country divided up to the point that insecurity across the nation is the order of the day, then something has to be done. Tying your argument with all due respect to just’ rights to movement and freedom’ in this instant is at best dodgy. The issue here is not open grazing. The issue here, sir, is the violence that comes with it. The herders-farmers crisis that is leading to other things is the issue. Can we just for once put our heads together, forget any shallow attachments, and find a lasting solution to this thing. Me, I am getting tired.

afang. I don’t even care if he will enjoy it. I will sha just offer him. Daddy has said that there cannot be war in Nigeria and that who will fight who.

He said that those blowing trumpets of war are simply just trying to draw attention to what they can get out of this country; my sentiments exactly.

All these mumu people jumping up and shouting, secession, war, etc., are the very first to run when they hear the sound of banger. I look and listen to all these charlatans, and they are being represented in every corner of this country for what they are - jokers.

I have always said that our problem is nothing but leadership. By its very weakness, this current leadership has amplified all these fault lines that have been there since independence.

It has exposed the fault lines in a very obvious and annoying way. See, we moved from regions to states. We divided from 12 to 36, and we are still beset with the same issues of poor leadership, corruption, infrastructural decay, etc. So, for anybody to tell me that if we restructure or break up, we will suddenly become an Eldorado, then that person needs his head examined. Please, my dear Sultan, tell them the issue is not resource control, restructuring, insecurity, or anything but that of leadership. And we get the kind of leaders we deserve. Simple.

I just wonder why. I pray this is just one of their usual games. If you ask me, I think he should really consider very seriously a run. He is less controversial than ‘bullion van.’ He is cerebral. He has had eight years of hands-on experience, even if he has spent most of that time on Zoom and the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

He has shown that he can rise to the occasion when given the opportunity.

All the times that he was acting, he was effective. I seriously think that his candidacy will calm frayed nerves of ethnic agitations, send a strong signal of steady hands to the investment community and shore up our credentials as a nation that should be taken seriously. All will accept him as non-threatening, and he can be trusted to have the nation as his focus if he can cut loose the strings of control by those who control us. I think he should be a consensus candidate. A candidate that we can use to calm nerves while we strategise. Let’s think about it.

SULTAN ABUBAKAR – GOD BLESS YOU You see, I owe this oga a hot bowl of

PROF YEMI OSINBAJO – WHY AREN’T YOU INTERESTED? I have seen the rebuttal that the highly respected but seemingly ‘thrown to one side’ Vice President has released, that he is not interested in the Presidency.

Lawal

Malami

Abubakar

Rufai

AWO AND AREMU – SCAM OF THE CENTURY Don’t mind my use of the word scam in the title, but if you really look at it, na scam. I am producing two plays this August on the two historic figures – Awo and Aremu. You see, u know my mouth is too sweet. When I am sitting down in front of sponsors who are business people, I will say, ‘look at the historical push of these plays.

Using the Yoruba culture and its ethos as a mode of delivery is essential.

These plays will frolic with the Yoruba culture, throwing up paradigms leaning heavily on birth, marriage, death, leadership and the rest to tell a story that will compel thousands

Osinbajo

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LOUD WHISPERS of Nigerians and draw them to the theatre courtesy of your products.

They will swallow it and say, oya, Edgar, let’s deal. But the true thing is simple.

We are witnessing a dearth of leadership. We no longer have selfless leaders in this mould in this country again. What we have are bullionvan driving leaders masking as true patriots. At the slightest opportunity, we have sleeping leaders jump on the plane to go check their tonsils when everything is burning down. We now have a generation of sycophants who will charm your pants down as long as it keeps them on the table of avarice.

These two stories of these historical figures will once again throw up what true leadership is all about. Call them anything you want to call these two.

You cannot compare them with what we see today in anything. You will say why only ‘Yoruba’ as our ethnicminded jingoists would say. I am already being accused of talking about only one side of the nation. My answer to them is to go to the toilet and take the blunt end of the toilet cleaner, bend down and... This our country is finished o, but some of us will not give up. I can only tell three stories a year, and God will keep us alive to continue to tell these stories, and when it is over for us, God will throw up others that will carry on.

Let me state here very carefully that tribe or geographical location does not play any role in my head in choosing the subjects. Maybe the market comes in once in a while. The real thing that catches my attention is the depth of the story and what I want to achieve.

Throwing up an Awo and Aremu as examples of diagonally separate leadership schools at this time is brilliant, if I must say so myself. They both played very critical roles at very strategic points in our national history, and I feel today’s leaders can learn a thing or two. We will get to other leaders surely. We are doing the Aba Women Riots next with an interesting angle pulling it from the lesser-known Ikot Abasi angle. Then we will look at Tafawa Balewa or Queen Amina, and then I will want to look at the legendary Arochukwu people. Their story is captivating. Any which way we go, we must tell our stories not just for telling sake but also use them as a vehicle for national reawakening. But seriously, anybody who no like am, do ya own. Kai. PAUL ADEFARASIN – COWARDICE ON THE PULPIT This handsome man sha like to talk.

The man likes to hear the sound of his voice, and I do not blame him. If you see the kinds of beautiful girls in that church, you sef will be talking with an American accent o. Me, I went to that church one day to go see a movie premiere. These girls are neat o. They don’t look Nigerian; they all look like those people we use to see in snoop dog video wallowing on the beach. They will all just sit down there, cross their legs and be admiring pastor whose words they all take with equanimity. Whether they understand it or not, it is not their problem o. Their own is that they have worn cloth and have come to church. So, the risk of grandstanding and playing to the gallery is all so prevalent. Pastor will just jump up and be talking all sorts, including crap, and the people will be clapping and be saying, ‘kai, this our pastor can speak English o. Mbok, what is plan B for a leader? To run away?

Did Martin Luther King do plan B when he was fighting for Civil Rights?

Didn’t he lose his life? Should I call more? Desmond Tutu, Mathew Kukah, the catholic priests who lost their lives in the genocidal wars in Rwanda, too many to mention. It is not to be looking like a Hollywood star and be doing plan B. Mbok, I am very sorry I didn’t

I am for a robust democracy, and democracy is about debate, strategy and engagement. Let’s have a strong APC who will take on a virile PDP in a battle that would be guided by strategy and logic and not by loaves of bread and ballot snatching. This is a welcome development, and I want to send my hearty congratulations to Mr Ambode and the APC for this welcome and very strategic development.

Ambode

Adefarasin

mention this when it first came out, my Afang woman had just passed, and I was sad. But now I am back, and the more I am looking at this video, the more bad belle is catching me. Paul, why not mobilize your youths, use your incredible gift of the garb and seek a position and begin to change the system instead of planning to run away? That is cowardice, and if I were a member of your church, that would be the end of my tithing. I will just be coming to take a picture and greet the fine girls. My brother, this thing no be psychedelic life o, this is Nigeria.

We need serious people to help turn it around. Thank you.

They woke up one morning from their orgy and said, ‘no second term’. They said he didn’t follow the master plan and, as such, will not be allowed to do a second term. All hell broke loose, and everybody begged. But the owners had spoken, and nothing anybody could do about it. So, he left. We all cried, but what could we do? The talent was keen, and that was why he was brought in, in the first place. He has mended the fences, and today he is at the national level playing a very strategic role in the party that should see his party better positioned and ready. They say he has been made vice chairman in charge of strategy for APC in the South-West. To me, this is a welcome development because this leader still has so much to give.

AKINWUNMI AMBODE – THE GRADUAL BOUNCE

UTO UKPANAH – A NIGHTINGALE SPEAKS It was my brother Tobe that introduced her to me. They both work with MTN, and the company has been super nice to me. They supported my last play, Ibiom, very robustly. Tobe felt that I could learn a thing or two from Uto and, as such, gave me the link. Mbok, na chat we dey chat throughout o.

So I never really got to feel her intellectual strength and outlook better. Then I fell into a maze after the wonderful production and reached out to her to see if she could assist me in untangling it. She is very influential in my state.

That is how chat led to talk, and I called. Mbok, when some people talk, you will be wondering which school dey go. The diction, the neatness of the delivery, and much more importantly, the clarity of thought just killed me.

She spoke very eloquently about what is ‘right’. This is a dilemma we face in this country, people not knowing what is ‘right’ and not connecting with it. Her voice was soothing, and I could just imagine how this country would be if people like this were given an opportunity. My sister, I say I should sha just greet you this morning. I know you will not like this mention just bear with me. This is how people that are close to me ‘suffer,’ ask Tobe. Nigeria will do well with people like you. Even if my maze is not untangled in our lifetime, just know that you have found a willful follower. But let Nigeria hear you, my sister. It cannot be only me.

Ukpanah

ABIDEMI RUFAI – SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT FROM HELL Me, I like Governor Dapo Abiodun, but these are not very good times for him. He had a scallywag as his SSA; just been arrested in the United States for wire fraud. The funds involved are humungous, and the case is receiving very major attention both locally and internationally. My own is that we should begin to strengthen our screening capabilities so that miscreants like this will not find themselves in the system. We do not know the wholesome damage crimes like this cause our economy. Forget image. Today, Nigeria is synonymous with fraud. ‘The Nigerian Prince’ is now the symbol of international fraud.

I have watched several documentaries, newsreels, and Hollywood blockbuster movies that have been mainly mentioned and portrayed. This fool not only scammed the system, stealing from the vulnerable, but he would also have now come home to attempt a push at the National Assembly.

Do you see what that means? They say innocent until found guilty abi.

Did you see the video of this gorilla spraying dollars at a party like say na him get Fort Knox? You can never spray legitimately earned cash like that. So, my brother Governor Abiodun, kindly look into your cabinet. In fact, not only Abiodun. Let’s rescreen every governor or officeholder to weed out these kinds of people before they kuku finish what credibility we have in government. It is not until they start to strip-search our president and do a cavity search on him at the airport before we begin to get sense.

SANWO-OLU – RMD’S APPOINTMENT IS COMMENDABLE My Excellency, how have you been?

Let me first congratulate you on your new buses. Marvellous. I am writing you because I have seen a petition from some people who have called themselves something of indigenous Lagos asking for the removal of versatile actor Richard Mofe Damijo as Chairman of the Committee on Entertainment. First, my lord, the money sef is small sha. But much more important, if we want to start using merit as a basis for appointment to produce the Nigeria of our dreams we all yearn for, where do we start from but cosmopolitan Lagos? If you ask me, this is a very strong appointment which I want to believe came out of your need to achieve something with this Fund. You must have looked at credibility, integrity, and experience. That RMD is eminently qualified cannot be contested. That there are a thousand and one Lagosians who can do the job and even better does not mean that the state of origin should be of critical consideration in taking this decision. We must begin to bring capacity to bear on things like this—the commissioner for culture in Akwa Ibom na Yoruba man. El-Rufai media man na Yoruba man. Asiwaju Tinubu as governor brought Ben Akabueze into his government, and he performed credibly well. A Yoruba man - Olumide, runs the biggest mall in Akwa Ibom and owned by the government. So, if we are to take RMD out, let it be that he is not qualified or messed up and not because he is not a Yoruba man. This is not the Lagos or should I say the Nigeria that we want to bequeath to our children.

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

The Rise and Rise of Corporate Guru Segun Ogunsanya Rufai

How Abidemi Rufai Got into Trouble

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ntil last week, Abidemi Rufai Mayodele, an aide of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state, was seen as a good man with a heart of gold.

This is because he was fond of donating money and food items to his constituents. He is flamboyant, a top-flight socialite and man-about-town quite popular among musicians.

He has houses in choice areas in Ijebu-Ode as well as Lekki.

He drives expensive cars and well-connected on account of his relationship with Governor Abiodun and other power brokers Ogun and neighbouring states.

But as they say, ‘greed is a powerful motivator.’ The dude was not content with enough wealth he had acquired. He got pushed by greed and found himself in an unenviable situation.

His fans were shocked beyond words when news broke Monday that Mayodele, owner of Ecobet, a popular sports betting company, had been arrested at the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on his way out of the United States.

The acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman accused him of using an alias, Sandy Tang, to steal over $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department. If found guilty, he will spend 30 years in prison.

He is a member of Egbe Bobamayegun of Ijebu Ode, a popular social-cultural group among the Ijebu Ode people.

He once aspired to represent the Ijebu Ode/Odogbolu/ Ijebu North-East Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

Meanwhile, the man has been left to bear the consequences of his acquisitiveness as his boss, Governor Abiodun, ordered his immediate suspension from office to answer charges against him.

It is not an exaggeration to describe Segun Ogunsanya, the outgoing Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, as one of the brightest minds in corporate Nigeria.

When he took over Airtel Nigeria’s reins a few years ago, not many doubted his ability to turn things around in the company, having performed wonders in other firms like Coca-Cola and Ecobank International, among others.

Ogunsanya, an engineer of repute, had been chosen as the right man to help stem the tide of the telecommunications company, which is known to have metamorphosed a number of times.

He was seamlessly captaining the ship of the Nigerian Bottling Company when Airtel Nigeria challenged him with another challenging position as its CEO. Known to take challenges head-on like a bull and surmount them, Ogunsanya could not resist the temptation of a fresh challenge.

Today, he is commended for his

efforts to pull the company from the precipice, thanks to his managerial skills.

Industry watchers affirm that it has been the longest period of stability without another change of ownership since the company first launched its network as Econet Wireless in 2001.

The Bharti Group was particularly impressed that Ogunsanya was able to keep the ship of Airtel Nigeria afloat while constantly remaining within budget with an uncanny trademark measured frugality. A stickler for excellence and near perfection, Ogunsanya started on a good note and has lifted the company far above its competitors, with groundbreaking innovations, thereby putting smiles on the faces of the shareholders.

Having won the confidence of the entire shareholders and his bosses across the continent, he is tipped as the successor to Raghunath Mandava, CEO, Airtel Africa, when he retires in September 2021. Ogunsanya will not only be the first Nigerian but the first African to be in that position.

Ogunsanya

Another Feather in Property Merchant Yemi Lawal’s Cap

Lawal

Today Sunday, May 23, 2021, all roads lead to the expansive palace of Oba Kabiru Ayangburin of Ikorodu Kingdom, when Otunba Saheed Yemi Lawal, the Seagle Properties boss, will be installed as the Bobamulero of Ikoroduland.

According to the organizers, the ceremony is part of the activities to commemorate the sixth coronation anniversary of the royal father.

Society Watch further gathered that the multimillionaire businessman would open a

six-block of fully-furnished classrooms in Ikorodu, inaugurated days after his installation as Bobamulero of Ikoroduland.

The Seagle Group boss, who wears philanthropy as a second skin, never looks away whenever there appears a need to assist the people. In recognition of his philanthropy, he was honoured with Ekerin Bobagunwa of Egbaland by Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, CFR, the Alake of Egbaland, in 2020.

Ex-Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu Counts Blessings at 59 Senator Ike Ekweremadu has enjoyed a steady rise in the nation’s political sphere. But it is a given that his enviable status in today’s Nigeria was not thrust on his laps. Instead, he has worked tirelessly to attain his current status.

The former deputy Senate president is one of the few experienced politicians who have climbed every rung of the ladder to get to their current positions.

Since 1997 when he joined active politics, he had served in various capacities, including being a local government chairman, secretary to the state government, chief of staff and later deputy Senate president.

The political gladiator is everything many aspiring politicians would wish to be in life. When he was coming into the game in 1997, he never thought he would ever get to this level. He only wanted an opportunity to serve his people and to address some of their challenges.

For a man who has done so much for his people, his birthday could not

have come without some celebration. No wonder, when he turned 59 last week, he was celebrated by his admirers and constituents. Though it was a low-key celebration, they poured encomiums on him while the celebration lasted.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that his greatest desire is to secure the number one job of his state in 2023 when the incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi would have served his two terms in office as mandated by the constitution.

