SUNDAY 24TH JULY 2022

EU Intensifies Pressure on Nigeria to Supply Gas to Europe Sylva proposes multi-pronged approach to tackle crude oil theft Port Harcourt to begin refining of 60,000bpd in 2023 Ejiofor Alike in Lagos and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The European Union (EU) has intensified pressure on Nigeria to supply gas to Europe as it attempts to wean itself off Russian

gas on the back of Vladimir Putin's war with Ukraine.

This is coming as the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, at the weekend suggested a multifaceted approach to resolving the

massive oil theft, vandalism and outright sabotage of Nigeria’s oil facilities which have combined to hobble Nigeria’s ability to meet its crude production quota.

Speaking during a visit to Sylva by yet another delegation from

Europe led by the Deputy Director General, EU Energy Platform Task Force, Mr Mathew Baldwin, the leader of the delegation, reiterated the EU’s commitment to making the ongoing gas projects a reality.

“I am very pleased to be

working with you in a big way... the more the security situation can be improved in the Niger Delta region, the more investment we will see,” he said.

He stated that the visit was part of an effort to establish a

new sustainable partnership and renewed investment drive with Nigeria.

“We’re proud of supporting such efforts. The more there are Continued on page 5

WHO Declares Monkeypox Global Health Emergency… Page 5 Sunday 24 July, 2022 Vol 27. No 9966

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Afenifere, PANDEF, Ohanaeze Reject New Water Resources Bill Bill is draconian, imperialistic, say Niger Delta leaders FG wants to deprive indigenous people of their lands, Afenifere alleges Deji Elumoye in Abuja, Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural

group, Afenifere; the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) have kicked against the recent

reintroduction of the widelyrejected Water Resources Bill in the House of Representatives.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu

and a clique of lawmakers at the National Assembly have been desperately pushing for the passage of the bill which was rejected by the eighth National

Assembly following public outcry.

Their relentless campaign to ensure the passage of the bill has fuelled speculations that they have ulterior motives.

One of the offensive provisions in the bill is that while there is popular agitation for resource Continued on page 6

More Fireworks as Tinubu Counters Atiku, Says PDP’ s Candidate Offered Him VP Ticket in 2007 Says former VP ill-prepared to be Nigeria’s president I dare you to appear for TV interview, Atiku replies APC’s candidate You are seventh-time aspirant, Obi’s group mocks former VP Wike: I will speak about Atiku soon Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, yesterday responded to the fireworks by his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing the presidential candidate of the main opposition party of offering him a vice presidential ticket in 2007.

Speaking on ARISE NEWS Channel on Friday, Atiku had stated that he rejected Tinubu’s request to be his running mate on the platform of the Action Congress (AC) in 2007 because of his aversion to a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Atiku stated that his refusal to accede to Tinubu’s request made the former Lagos State governor switch his support Continued on page 10

GREAT AT 80…

L-R: Senator Florence Ita-Giwa; the celebrant, Hajia Zaniah Abah Folawiyo; Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo; his wife, Angela; Hajia Bola Shagaya; and son of celebrant and former Executive Secretary, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Segun Awolowo; and Senator Lanre Tejuoso at MUBO PETERS the 80th birthday of Abah Folawiyo at her residence in Ikoyi, Lagos…weekend

Don’t Wait for Tomorrow to Take over Power from Corrupt Leaders, Obasanjo Tells Youths...

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CELEBRATING THE BOSS AT 59…

L-R: Assistant General Manager, Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited, Mr. Jones Ekwealor; Executive Chairman, Dr. Chukwuka Obiora; Financial Controller, Mr. Shailesh Kumar; and General Manager, Sales, Mr. Derrick Osondu, during the 59th birthday celebration of Obiora in Lagos...recently

WHO Declares Monkeypox Global Health Emergency Ejiofor Alike with agency report The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern, a designation reserved for the most serious global disease outbreaks.

This puts monkeypox on the same list as six other outbreaks with the same WHO label since 2007: COVID-19, Zika, H1N1 flu, polio and Ebola, which has been designated an emergency twice.

WHO’s decision came after an emergency committee convened on Thursday to assess the spread of monkeypox and determine the severity of its threat.

WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, decided to issue the declaration despite a lack of consensus among experts serving on the United Nations health agency’s emergency committee. It was the first time the chief of the UN health agency has taken such an action.

“We have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly through new modes of transmission about which we understand too little and which meets the criteria in the international health regulations,” Tedros said.

“I know this has not been an easy or straightforward process and that there are divergent views among the members” of the committee, he added.

Ghebreyesus said there is also a clear risk of further international spread, although the risk of interference with international traffic remains low for the moment.

Ghebreyesus added that he has, therefore, made a set of recommendations for four groups of countries — those yet to report a case; those with recently imported cases of monkeypox; those with the transmission of monkeypox from animals to humans; and those with manufacturing capacity for vaccines and therapeutics.

“Although I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern, for the moment, this is an outbreak that is concentrated among men who have sex with men, especially those with multiple

sexual partners,” he said.

“That means that this is an outbreak that can be stopped with the right strategies in the right groups.

“It’s therefore essential that all countries work closely with communities of men who have sex with men, to design and deliver effective information and services, and to adopt measures that protect both the health, human rights and dignity of affected communities.

According to nbcnews.com, the world has seen more than 16,500 monkeypox cases so far this year in 68 countries where the disease is not endemic, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

The US alone has recorded more than 2,500 cases since May, though that’s almost certainly an undercount.

For a disease outbreak to qualify as an international public health emergency, it must be an "extraordinary event" that poses a health risk to more than one country and may require an immediate, coordinated international response, according to the WHO. The same emergency committee decided last month that monkeypox didn't yet meet those standards, though Tedros said a few committee members "expressed differing views."

At the time, more than 4,000 monkeypox cases had been

reported globally across 47 countries and territories.

Monkeypox spreads through close physical contact, including kissing or sexual contact, as well as through respiratory droplets and contaminated items like clothing or bedding.

Anyone who has been in close contact with a monkeypox patient can get infected, but since the start of the outbreak, cases have been largely concentrated among men who have sex with men.

“Although I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern for the moment, this is an outbreak that is concentrated among men who have sex with men,

especially those with multiple sexual partners.

“That means that this is an outbreak that can be stopped with the right strategies in the right groups,” Ghebreyesus added.

Most people with monkeypox develop a rash, according to WHO. For some, the rash may be hard to spot — just one or two lesions — while others can develop widespread lesions. In this outbreak so far, the rashes have often been found around the genital and anal region, on the face, or the palms of hands and soles of feet. Some people may also get lesions inside the mouth, throat, vagina and anus.

Symptoms like fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, muscle

aches, back pain and fatigue sometimes follow a rash.

In Europe and the US, health authorities are relying on increased vaccination and testing to reduce transmission and prevent monkeypox from becoming endemic.

As of last week, the US had distributed 156,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine to states and ramped up testing capacity to 70,000 tests per week. Many cities and states are offering vaccine doses to people with known or presumed exposure to the virus, including men who have sex with men and transgender, gender nonconforming or nonbinary residents with multiple sexual partners.

the first quarter of 2023.

He gave the assurance when the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on the state of the country’s refineries visited the facility in Rivers State for an on-the-spot assessment of the $1.5 billion rehabilitation project of the facility.

Dikko said the old Port Harcourt refinery, referred to as Area Five, would be the first of three phases of the project.

He said by the time the entire project is completed by the end of 2024, the facility would have a refining capacity of 210 bpd.

Dikko expressed confidence that they would stick to the timelines and within the cost approved for the project.

He said despite costing more, some of the equipment required for the rehabilitation had to be air freighted to ensure that they stick as much as possible to the schedule that they have.

“We plan to finish Area 5 by the first quarter of next year, so we can begin to run it. It is the old refinery. It is a 60, 000 barrels per day capacity plant and it is a priority for us at this point. The other parts of the refinery would come a few months after that.

“We are on track and managing the process very well and would continue to do the best we can at all times to ensure that we meet these expectations we put on ourselves so we all would be proud of all these activities and

begin to have some refining capacity in Port Harcourt,” he said.

He expressed gratitude to the House of Representatives for their support.

Chairman of the House Ad-Hoc Committee, Hon. Ganiyu Johnson, who was conducted around the facility along with his members by the MD expressed satisfaction with the level of work.

He said: “So far on behalf of my committee members, we are satisfied with the level of work because we did not expect this level of performance when we left Abuja. But after going round we are satisfied with the level of performance.

“Nigerians should bear with the company. We know that the solution to all oil subsidies is refineries. The oil subsidy would be a thing of the past.

We should be able to reduce it to the barest minimum.

“We owe Nigerians the duty to ensure this place is working.

Because if these refineries are not working, we would continue to suffer and God forbid we hope it would not get to a stage an average man cannot buy fuel and that is why we want to encourage you and support you and make sure you complete this refinery.

Even if it is just Port Harcourt for now, it means we would be able to deliver 210, 000 bpd.”

He urged the MD to fast-track the completion of the refinery and make sure it is delivered on schedule.

EU INTENSIFIES PRESSURE ON NIGERIA TO SUPPLY GAS TO EUROPE improved investments in the Niger-Delta and the minister is leading in this direction, the more the investments will come in”, he restated.

A major area of collaboration, the parties agreed on is the ongoing Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Project and the Trans Sahara Gas Pipelines (TSGP) project regarded as one of the world’s longest offshore pipelines and is expected to transport gas from Nigeria through Morocco to Europe.

Despite its intention to raise gas supply, Nigeria has been unable to do so as a result of declining funding, attacks on upstream facilities and theft of petroleum products.

But Sylva while speaking during a visit by the delegation from Europe, advocated the deployment of technology, security forces, community collaboration and increased government action to halt the menace.

It would be one of the several visits in the last few months to Nigerian authorities, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) by officials from Europe.

The minister called for collaboration with the EU in the areas of security, technology deployment, project financing and

more private sector participation to meet the country’s plan of stepping into the void created by the aftermath of the RussianUkraine altercation.

He frowned on the decision by the EU and Western nations to withdraw investment in fossil fuels, insisting that hydrocarbons will continue to be relevant while gas would be used as a transition fuel in the coming years.

Sylva, therefore, appealed to the delegation to impress upon their businessmen and financial institutions to debottleneck the process of obtaining loans and other sources of funding to ramp up the exploration of oil and gas.

The minister recalled that the delegation was earlier in the Niger Delta to see for themselves the situation, assuring that the region would be secured for oil and gas investments to continue to thrive while the country’s production quota would be raised.

“Security is one area of cooperation with the EU. They went to the Niger Delta to see the security situation for themselves.

Part of the solution is technology deployment.

“I’ve always advocated for collaboration in this regard.

We have to have a four-legged approach. We have to have the government, security agencies and communities working together. We also need to have the technology.

We’re discussing with the EU how we can collaborate on developing technology.

“We have lots of gas projects

like the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline and so on and we need the environment to be conducive to achieve all this. The project will deliver gas to Europe in a few years to come,” he noted.

The minister assured the EU delegation of the federal government’s commitment to deepening investment in gas since it had been adopted as Nigeria’s energy transition fuel and expressed confidence that the EU had given a lot of commitment in that regard.

“We’re together on the same page with the rest of the world in using gas as the energy transition fuel. We’re working together in technology development and financing.

“I know it’s the private sector that invests but the EU is responsible for policy direction and they have shown a lot of commitments. We’ve been having discussions. This is not the first and won’t be the last. it’s a good beginning for us,” the minister explained.

