WEDNESDAY 1ST JUNE 2022

Clark: Ayu a Thoughtless, Partial Leader, Should Resign Declares Tambuwal’s decision arranged, dishonourable, tragic betrayal Says Peter Obi’s position now vindicated Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja Elder statesman and leader of the Ijaw nation, Chief Edwin Clark, has described the National Chairman

of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, as a thoughtless and partial leader and therefore, asked him to resign his position as a matter of urgency.

Clark, who claimed Ayu could

not hide his biases, when he paid the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal a “thank you” visit during which he described him as the “hero of the convention”, also contended that the decision by

the Sokoto governor to step down for the winner of the presidential primaries, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, was arranged and as such, dishonourable and a tragic betrayal.

To that extent, Clark, who is the leader of Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Forum and Pan Niger Delta Forum, said the decision by a former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi to quit the PDP

and withdraw from the presidential primaries was well-thought out and vindicated the presidential hopeful.

Clark, in a statement he personally Continued on page 41

PDP to Present Certificate of Return to Atiku, Others Today…Page 8 Wednesday 1 June, 2022 Vol 27. No 9913. Price: N250

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2022: Your Votes will Count, Yakubu Assures Ekiti Electorate Says monetised politics not good for election

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday, said every vote

of the Ekiti electorate would count in the June 18 governorship election in the state. Yakubu stated that the commission would be neutral and stand by the obligatory mission of ensuring that no extraneous

interferences were allowed to affect the credibility of the poll.

The INEC boss spoke in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday during an interface with the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers in respect of

the June 18 governorship election in the state.

Addressing the monarchs, Yakubu said a total of 989,202 voters had been registered in Ekiti

by INEC, out of which over 740,000

had procured their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), in readiness for the election.

He revealed that the commission would conduct the governorship poll alongside the botched Ekiti

State Assembly bye-election in Ekiti East Constituency 1.

Yakubu stated, "I want to appeal to all voters in Ekiti that their votes Continued on page 41

Buhari Meets Governors, Moves to Choose Successor, Still Consulting Says his candidate will give Nigerians sense of victory, confidence ahead of poll Governors meeting deadlocked NWC members accuse Adamu of rendering body redundant, taking unilateral decisions

Continued on page 41

CONSULTING ON HIS SUCCESSOR...

President Muhammadu Buhari meets APC Governors ahead of the presidential primary at the State House, Abuja...yesterday

Okorocha Meets Bail Conditions, Makes APC Presidential Screening as Exercise Ends... Page 43

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Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

WHY I WANT TO BE PRESIDENT...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) being screened by the APC Presidential Primaries Screening Committee at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja... yesterday

FG Seeks Vaccine to Halt Spread of Monkeypox Disease COVID-19 vaccination hits 30 million NCDC denies Russian allegation of having laboratories with Monkey Pox virus Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government yesterday revealed that it was collaborating with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United States Centre for Disease Control to see how Nigeria would access the global stockpile of Monkeypox vaccination to arrest the outbreak of the disease.

The government's move came just as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) yesterday dismissed the allegations that it was operating biological laboratories with monkey pox virus in Nigeria.

The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) which revealed the collaboration with the WHO, also disclosed that

it has vaccinated 30,327,550 persons with the first dose.

It said that the figure of first dose vaccination represented 23.9 per cent of the country's eligible population, adding that 14,629,451 persons had also received their second dose.

According to the agency, 18,291,072 had been fully vaccinated which represented 16.4 per cent of the country's eligible population, while 1,229,909 persons were said to have received their booster doses.

The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, who spoke to journalists at the flag-off of COVID-19 vaccination at Community Pharmacies in Abuja, said the federal government is presently

Buhari Leads 11-man Delegation on State Visit to Spain Due back in Abuja Friday

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari departed Abuja yesterday for Madrid, Spain, as head of an 11man delegation on a state visit to the European nation at the invitation of Spanish President Pedro Sanchez.

According to a release by his media adviser, Femi Adesina, during the visit, the first by the Nigerian leader, Buhari would also meet with the Head of State of the Spanish nation, His Majesty King Felipe VI. During his engagements with both leaders, the Nigerian president would discuss issues of mutual interest to both countries, which would expectedly result in the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding on a wide range of topics geared towards further enhancing bilateral relations between Nigeria and Spain, the statement said.

Adesina said ssues to be discussed include extradition and transfer of convicted persons, mutual legal assistance, cultural matters, cooperation towards fighting crime and enhancing security, as well as issues affecting dependants of diplomatic staff.

On the agenda also are cooperation on energy, trade and investment, transportation, public health and sports development.

The president would also be the special guest at an investment forum jointly organised by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Trade, and the Confederation of Employers (CEOE), where he would speak to the gathering of top members of the Spanish business community and their Nigerian counterparts on the investment opportunities in Nigeria and ways of expanding the volume of trade as well as further collaborating for the development of the economies of both countries.

On the president’s entourage are Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN); Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare; and Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora.

Others are National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd); Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar; and Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

The president is expected back in the country on Friday, June 3.

emphasising strict observation of public health safety measures to limit the spread of Monkeypox disease across the country.

The NPHCDA boss said the agency was working with the NCDC to make sure that all of the strategies to limit its spread were put in place.

"We are also engaging the WHO and the United States Centre for Control to see how Nigeria can also access the global stockpile of Monkeypox vaccination. " Until the vaccines are available, the government is emphasising the use of basic measures to limit the spread of Monkeypox disease," he explained.

He solicited the support of the media to sensitise Nigerians on ways to avoid being infected.

While speaking on the rollout of vaccination in community pharmacies, Shuaib said the whole essence of collaboration with community pharmacists was to ensure that vaccination and immunisation activities are brought down to the grassroots levels for 24 hours per day.

Shuaib said the Federal Ministry of Health and the Presidential Steering Committee had launched the S.C.A.L.E.S 2.0 as one of the national strategies for COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

He explained that S.C.A.L.E.S. strategy entailed the expansion of vaccination sites beyond government health facilities to include private health facilities and community pharmacies in line with global best practices.

"It is as part of this laudable initiative that we are here today to officially launch this exciting collaboration between the Association of community pharmacists of Nigeria and the NPHCDA. "Community pharmacies are one of the most easily accessible and frequently consulted points of care for healthcare service delivery by the public sector especially in underserved population due to their interconnectedness with the communities.

"In Nigeria, for example, community pharmacies involvement in differentiated care and administration of antiretroviral medicines for HIV care have been shown to improve retention on treatment, adherence to medication, and overall better treatment outcomes," he said.

Shuaib noted that community pharmacists contributed greatly during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic through ensuring the availability and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and hand sanitisers.

He said the synergy would

enhance, "our COVID-19 vaccination programme and help the country achieve herd immunity while strengthening the health care system and contributing to health security."

"With over 6000 community pharmacies spread across the country, coupled with the ease of access and long operating hours, I believe this will contribute to rapidly increasing vaccination coverage. " I am excited about this collaboration and I believe it will add zest to the country’s effort to attain the national target of 70 per cent vaccination coverage that is necessary to achieve herd immunity," he added.

The Director of the Primary Healthcare Board in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Yakubu Mohammed charged members of the Association of Community Pharmacies of Nigeria to see the programme as an opportunity to help spread the message of vaccination to the rural populace and improve on the immunisation coverage in the country.

Meanwhile, the NCDC has dismissed the allegations of operating biological laboratories with monkey pox virus in Nigeria.

It stated: “A recent report on social media has come to our attention, said to have been released

by the Chief of Russian Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Force, containing allegations.”

It pointed out that the Russian had alleged that: "there are four US-controlled biological laboratories operating in Nigeria. That WHO reports that the Monkeypox (MPX) virus responsible for outbreaks in Europe and elsewhere was imported from Nigeria where the United States of America deployed its biological infrastructure. In order words, MPX virus is generated in these laboratories."

Reacting to the allegation, the NCDC said the statement was not backed by any evidence.

It also stated that, “the designation and activities of Nigerian public health laboratories are known to the supervising authorities, most of the laboratories having been procured and set up by the federal government in all 36 States and FCT for diagnostic purposes, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases.

"Some other laboratories are dedicated to the very successful HIV control program, managed by the federal government and her Partners, based on larger and longstanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation in public health, including prevention, diagnosis, surveillance, and control of diseases.

TETFund Intervention Projects in Benue Varsity Hits N7bn, Says Pro-Chancellor Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has committed about N7 billion to its various intervention projects in Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, from 1999 to date.

The Chairman of the Governing Council and Pro-Chancellor of the University, Sebastine Hon, made this known yesterday, in Abuja, when he led management of the institution on a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono.

Hon, who congratulated Echono on his appointment as TETFund boss, commended President Muhammadu Buhari over his choice, even as he described the Executive Secretary as, "one of our illustrious alumni, having graduated with a degree in MBA in Management from our University."

While expressing delight over the various TETFund projects that now dots the university, the Pro-Chancellor appealed for the speedy completion of other ongoing projects.

He said: "We are here to also acknowledge and express the profound appreciation of the Visitor, the Council, management, staff and students for the support both in terms of content-base interventions and infrastructure BSU has benefitted from TETFund from 1999 till now.”

"Our campus is dominated with TETFund-sponsored legacy structures including the central library, laboratories, lecture theatres, faculty buildings, student social centre, and entrepreneurship development centre, not excluding research (IBR, NRF, ARJ, AMB), academic training and conferences

(foreign and local), post-doctoral, bench work and developments in ICT. "In all, the university has received about N7 billion in intervention from TETFund between 1999 and now.

"For want of time, we would have provided the statistics to enable the ES to understand our excitement and appreciation to TETFund in this regard.

"The Executive Secretary Sir, we have some TETFund-supported projects on-going now. Whereas some of the contractors have shown commitment, some have been poor.

"It is important to mention that the Covid-19 lockdown affected the speed and cost as it were. The projects include construction and furnishing of Faculty of Education Building - 85%; construction and furnishing of Research Development

and Innovation Centre – 90 per cent; construction and furnishing of Academic Office Building - 80%; construction and furnishing of block of offices for College of Health Sciences – 90 per cent; construction and furnishing of Faculty of Science Building - 45%."

Speaking further, the ProChancellor called for a waiver to access the 2021/2022 TETFund's allocations to enable the university address its challenges as well as special intervention on the institution's library that was recently torched by heavy storm.

"We have a very small campus, and we desire to expand in terms of content-base and infrastructure.

Our university has commenced appreciable steps with NUC to commence the following programmes: Architecture, Pharmacy, Engineering, and Building Engineering.

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SCREENED...

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan (left) and Chairman, All Progressives Congress Screening Panel, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, after Lawan’s screening by the Oyegun-led Presidential Screening Committee, in Abuja...yesterday.

Low Fixed Income Yields Lift Stock Market by N6.27trn in Five Months Kayode Tokede The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) appreciated by N6.27 trillion in the first five months of 2022 amid positive indicators that included low-yield in fixed securities, the increase in global oil prices and impressive corporate earnings of listed companies.

Precisely, the overall market capitalisation, an indicator used to track total value of all companies'

value on the NGX gained N6.27 trillion or 28.12 per cent to close May 31, 2022 at N28.568 trillion, higher than the N22.297 trillion it closed on the last trading day in 2021.

The market capitalisation in April had added N1.81 trillion to close at N28.568 trillion from the N26.76 trillion it opened for trading.

Consequently, the NGX All-Share Index, an indicator used to track the general market movement of all listed

stocks on NGX, including those listed on the growth board, regardless of capitalisation opened 2022 at 42,716.44 basis points to close May 31, 2022 at 52,990.28 basis points, representing increase of 24.05 per cent.

However, in April 2022, the NGX All-Share Index gained 6.75 per cent to 52,990.28 basis points from 49,638.94 basis points it opened for trading.

THISDAY had reported that the NGX market capitalisation gained

N3.02 trillion in the first quarter of the year amid the flurry of impressive earnings by major bellwethers and positive corporate actions The market capitalisation had also gained N3.015 trillion to close on March 31, 2022 at N25.312 trillion from N22.297 trillion at which it opened for trading activities on January 4, 2020.

On the other hand, the NGX ASI rose by 9.95 per cent to close

Barkindo: Hasty, Impulsive Decisions will Lead to Disorderly Energy Transition Nigeria grew oil production by 70,000bpd in May OPEC may stick to crude supply plan in July Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Outgoing Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr Sanusi Barkindo, has again warned against taking decisions on the current global energy transition based on emotions, rather than science.

Barkindo who spoke at the 21st Coordination Meeting on Climate Change which held via videoconference yesterday, stressed that even as talks on climate change continue, developing countries in particular are struggling more than ever with energy security.

The Nigerian-born OPEC head, who leaves the organisation at the end of July, noted that the world needs to continue to fight for energy security in a sustainable and just manner, explaining that eradicating energy poverty must remain at the top of the agenda.

“We are concerned that hasty and impulsive decisions could lead to a disorderly energy transition, which would see energy exporting developing countries lose out again.

They stand to be substantially affected by the guidance in these documents,” he stated.

In order for countries to develop and for a just transition to occur, Barkindo stated that there was need to have the opportunity to develop energy resources in as clean a way possible, which he said requires international cooperation and partnership and the provision of sufficient finance, along with technology.

He added that affordable, clean energy for all was necessary and will require the contribution of all forms of energy, with technology supporting their most efficient possible production and use.

“We want to see a just and inclusive transition occur. One that builds resilient, equitable and

sustainable societies. In order for this to happen, universal access to reliable and affordable modern energy sources and energy stability are requirements,” he maintained.

In the meantime, the OPEC+ coalition will likely hold firm to its oil production plans this week even as the European Union moves to sanction group member Russia, Bloomberg has said, quoting delegates.

Global oil supply and demand levels remain stable, with no severe disruption yet to Russian exports, and thus require little action from the 23-nation alliance, according to the officials.

It is coming as oil prices continue to climb, surpassing $124 a barrel in London on Tuesday, as the EU’s planned embargo stands to tighten a global market already squeezed by rising fuel consumption and limited supplies.

As a result, OPEC+ looks poised to rubber-stamp a modest increase of 430,000 barrels a day for July as the group, in theory at least, revives production halted during the pandemic.

But in practice, most expect the group will struggle to deliver half this planned increase, if any, as diminished investment and political instability take a toll on the capacity of many members. Nigeria and Angola have suffered some of the most severe output setbacks.

Meanwhile, Nigeria grew its crude oil production by about 70,000 bpd in May, according to a Reuters survey , mirroring a partial recovery in outage-hit Nigeria.

The 10 members of OPEC bound by the deal pumped 24.73 million barrels per day (bpd) in May, up 280,000 bpd from April and above the 274,000 bpd increase called for by the accord.

OPEC and its allies, known as

OPEC+, are slowly relaxing 2020 output cuts as demand recovers from the pandemic. OPEC+ meets on Thursday and is expected to confirm a previously agreed output hike despite the surge in oil prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The deal called for a 432,000 bpd increase in May from all OPEC+ members, of which about 274,000 bpd is shared by the 10 OPEC producers the agreement covers.

Output undershot the pledged hikes between October and April, with the exception of February, according to the survey as many producers still lack the capacity to pump more crude following insufficient investment, a trend accelerated by the pandemic.

As a result, the 10 OPEC members pumped far less than called for under the deal, with OPEC compliance to pledged cuts being 178 per cent, compared with 164 per cent in April.

The biggest rise in May of 100,000 bpd came from Saudi Arabia, while the second-largest of 70,000 bpd came from Nigeria, which loading schedules indicate boosted exports in May, even though key crude stream Bonny Light remains under force majeure.

A THISDAY analysis of the figures showed that Nigeria grew its total production from 1.35 million barrels in April to 1.42 million barrels in May, although the country’s quota remained 1.753 million bpd for the month.

at 46,965.48 basis points in the first three months of the year.

The major drivers on the Nigerian Stock market in the first five months of 2022, were the performances of listed oil & gas, industrial banking and consumer goods companies.

For instance, the NGX Oil/Gas Index in five months gained 58.7 per cent to close May 331, 2022, at 547.57 basis points from 345.01 basis points, while NGX Consumer Goods Index rose by 10.6 per cent to close May 2022, at 651.73 basis points from 589.28 basis points the stock market opened for trading in the year under review.

In addition, the NGX Industrial Index increased by 9.26 per cent in five months of 2,194.24basis points from 2,008.30 basis points as the NGX Banking Index gained marginally 4.8 per cent to 425.71 basis points from 406.07 basis points.

The growth in stock prices was strongly bullish as all the indicators closed in the green between January and May of 2022.

Capital market analysts attributed the growth of the NGX to low-yield in the fixed income securities market, steady increase in global oil prices and listed companies’ impressive corporate earnings post-covid-19.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) last week revealed in its first quarter 2022 report that the Nigerian economy expanded by 3.1 per cent year-on-year (y/y) in real terms in what was broadly a positive surprise as the growth print topped consensus expectations.

The expansion in Q1-2022 was de-

spite the unprecedented developments in the global economic environment including rising inflationary pressure, higher importation costs (due disruption in the global supply chain), and geo-political uncertainties.

To the President of Association of Capital Market Academics in Nigeria (ACMAN), Prof. Uche Uwaleke, investors reacted following a strong international crude oil price which reduced the risk of external shocks, stressing that the insignificant impact of the Russian-Ukraine war on the Nigerian economy played a critical role in stock market growth in five months of 2022.

According to him, other factors included, “Relatively low interest rates in the fixed income market. However, this may reverse soon following the recent hike in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“Effective regulation on the part of the SEC has helped to boost confidence.”

He added that, “Perhaps, the strongest driver has been improved corporate performance of many quoted companies. So, a lot of investors have engaged in bargain hunting in search of undervalued stocks thereby pushing up stock prices.”

Also, the CEO, Wyoming Capital & Partners, Mr. Tajudeen Olayinka noted that improved liquidity in the stock market could be traced to 2021 performance by listed companies and Continued on Page 41

Online Scam: Three Nigerians Arrested in Interpol Operation Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

An operation targeting malware cyber fraud across South-east Asia led to the arrest in Nigeria of three suspected global scammers.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested the suspects in a sting operation conducted simultaneously in a Lagos suburb called Ajegunle and in Benin City, 300 km to the east of the commercial capital.

The Nigerian sting operation was part of a global operation codenamed “Killer Bee” involving Interpol National Central Bureaus (NCBs) and law enforcement in 11 countries across South-east Asia.

A statement by EFCC said the arrests followed the publication of an Interpol cyber report linking a suspected syndicate of Nigerian fraudsters operating from the West Coast of Africa to the use of a

malicious Remote Access Trojan (RAT) known as "agent tesla.”

"The men are thought to have used the RAT to reroute financial transactions, stealing confidential online connection details from corporate organisations, including oil and gas companies in South East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa,” it added.

One of the scammers, Hendrix Omorume, was charged with three counts of serious financial fraud and was convicted and sentenced to one-year imprisonment.

The trial of the others is still ongoing.

“Through its global police network and constant monitoring of cyberspace, Interpol had the globally sourced intelligence needed to alert Nigeria to a serious security threat where millions could have been lost without swift police action,” said Interpol's Director of

Cybercrime, Mr Craig Jones.

“Further arrests and prosecutions are foreseen across the world as intelligence continues to come in and investigations unfold,” he added.

It said Interpol assisted in examining the laptops and mobile phones seized by EFCC during the arrests, helping to confirm the systematic use of “agent tesla” malware to access business computers and divert monetary transactions to their own accounts.

“Cybercrime is spreading at a fast pace with new trends constantly emerging. Through operations like killer bee, Interpol partners EFCC to keep pace with new technologies and understand the possibilities they create for criminals and how they can be used as tools for fighting cybercrime,” said EFCC’s Director of Operations, Abdulkarim Chukkol.

“The enforcement actions led

by Nigeria and coordinated by Interpol send a clear message that cybercrime will have serious repercussions for those involved in business email compromise fraud, particularly in Nigeria,” he said.

The anti-graft agency said the three men, aged between 31 and 38, were each arrested in possession of fake documents, including fraudulent invoices and forged official letters.

Operation Killer Bee is led by the ASEAN Cybercrime Operations Desk, which is funded by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) 2.0 and supported by the Singapore Government.

Operational partners included Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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DUKE'S VISIT TO IBADAN...

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde (left) and Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, during the latter's visit to Governor's Office Secretariat, Ibadan... yesterday

PDP to Present Certificate of Return to Atiku, Others Today

Sambo, Lamido, Bafarawa, Hayatu-Deen visit party’s presidential candidate Party to conduct fresh governorship primary in Bauchi, candidate withdraws from race

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),yesterday, said it would present certificates of return to its presidential candidate for the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar and other governorship candidates today, Wednesday, at noon.

This is as a former Vice-President of the party, Namadi Sambo; former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido and a former presidential aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, visited Atiku at his home.

In another development, the Bauchi State Chapter of the PDP, has completed arrangements for a fresh governorship primary in the state, a development, which has precipitated the withdrawal of the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Ibrahim Kashim, from the race, citing personal reasons.

However, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, the party has invited all the PDP governors, governorship candidates, presidential aspirants, members of

the Board of Trustees, members of the National Assembly, all other candidates of the party and all critical stakeholders to the special ceremony of the presentation of Certificate of Return to Atiku, at the NEC Hall, PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

But the PDP stalwarts, who visited Atiku had done so following his emergence at Saturday presidential nomination convention.

In a tweet from his verified tweeter handle, Atiku said, "It was my honour and pleasure playing host to H.E Namadi Sambo, H.E Sule Lamido, H.E Attahiru Bafarawa and Alh Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

"The congratulatory visit afforded us to discuss how to strengthen the bond of unity in our dear party, the PDP, among others."

Also commenting on the rising insecurity in Nigeria, Atiku said a peace initiative is the best tool to mange and combat the situation.

"A peace initiative is the best tool to combat insecurity. When we unite our people, our peace is more guaranteed," he said.

Meanwhile, But the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Bauchi, Yayanuwa Zainabari, yesterday, confirmed that a fresh

exercise would be conducted because Ibrahim Kashim, said has withdrawn from the race as he no longer had interest in the election.

Zainabari stated that the PDP was following the process as enshrined in the law of the party and the electoral law.

"The former Secretary to the State Government of Bauchi State, Bar-

THISDAY checks, however, revealed that there was friction between Governor Bala Mohammed and the candidate after the primary election.

Unverified reports claimed the former SSG Kashim, against earlier "agreement" refused to hand over the ticket to Mohammed, who lost the PDP presidential ticket to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Witnesses tell court how 13.65kg Cocaine Seized from 11 Filipinos was received Wale Igbintade and Ugo Aliogo The Commander, Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ameh Inalegwu has revealed that between January and May, 2022, the agency seized 3349.25kg of assorted drugs at Lagos Inland waterways alone.

This, he said was in addition to the two commercial vessels in the General Marwa drag net for illicit drugs importation.

Inalegwu, who disclosed this yesterday, in Lagos, during the

Mustapha withdraws petition in the primary elections.

“We are indeed not surprised, because it could not have been otherwise owing to the security alertness the state ensured. It is an acknowledged fact that Lagos State is not only the cradle of Nigerian politics, but it has also continued to be a determining factor in political scheming of the country.

“Today, our great party is the country's ruling party, basically on account of the influential role played by the political juggernauts in Lagos State, who in alliance with other political heavyweights across the federation aligned to midwife the APC and subsequently steered it into national electoral victory. We are very optimistic that this victory will be repeated come 2023 general election, not only in Lagos State, but across the federation,” he said.

According to the chairman of the committee, “The committee received a single petition submitted

by Ahmed Olorunfemi Mustapha, alleging that he was denied access and participation in the gubernatorial

Grema, declared Kashim, the sole aspirant, as winner, adding that he pulled a total of 655 votes out of the 656 votes while one was invalid.

In his acceptance speech shortly after the declaration, the former SSG said he accepted the mandate given to him by the delegates, declaring that that the contest for the 2023 had just began.

NDLEA: 3349.25kg of Banned Substances Seized in Five Months

APC Appeal C’ttee Says Lagos Guber Primary Free, Fair, Peaceful The All Progressives Congress (APC) Appeal Committee for the governorship primary election in Lagos State, yesterday, declared that the process was free, fair, peaceful and transparent, just as the sole petitioner, Mr. Ahmed Olorunfemi Mustapha, has withdrawn his petition and promised to support the party and its governorship candidate in the state.

Chairman of the Appeal Committee, Hon. Ibrahim Akaje, who stated this while briefing newsmen in Lagos, on the activities of the committee in the state, said the three-man Gubernatorial Primary Election Appeal Committee inaugurated by the National Working Committee of the party led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has amicably resolved the issues raised by the aggrieved party in order to foster unity and make progress in the party.