“Senator Ike has received the blessings of many top political leaders as well as those that matter in the scheme of things across the state. His ambition is buoyed by his unprecedented contributions to the growth of Enugu, which have wormed him into the hearts of the people. He also has a solid political structure, unmatched clout as well a heavy financial war chest.

He will be throwing his hat in the ring in 2023,” a source said.

However, another source revealed that this might be a mirage as the governorship might be zoned to a different zone.

Ekweremadu

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

23.05.2021

AT 92, ABAYOMI BARBER’S STILL THE MAN OF THE MOMENT With an art practice spanning over seven decades, Abayomi Barber at 92 easily stands out as one of the contemporary Nigerian art scene’s leading lights. The artist, whose naturalistic paintings rebuff the Western notions of African art, was the toast of the Lagos art community at a recent event organised by the National Gallery of Art. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

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hen OladimejiAbayomiAdebayoAlade Barber clocked 92, on October 23, last year, the rest of the country was gripped by fever spasms of mass protests against police brutality. During these protests, tagged EndSARS, cultural activities – like everything else – understandably ground to a halt nationwide. This was at a time when the COVID-19 protocols still discouraged large gatherings and the art public agonised over the effects of the earlier government-imposed lockdowns! Is it any wonder, therefore, that the National Gallery ofArt – which is often known as the NGA– had to shelve its plans of organising an elaborate ceremony in honour of this artistic luminary?

Fast-forward to last Tuesday (May 18) afternoon. The gallery eventually had its way and hosted what was designed to be a formal reception at the decrepit National Commission for Museums and Monuments’ quadrangle and exhibition spaces.

Talking about the event, it arguably witnessed one of the largest turnouts to any art event in recent times. Besides featuring the Lagos art community’s crème de la crème, it was graced by the NGA’s director-general Ebeten W. Ivara as well as the representatives of the information, culture and tourism minister and kindred parastatals.Among those occupying the high table were the birthday celebratorAbayomi Barber, a former National Council of Arts and Culture secretary FrankAbiodunAig-Imoukhuede, the octogenarian artist Bruce Onobrapkeya, the respected artist and art educator Kolade Oshinowo, the celebrated female artist Nike Davies-Okundaye, the art historian and visual artist Professor Peju Layiwola, the renowned art collector and the founder of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum ofArt, Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, the artist and art administrator Oliver Enwonwu and the veteran journalist and art consultant Ben Tomoloju, who presented the special exhibition brochure. There was, of course, also the curator of the SMO Gallery, Sandra Obiago, whose presence was duly acknowledged by the event’s master of ceremony even though she was not seated at the high table.

As for the event, it owed its high-octane tenor more to Barber’s renown than to his bonhomie. Indeed, the nonagenarian’s admirable track record in the industry, whose narrative arc is as impressive as it is inspirational, easily distinguishes him from even among his contemporaries in the art scene. For besides tacitly establishing an art movement – known in the art historian circles as theAbayomi BarberArt School – he is admired for clawing his way from out of

Abayomi Barber anonymity up the ladder-rungs of the industry’s recognition.

Abotched plan to sail to England as a stowaway earned Barber the wrath of his maternal uncle ObaAdesojiAderemi (the then the Ooni of Ife). For this audacious plot, he was to be confined at the monarch’s palace for another five years. But then, the inexorable decree of fate intervened about two and half months later and made his secret plans for an escape unnecessary. This was sometime in 1957 when his uncle ObaAderemi was celebrating his ascension to the throne. The festivities naturally attracted distinguished Yoruba personalities, among whom was the revered politician and nationalist Chief ObafemiAwolowo.

Apresentation of the portraits Barber did of ChiefAwolowo and the then Minister of Education of the defunct Western Region, StephenAwokoya, literally changed his fortunes. With the help of

a scholarship from the Western Regional Government, not long afterwards, he was able to finally travel to the UK. It was here that he enrolled to study at the Central School ofArts and Crafts in London from 1960 to 1962. Besides studying the preservation and restoration of antiquities, he moulded a statue of ChiefAwolowo at Mancini and Tozer Studios in London. The abrupt end of the scholarship after a crisis, which engulfed Nigeria’s Western Region, left him out in the cold. Undaunted, he was still able to study casting and moulding at Mancini and Tozer Studios, worked as an art assistant at a studio owned by the Irish sculptor Edward Delaney and subsequently worked with the Croatian sculptor Oscar Nemon on five sculptors of British wartime prime minister Winston Churchill at St James studio.

Tomoloju, who presented the special exhibition brochure, titled Abayomi Barber:AnArtist Born and Made, thought the allusion of Barber’s artistic experience while in the UK as “cultural assimilation” inappropriate. He would rather it be substituted with the term “cultural synthesis”. His reason? “[Barber] already had a bastion of creative motivational force in his Yoruba cultural environment which could not have been extirpated by sheer exposure to the Western mode of artistic expression. Barber will not, for instance, be compared with his francophone counterpart who, subject to the French policy of assimilation, divests himself of much of his original culture to take on more of the culture of the coloniser.”

Indeed, Barber had sufficiently asserted himself in the visual arts and music before his departure for the UK. He taught himself to sculpt, thanks to the uncommon interest he had developed during his visits to the local shrines as part of his primary school history lessons.Adding his drawing skills later to this transformed him into a full-fledged artist.

Opening his first studio in a warehouse in the southwestern Nigerian town of Ilesa with the help of his uncle, the Ooni, he not only produced sculptures of the town’s influential people but also frequently visited Lagos, which even back then was already the country’s hub of artistic activities.

When he eventually relocated to Lagos, he briefly trained under the renowned British sculptor Paul Mount at the Yaba College of Technology, where he had enrolled for a course in sculpture. It was in this city that he would experience his bloom time in the arts, lurching eventually from his visual arts practice on to other interests such as music, advertising, book illustration and interaction with the Yoruba Historical Society.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

TRIBUTE

A GARLAND FOR AN ART MATRIARCH AT 70 Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

Lagos from 6 pm. Expected at the event, whose chief host is the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwoolu, are the leading lights of the local arts community.

At the landmark age of 70, the woman – known in ver-the-top revelries the art circles as “Mama Nike” – has every reason to customarily trail the breasting the septuagenar- be thankful for the inexorable weavings of creation.

Her life’s story so far is an exemplar of the triumph ian tape. So shall it be for of spirit, which saw her wade through the darkest Nike Davies-Okundaye, nights of her soul. who joins the club today. A She was left in the lurch after losing her mother special dinner event, at the when she was just six years old and her grandmother instance of the Lagos State a year after. Nonetheless, the resolute soul lurking Government (through the Ministry of Tourism, beneath her young body cheerfully took whatever fate threw her way in her strides. Indeed, it was this Arts and Culture) in partnership with GAC longsuffering inner disposition that helped her glow Motor, will be organised in her honour at the through those years when many in her position Banquet Hall of Eko Hotel in Victoria Island,

O

would have given up, reproachfully demanding an explanation from the Creator.

Instead, Nike found solace in the arts through leveraging her upbringing with her great-grandmother, who was the head of all the craftswomen in the Kogi State community of Ogidi-Ijumu. It was the latter that taught her what she needed to learn about weaving textiles and making adire fabrics.

Still on the arts, there were early signs of their calling her into their service. Besides her late mother and an aunt, who raised her, were known to be art-inclined, there was also her father, who was known to be a multi-talented artisan.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com Nike

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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CICERO

Editor:Olawale Olaleye mail:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

IN THE ARENA

Situating Shekau’s ‘Latest Death’ As the Nigerian Army probes the ‘latest death’ of factional Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, the old posers resurface, writes Louis Achi, who examines the long-winding narratives and the possible consequences

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actional Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau’s reported ‘latest death,’last week, presents his bruised Nigerian audience with a quirky Shakespearean dilemma.

According to the Elizabethan Era literary sage, in Julius Caesar (Act 2, Scene 2): “Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once…”

Except as a metaphor, a person can’t physically die multiple times in a single lifetime. But the second part of Shakespeare’s quote departs from metaphor when he held that the valiant never taste of death but once. In effect, when the valiant physically dies, it is the only time he will know death because he has never been afraid to face the challenges of life.

Pushing the seething, dark inner vision of his life, Shekau, deputy and eventually successor to the group’s founder, Mohammed Yusuf, who was executed in 2009, it could not be denied that he has shown extreme courage in prosecuting his very damaging anti-state convictions. Shekau is (was) instrumental to the killings of thousands of people and displacement of over three million in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States over the years.

Between 2009 and 2021, Shekau’s death has been claimed or reported several times by the nation’s security agencies. The Shakespearean ‘coward label’ then hardly sits Abubakar Shekau well on the insurgency leader’s neck given the 3 August. scope of audacious, bloody damage he has done to the state.

However, a video in September 2013 was released in But this scenario essentially contradicts the old insight that which a man purported to be Shekau claimed he had not only cowards die aplenty before their final death. The big been killed. The Nigerian Army also claimed to have killed question is: Has Shekau finally died?

Apparently, to avoid a comparable dilemma, US President him during the 2014 Battle of Kodunga that lasted from September 12 to 14th.

Barrack Obama, out of the options he was offered during The Cameroonian military posted a photo and also Operation Neptune Spear, which killed Osama Bin Laden claimed their forces killed Shekau in September 2014. in Abbottabad, Pakistan, chose one that’ll ensure the US In response to these reports, security analyst with Red24 Navy Seals physically retrieved Osama’s dead body. This Ryan Cummings commented, “Is this his fourth or fifth was subsequently buried at sea, according to reports. There death? He dies more often than an iPhone battery.” In were no speculations and long-winding narratives. early October 2014, a video was obtained by AFP news Nigerian authorities believed that Shekau was killed agency that showed Shekau alive, in which he mocked the in 2009 during clashes between security forces and Boko Nigerian military’s allegations that he had been killed.

Haram, until July 2010, when Shekau appeared in a video Late Chadian President, Idriss Déby claimed in midclaiming leadership of the group. He has subsequently been August 2015 that Shekau had been replaced by Mahamat regularly reported dead and is even thought to use body Daoud without exactly specifying his fate. An audio doubles. message attributed to Shekau was released a few days later, In March 2015, Shekau pledged allegiance to ISIL leader in which he purportedly stated that he had neither been Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Shekau is a Salafi, until 2016, when killed nor ousted as chief of the group. he ended his relation to ISIL; the two groups were however More, Shekau was reported to have been “fatally allies until 2021, when they became enemies and ISIL wounded” during an airstrike in Taye village on 19 August gunmen tried to assassinate him.

2016 by Nigerian Air Force, which also killed some senior Before the now defunct Shekau-Baghadi alliance, the leaders of Boko Haram. On September 25, a video of a man Nigerian Army in mid-August 2013 stated that Shekau purported to be Shekau was released on YouTube, in which was fatally wounded, when soldiers raided a base of Boko Haram in Sambisa forest and had died between 25 July and he claimed that he was alive and in good health.

On 27 June 2017, Shekau released a video in which he claimed responsibility for the abduction of Nigerian policewomen and criticised the Nigerian government for claiming that Boko Haram had been defeated. This video would seem to be further evidence of Shekau’s continued survival.

In February 2020, Shekau released a video threatening the Minister of Information and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and making reference to what was done to Islamic scholar Ja’afar Mahmud Adam in Maiduguri, when he preached against Boko Haram.

Most recently, on Thursday, May 20 2021, Nigerian intelligence officials claimed that Shekau was killed or critically injured after detonating explosives in his house to avoid capture from the rival IS–West African Province faction. This is yet to be finally established.

According to AFP news agency, over 300 fighters loyal to ISWAP, in a fierce battle on Wednesday, lasting several days between the ISWAP-Boko Haram factions led to the death of dozens of commanders and hundreds of foot soldiers from both sides and that Shekau has killed himself or fatally injured himself to the extent that he might not survive.

The Nigerian Army has said that it is probing the reports.

According to military spokesman, Mohammed Yerima, the reports on Shekau’s death or injury could neither be denied nor confirmed.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

N

Malami

What’s Malami Saying?

ot unexpectedly, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,Abubakar Malami, last week, stood on the side of herders, when he condemned the position of Southern governors, who upheld the ban on open grazing, saying their position was unconstitutional.

But that isn’t even the bone of contention here.

He went on to liken the governors’position to banning the sales of vehicle spare parts. How? What’s even the parallel between itinerant herders and vehicle spare parts sellers, who operate from identifiable stations or shops? Is the desperation to grant the Fulani herdsmen a free-pass so pressing that the AGF could not even properly articulate his defence and the best the chief law officer of the nation could do is equate herders and spare parts vendors? Wow!

There’s something you can’t afford to gloss over here, albeit objectively. Isn’t it obvious now why the criminal herders go about with so much recklessness and guts? Isn’t it evident why it appeared their excesses were seemingly intractable? Isn’t it understandable now why government seemed helpless in the face of the heinous crimes so far perpetrated by these criminal elements in the name of grazing?

It is shameful and utterly disappointing that the chief law officer of the nation could not hide his biases in a matter that threatened national security and the unity of Nigeria and would rather espouse such lowly primordial sentiments.Although the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu gave him a resounding reply, exposing his lack of capacity and ineptitude, Malami has also by himself exposed his role in the problems of the country. He’s no less an enemy of Nigeria.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 23, 2021

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BRIEFINGNOTES Okada: Time to Wield the Big Stick Time for the Lagos State government to brace up security of the state by fully proscribing commercial motorcycles and tricycles is now. Shola Oyeyipo writes

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s much as governance is about the people, there are times when tough decisions must ignite action, because not until a decision is made, nothing happens. Therefore, the purported plan by the Lagos State government to place a full ban on the activities of commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada, is one that must be followed through.

The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration in Lagos is obviously inundated with the dangerous dimension the activities of commercial motorcyclists is taking; their disregard for state traffic laws and restrictions, hence the decision to ban them totally, and this decision is enjoying considerable support from well-meaning Lagosians and Nigerians alike.

Why so? Despite arguments that this ugly alternative means of transportation, which though helps a good number of Lagosians beat the harrowing traffic experience that often characterises Lagos roads, the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages.

Although one Oladeinde put the statistics of Okada related deaths at 600 between 2015 and now and 10, accidents, those familiar with Lagos traffic know that that is only an official figure. A lot more people lose their lives daily in Lagos and not a few have sustained debilitating deformations from accidents on commercial motorcycles.

More challenging, however, is the security threat posed to the state by these commercial motorcyclists. A majority of crimes are perpetrated by Okada riders, because it comes handy as a getaway vehicle after crimes are committed, and worst still, with the clamp down on Boko Haram members, bandits and other criminals across Nigeria, Lagos easily becomes the ideal destination and Okada, the easiest business to embark upon.

The recent statement credited to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, attributing a majority of violent crimes in the state to armed hoodlums, who operate on motorcycles or Okada as they are known, when he appraised the security situation in the state during a stakeholder’s meeting, is no news.

Many Lagosians have had first experiences with criminal Okada riders, who snatch bags, rob people inbroad day light, carry out gang attacks, kidnapping, burglary, engage law enforcement officers in violent confrontations and often get away, because most of their bikes don’t have authentic plate numbers.

Odumosu painted a very graphic picture of the nuisance Okada in Lagos constitute with a review of their activities between January and May 9, where he reckoned that 192 Okada riders lost their live in 280 accidents, noting also that, “The number of deaths recorded in road accidents and crime committed with the use of Okada across the state, had assumed a worrisome dimension.”

According to him, records at the disposal of the Lagos State Police Command indicate that in January,90 Okada accidents occurred; 76 in February, 101 in March, 84 in April and 34 in May (May 9 to be precise), and the number is expected to rise. He said Okada accidents were often because of recklessness and lawlessness, with some riding on the opposite direction of the roads and making dangerous maneuvers.

