SATURDAY 9TH JULY 2022

Obi Unveils Baba-Ahmed as Running Mate, Vows to Rescue Nigeria LP’s VP candidate says he is happy to be part of the movement to save country Bennett Oghifo Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, yesterday unveiled the founder of Baze University, Abuja, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed as his running mate

for the 2023 presidential election.

The 46-year-old economist cum politician served as Senator for Kaduna North from 2011 to 2012 and as a member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007.

Baba-Ahmed’s announcement

came barely 24 hours after the Director-General, Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, Doyin Okupe, announced his withdrawal as the vice-presidential candidate of the party.

Speaking at the unveiling

yesterday, Obi, who apologised for the postponement of the event from Thursday to yesterday, said it signaled the party’s and his resolve in the journey to “take back Nigeria”.

Obi said: “It is good to be here

today after weeks and months that we have gone round, consulted and searched around and looked for somebody who fits the bill of what we are trying to do.

“Today, I am proud to say I have been able to meet and secure

somebody who is eminently qualified and fits the bill to be the Vice President of Nigeria. I know people will say you are not there yet, but I can tell you, I know Continued on page 5

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Fayemi, Akeredolu, Sanwo-Olu in Rivers to Woo Wike Ganduje says Tinubu has agreed to pick Muslim VP as APC's presidential candidate departs France for Lagos Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Some governors elected on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday met

with the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike at his country home in Port Harcourt, apparently to woo him to join the APC ahead of the 2023 elections.

On the same day, Kano State

Governor, Umar Ganduje claimed that the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, had agreed to pick a Muslim vice-presidential candidate for 2023.

Wike, who lost the presidential

ticket of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and also failed to get the VicePresidential ticket of the party, has been at loggerheads with the

PDP ever since.

The governors who met with Wike yesterday were Kayode Fayemi, Rotimi Akeredolu and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Ekiti, Ondo, and Lagos states, respectively.

Others in their entourage were the Ekiti State Governor-elect, Biodun Oyebanji; former Ekiti State governor and PDP chieftain, Continued on page 5

Rattled by Terror Attacks, Buhari Convenes Security Meeting,Tells Service Chiefs to Raise their Game Minister: Terrorists overwhelmed security agents with superior weapons at Kuje prison NCoS declares fleeing inmates wanted Deji Elumoye, Michael Olugbode and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Apparently rattled by two brazen attacks by terrorists last Tuesday at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, and also on his advance convoy in Dutsinma, Katsina State, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday summoned an emergency meeting of the National Security Council.

The terrorists freed hardened Boko Haram elements, alongside over 600 inmates, during the deadly attack at Kuje Correctional Centre, while two policemen were injured in the attack on the Presidency’s advance team of security guards, protocol and media officers.

The Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) later claimed responsibility for the Kuje Prison attack.

L-R: Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao; Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, arriving for security

REJIGGING WAR AGAINST TERRORISTS…

Continued on page 5

meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa…yesterday

FG Appoints Interim MDs for Benin, Kano, Kaduna Discos... Page 6

GODWIN OMOIGUI

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SATURDAY JULY 9, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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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, JULY 9, 2022

PAGE FIVE RATTLED BY TERROR ATTACKS, BUHARI CONVENES SECURITY MEETING, TELLS SERVICE CHIEFS TO RAISE THEIR GAME Present at yesterday’s Security Council meeting held at the State House, Abuja were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Army Staff, Lt. Gen Farouk Yahaya; Air Staff, Air Marshall Isiaka Amao; Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; and the InspectorGeneral of Police, Usman Baba.

Cabinet members in attendance were the Ministers of interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Police Affairs Minister, Mohammed Dingyadi; Defense Minister, retired Major Gen. Bashir Magashi; and the Attorney-General/Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Sources said the meeting focused mainly on the failings of security men at the Kuje Correctional facility and during the attack on the presidential convoy.

“The meeting discussed how to apprehend the terrorists released, and steps to prevent future attacks. They also discussed how to disable various cells of terrorists in the North,” said another source.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi confirmed that Buhari gave clear directive to the service chiefs to ensure that what happened in Kuje did not reoccur.

Dingyadi said: "The service chiefs have been given very clear directives to ensure that adequate measures are taken not only to investigate what happened, but also to take steps to forestall the recurrence of such incidences.”

The minister said security agencies guarding the Kuje facility were overpowered by the terrorists.

According to him, the security personnel deployed to Kuje prison did their best to repel the attack but were subdued by the superior weaponry of the terrorists.

The Minister said: "You see, these kinds of things, they happen and I want to assure you all that those who are supposed to play a role in ensuring that the attack is neutralised did the best that they could to neutralise it.

"I think what helped them was the number of people they came with and the superior weapons they came with.

"And because nobody anticipated it, the few people could not withstand the number that they came with. I think that's what happened."

Dingyadi said some of the assailants were killed but their bodies taken away by the terrorists.

Asked why no arrest had been

made, the Minister said: "Some of them have been killed. But I can’t give you the number and I don't know the number. Because like they used to do, whenever one of them is killed, they take him away and you cannot know the number of people who have been killed. But definitely, quite a number of them were killed and many of them ran away with bullet wounds."

He assured that investigation into the incident would continue: "This investigation is still going on. You will only do good to allow the investigation to continue and maybe by the time they finish, you will be able to get the details of what actually happened and why it happened."

Asked why there had been nothing specific to report after days of the attack, Dingyadi explained that the outcome of the investigation would determine the cause, reaction and how to prevent a recurrence.

Dingyadi said: "Investigations have already commenced. Even when the President went to Kuje, he expressed his surprise as to how it happened. That is why he quickly convened this meeting.

"Mr. President has been briefed and he has assured the nation that he's on top of the situation.

Whatever is supposed to be done is going to be done and is being done to ensure that those not yet back are brought back to the Correctional Center.

Asked if there was a timeline for the investigation, the Police Minister said, "As soon as possible. You see we have raised this issue at the meeting and we know Nigerians are eager to know the actions that are going to be taken.

"But you see, some of these things are security issues. We do not need to give out the details of what we are going to do. But we will just assure Nigerians that we're on top of the situation. And we will be doing the needful."

He said: "Mr. President had directed that we hold today’s Security Council meeting to review the situation of security in the country, particularly as it relates to insecurity issues that have happened in the last few weeks.

"We are talking about the Kuje jail break that arose as a result of the attacks on the Correctional Centre by terrorists, as well as the banditry attack that took place in Katsina around the same time, as well as the various attacks in Shiroro Local Government of Niger State.

"Mr. President was deeply

concerned about these developments. And he initiated this meeting to enable security agencies, the service chiefs, Inspector General of Police to brief the council on what actually happened and the way forward.

"We had a very successful meeting and the council has agreed to take proactive measures that will ensure that repeat of what happened these few days would not be witnessed anymore.”

NCoS Declares Fleeing Inmates Wanted

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) yesterday declared the inmates that escaped from Kuje prison in Abuja wanted.

In a publication containing the wanted members of the terror group, Boko Haram, the NCoS said, “the following are faces and names of inmates with Boko Haram/terrorism cases who escaped from Kuje Correctional Centre during the jail attack on 5th July, 2022.”

The names and images of those being tried for terrorism released by the service were 69.

The NCoS in the publication called on anyone with useful information which may lead to their recapture to Call 07000099999, 09060004598 or 08075050006 or any Law Enforcement Agency nearest to you.

The NCoS assured that the information about such information would be treated with utmost sense of responsibility as anonymous.

Hamisu Wadume Escaped

Meanwhile, notorious kidnap king pin and gunrunner, Hamisu Wadume, detained in Kuje Prison, is believed to be one of the inmates that escaped

from the prison after Tuesday night’s attack at Kuje prison by terrorists.

THISDAY gathered that the suspect who was in custody at Kuje prisons since 2020, was not among prisoners recaptured by the security agencies.

Wadume was arrested by the IG's Intelligence Response (IRT) operatives in Taraba for armed robbery and gun running.

Meanwhile, two policemen were arrested after their communication with fleeing terrorists was intercepted.

"Two of the terrorists that escaped called two police investigation officers in one of our stations and spoke to him in a compromising manner.

"They are now being investigated to ascertain their level of complicity", a police source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said.

Aregbesola: Our Men Couldn't Hold Their Position Effectively

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was harsh on security men deployed to protect the Kuje Prison before Tuesday attack, describing them as men that could not hold their ground despite the amount of fortification they had.

Aregbesola, who undertook a tour of the facility yesterday, said he could not just describe what happened at the custodial facility in the open.

He said: “We have a world class facility here by any standard. I am disappointed with the level of defence, we had enough men to protect this facility but, unfortunately, they couldn't hold their position effectively and that was the reason for the breach.

“Now my position is so clear, I have declared since April last year that all our facilities are red

The crack in the main opposition party came to the limelight after the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, accused Atiku of failing to honour the democratic choice in the selection of his running mate.

According to him, Wike, and others who backed (Wike) for the PDP vice-presidential ticket slot deserve a detailed explanation from the party’s presidential candidate.

Ortom, who said this during an interview on Arise TV on June 29, 2022, said it was surprising that Atiku could jettison the recommendation of 14 out of 17 members of the committee that recommended Wike as his running mate.

Ortom said: “I was among the 17-man committee that was set up by the candidate himself and some of us said Wike should be the vice-president. We discussed that in our meeting and we said it did not matter if he had supported the presidential candidate or not, but all that we need is unity and how to make things work.

In Sallah Message, President Vows to Unravel Cause of insecurity

President Buhari has vowed not to leave any stone unturned towards getting to the cause of the recent security skirmishes in parts of the country, as well as rising cost of living among Nigerians.

In his Eid-el Kabir message to Nigerian Muslims and other citizens, the President while commenting on the current security challenges and costs of living in the country, assured Nigerians: “I won't rest until I bring relief to Nigerians. I am quite aware of the difficulties people are facing and working to resolve them.”

President Buhari expressed hope that this Eid will be a source of blessing, peace, prosperity and safety for all Nigerians, stressing that coexistence and stability would prevail in the country.

The President called on Nigerians to put the interest of the country above selfish interests and “use religion as a motivation for the love of our common humanity.”

He said: “if we are putting the teachings of our religions

into practice, most of the evils afflicting our society would have been solved.”

According to the President, “religion shouldn't just be used as a mere badge of identity, but as a motivator for doing good for our country and humanity.

“The exploitation of the people by traders and the stealing of public funds by civil servants and other holders of public trust is a reflection of the abandonment of the teachings of our religions.

"Our society is a bundle of contradictions. People display external religiosity without fear of God; they make life difficult for others; money becomes their god; leaders abandon their oaths of office by taking money meant for the welfare of the people and divert it to their private pockets."

He used the occasion to call on all Muslims to reflect on the significance of the sacrifice epitomised by Eid. Buhari said: “We should show love and care to our neighbours and others while celebrating this spiritually important event in our lives."

President Buhari also advised Muslims “to promote the good virtues of Islam through personal examples and practice," adding that "Muslims should avoid association with violent extremist ideas that have wrongly given Islam a negative image or poor perception.”

The President, arrived his country home, Daura, in Katsina State, for the Eid-el- Kabir, yesterday evening.

He had earlier arrived the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, Katsina, from where he was flown to the ancient town in a helicopter.

He arrived Daura few minutes to six in the evening to the warm embrace of the Emir, Alhaji Faruq Umar, and other dignitaries in the town.

OBI UNVEILS BABA-AHMED AS RUNNING MATE, VOWS TO RESCUE NIGERIA where we are going.

“This is our right to secure, unite and make Nigeria productive. And you can’t do that without having people who have similar visions, ideas and are prepared for the task. So, I have the honour today to present to you, God willing, Nigeria’s next Vice President in the person of Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.”

Obi had on Wednesday on Arise News opened up on his choice of running mate, saying he preferred a younger person as his vice-presidential candidate.

He added that he prefers a younger person who has something to offer to complement his ticket rather than recycling old hands who had been in the government

before now.

He said: “I want people who can look me in the eye and disagree with me during cabinet meetings.

People who have their own minds and ideas. If you agree with me in three meetings then you are gone because that means you don’t have your own ideas. I want people and cabinet members who can say ‘Mr. President, you are wrong’.”

Baba-Ahmed yesterday explained that his decision to accept the vice-presidential nomination was borne out of his commitment to rescue Nigeria.

He said Obi and other Labour party stakeholders also played a major role in his decision to buy into their agenda and movement

FAYEMI, AKEREDOLU, SANWO-OLU IN RIVERS TO WOO WIKE Ayodele Fayose, among others.

Sources said the APC governors are banking on the recent fallout of Wike with PDP leadership, after the main opposition party’s presidential primary, to get him into their party.

Wike has recently been receiving visits from politicians across political parties.

Following Atiku’s choice of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as running mate, the Chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin, said the party had set up a ninemember committee to beg Wike.

The former vice president is believed to have nominated Okowa, despite the recommendation of Wike for the position by a 17-man committee set up by the party.

The crisis worsened with the loyalists of Wike threatening to leave the party if their principal defects.

But Atiku recently allayed fears over the crisis in the party, saying he would ensure reconciliation.

zones and that whoever attempt an attack must not live to tell the story. I still maintain this.

“Kuje is the most fortified in the country if fortification for security is the determinant of whether it is medium or maximum. It is medium by size but maximum by the security there. We have a platoon of security officers deployed here. We have the high grade of military and police and other security forces deployment for protection but strangely something happened most of which I cannot say on camera.”

“Unfortunately, the candidate himself picked Okowa. Some of us have resorted to prayers. I was really confused because I felt Wike would have been the VP. He was the second person to Atiku and Wike has charisma. All of us have our weak points.

“Wike can be something, but when it comes to mobilisation, impact, value addition and reaching out, Wike is an instrument. Wike is somebody who stood for the party. For some of us, we believed in him, but unfortunately, it was someone else.”

Ganduje Says Tinubu Has Agreed to Pick Muslim VP

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State yesterday claimed that Tinubu had agreed to pick a Muslim vice-presidential candidate for 2023.

Ganduje, who was speaking during a gathering of clerics at the Government House as part of activities to mark Eid El Kabir,

said: “We have advised him to pick a Muslim deputy and he has agreed. A Muslim-Muslim ticket is a reality. It is not something new in Nigeria.”

The Governor asked the clerics to pray for Tinubu to emerge as Nigeria’s president come 2023.

Meanwhile, Tinubu was said to have left France yesterday, where he had travelled to for “important meetings”, for Lagos.

The APC presidential candidate, via his official Twitter handle, yesterday evening, shared a tweet, “Heading home,” with a link to his Instagram page showing him inside an aircraft.

Tinubu departed Nigeria shortly after he held a closed-door meeting with Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on June 27.

A statement issued by his spokesman, Tunde Rahman, in Abuja then said: “He (Tinubu) is off to Paris, France to hold some important meetings. The APC standard-bearer is expected back in the country shortly.”

of getting Nigeria to where it should be.

He said, “My task here today is simple, and it is to accept my nomination but just before I do that, I should give justifications as follows.

“The undeniable and unchallengeable fundamental reason for being on this ticket is to rescue Nigeria.

“And it goes logically without saying that you can only rescue that which is in trouble and Nigeria is in trouble and I cannot afford not to be part of the movement to rescue Nigeria.

“The second reason is that I believe in the greatness of Nigeria.

I believe there will be peace and prosperity, and I believe Nigeria people will unite.”

Speaking on Obi’s consideration, Baba-Ahmed said Obi’s integrity and achievements in the private sector were part of what also informed his decision to join the ticket.

“Having come from the education sector and background, when I hear a valuable thing, I know it and I cannot let it pass.

The comment from our presidential candidate that the fertile land in the north and the crude oil of Nigeria are one.

“How much more nationalist and detribalised can you (Obi) be? I see a brighter future for Nigeria from such a comment. He is someone of integrity and capacity.

“This is a high point in my life and career. Having said this and with all trust in Almighty Allah and my belief in Nigeria and with all humility, I accept the generous nomination to be the vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party for the 2023 general election.”

Obi, a former Anambra State governor, had on May 27, 2022, joined the Labour Party few days

after dumping the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, saying the LP is the right platform that aligns with his aspiration.

According to him, he had chosen a route that he considered to be in line with “our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production.”

Baba-Ahmed on Arise News

Also speaking on Arise TV last night, Baba-Ahmed condemned President Buhari’s poor handling of the nation’s economy and security, describing him as a bad leader.

He said the only passenger train in Nigeria, “not done by this government has been blown up” and that after all promises, the government was yet to release those kidnaped by the terrorists and have not repaired the train.

The vice-presidential candidate said these ugly events had been compounded by the attack on Kuje Correctional facility, stating that what the nation honestly needed now was a credible leader.

“In 2023 elections, all I can see is Peter Obi, with due respect to the others. I have high regards for them. I have worked with Atiku (Abubarkar); he is knowledgeable and a master politician. Tinubu is a real master politician but he didn’t have to bring a Buhari as president because he wants to be president. If he was that good, he should have taken the presidency in 2015; why bring in Buhari?”

On the handling of nationalist agitators such as Sunday Igboho and IPOB, he said, “It has been handled very poorly, because if I were to be President Buhari, I would have in 2015 given Ogbonnaya Onu SGF of Nigeria and told him I don’t want to hear anything about agitation.

But Buhari is such a bad leader.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 9, 2022

NEWS

News Editor Charles Ajunwa 09157401421 (sms only) Email charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

FG Appoints Interim MDs for Benin, Kano, Kaduna Discos BPE says companies’ restructuring to protect FG’s 40% interest Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja In what they described as ‘Business Continuity Process’, the Bureau of Public Enterprises

(BPE) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) have appointed interim managing directors for three Electricity Distribution

PDP Crisis: Ayu Returns, Tackles Removal Plot Chuks Okocha in Abuja As an ouster plot thickens over the removal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu has returned to the country after over two weeks vacation abroad.

His return to Nigeria may not be unconnected to the various plots by some aggrieved stakeholders of the party to remove him as the national chairman of the party.

He returned to Abuja in the early hours of yesterday.

Ayu’s Special Assistant on Communication and Strategy, Simon Imobo-Tswam, yesterday confirmed that the PDP chairman had returned to the country.

Imobo-Tswam said his principal touched down at the

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday morning from the United Kingdom after a short vacation.

He said before travelling out Ayu handed over to the deputy Chairman (North), Ambassador Umar Damagum and also notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of his brief vacation.

The PDP national chairman travelled moments after the selection of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as the vice presidential candidate of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

In his absence, plot for his removal thickened as some party chieftain demanded that he either quit or be shown the exit door.

Companies (Discos), including the Benin Distribution Company, Kano Distribution Company and Kaduna Distribution Company.

The federal government had Thursday announced the takeover of the three nonperforming Discos by Fidelity Bank over the power investors’ poor financial performance.

The action aligns with the restructuring of some of the Discos whose shares have been collaterised.

The appointed interim chief executives are Ahmad Dangana for the Kano Disco, Henry Ajagbawa for the Benin Disco and Yusuf Usman Yahaya for the Kaduna Disco.

The BPE explained that the recent restructuring of some of the Electricity Distribution

Companies through the collaterisation of their shares, was a contractual and commercial intervention between the core investors in the companies and their lenders.

The privatisation agency stated that its involvement was to protect the 40 per cent shareholding of the federal government in the Discos.

In a statement personally signed by him and made available to THISDAY, yesterday, the BPE Director General, Mr. Alex Okoh, said it had become imperative to clear the air on the insinuations and statements emanating from some of the DISCOs) which were restructured following the collaterisation of the shares of some of them.

According to him, it was

necessary to state categorically that the poor performance of these Discos represents a clear and present threat to the power sector as a whole, adding that no responsible government and shareholder, would stand idly by and allow such a situation to persist.

He said, “The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) considers it imperative to clear the air on the insinuations and statements emanating from some of the Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) which were restructured following the collaterised shares of some of the Discos.

“As we had earlier informed the public through various publications in the print and electronic media, BPE which midwifed the sale of the power

companies and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which is the regulator in the sector, were informed by Fidelity Bank Plc on Tuesday, 5th July, 2022, that a call on the collateralised shares of the Core Investors of Kano, Benin and Kaduna DISCOs had been activated by the lenders.

“The Lenders’ consortium include AFREXIM Bank, Keystone Bank, Stanbic IBTC, as well as Fidelity Bank.

“It is important to note that the action is a contractual and commercial intervention and is between the Core Investors in these Discos and the lenders.

BPE’s involvement is to protect the 40 per cent shareholding of the federal government in the Discos.

NAHCON Apologises to Pilgrims Over Deficient Airlift Operation Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has tendered an apology to the federal government, State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Private Tour Operators and the pilgrims that could not be airlifted to Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj before the closure of Jeddah Airport on July 6 for any embarrassment the situation of the past few weeks might have caused.

The spokesman of NAHCON, Fatima Sanda Usara, issued the apology in a statement yesterday. She said the commission was incapacitated in discharging the responsibility of airlifting the pilgrims fully, as a result of last minute setbacks that frustrated its plan to conclude airlift of pilgrims

by June 27.

She said the chartered flights option that gave so much hope to NAHCON and the Private Tour Operators’ leadership also became a failure as their IBAN accounts failed accreditation by the respective authorities in Saudi Arabia.

NAHCON said 1,809 pilgrims, who had fully paid to attend the exercise, could not travel because of the logistics constraint.

In all 1,809 pilgrims affected by the flight hiccups were left behind in Nigeria. They consisted of 700 from Kano, 97 from Plateau, 12 from Bauchi and 1,000 from Private Tour Operators.

NAHCON said that all affected pilgrims would be refunded their Hajj fares, adding it had learnt a lot of lessons and was determined not to have a repetition of the unfortunate situation in the future.

Taraba Pensioners Protest Non Payment of N30bn Entitlements, Threaten to Boycott 2023 Polls Wole Ayodele in Jalingo Pensioners in Taraba State yesterday took to the streets of Jalingo to protest nonpayment of their pensions and gratuities by the state government.

Drawn from the 16 local government areas of the state, the pensioners threatened to boycott the 2023 general elections if their over eight years’ entitlements running to over N30 billion is not fully paid.

Numbering over a hundred, the pensioners stormed the Government House carrying placards with different inscriptions such as ‘We are tired of lies and fake promises’ and ‘Ishaku pay us our money’ from where they proceeded to the State House

of Assembly.

At the Government House, they were denied entry by the security operatives on duty leading to pandemonium as the protesters rained invective on the government and its officials.

The State Chairman and Secretary of the Pensioners Union were later allowed entry to submit their letter to the governor at the secret registry of the Government House due to the absence of top government functionaries to attend to them.

From the Government House, they proceeded to the State Assembly where they also presented a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House though the Speaker and other members were unavailable to address them.

CELEBRATING AN ICON… Governor Ifeanyi Okowa (middle) with wife, Edith and the choir of Government House Chapel after a Thanksgiving Service for the governor’s 63rd birthday. In front is Cake presented to the gôvernor by the choir; on the gôvernor’s right is Chaplain of the Chapel, Ven. Charles Osemenam.

Rufus Giwa Poly Students Protest Alleged Killing of Colleague by Amotekun in Ondo Fidelis David in Akure Students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State yesterday protested the death of one of their colleagues, Folarera Ademola, an ND1 student from the Department of Science Laboratory Technology who was allegedly killed by an officer of the state Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun corps.

The protesting students have also given the state government a 24-hour ultimatum to hand over the said officer to the Nigeria Police for proper prosecution, take charge of the deceased’s burial, and compensate the

family.

Speaking on behalf of the students, the Students’ Union President, Olorunda Oluwafemi, confirmed that the boy was shot on the 27th of June by an officer of the Amotekun in front of his parents’ house.

Oluwafemi added that the deceased suffered the gunshot wounds for 10 days before he was taken to the federal medical centre Owo, where he gave up the ghost yesterday (Thursday).

The protesting students also marched from the school gate through the Palace of Olowo before taking the protest to the governor’s office at Alagbaka, Akure, to further express their

grievances.

Another student of the institution who preferred anonymity told THISDAY that “after he was shot, Amotekun took Ademola to a local herbalist for extraction of bullet pellets lodged in his thighs and stomach but ended up abandoning him there.

Ademola’s mother was denied access to him until his health worsened and he was referred to a hospital considered to be quack. In his failed attempts to resuscitate Ademola’s health, the quack doctor allegedly quickly sent him to Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where he later died. The bullets had eaten up his intestines

and severely damaged his liver,” he added.

Reacting through a statement, the state Commander of Amotekun, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, said he received with dismay and sadness the news of the death of the student.