Akaje, flanked by the Secretary of the committee, Barrister Abubakar Hassan and Hon. Ginika Tor, noted that Lagos State was among the APC states that recorded relative peace

rister Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim, has withdrawn his candidature and submitted his candidature since he stepped down on his own, the party is left with no option but to get his replacement through fresh primary election," he said.

Kashim won the ticket of the party in the primary conducted last week, after the Returning Officer for the election, Hassan Ahmed

primary election. In view of that and to ensure justice and fairness, the complainant was invited and accorded fair hearing in a peaceful meeting under a conducive atmosphere.

“It is instructive to inform the press and the party faithful that the committee has received the report of the election committee held on the 26" of May, 2022 at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos State. The report of the Gubernatorial Primary Election Committee confirmed that the election was a free, fair, peaceful and transparent exercise.

“The Appeal committee received the petitioner, who presented his matter extensively. After thorough analysis and deliberations on the matter, the committee subtly informed the petitioner that he was not cleared by the gubernatorial Screening Committee, a verdict of which was upheld by the Screening Appeal Committee. Both parties therefore agreed to embrace peace and maintain unity for the good of the party and the state.”

NDLEA Apapa Port Special Area Command (APSAC) Shipping Lines and Shipping Agencies, expressed frustration that shipping lines and agencies were not bothered about the content of the cargoes they bring into Nigeria resulting in false declaration.

“This attitude of looking the other way has negatively impacted the economy and security of Nigeria. From our investigations, most of you are aware of the false declaration thus collaborating with unscrupulous businessmen to circumvent the laws of the country,” he lamented.

He urged shipping lines and shipping agencies to ensure that the information on their manifests and bill of laden are not vague, in order to allow for easy investigation, while appealing to financial institutions to ensure that they carry out adequate identity check for their customers.

In her Keynote Address, the Deputy Commander, General Narcotics, Seaport Operations, Mrs. Omolade Faboyede, revealed that the exponential rise in the prevalence of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking had prompted the federal government to take very urgent steps to stem the tide with the creation of the institution of the Presidential Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA) which is headed by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig.Gen Buba Marwa (Rtd.).

She also stated that the committee has made some far-reaching recommendations which are currently being implementation with certain obvious results.

She added that the engagement was in consonant with the "Whole

Society" and "Joined Hands" approach that are the centerpiece of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA).

According to her, “The agency is aware of the global maritime security threat within the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) and the challenges with the various seaports in Nigeria and the sub-region.

“The shipping agencies and other maritime fleets remain the most vulnerable sector within the maritime domain. Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies (MLEAs) remains an indispensable tool and process for em-placing effective governance in the national maritime space.

“In the face of emergent challenges occasioned by diverse threats and insecurities it has become to address the attendant inadequacies hindering the efforts of maritime drug law enforcement in checkmating drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria seaports, inland bonded terminals and designated dry docks in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, two exhibits keepers with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Fredrick Atoni and Luka Zaka, yesterday told a federal high court in Lagos how 13.65 Kilograms of cocaine allegedly imported into the country by 11 Philippine citizens were kept in their custody.

The two exhibits keepers are attached to the Lagos and Apapa Special Command of the agency respectively.

The Filipinos, charged before Justice Nicholas Oweibo Oweibo were Gerapusco Fidel; Antolin Reynante; Bechayoa Edgar; Voltaire Tejero, (M), Adult, Kent Ryan; Bryan Kamos; Ralph Christopher; Maningo Dennis; Romnick Albarracin; Ervin Pabuaya

and Quetua Judezar Servilla.

They were arrested on November 7, 2021, at GDNL Terminal Apapa Port, Lagos, alongside a vessel, MV Karteria.

All the defendants were arraigned before the court on May 20, 2022, on a four count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful importation and transportation of the prohibited substance.

The offences according to the prosecutors, Mr. Dinneys Owen were contrary to and punishable under section 11(b) and 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

At the resumed trial of the defendants yesterday, the lead prosecutor, Owen called two witnesses - Atoni and Zaka - who were both exhibits keepers at the Lagos and Apapa Special Command of the agency respectively.

Atoni while being led in evidence by the prosecutor told the court how the seized drug was brought to the Lagos Command office by the Apapa Special Command exhibits officer, Mr. Luka, on November 16, 2021.

He also told the court that he received and kept the substance in a safe strong room.

He equally tendered all the exhibits which included a big transparent pouch, bulk of the seized drug, a big black back; a big brown envelope housing the sample of the seized drug, and three documents. All were admitted and marked as exhibits A to G. During cross-examination by Mr. Femi Atoyebi, and Babajide Koku, the witness told the court that he was not at the scene of arrest neither was he the one that recover the exhibits.

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MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG Email nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com 08114495324 SMS ONLY

As Elumelu Strides Towards Fourth Term in House of Representatives

Udora Orizu writes that following his victory at the recent primaries, the ambition of the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu to return to the House of Representatives for a fourth term seems achievable

O

n May 22, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Godwin Elumelu won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to re-contest the seat in 2023. Elumelu who is serving his third term as a member of the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly is seeking reelection for a fourth term.

The lawmaker who represents Aniocha North/Aniocha South/Oshimili North/ Oshimili South Federal Constituency in Delta state was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2007. He was re-elected in 2011, 2015 and 2019, respectively.

The legislator has previously chaired the power and health committees and has also served on the intelligence, climate change, interior, water resources, science and technology, national security, and public safety committees.

Elumelu is among the few legislators in the National Assembly really striving to make a difference. He’s known for his impactful contributions during plenary, and has sponsored several motions and bills.

Some of his Bills include: National Health/ Insurance Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2019, Electoral Act / (Amendment) Bill 2019, Nigerian Metallurgical Industry Bill, 2019, Lobbyists / (Registration and Regulation) Bill 2019, Federal Audit / Service Commission Bill, 2019.

Some of the motions moved by him include: Motion on the lockup of about 1000 Nigerian workers by a Chinese company operating a steel plant in Edo state against their will, motion on the need to stop the entry of herdsmen from other African countries into Nigeria, motion on the need for the effective enforcement of the interstate lockdown by security agents.

Following the brutal killing of BRT passenger Miss Oluwabamise Ayanwola, Elumelu moved a motion of urgent national importance, titled: “Rampant Cases of Violence, Incessant Rape and Ritual Killing of Our Women Folks, a Call for Urgent Intervention”.

He also sponsored the controversial motion calling for the resignation or sack of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, for his past comments backing activities of terrorists. Another notable motion by

Elumelu

him, is the motion asking the Federal Government to halt disbursement of repatriated £4.2 million looted by ex-governor of Delta State, James Ibori and return it to Delta.

Aside his many notable legislative interventions and impactful contributions during plenary, Elumelu is known for speaking the truth to power, at different fora, he never fails to call out the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) for failing to live up to the promises they made to Nigerians when they took over power in 2015.

An instance was when he ad-

dressed a mammoth crowd at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mega Rally in Asaba, Delta State capital earlier in the year. He described the APC as a party of treasury-looting and incompetent politicians, who could not keep their promises, adding also that the PDP was back to rescue the nation from the “corrupt and wicked” APC. According to him, whereas the PDP remained sincere, forward-thinking, development-oriented and always has the interest and wellbeing of the people at heart, the APC was insincere and completely anti-people.

In his 11 years as a lawmaker in the National Assembly, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has attracted so many projects to his constituency. He has at

different times also empowered the youths in his constituency. One of his notable empowerment programmes was in May, 2021 when he gave out several tricycles, motorcycles, refrigerators and generators to 350 members of his constituency to help them engage in independent lucrative enterprises.

Speaking at the formal presentation of the items at, Asaba, Delta State, Elumelu said that the idea of the empowerment programme was to make them small business owners who will eventually help in creating jobs and reducing poverty in their immediate communities.

He noted that empowering the people was a critical element in the effort to improve on their standard of living as well as to fight against poverty, restiveness and associated criminal tendencies.

At the party primaries held recently in Delta, Elumelu was welcomed to the venue with chants by the Indigenes hailing him. He is so loved that when the votes were being counted the constituents were outside screaming present on his behalf.

At the end of the election, Elumelu got 80 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Pat Ajudua, who garnered 35 votes, while Kanyinebi Mobushi came third with 17 votes.

Funkekeme Solomon, the returning officer for the election, who announced the results said a total of 132 delegates participated in the election, adding that the exercise was fair and transparent.

Solomon also said the 132 votes were counted and no void vote was recorded.

“Elumelu, having scored the highest votes, is hereby declared winner and returned as the candidate of the PDP for the Aniocha/ Oshimili federal constituency in the 2023 general election,” Solomon said.

In his remarks, Elumelu said his constituency will get more “dividends of democracy” if he eventually wins the election in 2023.

He said there is no loser in the exercise as the contestants will work in unity to ensure the PDP wins in 2023.

With the love, appreciation and constant support showered on him by his constituents for his legislative interventions over the years, it’s clear that his 4th term re-election bid will become reality come 2023.

Does APC Need a Northern Candidate to Defeat Abubakar?

Razak Aigbore argues that the All Progressives Congress does not need a Northern presidential candidate to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party presidential standard bearer, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar

T

he emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has spurred arguments that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no option but to pick a northern candidate if it wishes to win the 2023 presidential election.

The argument is on the assumption that the votes in the north are region- based and Abubakar will overrun the North if APC fields a candidate from the South.

This is not true. There is no candidate in the APC in the North today who can defeat Abubakar on the strength of his visibility not to talk of popularity. None of the northern candidates has a reputation beyond his state that can win most northern votes. For example, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has never won a popular election beyond a senatorial Yobe North Senatorial District. He couldn’t win majority votes among only 100 Senators in 2015 again Bukola Saraki, even with the support of party big wigs. It was not until he had the clear support of President Buhari in 2019 that he was able to win the Senate Presidency. Even three years after, he has little name recognition in the North-east let alone in the rest of the country.

This is even less so for Badaru. Therefore, the northern candidates can only leverage the reputation of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari

Adamu

The votes in the North since 2003 elections have been dominated mostly by General Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari’s reputation in the North is what APC needs to win the 2023 elections. Besides, APC has 14 state governors in the North. If their combination with the reputation

of President Buhari in the North cannot deliver the region to the APC, neither Lawan or Badaru or any other northern politician can do it. Atiku will easily beat either candidate in the north and the south.

On the contrary, the APC has given the South a sense of entitlement with the

understanding that it will pick its candidate from the region after eight years of a northern presidency. The party runs the risk of losing the entire South if it fails to fulfill the promise.

It’s surest zone is the South-west. It was the South-west combining their votes with Buhari’s votes in the North that made Buhari president in 2015 and got him re-elected in 2019. A denial of the Presidency to the South-west or any of the southern zones will push South-west votes towards Abubakar whose network in the zone dates back to his PFN, SDP, AC, ACN, and APC days. Neither Lawan nor Badaru can win significant let alone majority votes in the South.

Thus, the APC will be throwing the presidency to Abubakar if it chooses either of the two or any other northern candidate.

A southern candidate that will complement Buhari/APC governors influence and votes in the North with southern votes is the only guarantee of APC victory in the 2023 presidential election. It was the combination that delivered the victory of 2015 and 2019. Changing a tested winning formula could be disastrous for APC. The prospect of a northern presidency under APC for 16 unbroken years is a big turn off for the South, particularly the South-west, that the party should not risk - more so when it cannot guarantee 100 percent northern votes with the Abubakar candidacy.

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T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY JUNEJune 1, 2022 Wednesday 1, 2022 Vol 27. No 9915 TR

See page 24 PETER OBI AS ‘THE GUARDIAN’ SONNIE EKWOWUSI canvasses support for Obi to realise his presidential ambition

See page 24 A RECURRING DECIMAL IN THE POLITICAL FIRMAMENT Emma Eneukwu, a leader of APC, has seen it all, writes CHUKWUDI ENEKWECHI See page 25 PAN-AFRICANISING CALLS FOR ‘RESTRUCTURING’ OKELLO OCULI writes on controversies connected with ‘restructuring’ See page 25 EDITORIAL THE BAN ON ‘OKADA’ IN LAGOS

See page 26

& RE A S O

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

SANWO-OLU: A VOTE FOR CONTINUITY Babajide Sanwo-Olu has emerged as APC candidate for the forthcoming election, writes, WALE AKINMO

UT H

Easy access to the internet is boosting digital crimes, writes SONNY ARAGBA-AKPORE

DIGITAL LITERACY AND RISING CYBER CRIMES When the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently arrested the owner of a “yahoo yahoo” academy through a sting operation in Abuja, the commission probably raised the bar for its pursuit of alleged economic criminals in Nigeria.

The owner of the academy, said to be a 24-year-oldman was arrested somewhere in the Lokogoma axis of the Federal Capital Territory, alongside 16 of his trainees aged between 16 and 27 years.

Two cars –a Lexus Rx 350 and Toyota Highlander, laptops, smart phones, charms were part of the items recovered from them.

The Abuja arrest was similar to an earlier one in Eket, Akwa Ibom State where 23 suspects including operators and trainees ZHUH QDEEHG E\ R΀FLDOV RI WKH ()&& The suspects where between the ages of 19 and 35 years. They were undergoing training in various aspects of the internet scams such as love scam, online trading scam, theft identity, among others.

“Yahoo yahoo” is a Nigerian parlance for internet fraud which has gained currency in the country as access to the internet became prevalent.

Of Nigeria’s 214million population,109million have access to the internet and while it seems a cheery news, it’s also an opportunity for crime in various digital forms by those who desire “shap shap” wealth.

From the various arrests and convictions made by the EFCC so far, it shows the crime is nowhere near extinction. If anything at all, it is on the rise.

The government enacted Cybercrime Act 2015, a law that is expected to put a check on the growing crime rate. But strangely, in spite of a number of convictions under this Act and the penal code, young men and women are still plunging into the business.

And now that training schools are already mushrooming to initiate new members to join the cult, there are strong indications that the crime will continue to blossom.

The Act designates certain computers, systems, networks and information infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure and prescribes death penalty for violation of the critical infrastructure.

Hacking a computer system by internet fraudsters attracts various terms of imprisonment. The Act also stipulates various terms of imprisonment for identity theft, cyberstalking and cyberbullying.

Cybersquatting, racist and xenophobic postings also attract various prison terms.

The Cybercrime Act 2015 permits network RSHUDWRUV WR NHHS DOO WUD΀F GDWD DQG subscribers’ information without necessarily violating individual privacy.

It also prescribes for lawful interception of electronic communication among others.

With a series of convictions already by the EFCC, it is not clear whether the crime is reducing or not. EFCC has so far arrested alleged internet fraudsters in several states of

the Federation including 34 in Kwara, 36 in Enugu, 33 in Lagos, among others.

But its biggest breakthrough was the arrest of 402 suspects in the Lekki, Ajah axis of Lagos State between April and June 2021.

The EFCC sees Lekki as a major hub now as many of these young people navigate there to perpetuate their acts and join the nouveau riche.

Describing the arrested men and women as mostly millennial, with 82 of them in the age bracket of between 25 and 34, the EFCC said most of those arrested are either still in school, recent graduates or university dropouts.

The crime is not limited to the category listed by the EFCC as the commission recently arrested a mother and son in Kaduna for internet-related fraud.

Preliminary investigations say the duo were specialists in impersonation and romance scam; who take the identity of United States of America military personnel on foreign missions to deceive their victims. ,Q ÀYH \HDUV DORQH D SDUWLFXODU QHZ generation bank lost N871m to scammers and hackers.

The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System 1,%66 UHSRUWHG WKDW WKH ÀUVW QLQH PRQWKV LQ 2020, Nigerian banks lost over N5bn to fraud related to electronic transfers.

In reality, the digital revolution of e-banking has resulted to an equivalent revolution in e-banking frauds.

The rising rate of the internet fraud is said to be traceable to increasing access to digital literacy, near pervasive internet availability and access to smart devices.

In May 2019, the EFCC raided a “419 training school” in Lagos, arrested the proprietor, and eight students who were allegedly being taught skills to carry out cyber fraud.

These scams have continued to have QHJDWLYH HͿHFWV RQ WKH LPDJH RI 1LJHULDQV across the globe, as they are always perceived as fraudsters.

7KH\ KDYH DOVR DͿHFWHG LQWHUQDWLRQDO recognition of the country’s young entrepreneurs, and the granting of visas to those with legitimate business interests in the

We are faced with enormous and daunting security challenges that require that we come up with new strategies and solutions. Such novel solutions can only come with the proper deployment of information technology tools

US and other parts of the world.

Nigeria loses about N127 billion yearly to internet fraud, an amount which represents 0.08% `of Nigeria’s gross domestic product, a report has revealed. The report also shows that the global yearly cost of cybercrime reached $6 trillion at the end of 2021.

Recent report by Palo Alto Networks, a California-based cyber-security company stated that it has researched Nigerian cyberFULPH IRU ÀYH \HDUV 7KH UHSRUW VKRZV KRZ IUDXGVWHUV EHFRPH PRUH SURÀFLHQW DW VFDPV RYHU WKH SDVW ÀYH \HDUV HPSOR\LQJ PRUH sophisticated tactics and tools to carry out Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams, ZKLFK LV GLͿHUHQW IURP WKH FODVVLF ´<DKRR Yahoo boys” scams 15 odd years earlier. Two Nigerians – Obiwanne Okeke popularly known as Invictus Obi and Ramon Olorunwa Abbas aka Hush Puppi pulled the biggest Internet scams in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

This perhaps informed the position of the Computer Professional Council of Nigeria (CPN) which rose recently from their yearly conference saying something urgent has to be done to reduce cybercrime in the country.

The Information Technology Professional Assembly yearly conference in Abuja recently prescribed ways to curtail cybercrimes in the country. Under the aegis of Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) the professionals took a critical look at the serious role Information and Communications Technology plays at this GL΀FXOW WLPH WKDW WKH ZKROH ZRUOG LV IDFLQJ enormous challenges in the area of cyber security, national security and socio-economic development.

“We are faced with enormous and daunting security challenges that require that we come up with new strategies and solutions. Such novel solutions can only come with the proper deployment of Information Technology tools.” According to CPN President, Mr. Kole Jagun.

Nigeria like many countries, is faced with multi-faceted challenges of youth restiveness, non-traditional military warfare, cybercrime, banditry, kidnapping and many other crimes.

The assembly canvassed for the advancement and improvement on digital literacy and Information Technology awareness for all and sundry in order to improve the overall security architecture of the country.

They reasoned that Nigeria has a large percentage of youth population that are being trained in various universities and other higher institutions and there is need to give them the right training with the right curriculum to enable them come up with innovative digital solutions that could discourage them from engaging in social vices like drugs, crime and substance abuse..

Aragba-Akpore is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

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T H I S D AY

Babajide Sanwo-Olu has emerged as APC candidate for the forthcoming election, writes, WALE AKINMO

SANWO-OLU: A VOTE FOR CONTINUITY The image of Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, sitting alone at the chairs reserved for governorship aspirants under the Lagos State All Progressive Congress (APC) was somewhat surreal. At the dais at the special congress which held on Thursday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, /DJRV KH FDVW WKH ÀJXUH RI D ORQHU 0LVVLQJ at the event which was conducted under the watchful presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were the other aspirants, his fellow contestants.

For hours, Sanwo-Olu sat there with empty FKDLUV ÁDQNLQJ KLV VLGHV %XW E\ WKH HQG the results showed he wasn’t alone. Adamu <XJXGD FKDLUPDQ RI WKH ÀYH PDQ HOHFWRUDO committee, would later announce “total votes FDVW YDOLG YRWHV LQYDOLG YRWHV µ 6DQZR 2OX JRW WKH ZKROH YDOLG votes to emerge winner and the APC’s Lagos JXEHUQDWRULDO FDQGLGDWH DW WKH JHQHUDO polls.

Earlier, there were two contestants for the APC Lagos State gubernatorial spot - Wale Oluwo, a former Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources and Abdul-Ahmed Olorunfemi Mustapha, a former Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Energy DQG 0LQHUDO 5HVRXUFHV +RZHYHU WKH\ ZHUH not cleared to contest the primaries by the Electoral Committee of the party, hence their absence. “We are aware that three aspirants bought forms for Lagos state,” Yuguda said to journalists, explaining their absence.

“Three accredited for the screening. One was cleared, two were not cleared.

“So, as we speak, the other two aspirants have not been cleared by the screening committee and by the appeal committee.

“We are only attending to those that have been cleared, the aspirant that has been cleared by the two committees.”

According to Yuguda, who was a former deputy governor of Borno State, the Lagos APC is one family and the whole exercise was transparent. But as the only candidate cleared, the path to victory for Sanwo-Olu was without any impediment.

According to reports, upon winning the primaries, Sanwo-Olu said: “I am grateful to God, the distinguished delegates and the leadership of the APC for the chance to continue the good work of governance that we have begun in our great state. With this resounding victory in the primary election, I DP FRQÀGHQW WKDW ZH DUH XQLWHG DQG UHDG\ WR continue to be a beacon of hope and service to this great state. To the other contestants, I congratulate you for being a part of this very democratic process and invite you to join hands with me #ForAGreaterLagos.”

Even if there was a contest, it was unimaginable that there would have been a contest. Aside from being liked by party members, his experience as Lagos governor so far has been of tremendous impact on the state. In his fourth year as governor, SanwoOlu has shown he knows how to address the pain points of Lagosians. Think about the economy, healthcare, education, environment and even sports and youth development, his administration has continued to push Lagos ahead despite all the challenges.

When Sanwo-Olu took over the reins of governance from the former governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State had become

WEDNESDAY JUNE 1, 2022

SONNIE EKWOWUSI canvasses support for Obi to realise his presidential ambition

PETER OBI AS ‘THE GUARDIAN’

dirty. With rubbish spewing from nearly every corner, no thanks to the emergence of VisionScape, a cleaning company which took Lagos back to the days of little vision. And Lagos only became dirtier. It would take a reversal to the use of Private Sector Participation (PSP) trucks by the Sanwo-Olu administration to ensure Lagos became cleaner – something it had taken for granted.

Also, about eight months into his tenure, &RYLG VXUIDFHG EHFRPLQJ D SDQGHPLF and challenging all governments of the world

including Lagos. With proper governance, Sanwo-Olu negotiated Lagos out of the hardship of the pandemic by deploying palliatives to segments of the populace.

And as if challenging his credibility as FKLHI VHFXULW\ R΀FHU LQ 2FWREHU \RXWKV using Lagos as a base, protested against an HUUDQW VHFXULW\ RXWÀW RI WKH 1LJHULD 3ROLFH 6SHFLDO $QWL 5REEHU\ 6TXDG 6$56 ZKLFK has become notorious for harassing and exploiting Nigerians, especially youths.

Though it was a nationwide protest, SanwoOlu stepped in, and voiced the complaints of the youths to the federal government. Sadly, the FG’s lukewarm response ensured the protest degenerated into riots orchestrated by urchins in which lives and properties were ORVW +DG WKH )* EHHQ DV SURPSW DQG SURDFWLYH as Sanwo-Olu, perhaps a solution would have arrived faster without the losses, estimated to EH DURXQG 1 EQ LQ /DJRV DORQH And since inception, his administration has commissioned four Mother and Child Centres (MCCs) at Eti-Osa, Igando, Badagry and Epe. It has also intervened in renovating Mainland +RVSLWDO <DED $SDSD *HQHUDO +RVSLWDO +DUYH\ 5RDG +HDOWK &HQWUH (EXWH 0HWWD +HDOWK &HQWUH ,VROR *HQHUDO +RVSLWDO DQG WKH *HQHUDO +RVSLWDO 2GDQ $QG MXVW LQ )HEUXDU\ Sanwo-Olu said his administration has EHJXQ FRQVWUXFWLQJ WKH 1HZ EHG 0DVVH\ &KLOGUHQ·V +RVSLWDO LQ $GHQLML $GHOH ZKLFK will be the largest paediatrics centre in West Africa when completed. This is in addition to DSSURYDO JLYHQ IRU WKH FRQVWUXFWLRQ RI D EHG 3V\FKLDWULF +RVSLWDO DQG 5HKDELOLWDWLRQ Centre at Majidun in Ketu Ejinrin. ,Q WKH JRYHUQRU XQYHLOHG D ÀYH \HDU plan to boost agriculture in the state to make LW HDUQ EQ E\ 7KLV URDGPDS LQFOXGHV WKH 6WDWH $TXDWLF &HQWUH RI ([FHOOHQFH /$&( ZKLFK ZRXOG ERRVW ÀVK SURGXFWLRQ IURP SHUFHQW WR SHUFHQW WKH ,PRWD Rice Mill, the Lagos Food Production Centre Avia, Igborosu-Badagry as well other agro initiatives, including empowerment.