Like most other concerned Lagosians, Odumosu advised the Lagos State government to put in place stringent measures to address the negative activities of the commercial motorcycle operators, saying,“Okadas are being illegally used as a veritable means of conveying hard drugs from one point to another. The consequences of spreading of hard drugs and its consumption are better imagined than said.”

In another revelation, the Lagos police chief said between January and early May, 320 commercial motorcycles were arrested in connection with 218 cases of criminal incidents in which 78 suspects were detained and 480 guns of various calibers seized from them.

The Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) administration was about the most concerned Lagos administrator about the activities of the Okada riders. In 2012, he assented to some

A typical hoard of Okada riders in Lagos stringent traffic laws that became operational in the state. With Section 3 (1) his government banned commercial motorcyclists and restricted their operations on at least 492 of the 9, 200 roads across the metropolis. Though that decision generated considerable outrage, it was vigorously enforced leading to confrontations with law enforcement agents. Now they are back as if the law has been repealed.

The argument by Okada operators has been that government should not bar them from federal highways that are listed in the Federal Highways Act, cap F13, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and that doing so would be infringing on their freedom of movement as preserved in Section 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended. On the other hand, users of that mode of transportation bemoan that the existing means of transportation do not guarantee ease of movement for residents of the state, and that equally, the road infrastructure are inadequate and under immense pressure.

An observation of commentaries by Lagos residents on social media shows that even though Okada as a means of transportation is helping some people to beat the harrowing traffic in some parts of the state, the people are tired of the activities of the operators, and they look up to the Sanwo-Olu administration to really wield the big stick this time around. Candidly, however, it shouldn’t just stop at getting them off the road because of the multiple layers of effects such action is likely to create.

First, while it is a known fact that Okada operators and their activities are constituting menace in the state, so many others are making ends meet from the business that has grown to a multimillion-naira industry. Sending these people to the labour market without a well thought means of engaging them could even have a more disturbing effects on security and social systems in the state.

Also, while government promised to acquire buses to cushion the effects of Okada ban, the problem of traffic jams will continue to necessitate the use of Okada, especially, for those who must get to work or keep business appointments. For instance, many Lagosians rely absolutely on Okada to get in and out of Apapa.

What alternative would government provide for people working in areas such as this?

Proffering a solution to the problem, a former CEO, Lagos Ferry Services, Kalejaiye Adeboye-Paul,suggested that water transportation should be encouraged, but good as this may sound, the question is, ferries cannot get into the inner roads/streets.

A commentator, Seyi Osiyemi also said, “It is common knowledge that Okadas/kekes have become a menace on Lagos roads. At some point, the state government considered licensing tech companies providing bike-hailing services, which would have provided an opportunity for the state government to sanitise the sector. This plan, however, never materialised due to growing level of insecurity.

“What we have in Lagos is a people problem and not necessarily a motorbike problem. I can point to different cities in sub-Saharan African, where activities of motorbike are well regulated without causing a nuisance. A case in point is Cotonou, where motorbike is provided with dedicated right of way. Kigali is also another example.

“The inability of government to effectively regulate motorbikes is down to the endemic human problems we have in Nigeria, which is also characterised across every sphere of our society. And this is further compounded by the fact that motorbikes riders are surrogate of the NURTW.” Certainly, banning Okada on Lagos roads is inevitable, but government cannot leave it at that, all the ripple effects of such action must be considered and addressed.

NOTES FOR FILE

Subsidy: The Evil Day Is Nigh!

Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State Governor

Since January 2012, when the first bold move to remove the criminal and fraudulent subsidy from petroleum products by former President Goodluck Jonathan was rebuffed and organised against by then opposition now in power, it was evident that the nation was merely postponing the evil day and that sooner or later, the chicken was going to come home to roost.

Last week, governors of the federation came together and agreed to finally give unto Caesar what was his by supporting subsidy removal. And after a rough estimate, given the nation’s peculiar situation, Nigerians might be dealing with close to N400 per litre for the Prime Motor Spirit.

Unfortunately, this would have been one obnoxious phase long behind the government and the Nigerian people, even when President Muhammadu Buhari, was all over place during his election in 2015, canvassing the need to remove subsidy from petroleum and stop the stealing of the people’s common patrimony.

On the contrary, it was shocking that, his government has tried to christen this official heist many funny names just so it could pass and be seen as ideal. But eventually, the evil day, after several postponements, is here. For those who had dreaded the consequences of subsidy removal and savoured the temporary benefits of the systemic fraud, it’s payback time now.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 23, 2021

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CICERO/REPORT

Amaechi, Buni and Sylva after their reconciliation meeting

The Buni Committee, One Year After!

How has the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress fared, one year after taking up the assignment? Adedayo Akinwale asks

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fter a long period of protracted internal crisis that nearly consumed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party was constituted to save the party from itself. The constitution of the caretaker committee was well accepted and received by all the members of the party, who had expressed worry over the protracted leadership crisis that bedevilled the party during the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC).

The ruling party had during the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa on June 25, 2020 dissolved the Oshiomhole-led NWC following a protracted leadership crisis and set up a committee to manage the affairs of the party in the interim. The 13-member caretaker committee, headed by the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, was initially given six months by the NEC presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari to complete its assignment.

Within six months, the committee was mandated to organise a national convention for new leaders to emerge and also mandated it to reconcile aggrieved members ahead of the planned national convention of the party. It was believed that in a short term, the brewing tension, factionalisation of the party, crisis and the ever-growing court cases that have stymied the party would all be sorted out. But that was not to be, necessitating an extension, which however, generated some ill-feelings.

The Action Plan The caretaker committee wasted no time after it was constituted and immediately swung into action by making sure it reconciled all the aggrieved members of the party, while also ensuring that those that had left the party were persuaded to come back. The committee ensured that all ongoing litigations against the party as well as among members at that time were withdrawn and terminated.

The Buni-led committee, from the outset, was saddled with the task of preparing and leading the party’s campaign in a number of critical elections for positions at the state and national levels. The Committee made sure that the ownership tussle surrounding the building that houses the party’sNational Secretariat was resolved.

Now, the Scorecard Reconciliatory: The Buni-led committee has combined reconciliation, consultation and inclusiveness in achieving unity and cohesion in the party within the past few months. The committee set up several high-profile reconciliation teams across party chapters that were battered by internal crises and has recorded a good number of resolutions that have improved the party’s stand and cohesion since then.

The party’s effort at resolving internal conflicts at various chapters has also paid off with members’ desires in compliance with the party’s resolution to withdraw and terminate all litigations that involvedthe Party. The reconciliatory moves are already yielding results, because they have brought back many prominent party members and leaders including, former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Barnabas Gemade; former Speakers of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Hon. Dimeji Bankole and Dr. Alex Otti among

others, into the party.

The committee has also resuscitated the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms and set up reconciliation committees for Oyo, Edo, Ondo, Imo, Ogun and Ekiti among other state chapters with reported disputes. The committees met with key stakeholders in the various states and reconciled warring factions.

Already, the reconciliation committee has been able to reconcile the two warring factions in Cross River State and has appointed a state caretaker committee led by Senator Matthew Mbu as acting state chairman.

In Ondo, all the governorship aspirants were brought together, campaigned and worked for the successful re-election of the APC candidate, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

The committee, in Akwa Ibom State, brought together all the contending interests under one roof and achieved true reconciliation. Today, in Akwa Ibom, leaders such as Senator Godswill Akpabio, Obong Nsima Ekere, Mr. Umana O. Umana, Senator Ita Enang and Bassey Dan Abia, among others, are now working together and in collective pursuit of party’s interest.

At the national level, the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva have been reconciled by the committee and both resolved to work together and strengthen the party, particularly, in the South-south geo-political zone.

Having realised that one of the major causes of crisis within the party was a poor reward system of dedicated members, Buni recently hinted that the committee was working with President Buhari to urgently address the reward system for dedicated and loyal party members. This, he said, could be done through appointment of deserving party members into several boards, agencies and parastatals of government.

Membership Drive: The Committee had immediately embarked on a nationwide APC membership registration, revalidation and updating the registeration exercise to increase the party’s membership and support base nationwide.

While the nationwide membership registration, update and revalidation exercise conducted across the36 states and the Federal capital Territory (FCT) was new to the mandate given to the committee, the committee believed that there was need to embark on the exercise before going for the convention of the party.

The exercise, which started February 9, was extended twice to accommodate new members.

At the moment, the status of the exercise remains unknown as the leadership of the party has not come out with an official statement to reveal whether the exercise has been completed.

But, recently,secretary of the committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe disclosed that the APC now has over 40 million registered members.

Election victories: The committee since the beginning of its tenure, has led the party into major elections comprising governorship, national and state assembly elections. In all these elections, the party has once again proven that it’s the party to reckon with in the country with significant wins across the board.

A win in the Ondo State gubernatorial election despite the mass gang-up against the party, the senatorial seats won across Lagos, Plateau and other states as well as a good number of state houses of assembly seats won were parts of the committee’s feats.

Review of Party’s constitution: While the party members were expecting the committee to come up with a timetable for the

conduct of congresses and convention, the committee constituted an eight-man committee to review the party’s constitution.

The high-level committee is chaired by Prof. Tahir Mamman, with Mr. Dare Oketade as Secretary; while Prof. Dakas Dakas; Hon. Akinremi Olaide; Dr. Ego Ezuma; Hon. Mohammed Kumaila; Shuaibu Aruwa and Dr. Ekokoi Solomon were all members of the committee.

The committee was mandated to consider recommendations of contributors, particularly on contemporary issues that needed to be adequately captured. The committee has however received memoranda on enshrining party discipline, deepening internal democracy, greater inclusion of marginalised groups like women, youths and People with Disabilities (PWDs), among others.

Contact and Strategic Committees: In order to reposition the party to ensure good governance, the Buni committee proposed the recently-inaugurated tripartite Executive/Legislative/APC consultative committee, which is ensuring synergy, good governance and accelerated implementation of the Next Level agenda.

As part of efforts to recover, rebuild and reposition the party, the committee constituted a high-powered APC Contact/Strategy Committee chaired by the Governor of Jigawa State, Badaru Abubakar. The terms of reference for the committee include to establish constructive engagements between critical stakeholders at various levels of the party with a view to reviving confidence and trust among party leaders.

The committee was also mandated to conduct a need assessment survey from party members and the general public and to also create a statement of vision, mission and core values of the party that wouldfoster unity.

The committee was also mandated to develop strategies that would reposition the party in an advantaged position in the public domain as well as develop a timeline and framework for the implementation of the recommendations of the committee.

Implementation Status The Buni-led committee recently met at the party’s National Secretariat and reviewed the implementation of the three-month action plan.

The committee said it was important to take cognizance of the fact before it took over the leadership of the party, internal party crisis was allowed to fester and it distracted public attention from appreciating the monumental strides that the Buhari-led APC government was making in delivering APC’s three critical electoral promises – fighting corruption, security and revamping the economy.

Buni said ahead of the planned APC National Convention and indeed the 2023 general election, stakeholders should continue to support the committee’s efforts to unite the party in order to make it formidable enough to consolidate APC’s national governing status and landmark achievements.

According to him, “The APC must not go into a National Convention, and indeed a general election in crisis. We should take it one step at a time and ensure that the ongoing national reconciliation process being undertaken by the committee is sustained, successful and continues to yield results.”

The committee said it was constantly briefing the President, Chairman, Progressives Governors Forum, Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives with a mid-term report, which will enable the committee to take all-inclusive decisions.

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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 23, 2021

CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

A Militarisation of the Southeast A recent shoot-on-sight order against persons considered enemies of state in the Southeast byPresident Muhammadu Buhari, is worrisome. Amby Uneze writes

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he recent shoot-on-sight order by President Muhammadu Buhari cannot be the solution to the insecurity in the Southeast today.

Besides, importing soldiers and police personnel from the Northern part of the country to the Southeast with the charge to shoot-on-sight is more of a military culture. The essence of democratic rule is the total involvement of the people in the governance of their affairs and not government by force or kill-on-sight.

Before the current madness of attacking police and correctional facilities by the so-called unknown gunmen in Imo State, the people of the state had known peace all the while.

The state and its people were regarded as one of the most peaceful states, where visitors and people from other warring zones found peace.

The whole craze about shooting and the rest of illegal activities being perpetrated in the state by the unknown gunmen started recently as a result of the deployment of soldiers in the Orlu area of the state.

What started in a particular spot as a result of an alleged shootout between the police and members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) – a security outfit formed by the banned A troop heading for an operation Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) – has indeed created a big tension and worry in occasion of a Holy Mass marking the celebration of 2021 the country.

World Communication Day, emphasised that Nigeria has The acceptance by Governor Hope Uzodimma in not changed from the colours of military regime since the faraway Presidential Villa, Aso Rock after a meeting with current administration, adding that the people still suffer President Buhari to have invited the soldiers to Orlu, his as if democracy did not exist. political zone and where he hails from, sparked off the Obinna stressed that democracy seemed not to be insecurity challenges in the state today. working in Nigeria, because the leaders have failed But, as often canvassed, the simple solution to the the people, but noted that, “I commend the Southern problem at hand could have been dialogue and not governors for waking up from their slumber to now force. Dialogue is the only conflict resolution that soothes speak what the people want. In the past, they had failed the mind of an agitator or aggrieved person(s). It is the people by doing only what Abuja wants, but what unfortunate that the Nigerian leaders lack it, maybe, they did this past week is a wakeup call to redress the because they feel the authority resides with them and anomaly by banning open grazing and demanding for therefore, every discussion must start and end with them. restructuring of the country”.

They also don’t thinkthat peace could be achieved at a On security, he also decried the situation. “We are in roundtable. trouble, because the government has failed to provide Thus, with the shoot-on-sight order and subsequent security for the people. The idea of importing soldiers deployment of soldiers and police, such actions and police from the North to Southeast to continue to kill aredetrimental to the immediate solution mechanism our innocent people is worrisome”. of the insecurity at hand. People of good conscience According to him, “We are encouraging the governors have condemned the call and urged the President to of the South east, including our Imo State governor, Hope rescind such directives and possibly call for a dialogue or Uzodimma to speak up on the ills of the society. The stakeholders meeting to iron out the issues. federal government is dividing us, external forces coming Amid rising insecurity that has enveloped the to Imo State to continue to kill our people in the pretence Southeast region, stakeholders are raising concerns over of protecting us. Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Presidency’s directive of “shoot-on-sight” order. The the Eastern Security Network (ESN) came up because the concerns specifically arose over the order targeted at federal government had been treating the people of the protesting Igbo youths, especially, against the backdrop Southeast as slaves and second class citizens”, he said. of recent posting of northern soldiers to quell the disturLast week, apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, bances as well as their mode of engagement in the zone.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, raised fresh worries over the directive The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, to contain the tension when it condemned the “shootMost Rev. Dr. Anthony Obinna, while commending the on-sight” order and insisted that the situation clearly decision of the 17 Southern Governors that met last week confirmed the uneven handed way the federal governin Asaba, Delta State capital, where they took a collective ment had been treating matters affecting the people of the decision to ban open grazing and sent a strong message zone. to the federal government on restructuring, flayed the Ohanaeze insisted that the way and manner soldiers authorities for the mass movement of soldiers and police were carrying out their duties in the zone in the guise of from the Northern part of the country to Southeast checking insecurity, indicated that a plot was afoot that without clear mission of their movement. could trigger “another war and genocide in the zone.

He accused them of ulterior motives, even as the “The pattern of deployment of northern military ofpeople of the Southeast are being subjected to series of ficers to the southeast lends credence to the above report. dehumanisation including killing of innocent people, Sahara Reporters revealed that in preparation for the especially, youths by these security personnel. above, the Nigerian army has posted Northern Muslims The cleric, who spoke during the Sunday sermon at as Commanders over its operations and brigades in the Assumpta Catholic Cathedral, Owerri during the Anambra, Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Benue, Edo, Delta and Rivers states.