While explaining what led to the unfortunate death of the student, Adeleye said, “In its avowed determination to ensure that Ondo State is rid of criminal elements, the state Amotekun Corps is investigating the case of a syndicate that specialises in attacking Okada riders with dangerous weapons and dispossess them of their motorcycles in the process.

Kwara Spends N4bn on Salaries, Pensions Monthly, Says AbdulRazaq Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has said that his administration has spent over N4 billion monthly on payment of salaries and pensions of workers and retirees.

AbdulRazaq disclosed this in Ilorin, the state capital, Thursday’s night while speaking at a dinner organised in honour of the newly appointed honorary title holders by the Emir of Ilorin,

Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Strategy, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, the governor said the policies and programmes of his administration, including prompt payment of workers’ salaries, establishment of an Information Communication Technology (ICT) hub and the launching of the new Ilorin Urban Masterplan were all geared towards ensuring prosperity for the people of the state.

He called on the people of Ilorin Emirate to take advantage of the new Ilorin Urban Masterplan to invest in their home town in order to reduce the problem of unemployment and as well stimulate the economic growth of the city and the entire state.

AbdulRazaq explained that the new Ilorin Urban Masterplan was aimed at attracting local and foreign investors into the state over the next 20 years.

“I charge sons and daughters

of Ilorin Emirate visiting during Sallah to take maximum advantage of the new Ilorin Urban Masterplan to invest in their home town as part of efforts to empower our people and stimulate the state’s economy.

On the ICT hub project, the governor said the project is being undertaken “to mainstreaming our youths into digital economy where billions of dollars worth of business are conducted online in seconds. “

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 9 2022

NEWS

Delta 2023: Oborevwori Moves to Reverse Sack as PDP Guber Candidate Asks A’Court to stay judgment’s execution Alex Enumah in Abuja The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday commenced a move to reverse his disqualification as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 governorship election in Delta State.

Oborevwori, in an appeal filed at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, is also seeking a stay of the execution of the judgment of Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, pending the determination of his appeal.

Justice Taiwo had in a judgment delivered in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/795/2022,

nullified the nomination of the Delta Speaker as candidate of the PDP over alleged discrepancies in his certificates.

The suit filed by Mr. David Edevbie, who came second in the May 25 primary, had prayed the court to be replaced as candidate of the PDP. However, Oborevwori in his nine-ground notice of appeal, is contending among others, that the trial judge misdirected himself in law when he assumed jurisdiction to entertain the claim of the plaintiff, predicated on Section 29(5) of the ElectoralAct, 2022 before submission of his name (the appellant’s) to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Oborevwori faulted the trial

judge for allegedly ignoring the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Modibbo Vs Usman (2020) 3 NWLR (PT. 1712) 470, in which he claimed the apex court held that Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 which is the same with Section

31(5) of the Electoral Act, 2010 has settled the law that cause of action only arises when the name of a candidate is submitted and published by INEC. While further accusing Justice Taiwo of deviating from the

decisions of the apex and appellate courts on the established doctrine of stare decisis, which he argued tantamount to overruling the two upper courts, Oborevwori, submitted that, “The first respondent (Edevbie)

on oath admitted that the name of the appellant was yet to be submitted and the trial court held that the first respondent by law, need not wait for the publication of the name of the appellant by INEC.”

SGF Condemns Gunmen Attack on Reverend Umaru’s Family Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, has condemned the attack on the family of Rev. Daniel Umaru of the EkklisiyarYan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) also known as the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, in Njairi, Mararaban Mubi in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State by unknown gunmen.

The attack on Umaru and his family resulted in the death of his two sons and the abduction of his 13-year-old daughter while the cleric was shot and his wife yet to recover from the shock of the dastardly act.

Mustapha issued the condemnation yesterday in a statement issued by the Director, Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,

Willie Bassey.

He assured members of the community of the government’s readiness to defend and protect citizens from such wanton attacks.

The SGF also requested the citizens to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely information in order to contain such attacks, promising that perpetrators of such heinous crimes would not go unpunished.

He sympathised with Rev. Umaru and his family over the trauma experienced, assuring that the government shares in their pains at this time and also that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

The SGF also commiserated with the government and people of Adamawa State, Rev. Umaru’s family and relatives and prayed to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

Inner Wheel Gbagada-Ifako Gives Food to Lagos Pupils, Teachers Inner Wheel Nigeria, GbagadaIfako, District 911 has given out food items and beverages to the pupils and teachers of Ebenezer Primary School, Olaniyi, New Oko-Oba, Lagos State.

The Charter President, IWM Omolara Adedugbe, said it was in commemoration of the one year anniversary of the District.

Adedugbe, during the donation on Thursday, said: “Whatever we do as project, is always need-based.

“There is so much hunger in the land as it is. And one of the SDGs is that we must reduce hunger. So if we want to follow the International Inner Wheel goal, we ensure that the less privileged are reached. That is why we addressed the hunger situation concerning those children.

“If we find out that there is a community that doesn’t have water, we would embark on a project to give them water. So,

we look at what is needed in the environment before we do what we want to do. So, it is going to be a different approach at every point.”

The Club President, Janeth Akomolafe, also stated that the club is known for humanitarian services.

Akomolafe said: “Before now, we were at Gbagada before we pulled out because we had a lot of people around.

Then we joined Gbagada-Ifako, which is also clocking one year today. We thought of how to impact the community and we came up with theme: ‘Feed the community’. Then we looked within and discovered that this Primary School 1 really needs it. And I am glad that the pupils were very happy and we didn’t plan for the other school, but we still reached out to them. The children were about 402 and we reached out to everyone.”

GOOD TO SEE YOU. . .

Visitor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva (left) congratulates Group MD, ARCO Group Plc, Mr. Alfred Okoigun after the conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degree on Okoigun at the third convocation ceremony of the university in Effurun, Delta State...recently.

Former Japanese PM, Abe Dies from Gunshot, Buhari Mourns Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has sent his condolences to the family of former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated Thursday in the course of an electioneering campaign.

The President, in a statement issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, extended heartfelt condolences to the family of former Japanese Prime

Minister and to the Government and people of Japan in the wake of the gruesome assassination of former PM Abe, who was 67 years old.

The President joined all Japanese in mourning the loss of the country’s longest serving Prime Minister and outstanding leader, assuring the family of Abe of the prayers and thoughts of all Nigerians during this difficult time.

President Buhari recalled that

Abe would be remembered for his unwavering commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Africa and Japan through various initiatives and partnerships, using the instrumentality of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).

The President also affirmed that under Abe, Nigeria and Japan enjoyed a strategic partnership, supporting each other’s shared aspirations on economic

cooperation, healthcare, human resource development, disaster risk reduction, peace and security.

He, therefore, prayed that the memory of the Japanese statesman and respected international leader will be a blessing to his nation and people, whom he served so devotedly.

According to local Japanese media, the former Prime Minister Abe died yesterday in a hospital in Kashihara city, Nara where he was being attended to by a team

Dodo, Pioneer Catholic Bishop of Zaria Diocese, is Dead The Diocesan Vice-Chancellor of Zaria, Reverend Father Abraham Bisan Make, has announced the death of Most Reverend George Jonathan Dodo, the pioneer Bishop of the Diocese.

According to a statement issued

by Reverend Father Make, Most Reverend Dodo died yesterday after a brief illness, saying, “With gratitude to God I have been directed to announce the passing

16 Pupils Bag Winifred Awosika Foundation Scholarship Sixteen primary school pupils have been granted the 2022 Winifred Awosika Foundation Scholarship Awards for their outstanding performances during the Chrisland Schools entrance examination and scholarship test.

The pupils received their scholarship letters and certificates during an awards ceremony held at Chrisland School, Opebi, Lagos, yesterday. They will proceed with their secondary education at Chrisland Schools across the country.

While speaking at the ceremony, Chrisland Schools’ Managing Director, Mrs..

Ibironke Adeyemi, disclosed that hundreds of students have benefited from the Winifred Awosika Foundation Scholarship over the years. She stressed that the scheme has since been extended to include pupils who are indigent learners in Owo, Ondo State, and Idimu, Lagos State.

Adeyemi said over a thousand students sat for the test at different centres nationwide, after which the 16 overall best emerged.

“The scholarship is not just for pupils that are brilliant, but also ones that have potential. It is

unto glory of our Bishop, Most Rev. George Jonathan Dodo, the pioneer Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria.

“This sad event took place in the early hours of Friday,

July 8, 2022, after a brief illness.

“While we enjoin all to pray for his peaceful repose, information regarding his burial will be announced as soon as possible.”

Emenike Hosts Abia APC Candidates, Stakeholders, Harps on Unity to Win 2023 Poll Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 election in Abia State, Chief Ikechi Emenike, has urged party leaders, candidates and stakeholders to consolidate on the prevailing unity to achieve victory in 2023.

He gave the charge yesterday when he hosted the candidates of Abia APC for the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly as well as stakeholders and party elders at his country home

in Umukabia Okpuala to further solidify the newfound harmony in the party.

The leader of Abia APC urged the party faithful to sustain the momentum of peace and unity brought about by the recent Ntalakwu declaration in Oboro which effectively sealed the cracks hitherto existing in the party.

“This party belongs to all of us. We must go out there and work hard to ensure that we emerged victorious at the 2023 general election,” he said, adding that party members have a duty to attract enough votes to deliver all APC candidates.

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JULY 9 , 2022 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

BEFORE WE ARE ALL KIDNAPPED Security agencies must do more to protect the people, writes Fredrick Nwabufo

T

he first casualty of capricious election seasons in Nigeria is security. Governance is abandoned, and all efforts and expense are dissipated on party politics.

Nigeria’s security insalubrity is deteriorating steeply as the 2023 elections close in. It is all reminiscent of the buildup to the 2015 elections when ubiquitous violence seized the country and the elections had to be postponed. Will it be again as it was before? Will it be plus ca change?

Religious leaders – both Christians and Muslims – have become the latest spectacle of these gangs of death-dealers from the netherworld.

On July 3, Udo Peter and Philemon Oboh, both priests of the Catholic church, were abducted by gunmen in Edo State. The gunmen reportedly kidnapped the Catholic priests on Benin-Auchi expressway. On July 4, the despoilers kidnapped Emmanuel Silas, a Catholic priest, in Kaduna State. Silas was reportedly kidnapped in Zambina, Kauru LGA of the state.

On June 25, the ravagers killed Vitus Borogo, the chaplain of the Catholic Church in Kaduna Polytechnic.

Borogo was reportedly killed at the Prison Farm, Kujama, along Kaduna-Kachia road. Weeks before this incident, Joseph Bako, a Catholic priest who was abducted in March from his residence at St John Catholic Church, Kudenda, Kaduna, was found dead.

On June 29, Samuel Kanu, Methodist prelate, was kidnapped in Abia State. The clergyman gave a depressingly harrowing account of his ordeal on the turf of these enemies of humanity. A few other priests have been kidnapped and some killed.

The kidnapping of priests appears methodic and targeted – just like the targeting and abduction of emirs and village heads by these ‘’bandits’’. Perhaps the motive is to instigate and amplify religious tension. Already, there have been suggestions that these assaults on existence fit into a grand sinister plot. But we must realise, at all times, that these criminals are the common enemy of all. They have killed and kidnapped Muslims, Christians, children, young and old.

We must remain united against the devilment of those who want to cleave us apart.

These blights on humanity have sacked communities in Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina and elsewhere. They have expropriated land and are extracting tolls from citizens.

Security agents have not been spared. They have been abducted and some reportedly have paid ransoms to secure their freedom. The plot on security seems totally lost.

A few days ago, a divisional police officer (DPO) who

TERRORISTS, POSSIBLY, CONVERGED WITHIN THE FCT FOR DAYS UNDETECTED OR DETECTED BUT NO RESPONSE; PLANNED AN ATTACK WHICH LASTED FOR HOURS, AND RODE INTO THE NIGHT AFTERWARDS LIKE KNIGHTS. DEEPLY DISTURBING. AND FATALLY EMBARRASSING

was leading his men to rescue kidnap victims in Nasarawa was himself stolen by these dare-devil freebooters. His abductors demanded N5 million before he would be freed.

On June 26, Ochogwu Sunday, a divisional police officer in Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna was kidnapped. Other officers have either been kidnapped or killed. On Wednesday, Aminu Umar, an assistant commissioner of police, was felled by the crimson bullets of bandits in Katsina.

And it persists. No let-up. No solution. No prognosis of hope. No respite. But utter confusion, hopelessness and helplessness. The land is violated and coursing with the blood of innocents.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has become of the hippodrome of bandits -- where they put up defying performances and saunter away. For years, these criminal gangs have operated in the FCT – but the administration has always dismissed the potency of this threat.

A few days ago, some residents of the Federal Capital Territory were kidnapped on their farm. Kuje where the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) recently did a blitzkrieg has been in the throes of terror. Some communities in the area have been sacked by kidnappers, and many residents have abandoned their houses to seek shelter elsewhere. Other parts of the FCT like Ushafa, Bwari and Kubwa have also been visited by the pestilence.

The blitz by ISWAP on the Abuja prison reveals the pregnability and rudderlessness of Nigeria’s seat of power.

On Thursday, the US and the UK warned their citizens to be vigilant as crime would spike in the FCT. Kidnappings, armed robberies, drugs and all other iniquities have become the quotidian aspect of life in the nation’s capital.

The FCT has never been this plagued.

Terrorists, possibly, converged within the FCT for days undetected or detected but no response; planned an attack which lasted for hours, and rode into the night afterwards like knights. Deeply disturbing. And fatally embarrassing.

What happened to the so-called game-changing Super Tucanos and other military hardware procured by the administration with a boast that the insurgents and bandits would be pulverised? So far, the government has spent N4 trillion on defence in seven years, yet there is no interlude of peace.

President Muhammadu Buhari must go beyond the expression of shock, airy statements, and at least mitigate this challenge before the elections. I believe he would not want to be remembered as Petronius Maximus who technically surrendered Rome to the Vandals.

Nwabufo is a writer and journalist

ADMINISTERING DISCIPLINE IN SCHOOLS Daniel Ighakpe argues that children need consequences to mould and learn the correct ways “Whoever holds back his rod* (*Or “discipline; punishment”) hates his son, But the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.” -Proverbs 13:24.

“Foolishness is tied up in the heart of a boy* (*Or “child; youth”), But the rod of discipline will remove it far from him.”

-Proverbs 22:15.

“Do not hold back discipline from a boy* (*Or “child; youth”). If you strike him with the rod, he will not die. With the rod you should strike him, In order to save him from the Grave.”

-Proverbs 23:13, 14.

D

iscipline in schools is very important!

It helps to build the foundation for the school children’s success later in life. It is what helps children achieve good performance in school and it is responsible for maintaining order in the classroom, yet it constitutes one of the greatest challenges facing teachers nowadays. Discipline is defined as “the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, using punishment to correct disobedience.”

A lack of proper parental and school discipline can result in disruptive behaviours in the classroom. Disruptive behaviour interferes with the teacher’s ability to effectively deliver a lesson, as it requires a large amount of the teacher’s time and attention, in order to be addressed. Disruptive pupils/students can also influence their peers with their actions and encourage them to behave similarly, thereby compromising the teacher’s authority.

Nowadays however, the views of many child psychologists on discipline conflict with what is recommended in God’s Word, the Bible, as recorded in the verses of Proverbs quoted above. Their theories collide head on with the counsel we find in the Holy Scriptures.

What have been the results of sowing the seeds of permissiveness? What has resulted from a lack of proper parental and school discipline? In one publication of Jehovah’s Witnesses (“Making Your Family Life Happy”), in Chapter 10, titled “The Value of Disciplining in Love,” paragraph 3 (accessible on www.jw.org), we find this report: “The bumper crop of crime and delinquency is well known. Youth crime accounts for over 50 percent of serious crimes in many industrialized nations. In some parts of the world, school campuses are hotbeds of class disruptions, fights, verbal abuse and obscenities, vandalism, assault, extortion, arson, robberies, rapes, drugs and murders.”

A spanking may therefore be a lifesaver to a child, as God’s Word recommends in the Book of Proverbs. If parents and teachers hold the children’s life interests dear to them, they will not weakly or carelessly let disciplinary action slip from their hands.

Love will motivate them to take action, wisely and fairly, when it is needed.

As regards discipline itself, it is not limited to punishing. Discipline basically means ‘instruction and training that holds to a certain order or framework.’ Discipline, rightly given, is evidence to a child that he is loved.

Three types of discipline are: One, Preventive Discipline: Establishing

expectations, guidelines and rules for behaviour. Two, supportive discipline: Measures taken when rules are broken, usually a verbal warning or a suggestion for the correction of behaviour. Three, corrective discipline: Measures taken when supportive discipline has failed to change the child’s behaviour after repeated attempts. It mostly refers to the consequences delivered following an infraction.

Children need consequences to mold and learn the correct ways to function. Without consequences, they will only continue poor behaviour choices, and many will escalate those behaviours over time. Children are always trying to figure out their world, and they do that by testing limits, pushing boundaries until they reach resistance. That is very likely why Proverbs 22:15 says: “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child . . . .” Therefore, if that resistance, discipline, never comes, then they never learn what is right and wrong.

However, one blog about “Classroom Discipline” on www.eurekly.com, contains this advice: “Before proceeding with punishment, teachers should think carefully and understand its pros and cons. While punishing students can quickly stop a problem, it tends to be a short-term solution that can often be accompanied by negative side effects, such as a drop in positive attitudes towards school and a more negative perception of teachers. Punishment is defined as inflicting a penalty as a retribution for a transgression. According to that definition, since school children often commit transgressions, it would make sense to punish them for their bad behaviour. However, teachers

must refrain from applying such a “black and white” approach to dealing with unruly behaviour and use critical thinking instead to determine whether punishment is necessary.

Teachers should always consider alternative options for dealing with bad behaviour, before proceeding with punishment.”

Acceptable forms of punishment include but are not limited to: demerit systems, apologies, time-out, detentions, picking up litter around the school, among others.

However, in case of severe problems with classroom management and children that are unresponsive to corrections, teachers should reach out to colleagues for support and involve the school’s administration and the child’s family when necessary.

There is never an easy answer, or even one correct answer, when it comes to raising children. Discipline is no different, and there are many theories on how it should be administered in school settings.

In conclusion, here are eight steps for parents and educators on raising children to be balanced adults: One, love Abundantly; two, discipline constructively; spend time together; teach your children right from wrong; develop mutual respect; really listen to them; offer guidance rather than a speech, and be realistic.

I hope that over time, educators, administrators, parents and policymakers can work together to create better discipline policies in education. We all play an important role, and we all deserve to be heard!

Ighakpe is a Schoolteacher at’Tendertouch Intellectuals Primary School, Lagos.

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JULY 9, 2022 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

Failure of security...

The Kuje Attacks and Lawan’s Lacerating Lines

F

or many Nigerians, the Ninth National Assembly has been an utter disappointment, having put in nothing close to the robust legislative shift of the Eighth Assembly which stretched the principles of checks and balances to its limits, keeping an indolent executive on pins and needles.

Leading the Ninth National Assembly has been Senate President Dr. Ahmed Lawan whose unimaginative leadership has in the last four years put to bed any hope that the legislature can force an inept executive to get its act together.

Now, fresh from a failed attempt to switch from the legislature to the executive despite having only very little to show for his time in the legislature, and his gripping battle to wrench the APC ticket of the Yobe North Senatorial District from the ferociously tenacious Mr Bashir Machina, Mr. Lawan has apparently been jarred awake by the July 5, 2022 attack on the Medium Security Custodial Facility in Kuje.

At about 10am on Tuesday July 5, 2022, heavily armed gunmen who have since identified themselves as members of the Islamic State West Africa Province stormed the Medium Security Correctional Facility in Kuje where they deployed devastating firepower to breach the prison`s security before setting free hundreds of inmates including 64 Boko Haram members some of whom were responsible for the Nyanya and Madalla bombing incidents which caused the deaths of dozens.

The attack which happened right in the belly of the Federal Capital Territory and on the heels of the brutal killing of over 30 soldiers and policemen by terrorists in Shiroro, Niger State, has harshly reminded Nigerians of how horribly precarious the situation has become in the country.

Shock has since slowly given way to a storm of questions. Nigeria`s President Mr. Muhammadu Buhari on a visit to the facility let loose a cannon of questions which caught many Nigerians cold, because if the one who should be interrogated about the security situation in the country has suddenly morphed into the one asking all the questions, who will reply him? Why indeed does the Giant of Africa favour a reactionary posture when it is clear that it is only a proactive posture that can keep its many enemies at bay?

Why should those who should keep the barrage of questions coming to ensure things are working smoothly be as bewildered as all others when another attack happens?

Why do the tough questions always wait until something horrible happens?

An African idiom posits that it is the rat at home that tells the bushrat where fish is kept in the house. This much was alluded to when Mr. Ahmad Lawan, leading a National Assembly delegation to the Kuje prison on Thurday, June 7, 2022, spoke.

Mr. Lawan said the attack could only have been carried

out with the active connivance of insiders within the facility while faulting the Nigerian Correctional Service for not providing Closed circuit Television(CCTV) cameras at the facility. He then asked the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service to include a request for the provision of CCTV across maximum and medium correctional centers across the country in its 2023 budget proposal to the National Assembly.

Given the collective amnesia of those who occupy the corridors of power in Nigeria and the country`s embarrassing power situation, it will be a big shock if serious measures are taken to secure the other correctional facilities in the country and preclude future attacks.

With the Minister of Defence confirming that all sixty-four Boko Haram inmates held in the facility escaped during the attacks, Nigerians are now anxiously looking over their shoulders fully aware that venomous snakes have been let loose in a country where many had already been bitten to death. It also appears that the Nigeria`s war against terrorism continues to be severely hampered by the sabotage of the many saboteurs who have penetrated the security institutions.

The security lapses in Nigeria come from a place of leadership failure. This failure, as comprehensive as it is, features public officers at all levels of governance and also many years of repeated failure of governance.

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

What President Buhari Must Do

T

he recent insecurity debacle in Nigeria is a challenge to our collective resolve as a nation and in time of crisis the president must marshal his people. It has to be said that despite to poor state of things in Nigeria the President still has his supporters and everyone has a right to choose, but the president must pull on his side those that feel disgruntled and make them believe in him.

Recently some lauded him for his tweet, where he berated the security community’s lack of action over the Kuje prison attacks but others are asking for solutions. The President must go back to the drawing board and find veritable solutions to the insecurity.

He must deploy every apparatus of state to ensure that the lives of Nigerians are protected and that is how he can truly win back the lacking confidence.

I must also say no matter how angry we are as a people we must still support our country (I know this is hard) but I must reiterate that it is the only country we have for now and it is by supporting our country we can bring about accountability in governance. At this point, I think the president must use his sallah message to encourage Nigerians and he must match it up with actions.

Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

Nothing to Hear

I

t’s in the way he expresses himself but only if you get to hear the words.

With the introduction of fake news

by Trump and fake language ‘Covfefe’ also by Trump it appears politicians’ speeches should be taken with a word of warning although the approach by the mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, is one of omission. He has stopped some reporters from hearing his words of wisdom with “There’s no ban but they’re not invited”.

There are so many attacks on honest journalism, and journalists, that we have gotten used to misrepresentation and straight out lies when we should be yelling from every street corner that the truth must be heard.

Perhaps it’s best that everyone stops listening to the Bristol mayor and a lot of others and start listening to the journalists who are still able to keep us informed.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 9, 2022

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NEW Malami Marries Buhari’s Third Daughter, Hadiza 3UHVLGHQW 0XKDPPDGX Buhari yesterday gave the KDQG RI KLV WKLUG GDXJKWHU 1DQD +DGL]D LQ PDUULDJH WR the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of -XVWLFH $EXEDNDU 0DODPL at the presidential villa.

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No Respite for Abia Communities as Herdsmen Persist with Kidnappings Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

REWARD FOR INTELLIGENCE… Winners of the 2022 Winifred Awosika Foundation Scholarship Awards at the Chrisland Schools, Lagos

US Court Says Mobil, Shell May Proceed with Enforcement of $1.8bn Award Against NNPC Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report

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15

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 9, 2022

RingTrue 08054699539

Yemi

Adebowale

yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

Security Glitches and the Shame of a Government

A

fter terrorists attacked a Kadunabound train on March 28, killing eight passengers and abducting 68 others, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed responsibility. It went further to demand freedom for its detained members in exchange for the abductees. So, it was obvious that the terror group was desperate to free its detained members in Nigerian prisons.