Akinmo writes from Lagos

'HYRLG RI FKDUDFWHU WKH ZRUGV ´SROLWLFVµ DQG “politicians” are synonymous with deceit and fraud. In the words of Federic Bastiat, French political economist and philosopher, political activities are nothing but legalized plunder. Put GLͿHUHQWO\ GHPRFUDF\ EHUHIW RI GHPRFUDWLF LGHDOV can kill in the same way a military despotism kills. According to Peter Kreeft, “if we think we are automatically free from the danger of ignorant prejudice and tyranny simply because ZH DUH D GHPRFUDF\ ZH VKRXOG UHÁHFW RQ WKH fact that it was a democracy that killed Socrates.

A democracy can be as ignorant, as prejudiced

(especially by fashion and popularity) and as tyrannical as a monarch. There is no automatic connection between numbers (how many rules) DQG ZLVGRP RU YLUWXH EHWZHHQ TXDQWLW\ DQG TXDOLW\«µ As some political analysts have stated, democracy rests on many assumptions.

One of those assumptions is that men have enough wisdom and virtue to pursue the end of democracy - promotion of the welfare of the people. But viewed against the backdrop of history, men do not have enough wisdom and virtue to pursue the end of democracy.

'HPRFUDF\ LV FKDOOHQJHG IURP ZLWKLQ E\ VKHHU greed and pursuit of personal interests at the expense of the common good and welfare of the people. Lest we forget, totalitarianism is present in constitutional democracy as much as it is present in tyrannical militarism. Simply put, constitutional democracy is not a guarantee of SURJUHVV DQG KXPDQ ÁRXULVKLQJ LQ D FRXQWU\ ,Q fact, if constitutional democracy must lead to true KXPDQ ÁRXULVKLQJ LW PXVW WUDQVFHQG SROLWLFDO H[SHULPHQW , UHPHPEHU QRZ WKDW XQLTXH Conference I attended in Michigan, United States about seven years ago. Most of the conference speakers did not mince words in drawing our attention to the fact that democracy is more than a political experiment: that it is also a moral HQWHUSULVH ZLWK D QDWLRQDO FKDUDFWHU WKDW GHÀQHV democracy and establishes the parameters and moral high ground in which it should operate in order to promote the wellbeing of the people.

One speaker in particular focused on the work RI WKH )UHQFK KLVWRULDQ DQG GLSORPDW $OH[LV 'H 7RFTXHYLOOH ZKR DFWXDOO\ WUDYHOOHG WR WKH 8QLWHG States to study the American democracy and later commented in his often-cited classic work, ´'HPRFUDF\ LQ $PHULFD µ WKDW GHPRFUDF\ EHUHIW RI HTXDOLW\ RI FRQGLWLRQV LV ERXQG WR JUDYLWDWH towards despotism. In the last days of that conference I came across at the bookstand a small booklet authored by Prof Rocco Buttiglione with the alluring title, “The Moral mandate for Freedom.” In this small booklet, Prof Buttiglione VKDUHG WKH YLHZV RI -DPHV 0DGLVRQ DQG $OH[LV 'H 7RFTXHYLOOH WR WKH HͿHFW WKDW GHPRFUDF\ QRW UXQ E\ highly-principled political leaders is bound to be

catastrophic. But it was ancient philosopher Plato who, in my view, set out the parameter for gauging good democracy. Plato, as you are well aware, was hostile to democracy because he feared that the democratic powers and institutions would be imperiled under the watch of men of unruly passions and creatures of appetite. In his classic work, The Republic, Plato wants politics and democracy to be run by those he calls the experts, the enlightened and the “guardian”. To Plato, politics is not for the unruly populace and creatures of appetite. Politics is for men and women of high ethical principles.

Plato wanted those he termed the “guardians” to be the governors of the States.

Plato suggests that the guardians should be educated in these four cardinal virtues: wisdom, courage, justice and temperance.

3UHVLGHQWLDO DVSLUDQW 3HWHU 2EL HDVLO\ ÀWV into the mold of Plato’s guardian. Obi is distinguished for having governed Anambra on such a high moral ground of temperance and courage to the extent that, unlike Willie Obiano, his immediate successor, he (Peter Obi) left behind a gargantuan sum of N75 billion in the government purse before leaving R΀FH +H VD\V WKDW KH OHIW WKH 3'3 ZLWKRXW bitterness because the values espoused in the party are at variance with his own SROLWLFDO SULQFLSOHV +H VD\V KH GRHV QRW VKDUH money freely to people as some Nigerian SROLWLFLDQV GR +H VD\V WKDW WKH JUHDWHVW undoing of Nigeria today is consumption ZLWKRXW SURGXFWLRQ +H UHJUHWV WKDW GHVSLWH the enormous human and natural resources at her disposal, Nigeria cannot feed herself WRGD\ +H SULGHV KLPVHOI DV EHLQJ D WUDGHU DQG a wealth creator, who, if elected as President of Nigeria, can create a visible and measurable ZHDOWK ZLWKLQ KLV ÀUVW GD\V LQ R΀FH WKDW will bring Nigeria out of the present doldrums RI LQH΀FLHQF\ DQG FOXHOHVVQHVV LQ ZKLFK VKH SUHVHQWO\ ÀQGV KHUVHOI 3HWHU 2EL LV YHU\ KXPEOH FLYLO DQG UHVSHFWIXO +H DOZD\V FDOOV KLPVHOI D WUDGHU +H KDV D VHQVH RI GLVWULEXWLYH MXVWLFH +H GRHVQ·W UHWXUQ LQVXOW IRU LQVXOW Like Plato’s Philosopher-King, Obi espouses ZLVGRP +H LV GRZQ WR HDUWK +H VD\V WKDW what he needs to get along in this passing life is little money to meet up his expenses and no PRUH +H UHIXVHG WR SDUWLFLSDWH RU DFTXLHVFH in the bribery and corruption in the Peoples 'HPRFUDWLF 3DUW\ 3'3 LQ WKH EXLOG XS WR the party’s Presidential Primary. Peter Obi teaches that there is a convergence between politics and morality. Instead of giving bribes to party delegates against his conscience in order to win the Presidential Primary, Peter 2EL SUHIHUUHG WR TXLW WKH 3'3 DQG SLWFK WHQW with the Labour Party. In doing this, he said: “I will rather lose doing the right thing than win doing the wrong thing.” In other words, Obi believes that a politician cannot do wrong so that good may come out of it.

Unfortunately the Nigerian democracy is severely challenged from within by corruption, ignorance, apathy, pursuit of VHOÀVK LQWHUHVWV ,I GHPRFUDF\ LV VDLG WR liberate all men, it is on the assumption that there are political leaders with high moral principles ready to navigate democracy to a safe harbor. Unfortunately most democracies including the Nigerian democracy are not run by men with high ethical principles.

Ekwowusi writes from Lagos

325

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY JUNE 1, 2022

Emma Eneukwu, a leader of APC, has seen it all, writes CHUKWUDI ENEKWECHI

A RECURRING DECIMAL IN THE POLITICAL FIRMAMENT Since the beginning of Nigeria’s fourth republic and in the management of political SDUWLHV ZKLFK DUH XVHG DV YHKLFOHV IRU WKH emergence of political leaders, one man has remained a recurring decimal, helping to nurture nascent political parties to big national entities. Chief Emma Eneukwu had started his political journey as the All Peoples Party state chairman in Enugu State and VHUYHG IRU HLJKW \HDUV 3ULRU WR WKDW KH ZDV the state chairman of Congress for National &RQVHQVXV &1& EHWZHHQ DQG DQG IURP WR KH EHFDPH WKH VWDWH

FKDLUPDQ RI $133 )URP WR KH VHUYHG DV WKH QDWLRQDO SXEOLFLW\ VHFUHWDU\ RI ANPP. He was also the secretary of the APC merger planning committee, and with the subsequent merger of All Nigeria Peoples 3DUW\ &RQJUHVV IRU 3URJUHVVLYH &KDQJH Action Congress of Nigeria and a faction RI $OO 3URJUHVVLYHV *UDQG $OOLDQFH WKH $OO 3URJUHVVLYHV &RQJUHVV ZDV ELUWKHG 8QGHU WKH &KLHI -RKQ 2\HJXQ OHDGHUVKLS of APC, Chief Eneukwu was the South East Vice Chairman of the ruling party, and with the recent election of the party’s leadership under Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Eneukwu KDV LQ WKH IDVKLRQ RI WKH SURYHUELDO FDW ZLWK QLQH OLYHV RQFH DJDLQ HPHUJHG DV WKH $3& 'HSXW\ 1DWLRQDO &KDLUPDQ 6RXWK ZLWK KLV FRQVWLWXHQF\ FRYHULQJ WKH HQWLUH 6RXWKHUQ Nigeria.

In reality he is the leader of APC in the southern part of the country with his stewardship domiciled at the APC national VHFUHWDULDW 7KLV LV QRW D PHDQ DFKLHYHPHQW by any standard considering the enormous responsibilities on his shoulders as his roles go beyond his immediate South East region of the country. :KLOH PDQ\ SROLWLFDO SXQGLWV KDYH attributed his steady rise to the country’s pinnacle of political leadership to mother luck, some APC party faithful trace his meteoric rise to his unmatched humility, leadership style and altruistic approach to LVVXHV WKDW DͿHFW KLV SDUW\ PHPEHUV +H LV DOVR IDPRXV WR KDYH KHOSHG ERWK WKH GHIXQFW $133 DQG QRZ $3& LQ KDYLQJ WHQWDFOHV LQ the South East and the entire Southern parts of the country.

As a political leader he ensures that consultation is the hallmark of his approach, DQG ZLWK WKDW KH LV DEOH WR VDIHO\ QDYLJDWH WKURXJK YHU\ GL΀FXOW SROLWLFDO LVVXHV DQG the results in most cases are unanimously accepted by the leaders and followers alike.

Perhaps this is the reason why there is less rancour and bickering among APC members in the Southern part of the country unlike

in the Peoples Democratic Party where disagreements tend to dominate their DFWLYLWLHV With the recent election of a new National Working Committee of the ruling APC led by the indefatigable Senator Adamu, there is no doubt that his second-in-command Chief Eneukwu is an asset for the party as he has once again started deploying his legendary knowledge of the southern political terrain to help APC gain more grounds and followership in the southern part of the country.

In doing this, his experience as a former member of the National Working Committee of the defunct ANPP and later APC has come LQWR SOD\ DQG LV VHUYLQJ WKH SDUW\ ZHOO 1R wonder then the APC is growing in leaps and bounds in the South East, South South, and South West geo-political zones.

This epistle has become necessary considering the fact that for Nigeria’s democracy to grow steadily there is need IRU WKLV OHYHO RI FRPPLWPHQW RQ WKH SDUW RI political leaders in the country. As a country that transited from a military interregnum WR FLYLOLDQ DGPLQLVWUDWLRQV EDUHO\ \HDUV DJR 1LJHULD ZLOO EHQHÀW IURP WKH GHPRFUDWLF ideals and leadership examples being shown by political icons like Chief Eneukwu.

Also democracy as a game of numerical VWUHQJWK FDQ RQO\ WKULYH XQGHU D FRQYLYLDO atmosphere that has consultation, consensus and liberalism as the hallmarks, and presently the APC leadership under Senator Adamu LV LQYHVWLQJ WLPH DQG UHVRXUFHV WRZDUGV WKH JURZWK DQG GHYHORSPHQW RI RXU GHPRFUDWLF V\VWHP RI JRYHUQPHQW There is no doubt that in the management RI $3& DͿDLUV WKH QHZ OHDGHUVKLS ZLOO WDS LQWR WKH YDVW NQRZOHGJH DQG H[SHULHQFH ZKLFK &KLHI (QHXNZX ZLOO UHDGLO\ DYDLO WKHP KDYLQJ EHHQ LQ WKH EXVLQHVV RI PLGZLÀQJ and managing political parties in the last two decades of our democratic journey.

6LQFH QR FRXQWU\ FDQ GHYHORS democratically in a hurry, and in the case RI $PHULFD WKH\ KDYH RYHU \HDUV RI practising democracy, it is expected that the people, especially leaders of our political parties will lead and show the generality RI 1LJHULDQV WKH ZD\ WRZDUGV DUULYLQJ DW our democratic destination. To do this will require the commitment of political party OHDGHUV EHLQJ WKH ÀUVW FRQWDFW RI SRWHQWLDO political leaders to the ethos and ideals of the GHPRFUDWLF V\VWHP RI JRYHUQDQFH DQG WKLV LV what many APC followers in the southern SDUW RI WKH FRXQWU\ KDYH IRXQG LQ &KLHI Emma Eneukwu.

This is perhaps what has made him a recurring decimal in the Nigerian political ÀUPDPHQW It is also worthy of note that these ennobling TXDOLWLHV KDYH HQGHDUHG KLP WR WKH QXPHURXV APC adherents, and this trend must be VXVWDLQHG DV LW ZLOO HYHQWXDOO\ FDVFDGH WR KDYLQJ WROHUDQW DQG SHUIRUPLQJ OHDGHUV IRU WKH JRRG RI WKH FRXQWU\ 7KLV YLHZSRLQW LV EHLQJ FDQYDVVHG EDVHG RQ WKH XQGHUVWDQGLQJ WKDW LQGLYLGXDOV PDNH XS SROLWLFDO SDUWLHV DQG WKHVH SDUWLHV SOD\ D YHULWDEOH UROH LQ producing the leaders of the country.

Enekwechi, JP is an APC Chieftain

OKELLO OCULI writes on controversies connected with ‘restructuring’

PAN-AFRICANISING CALLS FOR ‘RESTRUCTURING’ death.

0XJDEH KRZHYHU HDUQHG D KHUR ZRUVKLS among Namibians which they denied Joe Garba. It seems that in negotiations at the 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV *DUED OHDQHG IDYRXUDEO\ towards Germans South African owners RI YDVW IHUWLOH ODQG LQ 1DPLELD +HOSOHVV Namibians were made to sign for an ,QGHSHQGHQFH LQ ZKLFK WKH ([HFXWLYH DQG Parliament would Not legally Redistribute land to Namibians without the Consent of *HUPDQ %RHU ODQG RFFXSLHUV The agreement was to be superior to the &2167,787,21 RI ¶LQGHSHQGHQW·· 1DPLELD The contempt in the spirit of the agreement was blunt and brutal. $V WKH 0LQLVWHU RI )RUHLJQ $ͿDLUV -RH Garba attended a simulation of a Summit RI WKH 2UJDQLVDWLRQ RI $IULFDQ 8QLW\ 2$8 E\ VWXGHQWV RI )$66 FODLPHG that he had Intimidated Ian Smith, rebel leader of Rhodesia, inside Nigeria’s High Commission in London. He boasted that 6PLWK KDG DFFHSWHG UXOH E\ WKH PDMRULW\ %ODFN population. :H ZHUH VFHSWLFDO 0XJDEH·V =$18 3) ZDV YHU\ ELWWHU RYHU WKHLU LQGHSHQGHQFH DJUHHPHQW GULYHQ E\ 1LJHULD QRWDEO\ WKH GLUHFWLYH WKDW Mugabe must Not seize back land until his country had been ‘’independent’’ for 10 Years.

Mugabe’s Veterans of the war for freedom were angry. The ruthless agreement imposed on Namibians suggests that Ambassador Joe Garba followed his earlier strategy for ‘’intimidating’’ European racists.

Jomo .HQ\DWWD GHVFULEHG WKH IRUPXOD DV ¶·6XͿHULQJ :LWKRXW %LWWHUQHVV·· In Ethiopia Prime Minister Melles =HQDZH·V UHVWUXFWXULQJ XVHG YLROHQFH DQG harsh imprisonment of Amhara politicians, DFDGHPLFV FLYLO VHUYDQWV EXVLQHVVPHQ DQG journalists on fears that they were demanding IUHH DQG IDLU HOHFWLRQV WR YRWH KLV PLQRULW\ Tigray out of power.

The question of which sector of society In Ethiopia Prime ZRXOG EHQHÀW IURP ´5HVWUXFWXULQJ·· LV Minister Melles UHOHYDQW DQG XUJHQW ,Q 6RXWK 6XGDQ WKH Zenawe’s restructuring Nuer leader Riek Machar has waged war for his Nuer minority group to rule the majority used violence and 'LQND )XODQL OHDGHUV LQ *XLQHD DUH DJDLQVW harsh imprisonment WKH PDMRULW\ 6RQLQNH LQ *XLQHD &RQDNU\ 'RQDOG 7UXPS LV IDQQLQJ D SRWHQWLDO FLYLO of Amhara politicians, ZDU DQG OD\HUV RI YLROHQFH DPRQJ YLFWLPV RI academics, civil servants, blocked economic and cultural restructuring in America’s unequally industrialised society. businessmen and In South Sudan John Garang led a struggle journalists on fears that IXHOOHG E\ UHMHFWLRQ RI UDFLVW FRQWHPSW GHQLHG they were demanding free GHYHORSPHQW LQ FRPSDULVRQ WR $UDELVHG northern Sudan. and fair elections to vote 1\HUHUH HQJLQHHUHG D SRVLWLYH PRGHO RI UHVWUXFWXULQJ +H WROG FRͿHH JURZLQJ %DFKDJD his minority Tigray out of SDUHQWV WR EXLOG DQG IXQG SULYDWH VFKRROV LQ power WKHLU 'LVWULFW +LV JRYHUQPHQW EXLOW VFKRROV only in poorer Districts. He disengaged from WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI (DVW $IULFD DQG HVWDEOLVKHG EUDQFKHV RI WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 'DU HV 6DODDP redistribution to landless citizens. ,Q .HQ\D =LPEDEZH DQG $OJHULD PXFK in the far corners of northwest, southwest, blood had been shed to win back the land. The VRXWKHDVW DQG WKH YDVW FHQWUDO UHJLRQ 7KH ODWH notion ‘’paying’’ robbers for their loot was a President John Magufuli was a product of this ELWWHU PHDW WR FKHZ ,Q .HQ\D -RPR .HQ\D model.

This restructuring was done by the central DFFHSWHG D /RDQ IURP WKH %ULWLVK 7UHDVXU\ WR buy back land from European immigrants for JRYHUQPHQW ,WV OHJLWLPDF\ ZDV GLVSHUVHG EHFDXVH EHQHÀWV ZHUH QRW FRQÀQHG WR JURXSV KLV QHZ FODVV RI %ODFN $ULVWRFUDF\·· Robert Mugabe, in contrast, directed ‘’War that control power…

9HWHUDQV·· WR SD\ IRU ODQG ZLWK WKH VDPH YLROHQFH Prof Oculi WKDW (XURSHDQ LPPLJUDQWV KDG LQYHVWHG LQ LW writes from Abuja (XUR $PHULFDQ JRYHUQPHQWV KDWHG KLP WLOO KLV The NEW NIGERIAN newspaper once carried a front-page photograph of former Ambassador Joe Garba’s quick sleep allegedly at the General Assembly of the United Nations.

6RPH VWDͿ RI WKH )DFXOW\ RI $UWV DQG 6RFLDO 6FLHQFH )$66 DW $KPDGX %HOOR 8QLYHUVLW\ HQMR\HG D YLQGLFWLYH ODXJKWHU UHFDOOLQJ D swaggering Joe Garba criticising those Socialists who soil Nigeria’s image by ranking it is a ‘’poor country’’.

He disagreed with claims that Nigeria’s leaders are greedy exploiters and are agents RI IRUHLJQ FDSLWDOLVWV 7KHLU DEXVLYH UHIHUHQFH WR OHDGHUV DV D ¶·%RXUJHRLVLH·· LV DEXVLYH +H FKDOOHQJHG WKHP WR WUDYHO WR $IULFDQ FRXQWULHV OLNH WKH 5HSXEOLF RI 1LJHU WR VHH ZKDW ¶·SRYHUW\·· looked like.

7KH FULWLFV LQ )$66 KLW EDFN DW -RH *DUED when at her independence Namibia rejected his nomination as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Windhoek, their country’s capital. This slap on Nigeria’s face came as a surprise.

Joe Garba as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Nations chaired the UN’s Committee on Decolonisation. It was central to Nigeria’s commitment to gaining freedom from racist dictatorships by European immigrants in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia and Angola.

7KLV SX]]OH WKDW D EHQHÀFLDU\ RI WKLV PLOLWDQW GLSORPDF\ WKUHZ VDQG DW HͿRUWV RI 1LJHULD·V 0LQLVWU\ RI )RUHLJQ $ͿDLUV ZKR VHQW KLV name to President Sam Nujoma. Namibians could not be punishing Joe Garba for snoring diplomatically.

The key probably was a betrayed ‘’Restructuring’’ at onsets of Independence 8+858 LQ $OJHULD .HQ\D =LPEDEZH DQG 6RXWK $IULFD ZKHUH 1$72 OHDGHUV UXWKOHVVO\ LQVLVWHG WKDW YDVW IHUWLOH ODQG SUHYLRXVO\ JUDEEHG ZLWK JXQ YLROHQFH E\ (XURSHDQ LPPLJUDQWV PXVW EH %RXJKW %DFN IRU

4 26

T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY JUNE 1, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

THE BAN ON ‘OKADA’ IN LAGOS The ban is laudable, but government must address the challenges it throws up

L

ast Sunday, about 100 motorcyclists invaded a residential estate in the Lokogoma area of Abuja, pulled down the gate and set alight two buildings. Had a team of policemen and the army not come to his rescue, the man who reportedly NQRFNHG GRZQ WZR RI WKHLU FROOHDJXHV DQG ÁHG LQWR the estate would have been murdered. But David Imoh was not that lucky. On 12th May in the Admiralty area of Lekki, Lagos, a crowd of commercial motorbike operators, popularly known as ‘Okada,’ descended on the sound engineer over a N100 dispute and meted out mob justice: they beat him until he was unconscious, doused him with petrol and set him ablaze.

In a swift response to that recourse to lawlessness, the Lagos State government imposed a fresh ban on the activities of ‘Okada’ in WKH VWDWH :LWK HͿHFW IURP WRGD\ PRWRUF\FOLVWV ZLOO QR longer be allowed to operate in six local government areas of the state. But the decision by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is not new. It is VLPSO\ DQ D΀UPDWLRQ RI HDUOLHU UHVWULFWLRQV SODFHG RQ the motorcycles and tricycles called ‘Keke’ in a move to implement the State’s Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018. In February 2020, the state government proscribed operations of the motorcyclists and ‘Keke’ riders in several local governments and 10 major highways across the state. Following the action, security operatives embarked on total enforcement of the law. The aim then, like now, is to address the chaos and disorderliness created by illegal operations of ‘Okada’ and tricycle riders in restricted areas.

Over the years, commercial motorbike riders have constituted themselves into a menace, disturbing the peace, orderliness, safety, and security of the ordinary citizens. Many of the riders operate as if they are the law and are quick to organise and pounce on other road

users at any given time as they did to Imoh in Lekki.

7KH\ VHHP WR RSHUDWH E\ WKH 0DÀD FRGH LQ ZKLFK DQ\ perceived grievance by one is usually avenged by all.

In the process, many Nigerians have been killed. ,QLWLDOO\ WKH EDQ LQ /DJRV ZDV ODUJHO\ HͿHFWLYH %XW in sustaining the policy, the government has continued to face challenges concerning the populace who lament a dearth of means of public transportation; and the operators who complain that their source of livelihood LV EHLQJ DGYHUVHO\ DͿHFWHG %\ DQG ODUJH PRVW SHRSOH tend to agree that the government’s motive is laudable and that there is a need for a serious control mechanism on the activities of ‘Okada’ riders.

The Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, reinforced this when he laid bare the number of fatal accidents recorded from operations of ‘Okada’ and tricycles in the state between 2016 and 2019: over 10,000 accidents were recorded at the General Hospitals alone with more than 600 deaths. This number excludes unreported cases and those recorded by private hospitals. Besides, the rate of crimes aided by ‘Okada’ is reportedly on the rise as they are used as getaway means by these outlaws.

But pertinent questions remain: What assurances are there that the government has the nerve to enforce the present ban, particularly with elections around the corner? What are the alternatives for the teeming mass of the unemployed who take to riding motorbikes to tide over hard times? And what means of transport are available to commuters, particularly those in the rural areas with unmotorable roads? In the past, the government launched the ‘First and Last Mile (FLM)’ buses, intended to ply ‘inner’ roads, as an alternative PHDQV RI WUDQVSRUW ZKLFK H[SHFWHGO\ KDG VLQFH À]]OHG out. How will people move around?

This is an important concern that the government must address.

What means of transport are available to commuters, particularly those in the rural areas with unmotorable roads?

T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

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

LETTERS WHEN WILL THIS POLITICAL MADNESS END? The build up to every general election in the country comes with fears and uncertainty in the minds of millions of Nigerians. This is because of the huge violence that usually characterised the season.

The 2023 general election is just about nine months from now and some of the signs that do not require explanation from anyone to know that the season is almost here are already with us. History has shown that the show of violence during political season is more within political parties than interparty. This development is more visible in a ruling party either at the local government, state or federal. Your guess is as good as mine why the development is the order of the day.