Port Harcourt to Begin Refining of 60,000bpd in 2023 Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, Mr Ahmed Dikko, has assured that the rehabilitation of the old Port Harcourt Refinery with a refining capacity of 60,000 barrels per day will be completed and put to use by

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ADVERTISING PRACTITIONERS MEET… L-R: Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Chief Folorunso Coker; Vice-President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Mr. Jenkins Alumona; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; AAAN President Mr. Steve Babaeko; and CEO/Registrar, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Dr. Lekan Fadolapo, at the 49th AAAN AGM/Congress in Epe…yesterday

INEC: Concerns Mount over FG's Non-appointment of RECs in 11 States Eight more officers to retire August 11 Chuks Okocha in Abuja The delay in the appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (RECs) in 11 states has raised concerns as the 2023 general election approaches.

THISDAY gathered that the tenure of 11 out of the 37 RECs in the country came to an end on July 6 while nine others are due for retirement on August 11.

The 11 retired RECs are: Orji Nkwachukwu (Anambra); Emeka Ononamadu (Enugu); Obo Effanga (Rivers); Chukwuemeka Ezeonu (Imo); Joseph Iloh (Abia) and Mutiu Agboke (Oyo); James Apam (Kogi); Ibrahim Abdullahi (Bauchi); Umar Ibrahim (Gombe) Ahmed Makama (Taraba) and Hussaini Pai (Plateau).

THISDAY also gathered that the REC for Benue State, Dr Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, resigned last year to join

partisan politics but has not been replaced, thus bringing the number of states operating without RECs to 12.

However, the Chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday, swore in Dr Hale Gabriel Longpet, as the new REC for Kogi State, thus reducing the number of vacant positions to 11 RECs. THISDAY gathered that apart from the Plateau’s REC, Pai who has served out his second and

final term, the other 10 of these RECs have only served one term and can be reappointed for a second term.

An investigation has also revealed that the tenures of eight other RECs will also come to an end on August 11 Those under this category are Dr Asma’u Sani Maikudi (Kaduna); Prof. Riskuwa Arabu-Shehu (Kano); Kassim Geidam (Adamawa); Jibrin Zarewa (Katsina); Abdulganiyu

AFENIFERE, PANDEF, OHANAEZE REJECT NEW WATER RESOURCES BILL control and devolution of powers to the states and local governments, the bill seeks to compel Nigerians to permit and pay tax to the federal government like oil and gas operators before they drill boreholes at the backyards.

The bill also seeks to cede ownership of waterways, Benue Valley and river banks to the federal government apparently for the resettlement of foreign herdsmen.

After the bill was rejected by the eighth National Assembly, it was recently reintroduced in the ninth House of Representatives.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom had described its “reintroduction as “evil” and part of the agenda of the federal government to seize land from the 36 states of the federation.

“I want to urge Benue indigenes to rise and reject the bill because it is targeted at our ancestral heritage. In their attempt to take over our inheritance they came with Ruga and a cattle colony among others. But the people behind this plot can rest assured that Benue will resist any attempt to take over our land and water resources through any guise.”

According to him, the bill is an evil bill by the federal government to take over the river banks and allow herdsmen from other parts of Africa to take over the Benue Valley.

Also reacting, the PANDEF, through its spokesman, Hon. Ken Robinson, told THISDAY at the weekend that it would continue to reject the bill, which

it described as an obnoxious, draconian, imperialistic and unnecessary evil.

"The people of the Niger Delta region, particularly of the South-south geopolitical zone had rejected the Water Resources Bill from the beginning, and our position has not changed; it remains rejected.

"That bill is not only obnoxious but draconic and imperialistic.

It is an unnecessary evil. That was why it attracted wild condemnation when it was first introduced. The eighth National Assembly heeded the voice of the people, by throwing it out.

It was likewise stepped down when it was reintroduced in this ninth National Assembly in 2020, following similar denunciation by citizens.

"It is, therefore, troubling that the Bill has again been introduced in the House of Representatives, more so, with less than a year to the end of the session of this National Assembly. The questions we would want the sponsors of the Bill to answer are; why the insistence on this Bill? Whose interest are they trying to satisfy?”

PANDEF queried.

It said it was most absurd and callous that in the face of increased clamour for the devolution of powers to the federating units, the federal government was plotting to accrue further powers to itself through this abhorrent bill.

"Do we need to further apprise that our oil and gas resources have been plundered, over the years, by the federal government and its agents; our hitherto luxurious ecosystem has been

decimated and basic means of livelihood destroyed, with little or nothing to show, in terms of the development of our communities and improvements in the living conditions of the people? Yet, they now want to control our water resources; the people of the Niger Delta Region say a big no to it,” PANDEF added.

The Niger Delta leaders urged the members of the House of Representatives and Senators not to allow themselves to be used by self-seeking officials and groups to secure legislation that would exacerbate the tension and crisis in the country.

"We caution, in particular, the federal lawmakers of South-south extraction, and indeed, of the entire Southern and Middle Belt regions not to support a bill that is anti-peace, dangerous and that could destroy the fragile unity of this country,” PANDEF said.

PANDEF also described the claim by the sponsors of the bill that southern governors are now in support of the bill as illusory and preposterous, adding that such a claim should be discarded.

On its part, Afenifere has also kicked against the reintroduction of the bill at the National Assembly.

The National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Comrade Jare Ajayi, told THISDAY in Ibadan, Oyo State capital that the bill was another way of bringing RUGA through the back door, describing it as unacceptable.

According to him, the reintroduction of the bill was to deprive the indigenous people of their land, insisting that this

is not in the best interest of the ethnic nationalities.

He said, "The reintroduction of the Water Resources Bill is unacceptable to Afenifere; this is because it is another way of depriving the indigenous people of their land and this is not in the best interest of the various ethnic nationalities given the experience with the federal government."

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has also condemned the bill, describing it as completely obnoxious.

The organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Chiedozie Ogbonnia told THISDAY that the bill is completely at variance with present national realities.

“At a time we are canvassing for devolution of powers to states and local government areas, some people are still toying with the idea of controlling river banks and all that. It’s so sad.

“This is nothing but another RUGA. The same way we resisted the bill the last time, we are even more resolute now. It is unacceptable and totally out of tune with realities,” he added.

He further asked the governors and members of the National Assembly from the South-east to completely resist and reject the said bill.

“Our position is clear and has not changed. We say no to the bill and we are urging our governors and federal lawmakers to also reject it. Apart from the South-east, political leaders from the South-west, South-south and North-central should also reject this obnoxious bill,” the organisation insisted.

Raji (Osun); Prof. Samuel Egwu (Niger); Mike Igini (Akwa Ibom); and Sadiq Musa (Sokoto).

According to the list obtained

by THISDAY, those who are on their second term and are ineligible for re-appointment are Geidam of Adamawa; Zarewa of Katsina; Igini of Akwa Ibom and Musa (Sokoto).

A top official of the commission told THISDAY that there is cause to worry over the non-appointment of RECs for some states barely eight months to the general election.

He further told THISDAY that the commission is not the appointing body.

According to him, it is the duty of President Muhammadu Buhari, as the appointing officer, to announce their replacements.

He noted that the development has caused some apprehension in the affected states as duties in these states are left in the hands of the Administrative Secretaries who act in the absence of the RECs. “It is the duty of the President to do the appointments and send the same to the senate for confirmation. The fact that the National Assembly is due to break next month has also heightened the worries,” he added.

Marriage Registry: Court Okays Committal Process against Aregbesola Wale Igbintade in Lagos The Federal High Court in Lagos has granted leave to four local government areas (LGAs) in Lagos, Imo, Edo and Rivers state to commence committal proceedings against the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola.

Justice Daniel Osiagor had last December granted an order restraining the Ministry of Interior from further contracting, celebrating, or registering marriages under the Marriage Act, “except for marriages conducted in the Marriage Registries of Ikoyi, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

The judge also restrained the ministry from further granting or issuing marriage certificates under the Marriage Act, “except for marriages conducted in the Marriage Registries of Ikoyi, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

But the plaintiffs – Eti-Osa Local Government Council of Lagos State; Egor Local Government Council of Edo State; Owerri Municipal Local Government Council Imo State; and Port Harcourt City Local Government Council Rivers State – are claiming that the orders have not been complied with.

Through their lawyer, Roger Adedimeji, the applicants told

the court that after the bailiff of the court sealed the Federal Marriage Registry, Imo State, as ordered by the court, officials of the Ministry of Interior went to unseal the facility and continued their operations.

Consequent to this, Justice Osiagor authorised the applicants to serve the said forms 48 and 49 on the minister.

In court procedure, Form 48 is a notice of consequence of disobedience of court order while Form 49 is a notice to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against the recipient.

However, no date has been fixed for the minister to appear in court.

The three defendants in the suit, marked FHC/LS/ CS/816/18 are the Minister of Interior, Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and a contractor, Anchor Dataware Solutions Limited.

In the application, the plaintiffs prayed the court “for an order of committal to prison of the 1st defendant (Aregbesola), having disobeyed the order of this honourable court made on December 8, 2021, compelling him to stop contracting federal marriage registry in the marriage district (local government councils) except the Ikoyi and Abuja Federal Marriage Registry.”

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EMPOWERING WOMEN AND CHILDREN… L-R: Head of Department, Women and Poverty Alleviation, Ipaja/Ayobo LCDA, Mrs. Bola Akingbesote; Women Leader, National Union of Local Government Employees, Mrs. Aweni Amuludun; former President of National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Alimosho and Agege Chapter, Mr. Shaka Nasiru; Supervisor, WAPA, Olusanya Adenike; Chairman Ipaja/ Ayobo LCDA, Mrs. Bola Shobowale; and President, NAS, Alimosho/Agege Chapter, Mr. Hassan Aidorolo, at the sensitisation campagn of the chapter’s Women and Children’s Rights Advocacy (WACRA), at Ipaja Main Market, Ipaja, Lagos State…yesterday

Don’t Wait for Tomorrow to Take over Power from Corrupt Leaders, Obasanjo Tells Youths James Sowole in Abeokuta Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has challenged Nigerian youths to take over the mantle of leadership of the country before corrupt leaders destroy their future.

Obasanjo, who made the assertions yesterday during a special interview with former

Super Eagles star, Segun Odegbami, on his Eagles7 Sports 103.7 FM, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, claimed that some corrupt leaders would destroy the so-called tomorrow if the younger generation fails to rise and take their future in their hands.

“My advice for Nigerian youths is that never let anybody

Nigeria Recorded 5,222 Violent Killings in Six Months, Says US Agency Gboyega Akinsanmi The Nigeria Security Tracker (NST), a project of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) of the United States, at the weekend revealed that activities of violent non-state actors had claimed no fewer than 5,222 lives nationwide between January and June 2022.

The tracker, however, disclosed that there was a decline of 655 violent killing cases from 5,877 recorded within the same timeframe in 2021.

The figures were obtained from the official website of the council, a Washington-based think-tank, showing ambivalent movement in the trajectories of armed violence and its consequences across all the states of the federation.

NST tracks violence symptomatic of Nigeria’s political instability and citizen alienation. The data are based on weekly surveys of local and international media.

The tracker captured death casualties resulting from the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east, banditry in the Northwest, Fulani herdsmen violence in North-central and secessionist uprisings in the South-east, among others.

As shown in the tracker, at least 996 persons were violently killed in January; 765 in February; 1,214 in March; 917 in April; 594 in May and 736 in June, totalling 5,222 in the first half of 2022.

With 5,877 cases recorded between January and June 2021, the tracker revealed that violent killings declined by 655 in the first sixth months of 2022.

