SUNDAY 18TH JULY 2021

COVID-19: FG Puts FCT, Six States on Red Alert over Third Wave Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government has put six states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on red alert as part of the preventive measures against a third wave of COVID-19.

The Presidential Steering

Committee (PSC), in a statement late Saturday night, said the measure was adopted following the confirmation of the Delta variant of COVID-19 and the rising number of infections and hospitalisation across the country.

In addition to the FCT, the

six states are Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano and Plateau.

The Chairman, PSC, who also doubles as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, signed the statement.

The PSC, however, warned

all states of the federation to heighten their state of preparedness and continue to enforce all protocols put in place, given the greater ease of spread of the Delta variant.

He said the steps were critical as there were

worrisome early signs of increasing cases in the country.

He added that the PSC would continue to minimize the risk of importation of variants of concern into the country by strengthening surveillance at all Points of Entry (POE), enforcing

extant quarantine protocols and sustaining the current restrictive measures against travellers from India, Brazil, Turkey and South Africa.

While PSC felicitatated with the Muslim faithful on the Continued on page 5

INEC: We Have Capacity to Transmit Results Realtime Nationwide… Page 8 Sunday 18 July, 2021 Vol 26. No 9596

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Kukah Writes US House, Alleges Persecution of Christians Based on Faith Says joint effort needed to pull Nigeria from the brink Urges donor agencies to review strategy Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew

Hassan Kukah, has written to the United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee on Religious

Freedom and alleged the persecution of Christians in Nigeria based on their faith and not crimes.

Kukah said the faith-based harassment of Christians posed one of the greatest threats to the country’s existence and

common humanity. He said the challenge of rebuilding the country and moving it away from the brink required

the collective effort of all Nigerians.

Continued on page 5

In Paradigm Shift, Women Take Over Banking Sector With 27% female CEOs, banks make great leap in sustainable principles WOMEN ON THE MOVE

Obinna Chima The banking industry has made a dramatic leap in its Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles (NSBP) with the recent appointments of two females as Chief Executive Officers (CEOs). The coming on board of the CEOs, Mrs. Miriam Olusanya for Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) and Mrs. Yemisi Edun for First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, marks an important paradigm shift in the approach to decision-making and management with regard to gender at the highest levels of the Nigerian banking industry.

The NSBP states that as part of a wider sustainable banking commitment, the industry should work towards 40 per cent female representation at top management and boards levels.

Currently, there are seven female CEOs of 23 banks in the country.

The other five banks headed by females are: FSDH Merchant Bank Limited (Mrs. Continued on page 6

Miriam Olusanya, GTBank (July 2021)

Yemisi Edun, FCMB (July 2021)

Bukola Smith, FSDH Merchant Bank (April 2021)

Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Fidelity Bank (January 2021)

Halima Buba, Suntrust Bank (January 2021)

Ireti Samuel-Ogbu, Citibank (August 2020)

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Buhari: Together, We’ll Overcome Nigeria’s Challenges Soon John Shiklam in Kaduna President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said he was convinced that with the cooperation of Nigerians, the challenges the country faced would be surmounted soon. Buhari stated this at the wedding of the son of Taraba State Governor, Mr. Darius Ishaku, which held at the Anglican Church, Katsina Road, Kaduna.

Represented by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, the president acknowledged that the security situation in the country was a challenge, but assured it would come to an end. He said the large gathering at the wedding, which cut across political and religious divides, was an indication that together Nigerians could confront the challenges and the enemies of the country.

Buhari stated, “I am so convinced today that the challenges we face as a nation will certainly come to an end. I am so convinced by virtue of not just the exaltation that we have (at the wedding) but also a cross-section of those who came to honour Dikan and Zulai today – all coming from across party and religious lines.

“So, what it tells me is that together, we stand united to be able to confront the challenges and, of course, the enemies of the state.”

In his own comments, Irabor said, “The security of this nation certainly is a challenge currently, but it shall come to pass.” He said everything was being done to ensure the security of Nigerians, as directed by the President.

According to him, “We are doing everything possible, as the Commander-in-Chief has mandated me as the Chief of Defence Staff to do everything possible to ensure security of lives and property of everything Nigerian and everyone

that is inhabiting the geographical space of Nigeria is protected.

“And this, of course, I thought I should put in context to thank everyone for all the support that you have given to the armed forces, the police and other security agencies as they forge ahead in bringing peace to our land.”

Speaking at the event also,

former President Goodluck Jonathan congratulated the new couple and their parents and wished them a successful married life.

In his remarks, Ishaku said he was overwhelmed by the large turnout of Nigerians at the event.

The governor stated, “This is the fourth child I am giving in marriage and anytime this kind of

occasion comes up, you give me your overwhelming support. I thank all our people, who have come in their numbers. The traditional rulers from Taraba, Gombe states, and other states, who are all here. Senators. Members of House of Representatives, members of Taraba State House of Assembly.

“I want to specially thank

the governor of Kaduna State, who had to leave to attend a function in Lagos. I want to thank him for the security arrangements he made.

This is like a marriage of interrelationship. I grew up seven years in the kindergarten in Wusasa, Zaria. I know the grandparents of the girl very very well; they were

our fathers and mothers in those days.

“The father of the bride is my elder brother and so, he is giving his daughter to his younger brother. I want to appreciate him, I want to thank him. They all have our blessings. We pray for them, we know that their marriage will be one of its kind and a marriage that will be copied by others.”

TRADE TALKS...

L-R: Dolapo Osinbajo; Executive Director of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Mr. Segun Awolowo and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the Inaugural Dinner of the ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organization Network in Abuja...recently

KUKAH WRITES US HOUSE, ALLEGES PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS BASED ON FAITH The Catholic priest has come under threat and verbal attack from Muslims and other non-Christians lately for his views on the state of the nation.

In the statement to the US House Committee, Kukah urged International Aid Organisations to reset the templates of their engagements with countries

in conflict. He stated that Nigeria currently needed support for education, orphans, widows, and other victims of violence.

Speaking to the conscience of Muslims, Kukah said good Muslims must rise in defence of their religion by reversing the rising perception of Islam as inhuman.

He said Nigeria had

COVID-19: FG PUTS FCT, SIX STATES ON RED ALERT OVER THIRD WAVE occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the PSC, also urged all state governments and religious leaders to be mindful of the potential for wider spread of the virus during large gatherings.

In the light of the latest development, the PSC, has recommended for safe Eid-el-Kabir celebration,

preventive measures such as decentralisation of Eid Prayer to neighborhood Friday prayer mosques (outdoor); suspension of Durbar activities and observation of limitations on all indoor gatherings.

It reminded Nigerians and all residents to ensure they stay safe at all time.

remained volatile since independence, stressing that with over 500 languages, the country is one of the most perplexing works of Creation.

Kukah accused President Muhammadu Buhari of running a nepotic administration, saying, "The challenge of rebuilding our country, moving it away from the brink requires collective efforts on our part. However, the policy choices of this government have reversed the gains we made in the area of peaceful coexistence and dialogue. We cannot give up. We must renew our commitment to creating a just society.”

Kukah alleged the stifling of religious freedoms under the Buhari government. He said the experience of the Christian community in Nigeria had been that of a

tragic culture of persecution and death, recounting an incident in January last year, when four Seminarians were kidnapped inside the Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaduna.

According to Kukah, "After prolonged negotiations and the payment of ransom, three of them were released while one, Michael Nnadi, from the Diocese of Sokoto, was brutally murdered.

"There have been dastardly actions directed at Christians, because of their faith. We have cases of Pastoral agents, such as Priests and Nuns, who have been kidnapped, released after the payment of ransom or brutally murdered.

Churches, medical facilities, presbyteries have been razed to the ground with no provocations from the communities."

He urged the international community to rise in defence of the freedom of Christians everywhere in the world to live and practise their faith without persecution.

The priest lamented the inability of the government to harness and maximise the rich diversity of the country for national progress.

He said, "With over 500 tongues, Nigeria remains one of the most enigmatic pieces of God’s real estate on earth. Running, stumbling but never fatally falling, except for a brief civil war. She is home to one out of five black people on earth.

"Highly resourced, but endemically corrupt, a combination of serious governance missteps, series of military coups, years of maladministration, a culture of violence have seriously

slowed down what should have been one of the greatest nations on earth. It has left its people vulnerable to poverty, disease, violence and death."

Kukah further told the public hearing that the most critical needs of many Nigerian victims of violence were education for orphans as well as support for widows and other victims of violence.

He said bringing succour to these suffering citizens required not only huge financing but also a better approach to meeting such needs.

"My appeal, therefore, is that Aid Agencies consider more practical ways of engaging Church structures to alleviate the sufferings of the victims of persecution by way of granting scholarships to vulnerable children," Kukah stated.

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PRESIDENT'S COURTESY VISIT TO THE EMIR...

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari; New Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero and Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje during the President courtesy visit to Ado Bayero Palace shortly after the iauguration of Danji Underpass in Kano...Friday GODWIN OMOIGUI

Search for Consensus Candidates Responsible for Delay in APC National Convention Chuks Okocha in Abuja The search for an 'anointed and trusted' consensus national chairmanship candidate and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been identified as the main reason why the ruling party

has yet to conduct its national convention and congresses across the wards and 36 states as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

Also, the delay was said to being machinated to give room for proper reconciliation in states like Rivers, Ogun, Kwara and others, where there are still controversies over the

revalidaation of the membership register of the party.

Twice last week, the party wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend dates for the wards and states congresses that would lead to the national convention.

On July 6, 2021, National

Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpanudodehehe and four days later, it rescinded the earlier letter.

THISDAY reliably gathered that the indecision on the date for the national convention may not be unconnected to the fact that the leadership of

APC has not been able to reach agreement on a candidatethat would be acceptable to all the interests in the party for national chairmanship.

Some members of the APC, like Senator Rochas Okorocha, it would be recalled, has said the only string holding the APC together was the person

of President Muhammadu Buhari as the party woulddisintegrate after his administration.

A top source disclosed to THISDAY that the ruling party didn't want to conduct an elective convention, because of the fear of the outcome could polarise the party and the consequence, devastating.

group, where she led two major subsidiaries of UBA as MD/CEO, including a start-up company, UBA Pensions Custodian, where she was the pioneer Managing Director. Prior to UBA, Somefun worked with two leading consulting firms, KPMG and Arthur Andersen (now KPMG).

A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Somefun holds a Bachelor of Education in English Language.

She graduated with a Second Class Upper Division from the Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly University of Ife) in 1981. She was recently conferred an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration (D.BA) by the Redeemer’s University, Nigeria.

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Business Management from the University of Maiduguri and an MBA from the same university.

Buba is an Alumnus of the Lagos Business School Senior Management programme. She is a senior Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants. She sits on the Board of several reputable Institutions, including the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) as a Non-Executive Director and Anchoria Asset Management Company Limited.

She is a champion of youth and women empowerment, and consistently makes philanthropic contributions towards the girl child education.

IN PARADIGM SHIFT, WOMEN TAKE OVER BANKING SECTOR Bukola Smith); Fidelity Bank Plc (Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe); Suntrust Bank (Mrs. Halima Buba); Citibank Nigeria (Mrs. Ireti Samuel-Ogbu) and Unity Bank Plc (Mrs. Oluwatomi Somefun).

The appointments of the seven women (except Smith) marked the first time ladies would lead the respective financial institutions.

NSBP, which was introduced in 2012, requires banks to develop clear short and long term objectives on their business activities and provide products and services aimed at promoting gender equality for women and financial inclusion. It also advises banks to promote a genderinclusive culture and female talent-management schemes, establish internal committees that comprise senior leaders from across the business to oversee accountability for gender diversity and steer gender inclusive strategies consistent with their core business activities, among others.

The goals of the NSBP are in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which states that encouraging more women leaders would help achieve greater gender equality.

Many believe providing more opportunities for women to progress to senior roles in an industry that remains a male bastion is a step in the right direction.

Below are the profiles of the seven female bank CEOs in the country.

Miriam Olusanya, GTBank Miriam Olusanya has over 23 years banking experience that cuts across Transaction Services, Asset and Liability Management, Financial Markets, Investment Banking, and Investor Relations. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and a Master of Business Administration (Finance and Accounting) from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. Olusanya has also attended several executive management and banking-specific development programmes in

leading educational institutions around the world.

Olusanya had served as a NonExecutive Director on the Board of Guaranty Trust Bank (Gambia) Limited. She is a member of the Financial Markets Sub-Committee of the Bankers’ Committee, the primary interactive policy platform composed of the Central Bank of Nigeria and banks.

Olusanya joined the bank as an Executive Trainee in 1998 and rose through the ranks until her appointment as Executive Director in 2018. Before her appointment as CEO, she was the Group Treasurer and Head, Wholesale Banking Division, responsible for balance sheet and financial markets activities of the Bank and its African subsidiaries, Corporate Finance, as well as Investor Relations.

Yemisi Edun, FCMB Yemisi Edun, the CEO of FCMB, holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife and a Master’s degree in International Accounting and Finance from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.

She is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Edun is also an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and an Associate Member of the Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Member of Information Systems Audit and Control, U.S.A., and a Certified Information Systems Auditor.

She began her career with Akintola Williams Deloitte (member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu) in 1987 with focus on corporate finance activities as well as audit of banks and other financial institutions. She joined FCMB in 2000 as Divisional Head of Internal Audit and Control before assuming the role of Chief Financial Officer of the bank.

Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Fidelity Bank Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe assumed office as Managing Director/ CEO, Fidelity Bank, on January

Oluwatomi Somefun, Unity Bank (March 2015)

1, 2021. She was an integral part of the transformation team at Fidelity Bank in the last six years. Onyeali-Ikpe was formerly Executive Director, Lagos and South West, overseeing the bank’s business in the six states that make up the South West region of the bank. She led the transformation of the Directorate to profitability and sustained its impressive year-on-year growth across key performance metrics, including contributing over 28 per cent of the bank’s profit before tax, deposits and loans.

Onyeali-Ikpe is a consummate professional of over 30 years experience across various banks, including Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, and Citizens International Bank Limited, where she held several management positions in Legal, Treasury, Investment Banking, Retail/Commercial Banking, and Corporate Banking.

She has been involved in the structuring of transactions in various sectors, including oil and gas, manufacturing, aviation, real estate, and exports.

Onyeali-Ikpe holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Master of Laws (LLM) degrees from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Kings College, London,

respectively. She has attended executive training programmes at Harvard Business School, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, INSEAD School of Business, Chicago, Booth School of Business, London Business School, and IMD, among others.

Oluwatomi Somefun, Unity Bank Oluwatomi Somefun is the Managing Director/CEO of Unity Bank Plc. Prior to her appointment in August 2015, she served as the Executive Director overseeing the Lagos and South-West Business Directorates, the Financial Institution Division and Treasury Department of the bank. She is a Member of the Board Finance and General Purpose Committee, Board Risk Management Committee, Board Credit Committee, among others.

Somefun is a career professional with 35 years post qualification experience, over 26 of which were in the banking sector, spanning key segments, including Treasury and Investment Banking, Corporate Banking, Retail, and Commercial Banking Operations. She had a distinguished career with UBA

Ireti Samuel-Ogbu, Citibank Nigeria Ireti Samuel-Ogbu is the CEO of Citibank Nigeria. Prior to her appointment, she served as Managing Director of Payments and Receivables, Treasury and Trade Solutions for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at the lender’s office in London. She also had a 31-year career at Citigroup, working in three countries – Nigeria, UK, and South Africa – and performing various roles, which span Relationship Management with Global Subsidiaries Group and the Public Sector Banking Team, Corporate Finance and as Transaction Services Head for two of the largest markets in Africa.

She has been a leading voice for the institution on open banking following Citi’s announcement that it was the first corporate bank to enrol as a payment initiation service provider.

Halima Buba, Suntrust Bank Halima Buba is a seasoned banker with over 20 years cognate experience obtained from working in Allstates Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Inland Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank Plc, and Ecobank Nigeria Limited. She holds a

Bukola Smith, FSDH Merchant Bank Mrs. Bukola Smith is the CEO of FSDH Merchant Bank. She holds an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, UK, and a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Lagos.

Smith is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, and an Associate Member, Certified Institute of Pensions (Nigeria). She has 28 years of progressive experience in the industry with a track record of strategic execution and leadership.

She was appointed Executive Director, Business Development at First City Monument Bank (FCMB) in 2017 and held several other leadership positions since she joined FCMB in 2006.

In her most recent role, Smith was responsible for the bank’s 200 branches across the country, as well as the public sector, business banking, agriculture, and transaction banking divisions. Under her, the bank’s SME-focused team moved from fifth position in the industry to first position in 2019 (KPMG Customer Service Report 2020) within three years.

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INEC: We Have Capacity to Transmit Results Realtime Nationwide

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Festus Okoye, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner in charge of Voter Education has affirmed that the Commission has the capacity to transmit result real time from all parts of the country.

Speaking as a guest on Channel TV’s programme, Sunrise Daily Saturday morning Mr Okoye said that over the years INEC has tested and ran different forms of technological and electronic additions to improve the integrity of the elections and they have been successful.

He revealed to the presenters, Ayo Makinde and Alero Edu that elections have already been transmitted and even stored on INEC servers from many zones of the country even in a state like Borno in the midst of security challenges.

He said INEC is ready and capable to ensure that it can transmit results and all that is required is the endorsement of the law to further make the process better.

On electronic voting, he said the Commission is piloting electronic voting machines will also have a paper trail which will be used for audit.

According to Okoye, "We have uploaded results from very remote areas, even from areas where you have to use human carriers to access,” he said.

“So, we have made our own position very clear, that we have the capacity and we have the will to deepen the use of technology in the electoral process.

“But our powers are given by the constitution and the law, and we will continue to remain within the ambit and confines of the power granted to the commission by the constitution and the law”, he said.

He appealed to the National Assembly not to write into the law any electronic device, instead,

he wants INEC given powers to deploy any technological device for the betterment of the election.

Okoye said the results are not transmitted into one central portal, but segmentalized, stating further that INEC wants to bridge the gap between polling booths and collation centres.

He said people should habour no fear about the processes of INEC. The INEC national commissioners said the debate

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulahi Sani Shinkafi, has asked the party to discipline the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Abdulazizi Yari, for factionalising the party in the state. Shinkafi, who is a close ally of the Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, accused Yari of instigating crisis in the state chapter of APC. Speaking to THISDAY yesterday, Shinkafi said, "The former governor has factionalised the party in Zamfara State and acted in total disregard of the directive of the national leadership of APC led by Governor Mai-Mala Buni to dissolve the state executive of the party. In line with Section 21 of the APC constitution, he has committed an offence and is liable to face sanction.”

Shinkafi also alleged that the former governor was trying to undermine the leadership of the party in the state, now under Matawalle. He said the relevant section of the APC constitution, which provided for disciplinary measures against erring members, should be activated against Yari and Senator Kabiru Marafa, to serve as deterrence to others in future.

Mattawalle was asked by the national chairman of the APC Caretaker Extraordinary

deploying electronic transmission of election results in any area.

Senators from the ruling party, with two opposition lawmakers who broke ranks with their party, at the consideration of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, voted 52 to 28 to amend clause 52 of the bill that would have empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results electronically during the 2023 general election.

Twenty eight other senators

were absent to cast their votes.

But THISDAY gathered that many of them were in the chambers before voting begun.

The senators’ tactical rejection of electronic transmission of election results drew flaks yesterday from a Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere; the pan-Igbo sociopolitical organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and some senior lawyers.

But the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) endorsed the senators’ action.

The House of Representatives on Friday passed its own version of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, amid a walkout staged by opposition members, with the controversial Clause 52(2) intact, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “may transmit results of the election through electronic means where and when practicable”.

GIFTS FOR THE TRIPLETS...

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker; Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Governor Dapo Abiodun presenting gift to the mother of a triplets born during the local government electioneering campaign, Mrs. Saidat Idowu at Odogbolu ...yesterday

Zamfara: Shinkafi Asks APC to Sanction Yari for Fueling Crisis Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

should be about national interest and not personal interest and all INEC wants to do is to use technology to reduce human interference in elections.

Okoye's position is coming barely two days after the Senate passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which requires the Independent National Electoral Commission to seek clearance from the Nigerian National Communication Commission (NCC) and the National Assembly before

Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai-Mala Buni of Yobe State, to lead the party in Zamfara shortly after his defection from PDP. But Yari and Marafa went to Kaduna rejected the proclamation by the APC national chairman. They insisted that the structures of APC in Zamfara remained with them.

Earlier, while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Shinkafi described the call by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on banks and other financial institutions to be wary of transactions with Matawalle as erroneous. He said PDP needed not waste their time on frivolities, adding that there are examples of persons who defected to other parties without contravening the law.

According to him, former Senate President Bukola Saraki had defected to APC from PDP as a senator and a recent example is the defection of Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to PDP. Shinkafi also quoted court cases involving the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, to buttress his point, saying the court did not order his removal from office because he defected to another party.

He cited Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, which he said granted the governor constitutional immunity from any civil or criminal proceeding.

Buhari Approves N79bn Road for Ogun As Ogun set to declare stand on Ipokia Poly Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Friday, said the federal government has approved the Ilaro-PapalantoSagamu expressway in support of the state efforts in infrastructure development.

Addressing the residents and people of Yewa South at Ilaro, Abiodun disclosed that the reconstruction of the 100 kilometers road would cost the government about N79bn.

He added that the road, which crosses through Obafemi-Owode, Ewekoro, Yewa South and North local government areas was a major arterial road linking the state to other states and the ECOWAS sub-region.

While assuring the people that his administration would complete the Owode-Ilaro Road before the end of the year, the governor disclosed that his administration had completed 66 projects in the Yewa South LG, in two years.

The governor, however, called on the people of the local government to come out in large number and vote the APC chairmanship candidate, Lateef Salami and other councillorship candidates during the LG poll.

Earlier in Ipokia, the governor said his administration would soon take a decision on the

viability and sustainability of the establishment of the Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia, established by the immediate past administration.

Abiodun, who declared that the idea behind the establishment of the institution was a good one, disclosed that the circumstances that led to its establishment, viability and cost would be taken into consideration, while the state government was taking a stand on it.

Abiodun stated this while fielding questions from newsmen, shortly after he visited the site of the institution, situated in Oke'ebo Area of Ipokia town, as part of the election campaigns of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to Ipokia and Yewa South LGs, in preparation for the local government elections coming up on July 24.

"We have appointed a committee to review all the projects that were ongoing but not completed by the previous administration and this project was reported amongst others.

"Now that I am here and have seen, I will go back and make my decision. Government is a continuum and this administration has pledged that every commonwealth of ours that we have invested in any project, as well as that project is

of socio-economic importance to our people, we will ensure its continuity", Abiodun noted.

He pointed out that his administration met a chaotic situation, where the polytechnic was moved to Ipokia to give way to the proposed Moshood Abiola University of Technology, Abeokuta, expressing unhappiness that neither of the two institutions got accreditation to begin operations.

"When we assumed office, Ogun State Polytechnic was not in session as it was meant to be relocated to this premises and the facility meant to become the Moshood Abiola University (MAUTECH),which neither had gotten accreditation, was not operational, the same with this polytechnic. Thank God, we have been able to resolve that of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and it is up and running", he added.

The governor said seven buildings including a proposed 750 seater hall, two proposed 300 lecture theatres, an administration building, two hostels and two classrooms were the only structures his administration met on ground at the polytechnic.

He, however, disclosed that he had earlier sent an inter-ministerial committee to

inspect facilities in the institution, access the level of completion, suitability and readiness for use to enable government take an informed decision to the benefit of the people of the state.

"The facilities are still at a stage, where they can't be used. I don't know why anyone will close the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and move them here to Ipokia, when the site was not even ready.

"Everything is not politics, we have to think properly. When we came on board, Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia was not operational, MAPOLY was not operational and the Moshood Abiola University of Technology was not operational. We are happy MAPOLY is now back in session.

"I saw everything that was there; it is a polytechnic they wanted to give you, in my mind, Ipokia deserves something better than a polytechnic. I urge you to leave it to me, by the grace of God, we will complete the institution for the benefit of all the people of Ipokia and the state", Abiodun said The governor noted that no fewer than 54 projects had been completed in Ogun West, adding, "we have done 325 projects in two years throughout the state".

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FG to Take Possession of Repatriated Benin Artefacts Institutes claim against Belgian over attempt to auction $5m Ife head Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government has in clear terms ruled out turning over the 1,130 Benin bronzes presently in possession of the German government to any individuals or subnational groups when the artefacts are finally repatriated to the country

by August 2022.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made this clarification on Saturday while addressing the press in Lagos on the efforts by the federal government to repatriate looted and smuggled artefacts from around the world.

The remarks on the heels of the controversy between the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II

and the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki over who should take possession of the artefacts.

While the Monarchy is backing the return of the artefacts to a museum to be built by the palace within its premises, or alternatively, a museum to be built and managed by the federal and state governments, the governor has vouched for a private trust to take custody of, and manage the ancient precious artworks.

While shedding light on the controversy, Mohammed said that the return of the artefacts was being negotiated bilaterally between the federal government Nigeria and Germany in line with international best practice and the operative conventions

NNPC Seeks $1bn Alternative Funding for AKK Pipeline, Awaits Chinese Lending Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) through the federal government is seeking $1 billion to continue work on the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, a key project costing about $2.8 billion, after Chinese lenders, which had pledged to offer most of the funds, failed to disburse cash as quickly as expected, three sources privy to the matter told Reuters.

According to the report, it is the latest sign of falling Chinese financial support for infrastructure projects across Africa, after years of major Chinese lending for railway, energy, and other projects.

A spokesman for state oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which is building the 614-kilometre (384-mile) pipeline, said it was still negotiating with the Chinese lenders – Bank of China and Sinosure – to cover $1.8 billion of the project cost.

“There’s no cause for alarm,” the spokesman said, without saying whether NNPC was turning to other lenders.

But the three sources told Reuters that the company had begun to approach others, including export-import institutions, to continue work on the pipeline that would run through the middle of the West African country to its northern economic hub, Kano.

Chinese lenders had originally been lined up to fund the bulk of the estimated $2.5 billion to $2.8 billion cost of the project, which is central to President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to develop gas resources and boost development in northern Nigeria.

NNPC, which was funding 15 per cent of the project, said last year it had used its own funds to start construction. The

sources said the Chinese lenders would not agree to disburse the cash NNPC had expected by the end of the summer, prompting it to turn to others.

“They are looking at Nigeria as one loan, and right now, they feel they are too exposed,” one of thesources said.

Bank of China said it would not comment on specific deals, even as Sinosure did not respond to a request for comment, the newswire claimed.

The Nigerian ministries of transport, finance and petroleum also did not reply to requests for comment.

Chinese bank lending to African infrastructure projects has fallen across the continent, from $11 billion in 2017 to $3.3 billion in 2020, a Baker McKenzie report said in April.

With the continent facing an estimated annual $100 billion infrastructure investment deficit, the loss of Chinese funding leaves a big gap to fill.

Nigeria began building the AKK pipeline in June 2020, saying it would help generate 3.6 gigawatts of power and support gas-based industries along the route.

The project was to be funded under a debt-equity financing model, backed by sovereign guarantee and repaid through the pipeline transmission tariff.

NNPC awarded engineering and construction work along three sections of the pipeline to Oando, OilServe, China First Highway Engineering Company, Brentex Petroleum Services, and China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau.

Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, said this month that Nigeria was negotiating a mix of loans from Chinese and European lenders to fund railway projects, after media reports said it had initially planned to rely primarily on Chinese banks.

and laws.

The minister, who last week led a federal delegation to Berlin to negotiate with the German authorities on the modalities for the unconditional repatriation of the artefacts that were looted from the Benin Kingdom in 1897, during a raid by the colonial government, insisted that Nigeria, rather than any sub group was the entity recognized by international law as the authority in control of antiquities originating from the country.

He added that international conventions recognized cultural heritage as properties that belong to a nation but not individuals and sub-national groups.

“Gentlemen, the Federal Government is aware of the widely-reported controversy on who will take possession of the Benin Bronzes when they are returned from Germany. Let me state clearly here that, in line with international best practice and the operative Conventions and laws, the return of the artefacts is being negotiated bilaterally between the national governments of Nigeria and Germany.

“Nigeria is the entity recognized by international law as the authority in control

of antiquities originating from Nigeria.

“The relevant international Conventions treat heritage properties as properties belonging to the nation and not to individuals or subnational groups,” the minister said.

He added that the Article 1 of the UNESCO Convention in 1970, defined cultural property as property specifically designated by that nation; He stressed that the article allowed an individual nation to determine what it regards as its cultural property, adding the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments - has in working assiduously over the past years to repatriate the looted artefacts in collaboration with important traditional institutions and state governments.

“What we are saying in essence is that the Federal government will take possession of these antiquities, because it is its duty to do so, in line with the extant laws. But we have always exercised this right in cognizance of that culture that produced the art works.

That is why the Ministry of Information and Culture and the National Commission for

Museums and Monuments have always involved both the Edo State government and the Royal Benin Palace in discussions and negotiations that have now resulted in the impending return of these antiquities,” Mohammed said.

The minister also revealed that the federal government has instituted a claim in Paris before the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to it Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation (ICPRCP), against a Belgian who wanted to auction an Ife Bronze head valued at $5 million, at least.

According to the minister, the Ife Bronze antiquity had been seized by the London Metropolitan Police, pending the decision on who the true owner is.

In addition, he said the federal government had also secured a date in October 2021 for the repatriation of antiquities from the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

He said the antiquities consisted of two important Benin Bronzes and an exquisite Ife Bronze head.

“Gentlemen, even though not everyone in possession of these artefacts is willing to return

them, we remain undeterred as we have deployed all legal and diplomatic means and we have been recording successes in our quest for repatriation.

Here are some of the successes we have recorded since that press conference in 2019: - In October 2020, The Netherlands returned a highly-valued 600-year-old Ife Terracotta.

In March 2021, the University of Aberdeen in Scotland agreed to return a Benin Bronze from its collections. We shall take possession of this in October this year.

- In April 2021, we received a bronze piece from Mexico.

The University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom has also agreed to return a disputed Benin artefact.

We will soon commence the procedure for the repatriation of this highly-valued piece”.

The minister assured that the federal government will ensure the repatriation of not just the Benin artefacts, as it is equally working towards repatriating Ife Bronzes and Terracotta, Nok Terracotta, Owo Terracotta, the arts of the Benue River Valley, the Igbo Ukwu, the arts of Bida, the arts of Igala, Jukun among others.

NEW ENUGU HOUSING LAYOUT...

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (right) with the Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Vitus Okechi (middle) and Surveyor Emma Agbo, during the governor's inspection of the ongoing development projects at the New Enugu Housing Layout... yesterday

Yerima: APC Constitution Does Not Subscribe to Zoning Says he’s running for presidency in 2023 Adedayo Akinwale A former governor of Zamfara State and stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, has dismissed debates about zoning in the party, saying there is nowhere in the party’s constitution that zoning is expressly stipulated. To that

extent, Yerima maintained that he had not shelved the idea of running for presidency in 2023. He said he had already declared his intention to run, citing also, his rights as a citizen of Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists recently in Abuja, the nation’s capital, Yerima, who was famous as governor for

enacting and enforcing the Sharia law, explained, “Nigerians should know that democracy is democracy. We are not the one that brought democracy; there is nothing in our constitution that talks about moving power from one place to another.

“Every Nigerian, according to the Nigeria constitution,

unless it is amended, has the right to aspire to any political office once he’s qualified. So, it is not wrong for anybody to say he is contesting the election, even from Daura.

Any person from Daura local government, where Mr. President comes from, can aspire to be president, governor or anything in Nigeria.

“Some people are political illiterate or maybe mischiefmakers. You cannot say this is my turn, because it is about election. All of us are going for election to elect the person that we think should be president.

Our problem in Nigeria is that this issue of citizenship has not been accepted fully in Nigeria.”

Blaming the nation’s ethnic fault lines as responsible for the agitations for zoning, Yerima stated, “We still have tribal, ethnic and religious differences, which is very wrong. And until such a time we believe that we are Nigerians, then, the issue of Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw people will continue.“

SUNDAY JULY 18, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

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NEWS Despite Senate Claim, Broadband Coverage Stands at 89%

News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: ÑÌÙãÏÑ˲ËÕÓØÝËØ×Ó̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט͸΀͹ͽͺͻͽ΁ͺͽͻ

2PR $JHJH MXVWLÀHV UHMHFWLRQ RI H WUDQVPLVVLRQ FODXVH &DQYDVVHV VWLII VDQFWLRQV DJDLQVW HOHFWRUDO RIIHQGHUV Gboyega Akinsanmi and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Amid controversies over the inclusion of the electronic transmission of results clause in the Electoral Amendment Bill, a document commissioned by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in 2020 put 2-G network coverage at 89% of the country’s population.

Despite the indisputable statistics in the document, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege yesterday defended the decision of the Senate to reject the clause at the convocation lecture at the Benson Idahosa University, Benin City.

Fresh facts about the country’s internet coverage status are contained in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020 – 2025, a 100-page document that detailed how Nigeria could achieve 90% national broadband coverage of its population by 2025.

The Minister Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami had inaugurated the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 Presidential Committee on December 16, 2019 following the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The committee is chaired

by Founder/CEO, MainOne, Ms. Funke Opeke and has 32 industry stakeholders and representatives of key government agencies, supported by non-governmental and civil society organisations along with development partners.

The document, which was

jointly forwarded by President Muhammadu Buhari and communication minister, revealed that mobile coverage across the federation grew upon the issuance of digital mobile licenses (DML) to operators that initially deployed 2-G technology to provide voice services and effectively covering greater than 89% of Nigeria’s population today.

Already adopted with a view to achieving at least 90% national broadband coverage by 2020, the document read in part: “Demand for Internet access and availability of spectrum has stimulated the growth in 3-G services, which covers about 75% of the population.

“4-G deployments have been limited to deployments in the major urban areas within the past three years and are currently available to approximately 37% of Nigeria’s population,” the document revealed deploying diverse Nigerian maps to graphically extrapolate the spread of internet networks nationwide.

Even with 3-G coverage, the document further explained that most areas of the federation “are only being served by one of the operators while 4-G remains sparse beyond the very largest urban areas and state capitals.”

Consistent with statistics, industry players claimed that at present, the national broadband coverage would have grown above the 2019 national status detailed in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020 – 2025.

At the Benson Idahosa Uni-

versity yesterday, Omo-Agege debunked claims that some senators voted against electronic voting and the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results electronically.

The deputy senate president explained that the ninth Senate was fully in support of electronic voting and electronic transmission of results.saying there was no ambiguity in the position of the lawmaker of the green chamber.

He said because the country

has 43 percent internet coverage, while the other 57% has no internet coverage, there was a need to maintain a uniform electoral system.

Omo-Agege said: “In order to maintain a uniform electoral system. The country has to wait for the approval of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the country to adopt electronic transmission of election results.

“As we speak, the country has just 43 percent internet coverage while the remaining 57

percent does not have internet coverage,” the deputy senate president said.

His position is however contradicted by the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020 – 2025.

In the convocation lecture titled, “Nigeria’s Democratic Experience Since 1999: the Imperative of Reforming the Electoral Process”, Omo-Agege called for stringent sanction against electoral offences perpetrators in order to safeguard the sanctity of the nation’s electoral

process.

He said regardless of the source, electoral offences perpetrated by officials of the Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs), political parties, candidates and voters have to be tackled frontally to safeguard the sanctity of the nation’s electoral process.

Omo-Agege also observed that another obvious challenge to Nigerian democracy is what he described as the judicialisation of Nigeria’s electoral process.

QUEST FOF DECENT SHELTERS. . .

L-R: Project Officer, Mr. Obafemi Ifesanya; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Housing, Mr. Wasiu Akewusola; Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai and Mr. Babajide Fakuade while inspecting the Egan-Igando Housing Scheme ... Friday

Zone Presidency to North-central in 2023, PDP Members Tell Secondus Francis Sardauna in Katsina

As the race for the 2023 presidency gains momentum, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina State have called on the national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, to zone its presidential ticket to the North-central region.

The PDP members, under the auspices of Sarakiyya 2023, said in the spirit of

fairness, the leadership of the main opposition party under Secondus should support the North-central geopolitical zone to produce the next president of the country.

National Coordinator of Sarakiyya 2023, Abubakar Nuhu, made the appeal on Saturday in Katsina, the state capital, while inaugurating the state, zonal, and local government executives of the movement. Nuhu said the zone had the voting strength to

produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.

The position of Sarakiyya 2023 comes at a time governors of southern states are insisting that the south be allowed to produce the president of the country in 2023.

Nuhu said, “Nobody is safe in Nigeria, so we need a presidential candidate that can secure Nigeria for the future of the youths and that candidate is Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

If you consider the votes that PDP got in the 2019 election, it is clearly shown that North-central is owned by PDP. “The votes were more than two point something million in the North-central. But where the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, came from in 2019, we only had 800,000. That shows that if PDP decides to move the presidential candidate to North-central, they can win the election.”

Nuhu declared that PDP members in Katsina State under the Sarakiyya movement had endorsed the former senate president for the 2023 presidential race under the PDP umbrella. He said many Nigerians believed it was time for the former Kwara State governor to lead the country.