Party members believe that those who emerged as the candidates during the primary election, had a better chance of winning the contest especially through the power of incumbency and not necessarily by showcasing their good performance.

The question is when will this political madness end? The lack of internal democracy and ideology among political parties in the country has been blamed for the violence and other ugly incidents witnessed during electioneering campaigns.

Deliberate impoverishment of the people by the system manipulated by politicians is another source of worry. The sporadic shooting in Coker Aguda LCDA on Friday May 27th easily comes to mind. In fact, the shooting started a day earlier.

When the shooting continued unabated, the best option before me was to put a news alert to inform my colleagues on the current happenings in my area. Below is the message “NEWS ALERT: Sporadic gunshots rent the air again in Coker Aguda in Surulere. The latest ugly development began yesterday afternoon due to the ongoing APC primaries held in Sanya. Residents and business owners are in a panic mood, shock and disbelief over those responsible for the sporadic gunshots. They are also appealing to security operatives to VZLIWO\ VZLQJ LQWR DFWLRQ DQG ÀVK RXW WKRVH EHKLQG WKH DFWµ My initial thought that the violence was peculiar to my area was defeated when I started receiving information on the same incident from other election venues across the state especially, Alimosho, Mushin, Lagos Island, Ikorodu and Ojodu.

The question is when will this madness end?

I saw gory videos and pictures of people with gunshot wounds and how the venues of primary elections turned into a war zone by supporters of those standing for election. Bear in mind, the discourse cuts across political parties.

Few questions to ask: Should we allow this to continue?

The answer is no.

Must our politicians learn to play by the rules and accept defeat with dignity? The answer is yes.

Must security personnel deployed to maintain law and order demonstrate full commitment to their job and not take sides, the answer is yes.

Must young men continue to risk their lives for politicians because of inducement, the answer is no.

If we can all answer these questions correctly, I believe the TXHVWLRQ ´ZKHQ ZLOO WKLV SROLWLFDO PDGQHVV HQGµ ZLOO QR ORQger agitate our minds.

Taiwo Olapade, a broadcast journalist, Lagos

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022

27

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

M A Y 3 1 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

Value of 14 Banks’ Stocks Appreciate Marginally by N73.09bn Despite Decline in Corporate Earnings for 2021

Kayode Tokede On the heels of investors apathy, coupled with decline in corporate earnings for 2021 financial year and the first quarter of 2022, the values of 14 listed banks on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) added just N73.09 billion in five months of 2022 as investors trade with caution.

According to THISDAY findings, six listed banks on the NGX recorded decline in stock prices, while others

reported marginal increase in the period under review.

It has been a challenging 2022 so far for Nigerian bank stocks as its Year-to-date performance, according to NGX banking index rose marginally by 4.8 per cent and has grossly underperformed the broader stock market gauge that has gained 24.05 per cent in Year-till-Date (YtD) performance.

The 14 banks are; Access Holdings Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Zenith bank Plc, Ecobank Transnational

Incorporated (ETI), Guaranty Trust Holding (GTCO) Plc and FBN Holdings Plc. Others are Union Bank for Nigeria Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, FCMB group Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Jaiz Bank Plc and Unity Bank Plc. Most of the listed heavyweight banks such as GTCO, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, UBA and Zenith Bank have witnessed a decline in stock prices as investors marked them for profit-taking, according

to a Lagos-based capital market analyst.

According to data by the NGX, GTCO recorded its highest drop in stock price in five months, while Wema Bank has witnessed a significant increase in its stock price.

GTCO’s stock price fell by 13.3 per cent or N3.45 per share to close May 31, 2022 at N22.55 per share from N26.00 per share it opened for trading.

The lender’s value on the NGX has depreciated by N101.5billion

over the last five months.

GTCO in its Q1 2022 financial result announced N43.21 billion profit, representing a decline of 5.13per cent from N45.55 billion reported in Q1 2021.

The Holding also reported earnings per share of N1.51, a 5.63prer cent drop from the N1.60 reported a year earlier in 2021.

Aside GTCO, the value of Stanbic IBTC Holdings has also depreciated by N32.39billion in five months when its stock price

depreciated by 6.9 per cent or N2.50 per share to N33.50 per share from N36.00 it commenced trading this year.

Stanbic IBTC in its Q1 2022 financial result revealed a profit of N15.07 billion, representing an increase of 33.87 per cent year-on-year.

The bank also reported earnings per share of N1.11, a 35.37 per cent growth from the N0.82 reported a year earlier Continued on page 28

CBN Mandates OFIs to Enroll in Credit Risk System by August 1 James Emejo in Abuja The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said the provisions of the regulatory guidelines for the redesigned Credit Risk Management System (CRMS) for commercial, merchant and noninterest banks issued on February 27, 2017, are now applicable to all Other Financial Intuitions (OFIs) in the country.

As a result, the apex bank said enforcement of Section 3.1 (a) of

the extant guidelines on CRMS that captures the “submit before disbursement” requirement shall apply to all OFIs on August 1, 2022.

The central bank gave the directive in a circular address to all OFIs, dated May 24, 2022, which was signed by its Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Chibuzo Efobi.

The circular further directed the OFIs to ensure that all their customer accounts comply with

the 10-digit Nigeria Uniform Bank Account Number (NUBAN) format are tagged with Bank Verification Number (BVN) or Tax Identification Number (TIN) for individual and non-individual accounts respectively of the account holder.

The OFIs are further requested to profile the information on the NIBBS’ Industry Customer Accounts Database (ICAD) not later than June 20, 2022.

The CBN stressed that

the provision of these data remained the prerequisite for the enrollment onto the CRMS going forward adding that the circular was further to various engagements with the OFIs in respect to deploying the credit risk requirement.

The bank warned that failure by the OFIs to comply with the stipulated timelines would attract appropriate sanctions.

The CBN had in April 2021 given Microfinance Banks (MFBs),

Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) and Finance Companies (FCs) up to May 14, 2021, to ensure full compliance with its CRMS. To ensure full compliance, the banking sector regulator had also advised the OFI operators to conclude the tagging of all live credit files of individuals and non-individual borrowers with BVN and TIN respectively

by May 14, 2021.

The central bank pointed out

that the move was part of efforts to promote a safe and sound financial system in Nigeria through the introduction of the CRMS to improve risk management in all financial institutions to prevent predatory borrowers from undermining the banking system.

It added that with the successful implementation of the CRMS in deposit money banks, it has now become expedient to commence the enrolment of OFIs on the CRMS platform.

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T U E S D AY, M AY 3 1 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

BONDS DESCRIPTION

Price

Yield

14.20 14-MAR2024 13.53 23-MAR2025 12.50 22-JAN2026 16.2884 17MAR-2027 13.98 23-FEB2028

110.82

7.66

110.82

10.00

106.15

10.43

119.94

10.43

112.15

10.43

Change Updated Time (%) 24, -0.01 May 2022 24, 0.07 May 2022 24, 0.00 May 2022 24, 0.00 May 2022 24, 0.00 May 2022

MATURITY

Discount

Yield

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS

Change Updated Time (%)

NTB 9-Jun22 NTB 14-Jul22 NTB 11Aug-22 NTB 8-Sep22

3.06

3.06

0.00 May 24, 2022

3.01

3.02

0.00 May 24, 2022

2.97

2.99

0.00 May 24, 2022

2.93

2.96

0.00 May 24, 2022

NTB 13-Oct22

3.45

3.50

0.00 May 24, 2022

MATURITY DANC CP II 25-MAY-22 TRBH CP V 26-JUL-22 FSDH CP VI 1-AUG-22 NENL CP I 24-OCT-22 FSDH CP VII 27-OCT-22

Discount Yield

Change Updated Time (%)

8.85

0.10 May 24, 2022

11.27 11.50

-0.07 May 24, 2022

8.85

7.78

7.90

-0.09 May 24, 2022

14.52 15.45

0.36 May 24, 2022

8.88

9.23

0.39 May 24, 2022

CONTRACT Current TENOR Contract Rate ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS JUN 29 1 427.24 2022 NGUS JUL 27 428.93 2 2022 NGUS AUG 31 3 430.63 2022 NGUS SEP 28 4 432.32 2022 NGUS OCT 26 5 434.02 2022

Updated Time

May 25, 2022 May 25, 2022 May 25, 2022 May 25, 2022 May 25, 2022

28

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

EXPANDING COMMERCE…

L-R: Past President of NACCIMA, Chief Bassey Edem; National President of NACCIMA, Ide John C. Udeagbala; Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development,Kwara State, Hon. Abosede Buraimoh; Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Raji Razaq; 1st Deputy President of NACCIMA, Dele Oye and 2nd Deputy President of NACCIMA, Jani Ibrahim at the 62nd Annual Conference of NACCIMA held in Ilorin… recently

Credit to Private Sector Reached All-time High of N37.13trn in April Nume Ekeghe The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed that credit to the private sector increased to N37.13 trillion in April 2022, making it an all-time high as banks increase lending to the real sector with a view to create jobs and expand the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The apex bank in its ‘Money and Credit Statistics’ disclosed that credit to the private sector has added 5.53 per cent or N1.95trillion Year-till-Date (YtD) growth from N35.18trillion reported in January 2022.

The CBN revealed that credit to the private sector moved to N35.99 trillion in February and increased by 1.07 per cent to N36.37 trillion in March 2022.

The members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN attributed the growth in private sector lending to due increased industry funding base and compliance with the 65 percent Loans to Deposit Ratio (LDR) directive.

The CBN also disclosed that it reviewed the performance of its various interventions to stimulate productivity in manufacturing, industry, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and micro, small and medium enterprises.

The governor, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele in his personal statement at the end of March MPC noted that the growth reflected the continued growth of banking system credits to

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Deputy Business Editor Chinedu Eze Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

the private sector supported by the sustained drive of the apex bank to increase lending to high-impact real sector ventures.

He had disclosed that gross credit maintained its upward trajectory since 2019, with a N4.13 trillion or 19.53 percent growth in industry credit between February 2021 and 2022.

The Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, CBN, Aisha Ahmad in her personal

statement at the MPC meeting of March 2022 in Abuja said, “The continued growth in credit particularly to output enhancing sectors is expected to further support economic recovery.

However, sustained regulatory vigilance is required to mitigate any potential crystallization of credit risk in the financial system from lingering macroeconomic risks.”

According to the CBN data,

Credit to government also hits an all-time high in April 2022 to N16.56trillion.

The total net credit by the banking sector to the government rose by N2.2trillion in the first quarter (Q1) ended March 2022 to N16.32trillion.

According to the data, the net credit to the government rose from N14.12trillion as of the end of January 2022 to N14.72trillion as of the end of

February 2022.

The figure showed that this was an increase from the first quarter figure of 2021.

It showed that the net credit to the government rose from N12.09trillion, N12.59trillion and N12.07trillion in January, February and March 2021 respectively.

The CBN had said it released N19.15 billion to finance five large-scale agricultural projects

under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS), bringing the total disbursements under the scheme to N735.17billion for 671 projects in agro-production and agroprocessing.

In addition to these, it added, the CBN disbursed N428.31billion under the N1.0trillion real sector facility to 37 additional projects in the manufacturing, agriculture, and services sectors.

CWA Digitals to Train 1,000 Entrepreneurs on Revenue Growth, Digital Sales Kayode Tokede The Founder/ Managing Director, CWA digitals, Mr. Ekene Ozoilo has disclosed that the marketing and sales company plans to train 1000 entrepreneurs in 2022, stressing that the firm has helped businesses to grow in strategic digital marketing.

Speaking at the ‘360 selling system business bootcamp’ in Lagos, Ozoilo noted that the firm is focused on training entrepreneurs to drive revenue, which is essential in boosting profit.

According to him, “No matter the products and services, if an entrepreneur fails to drive sales, his good intentions of making profit comes to nothing. It is revenue that keeps the business in operation.

We have been helping businesses to grow their revenue. We have taken a company from generation million to billions of Naira within 14 months.

“We wanted to do more and reasoned we have created a 360-degree selling system for predictable and consistent sales

for entrepreneurs. We carried the existing system and pulled it into a business for our participants at the bootcamp. We give entrepreneurs online and offline selling systems that are adopted into a new business at the bootcamp and it is integrated.”

Speaking on challenges, he noted that entrepreneur always complained about economy related challenges, He said, “Economic challenges are not the major issue of an entrepreneur. However, the challenge is on how well an

entrepreneur has positioned his products and services for public acceptance. In this present economy, people are still dealing in mega projects.”

He acknowledged that entrepreneurs have understood the role of strategic digital marketing, stating that most of them are unaware of effective digital marketing.

“To some, digital marketing ends with having their products and services on social media pages and at the end, they complain that it is

not working for them. Having social media pages is not enough in digital marketing. What we do is result oriented. Most participants are happy because we have delivered predictable and consistent sales for entrepreneurs who participate at the bootcamp, ”he said.

One of the participants, lead investment consultant, 24/7 Global Properties Limited, Mr. Fredrick Emuekhare said, “I used to think I knew it all but attending the bootcamp, I realized that a lot needs to be done in terms of sales.

RIMAN Calls for Enhanced Cyber Security Risk Management The President Risk Management Association of Nigeria (RIMAN), Mr. Ezekiel Oseni has called for more vigilance by corporate bodies and Individuals to intensify cyber security risk management, citing the heightened emergence of cyber risk.

Oseni said this in his opening remarks at the 2022 membership induction where a total of 107 members were inducted into RIMAN as senior associate

members and associate members.

He noted that the as business world has continued to evolve, it is important for risk managers as well as organisations to evolve with the emergence of dramatic shifts in the landscape of risks faced by businesses.

In alluding to this year’s theme: “Building the Competency for Cybersecurity Risk Management in an Organisation,” he said: “In today’s computerised world, new

risks emerge every hour of every day. Cybercrime is becoming big business and cyber risk is a focus of organisations and governments globally.

“The world will continue to experience increasing data breaches in the face of emerging technologies, the dawning of 4.0 industrial revolution and increasing unemployment rates among the youths worldwide.”

“Threats such as ransomware,

targeted phishing attacks, and Advanced Persistent Threats (APT), have become prevalent already, demanding organisations to take proactive steps to secure their critical information assets including customer information that are accessible from cyberspace.

“Cybersecurity risk is considered a significant business risk and should be placed at the same level as compliance, operational, financial and reputational risks.

Therefore, Policy Makers, Corporate Bodies, and Individuals must learn the importance of implementing excellent cyber security risk management, ”he said.

He added that it is a positive sign that regulators like the CBN have made it mandatory asides from other measures for all the industry players to have a functional and well-staffed cybersecurity department in the institutions.

VALUE OF 14 BANKS’ STOCKS APPRECIATE MARGINALLY BY N73.09BN DESPITE DECLINE IN CORPORATE EARNINGS FOR 2021 in 2021.

In Q1 2021, the bank’s profit got slashed by 45per cent compared to Q1 2020, still reeling from the impact of the pandemic and its adverse effect on businesses. However, in Q1 2022, we can see the bank’s profit starting to recover.

“The shareholders of Stanbic IBTC last week approved a N2.00 dividend payout and its impact on the financial institution stock price on the bourse, ”said analyst at PAC Holdings, Mr. Wole Adeyeye.

However, Wema bank in the five months of 2022 has gained N102.99billion in five months, on the backdrop of N2.67 per

share or 370.8 per cent gain in its stock price.

Commenting, the Chief operating officer of InvestData Consulting Limited, Mr. Ambrose Omordion noted that weak corporate earnings forced investors to divest into other fundamentals stocks on the bourse.

According to him, “Most listed banks on the NGX struggled in their Q1 2022 results. However, with the hike in interest rate

by CBN, banks will definitely benefit and it is going to impact on the interest margin next quarter.

“Most Nigerian banks stocks are undervalued when

compared to African bank stocks. Once Nigerian banks’ earnings improve, they will be attractive to domestic and foreign investors. The exit of foreign investors has also led to dwindling banking stocks on the Exchange as they played a critical role in driving prices.

Foreign investors play in banking stocks where their investment is protected by regulators.”

He added, “GTCO is dropping due to its decline in corporate earnings coupled with foreign investors taking profit-taking.”

Analysts at Coronation Research in their latest report titled, ‘Nigerian Banks: Q1 22 earnings review’ said, “The

narrative that the fundamentals of the banking sector are compelling has persisted, even as investor apathy around bank stocks remains. In our view, although bank margins and profitability have come down slightly in recent years, bank stocks have been oversold.

“In an environment where negative inflation-adjusted yields remain the theme, bank dividends continue to offer more attractive yields than Treasury bills. In addition, with yields on the rise, we think FY 2120 may have been the bottom in terms of banks’ profitability.”

Analysts at Financial Derivatives Company (FDC)

in a presentation said Nigerian equities would remain popular among investors as yields in the fixed income space decline and inflation continues its upward trend.

The analysts, in their presentation at Lagos Business School March breakfast meeting, said investors would buy into fundamentally strong stocks with attractive valuations in a post-election year.

On the downside, they see the stock market being sensitive to economic and political vulnerabilities, even as they expect the increased cost of borrowing to further reduce the profitability of listed companies.

29

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

ECONOMY

The Incurable Leakages in Public Finances Although the deployment of technology has simplified government business by enhancing seamless transactions thereby saving time and manpower; this has not significantly prevented corruption as well as plugged financial leakages in the public workspace, James Emejo writes

G

iven that endemic corruption is one of the biggest problems limiting the development of the country, coupled with the leadership challenges, the federal government has in recent times invested so much in critical reforms, which not only seek to fast-track operational processes but also plug financial leakages in the public service.

The government still remains the biggest spender in the economy and so much corruption has been associated with public finance administration. The many financial atrocities of public office holders, especially politicians and civil servants have remained the hallmark of various administrations.

The menace of corruption has continued to set the country backwards as monies allocated for projects are rarely utilised for the intended purposes but ended up in private bank accounts.

The recent case at hand where the Accountant General of the Federation had been arrested by the anti-graft agency for alleged mismanagement of public funds to the tune of over N80 billion has kept Nigerians wondering why despite the government’s huge investment in technology to reduce financial theft, corruption has remained business as usual in the system.

The development has caused the opponents of IPPIS to insist that the solution constituted an avenue to perpetrate fraud rather than stop corruption.

However, the government has in recent times embarked on critical reforms in financial administration as well as procurement regime in order to reduce fraud and improve governance, particularly in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government (MDAs), which are responsible for the execution of public contracts through which resources are siphoned.

INNOVATIONS

The federal government in October 2006 introduced the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) as one of its reform programmes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in the storage of personnel records and administration of monthly payroll. The initiative was specifically aimed at eliminating ghost workers who constituted a huge drain on public finances. Although the application is said to have significantly cut the government’s recurrent spending, the payroll still has illegitimate workers who ought not to be in public service, a situation, which continues to exert pressure on public finances.

Also, the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which remains an essential tool for consolidating and managing governments’ cash resources to among other things address fragmented government banking arrangements has been introduced.

However, there are concerns that apart from the consolidation of government accounts into a single entity for transparency and easy administration, the TSA has not really addressed the issue of corruption in the country as witnessed in recent times as issues of brazen corruption continues to define the public

space.

Despite having a good procurement policy, other objectives are to promote transparency and accountability in governance as well as ensure that the required standards are transparently maintained in the conduct of government business, the Public Procurement Act is constantly breached by public officials and has continued to serve as a conduit for corruption, notwithstanding the fact that various procurement technologies are in place to check some of these excesses as well as sanitise the public contractual system in the country.

WILL TECHNOLOGY SUPPRESS CORRUPTION?

There had been arguments that the deployment of solutions would nip corruption in the bud apart from simplifying processes for timely results. Many believed the continued execution of processes albeit manually had helped to fester corruption. But even when most of the government’s activities have been moved online and digitalized the menace still persists as observed even the country’s tax administration processes.

In a 2019 interview with THISDAY, Technical Manager, IT and Profession, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Mr. David Lyford-Smith, had discussed the limitations of technology to curbing corruption as more organisations are embracing digital technology for efficiency and controls.

According to him, despite technology and digitisation, there could still be elements of corruption in any system.

He said, “I think that it is naive to think that as we move on to the systems there will no longer be these problems but it is a powerful tool and also an opportunity to try to improve these systems practices and controls is still really important, governance is still really important because these technologies for all that they do a lot of work by themselves…it is not the end to corruption but I think it’s a great opportunity to find ways of reducing the possibilities.”

Lyford-Smith also said, “It’s connected to a lot of the underlying issues with different kinds of technology and it’s also true for things like bias and errors as well as the corruption that you can control. In some respects, you have a greater degree of control of technology because you are taking humans out of the loop that might be tempted to engage in these activities.

So you can make systems which are not open to temptations and manipulation.”

Furthermore, analysts in separate interviews with THISDAY lamented the lack of political-will to eliminate corruption in the system.

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Credent Investment Managers Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, said “Technology alone merely

makes processes more efficient and if there are fundamental flaws in the design of those processes then it will essentially exacerbate an underlying problem.”

He pointed out that processes are easily circumvented when there are weak checks and balances and those entrusted with managing the public finances may be compromised.

He said, “Ultimately, we must look at the root causes of all this, which is that civil servants are inadequately remunerated but potentially have access to billions of government funds to spend. These funds can easily be routed back to them via shell companies and ‘loyal’ contractors.

“Despite the IPPIS, we still have cases of ghost workers in the civil service, which indicates that the input stage of onboarding employees onto the system is compromised.”

Shelleng, however, noted that there is no doubt that the implementation of IPPIS and TSA as well as other deployed technology has greatly helped government finance.

“We have seen the likes of Customs and FIRS record significant gains in revenue collection since TSA was implemented, which has greatly improved non-oil revenues,” he said.

ABSENCE OF CONTROLS

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dignity Finance and Investment Limited, Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, said IPPIS and TSA are Information technology devices made by man to improve the system for more efficiency and to reduce burden and corruption in the system.

He said, “Unfortunately the system was made by man and can be circumvented by man. What is wrong is that the control system is faulty. The system as set up was devoid of adequate control in a corruption tolerant system. Culprits have hardly been adequately punished in the past.”

Also commenting on the issue, Managing Director/Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Management Limited, Mr. Idakolo Gbolade, said the only way to plug leakages was to outsource the audit process of the payment systems to private firms and with oversight by NGOs as whistleblowers.

He said the federal government did not take cognizance of back end controls, which could help the operators to perpetuate fraud.

Gbolade said, “The federal government also did not have a standard audit procedure in place that should have been executed by global firms credited with excellent audit practices.

“The loopholes in the IPPIS and TSA payment system were exposed to ridicule because the federal government is complacent in the sense that both the operators and authorizers of the transaction are not separated knowing fully well the penchant of Nigerians for corruption.”

On his part, Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Port Harcourt,

Anthony Onoja, alleged that over N200 billion had been stolen from public coffers this year by those entrusted with guarding and managing the nation’s treasury.

He also described the development as worrisome.

He said, “Leakages in public finance in Nigeria can only be blocked if we are able to understand deeply the root causes of corruption, the mechanisms deployed, the impact it has on individuals as well as a community and workable strategies for reducing corruption which has become endemic in Nigeria.

“PricewaterhouseCoopers signaled that unless urgent measures are taken to fight corruption now, it is going to cost Nigeria about 37 per cent of her GDP by 2030, or around $1,000 per person.”

Onoja said, “Corruption is killing Nigerians indirectly as it exacerbates human misery and fast-tracks Nigeria to the unenviable rank as one of the countries inhabited by the poorest people on the planet. Corruption control in Nigeria has been mostly left in the hands of government agencies for a long and with no reasonable success.

“With recent incidents on this front, a time has definitely come to engage civil societies and other stakeholders in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

Since the government cannot do the job alone as the evidence on the ground suggests, it is about time for other strategies to be deployed. I recommend the use of advanced technologies to detect and mitigate corruption in both public and organized private sector.”

He said the civil society groups including SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) should commence litigations to hold government and public officials responsible for corruption as well as ensure proper service delivery and promote legal reform.

According to him, “There is a need for more awareness about what causes corruption, the dangers and consequences of corruption against national development, especially creating more awareness at local levels on how the practice of corruption in public offices link to the impoverishment and human misery suffered by the ordinary Nigerian.

“Advocacies need to start from homes, churches, mosques, schools and public institutions as well as in organized private institutions. The universities should intensify research from different disciplinary perspectives on how to curb Nigerian corruption.

“Laws aimed at fighting corruption in Nigeria are plenty but the problem lies with enforcement.

The judiciary and law enforcement agencies in Nigeria need to first rid themselves of corrupt elements in their midst so that they can be fully armed to do the job of bringing justice to those who impoverish the people by stealing public funds meant for the development of all.

“Every organisation and home needs to do something about reducing Nigerian corruption.