Simple security wisdom dictates that there should be maximum security (in the true sense of it) wherever the detained terrorists are kept.

It was obvious that the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja was one of the places likely to be attacked because of the large number of terrorists detained there. Even a layman would know it could happen. So, there is no way our security agents would say they did not know that it could happen. But our properly-trained armada of security agencies did not make provisions for this.

It eventually happened last Tuesday when an estimated 200 well-armed ISWAP fighters strolled into Abuja unhindered, and straight to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, to free 64 of their members detained there. No fewer than 536 other prisoners escaped. It is shocking that a large number of terrorists could move around, even within Abuja, undetected; yet, heads have not rolled. The scale and the audacity of the attack are startling. This country is evidently in a big mess.

It is even more shocking that the Kuje Prison attack lasted close to an hour without reinforcement from security agencies around the facility. Bombs and other explosives were used on the facility’s fence and its main entrance to gain access. The ISWAP also deployed Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) and General-Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) for the operation. The massive explosions did not attract security agencies with offices that are less than 10 minutes’ drive to the facility. What a country!

The terrorists thereafter launched specific attacks on all cells in which their members were held.

ISWAP obviously has better intelligence than our trained security agents.

The terrorists even had time to record their attack. A footage released a few hours after the attack showed ISWAP men shooting their way into the facility; tens of fighters were seen marching in groups while vehicles and buildings were on fire.

I challenge the federal government to address speculations that soldiers deployed to the precinct of the Kuje Correctional Facility, who had become familiar with the terrain, were redeployed 24 hours before the attack.

Something is clearly wrong somewhere.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who went to assess the extent of damage at the Correctional Centre on Tuesday, wondered why the prison’s defences failed to work: “How did the defences at the prison fail to prevent the attack? How many personnel did you have on duty? How many of them were armed?

Were there guards on the watchtower? What

It was obvious that the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja was one of the places likely to be attacked because of the large number of terrorists detained there. Even a layman would know it could happen. So, there is no way our security agents would say they did not know that it could happen.

But our properly-trained armada of security agencies did not make provisions for this did they do? Does the CCTV work? I am disappointed with the intelligence system. How can terrorists organise, have weapons, attack a security installation and get away with it?”

That is our Commander-in-Chief raising queries at the wrong time. He failed to lead from the front. So, how many people have been fired by the President for this colossal security failure? The man who promised to lead the war against terrorism from the front (Buhari) ought to have raised these queries in advance, if indeed, he was working to tame terrorists across our country. Buhari must learn to take responsibility. Leadership has failed in Nigeria, resulting in massive insecurity. Nigerians are paying a huge price for his failed leadership.

This is the truth.

Under Buhari, terrorists are roaming freely, maiming and killing. Criminal herders and kidnappers continue to maul Nigerians. Boko Haram terrorists have also become emboldened, expanding territories with intense carnage. Buhari is responsible for these unending security glitches because of his ineptitude and clannishness.

Because of Buhari’s clannishness, our security agencies are largely headed by people from just a section of the country. Nigeria has no positive result to show for this, yet, the garbage persists. I often weep for beloved Nigeria whenever I look at Buhari’s list of heads of security agencies: I can safely say that under Buhari, 90 per cent of heads of military/para-military agencies are people from just a section of the country.

Take away the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor and Chief of Air Staff, Isiaka Amao, and you will understand what I am saying. This is what we have: Director-General, Department

of State Security, Yusuf Bishi; National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Chief of Army Staff, Faruk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Zubairu Gambo; Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali; Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohammed Buba Marwa; Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Isah Jere Idris; Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Audi; Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba; Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar and the Controller-General, Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa.

Then, add the clumsy Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi. What has Nigeria gained from Buhari’s endless sectionalism? Nothing! This country is bleeding profusely.

The barefaced Magashi initially talked about an imaginary “timely repelling of the attack by the gallant security operatives, who were drafted in on reinforcement to contain the attackers.” He was economical with the truth. I doubt if Magashi knows the meaning of “repel”.

Not even one of the attackers was killed. All the security men attached to the prison simply disappeared. The reinforcement came after the terrorists had left. Magashi has no business staying a day longer as defence minister. This country must do away with people like this man, in order to make progress.

Four days after the Kuje prison attack, no news yet on apprehending any of the culprits.

I doubt if security agents even went after them.

How can this be happening in a country with a government? These things are really depressing.

On the same black Tuesday, an advance presidential team of security guards, protocol

Tears of Kunkuna Villagers

S

everal families have been thrown into mourning in Kunkuna village, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, no thanks to the Nigerian Air Force that accidentally dropped bombs on them. An inept fighter pilot aiming for the camps of terrorists in the area bombed the innocent villagers last Wednesday. Many lost their lives. The villagers are still burying their loved ones.

For how long must the military continue to traumatise innocent Nigerians?

These blunders are embarrassing. They appear endless too. I can’t understand why the military, while searching for terrorists, keeps dropping bombs on innocent civilians.

The killing of about 400 IDPs in Rann, Borno State, a few years back, is still fresh in our memory. Last year, scores of innocent fishermen were killed in Kwatar Daban Masara, a border town in Monguno LG of Borno State, when the military dropped bombs on them in error.

They were after members of ISWAP controlling this area. The mishit in Kwatar Daban Masara came barely two weeks after 10 villagers were killed in error in a similar airstrike during a pursuit of Boko Haram members in neighbouring Yobe State. Suddenly, mishits are coming back. The Nigerian military has to show greater sense of professionalism. In this modern era, consistent mishit by the Air Force is unacceptable.

The deft of fighter is vital for any success in this war against terrorists. The Nigerian Air Force must raise its game.

AVM Amao

and media officers to Daura, hometown of President Buhari, was attacked by terrorists in Dutsinma, Katsina State. Just as the Pan-Yoruba Socio-political group, Afenifere noted, the attack is an affirmation that “the security situation in Nigeria is getting out of hand at a rate faster than is acknowledged by the authorities who should deal with it.”

The group adds: “The attack on the presidential team seems to be a coded language by enemies of the nation that they are not afraid of anyone notwithstanding the status of such a person. For it goes without saying that a presidential team would normally be fortified. So, for a group to attack such a team must be out of sheer bravado – which unfortunately further exposed how vulnerable our security situation is.”

On the day the presidential advance team was attacked, the terrorists also ambushed and killed an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Aminu Umar Dayi, in charge of Dutsinma Area Command in Katsina, following a fierce gun duel. Is there any security agency going after the killers of Dayi?

I doubt it. His family is devastated.

Terrorists are indeed enjoying a free rein under Buhari. All he does is to issue press statements directing security agents to deal with them. One of such annoying statements was issued 19 days ago, directing the armed forces “to, as a matter of urgency, rescue the remaining Abuja-Kaduna train passengers who are still in terrorists’ custody” since the March 28 attack. So, all the while, the security agencies did not have clear directives to free the captives? No fewer than 50 people are still in the dungeon of the terrorists, 104 days after the abduction.

In the same country, 30 soldiers, seven mobile policemen and two civilians were killed by terrorists in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State 11 days ago. The security agents were ambushed by the terrorists on their way to a mining site in Shiroro, in response to a distress call. Our President simply issued a statement describing the killings as a direct assault on Nigeria, vowing that the attackers would not go unpunished.

In Buhari’s usual showboating manner, he declared: “And to the sadists, I say this: we are coming. No matter what rock you crawl under, what hole you sink into, what lie you hide behind, we are coming and we will find you. Shiroro will see justice. Nigeria will know peace…This atrocity only serves to further strengthen us against them. Nigeria is united in obliterating these demons.”

I doubt if security agents went after the killers. No news yet about apprehending the killers of these gallant soldiers. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, is also a big letdown. I heard him vowing to bring to justice terrorists behind the attack on his men in Shiroro. That was 11 days ago. He said: “We are not deterred by any challenge from all those criminals. As we speak, we are on their trail and we will and I say we will get those criminals in Niger and other areas throughout the country.”

When will this happen? The point here is that the heads of Nigeria’s security agencies have persisted in their deficit without repercussions.

The man who should call them to order is equally sleeping. Nigerians are in a “one chance” bus.

The security and welfare of the people is no longer on the priority list of this jaded federal government.

Indeed, the Nigerian state under Buhari as President is a disaster. It has never been this weak. Nigeria can no longer protect its citizens. Buhari’s level of ineptitude is terrifying. I am tempted to ask our President to wake up. But, honestly, I doubt if this can ever happen within the 10 months left of his tenure. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently said expecting Buhari to do anything positive about unending killings is akin to beating a dead horse. I fully concur. This country needs to recruit foreign military contractors to end this madness in Nigeria. Buhari has obstinately refused to do this. There is more to this decision of his.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 9, 2022

16

NEWS

Eid el Kabir... Eid el Kabir... Eid el Kabir...

Atiku tasks Nigerians on 8JZXDQ\L &RQJUDWXODWHV 0XVOLPV 6D\V 1LJHULD 1HHGV 3HDFH 6DFULÀFH /RYH +RSH Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 election, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, has said that the essence of the celebration of the Eid-el-Kabir is about sacrifice, love, and hope for a peaceful coexistence in Nigeria, and the world at large.

Atiku in a Sallah message he personally signed said the lack of unity amongst Nigerians, are the reasons why all citizens must do a sober reflection on the state of the nation as they mark this year’s Sallah.

“As we celebrate, I wish to

remind that the essence of the celebration of the Eid-el-Kabir is about sacrifice, love, and hope for a peaceful coexistence in our dear country, and the world at large.

“The purpose of the celebration has a bold reflection on Nigeria. Our country is broken and insecurity has become a daily menace staring all our compatriots in the face.

“The hardships in the land and the harrowing experiences that people go through to survive, and the pervasive lack of unity amongst Nigerians, are the reasons why we must do a sober reflection

on the State of our Nation, as we mark this year’s Sallah.

“Therefore, selfless sacrifice and communal love as exemplified

by Prophet Ibrahim and his son, Ishmael, should guide us, as we submit ourselves and need to the Will of Allah.

“If we emulate the righteousness and great virtues of the Holy Prophet, mankind shall no doubt receive the reward of Allah’s love and mercy,” Atiku said.

The presidential candidate of the PDP who called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to optimally discharge

its responsibilities to the people, called on well-meaning Nigerians to intensify their acts of charity to the less-privilged saying there is love in sharing.

“Let’s work in concert to purposefully lessen the hardship facing our brothers and sisters. Let’s love our neighbors as ourselves.

“I wish to also task the government at all levels to play its Constitutional role, by being upright and dutiful and prioritise the needs of the people they have taken an oath to serve. The unity, security and development of our country is sacrosanct.

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has congratulated the Muslim faithful on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir celebration; wishing all Nigerians love, joy, peace, and prosperity.

In his Sallah message, Ugwuanyi prayed for God’s boundless grace and favour upon all Nigerians; stating that the solemn festival of Eid-el-Kabir, anchored on love DQG VDFULÀFH FRPHV ZLWK WKH SHDFH XQLW\ DQG IXOÀOOPHQW which the country needs to forge ahead.

The governor also prayed

for God’s protection, unceasing goodness and mercy upon Nigerians in their individual and collective endeavours, adding: “May we all be living testimonies to God’s blessings and have every reason to continue to thank God.” He, therefore, wished the Muslim faithful and indeed all Nigerians a pleasant and safe Eid-el-Kabir celebration; urging them to re-dedicate themselves to God and continue to pray fervently for the peace, unity, security and progress of the nation.

*OR )HOLFLWDWHV ZLWK 0XVOLPV Foremest digital services company, Globacom, has congratulated Nigerian Muslims on the 2022 Eid-ElKabir festival, urging them to celebrate with love and abide by the teachings of the Holy Quran.

In a press statement released in Lagos yesterday, Globacom enjoined Muslims to use the festive period to pray for the unity and development of the country, and to put the teachings of Prophet Mohamed on peace into practice.

“We rejoice with the Muslim Ummah as they celebrate the

Eid-El-Kabir festival. We call on them to use the occasion to continue to live up to the tenets of their faith through peaceful co-existence with their neighbours and obedience to the injunctions of the Holy Quran,” the company said.

Globacom advised them to celebrate moderately and also imbibe the lessons of commitment, dedication and obedience as demonstrated

by Prophet Ibraheem who VXEPLWWHG E\ VDFULÀFLQJ KLV son in obedience to the will of God, a supreme act of faith which Eid-El-Kabir represents.

,* 2UGHUV 7LJKW 6HFXULW\ Nationwide Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

DISPLAY OF LOYALTY… L-R: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Director General of Gburugburu Disciples, Jonathan Chukwuma and Mr. Tahill Ochi, when members of the Support Group paid a solidarity visit to the governor, at the Government House, Enugu... yesterday.

6DUDNL WR 1LJHULDQV 'RQ·W *HW 7LUHG RI 3UD\LQJ $JDLQVW ,QVHFXULW\ (FRQRPLF &ULVLV Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has congratulated Nigerian Muslims and other faithful across the world on this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival while also urging them not to get tired of praying for peace, security, and prosperity around the globe.

In a Sallah message signed by the head of his Media Office, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki reminded Muslims of the significance of Eid-elKabir which symbolised obedience to Allah, genuine sacrifice to and faith in their creator as well as the

desire for peace and further advise Muslims to always demonstrate these values in their daily activities.

He advised members of the ummah in Nigeria to use the occasion of the festival to pray for peace, security, unity, and prosperity in the country because the lack of these elements is threatening to disintegrate Nigeria and set her people against each other.

“One cannot but note that this Sallah period has only advertised the endemic poverty, unemployment, and anger in our

country as people in millions of homes cannot happily celebrate Sallah due to economic hardship, violence that has displaced them from their homestead, the resultant loss of dear ones due to untoward activities of non-state actors who have waged war against the state, family members who are being held in kidnappers’ den and the ones who suffer from various ailments without the ability to pay for good health care.

“The situation in the country is very dire and is threatening

to drive happiness away from the land. Even then, millions of people will troop to the various praying grounds on Sallah day to give glory to Almighty Allah for preserving them and to also make more requests to the ultimate provider. I enjoin those who are fortunate to go to the praying grounds to remember to pray for our country and our fellow citizens who wish to join the prayers but could not make it because of one unfortunate incident or the other beyond their control.

6HQDWH 3UHVLGHQW )HOLFLWDWHV 0XVOLP )DLWKIXO

7LQXEX 'HFULHV 6SDWH RI 9LROHQW Attacks on Innocent Nigerians

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has felicitated Nigerians, particularly the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of Sallah festival.

Lawan, according to a statement by his media aide, Ola Awoniyi, appreciated the faithful for their prayers.

He said prayers have been strengthening the people and sustaining the nation, Nigeria in the face of its numerous challenges.

He urged Nigerians not to cease praying for Nigeria

or waver in their belief that the purpose of Allah shall prevail for the country.

Lawan said with divine intervention and continued support of Nigerians for the government, Nigeria will soon overcome the challenges.

The Senate President said the ninth National Assembly will continue to work assiduously and collaborate with the other arms of government towards stabilising the security and economy of the country to the relief of all Nigerians.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has described as troubling the spate of violent attacks on innocent Nigerians.

Tinubu in his Eid-El-Kabir message to Muslims, said Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) perpetuate such inhumanity in opposition to Islam and all that it means.

Against this background, the presidential hopeful said

there was need to take a stand against terror.

Tinubu urged Muslims to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir in accordance with the clear, EHQHÀFLDO PHVVDJH DQG WUXH meaning of the occasion. +H VWDWHG ´:H IDFH VWLͿ challenges as a nation. Most troubling is the spate of violent attacks on innocent Nigerians. We must take a stand against terror and injustice. These evils lie forever outside our faith. Those who perpetuate such inhumanity do so in opposition to Islam and all that it means.

Ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Usman Baba, yesterday, ordered Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to beef up security ahead of the muslim festivity.

The order came as notorious kidnap king pin and gunrunner, Hamisu Wadume, detained in Kuje Prison, is believed to be one of

the inmates that escaped from the prison after Tuesday night attack on Kuje prison by terrorists.

Wadume, who was remanded in custody at Kuje Prison for armed robbery, kidnaping and gun running after his arrest by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the police was missing after the attack on the facility.

This comes as the Department of State Security (DSS) denied that one of its operatives was caught escaping from the prison after the attack.

16&'& 'HSOR\V 3HUVRQQHO WR %HHI XS 6HFXULW\ LQ .DWVLQD Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Commandant of Katsina State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), MS Bello, KDV GHSOR\HG R΀FHUV and men to beef up security across the 34 local government areas of the state during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The uniform and undercover operatives are to ensure 24 hours surveillance on critical national assets, infrastructures, worship places and routine patrol for a hitch-free celebration in the state.

In a statement issued to journalists by the Command’s 3XEOLF 5HODWLRQV 2΀FHU yesterday, DSC MT Abdara, expressed the NSCDC readiness to maintain law and order in the state during the festive season.

SATURDAY JULY 9, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 9, 2022

TOURISM AND LEISURE

Tourism Operators, FTAN Threaten to Boycott UNWTO Conference in Lagos Justina Uzo

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hen the hosting rights of the United Nations World Tourism Organisations (UNWTO)firsteverconference on cultural tourism and creative industries was granted to Nigeria by the Madrid, Spain-based United Nations agency, UNWTO, many found the news difficult to believe.

Generally, they said the host, the Federal Ministry ofInformationandCultureshould“keepherhouse in order” before hosting the global tourism.

Now, the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), the organised private sector tourismbodyinthecountry,haskickedagainstthe UNWTO first ever conference on cultural tourism and creative industries planned for Lagos, Nigeria between November 14 and November 17, 2022, saying“it’sofnobenefittoNigeriaandself-serving of Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.”

TheFTAN,theumbrellabodyofthevarioustourism associations of hoteliers, tour operators, travel agents and boat/cruise operators, has said they Lai Mohammed won’t be participating in the conference.

President of FTAN, Mr. Nkwereuwem Onung made the position of the operators known at a Mohammed had recently inaugurated a press conference in Lagos, recently. central planning committee of the UNWTO Onung therefore urged President Muhammadu conference as part of events slated for the Buhari to prevail on the Minister of Information reopeningoftheNationalArtsTheatre,Iganmu, and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed to shelve the Lagos,whichisbeingrenovatedbytheNigeria planned UNWTO conference and address more Bankers’ Committee. pressing issues facing the tourism sector in the Onung, who expressed his dissatisfaction country. overthetreatmentmetedouttoFTAN,alleged

thattheFederationhadevenwrittenaformalopen letter to President Buhari on the matter stating why hosting the conference is inimical to Nigeria.

Thelettertitled,“HostingofUnitedNationsWorld TourismOrganisation’sfirstconferenceoncultural tourismandcreativeindustries:Awildgoosechase ofnobenefittoNigeriaandNigerianculturaltourism and creative industries’’ apparently didn’t achieve its purpose.

Onunghingedtheprivatesectortourismoperators’ resolve to boycott the conference mainly on the neglectofthetourismsectorbytheMinister(supervisory tourism minister) over the last seven years, notingthattheministerhadcompletelyabandoned Nigeriatourismwithnoimpactwhatsoeverfromthe ministryonitsdevelopmentandpromotiondespite thehugebudgetaryallocationtothesectoryearly.

He said at no time did the minister met with the private sector to deliberate on areas of policies, concerns, and problems facing the sector and operatorsandworkoutimplementablestrategies in addressing identified concerns.

Onung disclosed that all efforts made to have a meeting with the minister to discuss the way forward for the sector proved abortive, with no response from the over six letters written.

Rather than meet with them or attend local tourism events, the minister, he said, prefers to attend meetings and events outside the country hostedbytheUNWTOontourismandculturewhere he only parades himself as the country’s tourism minister while the domestic tourism is suffering from government’s neglect.

Hosting the November UNWTO conference, he noted, is not what the country needs to recovery from its present economic woes as “it is only an avenue to enrich a few people and fritter tax pay-

ers money away in a mere jamboree that is of no benefit contrary to what the minister has made the Presidency and nation to believe.”

The open letter reads in part: ‘‘The supervising ministryforTourism;theFederalMinistryofInformationandCulture,andtheMinisterincharge,Alhaji LaiMohammed,is,tosaytheleast,haveneglected Tourism,withnobasicpolicydirection,programmes andactivitieswhollyinitiatedand/orinpartnership with the private sector to drive Tourism. ‘‘Not even in the difficult era of COVID-19 when mostoftheMDAsworkedcloselywiththeprivate sector to devise palliatives for survival strategies did the minister and Ministry of Information and Culture think it wise to court the private sector.

The only reaction from the minister was to set up a ‘controversial’ creative industry committee to work out palliatives for the sector. ‘‘Unfortunately, the recommendations of the committee and the review committee are today gatheringdustandcobwebsinthe‘golden’cabinet oftheMinister;neitherdisclosednorrecommendations implemented. ‘‘Sadly, the Minister has not felt the need to work in this direction especially given our peculiar situation; with our economy bleeding and our tourist destinations gripped by insecurity that does not repose confidence in tourists and investors in revamping our neglected tourism destinations. ‘‘Rather, what we have seen over the last seven yearsisthattheministerandtheministryhavebeen more focused on merely attending international eventsandmeetingsoftheUNWTOandthusbecoming ‘biding specialists’ by lobbying to get hosting rightstoanyUNWTOrelatedeventswithoutputting in perspective the attendant economic cost and benefits to the country.”

Amachree Urges Nigerians to Elect Candidates that Can Develop Tourism Justina Uzo

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Beach Polo at La Campagne

La Campagne Resort to Introduce Corporate Beach Olympics Justina Uzo

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a Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Lagosissettoaddanewsportpackage, Corporate Beach Olympics to boost sport tourism in its serene facility.

Situated in Ikegun Village on the outskirtsofIbejuLekki,Lagos,theAfrican themedandawarding-winningresort, founded by Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, is known for tourismofferingswhicharewell-receivedastheyare thoughtfullyblendedwithtraditionalAfricaelements and trappings of modernity.

Speaking on the new offering, the Group General Manager of the resort, Abidemi Adeboye, said: “It is partofthecommitmentoftheresort’smanagement tocontinuetorefreshitsofferingsandimproveonthe visitor’sexperience.Patronsarealwayslookingforward to seeing innovation.”

Theneweffort,Adeboyesaid,isconceivedinpartnership with Mastersports International Limited, which isnotedforitsexpertiseinorganisingeventsofhuge

magnitude.

According to him, the sport leisure event, which is plannedasamonth-longandfun-filledeventbeginson October1,2022.Itstargetedatcorporateexecutives from across sectors who will compete in 14 uniquely curated beach sports.

Ahead of the main event, it is gathered that some well-heeled corporate executives will be formally invited based on personal recognisation to a special two-dayeventthatwouldserveasintroductiontothe October launch.

Someofthesporteventsforthemonth-longofferings includebeachsoccer,volleyball,badminton,kayaking and table tennis. Others are ocean swimming, polo, thug of war, snooker/billiards, fishing, catapulting, karaoke and tennis.

Corporate organisations are expected to indicate their interest to participate and enroll for the event throughLaCampagneTropicanaBeachResort’svarious channels and partner agencies as well as the official website for the event, clearly indicating the sporting activities of choice.

hairman, Brooklyn Group of Hotels and the Father of Nigeria Tourism, Chief Mike Amachree has called on the Nigerians to vote only candidates with agenda on how to improve and develop tourism at all levels across the country.

In a press statement, he said in the light of the importance of the tourism industry all over the world, it would not be in the interest of the country to elect candidates that have no clue on how to harness the vast potential of the tourism sector in order to boost the nation’s economy.

He said: “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerian electorates to be wise and only vote in candidates that would help and develop Nigerian tourism. Our current revenue from oil is unreliable and the overdependence on oil is doing great harm to the nation’s econom.” Nigeria, he said, has a huge abundance of tourism endowments both at the level of culture and eco-tourism: “This has not been effectively tapped. So, it is important the country elects leaders that would help develop our tourism to attract both local and international visitors. This is the only way the country can generate revenue from it.

“As you may be aware, tourism helps to drive Amachree industrializationasmostinvestorsfirstcomein as tourists before seeing business opportuni- to any other ministry to oversee and supervise ties to exploit and establish in that country. the growth and development in the sector.