The Sarakiyya leader stated, “We have endorsed him to be our presidential flag bearer under the platform of our great

party, PDP. It was due to the effort of Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki that the bill of not too young to run was brought into the floor of the senate and later the bill was signed into law.

That gave equal opportunities to Nigerian youths to contest for different political offices.”

Nuhu said he would join forces with like-minded Nigerians to ensure that Saraki becomes the country’s next president.

Tinubu Family Takes Possession of Land with 50 Houses in Surulere Tobi Soniy

Eight years after it recorded a legal victory, the family of the late Efunroye Tinubu has taken possession of a parcel of land with over 50 houses at Akobi Crescent, off Fashoro Lane in Surulere area of Lagos.

The judgment of the court was successfully executed last week as the family took possession of the land measuring 8.994 acres without resistance from adverse parties.

A retired colonel, Tunde Oyedele had challenged the Tinubu’s family in court in suit number M/294/2010 wherein he asked the court to declare him sole administrator of the land.

But in a judgment delivered in 2013, the court dismissed his claim and found in favour of the Tinubu’s family.

Oyedele did not file any appeal against the judgment within the stipulated time required by law.

This development paved the way for the family to take possession of the land and the over 50 houses erected on it.

In support of his case Oyedele, had in his evidence told the court through two depositions dated 23/06/11 and 11/07/11 marked as Exhibits 1 and 2 respectively, that he was the owner of the vast area of land measuring 8.994 acres lying at Akobi Crescent, Off Fashoro Lane, Surulere in the

Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State which is covered by a Deed of Conveyance dated 03/02/1976 and registered as NO: 98 at page 98 in Volume 2263 at the Lands Registry Lagos He claimed that he purchased the land from the late lyalode Tinubu Family through one man he named as Garuba Bakare of Agbole Tinubu, Ojokodo, Abeokuta whom he said acted for and on behalf of the vendor family, adding that it was part of the land which originally belonged to late lyalode Tinubu from time immemorial under the Yoruba native law and custom.

He averred that late Efunroye Tinubu enjoyed undisputed possession of the land and exercised

undisputed ownership on it, adding that at all times material to the death of his vendor, and thereafter, Garuba Bakare was the head of the Tinubu family.

He said that upon the demise of Iyalode Tinubu, the appointment of Garuba Bakare as the Head of the Tinubu Family was affirmed by the Supreme Court in Suit NO: M/35/1955 and he was appointed as the sole administrator of the Estate of the late Iyalode Tinubu until new trustees were appointed.

He claimed further that the Supreme Court judgement was subsequently re-affirmed by an order of the High Court of Lagos made on 03/08/1965 in Suit NO: M/3/1965 wherein

Garuba Bakare was appointed the Head of the Tinubu Family and seven other persons were made trustees over the estate.

However in his ruling, Justice Atinuke Ipaye of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, dismissed the claimant’s arguments, holding that, “I am satisfied that the counterclaimants have established their clear and exclusive possession of the subject property as shown on Exhibits 21(a) (g), 29, and 30.

“Under cross-examination, since Colonel Tunde Oyedele allegedly purchased the subject matter in 1967, he did not erect any dwelling house or other structure on it, he also admitted that he has never alienated, sold

or leased any portion of it to third parties. That no street on the large expanse of land has been named after him. Equally, he was unable to state how much he alleged spent in his construction of the perimeter fence he allegedly constructed round the almost 9 acres of the land.

“He was unable to bring forward the builder of the said fence or show receipts of evidencing purchase of building materials for such an extensive construction. Equally, he was unable to mention the name and or whereabouts of the persons he allegedly placed on the land to weed same.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

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NEWS FG Explains Revocation of Sunrise’s $2.3bn Mambilla Contract Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman , has stated that the federal government revoked the $2.3 billion Mambilla hydropower project contract with Sunrise Power Transmission and Procurement Company Limited (SPTPCL) because the government found out that the company was ‘fronting’ for a foreign business organisation.

The cancellation of the deal has been a subject of controversy as the firm has recently dragged the government to an international arbitration court claiming several millions of dollars for breach of contract, thereby stalling the project which is over 40 years in the works.

In June, the company filed a fresh $400 million lawsuit at the International Court of Arbitration (ICA), which operates under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in Paris, France, against the federal

government.

Sunrise Power had earlier on October 10, 2017, dragged Nigeria to arbitration at the court seeking a $2.354 billion award in relation to the deal before both parties agreed on an out-of-court agreement on the 3,050MW plant in Mambilla, Taraba state, on a “build, operate and transfer” basis.

In a piece he titled “ Power Sector and its Desperate Critics”, Special Adviser, Media and Communication to the minister, Aaron Artimas, the minister also defended his qualification for the position he currently occupies, noting that people like one of his predecessors, Prof. Barth Nnaji would have transformed the ministry if performance was based on paper qualifications.

In the lengthy treatise which he made available in Abuja, he stated that he inherited a very chaotic ministry when he took over the ministry, but had to “whip the agencies into line”

Philanthropist, Firm Disagree over Gas Plant Contract Kayode Fasua The last may not have been heard on the crisis over the construction of four gas plants awarded to an oil firm, Moahz Oil & Gas Ltd, by notable philanthropist, Otunba Rotimi Ajanaku.

Moahz Oil at the weekend, expressed disappointment in its client, Ajanaku, for reportedly accusing it of shoddy performance, days after it had publicly commended the company for a job well done.

Ajanaku who is President of O’odua Youths Worldwide, had last week disowned a purported commendation statement credited to him in favour of Moahz Oil and Gas Limited.

In a statement he issued, Ajanaku had said, “I will never commend Moahz Oil and Gas Limited considering my experience with the organisation.

“I was shocked to see the statement credited to me in some dailies , where it was stated that I commended Moahz Oil and Gas Limited for thoroughness and competence.”

Ajanaku alleged that the company’s incompetence and inefficiency cost his company several millions of naira to correct jobs done by the same company that ignorantly used his name

to boost it.

But in a swift reply through a statement made available to THISDAY, authorities of Moahz Oil and Gas averred that Ajanaku and his company only came up with “libellous publications” to avoid their overdue financial obligations to Moahz.

The statement with the title, “Re: Ajanaku Rotimi Disclaims a published Statement dated 13th April, 2021 Credited To Him on commendation of Moahz Oil & Gas Limited”, also explained in detail, the business transaction between Ajanaku’s company and Moahz Oil and Gas. The statement read in part, “The attention of the management of Moahz Oil & Gas Limited has been drawn to a libellous publication by Otunba Rotimi Ajanaku in both the traditional and social media platforms, purportedly disclaiming a statement credited to him commending the exceptional services delivery of the company few months ago.

“Ordinarily, Moahz Oil & Gas Limited would not have joined issues with authors of the publication not only because the said disclaimed commendation was unsolicited and it is within the right of the maker to retract same, but also because of the respect the company hitherto had for the maker.

Galaxy TV Faults Debt Report The Chairman of Galaxy Television Limited, Chief Steve Ojo had faulted a report that the station resorted into unconventional account keeping methods and evasion to frustrate business transactions with its long-standing partner, MediaReach OMD. Ojo’s concern was detailed in a letter by his counsel to Galaxy, Mr. Kayode Ajekigbe of Legalville Legal Practitioners and Arbitrators dated April 6, but delivered on July 15, The letter frowned at the report that the issue between MediaReach OMD and Galaxy TV borders on poor account-

ing process and the inability to reconcile and sign-off appropriately in respect of which MediaReach OMD had shown due diligence.

The letter frowned at the report that MediaReach OMD had shown due diligence in order to ensure reconciliation of accounts in line with global best practices with all payment records “but our clients, on the other hand, have refused to approve request for reconciliation of over 14 years and sign-off on accounts when such are not deemed to be in favour of Galaxy TV.”

because each of them was claiming autonomy. Mamman succeeded Mr Babatunde Fashola, who is now Minister, Works and Housing.

“As background information, the Mambilla Power project was previously awarded to a local contractor, Sunrise Power Transmission and Procurement Company in 2003 at a cost of $2.3 billion. But as it turned out, the company was merely fronting for a foreign company.

“Under President Muhammadu Buhari, the ministry of power,

during Babatunde Fashola’s tenure, decided to deal directly with Sinohydro, the Chinese Company engaged by Sunrise.

Sunrise then took the federal government to the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in France, since the project would be financed by the China Eximbank,” the minister said.

However, he noted that last year, Sunrise accepted a settlement of $200 million as settlement agreement, which he admitted that the federal

government is trying to pay, so as to free the project from any encumbrances.

He said that while the ministry of power has gone very far in collaborating with the Taraba state government to secure the project site, Buhari has also directed the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Agency (NSIA) to re-evaluate the scope of the project, so as to make it less cumbersome and bankable in order to facilitate easy foreign financing.

He disclosed that the

dam will be scaled down to N1,500MW instead of its previous status of 3.050MW to reduce the cost and period of execution.

The release stated that Mamman remains the only minister to successfully move the Mambilla Power Project from the drawing board, noting that before now, no government or minister had taken the first step of acquiring the land, let alone commit the host communities and the state government towards starting the project.

BENIN ARTIFACTS. . .

L-R: Special Assistant to the President, Mr Segun Adeyemi; Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Director-General, National Commission for Museums & Monuments, Prof. Abba Isa-Tijani, during a news conference on the repatriation of Nigeria’s stolen artifacts, in Lagos... yesterday

Dangote Sugar Denies Death of Seven Workers in Adamawa Plant Daji Sani in Yola Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc yesterday denied that seven of its workers died during a protest that unsettled its plant in Numan, a town in Adamawa State.

The company refuted this claim in a statement its Managing Director, Mr. Ravindra Singhvi issued yesterday, saying there was neither protest by its staff members nor any case of death recorded in the community.

Some youths of Gyawana, the host community of Dangote Sugar Refinery, had protested against the company for allegedly sacking some workers from the community, among other complaints.

In its statement, however, the company said the attention of its management “has been drawn to an online report by Sahara Reporters about the deaths of some protesting staff members at our Sugar Refinery, in Numan, Adamawa State.

“We would like to state categorically that this report is an absolute falsehood. None of our staff protested. No life was lost as well. On several occasions, members of the Gyawana Youth Association have shut down the operations of the company while threatening staff members on duty to stop work.”

The firm said the activities of these hoodlums had been reported to security operatives following which the Commissioner of

Police and Director of Security Services, Adamawa State invited the executives of the association and asked them to desist from interfering and threatening the DSR staff and operations.

The firm added that it had obtained a restraining order from the Magistrate Court, Numan against the Gwayana Youth Association to protect its staff members from external violence and ensure seamless operations at the refinery.

Abiodun Renames Tai Solarin College of Education After Oba Adetona Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta

Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday announced the transformation of the Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu, to Sikiru Adetona College of Science, Education and Technology.

Abiodun, who noted education had played an important role in the development of the state, said his administration would continue to focus on science and technology edu-

cation, to boost technological development of Ogun.

The governor equally declared that his government would set up a Special Task Force to deal with the menace of cultism, not only in the educational institutions, but all the nooks and crannies of the state.

Abiodun made these known yesterday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign for the forthcoming council’s poll, held at Odogbolu town, Odogbolu Local Government

Area.

He maintained that his administration would no longer tolerate cultism and its attendant destructive activities in the state.

According to him, cult activities would henceforth be regarded as a sabotage to the state, emphasising that his government was determined to put a stop to it.

“I am happy that today no one is shooting, you can all see that the political temperature of

Ogun State is so low, there is rest of mind, no problem, we are all going about our work.

“All those involved in cultism should repent because if we catch them, they will face the full wrath of the law. I am setting up a Special Taskforce on Cultism because we are working towards making this state number one state in this country, and any attempt to undermine that by way of cultism is an act of sabotage and we will put an end to it.”

Odinkalu, Ex-NHRC Boss, Joins Fletcher School at Tufts University Tobi Soniyi

The Fletcher School has announced the appointment of international human rights law expert, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, PhD to a Professor of Practice faculty position for a three-year term beginning in the Fall of 2021.

A statement by Katie Coleman said Odinkalu would join Fletcher’s multi-disciplinary faculty focused on preparing tomorrow’s leaders to use the latest legal, political, economic,

and business thinking to generate policies and inform decisions that shape global events.

“Chidi Odinkalu is a renowned human rights activist with a distinguished record of public service who has spent more than three decades working at the front line of human rights law and research, development advocacy, international institutional law and governmental policy,” remarked Kelly Sims Gallagher, Academic Dean at The Fletcher School.

“His profound contributions to the advancement of human rights intersect with Fletcher’s mission and core values,” she added. “We are delighted to welcome him to the Fletcher community.”

Odinkalu’s background reflects an extensive record of research, publishing and teaching in the areas of human rights, development law and public policy throughout Africa, Europe and the US. Most recently, he was part of a three-member team that mediated the readmission of

The Gambia into the Commonwealth, where he litigated human rights before national and regional courts as well as in transnational contexts.

Odinkalu

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 18, 2021

OPINION

NIGERIA’S FAULTY FOUNDATION O. Jason Osai argues for the restructuring of the federation

T

he founding fathers of this nation built a strong foundation on which they erected three floors. Given the economic enablement of that substructure, the nation thrived and achieved landmarks that included putting France behind us in television broadcasting and we were the reference point for African development. Nigeria’s prospects were such that, at independence, the colonial masters adjudged us as one of the developing economies the world should watch; they rated Nigeria at par with India and Brazil in terms of development capacities and prospects of emerging as a major player in the global amphitheater. Then the founding fathers put one more floor and it was okay because the foundation had the load-bearing capacity to carry such superstructure.

In 1966, a group of young men in uniform took over the reins of state and, in response to centrifugal sociopolitical forces, they extended the floors to 12 and, rather unfortunately, they dealt the nation a mortal blow by weakening the foundation. That singular act added the concepts of “commonwealth” and “national cake” to the lexicon of Nigerian politics and heralded the slide down a slippery economic slope. Thus, Nigeria degenerated into the current “baaabiyalla” (beggarly) federation where subnational governments virtually do nothing other than wait for monthly allocation from the federation account.

Consequently, heightened disintegrative nationalism took the center-stage of national discourse all in the quest for a greater share of the national cake and, in response to this, we further increased the superstructure bit-by-bit to 36 floors and a penthouse on the same faulty foundation.

At a point, we even toyed with the idea of furthering the floors to 54. This is a product of having idiots and tribesmen instead of citizens (in the Greek sense of these words) at the helm of affairs.

Departing from engineering metaphor, Nigerians were systemically and systematically dispossessed of their land through a string of ill-conceived land use acts. Having been so dispossessed and economically incapacitated, the people streamed into government, which became the highest employer of labour and the only thriving subsector of the national economy. Resultantly, the private sector became

comatose and the nation degenerated into a governmentdriven economy. It was only a matter of time before we displaced India in world poverty classification and acquired the ignominious moniker of poverty capital of the world.

Now that the youths who are the major stakeholders in Nigeria’s future have woken up from their slumber and docility, it is time to review the constitution of this nation.

Therefore, decisive progressive steps must be taken to burrow beneath the foundation and strengthen it such that it is able to carry the humongous superstructure hoisted on it as a result of disarticulated and narrow-minded leadership that yielded to unremitting disintegrative nationalism. The current effort at revisiting the constitution should not be a charade; it should do the needful. To live in denial of the unstable state of affairs in Nigeria and do otherwise would be deluded; it is tantamount to playing the delusory game of the ostrich.

As a Niger Deltan, I feel excruciatingly pained by the double standards of vesting the rights to the gold in Zamfara State in the State while the oil in the Niger Delta is vested in the federal government; this is an insult and assault on the collective psyche of the oil-bearing communities of the Niger Delta. However, as a citizen of Nigeria, I think that that is a step in the right direction though it stopped short of hitting the necessary target; it is, therefore, a half measure.

Unbridled kleptomania and squandermania coupled with government’s obvious inability to punish culprits indicates that vesting the resources in the state (federal, state or local government) is modus vivendi; it would simply move the point of profligate pilfering from the national treasury to subnational treasuries. The French economist, Frederic Bastiat (l801-1850), averred thus: “When plunder becomes a way of

Nigeria is so amazingly gifted it can be, for Blacks, what London and Rome are for Caucasians, what Mecca and Medina are for Moslems, what Jerusalem is for the Jews and much more

life for a group of men in a society, over the course of time, they create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it”. This statement is a very apt assessment of contemporary Nigeria; malfeasance and maladministration are entrenched in every sector and segment of our national life: nepotism. cronyism, and the resultant mediocrity have become the order of the day: the new norm.

Government should give back to the people their land, which it stole through dispossession laws. The people of Zamfara State should be empowered to mine their gold; the people of Igbeti should harness their marble; the people of the Niger Delta should extract their oil and the peoples of various communities in this prodigiously endowed nation should be allowed to harness their resources and pay tax to the various levels of government, which should concentrate on its traditional regulatory role. Given this, government will become lean and unattractive for bounty hunters while attracting only citizens--those who desire to serve their community and the nation; door-die politics will abate and the political firmament will become cool. Granted that this thesis has the propensity of creating systemic imbalances and socioeconomic disparities, these can be effectively ameliorated through instituting a discriminatory tax regime such that the agricultural sector pays minimally while the other sectors pay carefully calibrated and demonstrably determined percentages.

Nigeria is so amazingly gifted it can be, for Blacks, what London and Rome are for Caucasians, what Mecca and Medina are for Moslems, what Jerusalem is for the Jews and much more. Nigeria has abundance of natural and human resources to lead Black Africa if only it had citizens at the helm of its affairs. In his 1776 economic classic, Adam Smith offered that the wealth of nations lies in building the capacities of the people and positively engaging them in economic activities. This is the kernel of this thesis; it holds the promise of unleashing the productive capacities of millions of Nigerians and springing the nation out of poverty. t 0TBJ XSPUF GSPN 3JWFST 4UBUF 6OJWFSTJUZ 1PSU )BSDPVSU

NIGERIA’S HOME-GROWN SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME More could be done to support an effective school feeding programme at local and national levels, writes Olasunkanmi Okunola

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ver the past few decades, Nigeria's primary education sector has faced myriad challenges, such as religious, political, cultural and ethnic divides, coupled with poor facilities and rising insecurity which altogether have increased the number of out-of-school children. The recent abductions of school children by bandits in some northern states of Nigeria bear testament to the high level of insecurity problems facing primary school education in the country. Despite the fact that primary education is officially free and compulsory, about 10.5 million Nigerian children are not in school. Impliedly, one out of every five of the world’s out-of-school children is in Nigeria. This necessitates the need to adopt social protection programmes to increase the enrolment and completion rate in primary school. School feeding is a form of social protection programme that has been adopted in many countries throughout the world to keep children in school and provide students the essential nutrients to stay healthy and able to learn.

In a bid to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country, the federal government in 2016 launched the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) in public primary schools in 22 states of the federation. It is a form of social protection federal government-led N70 (0.17 USD) per day school feeding programme that aims to increase enrolment rates, improve the nutritional and health status of primary school children, boost the income of farmers and provide empowerment opportunities for women. It is a multi-sectoral programme that involves ministries of education, health, justice, agriculture, budget and planning, in collaboration with interested states governments, School Board Management Committee (SBMC), community leaders, women group and parents.

The feeding programme is designed in a way that the federal government takes up the feeding of pupils in primary one to three while interested state governments take up primary four to six.

Without any doubt, the programme has created significant economic impacts on local agricultural production, benefited communities as well as the children. At present, over nine million pupils drawn from 54,619 schools are currently benefiting from the scheme, and with the participation of 80,000 farmers and engagement of over 102,097 cooks across 26 states in the country.

Despite the important role the school feeding programme plays in keeping out-of-school children in schools and empowering local farmers and caterers, there are enormous problems that have emanated from organization and distribution of meals to primary school children. In my five years journey as an education researcher,

I have witnessed and read various challenges influencing the implementation of the feeding programmes in some of the schools benefiting from the programme across the six geo-political zones. Investigations across these zones indicated that the programme is fraught with problems of large-scale corruption, irregularities, politicization, poor quality control, lack of transparency and accountability. It was learnt that some food vendors who have been selling food to the pupils prior to the initiation of the programme were sidelined which led to complaints and lamentations in states like Oyo, Edo and Kaduna.

The selection process of the food vendors in some of the schools was marred by controversies as loyalty to the ruling political parties superseded competence and expertise.

Other hiccups experienced in the programme include delays in payments of food vendors by the federal government in some states which have drastically reduced the frequency of food given to the pupils in terms of quality and quantities. Despite the claims by the federal government of a huge number of chickens, cattle, and metric tons of fish being fed to the pupils, many of them, including the teachers as well as parents, have reservations about the size of what is served on their meal as either meat, fish or chicken given to the pupils failed to meet up with expectations of the required standard. In terms of quality, some nutrition experts across the country have expressed their dissatisfaction about procurement of substandard food commodities used in preparing the food.

This could not be unconnected with a series of allegations of bribery and corruption between vendors, political leaders in the communities and state officials in charge, which has significantly affected the outputs of the programme.

Another major obstacle is the lack of monitoring and evaluations to establish and quantify the actual impacts of the HGSFP. Since the programme was implemented in 2016, there have been no checks and balances to ascertain that the programme is being delivered as planned. Equally appalling is the unrealistic budget allocated to feed a child per day which is reported to be N70 at the time of writing this piece.

Consequently, the question begging for an answer is what type of food can N70 buy today in Nigeria?

Drawing from the above cited developments, the following are strongly suggested towards an effective and efficient school feeding programme in Nigeria. Increase Funding Capacity: The current budget of N144.9 billion per year for

the school feeding programme is a strain on the finances of the country. Also, N70 per child is not a realistic budget that can provide food that will keep children in school, improve the nutritional and health status in the present economic meltdown. This necessitates the need for the federal and state governments to seek financial support from local and international organizations such as World Bank, UNICEF among others to strengthen and increase the efficiency of the feeding programme. Two, improve welfare of food vendors.

Payment of vendors for the school feeding programme should never be delayed for any reason. The ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development and state governments must work together and ensure that vendors' monies are paid directly into their accounts as at when due to prevent any form of bribery and corruption, and reduction in the quality of food served to the children. It is also recommended that vendors should be trained and certified on a regular basis to guarantee safe and nutritious food and good health of the school children.

Three, monitoring and evaluation: Given the relative newness of the school feeding programme in Nigeria, there is currently little empirical evidence on the impacts and effectiveness at a local or national level.

A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system is needed for the programme to provide an evidence-based framework in order to generate recommendations for better programme decisions. Four, implementation of multi-stakeholder approach: The federal and the state governments must utilise a multi-stakeholder approach to support an effective school feeding programme and policies at the local and national level. This will go a long way in promoting active involvement of parents, community leaders, and local government in the development of the school feeding programme in the country. All this will help to attain the set objectives of the feeding programme such as improving nutrition and health, enrolment, attendance and cognitive development, not forgetting the unintended benefits of poverty alleviation through empowerment and capacity building in Nigeria. t 0LVOPMB JT B %""% $MJNBQ"GSJDB QPTUEPDUPSBM GFMMPX BU UIF 6OJWFSTJUZ PG UIF 8JUXBUFSTSBOE 4PVUI "GSJDB

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 18, 2021

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LETTERS

EURO 2020: ENGLAND DESERVES TO LOSE

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nitially, I rooted for Portugal to win the just concluded Euro 2020 soccer competition. However, after the Portuguese crashed out, I quickly pitched my tent with the French. Following the exit of the French, I switched allegiance to the English team.

I chose to support the English for two reasons.

One, they have made remarkable contributions to the development of the beautiful game, especially via the well-packaged English Premiership.

Second, they have had a lamentable history of near misses since they last won a major football competition in 1966 via the World Cup. Against the Italians at the final, my heart was fully with the English. However, like it sometimes happens in football, the demons of penalties swayed the outcome in favour of the Italians. It was quite painful to see the English lose in such hurting fashion, especially in front of their home fans.

The fallout of England's loss has, however, altered my romance with the English. Now, I am actually happy they lost the final.

As earlier noted, the final was decided by penalties.

Ironically, three out of the English five penalties were taken and missed by three of their Black players-Marcus Rashford, 23, Bukayo Saka, 19 and Jadon Sancho 21.

Minutes after the final match, hell was let loose on the social media as some English fans posted abusive racial messages that denigrated the personality

of the players. All of them have since become victims of cruel social media venoms.

A mural of Rashford, who had campaigned for poor children to be given more support during the pandemic, was also reportedly covered in abuse.

The issue of online abuse of players led to British soccer authorities briefly boycotting social media platforms before the Euro 2020 tournament.

Racism remains a major issue in Europe, America and other parts of the world. But the dimension of the current episode is quite astounding.

One still finds it amazing that some fans chose to scapegoat the three Black players as being responsible for England’s loss on the basis of their colour. This is quite disheartening considering what they have offered the English squad and fans over the years. If this is who the English are, then they don’t deserve to win anything.

Bearing in mind all that the players in question have achieved for the English national team, they deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media.

For a long time, Black footballers in England have had to contend with the reality of racism. Many of them have boldly spoken out about the issue in recent times. Rashford, who missed England’s third penalty, has spoken widely against the malady.

Recently, he referred to the racist abuse he suffered from soccer fans as "humanity and social media at

its worst" At this year's Euro tournament, England's team took a knee before games in a demonstration against racial inequality, to the jeering of some fans.

Musa Okwonga, an English soccer writer aptly captures the whole episode on Twitter: "Hate is a strong word. But the racist relying on Black English footballers to bring them glory as if they were their servants, then turning on them as soon as they fell short of their dreams, have my deepest contempt".

Such ridiculous twofaced tumble!

According to the late American civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jnr., three major evils exist in the world. These, he said, are

the evil of racism, the evil of poverty, and the evil of war.

In contemporary context, it would be a blunder to assume that racism no longer exists in our world.

In Europe, America and other parts of the world, racism, sadly, remains a contentious subject.

The death of George Floyd drew widespread outrage last May, after a video circulated online showing officer Derek Chawin holding his knee on the late musician’s neck as he gasped for breath, appropriately validating the shocking existence of racism in our world.

Black Lives Matter (BLM), a decentralised political and social movement protesting against incidents of police brutality and all racially

GOV OBASEKI AND THE 'FIRST ELEVEN' "To choose not to choose is still a choice for which you alone are responsible" Gary Cox (British philosopher)

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he whirlwind that blew through the Executive Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Edo State, has gradually subsided, with the eventual restoration of the former embattled Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, as the bonafide chairman of the party.

This timely feat, deserves to be applauded; and I thank the various stakeholders for their incredible wisdom.

Those that masterminded and constituted the arsenal that directly and remotely instigated the dissolution of the Executive Council of Edo State PDP, recently, indeed employed political bravado, in local parlance, "guerilla approach'; a sad development that must have been borrowed from

a now demystified political godfather in Edo State.

This is therefore saluting the uncommon wisdom of political titans in the fold of the PDP who have cleverly handled the delicate situation positively, even as the party is currently back to the mighty shade under the known umbrella.

Today, it is heartwarming that various reconciliatory committees have sprang up into action, to calm frayed nerves of the aggrieved and the offended, a development which ultimate goal is to arrive at a 'no victor, no vanquished’ situation for the general interest of the party in Edo State.

Talking about Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Edo State 'first eleven', it is time to put in place a strategic political structure balancing.

Undoubtedly, Governor Obaseki is a technocrat in all ramifications, and l urge him never to lower his philosophy of

excellence for the development of Edo State. As the bucks stops on his table, the governor has done wonderfully well so far, by putting in place a selection process, seeking the best and the most cerebral to make his 'first eleven', by ensuring that candidates are recommended right from the ward levels, in the various local government areas of the party in Edo State.

Honestly, Governor Obaseki, by applying this novel fantastic strategy in Edo State, the issue of godfatherism in picking members of the state Executive Committee has been jettisoned for now.

This process, if taken or handled religiously without any political sentiments midway, will profoundly produce the best set of commissioners that will take the 'Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) mantra of Obaseki to the highest levels.

This 'first eleven' being put together must be the ones that can or will

navigate politically and positively through the old and the new breed politicians, because of their familiarity with the political terrain in Edo State. Using the football game scenario, the governor should watch out for the best guys, in terms of competence, energy, brilliance and experience who will make the difference ultimately.

Flowing from the above, the state governor should consider the old PDP party members and the All Progressives Congress (APC)/ PDP new breed to produce a go-getting team.

In drawing the new executive council organogram, l sincerely urge Godwin Obaseki to consider former local government chairmen, who might have been recommended already, technocrats known for excellence, while reserve bench should be for former commissioners. t %JBHJ -VDLZ #FOJO $JUZ

motivated violence against black people, is a global response to the depressing reality of racism in modern society.

Currently, the attention of the world is focused on combating the COVID-19 pandemic. This is rightly so in view of its devastating effects on the global economy and all other aspects of life. But then, racism is a worse evil than COVID-19. It is highly contagious, easily transmitted to others, and too often unseen and disguised in those seemingly healthy.

It is a social and spiritual disease that kills faster than COVID-19.

The antidote is for the whole world to unite against the evil of racism as it is doing against COVID-19. We must advocate unambiguous commitments to equal dignity and human rights all over the world. We must condemn every form of racist tendency, no matter how subtle it seems.

To think that we are in the 21st century and some are still drawing us back to the era of the ignominious

slave trade is, to say the least, appalling and foolish.

Well, this is the right time to distinguish the wise from the foolish. The wise will opt to speak out against racism, while the foolish will overtly and covertly speak in its defence. In the words of the late Nelson Mandela, “Our world is not divided by race, colour, gender or religion. Our world is divided into the wise people and fools. And the fools divide themselves by race, colour, gender or religion”. How apt!

As for the three Black players and others who have been victims of horrific racial abuse, they should hold their heads high in glory. They are heroes.

It takes tremendous guts for a 19-year-old to opt to take decisive penalties in such a tension-soaked match being watched by a global audience. As we say in local parlance, thump up guys, ‘nothing do you’.

5BZP 0HVOCJZJ JT %FQVUZ %JSFDUPS 1VCMJD "GGBJST .JOJTUSZ PG *OGPSNBUJPO BOE 4USBUFHZ "MBVTB *LFKB

THE CLAMOUR FOR POWER SHIFT TO SOUTH

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wo decades into the return to democracy, the issue of power rotation is yet to be resolved among the Nigerian political elites. Evidence abounds on the recent meeting held by the Southern governors and the agreement reached on certain policies such as banning of open grazing and power rotation to the south in 2023. The communique released has continued to generate mixed reactions most especially across the geopolitical divides. Before the Southern governors stance, Governors Nasir el-Rufai and Ganduje of Kaduna and Kano States respectively had lent their support for power to be shifted to the south in 2023. Notwithstanding, there are others who believe power should be decided based on competence and opposed to anything zoning. As the 2023 election draws closer, one should expect political parties to sit up and come up with workable formula that will lead them to victory.

Let us go back memory lane. When civil government returned in 1999, both PDP and defunct AD fielded Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae to ensure power was shifted to south. The reason was to calm frayed nerves among the Yoruba who felt they were betrayed by the annulment of 1993 election which produced Mashood Abiola as the winner. Obasanjo who contested the election under PDP finally won and spent two terms in office. The then ruling party (PDP), in a bid to ensure balance of power sharing among the country's

political zones, entrenched zoning formula. The zoning formula of PDP in 2007 favoured the North which produced Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. Halfway into his first tenure however, Yar'Adua fell sick and succumbed to death. Jonathan who was the vice president, as provided for in the constitution, completed the remaining year of Yar'Adua’s tenure. In 2011, after President Jonathan completed Yar'Adua's term, power should have been rotated to the North. Sadly, President Jonathan violated the zoning agreement of his party and contested. After he enjoyed the North's four years, Jonathan also vied for the same seat in 2015 which led to the defeat of PDP. From how elections are won and lost in the country, our ruling elites are the architect of this zoning problem. They might agree on some issues and later abandon it for their selfish interest.

In a plural country like Nigeria, there is nothing wrong with power rotation.

No region has the monopoly of knowledge. Through this political arrangement, every region will be equally represented. Therefore, rotation of presidency is capable of addressing the issues of power domination by certain region or tribes in the country.

However, the southern governors are clamouring for power rotation in a wrong way. t *CSBIJN .VTUBQIB 1BNCFHVB ,BEVOB 4UBUF Read the full article online www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 18, 2021

EDITORIAL

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

APC AND THE ELECTORAL ACT FIASCO Electronic transmission of results holds great promise for credible elections. Anything else at the moment is unwise

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n what amounts to a recipe for confusion, the Senate on Thursday passed an electoral bill which subjects the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections not only to their own veto but also to that of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). But the votes were along partisan lines with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) using its majority to ram in the controversial provision: “The Commission may consider electronic transmission of results, provided the national coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and approved by the National Assembly”. Same scenario was reenacted next day in the House of Representatives where a similar provision was added, following an acrimonious session that led opposition members to stage a walk-out: INEC “may transmit results of the election through electronic means where and when possible.”

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, a former Speaker With electronic of the House of Representatives, transmission of has described the results, INEC is not provision inserted trying to re-invent the by the Senate as ‘unconwheel. It is something stitutional and unlawful,’ because it takes away that has been tried INEC’s exclusive powers by the commission over conduct of elections.

His position is shared by and it worked. It has increased the integrity many stakeholders who could not understand of the electoral process why the APC that came to power on the back of and encourages a credible poll seems acceptability of desperate to circumoutcomes vent any attempt to institutionalise the process for transparent elections in Nigeria. More disturbing is that the ambiguous provision introduced by the House of Representatives can only encourage an avalanche of litigations in a milieu where politicians now resort to using the court to derail legitimate electoral outcomes.

Indeed, the National Assembly cannot be said to be acting in good faith. We recall that at his meeting with

Letters to the Editor

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n 2009, a popular girl music group, “Kush”, sang an endearing song about Nigeria. In that song, they called on Nigerians to live in unity, emphasizing that ‘our strength is in our diversity’.

The diversity in Nigeria has since posed a recurring challenge for the country. We have survived a protracted civil war as well as numerous socio-political adversities.

Being a Nigerian means different things to different people. To some, being a Nigerian equals being strong, resilient and focused, while to others it means being confident, kind and humorous.

What is, however, not in doubt is that a typical Nigerian loves life.

He is optimistic. He is loving and hospitable, irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliation.

That is why it amazes me whenever I hear horrible tales of

members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in December 2019, INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu argued that the use of technology in results collation and transmission was “long overdue, doable, achievable and inevitable.”

That position was reaffirmed yesterday by INEC’s National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mr Festus Okoye. “We have uploaded results from very remote areas, even from areas where you have to use human carriers to access,” he said. “So, we have made our own position very clear, that we have the capacity and we have the will to deepen the use of technology in the electoral process." reliable technology-enabled system could help minimise disputes over electoral fraud and rigging of results, thereby preventing long-drawn litigation that has hampered democratic choice. The relative success of the recent governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States is credited to the use of technology in transmitting election results. The introduction of the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) enabled results from polling units to be transmitted to a portal for citizens to view. This has gone a long way in increasing the transparency of the process. But after a failed attempt to plant a rabidly partisan presidential aide as an INEC commissioner, APC National Assembly members have approved an electoral act that bodes ill for future elections in Nigeria.

With electronic transmission of results, INEC is not trying to re-invent the wheel. It is something that has been tried by the commission and it worked. It has increased the integrity of the electoral process and encourages acceptability of outcomes. Our banking and telecommunications systems are about the most advanced in the adoption and application of IT solutions on the African continent. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) rely on automated process for both registration and release of results. The former even conducts its examination electronically throughout the country.

This government has also deployed technology for taxation, identity management, and more. Why is it suddenly ‘impracticable’ to deploy such simple technology just to transfer election results?

Given the political history of the country, electoral reforms will be meaningless if they are not driven by technology which enhances integrity and transparency. We therefore hope that the APC members in the National Assembly and those who encourage them within the executive realise the danger of foisting on the country an electoral act that is not fit for purpose and retrace their steps. In their own enlightened interest.

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NIGERIA WILL RISE AGAIN! banditry, kidnapping, maiming and wanton destruction going on across different parts of the country. That, in my estimation, does not really define who we are.

Yes, we have ethnic differences.

Sure, we had religious altercations.

Naturally, we have political differences. But then, we are not vicious.

We are not destructive. While growing up, I could recollect being in the midst of people of mixed ethnic and religious backgrounds.

But we never saw ourselves from that framework of our diversity.

Rather, we related as brothers and sisters. One nation, one destiny.

A friend who is from Ekiti State recently told me that as a primary school pupil, he relished being in the company of young Fulani herdsmen who lived in a colony in their community. They were accepted by the community.

Indeed, their children, according to

my friend, had a reasonable grasp of the local dialect. He further told me that his parents had scores of cows that were in the custody of the herdsmen.

Sadly, all that seems to have changed now as the demons of ethnicity, barbarism and savagery seem to have suddenly taken firm root in our nation. Suddenly, children are no longer safe at schools, as the fear of kidnappers has become the beginning of wisdom. Banditry and senseless destruction have become the order of the day. Is this really who we are?

No doubt, the Nigerian state comprises various ethnic, native or tribal groups with their particular shared cultural identities, customs, traditions, and other identities intact.