“In Anambra, the Cantonment Commandant of the 302 Artillery Regiment Onitsha is Col. Abdulsalam Sambo, a northern Muslim; In Imo, the Commander of 34 Brigade Obinze is Brig Gen Ibrahim Tukura, another Muslim; in Abia, the Commander of 14 Brigade Ohafia is Brig Gen M. Ibrahim, a northerner, while in Akwa Ibom, the Commander of 2 Brigade Uyo is Brig Gen Faruk Mijinyawa, another northerner. This is truly worrisome”, Ohanaeze stated.

Another Igbo group, Human Rights Advocates, took the matter further by alleging that apart from those deployed to the zone recently, the military formations, including Navy and Customs were saturated with officials from the northern part of the country. The group disclosed that in addition, northern soldiers, among other patrol activities, man military checkpoints in the zone.

But Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which seemed convinced about the motive behind the “shoot-on-sight order”, said the alleged move would commence from Orlu, Imo State in the next few days, warning that the federal government should learn from history by not fighting an unwinnable war against nationalism.

Ohanaeze further advised the Buhari-led government to “seek possible peaceful options as the only solution that guarantees national unity and peaceful co-existence”, just as it observed that the dream of Nigeria’s unity was receding and fading fast with violence, crises and conflicts.

Credible information has it that the Nigerian military has drafted reinforcement troops from some of its formations fighting insurgency in Borno State to join the troops in the Southeast region over military’s clash with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its security arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Military sources alleged that the reinforcements were drawn from some battalions including the 231 Tank Battalion in Biu, Borno State, which is under the 3 Armoured Division, Jos, Plateau State. As of January 2021, the Commanding Officer of the 231 Battalion, Biu, was a southerner, Lt. Col. M. E. Obi, who is ordinarily versed in the workings of the South-East. But, it is not sure whether he will be in the Southeast alongside the reinforcements.

“Yes, some troops are moving from the North East to the Southeast as reinforcements. They started moving from Wednesday. Among them are those from the 231 Tank Battalion. They are believed to be more trained in quelling uprisings,” a top source confirmed.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AY 23, 2021

INTERNATIONAL Israelo-Gaza Imbroglio from a Polemological Perspective: The Nigerian Foreign Policy Dilemma

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he word polemology, is the English translation for the French word polémologie, coined from the Greek words, polemos, meaning war, and from logos, meaning discourse or study. Polemology therefore simply means the study, or more precisely, the science of war. AFrench school of thought has differentiated between a crisis and a conflict in a study of all the wars since the 1770s.

The fundamental difference between crisis and conflict is that a crisis is the beginning of a conflict in the continuum of violence.

Acrisis is first a dispute that is managed by diplomatic means, without allowing the dispute to degenerate into the level of a conflict, at which level there is use of force. Put differently, crises are managed by mediators and conciliators without the use of violence, but when diplomatic conciliation or mediation fails and gives room for the use of force, then the dispute necessarily becomes a conflict that has to be addressed from a multidimensional perspective. In this regard, there will be need to move beyond crisis management to conflict management and conflict resolution..

The Israelo-Gaza imbroglio is at the stage of a conflict, and, now therefore, beyond the crisis level. The imbroglio has a recidivist character which is driven by international hypocrisy, injustice, unfairness and dishonesty of purpose. Put differently, the international community is placing greater emphasis on the management of the conflict, rather than seeking an enduring solution to the conflict. It has been more than 54 years of conflict management policies to no avail and lack of conflict resolution commitment.

Even though, on Friday, 21 May, 2021 a ceasefire between the Israelis and the Hamas was agreed to, thanks to much international pressure, there is nothing to suggest that the ceasefire will last. Ceasefire is nothing more than temporarily putting an end to the shooting war or the hot war. The real war, in terms of holistic hostility, which includes strategic objectives (that is, continued effective occupation of the territories illegally acquired during the 1967 Six-day war and the October 1973 Yom Kippur war, etc) is yet to be addressed. And there is no signal to the effect that Israel is ready for a change in policy attitude.

At the level of the Palestinians, who have shown readiness to recognise the State of Israel, and desiring to have Eastern Jerusalem and Gaza as part of the constitutive territories of a sovereign State of Palestine, Israel is still vehemently opposed to such an agenda.

It is against this background that the dynamics of the current Israelo-Gaza saga, which is a dimension of the larger Arabo-Israeli dispute in the Middle East, should not only be understood, but the implications for Nigeria’s foreign policy should also be explicated.

The Imbroglio and Dynamics At the epicentre of the conflict is international hypocrisy and protection of imperial interests to the detriment of the interests of the indigenous people of Palestine. First, following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, Britain was given Palestine as a Mandated Territory by the League of Nations. By then, Palestine was inhabited by a Jewish minority and Arab majority. The Jews began to mount a lot of pressure on Britain for a homeland. The then British Foreign Minister, William Balfour, already pledged in a Declaration in 1917 to create a Homeland for the Palestinians and also another Homeland for the Israelis. The Declaration was included as part of the Mandate given by the League of Nations in 1922.

In fact, in between 1933 and 1939, the Jews began to migrate to the would-be State of Israel. The Zionist pressure was to the extent that Britain had to refer the matter to the United Nations for possible solution. The United Nations, in Resolution 181 (II) of 1947, not only opted to terminate the mandate given to Britain in 1922 to administer Palestine, but also decided by a vote of 33 for, 13 against and 10 abstentions, to partition Palestine into three: Palestine Arab State, Jewish State, and Jerusalem, which was given an international status, as a corpus separatum (separate entity) meaning that neither of Palestinians nor Jews can claim sovereignty over it. Palestinian Arabs did not accept the UN Plan partly because of international intrigues.

International intrigues began with the double speak of the British, who ensured a homeland for the Jews but not for the Palestinians. Ensuring the creation of the State of Israel was driven

VIE INTERNATIONALE

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs by principles of inequity, unfairness and injustice. For instance, as at 1948, the population of Palestine rose to 1,900,000 people, 68% of whom were Palestinian Arabs and 32% were Jews. When Palestinian territory was partitioned into two, 55% of the territory was allocated to the Jews with a fewer population. The Arabs, with greater population was given 42% of the land.

This was most unfair in the eyes of the Arabs for various reasons..Jewish immigration to Palestine from 1933 to 1939 had already generated much resistance, controversy and domestic unrest, especially with the 1937 protests. Second, the United Nations approved the plan to partition Palestine into Arab and Jewish States on November 29, 1947 and the Mandatory Power was required to hand over power not later than August 1,1948, while the State of Israel was also required to take off not later than two months thereafter. The State of Israel was eventually established on May 14, 1948 with David Ben-Gurion as pioneer Prime Minister.

Indeed, the problem in this case was that the British acted completely as if there were no Palestinian objections to the plan of partition by the time of creation of the State of Israel and by which time the League of Nations’ Mandate was also to come to an end.

There was no State of Palestine. This situation largely explains Arab hostility against the establishment of the State of Israel, and also why the Arabs (Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon) not only took the initiative of an unprovoked aggression against the newly created State of Israel in 1948, but why some of them again (Egypt, Jordan, and Syria) engaged in another war against Israel in 1967. This was the foundational dynamic or the cause profonde of the current Israelo-Hamas saga.

Without doubt, the problem became more complex with the Six-day Israelo-Arab War that lasted from 5th to 10th June 1967.

Israel first of all launched a pre-emptive air attack on Egypt and Syria, followed by a ground offensive on Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Height, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, all of which were captured by Israel. Egypt and Jordan were compelled to accept a ceasefire on 8 June and 9 June, 1967 respectively. Aceasefire pact with Israel, was done on 11 June, 1967. All the captured territories were annexed by Israel.

Above all, and in terms of foreign policy dilemma, it is difficult, if not impossible, to be the friend of the Arabs and the enemy of the Israelis at the same time. In the same vein, Nigeria cannot be friendly with the Israelis and be unfriendly with the Arabs. Perhaps, more disturbingly, Nigeria’s foreign policy of non-alignment cannot be applicable.This is precisely why there is a dilemma.

The situational reality of the struggle for sovereign autonomy in Nigeria is the dynamic of the main dilemma. Unlike when Nigeria had a strong policy supporting the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, allowing it to have an office in Nigeria, and also straining ties with Israel in order to support Egypt, any encouragement of the rule of self-determination in any country of the world today cannot but negate the strategy of preventing disunity at the home level. And yet, self-determination is a fundamental right of every people. Besides, if Nigeria supports Israel, she will not only be acting contrarily to the UN Resolutions that have been consistently condemning Israel’s illegal activities in the occupied territories. In terms of non-alignment, the policy is not about aligning or not to, but about the freedom of decision to do whatever. In this case, aligning to support or not to support is also cannot be in Nigeria’s foreign policy interest.

What is required is a non-alignment policy of true neutrality and not that of freedom of choice of what to do.This is the dilemma of any foreign policy action or inaction for Nigeria

What is noteworthy about the outcome of the wars is the controversial term of settlement. Israel is internationally required to return to the prevailing status quo ante before the Six-day war.

Israel has not accepted this, apart from the return of Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. After the war in 1948, Israel ended up controlling most of the Palestinian territory, including a part of Jerusalem, while Jordan inherited West Bank and Egypt occupied Gaza. More than half of the Palestinian Arab fled or were evicted. Israel therefore had freer hands to take over their land.

Again, following Israeli victory in the 1967 war, Israel took over the control of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the Golan Heights from Syria, and the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan in reciprocal action for Arab aggression.

Israel offered to return the acquired territories in exchange for Arab recognition of the right of Israel to exist and guarantees against future attacks on Israel. Arab leaders did not accept, except Egypt which did and negotiated for the return of the Sinai Peninsula to it.

Third and polemologically, the object of dispute is Palestine as a territory, as a people, and as a religion. As a territory, Palestine, which used to refer to the region located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River until 1948 and the Arabs living there were called Palestinians since the early 20th Century, is geo-politically divided into four regions: Jordan Valley and Ghawr, Coastal and Inner Plains; Mountains and Hills, and Southern Desert. It is bounded by the Jordan River towards the East; by the border between Modern Israel and Lebanon in the North, by the Mediterranean Sea towards the West and by the Negev towards the South. Palestine has some big cities, like Gaza, which is the largest; Hebron; East Jerusalem; Khan Yuris; and Nablus. With the geo-political location of Palestine Arab in the southern part of the modern day State of Israel, both countries are necessarily contiguous territories. This factor of contiguity largely explains their border clashes.

What is important to note about Palestine as an object of a territorial dispute is that the current violence between Israel and Hamas is traceable to the geographical structure and the time of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th Century. As explained by an Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame University, Alan Dowty, there were then clashes between religious and ethnic groups in Palestine. The then existing Arab residents considered the new Jewish settlements as European in character and therefore developed much hostility towards foreigners.

But perhaps, more interestingly, Professor Dowty also has it that ‘the Jewish settlers had tremendous incentives to minimise all obstacles to settlement, including the inconvenient hostility of the existing population.’ This observation clearly suggests that the origins of the saga between the Israelis and the Palestinians should not be simply located at the level of the immediate causal factors.

Additionally, as regards the specific issue of East Jerusalem, both the Palestinians and the Israelis want to have it as their political capital. Jerusalem as a whole, though internationally a corpus separatum, is traditionally divided into four quarters: Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim. the State of Palestine already considers East Jerusalem as its own seat of power, while Israel has already effectively shifted its primary political governmental institutions from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

It is useful to also note here that Jerusalem was divided into East and West Jerusalem following the victory of Israel when five Arab countries launched an attack on the newly established State of Israel in 1948. One major resultant impact of the victory was that the more than 30,000 Arabs living in Western part of Jerusalem either fled or were evicted, thus enabling Israel to effectively occupy the Old City as part of its new territory and re-populated it with the Jews, while East Jerusalem fell under the rule of Jordanian government

Implications and Foreign Policy Dilemma The first and most important implication of the more than 54year old Israelo-Arab conflict is the principle of self-determination and right to live. The principles were meant to be applicable to both the Jews, who have been recklessly persecuted and who the international community believes should be given a homeland on the basis of their right to live and also live in peace. In the same vein, As the Jews declared the State of Israel, having met the criteria of territory, vibrant population and an effective government, they have entered into international relations, with more than 130 international recognitions.

In this regard, the lesson from it for Nigeria’s foreign policy is that, sooner or later, if not sooner than later, the application of selfdetermination principle cannot but be applicable in the struggle by the Yoruba South West and the Igbo South East in their struggle for sovereign existence. Even though Nigeria does not subscribe to the Monist doctrine in International Law, her acceptance of the Dualist School cannot still prevent the implementation of the supranational obligation imposed by the principle of Self-determination.

It is important to recall here that the UN General Assembly not only reaffirmed in 1974 the inalienable rights of the Palestinians to self-determination, national independence, and sovereignty, but also created a Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. In fact, Nigeria acceded to both national and international sovereignty in 1960 on the basis of Britain’s acceptance of the right of self-determination of the people of Nigeria.

Read full article online - 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 23, 2021

IMAGES

A

n Afternoon of Tributes for Departed Media Leaders, organised by the Nigerian Press Organisation and Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, took place at the MUSON Centre in Lagos at the weekend. Here are some of the personalities that graced the occasion.

PHOTO: Sunday Adigun

L-R: Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Prince Nduka Obaigbena and Malam Kabiru Yusuf

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Sanwo-Olu

L-R: Chief Olusegun Osoba and Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu

L-R: Mrs. Zenab Nda-Isaiah and Lady Maiden Alex Ibru

L-R: Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu and Alhaja Abimbola Jakande

L-R: Etsu Nupe, HRM, Dr. Yahaya Abubakar and Alhaji Muhammed Idris

L-R: Mr. Ted Iwere and Chief Onyema Ugochukwu

L-R: Mr. Bayo Onanuga and Mr. Eniola Bello

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 23, 2021

65

IMAGES

L-R: Malam Kabiru Yusuf and Chief Ajibola Ogunsola

L-R: Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi and Mr. Niyi Adesina

L-R: Malam Abubakar Isa and Mr. Jim Ovia

L-R: Mr. Taiwo Obe and Mr. Kayode Komolafe

L-R: Mrs. Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo and Mrs. Funke Egbemode

L-R: Prince John Momoh and Mr. Fidelis Anosike

L-R: Mr. Frank Aigbogun and Prof. Raph Akinfeleye

L-R: Mr. Louis Odion and Mr. Gbenga Omotosho

L-R: Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene and Mr. Ray Ekpu

L-R: Mr. Lade Bonuola and Mr. Lanre Idowu

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MAY 23, 2021 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

with RenoOmokri THE ALTERNATIVE Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

I

have read many views on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and sadly, one fact is clear, most of us outside Israel are taking sides emotionally, rather than rationally.

And as a result, we are becoming part of the problem, rather than the solution.

Notice that I say emotionally, as opposed to spiritually.

I am not opposed to anyone deciding because he or she feels led by the Spirit of God. But make sure you are being led, not being deluded.

What is happening in Israel and Palestine, is complicated. And unless you understand the intricacies involved, your views and utterances, especially if you happen to have some influence, will complicate matters.

First of all, those of us outside Israel and Palestine should not make the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a religious war. I have been to both Israel and Palestine. This is not a religious war. It is a territorial war. Both peoples have growing populations, but limited territory.

That is the bottom line.

There are Israeli Arabs and Christians, and Palestinian Christians and Druzes. Not everyone in Israel is a Jew or a Christian. Not everyone in Palestine is a Muslim.

In fact, 17.8% of the population of the state of Israel is Muslim.

Yes. You heard me right.

It may shock you to note that John Sununu, the former Governor of New Hampshire, and later White House Chief of Staff to the late President George H. W. Bush, is a Palestinian Christian.

Yet, the administration he served in is regarded as the most pro-Israel government the United States has ever produced, with the possible exception of President Donald Trump’s administration.