The figure, as indicated in the tracker, represented a decline of 12.54 per cent when compared to the incidents of violent killing put at 5,877 within the same timeframe in 2021.

In January 2021, as the tracker explained, 976 cases of violent

killing were recorded across the federation; 879 in February; 875 in March; 1,037 in April; 1,051 in May and 1,059 in June.

In July 2021, according to the tracker, there was a significant decline in the cases of violent killing by 33.8 per cent to 701, though the incidents rose astronomically by 46.79 per cent to 1,029 in August 2021.

From September 2021, the tracker recorded 726 cases of violent killing; 730 in October, 618 in November and 718 in December, revealing marginal undulating movement in the trajectory of violent killing within the period.

According to the tracker, the data presented includes violent incidents related to political, economic, and social grievances directed at the state or other affiliated groups (or, conversely, the state employing violence to respond to those incidents.)

The project, coordinated by Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Studies and former US Ambassador to Botswana, Ms Michelle Gavin, started on May 29, 2011, the date of Goodluck Jonathan’s inauguration as president.

As indicated in a statement on the NST page of CFR’s website, it was an event that highlighted the increasing bifurcation of the country on regional and religious lines.

The statement said: “Relying on press reports of violence presents methodological limitations. There is a dearth of accurate reporting across certain regions, death tolls are imprecise, and accounts of incidents vary. There is the potential for political manipulation of the media.

“Given these limitations, the NST makes every effort to collect information from multiple sources.

Nevertheless, NST statistics should be viewed as indicative rather than definitive,” the statement pointed out.

tell you that you are the leaders of tomorrow. If you wait for tomorrow before you take over leadership, that tomorrow may not come. They will destroy it,” he said.

The former president said youths should not allow anyone to address them as leaders of tomorrow, saying the tomorrow may never come.

According to him, some corrupt leaders would destroy the so-called tomorrow if the younger generation fails to rise and take their future into their hands.

“This is the time, youths get up and make it happen,” he said.

Obasanjo revealed that everything that happened to him, including his emergence as both a military Head of State and President of Nigeria, was by accident.

Obasanjo, who was an exmilitary Head of State from 1976 to 1979 before he was elected as a civilian President from 1999 to 2007, said he was a farmer by choice and not by accident.

He said the only thing he did in life that did not come by

happenstance is farming, adding that he is always proud to be addressed as a farmer.

When asked to speak about what he termed his ‘romance with farming’, the former president said: “I don’t like the word you used, ‘romance with farming’. I am a farmer. What do you mean by romance? Everything I have done in my life is by accident. The only thing that is not accidental is farming. Every other thing that I’ve been to is by accident. And you called that romance? No! What do you mean by romance?

“You know my beginning. I was born and bred in a village.

I went to school by accident. My father just said, ‘won’t you do something different?’ So I went into farming.

“When you look at countries that have made it, they developed on agriculture - first, for food security, second, to process what they get from their farms, which is the beginning of industrialisation - third, to give it out as export, which is for foreign exchange; and fourth, as a means of generating employment for the youth.”

Tax Revenue Can’t Resolve Fiscal Crisis, Teriba Tells FG Atiku wants use of borrowed funds reviewed Gboyega Akinsanmi in Lagos and Chuks Okocha in Abuja With debt service costs now higher than the actual revenue in the first quarter by N310 billion, the Chief Executive Officer of Economic Associates, Dr. Ayo Teriba yesterday noted that tax revenue could no longer resolve the country’s escalating fiscal crisis.

This is as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, challenged the federal government to review the current utilisation of all borrowed funds and ensure that they are deployed more judiciously.

Rather than issuing debts tied to tax revenue, Teriba challenged the government to adopt a more pragmatic approach by leveraging its idle or under-utilised public assets to generate liquidity from would-be investors without the burden of repayment and servicing.

Teriba spoke to THISDAY on the dwindling government revenues and the increasing cost of servicing debt that had in recent times plunged the country into a deepening fiscal crisis.

The federal government had since 2019 responded to the fiscal crisis with its Finance Act, which increased Value-Added Tax (VAT); introduced new taxes and sealed more debt contracts that increased its burden to $100.1 billion.

Under the Finance Act, the federal government introduced a telecom tax and carbonated sugar drink tax. It also increased excise duty on alcoholic beverages and tobacco; and levied 0.005 per cent on the net profits of companies to fund the Nigeria Police Trust Fund.

Despite imposing more taxes, government revenues at large have been dwindling and the cost of servicing debts rising, a trend that triggered an acute revenue deficit in the last two quarters.

Reacting to the ugly trend, Teriba explained how the Nigerian economy grew exponentially between 2000 and 2014 due to what he attributed to oil windfalls that lifted government revenues and supplied adequate foreign exchange that catalysed economic growth.

He noted that Nigeria enjoyed oil windfalls from 2000 to 2014, before oil prices started weakening in July 2014, saying the windfalls lifted government revenues and supplied adequate foreign exchange to lift the economy and stabilise the exchange rate, consumer prices, and interest rates.

He said during this period that both oil and tax revenues grew impressively while a stable Naira then meant that there were no revenue illusions.

He added that the federation “has left that era of revenue windfalls for a new era of revenue shortfalls for eight years now. We cannot but take the lessons of those years to heart.”

Despite these ominous signs, Teriba lamented that the government kept managing revenue generation and debt issuance in this era of shortfalls with the same approaches that had worked so well in the era of windfalls.

“That approach is now backfiring as revenue continues to decline and debt costs continue to rise.

Debt costs are now higher than revenue. It is not that we should not borrow at all. Every country whose revenue is falling needs

to borrow.

“But we must replace debt instruments that are ill-suited for a period of shortfalls with debt instruments that are more suited for the era of shortfalls. Writing IOUs or issuing promissory notes against future revenues made sense in a windfall.

“However, it makes no sense in a shortfall. Nigeria’s domestic and foreign debt portfolios are 100 per cent promissory notes against future revenues. We should stop issuing IOUs against revenues that everyone now knows that we no longer have.”

Rather than issuing debt against revenue, the economist urged the government “to make two simple fiscal adjustments that are more suited to the era of shortfalls that we have found ourselves in for eight years.

First, he suggested that to regenerate revenue streams, Nigeria should generate non-tax revenues from publicly-owned corporate, real estate, and infrastructure assets rather than trying to increase tax revenue.

He also proposed that to cut debt costs, Nigeria must open opportunities for massive investment in the three clusters of publicly-owned assets rather than continuing to borrow to fund them.

Teriba warned that the economy “has twice slid into recessions in 2016 and 2020. An economy that is struggling to get out of recession cannot be a source of rising tax revenues.

“Whenever the government says actual non-oil revenue is better than budget, what they do not add is that the exchange rate is now only worth half of the value

we budgeted for.

“We should adjust increases in Naira revenue for movements in the exchange rate of the naira before declaring that actual revenues are better than budgeted.

“The federal government’s retained revenue increased by 50 per cent from N4 trillion in 2015 to N6 trillion in 2021. However, the exchange rate increased by 275 per cent from N160/$ in 2015 to N600/$ by the end of 2021.”

Atiku Wants Use of Borrowed Funds Reviewed

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku has challenged the federal government to review the current utilisation of all borrowed funds and ensure that they are deployed more judiciously.

Reacting to revelations that Nigeria’s debt servicing was surpassing the federal government’s retained revenue by N310billion in the first quarter of the year, Atiku also demanded improved spending efficiency and a drastic cut on unnecessary and wasteful expenditures.

He said the government must ensure that all borrowed funds are for priority infrastructure projects that would generate income, boost output, and put the economy on the path of sustainable growth.

Atiku, who took to his verified Twitter handle, said the development must be in breach of all known reasonable debt-sustainability thresholds, adding that it puts a big question mark on the capacity of the government to manage its rising debt profile without endangering macroeconomic stability.

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JULY 24, 2022 • T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

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Osun Victory Signposts PDP's Determination to Rescue Nigeria, Says Okowa Omo-Julius Onabu in Asaba Delta State Governor and vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, said the party's victory in the Osun State governorship poll was a pointer to its readiness to rescue the country from maladministration and government insensitivity.

The governor, who stated this yesterday while addressing PDP faithful at a mega rally at Ozoro, affirmed that PDP remained the only party that could return Nigeria to better days.

He assured that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, PDP was strong, virile and united in the state, adding that what was playing out was democracyin-action.

"I am glad that some of our friends have come to join us in this revolution to rescue Nigeria.

"The victory of our party last week Saturday in Osun is just the beginning of the revolution to rescue Nigeria and to return us to the path of growth.

"In the last seven years, it has not been too well with us as a nation, but we know that God has come to our rescue and it's just for the PDP to take it and run with it; that sign has already started with our victory in Osun.

"Last Saturday, you listened, you watched and you waited for the result in Osun. We went to the heartland of the APC in Yoruba land to make a statement and to God be the glory.

"They did not give PDP a chance; the APC thought it was a done deal but God showed His mighty hand and when the results started coming, it was unfortunate for the APC. "That is just the beginning and I must thank Nigerians who have come to realise that something has gone wrong and that we need rescue and there is only one party that can rescue Nigeria as of today and it is the PDP," the governor said.

He pointed out that PDP was the only party with the most experienced candidate and urged Nigerians to support the party's rescue mission.

According to him, when you look at all the people they have brought out, you can see the distinction; we need a man who is calm with a lot of experience; somebody who knows what to do from day one.

"And, if you look at it very well, only one man fits the bill and that's why we are talking about the 'Atikulate Revolution'.

"I heard some people saying that PDP is dying in Delta State and I wonder why they are deceiving themselves.

"We are not boasting but on the day of the election, our people will come out and vote and in the next election we are going to win all available seats - from the Assembly to the presidential.

"In 2019 they got two local government areas but in 2023 we will win the entire 25 local government areas.

"Whatever is going on in the party today is a normal democratic process; so, there is nothing to worry about, no cause for alarm and no cause to fear," he stated.

The governor thanked PDP's presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for nominating him as his running mate, and assured him that Deltans would support the Atiku-Okowa ticket.

"We thank God that a very experienced presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, picked one of your own as his running mate and we give God the glory.

"When it's time for the campaign we will come out to campaign but one thing is that Atiku has done well for the people of South-South, South-east and

the people of South-west because we stand for all and he has done well for us.

"2023 is about the youths and women of Nigeria and we cannot continue to suffer and stay hungry. We must move

forward," he stated.

Welcoming party faithful earlier, the state's Chairman of PDP, Chief Kingsley Esiso, said the primary purpose of the rally was to receive defectors from other parties.

He said that Nigerians could

no longer tolerate a party that had divided Nigeria along ethnic, religious and regional lines.

"People are hungry and angry, and in the midst of that, APC showed its desperation and insensitivity by coming up with

a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

"In Northern Nigeria, Christians constitute no fewer than 40 per cent of the population, yet APC said they couldn't find a Christian to be the vice-presidential candidate.

"Nigerians will not answer them, we will wait till 2023 and answer them with our votes using our PVCs. "Our people have seen with their eyes what Governor Okowa has done in Delta," he said.

WORTHY DAUGHTER… L-R: Creative Director of Ella & Gabby, Mrs. Adaobi Mgbudem; First Class graduand, Miss Ella Mgbudem; and City lawyer and businessman, Mr. Emeka Mgbudem, at the graduation ceremony in the United Kingdom… recently

MORE FIREWORKS AS TINUBU COUNTERS ATIKU, SAYS PDP’S CANDIDATE OFFERED HIM VP TICKET IN 2007

to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who was the presidential candidate of the PDP. But in a swift reaction by Tinubu’s media aide, Mr Tunde Rahman, the APC presidential candidate stated that it was Atiku that offered him the vice presidential ticket in 2007.

