SATURDAY 4TH JUNE 2022

Saturday 4 June, 2022 Vol 27. No 9916

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Tinubu: My Ogun Statement Lost in Translation, Respect for President Buhari High, Unfailing Bagudu, Sule meet with President, Femi Adesina says Buhari didn’t tell govs to pick consensus presidential candidate for party Kano court clears APC's statutory delegates to vote, may be too late Court asked to disqualify Tinubu for ‘questionable educational background, date of birth' Charles Ajunwa in Lagos, Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale and Alex Enumah in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant and former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, yesterday moved fast to douse the anger created by the speech he delivered last Thursday while on a consultation visit to the delegates of the party in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during which he bragged about installing President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Dapo Abiodun.

On the same day, President Buhari returned to Abuja after a three-day state visit to Spain and shortly after met with a two-man delegation of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) led by its Chairman and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu.

In a statement he pushed out yesterday, Tinubu said his comments had been misinterpreted by the media and that he did not disrespect President Buhari.

The APC Presidential aspirant in the statement he signed declared that his respect and regard for Buhari as Commander-in- Chief of this nation, and as a person, are high and unfailing.

He said: “My respect and regard for President Buhari as CommanderContinued on page 5

…And Now, 13 Presidential Aspirants Cleared, 5 are Frontrunners, Tinubu Falters See story on page 5

Osinbajo STRENGTHS Dependable ally of incumbent President Experienced, proficient, strong on policy Good record as acting president Impressive academic record Focused, determined Seen as a team player WEAKNESSES Perceived as a religious extremist Lack of support from his godfather Limited political experience

Lawan STRENGTHS Enjoys support of core North Backed by National Assembly’s majority Decent, no corruption baggage A bridge builder WEAKNESSES Lacks nationwide name recognition Comes from a minority tribe Deemed an opportunist A rubber stamp Senate President

Fayemi STRENGTHS Young, vibrant, urbane Strong Executive background Defender of democratic ethos Dedicated, dogged Good academic background WEAKNESSES Limited campaign funds Not too impressive record in Ekiti State Weak support base Limited national political recognition

Tinubu STRENGTHS Huge war chest Rich political experience with wide exposure Nationwide connections, friends .Dogged fighter WEAKNESSES Seen as corrupt, wasteful Seen as a dictator Health and age issues .Perceived as vengeful

Akpabio STRENGTHS Good ambassador of the South-south Good politician, can network easily Energetic WEAKNESSES Perceived as corrupt Seen as second-class APC member Not strong on policy No sound ideas Failings as Niger Delta Minister

2023 Elections: INEC Unveils Guidelines, Okays Electronic Transfer of Results, Bars Telephones in Voting Cubicles... Page 16

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T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R • SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2022

PAGE FIVE TINUBU: MY OGUN STATEMENT LOST IN TRANSLATION, RESPECT FOR PRESIDENT BUHARI HIGH, UNFAILING in- chief of this nation and as a person are high and unfailing. I shall never denigrate him. I certainly did not do so in Abeokuta. We have been political partners for a long time and I hope that partnership continues well into the future. I would do nothing to jeopardize it. I believe our party is the best hope for the nation to right itself.

I believe I have a future role larger than the one I now have. I also believe President Buhari has a continuing and important role to play even after his tenure as president is over.

“Indeed, I consistently supported the president and his administration.

Even when the administration has come under intense criticism, my feet have always been planted solidly in defence of the president. The president personally nominated me to coordinate his re-election campaign in 2019. He did this not because I opposed him or because I was indifferent. He did so, because I was firmly with him in 2015 and has stood firmly beside him ever since.

“When I publicly announced my aspiration to seek the party nomination for the upcoming presidential election, I stressed that my strategic objective was to build on the foundation laid by the Buhari administration. In fact, I believe I was the first aspirant to inform President Buhari of this presidential intention. It was a sign of the respect I have for him and his office. It is unthinkable that I would aspire to be the leader of the party for which I hope to be the next flag bearer. It makes no sense at all to do such an indelicate, unseemly thing.

“I am proud of my role in the advent of the APC and its electoral successes. But President Buhari, of course, stands as the main driver of this success. He was elected president twice. He has borne the weight of national governance for seven years. Nothing can rival that.

I would not dare belittle what he has done and what he has meant to the party and nation.”

Tinubu described Buhari as a Nigerian patriot and a man of integrity and that these qualities won him tremendous mass support leading to electoral victory in 2015 and 2019.

He said: “I am proud to have been his partner in the political merger that became the APC and in making history by ousting an incumbent president for the first time in Nigeria.

“I make no apologies for seeking the party's nomination. I believe I have something important to offer Nigeria that the other aspirants do not have, although I see them as good and committed Nigerians in their own rights. While I want this office, there are certain things I will not do and certain lines I shall not cross. I shall never belittle myself by denigrating the president or his office. I dare not seek an office and

disrespect it at the same time.”

Buhari Back from Spain

President Buhari yesterday returned to Abuja after a three-day state visit Spain.

Shortly after his return, the President met with a two-man delegation of the PGF, led by its Chairman and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu.

Bagudu and the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, met behind closed-door with President Buhari.

Sources told THISDAY last night that the meeting was a follow up to the one held on Tuesday before the President travelled to Spain when he appealed to the 22 APC governors to allow him determine who among the 23 aspirants will flag the party's presidential flag during 2023 general elections.

It was gathered that Bagudu told President Buhari that the APC governors had met this week to review their Tuesday meeting with the President.

He was said to have also told the President that the PGF would still meet this weekend ahead of the party's presidential primaries convention scheduled for next Monday.

President Buhari, sources said, will this weekend meet with critical stakeholdees in the APC with a view to carrying everybody along on what format the party's presidential primaries will take.

Meanwhile, the President is expected to leave Abuja today for Accra, Ghana to attend an extra ordinary meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

President Buhari who will be accompanied by some Ministers and top government officials is expected back in Abuja later today.

Saraki, Babachir Lawal Chide Tinubu

APC chieftain, Babachir Lawal and former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, yesterday came down hard on Tinubu over his Abeokuta speech in which he talked about how he enthroned political leaders.

In his response to Tinubu, Saraki stated that when he opposed the plan to foist a Muslim-Muslim presidency on Nigeria in 2014 he acted in the national interest and believed Nigeria was bigger than anybody’s ambition, including that of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Saraki, in a statement signed by the head of his Media Office, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in response to the speech

by Tinubu in Abeokuta, claiming that Saraki and others opposed his desire to be running mate to President Buhari in the 2015 elections, noted that he would oppose any plan that causes a religious crisis in a multi-religious country like Nigeria.

“When I and other leaders of the

All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014 stood against having a MuslimMuslim ticket, it was not a decision targeted at any individual or group but one taken in the national interest.

Asiwaju knows this and he is just being mischievous by presenting this decision as something aimed at stopping his ambition.

“Let me make it clear that the decision to oppose the plans by some people to make APC present a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2015 was in the national interest and I will take the same stand today, tomorrow, and any other day. My stance is based on the fact that such a ticket is not good for the unity of the country and will further accentuate one of our fault lines.

“The opposition to a MuslimMuslim ticket was not targeted at Tinubu or any other person. It was a decision that even all party leaders know helped the victory of the party and also worked for the unity of the country. That decision is not about self but national and collective interests. It is a decision which served the purpose of the people of Nigeria and I have no regret supporting it”, Saraki stated.

While expressing surprise that Tinubu refused to move on and still sulked over what happened in 2014, the former Governor of Kwara State added that the APC presidential aspirant had become so fixated on the Muslim-Muslim ticket issue of 2014 that he worked so hard to stop the emergence of Saraki as Senate President in a move he considered as retaliatory.

Saraki also stated that after he was elected Senate President, Tinubu maintained an adversarial position against the eighth National Assembly, initiated covert and overt measures aimed at undermining the federal legislature, and set the executive against the legislature.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal declared that it was very difficult supporting a Yoruba person in national politics, following Tinubu’s outburst.

He said: “They have a way of making you regret your support because they eventually make you seem like a traitor to your own people. Now all these comments about Bola's Yoruba presidency and his support of Buhari without which Buhari would not have been president is bulshit.

“He wasn't the only one whose support made a difference. There were many others from all around the country and they are not bragging about it. You may wish to know that all of us Buhari supporters are shocked and pissed off by Bola's speech on this occasion. It is unlike him.”

The former SGF said Tinubu’s speech was massively trending in the North “and being given a negative connotation as you can well imagine.”

He said he first read it on an

Adamawa group platform “and the anger is palpable and all round.”

“Will Tinubu win Monday's APC primaries without Northern support? You would think Yorubas will resist the temptation of joining in the northerners-bashing game at this very critical time - the primary election is only three days away.

It is unfortunate that Bola himself chose to join in this bashing game - choosing to speak in the Yoruba language and in Yoruba land in a manner that seems to denigrate Buhari. I could vividly imagine the discomfort of all the northerners sitting beside him on that podium.

“This appears to be the Abiola saga being replayed. Abiola won the election with majority Northern votes but they took the brunt of the post-election protests that followed.

“Just survey all the people that are doing more meaningful practical things to enthrone Bola as president and you will find that almost all are northerners while his kinsmen engage themselves in social media activism and Northern bashing.

“When Yorubas vilify the North like this, our sense of fear and insecurity under a Yoruba presidency gets heightened and in the end, pushes us to rethink our support for not only Bola but any Yoruba as president for that matter. Please, do not join our opponents to destroy our chances of clinching Monday's primary elections.”

Court Asked to Disqualify Tinubu

Some members of the APC under the platform of the Gaskiya Youth Movement have dragged Tinubu to court over what it alleges as discrepancies in the academic qualifications submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in aide of his qualification for the 2023 presidential election.

The plaintiffs, Umar Iliyasu, Suleiman Baba, and Abubakar Adama, in the suit filed on June 2, 2022, are claiming that the educational history of Tinubu “is not consistent with the earlier forms C.F. 001” he filled in preparation for the Governorship election of Lagos State in the year 1999.

Outside the academic issue, plaintiffs are also alleging discrepancies in the age as well as the indigeneship of the former Lagos State Governor and as such want the court to stop Tinubu from participating in the June 7 primary election from the selection of the APC’s candidate in the 2023 presidential poll.

The APC, Tinubu, and INEC are 1st to 3rd defendants respectively in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/774/2022.

Specifically, the plaintiffs are accusing the APC presidential aspirant of giving false information in contravention of the electoral laws and constitution.

In a 31 paragraph affidavit

…AND NOW, 13 PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS CLEARED, 5 ARE FRONTRUNNERS, TINUBU FALTERS The seven-man All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Screening Committee headed by the former national chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun yesterday announced that it had cleared 13 of the 23 aspirants screened, while recommending10 for disqualification ahead of the party's Presidential primary election scheduled for next week.

Of the 13 aspirants cleared, five of them are regarded as the frontrunners, with Vice President Yemi Osibanjo leading. The next four in order of their strengths are Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu and the former Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio.

Oyegun revealed the recommendation to disqualify 10 presidential aspirants when he led other members of the committee to submit their screening report to the Abdulahi Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Oyegun said: “My first comment is that we are indeed a very lucky party. We had a lot of others, prominent Nigerians both within the country and outside that had applied, but for whatever reasons, could not proceed with their applications. The point I want to make is the quality of the people that want to govern this country.

The committee’s chairman said there were two aspects or criteria for the screening, which included the constitutional qualification to aspire to be a president, saying every single aspirant that presented himself qualified in that regard.

"And so the ability to lead, background, experience, understanding of the Nigerian situation, ideas as to how issues; difficulties, problems and the rest can be addressed and how the country can be moved forward became principal considerations.

“Who are you? What have you achieved? What is the understanding of your nation?

And what do you think you can contribute to move the nation

forward? It was on the basis of that that we made our final short list. I don't want to read the names, I think we leave that to you. But we have a short list, we brought the number severely down to 13.

"We could have cut it a little shorter, but we wanted, deliberately, the younger element to surface; for them to be seen, for them to be noticed. It's for the party to decide the preferred candidate. It is also an opportunity to showcase the kind of people that exist within the party."

On the issue of consensus, Oyegun revealed that 98 to 99% of the aspirants agreed that the party is supreme and that whatever the party finally decides with proper consultation, they would accept.

Also, on the issue of zoning, Oyegun urged the party to address it, which he said was already creating division between the North and the South in the ruling party.

He continued: “The flag does not belong to me, it doesn't belong to any of us, it is the flag of the party, a corporate body called

the APC and it is my hope that that spirit will be obeyed. Various court decisions have affirmed this position, it is the party that is being represented and not individuals.

“So, whoever emerges to be the flag bearer of the party is only the symbol of the party and I hope that the spirit which we approach the convention with will guide everyone of the contestants, guide us and leaders of the party.

We will do the best we can in the circumstances the party finds itself.”

Jonathan Not Screened

By APC The screening committee of the APC also denied screening former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Oyegun confirmed this when he submitted his report to the APC National Chairman.

Odigie-Oyegun told journalists that contrary to news making the rounds, the former president was not at Transcorp Hilton for the exercise.

deposed to by one Miracle Udeaja in support of the suit, the plaintiffs submitted that “The 2nd defendant presented an incorrect educational history and inconsistent dates of birth in his forms and ought to be disqualified from seeking or contesting for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)”.

Plaintiffs further submitted that any person seeking an elective position under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), who presents a false document is disqualified from that election or any subsequent elections Amongst the issues for determination are; “whether, upon the due consideration of Section 131 of the Constitution, section 84(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, Article 20(111) and (iv) of the Constitution of the APC and Articles 9, 13 and 17 of the guidelines for the nomination of candidates for the 2023 general election issued by the APC, the 2nd defendant can participate or contest in the primary election on the platform of the 1st defendant.

“Given the questionable educational background and date of birth of the 2nd defendant, amongst other questionable issues, whether the 1 st defendant can allow and/or permit the participation of the 2nd defendant in the primary election for the office of the president.

“Whether the 2nd defendant can participate by presenting himself in any primary elections with any political party in Nigeria to be nominated as a presidential aspirant for the 2023 general election scheduled to take place in June 2022.

Plaintiffs urged that where the court answers the above questions in the affirmative, then the following reliefs should be granted: A declaration that “given the questionable educational background and date of birth of the 2nd defendant, amongst other questionable issues, the 1 st defendant cannot allow and/or permit the participation of the 2nd defendant in the primary election for the office of the president.

“A declaration that the 2nd defendant cannot participate by presenting himself in any primary elections with any political party in Nigeria to be nominated as a presidential aspirant for the 2023 general election scheduled to take place in June 2022.

“An order disqualifying the 2nd defendant from contesting in the primary elections on the platform of the 1 st defendant scheduled for June 7, 2022, or any other day as may be fixed by the 1st defendant having not met the statutory requirements.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd defendant from participating or presenting himself in any primary elections with any political party in Nigeria to be nominated as a presidential aspirant for the 2023 presidential election.”

Buhari Didn’t Tell Govs to Pick Consensus Presidential Candidate

Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, yesterday faulted claims that the President Buhari asked members of the PGF to pick a consensus presidential candidate for the APC. He said that contrary to reports, the President only met with the governors and gave them his “expectation” for the forthcoming presidential primary of the party.

Adesina stated these in a piece titled, ‘Visit to Spain: Let’s Buga for Mr. President’.

Making clarifications on what transpired during the meeting, the presidential spokesperson explained that Buhari never discussed issues bordering on zoning, consensus, or imposition of candidates during his conversation with the governors.

According to him, Buhari told them what he would like to see at the APC presidential primary to elect a presidential candidate

early next week.

“He said no word about zoning, consensus, or imposition of candidate. He just charged them to let their plans converge, so that the party would put its best foot forward. Shortly after the meeting, we headed for the airport.

“A short time into the about five hours flight, I went on social media, to see that all hell had broken loose.

Trust some Nigerians. When there’s no controversy, they simply create one. They will die of boredom if they don’t have something to wail or ululate about.

“What were they bellyaching on? Oh, he used the words ‘my successor,’ instead of ‘APC candidate.’ That means he wants to rig the election.

“Oh, he talked about Governors who performed well being given opportunity to get a second term, for continuity. That means he wants to impose someone from within the government to succeed him.

Consensus is what he wants. Puerile.

“Is consensus not one of the acceptable ways of choosing candidates, according to the Electoral Act? So the party can jolly well decide on the method it wants.

“Oh, he didn’t talk about zoning.

APC wants to give its ticket to the North. Really? Did you see anything like that in the speech?

“I tell you. When some Nigerians don’t see what they expect in a speech or statement, they simply conjure and create their own. And the wailing starts.”

Buhari had while addressing the governors on Tuesday ahead of the party’s presidential primary taking place on Monday, said he would be seeking reciprocity from the governors ahead of the presidential primary.

“In keeping with the established internal policies of the party and as we approach the convention in a few days, therefore, 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,” the President added.

He asked the governors to ensure that all interests ‘converge’ as regards the outcome of the presidential primary. The President added that the person who emerges as the presidential candidate must be one who could give Nigerians a sense of victory even before the polls.

Kano Court Clears APC Statutory Delegates

A federal High Court in Kano yesterday declared statutory delegates of the APC eligible to vote at the June 6 National Convention in Abuja.

The judgement by Justice A.M Liman was sequel to an originating summons dated May 23, 2022 and filed on the 24th day of May, 2022.

The decision of the court allows senators and House of Reps members to vote during conventions, congresses and meetings.

The Suit No FHC/KN/ CS/137/2022 had prayed the court to declare that Section 84(8) cannot be interpreted to have excluded statutory delegates from voting at the convention, congress or meeting by virtue of Section 223 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 20(iv)(c) of the APC Constitution, which allow statutory delegates to vote at conventions, congresses or meetings.

The suit, which was filed by Senator Mas’ud El-Jibrin Doguwa, Hon. Habibu Sani and Hon. Bilyaminu Yusif Shinkafi, had The Senate President, National Chairman of the APC, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.

However, the court judgement may be difficult to implement as necessary parties to the case, like the National Chairman of the APC, were not served.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͼ, 2022

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INEC: 988,923 Voters to Decide Ekiti State’s Next Governor Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that a total of 988,923 voters captured in the commission’s register will decide who becomes Ekiti State governor

in the June 18 governorship poll.

While making the revelation, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, added that a total of 734,746 persons have collected their Permanent Voters Card for

Fayemi Denies Stepping Down for Osinbajo Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Ekiti State Governor and one of the presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has denied insinuations in some quarters that he has stepped down for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

An online media had reported that Fayemi and other four governors held a meeting behind a closed doors with the Vice President, where he was pressured to abandon his presidential ambition.

But in a statement issued yesterday and signed by the Head of Media and spokesman of Dr. Kayode Fayemi Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Ige, described such rumour as “absolute rubbish.”

He added, “No meeting took place between us and any

aspirant about stepping down.”

Ige noted that Fayemi was favourably positioned and had backing of the real stakeholders in the party ahead of the presidential primary election to clinch the APC ticket.

He added, “We are undoubtedly among the leading aspirants for the position and one to watch in the race. Our candidate has deep trust and respect among political leaders in the party and also from colleague Governors who form a critical mass in the decision making process.”

Ige urged Fayemi’s supporters to remain calm, focused and not lose faith because of the lies fabricated by political detractors.

He insisted that no amount of late night demarketing would work against the Fayemi presidential project.

the election.

Speaking at a roundtable forum with Media Executives in Ekiti State, yesterday, Okoye assured electorates of the commission’s readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible election.

He said, “It is now a matter of common knowledge that we have 16 LGAs in Ekiti State and the election will be staged from 177 registration areas.

“For this particular election, after the commission queued up the voters registers, we came to the conclusion that a total

of 988,923 registered voters will vote in this election.

“In other words, after we have queued up the voters register and integrated those who were previously on the voters registers, and those who registered during the continuous voters registration exercise, we came to the conclusion that the total number of those stands at 988,923.

“Furthermore, as of 27th May 2022, a total of 734,746 persons have collected their Permanent Voters Card. It is important that

you have these figures.”

Okoye further added that the non-sensitive materials for the elections had been deployed to all the 16 LGAs noting that adhoc staff had been mobilised and trained.

“The commission on the election day will deploy the adhoc staff from a total of 104 registration centres, made up of 46 registration areas centres and 61 super registration area centres.

“The commission will also deploy 22,244 polling units

in Ekiti State and will deploy slightly above 10,000 adhoc staff to conduct this election.

“I want to announce that the commission is happy and elated at the level of preparations for this election.

“All the 16 LGAs have received the full complement of all the non-sensitive materials. They have dispatched all the non-sensitive materials in accordance with all the registration areas and wards and in accordance with all the polling units.”

PTDF Clarifies Report on its 2022 Overseas Scholarship The management of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has stated that candidates from the South-east geopolitical zone have not been excluded from the ongoing interview for its 2022 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS).

According to a statement signed

by Mrs. Timilayefa Nwajueboe of the Press and External Relations Unit, the PTDF noted that some online publications created a false impression that candidates from the South-east geopolitical zone were excluded, adding that the story was wrong and therefore misleading.

The statement said that all the numerous candidates from the South-east that were successful at the initial processes were currently participating in the interview exercise, alongside their counterparts from other parts of the country, simultaneously, adding

that this could be verified from the Fund’s website.

PTDF said that at the time the issue of centres was discussed, it was the considered opinion of the management and other stakeholders, that due to the Monday sit-at-home order in the South-east, candidates be given the option to choose from any of the other five zones across the country, rather than Enugu, including the option for a virtual interview, from the comfort of their homes.

The decision, PTDF said, was taken, purely to ensure that the mobility of candidates from the zone was not affected by the sit-at-home order as they would have to move from their various states to Enugu, which usually serves as a centre for the zone in previous interviews, adding that the candidates were duly carried along before the decision was reached.

TETFund Opens Research Secretariat to Boost Partnership with Industries

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has approved the setting up of a secretariat to operationalise the partnership between government, the private sector and academic institutions to enhance the country’s drive towards a knowledge-based economy.

Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, who gave the approval in Abuja at a meeting with a delegation of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG, led by its Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola, said the secretariat will be domiciled in NESG. Echono noted that the move was part of the synergy-building efforts by the National Universities Commission (NUC), and TETFund under its policy of the

triple helix approach to research which is anchored on government, academia and industry partnership.

The TETFund boss further stated that the partnership is “to ensure that our institutions become more relevant to our society, to our national development aspiration, to the needs of industry, to solving our own problems, and improving the lifestyles and standard of living of our people generally.”

He described NESG as the policy arm or coordinating group for the Nigerian private sector and represents the industry, stressing that partnership with NESG was imperative to drive the concept of employability for graduates, improving curriculum delivery in institutions, making graduates of institutions more relevant to the workplace and the work opportunities of tomorrow.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. . .

L-R: Chairman, Kukah Centre, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa and the Executive Director, Kukah Centre, Fr. Atta Barkindo, during a visit by the EFCC boss to Kukah Centre …on Thursday

Reconstruction of Tin Can Ports to Gulp $600m Says NPA Managing Director Gilbert Ekugbe The Managing Director, Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, has stated that it would cost over $600 million to reconstruct the Tin Can Port.

According to him during a live broadcast on Arise TV, the Authority had been proactive in seeking funding options by having discussions with multilateral funding agencies to fund the reconstruction.

“The other option is to go to government and I request that the NPA be allowed to use a certain percentage of the funds it is transferring on a yearly basis to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF)

in order to fund the reconstruction of Tin Can Ports. We transfer between N60 billion every year and if government could approve 40 or 50 per cent of that amount to be used for the construction of ports we believe we do not need to borrow actually,” he said.

He also added, “The other option is to do a hybrid funding where NPA funds part of it and then we get multilateral agencies to provide funding for another percentage of it. The final option is for terminal operators to fund this reconstruction, but not all terminal operators that have the same financial capacity or will be able to source funds at the same time and we do not

want to haphazard construction process. So this has to be properly coordinated, working with the Ministry of Transportation this decision is being taken and it has to be taken at the right time and properly.”

Meanwhile, the NPA boss stated that the Authority was targeting 2023 to fully automate the nation’s port processes, noting that this comes on the heels of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO’s) regulation for all ports to fully automate by 2025.

“We have set up a target for ourselves for 2023 and the IMO is funding some of this. The first phase was done virtually and it has been concluded. IMO is cur-

rently in Lagos to conduct on the spot assessment. The assessment will take ten days after which they will go and come back again and the final part of it will be funded

by NPA and on their return, they will visit every port in Nigeria,” he added.

He said the visit would also develop a port community system that would be robust, all encompassing, and would bring everybody on board and might be the catalyst or the foundation that will lead to the deployment of a national single window, which is a requirement in the modern maritime world for trade facilitation and ease of doing business.

Eviction Notice: Court to Hear Union Bank, Greenwich Bank’s Suit June 27 Wale Igbintade A Lagos High Court has fixed June 27 to hear a suit filed by Union Bank Plc seeking the eviction of a newly licensed, Greenwich Merchant Bank from its building at Oyin Jolayemi Street Victoria.

Justice Abdullahi Oyekan, who presided over the court, fixed the date for hearing of all pending applications in the suit.

Union Bank in the suit marked LD/5713LM/2022, is asking Greenwich Merchant Bank Limited to vacate its property, known as Plot 1668B Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

At the resumed hearing of the suit, Union Bank’s counsel, Barrister Adetunji Adedoyin-Adeniyi, told the court that he has filed an application seeking to discharge the order earlier

granted and to set the originating summons down for hearing.

Union Bank averred that it leased the property, measuring 350 square metres to Greenwich Bank via a sublease agreement for a fixed term of two years commencing on April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2022.

It averred that Greenwich Bank used the property as its headquarters but that the lease had been determined, thereby empowering Union Bank to evict the claimants/ defendant.

It said Greenwich Bank approached the court to frustrate Union Bank’s right to recover and take possession of the property upon expiration of the lease on March 31, 2022.