The George H. W. Bush presidency made it possible for the Ethiopian Jews, known as Beta Yisra’el, to return to Israel after thousands of years in the Horn of Africa.

Sirhan Sirhan, the man who shot and killed Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968, is a Palestinian Christian, and he has since said that he killed Kennedy because of malice he had over the creation of the state of Israel.

So, to just think that this is a battle between Muslims and Christians means that you yourself are having a battle with ignorance. And ignorance is apparently having the upper hand!

There are 500,000 Palestinian Christians worldwide. Their native language is Arabic. Their Christianity is so unadulterated, that they still go by the name that the followers of Christ were called in the first century, Nasrani, which is just Arabic for the Sect of the Nazarene. Read Acts 24:5 and you will see how poignant that identification is.

There are also currently 14 Arabs in the Israeli Legislature (The Knesset). Arab Muslims are thriving in Israel and believe it or not, most of the traders you will find in the Christian pilgrimage sites that dot Israel and Palestine, are Muslims.

So, perhaps you may want to reconsider supporting one side or the other blindly, based on religion. You may just very well be a victim of propaganda. Now is the time for proper agenda, not propaganda.

So, instead of blind partisanship, why not just support peace, by calling for a ceasefire. Israel deserves to exist. Palestine also deserves to exist. How they can both co-exist, should be the focus of the world. Not who is right or who is wrong.

My barber in California is a Palestinian Muslim. He and I relate very well, principally because his wife is a great cook. The rest of the world needs to understand that the Palestinians do not feel marginalised because they are Muslims and the Israelis

are most Jews.

Far from it. Their sense of injustice is based on the fact that they believe their ancestral lands were forcefully taken over by the Jewish state. And to deny that they have a right to feel as aggrieved as they do is only going to prolong the conflict beyond this generation and the next.

On the other hand, the Hebrew people and the Jews (not the same thing. Hebrew is an ethnicity. Judaism is a religion), feel that they have returned to their divine and ancestral heritage, that they were driven away from by first the Babylonians (also known as the Medes and Persians), then the Greeks, then the Roman Empire, and then by wave, after wave of successive invading foreign powers, of which the most recent were the Ottomans and the British.

To not sympathise with them for the historical wrong done to them, and their right to return to their divine and ancestral heritage is to be blinded by bias.

Scripture is very, very, very clear on this. The ancient Israelites owned, lived, and loved much of what is now known as Israel and Palestine. It may surprise my readers to note that the Goliath who fought David was a Palestinian. As were Delilah and the tormentors of Samson.

The word Palestine itself is not a Hebrew or Arabic word. It is a word that originated from the Romans, who called that area Palaistine (sometimes called Palestina). Roman Emperor Hadrian is believed to have deliberately given the area that name to spite the Israelites, who revolted against Roman rule in 132 AD. And the word Palaistine is itself derived from the Greek word, Philistia, used to describe the residents of that area.

So, you can see that the trouble in that area has historically been ignited, and inflamed, by foreigners.

Now, there is another angle to the conflict. The international dimension.

Islamic nations outside Israel and Palestine are outraged by the fact that the Jewish nation controls the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which is the third holiest site in Islam.

What is lesser known is that the state of Israel funds over a hundred mosques in Israel and pays salaries to their imams and other clergies.

Christian nations on the other hand do not want the holiest sites of Scripture, which are almost invariably all in Jerusalem, to fall under the control of Muslims.

What is not so well known is that when the Muslim Ottomans ruled Palestine and Jerusalem, they did not stop Christian pilgrims from coming to the Holy Land. Quite the opposite. There was a massive migration of Christians (especially Orthodox Christians) to the Holy Land, and churches flourished as a result.

The tension between both religions, as I earlier mentioned, has more to do with foreign powers.

Over the millennia, those tensions have resulted in several crusades (from the Christian point of view) and Jihads (from the Muslim perspective).

In all that time, the biggest losers then, as of now, were the native Hebrews and Palestinians populations, who have generationally been the grass that the two big elephants (Christianity and Islam) fight on.

Outsiders were the main problem and still are the main problem.

The only solution possible, other than the Second Coming of Christ, is the two-state solution, which guarantees the existence of an independent state of Israel, and an independent Palestinian nation.

Anything short of this is to live with perpetual war until Christ returns.

THE PUBLIC SPHERE with Chido Nwakanma

The Israeli government should covenant to provide Muslims future reasonable access to all the Islamic holy sites in their territory, and the Palestinians should affirm to do the same for Jewish and Christian holy sites.

Having said this, there is the need for the outside world to understand that Hamas is not the government of Palestine, although they control territory. Hamas is an organisation that uses terror to advance its political agenda. Hamas states in their charter that they are an organisation for only Muslims, meaning that Christian Palestinians have no place in Hamas. They do govern the Gaza Strip, which itself can be said to be a part of Palestine.

The government of Palestine is the Palestinian National Authority.

They do not control Hamas. They have publicly declared that they are against terrorism and there is tension between them and Hamas.

Understanding the nuances and the delicate balance of power in Israel and Palestine is important because if you do not, you will see this current conflict as a straightforward war between the state of Israel and the Palestinians. Of which it is not. It is more a conflict between Israel and Hamas.

And even Hamas itself is not just Hamas. Hamas is believed to be armed and funded by Iran, in a proxy war against Israel, which Iran sees as the major stumbling block to its acquisition of nuclear power, and thus regional dominance. Both Hamas and Iran feel that Israel’s hand is seriously weakened with the ouster of Donald Trump.

And these conflicts will keep happening as long as Hamas, and the Syrian-backed Islamic Jihad do not recognise the right of the state of Israel to exist, without conditions.

That is the main issue. That is the bone of contention. And that is what is militating against the Two States Solution.

However, there is good news. Hamas is changing. Over the years, its leaders have made slight course corrections in their rhetoric and stand against Israel.

They were once against the Jewish people, but now have modified their stance to be against just Zionism.

So, given this history, what the outside world ought to do is seek the de-radicalisation of Hamas, and move them from the battleground to a common ground with Israel.

It will take time. It will take statesmanship. It will take the carrot and the stick. But, it is possible. And the possibility only becomes stronger when the world understands these nuances and acts accordingly.

It is not the duty of mere mortals like us to act as catalysts for the Messiah’s return or the Mahdi’s appearance. God is God, and He is in control. What He has planned will happen. We are as human beings do not need to help Him by blindly taking sides.

God is love. And as Scripture says, “The work of righteousness will be peace. And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.”-Isaiah 32:17.

Reno’s Darts:

When Muhammadu Buhari took office on May 29, 2015, Nigeria owed a total debt of N12 trillion, meaning each Nigerian owed N60,000. Today, we owe N34 trillion, meaning each citizen owes N170,000. Last week, Buhari asked the National Assembly for approval to borrow an additional N2.3 trillion. If that request is granted, our total debt will rise to N37 trillion, meaning each Nigerian will owe N185,000.

NBuhari will not repay that money. It is YOU and YOUR CHILDREN that will. My people and I are not just doing #HarassBuhariOutofParis because of you. We are also doing it for your children.

@ChidoNigeria https://www.facebook.com/chido.nwakanma

Circumspection is the Higher Courage

T

he South-East has assumed prominence in Nigerian discourse once again in the epochal months of spring. Informed persons know that during this period, nature releases an outpouring of power into creation.

“During early spring, the Earth’s axis increases its tilt relative to the Sun, and the length of daylight rapidly increases for the relevant hemisphere. The hemisphere begins to warm significantly, causing new plant growth to “spring forth,” giving the season its name”. Man utilises this outpouring of energy for good or ill.

Spring is significant for Nigeria for birthing many coups and disturbances. They include the first riots in Northern Nigeria in 1953, 29 May Araba in 1966, and even the May 1978 Ali Must Go in Lagos with significant consequences for student unionism.

May, June and July are epochal months in Nigeria.

Spring is equally the period when Christians realise a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Pentecost.

For this reason, endangered parts of Nigeria should approach the season with circumspection.

I observed on Facebook on 12 May: “Pardon my

ignorance, why is there a resurgence of debates on Ikwerre versus Igbo? Why? What is the trigger?

Why are we suddenly dredging up the past? In whose interest? Igbo muru nu anya, biko. Pay attention to the many mini-wars to which many will drag you. Stay away from those fights. Unproductive.”

It is tempting to do a lamentation or to flare up in rage. Instead, I submit that Ndigbo should apply the ancient ako na uche. Ako is the intellect, while uche is the spirit. Ana ma ako ama, mana ana enwe uche. The uche is inbred and guides those willing to listen to its still small voice. These times call for circumspection and the wisdom of the serpent.

Please resist the urge to engage in the free-flowing denunciation and abuse of Malami and fellows of his ilk. His statement is part of the provocation to gather stuff with which to accuse you.

The Federal Government is playing a strategic effort to demonise the Igbo of the South-East as the trouble with Nigeria. Intimations of the plan came in snatches earlier in the year. Remember when the Code of Conduct Bureau chairman dragged himself in the mud of a street fight at a shopping mall in

Abuja? He fought a young man from Plateau State but managed to pull in Biafran boys!

Soon after came the deluge. The script was and remained to blame the Igbo for everything that goes wrong in Nigeria, with IPOB and its Eastern Security Network a convenient fall guy. The many instances include the false flag operation of an attack on the epicentre of security in Owerri, Imo State; the Lagos State Commissioner of Police named IPOB for an alleged plan to attack Lagos when US Intelligence warned about attacks on Southern cities by Islamists. Reports now confirm the Islamists have taken over Sambisa Forest.

The Inspector-General of Police then made the plan an open secret. He stated, according to The Punch, “Don’t mind the media shout; do the job I command you. If anyone accuses you of human rights violation, the report will come to my table, and you know what I will do. So, take the battle to them wherever they are and kill them all. Don’t wait for an order.” https://punchng.com/ig-declareswar-on-biafran-agitators-criminal-elements/. By Friday, 21 May 2021, the Police had not denied or refuted this incitement.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 23, 2021

with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

ENGAGEMENTS

The Limits of Separatism

O

ur numerous current worries have driven our national conversation into a dark corner. The future of the nation has suddenly become the subject of debate and argument. A slightly confused and splintered national elite is running all over the place with sometimes conflicting notions of how not to keep our nation together.

Nearly everyone you encounter has his own pocket book theory on what should happen to Nigeria now that Mr. Buhari seems to have run the ship aground.

What began as muted disagreement among political factions has filtered into market places, motor parks and beer parlors.

Countless templates for the dismemberment of a nation are being bandied around mostly by politicians, mostly those left out of the gravy train of power and others without party affiliation. The terminologies are equally numerous: true federalism, re-structuring, secession, separatism, “to your tents O! Israel” etc.

All these propositions are all jostling for pre-eminence in a national discourse largely bereft of light but full of loud noise.

Generally, on what should become of Nigeria hereafter, the noise seems to have crystallized around three poles. First, there are the secessionists who want to break away from Nigeria to form any number of successor sovereign states. The most staunch secessionists are first the advocates of a resurgent Republic of Biafra in the South East. They are operating under the aegis of a motley of organizations ranging from Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB, Ralph Uwazuruike’s MASSOB to other opportunistic assemblies mushrooming around questionable individuals and motives. The Biafra trouble has lately become a free for all franchise for all those who see in the sorry condition of the Igbos and their neighbours enough reasons to highlight the serial bad behavior of the Nigerian state especially under Mr. Buhari. Biafra is a 50 plus years old resilient ghost that will not go away in a hurry. For as long as people of the South East feel the pangs of injustice, Biafra will return to haunt us all.

Then there are the newly energized devotees of an Oduduwa Republic in the South West. The possibility of an Oduduwa Republic as a response to Nigeria’s wobbly existence first became pronounced by the invading Biafran Liberation Army during the civil war. The invading Biafra driven Liberation Army had quickly overrun the then Mid West region on August 9, 1967, declaring it the Republic of Benin. Then under the command of a Biafran Army Yoruba officer, Col. Victor Banjo, the Biafrans made a quick dash towards Lagos, with the declared aim of liberating Oduduwa Republic from the hegemony of Yakubu Gowon’s Nigeria. That rapid advance was halted at Ore and Okitipupa respectively by a frightened Nigerian Army led mostly by hurriedly assembled Yoruba officers under Olusegun Obasanjo and others. The rest is history but the idea of an Oduduwa Republic took root in the hearts and minds of the Yoruba people, some of whom were already rehearsing dances to welcome the Liberation Army in Ibadan and other places. The postponed dance is now being rehearsed once again under the present circumstances.

Similarly, sporadic agitations around a possible Niger Delta Republic are as old as the history of restiveness in the region. The Isaac Adaka Boro revolt of the 1960s and the more recent militant insurgency over resource control testify to a long history of Ijaw nationalism on behalf of the peoples of the Niger Delta. Similarly, the Middle Belt experienced earlier twitches of self -determination as early as the eve of the 1966 military coup when the Tiv riots attracted the intervention of the military to quell what was then termed an ethnic revolt. Here again, recent clashes between armed herders and farmers have engulfed the entire mid section of the federation consisting mostly of Plateau, Benue and Nassarawa states.

Therefore, in the unlikely possibility that secession becomes a preferred option in resolving Nigeria’s current headache, the currents of secessionist pressure will sweep away four of Nigeria’s present six geo -political zones, leaving only the North East and North West as the residue of Nigeria. Those who want to understand the strategic posture of current drama of power should note that throughout the history of Nigeria, the core North, notably the current North East and North West, have never exerted secessionist pressure on the Nigerian state. They may have rhetorically hectored the rest of the country to respect their over lordship entitlements. In fact, at different times under the Buhari presidency, the Arewa collective has threatened to expel other Nigerians from the federation. At the onset of the Buhari presidency, they issued a ‘quit notice’ to Igbos living all over the core north.

Of all the secessionist pressures, however, only two are the most lethal and pose credible existential threats to the survival of the Nigerian nation. This informs the security posture of the federal government in the South East and South West respectively. A resurgent Biafra and Oduduwa Republics are real threats. If by a nightmare scenario, both secessions become real, there goes Nigeria. Nigeria can overcome any one of them in isolation but a combination of the two will be a formidable adversary. However, the two pressures in their present iteration happen to contain self defeating flaws. Both are led by thugs and mobocrats. Sunday Igboho and Ganiyu Adams on the one hand and Nnamdi Kanu on the other are mere random mob thugs that have sprung up to lead separatist movements in parts of the country with the most sophisticated political cultures. Failure is inbuilt in both flanks.

Thugs can disturb the peace; they do not found serious nation states.

Secession is therefore the most lethal and least tenable option

Buhari either by force or referendum. It is precisely for that reason that it has to be prevented at all costs. There is hardly any strong argument in support of the secessionist option now. Excuses of marginalization and insufficient inclusiveness in the current Nigerian system are not sufficient reasons to initiate the costly project of founding successor states. The ills that plague Nigeria are typically problems of diversity management. Nigeria’s diversity is a total one. At every level, diversity management is the central challenge of governance in Nigeria. It is there in every state and every local government area. Within the defunct Biafra, there were issues with minorities.

Even among the predominant Igbo nationality, there were already problems between the Anambra, Owerri, Ngwa and Umuahia Igbos. Within the Yoruba heartland of the proposed Oduduwa Republic, there are clear and long standing divergences between the Egbas and Ijebus, the Ondos and the Ibadans etc. Therefore, the quest for ethnic homogeneity cannot be a basis for the secessionist argument.

Among most enlightened Nigerians, there is now an undisputed consensus that something is fatally wrong with Nigeria’s federalism in its current state. The fear has been widely expressed that the nation could die incrementally unless we restructure it in very fundamental ways to make it work better for all Nigerians. This is the thinking behind the new theology of re-structuring. This theology cuts across the entire length and breadth of the federation across partisan, ethnic and religious divides. Though it predates the advent of Mr. Buhari, the restructuring argument has been fired up by the divisive politics of the Buhari presidency. Re-structuring is thus being advanced as a silver bullet to right the injustices of recent years and correct the long standing inequities of a dysfunctional federation.