Tinubu Campaign Council (TCO) has also reacted to Atiku’s claim, saying that the former vice president was ill-prepared to be the president of Nigeria in 2023.

However, Atiku has challenged the APC presidential candidate to subject himself to a one-hour interview, like he did, to test if he will be able to be as articulate and mentally present as him (Atiku).

This is coming as the Rivers State governor, Mr Nyesom Wike has disclosed that he would soon speak about the former vice president and the recent events in the PDP. In the statement by Tinubu’s media aide, the APC presidential candidate disclosed that the former vice president knew nothing about the formation of AC at the time, adding that after he clinched the presidential ticket, he offered him the vice presidential slot.

He said Atiku in his desperate attempt to win the presidential election by stoking religious bias reduced himself to uttering baseless lies on national television.

“Atiku may want to be president. However, all he has shown is that he is a pathological liar.”

“Whatever moral compass he had has been lost. During a 22 July television interview, Atiku assaulted historic truth by lying that he did not name Tinubu as his running mate in 2007 on the Action Congress ticket because Atiku did not want a Muslim as his running mate.”

Tinubu disclosed that the actual founders of the AC offered the party’s flag to Atiku.

“I feel sorry for dear old Atiku.

Love of his ambition has eclipsed his relationship with the truth and an honest account of the past. We formed the AC without

his knowledge. When President Obasanjo virtually exiled him from the PDP, we lent him our support by giving him the AC platform for the 2007 election.

“Let me say openly that Atiku offered me the vice presidential ticket in 2007. Let me also say that my religion has not changed.

When he offered the position to me, I was a Muslim and I believe he was aware of my religious faith at the time.

“Atiku’s calculations and deceit had nothing to do with religion or his sensitivity to it. His conduct has everything to do with what we discovered about his paucity of character and love of intrigue,” the statement said.

Tinubu alleged that 15 years later, Atiku promised the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike the same vice presidential ticket and also reneged.

“Atiku has no business raising the issue of a Muslim-Muslim ticket except as a hypocrite.

Perhaps he believes people have forgotten his antics during the 1993 election. After he woefully lost his bid to be the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, what did he do? He canvassed and lobbied harder than anyone to become the running mate to late Chief MKO Abiola. When it benefitted him personally, Atiku did not see anything wrong with a Muslim-Muslim ticket. He saw everything right in such a ticket as long as he was on it.

“Now, Atiku criticises my selection as running mate based on religion. He does so because he cannot criticise it on other grounds,” Tinubu added.

Also in a separate reaction by the TCO, the Director of Media and Communication of the organisation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said it was most shocking that Atiku admitted that he cheated the system for decades and engaged in gross misconduct as a government worker.

TCO added that as a customs officer at the Idi-Iroko border, Atiku revealed that he ran a

commercial taxi service, claiming “there is no law stopping public officers from doing business in Nigeria".

Tinubu Campaign Organisation argued that every officer in the civil service is expected to comply with a code of conduct and service rules which bar civil and public servants from engaging in private business while in government employment to the detriment of the service he/she is employed to render to the public.

It stated: "It is our considered view that Atiku gamed the system all through his career in public service, culminating in his founding of Intel Logistics along with the late Shehu Yar’Adua and some Italians, even while he was still in the employment of the Nigeria Customs Service.

TCO said it was also surprising that the PDP presidential candidate does not know the contribution of the oil and gas industry to Nigeria’s GDP.

I Dare You to Appear for an Interview, Atiku Replies Tinubu Meanwhile, Atiku through his media adviser, Mr Paul Ibe has challenged Tinubu to a prolonged interview, saying that the APC presidential candidate has not sat down for any prolonged interview due to some obvious reasons.

“Nigerians have seen him talk in public and can themselves gauge the reason why he is mortified to do so,” the statement said.

The statement added that the Tinubu Campaign Organisation exposed its gross desperation by citing the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) 1999, to declare Atiku’s stance on engaging in a side business while he was a young customs officer as a breach of the law.

It reminded TCO that Nigeria is not under a military regime, adding that the Constitution is not retroactive.

The statement accused the TCO of betraying either dishonesty or lack of attention to detail by claiming that Atiku said oil contributed 20 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP. “That is a lie. What the Waziri said is as follows: Oil only maybe accounts for about 20 per cent of our GDP. The use of the word maybe by the Waziri was in reflection of the different figures given. While the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics states a figure close to 10 per cent, other multilateral organisations have given a much higher figure of between 15-20 per cent,” the statement said.

The statement further disclosed that Atiku has an earned Masters degree from Anglia Ruskin University, and challenged any of the present presidential candidates to present an equal or higher degree.

“In conclusion, we would like to challenge Bola Tinubu to subject himself to an hour-long interview, as the Waziri did, and if he can be as articulate and mentally present as our candidate, then he can talk. Until then, we will only want to remind him and his yes men that they are not in a position to point fingers when they have not sat on the hot seat,” the statement added.

Also reacting to Atiku’s scathing comments against the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, the Peter Obi Support Network (POSN), yesterday mocked the former vice president, describing him as “seventh-time presidential aspirant.”

Atiku had said during the interview that Obi could not win the 2023 presidential election because the Labour Party did not have any governor and National Assembly members elected on its platform.

But the POSN in a statement by its spokesperson, Sani Altukry, titled, ‘Atiku Abubakar takes Nigerian masses for granted’, said Atiku in the “recorded interview,” gave unsolicited and erroneous political consultancy

on who could win elections and who could not win.

He said: “The seventh-time presidential aspirant reportedly claimed that today’s most popular presidential candidate, Peter Obi, cannot.

“Unfortunately, the former vice president based his entire permutation on the assumed influence of corruption promoting and vote-buying mercenaries euphemistically called political structure, and failed to consider the unassailable powers of the masses of Nigeria, who are the most powerful force in a democracy and the key determinants of election victory.

“As every political philosopher knows, sovereignty resides with the people. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s assertion speaks to the illusions of the fascist school of thought that believes that the masses do not matter and erroneously believes that the masses cannot think for themselves.

“In essence, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is saying that Nigerians are some kind of slaves who cannot take a political decision on their own, except as imposed on them by their slave masters,” POSN explained.

“This erroneous idea belongs to the past, and so we assure the former vice president and those of his class who hold such derogatory perception of Nigerians that a new Nigeria is here and Nigerians are ready to take their destiny into their own hands,” POSN added.

Also reacting to Atiku’s interview on ARISE NEWS Channel, the Rivers State governor, Wike, in a statement by his Special Assistant Media, Mr Kelvin Ebiri, said he would soon speak and reveal to Nigerians all that has transpired in the PDP since the emergence of Atiku as the presidential candidate of the party.

"On Atiku, I will speak soon and Nigerians will know the actual truth of all that has transpired in the PDP in recent times," Wike said.

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News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: gboyega.akinsanmi@thisdaylive.com,08152359253

Like Dana, Max Air Makes Emergency Landing in Abuja Chinedu Eze A Max Air aircraft, flight VM1645 yesterday made an emergency landing in Abuja after the pilot detected a fault.

The incident occurred a few days after a Dana Air aircraft made an emergency landing at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja.

The incident eventually earned Dana Air an indefinite suspension from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on the grounds that the airline was no longer in a position to meet its financial obligations and conduct safe flight operations.

In the incident that occurred yesterday, reports indicated that the Abuja to Lagos bound Boeing

We Have Valid Guber Candidate in Delta, PDP Insists Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday reacted to reports that it has no valid governorship candidate in Delta State.

The main opposition party made the clarification in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba yesterday.

For the avoidance of doubt, according to the statement, the PDP makes it abundantly clear and states in very precise and categorical terms that our party had not disobeyed any Order of Court. We have a valid governorship candidate for the 2023 election.

The statement said: “In line with the new Electoral Act, submission of names of candidates is no longer physical, but by electronic transmission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Under the electronic process, INEC grants access to its portal to political parties to electronically

The Ekiti State Government yesterday disclosed that 74 patients had been isolated due to the eruption of COVID-19 cases.

Consequently, the state government reintroduced the use of face masks, handwashing, sanitising as well as maintenance of social distancing in public places to check the spread of Covid 19 disease.

This was revealed in a statement the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Fulani issued yesterday giving updates on the pandemic.

Fulani added that the

it could not taxi back to the tarmac.

The passenger revealed that it took about 40 minutes for the fire service and towing service to arrive after some passengers said they saw smoke.

The passenger added that the plane was towed at a snail speed back to the tarmac.

NCAA and Accident Investigation Bureau-Nigeria (AIB-N) were yet to issue statement on the incident.

Likewise, on Tuesday, Dana Airlines made an emergency

landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international Airport in Abuja.

This year alone, the airline reported two incidents with its aircraft.

The management said 100 passengers on the Abuja-bound aircraft were “disembarked safely”.

“Our Abuja-bound Boeing 737 aircraft with the registration number (5N DNA) embarked on an emergency landing today 19th July 2022, due to an indication on one of its engines,” the statement

had read.

In May, over 50 passengers were rescued when fire gutted the tyres of an aircraft operated

by Dana Air in Port Harcourt.

In 2012, the federal government also grounded Dana Air after its passenger plane carrying 153 people crashed in Lagos.

As a result of Tuesday’s incident, NCAA had suspended Dana Airlines’ air transport licence (ATL) and air operator certificate (AOC) indefinitely in a statement by its director-general, Musa Nuhu.

upload its candidates’ information/particulars; access for governorship candidates closed on Friday, July 15.

“With reference to Delta State, our party duly submitted and uploaded the name of Oborevwori Sheriff Francis Orohwedor as the governorship candidate of the PDP onto INEC Portal on Friday, July 8.

“On July 18, three days after the closure of access to the INEC Portal, our party and INEC received a Court Order directing the substitution of the name of Oborevwori Sheriff Francis Orohwedor with another name.

However, given the closure on July 15, our party had no access to the INEC Portal “Subsequently, the PDP and INEC were served with Court of Appeal processes comprising; Notice of Appeal, Motion for Stay of Execution and Records of Appeal filed by the candidate whose name was initially uploaded by the party onto the INEC Portal.

Ekiti Records 74 COVID-19 Cases, Enforces Safety Protocols Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

737 MAX aircraft developed a fault midair, causing the plane to stop-start.

After attempts by the pilot to fire the plane failed, he announced that the aircraft would have to return to Abuja about 25 minutes after it left the Abuja airport.

A passenger in the flight confirmed the incident, noting that the plane eventually landed in Abuja and was forcefully brought to a stop on the ramp of the airport.

The plane, according to the passenger, had to be towed as

upsurge in the number of those tested positive for Covid 19 forced him to warn before Sallah celebration that Muslim adherents must observe safety protocols at Eids.

The commissioner revealed that Ekiti had since November 2021 been experiencing a significant decline in the number of positive Covid-19 cases and low occupants in the isolation centres.

He said: “There was need for serious caution with 74 patients now being isolated. As the Ministry of Health continues to monitor the recent increase of COVID-19 cases across the country.

UNITED WE STAND… Chief Financial Officer, 9mobile, Mr. Philips Oki (left), and Chief Executive Officer, Gravitas Investment Limited, Mr. Olufemi Babalola, during the visit of 9mobile to Gracefield Island, Lagos ... recently

Gravitas, 9mobile Agree to Provide Banking, Telecom Services on Gracefield Island Chibuzor Oluchi Gravitas Investments Limited has sealed an agreement with a leading telecommunications service provider, 9mobile to provide banking, data and telecom services on Gracefield Island, a purposely designed smart city built on 60 hectares of land in Lagos State.