It is not strange, therefore, that, once in a while, the constituent units in the country fan the embers of nepotism and ethnicism. Conse-

quently, disunity has become a consistent customs and traditions of diverse parts of dividing factor in the nation. The various the country through the scheme. This has components of the nation view national really helped to widen their understandissues from diverse perspectives. ing of the country’s diversity.

But then, in spite of this, we have In my view, that is the path of wisdom. always lived as brothers and sisters, That is the path of unity, prosperity and especially when it comes to values and peace. Therefore, the time has come passions that we share in common. When, for us as a nation to embrace positive for instance, our youths find themselves change in every aspect of our national in different parts of the country during life. According to Warren Wiersbe, “… the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) We can benefit from change; anyone programme, they integrate easily. who has ever really lived knows that In fact, through the programmes, a there is no life without growth. When few inter-tribal marriages have been we stop growing, we stop living and consummated. Equally, some corps start existing. But there is no growth members, seeing the limitless possibilities without challenge, and there is no for prosperity in their host communities, challenge without change. Life is a have stayed back in those communities to series of changes that create challenges, earn a living. and we are not going to make it, we Similarly, through various means of have to grow….” social interactions, a few of the corps Olusina Thorpe, Nigeria Institute of members have been able to learn, speak Public Relations, Lagos and understand the languages spoken in their places of primary assignments. Also, lots of them have been exposed to various Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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J ͹͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERNATIONAL Imminence of Nigeria’s Disintegration: Deepening Political Chicanery and Institutional Fraud as Dynamics

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n Nigeria, dishonesty and fraud always take precedence over honesty and forthrightness in political governance. The foundation of political governance in Nigeria was largely predicated on untruthfulness in attitude, self-denial in policy making, chicanery and fraud in nation-building. Even though the founding fathers of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, etc, are said to have been more forthright in their governance of the country and their regions, there is no disputing the fact that collaboration between and among them was more driven by mutual suspicions regional interests, than by any other factor. In fact, the issue of promotion of Hausa-Fulani interests to the detriment of the interests of others, was raised as far back as 1961 in the Parliament.

Dishonesty and lawlessness during bottlenecks in the current Lagos State is one good example. There are permissible and impermissible offences for Motorists: commercial vehicles and tricycles hardly respect any traffic rules. They jump queues and make traffic flows more difficult. By so doing, traffic wardens clear them first, rather than charging them for traffic offences. Why is this so? The offending commercial vehicles allegedly belong to security men and other law enforcement agents. This is institutional fraud and corruption.

Perhaps most disturbingly, how do we explain the fact that the Federal Government advertised in April 1994 the building of housing units in many parts of the country and Nigerians were required to apply and make financial deposits for their choice of houses. Alhaji Lateef Jakande, then Minister of Works and Housing, said the houses would be allocated to depositors for effective occupation in December 1994. I was one of the depositors for a possible allocation of a 3-bedroom detached bungalow in FESTAC, Lagos. Up till the time of writing this column, there has not been any allocation or any refund ofmy deposit of about N165,000. Government only adopted a policy of complete silence over the matter. Is Government not worse than an armed robbers and boko haramists in this case?

Even at the State Government levels, the situation is not different.

In Lagos State, a building project, Isheri North, was put in place by the military governor of Lagos State, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (1996-1999). A plot of land approved for applicants was 800m2. When Asiwaju Bola Tinubu succeeded Buba Marwa, he reduced the size of the plot to 700m2 without reducing the initial costs. As at today, it is only a story of paper allocation. No Certificate of Occupancy even though the charges were fully paid for. In fact, there is no information on the paper allocation of land. In all cases, the system requires engaging in sharp practices in order to cut special favours for what one is duly entitled to. This should not be. It is an institutional fraud and corruption that has been killing Nigeria softly.

Political Chicanery and Institutional Frauds My experience as Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (2010-2015) is one manifestation of how Government and its agents kill Nigeria softly, not only through institutional corruption, particularly by public servants, but also by Government’s particular acquiescence of the misdeeds of its political appointees.

Government kills patriotism and governs by camaraderie and ethnic chauvinism.

First, the then NIIA Director of Administration and Finance, Ms Agatha Ude, changed some promotion examination results to favour some members of staff. The distorted results were established by a joint promotion examination committee that included representatives from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Public Service Commission, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ms. Ude also removed the various queries in her confidential files. I drew the attention of the then Governing Council of the Institute, chaired

by Major-General Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu, to it. The matter was killed, not only at the level of the Institute, but particularly at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Supervisory Authority. The Permanent Secretary then, Ambassador Bulus Lolo, apparently also covered it up. When the attention of the incumbent Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, was drawn to the various complaints, he turned off his face, and yet the PMB administration is purportedly fighting corruption.

Noteworthy in this matter is the fact that the Council was comprised of well-respected people, including Ambassador Martin I. Uhomoibi, former Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry; Mrs. Ammuna Lawan-Ali, a former independent Director of Skye Bank; Professor Akin Oyebode, an international publicist, of the University of Lagos; Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, an Officer of the Federal Republic, who did a 2-volume autobiography entitled‘The Story of a Humble Life’; and Professor Sonni Gwanle Tyoden of Unijos. These were the more notables of the Ike Nwachukwu team. The nobility of these professionals did not prevent them from aiding and abetting institutional corruption, especially

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Tafawa Balewa in linking up with assessors of professorial candidates and protecting staff that were prima facie guilty of serious misconduct as defined under the Public Service Rules. The Presidency was not unaware of this issue. Ms. Ude even threatened that, for not paying the sitting allowances of Council Members, General Nwachukwu would deal with me the military way. Whatever that means, I was not bothered, and did not pay them until there was money. Thus, political governance under President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) is that of reckless political chicanery and irredeemable institutional corruption.

If the bill on electoral reform has been fraught with fraudulent insertions and if the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has also witnessed the same fate, there cannot but be problems with Nigeria. In fact, the mania of annulment of the 1993 presidential election results, as publicly revealed by Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, is much thought-provoking. This is why the current political chicanery surrounding the electoral reform bill and the PIB cannot but be a major dynamic, pushing Nigeria’s disintegration into a junction of desideratum.

Second, the insertion of twenty clauses into the electoral Bill by the Senate leadership without the express consent of the House of Representatives with which the two chambers agreed on a common report, clearly reflects the very dishonest character of Nigeria’s political leaders. It reflects their very poor quality of mind and their most unfortunate belief that adoption of fraudulent strategies constitute smartness, sagaciousness, and an art that can be sustained for a long time for purposes of supremacy or political domination. The belief, without any jot of doubt, is an expression of poverty of strategic ideas.

Institutional fraud and corruption in the making and passing of the Bill is manifested at two levels: removal of some critical provisions and insertion of new centrifugal clauses. As regards removal of critical clauses, the Bill initially provided for both electronic voting and electronic transmission of the results. Additionally, the Bill also raised presidential campaign funding from N1bn (one billion naira) to N15bn (fifteen billion naira), while campaign spending for gubernatorial, parliamentary and local government elections were increased by 1500%.

In the eyes of the general public, the removal of clauses and replacing them with new provisions is a conscious attempt to lay a foundation for future election rigging. It is an attempt to create rooms for election result manoeuvrings, especially come 2023. It is also to further

What is certain from the foregoing is that PMB’s lackadaisical attitude towards publicly-held beliefs that PMB has a Fulanisation agenda, is consciously supporting killer herdsmen, militarily supporting the Boko Haram, and preaching national unity, while simultaneously undermining same with policies of double standard and reckless nepotism, etc, only clearly points to the imminence of Nigeria’s break-up. PMB, since 2015, has been giving Nigerians wrong impressions that Nigeria is indivisible, indissoluble, and that the Boko Haram has been technically defeated.

Most unfortunate, however, boko haramism, armed banditry, herdsmen terrorism, political and commercial kidnappings, societal degradation, institutional corruption and political chicanery have not only been increased, but have also become the hallmark of PMB’s administration. This is why the disintegration of Nigeria is imminent. Dr. Malaifa Obadiah, an astute nationalist, has pointed to the likelihood of a second civil war come 2022. If the likes of General Ike Nwachukwu, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, etc, could bastardise institutional discipline at the NIIA, if PMB can disregard public complaints of institutional frauds, why would there not be agitations for separation? If the governance of Nigeria is being driven by hegemonic policies, deceitfulness, chicanery and polluted minds, and if political chicanery and institutional frauds are deepening and, by so doing, strengthening agitations for self-determination, when will ‘’To Thy Tents, O Israel’’ not be a desideratum? Time will tell.

institutionalise corruption by making access to electoral engineering and participation very difficult for the financially less-privileged candidates. In this regard, no one disputes the right of the Senate to make further improvements on a bill. However, why should the attempt to improve be fraudulent? Why should clauses not discussed or agreed to, be inserted? Why should what was agreed to be removed unilaterally?

Mark Gbillah, a representative of the Gwer East/Gwer West Constituency in Benue State, revealed on the platform of Arise News on Thursday, 8 July, 2021 that the Senate could not but be responsible for the insertion of 20 controversial clauses in the Electoral Amendment Bill. Honourable Gbillah noted that the current controversies are directly a resultant from the newly inserted clauses. As recorded by Chinelo Obogo, Honourable Gbilla said as follows:‘on the issue of the Electoral Act...at a recent meeting, the Chairman of the House Committee told our colleagues that she is not aware of any change to the initial harmonised version from both chambers. But obviously, there is an insertion and I can confirm that about 20 clauses..., and it is alleged that it was inserted at the Senate version.’

More significantly, Honourable Gbillah is on record to have also observed that‘we are at a point in our country where we should not be playing politics with this issue. I wonder why people think they are to stay in power perpetually.’What really is politics playing i Nigeria if it is not about conscious engagement in the business of sharp practices, promoting institutional corruption in the name of governance? The position of enlightened Nigerians is that the initial harmonised clauses should be treated as sacrosanct. This is the current political lull that is begging for attention as at today.

The third manifestation of the imminence of national disintegration is the question of Petroleum Industry Bill. The Bill, not only provides for allocation of 30% of profits of oil proceeds to frontier states for purposes of oil exploration, but also reduced from 5% to 3% the equity for oil-hosting communities. Explained differently, initially, the host communities of crude oil, were those whose environment has regularly been degraded through pollution, by virtue of the location of oil in their region. In the thinking of many Nigerians, providing 30% of oil proceeds for fresh explorations, when it is being expected that the global community will be moving away from oil to gas, is an expression of self-deceit and fraud, aimed at only seeking to promote northernisation agenda to the detriment of other regional interests.

All these fraudulent manifestations are not only serving as catalytic dynamics of the imminent disintegration of Nigeria, but also explains why the agitations for self-determination have become more pronounced. PMB is undoubtedly cautiously mismanaging Nigeria’s diversity by promoting nepotism and Fulanisation, and subjecting the pre-eminence of the rule of law to national security interest. In all civilised countries of the world, protection of the national security interest is defined and guided by rule of law. Governance is always driven by rule of law. But since this has not been the practice with Buhariplomacy, which does not accept any negotiated compromise, the disintegration of Nigeria cannot but be taken for granted and the implications cannot be far-fetched.

Disintegration: Catalytic Dynamics and Implications Disintegrationof Nigeria is undoubtedly imminent in light of PMB’s attitudinal disposition. It is a question of when, unless he rapidly accepts to change for the better. At the epicentre of the catalytic dynamics of Nigeria’s imminent disintegration is the wrong belief that imposition of use of force will not only enable national unity on the strength of non-dissolubility and indivisibility of Nigeria, but also the taking for granted of the people’s compliance. This is why the PMB administration has been wallowing in various strategic miscalculations.

In this regard, PMB publicly appreciates the goodness in Nigeria’s natural diversity, but simultaneously acts contrarily to it in action. One good illustration is the intended appointment of Ms. Lauretta Onochie, one of PMB’s aides, as a National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission. Lauretta Onochie as a nominee for the INEC Commissioner position points to the chicanery that largely characterises the governance of Nigeria under PMB. Nigeria’s Constitution requires that a nominee must not be politically partisan to be eligible for appointment as a commissioner. The truth is that Ms. Onochie is, indeed, very partisan for two obvious reasons. She wears campaign dresses on which the photograph of PMB is printed. The photograph of one dress has been posted in the social media and has gone viral.

Secondly, Ms. Onochie is currently the Senior Special Assistant to PMB on New Media. This current appointment cannot be said to be non-partisan in whichever way it is seen. And true enough, on Thursday, 8 July, 2021 she appeared before the Senate Committee on INEC, chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya, a representative of Kano South, for screening in Room 211. There had been much public outcry since her nomination was made known in October 2020, to represent the Niger Delta State. Her publicly well-known partisanship is expected to be taken advantage of, if appointed a National Commissioner, and used to favour the APC ruling party to the detriment of other political parties and development of democracy.

In fact, the main opposition party leaders went to protest in front of the National Assembly against her nomination and screening.

There were also the letters written by the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism and YIAGA, a non-profit group founded in 2007 to promote democracy good governance and development.

The letters were written to the Senate to oppose her nomination in the strong belief that the nomination is not consistent with Section 14(2a) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, according to which a member of the INEC‘shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity.’

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SUNDAY JULY 18, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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SUNDAY JULY 18, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 18, 2021

BUSINESS

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

FIRS vs. MultiChoice: Matters Arising James Emejo revieZs the alleged indebtedness of MultiChoice to the federal government and the regulatory lapses on the part of tax authorities, highlighting the need to boost the tax compliance regime to enhance domestic revenue mobilisation, as Zell as avoid discriminatory enforcement in tax collection

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he recently declaration by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) that MultiChoice Nigeria Limited (MCN) and MultiChoice Africa (MCA) had defaulted in their tax obligations to the federal government over several years, had elicited probing question about the capacity of the Nigerian tax authorities to eͿectively enforce compliance as Zell as bring defaulters to book.

The development had also exposed the so-called multinationals for practising due process and governance only in principle - a Zhole lots of hypocrisy and lip service to good corporate governance.

2nly last Zeek, the FIRS (xecutive Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, announced that it had commissioned some banks to recover N1.82 trillion from the accounts of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited (MCN) and MultiChoice Africa (MCA).

Preparatory to the collection of the amount, Zhich is arrears of tax liabilities of the companies, he said the service had also ordered that all local bank accounts of the tZo organisations, oZners of pay television, DSTV, should be frozen.

Nami, said the decision to appoint the banks as agents and to freeze the accounts Zere due to the group·s continued refusal to grant FIRS access to its servers for audit.

The FIRS accused the companies of breaching all agreements and undertakings Zith the agency and for not responding to correspondences.

Nami, in a statement issued by the Director, Communications and Liaison Department, FIRS, Mr. Abdullahi Ahmad, said MultiChoice, “lacked data integrity and are not transparent as they continually deny FIRS access to their records” adding that it is important that Nigeria ends all tax frauds that have been going on for too long.

According to him, all companies must be held accountable and made to pay their fair share of taxes, including back duty taxes oZed, especially VAT for Zhich they are ordinarily agents of collection.

He accused MultiChoice Nigeria of avoiding to give the FIRS accurate information on the number of its subscribers and income adding that the companies had also been involved in the under-remittance of taxes, Zhich necessitated a critical revieZ of its tax-compliance level.

Nami said the group·s performance does not reÁect in its tax obligations and compliance level in Nigeria.

Nami said: “The level of non-compliance

by MultiChoice Africa (MCA), the parent company of MultiChoice Nigeria (MCN) is very alarming. The parent company, Zhich provides services to MCN, has never paid Value Added Tax (VAT) since its inception.

“The issue Zith tax collection in Nigeria, especially from foreign-based companies conducting businesses in Nigeria and making massive proÀt is frustrating and infuriating to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

“Regrettably, companies come into Nigeria Must to infringe on our tax laZs by indulging in tax evasion. There is no doubt that broadcasting, telecommunications, and the cable-satellite industries have changed the face of communication in Nigeria.

“HoZever, Zhen it comes to tax compliance, some companies are found Zanting.

Nami

Ugbe

They do Zith impunity in Nigeria Zhat they dare not try in their countries of origin.”

FIRS claimed Nigeria contributes 34 per cent of total revenue for the MultiChoice group folloZed by .enya Zith 11 per cent and =ambia Zith 1 per cent. %ut the rest of Africa Zhere they have a presence accounts for 45 per cent of the group·s total revenue.

Nami said information currently at the disposal of FIRS revealed a tax liability of N1.822 trillion for years of assessment, including $342.53 million.

“8nder the FIRS poZers in Section 4 of the Companies Income Tax Act Cap C21 LFN 2 4 as amended, Section 41 of the Value Added Tax Act Cap V1 LFN 2 4 as amended and Section 31 of the FIRS ((stablishment) Act No. 13 of 2 , all bankers to MCA and MCN in Nigeria Zere therefore appointed as collecting agents for the full recovery of the aforesaid tax debt,” he stated.

He added that the banks are required to sZeep balances in each of the abovementioned entities· accounts and pay the same in full or part settlement of the companies· respective tax debts until full recovery.

He said: “This should be done before the execution of any transaction involving the companies or any of their subsidiaries. It is further requested that the Federal Inland Revenue Service be informed of any transactions before execution on the account, especially transfers of funds to any of their subsidiaries.”

FolloZing the FIRS rather damning pronouncement of MultiChoice, the subscription TV Àrm, in a rather limited response, said it had the media statements made by the FIRS, but had not received any notiÀcation from the agency.

It said: “MultiChoice Nigeria respects and is comfortable that it complies Zith the tax laZs of Nigeria.

“We have been and are currently in discussion Zith FIRS regarding their concerns and believe that Ze Zill be able to resolve the matter amicably.”

Nevertheless, analysts have Zondered Zhy a company of the size of MultiChoice Zhich operates in several other countries Zill indulge in an opaque operation particularly on tax matters and Zhy it had made it almost

impossible for tax authorities to audit its accounts - as this Zould have prevented the current backlash.

The company·s services had severally been called to question in recent times, folloZing its refusal to implement a pay-per-vieZ regime in Nigeria as Zell as allegations of arbitrary increase in subscription fees almost at regular intervals.

At a period Zhen Nigerians believed that DSTV is shortchanging its subscribers and reaping oͿ the country, the recent accusations of tax evasion, if proven Zould be a serious disservice to its interests.

MultiChoice had been called to question severally by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission as Zell as the National Assembly in recent times over its service oͿerings to Nigerians. It is argued that a company that beneÀts so much from the country ought to give back rather than Áeece the government of its due taxes.

But that said, the tax authority had also been called to question for partly alloZing for accumulation of tax arrears over a long period of time Zithout consequences.

It is also on record that the FIRS and the Joint Tax Board (JTB) had invested in technology and service automation over the years to among other things address revenue leakages and enhance seamless tax administration.

The extent to Zhich these innovations had beneÀtted tax administration is noZ been called to question by Nigerians.

In the recent past, the FIRS had embarked on aggressive enforcement regime Zhereby several individuals and big companies Zere engaged but nothing Zas heard about the non-compliance by MultiChoice in particular.

There are also accusations that the FIRS had over time been selective in its tax enforcement duties - mainly focusing on smaller companies Zhile bigger companies continued to pile up unpaid taxes.

Nonetheless, a corporate entity such as MultiChoice ought not to be found Zanting in payment of taxes Zhich should be a key parameters for good corporate governance assessment.

2nly recently amidst the C2VID-1 pandemic, the FIRS launched several regulatory forbearances and succour to tax payers, giving rebates among other beneÀts. It is

still a Zonder that companies including MultiChoice Zill not embrace the dispensation to settle its indebtedness to the federal government.

Analysts also believed the fact that MultiChoice had been repeated for creating jobs in the country should not be an excuse to evade tax compliance.

Analysts Zho spoke in separate intervieZs on conditions of anonymity said MultiChoice and other multinationals operating in the country had not been fair to Nigerians given that they had beneÀted a lot but had given back little or nothing.

A reliable source said: “MultiChoice like MTN and many other South African companies have beneÀted tremendously from the opportunities implicit in post-apartheid South Africa via business opportunities opened up n most African countries especially Nigeria, Zhich is the biggest African market.

“While it is evident that multi choice and many of those South African companies do not give Nigeria any special treatment in terms of cost of their services notZithstanding our economies of scale advantage, they Zant to be clever by half by not paying their taxes as at Zhen due and or adopt the spurious Zays of tax avoidance. They are not fair to Nigeria that gave them conducive business opportunity in our huge market.

“More so, Nigeria noZ struggle Zith revenue and currency crisis that has made its economy to have passed through tZo recessions Zithin four years and bedeviled by sloZ, epileptic groZth and compounding debt crisis.”

The source added that “FIRS must insist on full payment of those taxes failing Zhich they should be appropriately sanctioned from Zithin the context of our existing legal frameZork.”

Another analyst said: “The issue of MultiChoice and FIRS is looking like a repeat performance of the NCC vs. MTN saga. The FIRS has a job to do by ensuring that organisations in Nigeria pay their tax promptly, accurately and as Zhen due but the tactics used must also conform to best practices.

“In as much as I don·t believe that MultiChoice is oZing FIRS to the tune of N1.8 trillion, I knoZ that they are culpable. Although the burden of proof is to be provided

by FIRS but they have shifted the burden of proof to MultiChoice Zho must provide evidence that they are not oZing at all or they are not oZing that much.

“MultiChoice on one hand has been shortchanging the vieZing public by not subscribing to the pay-per-vieZ method as obtainable in other countries instead ripping us oͿ. I sense the government Zants to bring them to accountability.

“Finally, I strongly believe that if MultiChoice is culpable they should made to pay the appropriate tax accordingly.”

Also, a credible source had also Zondered Zhy it had taken the tax authority this long to demand for appropriate taxes.

“But my take is that, Zhy did the F*N leave it so long Zithout collecting the necessary taxes and noZ suddenly dumping a tax bill on MultiChoice?

“Whilst MultiChoice may be oZing, it is Zorth also looking at hoZ many people they employ. If they decide to leave Nigeria, are Ze the better for it?”

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 18, 2021

FOCUS

A Look at Fuel Importation with PIB The evolving discourse about a clause in the Petroleum Industry Bill that favours a certain category of local reÀners, Zith a certain high nameplate, appears to have a target and Dangote ReÀnery and Petrochemical Company, being the poster boy of Nigeria·s local private reÀneries, Àts that category. The question is: as the institution Zith the largest reÀnery in Africa, Zould it Zant to leave such a huge Investment to pursue imported product licence in the turbulent sea of fuel importation? Chris Paul reports

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n the post NNPC-Dangote ReÀnery deal doZnstream, the groZing conversation sneaking into public space, about a certain clause in the recently passed PIB, seems to be another diversion from the substance in the deal that should get Nigerians excited and anxious for the earnest completion of the reÀnery.

To shed light on the matter, it Zill be nice to knoZ if Dangote has any plans to ever consider importing petroleum products into the country Zhen he has the capacity to reÀne ready and nearby crude oil in-country? 2bviously, it Zill say ¶No.· It Zould be a no-brainer, therefore, to even give such a notion a thought.

It also appears that certain category of people are trying to engage in a media campaign to demonisetheDangoteReÀneryProjectandNNPC deal in the facility in order to stir up bad heart against the reÀnery.

2n the other hand, as conspiracy theorists, Zould advance, could it be that the fuel importers Zhose illicit fuel importation business is threatened by the emergence of the reÀnery have entered a secret deal Zith Dangote ReÀnery to alloZ them a ZindoZ to import fuel at some point in its name? (ven this conjecture Zill be far from the imagined as it is not probable that the business mogul Zould Zant to risk his integrity and facility Zith cabal of questionable characters.

Passed in its Senate-approved version, only tZo entities Zill be permitted to import petroleum products into the country. These tZo are NNPC and those Zho oZn active reÀning licences. Curious is the fact that even modular reÀners like Walter Smith to import is not entitled to import the product, because a clause in the said section provides that licences be given based on the reÀning record of the permit holder.

Again, Zhy Zould a reÀner, local or foreign, Zant to or pray or hope to import fuel from another reÀner in his country or another, Zhen his reÀnery is still clean and neZ Zhile it is Zorking at optimal capacity?

It is obvious, therefore, that both the senators and the vested interest, on Zhose behalf they smuggled in this controversial clause, may not be Zorking for the alleged local private reÀners.

This is because it just doesn·t make sense.

In this PIB, NNPC is alloZed to continue its Direct Sale Direct Purchase (DSDP) contract.

With its 2 per cent stake in Dangote ReÀnery, Zill the DSDP concept be necessary any longer?

Conceding that it becomes necessary, ¶all the time·, as it is today, Zill national oil company continue to execute the DSDP contract in Nigeria or their usual customers, even Zhen private local reÀneries, like Dangote ReÀnery, are up?

Pardon the pedestrian point of vieZ here is the $3. billion NNPC is shopping for, to buy its 2 per cent equity in the Dangote ReÀnery a one-oͿ purchase deal? In Zhich case, the corporation oZes Dangote ReÀnery nothing more. Which means, they do not have to give Dangote ReÀnery crude stock to feed the reÀnery in practical terms, Dangote Zould have to source or pay international rates for the crude oil it needs to poZer its reÀning operations. Bottom line, Nigerians Zill be paying an average of N1, .

Strictly speaking, such a clause is dangerous not only to the Nigerian people but to the investments of the private reÀners, because, just as they did to the nation·s four reÀneries, some unscrupulous elements in that camp may sabotage the private reÀneries to justify the need to import in future.

While in Section 2 5 a, the Senate version of the PIB provides for the introduction of a free market, it contradicts this position in Section 31 h.

A vessel bearing petroleum products sailing

In the Àrst subsection it states, “The Authority shall apply the backZard integration policy in the doZnstream petroleum sector to encourage investment in local reÀning.” The phrase essentially refers to a decision by companies to source materials they imported prior, locally.

But the agenda behind the clause, explained in perspective of Zhat backZard integration means, is revealed in a section of the clause.

“To support this, licence to import any product shortfalls shall be assigned only to companies Zith active local reÀning licenses,” the section states. (ven at 5 per cent, Zhen the Dangote ReÀnery starts, the facility can still feed the Nigerian domestic market adequately. As a businessman, it is not likely that Dangote Zould Zant to spend all that money mounting the continent·s largest reÀnery only to operate at less than its nameplate capacity.

So, Zhere Zould the shortfall come from?

HoZ else Zould it happen, except someone sabotages the facility In another funny part of the clause it states: “Import volume to be allocated betZeen participants based on their respective production in the preceding quarter.”

It Zould seem the construct and the unspoken rule of this provision are foreZarning of a scenario, Zhere private reÀneries are alloZed to Zork for one year or a particular period, after Zhich they are expected to claim the reÀneries are suͿering from some operational sickness or declare a general but prolonged Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) time, during Zhich they must import the petroleum products they are Zell able, ready and Zilling to reÀne in their facilities in-country.

8nfortunately, the provision rules out small players in the reÀnery game.

Walter Smith, for instance, produces 5, liters of diesel per day. It means, under this laZ, it may get little or no quota to import the product because of its production capacity.

2n a broader scale, therefore, modular reÀnery licence holders are excluded from importing Zith this clause. The issue, noZ, is the fact that by the time the bill becomes laZ, Dangote reÀnery Zould be in operation, Àring on all cylinders

Zith his 5 , -barrel per day reÀning capacity.

That Zould make him the only licence holder that Zould be entitled to import any substantial amount of petrol, thus placing Dangote ReÀnery at the heart of the target for critics of the clause.

Thus, before one jumps to judge Dangote as the man behind such a clause, it Zill su΀ce to interrogate the rationale behind it.

Does it make sense to engage in such a potentially destructive prophetic provision? 2r, Zould it not be Ziser for him to challenge the fundamentals of his Investment in the reÀnery to ensure the facility is secure, insured and preserved productively and proÀtably to Zork to installed capacity Zith all backups in place.

In Zhat appears to be an irritating paradox, Section 31 h. of the Senate PIB version voZs to end the sale of dirty fuel in Nigeria as stated in the Àfth clause of the sections, the Senate PIB states “To safeguard the health of Nigerians, imported petroleum products shall conform to the Afri5 speciÀcation (5 ppm ² particles per million sulphur) as per the (C2WAS declaration of February 2 2 on the adoption of the Afri-Fuels Roadmap.”

For over 2 years, Nigerians have been buying poisonous petrol that contains at least 3, sulphur ppm.

Logically, one of the objectives of enabling private reÀneries should be to ensure the country no longer has the need to import let alone bring in toxic fuel into domestic consumption.

Report from a research done by an international resourceZatchdoggroupStakeholderDemocracy NetZork (SDN) found that samples from illegal reÀneries in Niger delta are of a higher quality than imported petrol.

According to the report, published in the Wed, 1 Jul 2 2 , edition of the *uardian, a foreign publication, black market fuel made from stolen oil in rudimentary “bush” reÀneries hidden deep in the creeks and sZamps of the Niger delta is less polluting than the highly toxic diesel and petrol that (urope exports to Nigeria, neZ laboratory analysis has found.

Shell, (xxon, Chevron and other major oil companies, the report stated, extract and export up to tZo million barrels a day of high quality,

loZ sulphur “bonny light” crude from the Niger Delta. But very little of this oil is reÀned in the country because its four state-oZned reÀneries are dysfunctional or have closed.

Instead, international dealers export to Nigeria around , tonnes a year of loZ-grade, “dirty” fuel, made in Dutch, Belgian and other (uropean reÀneries, and hundreds of small-scale artisanal reÀneries produce large quantities of illegal fuel from oil stolen from the netZork of oil pipelines that criss-cross the Niger Delta.

The net result, says SDN in a neZ report, is that Nigeria has some of the Zorst air pollution in the Zorld, Zith dense clouds of choking soot hanging over gridlocked cities leading to a rise in serious health conditions as Zell as damaged vehicles.

The extreme toxicity of the “o΀cial” fuel exported from (urope surprised researchers, Zho took samples of diesel sold in governmentlicensedÀllingstationsinPortHarcourtandLagos.

They found that on average the fuel exceeded (8 pollution limits by as much as 2 4 times, and by 43 times the level for gasoline.

Laboratory analysis also shoZed that the black market fuel Zas highly polluting, but of a higher quality than the imported diesel and gasoline.

The average “uno΀cial” diesel tested exceeded the level of (8 sulphur standards 152 times, and 4 times the level for gasoline.

“2ur research suggests that Nigeria is having dirty fuel dumped on it that cannot be sold to other countries Zith higher and better implemented standards. The situation is so bad that the average diesels sampled are of an even loZer quality, produced by artisanal reÀning camps in the creeks of the Niger Delta,” said Florence .ayemba, SDN programme manager.

With more than 11million, mostly old, cars importedfrom(uropeandJapanontheroads,and hundreds of thousands of ine΀cient generators used by households and businesses for electricity, Nigeria ranks fourth in the Zorld for deaths caused by air pollution. It has been estimated that 114, people die prematurely from air pollution each year.

See concluding part on www. thisdaylive.com

23

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 18, 2021

INSURANCE

Why You Should Include Strength Training in Your Weight Loss Programme

NSITF head office, Abuja

The Rot at NSITF

The new management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund must leave no stone unturned in reversing its negative public image crisis occasioned by lax cooperate governance, among others, by the previous administration, writes James Emejo

T

heNSITFhasaprimarymandate to provide compensation to insured employees in case of work-related diseases, disability, injuries, or death- when such demise happens in the workplace or outside it.

The fund was a DeÀned BeneÀts Scheme (DBS) with initial monthly contribution of 7.5 per cent of basic salary out of which 2.5 per cent is borne by the employee, and 5 per cent by the employer.

However, the fund’s activities in recent times had been a major source of concern rather than comfort to workers and the public.

Only late June, the Senate PublicAccounts Committee, chaired by Senator Mathew Urhoghide, unearthed a litany of unwholesome practices ranging from misappropriation of about N84 billion within four years.

The fund, which was established in 2011 had regrettably been described by the senate committee as a cesspool of corruption.

The lawmakers, who relied on the report by the Auditor *eneral for the Federation (Au*F) alluded to the fact that between 2012 and 2016, the management and board of NSITF colluded to defraud the organisation.

Urhoghide said: “They are all guilty. They are implicated. They stole the place dry. The agency is most deÀant and most notorious.”

The audit had among other things, pointed out that, “the Fund had been implementing a salary structure that is not approved by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission. As a result, irregular payment of N38,219,919,530.32 by way of personnel cost was made to the staͿ of the Fund from 2012 to 2017.

“Implementation of unapproved salary structure may result in wastage of public funds, as remuneration may be higher than the productivity level of staͿ.

“The Managing Director is required to provide the approval of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission for the implementation of the Fund’s salaries structure.”

In another query by the AuGF, it observed the fund’s bank statements for the period under review revealed that contributions received from the federal government in 2014, amounting to N 5,500,000,000.00 were diverted to a =enith Bank account number 1013938003, instead of the Skye Bank account number 1790122304 into which other contributions were paid, without providing any authority or any form of explanation for such diversion.

“Audit further observed the following: The

bank account was opened without the approval of the Accountant-General of the Federation, as no such approval was presented for audit. The new account was opened speciÀcally for this purpose as seen in the bank statements where a Àrst tranche of N2,750,000,000.00 was used in opening the account on August 29, 2014.”

DeÀnitely, these infractions are least expected from an agency that is set up by anAct of Parliament to bring succour to vulnerable workers, who toil day and night to secure their future.

The organisation had operated for the most part of its existence in obscurity- only known to the public whenever there was a scandal.

The Road to Redemption?

Following the rot in the NSITF and the need to get to the root of the issues, the federal government had commissioned an inquiry into the aͿairs of the fund.

Consequently the Report of the Presidential Joint Board and Audit Investigation Panel set up in July 2020 to investigate the infractions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and the Financial Regulations (FR) in the fund, came up with recommendations and consequences.

To clear the way for sanity in the organisation, the former Managing Director of the fund Mr. Bayo Somefun, and three other former executive directors with NSITF were indicted and made to refund to the treasury of the fund a total of N181.05 million being alleged to be illegal over payments in salaries and allowances.

The presidency also terminated the appointment of the erstwhile Head of Procurement Department, Mr. Abdulrasheed Lawal, from the Public Service with eͿect from the date of suspension.

InMay,PresidentMuhammaduBuhariapproved the reconstitution of the NSITF Management Board and appointment of Dr. Michael Akabogu as the new Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF as well as approved the recommendations of the audit panel.

A New Day at NSITF Onassumptionofo΀ce,Akaboguassuredthatthe days of Ànancial recklessness and misappropriation were over at the fund adding that though the fund had been in the eye of the storm in recent times, leading to bad public perception, measures have been put in place to redeem its image moving forward.

Akabogu,whileunveilinghisagendatoreposition the organisation during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, promised to ensure prompt payment of claims and widen the spread of enrollees

adding that over seven million employees are currently covered by the scheme.

He stated however, that the fund had achieved some milestones notwithstanding the negative perception.

According to him, the NSITF had generated N180 billion between July 2011 when it was established and May 2021 and settled claims and applications of over 52, 000 beneÀciaries adding that out of the 200,000 employers, only about 170,000 are currently active.

The NSITF MD, however said the new leadership will embark on the automation of services and migrate its operational procedures from manual to electronic platform to reduce delivery time from the current 14 days to 11 days.

He also lamented that the operators of Ponzi schemes had in the past taken undue advantage of the NSITF operational gaps to Áeece unsuspecting members of the public, but hoped that automation will provide solutions to these and many other challenges confronting the fund.

Akabogu, who was a general manager in charge of risks in the fund, promised to deploy his expertise to “clear the banana peels” and reposition the organisation, pointing out that he will be unveiling an elaborate policy blueprint for the fund in the two months.

He said: “We are all insiders and we know where the problems lie. This organisation will be a new kid on the block.” He added that even though the fund had been assigned negative perception in the past, the sordid experiences will never be repeated going forward.

He pointed out that all past infractions had been duly investigated while those found culpable were being prosecuted and recovery of properties initiated. Among other things, the MD said he would also focus on creating pathway to reward staͿ excellence as well as commit to their welfare.

He said he will reposition the public perception of the fund and showcase what it is all about - and introduce performance index to measure staͿ productivity and attitude to work.

Akabogu’sappointmentfollowedtheapprovalof President Muhammadu Buhari for the reconstitution of the NSITF management board as well as the recommendations in the Report of the Presidential Joint Board and Audit Investigation Panel set up in July 2020 to investigate the infractions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and the Financial Regulations (FR) in the NSITF. But despite the promises by the new leadership, Nigerians believed it is only a matter of time to see how much progress will be achieved in the organisation.

People don’t typically associate strength training with weight loss, the average woman will tell their trainers that they don’t want to lift any weights because they don’t want to look bulky like the guys you’d typically run into in the weights room.

If you’re one of these people I hope I’d have changed your perception at the end of this article.

Cardio is generally really great for burning calories but you’re only burning those calories for the duration of that workout session and the time it’ll take your body to fully return to homeostasis.

With strength training you’re burning calories during your workout and the residual effects carries on into your day even at rest because it aids in building muscles which are the most metabolically active tissue in the body.

The exact cardio plan you started out with which may have worked for a while may no longer be efficient to continue simulating fat loss as you progress because it fails to make up for the various metabolic adaptations we experience as we lose weight which inevitably leads to fat loss plateau.