Union Bank contended that Greenwich Bank filed the suit in an attempt to arm-twist it to renew

the sublease agreement between both banks.

“The instant suit amounts to an attempt to force a willing tenant on an unwilling landlord as the Defendant/ Applicant has through its agent and subsidiary company; UBN Property Company Plc vide the letter dated September 30, 2021 indicated that the Claimant/Respondent should vacate the premises upon the expiration of the two (2) years certain provided in the Deed of Sublease.

“That the correspondences exchanged between the Claimant/ Respondent and the Defendant/ Applicant is a clear indication that there is no agreement between the parties to renew the terms of the Deed of Sublease voluntarily executed between them,” it said, adding that there is no dispute between the parties to refer to Arbitration

or Mediation.

Union Bank had asked the court for a declaration that by a September 30, 2021 letter written by the Defendant/Counter-claimant’s agent and by Clause 4 of the Deed of Sublease between Greenwich Bank and Union Bank, “the Lease has been determined.”

It is also seeking a declaration that pursuant to its refusal to renew the lease agreement between parties, Union Bank is at liberty to evict Greenwich Bank.

Union Bank also asked the court for an order against Greenwich Bank to vacate the property, an order compelling Greenwich Bank to pay Union Bank “Mesne Profit at the rate of N10.5million with 21 per cent per annum from March 31 2022 until possession is finally delivered.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͼ, 2022

NEWS Okada Ban: Lagos Crushes 2,000 Motorcycles Segun James The Lagos State Government has commenced the crushing of about 2,000 apprehended motorcycles in line with the ban on Okada operations in the six local government Areas (LGAs) and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos.

This is as the Chairman of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce), CSP Shola Jejeloye, said that there is 85 per cent compliance with the commercial motorcycle ban in the last three days.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to the safety and security of lives and property, the

Kyari: Port Harcourt Refinery to be Completed by March 2023

GATHERED FOR GOD. . .

L-R: Pastor ‘Keji Tina Adeoye; Pastor Ben Ayanda; Pastor J.T Kalejaiye, and Pastor Segun Adeoye, at the one year anniversary of RCCG, Shekinah Glory Zonal Parish, themed: Celebration of God’s Faithfulness, held recently at the Church Auditorium at Muri Bakare, Idimu-Ikotun, Lagos State

Buhari Assents to 2022 Amended Appropriation Act Udora Orizu in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law the new Appropriation Bill recently passed into law by the National Assembly.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Umar I. El-Yakub who made this known in a statement, said the new law repeals the Appropriation Law passed by the lawmakers in December 2021.

In the new Act which increased the size of the federal budget for 2022 to N17,319 trillion, N817,699 billion is

for statutory transfer, N3.978 trillion will go to debt service, N7.108 trillion is for Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure while the sum of N5.415trillion is for Contribution to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure for the Year Ending on the 31st day of December, 2022.

The statement read in part, “Today, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR assented to the Appropriation (Repeal And Enactment) Bill, 2022 recently passed by the National Assembly. This Act repeals the Appropriation Act, 2022 and enacts a new Appropriation Act, 2022; to

authorise the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation the total sum of N17,319,704,091,019 (seventeen trillion, three and nineteen billion, seven and four million, ninety-one thousand and nineteen Naira) only, of which N817,699,410,210 (eight hundred and seventeen billion, six hundred and ninety-nine million, four hundred and ten thousand, two hundred and ten Naira) only, is for Statutory Transfers, N3,978,087,110,437 “(Three trillion, nine hundred and seventy-eight billion, eightyseven million, one hundred and ten thousand, four hundred and

thirty-seven Naira) only, is for Debt Service, N7,108,621,131,849 (seven trillion, one hundred and eight billion, six hundred and twenty-one million, one hundred and thirty-one thousand, eight hundred and forty-nine Naira) only, is for Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure while the sum of N5,415,296,438,523 (five trillion, four hundred and fifteen billion, two hundred and ninety-six million, four hundred and thirtyeight thousand, five hundred and twenty-three Naira) only, is for Contribution to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure for the Year Ending on the 31st day of December, 2022.”

Udora Orizu in Abuja The Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari, yesterday, assured Nigerians of its resolve to complete the ongoing rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Refinery

by March, 2023.

Kyari gave the assurance during the resumed investigative hearing into the state of the refineries in the country, held by the House ofAd-hoc Committee chaired by Hon. Ganiyu Johnson.

Accordingtohim,thecontractwhich kick-started on the 6th May, 2021 had attained 30 per cent completion level overall, with the target of March, 2023 while part of it would be delivered within 32 months and the entire project is expected to be completed within 42 months.

The Nigerian Petroleum Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) yesterday confirmed that the fire incident within the vicinity of Caritas University in Enugu, may have been triggered by a suspected associated gas reservoir leak.

Students and management of the school had been in a state of apprehension following a fire outbreak in the school compound which some residents said started penultimate Wednesday morning.

In a statement signed by the

Chief Executive Officer of the NUPRC in Abuja, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, the commission stated that there was no pipeline right of way in the area, adding that the incident was caused by the activities of some contractors who were drilling a water borehole on the premises of the university.

On receipt of the incident report, May 26, the NUPRC stated that alongside other related agencies, it immediately carried out an investigation and discovered that it happened in the process of drilling a water well with a target drill depth of 400 meters for the university.

In the course of the drilling, it explained that pressurised seepage was encountered after about 200 meters and fumes were gushing out of the drilled hole.

“One of the workers who suspected the fumes to be gas seepage reportedly wanted to confirm his suspicion, and in the process introduced a source of ignition which led to the fire outbreak.

“It was the unfortunate action that provided a stronger basis for the qualification of the fumes as associated gas,” Komolafe stated.

Following the fire outbreak,

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos Branch has called on the National Assembly to amend the law establishing University Teaching Hospitals in the NUPRC reported that the the country to save the system drilling contractor swiftly from total collapse. removed the drill pipes, demoLagos PSN chairman, Mr. bilised the rig and immediately Gbolagade Iyiola, who described notified the Enugu State Governthe University Teaching Hospital ment of the incident.

The state and federal fire Act as an obnoxious legislation services which were mobilised which has retarded development to the site, it noted battled the of the health services delivery fire for more than two days, system in the country said the stressing that the university two major challenges that worry authority cordoned off the site the pharmacists’ body are: The and restricted access to the area. amendment of the University In addition, it directed the Teaching Hospital Act by the immediate discontinued usage National Assembly and establishof all facilities within the affected ment of the Faculty of Pharmacy, area, including a nearby hall Lagos State University. used for examinations .

Speaking at the 2022 annual luncheon in Lagos, Iyiola said that the law, Decree 10 of 1985,

Court Remands Osinachi’s Husband in Kuje Prison A High Court in Abuja under trial Justice N.K. NwosuIheme yesterday ordered Peter Nwachukwu, accused of killing his wife, the late gospel singer, Osinachi, to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility until the hearing and determination of a suit the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, instituted against him.

Osinachi died on April 8, this year, allegedly from wounds she sustained from attacks by her husband prompting his arrest by the police and has been in detention since then.

Nwachukwu was thus arraigned for contravening

Sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015; Section 221 of the Penal Code; and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015.

The charges are: “That you, Peter Nwachukwu, 56, male, on the 8th of April, 2022, at Aco Estate, opposite police station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did commit an offence to wit: culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of Mrs. Osinachi Nwachukwu by your various acts of violence and aggravated assault with the knowledge that her death would be the probable consequence of your

acts.

“Statement of offence: Emotional, verbal and psychological abuse contrary to Section 14(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act. “Particular of offence: That you, Peter Nwachukwu, male, sometime between 14th November 2009 and April 2022 at Aco Estate, opposite police station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did commit an offence to wit: emotional, verbal and psychological abuse on Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu (deceased) by humiliating her

and making utterances like ‘you are smelling,’ ‘you are mad,’ to her in the presence of her music crew members.”

Justice Nwosu-Iheme ordered that Nwachukwu, who pleaded not guilty to the 23 counts bordering on domestic violence and homicide, among others, should appear before the court on June 16 by 12 noon and on June 17 by 9a.m.

Prior to giving the order, Justice Nwosu-Iheme said, “The business for today is for arraignment, accelerated hearing is hereby ordered.”

She then said, “Defendant should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility pending the hearing and determination of this suit.”

He however maintained that the contracts for the rehabilitation of Warri and Kaduna Refineries had not been awarded, thereby debunking the fake news.

Kyari, who was represented by the General Manager, Refineries and Petrochemicals, Mustapha Yakubu, affirmed that the contract for the survey of the refineries followed due process.

However there was a mild drama on the cost of new 150,000 barrels per day Refinery.

While responding to a series of questions on the rehabilitation contract, representative of Sapien Engineering Company which got the contract of $135 million for the comprehensive technical survey of Port Harcourt Refineries, adding that an additional sum of £2.3 million was approved for the inspection of both Warri and Kaduna Refineries.

Pharmacists Call for Amendment of University Teaching Hospital Act

Upstream Commission Fingers Associated Gas Reservoir Leak for Raging Enugu Fire

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso while briefing journalists at the crushing of the impounded bikes in Ikeja, stated that the exercise shows that the government was not rescinding his decision.

Lauding Lagos residents for the high level of compliance observed in all six LGAs, he mentioned that so far, 21 people had been charged to court for flouting the ban, with over 2,000 bikes confiscated as well. He stated that provision has been made for motorcycle riders affected by the ban interested in operating the First and Last Mile buses to be integrated into the scheme.

has been the bane of the Nigerian health system for 37 years, adding that it encouraged dangerous manipulation of physicians in Nigeria with the tacit support of government at all levels to the detriment of the nation’s health system delivery.

“The existing University Teaching Hospital Act was a military creation which was invented as decree 10 of 1985. This piece of obnoxious legislation has been the albatross on the neck of our health system for 37 destructive years.

“It remains the foundation for the dangerous manipulation of physicians in Nigeria who with the tacit support of government at all levels interpreted ‘medially qualified’ as a phraseology that implies bagging of MBBS or MBChB or its equivalent in whatever form.”

2003: EFCC Warns Against Vote Buying, Selling Court jails 7 internet scammers, 92 others arrested

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday warned Nigerians to refrain from the act of vote buying and selling in the nation’s electoral processes.

The warning came as the Enugu Zonal Command of the commission secured the conviction of seven internet fraudsters before Justice I.M Buba of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu on separate charges bordering on impersonation and obtaining money under false pretences from unsuspecting foreign nationals.

Also, operatives of the Port

Harcourt Zonal Command of the anti-graft agency arrested 92 suspected internet fraudsters a.k.a Yahoo Boys in a sting operation in the early hours of Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at various locations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Speaking in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the Civil Society Partners on Electoral Reform, (CISPER), who paid a courtesy visit to the EFCC, Secretary to the Commission, Dr. George Ekpungu, said every leadership recruitment process in the country was very vital and warned the citizenry to avoid selling their votes and their future to the highest bidder in the course of elections.

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JUNE 4, 2022 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

THE LURE OF MANGOES

Grow this King of Fruits in your own garden, urges Rajendra K. Aneja

M

ango days are here again. Mangoes bring melodious moods and memories. The very thought of devouring a lush Alphonso mango brings a smile to any face. If you want to win any heart or even a contract, present the person a gift-wrapped basket of mangoes. Even the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India exchange baskets of mangoes, to break the ice in the relationships between the countries. If an affiliation is turning sour and you want it to blossom instead, offer the person a plateful of fresh-cut mangoes. Hence, mangoes are renowned as the “King of Fruits”.

As children, in the 1960s, we used to visit the company “baagh” or garden, in Muzaffarnagar in UP state. The trees stooped down, laden with luscious mangoes. The gardeners forbade us to pluck the mangoes. However, we were small boys.

We looked for opportunities to fell some mangoes with small pebbles and gobble the fallen fruit quickly. A free mango is infinitely sweeter than a paid mango. There was the additional delight of eating a mango, fresh off the tree.

In the 1960s, we had no refrigerator at home. So, my mother cooled the mangoes by keeping them in a small brass bucket, laden with ice. It took an hour for the mangoes to chill; however, in our anxiety to eat them, we would dip our fingers in the bucket every five minutes, to check if the mangoes had chilled enough to be devoured.

The prices of mangoes have soared over the years. In the 1960s mangoes would sell for about Rs. 5 (20 US cents) for a dozen.

Now. the Alphonso mangoes retail for Rs. 600 to 900 (USD 10) per dozen. Thus, from consuming two to three mangoes daily during childhood, now I make do with a solitary mango every day.

One of the reasons I adored living in the Middle East was that mangoes were available, almost throughout the year. When Indian mangoes went out of season, Egyptian mangoes arrived, then Pakistani, then Moroccan. The UAE and Saudi Arabia get mangoes from different countries throughout the year. The sweetest mangoes in the world come from Zambales, in Philippines.

Mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan and the Philippines.

It is the national tree of Bangladesh.

Mangoes are immensely popular in Africa. Historically, the Persians brought the mango seed to West and East Africa in the 10th Century. Now, about 100 varieties of mangoes are grown across Africa. Mangoes came to Nigeria in the 19th century, when the Botanical Gardens of Jamaica, sent the seeds to Calabar.

In India there is an assortment of mangoes to choose from.

The pack is led by the globally renowned Alphonso. It was first introduced to Goa by a Portuguese General, Afonso de Albuquerque circa 1510. Then there is Badami from Karnataka, Chaunsa from North India, Dasheri and Langda from UP state, Kesar from Gujarat and Mulgoba from Tamil Nadu. India produces 20 million tonnes of mangoes per annum, making it the largest producer in the world.

THE MANGO BEGINS ITS JOURNEY FROM THE SEED, INTO OUR MOUTHS AND HEARTS. AS I GREW OLDER, I REALISED THAT GROWING A BUSINESS IS AKIN TO MANAGING A MANGO SEEDLING

Mangoes are an absolute treat in any form, warm or chilled, juiced or pureed. I love them best when I freeze mango cubes in ice trays with some cream. This is my own homemade rich and creamy mango ice cream.

I was flabbergasted to see the size of the Indian Alphonso mango, shrink every year, despite the increase in prices. It was a mystery, I could not resolve. Finally, a fruit-shop owner enlightened me. He said, “If you want to eat large Alphonso mangoes, you will have to travel to London, New York or Dubai. The best mangoes are now being exported to the USA, the UK and to the UAE.” Indians who have migrated to foreign lands, are yet in love with Indian mangoes.

Those who miss mangoes during the off-season months, can have a range of products made from raw or ripe mangoes, like pickles, pulps, jams, “murabbas” (marmalades) chutneys, sweet poppadums, etc. Hot mango pickles are a household item in every Indian home. No meal is complete, without some spicy pickles.

Mangoes have been immortalised by the Bollywood actor Mr. Amitabh Bachchan in the iconic movie, Deewar, which catapulted him into stardom. In a dialogue with the villain of the film, Mr. Bachchan, advises him, “Aap Aam khao, gutliya kyo ginte how”.

(Relish the mangoes, why are you counting the seeds?) So, the mango became a teacher. Devour it. Do not bother about the seed. It taught, do not fret about the small things. Worry about the key results in a business, do not worry about the unimportant.

Hawkers use an idiom to sell their mangoes, “Aam lelo Aam, Gutliyo ke daam” (buy the mangoes at the prices of the seeds).

However the “gutli” (seed) is free, when you buy the mango.

Presumably the hawker is broadcasting that the mangoes are almost free. Be it so. I yet detected an insult to the mango seed.

The seed is the mother of the mango tree and the delicious fruits that follow. So what, if it is free?

The mango begins its journey from the seed, into our mouths and hearts. As I grew older, I realised that growing a business is akin to managing a mango seedling. Select a good breed of seed like the Alphonso. Then, plant it in an area with free space where the tree can grow unfettered. Then, water and fertilize the sapling. In a few years, enjoy lush yellow, red colour delicious mangoes.

Similarly, select a good business project, nourish it well, so that future generations reap the harvest of profits, homes, bonuses and livelihoods.

Every house with a garden, would be wise to plant a mango tree, a bounty of nature. The mango tree takes five-to-eight years to flower and fruit. Then, for over 100-to-200 years, successive generations relish the sweet, lush, creamy fruit.

Aneja is a Management Consultant and was Managing Director of Unilever Tanzania. He is the author of “Conquer Rural Marketing in Developing Countries”

GOODBYE, DON AWUNAH

Tivlumun Nyitse pays tribute to his friend and brother, Don Awunah

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ow and finally, I have to do the unimaginable. It has been days of agonising reflections since that night, that hour, when I received the most dreadful news in my life, the news that you’ve taken flight. You’ve taken the final flight that has broken the bond of our 44 years of our friendship and brotherhood. But why? I ask you *Prosh,* why did you decide to do this to me? Why did you have to break this journey midway when the flight was already in cruise mode? Why did we have to embark on this journey together if you knew we won’t reach the destination together? But why?

Forty-four years ago on the sidelines of the football pitch of the Makurdi Community School, Makurdi, the elements joined us together, after a bitter argument that almost degenerated into fisticuffs. Rather than generate schism, that episode birthed a rollercoaster relationship that became a model, pride and, of course, even envy of many people. Prosh, why did you allow this journey that we sat and plotted its course and contours together to terminate abruptly? At every moment, we kept modifying the route but never agreeing on the destination. And then, suddenly without warning, you’ve called off the journey, you’ve negated all the rules of engagement we set for ourselves for this cruise. You’ve jumped ship, leaving your only “Twin Brother,” stranded!

Prosh, much as I know you are with the angels above watching over your twin, Dooshima, Chivirter, Gabriella, Orchiviligh and Doobee, this certainly was not our agreement!

In you I found a brother with whom we never took the same side of an argument, we hardly agreed on anything but we did everything together! That was the super glue of our broth-

erhood. We were different, yet we were the same. This was the mystery of our relationship. We did everything that complimented the development of each other and people wondered if we ever had differences. They were a lot but at the end of each disagreement, we waxed stronger. Prosh, you’ve dealt me an irreparable blow.

I’ve come to the very sad realization that we will never have our morning fruit salad together, and close the day with evening tea.

Even as we were becoming old men, we had several occasions to share the same bed when and wherever there was accommodation constraints. You stood by me at all times and I watched your back all the times. Prosh, you were a different human being. With you, we attended almost every event hosted by our friends across the country. It could in Benue, in Kogi, Jos, Kaduna, Enugu...name them. We were always there even if was at the risk of our lives.

I remember when we had to knock on the door of a mechanic in Adoka at 1am to fix my old jalopy on our way back from the traditional marriage of a friend. Or having to stop and change the flat tyre of our car in the middle of the road, in the dead of the night, attending yet another traditional marriage of a friend close to the Cameroon mountains!

Thank God it was not in this era of banditry, it would have been a different story. This what and who you were. At every curve of our journey you were there for me. You were simply an enigma.

Prosh, you made life very easy for me and now I don’t know where to start from.

We ran our ideas through each other. We shared everything in this world that was to

be shared. We married two friends! So long as we were in the same location, we ate together, oftentimes from the same bowl. I remember driving to your house most evenings so we can share a meal together, after which a debate must precede our bidding good night to each other. This was the nature of our lives that you’ve cut short and taken flight!

Prosh, I know you are now where you no longer feel pain, feel for me, feel for your wife and children especially the wedding of your only daughter Gabriella, which you kept talking to me about. If only I was clairvoyant I would have known that you had warned me of this irreversible journey. When we went to take a final look at you to be sure you were the one lying still in the morgue, our friend, Tunde Olusunle who was with us when we were discussing Gabriella’s wedding, which never held on account of your indisposition, reminded me of what you said at the end our discussion. You remarked that, “Onyitse but you are the one who is going to do this wedding oh.” But little did I know that this was what you meant. Indeed it was a warning I never understood!

Prosh you were a special breed. Else how were you able to do all these and did them so well? You were a wonderful family man who ensured that your family never lacked, not forgetting members of your extended family. I remember how you dragged me out of my bed when I was recuperating from a back surgery, to serve as the chairman at the reception of your niece’s wedding even it was going to be for 10 minutes. You loved your family intensively and unconditionally. You spared nothing to please your friends. Indeed you worshipped and cherished friendship.

You loathed laxity and indolence. As a Super Prosh, you were very intense but humane in the discharge of your assignments. You left marks and created permanent friendships with people where you worked variously.

Adagbo Onoja, one of our friends in his tribute described you as an urbane Super Cop, which indeed is what you were.

Prosh, these were your last words to me when I visited you in the hospital and sat by your bed side. You gave me false hope.

I was encouraged you were on the path of recovery. You stood up and managed to walk to the side of the bed, and I held and caressed your arm. Though not very loud but audible enough you said *orne kwagh nyion me fa. Orne mya ichan.* My eyes were misty but I held back, the gathering tears. I never knew that you were literally telling me that your time in this world was up and you were going to take flight away from the pain you were going through. Little did I have an inkling that you were bidding me goodbye and warning me to be ready for what was to come.

Prosh, I have accepted the reality that you’ve taken your flight never to land anywhere where mortals or your twin brother will commune with you again. I celebrate you, you were a special breed. You came and accomplished your mission. You’ve left your twin brother stranded. I can assure you, however, that, that spirit which we shared, which gave us strength will still propel me to snug on till we rejoin to continue our routine “fights” and arguments. I shall thoroughly miss you, my dear PROSH! Dr. Nyitse, a mass communications scholar, is Chief of Staff to the Benue State Governor

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JUNE 4, 2022 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

A word is enough for the wise...

Nigeria’s Deadly Highways

Why Regular Milk Consumption Is Important “A glass of MILK a day keeps black thoughts away . . . “ - Nischita Nibedita

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ORLD MILK DAY is observed every year on June 1. It was introduced in 2001 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to recognize the importance of milk as a global food, and to celebrate the dairy sector.

Milk is the first food we consume when we are born. Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants during their first months of life. Children are encouraged to drink up their milk so that they can “grow up big and strong.” Do we, however, tend to stop drinking this nutritious beverage as we grow older? Even as adults, should we still drink milk?

For decades, scientific research has continued to emphasize the importance of maintaining bone health as we age. Gradually throughout our lives, our bones are constantly changing. Hence, when our intake of Calcium-rich foods is low, our body ‘steals’ the Calcium it needs from our bones - which can cause them to become porous and weak. In Nigeria, bone diseases are quite common. Just as an example: according to data, more than 1.5 million cases of Osteoporosis are diagnosed in Nigeria every year!

Osteoporosis refers to a condition in which bones become weak and brittle, and bone loss occurs without symptoms.

Consequently, most people are unaware of their deteriorating bone health.

However, the good news is that drinking milk regularly can help prevent Osteoporosis and bone fractures and even help you maintain a healthy weight.

This delicious beverage - Milk, has always been a healthy drink because it is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and many other nutrients which are usually under-consumed by many people.

However, although milk is a good choice for many, some people cannot tolerate it because they are unable to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products (dairy products are products containing or made from milk). It is suggested that such people stick to unsweetened varieties of milk, to limit the amount of added sugar in their diet. Some examples of non-dairy milk alternatives include: soymilk, oat milk, almond milk, and more.

For those able to tolerate milk, however, consuming high-quality milk and dairy products has been proven to provide a number of health benefits. These include: One, milk is the topmost food source of Calcium and Vitamin D for children and adults. Calcium is an essential nutrient for strong bones, muscle movement

and nerve signals. Vitamin D increases the body’s ability to absorb Calcium. Sunlight is an excellent source of Vitamin D. Two, milk strengthens our teeth because it contains a high amount of Calcium. Lactose also helps prevent cavities and tooth decay.

Three, drinking milk is associated with a lower risk of agerelated muscle loss. Also, several studies have demonstrated that drinking milk after a workout can decrease muscle damage, promote muscle repair, increase strength and decrease muscle soreness.

Four, your body requires proteins that can help in cell repair and boosting a person’s immunity. Five, the Potassium in milk may help with heart health. Getting more Potassium while also reducing Sodium (salt) intake can lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Six, a quote by one Nischita Nibedita says: “A glass of MILK a day keeps black thoughts away.” Yes, adequate levels of Vitamin D in milk supports the production of Serotonin, a hormone people associate with mood, appetite and sleep. Manufacturers often fortify cow’s milk and plant milk with Vitamin D. So, this can help to reduce depression. Seven, milk boosts your metabolism and keeps you satisfied for a longer period.

Daniel Ighakpe, FESTAC Town, Lagos

I

t is shocking that life doesn’t mean anything in Nigeria. People are killed randomly and kidnapped, nothing is done about it.

Nigeria has now become the state Thomas Hobbes described in the Leviathan. I am very sad that the continued insecurity has not been nipped in the bud. The President has given several directives and I am sure the security authorities are tired of hearing those marching orders. Every part of Nigeria has become unsafe and you will literally have your heart in your mouth when you travel. The Prelate of the Methodist church had to pay N100 million to effect his release from kidnappers and no government official has uttered a word.

The shocking part is that the Kaduna-Abuja highway has become an highway to hell, as people are kidnapped and killed and nothing has been done to stop them. One wonders, if the highway that leads to Abuja is under siege, isn’t Abuja under siege? Only recently more kidnappings happened on the Abuja-Kaduna highway and nothing was done about it. The politicians are only concerned about the dollarization of our electoral process for their selfish gains. It is sad that nobody ever think of the long suffering Nigerian people who suffer the weaponization of poverty every day. One of the victims of the Kaduna train attacks, after 62 days in captivity revealed that she was a classmate of the Vice-President and I got thinking: Can the leadership truly say they are proud of the Nigeria we have today? The leadership have completely abandoned the people to seek their selfish gains and now everyone lives in jeopardy. In all of the maelstrom and conflict happening, the president also recently confirmed that he will like to T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE influence the decision of who succeeds him. I DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU dare ask, will his successor solve all the problems MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO that couldn’t be solved under this administraDEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU tion? Will the successor bring hope and courage CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN back to Nigerians? Will the successor revitalize MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI the moribund sectors in Nigeria? It is obvious THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE that the politicians constantly live in a bubble and they don’t even understand the pains of Nigerians, they fail to understand that Nigerians are not voting any longer because they don’t T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D believe in elections, they fail to understand that EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA the people don’t see politicians as solutions to GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, their problems. I think the political class should ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI introspect if they truly have any modicum of DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI love for the people. They must do the needful in SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH fighting poverty and other problems bedeviling ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI Nigerians. The problem of insecurity must be CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI given priority and solutions must be found. I DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO must repeat, a stitch in time saves Nine.

TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 4 2022

14

NEWS

THISDAY to Present New Witness Against Wike in Libel Suit on June 24 Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has adjourned till June 24 this year to begin examination of the third witness for the respondent in the libel suit by the state Governor, Nyesom Wike against THISDAY and others.

The court had on May 30, adjourned till June 3 for the

ASUU Strike: Anglican Bishop Urges Speedy Resolution Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

reexamination of the second witness for the respondent in the matter.

Tuduru Ede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had on May 30 urged the court for adjournment to recross examine the second witness and it was granted.

But at the resumed hearing yesterday, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing the respondents, made an application to the court, seeking to bring

in the third witness by the next adjourned date.

On May 30, the second witness for THISDAY, its Managing Editor, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, was cross examined where he presented a video in defense of his witness against the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Ede yesterday told the court that he was satisfied with the evidence by the second witness.

The applicant lawyer, Em-

manuel Ukala (SAN) who did not show much delight in the application for another witness, agreed on the new adjournment date by his colleague, respondents lawyer.

The trial Judge, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, after listening to the submissions by the counsels for the parties in the matter, adjourned till June 24, for cross examination of the third witness for the respondent.

The Diocesan Bishop of Ijesa North Diocese of the Anglican Church, Rt. Rev. Isaac Oluyamo, has called on the federal government to see to the needs of the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU) so as to allow students resume their academic activities without further delay.

The cleric spoke in Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, yesterday, while delivering an address at an occasion to mark his 7th year anniversary as the Bishop of the Diocese.

Speaking further at the occasion, which was also used to inaugurate a 300kva transformer and the road leading to Rehoboth at the Diocesan Headquarters, the clergyman said the students

had spent too much time at home doing nothing. This, according to him, could lead them into vices.

Bishop Oluyamo also used the occasion to urge Nigerians to pray for a peaceful transition of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, noting that no meaningful development could take place in an atmosphere of rancour.

In his words, “As we continue our service to God and humanity, we appeal for prayers for our nation Nigeria; for peace and peaceful transition of Buhari’s administration. We can’t aͿord to let our great nation be divided through politics. We must not let ourselves down in this period because it’s a very sensitive time for our nation.

%XKDUL 5HMRLFHV :LWK 6DPXHO $GHGR\LQ Juventus Ojukwu on Their Birthdays Deji Elumoye in Abuja

GOING DIGITAL… L-R: Corporate Communications Manager, Appzone, Ms. Oluwa Tobi Alaka; Chief Commercial Officer, Appzone, Francis Ogbuka; Conference Coordinator, Adeniyi Amure; Digital Marketing Officer, Intermarc Consulting Ltd, Ms. Matilda Adegbola; Head, Marketing & Customer Experience, 9 Payment Service Bank, Shola Ogunyemi and Head, Corporate Communications, 9 Payment Service Bank, Mrs Laolu Thomas during a press conference on the forth coming 2022 Digital PayExpo conference and exhibition in Lagos ..yesterday.

Photo: Abiodun Ajala

LCCI: N90b Telecom Tax Will Increase Cost of Doing Business Dike Onwuamaeze The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has stated that the new telecom tax in Nigeria meant to raise N90 billion revenue annually as contained in the new National Health Insurance Authority Act 2021, would worsen the cost of doing business in Nigeria by compelling subscribers to pay more for telecom services.

The LCCI raised this point yesterday in its press statement on the New Telecom Tax in

Nigeria, and tasked the federal government to create a regulatory environment that would minimise disruptions to telecoms companies’ operations in the country and enable enterprises to invest more in telecoms infrastructure for a thriving digital economy.

The statement which was signed by the Director General of the LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Almona, said: “The recently signed National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2021 that replaced the National Health Insurance Scheme Act, 2004 by President Muhammadu

Buhari, places a new telecoms tax equivalent to a minimum of one kobo per second on phone calls by subscribers.

“The realised funds, estimated to be about N90 billion yearly, are meant to Ànance free healthcare for the vulnerable groups – children under Àve, pregnant women, the aged, and physically and mentally challenged Nigerians.

“The implications of all of these are that subscribers will be made to pay more for telecom services.

And companies that depend heavily on the telecommunica-

tion infrastructure to deliver their services will likely begin to incur an additional cost burden even as they currently struggle to comply with about thirty-six diͿerent taxes.µ The statement recalled that due to the rising cost of operations, telecom companies under the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) have put a plan in place for a proposed 40 per cent increase in the cost of calls, SMS, and data in the coming weeks.

3ROLFH $UUHVW 7HUURULVWV 'LSORPDWV &RPPHQG 1&$& '* 5XQVHZH .LGQDSSHUV 5REEHU\ 6XVSHFWV IRU 3URPRWLQJ 1LJHULD·V $UWV &XOWXUH *OREDOO\ Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Usman Baba, yesterday announced the arrest of a total of 328 terrorists and armed bandits, 325 armed robbery suspects, 339 kidnap suspects and 247 suspected cultists from January 2022 till date.

He disclosed this when he met with Assistant Inspector-Generals of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja to take proactive security measures as the nation prepares for the elections in 2023.

The police boss said the police operatives rescued 307 kidnapped victims, and recovered 510 Àrearms, 8,906 ammunition including rocket propelled grenades and other Improvised Explosive Devices

(IEDs).

He said the meeting was aimed at devising strategies to tackle the spiraling insecurity in the country as well as strengthening the capacity of police o΀cers ahead of the polls.

“This meeting is being convened essentially for three main reasons. First, is to further my leadership approach of periodically reviewing the internal security situation of the country and re-evaluate our strategies with a view to jointly evolving new approaches towards strengthening our internal security operations, particularly in relation to the mitigation of prevalent crimes of banditry, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and other highly organised and violent crimes that have overtime, been threatening our national peace and security order.

It was a harvest of commendations for the Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, by members of the diplomatic community as the Council hosted the 2022 edition of the Pre- International Arts and Crafts (INAC) dinner at Sheraton Hotels and Towers in Abuja.

The dinner which was used to sensitise members of the diplomatic community on arrangements for the 2022 INAC was attended by over 37 countries.

An elated Runsewe stated that at this year’s edition of INAC would be special because apart from physical exhibitions, each participating country will have the opportunity of utilising the robust media platforms during the INAC Expo to reach out to the world adding that countries who are desirous of having their

special day featured at the Expo in a Àve-minute documentary on their cultural manifestations would also be given opportunity to do so.

Runsewe expressed happiness at the robust and mutually rewarding relationship between the diplomatic community, National Council for Arts and Culture and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

According to him, the PreINAC dinner which evolved in 2018 is a platform for engaging with members of the diplomatic community in the build up to the INAC Expo, one of Council’s Áagship programmes and also provides the opportunity for members of the diplomatic community to interact not only among themselves but with the management of NCAC to make inputs that would further enrich the content of the Expo.

President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with renowned industrialist, Dr. Samuel Adedoyin and his classmate in military school, Hon. Juventus Ojukwu.

The President, in a release issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, rejoiced with Prince Samuel Ogundele Adedoyin as he marks his 86th birthday on June 4, 2022, sharing the auspicious occasion of joy and thanksgiving with family, friends and business associates.

President Buhari congratulated the consummate businessman for his vision, and courage to translate dreams into reality, with a ripple eͿect on

the economy, particularly in manufacturing, banking and real estate.

He noted the large-heartedness of the business mogul, who set up a foundation to cater for the handicapped and underprivileged in the country, extending the good gesture by providing scholarships and sponsoring health care for many.

President Buhari believed Adedoyin’s wealth of knowledge and experience in entrepreneurship remains an asset for the country, while thanking him for providing a ladder for others to rise in their careers.

The President prayed for the well-being of the industrialist and his family.

CDS Assures Navy of Fleets’ Recapitalisation Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Chief of Defence StaͿ, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has assured the Nigerian Navy that the federal government has begun eͿorts to recapitalise her Áeets for improved performance.

Irabor stated this at the Sunset Ceremony marking the end of the 2022 Navy Week and 66th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy held at Onne, Rivers State.

He noted the importance of the Nigerian Navy in securing the vast strategic resources and opportunities in Nigeria’s maritime domain.

Irabor stressed that the Nigerian Navy had proven

to be a tireless and vigilant custodian of the country’s maritime environment, adding that given the dependence on oil revenues, the Nigerian Navy was indisputably a critical contributor to the mainstay of the nation’s economy.

He urged men and o΀cers of the Nigerian Navy not to relent, but to redouble their eͿorts, in order to build a Navy that all Nigerians will be proud of.

“Accordingly, this mutual investment will encourage the Navy in order to secure the nation’s prosperity within the context of the prevailing national government eͿorts to revamp and reposition our economy for the well-being of Nigerians.

Don’t Go Abroad Without Prerequisite 4XDOLÀFDWLRQ (QYR\ $GYLVHV <RXWKV Michael Olugbode in Abuja Nigerian Ambassador to the Holy See (Vatican), Paul Adikwu, has advised Nigerians against taking a trip out of the country without the prerequisite qualification to get a distinguished career or breakthrough in the host country.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja yesterday, the Ambassador lamented that there were several

Nigerians in Rome and elsewhere in Europe touting without any reasonable source of living.

He said, “It is sad that many of the youths believe that the grass is greener elsewhere and travelled through the desert crossing the Mediterranean Sea into Europe with the belief that there is a Golden Fleece but later get disappointed when they find out they cannot find any reasonable job.µ

15

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 4, 2022

Imperatives of Being Firm, Swift, Decisive against Terrorists

F

ourteen days after the heinous murder of pregnant Harira Jibril and her four children by terrorists strongly believed to be IPOB in Isulo, Anambra State, their killers are yet to be apprehended. Daily, the lamentations of the devastated husband of Harira, reverberate in my head. “I’m now left with nobody; they have wiped out my entire family. I am so worried and in trauma, there is a need for the government to do something,” are some of his cries that remain indelible. Unfortunately, like most previous cases of attacks by terrorists across the country, the bastards that killed Harira and her children may never be caught. This is the tragedy of a country I persistently talk about. The message the Buhari government has been sending out to terrorists with this ineptitude is that they can persist with their odious crime with assurances by the state that nothing would happen to them.

Nigeria’s Commander-in-Chief has the military, police, DSS, NSCDS, NIA, yet, he has failed woefully to send the right messages to terrorists. There is a lot wrong with the ultimate commander. For me, there is no real war against terrorists ongoing in beloved Nigeria. Any government committed to taming terrorism must be firm, swift and decisive in tackling them.

This is what has been missing in the last seven years of the Buhari government.

This federal government that is in charge of all security agencies persistently fails to send out the right message to terrorists. This is why the killers of Deborah Yakubu are walking freely 24 days after they murdered her. Deborah, who was a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State, was killed and her corpse set ablaze by Islamic extremists for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh).

It is this same failure to send the right messages to terrorists that has kept 67 adducted Abuja-Kaduna train passengers in the dungeon of terrorists for 69 days.

The terrorists boldly parade the abductees in videos while mocking government. I wept for this country early this week while watching a fresh video of the traumatised abductees appealing to the federal government to come to their rescue before they die in captivity. In the new video, a masked terrorist carrying an AK 47 was seen giving instructions to the captives, the men kneeling and the women

Buhari

sitting on a mat. Many of the abductees, elderly people, women and children are in very bad shape as confirmed by one of them who said, “Most of us here are sick and we are not in good condition and every day the situation deteriorates.”

How can this be happening in a country with a government? The Nigerian state has failed these abductees woefully.

Let’s flip to the notorious Birnin-GwariKaduna highway. Here, terrorists run a government of their own. They enjoy free rein and hardly hide. Everybody, except security agencies, knows that terrorists are on virtually the entire stretch of this road, killing and maiming. Just last Tuesday, the terrorists abducted scores of travellers (largely students) on this highway. The abducted students were heading to the School of Health, Kaduna State University (Makarfi campus), for admission examinations.

During the attack that lasted over an hour, eight vehicles were set ablaze by the guerrillas after abducting their passengers.

No help came from security agents while the attack lasted. The Chairman, BirninGwari Vanguards for Security and Good Governance, Ibrahim Abubakar Nagwari, laments: “In the last four days, terrorists

laid siege on motorists on Birnin-GwariKaduna highway, abducting as well as killing and wounding many innocent citizens. The authorities have shown no interest in the deteriorating security situation on this highway. The political will by the authorities to honour their oaths of office to protect lives and property of our citizens remains a mirage.”

The Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna highway debacle is replicated on the Abuja-Kaduna road, where, daily, scores are killed and abducted.

Two weeks ago in Borno State, 32 young men were killed by Boko Haram while sourcing metals in a deserted community in Dikwa Local Government Area of the state. Security agents are yet to arrest a single one of the killers. I doubt if they will ever be arrested. This evidently emboldens terrorists. In the same Borno State, Boko Haram and ISWAP roam around with so much impunity because Buhari has not been firm and decisive. Some local government areas are under very strong control of the terrorists.

Extremists stroll in and out of Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State, wreaking havoc. Few days back, they attacked St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Gidan Maikambu (Marabar Kanya) and kidnapped Reverend Father Stephen Ojapa and Reverend Oliver Okpara. Church members are still struggling to raise the N100 million demanded. Of course, the terrorists will eventually collect the ransom and get away with the crime.

When talking about a leader that has not been firm and swift against terrorists which bolsters them, the pathetic story of Shinfida community, in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State is pertinent.

In Shinfida, no fewer than 13,500 people were sacked by Fulani militias from their ancestral homes early this year and are currently taking refuge in neighbouring Niger Republic. Yes, terrorists sacked and burnt almost all the buildings in the community. Till date, not one of the terrorists that carried out the atrocious crime in Shinfida has been arrested.

I guess that was why the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) declared after the murder of Harira and her children that “this cannot be the dream country of those who fought for Nigeria’s independence from the colonial masters,” adding, “it is disheartening and unfortunate that nowhere is safe again in the country, as

Ike Ekweremadu is Indeed Honourable

I

have always regarded Senator Ike Ekweremadu as one of the few politicians with conscience in this country.

This former deputy Senate president ranks very high among the few with credibility and sense of decency in Nigeria’s political jungle. He is not in the club of bread and butter politicians that dominate our country. So, when Ekweremadu recently lost his bid for PDP’s gubernatorial ticket in Enugu State and rumours started flying around that he was planning to jump into another party to actualise his dream, I became worried. I could not understand why this man, who is indeed highly distinguished, would descend so low, to the level of disgraceful politicians without principles, who are dominating our country. I kept hoping that Ekweremadu would not join this huge reprehensible club of politicians without values. But the rumours persisted.

Well, Ekweremadu eventually did not disappoint me. I was hugely relieved when he released a statement last Thursday debunking all the claims that he was going to join the shameful club of “prostitute politicians without conscience.”

His statement, titled, “Time to Unite Ndi

Ekweremadu

Enugu” shows that we still have men of honour in Nigeria’s murky political water.

Ekweremadu, in the thought-provoking statement withdrew from the Enugu gubernatorial race and gave his backing to the choice of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

The former deputy president of the Senate adds: “I have deeply reflected on it all (demands of supporters) with a good sense of history, including my political history, and the need for the unity and peace of our state. No sacrifice will be too much.

“Therefore, after consulting widely with the elders of our party as well as well-

meaning friends and respected elders across the country and beyond; after a long and painstaking introspection on our contributions to the development of the PDP; after considering the current security situation in the South-east region and the need not to put anybody in any harm by a foreseeable combustive political environment, as my ambition is not worth the life of any Enugu son or daughter; after considering that the things that hold us together as Ndi Enugu will ultimately outlive the treacheries of the moment and after receiving assurances from the gubernatorial candidate of our party, Peter Mba, that he would integrate our ‘Pathway to a New Enugu State’ in his programme and his assurances of the participation of everybody in his campaign team and government.

“I, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, hereby formally withdraw from the 2023 gubernatorial contest in Enugu State. I congratulate Mba and wish him success. It is time to unite.”

Indeed, we still have honourable men in this country. Ekweremadu has proved me right. This man is not a desperate and greedy politician. Enugu State is certainly in the hands of God.

killers, bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers are on rampage in every nook and cranny of the country and all the government is able to do is to issue periodic statements condemning them without any decisive action to bring culprits to book.”

The perpetrators of terrorism in Nigeria must be brought to justice by Buhari as recently demanded by the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. This is the only way to end killings in Nigeria.

We must all continue to put pressure on Buhari to do the needful.

The contribution of Bamidele Salam, a federal lawmaker from Osun State, along this line last Wednesday, is quite commendable. He held a one-man protest walk against insecurity in Nigeria in Abuja.

Salam, dressed in black, walked barefooted from the Unity Fountain in the Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory to the National Assembly Complex. The lawmaker wrote on his placard: “President Muhammadu Buhari, please do more to secure freedom for the Kaduna train abductees and other citizens in captivity.”

The Commander-in-Chief should unflappably reexamine reports on killings, and if indeed he wants an end to terrorism, seek help in fruitful climes, to enable him act swiftly and decisively. Our security agencies lack the abilities to end terrorism.

The Bala Mohammed Infamy in Bauchi

Governor Bala Mohammed

G

overnor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has always been a crafty politician. He did not disappoint in the primary elections of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Kauran Bauchi paid N100 million and went into a presidential primary election he clearly did not have the slightest probabilities of winning. He went for it just for reckless ego, while craftily keeping the state’s governorship ticket of the PDP. How did he do this? Kauran simply gave money to the former Secretary to Bauchi State Government (SSG), Ibrahim Kashim, to pick the guber ticket and then he outlawed others from doing same. So, Kashim went into the primary election as the sole aspirant and got 100 per cent votes.

The instruction was to keep the ticket for Kauran Bauchi. When the Bauchi governor returned from the Abuja presidential primary empty-handed, Kashim popped out (some say he was threatened) and declared that he was no longer interested in the ticket.

Of course, there was no runner up at the primary because Kashim was deliberately made the sole aspirant by Kauran Bauchi.

So, a fresh primary must be held just after concluding one few days back. Kauran Bauchi will be the sole aspirant and will pick the ticket. What a cunning man! There is nothing that can’t happen in Nigeria.

Unfortunately, Kauran Bauchi’s performance as governor in the last three years has not been spectacular. He has very little to show for his three years of manipulative politics. Yet, he wants another four years.

So far, the masses of Bauchi State have been the biggest losers.

16

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 4, 2022

NEWS

2023: INEC Unveils Guidelines, Okays Electronic Transfer of Results, Bars Telephones in Voting Cubicles Our Correspondents The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday released the guidelines for the conduct of the 2023 elections, almost eight months in advance.

The election umpire unveiled the guidelines on its website and announced it on its o΀cial Twitter page, @inecnigeria.

It tweeted, “The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu,

has unveiled the revised INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections.”

The 37-page document, downloadable from the commission’s website, contains 106 guidelines and regulations for the 2023 elections, as well as health measures during the conduct of elections.

In article 30 of the guideline, the commission stated that telephones and electronic devices capable of taking pictures are not allowed in polling booths.

Article 30, “Prohibition of the Use of Telephones and Other Electronic/Photographic Devices in the Voting Cubicle,” states: “Telephones and other electronic devices capable of taking pictures are not allowed in voting cubicles.

“Voters may come to the Polling Unit with telephones and other electronic devices provided that they do not take them to the voting cubicles or take pictures of other voters while they are voting.”

In the revised guideline, INEC also, among other things, approved the electronic transmission of election results in line with Electoral Act 2022.

Article 38 on Electronic Transmission of Results and Upload of Results to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) states: “On completion of all the Polling Unit voting and results procedures, the Presiding O΀cer shall: (i) Electronically transmit or transfer the result of the Polling Unit, direct to the collation system

as prescribed by the Commission. “(ii) Use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to upload a scanned copy of the EC8A to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), as prescribed by the Commission. “(iii) Take the BVAS and the original copy of each of the forms in tamper-evident envelope to the Registration Area/Ward Collation O΀cer, in the company of security agents. The Polling Agents may accompany the Presiding O΀cer to the RA/ Ward Collation Centre.”

The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, while speaking during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Abuja yesterday, said with the presentation of the

guidelines, the Commission had commenced formal preparations for the polls.

Mahmood noted that this would be the Àrst time the Commission was releasing the guidelines nine months before the general election.

He stressed that the ICCES would continue to play a critical role and extended the appreciation of the electoral umpire to all security agencies for their support.

He said: “With the release of the Regulations and Guidelines today, and the publication of the Strategic Plan (SP) 2022-2026 and Election Project Plan 2023 earlier, the Commission has virtually concluded the planning processes for the 2023 General Election nine months ahead of the election.

Lagos Pays 482 Retirees N1.5bn, Promises to Clear Backlog Rebecca Ejifoma

CONSOLIDATING IDEAS… L-R: Managing Partner, Creative Economy at Co-creation Hub(Cc-Hub), Ojoma Ochai, Special Adviser to Senator Abiru on Constituency Matters, Dr. Saheed Ibikunle; Innovation Lab (SAIL) Facilitator, Johnson Abbaly, Overall winner of business ideas pitching contest, John Olisa, Lagos East Senator, Adetokunbo Abiru, Second runner up, Esther Ogundare, First runner up, Jessica Nwobodo, Group Head, Products, Polaris Bank , Mrs Adebimpe Ihekuna, SAIL Programme Coordinator, Mr Adedeji Abisola during SAIL Business 101 for Creatives and Artisans (Cohort 001) Demo Day/ Grand finale organised

by Tokunbo Abiru Constituency Team (TACT) Foundation in partnership with Cc-Hub in Lagos...yesterday

Okene Explosion: One Killed as Kogi CP Vows to Bring Perpetrators to Book Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Edward Egbuka, has vowed to bring the perpetrators of the Okene explosion to book, adding that he has deployed the operatives of anti-bomb units to track the perpetrators of the latest explosion.

At least one person was said to have lost his life while nine others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Egbuka conÀrmed the incident through the Command’s Police Public Relations O΀cer, William Ayah, while speaking in a telephone conversation with journalists.

The Commissioner of Police disclosed that one of the victims of the explosion died in an undisclosed hospital.

Usman Animuko Sani who witnessed the incident said that the explosion occurred around 6p.m. on Thursday when some

people including masquerades gathered to celebrate the annual exchange festival in Okene.

Sani, who disclosed that the sound of the explosion aͿected many residents of the area, stated that a man whose name and address are yet to be identiÀed lost two of his legs while many others sustained injuries.

He added that one of the victims of the explosion died on their way to Okengwe General Hospital where the victims were

taken for medical treatment.

He further added that on reaching the hospital some of the victims were referred to Lokoja as some of the injuries cannot be handled by the medical personnel in Okinawa.

The Okene explosion occurred barely Àve days ago when an explosion occurred in Kabba where a woman who is a native of Ebiraland but resident in Kaaba lost her life while her younger brother lost one of his legs.

FG Reactivates 14 IPP Solar Projects Undergoing Technical, Financial Evaluation Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The federal government yesterday hinted that it had reactivated 14 Independent Power Producer (IPP) solar projects across the country which were ongoing and will produce off-grid electricity of 1,000 megawatts (MW).

It further disclosed that the IPPs, which are currently undergoing Technical and Financial Evaluation, shall contribute 1000MW Off-Grid, adding that 10 state governments were enabling solar projects in their states that would

deliver 100MW each contributing 1000MW Off-Grid.

The Minister of Power, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu, stated this at the First Nigeria-African Natural Resource and Energy Investment Summit hosted by Nigeria’s Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in collaboration with other stakeholders in Abuja.

The maiden event which has the theme: ‘Towards a Greener Africa’ kicked-off on Wednesday, 1 June, 2022 and was brought to an end on 3 June, 2022.

Aliyu stressed that the 10MW Katsina Wind Farm was already contributing to the grid and was being considered for a solar hybrid that would optimise its availability to 20MW, stating: “Once we stabilise the base load through the hydropower plants at various stages of completion, we shall integrate all the off-grid structures to the national grid, increasing our energy mix.

“African governments must be proactive and responsive to the course collectively as that is

a prerequisite for achieving a cleaner energy future. It is only by this, can Africa actualise its green transition.”

While he charged the rest of the African continent on energy transition, Aliyu said, “On this note, Your excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me use the opportunity to challenge you all to embrace the clean energy revolution as we manage climate change jointly and holistically. This sustainability challenge requires us to build more resilient economies.”

Army Organises Seminar for Social Media Influencers, Bloggers, Online Journalists Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto The Department of Civil Military AͿairs Nigerian Army has organised a seminar for social media inÁuencers, bloggers and online journalists in Sokoto State.

Speaking at the event yesterday at Sokoto Guest Inn, the

Chief of Army StaͿ (COAS) Lt. General Farouk Yahaya, said the 20th edition of this seminar with a theme ‘The Nigerian Army’s Non-Kinetic Lines of Operation: Role of the social media’, is an avenue to interact with the civil populace to foster a harmonious and cordial civil and military relations.

Yahaya, who was represented

by Chief of the Civil Military AͿairs, Maj. General Marcus Kyangye, said the seminar which started in 2018 has achieved its desired goals.

He called on social media inÁuencers, bloggers and online journalists to rally support for the Nigerian Army and also

encourage them to enlighten the general public on the dangers of misinformation, fake news for the general security of the country.

Yahaya enjoined the media to see the military as partners and avoid reports that would portray the institution in a bad light.

The Lagos State government through the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) has paid 482 retirees in the state a total of N1.5bn.