The agreement was sealed at a meeting held on the island recently after Chief Executive Officer, Mr Olufemi Babalola and Chief Financial Officer, 9mobile, Mr Philips Oki discussed core areas of partnership.

Gracefield Island, about 2.3

kilometres into the lagoon from the shoreline of Chevron, was conceived by Gravitas Investments Limited to provide ideal, smart and sustainable homes.

Addressing the meeting comprising principal executives of Gravitas and 9mobile, Babalola first acknowledged that it was one thing for the company to conceive Gracefield Island and another thing for the partners to understand, embrace as well as buy into it.

On this ground, the chief executive expressed excitement that the telecom giant

“truly understands the vision driving Gracefield Island and that 9mobile is part of the vision. It has demonstrated its appreciation of the initiative from the onset Babalola, however, observed that there were glitches in the course of the relationship, but those hitches were resolved with the support of the IT professionals.

He said: “With the array of 9mobile team at this meeting, it shows the telecom giant is recommitting itself to what we have set out to achieve. Particularly, it pleases us to have the 9Payment Service Bank (9PSB) on the island.

“I think the telecom company must have just decided that it is on the back of our infrastructure that the banks are delivering their services. It was Bill Gates that said it years ago. Banking is necessary. But banks themselves may not be necessary. Telcos seem to be on that path, bringing banking to everyone.”

He also expressed the readiness of his team to build a smart and sustainable city on Gracefield Island, which according to him, was anchored on sustainability, functionality, security, safety, healthy living and excellent aesthetics and resilience

Buhari Rejoices with Adamu at 76 Boko Haram Commander, Four Other Terrorists Surrender to Troops in Borno

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, as he marks his 76th birthday anniversary on July 23.

The president in a release issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, joined the APC National Executive Committee, National Working Committee and all members to celebrate with the political leader.

Buhari noted the vision and courage that the former governor of Nasarawa State

has brought to democracy and governance in the country, cutting his teeth in politics in 1977 as a member of the Constituent Assembly, which drafted the 1979 constitution and member of the Constitutional Conference in 1994.

The president extolled the APC national chairman for the ongoing repositioning of the political party on a conciliatory path, with more focus on strengthening internal democratic processes, providing good governance, and actualising the mandate of ensuring a better life for Nigerians through a collective vision.

Michael Olugbode in Abuja Five Boko Haram terrorists including a Commander of Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihad (JAS) otherwise known as Boko Haram, Malam Isa, have laid down their arms and surrendered to the troops of the Nigerian Army in Borno State.

However, the Deputy Leader of Song Local Government Area Legislative Council, Hon. Ishaya Babakano, has been killed by unknown gunmen in Adamawa State.

In an Intelligence report by a Counter Insurgency Expert and

Security Analyst in Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama, military sources, revealed that the terrorists surrendered to the troops of 73 Battalion, Operation Hadin Kai, on Friday, July 22.

The sources said: “At about 200812A, the troops of Cashew Plantation deployed at Valley Shuwa had received five surrendered Boko Haram terrorists.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the insurgents came out from Gazuwa, an acclaimed new headquarters of the Boko Haram faction, located about 8 kilometres to the Bama Local Government area.”

The sources said that 29 women and children later came out and surrendered to own troops after realising that the five terrorists surrendered successfully without being killed.

He said that all the surrendered terrorists would be received, processed and passed on to the relevant agencies of government for further assessment in line with extant provisions.

Theatre Commander, NorthEast Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa recently disclosed that more than 67,000 repentant terrorists have surrendered to troops serving

in various theatres of operation in the North-East region.

Musa added that the repentant terrorists included both combatants and non-combatants and their families. At his residence Friday night, however, Babakano was killed in Gudu Mboi Ward of Song LGA. The councillor was reported to have been shot dead a few hours after being whisked away by the assailants in his hometown of Bannga.

Also, his son was said to have been shot in the process and he was said to be receiving treatment at a health facility in Song.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24, 2022

SUNDAY INTERVIEW

Atiku

ATIKU ABUBAKAR: It’s Prerogative of Presidential Candidates to Choose their Running Mates The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, was a guest on The Morning Show of Arise News Channel at the weekend. While fielding questions from the Arise News team, Abubakar addressed issues bordering on party’s current crisis and prospects in the 2023 general election, particularly, following the grievances Governor Nyesom Wike and others have against him. Also, the former vice president spoke on other pertinent issues relating to the economy, insecurity and unity of Nigeria. Emmanuel Addeh presents the excerpts

H

owdoyoufeelbeingaveterancandidate?

You’ve been in this business since 1992 and you are here again in 2023 as the presidential standard bearer of the PDP. :KDW JLYHV \RX WKH FRQÀGHQFH WKDW \RX will succeed this time?

I may have to take you back to my political journey or political history. If you recall, even when I was trying to run to be the governor of my state, from the old Gongola, now Adamawa state, I ran four times before eventually I was elected as a governor and then never served before becoming vice president.

I am driven by the passion and the desire to give back to this country or my society for what this country has done for me because if I were to be born around this time, I don’t think I would have been that fortunate, that likely to become what I have become today.

So, I am more or less driven by the passion to give back to society because this society or this country has done so much for me. So, this is it. Therefore, it is not a new thing, either in politics or even in history, we have several leaders all over the world, who have made attempts to serve their country. One of the greatest presidents in

American history isAbraham Lincoln and he is somebody who ran XS WR ÀYH WR VL[ WLPHV EHIRUH EHFRPLQJ WKH SUHVLGHQW RI WKH 8QLWHG States. At this age and with what I’ve been able to accomplish, I don’t think I desire anything more than the passion to serve my country and my fellow countrymen and women.

So, this is the driving force behind my persistence and desire to serve my country and its people.

Why did you choose Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as your running mate over Governor Nyesom Wike and how do you plan to unify your party so that Wike and his supporters can get behind your candidacy?

I also want you to recollect that I have contested this presidency a couple of times and anytime I lost, I did not try to blame anybody. , ZLOO ÀUVW RI DOO FDUU\ P\ JULHYDQFHV WKURXJK WKH FRXUW RI ODZ XS to the Supreme Court. Whenever the Supreme Court decides, I accept and then I move on and I plan for the future.

6R ÀUVW DQG IRUHPRVW , GRQ·W WKLQN :LNH ZDV UHMHFWHG 1RERG\ was rejected at the party.

But the point that you must understand is that it is the prerogative of the candidate to pick his running mate that he believes he can

work with amicably and then also deliver on all the policies of the party and also try to unify the country.

If you can go through history, I was given a ticket in 2007, I picked an easterner, and I was given a ticket in 2019. I picked an Igbo and in 2022, I have been given the ticket and I picked an Igbo man. This is just to show you my desire to unify the country.

Governor Wike is a brilliant politician, courageous and tenacious. I believe he has a future in the political evolution of this country, so it is not a question of rejection. Certainly not. I think it is too harsh a word to say. Certainly not.

Okay, I’d like to ask a follow-up question. There’s the report that Wike was the choice of about 10 persons out of 17, but then that you jettisoned the report. So do you think he is irrelevant or inconsequential to your ticket?

You should be fair to me. You should also state the facts. We are reaching out to Governor Wike and we are talking with him. $QG , EHOLHYH YHU\ VRRQ ZH ZLOO ÀQG UHFRQFLOLDWLRQ 9HU\ VRRQ because we are talking to him and talking to his colleagues, governor colleagues, and I am very, very optimistic that we are going to resolve our internal crisis and move on.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24, 2022

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SUNDAY INTERVIEW I will Run a Lean Government, Rationalise Federal Agencies So, the negotiations of the South-east were not successful this time as well? That’s why Peter Obi left the PDP and joined another party and he is also running for president. How do you WKLQN WKLV ZLOO D;HFW \RXU SURVSHFWV JLYHQ WKDW the Southeast has always been such a safe zone for the PDP? I don’t expect, you know, the Labour Party to take as many votes from the PDP as people are suggesting. You could have seen it in the last elections in Osun state? What is the performance of the Labour Party? This is a party that doesn’t have a governor and doesn’t have members of the National Assembly or the state assembly members. Politics in this country depends on the structures you have at these various levels, at the local government level, at the state level DQG WKH QDWLRQDO OHYHO 6R LW LV YHU\ YHU\ GL΀FXOW to expect a miracle to happen, you know, simply because Peter Obi is in the Labour Party. After all, they were saying through social media that they have more than one million votes in Osun State. But what was the turnout or votes for the Labour Party?

And then again, mark you, you’re talking about social media. In the North, 90 per cent of our people are not on social media.

One of the reasons put forward by former JRYHUQRU RI (NLWL 6WDWH $\R )D\RVH IRU KLV JULHYance is that Section 3C of the PDP constitution LV YHU\ FOHDU DERXW URWDWLRQ DERXW ]RQLQJ $SDUW IURP WKLV D JURXS RU VHYHUDO JURXSV ZLWKLQ WKH PDP are also saying that the chairman of the SDUW\ 6HQDWRU ,\RUFKLD $\X VKRXOG VWHS GRZQ That is a matter of honour because he made the promise that he will step down if the PDP candidate comes from the North. ,W LV QRW WKH ÀUVW WLPH ZH KDYH IRXQG RXUVHOYHV in this position that the PDP has found itself. But WKHUH LV D GLͿHUHQFH ,I WKH HOHFWHG SUHVLGHQW LV IURP the North and the party chairman happens to also be from the North, automatically, the party chairman will revert to the South. So he is reading the provision of section 3 of our constitution upside down. We had it before.

We have gone through this before. This is not WKH ÀUVW WLPH :KHQ WKH 3UHVLGHQW DQG WKH SDUW\ chairman happen to be from the same zone, automatically, the chairman reverts to the other zones of the country. So that’s incorrect. And the second part of your question was about Senator Ayu stepping down.

If today I’m elected president, automatically, Senator Ayu steps down. We had a meeting in the Northern zone, of all the stakeholders on the issue of Senator Ayu and also the chairman of the Board of Trustees.

On the issue of a Muslim-Muslim ticket, that wasmyfundamentaldisagreementanddeparture politically fromAsiwaju Bola Tinubu. Remember, I came out on PDP on the issue of zoning and together with Asiwaju, we formed the CAN. I was given a ticket in Lagos and he insisted to be my running mate.And I said, no, I’m not going to have a Muslim-Muslim ticket.And because of that, he switched support to the late Umar Yar’Adua.

That was the parting point.And of course, it is also a fact that when Buhari emerged in 2015 in Lagos, I opposed a Muslim-Muslim ticket. I opposed it and my opposition reinforced the decision of President Buhari to pick his running mate.

So I have all along opposed that. I don’t believe in that. I do believe it’s right for a country like Nigeria, a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country to balance interests, whether religious or otherwise.

What is your assessment of your prospects in WKH 1RUWK HDVW EHFDXVH WKH $3& UXQQLQJ PDWH comes from the North-east?

Certainly, my prospects are much. I think it’s an unfair question to ask me because I know that my prospects are much higher. I mean, if you know the composition of the North-east, you have Borno and Yobe which are essentially two Kanuri states, and then you have the other states which are essentially also Fulani states.