Poverty in terms of mental and material poverty also stands against the move to eliminate corruption. So empowerment of youths, women and the vulnerable can go a long way in reducing poverty.”

30

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2022

FOCUS Zenith Bank’s Onyeagwu, Riding High Three Years On Louis Achi

A

s Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu notches three eventful years in the saddle as the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, having taken over the reins on June 1, 2019, the world and Africa stand on the brink of significant disruption - and of substantial opportunity - as new business models challenge traditional templates.

This is especially so as the Covid-19 pandemic massively disrupted conventional business playbooks and upended the global economy.

As it were, only tested pathfinders with vision, knowledge and courage can provide the critical leadership to ensure both stability and progression in their sectors. And this is Onyeagwu’s forte.

As it were, a powerful vision pulls in ideas, people and other resources. It creates the momentum and will to actualise progressive change. It inspires individuals, complementary organisations and institutions to commit, to persist and to give their best.

Enlisting this enduring philosophy, unassuming Onyeagwu has deployed impeccable professionalism, discipline and persistence to change the traditional narrative of the banking sector in Nigeria and the continent.

No less a child of providence who wields influence and authority with alluring humility and exemplary focus, the Zenith Bank boss has demonstrated with his life’s trajectory that faith, accountancy, Banking and International Finance fundamentally address transformation of society and the human condition for good.

To-date and three years in the saddle, he unabashedly maintains this unique footing.

With little question, to manage a behemoth in the scope of Zenith Bank Plc which was founded in May 1990 by the highly esteemed Jim Ovia, it certainly requires a seasoned boss in Onyeagwu’s mould.

Zenith Bank provides individual customers and corporate clients with a range of financial products and services from over 500 branches and business offices across all states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

It further has presence in the United Kingdom (UK), Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a representative office in China, and its shares are traded on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

In just over 30 years, it has grown enormously to become Nigeria’s largest and one of Africa’s largest financial institutions by tier-1 capital, with shareholders’ funds of N1.28 trillion ($3.03 billion) as at 31st December, 2021.

Up-scaling an excellent service culture with continuous deployment of state-of-the-art technology to keep the institution at the forefront of Nigeria’s banking industry, the seamless transition at the bank is clear evidence of a well-planned institution and is consistent with the bank’s tradition and succession strategy of grooming leaders from within.

Indisputably an industry leader in the Nigerian financial space, with several firsts in the deployment of innovative products and solutions that ensure convenience, speed and safety of transactions, Zenith Bank boasts of a team of dedicated and well-trained professionals.

It leverages its robust Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure to provide products and services through its network of branches, point-of-sales terminals and electronically through its internet and mobile banking channels.

More, the pack leader places premium on its core business strategy which is anchored on “People”, “Technology” and “Service” to create value for its clientele. Aligning closely with global best practices, the bank combines market knowledge, professionalism, expertise and ICT to create products and provide services that anticipate and meet customers’ dynamic needs.

To sync its processes with global best practices and support the achievement of the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Zenith Bank continues to maintain its commitments as member and

Onyeagwu signatory to various domestic and international sustainability frameworks including the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria Sustainable Banking Principles.

Zenith Bank is also a member of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and a founding signatory of the UNEP FI Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB). After joining 130 banks across the globe to launch the Principles in September 2019, the Bank has energetically pursued the implementation of the Principles thereafter, signifying its intention to create value for its shareholders, customers, clients, investors, communities and the environment through its practices, operations and investments.

On the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) front, the bank boasts a myriad of initiatives and donations. It contributes significantly to the sustainable development of many local communities across Nigeria anchored on an empathetic understanding of the developmental gap that exists across many rural communities in Nigeria.

Provision of access roads, potable water for local communities, establishment of health centers and cottage hospitals, provision of free agricultural extension services to the host communities amongst others took center stage.

Also while the extreme impact of coronavirus on society has scaled down, many communities are still experiencing bracing challenges to rebuild from the economic and social losses of the pandemic. Zenith Bank continues to play an active role in rebuilding with its communities.

In 2021, Zenith Bank’s total CSR investment was N4.37 billion, representing 1.79 per cent

of its profit after tax (PAT) and 33.1 per cent increase from 2020. The bank remains one of the biggest spenders on social investment in the Nigerian corporate space.

In the crucial arenas of security, sports, health, education and others, Zenith Bank has posted sterling and enduring interventions.

These involved promotion of security of lives and property which remained a significant social investment in 2021.

The previous year, its need-gap analysis revealed that security remains a fundamental need of local communities. In 2021, it invested the sum of N2.78 billion in its various partnerships with the local communities, the federal, state and local governments, and other relevant agencies to preserve public peace, and ensure a crime-free environment.

In 2021, the bank supported the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, a health initiatives complementing government’s efforts at improving life expectancy in the country.

The education sector remains a key area of its attention as the bank continues to pay great attention to championing SDG4 (Quality Education). It expended about N776.5 million towards educational initiatives in the outgone financial year.

Certifications of Zenith Bank by the International Standards Organisation (ISO) speak to its sheer focus and commitment.

A non-exhaustive check-list: It is certified ISO/IEC 27001:2013 (Information Security Management System), ISO/IEC 20000-1:2011 (IT Service Management System) and ISO 22301:2012 (Business Continuity Management System) by the British Standards Institution (BSI).

Zenith’s credit ratings include: (A) Standard and Poor’s ratings – B/Stable/B

(Issuer Credit Rating) and ngBBB/ngA-2 (National Scale Rating); (B) Fitch ratings – (1) Long-term foreign currency IDR: ‘B+’ - Negative Outlook (2) Short-term foreign currency IDR: ‘B‘ (3) National Long-term rating: ‘AA-(nga)’ (4) National Short-term rating: ‘F1+(nga)’ and (C) Moody’s ratings – (1) Long Term Debt B2 with Stable Outlook (2) Foreign currency deposit - B3.

In its recently released unaudited results for the first quarter (Q1) ended 31st March 2022, the bank achieved an impeccable growth of 22 per cent in gross earnings from N157.3 billion reported in Q1 2021 to N191.5 billion in Q1 2022. From the unaudited statement of account presented to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) in April, the strong double-digit growth in the topline culminated in an increase in the bottom line, as the Group recorded an 11 per cent Year-on-Year (YoY) increase in profit before tax, growing from N61.02 billion in Q1 2021 to N67.99 billion in Q1 2022.

Zenith Bank’s stellar record of excellent performance not surprisingly has earned the brand numerous awards by reputable domestic and global organisations. It was voted as Best Bank in Nigeria, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards and Best Corporate Governance, Nigeria in the World Finance Banking Awards 2022.

It was also voted Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria in the World Finance Banking Awards 2021; Best in Corporate Governance ‘Financial Services’ Africa, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, by the Ethical Boardroom; and Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020.

Zenith Bank also emerged the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021, Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital in the “2021 Top 1000 World Banks” Ranking by The Banker Magazine and the Retail Bank of the year at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards 2020 and 2021.

Similarly, Zenith Bank was honoured as Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the THISDAY Awards 2020 and emerged winner in four categories at the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility (SERAS) Awards 2021, carting home the awards for “Best Company in Reporting and Transparency”, “Best Company in Infrastructure Development”, “Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment”, and the coveted “Most Responsible Organisation in Africa.

Zenith Bank’s GMD/CEO’s choice as one of Africa’s biggest financial institutions tacitly acknowledges the capacity of focused individuals to transform their sector, effectively manage new disruptions and hence positively impact society for the better.

For three years, he has provided clear, pragmatic leadership in his industrial sector.

Today, he has been deservedly transformed into an active, focused national and continental industry leader; a genuine pathfinder.

The position of CEO carries considerable weight, especially in charting the course of bold engagement with the critical elements in the financial sector mix and especially so when the occupant enjoys the total confidence of his board as Onyeagwu undoubtedly does as he targets the zenith with Zenith Bank.

He certainly is not the kind of professional who stays tamely at the receiving end of received policy prescriptions.

He covets knowledge-driven innovations, proactive engagement with stake-holders, policy makers, fluid operating environments and sure-footed action. These dimensions have been boldly mirrored in his nimble leadership of one of the continent’s foremost banking behemoths.

Little wonder he was feted as Bank CEO of the Year for 2020 and 2021 respectively by the respected BusinessDay Newspaper and CEO of the Year 2020 by SERAS Awards.

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FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 07010510430

Assessing Critical Sectors of the Buhari Administration With barely a year to go in office, Rebecca Ejifoma assesses President Muhammadu Buhari's administration and the some of the successes achieved so far despite inherent challenges

O

regardless of where in the world they might be; Act establishing the Police Trust Fund, which will significantly improve funding for the Nigeria Police Force (2019); Nigeria Police Act, 2020 – the first comprehensive reform of Police legislation since the Police Act of 1943; Repeal and Re-Enactment of the Companies & Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020 – the first comprehensive reform since 1990; Not Too Young to Run Bill (2018) – a Constitution Amendment Bill, to reduce the age of eligibility for running for elective office in Nigeria; Nigerian Correctional Services Bill, 2019 – the first comprehensive reform of prison legislation in close to five decades; Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Bill, 2019 – the first anti-piracy legislation in West Africa; A Bill to grant financial autonomy to States’ Houses of Assembly and States’ Judiciary (2018); Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020; Finance Act 2019 and 2020; and The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.

n Sunday May 29, 2022, President, Muhammadu Buhari, marked his seventh year in office. Despite the challenges and some near misses, his presidency has recorded some milestones in the areas of infrastructure, Legislative Reforms, solid minerals, housing, finance, rails, roads, ports, housing, oil and gas, agriculture, power, social investment and poverty alleviation, sports, youth and creative industry, education, health, bilateral relations and asset recovery, as well as fiscal, trade, monetary and investment reforms among others.

Housing Given that shelter is a very important need for every human, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, has completed or is completing housing projects in 34 States of Nigeria, under the National Housing Programme, with the support of the State Governors who provided the land.

So far, more than 5,000 houses are at various stages of completion, and thousands more are planned.

Also, the Family Homes Fund Limited (FHFL), incorporated by the Federal Government of Nigeria in September 2016, is the implementing agency for the Buhari Administration’s National Social Housing scheme and it has now completed more than 13,000 homes across nine states, with another 20,000 in the works this year, thus creating more than 64,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Digital Economy In this regard, the president extended the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) ‘Pioneer Status’ to e-Commerce and software development companies; stipulated N145 per linear meter cap on Highway Right of Way (RoW) for fiber optic cabling, to incentivize investment in rollout; launched new national 5G policy in 2021, and successful licensing of two private companies to rollout 5G nationally.

Nigeria’s 5G rollout will commence in August 2022; Established nnew National Data Protection Bureau, which is expected to develop “primary legislation for data protection and privacy"; launched new “National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy”; drafted the Nigeria Startup Bill (NSB), and submission of the draft Bill to the National Assembly for consideration and passage into law; established in 2021 a National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR).

At the moment, there is an ongoing implementation, starting 2021, of the National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase 2 (NICTIB-2) Project. The goal of NICTIB is to rollout a nationwide fiber infrastructure network; and ongoing construction of a Tier-4 Data Center in Kano, to join existing infrastructure in Abuja (Tier-3 Data Center) and Enugu (A Disaster Recovery Site). The Kano Data Center is expected to be completed in 2022.

Oil and Gas For the Buhari Administration, it was “Decade of Gas" and to tap into this, it is constructing the 614km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Project, the largest domestic gas project in the country, just as it secured US$45 million Financing from the Islamic Development Bank, for the FrontEnd Engineering Design (FEED) Study for the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) project, an agreement, which was signed by the two countries during President Buhari’s State sit to Morocco in June 2018.

When completed it will be the longest offshore pipeline in the world, and the second longest pipeline in the world, running across 13 countries, 11 of them in West Africa.

Also in its kitty is the successful completion of Nigeria’s first Marginal Field Bid Round in almost 20 years, expected to raise in excess of half a billion dollars, and open up a new vista of investment in oil and gas.

This administration launched the National LPG Expansion Programme (including Removal of VAT from the domestic pricing of LPG); ensured financial close and signing of contract for NLNG Train 7, which will grow Nigeria’s LNG production capacity by 35 per cent.

Also, Nigeria and Morocco in 2021 signed

Buhari an agreement to develop a US$1.4 billion multipurpose industrial platform (Ammonia and Di-Ammonium Phosphate production plants) that will utilize Nigerian gas and Moroccan phosphate to produce 750,000 tons of ammonia and 1 million tons of phosphate fertilizers annually by 2025.

It will be located in Ikot-Abasi, AkwaIbom State.

In December 2020, this government commissioned the new NPDC Integrated Gas Handling Facility in Edo State, the largest onshore LPG plant in the country, with a processing capacity of 100 million standard cubic feet of gas daily, producing 330 tonnes of LPG, 345 tonnes of propane and 2,600 barrels of condensate, daily.

It also established a $350m Nigerian Content Intervention Fund, to finance manufacturing, contracts and assets in the oil and gas industry, just as it ensured the financial closure on the following NNPCinvolved projects: A 10,000 tonnes per day methanol plant and a 500 million standard cubic feet per day gas processing plant, in Odeama, Brass, Bayelsa State; the ANOH gas processing plant, with a processing capacity of 300 million standard cubic feet of gas, in Imo State. It is a Joint Venture between Seplat Petroleum Development Company and the Nigerian Gas Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). It also has the potential to deliver 1,200MW of power when completed; and comprehensive rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery (PHRC). Sign-off Ceremony of Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Contract held in April 2021, marking the commencement of site handover and full mobilisation to site.

Not left out was the Policy, Regulatory and Funding Support for the establishment of Modular Refineries across the Niger Delta. It is pertinent to state that when the administration took office in 2015, Nigeria had only one functioning Modular Refinery but today, there are no fewer than six ongoing brownfield and greenfield Modular Refinery Projects across the Niger Delta.

In fact, in 2020 President Buhari commissioned the first phase of the Waltersmith Modular Refinery, in Imo State, and broke ground on Phase 2, which will add 20,000bpd processing capacity.

This administration also launched the Nigerian Upstream Cost Optimisation Programme (NUCOP), to reduce operating expenses through process enhancement and industry collaboration. The overall target is to achieve a $10 or less per barrel production cost.

Legislative Reforms In the past seven years, this administration had succeeded in ensuring the passage or amendment of some landmark Bills. They include the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022; Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2022, which repeals the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended, and provides a comprehensive legal and Institutional Framework for the prevention and prohibition of money laundering in Nigeria, while also conferring on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the legal status of the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering; Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2022, which repeals the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 as amended in 2013, and provides for the effective implementation of international instruments on the prevention and combating of terrorism and suppression of the financing of terrorism; Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Bill, 2022, which makes comprehensive provisions for the seizure, confiscation, forfeiture, and management of properties derived from unlawful activity; Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act, 1993 (Amendment) Act, 2019, which will deliver increased revenues to the Federation; Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON (Amendment) Act, 2021; Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Bill, the first legislation in Nigeria’s history focused on curbing anti-competition practices; establishing the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Establishment Act, 2018; Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, an Executive Bill, signed into law in 2019.

The Bill facilitates the identification, tracing, freezing, restraining, recovery, forfeiture and confiscation of proceeds, property, and other instrumentalities of crime, as well as the prosecution of offenders in criminal cases

Executive Orders It is on record that President Buhari championed the use of Executive Orders in Nigeria. Since 2017, this administration has issued a number of landmark Executive Orders like the Presidential Executive Order on Promotion of Transparency and Efficiency in the Business Environment (2017); Presidential Executive Order on Promoting Local Procurement by Government Agencies (2017); and Presidential Executive Order on Submission of Annual Budgetary Estimates by all Statutory and non-Statutory Agencies, including Incorporated Companies wholly owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria (2017).

Others include the Presidential Executive Order on the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (2017); Presidential Executive Order on Planning and Execution of Projects, Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts, Science, Engineering and Technology (2018); Presidential Executive Order (and Amendment) on the Voluntary Offshore Assets Regularisation Scheme (VOARS) (2018); Presidential Executive Order on Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme (2019); and Presidential Executive Order 11 on National Public Buildings Maintenance (2022).

Infrastructure Infrastructure-wise, this administration has seemingly done well with many of such projects dotting the length and breadth of the country.

Noteworthy is the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp), which was established by President Buhari in February 2021, with initial seed Capital of N1 Trillion, provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

InfraCorp’s goal is to “to catalyse and accelerate investment into Nigeria’s infrastructure sector by originating, structuring, executing and managing end-to-end bankable projects in that space.”

In addition to the 1 trillion Naira equity seed capital, InfraCorp is expected to mobilise up to an additional 14 trillion Naira of debt capital.

Establishment in 2020 of the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), with more than $1 Billion in funding so far.

Under infrastructure, the Rail was given due attention. Under this administration the156km Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail was completed and commissioned, within four years (2017 to 2021); 186km Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Rail Line, completed and commissioned in 2016; 327km Itakpe-Warri Standard Gauge Rail completed and commissioned in 2020, 33 years after construction began.

As part of this project, there was the full rehabilitation of the Railway Village, Agbor, as well as construction of a Railway Ancillary Facilities Yard, also in Agbor. In 2021 the Line commenced commercial freight haulage, transporting pipelines for the AKK Gas Pipeline project.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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FEATURES

Situating Women Within the Pathway of Economic Recovery Chiamaka Ozulumba writes on the need to situate women within the pathway of economic recovery, a move continuously championed by the Minister for Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen

Cross section of Bauchi participants

"W

e need to do something differently to make it work, to help empower more women, put food on the table, support children get education and build a better future for our country", the above statement was made by the Minister for Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen at the 21st National Council on Women Affairs, Uyo. Her stance has always been that women economic empowerment will provide solution to the myriads of problems bedeviling Nigeria.

According to her, when women are empowered, the nation will be better; the children will be happy and "we will not have the security problems we are battling with now. Most of these problems are because of the breakdown of family values.

“If you educate a woman, you are educating the family, an educated woman will ensure that her children are fully educated and her family is well cared for, everything that concerns the family will go well.

"We will not have issues of banditry.

We have been working hand in hand with the ministry of education to ensure that our children are educated".

Calling for more support and collaborations for the number of women who need help, she said the ministry has tried to build a better future for some vulnerable women in the country.

“We need to do something differently to make it work, to help empower more women, put food on the table, support children get education and build a better future for our country. We need to rise up to the occasion," she added.

Already, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, which she superintends is currently providing targeted economic empowerment support to women who were hardest hit by COVID-driven economic reversals.

To this end, a set of customised business development and skills transfer sessions have been held in Bauchi, Enugu, Plateau and Ekiti states with more expected to hold subsequently.

During these sessions, accredited manufacturers of personalised protective equipment, particularly personal sanitary products have been sharing information around emerging commercial opportunities within the personal hygiene service value chain, the rudiments of registering and running micro and small

Enugu participants

Dame Tallen

businesses, opportunities for accessing credit support, as well the importance of networking

and how to leverage on existing business membership networks.

Apart from the professional trainers,

"We need to do something differently to make it work, to help empower more women, put food on the table, support children get education and build a better future for our country. We need to rise up to the occasion"

resource persons were drawn from the Rescue Initiative for Sustainable Development, the Nigerian Network of Women Exporters of Services, and the academia. Others include Top Goddy Nigeria limited, Joseph Afe and Partners, and QUB Resources.

Meanwhile, panelists at the session agreed that to close the gap on economic and financial inclusion, concerted efforts must be taken to strengthen coordination, establish accountability, and ensure deliberate policies targeted at increased women’s economic development.

The events are part of the ministry’s recalibrated women’s economic empowerment approach in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which deepened pre-existing gender inequalities, across different economic sectors in Nigeria.

Women and girls had higher levels of responsibility for caregiving than normal and there were also significant distortions in the livelihood options within the informal economy, where women predominate.

Also, women with disabilities found it more challenging to access many of the economic incentives, which some other women benefited from.

While there is a lot of work left to be done, it is hoped that these events will help incentivise increased economic participation and engagement by women in Nigeria given the growing consensus that women empowerment, if well promoted responds to women’s engagement in productive activities that engenders development and poverty reduction.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ JUNE 1, 2022

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BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

ITF Gets PECB’s Recertification for Quality Management System Seriki Adinoyi ÓØ ÙÝ The Professional Evaluation and Certification Board (PECB), the international body responsible for the certification of Quality Management Systems has recertified the Industrial Training Fund (ITF)’s ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certification.

With the recertification, ITF is considered to have met the ISO management system requirements in the areas of Direct Training, Research and Development, Curriculum Design and Development, Intervention Programmes, Technical and Vocational Skills Development, Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) and Advisory Services.

Disclosing this during an interaction with staff following the receipt of the certificate, the Director-General of the ITF, Sir

Joseph Ari said that the ITF was recertified in recognition of its commitment to the provision of quality services to its stakeholders, the maintenance of training standards in all sectors of the Nigerian economy and its adherence to the requirements of the quality management system.

Ari explained that the ITF was first certified in 2019, making it one of the few public sector organisations in the country to have been awarded the PECB certificate of compliance, adding that this was even before the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) started awarding such certifications.

He stated that with the recertification, the Fund had gained competitive advantage and recognition both locally and internationally as an organisation

that prioritizes excellent service delivery and customer satisfaction, which had increased patronage of its services and pledged that the Fund would strive to sustain its high standards in this regard.

He listed some of the benefits of the certification to include improved product and process quality, good governance, improved customer focus and satisfaction, increased customer loyalty, large market share in areas of specialization and, improved employee morale amongst others.

He further explained that the certification had enhanced the Fund’s capacity to consistently provide products and services that meet customers’ expectations and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements as well as address risks and opportunities in its system.

L-R: President, Swiss Nigerian Business Council, Mr. Jacques Piekarski; Managing Director, Polo Luxury Group, Mr. John Obayuwana; and Consul General of Switzerland in Lagos, Mr. Thomas Schneider, during a joint presentation of the Swiss Learning Excellence Award by the Swiss Embassy and Swiss Learning to Mr. Obayuwana in Lagos... recently

Mixta Africa Releases ‘Rent to Own Scheme’for Accessible, Affordable Housing In its bid to provide access to affordable yet upscale real estate products, Mixta Africa, has emerged with its new Duo scheme; an innovative solution that aims to tackle the country’s growing housing deficit, by reducing the financial pressure of the home buying process for customers through a rent-to-own process.

The Rent-to-Own scheme offers flexible and accessible opportunities to live in one of Mixta Africa’s upscale, beautiful, and serene communities on a lease, while working towards the option of an outright purchase and complete ownership at the end of a fixed 3-year period. It caters to the middle-income segments of the housing industry, focusing primarily on working families in Lagos.

Speaking on the new initiative, the Chief Commercial Officer, Mrs. Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani gave substantive details of the

scheme, stating, “The scheme is designed to ease the financial stress attributed to the process of home buying for potential customers, and leverages the experiences of other payment schemes in Lagos to provide a superior solution.”

According to Akinkugbe-Filani, “This new scheme makes a considerable proportion of Mixta Africa’s more affordable real estate holdings available to willing customers who would be required to lease these properties for a maximum 3-year period, after a 5% non-refundable equity contribution from the total property price.”

“The client pays an annual rent which is added to the 5% contribution, and the total price of the property to be paid at the end of the lease period. After the lease period (3 years) expires, clients retain the right to make complete payment in addition to the initially contributed sum,

to take full ownership of the property. Property title documents are only handed over to the client after full payment, ”she explained.

“It is believed that the simplicity of the scheme and its competitive entry point will lead to its rapid adoption and overall success, ”said Mr. Benson Ajayi, Mixta Africa’s Chief Financial Officer, giving more details on the scheme.

Highlighting the credibility and achievement of the company in its many community-advancing initiatives, Ajayi pointed out that the comfort and favorable investment interests of its customers are at the core of its business initiatives. “Your well-being is our best possible form of marketing, your wins and successes guarantee ours, and we will continue to strive for and look forward to wonderful partnerships”, he said.

Unity Bank Commits to Empowering Underbanked Women Nume Ekeghe The Divisional Head, Retail, SME Banking and E-Business, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Olufunwa Akinmade has said that the bank in launching its latest retail product called ‘Yanga,’ has created a unique product proposition aimed at empowering the underbanked women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

Akinmade, in a statement, cited that the recent EFInA report said that there are 51 million Nigerian women above 18 years of age, with over 41 percent of the unbanked. Out of these figures, it is estimated that there are 14-18 million female entrepreneurs mainly in the micro SME categoryand that Unity Bank

is posed at bridging that gap..

According to Akinmade: “Recent research has shown that Nigeria has the highest number of women entrepreneurs in the world, with an estimated 40 million SMEs, of whom women constitute approximately 42 percent.

“These women have proved beyond reasonable doubt that they have the capacity to create wealth and contribute productively to the economy. However, a lot more needs to be done and it starts with empowering them with the right tools to harness this entrepreneurship potential.