Our muscle tissue is like a growing child that needs to be fed constantly, the more muscle you have the more calories your body will demand which will lead to an increase in your resting metabolic rate, thus the smaller number of calories will actually end up being stored as body fat.

The major reason men lose weight faster than women is muscle mass and we lose this lean muscle mass as we get older losing about 10% between ages 25 to 40 and about 40% ages 40 to 80 which is why you’ll find it harder to lose weight as you get older.

Stop looking at it as strength training vs cardio, you need to be doing both.

It doesn’t have to be either or. Consider strength training as a long term investment because the positive effects (building muscle, getting stronger, increasing your bone density and resting metabolic rate) takes some time to build and a long time to lose.

If you spend say 6 to 8 months strength training and all of a sudden take a week or two off, you’re not going to lose all your strength, muscle mass or bone density.

It takes a long time for those things to go away.

On the other hand, the benefits of cardio workouts (endorphin release, quick calorie burn, increase in endurance capacity) hit very quickly but you’ll also lose these benefits quickly if you take some time off.

There are many ways to do both in the same workout.

Beginners can start with body weight and resistance band exercises. You don’t need any fancy equipment.

Don’t worry about looking big and bulky if you’re a woman, your low levels of testosterone won’t make you look like a professional unless you use supplements on a regular basis.

Focus on light weights with higher repetitions for a nice toned and defined

–– Odunuga is a certified fitness trainer and is the founder of Easyfit, a brand that aims to simplify the obscurity that people have about fitness. You can follow @Easyfitng on instagram for fitness tips, motivation and healthy recipes and reach her at Easyfitng@ gmail.com.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 18, 2021

24

FOCUS

(PHÀHOH·V 4XHVW IRU (QWUHSUHQHXULDO 'HYHORSPHQW DPRQJ 6WXGHQWV 2ELQQD &KLPD writes on eͿorts by the Central Bank of Nigeria to develop entrprenuerial spirit among youths in the country

N

igeria’s high unemployment rate which stood at 33.3 per cent as of the fourth quarter of 2020, as well as the rate of poverty, mean that the country is eͿectively seating on a massive keg of gun powder.

More worrisome is the rising case of youth unemployment as young men and women leave universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education every year with little hope of securing jobs.

That is why there has been increasing call for tertiary institutions to do more in the area of entrepreneurial studies so that students would be prepared to venture into any business of their interest.

Globally, entrepreneurs play signiÀcant roles in economic transformation, contribute massively to innovation, wealth creation and in improving the standards of living in any nation.

Desirous of promoting entrepreneurship among students, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin EmeÀele, has expressed the preparedness of the bank to collaborate with universities in designing a framework for entrepreneurship development in order to arrest rising youth unemployment.

EmeÀele, while delivering the 51st Convocation Lecture of the University of Lagos recently, urged universities to begin sending requests to the CBN for research or for some form of training on entrepreneurial development.

The topic of his lecture was: “National Development and Knowledge-Economy in the Digital Age: Leapfrogging SMEs in the 21st Century.”

EmeÀele also pledged the CBN’s readiness to increase its development Ànance interventions to support micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs).

According to him, since the introduction of the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Fund (YEDP), one of the bank’s development Ànance initiatives, there has been limited access by fresh school leavers.

He said: “This is to support our youths who are graduating so that rather than going out to seek employment from companies, that they can on their own access Ànance, both grants and loans that would aid them in setting up their own business, thereby creating jobs not just for themselves, but for others as well. That is what I think we should begin to think about at this time.

“Given population growth and the increasing number of graduates, we need to begin to see how SMEs can be incorporated and supported.

“Closing from this lecture today, we would be writing to all universities, to begin to conduct some kind of entrepreneurship development competition programme.

“If you truly say you are a graduate of agriculture, are you coming out of the university to begin to look for a job in a company or you are graduating with your certiÀcate to go into agriculture business?

So, we would like to encourage universities.”

He said the bank’s Development Finance team would soon write to universities to develop a framework under which this can be done, adding that is one aspect where the bank can begin to stimulate the entrepreneurial skills in the youth.

He highlighted how critical vibrant and growing small businesses are to the growth of the economy and the creation of jobs for Nigerian youth.

He stated that special consideration needed to be given to strengthening physical and ICT infrastructure to enable SMEs to perform more e΀ciently and become globally competitive.

He added that the potential of SMEs in enhancing economic growth was hampered by limited access to Ànance, inadequate infrastructure and poor digital penetration.

EmeÀele urged governments at all levels and the private sector to provide more support in addressing the challenges of SMEs. According to him, as users of new technology, policies should incentivise the adoption of innovations that will improve SMEs competitiveness and productivity.

Emefiele

“In the 21st century, we have witnessed groundbreaking innovations and growth in several countries, stemming from signiÀcant investments in building a knowledge-based system that enables greater application of technologically driven research and innovation,” he said.

The CBN governor explained that technology is not only reshaping how knowledge is shared but also how goods and services are produced and traded, adding that it is also redesigning the various modes of payments for goods and services towards systems that enable faster and more e΀cient settlement of payment transactions.

“Today, the emergence of digital platforms such asAmazon andAlibaba have provided SMEs with a signiÀcant ability to expand their operations by enabling them to sell and deliver their products to customers that are not within their immediate environment,” he added.

According to him, a digitalised and knowledgedriven economy can accelerate the growth and development of SMEs as well as create new opportunities to strengthen productivity, especially in the services industry.

He listed countries such as India, China, Korea and Singapore as having continued to harness the beneÀts of the knowledge economy to accelerate economic growth, largely, through the contributions of SMEs. He tasked all stakeholders to deepen reforms that will improve human capital development through skills enhancement and proper linkage of research to the SME sector.

EmeÀele charged tertiary institutions to tap into the educational trends that are drivers of productivity in advanced and emerging markets, in order to reshape the curriculum, enhance the learning experience of students and foster innovation among the faculty and staͿ.

On the role of the CBN in the development of SMEs,EmeÀelesaidthebankhadrolledoutmassive developmental interventions in some critical sectors of the Nigerian economy, especially in agriculture, manufacturing and SMEs. EmeÀele congratulated the graduating students and urged them to take advantage of some of the bank’sprogrammesaimedatsupportingSMEssuch

as the SME Credit Guarantee Scheme (SMECGS); Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF); Agri-business/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS); Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI); Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) and the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF).

One of the most recent schemes targeted at channelling low-interest wholesale funds to the MSME segment is the MSMEDF. This scheme, which charges nine per cent interest rate has recorded the disbursement of over N83.9billion to 216,704 beneÀciaries as at the end of 2020. The obligor limit ranges from N500,000 for micro enterprises to N50 billion for SMEs Ànanced by DMBs/DFIs. Also, the initiative oͿers 10 per cent of the total loans for start-up businesses, two per cent to economically active persons living with disabilities (PLWD) and 60 per cent of the Fund’s wholesale component dedicated to women entrepreneurs or women led MSMEs in order to promote Ànancial inclusion.

Another intervention is theAGSMEIS, an initiative of the Bankers’ Committee, in collaboration with the CBN that was also set up to improve access to aͿordable and sustainable Ànance by agri-businesses and MSMEs. This has enhanced the creation of productive employment opportunities andboostthemanagerialcapacityofagri-businesses and MSMEs. So far, a total of N111.7 billion has been disbursed to 29,026 beneÀciaries.

Furthermore, a N50 billion Targeted Credit Facility was introduced in March 2020, as a stimulus package to cushion the eͿects of COVID-19 pandemic on households and MSMEs across the country. So far, under AGSMEIS and the bank’s targeted credit facility, over N111.7 billion and N253.4 billion have been disbursed to 29,026 and 548,345 beneÀciaries, respectively.

The central bank also launched several youth investment-friendlyprogrammesandinterventions to empower Nigerian youths with necessary inputs to build successful SMEs and other businesses.

One of such schemes is the YEDP which was launched in 2016, to enhance the deployment of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Nigerian youths to achieve maximum economic development.

Under the scheme, a total of N173.4 million has

been disbursed to over 67 beneÀciaries.

The target beneÀciaries are members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), non-NYSC (but with not more than Àve years post-NYSC), holders of veriÀable tertiary institution certiÀcates, and artisans with First School Leaving CertiÀcate or a technical certiÀcate or accredited proÀciency certiÀcate from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

Relatedly, the Federal Executive Council on July 22nd, 2020 approved the sum of N75 billion for the establishment of the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) for the period of 2020 - 2023 to be funded by the CBN. The objective of NYIF is to improve access to Ànance for youth and youthownedenterprisesfornationaldevelopment.Under the scheme, N2.04 billion has been disbursed to 7,057 beneÀciaries, of which 4,411 were individuals and 2,646 SMEs. Furthermore, the bank established the Creative Industry Financing Initiatives (CIFI) aimed at improving access to long-term, low-cost Ànancing to entrepreneurs and investors. It covers a wide range of sub sectors in the creative industries, some of which include, movie and music production, fashion and ICT. Among the target opportunities is the graduate softwaredevelopmentloan.Whilethedisbursement is in phases, in line with the agreed milestone, a sum of N3.1 billion has so far been disbursed to 341 beneÀciaries.

Another area championed by the Bank towards SMEs development relates to entrepreneurship and youth training.

The CBN in 2006 in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprises Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) and Industrial Training Fund (ITF), began the establishment of Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC) across six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The centres were mandated to develop entrepreneurship spirit amongst Nigerians and provide insight into the tools, techniques, and framework for managing all functional areas of business enterprise, including production, marketing, personnel, and Ànance. These initiatives have signiÀcantly helped to bridge the skilled labour gap among SMEs. Furthermore, the bank has provided substantial support to some selected higher institutions in the country in order to enhance training, and quality.

This formed the basis for the construction of centres of excellence in eight Universities across the country, two of which have been completed, with others at various stages of development.

“As SMEs continue to play strategic roles in strengthening national economies and creating jobs, the catalytic roles of knowledge and innovation is essential for delivering more inclusive growth.

“With the abundant resources at our disposal, including a large population of over two 200 million, natural resources and favourable climate among others, extensive measures must be put in place to accelerate the development of the economy and to make it more globally competitive. In this regard, the following policy options should be considered,” EmeÀele added.

According to him, special consideration should be given to the strengthening of physical and ICT infrastructure to enable SMEs perform more efÀciently and become globally competitive. He also said there should be increased eͿorts towards accelerated diͿusion of technology among SMEs. “As users of new technologies, policies should incentivise the adoption of innovations that will improve SMEs competitiveness and productivity.

Deepening reforms that improve human capital development through skills enhancement and proper linkage of research to industry will improve the performance of SMEs. “Increased access to Ànance for start-ups and SMEs is highly essential. In this regard, the CBN stands ready to increase its development Ànance interventions to further support the sector.”

It is expected that the move by the central bank Governor will help in deepening entrepreneurial spirit amongst tertiary institutions’ students in the country.

25

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 18, 2021

BUSINESS PERSONALITY Abdul Samad Rabiu Joins League of Africa’s Biggest Philanthropists Magnates are gods of the franchises they create. And guardians of the world’s their business empires inhabit. It’s a huge task. They inÁuence economies, politics, and cities.

And if they are very ambitious, they create not just the laws of government, but also the laws of nature. However, no magnate has been a god to as many vastly diͿerent worlds as BUA boss Abdul Samad Rabiu. His worlds are Áooded with the brilliant light of his imagination, whether he’s building on the past, determining the present, or strategising the future no one had ever imagined, writes Lanre Alfred

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any have wondered how he came WR DPDVV VXFK YDVW D΀XHQFH DQG DQ enduring sway at the pinnacle of the business world; it’s mostly a function of perception. He had an ingenious ability to discern the labyrinthine tracts of commerce and his persistence in asking ‘why?’

It would be recalled that millions saw the apple fall, but it was only Newton, who asked ¶why?’ The late scientist, while blessed with incredible genius, also betrayed an amazing gift of perception. He observed the little details that often counted but are habitually discounted in the Áurry of things, which led him to the achievement of great exploits and enviable rewards.

Rabiu is no Newton, but he displays a towering sagacity and wonderful gift of scrutiny similar to that oft ascribed to the late scientiÀc genius. So adept is he at his vocation that he constantly discovers rare business opportunities often invisible to his peers. Simply put, Rabiu has acquired his reputation by good judgment, fair dealing, exactness, and rectitude - which jointly constitute the essence of his good fortune.

Little wonder, he has steadily evolved as Africa’s second-biggest philanthropist with his BUAFoundation and the phenomenal Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative - the Àrst being Globacom chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. Rabiu’sphilanthropicinitiativeswereestablishedtosupportsustainable development initiatives in health, education, and social development within Nigeria and the rest of Africa through its annual $100 million grant. Often called ¶Mr. Talk and Do’ by many Nigerians, Rabiu has shown that he is not just about making money but also making it available as a resource for advancing humanity.

ASR as Game-changer in Global Philanthropy ThereisnodisputingthepluckandenviableprescienceofAbdulsamad Rabiu. Like the fabled alchemist, who transforms base metals into gold blocks, Rabiu enchants business rivals and peer with towering acumen and Ànesse.

For the umpteenth time, the billionaire founder of BUAGroup has bestedhimselfinhisexploits.LastMarch,industrialistextraordinaireand BUAGroup chairman,Abdulsamad Rabiu, launched theAbdul Samad RabiuAfrica Initiative, which aims to unlock sustainable development opportunities in Africa, by Africans, for Africans that would cater for various interventions in education, health and social development.

The initiative started with a $100 million annual funding for Africa’s social development and renewal - $50 million would be dedicated to Nigeria yearly while $50 million would go to the rest of Africa.

Hesaid,“ItiswiththeblessingsoftheAlmighty,myfamily,colleagues, the support of my community and the backing of my conscience that I announce the launch of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative, with an Africa fund endowment of $100 million every year starting from this year, 2021.

“With theAbdul Samad Rabiu Initiative and its annual $100 million Africa Fund for Social Development, we are speciÀcally extending this work to the education, health and social development sectors, starting with infrastructure and capacity development in these areas and supporting the eͿorts of various governments in Nigeria and SubSaharanAfrica. Our broad focus is equipping facilities, our researchers, healthcare practitioners and community-level service providers, with the aim of providing sustainable solutions for generations to come.”

He added that as the world tries to claw its way back to business as usual, “the initiative aims to be a modest reminder to us all that until our health, education and other development issues are Àxed, business as usual in these times, means business as brutal. We pledge to continue to do what we can to support ongoing eͿorts by various governments to bridge the development divide across Africa.”

Rabiu announced a N1 billion donation to six higher institutions in Nigeria ² the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, =aria; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; the University of Maiduguri; the University of Ilorin; and the University of Benin. All the universities have got their NI billion each. He didn’t stop there. Early July, the ASR and the Kwara government jointly announced the construction of the largest oncology and diagnostic centre in WestAfrica to be built with a N2.5 billion ASR Africa Tertiary Health Systems Infrastructure initial grant recently awarded to the state from theARS’s annual $100 million Africa Fund for Social Development and Renewal. The ASR Africa Oncology and Diagnosis Centre is a standalone facility dedicated to

outbreak of the pandemic in Nigeria, he announced a donation of N1 billion in cash through the BUA Foundation to CACOVID (the private sector coalition spearheaded by the Central Bank of Nigeria and tasked with pulling resources across industries to provide technical and operational support while building advocacy through aggressive awareness drives with the sole aim of combating coronavirus in Nigeria) and also placed an order for an additional donation of equipment and medical supplies to many states in Nigeria.

The BUAGroup, one of Nigeria’s leading foods and infrastructure conglomerates, announced that it had purchased one million doses of theAstra=eneca COVID-19 vaccine through theAfreximBank vaccine programme partnership with CACOVID BUAis a frontline member of the CACOVID.Astatement by the conglomerate management posited that the vaccine doses would be distributed to Nigerians at no cost.

Rabiu

Oncology diagnosis, research, and treatment, to bridge the gap in cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment in WestAfrica. Construction is expected to commence on-site before the end of August.

Similarly, the ASR is supporting the construction of the Akwa Ibom State University Teaching Hospital with N5 billion, for which N2.5 billion was disbursed immediately to commence construction.

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom said: “We are happy to receive the Àrst tranche of N2.5 billion from the ASR Africa Initiative and the groundbreaking ceremony coming just two weeks after the N5 billion grant was announced signposts the seriousness we attach to delivering a teaching hospital that would be a model for others and one Nigeria would be proud of.”

Few days before then, the ASR awarded a $3 million education infrastructure support grant to the Ghanaian government through its Ministry of Education to eradicate ¶schools under trees’ whilst developing primary education infrastructure across the country.

In the same month of June, a subsidiary of the BUA Group, the BUA Cement Company, had donated a school, hospital and other infrastructures worth N230 million to two relocated communities, Gidan Bailu and Gidan Datti in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto. The donated facilities comprise a school with two blocks of classrooms, an administrative block, a township mosque, a clinic, two boreholes, a 30 KVA electricity transformer, township electriÀcation installations and a cemetery.According to the company, the facilities are meant to complement the eͿorts of the state government in enhancing people’s lives and to facilitate a conducive environment for the relocated citizens to dwell in good living conditions.

Rabiu’s Heart of Gold Often called ¶Mr. Talk and Do’ by many Nigerians, Rabiu has shown that he is not just about making money but making it available as a resource for advancing the lot of humanity. AForbes-rated billionaire, Rabiu’s reputation as one ofAfrica’s biggest philanthropists, was further reinforced during the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a cessation of socio-economic activities across the country. Amid the doom and gloom of the pervasive fear of the pandemic, and the Áagging faith of Nigerians per their survival, the billionaire chairman of BUA, through his social impact and philanthropy arm, raised hopes and planted joy in the bosoms of Nigerians.

As of January 2021, BUA Foundation had so far committed over N7billion in cash, foodstuͿs and medical supplies, amongst other things to the federal and state governments and various humanitarian agencies. Earlier, the foundation had donated 31 ambulances to Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Sokoto, Jigawa, Katsina, Edo and Kwara, and cash sums ranging from N100million and above to eight states and N300 million to the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19. Not forgetting that at the

Why France Honoured Him For his commitment to developing lasting relationships between French and Nigerian businesses, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, had, inApril 2021, appointed Rabiu as chairman of the France Nigeria Investment Club. This was on the heels of signing a bilateral agreementbetweenBUAGroupandAxensofFranceforBUA’sproposed 200,000barrels per day reÀnery in Akwa Ibom. The reÀnery will be completed in 2024, and it is expected to save the Nigerian economy from a huge foreign exchange drain in the import of petroleum products.

The employment generation capacity is also huge.

To celebrate the deal, President Macron hosted the illustrious industrialist at his o΀ce in the elyspe Presidential Palace, where they discussed the strengthening of economic and business ties between France, Nigeria and sub-SaharanAfrica. The French president expressed optimism that there were opportunities to be unlocked in the business relationship between Africa and France. He looked forward to BUA Group being one of the African businesses leading that charge.

Just last week, Macron appointed Rabiu as the inaugural President of the French Nigeria Business Council, a private sector initiative to facilitate business cooperation between both countries, which was launched on the margins of the Choose France summit at Versailles on June 28. Other Nigerian members of the council are Gilbert Chagoury (Chagoury Group), MikeAdenuga (Globacom/Conoil),Aliko Dangote (Dangote Industries), Tony Elumelu (Heirs Holdings/UBA/TEF), and Herbert Wigwe (Access Bank). Also on the council are more than a dozen CEOS from some of the biggest French companies, including TotalEnergies, Axens, Danone, and Dassault.

The BUAGroup chairman thanked President Macron for “his vision in creating the French Nigeria Business Council which has led to a reset in the business relationship between Nigeria and France and has created a viable platform for business from both countries to partner and improve business ties.”

Rabiu said, “Nigeria is blessed with numerous potentials for French companies to do business across diͿerent areas, notably solid minerals, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, associated equipment, power, food processing, and even in the business of associated equipment or infrastructure for the value chains of these sectors.

“WhereFrenchbusinesseshaveformerlybeenrisk-averseoroutrightly unable to do business with Africa’s largest economy, they can now be assured of a platform through which they can penetrate and mutually grow the market. Where Nigerian companies had not seen French companies or the French market as a viable destination due to a lack of information, they can now be sure of a platform to facilitate this. This is all thanks to President Macron’s foresight and vision.”

The Awards Pour in Named the Vanguard Businessman of The Year 2020, the respected newspaper’s Board of Editors stated, “In the search for the bests among the great corporate and individuals for recognition and honour, we received resounding recommendations on Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder/Executive Chairman, BUA Group and Chairman, BUA Cement Plc.” The Board of Editors also stated that a further inquest into Rabiu’s activities in 2020 indicated several bold initiatives in business development starting early in the year while ending the year in stallion performance. And in between, while coronavirus raged, he has also been found in the forefront of the national Àght against the pandemic in the public interest.

See concluding part on www. thisdaylive.com

26

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 18, 2021

PERSPECTIVE

Stepping into the World in Uncertain Times with Enthusiasm Kola Adesina

F

ellow graduands, I am honoured to be here with you today on this Ànal day of the Aresty Institute of Executive Education, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania,Advanced Management Program ² AMP 78.

I would like to say a big thank you to the Wharton AMPfaculty members, facilitators and invited guest speakers for the wonderful opportunity aͿorded by the program. The program was intense, exciting and a much-needed learning of the global economy.

I would also like to thank my cohorts, now turned friends and prospective future business partners for the engaging and instructive interactions It would be an understatement to say that we currently live in trying times, but again, as in the past, we must continue to be resilient as we position to triumph against all odds. Every generation has faced immense di΀culties, be it the blight of the Spanish Flu (1918), the Great Depression (1929-33) or the World Wars (1914-18, 1939-45). We humans are no strangers to di΀cult times. However, while these di΀cult times come with challenges, they also come with new opportunities for necessary interventions which generated prosperity and growth. It is in these di΀cult times that true leaders emerge and visionaries are forged and tested.

This was ordinarily supposed to be a physical program in Philadelphia scheduled to have lasted a couple of weeks. However, the pandemic changed the course of events as we have had nine months of extensive online sessions that have now come to an end. As such we are your Àrst experiment in experiencing a virtual AMP, and a seemingly successful experiment at that.

The Àrst lesson we have learned in the course of the program is that the ability to adapt is critical.

A very smart man once posited that “it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent but the one that is most adaptable to change”. Change is constant and the WhartonAMP facilitators adapted and modiÀed the program swiftly to address the demands of a changing world.

As global business leaders, the sessions on in-

Adesina

novation and operations, marketing and creativity, Ànance and accounting, strategy, global trends, leadership, team management and community building were very instructive on how to get the desired results, not just for the organization but as individuals. The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed gaps across diͿerent economies of the world. The session on Leading in Crisis could not have been more important. Focusing on the goal has always been a winning strategy, as challenges are bound to come, but that focus helps us elevate above the crisis and become solution providers.

Consequently, as we move to the next stage of our lives and careers using the knowledge, understanding and tools that this program has imparted on us, I would like to emphasise the importance of hope and enthusiasm. The hope and enthusiasm to leave this world a better place than we found it, to surmount new and complex problems, to help and give back to our communities, and to share our knowledge freely, whilst we continue to explore new and better ways of doing things and achieving exceptional results.

We are marching into an uncertain world, but our steps and actions need not be uncertain.

COVID-19, brought us into an era when the world came together for a uniÀed purpose ² to overcome a common enemy. An enemy that did

not discriminate between race, status or geography.

It has been a time when the whole world felt the same pain and the same need for survival. The world ran the same race, a race against time, and sought to purchase the same commodity ² time -with most resources channelled to survival, and a hope to live to see just another day. There was an unprecedented uniÀcation of people across the world, hoping and single-mindedly holding our breaths for the same thing- LIFE. It has been a time where all people became preys and through shared concern learnt to feel each other’s pain, beyond borders, colour or prosperity threshold With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to rage and the resulting deepening of the Global North-South inequality, the opportunities to change and improve ourselves and our planet in these uncertain times must be utilised. We need visionaries now and action-oriented leaders more than ever before.

At the recently concluded G7 Summit, the G7 countries stressed the need to unite around a common purpose. As global citizens, we owe a responsibility to the world and to each other.

I dare to say that in no other room in the world would you Ànd people as well suited to taking on the great challenges of our times as we have here today ² the challenge to lead and drive the energy transition movement for carbon reduction and a cleaner environment, The challenge to create cheaper and aͿordable sources of clean/ renewable energy and accelerate the adoption, to speed up the move away from less e΀cient machinery/ processes/ systems, to come up with new and innovative poverty reduction strategies, to ensure vaccine equity, to foster wildlife preservation and to create sustainable products Our planet has been through a lot, it’s time to think about ensuring sustainability of life and living within the timeframe we have in all our activities.

We have the opportunity, now, to leverage our knowledge and relationships to create new levels of value and extend the frontiers of humanity. We must Ànd the means to pursue purpose, enhance man’s happiness and creativity, create wealth and drive equitable progress globally. How can we unify the world around the virus of poverty? How can we apply the vaccine of multilateralism and

social enterprise projects to build exceptional community relationship and thereby reduce the misery quotient globally? The opportunities to change and improve the world are endless.

We are here today, alive to say our goodbyes.

So, I greet you all, not merely as peers and cohorts but as fellow survivors of an unforeseen period of chaos, fear and death. I stand here, addressing you all, not just as consociates who went through tough times and high water but as friends who are hopeful of nurturing better society. For what the world has been through cannot be overstated or exaggerated. I would like to commend you for staying strong through these turbulent times.

In the midst of a most distressing global issue, we have hoped together, laughed together, thought together and Ànished together.As we move towards recovery and a post-COVID world, it becomes paramount that we focus on purpose ² that we emphasise on why we are here and that we must strive to generate positive outcomes with signiÀcant impact and hopefully leave lasting legacies.

I look forward to the world reopening again fully to people meeting their loved ones around the globe and going back to business. This AMP has been an interesting journey and has reenergized me to pursue purpose. I am excited and I look forward to us applying the lessons learnt with the rich tool kits in our various businesses and private lives Once again, I would like to thank the Faculty members for all the time and eͿort they have invested in us during the program. To my fellow graduands, we have gone from classmates to becoming friends. Together, we can do a lot as the future beckons to us. In Nigeria, my doors are always open, and I extend an open invitation to every one of you to come visit my home country.

On a Ànal note, we certainly will add value to Wharton Business School by “Putting knowledge into action.”

Our Story doesn’t end here.

See you in October.

Being a speech made by Kola Adesina at the Aresty Institute of Executive Education, the WhartonSchooloftheUniversityofPennsylvania, Advanced Management Program – AMP 78.

How Collaboration between Dealers and Solar Firms Can Boost Nigeria’s Electric Vehicle Sector Glory Oguegbu

The Nigerian EV Situation The electric vehicle industry in Nigeria is very nascent. The issue that has been raised over and over again is that Nigeria is not ready for electric vehicles deployment. This seemed true and only compounded by the fact that there is no formal policy or regulation created by the government to back the electric vehicle industry. In fact, when a senator proposed a bill for EV regulation to the senate, they called it irrelevant. Critics mentioned that Nigeria’s oil fueled economy and dependence on oil as major economic resource is a signiÀcant causeofthebillrejection.However,theprivatesector has taken a lead in championing electric vehicle business models as they try to deploy solutions for the market. To maximize proÀt, few electric vehicle companies have implemented various strategies according to the environment and market.

Partnership between EV Automotive Companies and Solar Charge Point Operators South Africa’s case in Point In my study, I have observed a business model which I will speak about in detail during the course of this article. I Àrst noted the trend with South Africa’s unique partnership with automobiles and charging infrastructure service providers. The company involved ² GridCars gets into a unique agreement with automobile companies retailing electric vehicles to provide charging infrastructure within the locations where their customers live and along the routes they ply regularly. This simple collaboration, increased the automobile company’s value oͿering and killed the range anxiety issue faced by EV users as customers have access to a charging infrastructure near them. Consequently, this increased customer’s interest in electric vehicles thereby tripling sales for the automobile companies.

GridCars even go as far as oͿering overnight charge service to some of the customers.

Collaboration between Electric Taxi Hailing Companies and Solar Companies for Charging Point Establishment Nigeria’s Case in Point A very interesting EV business model which can skyrocket the deployment of electric vehicles

in Nigeria is a partnership which is similar to that observed in SouthAfrica betweenAutomobile retail companies and EV charge point service providers.

In this case it is a collaboration between EV taxi hailing companies and solar companies to provide solar charging infrastructure. At this time, there is oneexampleofthispartnershipexistingsuccessfully in Nigeria which is a testimonial to how this model (EV automobiles and solar charge point operators) can disrupt the EV business space in Nigeria.

As I will describe below, what makes this sort of partnership interesting is the fact that the solar company involved has a mini-grid deployment service as part of its business plan. I will explain why this is important.

A Practical Example of this Collaboration In August 2020, a popular Áeet motorcycle taxi hailing company, MA; NG launched its emotorcycles, the MA; E Series which has 1500mAh battery life and a running speed of 60km/h MA;.

They partnered with a solar company ² Rubitec Industries which also has mini-grid power stations across the country to provide solar powered charging and swapping stations for the e-bikes.

This is already operational in Ogun State Nigeria.

It is interesting considering the role that electric vehicles can play for a mini-grid power station. The batteries used for the Áeets of the motorbikes will charge from the mini-grid. This will draw a Áexible and substantial load of electricity that can provide an income stream for the mini-grid. Additionally, passenger taxi hailing giant ² Uber which has huge presence in Nigeria recently announced their plans to electrify their cars in 2030. When Uber extends this initiative to Nigeria, this model will greatly aid their intention.

Why is this sort of partnership mostly important?

As I mentioned earlier in this article, there is no formal policy or regulation backing the electric vehicle sector in Nigeria. This of course has caused some setback to the full deployment of electric vehicles in the country due to lack of incentives or any of the other perks that come with full government endorsement and support.

But there is an interesting perspective on this issue that everyone else is missing ² there is a robust policy

and regulation for renewable energy development including mini grids in Nigeria. In fact mini-grids have its own dedicated policy and regulation ² the NERC’s 2016 Mini Grid Regulation.

This sort of partnership is important because the huge governmental support that mini-grid has received in Nigeria is very enabling for electric vehicles deployment.

This is because mini-grid companies in Nigeria have struggled to be bankable. Most of them require an anchor load to make sense of the business model.

In fact, according to a report by Nigeria’s rural ElectriÀcation Agency and Rocky Mountain Institute, mini-grid companies in Nigeria have reportedly created small manufacturing businesses in rural communities they work in where the equipment can serve as anchor load with the beneÀciaries paying back in installments.

Therefore, a new business model could be in the o΀ng as a result of the collaboration between e-taxi hailing companies and solar companies. This model is mini-grid companies adopting three wheeler EVs through a rent to own community scheme as additional revenue source. I share more details below.

Mini-grid Companies Adopting Electric Vehicles as a Means of Additional Revenue According to IRENA, EVs represent a paradigm shift for both the transport and power sectors, with the potential to advance the decarbonisation of both sectors by coupling them. Nigeria’s mini-grid sector is rising by the day. According to a World Bank report, there are 11 mini-grids in the country which represents a 17per cent growth from 2005 to 2015. The growth recorded has been as a result of massive government support through a clear policy and regulation. One of the main challenges of Mini-grids is that they are costly to install, and often have a low electricity demand from domestic customers.Thismakesithardtoachievecommercial viability without ¶anchor’ loads.

How it will Work With this noted rise of mini-grids across the country, more opportunities exist for collaboration with electric vehicle retail or taxi hailing companies.

Electric vehicles can support mini-grid companies by the addition of more productive electricity loads

to the system and batteries can create additional electricity storage.

Mini-grid companies can partner with more automobiles companies to provide charging solutions under a battery swap model. The revenue from battery charging service can augment direct electricity sales reducing payback periods and making mini-grid assets bankable. Additionally, mini-grid companies can create a new revenue stream by setting up three wheeler electric vehicles renttoownservicesforcommunitymemberswhere they work.

TheseEVtricycleswillplayagreatrolesupporting public mass transportation and also serve as anchor load for the mini-grid. The mini-grid company provides battery swapping services for the tricycles and can store power in stationery batteries. It’s a win-win situation as the mini-grid company, provides economic development opportunity in the community and at the same time improves their bankability through anchor loads.

Increased Capacity for V2X Services In no time, mini-grid companies could start V2; services with a pilot V2G program as they already have some of the necessary requirements and increased capacity.

There are massive opportunities for electric vehicle deployment in Nigeria. These models shared will ease up the process. If explored accordingly, it will improve economic development through job creation and help us attain a Climate Smart Society. . Oguegbu is the founder of and chief instructor at RETTI. The institute grooms the next generation of e΀cient installers and entrepreneurs with a focus on women who will serve as a competent workforce for the renewable energy industry and provide solutions to Nigeria’s prevalent energy problems as entrepreneurs.

Oguegbu is the founder/CEO of RETTI Institute, which trains the next generation of HͿFLHQW VRODU LQVWDOOHUV DQG HQWUHSUHQHXUV to serve as a competent workforce for the renewable energy industry. In 2021, she created the Global Youth Coalition for Electric Vehicles to galvanise youths to take action for the promotion of electric vehicles globally.

27

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • JULY 18, 2021

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 15Jul-2021, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS

AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 155.89 157.44 -3.64% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.75% Nigeria International Debt Fund 317.62 317.62 -21.27% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 111.57 111.57 -0.47% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.51% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.24 3.40 -4.54% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 3.32% Anchoria Equity Fund 133.89 135.42 0.66% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.09 1.09 -17.71% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 105.17 105.17 3.40% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,008.75 1,008.75 0.88% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 133.11 133.77 5.39% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.67% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.82% Paramount Equity Fund 16.39 16.69 2.48% Women's Investment Fund 135.82 137.39 2.06% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.19% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 117.22 117.96 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 107.21 107.21 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.97% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.18 1.19 -1.98% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.36 1.36 -14.26% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 5.72% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 4.40% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,130.61 1,143.91 -1.89% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,388.16 1,388.16 11.46% FBN Balanced Fund 189.88 191.19 1.17% FBN Halal Fund 111.17 111.17 8.19% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.38% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

126.10 156.36

126.10 3.59% 158.53 3.43% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.95 1.57 1.18

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 4.68% 3.95 2.17% 1.60 2.87% 1.18 3.77% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price 3,671.03 3,358.16 100.00

Offer Price 3,722.17 3,358.16 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn -1.98% 2.50% 5.57%

GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.55% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.88 2.94 0.85% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 151.37 151.65 -2.65% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.27 1.31 0.87% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.10 1.10 0.64% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.41 1.43 3.47% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,134.99 1,134.99 4.59% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.39 11.44 8.72% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.29% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 132.74 135.02 8.56% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 10.10% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,234.50 3,266.21 0.67% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 231.31 231.31 2.87% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.20 1.22 2.54% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 304.19 304.19 3.23% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 220.23 223.52 0.91% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.64% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,276.49 10,422.11 -2.08% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.26 1.26 2.96% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 114.77 114.77 3.32% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 102.27 102.27 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.29 1.31 0.81% United Capital Bond Fund 1.90 1.90 3.55% United Capital Equity Fund 0.86 0.88 8.15% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.30% United Capital Eurobond Fund 118.92 118.92 3.92% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.07 3.57% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 5.64% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.88 12.99 8.50% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.11 14.24 15.50% Zenith Income Fund 24.18 24.18 0.84% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.55%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.34 51.61

10.09% 2.31%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.26 125.20 99.04 18.01 17.98

13.36 128.21 101.14 18.11 18.08

0.29% 4.08% -0.21%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.92 5.90 17.35 1.00 19.14 151.05

3.96 5.98 17.45 1.00 19.34 153.05

3.69% 3.75% 6.90% 4.80% -6.71% -31.03%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.52

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

28

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 18, 2021

IMAGES

S

enetor Liyel Imoke 60th birthday anniversary celebration in Abuja, important personalities grace the occasion.

Former Governor cross river, Liyel Imoke with Governor sokoto state, Amiun Tanbowa

Former governor cross river, Liyel Imoke

Former governor of delta state, Name Ibori; with member house of representative, Ndudi Elumelu

Former governor cross river, Liyel Imoke (middle) and some guests at the event

Former Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Abdulrahman Ahmed

L-R People Democratic Party, national chairman Prince, Uche Seconds with former Saenate President, Ayim Pius

L-R: Former Senete President, Iyorchia Ayu; with former Minister of Communication, Tom Ikimi

L-R: Member house of representative, Nnenna Ukeje; with former deputy speaker house representative, Chibodom Nwuche

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 18, 2021

29

IMAGES

L-R; former niger state governor, Muazu Babangida; former people democratic party Chairman, Walid Jibrin

Bishop and Rev Mrs. Obi Onubogu

L-R; Deputy Vice Chancellor Arthur jarives university cross river, Dr. Joe Edet; member house of representative, Etta Mbora

L-R; Former Commissioner for Water Resources, Godwin Etta; and Permanent Secretary ICT, Mr. Igbe Aruku

L-R; Chancellor Arthur jarives university, Mr. JArvis Archiving; and wife of the celebrant Mrs. Obioma Imoke

Former Senate president, Dr. Bokala Saraki

President Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Apata

Former chairman APC, Adam Oshiomhole

Member house of representative, Ndudi Elumelu

Former member house representative, Jones Onyereri

Hon. Eneka Ihedioha, former Governor of Imo State

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

18.7.2021

EYES ON MODERNITY Prince Tsola Emiko is the Next Olu of Warri Appreciative of his modernist world-view, entrepreneurial savvy and deep commitment to the ancient customs and traditions of the people of Itsekiri, the kingmakers of the respected Itsekiri kingdom proclaim Prince Tsola Emilo as the next Olu of Warri with the coronation slated for August 21, 2021. Louis Achi writes ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

COVER

The Entrepreneur who would be King

Emiko

Emiko

I

n the morning of the 21st Century, the venerable kingmakers of the respected Itsekiri kingdom in Southern Nigeria couldn’t have settled for a more modern cultural shepherd as Olu of Warri-Designate, Prince Tsola Emilo. Opting to crown a personality committed to upholding the ancient customs and traditions of the proud people of Itsekiri, speaks to the wisdom of a kingdom with eyes on modernity.