So even if people are going to vote based on that, I think, I have a more favourable position in the North-east. ,Q WKH WZR RI \RX $VLZDMX DQG \RX ZHUH WRJHWKHU LQ WKH $FWLRQ &RQJUHVV RI 1LJHULD DQG the two of you are friends. So how do you feel running against a man, who is considered your ally because people are already saying there is QR GL;HUHQFH EHWZHHQ WKH WZR RI WKHP 7KHQ RQ 58*$ FDQ \RX VSHDN RQ \RXU RSSRVLWLRQ to open grazing?

First, of all, grazing or no grazing is not a central issue. I have more than 1000 herds of cattle, they have never gone beyond Adamawa State. So as

Atiku

far as I’m concerned, it is a regional or state issue.

This is the fact of the case. So people are at liberty to take whatever measures in terms of law, either for anti-grazing or anti-grazing as far as I’m concerned, and I don’t think the federal government should have anything to do with it.

And I believe that was even what used to happen even in the First Republic.Yes, in the First Republic, there was grazing in the northern region because we used to have grazing reserves in the Northern region, but then the region became split into states.

And it is therefore the responsibility of the states.

It is a concurrent issue even in our constitution.

I don’t think we should try to bring about either legislation or changes at the national level.

+RZ DERXW \RX DQG $VLZDMX %ROD 7LQXEX being allies?

That doesn’t mean we will not have political GLͿHUHQFHV :H KDYH EHHQ KDYLQJ SROLWLFDO GLIferences ever since we became friends. Nothing unusual about that.

Insecurity is another big concern in the country right now. Islamic extremists like Boko Haram, and ISWAP, and then in the South-east, you have secessionist agitation, you have those enforcing stay-at-home orders every Monday.

You have to give every part of this country a sense of belonging. I was arguing before a top JRYHUQPHQW R΀FLDO , VDLG KRZ FRPH DQG WKLV LV common knowledge to most of the media houses, WKDW ZH KDYH VHFXULW\ RXWÀWV LQ WKLV FRXQWU\ and all of them are being headed by one section of the country? That’s imbalance! So, how are you going to expect people not to protest? Secondly, WKHUH LV DQ LQVX΀FLHQW QXPEHU RI ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW agencies on the streets.

I’ll give you examples: Nigeria has over 200 million people population and less than 300,000 policemen. There has to be massive recruitment of Nigerians into the police. Not only massive recruitment, but training and equipping and then every part of this country has to be given a sense of belonging.

Iamalsoasupporterofstatepolice,countypolice, etc. We need to review that in our constitution and make sure we provide for levels of police.

When I was growing up, we had local police and there was law and order. But here we are with the Nigeria Police. The same policy will be deployed in Sierra Leone, in Liberia, WestAfrica, but because he was trained by international organisations, he performs well with less centralisation of the police.

And then, of course, there must be an increase in the number of policemen on the streets.

And then thirdly, they must be well trained and well equipped to deal with our security challenges.

It’s something we can do.

Well, let’s talk about your manifesto. It looks

OLNH WKH VXEMHFW RI UHPRYDO RI VXEVLGLHV LV FRQspicuously absent in that manifesto. Is this an RYHUVLJKW" It’s not an oversight, but I thought Nigerians have now come to accept my position on this issue.

When I was vice president, we designed subsidy removal in four stages.And I was chairman of the subsidy removal committee.

At that time I worked very closely with former GovernorAdams Oshiomhole, who was the president of the NLC and we removed subsidy phase RQH DQG SKDVH WZR %\ WKH WLPH ZH ÀQLVKHG SKDVH WZR ZH KDG OHIW R΀FH DQG H[SHFWHG WKH QH[W 3'3 governmentunderlateUmarYar’Aduatocontinue phase two and phase three. But unfortunately, the policy got stuck for one reason or the other, I don’t know because I had left the government. I think it is inevitable, that it has to happen. Recall that when we did phase one and phase two, the NLC made demands on the issue of transportation, on the issue of allowances, and an increase in wages, which we met.

So, I believe, again, the organised labour and also other sectors of the economy, that policy should resume and be completed.

Let’s talk some more about your economic DJHQGD RXWOLQHG LQ \RXU PDQLIHVWR ´0\ &RYHQDQW ZLWK 1LJHULDQVµ ([DFWO\ KRZ GR \RX SODQ WR EUHDN WKH JRYHUQPHQW PRQRSRO\ RI LQIUDVWUXFWXUH ZKLFK \RX PHQWLRQHG LQ \RXU PDQLIHVWR WR JLYH SULYDWH LQYHVWRUV D ODUJHU UROH" $QG DOVR \RX UHIHUUHG WR WKH FXUUHQW LQWHUYHQWLRQLVW PDQDJHPHQW RI H[FKDQJH UDWHV :KDW ZRXOG \RX SODQ WR GR GL;HUHQWO\" What are you promising Nigerians with regards WR WKH H[FKDQJH UDWH" The exchange rate is a CBN policy. I am not expected to interfere. But what I expect to see is that I expect to see a convergence of the CBN exchange rate and that of the parallel market because I am a market-oriented person. I believe in the forces of the market. +RZ DERXW JRYHUQPHQW PRQRSRO\ DQG infrastructure?

We had started reforms which were initiated by me as the chairman of the privatisation council, the telecoms reforms, oil sector reforms, the pensions reforms, and so on. So all these reforms were reforms that we initiated and some of them were accomplished during our administration. And what we intend to do is continue the reforms, you know, the various sectors of the economy, whereby we can give the private sector more leeway, tax incentives until they recover the investment and some interest. Otherwise, where are you going to get the money from if you don’t encourage the private sector to come in?

Yesterday (Thursday), the national power grid

of Nigeria collapsed to the point of zero output, the sixth this year. On your Twitter account, you tweeted, “This is one collapse too many”. But there wasanimmediateresponsefromOmoyeleSowore that the electrical grid collapse started when you invested $16 billion to procure darkness for Nigeria.

He has all along lived outside this country. He doesn’t even know the policy implementation or even the policy initiative. When we came in, the generationwasabout4,000megawatts.Weinitiated the building of nine additional power stations. %\ WKH WLPH WKRVH QLQH ZHUH ÀQLVKHG WKH FDSDFLW\ had gone from 4,000 to about 13,000 megawatts.

Unfortunately,therewasnocorrespondingincrease as far as transmission lines are concerned. These additional nine power stations were completed

by Goodluck Jonathan. Yar’Adua was on it, he died and Jonathan continued and completed them. That’s why anytime there is an increase in power generation, the transmission system cannot evacuate the power, then it will collapse.

So he doesn’t even know because he lives outside this country. He comes to Nigeria every four years and contests for the presidency and goes back. He fails and goes back again. So, what does Sowore know about power? Nothing, absolutely nothing.

:KDW GR \RX LQWHQG WR GR GL;HUHQWO\ LI \RX were to become president?

Let me give you a story. What I tried to do in our administration:IwenttothepresidentandIsaid,Mr. President, let us decentralise both generation and transmission. Let’s use various sources of power, hydro, solar, and even coal because we are still a developing country.

I said gas is going to be a problem for us because gas is only available in one location and then it will take us a long time to have a gas plant that will supply the whole of this country with electricity DQG E\ WKH WLPH \RX GR WKDW \RX ZLOO ÀQG WKDW the electricity you are generating is too heavy for our transmission.

But when you decentralise generation, in my zone like the North-east, we have two mini dams idling. If you go to be North-west, they also have many large dams idling already. You need to install turbines and then generate electricity If you go to the South-south, then you can use whatever form of energy that is available, whether it is gas, hydro, or even coal. After all, the entire eastern region was supplied by coal from Enugu at that time.

But we had a divergence or disagreement as far as that issue was concerned. He said we must go on gas. That was how we started the gas generating plants’ additional lines. So I still believe it is something the country can consider to diversify our generation. So that even with our current transmission lines, we can deliver power to households and everybody. It’s a question of

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24, 2022

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SUNDAY INTERVIEW It’s Unfair That All 17 Security Agencies are Headed by One Section of Nigeria reviewing the policy.

in the process that is currently going on.

You’ve described the unveiling of NNPC limited as a step in the right direction. What exactly is your vision for NNPC? My vision for the NNPC is the same position we have for the NLNG. We privatise it substantially, then go to the private sector and the stock market whereby as many Nigerians as possible can acquire shares and this will improve transparency, and H΀FLHQF\ DQG DOVR ZLSH RXW FRUUXSWLRQ DQG DOVR LQFUHDVH SURÀWDELOLW\ DQG VXVWDLQDELOLW\

So, if you become President, what happens?

I am not going to reverse it but what I would do is open it up. In other words, whoever has a stake will be part of this process. I don’t see that happening at the moment. I only read announcements from the NNPC. That’s all.

Yes,thegovernmenthasannouncedprivatising the NNPC, but a lot needs to be done because it looks like it is being done secretly. In other words, nobody, Nigerians, and other members of the international community have not seen it transparently. If you ask me honestly, I do not know how it’s being done and by whom, and what’s the scope of the privatisation. How much is being privatised or how much is being retained by the government? , UHFDOO WKDW ZKHQ ZH ZHUH LQ R΀FH , LQYLWHG VRPH oil multinationals’ chief executives and asked for their advice to raise cash for the government. They said if you sell just a 10 per cent stake of $30-35 billion to the international community, you are going to have all the money to build all the roads and all the infrastructure that you need. $QG \RX ZRXOG KDYH DOVR LQFUHDVHG H΀FLHQF\ for the oil company and of course, I proposed to the president then and then of course that was not accepted. So, I believe that just like Saudi Aramco hasdoneinraisingsomuchmoneyforSaudiArabia to invest in their 2030 programmes, and that is the kind of thing that I expected to see, but that is not what we are seeing, we are seeing a very secretive transaction conducted by the government and I don’t see any element of transparency there.

Wehaveseenthetransparencythataccompanied SaudiAramco’s partial privatisation. We have seen how much money was raised and so on. We are yet to see our own. Maybe we haven’t got to that stage. I don’t know.

I am surprised you say the process has been secretive, because the Group CEO of the new company, in all the statements, has been talking about transparency. He says NNPC will not just be transparent, but it will be naked. So, what will \RX GR GL;HUHQWO\ LQ WHUPV RI UHIRUP LQ WKH RLO and gas sector? The second issue with this NNPC is the concern of the state governments. It says it will no longer be remitting federal allocation, determining subsidies and that they are only LQWHUHVWHG LQ SURÀW DQG ORVV SDLG WR VKDUHKROGHUV Where will the interest of the governors come in?

I must be honest with you, I am blank because other than the announcements made by the NNPC or whoever, I have not seen the state governments or the oil-producing areas being taken into account

We also have this country’s challenges with oil theft and vandalism. How would you address these?

This is where you must bring in the security agencies from the naval forces to all the security agencies that have been set up for securing all these oil installations and oil infrastructure. I think everybody is there to do whatever he or she likes without coordination and supervision and leadership.

Like this administration, you’ve also been quoted as promising that you will lift about 10 million people out of poverty. People say it’s the same old story.

Oil only accounts for about 20 per cent of our GDP. You must pay attention to agriculture.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, you have to promote industrialisation and manufacturing. If you do that, you are going to raise as many millions out of poverty.

How do you envision Nigeria without oil?

We need the proceeds of crude oil to diversify our economy. But a time will come when we won’t have a drop of crude oil. By that time we ZRXOG KDYH GLYHUVLÀHG WKH HFRQRP\ What’s your vision for developing the educational sector and health and some of your critics query your attraction to Dubai?