“Currently, they face many institutional and cultural hurdles while starting or running their

businesses. For instance, a recent report shows that only 22 percent of female entrepreneurs have access to finance against 34 percent of males.

“This is part of why we have introduced Yanga to bridge this gap while also narrowing the population of underbanked women entrepreneurs”.

Akinmade further explained that the Unity Yanga product will play a critical role in boosting financial inclusion and narrowing the underbanked women population as the account comes with a unique product proposition that includes an easy to operate and free to open a Savings account, with no identification required, customized debit card, dedicated sales officers.

Realto Identifies Five Reasons to Invest in Real Estate in Nigeria Chindedu Eze A realtor has urged Nigerians to invest in real estate without heisation because its benefits are invaluable.

In a discussion with the Commercial Executive at Ramos Realty, Samson Asenguah, he identified some of the benefits of investing in real estate in Nigeria and these include the fact that Nigeria, being

one of the most populous countries in Africa, makes it one of the reasons why investing in real estate should be a viable venture as it is a huge market for untapped investments.

Asenguah disclosed that many people shy away from investing in real estate because they believe it requires huge capital to operate; however, it is possible to start on a small scale, adding that that real estate investment has several

benefits and with the state of the country, investing in real estate is a sure way to make wealth.

He identified some of the benefits to include financial security, noting that although the pandemic affected a lot of things including the cost of importing building materials and the likes, real estate is not volatile like other businesses and the risks of losing your investment is not so high.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT MONDAY MAY 30, 2022

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $118.84 a barrel on Friday, compared with $116.50 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

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FORTY-ONE BUHARI MEETS GOVS, MOVES TO CHOOSE SUCCESSOR, STILL CONSULTING Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja, Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia and Okon Bassey in Uyo With his words carefully chosen and intention unmistaken, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, pleaded with the 22 governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to allow him choose his successor in reciprocity, ahead of the party's presidential primaries next week. Buhari made the appeal at a meeting in Abuja with the governors, which was also attended by other stakeholders.

The president said the governors should reciprocate the party's good gesture of allowing outgoing governors choose their successors in their respective states. He assured that his choice presidential candidate would give Nigerians a sense of triumph and confidence ahead of the general election, and promised to sustain ongoing consultations ahead of the primary election.

But a meeting of the governors immediately after the one with the president was deadlocked as they could not agree amongst themselves, whether the president’s choice should come from the north or the south of the country.

The governors, who had met to see if they could resolve and agree amongst them, where the candidate should come from and if actually, they could recommend from amongst them, were still at their meeting in their early hours of today, when this report was being filed.

Buhari’s request, however, came as the simmering crisis in APC appeared to take another dimension, with members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) accusing the APC national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, of rendering the NWC redundant.

In a related development, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule cautioned members and supporters of APC against unguarded utterances about the party's primary elections in the state.

Addressing APC governors, under the aegis of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), at a closed-door meeting at the State House, Abuja, also attended by Adamu and other stakeholders, the president said his desire to determine his successor was in line with established internal policies of the party, especially, as it approached the convention in a few days.

"I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023,” Buhari

said in the two-page address.

He said the party had successfully established internal policies that promoted continuity and smooth succession plans, even at the state and local government levels.

The president, who is also the national leader of the party, emphasised that first-term governors, who had served credibly, had been encouraged to stand for re-election, while "second term governors have been accorded the privilege of promoting successors that are capable of driving their visions as well as the ideals of the party."

He declared that APC’s presidential candidate for the 2023 polls would be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence ahead of the general election.

According to him, "Our objective must be the victory of our party and our choice of candidate must be someone, who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections.”

The president further appealed to the governors “to allow our interests to converge, our focus to remain on the changing dynamics of our environment, the expectations of our citizens and the global community."

He assured them that consultation would continue to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders were brought on board right through to the convention, and anxieties were effectively brought under control.

Buhari charged APC governors to ensure that the forthcoming convention to pick a presidential candidate reflected all the values and virtues of the party.

He stated, “The processes for the 2023 general election have commenced in earnest and I note that the most successful political parties globally have always relied on their internal cohesion and a strong leadership brand to achieve bigger electoral fortunes.

Our party, the APC, shall not be any different, more so as we are still implementing the blueprint for a more prosperous nation.

“As I begin the final year of my second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of the party, I recognise the compelling need for me to provide stronger leadership to the party under this transition process and to ensure that it happens in an orderly manner.

“Such leadership is required so that the party remains strong and united. It is also needed to improve our electoral fortunes by ensuring that it retains power at the centre, hold the great majority in various legislative chambers, and also gain additional number of states.

“In a few days, the party will

2022: YOUR VOTES WILL COUNT, YAKUBU ASSURES EKITI ELECTORATE will count. We would still return to interact with other critical stakeholders on how to have peaceful election in Ekiti. The atmosphere now for the conduct of the 2022 election is so calm, unlike what we had in 2018.

"I asked myself what has changed? I was told the royal fathers had been working hard to ensure that the situation is calm and I could see it is really very calm.

"In this election, there will be two ballot boxes in Ekiti East constituency 1, because they will elect their assembly representative together with the governor. There will be 16 political parties for the governorship election, but only two for the bye-election in Ekiti East.

"The number of registered voters in Ekiti is 989, 202. We expect the stake to go higher, because people are still collecting their PVCs. Let me say that we are ready for the election. Our staff are being trained."

Yakubu added that the Bimodal Voters Authentication System (BVAS) invention had phased out the use of riggingprone Incidence Forms and the malfunctioning Smart Card readers, for the conduct of elections.

According to him, "The BVAS had been introduced and with this, smart card readers had been fully retired. As far as technology is concerned, there will be seamless and fantastic election in Ekiti.

There was a mock election here

on Monday across the state and the machine worked 100 per cent.

"Where the machine is unable to get the fingerprints, we will get the facial appearance of the voter.

There won't be incidence form; we have abolished incidence form as well. INEC is not the political party.

We don't have a candidate and all we want is leaving who leads Ekiti in the hands of the citizens and that we shall achieve.

"So, we appeal to our traditional rulers to ensure peace. The atmosphere is peaceful and we want it to remain until the election is concluded. I assure you that the election will be credible, don't doubt the neutrality of INEC." Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Gabriel Adejumo, praised INEC for the voter registration exercise it had undertaken in the state, saying this would help in widening citizens' participations in the exercise.

The Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, tasked INEC on the need to tackle the excessive monetisation of the electoral process.

Alabi said, "Our system must grow to allow those who are young, but competent, and who can pilot the affairs of the country very well to be allowed to exercise their rights.

"But with the way things are going, I see that only the moneybags will be having their way. Let us have it the way the USA produced Barrack Obama at a tender age."

be holding its convention during which primaries would take place to pick the presidential flag bearer for the 2023 general election. This is a very significant process and its outcome should prove to the world, the positive quality of the APC regarding democratic principles, culture as well as leadership.”

Speaking on behalf of the governors, the Kebbi State governor, and Chairman of PGF, Atiku Bagudu, said the party must build on the success of its recent elective convention, and the primaries conducted so far, “and come up with a candidate, who will walk in the footsteps of patriotism and love for the country, which Mr President has shown.

We will support Mr President to have a very successful convention."

Adamu Has Rendered NWC Redundant, Taken Unilateral Decisions, Say Members

Members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), yesterday, accused the party’s national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, of rendering the NWC redundant and taking unilateral decisions. They warned that henceforth, any unilateral decision taken by Adamu or any other party functionary, which required the approval of the NWC, as enshrined in the APC constitution, would be considered as illegitimate and an infringement on the jurisdictional scope of the NWC, unless otherwise confirmed as validly approved decisions of the NWC or any other legitimate organ of the party.

The NWC members said no one was elected at the March 26, 2022 national convention to warm seats or offices at the national secretariat.

In a statement titled, "APC and the Need for Vigilance: Urgent Call for Intervention", and jointly signed by National Vice Chairman, North-west, Dr. Salihu Lukman, and National Vice Chairman, South-west, Mr. Isaacs Kekemeke, the NWC members lamented that within two months in the life of the Adamu-led leadership, critical decisions about the affairs of the party were being taken unilaterally by the chairman.

They expressed worry that all efforts to get the national chairman to respect the authority of the NWC had proved unsuccessful, adding that they are compelled to issue the statement following postponement of the scheduled NWC meetings twice within 48 hours. The party

chieftains noted that they were convinced that the rescheduling was a deliberate attempt to foist a fait accompli on the NWC on fundamental issues that affect the party.

The statement said, "Within just two months in the lifespan of the new leadership of our great party, APC, led by His Excellency, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the NWC, organ of the party vested with the power of managing the day-to-day affairs, including implementing decisions of the National Executive Committee (NEC), as provided in Article 13.4 of the APC Constitution, has been rendered redundant.

"The national chairman takes decisions unilaterally. When it suits him, he invokes the name of our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, to blackmail NWC members into accepting his decisions.

"Every effort to get the chairman to respect the authority of the NWC, as elected by the March 26, 2022 APC National Convention, is proving very difficult, if not impossible.

Note that NEC’s donation of its powers was to NWC and not to the national chairman or any individual.

"The national chairman must be properly reminded to recognise that the business of managing the day-to-day affairs of the party is the responsibility of the NWC, as provided in provisions of the APC constitution.

"He is free to consult any party leader(s). Such consultations will not represent decisions of the NWC or any organ of the party unless and until it is adopted by a properly constituted meeting of the NWC or organ in question according to the letters and spirit of the APC constitution.

"As a party, we have suffered enough judicial embarrassments arising from clearly avoidable leadership breach of our party’s constitution and spelt out rules.

No NWC member is elected at the March 26, 2022 national convention to warm seats or offices in the national secretariat.

"We, therefore, call on all our colleagues in the NWC to rise to these challenging situations by joining hands with us to save our great party and return it to its founding mission of moving Nigeria forward based on honest, fair, just, and selfless commitment to party building. God bless our party!"

Sule to APC Members: Stop Unguarded Utterances on Primaries

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, yesterday, cautioned APC members and supporters in the state against making unguarded utterances regarding the party's primary elections in the state. Sule said this against the backdrop of a negative impression being created in the media by party members who had expressed dissatisfaction with certain sections of the delegates list used for the primaries.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Addra, Sule said, "It is important to state that the list of delegates used for the governorship primaries was not tampered with at all and the party’s complaint was not in reference to the state’s delegate list.

"The noticeable changes of concern to the party leadership were only in respect of some wards in seven out of the 13 local government areas of the state. The party leadership at all levels will work together to find an amicable resolution of all issues of concern."

The governor said the insinuations and propaganda by some individuals that there was a dispute with the national secretariat of the party was unfortunate and far from the truth.

He stated, "It is worthy of reiterating that the primaries in most of the constituencies in the state were adjudged as transparent and peaceful. As a united APC family, we are confident that these minor internal issues will be resolved in no time.

"Party members should, irrespective of the results of the primaries, endeavour to close ranks and work for the unity and success of the party."

‘APC Convention Shouldn’t Be Another Dollar Rain’

A chieftain of the ruling APC, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, warned that the party had a high responsibility not to allow its presidential primaries and convention to become “another dollar rain and a trading platform for the highest bidder.”

In a statement from his media office in Abuja, yesterday, OlawepoHashim explained “that our country is neither a commodity to be traded, nor a property to be auctioned and sold to the highest bidder," adding, "Nigerian presidency has

never been for sale and should not be for sale now.

“The PDP has demonstrated that it has learnt nothing, but as a party, the APC cannot follow her inglorious example. The next president of Nigeria must not be a Mafioso leader. Our president must not be a gangster. As a party in government, the APC has a sacred and patriotic duty to guide a disciplined transfer of power not one left in the hands of the god of mammon."

As the party of the sitting president, Olawepo-Hashim argued that a lot was expected from APC in terms of direction and leadership, adding that the government still has a lot of leverage and political enforcement mechanisms beyond money.

The former presidential candidate noted, “National interest is what should guide the choice of the APC and some of the urgent national imperative should include shortlisting a candidate that will heal the wounds of division in the country and finding also a vice that will complement him/her in this national objective.”

Dowells: Any Attempt to Zone APC Ticket to North Suicidal

An APC chieftain in Akwa Ibom State and Coordinator, Movement for Better Nigeria (MBN), Dr Paul Dowells, warned against any attempt by the ruling party to zone its presidential ticket to the north.

Dowells, at a press conference in Uyo, yesterday, said such decision would seriously imperil the party’s chances at the polls next year.

Speaking against the background of speculations that the leadership of APC was considering a northern presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential race, Dowells stressed that giving the ticket to a northerner was not a yardstick for winning elections. Rather, he said, it was the pedigree and charisma of the person carrying the party's flag that would determine his acceptance.

Dowells argued that if APC wanted to win the 2023 elections, the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, should be considered.

He said, "Zoning the presidential ticket to the north because PDP has a northerner as a presidential candidate does not make sense. If APC wants to win the 2023 elections, Professor Yemi Osinbajo should be given the ticket either by consensus or nomination, otherwise, retaining the Aso rock may be an illusion."

CLARK: AYU A THOUGHTLESS, PARTIAL LEADER, SHOULD RESIGN signed yesterday, in Abuja, said with the outcome of PDP's primary election, it had become imperative for Ayu to resign, saying he could no longer head the National Working Committee of the PDP. Taking a swipe at the action of Tambuwal, Clark insisted that, what Tambuwal did was not only dishonorable, but also a serious electoral abnormality and a tragic betrayal of national patriotism for hidebound interests.

The former Federal Information Minister condemned the reported outrageous financial inducements of delegates and the alleged dollarisation of the electoral process, saying it was an indication of more likely, deleterious outcomes of the 2023 general election, mainly the presidential and their aftermaths.

Clark, however, hailed efforts of the Convention Committee that was chaired by former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, and his assistants, particularly, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri.

“Most disturbing is what happened at the Special National Convention of the PDP, in Abuja, on Saturday, 28th May 2022. I followed the live broadcasts of the proceedings, keenly, until about 12.30 am on Sunday, 29th of May. “I was alarmed by the outrageous and Machiavellian manner in which Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State, was so apparently “arranged” to announce his withdrawal from the contest at the last minute; his speech changed the mood of the event.

“That was done in order to foist another northerner as the party’s flag bearer, having regard to the fact that Governor Aminu Tambuwal was the only aspirant from the whole of the north-west, which had about

192 delegates at the convention.

“What Tambuwal did was not only dishonourable but also a serious electoral abnormality and a tragic betrayal of national patriotism for hidebound interests.

"It is now widespread understanding that there were pressures mounted on Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to also withdraw, while Tambuwal deliberately delayed his action till the last minute. By so doing, unduly swept his north west votes to Atiku Abubakar.

“One can now appreciate the reasons given by Mr. Peter Obi for his withdrawal from the PDP, both as a member and as an aspirant, few days before the party’s primary.

And I would think that what he

did was, without doubt, in respect, or obedience, to the position of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum.

“Unfortunately, some aspirants from the south believed that, with the resources and facilities at their disposal, their Elders no longer matter, and disregarded, with impunity, the patriotic advice on the need to be steadfast on the position of the zoning of the presidency to the south.

“They never minded that what we have been advocating was in their interest. They proved themselves to be selfish and arrogant, and thought they could win on their own steam. They failed; I can only hope that they have, now, learned their lessons.

“Even much worse, in the ex-

treme, was the action of the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, in his open visit to Governor Tambuwal to congratulate and hail him, in his words, as ‘the hero of the Convention.’

“This clearly reveals his partiality and predilection in the processes leading to the baffling conclusion of the PDP Presidential Primary.

Senator Ayu has failed to realise that what we are fighting for affects all minorities in Nigeria. Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s appalling, thoughtless and unpatriotic public conduct bears grave negative consequences.

“He should, therefore, no longer consider himself fit and proper to retain his position as the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and should resign now.”

LOW FIXED INCOME YIELDS LIFT STOCK MARKET BY N6.27TRN IN FIVE MONTHS improved performance by many of them in the first quarter 2022 results.

He added that, “Increased local investors' participation in the market, and reinvestment of 2021 annual dividends by investors who received such dividend payments recently from listed companies.

“Liquidity overhang that is making it practically difficult for investors in the fixed income space to factor in current high inflation rate to the yields obtainable in the market.

"The negative real return in the fixed income market had forced some of these investors to embrace the equity market as an alternative investment class, before the recent 13 per cent hike in MPR by MPC of CBN. Even with the hike in MPR, we still have some traditional investors showing interest in equity market, which is known to readily adjust to inflation from time to time. Equity market is an inflation adjusting

market.

“Availability of derivative instruments that now serve as perfect means of hedging against volatility and other risks in the equity market. This is capable of attracting liquidity to the equity market. More institutional investors, particularly pension funds and asset management companies, are likely to embrace equity market as a result, and we are beginning to see that in the market."

In addition, he stated that sustainability of current trend was dependent on what happens in the fixed income market.

“The yields are rising moderately at this time, with potential attraction to investors in the fixed income space, even though the market is still largely challenged with liquidity surfeit.

"In my view, it is unlikely government would accept any further increase in the cost of debt capital, given the unsustainable and huge

cost of servicing debts to government, especially now that MPR is at 13per cent. I expect these two important segments of the Nigerian capital market to be in equilibrium at some point, though.”

According to the Managing Director, ARM Securities Ltd, Mr. Rotimi Olubi, listed companies reported impressive corporate earnings in first quarter ended March 31, 2022 results compared to previous quarter.

He explained that, “There was significant improvement in listed companies’ earnings across key sectors such as the banking, and non-financial sectors like the Food & beverages. Take for instances, the stock prices of Nigerian Breweries Plc and Guinness Nigeria appreciated significantly this year. These companies’ quarterly performance attracted investors and we witnessed soar in their stock prices in the months under review.

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NEWS

SEEKING ROYAL ENDORSEMENT...

R-L: Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ọjájá II); Accord Party Governorship Candidate for Osun State July governorship election, Akin Ogunbiyi, and his running mate, Alhaji Kunle Jimoh, when the Ogunbiyi Campaign Team paid a visit to the Royal Court, in Ife, Osun State…yesterday

Ortom Seeks UK Delegation's Support to Pressurise FG to End Insurgency Accuses govt of complicity for appointing suspected Boko Haram supporters into key federal offices, integration of repentant sect members into the military George Okoh in Makurdi Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has appealed to the international community to put pressure on the federal government to address the unabating acts of terrorism in the country without religious or ethnic bias.

He alleged that presently the current administration in the Nigeria was unwilling to wield the big stick against murderous terrorist groups.

Ortom made the appeal yesterday, when he interacted with a delegation from the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament's All Party Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Religion and Beliefs at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge Asokoro, Abuja.

The governor stated that being a multi-religious and ethnic country, the federal government which is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the rights of the people as enshrined in the Constitution are protected, ought to take the task more seriously than it is currently doing.

According to Ortom, the inability of the federal government to act swiftly to tame the rise of terror attacks on communities in the

country for many years now must be put to an end.

He alleged that the appointment of suspected Boko Haram supporters into key federal offices, integration of repentant members of the sect into the military and failure of the government to arrest and prosecute terrorist herdsmen had also proven the complicity of the federal government.

He noted that for the sake of national unity, cohesion, peaceful coexistence and promotion of development, the rights of the people to freedom of religion must also be respected by the Nigerian state, hence the need for the international community to intervene by putting pressure on the government to do the right thing.

Ortom also told the visiting parliamentarians that due to the activities of terrorist groups, over 1.5 million people have been displaced from their ancestral lands and properties worth billions of naira destroyed in Benue State as a result of the invasion.

He recommended the rehabilitation and return of IDPs to their ancestral homes as well as payment of full compensation to victims.

Responding, the leader of the delegation and member of Parliament

from Ireland, Mr. Jim Shannon, thanked Ortom for availing the delegation with a comprehensive insight into the issues and assured

that they would present his case to the right department back home to get positive results.

In their separate comments,

Namibia has expressed its willingness to extend bilateral relationship with Nigeria.

According to the country, it would use the hosting of the fifth session of the Namibia-Nigeria Joint Commission of Cooperation holding in Windhoek in August, 2022, to push for improved bilateral relationship between the two African countries.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, the High Commissioner of Namibia to Nigeria, Mr. Humphrey Geiseb, said the present volume of trade between the two countries needed to be improved.

He noted that with the establishment of Namibia-Nigeria Joint

Commission of Cooperation in 2000 provided a platform for assistance and to execute projects between the two countries.

He said: “In 2000, Namibia and Nigeria established the Namibia-Nigeria Joint Commission of Cooperation. In August 2022, Namibia will host the 5th Session of this Joint Commission to elaborate on mutually beneficial projects between Namibia and Nigeria.

“This Joint Commission has stood the test of time and has provided a platform to execute great projects between our two countries.”

Geiseb added: “Presently, Namibia exports salt worth around $10 million a year to Nigeria and also some electronics. A factory to build Namibian electronics in

getting worse said they would continue to talk to governments, religious and civil society leaders to effect the desired change.

In Third Anniversary Celebration, Makinde Shares Scorecard, Says Govt Policies Yielding Desired Results Says state has attracted over N23bn in agribusiness investments Governor of Oyo State, 'Seyi Makinde yesterday shared a scorecard of his administration in the last three years, declaring that the economic policies of the government have been yielding positive results.

He appreciated residents of the state for their support, patience and understanding and for trusting his government to deliver on its promises.

In a statement yesterday, the governor maintained that his government would continue to consolidate on the gains already recorded in the education sector, road infrastructure and agribusiness, among others.

The statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the

governor stated these in a state broadcast in commemoration of the administration's third year in office.

Makinde maintained that the gains already recorded by the administration in the last three years included the construction of several roads that have impacted positively on the economy of the state through the creation of a thriving environment for private sector players in the state's agribusiness sector.

He noted that the increased private sector participation in the agribusiness sector had enabled the state to attract N23 billion in agribusiness investments, as well as securing another $125 million in development partners-blended finance for rural roads, agro logistics, market and industrial hubs.

Namibia Pushes for Improved Bilateral Relationship with Nigeria Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Brendan O’Hara, of House of Commons and Rachel Miner who acknowledged that the alleged religious crisis in Nigeria was

Lagos is under way. Two Nigerian companies - Premier Charcoal in Outjo and King Charcoal in Walvis Bay - are operating in Namibia owned by Nigerian investors.”

He noted that: “There is tremendous potential for increasing trade.

Definitely, Namibian producers can still export Salt and hopefully in future, Namibian grapes, dates, wine, and once restrictions are lifted, Namibian beef and lamb.

"There are Namibian producers ready to export Namibian lamb once a permit is granted. Similarly, Namibia is open for business for Nigerian businesses ready to export quality Nigerian products to Namibia.”

The envoy revealed that more than 3000 Nigerians are today resident in Namibia while close

to 20 Namibians live in Nigeria.

He said with both Namibia and Nigeria signatories to the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, both countries would benefit from increased robust intra-African trade amongst African countries.

He said Namibia looks forward to the negotiation and finalisation of the Agreement, especially the eradication of trade and non-trade barriers' restrictions, import limitations and all impediments to boosting trade.

The High Commissioner expressed the willingness of his country to trade with and export to sister African country Namibia’s quality beef, lamb, dates, grapes, wines, fish and many other valueadded products.

All these, the governor said, contributed to providing direct and indirect jobs to residents of the state, adding that the state had also trained close to 4,050 youths in agribusiness, 98 of whom have started their businesses, while the state is set to support the others in diverse agribusiness enterprises.

According to the governor, the government would now move on to fix inner and feeder roads so that inner-city travels could become stress-free for residents, having been executing road projects that improved access and connectivity between the zones in the state.

Some of these projects, he noted, included the 65km Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin Road, the 76.7km Ogbomoso-Fapote-Iseyin Road, the 34.85km Oyo-Iseyin Road and the proposed reconstruction of the 48 km Ido-Eruwa Road.

The governor equally said the administration has constructed 56 Model Schools in three years, while it has also completed the renovation of 200 Primary Health Care Centres in its drive to ensure the existence of at least one functional PHC in each of the 351 Electoral Wards of the state.

He said: "When you gave us the mandate to serve, we made a promise to you that we would engineer a modern Oyo State by building on four pillars: Education, Economy, Health and Security.

"As we mark our third year in office, we have another opportunity to share our scorecard with you so that you can judge how well we have kept that promise.

"As we review the past year, we are thankful that our administration’s economic policies in the past three years are yielding the desired results.

We have always said we believe in data, science and logic.

"The data we had showed that our resources as a nation were dwindling. Oil prices had dropped and there was a need to focus on raising our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).”

The statement added: "We continued with our free health mission to the indigent and underserved.

In the past year, we reached over half a million residents with medical and surgical interventions.

“In total, over one million, two hundred thousand residents of Oyo State have benefitted from the free health missions since it commenced in 2020.