“When tourists come, the country benefits “Becauseof theimportanceof havingastandnot just from the immediate form influx of alone ministry of tourism, I was among those cash from their expenditure while on tour, that continue to put pressure on the military tourists help to industrialize a destination. government for a tourism ministry until it was When they come, they see business oppor- finally created during the tenure of former tunities to invest and also build industries President Olusegun Obasanjo.” and also invest in agriculture. This help to He however regretted that tourism is not bring foreign investment into the country. being giving priority attention by the current So, it is very important the country vote in government. a government that will not pay lip service “Unfortunately, the present administrato tourism. tion lumped tourism under the Ministry of “In addition to this, the lack of stand-alone Information and Culture. This has negatively tourism ministry has also stunted the de- affected the growth of tourism in the country. velopment of tourism. It is very important The government should as a matter of urgency that the government, as a matter of urgency, re-establish the rested ministry of tourism create a tourism ministry which is not attached and culture,” he said.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 9, 2022

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Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Burna Boy Making Waves with ‘Love, Damini’ Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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ound of pseudo gunshot twice.

Not the kind heard at a recent nightclub shooting which is still being investigated. But one that greeted his entry on stage at a recent concert where he performed to a sold-out crowd. It sure amplified that moment as fans got ecstatic. The set that followed next and the reception was good to write home about as always. After all, it’s Burna Boy. The Grammy-winning artiste is set to perform again this July during a summer tour dubbed “Love, Damini.” His performance has been the talk of social media, with a number of his fans singing his praises from Norway to Portugal to Wembley where the megastar performed a single ‘For My Hand’ featuring Ed Sheeran at Ed Sheeran’s Wembley Stadium show last Weekend.

The single is off Burna Boy’s latest studio album ‘Love, Damini’, which he dropped on July 8 via Atlantic Records. The singer had told Billboard the title of the Long Play (LP) is particularly personal to him. It bears his name Damini. Featuring a number of guest appearances from Ed Sheeran, Popcaan, Victony, J Balvin, Blxst, J Hus, Kehlani, Ladysmith, and Black Mambazo.

‘Love, Damini’ is Burna Boy’s 6th album after his debut album ‘L.I.F.E’, ‘On a Spaceship’, ‘Outside’, ‘African Giant’, and ‘Twice as Tall’. On Love, Damini, Burna Boy has already officially released two songs from the album - ‘Kilometre’ and ‘Last Last’ with the latter enjoying impressive level of success.

The Afro-fusion artist also shared a music video for the single, which he self-directed.

The vibe-y, mid-tempo song finds him reflecting on past relationships before ultimately concluding everything will be okay which many of his fans believe spoke about

the relationship he had with Stefflon Don and how they eventually broke up.

Don, in the same vein, released a new single she calls ‘First of All’ which is believed her reply to Burna’s.

The track, produced by Chopstix, features sample of American singer Toni Braxton’s 2000 R&B hit, “He Wasn’t Man Enough.” Off the heels of the success of the perceived break-up song, Burna has shared new details about the hit single which has got everyone talking. In a recent interview, the Nigerian star spoke on sampling Braxton’s song.

He went ahead to speak on how sampling the song was his idea and how it was something he really wanted to do. Not stopping there, Burna also added that it was a special creative process for him getting the producer, Chopstix to actualise it. However, fans became more interested when the Nigerian star spoke on how much royalties Braxton was making from Last Last.

According to Burna, the American singer makes 60% from the earnings of ‘Last Last’. This caused quite a stir on social media with many people expressing their shock, wondering how much he makes from the song after his record label, Atlantic Records, had taken their official cut.

However, Burna Boy noted that he wasn’t complaining.

While he is a successful digital artiste, his live shows accounts for a huge part of his earning. And with a catalogue and statesmanship that has helped him to sell out arenas across Europe, Burna Boy wouldn’t mind giving up a good part of his streaming pay if it means making great singles.

Burna Boy

‘Philomena’ Set to Hit Abuja Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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stage production “Philomena” is set to play from July 22, through to July 24, 2022, with an exclusive variety show on the latter dates at the NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja. Proudly sponsored by Amstel Malta and Total Events Solution, ‘Philomena; Interview with A Prostitute’, promises the magic of the peerless stage play following a very successful showing in Port Harcourt in February.

With the successful presentation, Nollywood personalities, Bimbo Manuel and Monalisa Chinda, alongside her team at K’ike Productions, continue the tour. The play deftly tells an extraordinary tale revolving around the experiences of three dramatic characters – Wesley a failed journalist, Philomena a retired prostitute, and Area a frustrated teacher - that the nature of Nigerian social, economic, and cultural factors had stagnated their lives.

‘Philomena’ was inspired by an actual interview the director, Bimbo Manuel had with a stripper and is a story that was demanded to be told with humour, satire and anecdotes. Replete with prolific performers including Francis Duru, Ejike Asiegbu, Don Kester Oshioraeme, Charles Inojie, and Tammy Abusi among others.

The lead character and executive-producer, Monalisa Chinda said, “We were excited and awed by the flood of requests and popular demand to bring Philomena to Abuja. One of the best and most profound things I experienced whilst reading about Philomena - An Interview with A Prostitute is the wit, the satire, the lessons, the spontaneity and the serendipity behind the characters... The intrigues that surround this multidimensional drama culminate ultimately in that epic and final decision that frees Philomena from

Don Kester Oshioraeme, Monalisa Chinda, and Ejike Asiegbu during a performance of ‘Philomena’

her inner battles.

“This resonates so well with my mission of the Arise Monalisa Foundation. That provides support and life opportunities for the girl child, women and youth”.

She further stated in a chat with this reporter that she is “particularly excited about the way the author treated such a taboo matter as prostitution in a way that makes us laugh at ourselves while

yet delivering heavy punches that make us pause to think…”

Bimbo Manuel said, “Philomena: Interview with A Prostitute cannot be contained in just a book anymore now. Like a little acorn, ‘Philomena’ the intensive little play, has grown into a massive star-studded theatre phenomenon.

Speaking on the play, Bimbo Manuel who doubles as the co-executive producer said, “I think many people will find themselves

in one or more of the characters of the play.

Many will find that they do not stand alone in their similar life situations. We also cannot continue to abdicate our responsibilities to self and expect that society and government will continue to pick up the slack.”

‘Philomena’ is scheduled to tour other major cities across the country, including Lagos and Ibadan as the core issues raised in the play are not selective of region, gender or social standing.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 9, 2022

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Victor Okpala

I Knew I will End Up in the Arts Sector Filmmaker Victor Okpala has been in the industry and has a good number of television films, series and cinema projects credited to his name. In this interview with Ferdinand Ekechukwu, Okpala shares influences, aspects, and moments leading to his journey in the industry as he debuts his first cinema directorial titled Tiger ‘s Tail

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ell us about your journey into the movie industry?

Well, right from childhood, I have always been a lover of the arts. From literary and debating society to cultural groups in secondary schools, I knew I will end up in the arts sector. When I got into the university, even though I was in the social sciences, I was always with the theatre department rehearsing and holding drama sessions. Once I left school, I knew where to go but had to work a bit here and there then off to film school.

Once I got back I registered my company and started with TV series production Eagle Eye which was syndicated in about 18 stations nationwide. While doing TV, I started working with other filmmakers as producer or line producer then went on to direct and the rest they say is history.

working on it and here we are with one of the best films you will see this summer in the cinemas all over Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon You have a lineup of fantastic actors in the movie (Zubby Michael, Kelechi Udegbe, Alexx Ekuboh, Etinosa Idemudia, Nosa Rex and a host of others) – how was it working with them?

Working with these actors was pure bliss, not off course without the usual little challenges here and there but they were amazing set of people to work with. Alex has been my friend and working partner for many years so it was very easy to work with him. Zubby is a brother and we bonded as brothers. Rex has been a friend. You cannot have issues with Etinosa because she’s a free spirit.

Tacha was her 1st ever movie before or after BBN house. All the actors on the project are amazing and have continued to be so supporting and promoting the movie. It’s a family affair and I love them all

How long have you been in the industry and how many movie projects have you been involved in?

I have been around professionally since 2010 and I have done over 40 TV films, 10 TV series and about 5 cinema projects.

What makes Tiger’s Tail different? Why should people go and see it? What should the viewers expect?

We are used to a kind of movie here in Nigeria but Tigers tail is refreshingly different and action packed with a lot of romance and drama. It’s a pot-pourri of entertainment and the audience will live every minute of it.

What has the experience been like working in the industry as a filmmaker?

The experience has been good and rewarding. Sometimes you face a big challenge that will almost make you want to give up but you keep striving and of course it gets better by the day.

What was your aspiration growing up?

Like I said earlier, I had always wanted to be in the arts but as a small boy I didn’t quite know what part of arts business I will be in but I always knew. Example, I wrote an entire magazine as a junior secondary student and wanted to publish it. I read every novel or magazine I could lay my hands on, watched every foreign film or cartoon released then. All those things shaped my love for the arts. My mom wanted me to be a full-time pastor and others wanted me to be a lawyer but here I am doing what God has ordained me to do.

What aspect of your growing up years influenced your present career in filmmaking?

I was an avid reader of every magazine or novel you can think of. I was a very introverted young man growing up with my granny; I had all the time to read every book, novel and magazines. I watched a lot of Hollywood films. I also grew up on local magazines like Papa Ajasco, Dauda and the likes. I remember I used to buy those mini magazines with my lunch money while in secondary school. So, yes, that aspect shaped me. I also sang in the choir and church band.

What inspires the type/kind of stories you tell?

So many events in and around my life always inspires me to tell my kind of stories.

I grew up watching Rambo and the likes, Mr. Bean for comedy and many other cartoons.

So, I like to tell more of action stories or what we call thriller.

You have your first cinema directorial Tiger’s Tail which comes out soon. Tell us about it…

Tiger’s Tail is a project of passion, love and everything in between. We started the journey pre Covid-19 and of course Covid-19 happened and we slowed down and didn’t do it again till this year. It was supposed to happen in 2020 but here we are. Let me not say much about it so I

Victor Okpala

won’t give away anything. I implore everyone to go watch it in the cinemas from 22nd July and see the magic we made. They won’t be disappointed at all.

How did you come up with the story and how long did it take to

shoot Tiger’s Tail?

I conceived the story in 2020 and started piecing it together. I have always, always wanted to tell a socially relevant story that will resonate and make impact. I have done that with my TV movies and series for many years, so when the idea came i called my writers and we started

Are you adept to making any particular genre or film?

I love to make action packed movies that will keep people on the edge of their seats and off course topped with romance and a lot of drama. Black Panther is a movie i will never forget in a hurry. We are getting there by God’s grace.

What’s your goal as a filmmaker?

My goal is simple; to keep getting better at my craft and satisfying my teeming fans with every of my film and of course better things will always follow.

Aquafina Brings ‘Water No Get Enemy’ to Life with PadiofLife Campaign

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aba Fela’s iconic ‘Water no get enemy’ track from his 1975 album titled ‘Music is the Weapon’ remains a popular catchphrase among Nigerians in the 21st century. The track, in its entirety, spoke loudly about the crucial role of water in our daily lives and how humans and water are inseparable.

A remarkably interesting line in the song says: ‘If water kill your child, na water you go use’, an allusion to the fact that even if water caused you havoc, you still cannot avoid using water.

Fela, through the hit track, creatively illustrated the strong bond between humans and water. Forty-seven years after, a brand, through the ingenuity of its handlers, was able to relate this bond to that of true friendship among human beings.

Aquafina Water, with the new #PadiofLife campaign, emphasizes human relationship with water as true friendship, which every human craves for.

Noteworthy is how the campaign got people talking. In different clips of the #PadiofLife campaign, Aquafina brand

ambassadors, Nollywood actors, Kate Henshaw, Jemima Osunde, Jide Kene, Munachi Abii and popular Twitter personality, Aproko Doctor, expressed their love for Aquafina water in a manner they would have done for a true and reliable friend. The captivating teasers generated reactions and customer engagement across social media platforms and on radio.

Social media has over time become an agenda-setter for public discussions, and the #PadiofLife campaign was a notable instance. In one of the high points on Twitter, controversial social media personality, Daniel Regha, gave his usual unsolicited advice with a comment on Kate Henshaw’s video. The conversation took a life of its own. Hashtag #PadiofLife started trending and thousands of handles latched on to it to share their personal friendship stories.

The conversation spiraled offline, as on-air radio personalities also made Padi of Life a topic of discussion on their shows.

Listeners were given the opportunity to phone-in and give a shout-out to their Padi of Life.

In a creative and engaging manner, the campaign has drawn attention to the fact that Aquafina is more than just water. The #Padioflife campaign highlighted Aquafina’s premium brand status, the importance of choosing a brand you can trust. The campaign also explored Aquafina’s ‘Purity Guaranteed’ mantra and the purification process that places Aquafina premium bottled water ahead of the crowd.

Likewise, the campaign is a pointer to Aquafina’s drive for healthy living.

Aquafina is a major promoter of a healthy lifestyle among Nigerians, with the sponsorship of health events, shows, and sporting activities. The bottled water brand has been a major player in the Nigerian market for years and is one of the few brands in the premium category.

Aquafina is produced by the makers of Pepsi and is retailed in three bottle sizes of 50cl and 75cl and 150cl, available in major cities across Nigeria. So, the next time you think of pure drinking water, go for Aquafina premium drinking water.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 9, 2022

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Outpouring of Love for Olu Jacobs at 80 Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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here had been quite a number of posts celebrating his birthday following a poster shared on his Instagram page a week earlier.

“A Toast to Olu Jacobs 80th Birthday Celebration”, boldly reads the message. His wife and amazon of the silver screen, Joke Silva, had hinted at his 80th birthday celebration on her Instagram page when she shared a throwback picture of her husband. She captioned the photo “Who has the foggiest idea who this handsome young man is? #80th birthday loading…”

This prompted a brief exchange between this reporter and Joke Silva. “Good morning...

His date of birth is 11/7/42”, she affirmed. Olu Jacobs will clock 80 on Monday 11th of July, 2022. Adding to our exchange that she feels “Grateful and thankful to celebrate his 80th.

Just plain touched and moved by the outpouring of love for him from people from all over and from all walks of life. Good is good”.

Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, simply well-known as Olu Jabobs, is one of Nigeria’s finest gifts. The world has been his stage for many years and he played without fear. A seasoned actor who has starred in numerous Nigerian and British drama series and movies, Olu Jacobs has performed with uncommon grace while gracing our screens.

But age is here and has slowed the veteran.

However, neither age nor frailty can diminish his status in Nigeria’s film and theater industry.

By any conceivable parameters, Olu Jacobs is a successful professional who has paid his dues in the industry and is thus mostly respected by all. With over five decades of his life in bringing joy and entertainment to many homes in Nigeria and beyond.

Olu Jacobs

The deluge of love since the news of his forthcoming 80th birthday made the rounds has been overwhelming. Olu Jacobs is one of those who made good use of their skills to pursue a worthy career, benefiting society and country.

Jacobs’ acting talent showed up early. His career had a highly focused and fruitful trajectory: he made his mark in innovation and mentoring, both in theatre arts and in Nigeria’s movie industry.

In secondary school, he joined debating and drama societies, trying

out on stage and building his craft. This interest was later confirmed after he discovered Chief Hubert Ogunde, the Nigerian actor, playwright, theatre manager and musician who founded the first contemporary professional theatrical company in Nigeria. Jacobs attended one of Ogunde’s annual concert parties in Kano and became convinced of his path.

Like the best of his contemporaries – at a time when Nigerian universities could not offer many options – he pursued his higher education abroad. In 1964, Jacobs travelled to Britain to study. He took up a spot at the Royal Academy

of Dramatic Arts in London, studying acting.

Jacob also worked with various repertoire theatres in Britain and Ireland and starred in several British television series and international movies.

He returned home in 1980, just like many other Nigerians looking to develop their home societies, to enrich the federation and encourage young talents to find local success. Cinema wasn’t just work for Jacobs, it was life itself. In 1989 he married Joke Silva, another veteran actor and a graduate of the University of Lagos and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

They have both enjoyed being together as a couple many years down the line despite their stardom and individual roles. That togetherness has taken them far as best friends and life partners for over 35 years. A multi-award winning actor and producer, scriptwriter, broadcaster, businessman and entrepreneur, Olu Jacobs has been hailed by many as one of the greatest and most widely respected African actors of his generation.

He has also received awards both within and outside the country for his professional achievements. He is also a national honour recipient. He was conferred with the National Honour of the Member of the Federal Republic, MFR, by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.

Recently, he was also conferred with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Africa International Film Festival, AFRIFF, as did African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, in 2016.

He was honoured with the Industry Merit Award for outstanding achievements in acting at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. His legion of viewers and well-wishers from around the globe wish this father-figure, actor and cultural icon many more years.

Victor Ebiye

I Have Transited from the Prince to the King of Comedy Victor Ebiye is a comedian, actor, MC and entertainer. He does stand-up comedies as well as Instagram skits which started as his core and he became one of the foremost names when it comes to social media content making. Over the years, he has grown his brand and he is now one of Nigeria’s most reputable names when it comes to entertainment. He has featured in some Nollywood movies, played roles on music video sets, hosted his own comedy shows and a lot more. In this interview with Tosin Clegg, he gives an insight on his brand, his transitions, style of comedy and much more Making the world laugh

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have been making the world laugh with my skits. I have also been sealing endorsement deals with brands and basically living the best life. I decided to transit from the Prince to the King of Comedy after a professional career evaluation, which included my seven years doing comedy professionally and over 27 years making people laugh. I realised it was time to ascend to that kingly sphere where I belong.

Ebiye is a perfect blend of the best of the best ever to do it in comedy. I’ve been over the years influenced by a lot of comedians such as Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Basket Mouth Bovi, AY, Okey Bakassi to name a few. I have studied their excellence over the years and watched every performance and as a comedy addict, you can tell in my excellence.

My style of comedy My comedy is spontaneous and natural; these stand me out. I just have a very different mind and I see the jokes in everything and anyone. My act on stage or behind the cameras

inspire me but mostly off cameras when I see how happy people are because of what I do on cameras.

my creations as pure and as authentic as possible because you can’t actually see an Ebiye content and not laugh.

Relating my brand to the brands I work with I try to make brands understand how natural my vibe is. I’m currently a brand ambassador for Online Alaba and Yobs Kitchen and I’ve done influencing jobs for over thirty brands. Due to how naturally-funny my skits are, the audience doesn’t get a forced brand on them. I don’t shove my brands in the faces of my audience instead, I make the audience through my jokes understand why they should patronize my partner brands and hey they get to laugh too!

Journey so far It’s been a beautiful one and the highlight of my beautiful comical journey is when I received an award about nineteen years ago from my primary school, Rightville, Surulere for the “Most Humorous Child.”

That for me was the moment my vision came clear, my love for comedy grew as I always would make my friends in school laugh from primary to university. I chased comedy like a lion chases his prey and I caught comedy and ate it, I guess.

The road ahead is promising and I’m very hopeful for all that’s going to come along as I journey this part of success. My brand is dear to me and I hold it in high esteem knowing fully well what becomes of it is totally in my control. I would also be forever grateful to my mum’s brother, Peter Udom for assisting my mum in training I and my sister to the best schools one can ever attend.

My most difficult skit It’s got to be a skit I did with about fifteen people. I had never rehearsed so much in my life for a skit but most times it’s less stressful when I am alone in my skits. I always try to give meaning to all I do and that’s what everyone who indulge in my content gets to see. Originality is key and I bring it into

Victor Ebiye

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 9, 2022

22

INTERVIEW

Sulaiman Abubakar

Military Overwhelmed By Terrorists, Nigeria Must Seek Foreign Assistance Professor Sulaiman Olanrewaju Abubakar is a former Minister of National Planning and currently the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). He talks to THISDAY about his reform initiatives in the NILDS and security/economic issues in Nigeria

W

hat are your achievements since you assumed duties as the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS)?

Itook over three years ago, precisely on June 3 2019. We have done a major reform in the area of staff welfare and motivation. When I came on board, I met staff with a lot of grievances, grudges and complaints. These are complaints that border on productivity and output, which had caused a lot of friction within the institute. In response to this, I set up a committee to look into those grievances, including grievances that centre on wrong placement and elevation. In addition, a good number of staff were on contract for years without being confirmed.

Within a few years of my assumption of office, we were able to address all these issues.

One major landmark in the area of enhancing staff productivity that I achieved was in the area of promotion, incentive, motivation, salary, and allowances of staff, which were major issues before I came on board.

Prior to my assumption, non-academic staff did not have any allowance outside of their basic salary. In order to ameliorate their plight, I was able to convince the Governing Council to approve a hardship allowance for non-academic staff. This is in addition to securing the Council’s approval for an upward review of the research allowances for academic staff so that today, one of the most motivated staff we have in this country, is that of the institute. That has positively enhanced their productivity as they are more committed to their responsibilities. In the area of career progression, many staff were stagnant on the same grade level for as long as six years. Having reviewed their cases, they have all been promoted and are currently on their appropriate levels.

One cannot talk about restructuring and grievances of staff without looking at the Condition of Service and Administrative Manual that was put in place. Before I came in, most of the above-mentioned grievances of staff had to do with the condition of service that was in use as there were no clear-cut policies on important issues like promotion. The first thing I had to do was to set up a committee with the support of the Governing Council and we reviewed the Conditions of service and the Administrative Manual of the Institute. We ensured that members of staff made inputs in these documents. Today, we have a new condition of service and Admin Manual for the Institute.

Another area worthy of mention is discipline or quality control. We observed that for us to strengthen and put systems in place, we should ensure quality control. NILDS is an academic and research institution, hence, it is important to ensure that staff possess the necessary qualifications to carry out their Job schedule. So, one of the first things I did when I came on board was to set up a committee saddled with auditing staff records, staff profiles or academic credentials. In that process, a few staff were found not to have acquired the requisite results and credentials and they have since been eased out of the system.

The staff we have on the ground are those that we can boast of anywhere in the world. We have also tried to instill quality control and discipline. I want to believe that it is something that institutions of higher learning, including universities, should borrow a leaf from. It is not everybody that claims to be a professor or claims to have certain qualifications really has them.

We were able to do this without any hiccup because people that were found wanting to know they were at fault and that they had done some infractions.

Without any alarm, we were able to get them out of the system. That was part of the internal reform I was able to make. This would not have been possible without the support of the Governing Council under the leadership of the President of the Senate, Lawan Ahmad and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajamiabiala.

Bye and large, we set the pace. We put a sustainable foundation for us to leverage on and from there, the mandates of the institute have been accomplished in the last two years. The mandate of providing technical assistance to legislatures through bill-drafting, bill scrutiny, motion drafting, research, serialising dialogue and lectures, has been successfully implemented. In addition, we have been active in the area of advocacy, speaking

from West Africa and the African continent, will be part of the speakers.

We also observed again as part of our mandate, that legal and legislative draftings, motion drafting and bill drafting, are critical components in legislative procedure and practices. But unfortunately for us in Africa, we have a dearth of drafters. Not many of our jurists, lawyers, and students that graduated from the universities are trained in the area of legislative drafting. We have received in my institute people from other West African countries coming to ask for drafters from Nigeria. But Nigeria itself does not have enough drafters.

Abubakar for the Nigerian legislature, on topical issues such as the autonomy for the Nigerian legislature, autonomy of the local governments and appropriation.

Another fundamental thing is that the institute is not just for the legislature; with the amendment to the Act that set it up in 2018, we are mandated to perform the function of deepening democracy. We are mandated to perform the function of democratic studies, and the role of ensuring that Nigerian stakeholders abide by the ethics of democracy. In other words, it is the only statutory organisation or institution in Nigeria vested by an Act of parliament to deepen the democratic practices and procedures in Nigeria. By so doing, we have a department of Democracy and Governance.

You cannot talk of democracy or democratic studies without giving a medium through which you can reach the Nigerian people. We should not wait for elections to come before we start talking about people’s civil obligations, who to vote for and how to vote. One of such mediums is the establishment of Democracy Radio. A board for Democracy Radio was approved by the Governing Council and currently, the license for its operation is before Mr. President for approval. It is hoped that before the year runs out, we shall go on air.

We also instituted the Distinguished Parliamentarians lecture series because of the belief that the parliament is being misunderstood and misrepresented. People do not know much about what the parliament does, hence, there is a wrong perception about the parliament. People perceive them as the most corrupt organ of the government. Accordingly, the Distinguished Parliamentarian lecture series was launched last year. The maiden lecture presentation was done by the President of the Senate.

The second lecture is coming up in August and will be delivered by the Right Honourable Speaker. I must mention that participation is not limited to the current legislation but past presiding officers, and legislators

One major landmark in the area of enhancing staff productivity that I achieved was in the area of promotion, incentive, motivation, salary, and allowances of staff, which were major issues before I came on board. Prior to my assumption, non-academic staff did not have any allowance outside of their basic salary

Why the price of crude oil is rising as a result of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Nigeria is not benefiting while other countries are benefiting. What is the way out?