The Director General, LASPEC, Babalola Obilana, conÀrmed this at the Bond CertiÀcation Presentation in Ikeja.

“Once again, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has shown his determination that people would get their money when they leave. They would not be denied what’s due to them,” Obilana said.

According to the DG, they have paid N1.5 billion to 482 pensioners. He reminded

Nigerians that the governor had been consistent in the payment as promised.

“I’m happy 482 people have got their money today and we will continue to do this.

Before the end of the Àrst year the governor would ensure payment.”

Obilana, however, implored others still in the queue to be patient. “They should come directly to LASPEC or the Ministry of Establishment Pension “We do not work with any association and nobody would demand money from them. So if they have any issues, questions or enquiries, they should come directly. They don’t need to go through anybody,” said.

The Village Headmaster Drama Becomes A TV Sensation Since the Àrst episode of the new production of The Village Headmaster TV Drama Series premiered on Sunday 29th April 2022, the show has quickly become a hit among millions of viewers; including the elderly who watched the original production which aired in 1968-1988, as well as the younger ones who have fallen in love with it based on the artful storytelling, performances, and production.

The iconic programme, which was revived through a ground-breaking partnership between Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP), is produced in line with the best international standards, and contains the precise amounts of suspense, culture, romance, comedy, action and other elements of a great TV series.

It stars some original cast, including Dejumo Lewis (Kabiyesi), Ibidun Allison (Amebo), Dan Imoudu (Chief Dagbolu), Dele Osawe (Teacher Fadele), Melville Obriango (Teacher Oghene), Kate Adepegba(Folake), and Lara Akinsola (Doyin); as well as a diverse list of artistes from across Nigeria, including Chris Iheuwa, Jide Kosoko, Rachael Oniga, Mr Macaroni, Funky Mallam, Yemi Shodimu, 9ice, Monica Friday, Mr Latin, Eric

Obinna, Adekunle Salawu, Deborah Anugwa, Henry Arnold, Jide Alabi, Jumoke Odetola, Kristy Imanlehin, Rykardo Agbor, Ronke Oshodi Oke, Babatunde Aderinoye, Mide Martins, Sam Uche Anyamele, Omo Ibadan, and others.

The Village Headmaster TV Drama Series, powered by Glo, is watched by millions of families weekly on three top TV channels which are available across Nigeria and several parts of Africa.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 4, 2022

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Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Uyoyou Adia Delivers Daring ‘Hey You’ Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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nterprisingfilmmaker,UyoyouAdia issettodeliverherseconddirectorial titled ‘Hey You’, in partnership with Niyi Akinmolayan’s Anthill studios.

Thefilmmakerlaunchedherfeature lengthdirectorialdebutwithInkblot’s law-themedfilm,‘ChargeandBail.’A romance drama, ‘Hey You’ is rated 18 and has been confirmedforJuly29releaseincinemasnationwide.

Alongsideofficialreleasedate,AnthillStudios(days back)sharedafirst-lookteaser.Theraunchyclipshows itstwoleadcharactersTiminiEgbusonandEfeIrele.

Firstwasthelatterteasingamaskedpartner,while the former is captured in a self-help mode in one of thescenes.Therewillbealotmoredaringscenesas such,accordingtoUyoyouwhorevealedplotdetails inachatwiththisreporter.Inherwords,thelifeofan awkward 32 year-old software engineer is turned upsidedownwhenhefindsoutthegirlhewantstobe withistheFansalone(awebsite)modelheobsesses over and she’s his next-door neighbor.

Abel,playedbyTiminiEgbusonandBianca,played byEfeIrele,withoneofthemlookingforloveandthe otherwillingtolovegenuinely,theirlivesgetsentangled in the most unconventional way. What you will find out on July 29th is if they will eventually find love while staying true to who they are. This love story

is one that encourages people to be confident in who they are.

The new teaser however leaves critics pondering on the place of the Nigeria Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) as the board is notable for kicking against explicit content on the big screens. With the trailer due to be out soon,theseeminglydaringnewtitle,Anthillboss AkinmolayansuggestedviaanInstagrampost that fans can expect an intense plot.

‘HeyYou’willfeatureRotimiSalami,StanNze, TopeOlowoniyan,MiriamPeters,TunbosunAiyedehinandSeyiAwolowoamongothers.Atthe commencementofshoot,Uyoyounotedthatshe wouldbeexploringnewfrontierswhilebringing her directing capability to bear in ‘Hey You.’ “Attheriskofsoundingcliche,Iwouldsaythat thismovieisnothinglikeanyonehasseenbefore.

I was particularly drawn to the story when Mr. NiyiandtheAnthillteamspokeaboutitbeforeI wroteitandwhenIhadareadwiththeactorsit was a whole new vibe and excitement.

“Without revealing too much, working with such a quality team is something I always look forward to and all I can promise is that we are bringing magic to the big screen,” she said.

‘Hey You’ is written and directed by Uyoyou AdiaandproducedbyVictoriaAkujobiforAnthill Studios.

Timini Egbuson

Efe Irele

DJ Consequence Unveils First Single in 2022 Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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DJ Consequence

alentedNigerianDiscJockey,DJConsequencehasunveiledanimpressive hit track dubbed “Paused.”The song featuresabrilliantandhardworking Dancehall/Reggaeartiste,Patoranking. In addition, this is an excellent smash single that has won critics and observers that you wouldn’t like to overlook for anything at all.

The song happens to be DJ Consequence’s first singlein2022.Followinghiscaptivatingsong,“NumberOne”,withDJTaricoalongsidePreckandNelson Tivane,in2021,whichisstillmakingamajorimpact tillthismoment.Interestingly,DJConsequence,born Akeredolu Precious Pelumi, has been doing music from way back, he tells this reporter in a chat.

“IhavefeatureswithOlamide,TiwaSavage,YC;my latestsinglenowiswithPatorankingcalledPause,”he explains. “MyfirstmajorsinglewaswithBigMoand NiolacalledJ‘ usttheTwoofUs’featuringTufaceand Annieinthevideo.IhadsomethingwithDammykrane it was just like freestyle; with Dammykrane and Ice Princewedidforoneofourclubpromotersbackthen.

“I dropped an EP in 2020 called ‘The Vibes from

the Future’ where I featured young acts that are already big acts. Then I had Buju, Bella Shmurda, Oxlade, Viktony, all these guys popping now back then I already had them on the EP.” DJ Consequence asanartpersondoesmusic,andplaysinstruments.

Whatinspireshim?Forhimit’sjustsomethingborne out of love.

“I have been into music way back in secondary school;IwasthemusicprefectbecauseIplayinstrument.It’ssomethingIlovedoingfrommychildhood.

I play drums, guitar, keyboard, and trumpet. Music has been a part of me from childhood. I will say my inspiration is part of my childhood because music has been what I have been doing since. So coming intodeejayscene,musicscene,theyallrolltogether.

It’s something I grew with.”

The journey so far has been great for the phenomenal deejay/music artist “because I’m happy,” headmitted.“Igrewintothemusicindustry.Ididnot just wake up one morning and blow and become a sensation or anything like that. I have paid my dues and I’m still in that process and I’m not stopping. It’s not fluke; it’s been hard work and growth you get. I t’s been step by step. You can see the journey.That growthismykey.It’snotaonehitwonder.Ihappened organically.”

Goingthroughhiscataloguesshowsquiteapacked journeyinthenightlifesceneinLagospriortobecoming one of the most sorts after deejays in Nigeria. “I started off in Modex Lounge in Ajao Estate back in 2010.Thatwasmyfirstsceneinthenightlife.From there I moved on toThe Place in Ikeja in 2012. I was in Club O Reloaded Yaba in 2013.

“IdidQuiloxin2014foraboutsixyearsbeforeIleft Quilox shortly before Covid in 2020. Covid slowed down everything there was no nightlife. I have so many other places I have played apart from Quilox.

Like Buzz Bar, Play Empire Columbia, Crossroads, Eko Hotel, Vertigo Bar Elegushi, and a whole lot.

But basically my major nightlife scene was Quilox.

“I later became the entertainment director at Zorya Night Club till now. I was the residence DJ at Industry Night for about three years. I was also on radio SoundCity FM. Back to the club scene, I have a series of parties called The Vibes Parties. There isTheVibes Day Party we do every year sometime aroundEaster,andalsoduringIndependenceperiod.

ThenwehaveTheVibesofTheYearwhichislikethe major concert we do in December 20th or 19th.”

Consequence owns a DJ Academy, a recording studio and a lounge. He also revealed that he has a Nightclub in the works.

Epic Drama ‘Lotanna’ Goes on Amazon Prime Video Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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couple of “new” Nollywood movies tick the boxes at the mention of their titles. Be it in the characters, costume, makeup/effect, directing, dialogue or what have you, you just can’t but admit to the effort and quality of the output. One of such movies is Lotanna, a 2017 epic drama with a mixed cast of Nigerian and Ghanaian actors.

Its recognition was such that it emerged the biggest winner at the 2017 Golden Movie Award held in Accra.

Lotanna, which captures the scenery of the mid 70’s and 90’s, follows the story of its titular character (played by Chris Okagbue) who discovers that he has to offset a huge

debt owed by his father before his sudden death, to a fearful loan shark called Don Cleff. Aided by an unbreakable resolve to succeed, his friends and his musical talent, he must find a way to solve this unfairly inherited problem or die trying.

Dubbed astounding masterpiece starring veterans Liz Benson Ameye and Jide kososko, Chris Attoh, Chris Okagbue, Kenturah King, Victor Olaotan (late), Meg Ontanwa, Ama K. Abebrese, Henry Adofo and Raymond Iorkohol, the Ifan Michael’s acclaimed feature film, directed by Toka McBaror, will join a list of Nollywood titles launching on Amazon Prime Video on June 1, 2022.

Movie buffs that missed its theatrical release some five years ago now can see it on the streamer. Confirming the premiere, producer Ifan Michael

wrote on Instagram: “It is with great pleasure that I announce my foray into the filmmaking space, Lotanna, would be streaming on Amazon Prime from tomorrow, June 1st,” Michael of the Kemi Adesoye scripted film.

“Lotanna is easily the most special project I’ve ever embarked on for reasons too many to mention and it is my proudest work till date. Please endeavor to watch it when you can to see my little beginnings and sweat and labour of my esteemed cast and crew members.”

Since ‘Lotanna’, Ifan Michael has gone on to garner major heights with his multiple award-winning title ‘Foreigners God’, also streaming on Amazon Prime and his latest project ‘Singing Ama K. Abebrese in a scene Sin’ currently in production.

Hi-Impact TV Launches on StarTimes Platform In its bid to expand its viewership across the globe and be in every home in Nigeria, Hi-Impact Television, the first full High Definition (HD) television station in Nigeria is set to launch on the StarTimes platform Channel 145 beginning from 1st of June 2022.

Hi-ImpactTVwhichcurrentlybroadcastontheFree

toAirEutelsat7WAand7EBisafamilyfriendlystation that has continued to churn out programmes that educate, inform and entertain its viewers with high premiumqualitycontentsthatuplifttheviewingpublic According to the Assistant General Manager, Hi-Impact Studios Francisca Ovie, “the coming on boardStarTimesfromJunewillaffordeveryhomethe

opportunityofwatchingandenjoyinghighpremium quality programmes the station has been churning out since it made a debut four years ago” FranciscafurthersaidthatStarTimesenjoysavery widecoverageinNigeriaandotherAfricancountries especially on its DigitalTerrestrialTelevision (DTT) andHi-ImpactTVhopestobenefitfromthisarrange-

ment beginning form today to mark our four years in existence.

Hi-ImpactTVhitNigeriaairwavesexactlyonJune 1st2018andhasbroadcastfor24hourseversince.

Hi-ImpactStudioswasrecentlygrantedaradiolicence andissettocommencetesttransmissionnextmonth on 102.1FM.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 4, 2022

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Tosin Clegg

07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

Izu Ojukwu

I Didn’t Know I Would End Up Being a Film Maker IzuOjukwuisapassionatefilmmakerwhohascontributedimmenselytothegrowthoftheNigerianfilmindustryover thepasttwentyyears.Ojukwuhasproducedmorethan20moviesandstillcounting,includingtherenowned,Nigerian historical fiction drama film “76”, produced in 2014 and “Amina”, though shot in 2015, recently got 13 nominations and won four awards including The Best Overall Movie in Africa at the just concluded African Magic Viewers’ Choice Award. Ojukwu talks to Tosin Clegg about his early days in film making, innovations and a lot more Growing up Jos grew up in Jos, dreaming of becoming a Priest. I’m not sure whether I was attracted to the message or life of priesthood or just the attire. That was where I was tilting to until something happened that changed my trajectory and for some very strange reasons I didn’t make it to the seminary. Back in the 80s, life in Jos was beautiful, the weather was always very cold but sometimes during rainy season, if it doesn’t rain for a while the temperature would rise significantly. I come from a very big polygamous family, and most nights when the weather becomes too hot, we would have our dinner outside together as a family. So, I took advantage of that opportunity to entertain the familywithfolktalestoldbymymum.Thenatsome point, I felt it would be nice to start dramatizing these stories. So I made masks of various animals represented in my folk tales and had my younger ones wear them and perform before the family.

I tell them what to say; how to move and how to react to what was said. Now looking back in retrospect, I realised that what I was doing then for fun is exactly what I’m getting paid to do now k Ojukwu for a living. In 1988, I used to frequent the cinema Izu Oj house and eventually became friends with the cinema operator as I used to run errands for him would manage to get money then come to specifically New Era Cinema, Jos. Most times, the garage to see moving images.

I got the privilege of sitting in the control room with him and started understanding the workings I didn’t know I would end up a film maker of the projector. From the knowledge I garnered, 1988 was the National Sports Festival I was able construct my own projector, though in Jos and I was there for the games then I I couldn’t figure out the sound technology, so I saw a camera man from a local television beamed only the visuals to the big screen in my station (PRTV) and became his errand boy father’s garage. There, I would screen 11 min as I wanted to look into his lens all the time. of 16mm Indian and Chinese cut out film reel So, before he would ask for anything I would and those days the kids in the neighbourhood

I

reachoutforitandfiguredoutwheretochargehis batteries. So, everyday, I come back and look for him until the festival was over. I had little interest in the sports and then again I told myself I could recreate the camera which I started working on but the technology was more sophisticated for me. When I left Secondary school, I was privy to a 2week hands on workshop on various aspect of film making organised by some visiting white missionaries.Itookadvantageofthatopportunity and I did a course in cinematography, that’s where I got my starting shots in the movie industry.

What makes a good movie?

For me, first is authenticity as the story must be authentic and must be relatable so people can connect. Your local audience is your primary, they are your first priority, they should be able to see themselves in your story to be able to connect. t But while doing that, you do not forget the larger picture. Since film language is universal, a good movie is one that takes a local story and makes it appealing to a global audience. I do not make movies for awards, in fact it is wrong to approach a film with that mindset. As a film maker, I have a burden in my heart to address social issues as I have found my voice through my lenses. It is good to aspire for awards but when that becomes the motivating factor, there is the tendency that the film would miss the fair balance between art and commerce and may also not pick up any award. When a film maker is sincere with the interpretation of the story before him or her, awards will become inevitable.

Making the movie, Amina was an audacious step It is worthy of note that African women have beenintheforefrontofcivilisationandleadership

Lagos Restaurant Festival Tosin Clegg

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s restaurants are integral parts of our society, providing us with much needed comfort, different cuisine, ambience and aesthetics.

LagosGo, an organization geared towards promoting, boosting and developing the tourism capabilities of the state, is organizing the 2022 “Lagos restaurant festival” from September 1 to September 18.

The CEO of LagosGo, Akin Eso said: “The festival will be an aesthetically pleasing

event with many attractive activities and cuisines. It will be a celebration of numerous restaurants and food lifestyle in Lagos.

This is going to be an exciting experience for all of Lagos and the country at large. No one can resist a good meal and a good time, which will come with the Lagos Restaurant Festival, two peas in a pod.

“The festival will end with a pop up restaurant on the last day, called Restaurant X. It will be a time for people to roll up their sleeves and enjoy a host of live cooking demonstrations and workshops. There is even a chance to get those culinary questions answered at our pop up restaurant on the final day.”

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Yaw

aw has been known to bring exceptional talents on stage to deliver unusual play, dance and musical performances. Yawnaija Production is set present a thrilling and exciting satire, PO!! by the multi-talented OAP, actor and producer. Yaw, real name Steve Onu, has Kenneth Uphopho as the Director of the stage play. The satire was written by famous Nollywood actor, Femi Branch.

The show will feature best comedians in the country and some members of the cast of Nigeria’s best comedy show, “My Flatmates”

The character drives the casting You must look for cast that fit the character you want to bring to life. By looking for characters, you are also mindful of actors with potential and at the same time commercial value because you want to remain in business and be able to make films that would attract audiences. So there is always a blend with upcoming actors as they would need the experience to be able to make it through..

Fresh Episodes of Akpan and Oduma

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n Monday May 30, Season 7 ofWaleAdenugaProductions’ Akpan and Oduma, one of the most-popular Nigerian comedy skits with over 80 million views on YouTube, was released to worldwide

Akin Eso

Yaw is Ready for 3-Day Stage Play Tosin Clegg

in prehistoric times, hence the desire to capture the birth and rise of the powerful Queen Amina in this epic movie. Most times as Africans, we are conditioned to think that we are second class and cannot take initiatives unless it is handed down to us,butour history suggest otherwise. Amina was a warrior, Amina led men to battle but looking at the situation now I wonder ‘where did we get it wrong’. Movies like this help us remember who we are but making this epic movie comes with enormous challenges. From research to script, up-to principal photography consumes time and huge resources. For most of my works, the preferred post production studios have always been Europe and America due to the absence of world class post production studios in Nigeria. So I decided to join forces with a business partner to set up House of Illusion studios here in Lagos, a high end post production studio with the right partnership locally and internationally. The studio is designed to create a better working condition for our film makers. As a matter of fact, making Amina inspired our desire at House of Illusion to give out post production grants to five female film makers every year in order to encourage the already growing number of female film makers in Nollywood.

showing on DSTV - Titus, Prosper, Mimi, Obusand Chief Donatus . It will also feature famous old and new school music artistes in Nigeria.

Yaw held his first stage play in 2009 alongside talented Koffi. Ever since, he has shared the stage with the likes of Owen Gee, Funke Akindele, Mc Abbey, Julius Agwu to mention a few.

Yaw said: “I haven’t done my stage play in five years. This year, I decided to and as you know, mine is not just about comedy, mine is about advocacy and educating the minds of everyone. I also decided to do this at this time because much hasn’t changed in terms of governance.”

audiences.

The 10-minute sitcom details the lives of the comicalduo,AkpanandOduma,andthecountless situations they get into, as they have recently left their village for Lagos, in their quest to acquire massive quick wealth. The sitcom details their everyday lives, and the several hilarious situations they get into due to the culture-shock, their crooked schemes, as well as the occasional bad luck. It features supporting characters like Chief Olododo,Patoski,SisterBridget,BrotherShangalo, Ebubae, and others.

Akpan and Oduma

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 4, 2022

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Falana Drops Visuals for ‘Energy Re-Up’ Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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Falana

ashion enthusiast and lover of all things arts and culture, Victoria Falana returns with the final focus track from her critically acclaimed Rising EP, ‘Energy Re-Up”, which boasted hits tracks “Joy” & “Sweet Adetola”. As one of the original Alte artistes, the Falana sound could never make it in a simple description as simply R&B or Afrobeat.

While exploring her artistic voice, she discovered and developed her signature “soul fusion” sound – a blend of jazz, soul, Afro beat, and R&B – during her sojourn in Cuba. The Energy Re-Up, with additional production by BK2/The Fullest, adds a live funky bassline and layered keys to the

original USA /Jamaican producer, Tyler Richards’ dancehall inspired production.

Additional vocals to this engaging tune, added by co-writer, Sir Dauda, provides a melodic rap around Falana’s sweet vocal performance which centres on the pleasures of being young, carefree and in love with everything, and life! Two NFT drops on Nifty Gateway have thrown their weights behind this project with the first “Rising”, on May 20, 2022 when she collaborated with digital artistes Anthony Azekwoh & Duro.

The second drop, “Rising Sister” on May 28th, 2022 is animated versions of the original art installation combined with music clips from inspired “Rising” EP track. The audio and NFT’s release is supported with a “good

vibes” music video conceptualised

by Falana and directed by the Lagos based, 2 Brothers who have worked with groundbreaking artistes like Wizkid, Burna Boy, Asa, Ladipoe, Sauti Sol. The music video for ‘Energy Re-Up’ is a real “girl power” affair with bedrooms, road trips, party and performance elements, all providing a full visual palette which captures the sound and the performance of the track, perfectly timed for release as a summer anthem and on everyone’s playlists.

With her recent multiple nominations by the Headies awards, for Best R&B Album of the Year for the Rising EP, “Songwriter of the Year” & “Best recording Of The Year” for “Joy”, 2022 looks set to be a defining year for Falana.

How Pepsi Refreshed World Corporate Golf Challenge Finals Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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epsi Nigeria grabbed a large slice of the attention of golfers and guests at the National Finals of the World Corporate Golf Challenge (WCGC), which was held at the Lakowe Lakes and Golf Estate, Lagos, last weekend.

Pepsi from bottling giants, Seven-Up Bottling Company (SBC), famous for its promotion of sports in Nigeria, was getting involved in the WCGC for the first time and made a big splash by spicing the occasion with a generous dose of

entertainment to go along with the golfing action.

The company backed the event with Storm Band, the high-profile musical live music group, which thrilled the audience with its vast repertoire of music genres that include Naija hip-hop, juju, highlife, and rhythm and blues.

Similarly in action at the national finals, the instance of Pepsi was DJ Xclusive, the premium-grade disc jockey with resume boasting performances with A-Grade artists such as Ne-Yo, Rihanna, Mario Winans, Brick, Lace, Nas, and Fat Joe as well as featuring at the

2013 Big Brother House Parties.

Speaking on the company’s involvement, Norden Thurston, Chief Marketing Officer, SBC, said Pepsi is committed to the promotion of sports and entertainment in Nigeria.

“Our involvement in the national finals of the World Corporate Golf Challenge speaks loudly to our corporate policy of supporting sports and entertainment.

We are all about refreshing Nigeria and Nigerians and we are delighted to refresh everyone at the World Corporate Golf Challenge,” Thurston said.

Many of the golfers who participated in the event were full of praise for Pepsi.

One of the participants, Adebiyi Fetuga, who is also Chairman of the Lagos State

Golf Association, expressed delight at Pepsi’s support, saying: “Pepsi’s involvement brought a lot of glamour to this year’s edition. They were just all over the place with their very special hospitality.

Very impressive” he said.

Another participant and keen golfer, Jenkins Alumona of Flykite Productions, organizers of the DStv Premium Golf Day, described Pepsi’s involvement as a game-changer. “They have added a lot of glamour to the WCGC this year. The post-game entertainment was really nice” he said.

The WCGC national finals had previously been held in Abuja and Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, before being held in Lagos.

Femi Adebayo’s Ile-Alayo Season 2 Returns on StarTimes

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ollowing the success of season one of the comedy-drama series, Ile-Alayo, Nollywood fans will be treated to a new season starting June 4 on ST Nollywood Plus.

Ile Alayo season 2 will air Thursdays to Sundays at 8 pm.

Ile Alayo is a comedy series adapted from a comedy movie of the same title. Based on popular demand from Nollywood audience, it’s now produced into a comedy series.

Season 2 of this comic series retains a number of the original actors, while also bringing a new spice to it with popular faces in the Nigerian comedy scene. Starring notable Nollywood acts and social media sensations like Dele Odule, Broda Shaggy, Mr. Macaroni, Femi Adebayo, Mercy Aigbe, Oga Bello, Woli Agba, Jaiye Kuti, Shotayo, Odunlade Adekola,

Olaiya Igwe, Ronke Odusanya, Okunu, Lateef Adedimeji, Jide Kosoko, Remote, Officer Woos, Jigan Babaoja, Amuda Eko, Kunle Afo, Atoribewu, Lanko, Oni Damilola, Ijebuu, Monsuru, and Olusola Melanie.

“We saw the wide reception of season one and the craving for its continuity. As a brand that listens and have the interest of customers at heart, we hereby bring to their screens another edition of the series. Families at home should get set for rib-cracking scenes. It is sure going to be a laughter-filled season,” StarTimes Channel Manager, Ali Auta, said.

ST Nollywood Plus, the channel dedicated to Ile-Alayo, is on StarTimes’ classic and Super bouquet. From June 4, Classic Bouquet will be N2750 monthly, Super Bouquet will be N4900 monthly while Basic and Smart Bouquets will be N1850 and N2600 monthly respectively.

Nova Bouquet remains N900 monthly.

Speaking on the moral lessons in season two, Jaiye Kuti said: “When you come from a home where you are not properly trained, you may end up on the street or in the hands of an abuser who disguised as your helper. So the lesson for ladies is that you don’t have to wait for a man before you can meet your needs.

You should be able to do certain things yourself. Because if a man should take you into his house, and does whatever he wants to you at his own will, it will make your life not have any meaningful value. But our lives are valuable. So, we have to wake up to do something meaningful.”.

The attractive thing about Ile Alayo is how the characters are infused in their natural role.

The likes of Broda Shaggi and Mr. Macaroni play the same role they are known for in their skits, while Adedimeji Lateef maintained his Igbo-Yoruba accent.

Femi Adebayo

Nigerian’s Song for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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Vincent Chinemelu

s tributes poured in from world leaders, past and present venerating Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 70 years on the throne, a song composed by a Nigerian Catholic Reverend Father,Vincent Chinemelu, has been selected as the song used to celebrate b the t Platinum Jubilee of the United Kingdom’s Queen Elizabeth which began Thursday.

Q The second day of celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth’s three and a half decade reign began E with w members of the royal family, including Prince

Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attending a religious service at the famed St Paul’s Cathedral in central London on Friday.