It is important to recall that the clamour for the creation of states assumed nearly the same crescendo. Everybody wanted a state created in his locality. Every military coup maker wanted to create states to be remembered for and as a means of engineering legitimacy to stay in power forever. Some of the current advocates of restructuring were also in the forefront of the state creation bazaar.

We ended up with 36 mostly unviable and unproductive entities that mostly exist to share monthly federal revenue handouts. The federal allocation has become the treasure box of an entitlement state.

The obvious third leg in the raging arguments about the future of Nigeria coincides with the incumbent government’s position.

This is mostly a status quo position that insists that nothing is wrong with the structure and business of Nigeria. For as long as the gravy train of state pomp and ceremony proceeds uninterrupted, the existing order is fine. All those championing secession and restructuring are trouble makers. They had better queue behind the National Assembly and support changes under normal constitutional amendment processes.

However, for as long as the job approval and popularity rating of the Buhari government continues to slide, any suggestion that Nigeria continues with business as usual will sound more like a cruel joke.

All said, our unrelenting dissatisfaction with the state of our nation is a positive sign. Among the political elite, it is an admission of collective failure. Among the people, it is a clear signal that the performance of the state falls far short of the minimum expectation of the people. But let us face it, our political leaders are lazy, timid and lack the competence to confront the huge challenges of nation building. Worse still, they have proved incapable of running large entities. They seem to be uncomfortable with running units that are bigger than their villages, local governments and ethnic nationalities.

Our political leaders tend to prefer being folk heroes than statesmen. Thes are people whose basic recognitions are village based and who are more comfortable in local contexts where they stand out among the poor and unwashed, people mired in poverty that makes them ready hero worshippers. Our national political leaders are not ready for the hard work of running a nation of 200 million citizens. Instead, they crave minute enclaves inhabited by timid subjects, hence they would want the Nigerian reality cannibalized and shrunk to little measures.

In the ensuing arguments about the fate of our nation, therefore, Nigerians need to be reminded of the realities of the 21st century.

First, it is too late in human history to begin to redraw the maps of nations or to hoist another cluster of flags at the forecourt of the UN building in New York. This is not the age for the birth of new nations. Nor is it time to make room for nations founded on the foundations of mutual hatred, anger and exclusion. The last set of nations that entered the arena through that route have not fared Look at the successor states of former Yugoslavia. Look at South Sudan. Nigeria cannot afford to go this route except it seeks to further miniaturize its options and diminish its chances for true greatness.

Secondly, the future belongs to large and serious nations and organisations. National elites that delight in small entities and small national projects have no place in the world of today or tomorrow.

You are either a large nation with equally big dreams or a small nation with very huge dreams. The nations that will dominate the world of tomorrow are large and complex nations, not small and simple ethnic based nations. China, India, Russia, the United States and Brazil will lead the pack. Korea, Singapore and some new Arab states may trail. It is not just size that makes this club attractive. It is the strategic relevance, the market size, the potential for self-reliance knowing that when it comes to protection, isolation and nationalism you can fall back on your human resources and market to produce goods for your self and others.

More importantly, the pride and boisterousness of our citizens derives from certain inherent attributes that we have come to overlook. Ideas like the largest black nation in the world, the biggest black democracy in the world, one of the world’s ten largest democracies, the largest economy in Africa etc. add up to a certain enhanced self worth for our citizens. These are all attributes that ought to make us proud but should also challenge us and our leadership to work even harder. To cannibalize Nigeria now into smaller ethnic republics would be a grave disservice to our posterity. To have our citizens shrink from these lofty dimensions to carry some new inconsequential passports will impact badly on the psychology and self esteem of our people. Our younger generation are proud to be Naija with all the swag that goes with our sometimes over exaggerated self image.

Beyond the political noise of the current wave of separatism, I suspect that Nigeria’s habitual entrepreneurship culture is helping to drive and expand the new separatist wave. People are beginning to make money from the season of separatism.

I encountered the spirit of the age at an airport lounge the other day. I ran into a friend who is in the same line of public affairs and communications consulting business. He asked me what I had been up to. I offered excuses around Covid-19 and how the consulting business has nose- dived. He smiled rather cynically and proceeded to wake me up from my covid induced slumber. He popped open his crocodile skin designer brief case to show me his trove on the hot offerings of the season. He was working for different “political investors”: secessionists, re-structurists, confederalists, integrationists -all politicians- for very handsome fees. His brief case contained several nicely bound proposition documents. They were all templates for the dismemberment of the Nigerian nation.

He had different packages on offer, depending on what specific clients want and how much they are ready to pay. The more detailed ones, the ones for secessionist groups entailed more work.

There were maps showing mineral deposits, agricultural lands, list of local government councils, revenue projection holograms and fancy administrative organograms. There were designs of coats of arms, proposed flags, proposed currency designs and other insignia of phantom sovereignty. Only the package on Biafra seemed old and familiar, needing little or no tweaking. It was followed by the one about Oduduwa Republic and then Republic of Ogoniland as originally conceived by MOSOP before they hanged my friend Ken Saro Wiwa.

It was my question time. How many groups are you serving?

How feasible are these options? Into how many units could Nigeria possibly splinter? Will a splintered Nigeria be safer and better governed than the current nightmare? When the wars over access to the sea, control of oil and gas resources, immigration headaches, right of return and other nasty consequences of broken national families break out, who will arbitrate between angry mobs of youth with uncontrolled use of weapons? I had more questions but we were interrupted by an announcement on the crackling public address system: ‘Air Peace Flight bla… bla… bla… to Abuja is now ready for boarding. All checked in passengers on this service are advised to proceed to the gate for boarding…!” As my friend packed his pile of documents and snapped his brief case to leave me at the lounge, he had a parting joke for me: “Don’t forget to give me a call in case you need a visa the next time you are coming to visit me in Owerri or going to Ibadan!”

While he left to catch his flight, I stayed and waited for mine, content and not the least worried about remaining a Nigerian citizen AB (After Buhari)!

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NEWS

News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: ÑÌÙãÏÑ˲ËÕÓØÝËØ×Ó̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט͸΀͹ͽͺͻͽ΁ͺͽͻ

In Four Months, Nigeria Loses 340 Security Personnel to Armed Attacks

Global Rights accuses govs of paying criminals to buy peace Says impunity now motivation for criminal activities Gboyega Akinsanmi

No fewer than 340 operatives of the defence and security services died during separate armed attacks that took place nationwide between January and April 2021, Global Rights, an international human rights organisation based in Washington D.C., has revealed in a new report.The report, which covered the violent incidents nationwide, also revealed that the numbers of lives lost between January and April, painted a dreary picture of the declining state of security and increase in human rights infractions across the federation.

The incidents were revealed in the Mass Atrocities Casualties Tracking Report, a publication of Global Rights, obtained by THISDAY at the weekend, signposting unprecedented deterioration in the state of security when compared with the previous year.

In its 2020 report, for instance, Global Rights claimed that Nigeria’s sub-national governments had lost confidence in the capacity of the federal government to provide security amid rising cases of mass atrocities that claimed 4,558 lives nationwide in 2020.

It had also claimed that the reported cases of mass atrocities in 2020 represented a 42.9% increase above 3,188 incidents recorded nationwide in 2019,

thereby making 2020 a brutal year for most Nigerians amid the outbreaks of COVID-19 and the eruption of #EndSARS protests It had revealed that mass atrocities-related killings by region affected no fewer than 1527 (33.5%) in the Northwest with Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, recording second highest after Kaduna; 1508 (33.08%) in the Northeast, 685 (15.03%) in the North-central, 443 (9.72%) in the South-south, 231 (5.07%) in the South-west and 162 (3.55%) in the South-east However, according to the update released to THISDAY by the organisation, the country’s defence and security services incurred loss of 340 security personnel fatalities nationwide between January and April 2021 alone.

Of the 340 security personnel fatalities, the report revealed that the Nigerian Army lost 193 officers to violent incidents; the Nigeria Police 131; the Nigeria Navy four; the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) three; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) three and the Nigerian Correctional Service two and Civilian JTF four.

While the report put the security personnel fatalities at 340 between January and April 2021, it revealed that violent killings claimed 2,260 lives nationwide within the

same timeframe equivalent to 50.4% of total fatalities that occurred in 2020.

Based on geo-political zones, according to the report, 989 violent fatalities were recorded in Northwest; 332 in Northeast; 331 in North Central; 256 in Southeast; 191 in Southwest and 161 South-south.

Global Rights, in a remark by its Executive Director,

Abiodun Baiyewu, concluded that Nigeria “is clearly a fragile state, and remains vulnerable to combustion from several forms of atrocities. The question to ask is: what are its government and citizens doing to stem the tide?”

With the huge records of unresolved crimes, the organisation observed that Nigeria’s penchant of covering multitudes of crimes with the blanket of impunity

and amnesty does not augur well for the country.

Rather, according to the Washington-based rights organisation, the reign of impunity has emboldened perpetrators to increase their activities and serves as a motivation for other actors to cash in on the monopoly of violence.

It, therefore, noted that lack of trust in the government to

ensure justice “is a motivation for reprisal attacks by aggrieved persons and communities.

“In spite of the hundreds of armed pillages that have occurred in the North, security agents have barely been able to make arrests. There have been no prosecutions for these crimes.

The same lens would apply to kidnaps, and communal conflicts.”

EXERCISING SUFFRAGE . . .

Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde casting ballot during the local government election at ward 11, Unit 001, Abayomi Iwo Road, Ibadan North East Local Government Area, Ibadan .... yesterday

Injustice Fuelling Agitation for Oduduwa Nation, Nonagenarian Tells Buhari Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

A 90-year-old foremost educationist Chief Olu Alex Ajayi yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to address injustice eroding patriotism among Nigerians and igniting sectarian agitations nationwide Ajayi, also an erstwhile Registrar of West African Examinations Council (WAEC), expressed support for a united Nigeria, though attributed agitation for

Oduduwa Nation to injustice, suffering and lack of trust in the federal system.

He made these remarks during a news conference he addressed in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital yesterday to herald his 91st anniversary holding on June 28.

In a 2016 interview, the nonagenarian claimed that he had the opportunity to issue WAEC certificate to President Buhari in the 1960s amid the

certificate scandal allegation that trailed Buhari’s election According to him, I had the opportunity of issuing WAEC certificates to three former Heads of State namely President Muhammadu Buhari, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and late Gen. Sani Abacha in the 60s.

Speaking during the conference yesterday, Ajayi rejected the agitation for the secession of the Southwest people being championed by a Yoruba human

rights activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo (a.k.a Sunday Igboho).

He, however, acknowledged that Oduduwa “is a genuine agitation and reaction against the insult we are receiving from some people who thought they are superior and more entitled than us.

“It is a necessary reaction from the unthinkable insult we are getting from some people. One of those that had been insulting us even said they

would continue until everyone up to the lagoon are under their political and cultural hegemony.

“As much as I do not support the breakup of Yoruba Nation from Nigeria, we are entitled to self respect, self reverence and liberty. We should be free from oppression,” Ajayi said reflecting on serial herdsmen attacks on farmers in Southwest.

He, therefore, urged the federal government “to stop the agitation. This requires addressing

all forms of noticeable injustice.

The federal government can create more states and local governments to even spread our resources.”

The nonagenarian, also, supported the decision of the Southern Governors Forum to prohibit open grazing, describing open grazing as anachronistic and primitive that should not be encouraged in the 21st century.

Chidoka Faults Acting IG’s Directive against Biafra Agitators

Regulate Social Media to Save Our Youths, Oyedepo Tells FG

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Oluchi Chibuzor

A former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has faulted an order of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali, directing the police officers to deal ruthlessly with criminal elements and secessionists who attempt to test their will.

Chidoka, an erstwhile Corps Marshal/Chief Executive of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), noted that Alkali’s directive “is as problematic as it is embarrassing,” saying it violated minimum democratic norms and human rights principles.

He faulted Alkali’s directive in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Ezechukwu Okafor, describing

the IG’s directives as unfortunate and unacceptable.

Alkali had directed police operatives in the South East and South-South to deal ruthlessly with Biafra agitators while assuring the officers of the protection of the Nigeria Police.

The police chief had issued the directive after he unveiled a special operation codenamed Operation Restore Peace (Operation RP) at the Michael Okpara Square in Enugu, the state capital.

Alkali had said: “You are charged to be civil with the law-abiding citizens, but firm and ruthless with criminal elements and secessionists that may attempt to take the risk of testing your will or threatening the citizens within your area of

jurisdiction.

“In furtherance to the goals of this special operation, I charge you to henceforth, defend yourselves courageously against any armed group that attempts to attack you, any police assets, and other critical national infrastructure,” Alkali had ordered the police officers.

Faulting Alkali’s directive in a statement yesterday, Chidoka insisted that the directive was “against minimum democratic norms and human right principles.”

Chidoka said the police directive “is as problematic as it is embarrassing in a democracy, and a country founded on the rule of law with guaranteed fundamental rights.

The Chancellor of Covenant University (CU), Dr. David Oyedepo at the weekend warned that the use of social media among the younger generation was a huge distraction, leading them to invest their time wrongly.

Oyedepo, Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, therefore challenged the federal government to regulate social media before it caused the country incalculable damages.

Oyedepo made this remark at the 15th convocation of the university held in Ota, Ogun State, on Friday, lamenting the negative effect of social media

on the youths.

Oyedepo, in an address titled “A Wakeup Call to Generation on the Wrong Side of History,” said the social media had eroded the abilities of the nation’s emerging generation, leading to an increase in cyber crimes and other social vices.

The chancellor, also, noted that many youths “are not investing adequate time into resourceful ventures but rather in the wrong usage of social media.

“I recently defined planning as programming to secure the present and capture the future. This needs time for implementation and that is the trap of social media. It unconsciously robs people of

their future by robbing them of their time.”

Oyedepo said it was time the nation dealt with the virus of social media before it caused it to have zero number of heroes across all sectors.

“The social media saga has eroded the destinies of most youths today. What is supposed to be a plus has suddenly become a major minus because everything of value is delivered through investment of time.

“Suddenly we are faced with a generation on the wrong side of history. The honour of this generation has been wiped off, chatting all day with no time left to think, plan, programme and engage productively in the pursuit of any task.”

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NEWSXTRA PFN: Nigeria Needs New Constitution, Not Amendment 'HVFULEHV OHJDO GRFXPHQW DV DQWL SHRSOH 'HPDQGV D WUXO\ IHGHUDOLVW FRQVWLWXWLRQ Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) yesterday rejected the review of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly, saying Nigeria needed a new constitution and not amendment of the existing document.

PFN, a voluntary fellowship of pentecostal churches and organisations, canvassed the enactment of a new legal document that would be in agreement with the socio-political realities of the country and capable of enhancing national economic development on all fronts.

These demands were contained in a statement jointly signed by PFN’s National President, Bishop Wale Oke; National Secretary, Dr. Cosmas Ilechukwu and National Legal Adviser, Funmi Quadri (SAN) yesterday.

In the statement titled Nigeria’s Constitutional Review: PFN’s Stand, the fellowship lamented that the existing 1999 Constitution “is fraught with irregularities that are not helpful for the growth of the federation.”

The statement said the PFN “is aware of the on-going constitutional review process being undertaken by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the public hearing sessions scheduled by the Senate for May 26 and

27 across the six (6) geo-political zones of the country.”

Consequently, the fellowship said the current constitution, which serves as the conveyor belt for the administration of the country, was anti-people and faulty.

“We declare that the present constitution is not a people’s constitution and does not, in any way, reflect the aspirations and yearnings of the PFN and the people of Nigeria at large.