"We have provided over 280 kilometres of public lighting through the ‘Light up Oyo’ project.

“This has not only enhanced economic activities as markets remain open for longer, but it has also improved the security in the state.

"Not only that, we have provided lighting in off-grid areas. Communities such as Otefon in Atiba Local Government Area had electricity supply for the first time since their existence over 100 years ago. While work is ongoing to provide off grid electricity at Agbararu Community in Iwajowa Local Government Area, Ajia Community in Ona Ara Local Government Area and Arowomole Community in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area," the governor added.

In the security sector, Governor Makinde noted that his government has been able to bring crime rates down by equipping security agencies, pointing out how it handed over 100 operational vehicles to Oyo Amotekun recently.

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NEWS

I AM QUALIFIED...

Former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi (right), being screened by members of the APC Presidential Screening Committee at Transcorp Hotel, Abuja ...on Monday

Okorocha Meets Bail Conditions, Makes APC Presidential Screening as Exercise Ends Committee quizzes Osinbajo, Lawan, Fayemi, others Senate President: I’m ready to support Buhari’s consensus candidate Adedayo Akinwale and Alex Enumah in Abuja In a dramatic turn of events, former Imo State governor and presidential hopeful, Senator Rochas Okorocha, last night perfected his bail conditions and made it to the venue of the screening of presidential aspirants, just as the screening exercise formally ended yesterday.

Also, the APC Presidential Screening Committee quizzed and cleared the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Dr.

Ahmed Lawan; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabioand the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

Screened too were the Governor of Cross Rivers State, Professor Ben Ayade; Mr. Tein Jack-Rich, former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; former Minister of Information, Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu and a former Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of Federal

High Court, Abuja, had admitted Okorocha to bail in the sum N500 million in the alleged N2.9 billion fraud charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ekwo in a ruling held that the fact and circumstances of the case warranted the court to admit him to bail to adequately prepare for his trial.

The court, however, held that Okorocha must remain in the custody of the anti-graft agency until he met the bail conditions.

Accordingly, personnel of the commission took him into custody just as he stepped out of the courtroom, with fears that he might not make his conditions and as such would be unable to make to the presidential screening of the party, which held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Earlier, his media aide, Dr. Ebere Nzewiuji, had told THISDAY, in a telephone chat that his bail condition was being perfected, and that "hopefully" he would make the screening.

Meanwhile, Lawan has said he was ready to support any of the

Tinubu Made His Wealth Selling Rice, Chemicals, Says Campaign Organisation Insists former Lagos governor had a suite in Hilton as senator Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Queried on the source of the wealth of former Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu, his campaign organisation yesterday maintained that he made money from the importation of rice and chemicals into the country.

Director of Media and Communications, Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, who appeared on Arise News Night, insisted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate did not make his alleged humongous riches from government.

He also defended the controversy surrounding the politician’s educational qualifications, stressing that Tinubu attended the Chicago State University, which is distinct from University of Chicago and graduated with honours.

He insisted that no court has convicted Tinubu of corruption, even after he appeared before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), adding that he was discharged for lack of evidence.

"There's no record of conviction anywhere. In the US , anybody can have issues with the police and with the authorities, but it has to go to the law court before

the accusation can stick on you, " he said.

On the age of the politician and the frailty he has exhibited in recent times, Onanuga said: “ Tinubu is not too old to run”, maintaining that what is important is what a president has “upstairs.”

"Age is immaterial as far as I am concerned. What matters is your mental acuity," he declared.

On how Tinubu will tackle the issue of corruption when even himself has always been trailed with allegations of sleaze, he insisted that the politician was already rich even before joining politics.

"As a senator , he had a suite at the Hilton hotel to himself. So, he wasn't a poor man. I don't know where people get all these things from.

"He didn't enter politics as a poor man and he didn't make his money from politics. He was a rich man before going into politics.

"For those of us who were together in the struggle for June 12, Bola Tinubu put a lot of resources into NADECO. "He was sponsoring a lot of things they were doing with his resources. He had investments in America in real estate. He had several petrol stations. So, he was

making money.

"Even in NADECO days, he was still involved in some kind of business and he was raising a lot of money. He was sending rice to Nigeria, sending chemicals to Nigeria to sell to raise money for a struggle. So he's not poor."

He argued that even if a bullion van was seen entering Tinubu's compound as was observed in videos during the last general polls , the presidential aspirant as a private citizen has such rights to own personal cash. "He has worked for the money, it's his own money," he insisted.

On the chances of being screened out due to perceived differences with former APC National Chairman, Odigie Oyegun, who heads the committee, he stated that both of them remain friends.

He pointed out that all the issues raised in a petition by a certain group against Tinubu were all old issues and should be discarded.

“They (these issues) have been investigated and thrown into the waste bin. It’s a recurring feature,” he noted , adding that Tinubu’s certificates were lost after his house was razed.

aspirants that the party decides to pick as a consensus.

His words: “We are sons and daughters of the same father and mother, those of us in APC, all of us, who took the forms to run for the highest office of the president, believing in the same philosophy and ideology of our party.

“Therefore, we are one and the same thing. I will support anybody, who the party and who the president thinks can do better for us. I have no problem with that. I want to also believe that at the end of the day, I will emerge."

Lawan noted that if elected, Nigeria would experience improved education, security and economy.

"I have worked very closely with President Muhammadu Buhari in my capacity as Senate Leader. I know the issue of developments, where we have recorded so much successes; I know where we have to rework the tool and rekit our system, strategy and operations.

"I want to reform the educational sector that will serve the sons and daughters of nobody so that we are able to take away from the street the 15 or so million out-of-school children.

"I want to see a situation, where I will come as the elected party candidate and, of course, go ahead to defeat the PDP and other political parties to win the presidency for APC and for Nigeria."

However, speaking with journalists after Osinbajo had been screened, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, said, the vice-president had all it would take to be the President of Nigeria.

But he asked that the party

leadership should be fair, just and equitable in their organisation of the convention at the moment, because it is fair and everybody's able to carry out its obligation.

Ojudu, a Senior Aide to Osinbajo, noted that in the history of Nigeria and presidential primaries, there was nobody that has campaigned like the vice-president has done.

"We went to 36 states including the FCT. He did not only take questions from everyone, he stood up to answer those questions. And after doing so, he took photographs with every individual and each of the delegates present at those events.

"So, you can see that he is determined and is prepared, and he has done his own work, and he's not taking our party members for granted. And he wants to let them know his vision, his agenda and what he will do, you know, not just for this country, but even for them as members of the party, if and when he's elected."

Chairman of The Progressive Project (TPP), Senator Kabiru Gaya, said they were impressed

by Osinbajo’s qualifications and experience, saying he was the only candidate that could defeat the presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said Osinbajo had been in the system for many years as the vice president and has also acted as president, adding that he was the most experienced aspirant in this race.

"We believe that he will be a candidate for the APC general election and he is the only candidate that can beat Atiku Abubakar. That I'm sure of," Gaya added.

Obaseki: We’re Enhancing Access to Quality Healthcare in Edo Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, yesterday said his administration was pursuing the decentralisation of healthcare system in the state.

In addition, he said his administration was working towards ensuring the expansion of healthcare services to hard-to-reach communities so as to guarantee access to quality, efficient and affordable healthcare to every resident.

The governor was quoted in a statement to have said these in Benin City, adding that ongoing

reforms in the state’s health sector would strengthen the system and ensure the upgrade of primary healthcare centres in the state, equipping them with world-class equipment and manpower to provide first-rate health services to Edo people Noting that the government had embarked on massive expansion of the Central Hospital in Benin City to conform to a 21st Century healthcare centre, Obaseki said the state was actualising its plan to have at least one primary healthcare

centre in every ward in Edo with well-trained staff and technology that tracks the quality of service rendered.

Reinstating that his administration would sustain investment in the health sector and ensure that mechanisms were put in place to discourage manpower for healthcare delivery from leaving the country, the governor added, “We are rethinking the healthcare provision arrangements with the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme that we have put in place as we

expect more healthcare investment coming into the healthcare space.”

“We are putting money into healthcare services, expanding the specialist hospital, and rebuilding a whole medical hub around the Stella Obasanjo Hospital.

"We are getting investors to invest in these hospitals and creating more opportunities in the sector. We will sustain efforts at improving the quality of healthcare services rendered to Edo people,” he reassured.

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NEWS

I'VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE PRESIDENT...

Ekiti State Governor and APC Presidential Aspirant, Dr Kayode Fayemi with Chief John Odigie Oyegun and other members of the Screening committee, during the screening of APC Presidential Aspirants in Abuja...yesterday

Methodist Church Reveals N100m Ransom was Paid Before Prelate, Others Regained Freedom Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia The Prelate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Kanu-Uche has revealed that the church paid a ransom of N100 million to secure his freedom and that of two other priests following their abduction on Sunday afternoon.

He made this known yesterday, at a news conference in Lagos, during which he narrated the ordeal they passed through in the hands of their abductors, who according to him, were eight in number.

The governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu had in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememenka, had given the impression that no ransom was paid before the clerics were freed on Monday.

He had attributed the release of clerics within 24 hours of their abduction to the grace of God, the fervent prayers of the Christian Community and the well-coordinated response from security agencies in Abia State.

But while the Prelate acknowl-

edged the hands of God in protecting them and safeguarding their lives as they passed through torture in the hands of the evil men, he out rightly stated that neither the security agencies nor government played any role in securing their release.

According to him, the huge amount of money paid for their freedom was arranged in five sacks of N20 million each, adding that the kidnappers came in an unmarked pickup van and collected the money at the spot it was dropped for them.

The Head of the Methodist Church in Nigeria said the ransom money was raised by his church members.

Frantic efforts to raise the money had commenced on Monday, immediately the kidnappers made contact and demanded for N100 million before they would free the clerics.

The Secretary of the Methodist Church Conference, the Rt. Revd.

Michael Akinwale had in a statement on Monday, appealed to all parishioners to rise up and help in

Completed Voter Registration Exceeds 6m as INEC Suspends Online Application Oyo, Bayelsa, Delta top Chuks Okocha in Abuja The online registration of voters has come to an end as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said over six million new applicants had completed their registration.

As earlier announced, the commission suspended the online voter pre-registration exercise on Monday, saying it would give time to those, who registered online to complete their registration physically and also enable the commission to clean up the registration data.

In a data released by INEC, Osun State came first in the online registration with 360,625, followed

by Bayelsa with 326,450 and Delta with 327,852.

In June 2021, the commission launched a portal, where Nigerians could register or request to update their voter information before they complete the process physically at designated centres.

According to the data released

by INEC on Monday, the number

of registrants, who had completed their registration was 6,544,245 as at 7am on May 30, adding that, of this number, 2,928,447 had started their registration online while 3,615,798, had done their registration entirely at a physical centre.

According to INEC, youths aged between 18 and 35 constituted the highest number of completed registrations with a total of 4,550,847.

The commission gave the number of online pre-registrations as 10,235,569 and the data showed that Osun was also in the lead with 709,020 applications, followed by Delta with 632,604 applications, and Lagos with 596,999.

After including those requesting voter transfer, requests for replacement of permanent voter cards (PVCs), and update of voter information records, the total figure stood at 18,912,511 applications.

INEC said physical registration would still continue until the CVR exercise was suspended on June 30, 2022.

raising the N100 million ransom.

He had also provided the account number of the Church domiciled with First Bank.

Aside from admitting the payment of ransom, the Methodist Prelate also made other revelations confirming what Fulani herdsmen

were behind the business of kidnapping for ransom in Abia.

He identified the gang that abducted him and his fellow clerics as "Fulani boys," adding that their leader, who said he was born in Amuzukwu Umuahia, was about 35 years while others were

in their teens.

The Prelate lamented the apparent indifference of the security agencies to the atrocities being committed by the Fulani herdsmen along Umunneochi and Isuikwuato local governments of Abia.

"But the irony of it is that where

they (kidnappers) were situated, the soldiers all of Fulani extraction, Nigerian soldiers, they were there at Lokpa junction and these boys were going behind them.

“Meanwhile they kept their cows somewhere, numbering about 200," he said.

Atiku: Omokri Attacks Fani-Kayode, Says Ex-minister Displaying Multiple Personalities Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A former Presidential Spokesman, Mr Reno Omokri, yesterday attacked an ex-Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, over his criticism of the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2023 presidential poll.

In a statement, he characterised Fani-Kayode as having multiple personalities and holding consistently contradictory opinions, stressing that it was strange that after praising Atiku’s emergence on May 29, 2022, he turned 180 degrees 24 hours later.

"The congratulations was so effusive. Chief Fani Kayode described the Waziri Adamawa as a formidable candidate, and called his emergence an act of justice," said Omokri.

The author and public speaker was reacting to a piece by the former minister, titled: ‘‘PDP’s Great Betrayal and the Choice Before the APC’’, in which Fani-Kayode described

the PDP presidential primaries as a “show of shame”.

“How could a process that he called ‘just’ only 24 hours before, now suddenly become shameful. Is justice shameful?,” Omokri queried.

He added that Fani-Kayode called on the electoral umpire to annul a convention and its winner that he had just praised profoundly, stressing that it could be another case of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

Omokri pointed out that FaniKayode who months ago was traversing Nigeria, telling everyone that his preferred candidate for the office of the president was Yahaya Bello, the incumbent Governor of Kogi state, could attack the PDP for giving its ticket to a northerner.

“So, how do you even begin to situate these multiple contradictions coming from only one man? It reminds me of the response Christ got when he asked the demoniac from the Gerasenes what his name was. The man responded “my name is Legion, for we are many”-Mark

5:9.

“It is hard to take the criticism of a man serious when you do not know which personality within him you would be dealing with on any given day.

“And here he is accusing Atiku Abubakar and some phantom northerners of having a hidden agenda of cheating the Rivers state Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike.

“But how can that be when Wike got much of his 237 votes from Northern delegates? Even more telling is the fact that Governor Wike himself blamed Southerners for his inability to emerge victorious.

“Can Femi Fani-Kayode know where the shoe pinches on the legs of Governor Wike more than Governor Wike himself? ,“ he asked.

Omokri stated that the 2023 elections should be about issues and not sentiments, adding that the the main issue is that Nigeria needs a man who has demonstrated in his own personal life that he can bring about prosperity for himself

and others.

He said that he was supporting Atiku because he (Atiku) led the economic management team that paid off Nigeria’s debt, privatised the telecom and cement industries that exploded Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and created jobs.

In addition, he noted that Atiku brought in technocrats into government, chaired the National Economic Council that brought telephony into Nigeria and which stabilised the naira.

“He pushed for the creation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and gave that corruption fighting body their first grant, from his budget, because they were created in between budgets.

“He led the Obasanjo administration’s efforts to restore peace, law and order during the Sharia crisis of 2000. In his private life, Atiku co-founded one of the largest oil and gas, and ports services firms in Africa in the 80s,” Omokri claimed.

I’ve Capacity, Competence to Turn Osun Around, Says Ogunbiyi Gets Ooni of Ife’s support The candidate of the Accord Party for the governorship election in Osun State, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi, has said he has the capacity and competence to turn the state around if elected into office.

Addressing newsmen in Ife, shortly after he led his campaign team to receive royal blessings from the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; (Ojájá II), Ogunbiyi urged the people of the state to hand over their destinies to him for the next four years, saying he knows how to manage resources and pull talents together to achieve beneficial results.

He said: “You can only give what you have. I am a tested

and trusted leader of men and resources. I am a successful entrepreneur. I also have empathy.

I was trained in the best school in Nigeria and the developed world.

“I know how to start from nothing and build up to something of great value. I know how to manage resources and pull talents together in order to achieve beneficial results.

“I have the capacity and competence to turn Osun around. I have been to the best universities in the world. I didn't go to study only management; I went there for leadership training.

“I was in Oxford, Harvard and Yale, all for leadership training.

The one in Yale, we were 27 in the class, I was the only African

in that class.”

Besides, he promised to, “set Osun state on the path of sustainable development. There will definitely be a paradigm shift on which will ensure productive transformation. I will be the champion of productive development not political grandstanding.

“We will ensure the industrialisation of Osun state. Citizens’ livelihood will be substantially improved and government system will work. I will generate and promote entrepreneurship, youth development, sports and skills acquisition. Osun under my leadership will become a liveable and prosperous state.

On why he chose Accord Party to contest the governorship election,

he said, “Coming into Accord has given me the voice, recognition and popularity. People now know that Akin Ogunbiyi and Accord Party are one and the same thing.

"My reputation goes beyond Osun, and I didn't earn the reputation through politics, I earned the reputation through what I have been contributing to the Nigerian economy in my little way.”

Earlier, while welcoming Ogunbiyi to the Royal Court, the Ooni of Ife complimented the Accord candidate.

According to the Ooni, Ogunbiyi is a gentleman who is highly intelligent.

"I believe in your ability, capacity and competence to lead Osun State," the Ooni added.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

45

NEWS

NUJ Calls for CP’s Removal as Police Shoot Journalist, Student in Osun

Yinka Kolawole inOsogbo

Pandemonium broke out yesterday morning as detectives of Osun State Police Command again shot The Nation’s correspondent in Osun State, Mr. Adedeji Toba, and one public school student whose identity had yet to be known as of the time of this publication.

The journalist was shot by the trigger-happy police officers who were trying to disperse some protesting youths who stormed the popular Olaiya flyover in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The Osun State correspondent of The Nation Newspapers and one unidentified female student were shot in the leg by the Nigeria Police Force during shoot on sight with protesters in Osogbo. The other person was shot in the thigh.

However, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Council, has demanded immediate redeployment of Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olawale Olokode, for the shooting of its member by men of the state command.

A statement by the Chairman of

the Council, Mr. Wasiu Ajadosu, and Secretary, Mr. Bukola Elufadejin, gave the echelon of the police seven days’ ultimatum to redeploy Olokode, on the

grounds of gross indiscipline and unprofessional conduct of the men and officers of the command under his supervision. The statement further called on Inspector General

of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, to take this urgent step in order to save the state from incessant unrests and crises due to lackadaisical approach to sensitive issues of security by

the leadership of the command.

The statement described the action of the officers of the command as unfortunate, barbaric, uncivilsed and

demeaning, especially in a democratic environment where citizens possess the rights to ventilate their grievances through protest.

VFD HOLDS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING...

L-R: Executive Director, Government and Subsidiary Relations, VFD Group, Adeniyi Adenubi; Group Managing Director /CEO, Nonso Okpala; Chairman, Olatunde Busari (SAN),and Company Secretary, Gbeminiyi Shoda, during the 6th Annual General Meeting of VFD Group in Lagos…yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

2022: 1,000 LP Members Thugs Demolish FG Housing Scheme in Ondo, Injure Workers Defect to APC in Ekiti Fidelis David in Akure

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

scrutinised all party candidates and believed in the ability of Oyebanji to take governance in the state to a higher pedestal.

The politician said Ekiti needs a leader with a wealth of experience who understands governance and the needs of the Ekiti people, saying they had seen the qualities in Oyebanji hence their resolve to work for his emergence as the next Governor.

He said: “We need a brilliant person who can work for the development of Ekiti and we have seen that in BAO. All LP members are coming together to day it is only BAO that can do it.

Thugs yesterday invaded the ongoing Federal Government Housing Scheme at Alagbaka, in Akure, Ondo Statel, shooting sporadically, harassing workers before demolishing the construction works.

THISDAY gathered that the hoodlums pounced on Medaville Estate, beating the workers to a pulp and destroyed properties worth millions of Naira for the umpteenth time.

Also, an on-the-spot assessment of the site showed

20-year-old Mother Stabs Boy to Death in Ondo

Ahead of the June 1 enforcement of ban on commercial motorcycle (okada) operations in six Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Lagos State, the state police has reassured residents of safety after speculations have it that the riders threatened violence.

This was noted in a statement by the State Police Spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin.

Following the threat to disruption of commercial

Less than three weeks to the June 18 governorship poll in Ekiti State, no fewer than 1,000 members of the Labour Party, yesterday dumped the party and defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC).

The former Labour Party Chairman, Banji Omotoso, who led the defectors to APC, described the APC governorship candidate, Hon. Biodun Oyebanji, as the best man to lead Ekiti after Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Omotoso, while addressing the party in Ado Ekiti, said they joined the APC having

Fidelis David in Akure

Operatives of the Ondo State Police command have arrested a 20-year-old mother of one, Biodun Abayomi, for allegedly killing a 17-year-old boy, Mohammed Jamiu.

The Police Public Relations officer of the command, Funmilayo Odunlami, said the suspect was said to have committed the offence on May 28, 2022 at Ebute, Okitipupa, headquarters of Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state.

Biodun, while being paraded yesterday was said to have

committed the crime when she was attacked by the deceased and three of his friends.

According to her, the Jamiu and his friends had accosted her at a riverbank in the community where they descended on her before she stabbed the deceased on the neck.

She disclosed that the deceased had been infuriated after he suspected that she was the one who prevented her friend from dating him.

She said: “On Saturday I went to the river to fetch water. At the riverside, I saw four boys and three girls fighting.”

Lulu-Briggs Emerge AP Guber Candidate in Rivers Blessing Ibunge inPortHarcourt

A traditional leader in Rivers State, Chief Dumu Lulu-Briggs, has emerged the governorship candidate of the Accord Party (AP) ahead of 2023 general elections in the state.

The business mogul emerged through a consensus by delegates of the party across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

In his acceptance speech, LuluBriggs said his emergence as the governorship candidate of the AP is a fresh air to better governance in Rivers state come 2023.

The governorship candidate

encouraged his party members to be ready for the task ahead which he said will not be easy, expressing hope that if given opportunity will ensure all- inclusive government that will be the people first.

He said: “I am very humbled that you found me worthy to be your candidate. It is with humility and fear of God that I accept this nomination “You know that the work has just started. It is destination to Brick House 2023. Make no mistakes about. We have a responsibility to give ourselves the Rivers State of our dream.

that the hoodlums, who are not the usual land-grabbers, stormed the housing scheme for destructive motive rather than eking money from the owner of the estate.

Several buildings that were at lintel levels were pulled down, plumbing pipes were mutilated and more than five Storex tanks were mauled down. One of the workers was also beaten to a coma by the thugs.

Speaking to Journalists, the Managing Director, Medaville Building & Construction Co. Ltd, Otunba Ademola Akin-Benson,

accused the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, of sponsoring thugs to carry out the attack. e alarm over alleged threat by the monarch on several occasions, lamented that the king has been making unlawful moves to grab the land from him and halt the federal government project.

According to him, Oba Aladetoyinbo has been using thugs to disrupt work at the site and sometimes drop charms to scare him and the workers.

He lamented that over N50

million had been lost to the regular attacks.

He said the Deji and some of his chiefs, alongside herbalists and Ogboni Fraternity members, persistently placed fetish objects on the project site and chased away all engineers and other people working on the site.

He, however, disclosed that the spot where the Deji lays claim to as community land was a distance away and not the spot where work is going on in line with extant court judgment.

Okada Ban: Police Reassure Lagos Residents of Safety Rebecca Ejifoma

activities, the State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, “Deployed human, material and operational resources to forestall any breakdown of law and order”.

Hundeyin also added that a carefully drafted security architecture, resulting from a detailed crime mapping of the state, has been emplaced.

“In addition, all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and tactical commanders have been placed on red alert

towards any eventuality”, the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, the police has urged everyone to go about their lawful businesses without fear of harassment or intimidation.

This is as the police, Tuesday, began a Show of Force. The convoy moved from the Police Headquarters in Ikeja to various parts of the state to assure the public that the ban, which was announced by will be enforced without any compromise.

“There is no need for any

anxiety over the enforcement of the ban, which has been hailed by the majority of Lagosians as a reinforcement of the Lagos Traffic Law 2012 (amended in 2018).

The Government wishes to advise all law-abiding citizens to go about their businesses without any fear whatsoever as measures have been put in place to forestall any disturbance. Lagosians and visitors are urged to co-operate with the law enforcement agencies in our collective interest,” the state government said.

2023: No Injunction against Victory of Lagos Senator James Sowole in Abeokuta The Senator Representing Lagos West, who is now Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for Ogun West, has clarified, that there was no injunction against his victory, in the Saturday, May 28, primary of the party.

Adeola, popularly called Yayi, made the clarification, in a statement by his Media Adviser,

Chief Kayode Odunaro and made available to journalists, in Abeokuta.

He said the clarification, became neccessary, in view of the court papers, said to have been filed on May 27, 2022 seeking an interlocutory injunction to stop the Adeola from APC Senatorial Primary for Ogun West, that was held on May 28, 2022.

Odunaro said it was these

court papers, that had been in circulation since Saturday, that was taken to be an injunction against Adeola in the primary.

He said “Ordinarily, the victorious Senator Adeola in the concluded primary would have let the authors of the court papers live in their fool’s paradise but is now forced to react to the spreading of what amounts to fake news and blatant lies using credible

medium.