The winning song titled, ‘A Life Lived With Grace’, is being sung across the globe as beacons are being lit in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. According to The Commonwealth Resounds, Chinemelu won the Song for the Commonwealth competition in January alongside lyricist Lucy Kiely from Australia.

Chinemelu, who hails from Anambra, a state in Southeast Nigeria, is a multiinstrumentalist who plays the piano, flute, cello, trumpet, alto sax and guitar.

CNN reported that more than 400 people

from all four nations of the United Kingdom were invited to the event recognizing the Queen’s lifetime of service.

The congregation included key workers, teachers and public servants as well as representatives from the Armed Forces, charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups.

The theme of Friday morning’s event, formally called “The National Service of Thanksgiving to Celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her MajestyThe Queen,” was public service. The Dean of St Paul’s, David Ison, led the service, which included Bible readings, prayers and congregational hymns to honor the Queen’s 70 years on the British throne.

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SATURDAY JUNE 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 4, 2022

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TRIBUTE Chinedu Nebo : Quintessential Man of God @70 Sunny Igboanugo

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fyouhaveobsessionforthethingsoftheworld, particularlymoneyandwhatmoneycanbuy, avoidhim.Butifyouwishtoliveafulfilledlife devoidofitsexcessives,he’syourmantobe with any day.

Yes!You’remorelikelytogotoheaven,relating with him than you would, making money.

Regardlessofwhichreligionyourprofessandeven ifyoudonotbelongtoanyreligionyou’llstillmakeit provided you don’t abhor decency.

No single man I know embodies the elements of humanitylikeChineduNebo-ProfessorofMeteorologyEngineering,FellowNigeriaSocietyofEngineers (NSE).

Here,I’mnottalkingaboutwhatisthereinthepublic domain-formerViceChancelloroftwofederaluniversities in Nigeria - University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), ArchdeaconoftheAnglicanChurch,eloquentspeaker andamanwhohasdevotedasubstantialpartofhis life in spreading the word of God in the nooks and cranniesofthesociety,eventotheremotestvillages.

No!ThisisnotthemanI’mtalkingabout.Iwriteabout ChineduNebo,themanIworkedwithatcloserange foralmostthreeyearsasanaide,duringhisdaysas then Minister of Power - the man who changed my world view totally.

It is all about his persona - one captured in all the virtuesofqualitylife-integrity,credibility,patience, kindness, humility, accessibility, humor - the list is extensive and inexhaustible.

How is it possible that a man is never angry, never bangsthetableandneverbarksoutorders,abossand aMinisterforthatmatter?Butthat’shim.Ineversaw anyoccasionheflippedhistops,despitetheflawshe hadtodealwithondailybasis,includingfromsome of us who he employed to work with him.

Fewsamplers:Imaginemedozingoffintermittently in the middle of an important interview inside his office. It was actually the effect of malaria drugs I wastaking.Butwhocares?Ihadexpectedaserious scolding at least. But there wasn’t even a hint that he noticed, even though I’m sure he did. What kind of man is this, was what I kept asking myself after the disaster.

Incidentally, a friend, also an aide to one of the principal officers at the National Assembly, told methatthesamefault,earnedoneofhiscolleagues

Nebo

instant sack from his big boss.

Onanotheroccasion,wehadtravelledtoLagos, where he was scheduled to ring the bell at the NigerianStockExchange.Iwasn’tfastenough to join the convoy and when he inquired and discovered that I was not in any of the cars, he had to order the convoy to stop, so that I could join. Again, I expected some scolding. But, it never happened.

Therewereothercases,whereIexpectedan outburst,asanypersonincludingmyselfiswont.

Butneverdidheraisehisvoice.Eachexperience wastoburnishyouratherthanhardwords.Today, I’m a different person in terms of patience.

TheonlytimeNeboindicatedthatatleasthe’s human, was in Anambra. It was at the burial of ChinuaAchebe,theauthorofThingsFallApart, atOgidi,hishometown.BecausethePresident, GoodluckJonathan,wasinattendance,anddue tothehugecrowd,therewascompletechaos, somuchthatwehadtoparkandwalkadistance.

Thisnearlyprovedfatal.Attheendoftheevent, wehadsteppedouttowaitfortheconvoywhen thisrecklessokadafromnowherehithim.You would expect an end of the unfortunate rider.

But all I saw was a momentary flash of shock thatdisappearedquickly.EvenwhenlikePeter drawinghisswordtosliceofftheearofthechief priest’sservant,Iwentfortheboy’sjugular,he

forcedmetosheathemyswordbacktothescabbard.

Iwasconfrontedwithascandalousscenariosduring a media tour in Lagos. The second newspaper we visited, as we set off was virtually deserted. Only oneortwoeditorswereonhandtowelcomehim.No fault of mine, because I’d made what I thought was clinicalarrangement,aweekbefore. AsIsweatedit out,hejustsatcalmlyinhiscar,whilefranticcallswere being made to pull the editors from their homes or wherever.Heonlywarnedcalmlythathewon’tstay hereforanother30minutes.Thankfullyitdidn’ttake that long eventually.

Thematterwasneverevendiscussedagain,because as it turned out, he had a swell time eventually with his hosts. It took Nebo’s unique large heart and his extreme capacity for patience that he quickly got overtheobviousembarrassment,unlikemanyothers in his capacity.

But don’t get it twisted. This does not translate to excusing indolence or non-performance. It was just his exemplary expression of humaneness in accepting that things could go south sometimes.

Indeed, some of the events happened at different times and far in-between. There were many other rewardingandpositiveoutcomesduringtheperiod that could hardly be blighted by them.

Do I write about Nebo, the singer? On one of his birthdays, all his aides and top ministry officials, had made it quite early to the office, decorated his office and waited. Immediately he stepped in the entireroomreverberatedwithabirthdaysong.Come and hear the sonorous tone with which he sang his own version of the How Old Are You Now? DoIwriteaboutNebo,thepreacherofGod’swords?

WelcometoOkparaSquareinEnugu,duringoneof the activities marking the burial of the late Amaka Igwe,oneofNigeria’sforemostNollywoodproducers, whowashisstudentattheEnuguStateUniversity of Science and Technology (ESUT). I saw many of theNigeria’shighprofileNollywoodstarspractically coming down in tears, with his gripping message.

DoIwriteaboutNebo’shumours?Somany.Oneof themwashischildhoodfascinationwithtruck-pushers, whohesawinKafanchan,wherehewasborn,andhis wish to be like them because of their huge biceps.

IsitNebo,theworkaholic?Betterbefitandready.

Onlyveryfewpeoplekeptupwithhispace.Icouldn’t on many occasions?

What about the orator? Well, this is better experienced than narrated. He was a reporters delight and it was clear that those of us who made his

media team, had very little to do. He remembered everything,answeredeveryquestiontothedelight ofhishostsduringinterviewsthattheTalkingPoints usuallypreparedduringhisoutings,werecompletely inadequate if not useless.

How could you be hungry and a palatable meal is beingpreparedforyou,you’reperceivingthearoma already andwhenthemealisabouttobeservedto endyourhunger,youdecidetogotoanotherhouse whereyou’renotsureoffood?Thiswasthequestion heputtoNigeriansintheruntothe2015election,when the change mantra was raging. Was he a prophet?

Well, the jury is out.

It’sonrecordthatforthefiveyearshewastheVCof UNN,therewasnosinglestrikeandthecultactivities thatmadeitoneofthemostdangerousinstitutions in Nigeria virtually disappeared.

ThePowerMinistry,whichwasahotbedofintense agitation and a battleground over labour issues, became calm with all crisis he met, solved as easily as a hot knife on butter, as all issues were resolved, leadingtotheultimategoaloftheprivatisationofthe nation’spowersector.That’sNebo,thenegotiator!

Even when pipelines were being burst each time therewasappreciablegenerationpeek,byvandals believedtobesponsored,Nebo’sresponsewasalways measured without any sign of fretting.

An extremely successful man both as a scholar, teacher,administratorandpreacher,whoiscurrently next to Bishop in the Anglican church, ask him the magic and you get a straight answer - God. That’s an area he never jokes with - his religious matters and affairs of God. That is why you must nevergonearhimfororwithanythingthatisuntoward orcorrupt.You’llcertainlynotbepleasedintheend.

OutsideGod,thenextinlinetohisheartishiswife, hefondlycallsIfy,whomhefellinlovewithattheage of19,marriedattheageof25,andhaslivedwithnow for44years,withchildrenandgrandchildrenasthe result.

Ositadimma Chinedu Nebo, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), born, born June 3, 1952, turns70thisFriday,afulfilledman.Ifindeed,asthe Romans wrote on their walls thousands of years ago - vox populi vox Dei, the voice of the people is thevoiceofGod,hehasetchedhisnamepermanently acrossthepagesofhistory,asamanwhocame,saw andconquered.Congratulations!Thanksforallyou taught me!

Igboanugo writes from Lagos

Oladiji and the Fresh Fervour for FUTA Tunde Akanni

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henewsoftheemergenceofourvery ownTemidayoAdenikeOladiji,FAS, renowned professor of biochemistry, as the first female, new vicechancelloroftheFederalUniversity of Technology, Akure stirred up an uncommon, ecstatic excitement in manyofus.Asafriendandcolleaguewenowreckon with as a family member, we were more than proud.

But almost immediately, I remembered Ile-Ife. I remembered the ancient community in relation to a similar announcement for the great citadel of learning, OAU Ife,beclouded by strange decibelsof confusion.SomefolkswhoclaimedtobeIfepeople wanted an indigene, by all means, to be VC. It didn’t mattertothemiftheirpreferredcandidatewhodid notmakeitthistimecouldemergenexttimearound.

Theystagedmarchesintheircommunitygoingasfar astheuniversitycampustoflaunttheirfetishfangs, butthedeedhadbeendoneandcouldnotbeundone.

The university council’s decision was final!

Beyond resounding condemnations that the unpopularprotestersinIle-Ifeattractedtothemselves, the historical reality of FUTA countered the ethnic jingoists. The sitting VC then, Prof Joseph Fuwape, hailed from Ile-Ife, but no one ever bothered about that. FUTAhadbeenonthepathofgreatnessandall everyone wanted was for the leadership to sustain this and possibly boost it.

Unfortunately,theIfeviolencemerchantsseemed tohaveinfectedsomepseudo-scholars,ironicallyin FUTA. InthesamespiritwiththeminorityIfelocalsor soitseemed,ProfessorOladijistoodcondemnedas thewinnerofthejustconcludedappointmentprocess.

Mostdistastefully,theyfoundsheerilliteratecollaboratorsinsomemediawithpassiveorabsent-minded editing.Otherwisehowdoyoudescribesuchmedia

Temidayo Oladiji

lapping up same headline with same story far from aligningwiththeheadline? Moredisturbingreallywas thefactthatevenaparticulartitlethathadsomeof itsjournalistspunishedforasimilarrecklessnessin thepastgotcaughtupwiththis!Youwillwonderfor eternitywhyanewsorganization supposedlyrunby trainedprofessionalswilldeliberatelypositionitself in the path of progress of an ambitious university like FUTA. Who is not in awe of the excellent job of public imagemanagementbyourgoodfriendandcolleague, AdegbenroAdebanjo?Whatabouttheindomitability ofFUTA’sacademics,byallmeans,activeresearchers combinedwiththealumniwhohavebeenrelentless in upscaling the profile of their university globally?

Expectedly,theinformedvoiceofASUUFUTAcalled outtocontroverttheearlierrancorousintervention smacking of unmistakable ignorance by folks not familiar with university tradition. How capacity deficient? How else could the council have told the story of how Temidayo Oladiji triumphed over her rivals in the contest for the VC’s seat? How much morecanwesayFUTAneedsOladijinowmorethan any other time?

From accomplishing groundbreaking researches andwinninginternationallycompetitivegrantsacross assorteddisciplinesofAgriculturalSciencetotrendy engineering feats, FUTA has been recurrent. As a mentor and father to some engineering budding stars including a doctoral student in environmental engineering in England with a Commonwealth Scholarshipuphissleeves,Ihavemorethanapassing interestinengineeringandalliedresearchesinwhich FUTAhascometodistinguishitself. Time,again,has comefortheambitiousuniversitytomovehigherup on the scale of global ranking. And I make this valid claim based on my evaluation of the profile of the energetic, young VC just clocking 54.

Let’s do this again together: Born Adenike Temidayo Folayan, the Biochemistry scholar belongs in the category of first generation of what has come to be known as Better by Far University. It was the samegeneration thatproducedtheincumbent,high performingVice-ChancelloroftheFederalUniversity of Lokoja, Kogi State, Prof Olayemi Akinwumi.

YoungAdenikebaggedaSecondClassUpperHonoursdegreeinBiochemistryin1988.Notwithstanding the hard-hitting economic policy of the Structural AdjustmentProgramme,SAP,KwaraBreweriesinOffa couldnotresistthebrillianceexhibitedbytheyoung graduate in the course of examining their potential recruits. She was hired immediately. More than 25 years after leaving the brewery for the academia, Prof Oladiji keeps researching about food, glori-

ously sustaining the good memory of her humble beginning at Offa. Check out the list of research products developed from herbs by the new FUTA boss:AHRISweetBasilspices(listingwithNAFDAC); PangasAnti-anaemicsupplement(beingprocessed forregulatoryapproval);BlosorgSupplement(awaiting regulatory approval); Iron-fortified tomato and pepper paste(awaiting regulatory approval) Since joining her alma mater, the University of Ilorin,asalecturer,diligentOladiji,inadditiontobeing faithfultoherprimaryresponsibilitiesofteachingand researching, has served in several other capacities mostmeritoriouslyearninghermultipledistinctions andresearchgrants.Howelsecouldanyonehavebeen sufficiently prepared for VCship?

AGuestProfessorattheUniversityofGambiasince 2012,shewasatdifferenttimesaPlenaryLecturer, Uka Tarsadia University in India and a Fellow of the IsraeliAgencyforInternationalDevelopmentCooperation in addition to being 1989 Federal Government of Nigeria Scholar as well as being a winner of the 1995-97 winner of the University of Ilorin Staff Development Award. It was therefore no wonder she emerged the lead researcher for the over N17 millionNNPCRenewableEnergyResearchProjectin 2019.Thatwasevenafterleadingmultipleresearch projects supported by TETFUND. Though a scientist, Oladiji is as much a public intellectualinasocietynotoriousforpartriarchy. In2019 alonewithinaveryshortspaceoftime,shedelivered two highly celebrated public lectures. She was the guestspeakeratthatyear’svaledictoryceremonyof the popular AdeolaCollege Offa. Soonafterwards, she did another major address at the Hooding Ceremonyofthe CollegeofPureandAppliedSciences of Landmark University, Omun Aran, Kwara State, to mention only two.

Read full Tribute online - www.thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 4, 2022

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POLITY Yuguda Dibal

Tinubu will Win a Free, Fair Presidential Primary Election The former deputy governor of Borno State, Yuguda Shettima Dibal was the chairman of the electoral committee from the All Progressives Congress’ headquarters in Abuja that conducted the recent governorship primary election in Lagos State. In this interview with THISDAY, Dibal described the election won by Babajide Sanwo-Olu as free and fair. He also said given a level playing ground, Bola Ahmed Tinubu would win the APC presidential ticket How did your electoral committee fare in the conduct of the Lagos State governorship primary? his was a process which started somewhere before culminating in the primary contest.

Of course, you know that there are processes the aspirants would have undergone before eventually being eligible to contest for the main primaries. The arrangement was excellent. Lagos, like Borno, where I come from is always one party, one people. The five-man panel was headed by me. The process, as you all can see, was excellent and at the end of the day, the governor was declared the winner.

It was alleged that your panel was bought over which was why the two other contestants were barred from the election I am aware that three people purchased the forms from Lagos and they went through the screening process, including the sitting governor. The screening committee has the power, as backed by NEC, including the presidential committee, to screen all aspirants and you then go to the Appeal Committee if you have any issue with the whole process. After this, you are given a clean bill of health, meaning, you are issued a certificate which is a norm in all the parties, APC inclusive. I know that three aspirants appeared before the screening committee, one was cleared and the two others were not cleared. If one is cleared and the other weren’t, it means that there are issues regarding the aspirants not being cleared.

There are rules and guidelines, unfortunately, they didn’t meet the guidelines. Midway into the voting during the governorship tussle, somebody flashed me a piece of online news where it was alleged that the panel was backing certain individuals. Somebody that was not cleared wouldn’t be at the venue. If you are not cleared, you present your matter before the Appeal Committee and then to the National Working Committee and if that was not done, you indeed have an issue. It’s even against the law for you to have gone to the voting centre.

The two gentlemen claimed that they were in Abuja, asking questions about their candidature from the screening committee but nothing was said to them, not even a text message explaining why they were not cleared Maybe they are Nigerians in Diaspora. Most probably they don’t know the rules and regulations. One of them didn’t have a voters’ card. He said he attempted to register online, but there are a lot of issues. Some may be insinuating, maybe because they don’t know but the aspirants themselves can’t claim ignorance, because they know they have issues. When you met the screening committee, and after a day or two they didn’t call you to come and collect your certificate then, something is wrong. I thought the ideal thing for one to do was to find out and make clarifications about your candidature.

If for whatever reason you are cleared as an aspirant, making you a candidate and it turned out that the matter is dragged before the court, and the court finds irregularities in the whole process and the election is annulled, the screening committee and political party should be blamed. So, if you were not cleared, you had no business going to the venue of the exercise. Those going to the voting venue, apart from the security, officials, accredited journalists, and election observers are the delegates.

Since the law that would allow you to be a statutory delegate hasn’t been signed, not even Mr President or Mr Governor can vote now. I am aware that the governor couldn’t even vote. We are strictly adhering to the rules and regulations of the party and law of the land.

With what you have seen so far, can APC, your party, win Lagos State in next year’s elections?

Lagos is a one-party state and it’s been consistent. That consistency is what is driving Lagos development, making it the third-largest economy in West Africa, courtesy of the Progressives here in the state as led by Ashiwaju himself, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am happy and proud to be associated with a party that has consistently produced the governor of Lagos state. Not different from Borno which has also been consistently a one-party state. The two states have a lot in common in terms of politics.

The cost of the APC nomination form has been heavily criticised, with many saying the party encourages corruption and it’s an avenue to loot the

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Dibal treasury when aspirants get into office. What is your position on this?

Unfortunately, in this case, it’s different. Different in the sense that the forms were bought for these gentlemen, they didn’t buy it themselves and the implication of this is that they would be answerable to their people. There is wisdom in raising the nomination forms. I think the idea is to see how popular you are in terms of how many people would be willing to support purchasing the forms for you. The USA we all copy, no single person buys forms there, even if you have the money, fans and supporters would still come out to donate to your campaign.

You talked about being answerable to the people, you and I know that the APC led-federal government isn’t answerable to anybody which is why the insecurity is on the rise since 2015 I think you should be fair in your assessment. I think we found ourselves suddenly in a very precarious situation. The issues or challenges affecting us have a global dimension.

The insecurity started from Maiduguri, it went beyond Maiduguri, Borno, North-east, Nigeria and even West Africa.

Even in the US, there is insecurity. Haven’t you heard of the shooting in Texas where several people were gunned down?

Are you saying it is an isolated case?

It is not. There are issues all over the world. It’s not peculiar to Nigeria. No country is immune to insecurity at the moment. Insecurity has been an issue before Buhari came in.

It’s not just happening. Nigeria is a large but rich country surrounded by poor African countries. We have porous borders. What we are seeing now in terms of insecurity is the neglect we accumulated over the years. It cannot be nipped in

There is nobody among all the current seekers of the office of the president that can match Tinubu.That is a fact. He has contributed more to the development of democracy than anybody contesting the primaries with him. He fought and stood for democracy

the bud within just a short period.

Are you justifying the problems now?

I am not justifying it. All I am saying is that I know that security comes before development. I know security is very important to the stability, prosperous economy and country.

Some have said the INEC extension of the deadline for submission of form was because of APC, while the party appears to be reneging on its gentleman agreement on power rotation. Four Northerners have purchased forms defeating the essence of that agreement.

I am a party man. I can’t speak on it since I don’t have the mandate to do so. I am aware that the party has put in a lot of measures to make sure that the convention takes place as scheduled. I read that INEC had extended the deadline by one week. I don’t think that should be an issue. Everybody is being careful so that we won’t repeat the mistakes we had in some parts of the country. To allow internal democracy requires planning and resources.

I also know that a lot of parties had approached INEC in the past to see how the date can be extended but insisted no waiver. I guessed INEC must have considered the level of preparation of all the political parties and decided to shift grounds. Regarding the gentleman agreement, I am a Tinubu man through and through. I don’t have apologies for that. It might interest you to note that I am the state coordinator for Borno state. I have been with him since he was a governor. He is a builder.

He single-handedly got the highest in terms of human capital development. If we have a reward system, what happened to governor Zulum and Honorable Muktar Batera should have happened to Tinubu. We know his contribution to the merger called APC. If there is a reward system to say thank you, it would be to beg him to come and take over the ticket of the party, unopposed. But Asiwaju that I know is a democratic and party man. He would rather go into the contest. That’s how democratic he is. You mentioned names from the North who bought forms, those are names that cannot match Tinubu, even in their bedrooms, and he would win them there. All we want is a free and fair election, which is our concern in the camp of Asiwaju. There is nobody among all the current seekers of the office of the president that can match Tinubu. That is a fact. He has contributed more to the development of democracy than anybody contesting the primaries with him. He fought and stood for democracy. Tell me one that has done as much as Tinubu for democracy, none.

There is nobody Tinubu hasn’t assisted in one way or another. Is it Mr president that contested for the presidency many times until the merger happened? It was God Almighty that made it possible for Buhari to be president but with human contribution of the likes of Tinubu.

There was a time I went to receive my then deputy governor at the airport, in Lagos, I wasn’t in government then. I was into private business. My deputy governor introduced me to him and thereafter, he said to my deputy governor that when you are done, you hand over to him. Do you know that four years later, the deputy governor handed over to us because his governor wasn’t available for the swearing-in ceremony? I tapped him and reminded him what Asiwaju told him at the Lagos airport. I told him that he wasn’t only handing over to me but I was chasing him out of the office. We all laughed over it. That is the kind of visionary leader Tinubu is.

We have a forum of former deputy governors where we meet, interact and share ideas; some of the testimonies of my colleagues across the board are baffling. There was one of us who described Tinubu in tears. The man is a Christian. Tinubu is a Muslim. I have been with a man once and suddenly his phone rang, who was it, it was Tinubu, calling to wish him and congratulate him on his birthday. For those of us passionate about Tinubu, it is because of these qualities I just highlighted and many more that the public do not know. I have learnt politically from him. A colleague was telling me that if it were another governor he had issues with; he probably wouldn’t have forgiven him as Tinubu did. Tinubu has a forgiven heart. If we have many of Tinubu, Nigeria would have developed better and faster than it is at present.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 4, 2022

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

2023: Standard-bearer, Not ‘Flag-bearer’

“F

ORMER members of the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu administration led by… accuse the government of squandermania, prebendalism, profligacy, and deliberate leakages, which has (have) resulted in workers and pensioners living in penury with a debt peonage that will take years to recover (sic).”

“Don’t become pawns to dubious groups, NUJ warns practitioners (professionals or simply members)” Get it right: media professionals—not ‘media practitioners’ “…that the whole lot culminated to make (culminated in making) the brand that everyone knows as….” “…the electoral umpire has insisted on parties adhering strictly with (to) the April 4 to June 3, 2022 timeline for the conduct of primary election for the nomination of candidates.”

“Ms….a former counsel of (for) THISDAY, recently paid her mother…the final (last) respects.” (THISDAY EVENTS, May 28) “As you are much aware, I am offering myself to serve as the flag bearer (standard-bearer) of our party in the 2023 presidential election.”

(Signed by Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan PhD, CON, THISDAY, May 28, Page 35) “…comforted by the New Life (sic) you live in the bossom (bosom) of God our Father.”

“Reps hold emergency session on same (on the same) amendment” “Jarabic salutes Governor Uzodinma on Governor of the Year (‘Governor-of-the-Year’) Award” Road to 2023: “It is for the delegates to make up their mind (minds)….”

Wrong: “armed banditry”; Right: banditry. There is no banditry without the use of a form or forms of arms.

“Presidential primary: 25 aspirants submit forms, set for battle” (THISDAY Window Banner, May 14) Newspaper managers should not underestimate readers’ intelligence: if aspirants submit

forms, the next logical thing to be expected is, of course, a battle/contest. Would it have been golfing after submitting forms? So, delete ‘set for battle’. Your patrons are not dunderheads!

Still from the preceding source: “Tinubu: Those I made are now pointing wrong fingers at me” Get it right: they are now pointing the finger at Asiwaju! “…when Mr. Igbokwe visited Senator Wabara over the demise of his wife, Late (sic) Mr. Felicia Wabara, in (at) Ohambele, Ndoki…yesterday.”

(THISDAY caption, May 14) This way: when Mr. Igbokwe visited Senator Wabara over the demise of his wife, Felicia….” Avoid redundant words in any collocation.

“Clarke knows that what he is calling for is unacceptable to majority (a majority) of Nigerians….”

“As delectable actress…walks (walked) the red carpet last Sunday at the….”

“This thing has been reduced to some kind of joke and Nigerians are sitting and watching in disbelieve (disbelief) and keeping quiet….”

(THISDAY Back Page, May 14) “An unwarranted murder” By the way, is there warranted murder? (Source: as above) NIGERIAN Tribune of May 17 committed the worst blunder so far this quarter: “Security exhumes bombs, weapons in Kogi” You exhume a body that has been buried for (medical) examination—not objects! Next time: excavate.

Still on the above edition: “NOA condoles (condoles with) NLC over Comrade…”

“And while 5 lucky winners have emerged for the all-expense paid (sic) trip to….” (THE GUARDIAN, May 17) Open your world: all-expenses-paid trip.