When you export oil unrefined, it is economically unsound. The other country bought the crude and you purchase the refined product at a very exorbitant rate, it does not make any sense. As long as we do not refine oil within the country, we will not benefit from the rise in crude oil prices on the international market. People that do not even have the oil are better off than us. The simple truth is that some syndicates, some cartels, and some people in this country would not want our refineries to be fixed. They are reaping from it, they are benefiting from it, and they are maximizing profit out of it. Until we are able to break that cartel and address those syndicates with determination beyond just legal framework or policy framework but with political will-power and determination, we cannot as a country reap the benefits of the endowed resources.

When you do not refine, you are at the mercy of those countries that refine those products. And you keep on buying from them. So what stops us from getting our refineries fixed in the first instance. Are you saying we do not have the money to do it or we cannot get the money to do it? Today the country is indebted to the tune of $40 trillion. Where and how do you get out of here? So we are sitting on the keg of gunpowder and if care is not taken, and we allow it to explode, I would not know what will happen! That is why I take it to the ruling class, including myself. If we fail to address this issue, our children will not forgive us. The political economy of oil subsidy is known to even a pupil in primary school and why it is being prolonged is known to all of us. And why we have failed to address it is known to us and the implication is known to all of us. It is either we are able to take advantage of the resilience of the younger ones now by addressing it or we wait for the explosion any moment from now.

Insecurity is a major challenge to business and economic growth in the country. Are you not worried over the debilitating effect of this on our nation’s economy as well as on the business concerns of multinationals, corporations, companies and SMEs? What is the way out?

Mr. President is worried. The National Assembly is worried. The state assemblies are worried. The governors are worried. The political class is worried. Business people are worried. Everybody is worried. Mr. President has said it on several occasions that insecurity has defied all solutions. That is why perhaps, I want to subscribe to people who said that before God’s intervention, we need human help. Within the confines of international relations, let other countries come to our aid and assist us. Our security sector keeps saying that they can locate where the bandits and kidnappers are and then they are helpless. People had to pay ransom, people had to pay from their sweat to get their abductees released- where are we heading to? There is no doubt about it that our security agencies are overwhelmed. There is no doubt about it that the government has done the best it can do. We have gotten to the zenith of our capacity. I think, within the context of international relations, international cooperation and international politics, we lose nothing if we extend our hands of fellowship or we call for hands of the fellowship of other countries, those other countries that are more powerful than us, those countries that are ahead of us in technology, in the area of military capability to assist us. Enough is enough.

Read full interview online - www.thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 9 2022

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POLITY

Positioning UNILAG for Global Competitiveness University of Lagos well-known for its academic excellence in research and innovation in Nigerian tertiary education took its leadership position further, recently, when it went into partnership with some European counterparts. Tagged, “Partnership for Change” summit, the meetings were led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe. One of such was held at Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany. Funke Olaode who was in Frankfurt reports

L-R: Prof. Ismail Ibraheem, Dr. Mary Akinyemi, Catharina Wassink, Prof. Uchenna Udeani, Prof. Ayo Atsenuwa, Amb. Wahab Akande, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Mayor Thomas Kaminski, Prof. Bola Oboh, Prof. Uwe Hettler, Kevin Rausch, Joanna Izdebski, Helmut Kroth, Ola Alayande and Dr. Walter Losch Ingenieurburo, at the Partnership for Change summit held at Goethe- University, Frankfurt, Germany… recently

T

o enhance and prepare its students for competitiveness with ivy league universities globally in academic, innovation and research, the University of Lagos, a.k.a University of First Choice, recently extended its tentacles beyond the shore of Nigeria when it engaged top universities across Europe.

Tagged Partnership for Change initiative, and led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the Unilag top management visited Dundee, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburg.

The purpose according to Ogundipe was to enhance students and lecturers’ mobility in research and exchange programmes.

Prof. Ogundipe said: “The mission in United Kingdom was fantastic. The purpose is to expose our students. I want us to know that by next ranking of University of Lagos next year, it will be among the top universities in the world. Because when we got to Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh. Aberdeen, they themselves were happy to receive us. In fact, in Edinburgh, they said they need to learn from us too in the area of entrepreneurship and FinTech.

That FinTech in Nigeria is good. Like I said earlier, it is not going to be parasitic, we want to have symbiotic relationship and it is already yielding result. By next year, Architecture student with one or two of their lecturers from Dundee University are coming to University of Lagos. And our students in the Department of Architecture, will be going to Dundee to learn about the architectural design and other things in Dundee.”

Still basking in the euphoria of a successful outing in Scotland, the UNILAG crew moved to Frankfurt in Germany where it had discussions with four Universities and one company: University of Applied Sciences, Fachhochschule Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, ProEnergie GmbH & Co. KG, Laatzen, Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, Schmalkalden, University of Münster, Münster and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe were at the summit. The jointly organised Summit facilitated by the Consulate General of Nigeria in Frankfurt was held at Goethe-University, Frankfurt.

In his speech, the Nigerian Consular-General to Frankfurt, Amb. Wahab Akande commended University of Lagos for the initiative and said it was a welcome development. According to the diplomat, to achieve sustainable development goal of United Nations that no child should be left behind in receiving qualitative education, collaboration is needed. Speaking further, the Nigerian envoy noted that although Germany is an industrial nation, “We still need partnership because you can’t know it all as we need to learn from each other.”

Akande added: “My experience gained over the years as a diplomat in Europe inspired him to be a part of the initiative. As said earlier, Germany is known for her manufacturing capacities, hence the popular phrase of ‘German Machines.’ But German industries rely on universities to achieve their dream. This is what Nigeria must learn. This is why this engagement is dear to us at the consulate.”

Speaking on how the summit would benefit the University of Lagos, Ogundipe said the strength of UNILAG students and

staff would match with their European counterparts. “Different universities come with uniqueness in different fields such as engineering, law, social sciences and technology. We are looking at the possibility of linking those lecturers to our own lecturers at the University of Lagos, so that they can work together. We also want to expand our relationship.”

During her presentation at the Frankfurt summit to showcase the UNILAG potential, The UNILAG Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development Services, who also double as overseer of University’s partnership office, Prof. Ayo Atsenuwa, extolled the quality of the citadel of excellence with student population of 62,215 across 12 faculties, six institutes and 26 centres, adding that UNILAG runs 88 undergraduate and 129 postgraduate programmes.

Atsenuwa, an erudite professor of Law, said the university is coming into the partnership fully prepared, especially with many concluded and ongoing innovative research outputs such as the cassava concrete mixture for building, medical ventilators and vehicular road advanced electronic flood caution device, among others. She said the partnership is aimed at building a global community of shared future through student and staff exchange programmes, running of joint degrees and programmes, curriculum development, hosting joint conferences and research collaborations Enumerating various innovation that stood the UNILAG brand out she said: “We are encouraged to champion this partnership having experienced the significant impacts of other similar collaborations such as those under the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), UMOJA and AFROPEAN Global.

“Our artificial intelligence and fab laboratories, the UNILAG-BOI business incubation hub, and the NITDA ICT hub, are in need of meaningful partnerships for exposure and knowledge sharing.”

“Our entrepreneurial centre is one of the best around but we must endorse continental collaborations to achieve greater impacts and exposure for students and staff.”

With the popular saying that “it is not how long but how well”, Prof. Atsenuwa acknowledged that German Universities have been in existence for centuries compared to UNILAG, which is relatively young, but she still believes that partnership with such older institutions like Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, to share ideas, and technical know-how for comparative advantages is worth it.

During different meetings held at the Goethe University, Frankfurt, and in the city of Mainz, representatives from the University of Applied Sciences, Mainz; Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz; Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, Schmalkalden, and University of Münster, Münster, all expressed their readiness and commitment to making the partnership a worthwhile venture.

The representatives of the Johannes Gutenberg University, which houses the global COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing giant- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech), expressed commitment to the partnership, even as they pledged knowledge transfer among staff and students.

Speaking on behalf of Schmalkalden, its Mayor, Thomas Kaminski, said as host to a university and many small scale industries, the community is building green energy solutions and would be glad to partner Nigerian researchers.

He expressed his readiness to ensure knowledge transfer among concerned experts, saying the green energy solution would not only address the issue of ozone layer depletion and the attendant consequences but will also make power affordable, especially for the university communities where uninterrupted power supply is much a prerequisite.

Other universities, especially, University of Applied Science in Mainz, said it was interested in introducing double degree programmes in partnership with UNILAG, among other qualified Nigerian universities.

The programmes, which will be taught physically on the two campuses, will, according to the university, also offer the beneficiaries an opportunity to receive stipends through the German government’s scholarship scheme while the students can also work as interns in the companies within the localities.

The DAAD Programme Director at the University of Lagos, Dr. Gerald Heusing, who is an Associate Professor, Department of European Languages and Integration Studies said the Partnership for Change initiative is based on the idea that internationalisation, i.e. cooperation between universities across geographical borders, improves the quality of teaching, research and university administration.

Heusing adds: “Experience and corresponding empirical studies have proven that internationalisation can indeed produce these positive effects. Universities depend on the exchange of experiences, ideas and people to live up to their claim of being well-managed places of teaching and research that adapt to dynamic demands and challenges for the benefit of people and humanity. Internationalisation is an absolute necessity for every university.

“There are already partnerships in existence. To be precise, partnerships between 19 Nigerian and 29 German universities (some Nigerian universities partner with more than one German university. The Partnership for Change initiative seeks to change this by structuring the initiation and implementation of partnerships on the basis of existing needs and by also involving Nigerian universities that have so far been less internationalised.

The initiative is also trying to generate more interest among German universities to enter into cooperation with Nigerian universities. It is a right move.”

Corroborating what others have said earlier on the Partnership for Change initiative, Director, International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects, UNILAG, Professor Ismail Ibraheem, added that “collaborations is pivotal to the realisation of both SDGs and the African Union Vision 2063. University of Lagos is therefore taking calculated and well-informed steps to mobilise global resources to support the vision of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Oluwatoyin Ogundipe to make UNILAG globally competitive and nationally relevant in the core areas of research, teaching and community development.”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 9, 2022

24

POLITY Dapo Abiodun’s Political Brinkmanship and the Opposition within Despite the odds against him within and outside his All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has continued to forge ahead in fulfillment of his electoral promises and looks good to win the 2023 governorship election. Raheem Akingbolu reports

B

y the time the story of the third republic would be documented, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, would occupy a special place as one of the most persecuted politicians of the era. But like every determined leader, with clear-cut intentions and ideas to lift his people, the governor has remained focused and able to dismantle oppositions through subtle political moves devoid of brigandry that is common to politicians in this part of the world. Rather than allowing petty politics to slow him down, Abiodun had quickly settled down for work and focused on managing his success towards sustaining and expanding his support base.

The policy paid off as it provided a smooth foundation for his re-election.

The foundation of the challenge faced by the governor while warming up for his second term in office was laid in 2019, when his predecessor in office, Senator Ibikunle Amosun became the leader of the enemies within. In a desperate move to install one of his lackeys, Adekunle Akinlade as governor, the former governor threw caution into the air and fought dirty but Abiodun came out unscathed. From any angle one chooses to look at it, the struggle was not a tea party, in view of intrigues and deceit by several stakeholders, which led to rancor within the rank and file of the ruling party.

For the APC, under which platform Abiodun was elected, the intrigues started with the mode of primary to be adopted in order to choose the party’s flag bearer.

Three options were available for choosing the party’s candidate- the direct primary, indirect primary and the consensus arrangement.

While the faction being led by Amosun, opted for indirect primary, the Dapo Abiodun’s faction, chose the direct mode.

But when it was clear that the two factions could not agree on a particular option, the National Secretariat decided that a direct mode of primary be adopted.

Rather than participating in the direct mode, the Amosun’s

faction boycotted the exercise and organised its own Indirect Governorship Primary that produced Akinlade.

After all efforts made by Amosun and his clique failed, the ex-governor had summarily pulled out a few of his supporters out of APC and threw his weight behind an unknown party in the state, the Allied People’s Movement (APM) and adopted Akinlade as its governorship candidate. The fallout from this was that the breakaway faction of the APC that formed APM became the major opposition to Abiodun.

But while the electioneering was on, the chance of Abiodun and APC was boosted, with the open declaration by a faction of the PDP loyal to a former Governor, Gbenga Daniel, that members of his group, should work and support Abiodun The seemingly confusing situation was saved by the pronouncement of the Interim National Secretary of APC Caretaker Committee, John Akpanudoedehe, who said the National Secretariat would only accept results of congresses, conducted by the Congress Committee sent by the Secretariat.

Consequently, the opposition within, was put to rest, by the acceptance of the results and names generated by the Wale Ohu led Congress Committee sent by the National Secretariat.

To further cement the viability of the party in the state, the Appeal Committee on Local Government Congress of the party in Ogun State disclosed that no single petition was received by the committee, on the conduct of the exercise in the state. Another factor that aided Abiodun was what looked like the concensus agreement among the neutrals to support him at the pole. At the end, he won and that ended the story.

Though Abiodun had started warming himself into the heart of the opposition in the state before the 2019 election, the turning point was the defection of former Governor Gbenga Daniel and his eventual declaration for Abiodun. Between 2019 and now, he has not only intensified effort in this direction, he has successfully cowed opposition by winning thousands of members of major parties in the state into the progressive fold. It is on record that the candidate of ADC, Gboyega Isiaka, popularly called GNI with his supporters and those rooting for Akinlade in APM in 2019 later moved

to the ruling APC. With this development, the governor has successfully defeated both the enemies within and without.

Directly connected with this is the governor’s inclusive governance style, which has seen him appointing people into offices indiscriminately. This also reflects in the way in his work as he spreads dividends of democracy across the states.

Considering this policy of Inclusiveness and accommodation, the state and the people are the ultimate beneficiaries as the governor has been able to concentrate on the business of governance to the admiration of the good people of Ogun State.

As of today, there is enough evidence of finished and commissioned various infrastructural projects across the three senatorial districts of the state standing as a testimony to Abiodun’s pragmatic style of governance. Apart from playing politics, fulfilling election promises of provision of dividends of democracy for the people, remains very important to Abiodun after his election.

The governor was able to do this by appointing competent people into positions of service, even from other political parties that contested against his own APC in the spirit of running an inclusive administration.

Specifically, Abiodun appointed leaders and members of the PDP, Labour Party (LP), ADC and some members of the APC faction loyal to former Governor Amosun.

While some people from other political parties and from other APC factions other than his, got direct appointment in the administration of Abiodun, some were rewarded during the last local government election, which was a departure to the previous “Winner Takes All” syndrome.

This policy of Inclusiveness, didn’t only encourage the hitherto opposition leaders to move to the ruling APC, Ogun State indigenes rose up in his support when some fifth columnists started campaigns of calumny during the build up to the just concluded primary election.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

L-R; Executive Director, NEXIM Bank, Dr. Bala Bello; with the President, Afreximbank, Prof.

Benedict Oramah at Afreximbank Annual General Meeting held in Cairo …… recently

L-R: Immediate Past President, Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA), Clare Omatseye; President, LBSAA, Agada Apochi; Outgone President, LBSAA, Frank Aigbogun; Vice President, LBSAA, Owen Omogiafo and Dean, Lagos Business School, Prof. Chris Ogbechie during the handing over ceremony to Apochi as the new president of the alumni association in Lagos ….yesterday

L-R: Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola; Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya; Chief of Staff to Minister for Works and Housing Representing the Minister, Dimeji Showora and Chairman, Arewa Community, APC Lagos State, Alh. Saadu Yusuf, during handing over of Agricultural Imputs to Displaced and Vulnerable farmers held in Lagos..... recently

L-R: Chief Commercial officer, AppZone, Mr.Yemi Joshua; Co-founder/Partner, Venture Garden Group, Demola Idowu; Chief Executive Officer/ Co-founder, Garden Accademy, Olanrewaju Idowu and Vice President, Payroll and Partnerships, Seamless HR, Paul Ajayi, at the Garden Academy Tech Meet 2022 graduation in Lagos recently.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 9, 2022

POLITY How Abiodun’s Genie Promotes Unity in Ogun APC Femi Ogbonnikan

A

fter the usual horse-trading, power squabbles and contestation among the state actors, virtually all political parties planning to participate in the 2023 elections have finally submitted the names of their candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) well ahead of the deadline. Except where substitution becomes absolutely necessary, these are the standard bearers recognised by the law to run for various offices across all levels of government. The rest is up to the electorates to decide who among the galaxy of contenders is worthy of their votes.

At this point, one may begin to heave a sigh of relief seeing that the transition process is very well on course against the doomsday predictions of some naysayers. It will never be, because Nigerians as a people have prodigious capacity to pull back from the brinks of disaster. In so many instances, in recent past, we have demonstrated an uncanny ability to navigate turbulent terrain of predictable and unanticipated crises. That is why we are unique as a people.

Now, having achieved some reasonable levels of quietude in the polity, following the hullabaloo that characterised the intense politicking by the political gladiators, one cannot but agree with Don Marquis, an American Writer (1878-1937), who rightly said, “When chicken quits quarrelling on their food, they often find that there is enough for all of them.” It is so with the human race too.

In Ogun State as, indeed, in the rest parts of the federation, the governorship primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where Governor Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun emerged as the elected standard bearer of the party for the 2023 elections has come and gone. Moving forward, therefore, it is imperative for the stakeholders to put the unnecessary bickering of the recent past behind them and rally round the incumbent Governor to take the state to the next level. In the long-run, his genie has reveled up unity among various aggrieved parties in the ruling APC in the state.

Recently, I watched the home-coming of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun amidst the mammoth crowd of sponsored supporters who converged on the Palace of the Ake Palace ground, Abeokuta, to give him a rousing welcome after his botched ambition to run for the office of the President with a deep sense of loss. According to JK Galbraith, Canadian-born US Economist, “There are times in politics when you must be on the right side and lose.” What Amosun did in the just concluded presidential primary of the APC by announcing his decision to step down for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Eagle Square, Abuja, venue of the National Convention, is politically expedient and proper for the protection of the Yoruba interest in the Nigerian project. But the unnecessary hubris brought into the scenario made me to cringe in disbelief, because absolutely nothing really called for the carnival-like procession.

In the first place, the INEC has yet to officially declare a notice for the 2023 general elections. And the campaign by aspirants to woo delegates for the presidential primary has equally come to a close. As stipulated in sections 99 (1) of the election guidelines, “political campaigns in public can only commence 90 days before the polling day and must end 24 hours prior to the election date in accordance with any other rules and regulations stipulated for candidates and their parties by INEC.” Campaigning outside prescribed time period attracts a maximum fine of N500, 000.

There can be no doubt that the Ogun Central Senator

Abiodun is very well aware of these restrictions as a lawmaker and politician of his standing. Yet, he deliberately feigned ignorance of it and called out his purported supporters from his Ogun Central Senatorial District to showcase the strength of his political structure. In doing so, he was only being smart by half, campaigning passionately for Tinubu, whereas beneath the façade is a deep-seated hatred and animosity for Governor Abiodun.

Amosun said: “In this Ogun State, since 1999, I am on camera, except for Baba Olusegun Obasanjo, I am not talking of pre-1999, no human being, dead or alive, has served Ogun State the way I have served. I have done eight years as your governor. By next year, it will be my 8th year in the Senate. Just between 1999 and now, I have served Ogun State with 15 years of my lifetime. Since 1999, Ibikunle Amosun has paid his dues in Ogun State and I am still paying it. Put your mind at rest, we are APC, APC is ours.”

To start with, who does not know the intrigues that edged him out of the party? And now that he has realised the futility of his effort to wrest power from the incumbent governor, who is going to take responsibility for his decision to embark on a political journey of no return? Who cares about the ranting of an ant? What is next after the public show of shame?

Amosun lost relevance in Ogun State politics the day he swore to truncate the governorship ambition of Abioudun at all cost in the run-up to the last 2019 General Elections. In and out of office, he has been causing undue disquiet in the party by promoting internal dissention, while at the same time masquerading as the founder of the modern Ogun state politics.

All of these intrigues have come to nought. Unknown to him, his political clout has run out of steam. While making mockery of himself in the name of being in charge of the structure of the APC, his erstwhile allies are walking their ways quietly back into the mainstream power politics under the firm control of Governor Abiodun. Just recently, some of his staunch supporters, like Senator Lekan Mustapha, former Commissioner for Health, Dr Tunde Ipaye who was also, Deputy, Campaign Director-General, Allied People’s Movement (APM) Governorship Candidate (Adekunle Akinlade) in the 2019 gubernatorial election, and hundreds of their supporters

as well as former Commissioners ate the humble pie by reuniting with the mainstream APC loyal to the governor.

The immediate past Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jide Ojuko, in a recent reunion ceremony pledged unflinching support his teeming supporters for Governor Abiodun, saying: “We are now in APC proper, no more in illegal association. We will never go back to the road that is endless. As the party primary is concerned, you have won the ticket. If it is party politics, I would have brought only politicians, but because of election, I brought voters. With me are representatives of various bodies, unions and associations.”

Ojuko is not alone in the new-found-welcoming relationship with the performing administration of Governor Abiodun.

Within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the centre is no longer holding, as the party is enmeshed in several crises, bordering on leadership structure control and the recent emergence of Ladi Adebutu as the governorship flagbearer in the coming 2023 general elections. The duo governorship aspirants, Segun Showunmi and Jimi Lawal, who lost out to Adebutu, have kicked against the choice of the Iperu-Remo born politician as the governorship candidate of the party.

In addition to the APC returnees, no fewer than 5,000 members of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state have also defected to the party, citing the sterling performance of Abiodun as the reason for their action. Recently, the defectors were largely members of Ladi Adebutu and late Senator Buruji Kashamu factions of the PDP in Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area of the state. These included lfaneye Shittu, lsiaka Sonoiki and Mufutau Gbadamosi, as well as Adeleke Adesanya, the chairmanship candidate of the party from Buruji camp.

Abiodun, welcoming the defectors, said: “I want to assure you that you will be given equal treatment as every member of the party is one family. This government is your government and we are ready to accommodate whoever is ready to join hands with us towards development of the state irrespective of religious, political or tribal affiliation.

“Our party is focused and committed to the transformation of the state. Since the inception of the current administration, a lot of developmental projects, including road reconstruction, rehabilitation of primary health centres and youth empowerment, among others, had been carried out in all the three Senatorial Districts of the State. We are currently constructing the Gateway Agro-Cargo Airport which was delayed by the previous administrations for more than a decade and by God’s grace, it will be ready for commissioning by December this year.”

This past week, APC’s combined Ward Meeting in Wards 3, 4 and 5 in my hometown, Iperu, Ikenne Local Government also received new groups from the PDP into the progressives’ fold. This is a clear reflection of the inclusive and participatory style of governance of Governor Abiodun.

What’s more! Today, support for Prince Abiodun’s re-election bid for a second term has become a movement swirling across the length and breadth of the state. The most interesting of all is the way and manner the trend is silently changing the old narrative about bad blood politics of the immediate past administration. With his policy of inclusiveness, focused leadership and aggressive drive for economic transformation of the state, the Governor is now largely seen by the stakeholders as a bridge between the new and the old orders. Understandably, so, because he appreciates the fact that governance is about the people; it is about collective responsibility; and it is about shared value. All these are embodied in the ISEYA mantra of the administration.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

Rotary Club of Ikeja Hosts Omotunde Lawson Rotary club of Ikeja became the first Rotary club in Rotary International District 9110 to host the Imaginative District Governor, Omotunde Lawson last Monday during the first business meeting of the club in the 2022/2023 Rotary Year which took place at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

According to a press release issued by the Director, Public Image of the club, Rotarian Segun Adebowale, the event which was attended by the Doyen of the District, Past District Governor, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi also witnessed the empowerment of entrepreneurs and traders.

The club presented a cheque of N500,000 to the Isolo Obada Market women as well as vocational tools like gas cooker, two sewing machines, 3-in-1 printer and two hair dryers to the NAFOWA Vocational and ICT Center, Ikeja for its graduating students.

Speaking at the event, Lawson commended the club for its many decades of commitment and passion towards making the society a better one.

He said: “I want to commend the club for being a shining light in the District for many decades. Time has come in the District for bigger clubs like Rotary club of Ikeja to collaborate with smaller clubs so that

all the clubs in the District irrespective of its status have a sense of belonging in the District.”

President of the club, Rotarian Sola Akinsiku announced that the club was donating vocational tools and also distributing interest-free loans of N25,000 each to 20 beneficiaries of traders in Isolo Obada Market.