As it is, the Itsekiri Kingdom will host the world from the 21st of August 2021, when it celebrates the coronation of a new Olu of Warri. The Olu designate, Prince Tsola Emiko will be crowned on that day, making him the 21st Olu from a long dynasty that stretches back hundreds of years.

Prince Tsola Emiko is an iconic entrepreneur with depth and much to offer to a new Nigeria, where justice, equity, merit, a sense of dogged determination, strategic focus and ability for sustainable wealth creation will be the watchwords.

History may record the official announcement of his ascension to the throne as the signpost that signalled the commencement of a new era of sustained prosperity, harmony and progress for the

people of the Iwere Kingdom, a place all Itsekiris call home.

Son of the 19th Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atunwase II, Prince Tsola Emiko, the Oludesignate till his grand coronation planned for the 21st of August 2021, was born and bred under the stewardship of the respected Ginuwa Royal House of the Itsekiris and underwent training in the walk of Princes by his late father.

Every important life mission needs specific preparation. Prince Tsola Emiko is Western-educated Masters’ degree holder, who majored in International Studies & Political Science at the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, USA and also received M.Sc. in Management from the same University. He traces his educational background through the strict boarding school system of the Adesoye College Offa, Kwara State. Before that was the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Primary School Warri, Delta State which he attended.

Back home in Nigeria, he worked in several public and private sector enterprises, ostensibly gaining the foundational knowledge and experience of the vagaries of the Nigerian business environment for what would be his

sojourn into the uncertain annals of life as a Nigerian entrepreneur.

The National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Sahara Energy, Shell Nigeria Closed Pension Fund Administrator (SNCFPA) are some of the companies involved across the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry where Prince Emiko spent his early professional life and from where he made the bold venture into the conceptualization and establishment of his own businesses.

A multi-tasking visioner and entrepreneur par excellence, Prince Emiko owns and operates Noble Energy Ltd, Corral Curators Ltd and is also on the board of a number of companies, including Ocean Marine Security Ltd, Gulf of Guinea Ltd and Vessellink Nig Ltd, to mention a few thriving businesses that are significant employers of labour and contributors to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Prince Emiko, as a businessman, is respected amongst his peers and professional contemporaries alike as a study in the co-mingling of ideas of enterprise building and the application of human capacity development to problemsolving.

A firm believer in the notion that the problems of youth unrest in the Niger Delta can be reduced significantly through an early foundation in STEM education furthered by dedicated access to skill acquisition in the technology, vocational and creative industries, the emerging consensus is that Prince Emiko will translate his experience and world view into long-lasting impact on the lives of his people as he mounts the throne of his ancestors.

The Olu of Warri-designate, Prince Emiko clearly pushes a vision for Itsekiri kingdom which identifies the most singular

challenge today as the need to reverse the decline and restore the foundations for development and growth in this great and historic town. He believes that Itsekiri must be restored to its past supremacy by keeping abreast of change whilst upholding and preserving its identity as a people. He also believes that Itsekiri must be part of the mainstream in Nigeria and should maintain and strengthen its ties and links with the world around it.

Today, Itsekiri kingdom faces the challenges of reconciliation and peace, preservation and enhancement of its culture and tradition, community development and self-help, re-focusing the youths towards functional education and gainful economic activity, and generally harnessing it’s resources and energy at home and in diaspora for the good of Itsekiri. Addressing these issues and challenges calls for a leader who possesses a unique combination of attributes which incidentally, Prince Emiko has aplenty.

Prince Tsola Emiko is gentle but firm, resolute and fair. He does not shirk responsibility for his own actions and those of his delegated subordinates. He is blessed with excellent managerial skills as well as local, national and international exposure and connections. He is a man of principles and is open, transparent and diplomatic. Above all, he is well versed in and committed to upholding the ancient customs and traditions of the proud people of Itsekiri.

For being picked by his peoples’ kingmakers as an informed cultural anchor and messenger for his folks in a period of rapid change and willing to spearhead the renewal and modernization of Itsekiri kingdom, Delta State, and Nigeria; for espousing tradition and culture as still relevant tools for building a just society, Prince Tsola Emiko is certainly a new leader that will transform Itsekiri land.

COVER 2 A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

18. 7. 2021

full of ideas and in a hurry to get things done. He took me under his wings and made it possible for me to fly. Some other people would have stifled that spirit in me. He allowed it to fly. One thing interesting about Chief Ojo Maduekwe was that when I became minister, he was an ambassador to Canada, and when I came visiting Canada, he said he would come and receive me. I said, ‘oga, it is not possible, but he said no, you are now the minister, if any other Minister comes, I will take you to your meetings, I will go with you.

That was how great Ojo was as a human being. Of course, he has been accused of all kinds of things.

My becoming corps marshall, I give total credit to President Obasanjo. It was his decision; he made the decision. I know those who spoke to Jonathan about me for the ministerial appointment. I was in South Africa when he called me and said I should come. He made me Minister of Aviation. On both occasions, Ojo thanked them profusely for that honour because he felt we were emotionally attached. He gave me a lot of guidance. He is one person I surely miss on this 50th birthday. It would have been nice to have Ojo around on occasion like this because he was so happy for my successes. He was very excited. I just believe that I have chosen a life of public service.

Osita Chidoka at 50 In this interview with Stanley Nkwazema, former aviation minister and FRSC corps marshall talks about his legacy, beginnings, aspirations and other socio-political trajectories.

As part of the activities leading to your birthday, you visited Kenneth Dike Hall at UNN, your alma mater. What did you see? Were you happy?

T

ragic. That is the only word that can describe it. This was the hostel I left 26 years ago. I mean Kenneth Dike Hall on the Enugu campus. When we were there, we had

fallen to four people in a room, but it was designed for two people.

The toilet facilities were built in such a way that two people in a row in a room. So, there are about 20 rooms. You have a toilet attached to you. They were not self-contained, but those toilets were built for two people with four per room. There is a wardrobe for two people. By the time we were there, it has moved for four people.

When I now went back there, there are now eight people. There is no

running water. The hostel has not been refurbished in the past 25 years.

Serving Chief Ojo Maduekwe’s SA, corps marshal and then aviation minister all under 50 years, do you feel fulfilled?

I have great regards for Chief Ojo Maduekwe. He was somebody that I loved intensely. He gave me wings. He mentored me very well.

I was a very ebullient young man,

You once contested the Anambra governorship. What crashed that dream?

Elections are to be won and lost.

Fighting an incumbent wasn’t easy.

We didn’t have enough funding and momentum to remove an incumbent.

Many have this feeling that you are a difficult person to work with because you want things to be done and done very well.

That would be sad because doing things well is the best way.

It saves everybody stress. That’s why I have the confidence going around, talking with the people to exercise, running with the people and feeling that I took every decision base on the rules. I may have made mistakes, but it was purely a mistake of the heart and not of the head. I may have been biased, taken decisions that did not augur well, but fundamentally, my attitude to life is that you just have to be meticulous. You just have to have knowledge and vision to know where you are going.

You have to be able to engage in sustaining that vision. I feel very happy when people describe such and use those words. But I am not a very difficult person. I am actually

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

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COVER 2

Fifty Shades of My 50Years easygoing. The fact is that I will like you to follow the process. I am a rule keeping person.

The Ike Obosi, respecting the traditional institutions being with the people.

Exhilarating, being with the people. It is my happiest moment when I am in the village. I love it so much. My cultural affirmations are such that my identity, my being, is linked to my culture. I believe every human being must realise that that place where you were born is the place where you most flourish better. Going outside of that to flourish would be difficult. Culture, for me, is a way of life. I strictly adhere to it.

How fulfilled are you at 50?

It is not every day that you turn 50, and your father is alive, your mother is alive, my siblings are all alive, my children are growing up, and for that, I am very thankful to God. Most times, I feel I have lived three lives in one. Many people in their countries will struggle all their loves to become the head of an agency like FRSC and retire at 50 or 60….. I did that and left at 43 and retired more or less. I was the aviation minister until 2015, and I have remained engaged in the country. I am very proud of the strides I have gone through to not only go to a university, have a Masters Degree, and I have finally gone back again to read law, so I feel very fulfilled.

I feel I have contributed my quota engaging in Nigeria. I feel I have encouraged young people to learn from my mistakes and to learn from those things I have done well. I remain a social media-engaging person. I keep engaging with the young ones. I have a mentorship programme. I hope that on Saturday, young people from across the country will be gathering to commemorate with me my birthday by doing the 5-kilometre walk in their various locations. I must say that I feel good.

Tell us about your upbringing.

I was brought up in a family of love and care. I have a sister who is a chartered accountant, a brother who is a politician and a member of the House of Representatives, another brother who is a bishop and investment banker. We were contented. We had so many influences in our lives. All my Godparents have passed on to greater heights. I go to St Baths Anglican church.

I go to my primary school, Ziks Avenue Primary School, my secondary school, my university.

I went to St Vincents the Pore Nursery school and Union Secondary school Awkunanaw. I am an Enugu boy, born and bred.

For many reasons and difficulties of logistics of travelling and all of that. In due course, I will still do thanksgiving in St. Baths in Enugu and St Andrews in Obosi, where my father was baptized in 1926.

My parents invested in me particularly very early because when I was a boarding student, most pocket money was money to buy The Guardian every day. I started reading The Guardian from the University and the Newswatch. In fact, when Newswatch was closed in 1987 and reopened after Dele Giwas death, I had that copy of Newswatch that restarted. My teachers used to read my magazines and newspapers.

When I was in the University, I had pocket money for Time Magazine and then Newsweek, one every week.

The real post-civil war generation, how ready are they to unlock the potential?

I see it in two ways. The first thing is that there is a generation of Nigerians that have been bound by our history. I tell you, for the most part of the military regimes we had in Nigeria, there was no international airport in the East, and that was primarily because the military who fought in that war were thinking of that area as basically a secessionist enclave.

So, we don’t need an international airport. I remember the FM radio station in Enugu having the rising sun as their logo.

The then government forced them to remove it.

However, it took President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the man who didn’t participate in the war, a true civilian, to say, can we not have an international airport for the Igbos? He authorized the Enugu airport. It was President Yar’Adua; President Goodluck Jonathan only implemented.

During President Jonathan’s time, things that people felt were anathema; an Igbo man becoming Chief of Army Staff, he did it. He did not think twice about it. I think President Yar’Adua appointed Ogbonnaya Onovo as the Inspector General of Police; I think his appointment was after Michael Okiro. What I am saying is that not being held hostage to the past is an important step if a country wants to move forward.

Now we have gone back to President Buhari, and we have seen how his mind is still in the 70s and the 60s. Not much progress has been made. He still thinks of Nigeria from the prism of our differences, which is not his fault. It is the default mode of how he grew up, how he was born, how he experienced Nigeria. We need to make that shift to a new set of Nigerians who think differently, who have interacted at our federal government colleges, national institutions, who are comfortable within the enclave called Nigeria. Who are also aware of social justice issues, global trends? Banning Twitter is something that any person thinks is absurd. We don’t want to be in the league of those countries that banned Twitter. Even to report the president’s speech on Twitter, the handlers just showed a lack of sensitivity. This Nigeria and Naija that is going, we need to be able to weave to change Nigeria, to free Nigeria from its obsolescence. Nigeria is destined for obsolescence. We are discussing a $20 billion revenue a year economy

Chidoka

from oil, maybe sometimes $15 billion a year. That is not up to the profit of apple and the economy of a state like California in the United States. That is not up to the money that companies like google make. My attitude is that we need to look at Nigeria differently. We need to reimagine Nigeria. There are no better people to do it, in my view, and that can feel the exit of this older generation that are holding us hostage from our prejudices. We need to hand it over to a new generation awakened by the optimism of hope.

We need to see a new generation that sees the social justice issues of the world, which can imagine Nigeria as you have imagined Naija. That place where we can collaborate. Let’s not give in to cynicism. Let’s give in to hope.

We are a country founded on compromise. When we were going for Independence, and the North was not ready, the South compromised.

We waited; we deferred our date for Independence. When we created

Nigeria and had places that were not educationally advantaged, we created an educationally disadvantaged state. We created a quota system to make sure everybody had a sense of belonging. We created the Federal Character Commission, so nothing is stopping us from knowing that what has kept Nigeria going is our ability to compromise. To look at the constituent parts of Nigeria as one and show that we are ready to take others along despite our abilities in these areas. That, for me, is the challenge of 2023, whether Nigeria should give in to hope or be held hostage by cynicism. That hope for me is when we make a conscious effort to say we need to heal our divisions, we need a new set of leaders. We need to engage all parts of Nigeria to continue to make progress until we get to that point when our divisions will not be the subject of our conversations for what you have to bring to the table.

But before then, we have to continue making compromises.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 18, 2021

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

What The South African Looting Portends For Africa

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ot long ago, Ethiopia was held up to be the showcase of good governance in Africa, with its dashing young, handsome Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, who was seen as a stabilising factor in the Horn of Africa, and the rest of the continent.

Abiy was wined and dined and celebrated by the world, to the extent that on October 11, 2019, it was announced that he had won the 2019 Nobel

Peace Prize.

And then the trouble in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and slowly but surely, the peace, prosperity and stability that Abiy had painstakingly put together in Ethiopia began to unravel.

In less than two years, Abiy and Ethiopia went from being the darling of the world, to the whipping boy of the West, with accusations of genocide and war crimes being tossed about.

And just like that, an African utopia has become a dystopia, and all that cycle of good news has turned to a case of the same old same old, leading to the age-old question asked in Scripture, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?”-Jeremiah 13:23.

What is happening in Africa? The wind of change that had the whole world chanting Africa Rising, is suddenly looking like an ill wind that blows no one any good.

The latest sad case in this episode is South Africa. Make no mistake about it, what is happening in South Africa is not a protest. It is lawlessness, and it cannot be excused.

It is sad that looting is going on on such a grand scale in South Africa. However, I observed that though people looted strange items like coffins, furniture, hospital equipment and even sex toys, nobody looted books. Readers do not loot. And looters do not read!

This is a pattern I have observed everywhere on Earth. And that is why I am convinced that if you want to fight crime, you should not just invest in law enforcement. Educate people. Teach them to love learning. An educated people, who are readers, will loot knowledge from books, they will not loot goods from shops.

Africa is experiencing a downward spiral in many nations and the response by the governments concerned is to repress. However, that is not always the answer. We must not just build more police stations and military bases. Build more schools and you will build less prisons!

I am in perhaps a more privileged position to talk about this, because I am very well-travelled in Africa. There is no part of Africa I have not visited. And when I think about the recent slide in Africa, I begin to juxtapose it with my experience as an avid traveller.

In my travels, I discovered that almost all Sub-Saharan African towns have a brothel, a football viewing centre (mostly for viewing European football, and not the local league) and sports betting agents (pool). But few, very few, ever have a library!

Sadly, if you commit a crime in Africa and everyone is looking for you, the best place to run and hide in, is in a library. No one will ever find you there, because no one ever visits there. Africans must start reading if Africans want to begin leading in the world!

Abiy Ahmed Africa is sliding. In the last two years, Nigeria, which in 2015 was the third fastest growing economy in the world, reversed its growth trajectory and overtook India as the world headquarters for extreme poverty.

The latest figures from the World Poverty Clock shows that 105 million Nigerians are living in extreme poverty, and while some Nigerians may sneer and snicker at what is happening in South Africa, it was not too long ago that the world saw masses of Nigerians also looting during the COVID-19 lockdown (remember palliathieves?) and also during the #EndSARS riots.

Just as poverty was the root cause of the Nigerian breakdown in law and order, poverty is also to blame for what is happening in South Africa.

South Africa may be touted as an upper-middle-income country, those figures paint a very false picture, because they rely on statistical averages, which hide the problem, which is that much of the wealth that makes South Africa an upper-middle-income country is in the hands of a very small elite.

Please research this: 72% of South Africa’s wealth is held by 10% of the population, who are mostly white.

And that is not even the worst part. The poorest 60% of the South African population (who are overwhelmingly Black), holds only 7% of the wealth of the nation. No other nation on Earth has such disparities between the rich and the poor. And that is the real cause of the ongoing looting in South Africa. The conviction and arrest of former President Jacob Zuma is just an excuse. A trigger if you will.

THE PUBLIC SPHERE with Chido Nwakanma

Africa is fragile because Africa is poor, and Africa is poor because Africans do not trade with each other, and Africa does not trade with itself because most Africans lack the requisite education to create a modern prosumer economy that produces what it consumes, which is why I am a big believer in education as a panacea for Africa’s economic backwardness.

Africa has the lowest intra-regional trade on Earth. When compared to Europe and the Americas, our intra-regional trade is nothing to write home about. 68% of Europe’s trade is intra-regional, compared with an abysmal 18% for Africa. 82 % of Africa’s trade is with non-Africans.

This just means most of our money is circulating outside the continent.

Meanwhile, America’s largest trading partners are Mexico and Canada, their immediate neighbours. Thankfully, African leaders like Paul Kagame have been pushing the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.

The ACFTA. Nothing has excited me in regards to Africa as the ACFTA, because it provides for free movements of persons and preferred trading status for African nations (removal of tariffs on 90% of goods). It is proposed that ACFTA will increase intra-regional trade in Africa by at least 48%.

And this is why it is sad that nations like Nigeria and South Africa continue to hold back ACFTA by foot-dragging in the ratification and implementation of the treaty.

Nigeria closed its borders to its neighbours, and South Africa continues to be a notoriously xenophobic nation. Except these two nations commit to ACFTA (which fully came into effect on New Year’s Day 2021) it will not work, because they are the largest economies on the continent.

And except there is African free trade, Africa will not progress economically at a rate that is faster than her population growth. And except Africa’s economy grows faster than her population, Africa will only rise to fall again.

As you watch the looting going on in South Africa, note that each year, Africa makes about $3.2 billion from coffee and cocoa exports, much of which goes to Germany. And Germany makes $4 billion annually just by processing and re-exporting the coffee and cocoa imported from Africa.

So, while we loot petty items from shops, the real looters are in Europe and America making billions off the backs of undereducated Africans.

What is really happening in South Africa, and Nigeria before that, and in Mali before that, and in many other African nations is misdirected anger. Africans are angry at the big corporations in Europe and America that have dominated them politically and exploited them economically.

And to end this cycle, Africa must invest in education and free trade, of which the fastest route is the ACFTA. Reno’s Nuggets Don’t say ‘when I make it, I will buy my parents a car’. You don’t know if they will even be alive when you make it. Buy them something now, even if it is a packet of biscuits. A packet of biscuit that your parents eat while they are alive, is better than 10 cows they can’t eat at their funeral. You can’t show love to the dead, and a person who lived a wretched life is not honoured if you give them a befitting burial. Give your parents a befitting life with whatever you have now. Tomorrow is promised to no one.

@ChidoNigeria https://www.facebook.com/chido.nwakanma

What is Nigeria learning from China?

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or good and for ill, we now live in the China century.

China dominates the global discussion on various issues, from Covid-19 to super-scale infrastructure projects and international finance. It has been for four decades the manufacturing hub of the world.

China is proof of the Marxian thesis of the significance of the economy. Karl Marx declared that the economic conditions of man determine his every other state, being how he organises society and the impact that organisation has on every other thing. Economics and the deployment of the fruits also contribute to the determination of state power.

Africa is in hock to China as that country continues to pursue an extreme form of economic determinism. Nigeria is among leading African countries steadily and surely hocking its sovereignty to the Chinese economic might. Under President Buhari, there is a race to take on as many Chinese loans as possible and pile up debts for Nigeria.

However, we must go beyond loans in discussing China in Nigeria.

We should be more interested in China’s trajectory and development path. I am yet to see our love of China revolve around the critical lessons from its choices and directions.

In December 2019, United States scholar Kimberly Amadeo noted, “China’s economy has enjoyed 30 years of explosive growth, making it the world’s largest. Its success was based on a mixed economy that incorporated limited capitalism within a command economy.

The Chinese government’s spending has been a significant driver of its growth.

“China’s economy is measured by its gross domestic product. In 2017, growth was $23.12 trillion, the largest in the world.1 That’s 6.8% more than in 2016. China’s GDP grew at 6.5% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2018. China’s growth rate has slowed since the double-digit rates before 2013. Its economy grew 7.8% in 2013, 7.3% in 2014, 6.9% in 2015, and 6.7% in 2016.”

Please note the following. “China fuelled its former spectacular growth with massive government spending. The government owns

strategically important companies that dominate their industries. It controls the big three energy companies: PetroChina, Sinopec, and CNOOC. They are less profitable than private firms and return only 4.9% on assets compared to 13.2%. But government ownership allowed China to direct the companies to high-priority projects.

“China requires several things of foreign companies who want to sell to the Chinese population. They must open factories to employ Chinese workers. They must share their technology. Chinese companies use this knowledge to make the products themselves.”

China focused on education, research, and innovation. One image sticks out from a trip to the Summer School of Birmingham City University in 2018. Students from China outnumbered the combined total of others from nine countries. They came to study and research all manner of disciplines. Chinese students constitute a growing and significant population of graduate schools worldwide, so much that former US President Donald Trump tried to restrict their numbers.

“Research and development (R&D) is the backbone of innovation.

It supports the development of new products and services, which can boost growth and productivity. In recent decades, China has increasingly prioritised R&D, spending as a per cent of GDP rising from 0.72 per cent in 1991 to 2.13 per cent in 2017. Although this is less than the OECD average of 2.37 per cent, the immense size of China’s economy means that its R&D expenditure is now second only to the United States at $442.7 billion (in 2010 USD).

“Triadic patents are difficult to obtain but generally generate more revenue than other patent types. In 2016, China was the fourth largest contributor to triadic patents at 6.9 per cent, behind Japan (31.0 per cent), the United States (25.4 per cent), and Germany (8.1 per cent).”

Experts conceive of State power at three levels: (1) resources or capabilities, or power-in-being; (2) how they convert that power through national processes; (3) and power in outcomes, or which state prevails in specific situations. How a nation converts its capabilities into positive outcomes is the actual test of state power. The elements are national ethos, politics, and social cohesion. The outcomes a country generates depends on “power for what, and against whom”.

The Strategic Assessment Group is one of those institutions analysing and pronouncing on state power. The main categories of capabilities in the Strategic Assessments Group assessment of capacity are gross domestic product (GDP), population, defence spending, and a less specific factor capturing innovation in technology.

In the SAG estimate, the United States is first but hardly the only power. The United States holds about 20 per cent of total global power and the European Union (EU) (considered a unified actor), and China about 14 per cent each. India holds about 9 per cent; Brazil, South Korea, and Russia have about 2 per cent each.

The World Bank has shown in its 2006 publication Where is the Wealth of Nations that human capital is the most strategic asset of countries. The authors submit, “The estimates of total wealth–including produced, natural, and human and institutional capital–suggest that human capital and the value of institutions (as measured by the rule of law) constitute the largest share of wealth in virtually all countries.

It is striking that natural capital constitutes a quarter of total wealth in low-income countries, greater than the share of produced capital.

This suggests that better management of ecosystems and natural resources will be key to sustaining development while these countries build their infrastructure and human and institutional capital.”.

Note the critical indices identified by the World Bank. They are produced, natural, human, and institutional capital as well as the rule of law. They note that while natural resources are essential, they are not as significant as produced capital from human and institutional factors.

What are we spending on R&D? What are we doing with education distinct from the charade of each head of our military arms setting up the university’s bureaucracy in their hometowns without the spirit and ethos of that universal crucible of knowledge?

Is anyone or group in the Federal Government, such as the Ministry of National Planning, understudying the Chinese? What strategies inform our engagement with them?

What are we learning from China, given our current romance with them?

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

HighLife New Era: Edun Takes over from Nuru

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

Herbert Wigwe Set to Take Access Bank to France

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When asked to name two Nigerian corporate leaders whose leadership skills have long passed into the realms of magic and fantasy, any knowledgeable person would point out Herbert Wigwe, the smooth Group Managing Director (GMD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the prestigious Access Bank Group.

With flexible fingers in the pies of the banking sectors in other regions of Africa and Asia, Wigwe’s Access Bank is set to occupy a front seat in France, Paris for that matter.

While it is true that President Emmanuel Macron is exerting the best of France’s human resources department to solidify a fine and lasting alliance with Nigeria, it is also true that many Nigerian corporations are taking advantage of this budding relationship. Herbert Wigwe is at the forefront of this group and has gone further than any other.

According to reports, Wigwe has succeeded

in getting a spot for his Access Bank in Paris, France. More than a representative bank, the branch is expected to grow into a proper foothold gradually. Wigwe would then stretch the ends of Access Bank into all of France and then all of Europe. Moreover, although United Bank for Africa (UBA) and First Bank already made the same move and have offices in Paris, Wigwe plans to build as strong an Access Bank presence in France as there is in Nigeria.

This is the latest move of the easygoing man of Ikwerre descent. However, it might be described as only an echo compared to the boom he has in mind. One can extrapolate this from his acquisitions in the last four years and the underground moves in Asia (China, India, Lebanon) and the Middle East (United Arab Emirates) that Wigwe wants to erect a crosscontinental legacy for Access Bank.

Little wonder the French government is delighted to have a working relationship with

Wigwe

people like Herbert Wigwe. Nigerians are inherently ambitious and driven, but Wigwe has taken it up several notches.

Inside the World of Billionaire Femi Otedola as He Gets Another Honour

Nuhu

Banking institutions are still corporate entities that care for their image at the end of the day.

Faced with the many pressures from customers and shareholders, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) recently gave the pink slip to its MD, Adamu Nuru, and replaced him with someone else.

A few months ago, the trend of alleged paternity tests started, by and large, because of Adamu Nuru. The allegations of an extramarital affair, mixed paternity declaims, and death from depression unhinged the high seat from underneath Nuru and made him something of an outcast everywhere and anywhere. Even within the halls of his bank.

According to recent reports, FCMB has decided to cement Nuru’s exit from the executive tier of the bank. It recently announced the replacement of the MD/CEO, Adamu Nuru, with Yemisi Edun, who has been acting in Nuru’s place since January. In other words, the leave that Nuru went on when the paternity scandal started has become permanent and paved the way for Edun. For those that followed Nigerian affairs at the beginning of the year, Adamu Nuru was contending against news people because he had been tied to the wagon of a certain Mr and Mrs Thomas. According to the allegations, Nuru was the lover of Mrs Thomas, junior staff at FCMB, and the father of her two children.

However, Mr Thomas did not know this until much later, and then he died as a result of depression on the same matter.

The scandal took root and even birthed a wave of paternity tests. Nuru denied everything and eventually went on voluntary leave to let people cool off. In the interim, several thousand people reportedly signed an online petition to have Nuru fired from his position at FCMB. Six months later, that petition has borne fruit. With Nuru out of the picture and Edun in the full regalia of an MD/CEO, FCMB is ready to compete with its counterparts, especially those highflyers with brilliant women at the top chairs

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

Otedeola

For all that money can buy, a compassionate heart that feels even the pains of strangers is out of the question. This is why the world appreciates Femi Otedola. He is not obligated to share his wealth, the result of his diligence and God’s faithfulness and blessing in his life, but he does so anyway and with as little pomp as the beneficiaries of his graciousness will allow.

Vanguard Newspaper has listed Femi Otedola as one of the three who are deserving of its Personality of the Year (2019/2020) award.

Labelled the ‘Philanthropist with the Breath of Excellence’, the honour paid to Otedola is significantly less than he deserves. It is simply impossible to compensate for good things. This is something only God can do, which is also true for the astonishingly large heart that He gave the Lagos-born businessman.

Why is it that media houses and other independent bodies queue behind one another to pin a laurel to Otedola’s chest every year?

His business acumen is outstanding, but that is

not it. His children are mass influencers of the younger generation, but that is not it. What it is, is Otedola’s love for people.

The billionaire demonstrates this love by giving generously to the cause of others. From Super Eagles footballer and coach, Christian Chukwu, to Nollywood actor Victor Olaotan, to Reggae star Majek Fashek, the UniUyo lecturer, Inih Ebong, and many others, Otedola’s wealth has been directed at these people, bringing them from the brink of despair and death, and reminding others that human life is far more precious than the greed that pervades the world of mice and men.

So the Vanguard Personality of the Year award is only the first of many to come. After all, there are many super-wealthy Nigerians, even more with business acumens, that will eventually overturn the world. Yet, there is only one of these with the title of the country’s biggest philanthropist. And this is no compliment but a sober fact.

Gbenga Ashafa Still on the Move at 66 There is a eulogy for accomplished people like Senator Gbenga Ashafa that others cannot enjoy. With public officers like Ashafa, dedication trumps ability, and ability trumps gaps in the national institutional framework.

To say that Senator Ashafa is a paragon worth his salt is to draw legs on a snake. The man has done and is doing well for the country, and so it is no surprise that folks are climbing over themselves to wish him a happy 66th birthday and long and sweeter years to come.

Writing about Ashafa is the kind of endeavour that one begins with fervour and energy but ends with sighs at the many merits of the man’s character, historical profile, and exploits. Leaving out everything he did before his appointment to the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) less than a year ago, there are still volumes and volumes of good deeds attached to the coattails of Ashafa. But his life at a glance leaves the mind wondering whether some are predestined to greatness.

Born in the Luther/Bamgbose/Campos

area of Lagos Island on July 22, 1955, Ashafa started as the son of a merchant involved with textiles and precious stones. Consequently, the young Ashafa was destined to obtain his primary and secondary education in Lagos.

Of course, Gbenga Ashafa left Lagos to study Biological Sciences at Morgan State University, Maryland, USA, but his primary guiding principles came from those early years in Lagos.

Although the business life of Gbenga Ashafa is something of a glorious adventure, it is his public and political life that has warranted celebration time and time again. This includes the time he was Director of Planning for Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the time he was Secretary for the Land Use and Allocation Committee in Lagos, till he represented Lagos East at the National Assembly, and after several other positions, came to be the Boss of Federal Housing Authority.

At 66, Senator Ashafa is still very much on the move: still vibrant, still visionary, still beloved of all and sundry.

Ashafa

Mr Project: How Governor Wike Became Biggest Rivers Politician

It is common knowledge that the true masters in any endeavour do not care for the limelight—they just do their thing and move.

This is just as true in the Rivers State of today: the mysteries of Governor Nyesom Wike’s last two years in office are being unravelled one after the other, and his people are not holding back their praises.

Governor Nyesom Wike recently gave an account of his activities in office for the last 24 months. Pressured by voices within and outside the State to do this, Wike was forced to toot his horns. Not unexpectedly, the account collapsed the floor from under the feet of Wike’s detractors, giving them nothing to stand on against him.

The present-day set of Nigerian

Governors is something else. Each has been rechristened with a moniker that fits their accomplishments. Governor Wike of Rivers State has one of the best of these titles, and for a good reason.

When folks delightfully call out Mr Project, it is Governor Wike they expect to respond.

Analysts have concluded that Wike is on the list of the top five Governors in Nigeria and likely the first three in the history of Rivers State Governors. No other Rivers Governor has paid as much attention to grassroots development as Wike has. No other has managed to balance the nearly boundless resources of the State with the truly boundless demands of the people,

culminating in a crescendo of satisfactory sighs.

Wike’s projects in these last two years encompass all aspects of the Rivers economy: development of basic and social infrastructures, education, tourism, transport, you name it. What’s more, Wike has unclasped the weight of unfinished projects from the necks of Rivers people, and the projects that have gone from abandoned to finished are there for all to see.

To be sure, it still is not all sweet and rosy in Rivers State. But what Wike has done is surpass those that came before him, and in half tenure, repair the image of a lazy or idle State Governor with his good works.

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HIGHLIFE

Is there any “Hope” for Uzodinma to Settle with Okorocha?

Uzodinma

Between Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and his predecessor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, there is enough bad blood to feed all the mosquitoes in the world for millennia. One might argue that their political perspectives have gone beyond merely antagonistic and

taken a new form of eternal hostility.

Last time, it was about a closed hotel. This time, it is a closed school.

According to the reports from news people, Governor Uzodinma has taken the initiative to shave off a bit of Okorocha’s influence and accomplishments in Owerri, the capital of Imo State. Uzodinma accomplished this by sealing Rochas Foundation College, a college that is owned by Senator Okorocha and making moves to convert it into state property.

Based on the communiqué from Uzodinma’s camp, the decision to take over the college followed many hours of thorough deliberation, the consequent conclusion being that the college is funded by the State funds that Okorocha looted during his time as Imo State Governor. Thus, Uzodinma’s intention is not to dig up and ruin the legacy of Rochas Okorocha in the State, which would be petty, but to recover the properties of Imo and use them for the benefit

Oliver Twist: As Senator Solomon Olamilekan Yayi has Eye on Lagos and Ogun Seats Politics in Nigeria is both frightening and entertaining. The constitution, one can argue, is without comparison since it was initially established for the people and remains at the people’s whim. With both these factors on his side, Senator Solomon Olamilekan is not holding back in his intention to harvest the most political positions for himself. By so doing, he is entertaining onlookers and adhering to the law in equal measure.

Should a debate be launched regarding Nigerian politicians with the grandest ambitions, Senator Solomon Olamilekan will surely emerge in the top ten. Nevertheless, only he would claim the curious label of having cross-State or inter-State ambitions.

After all, according to claims reportedly made by the Senator’s close associates and confidantes, he has his eyes on both Lagos and Ogun States’ political positions.

Sen. Olamilekan

The Senator (alias Yayi) is currently representing Lagos West Senatorial

of the Imo people.

In response, people from Okorocha’s side have labelled Uzodinma’s actions as base, not unanticipated, and as flavourless as the Uzodinma-led government.

While there is hunger in the State, they say, Uzodinma is going around clipping the symbols of hope—perhaps this is the reign of hope he declared at the start of his campaign?

Without question, the backand-forth between both parties is indescribably vicious, unrelenting, and leaving no stone unturned.

Last time, Okorocha was even taken into custody, and it took the intervention of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, along with several other prominent and influential people, to quell the fires and get Okorocha out. And now, a new fire. Is there any hope for these two? Any chance of reconciliation and friendship? It doesn’t look like it.

District in the National Assembly. As a second-term senator, it is not out of order that he intends to continue climbing the tower of Nigerian politics. Many folks have frowned upon what is a bit unusual because Senator Yayi intends to get himself another leadership chair in Lagos and then become a governor in Ogun come 2023.

Folks have noted the fact that he was able to clinch the Lagos West Senatorial District seat is itself a miracle. For those paying attention to him in 2019, Yayi’s original intention was to take over from Governor Ibikunle Amosun under the auspices of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Unfortunately, this plan fell through and he hastily returned to Lagos and returned to the National Assembly as a secondterm representative of the Lagos West Senatorial District.

Now that his senatorial seat is at half-life, Yayi intends to return to his former, ultimate pursuit: to become a Governor (or at least Senator) of Ogun State. Naturally, very few people are happy with Senator Yayi’s reported calculations. But who has ever discontinued his political sprint because people are not happy with him?

How Omolara Adebiyi Transited from Store Owner to Successful Businesswoman They say precious stones shine everywhere, whether they are placed in the swamp or the pinnacle of snow-capped mountains. This is Lady Omolara Adebiyi at her base form: a jewel of inestimable value. Her influential billionaire husband, Olalekan Adebiyi, thinks so, and so do those who ardently follow business trends and development in Nigeria.

For those in the know, Omolara Adebiyi is not only the wife of one of Nigeria’s biggest indigenous contractors, Olalekan Adebiyi but also the ‘Lara’ in his ‘LaraLek’.

Even more, as is often the case with women whose husbands are better known than they, the madam of the Adebiyi household is a force unto herself. Ever since she emerged as the figure behind Addas Mall, folks that made inquiries into her matters confirmed the axiom that behind every great man is a nearly greater woman.

When Omolara Adebiyi and her husband began making plans for the establishment of Addas Mall, there was only a small shop at Ogba bearing her name. However, because fortune favours the blessed even more than it favours the bold, one became two, two became four, and the small shop in one corner of Ogba became a majestic billion-naira business that sank a similar amount of money into the construction of the six-storey building.