“Watch a brand new entertainment channel with the very best African TV programming….”

(THE GUARDIAN, May 17) No African magic: ‘best’ has attained the superlative level and cannot be amplified or inflected (for needless summit emphasis) as most people do on grounds of poetic freedom (licence)! So, the best African TV programming—nothing more, nothing less!

“Their brothers’ keepers” (THE NATION, May

17) Stock expression: brother’s keeper (irrespective of statistical profile).

“Challenge of progress in the midst of crisis (crises)” (Source: as above) Nigerian Tribune of May 16 ‘capsized’ once: “2 feared drown aftermath of Ibadan rain” I cannot be drowned by gaffes!

“NURTW dissociate (dissociates) self from Mile 12 park mayhem” (Source: as above) Let us welcome a relatively new publication to this column: “The controversial Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) came into (to) the fore again recently as….” (Nigerian News Direct, May 14-May 20) THE NATION ON SUNDAY of May 29 did not defend its lexical freedom on six occasions: “Majority (A majority) of Nigerians on several occasions have (had) been disappointed by….” “…but this must be complimented (complemented) with a right work habit by judges and their staff.” “…some judges resume late to (at) work….”

“Millionaire emerges at maltina (sic) promo” Company News: Maltina promo.

“INEC, schools sensitise (sensitize, preferably) youths on electoral process” This is no longer news: sensitise youths to (not on). “…and other matured (mature) minds have argued that it is only but a moral pervert (perversion) which if censored will do much good to the youths (youth or the youth).”

(Blueprint, May 10) “The pen will always eventually silence the gun in a contest between the two (between them, preferably) because the former is creative and produces lasting artifacts while the latter is destructive.” (Vanguard, May 17) “She argued that a pact such as is being advocated for by Aremo Olusegun Osoba amounted to Nigeria’s re-orientation.” (THISDAY, May 17) Yank away ‘for’.

“Didn’t the people disregard the presence of military tanks on (in) the streets to maintain the momentum of their presence on the Marcus regime?” (National Mirror, May 17)

Tragic Comeuppance of Nigerian Politics

F

rom the beginning of democratic experiment in Nigeria, from as far back as 1954, our political elites have been concocting all sorts of schemes, schisms and systems, including peculiar doctrines that democrats in the larger world would be stunned by the colour and candour of our home-groomed manipulative tendencies. Progressively, later generations of politicians have deepened and muddled the concepts and tenets that underpin the survival of our politics through different “republics” punctuated by military interregna.

We have devised convenient and sometimes abject conventions to circumvent merit, competence and selfless service, in order to maintain sectional or regional hold on power, or to prevent others from having “undue” advantages: Zoning, catchment areas, quota system, ecologically disadvantaged, dubious census, federal character, sectional balance, turn-by-turn selections, imposition of candidates and party officers, coercive withdrawal (or step-down), proxy succession (or placeholder election), cash-andcarry primaries, monitised and ‘souvenired’ electoral processes, fake delegates, sundry malpractices, and more nauseating exercises of political rascality and harlotry.

Nowadays, the cookies are crumbling all over their heads. Our years of obnoxious politicking and sickening politricks have turned around to push us to the brink of overwhelming consternation. Yet, those who truly love Nigeria would be sad and worried at what is playing out in our major political parties.

In a couple of day, the ruling party, All Progressives’ Congress (APC) will host its national convention in Abuja (June 6-8, 2022)...but the road to that historic venue, Eagle Square, less than a week to the June 12 Democracy Day, is anything but buoyant or groundbreaking to many interest groups and blocs within the party. In fact, despite its

many postponements, and the flip flops of its national executive committee, many would not want the day to come any time soon.

This current impasse in the selection process for the presidential flag bearer of APC, was violently triggered by the emergence of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the recent Special Convention held in MKO National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, May 29 (formally the Democracy Day). This was after PDP jettisoned their hitherto conveniently expedient zoning system. Apparently, Abubakar was a slightly remote possibility, in the permutations of some spin doctors and pollsters within the rival party, who has suddenly become a horrendously uncomfortable reality!

Now, the APC is in the shallow waters of indecision, and many of their members in disarray. Arguably, their most formidable chieftain, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT), was a perfect fit to swallow any opposition to the presidency in 2023, if PDP had picked anyone but Abubakar… in fact, all hopes were seemingly pinned on the emergence of vociferous Nyesom Wike or, at worst, the urbane and prudential Peter Obi. Then, Obi took flight a few days to the PDP primaries, grumbling about befuddling dollar bazaars the selection process had become. He resigned from PDP, and strolled over to the Labour Party, and the permutations got curiouser.

Now, the BAT crowd are confused - and the president then added insult upon injury by his doctrine of reciprocity! Readers of PMB’s body and lexical languages went apoplectic with also sorts of interpretations!

Here is the naked quandary: if BAT insists on following through with the

primaries, and he eventually wins the APC ticket (which is within a reasonable conjecture, considering his whirlwind nationwide concourses in search of delegates, and in spite of the last-minute dissent of the president to sign the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Law which whittled the delegates population to 2,340 ad-hoc delegates only for APC, down from the more unwieldy but advantageous excess of over 7000 people, including statutory or automatic delegates)... who will be his running mate? That is the bull in his china shop!

Being a Moslem (as defined by our archaic bastardisation of leadership succession), his vice has to be a Christian northerner.

Now, where is the formidable northerner who doubles as a passable Christian who is “acceptable” to the core Moslem northerners, and their puppeteers, as being pure enough to “protect northern interest”? Is it TY Danjuma, Babachir Lawal, Yakubu Dogara, Boss Mustapha, or Jonathan Zwingina?

Even a fire-spitting Rev. Father Matthew Kukah would fail miserably in the eyes of the northern power calculators.

But to pick a fellow Moslem, however well endowed and entrenched in the northern calculus of power, would raise the muchfeared spectre of a forbidden Moslem/ Moslem ticket - currently, a guaranteed self-explosive device that will ultimately consume its architects in this our constipated political atmosphere. Patriots still growl in suppressed anger at the recollection that had the military junta allowed the MKO Abiola/Baba Gana Kingibe combo that won the 1993 presidential election, the nation would have, most likely, soared into more mature and tolerant pedestal where religion and ethnicity would have regressed from our unconscious political mindsets. But I digress, in wishful fantasy.

As things stand, the BAT folks, and their leaders, would rather choke to death than put their formidable “structure” at the

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“I searched in vain for the Ministry of Defence and, unless the text I had was defective, it was conspicuously absent.” (Daily Trust, May 17) A ‘ bsence’ in this context does not require qualification. Simply, it was absent.

“In fact, the situation has degenerated from that of epileptic power supply down to that of complete blackout which in most cases last from weeks to months.” (BUSINESSDAY, May 17) ‘Blackout’ does not require any modifier: it means total extinction or concealment of lights (Chambers English Dictionary).

“The reasons range from power generation limitation to the use of overaged (overage), antiquated and arsenic hydro plants and so many others too numerous to mention.” (THE GUARDIAN, May 17) “Many people have lost their valuable properties as a result of uncontrolled power voltage.” (Leadership, May 17) Time to remove the immunity on PHCN: property (not properties in the extracted context).

“It could be recall (recalled)….” (DAILY News, May 17) “The consensus of opinion in the country today.…” (The Moment, May 17) Despite the pockets of debate on what some learner’s dictionaries say, I insist on consensus (without opinion).

“It is also an open secret that a cabal of highly placed sacred cows holds the fuel distribution process in the country to ransome.” (The Nigerian Pilot, May 17) Spell-check: ransom.

“Council chairmen and legislators at the council, state and federal levels were also later sworn-in for the take off (a hyphen) of the Eighth Republic.” (Source: as above) Phrasal verbs do not admit hyphenation.

“The Yorubas, Igbos and even Northern minorities have grudges….” (THE NATION, May 17) English is no politics: the Yoruba, the Igbo and the minorities.

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON

fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

service of a Yemi Oshinbajo, or a Tunde Bakare, an Emeka Nwajiuba or an Ogbonnaya Onu! Would they consider the pursuit of a larger picture on account of the prevalent iniquities which make seemingly competent individuals ineligible for the highest office, only because of their places of birth, faiths and tongues? God forbid bad things! They may not be able to bring themselves up to a platform where to lose the battle is to win the war.

That these other aspirants are Christians, fellow Southerners, capable, and if supported by a “truly” northern Moslem, competent and strategic running mate (equally buffeted by the full weight of the entire party machinery, including the active and supportive presence, messaging and whatever remains of the potent charisma of the incumbent president) could possibly save APC from potential defeat, would not convince the Jagaban movement to fall in line, and moderate their ambitions.

The impasse is real. The frustration is lamentable, and yet understandable.

There has to be some sort of pragmatic, if not teutonic, compromise to save the day, and have a good chance of keeping APC in power… a counsel which may be completely ignored.

Clearly, if the contests and participants remain unbending, and fixated on the same spot, then, the end will, most likely, provide ample evidence and materials for political scientists and historians to excavate and escalate as lessons for generations unborn: how hubris and poor mental acuity can lead a nation into societal turmoil and unending political rigmarole with attendant negative consequences on the health, progress and prosperity of Nigerians.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 4, 2022

POLITY

The Choice Atiku Must Make Fred Izevbigie

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he primary election to choose the candidate of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the 2023 presidential election has come and gone, with an outcome that was very much predictable. While the dust has yet to settle regarding the drama that played out at the velodrome of the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja on the night of Saturday, June 28, 2022, including the surprises and disappointments, attention within and outside the party has shifted to the choice of vice presidential candidate in the election.

With the certificate of return issued to Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president who emerged winner of the primary election to signal his formal recognition as the PDP residential flagbearer for 2023, the immediate task facing the candidate and, indeed, the party, is who to bring on board for the joint ticket that would deliver the presidency next year.

Atiku is not a new comer on the Nigerian political scene. He has been around since 1992, the reason he is not a pushover. To say that he has a good understanding of the country’s political challenges and a fair idea of possible solutions is merely stating the obvious. In fact, it is taken as a given that he has what it takes to tackle the myriad of socio-political problems that include disunity and division along ethnic and religious lines which have plagued the country more in the last seven years than at any time in its history.

But Nigeria’s problems are not only political; they are economic, as well. As a matter of fact, it is something of a national consensus that the problems are more economic than they are political. Solve the economic problems, and the political problems will be reduced to the barest minimum, if not totally eradicated. Revive the economy and get it on the path of sustained growth by making the private sector the driver of that growth; create jobs and reduce unemployment; raise the standard of living, and socio-political problems like insecurity, ethnicity, nepotism, unequitable distribution of the national wealth, lopsidedness in national appointment, spread of developmental projects and programmes would be mentioned in passing.

From 1999, the holder of the office of vice president has had responsibility for management of the country’s economy. It is in recognition of the sensitive nature of that responsibility and its direct bearing on the country’s very existence that it is taken off the shoulder of the president who already has a plethora of responsibilities and functions placed on his desk. In other words, the office of the vice president is almost as important as that of the president. This is more so when it is considered that not only must the vice president have a grasp of economic issues and a good understanding of how the private sector operates

Atiku needs a second-in-command with a solid finance and economic background who can play more than a ceremonially supervisory role to the actual managers of the economy; someone who can make meaningful inputs into the formulation of policies that would help in bringing about a complete turnaround of the country’s dire economy. Such a person must be someone with a rich pedigree of active participation in a key sector crucial to the economy.

The PDP presidential flagbearer must go into electioneering, when it commences, alongside a running mate who has demonstrated capacity for management of human and natural resources for the betterment of the lives of people. He needs a deputy who can support the vision for investment drive with a very amiable disposition required to change mindsets for the betterment of Nigerians.

Indeed, the country and it citizenry seriously needs reorientation and a new mindset, if it must get out of the economic doldrums it has been especially in the last 7 years. The country needs a new set of leaders that would drive this change of narrative. The PDP torch bearer, who is a very matured and astute businessman and politician has achieved immense success over the years as a private sector player. For him, it would be “home working” with a deputy with a capacity to demonstrate capacity for immediate and far sighted economic planning to give vent to effort aimed at changing of an age-old narrative of consumption.

Atiku The running mate Atiku needs is not only someone with demonstrable knowledge of the economy; he must also be one with inside knowledge of the workings of government at the since that is going to be his forte, he must also be conversant highest level of decision-making. with the workings of government, such that he would not be The PDP presidential candidate has a lot going for him. He found wanting if and when called upon to run the country in has been Nigeria’s vice president for eight years. In terms of an acting capacity. experience at the highest level of governance in the country, he The foregoing underscores the need for the PDP presidential candidate to be extra careful about his choice of running mate in has it. He effortlessly commands followership in virtually every the 2023 election. He will need the same level of circumspection part of the country. He needs an amiable, capable and supportive running mate to complete what should be a winning he applied in making the decision to join the presidential race ticket if he makes the right choice. in choosing who shares the presidential ticket with him. For, It must be acknowledged, however, that though the party whether or not he succeeds as Nigeria’s president at perhaps the most crucial period of its history (since the Civil War) would can make an input into his choice of running mate, the final decision lies with him. Despite speculations which looked at depend to a large extent on who his deputy is.

All socio-economic indices indicate that Nigeria is in its worst big names that were considered “worthy”, Olusegun Obanajo, then presidential candidate of PDP, surprised everyone, period of existence as a country since independence in 1960. including the party hierarchy, by picking him- Atiku Abubakar A country that was the 40th richest in the world at the time of independence is today the poverty capital of the world, despite as his running mate in 1999. He will now be expected to do the same, this time around, just as he did in 2019. being the ninth biggest oil producing country in the world and sixth biggest member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. It is also a country that brims with almost all the Izevbigie writes from Lagos natural resources that could be found anywhere on the planet, and with citizens that are good enough to occupy leadership Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com positions in international organizations around the world.

L-R: Attorney general/commissioner for justice, Lagos State, representing governor of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN); President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata; President, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Court of Arbitration, Claudia Salomon; Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN), Babatunde Savage; Chair, ICCN Commission on Arbitration and ADR, Dorothy Ufot (SAN), and Secretary General, African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA), Wamkele Mene, during the 6th ICC Africa conference on International Arbitration in Lagos... recently

L-R: Chief Financial Officer, Lafarge Africa Plc, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi; Non-Executive Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mrs. Elenda Giwa-Amu; Country CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc, Khaled El Dokani; Managing Director, Global Synco West Africa Ltd (National Volume Champion) Prince Sunny Nwodo; and his wife, Mrs. Nwodo at the 2021 Lafarge Customer Awards ceremony held at Lagos Continental Hotel, .Lagos...recently

L-R: Head of Consumer Business, Shalina West Africa, Suresh Karuppiahsamy, Child Actor/Brand Ambassador, Emmanuella Samuel, Skit Producer, Mark Angel, Managing Director & Head of Shalina West Africa, Arun Raj and Brand Manager, Hemoforce Plus and Polygel, Olufemi Laleye, during the official contract signing held at Shalina Healthcare Nigeria office in Lagos...recently PHOTO DAN UKANA

L-R: Social Worker, Vigilant Heart Charitable Society, Augustine Momoh; Head, Brand & Communications, fetswallet, Adebimpe Adejumo; Communications Manager, STEMCafe, Temitayo Olawale and Head of Marketing, fetswallet, Olutimi Ayeni, during fetswallet Children’s Day Fiesta in Lagos...recently PHOTO ABIODUN AJALA

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

4.6.2022

NEWS

DIMMED HOPE PAGE. 29

Henry Onyekuru Third ‘Missionary’ Journey to Galatasaray

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 4, 2022

28

GLOBAL SOCCER

Henry Onyekuru

Third ‘Missionary’ Journey to Galatasaray

If news emanating from respected Greece tabloid-Sportcell is anything to go by, Super Eagles forward, Henry Onyekuru would be returning to Galatasaray for his third stint as the Turkish giants are looking to secure his services on loan this summer. If the deal works out, it would be Onyekuru’s third stint at the club, returning after he left Istanbul last January

S

uper Eagles forward Henry Onyekuru is set to join Galatasaray on a loan deal from Greek Champions Olympiakos this summer, after he failed to live up to expectations last season, but he would look to return to his best as a return to familiar terrain is in the offing.

Onyekuru left Monaco for Olympiakos in a €4.5 million transfer last summer, but it turned out to be a wrong move for the 24-year-old as despite winning the league, he struggled to make an impact for the Legends.

The former Everton man struggled to get game time last season, averaging just 26 minutes on 14 league appearances.

Onyekuru was also off-colour, as he had just one goal and one assist in 27 appearances across all competitions last season.

With Onyekuru’s performance, Olympiakos are willing to let him go this summer.

The 24-year-old has already been linked with a return to the Turkish Super Lig. According to Sportcell, Turkish giants Galatasaray are looking to secure his services on loan this summer.

If the deal works out, it would be Onyekuru’s third stint at the club, returning after he left Istanbul last January.

Onyekuru has a good history with Galatasaray, claiming two trophies with the club in 2019. He made 71 appearances for

the former Turkish champions, notching 22 goals and 12 assists.

An exciting player who can hurt opponents in a variety of ways with his explosive, game-changing set of attributes, he’s certainly a nightmare for defenders to come up against.

Blessed with scintillating pace, acceleration and agility, these characteristics ensure he’s such a threat with and without the ball.

Firstly, when embarking on his runs, he does so in a thoughtful fashion, as he times, angles and directs his run smartly to get the edge on his adversaries. So quick and aware when a teammate is in a position to pinpoint him, he gets on his bike swiftly to give himself every chance to latch onto through balls first.

The way he uses little hesitation moves, double movements, zig-zags, wicked outto-in diagonal runs, pins markers and exploits the blindside of his marker adds to his menace.

In addition, when bursting into the box, the way he attacks the six-yard box, knows when to go to the near or far post and has the presence of mind to hold his runs as the defence collapses is a bonus.

Meanwhile, when it comes to his work with the ball at his feet, Onyekuru poses a very unpredictable and elusive proposition.

On top of his aforementioned athleticism, his mazy dribbling ensures he can breeze by his man with his sheer pace, cut infield in an instant or beat his man with feints,

shoulder drops, stepovers or searing changes of pace and direction. Moreover, the fact he’s so dangerous on the ball often attracts multiple markers, which has the key byproduct of freeing up space for teammates and destabilising his foes’ shape.

His close control when dribbling at speed notably places doubt in defenders minds, for if they step in he can quickly shift the ball to outfox them or draw a foul, thus making him an even more challenging adversary.

It must be said, however, that he can overdo it sometimes on the dribble, which means he gets cornered or fails to see a teammate in a better position. But all in all, any negatives are outweighed by the big positives attached to his confident and eye-catching work here.

While it’s not really his game to create chances or orchestrate passing moves, there’s been some signs of his aptitude here, as he can combine nicely in around the box, calmly recycle possession and play the odd splitting through ball if the option is there. Probably the most effective tool in this regard is how he plays some slick one-twos which help unlock deep sitting defences while allowing him to receive the return pass in a goal facing posture so he can continue his momentum.

Onyekuru’s finishing complements his intriguing game nicely, for this everimproving area of his armoury allows him to reward all his good work. Instinctive

and with a keen eye for goal, the man who finished sixth in the Turkish Super League scoring charts despite playing predominantly as a winger, can crucially score in a variety of ways.

Onyekuru began his football career with the Aspire Academy in 2010, and graduated in 2015 joining their partner club, KAS Eupen and helped the team get promotion to the Belgium First Division A in his debut season.

After a successful season in the Belgium first division, Onyekuru finished as one of the top scorers in the league, attracting the attention of various big teams in Europe.

He finished the 2016/2017 season as joint top-scorer with 22 goals, but the trophy was handed to his rival as he scored more away goals than Onyekuru.

He made his senior debut for Nigeria in a 3-0 friendly win over Togo last year’s July.

Onyekuru won the Greek Super League title with Olympiakos after the Legends secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory away at PAOK. In fact, since Onyekuru arrived in Piraeus, he has recorded only one goal and one assist in 27 appearances.

However, Onyekuru has cause to smile, as he is now a Greek Champion. Olympiakos secured a record 47th Super League title after their 2-1 victory at PAOK. And although he was not dressed for the game, he would still bask in the fact he now has a Greek title in his cabinet.

29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 4, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

Folarin Balogun

Finally Turning Away from Nigeria?

Though he has starred for England at different age-grade levels, Nigeria football administrators are still hoping that Folarin Balogun could still be lured to play for the country of his parents, but with his invitation to the Three Lions, hope of the Arsenal forward playing for the three-time African champion may have dimmed

A

rsenal striker of Nigerian descent, Folarin Balogun was invited by Manager Gareth Southgate to train with the Three Lions on Tuesday.

The English Football Association informed that four Young Lions players were involved in Wednesday’s workout, the others being Morgan Gibbs-White, Jacob Ramsey and Taylor HarwoodBellis.

The Three Lions are preparing to take on Hungary, Germany and Italy in UEFA Nations League matches this month.

This is not the first time Southgate has invited a promising player of Nigerian descent to train with the senior squad, with ex-Fulham midfielder Tayo Edun and Chelsea academy product Dominic Solanke working out with the Three Lions in November 2017 and September 2018 respectively.

Balogun has been selected in the latest England U21 squad for upcoming games against Czech Republic, Kosovo, Albania and Slovenia in U21 Euro qualifying.

The Hale End Academy graduate has played 31 senior games combined for Arsenal and Middlesbrough FC, where he spent the second half of last season,

scoring five goals.

Born in New York City, Balogun is also eligible to represent the United States apart from England and Nigeria.

“Balogun has unique qualities as a striker – his speed and the way he holds the ball. He’s a real goal threat and he works tremendously hard,” Arteta said recently.

“He’s a very hungry boy. He wants to do everything and wants to practise more every single day. He will be pushing anybody in our first team to get his spot and that’s exactly what we want.

“He’s got the chance. Now it’s time for him to prove himself.”

Meanwhile, Balogun’s future at Arsenal could be at risk due to Arteta’s next transfer move. The Gunners are reportedly chasing a young striker, which would threaten Balogun’s place in the team.

According to the Athletic, if Arsenal signs a second striker in the summer, it may be a player earlier in their development. The club are looking at 19-year-old Czech forward Adam Hlozek.

Balogun who just turned 20-years-old is also another promising forward for Arsenal. But the arrival of Hlozek could stunt his growth at north London.

Balogun will need to prove himself in the Premier League to secure a place back into Arteta’s side.

The Englishman started the first Premier League game for Arsenal last season against Brentford, which was the moment it seemed he had finally broken through into the Arsenal. However, he was unable to make another start and was eventually loaned out to Middlesborough.

Balogun needs another loan away from the club to be given more game time, especially if Hlozek was to join the club. A Premier League loan would be the perfect move for the 20-year-old.

According to the Daily Mail, Fulham are interested in a deal to sign Balogun on loan for next season. It has also been reported that Marco Silva wants to sign the striker temporarily with a view to making the deal permanent.

Arsenal must avoid including a buyoption at all costs, because not only does he have the potential to be a starting Arsenal striker in the future. But the Gunners have included the option-tobuy in other loanee’s deals this season, which they could regret.

The youngster has been gaining valuable experience since joining

Middlesborough on loan until the end of the season and he has had a great chance to replicate his youth team qualities at the first-team level, with the FA Cup fixtures are also giving him an excellent platform to show his abilities against Premier League opposition.

Balogun played so well in the under-23 competitions that before the signing of his new Arsenal deal in the summer, there were a host of top clubs around Europe, including RB Leipzig, that signalled interest in securing his services, despite not making a first-team appearance.

Now with first-team football under his belt in the lower leagues, a spell in the Premier League where he plays regularly would certainly be great for his development. A move to Fulham would be great for all parties involved.

It would be disappointing for Balogun if Arsenal were to sign Hlozek, as that role should have been preserved for Balogun after he signed a new contract with the club towards the back end of the 2020/2021 season. However, the Englishman must continue to thrive in his loan moves to continue to show why he deserves to be a part of Arteta’s plans.

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 4, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

Action during the Super Eagles vsrsus Ecuador in New Jersey, USA Nadal

a

Boxers Battle for N1m as GOtv Peseiro Invites Musa, Ekong, 25 Others Boxing Night 25 Holds Today for Sierra Leone, São Tomé The 25th edition of GOtv Boxing Night will hold today at the Old Gymnasium of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan. The best boxer at the event will go home with the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy and the cash prize of N1million attached to it.

Seven bouts across weight divisions are scheduled for the much-anticipated event.

The heavyweight division will feature a duel between Olanrewaju Adebiyi and

Solomon Imole in an eight-round challenge bout, while Michael “Emirate” Godwin will test his strength against Stephen Kadima in a cruiserweight challenge contest.

In the light heavyweight division, Segun Olanrewaju will take on Victor Bennet, while Segun Adeyemi will be in action against Ademola Ibrahim in a light welterweight clash.

Two fast-rising lightweight boxers, Azeez Ayobam and

Sodiq Oyakojo, will spar against each other, while Samuel Moses takes on Wale Anifowoshe.

The super welterweight class will see Jafar Suliamon go head-to-head with Basiru Kabiru.

Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, will be hosting the event for the third time. It hosted two previous editions that took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium’s Indoor Sports Hall, which is currently being renovated.

Champions League Fallout

UEFA Apologises to Liverpool, Madrid Uefa has apologised to Liverpool and Real Madrid fans caught up in events around the Champions League final and said it must not happen again.

Liverpool fans described heavy-handed policing, organisational chaos and overcrowding at last Saturday’s showpiece game.

Real Madrid have asked for answers on the “series

of unfortunate events”.

“No football fan should be put in that situation, and it must not happen again,” said a Uefa statement.

“Uefa wishes to sincerely apologise to all spectators who had to experience or witness frightening and distressing events in the build-up to the Uefa Champions League final at the Stade de France on 28

May 2022 in Paris, on a night which should have been a celebration of European club football.”