Akinsiku said: “At Rotary Club of Ikeja, we have always been supporting indigent traders of Isolo Obada Market for many years and this year is no different. The market leader identified beneficiaries of the scheme and they have collected the interest free loans. In addition, we are also supporting graduates of the NAFOWA Vocation and ICT Center by giving them vocational tools, which we have also been doing for many years.’’

Lawson was accompanied to the business meeting by her husband, Rotarian Francis Akingbade Lawson , District Secretary, Assistant Governor Azuh Arinze, District Treasurer, Past President Tayo Egunjobi, Chief of Staff, Past Assistant Governor Segun Adewakun, Special Assistant, Assistant Governor Valentine Shomoye, Personal Assistant, Past President Ronke Jones-Adewale, Assistant District Secretary, Past President Fatima Hassan and Assistant District Secretary, Past President Omoshalewa Jeje.

Omotunde Lawson flanked by Director, Service Project, Rotarian Ronke Akanni (left); President, Rotary club of Ikeja, Sola Akinsiku; DG’s hubby, Rotarian Francis Akingbade Lawson; Coordinator NAFOWA Vocational and ICT Center, Ikeja, Mrs Aminat Amuda and the club’s Immediate Past President, Gbenga Badejo at the club’s presentation of vocational tools to the center…recently.

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 9, 2022

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

‘Rub Minds’ Incorrect

P

AGE 2 BUSINESS of July 5 welcomes us today with this headline infelicity: “NSIA signs $50m carbon reduction (carbonreduction) deal with Netherlands firm, Vitol” “The governor gave assurance (an assurance or assurances—depending on intended context) that the government was poised to….”

“He pointed out that the envisaged collaboration would (will) also rid the state of crude oil theft.” You either rid the state of oil thieves or end oil theft.

“In 2021, unknown gunmen invaded the Owerri Correctional Centre and set free not less than 1,870 inmates.” What is this media craziness about ‘unknown’ gunmen? How will you know them? Are they state operatives? Just say ‘gunmen’!

“The political journey of social redemption in South America need (needs) to echo even more….”

“Humanitarian ministry’s (sic) poverty alleviation (poverty-alleviation) interventions” “Businesses bleed, household bank on charcoal, firewood, as cooking gas price hike bits (bites) harder” (Abuja METRO, July 5) Wrong: flanked by daughter in-laws (sic) Right: flanked by daughters-in-law “Claims settlement processes is (sic) another factor.” Is this a business insurance joke? An advice: Claims settlement processes represent, pose…another factor—among other verbal options “It’s time our looted artefacts return home, FG tells Britain” Are the artefacts going to return by themselves, as the headline suggests?

“Young man allegedly shot by vigilante (vigilance) group” (Oriental News, July 5) “Citi and TechnoServe boost resilience amongst (among) businesses in Nigeria”

“Unfortunately, past efforts by the government and security agents to restore peace in (to) the affected areas did not succeed.”

Amnesty to bandits in Imo: “Let there be realistic plans to encourage the bandits to come out of their hideout (hideouts).”

A subscriber to this column called last week with respect to the following: My name is or My names are—which of the two is correct? ‘My name is…’ is the correct version because we do not put a comma behind each name: Ebere, Nnamdi, (and) Wabara. Nobody does that! It is correct in both formal and informal situations.

Its usage is perfect and establishes individuality.

‘My names are…’ sounds awkward! That it is commonly used even by the literati does not confer registry on it. Its illogicality is recognizable even by brilliant kindergarteners. Ubiquity of application of the mysterious expression cannot supplant orderliness and morphological sequence. So, my name is Eberechukwu Nnamdi Wabara. Biblical references also support this position: (John 5-43: ‘I have come in My Father’s name….’); (Acts 4-12: ‘…for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’) and (Acts 10-43: ‘To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in him will receive remission of sins.’). Constructive and well-researched reactions are welcome.

THE GUARDIAN of June 20 offered its esteemed readers an avalanche of commercialese and editorial improprieties: “Institute’s chief lists gains of cassava-based foods to diabetes’ patients” News (exclusive to and for Rutam House): diabetic patients (or diabetics as context/ style demands).

“Egypt’s military pledges to hand power to elected president” African News: hand over power “…and restrictions to (on) freedom of movement, expression, assembly and religion.”

“Establishment of light training school tickle (tickles) Ugwuanyi” “The Board, Management and Staff of NCR (Nigeria) Plc. (sic) congratulate our chairman….”

(Full-page Advert by NCR) Experience a new world of interaction: delete the full-stop after ‘PLC’ (and also take note of the upper case).

“Commission ties quality service delivery on (to) funding” “Series of interventions aimed at preventing….”

For the record: a series of interventions…. “…majority of them are free of charge or what is known in legal parlance as pro bono.” Law people: a majority of them….

Finally from THE GUARDIAN under review: “Unforgetable…the anguish I feel at (in) loosing you….” Spell-check: unforgettable and losing.

“Poverty remains one of the most serious problems confronting the developing world, a world in which the poor is (are) struggling to stay alive.” “These kind of policy measures from an economic standpoint are pro-growth and pro-poor.” (Source: as above) An option: this kind or these kinds.

“Is (Are) there some barriers that may prevent you from developing a serious liaison with them?

Is this carelessness or half-literacy?

“Nigerians are by nature very compassionate, almost to a fault, their brothers’ keepers you may say.” Plurality notwithstanding, the stock expression is ‘brother’s keeper.’

“We believe there is no discernible excuse for the shortage except bureaucratic bottleneck or non-challance.” Let us write well: nonchalance. “…was guest at Vanguard Newspapers yesterday during which he rubbed minds with Vanguard editors.” Could that have been possible?

He only exchanged ideas/discussed with Vanguard editors—there was no supernatural ‘rubbing of minds’!

“There cannot be a single solution to the plethora of problems confronting the refineries

Three Hunchbacks: Their Case Against Tinubu

L

ast time out, we drew the attention of readers to five sore points the detractors of APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu would most likely pinch remorselessly, in deflating his ambition and trajectory towards clinching the ultimate prize: the Nigerian presidency in 2023. Sadly for the supporters of the hard-working and strategic-thinking former Lagos governor, there are more of such incendiary projectiles lying around his pedigree for his traducers to haul at his candidature in this electioneering season.

One of the slanting pillars he would find extremely difficult to make upright is the prevailing sentiments amongst most south easterners who believe that a sense of justice, fair play and fairness has been injured by the emergence of a strong south western candidate at a time when the North-South power pendulum has fortuitously swung towards the South. In their calculations, the least that the southwest could do in this circumstance, having held power as both the president and vice president consecutively (from the commencement of the fourth republic), is to permit their southern brothers - who have been perennially denied the power-throne - to take a stab at it. Tinubu’s supporters are clearly conscious of the animus growing in the East against their principal, and have virtually written off that region, in their permutations, as a catchment area for any significant inroads for votes. But can Tinubu attain victory without 25% of votes cast in at most two of the eastern states - considering the diversionary potential of the two major candidates from the North - Abubakar Atiku, and considerably less, Rabiu Kwankwanso?

The drama of Tinubu’s arraignment at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in 2011 left a sour taste in the mouths of his opponents, and reassured many ‘bystanders’ that Nigeria was not serious

about fighting corruption. Tinubu was docked on charges of operating 10 foreign accounts, directly or indirectly via his wife and children, while serving as a state governor between 1999 and 2007.

The funky chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, eventually ruled, according to media reports, that “the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused as no evidence of proof or affidavit was attached or issued to the court, adding that in the circumstance, the Tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case and therefore quashed the charges.”

Tinubu was also accused of false asset declaration prior to his first swearing-in ceremony as Lagos governor in 1999.

Flash-forward to 2016, and hear the lamentation of the same CCT czar, Danjuma Umar, in a Guardian Nigeria report of 25 March, 2016: “On the discharge of the former Lagos State governor by the tribunal some years ago simply because the CCB (Code of Conduct Bureau) failed to fulfill the condition precedent, we have since realised that we acted in error in discharging Mr. Tinubu on that ground and we have since departed from that error.”

Incidentally, some of those several “infamous” foreign bank accounts enrolled in the famously bungled CCT case of 2011 were part of damning exhibits allegedly presented before a US district court where a younger Tinubu was accused of more alarming criminal activities, according to unchallenged reports in leading American publications, The Daily Beast and Bloomberg News.

The bank accounts include the following: (1) First Heritage Bank Country, Club Hills, Illinois, USA; Account Name: Bola Tinubu; Account Number: 263226700.

(2) Citibank NA New York, USA; Account

Name: Bola Tinubu & Compass Finance and Investment Company Ltd.; Account Numbers: 39483134, 39483396, 4650279566, 00400220, 39936404, 39936383. (3) Citibank International, New York; Account Name: Bola Tinubu; Account Numbers: 52050-89451952 and 52050-89451953.

This is how Michael Weiss of The Daily Beast published on April 27, 2015 (and updated on April 14, 2017), the colourful but devastating details of youthful malfeasance, nonetheless un-rebutted, as we speak, by Tinubu or his aides: “Former Lagos provincial governor Bola Tinubu, affectionately nicknamed the Jagaban, is today seen as a shrewd if not “deeply Machiavellian” Svengali in Nigeria’s politics as well as the architect of a hugely successful anticorruption platform. But 20 years ago he had to forfeit nearly half a million dollars to the U.S. Treasury Department after being named as an accomplice in a white heroin-trafficking and money-laundering ring that stretched from West Africa to the U.S. Midwest.

Although his case has been bandied about the Nigerian press for years, Tinubu’s involvement in a federal drug and racketeering investigation waged jointly by the DEA, FBI, and IRS has gone unreported elsewhere….

“At the time, Tinubu’s take home as a Mobil Oil Nigeria executive was a mere $2,400 a month and he claimed not to have any other revenue streams. Yet he still managed to deposit $661,000 into his individual money market account in 1990 and then another $1,216,500 a year later. He also opened more accounts with Citibank in its worldwide personal banking unit, transferring over half a million dollars from his First Heritage money market account into one of them in early 1991…”

Despite its comprehensive tale of Tinubu’s past activities, the American online newspaper ends its damning report in some kind of attestation of Tinubu’s astuteness: “There’s

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

which often result to (in) fuel scarcity.”

“There was a case of a couple that (who) divorced on the ground of sexual disequilibrium.”

(Daily Independent, June 21) The right chemistry: on grounds of sexual….

“The husband got himself involved with another lady and pregnated her.” (Source: as above) What lascivious men do: impregnate (not pregnate) ladies indiscriminately!

“She shook her head, gasped for breathe and bit her lips as the stared forlornly at the air.” First, verb: breathe; noun: breath. Second, you stare in (not at) the air. “…the incursion of the ‘419’ kingpins into the area whose lifestyle, like that of the drug lords, was a superfluous display of pomp and pageantry.” Post correctly: pomp and ceremony (or circumstance).

“Properties and cash carted away worth millions of naira….” Except in special applications (contexts) like physical science and mortgage, ‘property’ is uncountable.

“The UNILAG supporters advocate without restrain that premium institution with global linkages should be allowed to retain its brand equity.” Verb: restrain; noun: restraint.

“Nigeria…to bath in the same pond, on the same spot, where four years ago, instead of limpid water, it scooped putrid grit.” Verb: bathe; noun: bath.

“It was late (the late) Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who….”

“Second, because Abacha was not forthcoming in his plan to handover power....” Phrasal verb: hand over (two words), for the second time in this edition.

“But the Awo legacy is not based on half-truths and double standards” The vindication of Bola Ige: double standard.

“It has been postulated ever since the country joined the bandwagon of free enterprise….”

Standard expression: climb/jump on or aboard the bandwagon.

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON

fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

no evidence that Tinubu was ever indicted for any crime. He eventually settled with the district court, turning over $460,000 of the seized $1.4 million, with the remainder released back to him.”

However, Tinubu’s supporters are quick to cushion his defence with a 4 February, 2003 document reportedly issued by a legal attache at US Consulate in Lagos, Michael H. Bonner. The letter addressed to the former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, and published in the Vanguard newspaper of 10 February, 2003, says: “...

In relation to your letter, dated February 3, 2003, reference number SR.3000/IGPSEC/ ABJ/VOL. 24/287, regarding Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a records check of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Crime Information Centre (NCIC) was conducted.

“The results of the checks were negative for any criminal arrest records, wants, or warrants for Bola Ahmed Tinubu (DOB 29 March 1952). For information of your department, NCIC is a very centralised information centre that maintains the records of every criminal arrest and conviction within the United States and its territories.”

But the point of departure is consistent in this man’s astonishing run of luck, no one can say he has been convicted, or even arrested - but has he forfeited part of his resources to any government? Has he embraced settlement outside the vice grip of legal entanglement? Why? Even the much flaunted master strategist knows when to move, shift or bail out!

We shall know by March, 2023 if he has managed another Houdini’s masterstroke, outwitting the vicious barbs of haters and opponents, in a truly enigmatic life’s journey.

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

NEWS

EYES Q’FINALS

9.7.2022

Joe Aribo Ready to March in with The Saints?

PAGE. 29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 9, 2022

28

GLOBAL SOCCER

Joe Aribo

Ready to March in with The Saints?

After three seasons at the Ibrox Stadium in which he made 148 career appearances for the club, registering 26 goals, 25 assists and helping the Rangers win the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup, Nigerian international Joe Aribo is set to depart the Scottish giants as English Premier League club, Southampton are ready to meet the Super Eagle’s £10 million release clause

Joe Aribo celebrating his goal against Eintracht Frankfurt in the final of the Europa Cup

S

outhampton are said to be in talks with Rangers over a deal for Super Eagles midfielder, Joe Aribo, with the Saints confident of getting a deal over the line.

Aribo has a £10million release clause in his Rangers contract and The Athletic has reported that the 25-year-old Nigerian international is “keen” on a move to the Saints.

It has been suggested that Southampton are preparing a four-year deal for Aribo should he make the move south.

This will indeed be a huge loss for Rangers but one that was always expected from the

Ibrox faithful.

The 25-year-old has been a great servant for the Gers in recent years and has developed immensely after his move from Charlton.

However, the Nigerian international is at an age where he needs to develop and test himself at the highest level possible before his career is over.

A move to Southampton will be an excellent one for his career with the prospect of testing himself in the Premier League too big to turn down.

For Rangers, it is a smart piece of business to cash in on Aribo as he enters the final year of his contract.

The Gers could ill-afford to lose their prized

asset on a free next summer and to recoup £10million for Aribo is excellent business by the club hierarchy.

It’s a tough one to take for Gers fans, but ultimately this is the right move for all parties.

Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst says Aribo’s “ambition is to play in the Premier League” and he is likely to move there “in the near future”.

“What he’s done for this club has been fantastic,” Van Bronckhorst said.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Ibrox manager added: “Joe is a very important player for us.

His development has been really good.

“It’s what you want as a club, to get talented

players,developthemintoreallygoodplayersand eventually, the player has their own ambitions.”

Italian transfer market specialist Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed that the transfer of the Nigeria international to the English Premier League club is imminent.

The former Charlton Athletic man is said to have already agreed to join Southampton and an official confirmation of the deal is expected in the coming days.

Barring any unforeseen development, the likes of Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Crystal Palace will miss out in the race for the signature of the 25-year-old as Aribo will be departing Rangers after making 148 career appearances for the club, registering 26 goals and 25 assists and helping the Glasgow giants win the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup in his three seasons at the Ibrox Stadium.

For someone who was seen as not being able to make it to the professional rank in football and as only good for ‘Sunday League Football’, Aribo has not only proved critics wrong by going on to play for a top club but is now regarded as a perfect role model by the foundation that produced him He was not seen as someone that could make a career out of football, but against all odds Joe Aribo who was once described as a ‘good Sunday League player’ has gone on to play for a top club and at international level; today, he’s hailed for his discipline, focus and charitable character.

Owner of the foundation that produced the Super Eagles midfielder has described him as a great personality who’s grounded and humble.

Harry Hudson said when Aribo joined the Kinetic Foundation as a young footballer, he was described as a ‘good Sunday league player’ but he has since turned the corner and emerged one of their biggest products.

Hudson saidAribo’s interests are clear and he’s not about the fast life, despite having enough to afford it. He said this has continuously made him a good example of the players coming through the ranks at the foundation.

In an interview with Football Scotland, Hudson said Aribo always comes through for the foundation when needed.

“Joe is a lovely young man. He’s so grounded and so humble. He’s a real credit to his family and such a lovely young man. When Kevin Ciubotaru signed for Rangers I asked Joe to go and say hello to him and make him feel welcome and Joe would come back to me straight away,” he said.

“If we have any events he’ll do it, he did an Instagram Live for us. He’s always helping us wherever he can. He always stays in contact and if I ever ask him for something it might not be immediate but he’ll always get back to me and we’re really grateful for him to support us whenever he can.

“The challenge we have in society is for most of the young people their role models are either footballers or rappers.

“They are the two things they’ll look up to.

Some of the footballers are negative role models.

Even if I look at someone like Karim Benzema and what he releases on social media. It’s a mini film of him driving mad cars with Balenciaga shoes and £200k watches and that’s what the young people believe is success.”

The 25-year-old has been a key figure for Rangers, contributing seven goals and five assists in 27 matches so far this season.

Aribo said: “For me personally, I have wanted more numbers in terms of goals and assists. I’ve not been at my best compared to how I was before January.

“But in football, you have these dips and forms and I will move past that by working my hardest every single day.”

The Super Eagles star was one of the best players in Scotland last season, especially after Giovanni Van Bronckhorst replaced Steven Gerrard at the helms of affairs of the club.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 9, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

WAFCON 2022 Super Falcons Seek Q’finals Ticket against Burundi After stumbling 2-1 against a very disciplined South Africa in the opening Group C encounter on Monday, the Super Falcons of Nigeria bounced back with a 2-0 win against Botswana on Thursday and would be needing only a win against Burundi on Sunday to book a quarter final berth in the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons were lacklustre against South Africa

N

igeria and Botswana are both tied on three points on the table but the nine-time African champions are placed second by virtue of a better goals advantage but would however need to win against Burundi on Sunday to ensure qualification for a quarter final place.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria bounced back from their disappointing opening day loss to South Africa to secure a vital 2-0 victory over Botswana in their second game of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria’s hopes of securing a tenth

WAFCON title suffered a dent after they lost 2-1 to South Africa in their opening match.

However, they had the luck of playing minnows Botswana in their second game of the competition.

Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum handed Francesca Ordega a starting shirt as a replacement for Asisat Oshoala who was injured in the first game.

Nigeria controlled the game from the blast of the whistle, pegging the Mares back and trying to exploit open spaces. They got their breakthrough in the 21st minute as Ifeoma Onumonu latched onto a pass from Ayinde to give Nigeria the lead. The

nine-time African champions had a few close shaves but were unable to take their chances.

Chiamaka Nnadozie was a solid rock in goal as she made some great saves in the first half to deny Botswana. The second half started smoothly for Nigeria, as substitute Christy Ucheibe calmly converted from close range to give the Super Falcons a two-goal lead.

The nine-time African champions took control of the game, besieged Botswana, and poured attack upon attack. Nigeria mesmerised the Mares with scintillating dribbles and beautiful passing.

The Mares failed to reply. They

Nigeria vs Burundi, Others Clash on DStv, GOtv SuperSport viewers on DStv and GOtv can look forward to round 3 group stage action from the 2022 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) currently holding in Morocco.

The final round of Group B matches on today will see Cameroon battle Tunisia on SuperSport GOtv Select 1 at 9:00pm, while Zambia challenges Togo on SuperSport GOtv Select 2 at 9:00pm.

Shepolopolo are still learning to live with the

absence of Barbara Banda, but coach Bruce Mwape insists they can cope without their star player and captain.

Group C’s final matches on Sunday will see neighbours South Africa and Botswana battle on SuperSport GOtv Select 1 at 9:00pm, while reigning champions Nigeria will be desperate for a win against Burundi in a clash showing on SuperSport GOtv Select 2 at 9:00pm.

Banyana Banyana are through to the quarter finals, having recorded victories over Nigeria and Burundi, while Nigeria and Botswana are tied on three points each.

To enjoy unrivalled football content on SuperSport, customers can sign-up or reconnect to DStv and GOtv today by downloading the MyDStv or MyGOtv apps from the Apple and Google Play stores or by dialing *288# to subscribe.

had nothing to offer in the second period, and they made the tie look like the mismatch it was originally expected to be.

Still, the Super Falcons failed to take their chances. They saw out the 2-0 victory at the Moulay Hassan Stadium. The win ensures that Nigeria climb to second in the group.

Up next is the final group game against Burundi on Sunday, who are yet to pick a point from their two games.

South Africa reached the quarterfinals of the after defeating Burundi 3-1 in Rabat on Thursday.

Banyana Banyana produced a dominant performance to advance from Group C with one game left, thanks to goals by Thembi Kgatlana, Amogelang Motau and Linda Motlhalo.

The result means Banyana Banyana advanced to the last eight with six points after beating titleholders Nigeria in their opening game on Monday.

Burundi will have no chance of advancing to the knock-out stages of the tournament as they have no points after two matches in the tournament in Morocco.

Meanwhile, Super Falcons midfielder Christy Ucheibe has expressed her elation at scoring her first goal for Nigeria in their 2-0 victory against Botswana.

Waldrum introduced Benfica star Ucheibe as a replacement for veteran Rita Chikwelu at halftime.

The 21-year-old did not waste time in registering her presence, as she jumped highest to head in a Toni Payne corner to give Nigeria a 2-0 victory.

After the game, Ucheibe took to social media to share her elation at scoring her first goal for the ninetime African champions.

“I am so proud to have scored my first goal for the Super Falcons and helped the team secure this important victory” Meanwhile, Waldrum insisted that despite earning only three points from two matches, the Super Falcons are not in any way disoriented and still have the FIFA World Cup ticket and retaining the continental trophy as principal objectives at the tournament in Morocco.

“We know what the Women Africa Cup means to Nigerians and we remain fully focused despite the opening-day setback. We are determined not only to win a ticket to the FIFA World Cup but also to retain the trophy that Nigeria has won nine times previously.”

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 9, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

Djokovic Moses Simonm

Nigeria’s Football Problem Beyond WIMBLEDON 2022 Djokovic Ends Norrie’s Dream, NFF’s Ability, Says Oliseh Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo President, FC Ebedei, Churchill Oliseh has said the challenges militating against football development in Nigeria are too numerous and beyond the capability of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and this will persist until a regulatory structure and framework are properly put in place.

Oliseh stated this in Osogbo during an interactive session with the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Osun State Chapter in their monthly guest appearance Programme, “Stakeholders Forum”.

The renowned football players’ agent said “you cannot continue to do the same thing the same way

and expect a different result. This is why there hasn’t been concrete development in our football sector and why we struggle to raise a formidable team for the nation.

“The Nigeria football governing body has been treating symptoms of the ailment and not the ailment itself. These problems will perpetually remain at apogee until the NFF takes a holistic look at them, identify these problems and approach them with corresponding solutions.

Explaining further, the former International Brewery Limited Ilesha first choice goalkeeper said many clubs in Nigeria do not have a framework or purpose of their establishment and this is

why only the clubs owned and financed by the government thrive and are able to sustain the tempo.

“Nigerian teams lack proper structure. We can’t meet up with the global standard with the way football clubs are managed in Nigeria. In Europe, not all teams are fighting to win trophies and they are making money. The reverse is the case in Nigeria as the focus of most teams is to win the league. When you now look at the amount given the league winners in Nigeria, it’s far below their expenditure in a season. So, where is the return on investment here? What’s now the gain? Until this is done, clubs will continue to be having challenges.”

Nantes Ready to Cash-in on Simon Nantes manager Antoine Kombouaré has provided an update on the future of Moses Simon amid speculation linking him with a departure from the Canaries before the close of the summer transfer window.

Kombouaré has revealed that Nantes are willing to part company with Simon if an interesting offer is received.

The 26-year-old is still on vacation due to his international commitments

with the Super Eagles this summer.

However, everything points to the fact that he is not in the plans of Kombouaré for the 2022-2023 campaign as he has been omitted from the 24-man pre-season squad for a training camp in Côte d’Amour.

Two other international players in Jean-Charles Castelletto and Samuel Moutoussamy, who were both on international duty

with their respective nations at the end of last season, will report for pre-season training at the weekend, whereas Simon is not available, fueling speculation that he is set to end his association with Nantes.

Speaking on the future of Alban Lafont, Ludovic Blas and Moses Simon, Kombouaré said at Wednesday’s press conference : “They have an exit voucher, that’s very clear. Afterwards, it depends on the offers they will have.