7KHUH LV QR À[DWLRQ RQ 'XEDL LW LV MXVW WKH handwork of the media. Yes, I was in Dubai during the COVID and I used the period to do my masters and that was the longest I stayed in

Dubai, otherwise, I have never stayed in Dubai IRU PRUH WKDQ RQH PRQWK 6R WKH À[DWLRQ LV D creation of the media and political opponents.

Of course, you must have heard that I invest heavily in education, simply because it’s my passion. I believe in education. I believe we need the private sector in both education and health.

If you live in Lagos, you will notice that most of the health facilities are provided by the private sector. How many people go to government clinics or health centers? Recall also, that most of our universities are private sector-led. They don’t go on strike.

It is about leadership. You elect an analog leadership, you expect analog management of all aspects of your national life. If it’s business, I started the business when I was 16 or 17, if it’s education, I am in it, if it’s agriculture or industry, I have invested in it.

I want to rationalise the agencies. They are just too many duplicating responsibilities. I want to introduce e-government. Once you introduce this, you will eliminate waste. I know it’s not popular, but I will do it.

Earlier on, you talked about a lean government. How are you going to achieve this?

So you don’t miss Peter Obi? 7KH\ DUH WZR GLͿHUHQW SHRSOH 1RW WKDW , GRQ·W miss Peter Obi, but unfortunately Peter did not consult me. Suddenly, I heard he had announced his exit. I think he informed me only three days after he declared for a labour party.

How much faith do you have in INEC and the new electoral framework?

So far so good. INEC has done well so far. Of FRXUVH WKHVH DUH RͿ VHDVRQ HOHFWLRQV VR WKH\ DUH isolated. So, it’s much easier to conduct. Let’s see what happens when we have nationwide elections. %XW LI WKH RͿ VHDVRQ HOHFWLRQV DUH DQ\WKLQJ WR JR E\ we have seen improvement in the performance of INEC. Does Nigeria have a debt problem or a revenue problem? How do you tackle those problems?

On the issue of debt, of course, there are several ways we can approach it. Either through restructuring; unfortunately, we don’t have any more Constitutionalreformisalegislativeexercise, schemes for debt forgiveness. For sure, we have EXW WKH H[HFXWLYH ZLHOGV JUHDW LQÁXHQFH +RZ to deal with these issues because we are going to would you use yours to devolve power? inherit a deeply indebted government and we I will do it because I will summon the gov- have also not expanded the revenue base as such. ernors and I will tell them these are the powers I want to be devolved to the states. So, they So let’s go back to the issue of your choice of shouldn’tstoptheirstateassembliesfrompassing running mate. How much is Governor Ifeanyi constitutional amendments. And I want to see Okowa bringing to the table and would you have a very lean federal government. chosen Peter Obi a second time as your running mate if he hadn’t left PDP? In terms of welfare what will be the content This (Okowa) is a very brilliant guy. He started of that initiative for the police? his political career in local government, from local Before it was traditionally seen that accom- governmenttoacommissioner,fromacommissioner modation is provided for our security agencies. to a senator, then to a governor. So in terms of all You don’t see that now. You see allowances not political parameters, he has the experience which being paid to them and even when they lose matters quite a lot. their lives, their families are not catered for. I I announced in my statement that I am seeking a intend to set up a very high-power-powered vice president, who from day one can be a president. committee to look into this without any further He’s intellectually brilliant. So these are some of delay. the reasons why I picked him.

I don’t think Wike was rejected. Nobody was rejected in the party. But the point that you must understand is that it is the prerogative of the candidate to pick his running mate that he believes he can work with amicably and then also deliver on all the policies of the party and also try to unify the country

You just outlined for us some of the sectors that you’re involved with, yet the perception of corruption lingers in some minds. Can you dispel that perception?

I have challenged the people of this country over and over again that if they have got any corruption case against me they should please bring it up. Yes, I was accused of corruption, just like any other person LQ SXEOLF R΀FH DQG , ZDV LQYHVWLJDWHG DQG QRWKLQJ was found. So, what else do you want me to do?

The question they are asking is that you are consideredoneofthewealthiestpeopleinNigeria.

They want to know where is that wealth coming IURP EHFDXVH \RX ZHUH D SXEOLF RͿFHU DQG WKH\ say how did you become so wealthy?

8QIRUWXQDWHO\ WKH IDFW WKDW \RX DUH D SXEOLF R΀FHU does not stop you from engaging in business. I ZDV WHOOLQJ VRPHRQH WKDW WKH YHU\ ÀUVW GD\ WKDW , resumed duty at Idiroko station, I was not even married, but what I realised was that one of the most lucrative business ventures then was buying a Peugeot 404 and conveying passengers between Lagos and Cotonou or Porto Novo.

Asayoungman,IwalkedintothisplaceinApapa, signed a hire purchase form for them, and was making my money. So, I have been doing business from day one. <RX PHDQ DV D SXEOLF RͿFHU \RX ZHUH GRLQJ business?

7KHUH ZDV QR FRQÁLFW RI LQWHUHVW 7KH IDFW WKDW \RX DUH D SXEOLF R΀FHU GRHVQ·W VWRS \RX IURP HQJDJLQJ in a legitimate business. There is no law like that.

In 2019, you went to Ota to consult with your former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo. This time around, nobody has seen you do that. Do you have his blessings this time around? Have you been talking to him?

I have been talking to him. The only thing is that I didn’t go after I emerged as the candidate of the PDP. That’s all.

Butdoyouhavehissupportoryoudon’tneedit?

Why would I not need his support? He’s my former boss. Of course, I will need his support.

Do you have it?

I assume I have it.

Atiku

You are not sure?

Why not? If he’s going to support anyone, it should be me, because I have his legacies to continue.

16

SUNDAY JULY 24, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24 , 2022

BUSINESS

Editor: Festus Akanbi 08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com

Beyond Bread Makers’ Four-day Warning Strike Last week’s withdrawal of services by bread makers in Nigeria who are protesting the spike in the cost of production and some unfriendly government policies, is a crisis, which has to be urgently DGGUHVVHG DW D SHULRG ZKHQ 1LJHULDQV DUH JUDSSOLQJ ZLWK ULVLQJ LQÁDWLRQ KLJK HQHUJ\ FRVW DQG D persistent fall in standards of living, writes Festus Akanbi

N

igeria’s food situation worsened last week when bread makers under the aegis of the Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN), comprising owners, managing directors and partners of premium bakeries in Nigeria began a fourday warning strike to protest the rising cost of operation.

In what looked like a veiled warning of a prolonged strike, the spokesperson for the association, Mr Babalola Thomas told newsmen that the duration of the strike action would be extended if the government fails to intervene.

He complained that bakeries in Nigeria are incurring a “huge loss” due to the continuous increase in baking materials and diesel, saying that operating in an environment such as this is no longer sustainable.

“Bread is a staple food and one of the cheapest ‘grab and go’ food that is available for both the poor and rich. It, therefore, behoves the federal government to be mindful of this and ensure the survival and sustainability of the industry,” he said.

According to him, the strike which commenced on Thursday, July 21 was to ensure the survival of the Premium bread-making industry in Nigeria.

As Bread Disappears from Menu Analysts described the action of the bread makers as double jeopardy for Nigerian consumers who are already battling a spike in food prices DV UHÁHFWHG LQ WKH LQÁDWLRQ ÀJXUHV FKXUQHG RXW by the National Bureau of Statistics for June.

Analysts said Nigerians are being pushed beyond limits given the current agonies of the high cost of diesel and petrol at a period when the persistent breakdown of the national grid is forcing Nigerians to expend their little earnings on independent power generation.

The reality is as bread disappears from the menu, the choice of regular and cheap food items in homes is thinning out with the attendant escalation of people’s misery and frustration.

Arandom market survey conducted last week LQ /DJRV VKRZHG WKDW D NJ EDJ RI ÁRXU LV VROG for between N19,000 and N27,000.

The Gap 7UDFLQJ WKH FDXVHV RI WKH VSLNH LQ ÁRXU SULFHV market analysts said the Nigerian market has not fully recovered from the hike in food prices, after the lockdown in 2020, a development blamed for the drastic rise in the price of ÁRXU ZLWK D FRUUHVSRQGLQJ ULVH LQ WKH SULFHV RI ÁRXU PDGH SURGXFWV OLNH EUHDG FDNH DQG pastries.

They also believed Nigeria is a wheat import-dependent nation, maintaining that there is no how the country could escape the fallout of the global scarcity of wheat brought about by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Wheat is the most commonly used agriFXOWXUDO SURGXFH QHHGHG LQ PDNLQJ ÁRXU powder in Nigeria. However, the reality is that Nigeria has a weak domestic production of wheat, as a result, there is an imbalanced scale of the demand and supply chain. This makes us rely on foreign countries for supply.

Hence, the increase in the cost of importing wheat into Nigeria just like other food items is done to encourage local production.

So, when the issue of dollar shortage is factored into the equation, one will understand why the prices of wheat have continued to balloon.

Loaves of bread

PBAN’s Demands PBAN President, Mr Emmanuel Onuorah listed reasons for the withdrawal of services to include an incessant increase in the price of baking materials and the need to press for the federal government to stop charging a 15 per cent Wheat development levy on wheat import.

Others include the need for NAFDAC to review downwards the N154,000 penalty charged to bakeries on late renewal of FHUWLÀFDWHV 7KH\ DOVR ZDQW PHPEHUV WR be given access to grants and soft loans being granted Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the stoppage of multi – agencies regulation of the breadmaking industry.”

Onuorah explained that the association had held a series of meetings with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja (FMITI) with a sister association in the breadmaking industry in 2021, regretting however that the best attempts to ensure that suggestions put forward for the survival of the breadmaking industry has not yielded the desired result.

“Therefore, the withdrawal of service is the only way we believe we can use to get to Federal Government and Nigerians and let them know our plight and how GL΀FXOW LW KDV EHHQ ZLWK WKH EUHDGPDNLQJ industry in Nigeria,” Onuorah said.

6HDVRQ RI ,QÁDWLRQ 1LJHULD·V LQÁDWLRQ UDWH VXUJHG WR per cent in June, up from 17.71 per cent in the previous month, and according to the statistical bureau, the new rate is the highest the nation has recorded since January 2017.

7KH FRPSRVLWH IRRG LQGH[ URVH WR per cent in June 2022 on a year-on-year basis, the NBS said. The rise in the food index

was caused by increases in prices of bread and cereals, food products, potatoes, yams, and RWKHU WXEHUV PHDW ÀVK RLO DQG IDW DQG ZLQH On a month-on-month basis, the food subindex increased to 2.05 per cent in June 2022, up by 0.03 per cent from 2.01 per cent recorded in May 2022.

The average annual rate of change of the Food sub-index for the 12 months ending June 2022 over the previous 12-month average is SHU FHQW ZKLFK LV SHU FHQW SRLQWV decline from the average annual rate of change recorded in June 2021 (19.72 per cent).

Earlier in the year, the breadmakers body had sought immediate intervention from the federal government to stem the tide of closure of business by members of the association who, like other players in the nation’s economy, have been battling the twin problem of high volatility in the forex exchange market and the prohibitive cost of diesel, which they use in running their bakeries.

Economic analysts said the ominous signal IURP WKH FDPS RI EUHDG PDNHUV VLPSO\ UHÁHFWV the mood in other sectors of the economy where GL΀FXOW\ LQ DFFHVVLQJ IRUHLJQ H[FKDQJH LV H[DFHUEDWLQJ WKH ELWLQJ HͿHFW RI WKH KLJK FRVW RI diesel. The association lamented that the hike in diesel price and exchange rate volatility has caused many of its members across the country to shut down their business operations.