“The fact of the matter is that no court has granted any injunction stopping the concluded primary or in any way questioning the landslide victory of Senator Adeola last Saturday which had the participation of his opponent, Senator Tolu Odebiyi who scored zero vote to lose to Senator Adeola’s 294 votes as widely reported in the media.”

APC Primary: Coalition Calls for Cancellation of Results in Sokoto Onuminya Innocent In Sokoto A coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) support groups in Sokoto State,has called on the national headquarters of the party as a matter of urgency cancel the results of governorship primary election conducted last Thursday in the State.

Addressing newsmen at a press conference in Sokoto

yesterday the secretary of the coalition Bashar Binji said what happened last Thursday fall short of standard and should be cancelled to pave way for fresh primary.

“As far as we are concerned , the process isn’t only a rape on democracy , but also a complete charade orchestrated by enemies of democracy to achieve their selfish goals in a desperate

attempt to impose unpopular candidate against wishes of the party members” he stated.

He noted that the gubernatorial primary election held on Thursday in Sokoto was a manipulation by some party leaders in the state to favour their candidate .

He added that to achieve this, personal security details and thugs loyal to the particular

leader were used to intimidate delegates to ensure they vote for their preferred candidate , while delegates who appeared to be not dancing to their tune were chased out of the venue .

He further explained that three gubernatorial candidates were lucky to escape after being attacked by the political thugs to the adore of the state party leader.

46

WEDNESDAY, ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

BACK PAGE CONTINUATION LABOUR PARTY IN NEW COLOUR? gave the idea of a labour party some content with significant government implementation of programmes in the social sector - health and education.

Although Mimiko clearly professes some progressivism in politics, he has since returned to the PDP from where he moved to the LP. The emphasis on the ideological content of the LP might seem an abstraction because LP like other existing parties is not involved in any ideological politics. Yet joining LP is not exactly like moving in and out of APC or PDP. Nothing distinguishes one party from another in terms of ideas in Nigeria.

This constitutes a factor at the root of the nation’s political underdevelopment.

In his brief acceptance speech as presidential candidate of LP, Obi promised the details of his agenda.

Will he synchronise that agenda with the manifesto of LP as it is today? In the party document, the matter is put like this: “The ideology of our Party derives from its orientation and social base which is people-oriented and all inclusive.

“Consequently, the principles of our Party shall be humanistic, patriotic, pan-African and socialist, because it is established to promote and defend the rights and welfare of the masses and indeed the entire humanity. We shall uplift the conditions of life of all, the prosperity and stability of the nation and guarantee the reign of equity and justice.

“In furtherance of the above, the ideology of the Labour Party and its members shall be Social Democracy.

Therefore, our Party would promote and defend Social Democratic principles and ideals for the purpose of achieving Social Justice, Progress and People’s Democracy and Unity in the country.”

Indeed, as pointed out in the foregoing the party was initially called Party for Social Democracy. Therefore, the least expected from a subscriber to the idea of a labour party is the commitment to social democratic principles. There are some possibilities in the context. Obi and other prominent entrants into the LP will either move from their neo-liberal vantage to social democratic positions in matters of policies or they would relate to the LP just as another political platform for contesting elections.

Far from unduly drawing a parallel, there is the temptation to say that Obi’s attraction to LP is reminiscent of Tony Blair’s ascension to the leadership of the British Labour Party in a vastly different context, of course. The little similarity here is that in the name of making the British Labour Party “electable,” businessmen began to exercise greater influence on the party than the trade unions which constitute the historical base of the party. Although, a leader of the Labour Party, Tony Blair became a greater disciple of the conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in making choices, some of which were anti-working class. A British journalist, David Osler, has documented this reactionary transformation of the British Labour Party in his book, Labour Party PLC: New Labour as Party of Business.

At a point the British Labour Party became almost indistinguishable from the Conservative Party in policy terms.

Tony Blair abolished student grants and executed unfavourable policies against the disabled and single parents. Against the Labour Party orientation, Prime Minister Tony Blair joined American President George Bush in waging the criminal war against Iraq. Hence, workers and youths got alienated from the party in the process.

Beyond the 2023 electoral ferment, the trade unions, who happily still remain the custodians of the LP values, should pin down Obi on the social democratic issues of jobs, wages, social security, public education, accessible healthcare delivery etc. It requires more than neo-liberal rhetoric to solve the huge problems in these areas of the socioeconomic structure, which combine to

make Nigeria a most unequal society with the majority of the people plagued by poverty. The political economy approach required to efficiently deliver public goods in Nigeria is beyond the economics of business schools which is tailored to building successful private corporate institutions. In fact, the articulation of the social democratic options in a presidential campaign will help to distinguish LP from the other parties. By that alone, the LP would be making a lot of difference.

Apart from collecting the nomination fees from Obi, the commitment of Obi to the principles ought to have featured prominently as he was being screened to contest the primary election. Now that he is a candidate of a consequential stature, Obi should state his positions on some specific based on the social democratic principles. The LP should promote an agenda rooted on socioeconomic justice (based on Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution) to differentiate it from some of the other parties.

In other words, the future of LP should be seen beyond 2023. You don’t develop

a third force by migrating from the party after an electoral season. Beyond periodic nominations of candidates for elections, parties should be developed as enduring institutions of democracy to fight for some programmes to which the members are steadily committed.

For instance, in the primaries prior to the last American presidential election, Bernie Sanders popularised his socialist agenda to a wide acclaim of American youths. Yes, a major American politician campaigned on an explicit socialist programme.

In sum, Obi’s right-wing background should be tempered enough for him to know that he has to sincerely embrace the social democratic essence of the LP and not merely fly its flag. Its agenda should be influenced by the ideological foundation of LP, which is similar to that of labour/social democratic parties in the West. In short, the ideological choice before Obi is to commit class suicide.

Otherwise, he would be a pretentious member of the LP. In turn, the LP should also be aware of

the great values Obi, Utomi and others could add to LP. A demonstrably modest politician, Obi is bringing in the virtue of a national reputation and espousal of some values which are coterminous with those of social democracy – compassion, disdain for waste and abhorrence of insensitive flamboyance. Significantly, Obi is reputed for politics of ideas. A fusion of these virtues with LP’s would be good for the political development of Nigeria. It is not enough to condemn monetisation of politics; it is also important to promote values that negate these obscene behaviours associated with Nigerian politics. Obi is building himself as a positive force to promote these values. The party should engage him critically and rigorously to make this a signature contribution to the polity. At least, unlike some Nigerian politicians there is a basis to debate with Obi on some issues of development.

It would be an index of progress if the entry of Obi into the leadership of the LP could boost the social democratic content of the party.

IGBO DELEGATES AND THE FUTURE OF ZONING

Sen. Ike Ekweremadu

Sen. Pius Anyim

Gov. Dave Umahi

Two nights before the Primaries, I joined an online meeting of select Igbo leaders. I passionately pleaded with them to endorse Sen. Anyim or Sam Ohuabunwa and make it public while reaching out to the Igbo PDP Governors and delegates to vote in one direction as a message to the country that Ndigbo are serious about zoning and fairness.

Vice President Atiku scored 371 votes which is three times more than the Northeast votes at 112 votes and more than 298 the combined votes of the Northeast and Northwest. Gov. Wike scored 237, which was almost twice the vote from the South-South. Saraki’s 70 votes indicate a strength beyond Kwara state, same for Gov. Udom’s 38 votes.

Sen Anyim got 14 votes 13 clearly came from Ebonyi, and Sam Ohuabunwa got one vote. Fifteen votes from 95 delegates?

The Igbo zone had no strategic interest in this election? No strategic objective?

I feel bad. I feel humiliated not against Nigeria but against a group that could not come together in a rare moment of group consciousness to make a statement. Sad. Nobody in the country thought the Igbo quest for Presidency was serious by the voting pattern at the convention.

None of the Igbo candidates could win a vote from outside of Igboland. Last year when I lamented about the absence of a show of strength by Igbo presidential aspirants at the PDP convention, many took offence. Many Ndigbo disagreed with me when I said that the three most influential politicians in Nigeria were Goodluck Jonathan, Yemi Osinbajo

and Atiku Abubakar. The evidence is playing out.

One can only become President of Nigeria through a national platform.

President Buhari learnt that lesson and built a national coalition in 2015. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Mallam Aminu Kano, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim all experienced it and tried to form a Progressive national alliance.

In 1979, the National Party of Nigeria, a national platform, delivered a largely unknown Alhaji Shehu Shagari as President.

Similarly, in 1993, the Social Democratic Party, a national platform, delivered Chief MKO Abiola. Furthermore, in 1999, the People’s Democratic Party a national platform produced Chief Obasanjo despite lacking support from his region. The same portends for Dr Goodluck Jonathan, from the smallest state in Nigeria. No politician will be elected President in Nigeria without a national platform. PDP is in danger of its national platform suffering serious erosion with Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwanso on the ballot. Who will profit from this erosion? I will deal with that soon.

From the ashes of this painful PDP outing, Ndigbo needs to rise and reengage the country more positively. This effort must start with a focus on electing credible and vocal Igbo Governors in 2023.

Anambra did well. The other four states must do likewise. The lack of leadership in Igboland is disturbing and could lead to grave and lasting consequences in our homeland.

To the country, I ask that this should not be a triumphalism moment. An

emasculated Igbo political elite is a recipe for the continued growth of anti-nationalist and nativist politics amongst young Igbos, who view the political class as treacherous and devoid of redeeming features. The further spread of this brand of politics across the South is not in the interest of the Nigerian state. The country’s main political parties, APC and PDP should clearly state their zoning arrangement for subsequent elections and stick to it.

Pushing the country back to ethnic parties or politics of winner-takes-all will lead to predictable outcomes that will not augur well for our march to nationhood.

Will Alhaji Atiku Abubakar keep his promise of a single term and consider rebuilding the PDP platform by aligning with Peter Obi and Kwankwaso? In 1999, Alliance for Democracy and All Peoples Party presented a President and Vice from the two parties. A loss of Igbo votes and a weak outing in the Kano/Jigawa axis will deal a major blow to the traditional PDP base. The reality is that the southeast will need the traditional PDP voting block to attain the Presidency. This is the time for brinkmanship, hard-nosed negotiations and political sagacity. Grandstanding will not help.

As for the APC, I pray they will find one of our Igbo sons worthy of their nomination. An action that will widen their base in the south. The country needs to confront its demons. The Igbo political class should stop sending mixed signals to the country, it is confusing.

Osita Chidoka May 2022

47

WEDNESDAY, ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Troost-Ekong Salutes NPFL Players in Super Eagles’ Camp

Femi Solaja Ahead of Thursday’s international friendly with Ecuador, Super Eagles Captain, Williams Troost-Ekong, has heaped plaudits on players from the domestic league that make up part of the Nigerian squad to the international friendlies in USA. Nigeria lost 1-2 to Mexico on Saturday at the AT&T Stadium and are poised for their second friendly against Ecuador on Thursday.

Team Captain, Troost-Ekong

believes all the four players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPLF) were tireless and showed composure and confidence against the El Tri. “Everyone has been great here with good attitude and response at training. However, I must specially commend our teammates from the Nigeria Professional Football League who have shown poise, pace and power and also commitment; they have no doubt raised the NPFL’s profile with their

Tulcan Energy Restates Commitments to Sponsoring NWFL Super Six The Chief Executive Officer of Tulcan Energy Resources, Mr. Tayo Adiatu, said Monday at the company's corporate headquarters in Lagos that, the company will continue to sponsor the Nigeria Women Football League Premiership Super Six for as long as the competition remains as part of the company’s support and development of the Girl-Child in Nigeria.

Adiatu gave this assurance when the Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League and board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mrs. Aisha Falode, paid him and management staff of the company a thank-you-visit as official sponsors of the just concluded NWFL Super Six in Benin City.

Falode, said, the NWFL management team came to pay Tulcan Energy Resources CEO and other management team members a thank you visit for making the 2021/2022 Super Six a huge success.

“We were happy to have the resources needed, the corporate support and funding to host a very successful Super Six, first time in the history of women's football in Nigeria,” observed the NWFL chairperson.

The Tulcan Chief Executive Officer, expressed the çompany's excitement to receive Mrs. Falode and her team members to their office.

"I congratulate you for a very successful Super Six, and not just that, the quality of branding was second to none at the stadium, the calibre of presentation by the teams, the organisation, the stadium, the fans, facilities, officials and the media that covered the event were of international standard. It was a wake up call.

"The tournament became bigger than what we expected in the sense

that the women's football league despite it's recognition in Nigeria, has not benefitted from the support of the populace at large.

“However, when the opportunity was actually presented to us to sponsor the Super Six, we saw it as a huge opportunity to promote the female gender and women sports. We are happy about the successes of the Super Six. I hope the subsequent editions will produce more successes under Tulcan Energy Resources support.”

Adiatu added: "A lot should be said about the passion and commitment to the Super Six by the NWFL Chairperson, Aisha Falode. I was impressed with the level of organisation of the Super Six, the level of media coverage and the facilities put in place in Benin City. I was really impressed. I won't do justice to all these without the mention and recognition of the Tulcan Energy Resources' Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Leye Adeyinka, for supporting and approving the funds for the project when it was presented to us for sponsorship.

"We as a company recognise both genders. The world at large has always given prominence to the male gender, but in our organization, Tulcan Energy Resources, we give due recognition to the female gender.

Reason we embraced the Nigeria Women Football League Premiership Super Six and women's football generally in Nigeria.

"All over the world, football is like a religion, but you discover that male football has gained a lot of momentum than women football, maybe because women football arrived much later. We track this back to Nigeria where only men's football enjoy all the top sponsorship compared to the women's.

attitude and performance.”

Defender Sani Faisal, midfielder Chiamaka Madu and forwards Victor Mbaoma and Ishaq Rafiu came into the fray in the second period and changed the game,” he recalled.

Following their arrival in New Jersey from Dallas on Sunday, three –time African champions Nigeria have stepped up preparations for their friendly with Ecuador on Thursday evening, as well as next month’s AFCON 2023 qualifying matches against Sierra Leone and Mauritius Reflecting of the last match

and looking forward to the next one, Ekong said that; “We were unhappy to have lost to Mexico because everyone worked very hard. The issues of long travel and little time to adapt to the new zone affected us all in the first half, but we created a raft of chances in the second half and were unlucky to have lost.

Nevertheless, we have taken on board a lot of lessons from the game and they will be quite useful in subsequent matches.”

Having divested themselves of procession and environmental issues (long-haul travels and time

zone body reaction), the Eagles filed out for full training session at the Montclair State University pitch on Monday, with most of the players showing the usual enthusiasm, energy and sharpness.

Monday’s session was accented on close control, space management and clinical finishing, as Coach José Peseiro supervised proceedings alongside his assistants.

Only defender Olaoluwa Aina, who suffered a knock during the team’s first training session in Dallas, and midfielder Innocent Bonke, who copped a knock in Saturday’s game against

Super Eagles Captain, Williams Troost-Ekong (right) battling it out with a Mexican forward during their international Friendly in Dallas, Texas...recently

AFN Lists Amusan, Enekwechi, 51 Others for 22nd African Athletics Championships Four reigning African champions, Tobiloba Amusan (100m hurdles), Ese Brume (Long Jump), Chioma Onyekwere (Discus Throw) and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (Shot Put) top the list of 54 athletes that will represent Nigeria at the 22nd African Athletics Championships scheduled to hold between June 8 and 12, 2022 in Mauritius.

Amusan will be competing in two individual events and the 4x100m relay. She has been listed to compete in the women's 100m alongside Godbless Tima Seikeseye and Praise Ofoku as well as in the 100m hurdles where she will be defending the title she first won in Asaba four years ago at the 21st edition of the Championships.

Long jumper Ese Brume will be

gunning for her fourth straight long jump title after winning in 2014, 2016 and 2018 while Onyekwere will be seeking her second Discus

title after winning the gold medal four years ago in Asaba.

Shot Putter, Enekwechi will also be defending the event's title he

Tobi Amusan...gunning for another continental honour

Heineken Ends UCL Season in Style with Fans

CEO of Tulcan Energy Resources Limited, Mr Tayo Adiatu (left) and the Chairperson of the Nigerian Women’s Football League (NWFL), Mrs Aisha Falode, during the NWFL thank-you-visit to the Tulcan corporate headquarters in Victoria Island on Monday

the Mexicans, stayed out of the grueling session to do light recovery training of their own.

The Eagles will file out against Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison on Thursday evening, as from 8pm ET (1am Friday morningin Nigeria).

However, Peseiro says his crew is not losing focus on the AFCON 2023 qualifying games, with the Eagles due to take on the Leone Stars at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday, 9th June before flying to Saint Pierre to take on Mauritius on Monday, 13th June.

As the celebration of a recordextending 14th European Cup title continues across the Spanish city of Madrid, the unique and unmissable football experience brought to life

by Heineken during Saturday’s final has been widely applauded by fans and loyal consumers alike.

Having embarked on a series of activations in the course of the season and even organised a trophy tour, the international premium brand delivered on its promise of a befitting climax as jubilant fans celebrated into the night after the epic final clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

On a night when several records were set and others broken, it was the LaLiga kings that emerged

victorious courtesy of the solitary goal scored by Brazilian forward, Vinicius Jnr. From the mainland in the heart of Ikeja at the popular Cubana bar to the upscale Lekki axis at Terraform Restaurant & Bar, the Heineken Champions League magic was evident as fans delightfully watched two of the world’s best teams slug it out for the coveted Champions League trophy.

Popular DJs were on the ground for Saturday’s final led

by DJ CrowdKontroller and one of Nigeria's foremost music superstars, Ladipoe was also present to unite the fans with his hit songs; among which is the ‘Feeling Alright’ banger.

There were also loads of fun at

the other viewing centres in major cities across the country with fans’ engagement at various malls taking the centre stage before the eventual kick-off in Paris.

Senior Brand Manager, Heineken, Chinwe Greg-Egu expressed delight at the happy ending of the season's Champions League even as she declared the ‘Cheers to all Fans’ campaign a huge success She said: “Of course, I am delighted with the huge success we had with this season’s Champions League, our goal to unite fans with our Cheers to all Fans’ campaign was well embraced and we are happy to see football uniting everyone regardless of gender or their various club affiliations.”

won in Asaba with a new 21.08m Championships record.

Also on the list are Orobosa Anabel Frank who is the top ranked African so far this year in the women's Shot Put with her 17.21m effort at the AFN All Comers competition in Benin in March, Oyesade Olatoye in the women's Hammer throw, Fadekemi Olude in the women's 10km walk as well as Patience Okon George, bronze medal winner in the 400m event in 2014.

For the men, reigning African Games 100 champion, Raymond Ekevwo will lead Seye Ogunlewe and Nicholas Mabilo as Nigeria will be seeking to return to the podium as champions 12 long years after Olusoji Fasuba was crowned the African speed king for the third straight time.

AFN Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, says the athletes have been carefully selected based on their performances in both the local and international athletics circuit.

“Some of our student athletes in the United States of America like Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Imaobong Nse Uko, Favour Ashe, Udodi Onwuzurike, Nathaniel Ezekiel, Alaba Akintola and Nnamdi Prosper have qualified for the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships scheduled to hold in Eugene, Oregon, USA between June 8 and 11, 2022 and will thus not be available for the African Athletics Championships hence the decision to pick the bulk of the team from athletes based at home,’ said Onikeku who assured Nigerians that the athletes selected will still do the nation proud in Mauritius.

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

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APC Officers to Adamu “The National Chairman takes decisions unilaterally. When it suits him, he invokes the name of our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari to blackmail NWC members into accepting his decisions” - National Working Committee Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) accusing the National Chairman Senator Abdulahi Adamu of ignoring the party organs.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

Labour Party in New Colour?

F

or some of the elements in the polity who are desirous of a formidable third force the emergence of Peter Obi as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) must have provoked a deep reflection.

On the one hand, the development has immense implications for the future of LP itself. And on the other hand, there are some historical and ideological caveats which should be of interest to Obi and other politicians currently finding a political platform in the LP. A labour party is like no other party.

It is remarkable that among those who “stepped down” for Obi at the Asaba convention of the of the LP was Pat Utomi, who in the last few years has worked assiduously with other patriots to build a force to widen the choice in the political landscape beyond the dominant All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Before now, Obi, Utomi and others joining the LP were not known to have ideological affinity with the labour movement, the parent of LP. So beyond the political euphoria on the surface, the underlying contradictions that are manifest in Obi’s entry into LP should be well considered so that a synthesis of the opposites could emerge for public

Peter Obi

good. It may not be out of place to make a conjecture that the synthesis may be like the meeting point of marine water of the sea and the freshwater of a river. The water at the meeting point is no more completely saline because

it is diluted with the freshwater. It is called brackish water. The question that arises is this: how much brackish will Obi turn the content of the LP water as he stands on the party platform as the presidential candidate?

First, it is important to ponder the consequences of the new face of the LP, an organisation having its provenance in the struggles of the working people. Since the colonial days the idea of a labour party has undergone a metamorphosis.

The current LP is not the first party to be named after the labour movement in Nigeria. Among the 81 political parties banned with Decree 33 in 1966 by the military government of General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was the Nigeria Labour Party (NLP) which was formed in the quest for political power by workers and their leaders. Amid the anti-colonial struggles, some Nigerian labour leaders were already conscious of the imperative of political power.

They were not content with only the economistic struggles for increase in wages and general improvement in working conditions.

At the advent of the transition programme of the regime of President Ibrahim Babangida, another Labour Party was one of the six parties shortlisted for registration. That was before the

regime later imposed two parties - the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC).

Enormous leftist efforts were invested into the formation of that Labour Party and the broad labour movement was involved in its evolution. It is difficult to forget, for instance, the passion of the late Comrade Eskor Toyo for that party as he moved round the country canvassing support for the organisation.

In this dispensation, from the womb of the labour movement came the Party for Social Democracy (PSD) in 2002, the precursor of the present Labour Party that is registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In the last 20 years, the LP has been made available to some politicians in need of party tickets for elections. Some of these politicians never professed any labour ideology. They were only interested in “winning” elections on its platform. As a matter of fact, the organisation of the LP in the last two decades is a topic for another day.

Perhaps the greatest success story of the LP has been recorded in Ondo State where Dr. Olusegun Mimiko was elected twice as governor on the platform of the LP. In those eight years, Mimiko Continued on page 46

OSITACHIDOKA GUEST COLUMNIST

Igbo Delegates and the Future of Zoning

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o other group did more damage to the idea of zoning than the 80 out of 95 Igbo delegates to the last Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention who cast their votes against Igbo aspirants. The 80 delegates and their sponsors, in a tragic display of lack of group consciousness and primacy of personal interest, sent the country a clear and loud message: zoning is not an issue dear to Ndigbo. Igbo PDP delegates told Nigerians that a President from the Southeast is not a priority and not an issue of justice and fairness. The country heard them.

Two years ago, I approached Gov. Peter Obi, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, and Sen. Pius Anyim and spoke on the phone with Gov. Dave Umahi with a single

message – run for the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Gov. Peter Obi, at two meetings, told me he would not like to run against Atiku Abubakar and would consider a run if the party zoned the presidency to the Southeast.

Sen Ekweremadu expressed his preference for the Governorship of Enugu State. Sen Anyim said he was watching the terrain, especially the zoning arrangement and would feed me back. Gov. Umahi was non-committal. I continued the engagement as I believed that these men had sufficient name recognition and networks that would aid a competitive run.

As time progressed, I started the campaign on zoning, calling on the country to respect a national agreement and convention. The campaign gathered steam as I traversed TV stations, online

media, and radio stations, pushing the logic and rationale for zoning. I was a member of the PDP zoning committee for Party Offices and used the platform to argue strongly for zoning the Chairmanship to the North. We achieved it but fell into a trap. We agreed to defer the decision on zoning elective offices.

After the zoning of the Chairmanship to the North, Sen Anyim contacted me and confirmed that he would run. I was happy, and we went to work. I provided advice, went with him to solicit the support of some key stakeholders, and joined him in submitting his form at the PDP. When I read online that Gov. Peter Obi had declared, I reached out to him and provided him with some data about his standing across the regions from an opinion poll. I kept reaching out to him.

Mazi Sam Ohiabunwa visited with me and we discussed at length. I encouraged Sen. Anyim to convene the meeting of Igbo Aspirants to create a platform that will ultimately help produce a consensus Igbo candidate.

Throughout the Primary campaigns, I did not visit or attend any campaign event of Alhaji Atiku, Dr Saraki, Gov. Tambuwal or Gov Bala save for when they came to speak to the Former Ministers Forum. On principle and at personal pain, I stayed away from people who had continually shown me friendship because I believe that our nation must be built on foundations of justice and equity.

Continued on page 46

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