Amstel Malta Ultra Hails Super Falcons’ Victory over Botswana Amstel Malta Ultra, the official Malt drink of the Super Falcons, has congratulated the National women’s team following their 2-0 win over Botswana at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Amstel Malta Ultra before the game against the Mares had psyched up the Super Falcons to put behind their

initial defeat against South Africa and those words of encouragement had positive impacts as the Nigerian Ladies put up a better display against Botswana.

A goal in the first half

by Ifeoma Onumonu and another by Christy Ucheibe a few minutes into the second half saw Nigeria cruising to victory on Thursday and

effectively getting their campaign back on track after the faulty start against Bayana Bayana.

While congratulating the Super Falcons for Thursday’s resounding victory, Amstel Malta Brand Manager, Maire Abia-Bassey has charged Randy Waldrum’s side to stay focused on their twin ambition in Morocco.

Okowa Unveils National Sports Festival’s Mascot Rebecca Ejifoma Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has unveiled the official mascot and logo of the 21st National Sports Festival (NSF) at the Government House in Asaba scheduled to hold between November 2 and 15 this year.

Okowa described The National Sports Festival as Nigeria’s version of the Olympic Games, promising that Delta State would make it an unforgettable experience for everyone.

He further expressed that the state was pleased to bring home the sporting extravaganza of the NSF it has dominated over the years.

“Of course, we want competitors but we are sure of winning even here at home. We are going to put in our best. And at the end, we will show that truly, ‘Delta no dey Carry Last’,” says the governor.

In his remark, the Managing Director of PremiumTrust Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Emefienim reechoed the bank’s commitment

to growth, impacting lives and communities.

He also highlighted that as the official banker of the festival, Delta 2022, the bank aims to contribute to the development of sports in Nigeria and foster unity in our diversity as a nation.

Emefienim added: “In partnership with the National Sports Festival, Premium Trust Bank is committed to providing the needed platform to help athletes grow and excel in their chosen fields consistent with our tagline - “Together for Growth.”

Set Kyrgios Final Defending champion Novak Djokovic ended the Wimbledon dreams of Britain’s Cameron Norrie to reach Sunday’s final where he will be aiming to win a seventh title when he takes on Nick Kyrgios.

Norrie, who was bidding to join Andy Murray as the second British man in the Open Era to reach the Wimbledon final, made the

perfect start by steamrolling Djokovic to win the first set.

“I didn’t start off well and he was the better player for the first set,” said Djokovic. “In a Grand Slam semi-final, there’s always lots of pressure and expectation, Cameron didn’t have much to lose and he was playing the tournament of his life.

“I got a lucky break at

4-3, he kind of gifted me that game, and then the momentum shifted a little bit.”

In extending his run of successive grass-court victories to 27, six-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic becomes the first man to reach 32 Grand Slam finals, while he has only lost one of his last 19 Slam semi-finals.

…Foor Jaabeur, Elena Hiistorry Beckkons History makers, Ons Jabeur and Elena Rybakina will meet in the Wimbledon final after the pair claimed impressive victories in the last four.

Tunisian third seed Jabeur became the first Arab player to reach a Grand Slam singles final with a 6-2 3-6 6-1 win over Tatjana Maria, while Rybakina became the first singles player from Kazakhstan to reach a major final with a 6-3 6-3 dismantling of former champion Simona Halep.

Jabeur has become a favourite at Wimbledon, and she and good friend Maria thrilled the crowd, before sharing a long and loving embrace at the net as Jabeur secured victory.

Ranked second in the world, Jabeur is the first African woman to reach a major final since South Africa’s Sandra Reynolds at Wimbledon in 1960.

“It is a dream come true after years and years of work and sacrifice,” said Jabeur.

“I’m really happy it is paying off and now there

is one more match to come.”

She and world number 23 Rybakina, who is the fourthlowest ranked player to reach the Wimbledon final since 1984, will meet on Centre Court in a match-up of two first-time Grand Slam finalists.

While Rybakina’s progression has gone under the radar, she outmuscled former world number one Halep with relative ease.

“I think it’s going to be a great match against Ons Jabeur she’s a great player, very tricky player - it’s not going to be easy to play against her drop shots and volleys,” Rybakina said.

“I think it will be a great match - I think I already did the work so it’s time to enjoy it out on court.”

Born in Russia, she has represented Kazakhstan since 2018 after they offered her more financial support and will now bid to become the country’s first player to win a major singles trophy.

Russian players were banned by Wimbledon from competing this year after the country’s invasion

of Ukraine.

Asked about her Russian background, the Moscow-born player said: “I’ve been playing for Kazakhstan for a long time.

I’m really happy representing Kazakhstan. They believed in me.

“There is no more question about how I feel.”

Jabeur’s story is one of an inspirational late bloomer who lacked patience in her younger days before finding the right mentality to complement her talent.

That has enabled her to win WTA tournaments, rise up the rankings and regularly break down barriers.

Known as the ‘Minister of Happiness’ in her country, Jabeur is a popular figure in Tunisia, the Arab world and Africa as she continues to be a trailblazer.

“I’m a proud Tunisian woman here today and I know in Tunisia they are going crazy right now,” she said.

“I try to inspire as much as I can and I want to see more Arab and African players on the tour.”

Danlami to Dalung: Leave Our Sports Alone Former Minister of Youth and Sports development, Solomon Dalung has been told to face whatever political ambition he is nursing, instead of spewing baseless conspiracy theories about the nation’s Sports sector.

Dalung was quoted in the media as saying the two-year international ban on basketball approved by President Muhammadu Buhari was targeted at D’Tigress, the female national basketball team. “It defies logic that a former Sports Minister could spew such a conspiracy theory when

the current Sports Minister pulled all stops to ensure the ladies went to Serbia for the qualifiers of the World Cup at the height of the basketball crisis”, stated Danlami Umaru.

Umaru, a basketball enthusiast, reminded Dalung that Dare would not have sourced for money for the female basketball team to travel to Serbia if he wanted to get back at them for whatever reason.

“It defies logic really for anybody to think the way Dalung did. The Sports Ministry has gotten the

President’s approval to pay outstanding allowances of the players. If the ladies are complaining about unpaid bonuses, it must be the promise the NBBF made to them, which was well documented”, added Danlami.

Dare has stated that the domestic league is the fulcrum that would give vitality to Nigerian football.

In a chat in Abuja, the minister made reference to the working model of a robust league as a critical component of football vitality in any country.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JULY 9, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

Tyronne Ebuehi Will He Scale the Hurdle with Empoli?

Tyronne Ebuehi ready for Empoli’s challenge

S

erie A outfit, Empoli, during the week announced the signing of Nigeria international, Tyronne Ebuehi from Portuguese side Benfica after he penned a three-year contract with the Blues for an undisclosed fee that will keep him at Stadio Carlo Castellani until 2025.

Last season, he represented Venezia in the Italian top flight, featuring in 19 matches, but could not rescue the Venice-based outfit from getting demoted to Serie B as they finished at the base of the log.

“Empoli Football Club announces that it has definitively acquired from Sport Lisboa and Benfica the right to the sports performance of Tyronne Ebuehi; the player has signed a contract until 30 June 2025,” a statement from the club read.

“Tyronne Ebuehi is a Nigerian and Dutch defender born in Haarlem on December 16, 1995.

Raised in the youth sectors of DSOV, Hoofddorp, Young Boys, HFC EDO Zaterdag and ADO Den Haag, with the latter club he made his debut in the Eredivisie at the age of 19.

“In 2018 he moved to Benfica who after two seasons turned him on loan to Twente.”

With this move, Ebuehi becomes the only African in Paolo Zanetti’s squad and he would be hoping to compete for a place in the starting XI in the 2022-23 campaign.

On the international scene, the defender made his senior debut for Nigeria in a 3–0 friendly win over Togo on June 1, 2017.

A year later, he made Gernot Rohr’s squad to the 2018 Fifa World Cup. In the 2-0 victory over Iceland, he came on as a substitute.

He made his Africa Cup of Nations debut against Guinea-Bissau at Cameroon 2021.

“It’s a blessing to play for the team. Any opportunity is a rare privilege, and I am happy to have played for my country,” Ebuehi told GOAL after the game.

“It is very exciting. As a young player, the dream to feature at this level has always been a priority.”

Last season, the Nigeria international, joined Serie A new boys Venezia FC on a season-long loan deal from Benfica with an option to buy permanently, making it the second consecutive loan spell for Ebuehi after his impressive stint with FC Twente but could help save the Venice side from demotion to Serie B. “The defender, born in Haarlem in the Netherlands and also holding Nigerian citizenship, played for FC Twente penultimate season, scoring one goal and one assist.

“He grew up in ADO Den Haag, a club with which he made his debut in the Eredivisie in the 2014/15 season, and was signed

by Benfica with whom he played seven games in the Liga Revelacao U-23 and six games in Liga Portugal 2 in the 2019/20 season.

“During his career, Ebuehi also played 10 matches for Nigeria, including an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match and a World Cup match. Welcome Tyronne!”

Following his failure to get regular playing time at Estadio da Luz, the 26-year-old was loaned to Eredivisie side Twente.

There, he was a regular figure in Ron Jans’ squad – featuring in 33 league games with a goal against Feyenoord to his credit.

Before moving to Italy, the Super Eagles playwright had taken to social media to thank the Pride of the East for the chance to prove his worth “at the highest level”.

“That after two years of injury suffering and many difficult periods in my career I have been given the opportunity by FC Twente to show myself again at the highest level,” Ebuehi wrote on Instagram.

“I will be forever grateful to the club. I would also like to thank my teammates, trainers, medical/ technical staff and of course the supporters of the club very much for last season.

“Unfortunately, we have not been able to finish the season the way we started it and will separate our paths here, but I wish the club all the best!”

Ebuehi has only just one appearance for the Super Eagles at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, but it is still a win for him, considering how he got into the squad and what he has been through.

Ebuehi was one of the players with dual-nationalities that made their international bow under former coach Gernot Rohr.

The 26-year-old was born in Holland to a Dutch mother and a Nigerian father, making him eligible to represent the two nations.

His performance in the 2017/2018 season earned him a call-up to Nigeria’s squad for the 2018 World Cup. He made just one appearance, coming on as a second-half substitute against Iceland, but it was enough for him to make an impact as Nigeria won 2-0.

Following the 2018 World Cup, it was clear that Ebuehi had outgrown Ado Den Haag and a move away from the club was imminent.

And it proved to be true as Benfica signed him on a five-year deal. However, Ebuehi’s career with The Eagles ended before it even started after he suffered

a cruciate knee ligament injury that ruled him out of the whole 2018/2019 season.

He returned in the 2019/2020 season, but he never played for the first team. Knowing he had to get his career back on track, Ebuehi returned to his birth country to sign for Twente on loan.

Twente offered Ebuehi a chance to put his career back in line, and it was an opportunity he took well.

He made 33 league appearances, scoring one goal and one assist for the club.

His performance was so convincing and impressive that Twente were willing to have him for another year, but Benfica were only interested in a permanent sale.

As a result, Ebuehi had to leave the Dutch club. But he secured another loan move to the Italian Serie A with newly-promoted side Venezia.

With his permanent move to Empoli, it remains to be seen whether he can re-enact the kind of form that endeared him to Twente fans.

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

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 9, 2022

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MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

L-R: Immediate Past Chairman, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Ilupeju/Gbagada and District Society, IGDS and Patron, Elder Oluwagbenga Omidiji; Chairman of ICAN-IGDS ,Prof.Godwin Oyedokun; Grand Patron/Past President of ICAN, Dame Onome Joy Adewuyi; and 1st Deputy Vice President of ICAN, Chief Davison Alarebe, during the investiture of Oyedokun as the 2nd Chairman of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria- Ilupeju/Gbagada and District Society held in Lagos ...recently

L-R: Co-Founder, 9ijakids, Titilope Adewusi; Chief Executive Officer of SabiTeach, Wale Ogunjobi and the Senior Special Assistant on Education to Lagos State Governor, Sola Salau all Organisers of STEAM Fun Fest , at a meeting concluding a collaboration deal between STEAM Fun Fest and STEAM UP Lagos, an education intervention under the auspices of SSA Education to the Governor of Lagos State

Indomie Now Accepting Entries for Heroes Awards 'XÀO 3ULPD )RRGV PDNHUV RI ,QGRPLH Noodles has declared open the 2022 edition of the Indomie Independence Day Awards (IIDA), just as its begun search for its next heroes.

The IIDA is an initiative that sought to identify, celebrate, and reward exemplary accomplishments of children who have shown uncommon courage and determination in dangerous situations.

To qualify for the award, children with a strong character from ages 15 below, who have exhibited an act of bravery/ heroism in any part of Nigeria will have to be nominated by their parent, guardian, or a third party.

Providing more details, Head of Marketing at Indomie, Sukhman Kaur stated that the award is dedicated to rewarding heroic

feats recorded by the Nigerian child and a way of investing in the future of the country.

He said, “Over the last 13 years, we have shown commitment as a company to continuously impact positively on the lives of our core consumers – children. We are back and excited to bring the biggest award WKDW LQVSLUHV VHOÁHVVQHVV DQG SDWULRWLVP LQ our youngsters.

“We broke grounds as one of the awards to encourage children who have shown courage in the face of challenges. We are ready to take our pioneer status to the next level with the return of IIDA to celebrate DQG UHZDUG WKH SRVLWLYH HͿRUWV GLVSOD\HG by these young heroes”.

Group Corporate Communications and (YHQWV 0DQDJHU RI 'XÀO 3ULPD )RRGV 3OF

Tope Ashiwaju, explained further that the initiative would produce three exceptional children who will be awarded N1 million each in scholarships and other consolatory prizes.

He revealed that beyond the companies entrusted with the search exercise, Mark Analytics & Research Services Ltd and BanahGrace Research Agency, other methods have been incorporated to ensure a more thorough search for winners.

He said, “Entries can be submitted online via the company’s website, social media platforms designated email and phone numbers as well as hand-delivered letters.”

He stated further that the search will last for eight weeks beginning from the ÀUVW ZHHN LQ -XQH WLOO WKH ODVW ZHHN in July 2022.

ICAN Pledges Improved Capacity Building The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Ilupeju/Gbagada & District Society (IGDS), has said that it would prioritise training and upskilling of members to keep them abreast of development in the accounting profession and economy at large.

The Chairman of the district, Prof. Godwin Oyedokun made this known during his investiture ceremony in Lagos, recently.

Oyedokun, who was sworn in as the 2nd Chairman of the district, also vowed to use his new position to aid professional growth of members and contribute to discourse EHQHÀFLDO WR DFFRXQWLQJ SURIHVVLRQ DQG national economy.

He stated that his administration would

remain faithful to the established master plan of the institute, hence sought the support of and co-operation of members to make the journey a success.

On his plan of actions for the district, Oyedokun said, “We shall work smartly to see the migration of the district from category C to category A/B. We shall also strengthen support to ICAN tuition centres and ICAN within our catchment areas for quality tuition delivery and eventual TXDOLÀFDWLRQ DV ,&$1 PHPEHUV 3ODQV KDYH also been put in place to organise a 2-day District Mini-Conference (Family Retreat) in November 2022.This will enable us relate directly with our district members in terms of training, mentoring, and professional

Remita Introduces e-naira on Payment Platform Leading electronic payment brand, Remita has introduced e-Naira, the digital currency of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as an additional payment option across all its touch points.

By this development, individuals and businesses can now transact with eNaira for all utilities, services, and products available on the Remita web and mobile platforms as well as through the Remita Payment Gateway.

The Remita eNaira initiative is an outcome of CBN’s efforts through collaboration with leading fintechs and banks to ensure that the benefits of Nigeria’s digital currency are speedily realised.

According to the organisation, the initiative will help individuals and businesses deliver faster trans-

action processing time, increase transaction security, and eliminate multiple transaction failure points that lead to repeated visits to banks for resolution, transaction fees optimisation as well as ease of reception of remittances, among others.

“With the introduction of the eNaira across all Remita touch points such as web, mobile, and agent locations, payers can now select eNaira as their preferred payment option for all manners of transactions.

“These include: Electricity token, airtime, data, and cable TV subscription renewal, JAMB/WAEC/NECO forms and results checker, as well as payments to federal, state, and local governments across Nigeria.

excellence.”

Admonishing the new chairman, Founding Pillar of ICAN- IGDS, Tobi Abiola reminded Oyedokun on the responsibilities that come with his new role, adding that he should see his new position as a call to service- to address challenges of members, accounting profession, as well as the institute victoriously.

He assured the district of his maximum VXSSRUW DQG FRPPLWPHQW WRZDUGV IXOÀOOLQJ its mandate.

In his valedictory speech, the immediate past Chairman of the district and Patron, Gbenga Omidiji expressed appreciation WR H[HFXWLYHV IRU XQLWLQJ HͿRUWV WRZDUGV the growth of the district.

Experts Chart Path for Effective Cross-border Transactions at Leather Fair Discussion around challenges with cross-border payments for SMEs and the place of African Continental Free Trade Area, AFCFTA in aiding intra-African businesses within the leather industry, took the centre stage at the just concluded Lagos Leather Fair.

1RZ LQ LWV ÀIWK \HDU WKH Lagos Leather Fair is an initiative that sought to showcase West Africa’s leading leather brands. The fair aimed to showcase made in Nigeria and pan-African leather products to change the narrative of the industry in Africa, and position the sector as an alternative viable source of income.

The event had in attendance over 2000 key stakeholders including the Minister of Industry, Trade and Invest-

ment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, Ex-Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, leather designers and players in the sector, including local and international investors.

Commenting, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo described the industry event as a viable convergence and conversation platform for operators in the African leather industry.

“The result of this has become very visible with the growing attention gained by the industry and increased collaboration amongst players.

For us as a ministry, we will continuously drive support till the potential of the leather industry is fully harnessed in Nigeria.”

‘Abeg’ Rebrands, Acquired by PiggyVest Nigerian social payments company, ‘Abeg’ has rebranded to ‘Pocket’ after being acquired by an online savings & investment platform, PiggyVest.

With the acquisition, WKH ÀQWHFK FRPSDQ\ KDV been granted an approval in principle, AIP, by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to operate as a Mobile Money Operator, MMO, to drive digital payments and inclusion for micro-entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

The approval license will enable PiggyVest carry out activities around: wallet creation and management, e-money issuing, USSD, agent recruitment and management and pool account management, amongst others.

Speaking on the deal, Co-Founder and COO of PiggyTech Global Limited, Odunayo Eweniyi, said, “We are incredibly pleased that PocketApp has been granted an approval in principle as a Mobile Money Operator in Nigeria.

We will now work closely with the CBN to meet all its conditions to receive the full operating license,

enabling us to continue growing and expanding the scope of our social payments, social commerce, and other digital ÀQDQFLDO SURGXFWV WR UHDFK millions of Nigerian micro-entrepreneurs. ´3RFNHW$SS D΀UPV its commitment to the ÀQDQFLDO LQFOXVLRQ DJHQGD of the CBN and the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we will continue to make it easier for our teeming young population to seamlessly carry out their transactions while saving them costs and giving them more access to get paid.”

On his part, Chief OperDWLQJ 2΀FHU RI 3RFNHW$SS Patricia Adoga stated that the company had been focused on building core infrastructure that will enable it secure social commerce and payments at scale for the past 18 months.

She said, “We believe that social commerce will thrive better in a more trusted environment. So we added escrow to our payment infrastructure, protecting buyers and sellers and many other features, ensuring a smooth shopping experience on the app.

IBOM ICON Hotel & Golf Resort Offers Special Packages for Eid-el Kabir Holiday IBOM ICON Hotel & Golf Resort in Uyo, Akwa Ibom has rolled out the carpet for families and friends interested in a getaway for the long Eid-el Kabir weekend.

The management of the KRWHO LV RͿHULQJ DQ LUUHVLVWLEOH all-inclusive deal that includes ÀUVW FODVV DFFRPPRGDWLRQ WKUHH EXͿHW PHDOV GDLO\ and unlimited drinks at the hotel’s Bird Table throughout the season.

General Manager, IBOM ICON Hotel & Golf Resort, Mr. Charles Muia, stated in a statement that individuals and travelling parties who check in during the Eid-el Kabir holiday can be rest assured of an exotic hospitality experience.

“For those visiting, we

have put together a compelling package on our rooms starting from N68,500 per person sharing per night. This UDWH FRYHUV EXͿHW EUHDNIDVW lunch, and dinner, as well as unlimited drinks at the Bird Table to make the season a memorable one for guests at the hotel,” he noted.

Located amidst rich palm forest vegetation, the magQLÀFHQW KRWHO RFFXSLHV hectares of land. The peaceful and serene atmosphere makes IBOM ICON a one-of-a-kind getaway for every guest.

Among the many side attractions at the resort are a standard lawn tennis facility, squash court, state-of-the-art J\P RSHQ KRXUV D GD\ world-class spa, biking, and swimming pool.

SATURDAY JULY 9, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 9, 2022

AUTO WORLD

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

TIPS OF THE WEEK

A Definitive Guide to Replacing Car Bulbs When a car bulb burns out, many drivers are quick to take their vehicle to a mechanic.

However, replacing car bulbs is easier than you might think, and most drivers are perfectly capable of doing it on their own.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to replace all your car bulbs, including headlights, sidelights, brake lights and more.

L R Managing Director, L-R: Director W Wema Bank Plc Plc, Mr Ademola Adebise Adebise; Consular General General, People’s P Republic of China in Lagos Lagos, Mr Chu Moaning; Moaning Chairman Chairman, GAC Motor, Chief Diana Chen; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr Chinyere Almona; and Vice President, CIG Group, Mr Linus Idahosa, during the GAC Motor G-Style showroom grand opening and the unveiling of the All New GS4 Crossover SUV, held at the GAC Motor office, Victoria Island, Lagos… recently

Sanwo-Olu Unveils All-new GS4, GAC Ultra-modern Showroom

L

agos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu has unveiled the new GS4 Crossover SUV, which is becoming a very popular model on Nigerian roads.= The governor did the unveiling during the week as he commissioned an ultra-modern GAC Motor showroom on Victoria Island, Lagos. Some of the personalities at the event were: the Managing Director, Wema Bank Plc, Mr Ademola Adebise; Consular General, People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Mr Chu Moaning; Chairman, GAC Motor, Chief Diana Chen; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu;

Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr Chinyere Almona; and Vice President, CIG Group, Mr Linus Idahosa.

Impressed by the granduer of the showroom, Governor Sanwo-Olu said, “Chief Diana Chen (Chairman of CIG Motors, franchise holder of GAC in Nigeria) is doing a great job.”

He recalled that GAC and Lagos state government have entered into a partnership to build an auto assembly plant in Ogba area of the state, which he expects to be commissioned this year.

The General Manager of CIG Motors, Jubril Arogundade, explained that the GS4, which is in its second generation, comes with ample leg

room, three driving modes, amazing comfort and fuel economy as well as seamless navigation system.

Earlier, the governor was conducted on a tour of the newly re-built state of the art GAC workshop which is located right behind the ultra-modern showroom and equipped with GLͿHUHQW VHFWLRQV VXFK DV ([SUHVV PDLQWHQDQFH general repair, four wheel alignment, spray booth, metal repair, polishing and body mechanical.

The Chairman of CIG Motors, Chief Diana Chen stated that “we are so proud to open our showroom and workshop, and we plan to RSHQ ÀYH RI VXFK IDFLOLWLHV DFURVV WKH FRXQWU\ µ

Toyota to Upgrade Hilux Range With Updated Safety, Convenience 7R\RWD $XVWUDOLD KDV DQQRXQFHG D VLJQLÀFDQW performance and capability upgrade for the +L/X[ 5RJXH [ ÁDJVKLS SLFN XS ZKLFK ZLOO be enhanced with a wider track and updated suspension package in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The new dual-cab HiLux Rogue boasts a track increase of approximately 140mm in the front and rear, while the vehicle’s ride height has also been increased by approximately 20mm, with ERWK FKDQJHV KHOSLQJ DLG RͿ URDG DELOLW\ ZKLOH also improving on-road performance, according to the automaker.

Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said the introduction of the updated Rogue demonstrated 7R\RWD·V GHGLFDWLRQ WR RͿHULQJ HYHU LPSURYHG vehicles for customers. ´7KH VLJQLÀFDQW VXVSHQVLRQ XSJUDGHV WR WKH +L/X[ 5RJXH QRW RQO\ LPSURYH RͿ URDG FDSDELOLW\ but create a more stable and comfortable on-road driving experience,” Mr Hanley said.