European football’s governing body had previously announced that an independent review of what happened in the build-up to the final, and what lessons should be learned, would be led by Dr Tiago Brandao Rodrigues from Portugal.

French Open: Nadal Set for 14th Roland Garros Title Rafael Nadal reached the French Open final after his opponent Alexander Zverev needed to be taken off court in a wheelchair following a nasty fall.

The third seed screamed in pain when he went down on the baseline after turning his right ankle on the final point of the 12th game of the second set.

A concerned Nadal went round to check on his opponent as a medic raced on to the court to help the German.

Fifth seed Nadal was leading 7-6 (10-8) 6-6 when Zverev

left the court.

After a short break, Zverev returned on crutches and was given a warm hug by Spain’s Nadal before the crowd rose in a standing ovation.

“It is very tough and I feel very sad for him,” said 13-time champion Nadal.

“He was playing an unbelievable tournament. I know how much he is fighting for a Grand Slam - he will win more than one. I wish him all the very best.

“It is difficult to say a lot of things in this situation. For me to be in the final of Roland

Garros is a dream but at the same time to finish that way is not nice.

“I was in a small room with Sascha [in the treatment room off court] and to see him crying was a tough moment.”

Zverev’s retirement put Nadal into Sunday’s final, where he will play Norwegian eighth seed Casper Ruud.

On his 36th birthday, Nadal has become the second oldest men’s singles finalist in French Open history behind American Bill Tilden, who was 37 when he was runnerup in 1930.

Abuja Hosts Ejike Ugboaja FC Scouting Programme Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Ejike Ugboaja FC will from Sunday organise a five-day scouting programme that will feature about 28 teams from across the country. The exercise will hold at the FIFA Goal Project, MKO Abiola National Stadium.

Scouts from Arsenal, Chelsea and other top clubs from across Europe will participate at the programme that will feature 500 players from across the country.

The chairman of the organising club, Christopher Ejike Ugboaja said the idea behind the exercise was to give fledging Nigerian players the opportunity to be scouted by top European clubs.

He said out of his quest to give back to the society, he chose to organise the scouting programme so that talented youths can come together and showcase their talents to the scouts and the lucky ones spotted and offered contract.

“As I keep saying, there are good players in Nigeria but, the issue has been who will help expose them to these foreign scouts? And that is the reason I came in, because having played basketball to its pinnacle and coupled with the facts that I have helped over two thousands Nigerian basketball players and American footballers schools in the US and clubs too, I thought it wise to replicate same in football,” Ugboaja said.

Head Coach José Santos Peseiro has called up Ahmed Musa, William Ekong and 25 other players to the camp of the Super Eagles for this month’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Sierra Leone and São Tomé and Príncipe.

The Portuguese tactician has also invited goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Adewale Adeyinka, defenders Olaoluwa Aina, Calvin Bassey, Sani Faisal, Oluwasemilogo

Ajayi and Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, Alex Iwobi and Innocent Bonke, and forwards Moses Simon, Terem Moffi, Cyriel Dessers and Emmanuel Dennis – who were all part of the squad that played Mexico and Ecuador in prestige friendlies in the United States of America.

Peseiro has added Israeli –based goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye, defenders Abdullahi Shehu, Zaidu Sanusi, Leon Ba-

logun and Kenneth Omeruo, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman and Sadiq Umar.

Nigeria welcome Sierra Leone to the MKO Abiola National Stadium in one of the Day 1 matches in the campaign, on Thursday 9th June, before flying to Marrakech, Morocco to play away to São Tomé and Príncipe on Monday, June 13.

Pinnick Takes Positives in Super Eagles Loss to Ecuador President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick would have wanted a win for the Super Eagles against Ecuador in New Jersey on Thursday, in a game they created so many chances, but would nonetheless took positives from the three –time African champions’ tour of the United States of America, during which they also played perennial CONCACAF champions Mexico.

“I am happy and I can tell you that we fulfilled our objectives of restoring the spirit of the Super Eagles following the failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. We lost both games

against Mexico and Ecuador narrowly but we were up for it and never finished on the back foot. The boys gave a good account of themselves in both games.

“Given the number of firstteam players that were not available, we have to praise the boys who showed up here and gave their all. They have given us confidence going into the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The despondency is over and we can now march forward in sure-footed manner.”

The 25,000 –capacity Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey was packed to overflowing as the Ecuadorians started the

game in rampant manner, advertising silky touches and manifesting so much energy and invention. The boys of Gustavo Alfaro are going to their fourth FIFA World Cup finals and were in high spirit as they filed out against the Super Eagles.

The South Americans, who are drawn to play the opening match of this year’s FIFA World Cup finals against hosts Qatar on 21 November, and would also play Senegal and The Netherlands in Group A, scored after only three minutes as Pervis Estupiñán foxed the Nigeria rearguard to score from an in-swinging free kick.

Embrace Bicycles for Health Benefits, Says Akeredolu Fidelis David in Akure Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday called on all civil servants and political appointees to embrace bicycle rides for health benefits and better service delivery.

Akeredolu made the call at the World Bicycle Week Programme organised by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ondo State Command, in Akure.

Akeredolu, who was represented by his Senior

Special Assistant on Transport, Mr. Tobi Ogunleye, said that riding of a bicycle was not an act of poverty, rather, it would make people healthy and avoid unnecessary sickness.

He said: “Riding a bicycle is not a act of poverty, it is a way to train ourselves to be properly healthy, and to avoid sickness or diseases. We have a lot of sick people, especially with diabetes, rheumatism, and the others but when you make riding a bicycle as your life, you will be more fit.

“So, let our people, especially

commissioners, permanent secretaries, business tycoons and civil servants embrace the use of bicycles, because it will improve our health and increase our service delivery to the people of the state,” he said.

Earlier, Mr. Ezekiel SonAllah, FRSC State Sector Commander, who said that the programme was to create awareness to people about the importance of bicycles, reiterated the commitment that no life would be lost in the cause of statutory duties in the state.

Basssey y Lauds Gov v Udom on Su uccesssful Hostin ng of CAF Cup p Fiinall

Three weeks after the successful hosting of the CAF Confederation Cup Final by Akwa Ibom State, the General Coordinator of the Local Organising Committee, Elder Paul Bassey, has lauded Governor Emmanuel Udom for a “near flawless” hosting.

Speaking in Ilorin in an interactive session with Sports Journalists, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Udom on Sports said for, him the most challenging part of the assignment was the security and safety of the

various visitors that trooped into Nigeria for the continental final.

Two days before the final, we witnessed the arrival of the 7-man VAR group from Switzerland and I said to myself “God, have mercy.” After that came the CAF team, most of them “whites,” the Moroccan delegation, the CAF guests and VIPs. That they all came in and left safely without any incident whatsoever, makes me salute Governor Emmanuel for superintending over one of the safest, if not the safest

State in Nigeria.

“In the course of taking a hosting decision security concerns were raised, yet the Amaju Pinnick led NFF convinced CAF that Akwa Ibom was safe, peaceful and hospitable and this was manifested to the letter through a robust security architecture that left nothing to chance.

Even spectators that turned out in great number, going back home by midnight had nothing to fear.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 4, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

Valentine Ozornwafor

Will He Cash-in on AFCON Qualifiers?

His first game for the Super Eagles was against Cameroon in an international friendly in Austria and inspite of a lacklustre performance by the three-time African Champion in the encounter,Valentine Ozornwafor was singled out for praise by the then Super Eagles Manager Gernot Rohr. Since then, the Belgium-based player’s direction has not been looked at until his recent invitation to Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone and the Dodos of Mauritius.The big question is whether Ozornwafor could cash-in on the two matches by impressing the‘new Sheriff in town’- Jose Peseiro and make his shirt permanent?

Valentine Ozornwafor was in the heart of Super Eagles defence in Nigeria’s goalless draw against Cameroon in Austria

V

alentine Ozornwafor was called up for Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone and the

Dodos of Mauritius.

Ozornwafor, 22, will link up with the team in Abuja when they return from the United States of America.

Belgian Pro League club Sporting Charleroi confirmed the centre-back’s invitation for the qualifiers.

“Our African internationals will play several qualifying matches for the next African Cup of Nations,” reads a statement on the club’s official website.

“Valentine Ozornwafor, selected with Nigeria, will face Sierra Leone before travelling to Mauritius.”

The defender has been capped once at the senior level by Nigeria.

The former Enyimba player was first called up to the full side in March 2019, for a friendly game against Seychelles and Egypt, but was only an unused substitute.

Ozornwafor debuted with Nigeria in a 1–0 friendly loss to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in June 2021.

Soccer loving Nigerians were not happy with the invitation of Valentine Ozornwafor for the Nigeria versus Cameroon friendly in Austria by erstwhile Super Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr, but characteristic of the FrancoGerman he stood his ground and went on to parade the then 21-year-old.

Ozornwafor played in the heart of the defense and he justified his inclusion in starting lineup for the Super Eagles.

Ozornwafor was called up to the Super Eagles following a spate of withdrawals but his call-up was met with a slew of criticism. Critics pointed to the defender’s lack of minutes in the 2020/2021 season with just eight minutes for Galatasaray.

The 22-year-old made his Super Eagles debut in the first friendly game against Cameroon on June 4, coming on for William Troost-Ekong late in the game.

He made his first start for Nigeria in the second game against Cameroon and impressed at the back, helping the Super Eagles to a clean sheet.

“We had a problem in the defense so for the first time we played Valentine,” Rohr told Super Eagles media.

“He did very well and we finished the match with Simon who is a winger

playing left-back and we didn’t concede a goal.

“I’m very happy for Valentine because a lot of people did not understand why he was with us.”

“He showed today the reason why he can play with us, he did very well in central defense.”

Meanwhile, Turkish giant, Galatasaray has reportedly transfer listed two Nigerian players ahead of next season.

Turkish sports daily, Fanatik, said Jesse Sekidika, Valentine Ozornwafor and four other players, who were loaned out in the recently concluded season, have been declared surplus to requirements and have to find a new team.

Sekidika was loaned out to Belgian club OH Leuven for the first half of the campaign and spent the second half of the season at Turkish second-tier club, Eyüpspor.

The winger has not really convinced Galatasaray coaching staff of his qualities since joining the club in 2020, considering that he was also loaned out to Konyaspor in the second half of 2020-2021.

Ozornwafor is also out of favour at Galatasaray and agreed loan moves to UD Almeria and RSC Charleroi in search of regular game time.

He has played just one game, coming

off the bench for the last eight minutes in a Super Lig match vs Genclerbirligi on January 9, 2021.

The former Almeria star has also represented Nigeria at the U-20 level. He featured at the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMIFULA OGBU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 4, 2022

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AUTO WORLD

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

TIPS OF THE WEEK

Demystifying Oil: Synthetic Oil Versus Non-Synthetic Oil

R-L: CEO, BKG Exhibitions, Ifeanyi Agwu; General Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, Abiona Babarinde; Deputy General Manager, Ford Sales, Coscharis Motors, Justin Ngini; Brand Manager, Ford, Coscharis Motors, Felix Mahan, during the launch of the all-new Bronco, at the Lagos Motor Fair… recently

Coscharis Motors Launches All-new Bronco at Lagos Motor Fair

C

oscharis Motors has launched the all-new Bronco into the Nigerian market at the Lagos Motor Fair, to the amazement of all that were present at the fair.

Speaking during the launch, Abiona Babarinde, General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, said, “The Bronco has come home to stay in Nigeria. Given the adventurous nature of our people and the challenging topography of some of our communities, the Bronco will soon become a must-have for everyone who can afford it.”

Emphasising further, Babarinde said, “The Bronco is engineered to deliver thrilling and confident off-road experience, building on the DNA of the original 1966 Bronco and its racing heritage. It gets even better with

ingenious new updatable technologies and adventure-ready attributes created for today’s outdoor enthusiasts.”

The Bronco comes loaded with lots of off-road safety and comfort features and is engineered to take you to epic places, with capability to deliver confidence on any type of terrain.

According to Justin Ngini, Deputy General Manager, Ford Sales, Coscharis Motors said, “The Bronco Wildtrak you are seeing today assures of value for money as it comes packed with a 2.7L Ecoboost Engine, 10 speed Automatic Transmission, 17 Inches Black Gloss-Painted Aluminium Wheels, Sound Deadening Headliner, 6 Speaker Sound System, SYNC4, Navigation System, Leather Trims, and many other, comfort and safety features to help you navigate through any kind of terrain your journey

throws at you.”

Ngini also promised that Coscharis Motors would deliver an exciting customer experience to any enthusiast who purchases a Bronco from the company. He said, “As the exclusive Ford dealers in Nigeria our OEM trained sales and aftersales teams are poised to delivering a world class customer experience to our Bronco, and by extension, all other Ford brand customers the country.”

Ngini also said “We are easily accessible, with presence in the six geopolitical zones of the country. Coscharis also offer trade-in opportunities for customers who wish to exchange their old Ford vehicles for a new Bronco or any other Ford variant. We can also help to arrange finance options for interested customers who want to buy now and spread payment over a period of up to 5 years.”

Toyota 4Runner Celebrates Historic Run with 40th Anniversary Special Edition

F

orty candles. The “big four-0.”

The Toyota 4Runner will reach the 40-year mark with the 2023 model year… and, to celebrate, Toyota is oͿering a distinctive 4WD-only 2023 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition. Appropriately, Toyota will make 4,040 of these special editions available for the U.S. market. Over the past four decades, 4Runner has amassed more than 4 million cumulative sales while carving out its place as the ready-for-anything SUV that’s equally at home on pavement or trail.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition is based on the SR5 Premium grade and will be available in three colors: White, Midnight Black Metallic and Barcelona Red Metallic. It will stand out from the lineup thanks to bronze-colored 17-inch alloy wheels, a body-color-matching TOYOTA heritage grille and a bronze-colored 40th Anniversary exterior tailgate badge.

The biggest eye-catcher, though, is likely to be the heritage graphics package created especially for this anniversary model. The Àrst 4Runner was built on the Toyota pickup platform, which itself founded the heritage of Toyota’s illustrious success in oͿ-road racing. As an homage to those early racers, the 4Runner 40th Anniversary Edition will be wearing some very cool, retro-inspired yellow/orange/red body graphics.

The anniversary theme continues inside, where the 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition gets exclusive badging on the center console and features a bronze-colored cross-stitch shift

knob, bronze-colored seat stitching, 40th Anniversary Áoormats and a 40th Anniversary logo on the Black SofTex-trimmed seats. Topping it oͿ is a standard power moonroof.

Fun facts: When the Àrst 4Runner arrived, “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” was the top-grossing movie in America, and “Every Breath You Take” by the Police had ended the year at #1 on the Billboard 100. (Yep, that was then “Jedi” was the third Star Wars movie, not “Episode Six.”)

2023 Toyota 4Runner

A 4Runner for All Seasons and Reasons The 2023 4Runner lineup covers a broad range of tastes and needs in a high-capability SUV. The line includes grades SR5, SR5 Premium, TRD Sport, TRD OͿ-Road, TRD OͿ-Road Premium, Limited and TRD Pro. The 4Runner exudes a rugged look in all grades yet maintains a timeless SUV style all its own. The SR5 and TRD models ride on 17-inch alloy wheels that are available in three designs: 6-spoke for SR5 models, 7-spoke for TRD OͿ-Road models and Áow-form matte black alloy wheels for TRD Pro.

Are you puzzled about the types of motor oil available" Wondering if you’re choosing the right one for your car? Here’s a crash course, so to speak: Multi-viscosity or straight-weight. Multiviscosity oils are those denoted by two numbers with a ‘W-‘ in between (for example, 10W-30 or 20W-50). The ‘W’ originally stood for winter, as oils were developed to compensate for the wear due to the vast temperature ranges then. They’re almost exclusively used today rather than straight-weight (monograde) oils.

Multi-viscosity oils use polymer additives to change the natural consistency of oil as it’s heated, preventing it from thinning out as much as it otherwise would.

The only downside to this is that some of the additives used to improve viscosity at high temperatures can also leave sticky deposits.

Oil companies have mostly eliminated such problems by adding detergents to oil, along with rust inhibitors and antioxidants. Some precise performance engines will still require straight-weight oil, but all newer vehicles are designed for multi-viscosity oil and require it, else your warranty will probably be void.

What the numbers mean. The numbers in motor-oil nomenclature refer to the viscosity (thickness) of the oil. A higher number corresponds to thicker oil, while a lower number refers to thinner oil. The numbers themselves are supposed to correspond to a set of real, measurable qualities in the oil, one of which is the viscosity index. In multi-viscosity oils, the left number refers to cold behavior of the particular oil, while the right number refers to its hot (100 degrees Celsius) behavior. So, for instance, 5W-30 oil would Áow well when cold like 5-weight oil, but protect at high temperatures like 30-weight oil.

Do oils vary much by brand? Yes. The 5W-30 oil from one company might equal 10W-40 oil from another company in viscosity, because there might be a diͿerence in some of the other properties of the oil, like its Áash point (at what temperature it ignites). The numbers in multi-viscosity oil also don’t tell anything about how viscous the oil is at normal engine operating temperatures, as opposed to extremes. The best advice here is to choose a familiar brand, and experiment with other major brands if you think it’s too thin or too thick. Never mix brands or diͿerent weights. Wait until an oil change.

What about synthetics? Synthetics are better in every way, but they are much more expensive. They oͿer better high-temperature resistance and better low-temperature Áow, and they leave nearly no deposits. Prices for synthetics are coming down, though, and there are also blends that combine synthetics with traditional mineral oils. Because synthetics Áow and penetrate much better than regular oils, a change to synthetic oil will sometimes reveal leaks you didn’t know existed.

Ratings. The American Petroleum Institute (API) assigns letter ratings to motor oil. The category ratings correspond to industry standards for various qualities like viscosity, thermal protection, and preventing deposits and sludge. Every few years, the currently awarded rating is changed. Currently, SL (Spark ignition, Category L) is the top rating.

SJ was introduced in 2001 and SH in 1996.

As your car ages and becomes a highmileage vehicle, many experts recommend that you change to thicker oil than is normally used. Over time, gaps between parts in the engine become larger, enabling less oil to reach critical parts. Ask a mechanic familiar with your model vehicle or ask the dealership if you should change the type of oil for your vehicle beyond 100,000 miles.

The underlying message is that all oil is not the same. Making sure you use the correct viscosity rating is just the start. The quality and characteristics of oils can vary greatly by brand, too.

(Source: The Car Connection)

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 4, 2022

AUTO WORLD

Mercedes-Benz and Alicia Keys Empower Women to go Their Own Way

T

he “Keys to Success” campaign on the Mercedes-Benz social media channels is starting today. Mercedes-Benz and Alicia Keys want to inspire women to empower each other, learn from each other and grow together - to make positive changes in social interaction beyond the music industry. As voices heard around the world, Alicia Keys and Mercedes-Benz together encourage women to follow their personal path conÀdently, above and beyond the music industry.

The “Keys to Success” campaign shows how the renowned artist and global partner of the brand mentors women in the music industry worldwide through the organization she co-founded, “She Is The Music”.

With the “She’s Mercedes” initiative, the brand itself has been in active dialogue with women globally since 2015 and facilitates an open and creative exchange relating to visionary future topics, courage and self-conÀdence. The current campaign reÁects the belief held by Mercedes-Benz that diversity is a driver for creativity and innovation.

The campaign was produced during a songwriting camp hosted by the “She Is The Music” organization by Alicia Keys at the legendary Jungle City Studios in New York City. The artists individually reinterpreted songs from the current album of their mentor Keys. The resulting tracks will be published on Mercedes-Benz social media channels as part of the “Keys to Success” campaign, helping participants gain attention and exposure in the music industry.

“Mercedes-Benz stands for diversity, respect

Alicia Keys and Mercedes-Benz and equal opportunity. We are convinced that sustainable success can only be achieved with diverse teams, so that everyone can beneÀt from their respective strengths and experiences. We use our social media reach to communicate our values authentically and thus draw attention to our values. Currently with the “Keys to Success” campaign with Alicia Keys, we have an internationally recognized and committed

artist at our side, who initiates change together with us and promotes young artists. This is how we manage to operate beyond the music and automotive industries to represent our internal values,” says Bettina Fetzer, Vice President Communications & Marketing Mercedes-Benz AG. The “She’s Mercedes” Initiative Launched in 2015 to coincide with the International Motor

Show (IAA), the initiative follows the basic idea of networking, exchange and dialogue in over 70 countries. “She’s Mercedes” oͿers women the opportunity to expand their own networks, inspire and empower each other at exclusive experiences and events. At the same time, Mercedes-Benz brings the community closer to its own brand world and gets to know its mobility needs and wishes better. “She Is The Music” (SITM) is a global nonproÀt working to increase the number of women in music and transform the gender landscape of the industry. Operating as a unifying network for the music business and beyond, SITM provides resources and support for female-focused initiatives - both through its own programs, as well as external eͿorts worldwide. A Àrst-of-its-kind collaboration, SITM is powered by industrywide representation: creators, publishers, record labels, talent agencies, management companies, industry groups, think tanks, media companies, streaming services, and more. Entertainment Industry Foundation serves as a partner. Promotion of women at Mercedes-Benz. The advancement of women is an important area of action for Mercedes-Benz.

The aim is clear: Mercedes-Benz wants more qualiÀed women in senior management positions and is aiming for a share of 30 percent in 2030 as the next step. The proportion is currently 22.5 percent. The proportion of women on the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG is 37.5 percent: Three of the eight board members are women.

MINI Cooper S Countryman Imbued with Individual Accessories

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ith the newly developed all-terrain complete wheels, the MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 can also make the most of its capabilities oͿ paved roads. With the help of the roof-mounted sleeping space of the Àve-door all-rounder, the largest model of the British premium brand becomes a hip camper and thus even more versatile.

A hidden forest lake, a secluded beach cove or the view back down into the valley from a scaled mountain peak - the MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 (fuel consumption combined: 7.1 - 6.6 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 163 - 151 g/km according to WLTP) encourages adventures beyond the city limits more than ever in the characterful Untamed Edition. When paved roads come to an abrupt end, 18-inch all-terrain wheels with GRABBER AT3 tires now support the vehicle’s exceptional

oͿ-road capabilities in all weather conditions.

And if the particularly spirited engine not only takes you to the end of the road, but also to the end of the day, the roof tent from the Italian specialist manufacturer AUTOHOME provides a spontaneous overnight accommodation option, according to the automaker.

The MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 is characterized by maximum traction and driving stability. The 18-inch alloy wheels with GRABBER AT3 tires underscore the oͿ-road characteristics of the edition model with an attractive Ànish featuring high-quality clear lacquer. Thanks to the special design and the paint Ànish with a blue shimmer, the Untamed 2 Tone Spoke styling of the wheels emphasizes the sporty driving pleasure of the MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 visually as well.

As soon as the GRABBER AT3 tire hits loose ground, numerous grip edges interlock with the ground. On the one hand, it transmits the power

MINI Cooper S Countryman of the 131 kW/178 hp four-cylinder engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo technology in all weather conditions, while at the same time ensuring safe driving pleasure oͿ paved roads. The tread pattern, which is open to the side, gives additional traction in muddy and wet conditions thanks to e΀cient self-cleaning.

If you want to take your adventurous spirit to even more remote paths, you can carry your mountain bike conveniently from the folding rear bike rack of the MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 and pedal away. The easy attachment and space-saving transport make it easy to decide to take additional gear along on discovery tours.

Tweaking Driving and Phoning Risk Behaviour One major road safety risk behavior that has been elaborately treated in this column is the use of phones while driving. At the onset, the worry was the penchant by motorists to drive and use the phone while driving. To address this frantically, we deÀned the habit or infraction of using the phone while driving to include making or receiving calls, as well as using any facility in the phone such as email, text messaging, snapchats, and Google map among others.

The essence was to disabuse the minds of those who mischievously argue that the use of a phone while driving simply refers to phoning while driving.

We equally stepped up our enforcement strategy by the novel introduction of emotional evaluation for defaulters. Today the diseased behavior has won converts among vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and motor cyclists which has resulted in avoidable deaths and injuries.

Globally, authorities are toying with innovative interventions to address this dangerous infractions including strengthening awareness in Africa through cost eͿective campaigns such as the =usha road safety campaign in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania which was designed by Georgetown University Initiative on Innovation, Development and Evaluation. There are other platforms such as ‘The Conversation’ funded by the National Research Foundation with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as a Strategic Partner working with eight Universities spread in

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa Assistant Corps Marshal Zonal Commanding Officer Federal Road Safety Corps.

South Africa and Nigeria..

The rising trend, perhaps explains why there are calls globally including Nigeria to heighten and strengthen the enforcement on defaulters to cut down the rising spate of avoidable road tra΀c crashes especially in low and middle income countries which account for a greater portion of global crash index. There are equally series of researches seeking for better answers and feedback.

For the records, the National Road Tra΀c Regulations, 2012 and the Revised Highway Code lists the use of phone while driving and driving under the inÁuence of alcohol and drugs as tra΀c oͿences even though our focus is on phoning..

The Revised Highway Code, warns drivers against driving under the inÁuence of alcohol, drugs or harmful substances because they impair vision, judgement, coordination and slows down reaction just like the phone.

The 2016 National Road Tra΀c Regulations in section 175(1) notes that,’’ any person, who while driving or attempting to drive or when in charge of a motor vehicle is under the inÁuence of intoxicating drugs or alcohol above the legal limit or to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of such motor vehicle shall be guilty of an oͿence and liable on conviction…’’

Nevertheless, despite this provisions and the avalanche of strategies to address this risk behavior in low, middle income countries such as ours as well as developed climes, majority of drivers are unconvinced that indulging in this risk behavior poses dangers until they become direct or indirect victims. Others are also unconvinced that strengthened laws on the use of mobile phones while driving will deter defaulters and ultimate will make the roads safer. Those in this category will go to any length to oppose tougher laws or even stronger enforcement especially in developing climes.