One of the driving motives behind the establishment of Addas Mall is to have a practical and responsive legacy and respond to Lagosians’ demands. To say that this has come true is an understatement. Addas Mall is a trending topic among every economic class, and this is no surprise considering Lady Omolara’s dedication to business and humanity.

One way the Adebiyis have stood out among the many multibillionaires in Nigeria is their dedication to the welfare

Omolara Adeniyi and husband, Olamilekan.

of others, especially those of humbler birth and circumstances. As the boss of Addas Mall, Lady Omolara could spend millions every week to look delicious for her silent-billionaire husband, but she does not. Instead, they jointly make swift calculations and set apart some of the proceeds for the benefit of others.

Fayemi

Governor Kayode Fayemi and Senator Babafemi Ojodu are Still Good Friends Friendship and politics, which started first? Between Governor Kayode Fayemi and his old mate, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, the answer is obvious: friendship started first.

Then came politics. Then came animosity. But recent reports show that even this grudge between the two is at its end.

As a reaction to the many happenings at the national and state levels and in preparation for the years to come, Governor Fayemi graciously hosted the Minister of Interior and former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. But Aregbesola, to the surprise of many, was not the only one the Governor invited to his Ado-Ekiti office; Senator Ojodu was also there in the flesh!

As news people were to find out later, the content of the meeting was for the family of three, Fayemi, Aregbesola and Ojodu, and no other.

Nevertheless, the fact that all three ‘siblings’ came out smiling and willing to pose for pictures is telling enough: Fayemi and Ojodu put out the fires of war and competition long ago, and people did not even know.

As some folks earlier argued, the feud was not about anything serious in the first place. Moreover, the followers of the two played more significant roles in how it started and continued than Fayemi and Ojodu themselves. But it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Folks would recall that the Fayemi-Ojodu feud appeared to have started when members of Fayemi’s camp at the Ekiti branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) attempted to oust the camp of Ojodu by suspending several of them. The gist at the time was that the latter group has infringed on national party directives and inadvertently growing too big for their breeches. Unsurprisingly, the smoke of battle soon reached the point where Fayemi and Ojodu disagreed on everything, with the hanging threat of APC’s collapse in Ekiti. Thus, it became a game of who could sling the most vicious words. And the back-and-forth never seemed to end. But that is all in the past now.

Both Fayemi and Ojodu are back to being friends and better at being politicians.

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Chidinma Ojukwu – What Manner of ‘Suspect’?

This one is not appearing like her colleagues used to appear on crime fighters.

This one is all glammed up and sitting pretty. I was kinda amazed to watch a recent interview she granted wherein she sat pretty and looking like an Instagram beauty queen, where she relayed a new version of events leading to the gruesome murder of Mr Ataga.

Was I vexed? Kind of. Was I wondering, what the hell is

going on? Yes. This person I saw on the report didn’t look like she had a worry in this world. In fact, she was talking like she had just been told that she stood a good chance of winning a lottery rather than be fighting for her life in one of Nigeria’s most celebrated cases. She even smiled, laughed and giggled at some point as she narrated a new version.

The whole thing is confusing: the make-up,

BENIN ARTEFACTS – MY CANDID OPINION I have been watching with very keen interest the disagreement between the highly respected Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare and the very respected Governor of Edo, Mr Godwin Obaseki, who should retain custody of the expected Benin artefacts.

Please note for those of us who did not attend history classes in school, the Benin artefacts were said to have been looted by various European people around 1897 and have been on display in various European museums since then.

After decades of discussions, the German authorities have finally announced that the artefacts would be returned to Benin from 2022 and na that one come start fight between our people.

If we don’t fight we are not Nigerians. So Oba Ewuare has stated that he wants to build a Royal Museum within the confines of his palace for the artefacts. I have been in that palace during my Play Emotan, and there is space there. If you drive in and turn right, you will see one big field where boys will play football. That land can house artefacts.

But my brother Obaseki say no. He has better plans. He wants to build a separate institution outside of the palace to house the artefacts for so many reasons, I no get time to mention here.

Oba Ewuare has written to the Federal Government not to allow Obaseki take custody before he sell them use pay minimum wage while Obaseki has also stated in very strong terms that he needs the Artefacts or his second term will be of no consequence.

But Obaseki did one marvellous thing.

Showing his deep respect for the traditional stool and the person of His Oba, he has released a statement saying

Obaseki

the new hair, the new sexy clothes. One is not saying that her rights be taken from her after all last I checked was that you are innocent until proven guilty. But this one was just overboard.

What else can we do but to be watching na? Truth no dey hide, it can be playing hide and seek most of the time, but eventually, it will come out, and at that time, all eyes will be opened. For now, na to dey siddon look we dey. Na wa.

that he will not join words with the Oba and admonished his people never to try to ‘yab’ the Oba because if they do anything they see is for them and their family o.

Well, I have said a lot about this issue in past writings. I am a well-regarded historian if I must before some of you will start asking wetin concern me or if this is afang. If you go check my WAEC results, you will see that History was A -please wait, let me confirm before una come do me Kemi Adeosun. Well, the issue here is very simple. Where we keep the artefacts is not my problem, but what we intend to achieve with them should be the real issue.

For me, the whole thing is looking like an ego-driven campaign that will not augur well for the Benin people and their heritage. The artefacts are not just to be kept so that every morning someone will wake up and go and pour libation or be taking a picture or be using it as part of achievement in government.

Both sides, to me, are not getting it. Those artefacts are the glory of the people, their culture, their heritage and their traditions.

The artefacts should tour the world. They should be seen by millions all over the world. They should generate revenues that would be used to strengthen the traditional institutions at home and shore up dwindling Government revenues while boosting both inbound and local tourism.

We never get these things. Keeping them in Benin, whether inside the Benin moat or in the backyard of Government House in my mind’s eye, will not generate the needed attention it requires. Have you gone to the Nigerian Museum at Onikan recently?

You will cry. Up until recently, they used to use the place to host Owambe party at weekends and also used as a car park during the week. Cobwebs have invaded the artefacts, and the place just looks tacky.

I think both sides should come together and put heads together to fashion out

Onochie

Ojukwu

a much more concise approach to this very simple matter. For me, the artefacts should tour the world while the revenues and attention it generates should be better milked and maximized by both sides. There is nothing they are coming to do in Benin.

Wey the road sef to drive to see them if kidnappers and bandits go even let you reach the place? I just tire.

LORRETTA ONOCHIE – A DOOMED NOMINATION Me, I no really like madam o. I have followed her positioning and utterances very keenly over the last few years and must say that her interventions have really been lacking in standards and depth. You see, at times when you have this kind of job they have given her, there is a way you will carry out the tasks that even your opponents will look at you and say- yes, that is a brilliant one.

This one used to just ram into issues like Jankara person and further complicate matters with her interjections.

So when she was nominated for the INEC thing, she sef should have known that this thing cannot work. It was a PR bomb for those who nominated her because, from time immemorial, her image was very far from the neutrality that was needed for the job.

In fact, her nomination could be termed as very insensitive, especially when the government should be looking at the legacy it will be leaving behind as it cruises into the last few months of its tenure.

So carrying yourself with big lipstick to the Senate to justify the nomination smirked of a major detachment from reality.

Thankfully, the Senate, after being barraged by a series of petitions, did the rightful thing. We cannot continue to weaken our institutions with these moves and expect that society will be safeguarded. The continuous erosion of the levers of society

that we have witnessed all of these years is what we are suffering today with the increased criminality at all levels and the seeming helplessness at pulling society back from the brink by authorities.

It is, however, never too late to do the right thing. The government should move past this fiasco and throw up a much more credible candidate for the position.

Even if that one sef get k-leg, at least sha respect us small by sending someone that would at least pretend to be neutral until he enter. Not madam, make she go do something else, work plenty for ground.

She can be welfare officer for the Falcons na. Not this one.

DR. (MRS.) AWOLOWO-DOSUNMU MY SINCERE GRATITUDE If it were possible to kneel down and be writing this piece, I would have done so.

That is the level of reverence that I reserve for this wonderful amazon. Let me throw this out there first.

When she was still in the public eye, I used to admire her a lot and must say that my choice of the Duchess fresh from secondary school had a lot to do with her uncanny resemblance to mummy. So you can imagine how I must have felt about 30 years after, I now come to have a sit down with mummy on the back of my new Play – Awo. The play Awo, which has received the backing and support of some very strong institutions like First Bank, Wema Bank and the LIRS, plus the Lagos government, remains one of my most significant outings as a theatre producer.

So in making sure that the integrity of the story remains assured, I reached out to mummy. She was kind and patient as she listened to my story. She asked if the script was ready, and we said we were working on it. She came on a zoom session to work

Awolowo-Dosunmu

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LOUD WHISPERS the scripts with us twice.

She gave some very instructive contributions as she guided us towards telling a more compelling story that will see Awo further positioned as one of Nigeria’s most enigmatic leaders.

Then last week, she called and asked if we wanted the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation Logo. To me, this was the final endorsement. She had earlier sent in a letter of endorsement but sending us the official Logo of the Foundation in my mind’s eye was like saying – we are very confident that the legacy of Papa in your hands will be well safeguarded.

Mummy, I thank you so very much. God will keep you alive for us and you can be sure that when you see the Play, this risk you have taken on me will be well rewarded. On behalf of the cast and crew, especially Makinde Adeniran, who wrote this play, thank you so much. Awo will be showing at the Glover Memorial Hall this September in Lagos immediately after a beautiful run of my other play Aremu a depiction of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s life and times and written by Prof Ahmed Yerima. Will you be there? Call me.

FSDH MERCHANT BANK – MY QUICK ADVICE During the week, I started hearing some disturbing news. You see, let me first say why I am commenting because it is really not my business. FSDH was one of the places I always told myself as an Investment Banker and Asset manager that I would have loved to work. I used to like their professionalism and the niche they had carved for themselves in the market.

Although I failed to interview there twice, I just looked at them and said, you people don’t know what you are missing. This is going to be the most powerful marketer in this industry and you will be giving me yeye GMAT exam to do. That time I can fail the GMAT. So after doing it twice, I gave up and left them to their wahala and went to resume at Unex Securities limited who I don’t know how they did their own GMAT, but I passed.

Well, anyway, I have heard of an issue, and I have listened to both sides. I am deducing here that there was a market move against positions taken and that, in my mind’s eye, is a normal thing in the markets.

Markets move up and down, and traders, especially portfolio managers like pilots, must at all times be able to be in control and be at the neck of trends to ensure better direction.

I cannot go into details for obvious reasons, but I will only seek to advise that we move very cautiously as we engage all stakeholders in this matter.

It is a normal thing in the markets, and I should know, having been in it for over 20 years. I have seen worse, barring any under the table deals.

But let me say this: I am very happy at the appointment of the new Managing Director Mrs Smith. She too is from FCMB, where I worked and I am very confident in her abilities as a manager of men and resources, which makes me very confident that the firm is in pole position for better days ahead.

My brother Tosa Ogboma, one of the most brilliant investment bankers that I have ever had the good fortune of having as a client, is also on board and my egbon, the legendary Tolu Osunibi, makes that place a dream to be. Any young investment banker who has the good luck of working with this trio would be better for it.

So guys, let’s flatten this out and move forward very fast. I have implicit confidence in your abilities. The markets must be conquered, and I stand by your corner as you move steadily. Well done, guys.

ABUBAKAR SULEIMAN – MADE OF STERLING QUALITIES So that is how I went for the service of songs of one of my ogas’ late mothers in Lekki. That one if I mention his name here now, he will not buy a ticket to see Aremu again o. So let’s just say Oga A. so Oga A was giving his sweet mother a befitting farewell, and I was there to pay my last respects. As I sat down, my friend and

Fasua

brother Wale Oyedeji walked in.

When I say people are brilliant, na this type them Oyedeji I am referring to.

Ex-Executive Director at GTB and my man from primary school remain to me a symbol of gentlemanliness in brilliance. I tell you. Anytime you see him, stop him and ask him any question. If he no answer, come and slap me here.

Well, as I sat in the church, it dawned on me that I had forgotten all the songs since

not want to disturb him in church before he now thought that I wanted him to buy something from me, so I left him but made a mental note of reaching out later.

I remember my first meeting with Abu. He was a senior officer at Sterling then, and my other egbon Segun Oluyori, wanted to employ me at the Asset management side of their business. So he sent me to Abu for a discussion. When a brilliant man is talking, you keep quiet o. He spoke very eloquently and asked the right questions, and assured me that he would put in a good recommendation for me. I thank God I did not resign oh because almost 10 years now I am still waiting for Segun’s appointment letter. Lol Anyways, Abu made it to the peak and he is now the Managing Director at Sterling Bank. I hear the reform that is happening there Suleiman is novel. I hear at Sterling Bank you can I had not been to church since my days open a business as a staff and as long as as Sunday school teacher in my father’s the account is in the bank, the bank will church in Shomolu. No that na lie. I was support you with soft loans and other such in church recently when they ordained me type support. elder but that was just 30 minutes. I take They even allow you one day in a my appointment; I clap and sing and I walk workweek to go and tend to your business away. fully paid, and you can choose which So as not to embarrass myself in this branch nearest to you to work out from, beautiful Lekki church, I decided to just which means that like someone in their walk away and I saw him. Abu sat there in corporate communications living in one corner, very humble and gentle. I did Ijeshatedo, you can just walk into the nearest branch and do your work instead of trudging in Lagos traffic to their Marina Head office.

Sterling Bank under Abu is really making waves with strong lieutenants like my chop all the money finish and still no gree.

Tunde Adeola and the rest of the team.

So I confess to her, “Mena, I sold my bike And as an alumnus – I worked in two of to get money to be buying you fish o. The their legacy banks, Nal and Magnum – I money don finish, and you never gree.” can only but say, I remain very proud. Well She laughed her laughter. She had a unique done, guys.

ERELU MENA JOSEPH EDGAR – 1968–2020 Today, July 18, is one year since she passed on in one hospital in Ikoyi. That day was sunny, as I still remember very well. I had gotten a call from the doctors, “Where are you?” they asked? I said on my way. They said, “OK. She just had a cardiac arrest but don’t worry. By the time you get here, we would have resuscitated her.” Sadly, I met her corpse by the time I got there.

As you read, Alvin and I would be at the Catholic Church at 1004 in a mass for her remembrance. She was beautiful, and she stayed with me for over 22 years.

I met her at Habib Bank, where we were both junior staff and used to follow the staff bus home. We would sit together and will be gisting. People didn’t understand the connection because she was beautiful and was from the very popular Mowete family of Ibadan. But there was a connection that came from her love for fish and my love for curvy, full-bodied women.

I sold my bike for N13,000 to woo her.

I bought N500 fish for her every day, believing that before the money finish, she would agree. My people, this Ebu woman

Late Edgar.

way of laughing. That was her.

She lost two children before Alvin and always celebrated their birthdays, and I will be looking at this one and be saying something is wrong with you. She will ignore me and go ahead and celebrate their birthdays.

She was a kind soul. She was beautiful and could sing. She was everything to all of us and the pillar that held families together. Sadly, she is missed by all of us on both sides of the divide– The Edgar and Mowete families.

Next Sunday, we will be having a beautiful session with Yinka Davies singing some of her favourite songs and Segun Adefila reprising a scene from my Play ‘Our Duke Has Gone Mad Again’ where I serenaded her. Yemi Shodimu will anchor, and my sister BolanleAusten peters has graciously given us her famous Tera Kulture as venue. Erelu sleeps.

TOPE FASUA – THE DRUMMER BOY It was my friend Kabiyesi Jacob Esan who introduced me to Tope. He had said: Edgar, there is someone you should meet, and he is running for the Presidency. Prior to this, I had heard that Tope had built a political party with structures almost all over the country. We met, and we clicked.

I listened to him and was astounded at his depth. The man understands the Nigerian economy to a tee. During the week, he dropped an article in thealvinreport. com that went viral. He titled it ‘The Largest Bank Robbery in History – About to Happen in Nigeria.’ The article quickly went viral, with people sending it across the world.

The article, in my estimation, is the best thing he has ever done in his life. He was so lucid and engaging and showed his capacity as a quick and deep banking operations guru.

He opened up the downside of the banking system showing just how easy people of shady character can take advantage like, in this case, Nigeria, if not careful, could be taken for as much as billions in pounds.

I enjoyed the article so much that I have read it over twelve times. People like Tope should be serenaded; hence this is my shoutout. Well done, bro.

CREDIBLE ELECTION? - THE SENATE HAS JUST KNIFED IT! As the news filtered out on their position on the electronic transmission of election results, I began to just hold my head in utter disgust. They voted against it o. They actually voted against it. This is a new low and I must say that I cannot be ashamed cos this particular bunch of senators is just something else.

What is playing out is very obvious – that we must stick to the baggage of the inept style. Simply because of its ease of manipulation. Do these people really think about their legacy, their place in history? Do they sit at home and wonder how history will judge them?

We are saying that people must find their voices through democratic means.

They must eschew violence and take advantage of the democratic processes to seek national validation and you now stifle even that gateway with this kind of voting? I just weak as we say it in Shomolu. I just tire for una. I have an Ibibio name for you all – ‘ekpu’.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

Another Feather in Billionaire Philanthropist Sir Kessington Adebutu’s Cap Okonjo

Boardroom Player Onyema Okonjo’s Headache

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nyema Okonjo, Managing Director, Giant Beverages Limited, is a boardroom top player. Those who know Okonjo, also a former managing director of Matrix Software, say he has always been particularly interested in growing his business.

But the day he resorted to securing a loan from a bank became the biggest mistake of his life; little did he know that he was inadvertently inviting trouble upon himself.

At the moment, the loan is giving him a headache, but it is also affecting the company’s running.

A source revealed that he is neckdeep in a legal battle now, as he has been dragged before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos over his inability to repay the loan of N 168 million.

The court, it was gathered, has granted an order freezing and attaching his bank accounts and those of two directors of the company, Kenneth Njoku and Ernest Awuionu, who are signatories to the accounts. They are said to maintain accounts to the tune of N 168, 431,375.61 in 15 different commercial banks in Nigeria.

The court also directed the Corporate Affairs Commission to place a lien on the shares of the defendants held in Giant Beverages Limited, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Justice Osiagor also granted an order to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON to enter into and take possession of the property lying at Plot 18, Block 130, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, which was pledged as security by third party deed of legal mortgage for the facility granted to P C Outlet Limited Company.

Justice Osiagor made the order after listening to the argument canvassed by a lawyer, Laolu Owolabi, from Bonajo Badejo and S.E.Omoragbon law firm. According to an affidavit in support of a debt recovery suit sworn to by a legal practitioner, Francis Oloruntoba, filed and argued before the court by Owolabi on behalf of AMCON, P C Outlet Limited belonging to Okonjo registered in Nigeria to carry on business of trading, marketing, sales and distribution of general goods was advanced various facilities by Eligible Financial Institution between September 7, 2007 to October 15, 2008.

The various facilities, it was also gathered, were secured by the full and unconditional personal guarantee of Okonjo, while his wife Udokanma Mary Ane executed a third-party legal Mortgage as security for the facility obtained by P C Outlet Limited. Okonjo, Njoku, and Awuionu, as directors of P C Outlet Limited, were instrumental to how the facility was sourced, applied for, and granted, and the way and manner the facilities granted to the company from the eligible financial institution were utilised at the material times.

For many years, billionaire businessman and Chairman of Premier Lotto, Chief Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu, famously known as Baba Ijebu, has been committed to tackling the myriad problems in various levels of the nation’s educational institutions, especially the University of Lagos, where he is considered as the biggest individual donor.

While many are not aware of this, the university authorities definitely appreciate his ceaseless interventions to make the university a truly great citadel of learning.

In appreciation of his immense contributions, he was rewarded with an honorary Doctor of Science last week during the university’s convocation ceremonies amidst praises and encomiums. No doubt, it was another beautiful moment in the life of the billionaire businessman, just as it was an honour well deserved.

Interestingly, the Odoole Oodua of IleIfe has been honoured, both home and away, for his contributions to society.

It was gathered that it was his first major outing since last year,

following the outbreak of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, shortly after the honorary, the octogenarian has since jetted out of Nigeria to London with his wife.

Famously known as Baba Ijebu, the billionaire businessman and Chairman of Premier Lotto towers above many of his contemporaries, particularly because he has been in the warm embrace of fame for many decades.

Wealthy and influential, he has always dazzled his competitors and delighted his admirers. No doubt, his success story is such that it will make anyone green with envy. Beyond his famed status as a successful businessman, he has also remained very relevant owing to his uncommon brilliance, a quality that has endeared him to many across the globe.

But success, greatness and fame were never thrust on his laps on a platter of gold. His is an intriguing story of a man who is determined to survive in life.

But today, the man famously known as Baba Ijebu is celebrated by all and sundry for the simple reasons that he has made hard work, self-discipline and accountability his watchwords. He is a billionaire with deep pockets, coupled with the fact that his philanthropic

Adebutu

gestures are almost unprecedented.

Over the years, the Odoole Oodua of Ile-Ife has been at the forefront of benevolence, and this, we understand, has been his forte as many have benefited from his heart of gold.

Ambassador Maureen Tamuno Hits the Ground Running

Tamuno

Think of a woman blessed with brains, beauty and confidence, and Dr Maureen Tamuno’s name will pop up.

Over the years, she has to deploy her Godgiven talent to the service of humanity and her people, whom she has served in different capacities.

In the competitive sphere of the oil and gas sector, one name that has become a recurring decimal is the debonair and very industrious Otunba Funsho Lawal, the chairman of Sogenal Oil &Gas OON, CON. The oil and gas top player has been in the industry for so long, and he knows the sector like the back of his hands. His vast knowledge of oil and gas has earned him the position of the President of Petroleum Club and, at the moment, is on the board of trustees of the petroleum club.

Without recourse to exaggeration, if anyone undertakes to compile the list of top corporate players in Nigeria, such a person will be making a grave error if he or she lives out the name of the billionaire whose inspiring story started a long time ago.

In his over four decades in the industry, mercurial Lawal has traversed the length and breadth of the industry, leaving his mark of excellence with his sterling leadership qualities. Apart from oil and gas, which is a leading light,

Following her appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, she immediately hit the ground running. Among the other official assignments she had undertaken, she recently visited the Governor-General of Jamaica, His Excellency Patrick Allen, in King’s House, Kingston; Minister of Foreign Affairs Jamaica, Kamina Johnson -smith and the country Senate in one swoop.

It was gathered that two prominent Nigerians facilitated the visit in Jamaica, Prof Ernest Madu, who runs the Heart of Institute of the Caribbean, which is the only dedicated cardiovascular hospital in the country, as well as the managing director of Total Oil, Jamaica, Engr.Christopher Okonmah.

During the visit, Johnson-Smith applauded the bilateral relations between Jamaica and Nigeria and the technical aid by the Nigerian government to Jamaica while also agreeing to review the subsisting agreements in the areas of

air transport, trade, culture and tourism.

“Get Jamaica to be the wedding destination for Nigerians, who are looking to start a new life together in love. Where would you want to do that other than a place of one love?” he had said.

Tamuno, warmly received by the Senate President and other Senators during their parliament sitting, was also praised by Senator Donna Scott Motley, who stated that Jamaica was honoured by her appointment, especially as she demonstrated herself as an excellent and powerful woman.

In her speech, she reiterated that Nigeria remains an investment destination both in tourist attractions, culture and other areas similar to Jamaica. She, therefore, advocated for cultural exchange programmes and trade between the two countries. It was, indeed, a beautiful outing for this woman of substance whose profile has been on the rise since her appointment.

Oil and Gas Maestro Otunba Funsho Lawal Celebrates at 66

Lawal

the former chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, has

invested heavily in other sectors of the economy.

So, for the man that has been described as a shining light in the nation’s business firmament, Sunday, July 11, was simply very eventful. The day came with so many beautiful memories that could occupy a mention in his diary. The day dawned and ended with a lot of treasured activities that would for a long time serve as memorabilia for the Maaye of Ogbomosho. On that day, the oil magnate celebrated his birthday amidst an outpouring of good wishes, congratulatory messages, and prayers from friends, family members, and business associates around the globe.

The birthday was marked with more thanksgiving and prayers than fanfare, as top eminent personalities shared his joy on the occasion.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 18, 2021

CICERO/INTERVIEW

Shaibu: Why Governors Are Unhappy With Security Agencies Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, says the position of Southern Governors’ Forum on rotational presidency in 2023 still requires collaboration with the North. He also speaks on why governors are unhappy with security agencies in handling in the security challenge. Tobi Soniyi presents the excerpts

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he governors of the 17 Southern states at their last meeting decided that the South should produce the country’s next president.

Many of the governors are from the All Progressives Congress while you are of the Peoples Democratic Party. How did you arrive at the decision and will your party also implement it?

The position is that of the Southern Governors’ Forum and that represents what we in the Southern region want for our country. The forum does not have political coloration. We don’t discuss parties there.

We discuss what concerns our region and as far as we are concerned, it is only fair that the presidency this time should go to the South and by that, we are talking about Southwest, Southeast and Southsouth.

We are saying whether (from) the APC, PDP, APGA or any party, that the south should produce the next president, deriving from the rotational principle that we have had in the country. Presently, the president is from the north. Before now, we had Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Umaru Musa Yar’adua and Olusegun Obasanjo and if you have to count the military, it has been more of the northern people.

So, we are saying for fairness and equity purposes, since the presidency is currently in the north, come 2023, the south should produce the president of this country and we unanimously agreed on this.

In the south, there are still regions that feel they have been marginalised and they say they

deserve to produce the president in 2023. The Igbo in particular from the Southeast is one.

Did you consider the issue of micro-zoning?

What we agreed upon today is that the southern part of Nigeria and anybody from that region can contest for the presidency come 2023. He could come from the Southwest, Southeast and South-south. We have not reached the level of micro-zoning.

What we have just agreed upon is that for equity and fairness, the Southern part and anybody from these geopolitical zones can contest for it. The issue of micro-zoning was not discussed, but what was discussed was that the next president should come from Southern Nigeria for reasons of equity and fairness.

The issue again is that if you are talking about equity and fairness, I will take you to the very recent history of the country, where everyone who came out for President has come from either the Southwest, South-south or the Southeast.

The Southeast has not had it. Is it fair for the Southeast to have it this time around?

This is a forum of all the Southern governors of Nigeria and like I said, what is key now is to get this position to the south and when it comes to the south, we we’ll all agree. Mind you, the president is not going to be the president of the southern part of Nigeria; he is going to be the President of Nigeria.

Even as we demand that the president should come from the South, we must also put into consideration the fact that the northern part of the country should be part of this zoning arrangement of the presidency to the south. By the time it gets to the south, the issue of micro-zoning will

ment by all of us and that is a position we will canvas at our various National Working Committee (NWC) meetings.

So, when we go back to our various parties, we will canvas that position, which we all have agreed upon. We agreed that we want the presidency to be zoned to the south and the onus is now on us to take it to our various parties. That is what we have agreed upon. Beyond the position we have taken, we are going back to our party to canvass that the south should produce the next governor.

Shaibu be discussed, but for now the issue is let us get it to the south. That is what we are concerned about for now.

Given the fact that the governors are a major block and a determining factor, are you taking them into consideration especially, since you are all from different political parties?

It is our decision and as a southern person, the parties will have to listen to us, because we have agreed upon it but we have not taken it to our parties. The APC governors will take it to their party and the PDP governors will take it to their party.

It is not going to be just the southern governors’ pronouncement. It is an agree-

The forum seems to be unhappy with some (security) issues happening in the country. For instance, the forum said state governments should be informed before the federal government carries out any security operation in their states. Are there any specific incidences in this regard,because inferences are now being drawn.

Is it that of Sunday Igboho or Nnamdi Kanu?

Generally, without mentioning a specific incident, the governors are not happy with the modus operandi of the security outfits, not just that of the police or the SSS. If federal agencies are coming to the state to make an arrest, it is customary that the Chief Security Officer (of the state) should be informed.

The method you are adopting to carry out the arrest can be kept to yourself, but when you are coming to the state for an official assignment, the governor as the Chief Security Officer should be aware, even though you would not reveal your modus operandi. Possibly if there is any assistance the governor can give he will go ahead to do so, but like I said, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, he must be aware.

Yerima: Matawalle’s Defection Is Homecoming for Him A former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Yerima, in this interview with Adedayo Akinwale bears his mind on some of the political happenings in his state and the country. Excerpts:

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hat is your view on the recent defection of Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State from the PDP to APC? It is a good development for us and he is coming back home. He was in the All Peoples Party (APP), he was a founding member of APP, he was also with us in All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP). It was only when my deputy, who succeeded me left the party for People Democratic Party (PDP) that he went along with him and contested for the House of Representatives under the PDP and won the election. So, for me and for him, it is a home coming for him.

the governor and in 2019, the party also won, but because of the crisis, the Supreme Court gave it back to the PDP. So, PDP tasted power in Zamfara through the defection and through Supreme court action.

What is the update on your presidential aspiration?

I’m in the race, I have already declared my intention and I’m mobilising and by the grace of God I am trying to mobilise. At least, Mr. President won the election with a little above 15 million and I assure you, before I even declare officially, I would have had 20 million supporters.

But the current president is from the North West where you also come from. How is that possible?

There is issue of leadership in the State, what is your position on that?

The constitution of APC is very clear – everything under democracy is governed and guided by the constitution of either the party or the country or the Electoral Act. The constitution of APC has stipulated that the President and Commander in Chief is the leader of the party at the national level and at state level, all the governors are leaders of their party at that level.

There is insinuation that those he met upon joining the APC are not comfortable with the proclamation that he automatically becomes the leader of the party in the State. Is their concern genuine?

Can they change the constitution by their actions or can they just follow the rules and regulations of politicking. It is the constitution of the APC that said the governors are leaders of the party in the states.

I was a founding member of APP, I became the first governor in Zamfara State, when my deputy

Yerima succeeded me, I left the position for him.

You cannot do your time and do another person’s time. So, I’m sure that every member of the party now knows, as declared by the National Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the APC that he is the leader of the party in the state and the state executive has been dissolved.

Going forward, 2023, what are the chances of the party in the state?

Zamfara is an APC state. From APP, we have never lost an election, not one time. When I won election in 1999, I won again in 2003, my deputy won as governor in 2007. He defected to PDP and we recovered our seat by Abdulaziz Yari becoming governor in 2011 and 2015 Yari also won election as

You see, Nigerians should know that democracy is democracy. We are not the one that brought democracy, there is nothing in our constitution that talks about moving power from one place to another.

Every Nigerian, according to the Nigeria constitution, unless it is amended, has the right to aspire to any political office once he is qualified. So, it is not wrong for anybody to say he is contesting the election, even from Daura.

Any person from Daura local government, where Mr. President comes from can aspire to be president, governor or anything in Nigeria. You see, some people are political illiterate or maybe mischiefmakers. You cannot say this is my turn, because it is about election, you, all of us are going to go for election to elect the person that we think should be president.

Our problem in Nigeria is that this issue of citizenship has not been accepted fully in Nigeria.

We still have tribal, ethnic and religious differences, which is very wrong. And until such a time when we believe that we are Nigerians, then the issue of Hausa, Fulani, Yourua, Igbo, Ijaws, people will continue to

talk. But this is not a good talk because they know... even today let’s say APC says we have zoned this Presidency to Rivers State, will you force people in Lagos or people in Sokoto to go and vote for the person in Rivers State? No! You can’t. It is not something you are allocating.

If it is an allocation, you can say I have allocated this position to so so people, so only those people will aspire to be in that position.

The issue of insecurity is a major problem in the country and Zamfara is one of the most ravaged, what do you think is the way out of insecurity in the country?

Challenges are bound to happen over time in all countries. Every time you have this challenge or another challenge, but the ability of leaders to face these challenges and resolve them makes them leaders. I believe that the current government is up and doing. There has just been change of baton in the military and I have just also heard that there have been movement officers, General Officer Commanding (GOCs) and so on.

I’m sure with the rejig of the military force, something will happen. I’m sure now with the coming of the governor to the APC, all of us will put hands on deck to ensure that we go to the president and seek his support and also offer our advice. Before now, as a member of an opposition party in my state, as an APC member and the government was in PDP, it is very difficult for me to come and say governor you must do this.

He will think that we are not even in the same party, but now he knows that I am a stakeholder, I’m looking for his success, for the success of our part nationally and I am also looking at our people.

We now have common interests, because we have common positions as members of APC.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

18.07.2021

NIKE DAVIES-OKUNDAYE… IN ONE SWEEPING GLANCE

With an ongoing retrospective exhibition, which ends on August 13, on the life and work of Chief Dr Nike Okundaye, the Yaba Art Museum extends its advocacy on gender issues Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

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ubtle impressions close in on the viewer and overwhelm him. Emanating from the exhibition’s diverse offerings – which include paintings, sculptural and video installations and slide presentations, among others – they surge forward from all corners of the extensive well-lit cavernous museum’s exhibition hall with whitecoated walls.

A few words about this museum, which is tucked away nicely in the basement of a part of the main buildingthathousestheYabaCollegeofTechnology’s School of Art, Design and Printing. It is called theYaba Art Museum and is currently hosting the exhibition, titled Living Blue! (Nike Monica Okundaye Archive Retrospective). Descent into the exhibition hall leads visitors through a spiralling staircase, which already inwardly prepares them for an inspiring experience.

As for the exhibition, it was opened on Tuesday, June 29, with a lavish ceremony that chimed well with the effervescent disposition of the remarkable matriarch of contemporary Nigerian art, who turned 70 on Sunday, May 23. Open until Friday, August 13, it is open every day to the public from 10 am to 5 pm, except Sundays.

Perhaps, no other exhibition in recent memory best proclaims the prolificacy of the woman, who is fondly called “Mama Nike” in the local art circles, like this one, which is curated by Odunayo Orimolade. Nike, whose exploits with textile have become legendary, is oftentimes rarely – if not grudgingly – acknowledged as a painter. Hence, it should interest the cognoscenti that the exhibition features a treasure trove of her paintings produced not just on batik but also with acrylic, pen and ink and watercolours. In these works, some of which seem to have faded into the mist of oblivion, viewers could glean so much from the artist’s past.

Take the 1991 blue-themed acrylic abstract painting, titled “Beauty of Ages”, for instance. The dark blue gradually lightens up to an illuminating lightness.Through it, the artist metaphorically leads the viewers from the gloomy paths of her early years to the more hopeful and happier experiences of recent years. “Beneath the mask lies my stories of existence,”she writes.“A trip further takes you to the beautiful and ugly paths of life but the good times are always short, yet memories are never forgotten.”

The painting could also allude to the fact that she had emerged from the obscurity of her modest background to the limelight as a world-renowned artist and teacher, who currently lectures at several universities in the US, Canada and the UK, even without a university education. Indeed, the Kogiborn artist was raised in a modest home in the rustic communityofOgidi-Ijumuandclawedherwayfrom out of the depths of the dire circumstances into which fate had placed her. Losing her mother when she was only six years old and her grandmother the following year could have been a setback. But it did not seem enough to extinguish the flame of hope flickering in her resolute soul. Her inner restlessness and longsuffering disposition steeled her for further challenges, which would have caused many in her position to throw up their arms in despair.

Thankfully, the arts – into which she was embedded by the weaving of fate – offered her the muchdesired solace. Through her great-grandmother, who was the head of all the craftswomen in OgidiIjumu, she learnt what she needed to learn about weaving textiles and making adire fabrics. Also, both her mother and late aunt, who eventually raised her, as well as her father were known to be arts-inclined. So, even when she could no longer continue her formal education on account of her

A textile installation by the artist prevailing unfavourable circumstances, she never gave up her passion for the arts.

So, the arts welcomed her in its embrace after her escape from home at the age of 14 to evade what could have been an underage marriage to a junior government minister. From an initial stint with a travelling theatre company, Olosunta Travelling Theatre, she later found her way to Osogbo, where she encountered the Beiers: Ulli and his English-born wife Georgina.

It was in this southwestern Nigerian city that she learnt the art of indigo-dyeing and adire-making from the town’s informal art school and met her first husband Omooba Taiwo Olaniyi Oyewale-Toyeje Oyelale Osuntoki, who was more popularly known as“Twins Seven-Seven”. Of course, many would wish to discern in her embroidery work, titled “Osun”,

which was produced in 1972, the memories of this distant period.

As for the other work, “The Finger that Feeds, Never Lacks”II, also produced in 1972, it most likely highlights the guiding principles of this woman who holds two major chieftaincy titles – theYeye Oba of Ogidi-Ijumu and the Yeye Tasase of Osogbo – and has trained over 3 000 young Nigerians for free in the visual, musical and performing arts in her four art centres in Lagos, Osogbo, Abuja and her hometown, Ogidi-Ijumu.

Thanks to her steadfast diligence, amiable disposition and marketing skills, she easily asserted herself in the highly competitive art circles. This was enough for her to be recognised and selected as one of the 10 African artists who were to teach traditional weaving in the US.The trip, which was her

first outside Nigeria, had availed her the opportunity to visit museums and learning new skills, which included quilt-making.

Described by the exhibition’s curator as“a beacon of hope and help to many through her activities and expressions”, Nike is easily one of the most easily celebrated personalities in the art scene. This is corroborated by a section of the exhibition that displays newspaper and magazine cuttings featuring articles on her as well as academic writings about her. Little wonder she was deemed the Yaba Art Museum’s poster girl for its SHGBV (Sexual Harassment and other forms of Gender-Based) prohibition policy.