“Continuous improvement is a key facet of Toyota’s philosophy and has been clearly achieved HiLux Rogue 4x4 flagship pick-up by this latest HiLux premium model.”

To accommodate the track increase, Toyota engineers overhauled the HiLux suspension by extending the front suspension arm and front improving steering feel when cornering stabiliser bar length and adjusting shock absorber and changing lanes.

DQJOH WR LPSURYH H΀FLHQF\ Stopping power has also been upgraded At the rear, axle length has been extended, for the Rogue, with new rear ventilated disc dampers have been moved further out towards brakes replacing the existing drum brakes WKH ZKHHOV DQG IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH RQ +L/X[ D for enhanced braking performance. The rear stabiliser bar has been installed to enhance new 17-inch front disc brakes have also cornering stability and ride comfort. been enlarged by one inch.

As a result of the suspension changes, roll To house the increased track width, wide rigidity has been enhanced by 20 per cent, track overfenders and mudguards have been

installed, while the front body extension has also been widened to seamlessly integrate with the front bumper.

Coinciding with the arrival of the wide-bodied Rogue, Toyota is introducing upgrades to core variants of Australia’s best-selling vehicle.

SR extra-cab and double-cab models receive new black 17-inch alloy rims, replacing steel wheels. Body-coloured door handles have also been adopted for a more premium look.

Headlights Before replacing your headlights, it’s always a good idea to check your vehicle’s owner’s manual. This will show you how to replace the headlights on your specific vehicle. It may also include helpful illustrations. Plus, the owner’s manual will tell you which fitting of bulbs your vehicle requires.

Replacing headlight bulbs is essentially the same process no matter what type of vehicle you have. There are certain steps you can follow to easily remove an old bulb and install a new one: Open the bonnet or hood of your car, and prop it up.

Disconnect the power connector from the back of the headlight assembly.

Remove the dust cover.

There may be a clip holding the bulb in place.

If so, gently remove this.

Find the housing of the bulb and gently pull it out.

Compare the old bulb to the new one whilst still in its packaging, to ensure you have the correct fitting.

Insert the new bulb in the open socket, making sure the glass part of the bulb doesn’t touch anything (including your hands).

If there’s a clip, replace this now.

Replace the dust cover.

Reconnect the power connector.

Turn on the car and headlights to make sure the new bulb is working. You may wish to re-align your headlights at this point - find out how to do that here.

Please note that this is a general guide.

Every car is different, and some may have extra steps you will have to follow to replace your headlight bulbs.

Sidelights Sidelights are a little trickier to replace than headlight bulbs. That’s because every car is designed differently. For specific instructions on how to locate and replace the sidelights in your vehicle, you should consult your owner’s manual. This will also tell you which fitting you require.

In most cases, you can follow the same basic steps to replace your sidelight bulbs: Open and prop up the bonnet or hood of your car.

Locate the sidelight assembly.

Remove the back cover.

You should be able to slide the assembly out from the front, but this may vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle.

Remove the bulb socket - this may be done by twisting it counterclockwise.

Pull the bulb out gently.

Insert the new bulb.

Replace the socket into the assembly.

Slide the assembly back into place.

Replace the back cover and ensure everything is correctly in its place.

Turn on the car and ensure the new bulb is working properly.

Brake lights Like headlights, brake lights are fairly easy to replace on your own. They’re also similar across many different vehicle makes and models, so once you know how to do it, you can confidently replace the brake lights on just about any vehicle.

(Source: powerbulbs)

35

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 9, 2022

AUTO WORLD

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Inaugurates World-First Private Office in Dubai

R

olls-Royce Motor Cars has unveiled D ZRUOG ÀUVW 3ULYDWH 2΀FH LQ Dubai, UAE. This outpost will be an extension of the marque’s world-renowned centre of luxury manufacturing excellence at The Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex, England.

A statement issued by the automaker said the 3ULYDWH 2΀FH 'XEDL LV WKH ÀUVW LQ D QXPEHU RI similar facilities that are planned for major luxury capitals of the world over the next few years. These 3ULYDWH 2΀FHV ZLOO IDFLOLWDWH HYHQ FORVHU FRQWDFW and relationships with global Rolls-Royce clients, further embedding the marque’s reputation as the world’s most client-focussed luxury brand.

Of course, nothing will surpass the opportunity for clients to visit The Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood in West Sussex, where they enjoy WKH ÀUVW KDQG H[SHULHQFH RI 5ROOV 5R\FH·V *OREDO Centre of Luxury Manufacturing Excellence.

However should travel not be convenient, the 5ROOV 5R\FH 3ULYDWH 2΀FH 'XEDL EULQJV *RRGZRRG closer to the clients’ places of living and work.

In exquisite surroundings, highly skilled and experienced experts will consult with the clients to discover their dreams and learn about them as individuals, in order to create a unique and ZRQGHUIXO PDVWHUSLHFH UHÁHFWLQJ WKDW SHUVRQ·V tastes and desires.

7KH QHZ 5ROOV 5R\FH 3ULYDWH 2΀FH ORFDWHG LQ the heart of Dubai in the One Central neighbourhood, is a unique experience for the Middle East UHJLRQ·V PRVW VLJQLÀFDQW FOLHQWV RͿHULQJ WKH ÁDLU

Rolls-Royce Private Office, Dubai

and expertise of The Home of Rolls-Royce on their doorstep. This is achieved not only with the materials on display and the marque’s renowned KRVSLWDOLW\ EXW DOVR ZLWK WKH ÀUVW SHUPDQHQW appointment of a Bespoke Lead Designer and Bespoke Client Experience Manager outside *RRGZRRG %RWK WKHVH FUXFLDO SRVLWLRQV DUH ÀOOHG

with people who bring a wealth of Rolls-Royce experience with them.

7RUVWHQ 0 OOHU gWY|V &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said, “Today’s inauguration RI D SHUPDQHQW 3ULYDWH 2΀FH ORFDWHG RXWVLGH Goodwood in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, signals huge progress for Rolls-Royce. For many years

ZH KDYH EHHQ LQYLWLQJ RXU 9,3 FOLHQWV WR 7KH Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood – and now, IROORZLQJ VLJQLÀFDQW GHPDQG ZH DUH EULQJLQJ Goodwood to the world. Not only will we be permanently locating a member of the RollsRoyce Bespoke Design team and Bespoke Client Experience Manager in this new outpost, but we will also be leveraging the very latest technology to allow our Middle East-based clients to explore our Home in West Sussex remotely and see their own Bespoke Rolls-Royce come to life.

“This is yet another step in the evolution of the marque, rooting itself as a true House of Luxury ZLWK HͿRUWOHVVO\ HOHYDWHG GHVLJQ VHUYLFHV WKDW DUH RQ D SDU ZLWK RXU SURGXFWV 7KH 3ULYDWH 2΀FH will complement and support our regional Dealer 3DUWQHUV E\ HQKDQFLQJ RXU FOLHQWV· H[SHULHQFHV of Rolls-Royce.”

According to Henrik Wilhelmsmeyer, Director of Sales and Brand, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, “The Middle East region has always been an inspirational market for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, especially when it comes to Bespoke. What we inaugurate WRGD\ LV RI JUHDW VLJQLÀFDQFH DV LW UHSUHVHQWV WKH ÀUVW 5ROOV 5R\FH 3ULYDWH 2΀FH RXWVLGH WKH 8.

DQG IXUWKHU FRQÀUPDWLRQ WKDW 5ROOV 5R\FH LV D WUXH +RXVH RI /X[XU\ 2XU 3ULYDWH 2΀FH 'XEDL is an extension of The Home of Rolls-Royce at *RRGZRRG LQ :HVW 6XVVH[ DQG LV WKH ÀUVW LQ D number of similar facilities that will be opened around the world. This is not a dealership; it is a unique experience where clients can bring their ideas to life and explore our Home and our people in real-time, using seamless technology.”

Hyundai IONIQ 5-based Robotaxi: a Step into the Future

T

he transformation in the future of mobility can only be achieved by the constant search for ways to quicken our vision of ‘progress for humanity’.

This is according to Hyoung Jung Im, Head of Hyundai Motor Company Middle East and Africa Headquarters, who said “With leading the new wave of autonomous technologies, we aim to devote our attention to developing the future of robotics and continue on our long journey.

“Hyundai Motor Company’s Robotics LAB has been devoted to the continuous research and development of robots based on Hyundai’s vision of progress for humanity. After years of H[SHULHQFH RXU HͿRUW FRPHV ZLWK VXUSULVHV RI what technology can provide for us.

“When we partnered with motional, the global leader in autonomous technologies and a developer of AVs, we aspired to expand the possibilities of combining our smart mobility solutions with motional’s innovative technologies

in autonomous driving and robotics. The PHUJHG HͿRUW KDV UHVXOWHG LQ WKH ELUWK RI WKH IONIQ 5 robotaxi, as the model for a safe, reliable, and accessible mobility solution that can transform our expectations of the future of smart mobility technologies.

“We aim to achieve our next step in the concept of smart cities, by the mass production and commercialization of the IONIQ 5 robotaxi on a global scale. The fast growth in smart city infrastructure is opening new opportunities to reduce WUD΀F DQG PDNH D VDIHU DQG JUHHQHU GULYing experience, to eventually improve the quality of life for everyone.

“As we observe the shift towards sustainable smart cities, we stand to commend the development that cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai are taking on, as being ranked as the smartest cities in the MENA region according to the ‘Smart City Index 2021’.

We are looking to expand the impact by mass-producing our mobility solutions to accelerate the transition in the region.

Hyoung Jung Im, Head of Hyundai Motor Company Middle East and Africa Headquarters, and the Hyundai IONIQ 5 robotaxi

Safety Guide for the Rainy Season I do not know if you followed my series on “Before the Rain Begins”. It was the first time that I took time to guide us on the necessary preparations before the rainy seasons as predicted by NiMET. I am hoping that you took time to read through the piece that ran for two weeks. Meanwhile, I don’t know if you believe in the Almighty God, the creator and our maker. For me, I do and I know that my Muslim brothers do also. That is why I wish to remind you of what is called Faith. Faith, the Bible tells me, cometh by hearing and hearing the word of God. The same Bible says “My people perish for the lack of knowledge”. Similarly, chapter 15:55 of the Koran says “but remind, for reminding benefits the believers,” both the holy Bible and the glorious Koran emphasize the need to be knowledgeable. It is in light of the above and in view of recent past tragedies that I am compelled to reproduce this piece, though with slight modification.

A couple of years ago, someone dear and inspiring was left crippled by a driver who disregarded the simple rules of being cautious while driving in the rain, especially on unfamiliar roads. What looks like a small mistake caused this lady not just a career but her mobility while the driver escaped without a scratch. Just recently another person who I know lost his life in a crash, which occurred while being driven in the rain. These two painful tragedies and perhaps many more, while probably not known about, are the reason for reproducing this piece.

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa Assistant Corps Marshal Zonal Commanding Officer Federal Road Safety Corps.

Remember that I had shared the story of a pathetic and tragic death of a mother and a wife in a road traffic crash which occurred along Abuja Airport road. The mother’s details I didn’t know, neither the husband’s.

However, her death, like that of most other tragedies often highlighted in my weekly piece, was caused by a driver’s error. The woman, if you recall, had flown from the United Kingdom to Abuja without a hitch. On arrival, she called the husband who in turn, perhaps due to another pressing engagement, requested a taxi driver to pick her up. Sometime in the course of 45 minutes’ drive from the Abuja Airport, the driver, on noticing a trailer, instinctively tried to avoid it, but unfortunately crashed into the trailer with the woman and died. The driver was injured and alive. The first question I asked was: was it raining? How fast was he going at the point of the crash? On what lane was he? The speed (left lane) or slow lane, (right lane)? Was the trailer stationary?

How bad was visibility? Unfortunately, no one was there to reply to me as the woman died and the driver was hospitalized.

These questions and many more are the reason for this piece as we daily experience heavy downpour across the country during, according to the Revised High Cod, is more difficult and hazardous when visibility is blurred by weather conditions such as mist, fog, harmattan haze or other related factors.

Remember that even before the raining season began, some of the roads were either being repaired or were inadequate. Remember also that there could be broken down vehicles or even slow moving vehicles with defective lighting systems. Remember also that your vehicle could suddenly develop a fault, a tyre could burst , brake failure, electrical system could malfunction; any fault can develop. There may even be fallen trees on the road.

Before you start out, ask yourself if that journey is really necessary? Are you in the right state of mind to make the journey? Also confirm the minimum safety state of your vehicle. When it was last serviced?

How good is your sight? What is the state of your tyres, wipers and windscreen? Never underestimate the dangers. Make sure your lights are working, your windscreens okay and your wipers are in perfect working conditions. Remember that the road is not your personal property; you share the road with others, amongst which are heavy duty vehicles. These heavy duty vehicles usually require

longer distance to stop and would require even more distance under the rain or bad weather conditions.

Rule number one would require that your knowledge of defensive driving techniques be brought to bear for your safety and others. You must always slow down, keep a safe distance from the vehicle before you and always be prepared to stop within your range of vision and avoid possible blind spots. Your overall stopping distance is the distance your car travels from the moment you realize you must brake to the moment the vehicle stops. It is made up of thinking distance and braking distance. You must never get closer than the overall stopping distance. On wet roads, the gap should be much more. Stopping distance increases greatly with wet and slippery roads, poor brakes, bad tryes and tired drivers.

Since there is diminished visibility during bad weather, whilst driving, seeing and being seen is a must at such times. This is because 80percent of driving information comes from visibility.

Visibility influences the reaction time. Although, motorist misbehavior and natural influences cannot be eliminated completely, safety is enhanced by creating visibility of obstacles especially when it’s raining. This is critical in the absence of adequate pavement markings that reflect. Without such signs to guide a driver who may not be familiar with the road on which he is driving, headlights must be used to aid visibility.

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Saturday, July 9, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Dumebi Kachikwu to Buhari “The events of the last 24 hours, have once again exposed the weak underbelly of our nation’s security architecture… I once again call on Buhari to do the honourable thing and resign since he can no longer secure Nigerians” –Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, calling on President Buhari to resign.

PENDULUM Tinubu and the Heavy Burden of Calvary DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

F

ellow Nigerians, I know you must be wondering what the business of a former PDP Presidential aspirant is with the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. My response is not far-fetched.

Everyone knows that we go way back. We were friends and Brothers, ever before we became comrades-in-the-struggle in the heady days of the NADECO operation for the revalidation of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election, which was won fair and square by Chief Moshood Abiola. We had become acquainted in 1991 and became much closer as we worked assiduously, in diverse roles, for the eventual success of Chief Abiola at the 1993 polls. After the annulment, we collaborated in several critical ways during our period of self-exile overseas, particularly in the UK, but that is a story for another day. As my Elder Brother and older friend, it is incumbent on me to continue to relate with him despite any differences of political affiliation and opinion and this means reaching out to him whenever I feel the need to do so. Therefore, even if we have now recently found ourselves in different Political Parties today, I must continue to be his younger friend and Brother. Brothers remain Brothers, no matter what and one of the strong principles that I have imbibed since childhood is that loyalty and fidelity to friends and family is sacrosanct and sacred.

Nigeria is in a far worse state than we found ourselves nearly 30 years ago. We must necessarily and urgently rise above political sentiments to seek out the best of about four major candidates that have emerged for the 2023 Presidential polls following heavily contested Primaries in the two major Parties and the unanimous coronation of others in the lesser and fringe Parties. Apart from Asiwaju Tinubu who polled the majority of Delegates votes to win the APC Primaries, the other serious contender for Presidency of our country is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of my own Party, PDP whom I supported in 2019 when I was not yet a member of that Party. The two other visible contenders, and not in any particular order, are the Labour Party Presidential candidate, former Governor Peter Obi, and the Presidential candidate of the NNPP, former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Please, let me stay on these four for now.

My role today is principally as a journalist who’s a chronicler of events and recorder of history. It is not as a member of any political Party. It is strange and bizarre how history often repeats itself with almost mathematical precision. Let me describe this in a jiffy.

Nearly 30 years ago, Chief Moshood Abiola won the SDP Presidential Primary in Jos. It was a victory well anticipated and long foretold by me. I had written a letter to Chief Abiola about two years earlier informing him of how I was so sure he still nursed the Presidential ambition and I spelt out what I believed he should do to achieve his dreams. I was barely 31 years old then, but Chief Abiola did not dismiss me as a young boy or an inconsequential novice. We didn’t have a proliferation of telephones then and so Abiola physically sent someone to bring me over to his house. As soon as he was ready for me, after hosting some members of the National football team, he asked why I wrote him the letter. I was confident enough to present my cogent reasons and vivid ideas. He appeared very impressed. I advised and pleaded that if and when he finally decided to run, he should join the main dominant party of his Yoruba people and not go into opposition like he did with NPN. I reminded him that this was what had brought him at loggerheads with the Awoists.

We also discussed likely Vice-Presidential candidates from the North, and I suggested a few Northern

Tinubu Christians that I felt suitable and worthy enough to be on the ticket. He thanked me profusely for my suggestions and I left. What struck me at the time was that we were both very confident that Chief Abiola would be victorious at the elections.

He was convincing and I was convinced.

The day I had anticipated eventually came, in 1993. I was cock-sure Chief Abiola was going to pick a Northern Christian as his running mate.

We got the shocker of our lives when Dr Mrs Doyin Abiola invited a few of us, Dele Alake, Segun Babatope, Tunji Bello and I, into her office at Concord Newspapers to break the news that Chief was not going to pick a Christian as his runningmate. Worse still, he would be flagging off his campaign in Kaduna without even announcing his VP candidate. We already knew that Chief was under intense pressure from the SDP Governors to pick Babagana Kingibe. The Governors have always been very powerfully influential and obstinate, and it was clear that they were determined to get their way because they felt that they had been largely responsible for Chief Abiola getting the SDP ticket.

So, we all waited with bated breath for his ultimate pick. When Chief Abiola finally dropped the bombshell, it reverberated with such velocity that shook many Christians. It is not true that the Christians, or Nigerians generally, were just liberal or reticent about Chief Abiola’s gamble.

Many notable leaders protested vociferously. One such great Leader was the former Governor of Ondo State, Papa Adekunle Ajasin, who put a call through to Abiola and told him in very stern and unequivocal voice: “You this boy, you have crucified Jesus Christ a second time with your decision!..” Abiola tried to pacify Papa by jocularly saying “Baba mi o si ni Calvary... (Baba I’m not in Calvary). Calvary represents the place of crucifixion in Christendom where Jesus was nailed to the cross and killed. Chief Abiola was well versed in Biblical passages and often quoted copiously from it. He had attended the famous Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, where he crossed paths with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former World Court Judge at The Hague, Prince Bolasodun Ajibola and other distinguished Nigerians too numerous to mention here.

Chief Abiola later confided in us that powerful leaders in the North had told him a Christian cannot represent the North and that even Chief Abiola himself as a Southerner was not considered Muslim enough. And it was for those genuine and

germane reasons that he capitulated. However, despite that huge sacrifice, none of those who forced him to make the compromise was available to rescue him in the days of tribulations.

This is the didactic lessons I wish to commend to one of the highly possible winners of next year’s election, Bola Tinubu. A leader must begin his job even before winning the election. He must demonstrate the uncommon courage hitherto lacking in others before him. He must right the wrongs of the past.

I’m reasonably convinced that Tinubu is the only one with a religious albatross around his neck right now because none of the other candidates would dare contemplate the idea of a Muslim-Muslim combo in today’s Nigeria. Not even Major General Muhammadu Buhari with his legion and battalions of fanatical supporters could ever take such a monumental risk.

I have had the opportunity of reaching out to Islamic clerics and Christian leaders, everyone is worried about the possibility of a religious conflagration if care is not taken.

I am confident that Tinubu will make his decision after sincere consultations with most of those concerned, especially his gcerebral team which prides itself in the level of research that they have embarked on. Tinubu is in the contest to win it ,and not to merely make up the numbers.

He will do what he has to do, even if it is a bitter pill for him to swallow. I expect that he will genuinely weigh the pros and cons, and look at the odds very critically, before making what is an informed decision. I am also filled with assurance that whatever decision he makes would be one, which like Abiola, he is convinced of, and will seek to convince the majority of Nigerians about. It is fascinating that Tinubu was a close confidant who had understudied Abiola’s template fastidiously and must have learnt valuable lessons from the great legend.

The fiery Northern Christian Preacher, Prophet Isa El Buba, reached out to me last week. The content of his essay is worth considering by all veritable patriots and I reproduce it verbatim: “Good morning sir.

Please sir, take time to read through this note and then we will talk, this is the reason why I am doing what I’m doing for the redemption of Nigeria.

ARE CHRISTIANS REALLY A MINORITY IN NIGERIA? The two most disadvantaged groups in Nigeria’s representational politics are northern Christians and Southern Muslims. In Nigeria’s internal geopolitics, these two groups are structurally invisible, politically subjugated, and told to be content with their political and symbolic marginality”.

“Good” Northern Christians are thought to be those who subordinate their Religious Identity.

In some meetings in the North some Christians don’t mention Jesus while praying just to please their Muslim friends.

One thing with the Muslims in the North of Nigeria is that you can’t believe them hook line and sinker.

Nigerians do not understand the Northern Muslims. This group do not want to lose out.

A Muslim from the South picking a Christian from the North as Vice President they believe they will lose out politically. Because they don’t even trust the Yoruba Muslim. They are the only true Muslims, descendants of Uthman Dan Fodio.

Therefore, it is either they are the President, or they must deputise for whoever is President period.

They convince you and everyone else that they have the numbers to make that happen.

The century long Propaganda by the colonial Masters and the Muslim Northerners who control

the media in the North made the world to believe Christians in the North are insignificant, maybe 95% Muslims to 5% Christians. The Nigerians in the South and Middle Belt have believed this.

Many Southerners never believed there were indigenous Christians from Borno State until the Chibok girls Kidnapped were 90% Christians, indigenous to Chibok in Borno State.

Population statistics in the North of Nigeria.

NORTHERN CHRISTIAN. 1) North East: Adamawa State is 60 percent Christian.

Taraba State is 70 percent Christian (The Muslims here fear the Christians who do not take any disrespectfully (sic) lying down).

Gombe State is 40 percent Christian (It could be more).

Borno State is 30 Percent Christian.

Bauchi State is 20 Percent Christian.

Yobe State is 20 percent Christian(it could be more).

2) North Central Benue is 95% percent Christian.

Plateau State is 90 percent Christian.

Nasarawa State: The two largest ethnic groups are: Eggon, the largest ethnic group that is 80 percent Christian, and Mada, which is 90 percent Christian, Others are in the least of 65 percent Christian. Nasarawa has a lot of animists even in LGAs near Abuja the FCT. Kogi State is 60 percent Christian: Igala is 70 percent Christian, Okun is almost 100 percent Christians, while in Ibira Land Christians are 30 percent.

Kwara: Christians are 40 percent (it could be more).

Niger: 40 percent Christian (High number of animists in Niger especially among the Dukawa People in Rijau LGA of Niger State).

North West: Kano: 10 percent Christian (It could be more with a very high population of Igbos who have been part of the driving force of commerce there for decades).

Katsina is 20 percent Christian (Christians could be up to 40% in Katsina, many indigenous Hausas in Katsina call Maguzawa are Christians).

Sokoto is 5 percent Christian.

Zamfara is 20 percent Christian.

Kebbi State is 30 percent Christian (High number of animists & Idol Worshippers exist in Kebbi especially among the Zuru and Dukawa people in Shanga LGA and around Yauri) Kaduna State is 55 percent Christian (this population has been systematically thinned out under the watchful eyes of El-Rufai).

Many villages in the Northern parts of Nigeria are predominantly Christian or animists (why do you think there have been incessant attack in the North West since the past 8 years?). Yes, the big cities are overrun with Muslims, but the hinterland harbours a remnant of Christianity.

Many big Mosques are empty in the villages, nobody prays inside. Usually only the village head and his family are Muslims under the payroll of Government, but the others are Christian or animists. When you ask some of the villagers they say the Muslims came from Government house through their traditional ruler and built the mosque believing one day all the villagers will convert to Islam and worship in the mosque.

That is why they built the mosque and you a stranger will think the entire village are Muslims.

The Middlebelt is not less than 50m People. If Kaduna alone can have about 3 million Christians by 2006 census according to LGAs, the entire Northern Nigeria should have not less than 60 million Christians.

NOTE: Read full article online on www.thisdaylive.com

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