Now let me pilot you through developments in the developed clime with reference to the United Kingdom where a survey was conducted to psyche road users especially drivers behavior.

The publications of the Àndings coincided with a new law which now states that almost any use of a handheld phone is punishable with six points and a 200 Àne which is equivalent to over a hundred thousand Naira depending on the exchange rate in our clime.This new law, if you reÁect, Àts perfectly

with the deÀnition I stated earlier on in this piece on what the infraction of using the phone while driving truly means. Following this development and explanation given, this new introduction in the United Kingdom ultimately seeks to stop drivers from using their phones to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists or play games.

The new law has closed the lacuna that was created by the old law which merely stated that it was a criminal oͿence to use a hand-held mobile phone to call or text while driving ,thus leaving a legal lacuna which allowed drivers to escape punishment for other actions such as taking photos.

Before now, taking photos while driving was not seen as ‘interactive communication’, and therefore did not Àt the previous deÀnition of the oͿence.

A further survey was conducted between 18 to 21 March focusing on two thousand drivers.

It found out that 43percent of respondents were not aware of the changes being introduced while 75percent were fully supportive of the change in the law. Notwithstanding these Àndings, many expressed skepticism as to how eͿective it will be in getting defaulting drivers to change their behavior and make the roads safer.

The Àndings also revealed that just two percent of drivers said they considered that the new changes will be ‘very eͿective’, with 49 per cent maintaining that it would be ‘partly eͿective’ while 45 per cent said it would not be eͿective.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 4, 2022

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MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

Members of the Nigerian Red Cross Society and those of the British Red Cross with HRM, Oba of Ikorodu, Engr. Kabiru Shotobi, during a high level visit to the monarch on World Red Cross Day, in Lagos... recently

L -R: Managing Director Bryden Properties, Jonathan Eke; CEO, JV Management Consulting Ltd, Dr Jennifer Seidu; Convener and CEO, CWA Digital Service Ltd, Ekene Ozoilo; Managing Director, Zikan Realtors Ltd, Monica Umoh; and Managing Director, Ridgewayrealtors Ltd, Mrs Osayande Sarah, at 360° Selling System Business Bootcamp held in Ikeja, Lagos... recently

Lagos Commends Indomie on SystemSpecs Announces Winners of Children’s Day Essay Contest Child- Friendly Initiatives The Lagos State Government has lauded Dufil Prima Foods, makers of Indomie Noodles on its support and commitment to children’s growth and development.

The state gave the commendation at a Children’s Day party organised by Indomie Fan Club (IFC), where the organisation hosted over 100,000 children from various schools across the country.

Present at the event, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu described Indomie as a role model with regards to child-friendly initiative and enjoined it not to relent on its efforts.

She added that protecting the interest and visions of children cannot be ignored, given that they are tomorrow’s adult and professionals who would keep the country going and occupy tomorrow’s seats. She said: “It’s on record that since the Indomie and other products came 26 years ago, it

has been consistent in celebrating Children’s Day with series of activities. I congratulate our children on this occasion and urge our parents and guardians to work hard in giving the children a glorious future.”

Also speaking, Group Corporate Communications and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Tope Ashiwaju stated that the celebration was in line with the organisation’s theme campaign, “Show Some Love”.

Ashiwaju adds: “After COVID-19 lockdown, this is our major children’s day event to celebrate the Nigerian child. We want children to know that education is key which is why we are engaging them through educative games. Our message to Nigerian children is to continue showing love which is the focal point of Indomie’s theme campaign.

“This is almost the third generation of

Indomie children since starting in 1996 as some are now parents. We are always with them either as children or as parents. We are grateful to Mrs. Sanwo-Olu who is the mother of all the children in the state for taking time from her busy schedule to spend time with her children.”

The children were engaged in dance competitions, quizzes and other fun engaging activities including bumper car, merry-go-round, cartoon shows, cultural performances, and face painting.

In her remark, National Coordinator of the IFC, Mrs. Faith Joshua said, “The Indomie Fan Club initiative is without a doubt an innovative Corporate Social Responsibility project designed to educate and provide a fun experience to children, thereby enhancing learning for our children through several extra-curricular activities for children between the ages of 4 and 12.”

Fashion Entrepreneurs Charged on Innovation, Consistency Operators in the fashion industry have been advised to step up on their game to be able to harness the numerous prospects in the sector.

Chief Executive Officer of Alani Empire, Martins Ezekiel gave the advice recently at “Styleblock Fashion exhibition” organised for budding fashion businesses in Lagos recently.

The programme put together by Alani Empire gathered players in the various subsectors of fashion including fabric sellers, designers, tailors and cobblers, among others.

Ezekiel stated that the initiative was thought of to boost the visibility of fashion entrepreneurs, especially those operating on a small scale, adding that most fashion exhibitions and events do not consider or

capture smaller businesses in the industry.

He said, “We observed that most industry events don’t have space for budding fashion entrepreneurs, hence we put up this programme to accommodate the smaller ones to give them visibility and spotlight.”

He noted that the sector is a dynamic one that required creativity and innovativeness, and thus urged operators to continue to develop themselves in this wise to remain relevant and to be able to retain customers patronage after they might have achieved the needed exposure.

He equally advised business owners to be consistent and remain focus on their passion and not to be too carried away by monetary gains.

Ezekiel further pleaded with the govern-

ment to provide enabling environment for operators, noting that the sector is a major economy booster, if given necessary support.

“The indigenous fashion industry is booming like never before as more people are coming to embrace our local products.

Government should wake up to the needs in the sector and players should also play their part by being consistent. I can assure you that in the next ten years, Nigeria will be a global brand to reckon with in fashion,” he said.

One of the participants and skincare expert, Aisha Awonuga commended the initiative and urged Lagos State government to emulate such to be able to simplify access to market for operators, amongst other benefits.

Financial technology company, SystemSpecs has announced winners of the 30th edition of its annual Children’s Day Essay Competition.

At the end of the contest which had about 2000 entries from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, 11-year-old Oluwaseun Samuel Temitayo-Ojo of Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos emerged the winner in the junior category while 15-year-old Ekemini Keziah Effiong-Robert of African Church Model College, Agege, Lagos, emerged winner in the senior category.

The first and second runners-up prize in the junior category went to 10-year old Somadina Edeh of Independence Layout Nursery and Primary School, Enugu and 12-year-old Emmanuel Nkanu Nkanu of St Anne High School, Calabar respectively.

For the senior category, Chetachi Best Mbalu from Lagooz School, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos state and 13-year-old David Nkereuwem of Holy Mary Comprehensive College, Benin City, Edo came second and third.

The winners, aged between 9 and 16, shared relevant technology-led ideas useful in transforming the nation’s educational system.

According to the organisation, the Àrst-place winner in each category will get a high capacity laptop, a topnotch headphones, a free 3-month coding course at uLesson Coding School, monthly 10-gigabyte internet data for one year, branded travel suite case, a unique keepsake hoodie and a

thermal flask, and school bag.

It added, “The second-place winner in each category would also receive a high capacity laptop, a topnotch headphone, a free 3-month coding course at uLesson Coding School, monthly 5-gigabyte internet data for one year, a trendy hoodie, a thermal flask, and a school bag while the third-place winner in each category would receive a high-performance tablet, a headphone, a free 3-month coding course at uLesson Coding School, a branded hoodie, a thermal flask, and a school bag.”

Speaking, Group Head of Corporate Services at SystemSpecs, Oluwasegun Adesanya stated that the firm’s annual Children’s Day Essay initiative aligned with the organisation’s core values – Innovation and diligence, as well as its corporate social responsibility commitment geared towards developing capacity for national growth and development through technology.

He noted that this year’s competition was unique being a part of the company’s 30th-anniversary celebration. He applauded all partners who made the competition went well.

Adesanya said, “The quality of essays that we received from this year’s participants was mindblowing. We have also identified inspiring solutions proffered by these young Nigerians as we are set to take the next step of translating their ideas to reality through our corporate social responsibility and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.”

NGO Fetes Children, Seeks Protection of Rights

Oraimo to Build Africa’s Largest Mobile Technology Factory in Nigeria

A non-governmental organisation, Live Abundantly has called for the protection of children right against all forms of abuse during a “Children’s Awareness Initiative” it organised in commemoration of International Children’s Day, 2022 The organisation urged government to prioritise children’s security, nutrition and education in its policy formulation, in line with the elements of Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs. The event themed, “Building a better Future” had in attendance children from across primary and secondary schools in Lagos state, teachers, relevant government and security agencies and state actors, among other stakeholders, who enlightened children on ways and manners to approach issues that come their way.

The Founder, Mirabel Centre, Itoro Eze-Anaba, enlightened children to speak up in the case of any violence and reject threats.

She stated that such was necessary to aid prosecution as well as deter other criminal elements.

On her part, Founder of Live Abundantly, Dr Ama

Indigenous smart phone accessories manufacturers, Oraimo mobile technology has announced plans to erect the largest mobile technology factory in Nigeria.

Managing Director of the organisation, Mr. Chidi Okonkwo, revealed the plans at the opening of the organisation’s Áagship showroom and experience centre in Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja recently.

According to him, the new centre branded, “The Green World” is a one-stop shop for all quality and mobile accessories. Okonkwo also emphasised the company’s commitment to quality, durable and aͿordable products.

Speaking on the proposed factory, he said, “Nigeria has come of age with a teeming population of tech savvy young professionals and educated youths that can accommodate the siting of the largest mobile technologies production factory in Africa.”

Also present at the unveiling ceremony, Acting Executive Secretary of Nigerian Investment

Onyerinma emphasized the need to uphold children’s right, adding that no stone should be left unturned in securing children’s future.

“This involves all stakeholders including parent, teachers, schools, caretakers, government and the community. They must all unite towards a greater and secured future for our children,” Onyerinma said.

Also present at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Abayomi Abolaji reaffirmed government’s commitment to quality education.

He assured that government was working round the clock to attend to educational challenges in the state, adding that the state priority is to produce children who are well rounded academically, physically and morally.

He said, “Government is not unaware of challenges of children, and as part of our responses so far, we have rehabilitated 1499 schools across the state and we are not resting on our oars. Presently, Lagos has zero tolerance for out-of-school children and we are pulling all stops with the policy “Leave no Child behind” to end the menace.”

Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mr. Emeka OͿor commended the company’s decision to invest in Nigeria, while acknowledging its contribution to economic growth and human capital development through direct foreign investments.

He rea΀rmed federal government’s commitment to sustained reviews and implementation of sound corporate and Ànancial acts that will keep Nigeria as the investment hub of choice in Africa.

“It is high time we stopped the importation of commodities into Nigeria. The time has come for production to be predominant in Nigeria, and from here, we will export to other African nations and the entire world. This is the aspiration of President Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR and we will give it every support required,” OͿor said.

Customers who thronged the centre where treated to a musical performance by sensational Pheelz and prodigy saxophonist, Temilayo Abodunrin.

Gift items were also distributed to the excited crowd.

37

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 4, 2022

FOR THE RECORD /BOOK REVIEW

Time to Unite Ndi Enugu Ike Ekweremadu

I

n the last two years, we set out to run for the governorship of Enugu State. Our mission was to change the narrative in the governance of our state and possibly inspire other states in the delivery of impressive governance. Our hope was that this would lead to a total recalibration of governance in Nigeria with Enugu State as a starting point and model.

Within the period, we set up a platform with a grassroots base. We named it Oganiru Ndi Enugu. It wasdulyregistered.Wereceived77supportgroups, which showed uncommon support to our mission.

Toshowourseriousness,wedevelopedandpresented our manifesto entitled “My Agenda for Enugu State: A Pathway to a New Enugu State”.

We were prepared to deliver good governance that would see to the prompt payment of salaries and retirement benefits to our senior citizens. We pledged to build not just roads, but also super highways that wouldconnectourborderswithotherstatesandaring roadthatwouldconnectourlocalgovernmentareas.

Weweresettodeliverwaterandelectricitytoourcities andcommunitiesaswellasimpeccableenvironmental cleanliness.Wesaidthatwewouldchangethefaceof tourism with annual festival that would attract the world as well as institutions and facilities that would hostconferencesandevents.WepromisednewSpecial Citiesthatwoulddelivermodernagriculture,healthcare, entertainment, ICT, automobile, and sports.

Weweredeterminedtoprovidejobstoourpeopleto keepthemfromthetemptationtocommitcrimeand enhancetheirwellbeingaswellassecuretheirfutureand thefutureoftheirchildren.Oursolutionwastobuildat leasttwoindustriesineachofourlocalgovernmentsin fouryears.Oureconomywouldhavechangedforever.

Wehadplanstosecureourstateusingdigitaltechnology and a well equipped Security and Public Safety Coordination Centre with adequate manpower. We committed to setting up an efficient state-funded securityoutfitandanEnuguStateIdentityDatabase to help fight crime.

We were ready to deliver world-class education to ourpeople.Wepromisedtoruna24-hourgovernance thatwouldenhanceservicedelivery.Wewereprepared to make Enugu people proud again.

Ekweremadu Unfortunately,asweweredoingthese,someof ourcompatriotswerebusyconspiringandplanting landminestofrustrateourrescueandtransformation mission. We have witnessed betrayals and high level of ingratitude on this journey. Yet we remained focused.

I think we have fought a good fight to redefine governance in our dear state. It is time to review this journey and take a well-considered decision for the unity of our state. We have succeeded in openingthepoliticalspaceforgreaterparticipation.

We have raised the consciousness of our people and opened their eyes to positive possibilities.

Although these possibilities are today dimmed

byfraudulentpoliticalpractices,thelightwillnever gooutandwehopetorekindlethelightinmentoring ouryouthingoodgovernance,responsiblepolitical participation, and finest practice of democracy.

Mydearfriends,associates,andwell-wishers,I knowyouhavebeenwaitingtohearfromme.You haveexpressedtomeindividuallyandcollectively your readiness to take a long journey with me to actualise our vision by whatever platform. I have deeplyreflectedonitallwithagoodsenseofhistory, includingmypoliticalhistory,andtheneedforthe unityandpeaceofourstate.Nosacrificewillbetoo much.Therefore,Ihavecometoadecision.Please, bear with me if my decision does not meet your

expectations. I call for your understanding.

May I respectfully express my deep gratitude to ourformidablecampaignteam,theIkeohaCampaign Organisation;ourirrepressiblemediateam;ourdiehard supporters;thosewhohaveencouragedusfinancially andlogistically;oursecurityteam;theyouthofEnugu State; my ever supportive family; the Church and religious groups; the PDP executives at various levels in Enugu State, especially our wonderful statutory delegates,whounfortunatelycouldnotvoteeventually; ourtraditionalrulers;womenorganisationsandother corporateorganisations;NdiEnuguindiaspora;andmy numerousfriends,admirers,andwell-wisherswithinand outsideNigeria;andotherstoonumeroustomention, for standing by us all this time.

AslongasIlive,Ipromisetostandbyyoucollectively andindividuallyinappreciation.Iampainedbytheexperienceofourpeople,whowereinjuredintheseries of senseless attacks on our disciples in the course of thisjourneyaswellasmanybeingpersecuted,someof whomarestillfacingshamtrialsandsomeindetention for offences they did not commit. Their only offence was their support for Ike Ekweremadu.

Therefore:Afterconsultingwidelywiththeeldersof ourpartyaswellaswell-meaningfriendsandrespected eldersacrossthecountryandbeyond;Afteralongand painstakingintrospectiononourcontributionstothe development of the PDP; After considering the currentsecuritysituationintheSouthEastregionandthe neednottoputanybodyinharmswaybyaforeseeable combustive political environment, as my ambition is notworththelifeofanyEnugusonordaughter;After considering that the things that hold us together as Ndi Enugu will ultimately outlive the treacheries of the moment and after receiving assurances from the gubernatorial candidate of our party, Barr. Peter Mba, that he would integrate our “Pathway to a New EnuguState”inhisprogrammeandhisassurancesof theparticipationofeverybodyinhiscampaignteam and government; I,SenatorIkeEkweremadu,herebyformallywithdraw fromthe2023gubernatorialcontestinEnuguState.

IcongratulateBarr.PeterMbaandwishhimsuccess.

It is time to unite.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, PHD, CFR issued this statement last Thursday.

Grooming Centre’s Stories of Impact Title:StoriesofImpact:RealWomen,RealLives, Real Impact Author: Grooming Centre Publisher: Grooming Centre Year: 2019 Number of pages: 129 Genre: Photobook Reviewer: Obiageli Ezekwesili his book is broken into five chapters; after a preface that was written with a very simple statement. Many of our members testified that the loans they received from the Centre are a lifeline used to scale their businesses, increase their income, and improve their personal lives. This preface written by the founder of the Grooming Centre, Dr. Godwin Nwabunka is a statement that summarizes what we normally call outcomes in the development agenda.

From the preface, the book moves on to the first chapter, and it opens up to the picture of the very amazingMrs.AliceOgbonna.ShespeaksoftheGrooming Centre in a way that represents often more than 60%ofwomenwhoaresupportedinmicroactivities, whenshesaid,“GroomingCentresloansaregoodand profitable. I use my profits to finish raising some of my children. They all went to secondary school and are now running their individual businesses”.

MrsOgbonnaisanexemplificationofwhatweknow about women. Women have been found to spend more than 70% - 80% of their income on educating their children, providing access to health for family, and showing that the household income supports everyone’s growth.

Womenhaveoftenbeenfoundtospendmorethan 50%oftheirincomeonotherpeoplebesidesanything that matters to them in the big journey.

So to that extent, when you read the story of Mrs. Ogbonna and you read this personating story of a woman farmer whose supply of ugwu, waterleaf, nsaowu and garden eggs to traders has enabled her

T

to build not just people who now have foundational literacyandnumeracyskills,whichareestablishedin development as the necessary foundation that can predictwhetheranindividualwouldmakeitinlife,then you begin to understand how powerful the vision of the Grooming Centre is.

For every one Mrs Ogbonna, there are at least 500,000othersthatseektofindthiskindofsupport annually.

Tothatextent,therefore,Mrs.Ogbonnarepresents averygoodmodelforwhatgovernmentsmustlearn in the kind of work that Centres like the Grooming Centre do for development. The SDGs can only be achievedwhenwerecognizethefactthatbyenabling her children to have access to education, to quality education of the kind that has subject them to be ready to become entrepreneurs also.

What Mrs. Ogbonna and people like her that have beenbeneficiariesoftheresourcesfromtheGrooming

Centreshowusisthatdevelopmentisnottoomysterious to be tackled.

In the story of Mrs. Okubena about the Grooming Centre,oneimmediatelylearnsaboutsustainability.

Sustainability is an important factor in businesses runbywomen.Evidenceshowsthatmostbusinesses runbywomen,donotsurvivebeyondyearthree.And a major part of the reasons that the businesses of womenfail,istheproblemthattheGroomingCentre is solving.

InMrs.Okubena’sstatementofhavingfirstheardof theGroomingCentre15yearsago,andyetafterwards heardaboutitandreconnectedintotheresourcesof theGroomingCentre’sandalreadyisthrivingbasedon anorganisationthatshehadfirstlearntabout15years ago,ittellsussomethingalsoaboutthesustainability oftheGroomingCentreitself.TheGroomingCentre, byitssuccessfulbusinesslabel,hasrefusedtodielike other fly-by-night organizations that we have seen

in the business of access to microfinance.

ChapterTwotalksaboutchanginglivessustainably,as thoughitdidnotevenseethatinthepreviouschapter, liveswerealreadysustainablychanged.Wouldyousay thatthelivesofallthesewomen,Mrs.John,thewoman whosolovedsellingclothes,thattheopportunityto getherloanquicklymadehersosuccessfulwithjust ₦40,000? Mrs. John can be put in this book as one who has been doing business now for 10 years and has two shops.

In this chapter two, the Grooming Centre says that its goal is to use its products and services to change the lives of members sustainably, and we havealreadyspokentothat.However,onethingthat isveryimportantforustoknowisthatsustainability is a function of intelligence. That’s what you see in chapter two of this book. Starting with Mrs. Ifeoma Nwaeje, you read through the story of Mrs. Ifeoma Nwaeje who has not only become successful but became successful because of her mother, Mrs. Ogbonnaintheearlierchapter,thenyouunderstand intergenerational equity.

Mrs Ogbonna said, “I will not leave it with I alone, I must make sure that my daughter and everyone connected to me would get the opportunity of success.” And you know in development,whatwehave foundisthatthemomentawomanisgivenaccessto knowledge,youcanbeguaranteedthatthecommunity will become knowledgeable. That is powerful. It is a powerful thing because development is a function of the quick spread of knowledge. By ensuring that womenlikeMrs.Ogbonna,understandthepowerof knowledgeandhowtotransferitfromthemselvesto theirdaughters,theyhavefulfilledoneofthethings thatwehaveseen,whichisthatthemorewomenare educatedinasociety,thefastertheeconomicgrowth ofthatsocietywillhappen.TheGroomingCentre,well done on being an important mover of the objective that we have in education.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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SATURDAY JUNE 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

SATURDAY JUNE 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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Saturday, June 4, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Clark to Tambuwal

“What Tambuwal did was not only dishonourable but also a serious electoral abnormality and a tragic betrayal of national patriotism for hidebound interests” –Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, chastising Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State for withdrawing for Atiku on the day of PDP’s Presidential primary.

UZOR MAXIMUZOATU GUEST COLUMNIST

Fayemi and the Moneybag Syndrome

B

ig money is betrothed to big power. With plenteous cash in the war-chest, the ambitious politician can hardly ever resist the drive to grab presidential power. Nigeria is poised on the grand highway of the momentous 2023 presidential election, and the issue of money politics is on the front burner. Transactional politics is threatening to overwhelm the polity.

Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, popularly hailed as JKF, has weighed in on the matter by stressing that the presidency of Nigeria should not be for moneybag politicians.

Fayemi who was canvassing for votes from delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State ahead of the party’s much-postponed primary election made bold to stress that it was the desire to build a prosperous nation that he’s running for the 2023 presidency as he has the capacity and the roadmap to transform the security situation in the country.

Fayemi counted himself out of the rich list of moneybag politicians, informing the Kaduna delegates that he stands to be counted as a student of Nigerian history who knows that the nation’s top job had never been entrusted to any moneybag politician. In this vein, the nation’s coveted presidency of the here and now should not be about moneybags because those who had occupied the seats in the past weren’t moneybag politicians.

According to Governor Fayemi, “Late Tafawa Balewa was a teacher; so also was the late Shehu Shagari, and you know that Obasanjo came out of prison with N100,000 in his bank account.”

Taking the moneybag issue further, it is noteworthy that Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who succeeded Obasanjo was equally a self-effacing teacher before becoming Katsina State Governor, and then became the President of Nigeria in near-miraculous circumstances.

Yar ’Adua was not on any political pundit’s crystal-ball until he manifested as the candidate of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The unfortunate death of Yar’Adua paved the way for “the shoeless one” Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, another former teacher, to take up duties as the Nigerian president without ever asking for it, and not being a moneybag politician by any permutation.

General Muhammadu Buhari who took over from Jonathan always made

Fayemi

the point of depicting himself as not being rich, being as ever comfortable with his 150 cows. He got to power without any monetary riches to crow about.

The 2023 presidential contest is poised on the cliff-hanger of either the moneybag politicians breaking the jinx of capturing the Nigerian presidency or the less-endowed candidates moneywise continuing with their successful run.

The truth of course is that putting money forward as the only thing that drives any political ambition rankles.

It is akin to what is known in popular parlance as “money miss road”. Any politician that wants to rank high in the popular imagination needs to showcase integrity and a can-do spirit.

It is remarkable that Governor Fayemi portrays himself thusly to the Kaduna delegates: “I am a bridge-builder. I am

It is remarkable that Governor Fayemi portrays himself thusly to the Kaduna delegates: “I am a bridge-builder. I am a unifier. This is a visit to say ‘hello’ and share my vision and leave you to be the judge of who to pilot the new Nigeria that we are yearning for.” Fayemi’s stance against moneybag politics emblematizes the crying need to rescue the country from looming disaster instead of brandishing the cash in one’s large pockets. There is a near total absence of direction in the country, and the fear is that Nigeria may be giddily grinding to a halt

a unifier. This is a visit to say ‘hello’ and share my vision and leave you to be the judge of who to pilot the new Nigeria that we are yearning for.”

In essence, Fayemi’s stance against moneybag politics emblematizes the crying need to rescue the country from looming disaster instead of brandishing the cash in one’s large pockets. There is a near total absence of direction in the country, and the fear is that Nigeria may be giddily grinding to a halt.

Chaos looms, unless the presidential wannabes do not want to face reality.

The insecurity situation in the country has never been as bad, and not a few politicians have lamented that not even in the civil war years has the nation witnessed the insecurity that is obtainable now. The Hobbesian state of nature in which life is nasty, brutish and very short has overwhelmed the country.

The dividends of democracy are hard to come by for poor Nigerians.

The argument that democracy must be sustained cannot mean much when the vast majority of Nigerians cannot afford the basic necessities of life. The squandering of the riches of Nigeria when basic food, shelter and housing are denied millions of Nigerians can only lead to a societal upheaval that may prove very difficult to contain.

The moneybag syndrome that Governor Fayemi cited is even more dangerous when it is noted that it happens to be money looted by Nigerian politicians and their lackeys that are ploughed back to play the dirty politics. The fact that the money was not earned through industry or business or even hard work conduces to more attention being paid to transactional politics rather than attending to the reforms that will heal the land.

Something needs to be done urgently to halt the drift that is the Nigerian forte today. It is incumbent on all the presidential candidates aspiring to run the affairs of Nigeria to appreciate that all is not well with the nation. Nigeria bleeds.

The buck stops on the table of an Executive President, and it will do any new Nigerian leader a world of good to tell himself the home-truth and then knuckle down to do the real work that will save the country from the clear and present danger of imminent collapse.

The involved political parties and their delegates should follow Governor Fayemi’s lead by discounting moneybag politics in the urgent national need to save Nigeria.

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