“This particularly because of her heavy involvement with social justice for women and girls by promoting girls in the society and her efforts to educate and emancipate young girls out of mostly dire situations stemming from her own experience,”the curatorial information adds.

Living Blue’s spectacular display of elaborate headgears – called“Gele”in the local vernacular – and beaded hunters’jackets are complemented by her rich assortment of watercolour paintings and drawings and her beadworks. About the latter, the artist says:“At night, I do my beadwork. I spend three hours every night doing that. I tell younger people that culture is my heritage. In those days when there was no telephone, people talk through their textile.

That is what I am still portraying to younger people.”

Indeed, other works like the 2001 acrylic painting “Osun Festival”, the 1980 mixed-media work “Beauty of Supper”and the 2001 acrylic paintings “Moment of Joy”, “Circle of Life” and “Happy Days” and the 1984 pen and ink on paper works“Faithful” and “Fertility” alongside a host of others, can be likened to snapshots of the memorable moments in her life’s experiences.

As currently one of the most sought-after artists by the local Caucasian collectors, she has participated in exhibitions held within and outside Nigeria. In addition, her works can be found in such prestigious collections as those of The Smithsonian Museum, the Gallery of African Art and The British Library, in London as well as that of a former US vice-president, Walter Mondale, among other high-profile collections worldwide.

VISUAL ARTS

Communal Re-Imagination Launches Series of Workshops for Youths Yinka Olatunbosun

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ommunalRe-Imagination,analternative artschoolprogrammebytheVernacular Art-space Laboratory Foundation has launched a series of workshop in Iwaya/Makoko community in Lagos to engage the youths with skills development and creative projects.

The programme provides a space for alternative cultural dialogue and knowledge-sharing platform that regenerates and revives the community throughartisticinterventionsandcreativeengagement.

Theparticipantsareusuallybetweentheages18and35 who live in the community.They are encouraged to reimaginetheircommunitybasedontheirunderstanding ofitspresentstateandrelateittowhattheywishitcould be using multimedia and interdisciplinary methods The three-month long series of workshops and creative brainstorming sessions are facilitated by both Site Gallery's Society of Explorers and selected interdisciplinary artists from the artist's network of the Vernacular Art-space laboratory. One of the activities at the school include a three-day workshop on 3D printing which had as facilitator the architect, writer

Displaying the products of the workshops and publisher at Dada Books, Ayodele Arigbabu. Last week, a five-day adire and kampala workshop was organized in partnership with an Abeokuta-based organization.

The artistic director, Communal Re-Imagination, Aderemi Adegbite explained how this programme kicked off a few years ago and the support that the organisation has received so far.

“We started in 2018 and our idea of the programme is to engage young people wighin the community through arts because that is what we know how to do,”he began.“It is just to engage their minds.We want to give them an alternative way of re-imagining their

community and themselves.We have got funding for the first edition of it. Prince Clau Funds Netherlands funded the programme. In 2019, they did a call for the next generation of creatives and we applied for the funding through communal re-imagination project.

It was the money that was given to us that we used to buildourspace.Weusuallyhaveexhibitionsandallthat in that space as well. Our space is very experimental and liberal when it comes to artistic expression.”

Asides the support from the European organisation, Communal Re-Imagination has also enjoyed the support of other international cultural organisations such as the British Council.

“In February this year, we had a programme funded by the British Council called Art Multiplier Lab Programme and I happened to be one of the selected,” he said. “After the programme, we applied for funding which was meant for just five people. To be eligible, we had to partner with an organization in the UK and we found one in Sheffield. We have been having a series of workshops in 3D printing, animation, talks with art leaders such as Segun Adefila. Next week, we will do some video art until next month. For this adire programme, what we did was to collaborate with Kuta Art Foundation in Abeokuta and they have photographers and people who work in adire.

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 18, 2021

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ARTS & REVIEW\\MUSIC

EXPLORINGLEKANBABALOLA’SLAKAYEALBUM Yinka Olatunbosun

L

ekan Babalola, a two-time Grammy award-winning percussionist, is living up to his reputation as an innovative musician with this new 11-track album titled Lakaye. Released on Oyeku Meji Records, the album is a mix of jazz, funk andworldmusicwiththesignaturetouch of Afrobeat. It opens with“Time Come” (4:23)whichisatributetracktothepercussionist’sfather, OlayiwolaBabalolaforhiscontributiontogospelmusic composition.Babalola’sfatherwasaleaderofthechurch choir and an accordionist. As a composer, his father would have him sit down to play the drums or the cowbellwhilehewascomposingandarrangingsongs.

This childhood experience became very influential in his music career.

“Time that has come’for acknowledging the Age of Aquarius in the world, for each person shall be judged according to one’s deeds,”Babalola explained.

The song “Your Highness”, with a video shot in Lagos, precisely Lagos Island, is an Afrobeat track that eulogises Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the Afrobeat pioneer.

Babalola was a former band member with Fela, with first-hand experience in the evolution of Afrobeat and Fela’s promotion of African ideology. It seeps into other tracks such as“Whirlwind”, a tribute to Oya, one oftheYorubagodessesknownastheiconofwindand guardian of cemetery.

Thealbumtitletrack“MrLakaye”hasanoverwhelming popinfluence,re-evoking‘80spopandsoultrainfever.

With rap vocals-a surprise- from RTKAL warring with saxophone and trumpet, Babalola’s hook runs above the electric guitar. RTKAL is a Birmingham born and bred rapper. The Under-30 finalist brought his can’tkill energy to the track that’s dedicated to theYoruba iconofmetalandironOgun,beseechinghimtomake the path clearer for human endeavours.That striking electric guitar element in the track is reflective of the Britishmusicians’rockcredibilityandsomethingmore profound as Babalola would later reveal in a chat.

“ElectricguitaristhecontemporaryelementofOgun in our contemporary life; the patron of technology,”he says.TheYoruba world-view forms a powerful crust in Babalola’swork.Hesatisfiesthecuriosityofhiswestern audience with the bulk of mythology and history that he breaks down beat after beat.

Thelasttrackonthealbum“Omi”,whichmeanswater, pays homage to Yemoja, the goddess of fertility and the orisha (deity) of the oceans.

BabalolahaslivedinUKsince1980whenhewentto study automobile engineering at Chelsea College of AeronauticalandAutomobileEngineeringwithaLagos Statescholarship.Instead,hemadeadetour,dropped engineering for music. After enrolling at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design where he studied filmmaking,hesecuredamaster’sdegreeatNorthern Film School. His percussive skills were honed when he joined Samba Samba band and later Art Blakey’s Jazz MessengersBand.HejointlywontwoGrammyawards.

Armed with a slew of international collaborations – including working with music greats like Prince,Tony Allen, and Ali FarkaTouré (with whom he won his first

Babalola Grammy),Babalolahasafierypresenceonthedrums.

His long-standing romance with European culture andmusicinparticularyieldedanotherfruit:anEnglish wife, Kate Luxmoore with whom he has five children.

Luxmoore has been his music collaborator and composed a few of the tracks in the album. One of them is Canning’sCourt,inspiredbymedievaldancethattook placeinabarnonafarmcalledCanning’sCourt,inDorset to celebrate the transition from autumn into winter.

“JB Goes to Lagos”, a joint composition by Luxmoore and Babalola attempts to cross-pollinate African and Britishcultures.“JohnBarleycorn”isatraditionalEnglish folksong with an Afrobeat twist. The song portrays

savageryinflicteduponJohnBarleycorn,usingbarley’s harvesting cycle as metaphor.

Other songs in the album include“Funky Mama”, which is dedicated to the unconditional love of a mother towards her children. That same sentiment ripples through another track“Wet Nurse Trad”with subject matters motherhood.

Other Luxmoore’s compositions on the album include Apple Wassail narrating a traditional form of wassailing practised in the cider orchards of Southern Englandduringwintertoprotecttheappletreesfrom harmful spirits.

An English folk song,“I Gave My Love”,is yet another

tidy composition by Babalola and his wife Luxmoore.

Babalolaexplainedthehistorybehindthesong,which was accented by beautiful, breezy sounds of flute. “‘The Riddle Song’, also known as‘I gave My Love a Cherry’, is an English Folk song, apparently a lullaby, exported by settlers to the Americas but originates from the Anglo-Saxons who would set riddles for the person they wished to marry. If you could answer the riddle you were wed,”he explained.

Asacreativeemblemofself-identity,Lakayeechoes Babalola’s Afro-British heritage.

Babalola’s previous albums include Songs of Icon (2006), Kabioye (2005), and 12 Package (2005).

TRIBUTE

ANOTHER CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION FOR THE SOUND SULTAN…

A

nother candlelight procession holds today in Festac Town, Lagos, in honour of the late musician Sound Sultan, two days after the one held on Friday by the Satellite Town Youths.

Attendees to the event, who are urged to don all-black attire, are expected to converge at Sprite Court 23 Road / 5th avenue Festac Town from 4pm since the expected take-off time is 5:30pm.

Born Olarenwaju Abdul Ganiu Fasasi on November 27, 1976, the late music star was a geography graduate of the Lagos State University. The announcement of his death in the early hours of Sunday, July 11, at the age of 44, left many in the entire Amuwo-Odofin community distraught and heart-broken. His remains were interred according to Islamic rites that same day in the US. These processions held in his memory are intended as platforms for testimonies and outpouring of grief at his passing.

Sound Sultan, who is survived by his wife, children and his siblings, was known

to be philanthropic and was said to have helped many in the music industry. Thanks to his reserved disposition, exemplary self-discipline and strict adherence to his Islamic faith, he was easily one of the most beloved personalities in his neighbourhood.

According to Olubunmi Adepuji, one of the late musician’s contemporaries in Satellite Town, he used to be a major sponsor of the community’s annual carnival, which holds on December 30.

“We, his friends in Satellite Town, had met him some years back to discuss about how we could organise annual carnivals,” he reminisced. “He was interested and has remained the main sponsor of the event.

As one of the organisers, I am in charge of security during the carnivals. Sound Sultan used to invite some many artistes during the carnival.

He has been so nice to everyone at the neighborhood. He was very humble, gentle and respectful.” Like many in the neighbourhood, Adepuji heard that the late musician was battling with throat cancer and had been flown to the US for treatment. At a time, it looked as if he had overcome the scourge until the devastating Sound Sultan news of his passing hit everyone.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

NEWSXTRA Zamfara Assembly Mulls Impeachment Proceedings against Deputy Gov

PDP disagrees with lawmakers, defends Gusau’s action Says 1999 Constitution guarantees his right to assembly Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

The Zamfara State House of Assembly may have perfected a plan to impeach Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mahdi Gusau for conven ing a political rally attended by thousands of supporters statewide, THISDAY has learnt.

As part of its impeachment plans, the assembly has summoned the deputy governor to appear before it next week for holding the rally amid intractable security challenges in the state.

Multiple sources yesterday confided in THISDAY that the lawmakers might initiate

impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor if he failed to justify holding a political rally at the time the state was battling grave security challenges.

Gusau had addressed a teeming number of his supporters during a solidarity rally penultimate Saturday during which he said

that the defection of his principal, Dr. Bello Matawalle would not affect the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in future elections in the state.

Gusau, son of a former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau and currently the youngest deputy governor in the

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE . . .

L-R: Chaplain, Greenwood House School, Dr. William Allotey-Pappoe; Administrator, Dr. Ekua Abudu; Supervisor, Mrs. Yetunde Abe, and Principal,Mr. Ronald Cilliers, at the 2020/2021 session prize giving and valedictory ceremony in Ikoyi, Lagos... recently ETOP UKUTT

Ozigbo: INEC Acted on Court Order to Exclude My Name David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, Valentine Ozigbo, yesterday assured his supporters that the exclusion of his name from the list of governorship candidates was only temporary.

Ozigbo, the immediate past President and Chief Executive Officer of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria plc, disclosed that he had started reaching out to the PDP governorship aspirants that were aggrieved, noting that his exclusion would be reversed very soon.

He gave this assurance in a statement his media adviser, Mr. Aziza Uko issued yesterday, noting that the decision of the Independent National Electoral

Commission (INEC) not to publish his name as a candidate in the race was “a matter of procedure.”

Ozigbo emerged the candidate of the party in a primary election conducted on June 26, while a faction of the main opposition party elected Dr Ugochukwu Uba as its candidate for the poll, thus necessitating litigation about the exercise.

Consequently, INEC had released the list of candidates for the governorship election scheduled to hold on November 6, excluding Ozigbo as the PDP candidate and Prof. Chukwuma Soludo as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Despite the decision of the electoral umpire, Ozigbo said he was still in the governorship race and that the exclusion of

his name was only a temporary setback.

He said the PDP had mobilised men and resources to ensure that the order was vacated to enable INEC to update its records with the name of Ozigbo as the gubernatorial candidate for the state as was earlier forwarded to the electoral body by the PDP. He said: “It is on record that the Peoples Democratic Party had the most credible party primary ahead of the November 6 Anambra State governorship election.

“Most aspirants, present at the primary venue on June 26 spontaneously congratulated Ozigbo once he was declared the winner. They went on to formally publish their congratulations to him as the elected candidate of the party.

“The development, in which

aspirants congratulate the elected candidate, is novel in Anambra party politics. It attests to the acceptability of the candidacy of Valentine Ozigbo and the transparency of the process from which he emerged.”

Ozigbo, therefore, acknowledged that he had started reaching out in dialogue to few aspirants who feel aggrieved, saying the PDP would emerge as one family under one big umbrella at the end of the process.

He said the PDP had forwarded his name “as its candidate for the 2021 Governorship Election to INEC. We also confirm that he had submitted his credentials to INEC and that all the procedural necessities that should follow before INEC’s publication of the list of candidates had been completed.”

Canada Pledges Support to African First Ladies Peace Mission Tobi Soniyi The Government of Canada has pledged cooperation and support to the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) in pursuit of the mission’s peace building efforts on the African continent.

This was the outcome of Friday’s virtual meeting between the Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on AFLPM, Dr. Mairo Al-Makura, on the mission’s side; Canadian Minister of International Development, Karina Gould and Canadian Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, Jacqueline O’Neill.

Speaking during the meeting, Gould and O’Neill commended the valuable efforts of the AFLPM, which they acknowledged, had

been working relentlessly on peacebuilding initiatives within Africa.

The Canadian officials, therefore, expressed the interest of the Government of Canada in deepening its cooperation with the AFLPM in promoting women, peace, and security in Africa.

In her opening remarks, Al Makura, highlighted women’s role in peacebuilding, the systemic barriers often faced by women in conflict settings and how Canada could further support the goals of the AFLPM on the continent.

“Through the years, the AFLPM has leveraged its privilege and access to power to foster diplomatic and political relationship towards achieving peace, with a particular focus

on the needs of the women and children of Africa.

“With the 47 member-states making up the mission well utilised as vehicles to promote peacebuilding and conflict resolution through feminist lens, we have the unique ability to quickly mobilise and advocate for change.

“Also, the Peace Mission is embarking on Advocacy for women on the need to take COVID-19 vaccines alongside their families” Al-Makura stated.

She emphasised the need for Canada and AFLPM to establish ways to deepen relationship and mobilise resources for the AFLPM secretariat to advance the women, peace and security agenda, gender equality, and the

broader Sustainable Development Goals objectives on the African continent.

The Peace Mission and the Government of Canada also discussed several regional peace, security and humanitarian issues and the need to resolve conflicts through political dialogue and increased women’s participation in conflict-prevention efforts.

The African First Ladies Peace Mission was an outcome of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on women in Beijing, China, where the initiative was taken to establish the African First Ladies Forum by African wives of African Heads of State/ Presidents who came together as ambassadors of peace during the conference.

country, had also said he would not defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Matawalle, who officially left the PDP on June 29.

He had also said Matawalle’s defection would not in any way affect the chances of the PDP in future elections, assuring PDP’s supporters that he would mobilise grassroots support to bring the PDP back to the seat of power.

In a letter addressed to the deputy governor, the assembly accused him of disrespecting the Commissioner of Police, Hussaini Rabiu in a WhatsApp message.

Consequently, the assembly summoned the deputy governor to appear before it on July 27 to explain why he held the rally without considering the security situation in the state and in defiance to the advice of the security authority in the state.

The assembly added that the decision of the deputy governor to convene the rally in solidarity with the PDP might aggravate the security situation in the state.

Apart from the invitation, there are indications that the lawmakers were plotting to impeach the deputy governor for refusing to defect to the APC alongside

Matawalle.

It appears the lawmakers are merely using his holding of the rally as a smokescreen.

The Director of Press and Public Relations, Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Mustapha Kaura confirmed the invitation, though did not entertain questions on the assembly’s plot to impeach the deputy governor.

Also, Speaker of the assembly, Hon. Nasiru Magarya confirmed the invitation to Mr Gusau, noting that it was wrong for the deputy governor “to hold a political rally in a critical time like this”.

The motion to invite the deputy governor was moved by Yusuf Alhassan representing Maru North constituency. Alhassan accused Gusau of attempting to cause unrest in the fragile state and thus needed to be summoned to explain.

However, a political associate of the deputy governor, who confidentially spoke with THISDAY, claimed that Gusau had not received any letter of invitation from the assembly.

Condemning the decision of the assembly to invite the deputy governor, Zamfara PDP berated the assembly for inviting Gusau for staging a political rally in the state.

Group Asks FG to Probe Ex-Bank Director $40m Fraud Allegation Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto An anti-corruption group, Nigeria Public Transparency Initiative Group (NPTIG), has called on the federal government and other anti-graft agencies to investigate the source of $40 million allegedly traced to a former Executive Director of the First Bank, Dauda Lawal.

The group’s National Coordinator, Dr. Hamisu Bayero, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Sokoto. It noted that the call became necessary at a time when the fight against corruption needed a holistic approach.

“We urged the relevant authorities to compile Dauda Lawal’s account for how he got the $40m, since the bank’s rules prevented him from carrying out any other business while in office as executive director.

The group thus urged the relevant authorities, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

(EFCC) to carry out a holistic investigation in unveiling such a suspicious amount of money.

The group also urged the anti-draft agencies not to enter a plea-bargain deal on the matter, saying “such negotiation with a suspect is like condoning criminal activities, especially on issues that border on corruption, stealing and other crimes.”

Recall that the EFCC had earlier confiscated the money from the former banker on allegation that it was proceeds of corruption.

Other properties put under surveillance include a fertilizer company, Zamzam hotel, Aluminium production company, properties he allegedly acquired in both London and Dubai.

But the group said proper investigation on the suspect would further discourage money laundering and illegal acquisition of property outside the country by unscrupulous Nigerians.

Omojuwa Appointed into Halifax Board Joshua J. Omojuwa has been appointed into the board of directors of Halifax International Security Forum (HFX).

He joins Mrs Cindy McCain, White House nominee to serve as Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, Major Gen (Rtd.) Tammy Harris, former Deputy Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Dr. Luis Rubio who chairs the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations and other distinguished members.

In a letter dated 8th July 2021

by HFX President, Peter Van Praag, Omojuwa was chosen to join the board based on his ‘meaningful contributions’ to

HFX work over the years.

The board is chaired by Janice Gross Stein, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and an Honorary Foreign Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Halifax International Security Forum (HFX) is a global nonprofit organization comprising international government and military officials, academic experts, authors, and entrepreneurs with headquarters in Washington D.C., United States. Its annual forum holds in Halifax in Canada (after which it is named) and brings together about 300 participants from over 80 countries to address global security issues.

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CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Covid-19: How Does a Third Wave Sound?

WHO, Lagos State Government and the NCDC are agreed that COVID-19 pandemic’s third wave has made landfall – even as the deadlier Delta variant sneaks into the country. Louis Achi writes

A

statement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) regional office in Africa disclosed the continent is currently facing its third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic with resurgence in 12 African

countries.

“Africa is facing a fast-surging third wave of COVID-19 pandemic, with cases spreading more rapidly and projected to soon overtake the peak of the second wave the continent witnessed at the start of 2021,” the agency stated.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, had stated late last month, “The third wave is picking up speed, spreading faster, hitting harder. With rapidly rising case numbers and increasing reports of serious illness, the latest surge threatens to be Africa’s worst yet.”

Recently, new cases of the Covid-19 pandemic have surged, climbing to 1,249 cases between 1st July and 13th July 2021, with Lagos State being the epicentre of the spread. The recent report released by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed that Nigeria recorded 154 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, 13th July 2021.

Lagos State recorded 119 cases last week, representing 77% of the total cases recorded in the day. The new cases take the total tally in the country to 168,867 cases with the number of active cases surging to 2,119 patients. Nigeria is clearly joining the likes of Haiti, Lesotho, Sierra Leone amongst others currently battling with the third wave of the pandemic.

The country currently stands 9th on the ranking of African countries with the highest cases of coronavirus disease. However, with the recent spike in the number of cases, Nigeria is at risk of a new set of lockdowns.

More, early last week, the Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force had uncovered the virulent Delta variant of Novel Coronavirus in the state. The State Incident Manager Sanwo-Olu and coordinator of the Emergency Operations Centre, Dr. Olabode Ladipo, who confirmed the development, said the public was notified of the need to take extra caution and consistently apply all advisories earlier released by the task force.

The Delta variant is a highly transmissible variant of COVID-19 originating from India and it infects people more rapidly than the other known COVID-19 variants. This is coming after the federal government penultimate week confirmed the first case of Delta variant in the country.

The state government warned residents to continue to comply with all advisories aimed at curtailing the spread of COVID-19, including all in-bound travellers being mandated to isolate for seven days and submit themselves for tests.

On his part, a sober Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-

Olu, stated last week that the state had started experiencing a potential third wave of the pandemic with dire consequences. Sanwo-Olu, who gave the alert while updating on the pandemic situation in the state and ongoing response as a government, added that the country stood the risks of losing both lives and livelihood on a devastating scale.

In a reflective mode, Sanwo-Olu recalled that starting around the end of March 2021, the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos began to wind down, and “we began to enjoy some reprieve from the worst effects of the virus.

This allowed us to further open up the economy to allow the start of the journey towards full normalcy in our lives

and the pursuit of livelihoods, after what has been a very difficult year.”

Further, according to him, “Regrettably, in spite of the hard work and dedicated efforts towards sustaining the return to normalcy, over the last three months, we are now finding ourselves at what appears to be the start of a potential third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Lagos State.

“From the beginning of July, we started to experience a steep increase in the number of daily confirmed cases, with the test positivity rate going from 1.1 per cent at the end of June 2021 to its current rate of 6.6 per cent as of July 8, 2021. The rapid increase within a week gives great cause for concern.

“Also, within the last two weeks, the occupancy rate at our isolation centres increased from an average of 1 per cent to 6 per cent. This is the new and disturbing reality that now confronts us.”

Meanwhile, as dictated by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC), passengers from red list countries are required to observe mandatory isolation. Nigeria has added South Africa to its “red list” of countries for which there are stringent restrictions for arriving passengers, due to the spread of the Delta variant in the country. South Africa joined the likes of India, Brazil, and Turkey on the list.

Lagos State has so far successfully isolated 2,386 passengers. But out of this number, 15 per cent have absconded, the Lagos State governor revealed. It’s hardly disputable that a continuous surge in the number of cases in Lagos State can be a danger for the entire country at large, given that Lagos is the economic hub of the country, with large movements in and out of the state.

If not quickly contained, it could push Nigeria into another round of lockdown, especially, with the highly transmittable Delta variant on the loose.

Clearly, ahead of the Sallah celebration and beyond, greater vigilance is required in churches and mosques and other places of religious worship. It would simply be foolhardy for Nigerians to permit themselves to be swayed by the illusion that normalcy is back. It certainly is not.

A mandatory public compliance with all protective protocols, compulsory use of facemasks in all public places, social distancing, temperature checks, provisions for handwashing and sanitisers, and a maximum of 50 per cent occupancy in enclosed spaces are clearly the way to go.

Just as the NCDC Director General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, had noted, the responsibility to prevent a surge in cases was not with the government alone, but requires adherence to public health and social measures by all members of the public.

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

The Despicable 52

Lawan

Have you heard of the despicable 52? Oh, well, those are the enemies of the country – the 52 lawmakers, who thought an electronic transfer of results after an electronic voting could stand in the way of their chances in the next elections and brazenly voted for a conditional electronic transfer of results, which more or less supported a manual process.

By their obnoxious and otherwise satanic decision, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)“may consider electronic transmission of results, provided the national coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by the National Communications Commission (NCC) and approved by the National Assembly.

There’s no doubting the fact that the old order appears to pay the unelectable lot, who currently populate the National Assembly – a system that encourages all sorts of brigandage and above all, puts the lives of everyone involved in the electoral process in danger, without as much providing any

form of security cover, especially, for officials of INEC. And if you ever wondered by democracy has remained stagnant and unprogressive, then, go back to check the roles of those who allegedly fought for democracy in killing the idea of an electronic system. It is until then you would start to question if they genuinely fought for democracy or their role was a function of time and chance – perhaps, transactional? Even when they conspired to kill the Olusegun Obasanjo third term agenda, it wasn’t for nothing but the fact that the initiative did not take care of their own interest.

Attempt to explain away what happened in the chambers by some of the lawmakers was an effort in futility. After all, the Nigerian people saw the voting pattern and understood why. If anyone ever contemplated their excuses, the fact that there was an initial attempt to initially smuggle it in says it all.

Nigerians, truth is that, your leaders are your problems and vice versa.

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BRIEFINGNOTES

Onochie: A Pleasant Rejection The Senate, last week, did well by rejecting Mrs. Lauretta Onochie, President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice as Independent National Electoral Commissioner. Shola Oyeyipo writes

N

ot a few Nigerians heaved a big sigh of relief, when last Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate opted to throw out President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination as National Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commissioner in the person of Lauretta Onochie. This followed sustained protests from Civil Society Organisations, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and other well-meaning Nigerians, who contended that the choice of the president’s Special Assistant on New Media was suspect.

The upper chamber of the National Assembly readily attributed her rejection to the issue of Federal Character and the need to adhere strictly to the Act. After considering the resolution of the Senator Kabiru Gaya (All Progressives Party, APC), Kano South-led committee on INEC, it was resolved that since Lauretha hails from Delta State, which already has May Agbamuche, who is the Chairman, Legal Services, INEC, a state cannot have two commissioners, but beyond that, her rejection was more, because Nigerians feared that there was a sinister motive behind her nomination.

Another issue raised by a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) in a press conference in Abuja by a board member of YIAGA Africa, Ezenwa Nwagwu was that Onochies has dual citizenship that made her fall short of the constitutional requirements to occupy such position, going by the provisions of Sections 156(1a) and 66(1a) of the 1999 Constitution.

Her choice had been trailed by protests and calls to the Senate not to approve her nomination on the grounds that the decision was too partisan. She is perhaps the most controversial aide of President Buhari. Her die-hard support for the president made her notoriously popular on social media, where she has opted to engage in a war of words with any and everyone, who expressed opposition to her principal’s administration. Hence, the widespread concern that appointing such a partisan presidential spokesperson to serve as commissioner of a non-partisan electoral commission would only distract the body.

Some aspects of her controversial nomination and eventual rejection were food for thought and reasons to be concerned about the character of persons that should be allowed into leadership positions. In her desperate bid to clinch the INEC job, Onochie lied without batting an eyelid, to Nigerians and the Senate, that she was not an APC member. She bluntly told the Senator Gaya committee on three occasions that she stopped being a card-carrying member of the ruling APC in 2019 during her screening as INEC National Commissioner in July.

Her blatant lies readily gave her up as a dishnourable individual and a person with

Onochie open disregard for Nigerians, because a lot of people knew her as a staunch member of the APC and one with a penchant for vituperative attacks on anti-Buhari tendencies on the social media, which is her turf.

“I have learned, over the years, to stand with the constitution and due process but not on partisanship or sentiments.

Since 2019, I have not had anything to do with any political organisation, including Buhari support groups. When APC was doing re-validation of party members, I did not take part in that exercise. As I’m sitting down here, I’m not a member of any political party in this country. I have no

at the front also hit the social media, and a 2021 affidavit to which she deposed as recently as June 30, at the FCT Court in a case involving her and one Emeka Ugwuonye, affirming her membership of the party surfaced and put a hole in her lies.

The takeaway from this is that just as any other Nigerian, who will try to circumvent truth in order to attract personal benefits, Onochie is not an exception.

Her nomination was simply designed to impose a Buhari loyalist on INEC, by using the federal lawmakers to approve the highly contested nomination. This is the more reason many will agree with Senator Shehu Sani’s position that by declining her appointment, the federal lawmakers have saved “INEC from a serpent.”

Another disturbing dimension to the debate is, why did the presidency consider Onochie, a well-known Buhari sympathiser for such a job? Are there not reliably qualified non-partisan individuals out there that can do the job? As a government that won a victory over an incumbent president, when it had no opportunity to determine INEC chairman and commissioners, why the desperation to sneak one of their own into the electoral body? The only plausible answer to this is that the APC leadership is not oblivious of the fact that their party has significantly lost goodwill among the electorate and must therefore implant an agent in INEC for obvious reasons.

Apparently, these assumptions spurred so many people to antagonise her choice. Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike asserted that the APC attempted to force Onochie on INEC, because it was planning to rig the 2023 general election. Wike’s party, the PDP, also maintained that Onochie could not be trusted with such sensitive responsibility.

The party’s national spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, noted that Onochie lied to Senator Kabiru Gaya-led Senate Committee on INEC and as such, she could not be trusted with the position of a national commissioner in INEC. Surely, whatever reason was adduced to their rejection of Onochie, the federal lawmakers knew it was the best decision given the facts and evidence before them and they have been well applauded by Nigerians for confirming partisanship in my blood. other nominees, including Prof. Muham“I have seen many petitions against my nomination not only from the PDP but also mad Sani Kallah, (Katsina), Prof. Kunle from some APC members. I’m not partisan; Ajayi (Ekiti), Saidu Ahmad (Jigawa), Dr. they know. It is about the law. No one has Baba Bila (North-East) and Prof. Abdullahi Zuru (North-West), and rejecting Onochie any reason to fear for my nomination as thereby disallowing the President from INEC commissioner representing Delta. insulting the collective sensibility of As far as I’m concerned, I’m Madam Due Nigerians.

Process. That’s why all the attacks. I follow Taking a cue from the Onochie issue, the due process; I follow the law,” Onochie lied federal lawmakers should learn to work to the screening committee. more in the interest of the electorate, who But not only did her media posts tie voted them into office and not to satisfy her to the APC, her picture in which she the president, because democracy is about adorned herself with a gown bearing a the people and not those in power alone. large portrait photo of President Buhari

NOTES FOR FILE

As Insecurity Worsens…

General Ahmed

Just as the news of the murder of General Hassan Ahmed, a former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, filtered in almost a week after the Emir of Kajuru, in Kaduna was abducted and released the next day, the US Embassy in Abuja, the nation’s capital, also announced reduction in public services, citing security reasons.

Every blessed day in different parts of the country, there are constant reports of kidnapping, killings, assassinations, attacks on

security facilities by insurgents and allies, yet, it doesn’t seem like the situation is subsiding. Much as the security agencies in the country have not rested on their oars, results of their efforts is hardly noticeable, when juxtaposed with those of the anti-social elements.

It’s therefore understandable, when the entire nation is worried about the state of things, with a leadership that’s almost indifferent to the pains and anguish of the Nigerian people. And rather than

take on the challenge and give the Nigerian people a deserved confidence in their leadership, the opposite has been the case.

Sadly, things cannot continue this way. The federal government must stand up to the challenge. It signed up for this and must stick to plans.

The situation is going out of control and it’s a disturbing one.

The nation can’t continue this way else everyone would be consumed in no time.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 18, 2021

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CICERO/REPORT

Buhari with Buni

APC: Still Running from Its Shadows In this report, Chuks Okocha writes that a combination of factors, including the search for consensus candidates for the National Working Committee of ruling APC is responsible for the delay in conducting its national convention

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ast week saw the national secretary of the APC Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpanudohehe write the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to inform the election management body of the decision to suspend the National Convention of the party indefinitely and within the next five days, retract the letter.

The two letters, to observers, sent wrong signals to the members. But underlying these conflicting reports is due to the fact that the ruling party is afraid of an elective national convention and wards as well as states congresses to elect officials to run the affairs of the party at all levels Top sources that spoke to THISDAY on the delay in organising a national convention pointed to one thing, that the APC was still searching for an acceptable person to fit into the office of a national chairman. The party believes that an elective national convention could leave behind a sour taste that could affect the party in the 2023 general election.

It was learnt that top leaders of the party, believe that a trusted, young and loyal person should serve as the national chairman to avoid the near crisis that led to the ousting of Adams Oshiomhole as the national chairman.

The former governors, who are also senators, it was argued, don’t have party loyalty as even out of office still operate as if they are still governors with their absolute disregard to feelings of members Some members of the APC, like Senator Rochas Okorocha had said the only string holding the APC together is the person of President Muhammadu Buhari as the party would disintegrate after his administration.

A top source reaffirm this to THISDAY and argued that the ruling party didn’t want to conduct an elective convention, because of the fear of the outcome, which might polarise the party .

According to the source, “there are four prominent names contesting for the office of the national chairman, but the top leaders believe that the next

chairman must a person that has the capacity to hold the party intact in a post Muhammadu Buhari era.

“There is the fear that without a consensus candidate as national chairman, that the outcome of the convention could leave the party in a position that would post a negative implication as the 2023 general election is fast approaching.

“We have aspirants like Senator Abdullahi Adamu, George Akume, Al Mankura and Saliu Mustapha, all of them from the north central zone”.

The source said that the national convention was crucial, because it would help decide the zoning of other offices both in the executive arm and sharing of offices in the National Assembly.

According to the source, the North Central zone seems to have been chosen, because it is a balancing zone to both the north and the southern part of the country. So, the presidential candidate can come from either side depending on the permutations.

It was further gathered in line with the just concluded APC National Youth Conference and in line with the Not Too Young To Run Act signed last year, the party wanted to assuage the youths by ensuring that younger persons are given opportunity in the administrative organ of the party.

It was gathered that the party was not comfortable with former governors as national chairmen, bearing in mind, their perceived authoritarian nature and the last experience with Adams Oshiomhole whose tenure nearly caused problems in the party.

THISDAY learnt that Senators Abdullahi Adamu, Al Mankura, George Akume and Danjuma Goje are either in their late sixties or seventies, and may not command the respect of the youths, who want to be in the saddle, whereas Saliu Mustapha is about 49 years old.

In the just concluded APC Youth Conference attended by the vice president. Professor Yemi Oshibajo and members of the Federal Executive Council, the conference conveyed the importance of utilising the voting strength of the youths.

At the conference, speaker after speaker underscored

the importance of youths, as they claimed that 70 per cent of voters in the 2019 general election were young men and women.

Apart from the above, the source said the APC was waiting for the PDP to make a move over where its national chairman will come from.

He said, “We are not in rush. Politics is all about calculation. We must know where our major opponent, the PDP is going. You don’t expect us to shoot and box ourselves into a corner. Everything is planning with tactics.

Also, indications from some of the state chapters suggested that the party was still neck-deep in the crisis that led to the setting up of the caretaker committee.

“Many state chapters are currently enjoying the peace of the graveyard. For example, the Ekiti State chapter is enmeshed in a silent war between the governor’s faction and others leading to suspension and counter-suspension of members.

“Also, the Kwara State chapter is also enmeshed in a deep crisis.

The statement credited to the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed that, there will be no congress until everybody is registered is a clear indication that all is not well with the chapter.

“With former Senate President, Bukola Saraki restrategising to stage a comeback, it is clear that the APC must put its house in order in Kwara, if it must retain its seat in the coming elections. The minister was also quoted as describing the state governor as a ‘one-chance governor’, the source said.

It was further gather that the APC leaders are now in a hide and seek with the PDP, especially, as regards the emergence of its key officers, like the national chairman and the zoning of the national executive party organs. It is generally believed that the outcome of the national convention will spell out clearly, where some key offices like the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will come from.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 18, 2021

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CICERO/ISSUE

Keyamo

Ologbondiyan

Matawalle: APC, PDP’s Fireworks Continue After weeks of threats and ultimately filing a suit against Governor Bello Matawalle for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, the ruling party, last week,dismissed what it described as baseless and illogical arguments on the part of the opposition party. Davidson Iriekpen writes

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has finally made good its threats to remove the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, for defecting from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the party prayed the court to sack Matawalle.

In the suit filed in the names of two of its members from Zamfara State, Sani Kaura Ahmed and Abubakar Muhammed, the plaintiffs averred that, in view of an earlier judgment of the Supreme Court to the effect that the APC had no candidates in the 2019 governorship election in Zamfara State, having not conducted valid primaries, it would be unlawful for Matawalle to retain his offices while defecting from the PDP to the APC and thereby transfering PDP’s victory to the APC. They urged the court to, among others, declare that Matawalle and Gusau must resign from their offices to allow INEC conduct a fresh election within three months for the PDP to replace them.