“The PFN is firmly of the view that the review process by amending a segment of the constitution, might just be an exercise in futility that cannot meet the expectation of the people”, the statement further maintained To this end, the PFN said it was joining forces with other groups in the country in repudiating the 1999 Constitution, calling for the enactment of a new one that would be acceptable and more pliable to the yearnings of Nigerians.

It said: “We stand with the different groups and people across the length and breadth of Nigeria in rejecting the 1999 Constitution, and maintain that it cannot deliver a framework for good governance.

“We do not see the ongoing process of proposed alteration to the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999” achieving the objectives of

47 Candidates Jostle for Five Permanent Secretary Positions Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

A screening panel has cleared 47 candidates for written examination on May 31 to fill vacant positions of permanent secretary in the federal civil service.

This was revealed in a circular REF NO: ACSF/CMO/ AOD/012/1X/4 signed by Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, saying President Mohammadu Buhari approved the exercise.

The circular revealed that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had shortlisted 47 officers out of 51 candidates who faced a screening panel from May 17 to 21.

It added that the candidates “are bidding to fill the vacancies of retired permanent secretaries and those retiring this year from Ekiti, Katsina, Nasarawa, Enugu and Lagos states. Each state has one vacancy.

“Personnel from the Department of State Security (DSS),

Economic and Financial Crime Commissioner (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Commission (ICPC), attended the candidate screening process as observers.

“The screening exercise is headed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Dr. Magdalene Ajani assisted by the Permanent Secretary Career Management Office, in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Mamman Mahmuda,” the circular revealed.

The circular also, said the Director, Employee Mobility in the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mallam Tijanni Babura would serve as the secretary of the panel.

In order to ensure the credibility of the exercise and ensure that the process aligned with the rules of engagement, the circular disclosed that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation was present throughout the exercise.

Fintiri Pays Last Respect to Late Murum Joel Adamawa State Governor, Hon Ahmadu Fintiri has described the passing of late Miriam Joel as a great loss not only to the Bachamas but Adamawa and Nigeria as a whole.

The governor spoke at the funeral of the late royal father in Numan, saying the deceased was a leader of high repute who dedicated his life to the service of humanity and God and hopes that his successor will build on that legacy.

He said his administration would not interfere in the selec-

tion of the next Murum Mbula, but would ensure justice and fairness throughout the process in accordance with the tradition of the chiefdom.

He called on the people of the chiefdom to continue to live together peacefully for the development of the area.

The funeral service was attended by Deputy Governor Chief Crowther Seth, Chief of Staff Government House, Prof.

Maxwell Gidado and senior government officials, Emirs and Chiefs among other dignitaries within and outside Adamawa.

restructuring Nigeria, as desired and canvassed by millions of Nigerians and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN),” it added The fellowship demanded a new constitution, which it said would guarantee a truly federalist structure for the good and prosperity of all Nigerians.

Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan announced the membership of a

56-man Steering and Constitution Review Committee in February 2920The announcement was made moments after the start of Thursday’s plenary. The committee has all principal officers as members; one Senator from each State of the Federation, and two Senators selected to represent each geo-political zone in the country.

Principal officers on the membership of the Constitution Review Committee include: the Deputy

Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege (Chairman); Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi; Deputy Leader, Ajayi Boroffice; Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe; Deputy Whip, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi; Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha; Minority Whip, Philip Aduda; and Deputy Minority Whip, Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u.

Lawmakers selected to represent each State include: Theordore Orji, Abia; Aishat

Ahmed, Adamawa; Bassey Akpan, Akwa-Ibom; Stella Oduah, Anambra; Haliru Jika Dauda, Bauchi; Biobarukuma Deji-Eremenyo, Bayelsa; Gabriel Suswam, Benue; Abubakar Kyari, Borno; Gershom Bassey, Cross River; James Manager, Delta; Samuel Egwu, Ebonyi; Matthew Urhoghide, Edo; Opeyemi Bamidele, Ekiti; Ike Ekweremadu, Enugu; and Mohammed Danjuma Goje, Gombe.

RENDERING ACCOUNT . . .

L-R: Chairman, Teaching Service Commission, Lagos State, Mrs. Funmilayo Ariyo; Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Alawiyo King; Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab; Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo and Permanent Secretary, Information & Strategy, Mr. Olusina Thorpe, at the 2021 ministerial press briefing to mark Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s mid-term administration in Alausa, Ikeja ... Friday ETOP UKUTT

Ekiti Teachers Protest Police Assault on School Principal, Others Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Teachers in Ekiti State have faulted some police officers for allegedly assaulting the principal and some teachers of Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Ado Ekiti due to the school’s decision to discipline for unruly behaviour.

Consequently, the teachers called on the Nigeria Police, especially Ekiti State Police Command, to fish out the police officers led by one Elijah Agnoise and punish them for alleged assault on the principal and his female colleagues.

The Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools in Ekiti State, Mr. Sola Adigun made this call

yesterday at a session with journalists, describing the action of the four police officers as disgusting and unacceptable.

At least, four armed police officers had invaded Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Ado Ekiti, where they allegedly attacked, assaulted and harassed the principal of the school and some female teachers without just cause.

The armed officers had allegedly assaulted the principal and his female colleagues due to the decision of the school management to discipline the daughter of Elijah Agnoise for improper conduct against the rules of the school.

Currently a JSS 1 student, Agnoise’s daughter, Gift Omeizie, reportedly came to

school in an unethical hairdo, which according to the school management, breached the standard set for all students irrespective of their classes.

But at the session with journalists yesterday, the ASUSS Chairman disclosed that the case of assault on the principal and his female colleagues had been reported to the Ekiti State Police Command.

Adigun said the union was working with the Ministry of Education and Teaching Service Commission on measures “to end incessant harassment of teachers in Ekiti.”

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Police Force yesterday responded to the assault allegation against the four

police officers with assurance that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.

In a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Mr Sunday Abutu, the command confirmed that the identities of the police officers had been tracked.

The statement said the police command “is not unaware of a reported case of indiscipline at Mary Emaculate Girls’ School, Ado-Ekiti, where a Police Sergeant allegedly stormed the school alongside four of his colleagues and harassed the teachers simply because his daughter who is one of the students was questioned about the style of her hair-cut which was not inline with the school directive.

No Going Back on Yoruba Nation, Says Igboho James Sowole in Akure

The Yoruba Nation Solidarity Rally train arrived Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday as hundreds of agitators trooped to the city from the neighbouring Southwest states.

The city stood still for several hours, as agitators embarked on a rally while awaiting the arrival of Chief Sunday Adeyemo (a.k.a Sunday Igboho) The agitators, who converged under the aegis of Ilana Omo Oodua, chanted various solidarity songs to show their seriousness about the mission.

They began the rally at Isikan

Roundabout, Akure, where they moved to some other parts of the ancient town peacefully.

The agitators comprised women, youths, okada riders, traders and artisans among others. They were in attires inscribed with ‘Omo Oduduwa ni mi’.

Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Western Nigeria Security Network (a.k.a Operation Amotekun), Nigerian Army and other local security agents were also stationed at strategic locations in the town to ensure law and order was

maintained.

At the palace of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, the Yoruba rights activist, Igboho said the agitation for Yoruba Nation would not stop until it was realised.

Igboho, who arrived at the palace at about 3:00 p.m., said there was a need for the traditional rulers to be given prominent roles in the constitution to get them more involved in the administration of the state and local governments.

He said traditional rulers “are supposed to be the fathers of all, but they have been relegated. I

believe all these anomalies will end when the Yoruba Nation comes to being.

“Politicians have sold us to Fulanis. The Fulanis are now beyond their controls.

It is time we free ourselves.

There is no going back on the agitation. We do not want an election in 2023. I have a strong belief that we are going to succeed.”

He noted that the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu “is in support of the rally that was held in Akure. The governor is aware of our rally. We are no more under the Fulani again.

All we want is Yoruba Nation.”

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NEWSXTRA ASUU Faults Exclusion of Female Candidate from NAUTH CMD Contest Tobi Soniyi

The Academic Staff of University Union (ASUU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka has written to the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige complaining about the exclusion of one of its members from the selection process for the post of Chief Medical Director of Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Teaching Hospital, (NAUTH) Awka, Anambra State.

The Chairman of ASUU at the institution, Dr. Steve Ufoaroh made this allegation in a petition to the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, saying Prof. Echendu Adinma was unlawfully excluded from to the CMD contest.

Pursuant to an advertisement for the CMD position

at the NAUTH, the petition said Adinma, a Professor of Community Medicine and an ASUU member applied for the position and on March 24 her name was shortlisted among the 19 other candidates who qualified to be screened for the said position.

However, according to the petition, Adinma did not receive an invitation for the final

Family, Associates Pay Tribute to Late Babatunde Oshilaja Tobi Soniyi

The ancient city of Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State Thursday, stood still, as hundreds of friends, associates, and family members gathered to pay last respects to the late legal icon, Mr. Babatunde Oshilaja.

Oshilaja, popularly called Baba Oshi, died on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at the age of 72.

His wife, Christiana Oshilaja and children, Damilola Oshilaja, Oladipupo Oshilaja, Iyi Oshilaja, Oluwawemimo Oshilaja and Ibukunoluwa Oshilaja led other dignitaries for his eighth-day fidau prayer held at his residence in Iperu.

Speaking at the occasion, Magistrate Subulola Osowe described Oshilaja as a great mentor and an exceptional teacher.

Speaking on behalf of the family, one of his sons Iyi Oshilaja said his father taught his children the importance of integrity and honesty, stressing that his father

lived a great life and on his own terms.

He said: “Daddy, I really miss you. I don’t have the words to express how much I miss you.

From a tender age, you have always told me that you loved me. I grew up knowing it is normal to openly tell my father that I love him and vice versa.

“This is not common in the African tradition, but you loved me and said it out loud and that was it. I am glad that I told you that I loved you, glad that you knew.

“I know you are watching over all of wife, your children, and us. We all miss you terribly.

I miss you terribly. I speak with you all the time and I know you can hear me. ‘’An absolute genius is who you were. You were a great man. You advised me and did your best to provide for my siblings. You did your best helping people.

“I am saddened that death took you away. But God said in

all things we should give him thanks. Your death left a scar in our hearts but your legacy will stand in our life.”

Babatunde Oshilaja was born on December 27, 1946.

He had his primary education at the Wesley Primary School and then went on to Christ Apostolic Secondary School, where he dropped out after form 3 to join his father on the farm.

Babatunde, unsatisfied with life on the farm moved away from home in search of a better life. He worked menial jobs to support himself, from being a mechanic in Ibadan to loader before being noticed by a Lebanese businessman, who was impressed by his command of English and employed him as a porter He later attended Obafemi Awolowo University for his LLB and graduated in 1977.

He progressed to the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar with the class of 1978, (The Golden Class).

interview after the screening exercise.

It said: “Sequel to a discreet investigation it was discovered that she was screened out only on the ground that she was over 56years ‘deemed’ unqualified for the said position and discriminatorily ‘tagged’ over age.”

It stated that the requirements for the position were clearly spelt out and that being 56 years or less was not one of the listed criteria that applicants were required to meet.

It cited the Federal Civil Service Rules which provided that the retirement age of professors in the academic field would be 70 years.

The petition read in part: “In the same vein, the University Teaching Hospitals (Reconstitution of Boards, etc.) Act of 1985,

Section 5, clearly states the required criteria for appointment to the office of CMD, and being 56 year old or less is not one of the requirements of the Act. “It is grossly unjust, unlawful and discriminatory to have denied our member her rights to participate in the said interview for the post of CMD NAUTH Nnewi which held on Monday the 10th of May, 2021 at Merit House, Abuja, when she had been duly shortlisted and is eminently qualified for the said position, more so she had called the attention of the Honourable Minister of Health to the gross anomaly, in a formal letter.”

ASUU asked the minister to use his good office “to urgently redress and intervene on this matter and allow our member to be invited for interview in

a due diligence process, seeing that the previous screening and interview appear to be bereft of merit, guided by discrimination and aimed at depriving our member of her rights.”

The petition was copied to Attorney General of the Federation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Chief of Staff to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

ASUU wondered why its member was being disqualified on the basis of age when the federal government had approved new retirement age for workers in the sector.

Under the new condition of service, the retirement age of health workers was increased from 60 years to 65 years.

Also the retirement age for medical consultants is 70 years.

Lagos to Close Iju Level Crossing for Night Rail Repairs Lagos State Government has announced the night closure of Iju level crossing for repairs from 8pm on Sunday, May 23 to 6am on Monday, May 24.

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, said in a statement that the closure was to effect repairs on the damaged rail track caused by an accident involving an articulated vehicle.

According to the statement, government needs to effect the repairs on time to prevent accidents of the train running on the track.

Government, however, assured

that alternative routes had been provide during the temporary closure.

“Motorists from Abule-Egba can access Iju through Jonathan Coker, Charity to Olayiwola through Puposola to Toyin Level Crossing using Giwa, Oke-Aro. Charity to Abattoir to Okekoto to Pen Cinema Flyover is another option.

“While motorists From Iju Road, Jonathan Coker going to Abule-Egba can navigate their desired destinations through Ogba College Road to Jonathan Coker, to Abule-Egba, as well as Iju-Ishaga to Toyin Level Cross-

ing to Puposola through Charity, Abule-Egba.

“Motorists from Pen Cinema Flyover can link Tabon-Tabon through Abattoir, Charity to Abule-Egba are available for use.

Also, Ijaiye Road to Odo-Eran, by Mobil to Oba Ogunji, Pen Cinema Flyover,” Oladeinde said.

The commissioner advised motorists to obey the law enforcement officers deployed to manage traffic flow during the course of the night repairs at the level crossing.

He, however, said that the state government had prioritised the safety of Lagosians and would continue to do so.

EVENT Ms Ibiyemi Perez Asaolu, an accomplished professional technocrat, turned 50 recently. She was joined by her friends and well wishers in a modest low-key birthday celebration as the public health situation permitted. Below were some of the faces at the event:

L-R: Justice Funke Amzat, Busola Alofe, Titilayo Adeniyi, Pastor Faith Ogbole, Funke Adedeji, Elohor Aiboni, Bidemi Belgore

L-R: Vivian Nwangwu, Oluwabamiwo Adeosun, Funke Quadri, Ibiyemi, Abidemi Belgore, Elohor Aiboni, Toyin Lekan-Lawal

L-R: Bukky George, Dupe Dada, Ibiyemi, Bose Adegunwa, Angela Adekeye

Celebrant with SSG of Oyo State, Oluwabamiwo Adeosun

L-R: Toyin Lekan-Lawal, Shade Moyo-Falaye, Vivian Nwangwu, Ibiyemi, Banwo Adeosun, Rita Olarewaju

L-R: Bunmi Ogundare, Ronke Alade, Ibiyemi, Pastor Faith Ogbole, Jumoke Ajayi

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 23, 2021

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOTS

Top Four Battles Pit Liverpool, Chelsea, Leicester in Final Day Game of Death!

Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report

D

eposedchampions Liverpool are today in battle with Chelsea and Leicester for the two remaining slots in next season’s UEFA Champions League, with Manchester City and Manchester United already assured of qualiÀcation.

Jurgen Klopp’s men are level with Leicester on 66 points but their goal diͿerence is superior, meaning all the RedshavetodoathometoCrystalPalace this afternoon is match the Foxes’ result against Tottenham.

Third-placedChelsea,onepointclear of Liverpool and Leicester, travel to face mid-table Aston Villa.

In mid-March, Liverpool were eight pointsadriftoffourthplacebuttheyhave taken23pointsfromthepast27available and are unbeaten in nine games.

“We just found stability, created conÀdence again or got it back, and scored goals in the right moments and conceded less, let me say it like this,” Klopp said on Friday.

ButhewarnedthatLiverpool’srecent good run would mean nothing against a determined Palace side led by former AnÀeld boss Roy Hodgson, who is stepping down at the end of the season.

“Nobody should expect the perfect game, like in the sense of an early lead and all these kind of things,” warned Klopp, whose side beat Palace 7-0 in the reverse Àxture in December.

“You have to Àght for it. I respect

Chelsea Boss, Thomas Tuchel (fourth left) plotting game plan on how to end the Premier League season today in Top Four and guarantee of a Champions League ticket.

Crystal Palace too much, what they wanttogiveRoyinhislastgamemaybe as a manager.”

A total of 10 000 Liverpool fans will be inside AnÀeld for the match after a season played almost entirely behind closeddoorsbecauseofthecoronavirus.

Kloppsaidhavingthembackwasthe “best news I can imagine” but he said they must stay patient, even if things were not going Liverpool’s way on a

nervy Ànal day.

“It was an incredibly intense season, nothingwillchangethat,”Kloppadded.

“But we have it now in our hands to make a top, top Ànish of the season.”

Chelseaseizedcontroloftheirtop-four destiny with a crucial 2-1 win against Leicester on Tuesday.

Thomas Tuchel’s team will be guaranteed to Ànish third if they beat Villa, although they could also qualify for the

Champions League if they beat Manchester City in the Ànal of this season’s tournament on 29 May. Tuchel wants Chelsea to Ànish the job at Villa, so they can avoid going into the Cityshowdownwiththeextrapressure of Champions League qualiÀcation at stake. “For sure, for sure. We don’t need to talk around it, for sure it takes some pressure oͿ,” Tuchel said of the beneÀts of beating Villa.

“We’ve put so much hard work, so much quality and a very consistent amount of results into the last few months, that we want to Ànish the job on Sunday.

“Three teams have a chance to catch two places, and so the race is on.”

FACupwinnersLeicesterpotentially face heartbreak for a second successive season after missing out last year after a Ànal-day defeat by Manchester United.

CONFEDERATION CUP

Enyimba Positive of Upturning Pyramids’ Advantage in Aba Today Duro Ikhazuagbe

Fatai Osho, Head Coach of Nigeria’s last team in continental campaign this term, Enyimba, remains positive that the People’s Elephant can reach the CAF Confederation Cup semiÀnals despite needing to overcome a threegoal deÀcit when they host Egyptian Pyramids in Aba this afternoon.

Enyimba lost the Àrst leg of the quarter Ànal of the CAF Confederation Cup clash in Cairo last week to make this reverse Àxture a herculean task for the two-time African champions.

“This tie is not over,” Osho told reporters at the team’s last work out ahead of today’s game.

He however admitted that shambolic defending and tiredness due to

the logistic issues that dogged the Àrst leg in the Egyptian City conspired to derail his game plan last week.

“Some shocking defending, tiredness and a lack of concentration cost us dearly in Cairo. We were not three goalsworsethanouropponents,”Osho emphasized.

Victor Mbaoma Àred Enyimba into the early lead within a minute when he stole the ball from goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy.

But the hosts rallied back with goals from Ramadan Robhi and Abdallah El Said in the Àrst half.

IbrahimAdel compounded the visitors woes with two more goals in the second half to make this second leg a mountain very high to climb for the Aba Elephant.

No Nigerian clubside has ever defeated the Pyramids of Egypt.

Two years ago, the relatively young Egyptian clubside defeated Enugu Rangers 3-1 in Enugu and 1-0 in Cairo in the group stage of the 2019 Confederation Cup. In some of the other Àxtures of the second leg of the quarter Ànals, Moroccan Raja Casablanca take a perfect four-victory home record this season into a clash of former CAF Champions League winners against famed Soweto club Orlando Pirates.

Although the odds have tilted toward a Moroccan victory after they forced a 1-1 draw in South Africa, Pirates’ coach Josef Zinnbauer is upbeat despite his side failing to score in their last three away games.

Enyimba players have a herculean task at hand today against Pyramids FC of Egypt

Atletico Edge Real Lewandowski Breaks Gerd to La Liga Title Muller’s 49-year Old Record AtleticoMadridedgedcityrivalsReal Madrid to the La Liga title in dramatic fashion by coming from behind to beat Real Valladolid 2-1 in the Ànal game.

Diego Simeone’s side trailed to Oscar Plano’s strike but turned the match around in the second half through goals from Angel Correa and Luis Suarez.

Real scored twice late on to beat Villarreal 2-1 but came up short as they needed Atletico to drop points.

Atletico clinched their Àrst title in

seven years and their 11th overall.

It was a highly satisfactory triumph for Los Colchoneros as they Ànished just two points ahead of defending champions Real, who end the season without silverware.

Barcelona - playing without skipper Lionel Messi, who was resting before the summer’s CopaAmerica - won 1-0 at Eibar throughAntoine Griezmann’s acrobatic strike and clinched third place ahead of Sevilla.

Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski scored in the last minute of the season to break Gerd Muller’s 49-year record of Bundesliga goals in a campaign.

Lewandowski looked poised to be frustrated but pounced in the 90th minute for his 41st goal of the season.

The Poland striker now has 53 goals in 46 games for club and country heading into Euro 2020.

The home side scored four times in

the Àrst half against Augsburg with Manuel Neuer also saving a penalty.

Bayern, who had already wrapped up their ninth consecutive Bundesliga title, said goodbye to their manager and a number of star players who will leave this summer.

Hansi Flick was appointed in November 2019 and claimed the Champions League, two Bundesliga titles, the German Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup during his

spell in charge. Nigerian bornAustrian defender, David Alaba, and Javi Martinez are soon out of contract and both played their Ànal games for the side, as did Jerome Boateng - who left the Àeld in tears when he was replaced on the hour mark.

But the day belonged to Lewandowski, who was repeatedly thwarted

by Augsburg keeper Rafal Gikiewicz before reacting quickest to a fumble to roll the ball into an open net.

Sunday May 23, 2021

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Global Rights on Impunity in Nigeria

COVID-19 Tests & Vaccinations TEXT

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“Despite the government’s claim of being on top of the security situation in the country, the spread and context of insecurity have metastasized and shown no signs of abating, blackholing the enormous budgetary allocation to security.”

‘COVID’ TO 58123

– A report by Global Rights on insecurity in Nigeria.

This service is provided in association with accredited service providers

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Dissecting Malami’s Spare Parts Logic

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ccording to Mallam Abubakar Malami, LLB, BL, the attorneygeneral of the Nigerian federation, minister of justice, senior advocate of Nigeria and member of the Nigerian bar, banning open grazing is the rough equivalent of banning trading in spare parts. Let me take that again. When you say herders and their cattle should be legally restrained from invading people’s farmlands, destroying people’s crops, ruining people’s livelihoods and pouring petrol on the inferno that is fast burning the nation’s delicate fabric, it is as good as saying people should stop selling spare parts in shops and markets. Do you understand Malami’s logic? You don’t understand it? Neither do I. Reacting to the resolution of southern governors to ban open grazing as a result of security concerns, Malami said freedom of movement is guaranteed in the constitution and cynically asked the governors to seek an amendment. Listen to him, up close: “It is about constitutionality within the context of the freedoms expressed in our constitution. Can you deny the rights of a Nigerian? For example, it is as good as saying, perhaps, maybe, the northern governors coming together to say they prohibit spare parts trading in the north. Does it hold water? Does it hold water for a northern governor to come and state expressly that he now prohibits spare parts trading in the north?”

From where I am sitting, I can see at least a thousand and one flaws in Malami’s spare parts analogy. The fundamental one is a well-known fallacy called “false equivalence” in logic — a flawed reasoning also referred to as “fallacy of inconsistency”. We often call it “comparing apples and oranges” in everyday argument. It works by comparing two things based on a faulty criterion.

For example, arguing that since it is illegal for individuals to have bombs, it should also be illegal to have Christmas bangers because both are explosives. A banger is not a bomb, for Pete’s sake! It is a desperate and disingenuous way of advancing an argument in which two disparate items are made to look alike!

In what ways would anyone liken open grazing to trading in spare parts? Open grazing means herding your cattle in locations that do not belong to you. That means you are encroaching on private or public property without authorisation. It involves feeding freely on pasture that was not willingly donated to you. It also involves destroying people’s farmlands and ruining their livelihoods. How on earth can anyone compare that to selling spare parts in shops where traders pay rent? Do spare parts shops use free utilities same way cattle eat free grass unauthorised? Do spare parts sellers encroach on private or public property in the course of exercising their freedoms as traders?

If we are to advance a proper logical argument, we should compare those who operate in a similar field — animal husbandry. So, let us compare cattle farming with poultry and piggery. Those who run poultries and piggeries buy the feeds and the water and pay the rent if they do not own the land. They are no less of business people than the herders. They are no less citizens of Nigeria, with constitutionally guaranteed rights, than the herders. Why should herders be treated any differently? Open grazing is not only outdated, as we can see from modern global practices, it has become so politically explosive in Nigeria that anyone who loves peace will only seek a permanent solution.

Since Malami mentioned “constitutionally guaranteed” freedoms, I want to guess that he is talking about the right of every Nigerian to live and do business anywhere in the federation.

If my assumption is right, then his problem is bigger than I originally thought. Even a law undergraduate, much less a SAN, knows that

Malami there is no absolute right anywhere. Your rights and the rights of others have boundaries. Your right to do business cannot override my right to private property. John Locke, the highly influential English philosopher and “Father of Liberalism”, wrote in 1689: “Being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.”

While I have argued before, and will argue again, that southern governors cannot ban open grazing overnight, I also know that they did not just wake up one day to take the decision because everything was going well. It was not as if open grazing was winning gold medals for Nigeria and the governors decided to rain on the parade.

We have a serious challenge that has unsettled everybody across the country, not just the south.

Even northern governors issued a statement in February admitting that open grazing was no longer sustainable, promising to promote ranching.

And unlike Malami, they did not suggest that spare parts trading was posing a similar challenge up north.

I was in a team of journalists that toured Jigawa state in 2005 when Alhaji Saminu Turaki was the governor. We were shown a ranch he was building, complete with something called “rain harvest”. During the rainy season, water would be stored in an underground system. Then in dry season, it would be pumped to nurture the pasture. Turaki said this would guarantee fresh pasture all year round and address the frequent clashes between the itinerant herders and farmers in the state. He imported cattle breeds, and I think it was an Argentinian expert that was managing the ranching project. That is how to solve a problem. I never heard Turaki complain about spare parts traders.

But banning open grazing “with immediate effect” — as the southern governors want to do — can only worsen our security challenges.

That is my point of departure. You cannot make herders disappear overnight, neither can you change from an open grazing culture to a ranching one within the twinkle of an eye. We need to plan, to engage, to reach a consensus, to have timelines, to transition. Otherwise, there would be unintended consequences. This is no longer a pure agricultural problem but some significant political, ethnic and religious sensitivities which can explode in our faces if we do not apply wisdom. But then, the peerless Malami has suddenly emerged on the scene.

Aside his classic ill logic — “the herder has a right to do business; the spare parts seller has a right to do business; therefore, it is wrong to ban open grazing” — there are far more troubling undercurrents in Malami’s pronouncements. They give away a lot about mindsets inside the Buhari

administration. Anyone preaching national peace and unity should be very disturbed. It would appear that as many Nigerians are trying to deescalate the tensions in the land, some hardliners are trying to worsen matters. As the Mandators sang in 1988, ‘Some are trying to find solutions to all the problems we have/Some are making it impossible for the problems to be solved.’

I smelt, in Malami’s words, a trivialisation of the security challenges posed by the activities of the herders. Of course, I do not belong to the group of people who hold the herders responsible for every crime committed in southern Nigeria. I also do not believe in the conspiracy theories — the herders had been giving farmers hell (including up north) long before President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in 2015. But no honest observer can deny that the activities of some herders have been a threat to national peace in recent years and the government has definitely failed to address the issue decisively. To compare herders to spare parts traders is to turn the whole thing into a joke.

Malami’s choice of “spare parts” as an analogy is an undeniable underhand reference to the Igbo who overwhelmingly control that line of business.

The 17 southern governors are from the three geo-political zones and cut across ethnic groups and party lines. Malami’s preference for “spare parts” trading can only be interpreted one way: that he is picking on the Igbo. Is this a fightback at the framing of herders as “Fulani terrorists” since Buhari came to power in 2015? If this was Malami’s intention, I would say it was a poor one. A minister of the federal republic must resist the urge to play the ethnic card, no matter the temptation, no matter the urge. It is just too low.

While having prejudices and biases is only human, you need to summon all the restrain and maturity possible and rise above ethnic sentiments in your pronouncements when you occupy government positions. I find it difficult to understand how many people in government see themselves, first and foremost, as ethnic champions who are in power to defend the interests of members of their ethnic groups. This mindset, or line of thinking, is not only regressive and unhelpful, it is also very dangerous and harmful to the cause of national reconciliation, integration, peace and unity. Our inability to distill our emotions is hurting efforts to tackle challenges that are dragging us backward.

Malami’s pronouncements are all the more worrisome because ethnic champions usually begin to display their biases openly only after they have left government — not while still active service. We know many people who held top government positions and even aspired to be president but end up as leaders of one ethnic association or the other. You can guess that when they were in government, they must have been promoting one policy or the other meant to give advantage to their parts of the country. It could be in recruitment and promotion. It is normally after they have left government that they start wearing their ethnic badges everywhere. Malami cannot even wait for that long.

What Nigeria needs today is statesmanship.

We need men and women who will say and do things that will reduce the tensions in the land, heal the wounds and chart a path to peace and progress. Although southern governors have controversially resolved to ban open grazing because of the crisis that has engulfed many communities, they also provided a leeway in their communique by saying the federal government should support “willing” states to develop an alternative and modern livestock management system. Federal government should take a more constructive look in that direction. Nigeria urgently needs problem solvers, not rabble rousers. We need peace, not war.

And Four Other Things…

RIP, ATTAHIRU The death of Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, chief of army staff, and 10 other military officers in an air mishap in Kaduna on Friday was so devastating. It is one of those things about life we can never understand. He was appointed army chief only in February — and three months later, he is gone. We must continue to ask questions about air safety in Nigeria. If military aircraft can be dropping from the skies at this rate — whether or not it is as a result of human error, bad weather, poor maintenance, whatever — the fact is that something is just not right. Attahiru had reinvigorated the war on terror and it looked like we were going somewhere. And then this. What a loss. Tragic.

SICK TROLLS Many of my friends were so worried — disgusted is the word — over the jubilant reactions of some Nigerians to the death of Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, chief of army staff, on Friday. Twitter, in particular, was full of nasty trolling, with some falsely quoting him as saying over his dead body would Nigeria break up. While mocking the dead is disgusting, it is no longer surprising. It has become a new culture and should now be regarded as a stage in the post-humanity era that we are moving into, enabled by the social media. Unfortunately, those celebrating Attahiru’s death are still unable to see that it would not solve their problem, whatever their problem may be. Sickening.

DEAD AND ALIVE Reports yet to be refuted indicate that Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram, is finally dead. We are being cautious because he had been reported dead many times and he would do a video to laugh off the reports. He is said to have committed suicide after being attacked by members of the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP), an offshoot of Boko Haram.

Whatever the case is, we cannot celebrate yet. Shekau had reportedly become marginalised over the years, so his Boko Haram has not been our major headache in recent times. The real problem is ISWAP and they are believed to be the ones behind the banditry and kidnappings. Shekau is dead but terror is still alive. Vigilance.

COVID CAUTION As COVID-19 continues to devastate India, I have been very worried for Nigeria.

It took a third wave for India to crack and the dead bodies are piling up badly by the day. We just have to take precaution and stop peddling fables that we have natural immunity in Nigeria. Some Nigerian pastors have blood on their hands as they continue to mislead their congregation into the path of ignorance, even though you have to also question how church members can so easily submit themselves to the manipulation.

We don’t all have to take the vaccine since the anti-vax propaganda appears to have worked very well, but we can at least keep to basic safety measures. Caution.

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