When the case came up last Tuesday, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), moved an ex parte motion for an order “granting leave to the plaintiffs/applicants to serve the motion on notice seeking leave to amend hearing notices and all other processes on the first and second defendants by substituted means, to wit: pasting same at the Zamfara State liaison office at 6/7 Sangha Street, off Mississippi Street, Maitama District, Abuja, or leaving it with any adult person in that office”.

In a ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the prayer contained in the motion and ordered the plaintiffs to effect service within three days and adjourned till July 16.

In a supporting affidavit, Ahmed said he suffered along with other PDP members in Zamfara State and that Matawalle’s defection deprived them of the efforts they put into ensuring the party’s victory in the election. He added that it would amount to injustice against him and other members of the PDP in the state if Matawalle, being beneficiaries of the Supreme Court judgment, was allowed to defect to the APC without relinquishing their current offices.

Matawalle, penultimate week, formally defected from the PDP to the APC. As it is usually

the case, the governor took with him to the ruling party, some members of the state and federal legislators. This did not go down well with the PDP, which threatened to challenge the defection in court.

Matawalle, who came a distant second in the March 2019 general election was declared governor on May 24, 2019, after the Supreme Court disqualified all the APC candidates over the failure of the APC to conduct valid primaries.

The apex court specifically held that APC having not conducted valid primaries, in the face of the law, did not participate in the 2019 elections where it swept the presidential, governorship and all the federal and state legislative seats, beating PDP candidates to a distant second position.

It further ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the votes secured by the APC in all the elections and decide the new winners from the remaining valid votes.

PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbodiyan, specifically stated that the Supreme Court judgment upon which Matawalle assumed office was clear and unambiguous that it is party that contests election in Nigeria and not the candidate.

His words: “No law allows him to cross over to any other party with the governorship mandate statutorily given to the PDP through the ballot box, as already established by the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the standing judgment of the Supreme Court.

“A combined reading of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution as the pronouncements of the Supreme Court in Faleke v. INEC (2016) is clear in holding that it is the political party that stands for election, that votes scored in election belong to the political party and that the candidate nominated to contest at an election by his party acts only as the agent of his party.

But Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo, felt that the PDP was too fast in thinking that it has a water-tight case against Matawalle and the APC. He added that the opposition political party was pursuing illogical, baseless and mischievous arguments without any constitutional backing.

Keyamo faulted PDP’s interpretation of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution as amended in the case of Faleke vs INEC, saying Matawalle’s defection would not cost him the governorship

seat.

“Unfortunately, for the PDP, the Supreme Court decision in Faleke v. INEC does not relate to the consequence of the defection of a governor from one political party to the other. A more apt instance will be the Atiku Abubakar scenario wherein Atiku Abubakar as Vice President, elected under the PDP, defected to the then Action Congress. President Olusegun Obasanjo attempted to declare his office vacant in circumstances similar to the Zamfara scenario and the dispute ended in Court,” he said.

The minister further explained that under the 1999 Constitution, provisions relating to removal of the president/vice president are replicated with respect to governors/deputy governors.

Additionally, Keyamo said Section 221 of the 1999 constitution did not avail the PDP any protection and was not remotely applicable to the present situation in Zamfara State.

He added that Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution merely dealt with the prohibition of political activities by associations other than political parties and said the attempt by the PDP to import the provisions of section 68 of the 1999 constitution into section 221 of the 1999 constitution smacked of mischief.

“The position of the Supreme Court was reported as Attorney General of the Federation V. Abubakar (2007) 10 NWLR (part 1041) 1. At page 124 of the report, Justice Walter Onnoghen set down the position thus: ‘There is nowhere in the 1999 Constitution, where it is stated that the President or Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be removed or is removable from that office if he defects from the political party on whose platform he was elected to that office and joins another political party’.

“If the intent of the draftsmen was to prohibit the defection of governors to other political parties, it would have been so expressly stated like in the case of lawmakers. The provisions of the 1999 Constitution are very clear on the grounds for the removal of an Executive Governor of a state from office and defection to another political party is not one of such grounds.

One interesting point the Supreme Court also made in the Atiku Abubakar case, which must have been lost on the PDP was that once a candidate is elected as President or Vice-President (in this case, a Governor) he automatically drops

the ticket upon which he/she rode to power and becomes a President or Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and not of that political party. The ticket is only a VEHICLE to get elected. Once elected, the Governor drops that party ticket and becomes a free agent for everyone in that state. He is therefore free to associate (and decamp) as he likes to any political party,” he said.

But the PDP fired back at Keyamo over his legal opinion, saying he ended up exposing his poor knowledge of the application of the law by stating that the judgment could not apply in a case of defection of a governor from the party on which platform he was elected to another, particularly, a party that did not even participate in the election.

“We refer Keyamo to the definite pronouncement of the Supreme Court in that case, to the effect that it is the political party that stands for election, that votes scored in election belong to the political party and that the candidate nominated to contest at an election by his party acts only as the ‘agent’ of his party. The incontrovertible applicative import of that judgment is that the votes upon which Bello Matallawe assumed office as the governor of Zamfara State belong to the PDP and they are not transferable to the APC, which did not sponsor candidates for that election as required by Section 221 of the Constitution.

“On Keyamo’s claim that once elected, the governor drops that party ticket and becomes free even to decamp to any other political party, we ask if that be the case under the law, how come Mukhtar Shehu Idris of the APC, who was already declared as elected governor of Zamfara State, had to lose the position immediately the Supreme Court decided that the votes cast for APC in that election cannot count?

“Perhaps Kayamo needs be reminded that there is no position of independent candidacy in Nigeria,which is why it is the logos of political parties and not names of candidates that are imprinted on the ballot papers if he had ever participated in elections and voted before.”

Definitely, the Matawalle matter is going to be a long haul between the two parties and until the Supreme Court expeditiously settles the case, the jury is still out and remain fingers crossed.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JULY 18, 2021

CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

Lagos APC and the Battle Within In 2023, the All Progressives Congress is not having a tea party in Lagos State, writes Segun James

Lead Visioner at Lagos4Lagos Movement, ... rally to protest injustices in APC

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State is currently at a crossroads. In another seven days, the local government councils elections are expected to take place, but the crisis rocking the party and the outcome of the elections would be a foreboding of what is coming in 2023. Lagos is no longer the same politically.

Lagos may be a lost cause for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Centre of Excellence may still be as pro-APC as ever, a situation which leaves the state at the continued mercy of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. What is obvious, however, is that the opposition to Tinubu’s overlordship is swelling within the party and gaining traction.

Whoever for a moment imagined that there were no factions in the party has another thing coming. The fact is that despite Tinubu’s best effort, there are growing discontents in the Lagos chapter. And the gladiators are waiting for the opportune moment to strike. The truth also is that Tinubu is fast losing grip of the politics in the state as many are more willing to challenge him frontally more than ever before.

For the past three years, the APC in the state has been in crisis. Led by Fouad Oki, opposition to Tinubu’s continued leadership is not a surprise.

Now, the opposition is principally led by the Lagos4Lagos Movement.

The landscape has certainly changed as the political scene in the state heads into a critical period. The last few months have shown the state to be the most volatile on record as aspirants as well as candidates and their associates are attacked, mugged and even murdered. It saw young Lagosians revolting against imposition and the system. This may indeed be the premonition of things to come as the political scene continues to grow violent For a desperate political leader trying to position himself for 2023, the outcome of the councils elections would put him in a position to bargain effectively. Yet, Tinubu vowed that he never imposed any favorite candidates on the party. The party primaries were never held and candidates emerged to the chagrin of the party members and delegates. While

the primaries held, both the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy stayed away.

Panic shows itself in a lot of ways – none of them pretty. It is when reason gets shouted down and shown out of the room. It is when people quit being governed by what they know and instead, by what they fear. It is the situation in Lagos until a few months ago, when some young Lagosians stepped up to challenge the status quo.

Today, the nerves of the state is jangled by the continued overlordship and activities of Tinubu in the APC in Lagos State. In the midst of these is a sense of grievance in the ruling party in the state as another round of intra-party crisis is threatening to tear the state chapter of the party apart as over 6,000 members have been mobilised to challenge the political leadership of the APC national leader, Tinubu, in the state.

Their aim: Enough is Enough.

Leading the battle is a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Princess Aderenle Adeniran-Ogunsanya and the convener, Lagos4Lagos Movement, Mr. Abdul Azzez Adediran.

Both Adediran and Ogunsanya at a meeting held with members from across 245 wards in Ikeja, the state capital, called on the Governor Mai Mala-Buni-led caretaker committee to sack the Lagos caretaker committee headed by Chief Tunde Balogun. They urged Buni to probe the committee over allegations of fraud. Ogunsanya and Adediran alleged that the leadership of the party deceived aspirants to pay N2 million for nomination forms for local government chairmanship and N550,000 for councillorship.

While passing a vote of no confidence on the Balogun-led caretaker committee, the duo called on the Buni-led committee to investigate what transpired at the Lagos local government primaries.

Ogunsanya is an unlikely agitator. But this soft spoken politician is a firebrand in the political field. While many have failed in the attempt to wrestle with Tinubu over the control of the political soul of the state, will she succeed? That’s the question.

A look at the APC today will make any observer understand part of what the current tussle for control of the party’s soul is all about. What you will see is a welter of desperate politicians trying

to maintain the status quo and a leader that is strategically trying to position himself for 2023.

Sometimes, the best news is what never happens, but during a run-up to an election, all kinds of apocalyptic predictions surface. Yet, there is gloom in Lagos politics these days, and it does have a lot to do with oppression. For all his mercenary pitilessness on the political field, Tinubu achieved something. That a man can make the difference – good or bad.

But to Fouad Oki, a former factional chairman of the party in the state, “You (media) are part of those who continue to deceive APC leadership in Lagos State that they don’t have opposition.

You continue to give the party a false sense of popularity. When you create a false sense of popularity, a false sense of there is no opposition, you are gradually pushing that person or that party into an obnoxious position that will help the kernel to burst and put it to death.”

He insisted that the PDP was a more and better organised party than “what we do in our contraption which we call APC and that is the truth. I also alluded to what you were saying in one of my interviews about five weeks ago, where I said APC will continue to win.

APC will continue to win not because we are popular or the populace is satisfied with us but because there is no veritable, there is no robust opposition to what we do.”

Oki questioned the state of the party in the state. According to him, “It is nothing to write home about in Lagos, that is the state of our party. You know what the court frowns so much at? It is when you infract or violate your own rules, your own laws. Look at Article 20 of our party constitution, every letter in that article was violated in the so-called charade that was tagged as local government primary elections.

It exposes us that we are nothing but people, who do not have respect or regard for the rule of law. It exposes the democratic credentials of the so-called tyrants and despots, who parade themselves as party leaders.

“You will recall that they have armstrong LASIEC, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission. It has been armstrong from conducting local government elections until I cried out, telling LASIEC that I will approach the courts and force them to do that which is right. I cried

out to say, listen, we see what is happening, you try it, we will go to court and you will pay dearly for it. And that is why overnight, they started the process.

“Before you know it, LASIEC now issued out notice of election to all the parties and the public and they started. I saw the charade coming. You now want to ask, did we as a tendency or group within the party participate? No, we did not. You now ask, why? We did not participate because you will recall that in 2018, we approached the court to interpret the status of the law vis-à-vis recognised local governments in Lagos State.

So, we have told them that you cannot operate 20 Local Governments and 37 LCDAs in Lagos State, because it is illegal.

“It is on the basis of that, that we did not participate in the charade. But I have a responsibility and duty to draw attention of the party to those things that will make us lose faith, whatever that is left, it remains with the public, which we have done. We have shot ourselves on the leg. I don’t know where to turn to now, they have taken us back one century with the event of May 29th. And you all know, as we speak that the party does not have a list of candidates even in their charade and sham 57 LGs and LCDAs.” Also, a Lagos-based group named Concerned APC Progressives, has petitioned the party’s National Caretaker Committee over the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

The group alleged that it was unconstitutional to allow Balogun present candidates for local governments not recognised by the 1999 constitution.

The group in a petition signed by its chairman, Kabir Onalapo, and secretary, Olajide Olukogbe, said the constitution only recognised 20 local governments for the state and not 57, adding that allowing Balogun to present candidates for 57 local governments was a subversion of the provisions of the party’s constitution and capable of eroding the core values of the party.

The group, therefore, considered it expedient and imperative to bring the infractions to the knowledge of the party, because if left unattended, it could thwart the overall efforts of the national body in deepening democracy in Nigeria.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 18, 2021

FEATURE

Dapo Abiodun Making a 'L;HUHQFH ZLWK 7UXH ¶&KDQJH·

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has been receiving an enthusiastic and energetic welcome from the people as he kicks oͿ the local government election campaign tour while using the opportunity to inspect ongoing and completed projects around the state.

The governor fondly called Mr Roads because of so many roads he has completed in the state is perfect proof that it is not by dramatic attainments alone that champions are made, but by will. Abiodun is a man of great will hence his sterling accomplishments in governance and the Àelds of enterprise. His passion for excellence is bolstered by a will as sturdy as an oak and expansive as the paciÀc deep. /DQUH $OIUHG writes

I

f DapoAbiodun were born of the sun, he would bathe the world in brilliant spokes of foresight and leave the air vividly stamped with his exploits.

Starting out, his genius sparkled electrifyingly, so much so that the odds could not douse his ember. He set out with the fervour of a man who understood that to succeed in the cutthroat world of politics - as he did in commerce - he must be ready to uphold unimpeachable beliefs and serve the people’s interests.

Yes, the excitement was visible and profound.

Sweat glistened on the faces of the wizened and able-bodied as the throng, a mish-mash of residents, traditional rulers, party loyalists and women and trade associations who all stood out in their diͿerent uniforms, converged under the scorching mid-day sun. They hailed and sang and danced feverishly at the sight of the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, a man that eͿortlessly elicits interminable cheers whenever he makes public outings in the state and beyond for his prodigious governance style.

Last Monday, the governor was in ImekoAfon to Áag oͿ the Local Government Election Campaign Tour. For the crowd, the governor’s presence presented an opportunity to express their appreciation to him for some of the promises he made to them that had been fulÀlled. And, like Oliver twist, perhaps, ask for more. But they didn’t even need to ask; as the governor, with the beneÀt of prescience and self-awareness, made more heart-warming promises that speak to the people’s needs.

Accompanied by members of his cabinet and chieftains of theAll Progressives Congress (APC), the governor said his administration had executed 52 projects in Imeko-Afon within two years, which further animated the atmosphere. According to the governor, chief among the projects is the construction of Oke Ola Road in Imeko, which he said will ease the hardship being experienced by travellers on the road.

For the governor, apart from campaigning for the party’s candidates in the forthcoming LG elections, it was also an opportunity to assess other impactful projects in the community like the rehabilitation of public schools, rural electriÀcation and primary health centres, among others. He promised, “Before my next visit to the local government, the deplorable condition of the Abeokuta-Olorunda-Imeko Road will be a thing of the past, as we are set to give that major road the attention it deserves.”

While a΀rming the supremacy of the party in the council, Governor Abiodun urged the people to come out in large numbers to show their supremacy in the forthcoming council elections by ensuring victory for the party’s chairmanship and councillorship candidates.

“We have seen that our party, the All Progressives Congress is the only party here. We could have decided against coming here for this event because we know Imeko-Afon belongs to us, but our coming here has given us the opportunity to see the state of the road here.

“On July 24, two weeks and two days from now, I want you to go out en masse and vote.

Even though we know that Imeko-Afon and Yewa belong to us, I want you to come out to vote and let them know through your votes that

Gov Abiodun on campaign tour of Local government ahead LGA election holding next week

Gov Abiodun on campaign tour of Local government election

they truly belong to us. Let us all come out and vote in Yahya Fadipe and Gabriel Ogunyomi,” the governor stated.

The campaign train moved to Yewa North local council where the reception was equally as robust and rousing. The governor reminded the crowd that his administration had completed 76 projects in their domain in the past two years.

The day after, the governor and his team moved to Ijebu East LGA. Waiting to receive him was a coterie of traditional rulers, a rarity on campaign grounds where the outbreak of violence is in nano-seconds. But the leaders and traditional rulers that received the governor had no such fear. Could it be that the opposition had

already called the election for the APC due to Governor Abiodun’s performance in o΀ce and see no reason to disrupt the APC’s campaign?

Governor Abiodun was gleefully welcomed by the crowd, which surged and saluted him with diͿerent praise songs. Perhaps, deservedly so And, it bears recalling why.

Theessential14kmIjebu-Ode²EpeRoad,amajor linkbetweenOgunandLagosStatesandanalternative to the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway, which had been in a state of disrepair to abandonment by commuters for several years, will be ready for use by December. GovernorAbiodun had Áagged oͿ the construction of the Ijebu-Ode-Epe road in late 2019 to ease tra΀c on the Lagos-Ibadan Ex-

pressway, bring relief to commuters and indigenes, and engender the socio-economic growth of the state and save Nigerians valuable time in tra΀c.

At the turning of the sod, the governor said, “One of our promises was to provide infrastructure in all parts of our state. In the course of our campaign, I made a promise that our administration will rehabilitate and reconstruct the Ogun end of the Ijebu-Ode-Epe road to bring succour to our people and engender the economic development of our state. The dual carriage road is planned to have 10 lanes – four on each side with one pull-out section while there would be a toll plaza comprising 14 payment points.”

But for the drawbacks of COVID-19, the road wouldhavebeenfullycompletednow.Itiscurrently at 90% completion. It was a no-brainer, therefore, that the appreciative people would be uninhibited in extending and expressing their joy to him.After the campaign, the governor stopped by the road project where he said that the construction of a Áyover was ongoing at the Ijebu-Ode end of the road to eschew the suͿerings and unnecessary loss of lives on Sagamu-Ijebu Ode-Benin Expressway.

He added that security checkpoints, hotels, Àre and ambulance stations, towing points and trailer parks and other facilities would be provided to ease the stress of long-distance travellers and motorists and to respond to accidents or any other emergencies.

Since the campaign started, GovernorAbiodun must have been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic and energetic reception he has so far received from the masses and traditional rulers who have become omnipresent wherever he goes. It is a pointer to the fact that gone are the days of violence on campaign grounds; and an appreciation of the fact that he is delivering on his plans and promises to the good people of Ogun.

95

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 18, 2021

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Africa Backs FIFA World Cup Every Two Years Africa has given its backing to staging the World Cup every two years despit it already hosts the African Cup of Nations on a biennial basis Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report

C

onfederation of African Football (CAF) President, Patrice Motsepe said his organisation Àrmly backs the proposal put forward by SaudiArabia at last month’s Congress.

“The highest body of acAF f deemed it neceso express its support for that excellent resolution,” the SouthAfrican said after Friday’s Executive Committee meeting in Morocco.

“Taking into account the serious Ànancial challenges, lack of infrastructure and facilities, African football could probably be the biggest beneÀciary of a World Cup every two years.”

Staging the competition biennially would double the income Fifa, which is studying the feasibility of the Saudi proposal, makes from its most lucrative competition.

Africa’s hope is that any boost in revenue would ultimately Àlter down to its member associations which could then use the funds to develop the sport.

Yet Motsepe was unable to explain how Africa would be able to accommodate both a World Cup and Nations Cup, and their qualifying campaigns, every other year.

At present, the Ànals are played in

alternative years after CAF moved the Nations Cup from even to odd years in 2013 in order to avoid staging the competition in the same year as a World Cup. One of the reasons given for this was the poor performance of African teams at the World Cup, although none of its side have reached the quarterÀnals - the furthest the continent has ever gone - since the switch.

“We will obviously have to look at the totality of our competitions,” Motsepe said when asked how biennial World Cups and Nations Cups could work.

“The World Cup taking place every two years is being looked at by Fifa and they have to go through the processes.

At the right time, we will take the right decisions to position African football in the right manner.”

Africa’s top teams already face a challenging 2022.

They will start the year contesting a coronavirus-delayed Nations Cup in Cameroon from January-February, while they will end it, from NovemberDecember, at the World Cup in 4atar.

Saudi Arabia’s proposal to FIFA’s members during a virtual congress last month was overwhelmingly approved, as 166 member nations voted in favour with just 22 opposing the notion.

Desperate to boost Africa’s global standing through a mix of investment and development plans, Motsepe is keeping an open mind about the future

France won the last World Cup in Russia. Africa’s proposal of every two years likely to create problem in the continent

of both the world and African games.

“Having the World Cup every two years will be of huge beneÀt to the world but deÀnitely more so to the developing world in particular,” he said in Morocco ahead of Saturday’s African Champions League Ànal.

“If there is a need for a readjustment and a reassessment (of our competi-

tions), we will do that. Right now, it’s a little too early to postulate what will happen with the competitions we have.”

Although Gianni Infantino has previously suggested the Nations Cup should be played every four years, this is an issue where Motsepe notably disagrees with the Fifa President.

Ànd my rhythm”.

The Secretary General for Sports, ATCN, Terlumun Ikya, said the motorsport festival featured collective disciplines used to select the country’s representatives in various categories.

The six categories are Karting Sprint Junior, Karting Sprint Senior, Karting Endurance Team, Karting Slalom, Auto Slalom and Digital Games.

He said ATCN is trying to create a Racing Nigeria Motorsport team that will be a permanent racing club in the country.

Also the club president, Bamaiyi enumerated the beneÀts that the country’s participation in international events will bring.

He said the country will gain from the exposure in ways beyond imagination, including making the drivers rise to become Formula 1, Formula E and World Rally Championship drivers as well participate in so many other events.

“As we speak, we have a Nigerian, who would drive in the junior category. He is right now participating in the FIA Captain Trophy Academy 2021. His name is Phillip Gana. From there if he is able to perform in the next five, six years, we are talking of Formula 1.

“He has done Germany, he is practicing now to do Italy, then the last place will be Sweden in September,” Bamaiyi said.

Infantino questioned the commercial beneÀts of having a Nations Cup every two years, although that is now the very proposition Fifa is exploring with its own elite competition.

Germany’s Team Nenger Seals FIA Motorsport Games Qualifying Slot :DON R; LQ )ULHQGO\ Due to Racist Abuse of Torunarigha

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

John Paul Nenger yesterday emerged the winner of the Senior Karting Championship at the 2021 Festival of Motorsport in Nigeria held at the Central Park, Abuja By virtue of the triumph at the two- day championship which ends today, Nenger will represent the country in the Karting senior category at the FIA Motorsport Games in Marseille, France in October.

The President of the Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), which organised the competition, Ishaku Bamaiyi, said the 14-year-old student of Capital Science Academy, Kuje, Abuja will be trained to compete against other contenders at

the World FIA Motorsport Games.

“Since he is the winner, we will train him on pro kart, which is a higher level of the rental carts, which you know can change the gear and go over 100 km per hour and move faster than others,” Bamaiyi said.

Speaking to journalists after his accomplishment, Nenger said the victory made him feel happy, excited and having multiple feelings.

He said the conditions at the national championship perfectly suited him as the race track was nice, smooth and without obstruction.

“I will be well prepared for the FIA Motorsport Games. I intend to set up small from here, hopefully I will get a chance by the time I get to France and from there on I will

Kenyans Reign Supreme at Maiden Ijebu Half Marathon Rite Foods reward 11-year-old runner with N250, 000 Femi Solaja

As expected, it was a clean sweep for Kenyan athletes at the maiden edition ofAirtel/IjebuHeritageHalfMarathon staged in Ijebu-Ode yesterday as the East Africans won the star prizes in the men and women’s events.

It was Hosea Kiplimo who breasted the tape ahead of others in 1hr: 02mins: 36secs to win the 21km race.

Kiplimo countryman, Rhonza Kilimo followed with 1: 02: 57 and another Kenyan, Timothy Ronoh raced to the Ànish line in 1: 02: 59 to place third.

The women’s race was also won by another Kenyan, Sandra Chebet

in a time of 1hr:10mins:42secs but two Ethiopians broke the dominance of the Kenyans winning the second and third positions.

GebayneshAyelecamesecondwhile Beyenu Degefa was third in 1:10:52 and 1:11:02 respectively.

The Àrst Ijebu man to Ànish the race was Femi Olusanya, a police o΀cer from Ijebu Ode who promised to Àght for the top Àve positions in the next edition.

It was a shout of how come when an 11-year-old Abigael Ogunbowale completed the 21km race at the Dipo Dina Stadium.

Apart from the coach popularly known as Buka T in Ijebu Ode, nobody,

including Abigael’s mother gave her a chance to complete the race.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Rite Foods, the producer of Bigi, the o΀cial beverage of the race, Seleem Adegbuwa, said they are looking forward to making it better next year while donating N250,000 for the 11-year-old girl who Ànished the race.

Speaking during the Prize presentation ceremony, Adegbuwa said it was a beauty to behold seeing such a girl compete with established stars and looks forward to seeing her performing better in subsequent edition of the competition.

“I really want to give kudos to all the athletes who started and Ànish the

race, we are looking at making it better next year,” he pledged.

“As the son of the soil, been involved I will say it is a no brainer because it is our thing and it is really important that we bring event of these nature home, I mean world-class event like this.

“By DNAin Nigeria, we are good at sports, we just need to harness it so we can go international with it. I was not surprised today to see a 55-year-old and 11-year-old Ànishing the race, we are naturally gifted and we only just need to make sure the talents here are well coordinated.

“We intend to do more in sports with Abeokuta Marathon also coming up later in the year,” he concluded..

Germany’s men’s Olympic football team walked oͿ the Àeld with Àve minutes left of their friendly against Honduras after defender Jordan Torunarigha was allegedly racially abused yesterday.

The game, played behind closed doors in three 30-minute periods, did not resume and Ànished 1-1.

Torunarigha, 23, plays his club football for Hertha Berlin.

Honduras led after the Àrst period with Ausburg’s Felix Uduokhai equalising in the Ànal third.

A tweet from the o΀cial Germany national team in English account said: “The game has ended 5 minutes early with the score at 1-1. The Germany players left the pitch after Jordan Torunarigha was racially abused.”

The o΀cial Honduras national team account tweeted that the incident was “a misunderstanding”.

Germany coach Stefan Kuntz, who played 25 times for the national team between 1993 and 1997, said: “When one of our players is racially abused, playing on is not an option.”

The match was a warm-up for their Olympics campaign, which starts against Brazil on Thursday, 22 July.

Torunarigha made 14 league appearances last season as Hertha Ànished 14th in the Bundesliga.

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Sunday July 18, 2021

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Ibrahim on Electronic Transmission of Results

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“POS vendors are in the villages. NIN and SIM are registered in the villages, INEC has been using Smart Card Readers with (sims) in the villages since 2015. But in 2021, INEC cannot transmit results because NCC says there is no coverage. Voodoo.”

– Director, Centre for Democracy and Development, Dr Jibrin Ibrahim reacting to the National Assembly’s decision to NCC’s claim that Nigeria lacks adequate network coverage for electronic transmission of results.

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The Three Enemies of Nigeria

O

ne of my favourite Igbo proverbs says: “What a dog saw and started barking ferociously is the same thing a goat saw and merely grunted.” As young as I am, I have seen so much in this country that when people are barking over a thing, I just sigh. Yet we are reacting to the same stimulus. Inside me, I retort: “What else do we expect? How can we sow the wind and not expect to reap the whirlwind?” I have painstakingly studied the history of Nigeria. I have lived through 13 administrations, old enough in 11 of them to be able to distinguish between my right and left hands. I have researched into key issues per time, per administration. I have observed the trajectory. Nigeria seems to be permanently on auto replay. So, all I do these days is sigh when people scream.

For instance, as far back as 14 years ago, I foresaw and wrote about a looming pubic disorder and insecurity fuelled by inequality and corruption — although I must confess that not in my wildest imagination could I have predicted the widespread carnage we are living with today. But you cannot have a country where over 70 per cent of its people have been living below the poverty line for decades and think there would be no explosion at some point. You cannot have a country with borders as porous as a sieve, plus security agencies that are insanely corrupt and ill-equipped, and think anarchy would not descend on us someday. You cannot have a political system built around rentier mentality and primordial sentiments and assume that Nigeria would be all fine. No way.

Economic hardship, ethnic rivalry, religious crisis, political tension, violence and insecurity have been part of our make-up for ages. From administration to administration. From president to president.

Some issues are perennial, others seasonal. They only take different coloration and intensity per administration. In my undergraduate days, I used to easily get excited to jump on the bandwagon to blame our problems on one person or one part of the country. There is hardly anything people are campaigning for today that I did not parrot in the past — based on popular but jaundiced opinion. With introspection, I have become less emotional and more dispassionate in looking at the Nigerian malaise. We have been changing leaders and parties, but Nigeria remains largely the same. Why? As we begin to discuss the 2023 elections, I can see excitement in the air yet again, propelled by permutations. We are going to get a new president, new governors, new ministers, new commissioners, new agency heads, new board members, name it.

We love new things. We renew our hopes at election times, expecting some change in our fortunes. But it’s the expectations that kill us. In an article I wrote before the 2019 general election, entitled ‘Hurting on the Inside’, I argued that Nigerians have become adept at falling in love with politicians every election year — but the heartbreak never seems to stop. Yet, in the voice of Peter Tosh, the Nigerian will say: “I gotto pick myself up/Dust myself off/Start all over again.” Hope can be quite stubborn — and pretty stupid.

We all have our positions and perspectives on why Nigeria is like this. Some would argue that it is because there is no “true” federalism or regionalism that students are learning chemistry without chemicals in many government secondary schools in the south-west. Some are of the opinion that it is because there is no Republic of Biafra that many state hospitals do not have beds and drugs in the south-east. Some are convinced that it is because there is no “resource control” that the NDDC has literally burnt $50 billion in 20 years.

Up north, many believe that it is because there is no full Sharia that they are abjectly poor and neglected. Some will even say that it is because of fornication and adultery — not poor sanitation and unclean water — that they suffer yearly outbreaks

Buhari of cholera.

My views are slightly different. Anyone familiar with my writings in the last 18 years know that I have persistently pursued a different line of argument on the Nigerian condition. Today, I will focus on the three “enemies” of Nigeria that I have often identified as the enablers of the country’s underdevelopment. These are (1) our concept of political leadership (2) our concept of followership (3) our concept of development. Our concepts are based on warped mindsets, some of which we inherited. If these mindsets don’t change, Nigeria will never change. A scripture says: “As a man thinks in his heart, so he is.” Our minds have been conditioned to interact with Nigeria in particular ways. These mindsets control how we see and do things. We badly need to restructure our minds.

Let’s start with our concept of political leadership.

One, a typical Nigerian leader — and I use “typical” as the rule rather than the exception — does not have a vision. I rephrase: they do not have a positive mental picture of where they want the country, state, council, ministry or agency to be under their watch. I apply this to presidents, governors, council bosses, councillors, legislators, judges, ministers, permanent secretaries, members of governing boards and councils, commissioners, executive chairpersons, DGs, etc. Politics, the type that leads to development, is built upon an implementable “vision of society”. The leader is always thinking: where are we? Where are we going? Why are we still here? How can we get out of here? How far can we go in four years?

Without having a reasonable “vision of society”, the leader has already failed. It is like playing football without goalposts: you are just having fun and burning calories. That, unfortunately, is what leadership in Nigeria is mostly about: having fun.

The moment some step into leadership positions, their vision is Dubai today, China tomorrow. They think leadership is the licence for comfort. They focus on building castles as government houses; riding the latest models of 4WDs in kilometre-long convoys, protected by battalions of police officers; acquiring or chartering private jets for personal well-being; and travelling abroad out to treat sore throat. All in the midst of ponging poverty right under their noses! In the end, we blame God or some constitution for our underdevelopment.

For so many, leadership is all about the perks of power. Narcissism. Everybody worships at their feet. There is a retinue of aides attending to their needs. They are unchallengeable — they are imperial majesties. There are some ministries and agencies where specific elevators are dedicated to the ministers and DGs. If the elevator for the staff is broken, what a pity. Even if the ministers and DGs are not around for a whole month, their lifts remain unused while the staff will continue to use the staircase. Warped! If you are a leader and your understanding of priorities is built around personal comfort and the perks of power, be assured that

you are a pathetic problem to this society. Quote me: any country where leadership is not focused on a “vision of society” is going nowhere.

Let’s now move on to the concept of followership.

While I unapologetically hold leadership responsible for the underdevelopment of Nigeria, I never lose sight of how followers have enabled and nurtured this disability. We turn our leaders to demi-gods and cash cows, and that means we do not question or scrutinise them as we should. Rather, we see them relishing in the comfort of power and crave to partake in the unholy communion. We position ourselves to be co-opted. We either defend or attack our leaders on the basis of bias and overlook their performance. We stink of hate and prejudice. The intellectual concubines of the divisive elite are so blinded by ethnic and religious biases that all they busy themselves with is how to plant and nurture half-truths and fallacies.

We, the followers, perennially enable inept leadership and then turn around to complain that Nigeria is not making progress. Many would argue that the leadership selection process is already polluted because voters are induced at election times. That is definitely part of the problem, but I would still make the point that it should not stop the pursuit of a development agenda if indeed the candidate has what it takes to deliver the goods.

If you are not competent, you are not competent, no matter how you got into power. Worse still, we the followers often think our job stops at voting leaders into office. We do not think of a development agenda that we should pursue. We do not think our failure to hold our leaders accountable is a key contribution to our underdevelopment.

Finally, what really is our concept of development as a people? I often break human development into tiny pieces: access to education, health care, safe water, sanitation, electricity, roads and security, as well as gender equity. Therefore, when I say Nigeria is underdeveloped, what I am really talking about are the inequalities inflicted on all of us across the 36 states, FCT and 774 councils. My conscience will not allow me to say only Muslims or only Christians are affected by the insecurity and violence in the land, or that only one ethnic group is suffering from the lack of access to food, shelter and clothing. Tragically, since almost all issues are framed along ethnic, regional and religious lines in Nigeria, we cannot even begin to discuss or promote a proper development agenda.

I do not downplay our ethno-religious issues — I would be daft to do that. But every country in the world battles internal divisions: it could be race, creed, ideology, religion, ethnicity, anything. The human society is inherently given to rivalry and division. No nation is exempt. Even the family unit, bond by blood, is not conflict-free, much less a multi-ethnic country. The problem is not conflict but the management of it. I often argue that the political mismanagement of Nigeria’s diversity is a major setback for our development.

We need justice and peace across board. But I am more persuaded that we can never rise until we get our concepts of leadership, followership and development right. And leadership will have to play the biggest role in breaking the shackles.

The Nigerian leadership factory has always malfunctioned. We are ruled in the main by a predatory elite across the regions. They are content with using power to benefit themselves and a few others, not to uplift the society. They are enabled by a parochial intelligentsia feasting on the crumbs.

They are idolised by the downtrodden who have been fed with divisive poisons all their lives. Even if we balkanise Nigeria and these mindsets are not fixed, it will only multiply our troubles. Our latter end will be worse than the former. It is a mental problem. I have not seen any indication yet that we are about to produce leaders with a new mentality in 2023. And I still have not seen anything on the part of the followers that points to a new mindset as well. Yet we are expecting to see a new Nigeria.

And Four Other Things…

SCHOOLBOY ERROR Mrs Lauretta Onochie’s nomination as an INEC national electoral commissioner was opposed because she is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) — but the senate said it rejected her on the basis of federal character. Delta state, where she comes from, already has a national commissioner. Now, this is serious. When President Buhari was nominating her, was he not aware that Delta already has a commissioner? Can one state have two of the 12 slots for national commissioners?

How did that pass scrutiny before her name was sent? There are just too many things about this government that expose its quality of thinking and decision making.

Appalling.

TAKING EXEMPTION When a court ruled recently that Mrs Kemi Adeosun, former minister of finance, did not have to do national service because she was “technically” not a Nigerian when she graduated in 1989, the headlines said “court clears Adeosun over NYSC saga”. She even issued a statement promising to take legal action to “clear” her name — a veiled threat at Premium Times, the news website that investigated the saga. I am somewhat confused. The allegation against Adeosun was forgery — not citizenship — and she admitted guilt in her resignation letter.

What exactly is this “court clears Adeosun” narrative about? And, please, what exactly will she sue any newspaper for? Bewildering.

DANGER SIGNAL The house of representatives on Thursday asked DStv to reduce its subscription fees following recommendations from an ad–hoc committee. The Nigerian government itself has increased petrol prices, raised electricity tariffs and hiked the toll and parking fees at airports. The exchange rate has fallen from N305/$ to N410/$ (remember broadcast rights are paid for in dollars). Prices of garri, palm oil and yam, along with transport costs, have hit the roof — all of which have eroded the real income of Nigerians. However, the critical issue for our dear lawmakers is the subscription fee of a luxury product like DStv. Meanwhile, the lawmakers have not reduced their own allowances. Joke.

SOUND OF SILENCE Role models don’t come better than Lanre Fasasi aka Sound Sultan, who unfortunately died last week after a battle with lymphoma, the extremely aggressive cancer of the white blood cell. I actually wept when the news broke. A Nigerian patriot to his bones and a responsible husband and father, the multi-talented artist and satirist was never named in any scandal. He never engaged in media wars. He was just a cool guy, whose personality and art I admired greatly. It is also so unfortunate that the basketball aficionado was not alive to witness the incredible victory of D’Tigers of Nigeria over the world’s greatest team, the Dream Team of USA, in an Olympics warm-up. Life!

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