The federal government said it has disbursed over $3.2 billion to support the power supply WR 1LJHULDQV LQ WKH ODVW ÀYH \HDUV 7KH &HQWUDO %DQN RI 1LJHULD *RYHUQRU 0U *RGZLQ (PHÀHOH said the monies were disbursed to electricity Generating and Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to acquire equipment, buy meters and improve electricity supply in the country.

However, Nigerians have continued to battle poor power supply with the situation worsening a few weeks ago when the nation’s power grid collapsed twice, causing a huge blackout across most parts of the country.

Virtually all products and services have experienced upward adjustments in their prices in recent times as a litre of diesel is sold EHWZHHQ 1 DQG 1 SHU OLWUH EXW LQ DOO this, the federal government says Nigeria is not the only country experiencing high cost of food items and diesel.

Like every other thing, the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed has risen in strong defence of the federal government, saying the price increase is a global trend. He added that the government is taking steps to address the situation. He described those criticising the handling of the situation as mischief.

Mohammed said, “The last issue I want to DGGUHVV LV WKH ÀJXUHV EHLQJ EDQGLHG DURXQG E\ the folks on the other side and a section of the SUHVV FRPSDULQJ WKH SULFHV RI VRPH IRRGVWXͿV petrol, diesel, etc., pre-2015 and now,” he said.

While the federal government is busy reassuring Nigerians that it’s up to the task of addressing the issues, PBAN had insisted WKDW WKH FKDOOHQJHV ZHUH DͿHFWLQJ NH\ VHFWRUV of the economy.

“Things are not getting better. We are still where we are. Diesel price is still hovering EHWZHHQ 1 DQG 1 µ 2QXRUDK VDLG “Even the price of the nylon that we put the bread in has just increased by about 20 per cent. It’s not looking any better. Light is still comatose.”

Corroborating complaints from other sectors, the PBAN president said, “The diesel is expensive. People are trying to right-size, scale down, and drop workers to remain in business.

The government doesn’t seem to be listening to anybody. It’s not even only the bakers, it’s an industry-wide thing. MAN is crying. Hospitals that are running diesel are also optimising. ,QGXVWU\ DͿDLUV FRPPHQWDWRUV VDLG WKH unfavourable development in the operation RI EUHDG PDNHUV ZRXOG DͿHFW RWKHU IRUPV RI pastry, with the attendant worsening of the plight of the common man.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24 , 2022

18

AVIATION

As Aero, Dana Air Succumb to Rising Cost of Operations The reality of the prevailing dire situation in the Nigerian aviation sector, which manifested in the withdrawal of services by Aero Contractors last week and the suspension of Dana Air operation by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, over its poor financial status, is an indication that unless aviation authorities act swiftly, the fate that befell the two airlines may soon catch up with others, writes Chinedu Eze

O

n Monday, the management of Aero Contractors, Nigeria’s oldest airline, announced that it would suspend VFKHGXOHG ÁLJKW RSerations due to a hostile operating environment and on Wednesday, it was the turn of Dana Air to cease operation no thanks to the directive from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ground their service as a fallout of the prohibitive cost of aviation fuel.

7KH VXVSHQVLRQ RI VFKHGXOHG ÁLJKW VHUvices by the 61-year-old Aero Contractors due to the high cost of operations could be described as the augury of what is to come in an industry stretched thin by an acute shortage of foreign exchange, high cost of aviation fuel, an exodus of personnel that are moving to more lucrative markets and a hostile environment characterised by dilapidated airport facilities and lack of critical infrastructure.

This is evidenced by the action taken by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Wednesday. It suspended the operating licence of Dana Air because if the airline is allowed to operate it could jeopardise lives in an accident, as experts note that air safety could be threatened if an airline loses its robust ÀQDQFH WR HͿHFWLYHO\ FDUU\ RXW PDLQWHQDQFH RI DLUFUDIW LQ LWV ÁHHW UHPXQHUDWH LWV ZRUNIRUFH DV DW ZKHQ GXH DQG DELGH E\ RWKHU ÀQDQFLDO obligations.

In a statement announcing the suspension of Dana Air’s operations, NCAA said, “The suspension was made pursuant to Section 35(2), 3(b) and (4) of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 and Part 1.3.3.3(a)(1) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs), 2015. ´7KH GHFLVLRQ LV WKH RXWFRPH RI D ÀQDQFLDO and economic health audit carried out on WKH $LUOLQH E\ WKH $XWKRULW\ DQG WKH ÀQGings of an investigation conducted on the DLUOLQH·V ÁLJKW RSHUDWLRQV UHFHQWO\ ZKLFK revealed that Dana Airlines is no longer in D SRVLWLRQ WR PHHW LWV ÀQDQFLDO REOLJDWLRQV DQG WR FRQGXFW VDIH ÁLJKW RSHUDWLRQV µ WKH statement said.

This is the precarious situation Nigerian airlines are facing, high cost of aviation fuel, high exchange rate and the depreciation of the naira. These are unpretentious threats to their existence, but industry sources said WKH ÀUVW FDVXDOWLHV PLJKW EH WKH DLUOLQHV ZLWK very limited capacity. Nigeria has about eight domestic airlines in operation with about DLUFUDIW EXW D VLJQLÀFDQW QXPEHU DUH QRW in active service. Many of them operate an average of three aircraft, except Overland Airways, Ibom Air and Air Peace, which has the highest capacity in Nigeria.

Genesis of Aero’s Predicament But the warning signs that Aero might not go the whole hog came about two months DJR ZKHQ LW ZDV VWULSSHG RI LWV ÁHHW OHDYing two ageing aircraft: a Boeing 737 and a Bombardier Dash 8 and totally cash strapped as it was battling huge debts estimated at over N50 billion.

Aero Contractors management in a statement on Monday said, “Due to the impact of the challenging operating environment on our daily operations, the management of Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria Limited. wishes to announce the temporary suspension of its scheduled passenger services RSHUDWLRQV ZLWK HͿHFW IURP :HGQHVGD\ -XO\ 20, 2022. ´7KLV GRHV QRW LQ DQ\ ZD\ DͿHFW WKH maintenance activities of the Approved

Debts The airline, which had provided shuttle service for the oil and gas industry for decades DQG H[WHQGHG LWV VHUYLFH WR VFKHGXOHG ÁLJKW operations since 2000 was burdened by huge debts.

THISDAY investigations revealed that the economic recession occasioned by the COVID-19 lockdown and protracted low season after December heavy passenger WUD΀F GHPDQG FXOPLQDWHG LQ WKH ÀQDQFLDO drought of the airline.

Before this announcement by the managePHQW WKH DLUOLQH ZDV ÀQGLQJ LW GL΀FXOW WR IXHO LWV H[LVWLQJ ÁHHW Two months ago, the management of the DLUOLQH FRQÀUPHG WR 7+,6'$< WKH SUHFDULRXV VWDWH RI WKH DLUOLQH DQG LGHQWLÀHG IDFWRUV that led to the debilitating condition of the indigenous carrier and pointed out that the Aero could stop operation at any time because WKH PDQDJHPHQW ZDV ÀQGLQJ LW LQFUHDVLQJO\ GL΀FXOW WR NHHS WKH DLUFUDIW LQ WKH DLUVSDFH

Aero Contractors’ aircraft

Dana Air

Maintenance Organisation (AMO) otherwise known as AeroMRO, the Approved Training Organisation (ATO) also known as Aero Training School, the Helicopter and Charter Services operations.

“This decision was carefully considered and taken because most of our aircraft are currently undergoing maintenance, resultLQJ LQ RXU LQDELOLW\ WR RͿHU D VHDPOHVV DQG H΀FLHQW VHUYLFH WR RXU HVWHHPHG FXVWRPHUV We are working to bring these aircraft back to service in the next few weeks, so we can FRQWLQXH WR RͿHU RXU SDVVHQJHUV WKH VDIH H΀FLHQW DQG UHOLDEOH VHUYLFHV WKDW $HUR &RQtractors is known for, which is the hallmark RI $HUR &RQWUDFWRUV &RPSDQ\ RI 1LJ /WG µ the airline said.

It also explained that the past few months have been very challenging for the aviation industry and the airline operators in particular with the high cost of maintenance, VN\URFNHWLQJ IXHO SULFHV LQÁDWLRQ DQG IRUH[ scarcity resulting in high foreign exchange rates, adding that these are amongst the major components of airline operations.

Earlier Signs Aero Contractors had been walking on a thin line between survival and extinction due to huge debts incurred by the former management when it acquired old aircraft DW D KLJKO\ LQÁDWHG FRVW 7KH IRUPHU 2FHDQLF %DQN VXSSOLHG LW ZLWK ÀVFDO R[\JHQ WR VXVWDLQ its operation until when it was absorbed

by Ecobank Transnational Incorporation in

October 2011.

THISDAY learnt that the airline’s bad situation was exacerbated by the high cost of aviation fuel, which price has continued to spiral, threatening the operations of other domestic carriers. With its financial inanities exposed, the airline suffered hiccups and became moribund until the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) came to its rescue.

A former senior official of the airline and now the Managing Director/ CEO of 7 Star Global Hangar Nigeria Limited, Isaac Balami, told THISDAY that AMCON tried to rescue Aero Contractors when it took it over. It injected billions of naira into the airline and Arik Air, but after some time the agency felt it would not continue to inject funds into the airline, recalling that during that period the federal government and the then Minister of Aviation were worried and wanted to safeguard the jobs of the personnel and that explained why it continued to operate till the recent shut down; although there were times it stopped operation temporarily before it was revived in 2017.

“But now all the airlines are struggling.

Nigerian airlines are trying but the problem is the high cost of aviation fuel. Aero management is wise enough to know when to stop; UHDOLVLQJ WKDW EHFDXVH RI WKH KLJK FRVW RI -HW A1 and high cost of forex, they have to shut down so that when they come back people FDQ WUXVW WKHP µ %DODPL VDLG

Industry in Distress The high cost of aviation fuel, which is a global problem, is stripping Nigerian airlines of operational cash. It also pushed up airfares, forcing some potential travellers to keep away from the airports and use the roads, despite security threats. With a N50,000 base fare, airlines charge as high as N80,000 for D RQH ZD\ ÁLJKW 7KLV KDV IRUFHG SDVVHQJHU WUD΀F WR GURS RQ GRPHVWLF DLU WUDYHO DQG KDV put the airlines in a quandary. The airlines do not have a choice but to pass some of the cost of aviation fuel to travellers.

Even at that, THISDAY learnt that some DLUOLQHV PLJKW DOVR VXVSHQG ÁLJKW RSHUDWLRQV DV WKHLU ÀQDQFLDO UHVRXUFHV FRQWLQXH WR GHSOHWH without recompense.

Last Tuesday, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) frowned at the decision of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to close the domestic runway at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos to install DLUÀHOG OLJKWLQJ DQG DUJXHG WKDW FORVLQJ WKH runway, known as Runway 18L, for three months would cost the airlines billions of Naira in fuel burn, as aircraft trudge from the international runway to the domestic terminals, which could take about 30 minutes.

Crisis Industry expert and former Commandant of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, /DJRV *URXS &DSWDLQ -RKQ 2MLNXWX WROG THISDAY that the problem of Aero did not start today but started about 2010 when the British technical partners were allegedly sidelined and the management came under single management of the Ibru family.

Ojikutu explained that two years later Aero went into debt under the management of AMCON with limited knowledge in commercial aviation, adding that single management killed Arik Air alongside Aero and the defunct Okada Air, Kabo, Nigeria Airways Limited, which was a national carrier and others.

“Fuel prices have been irregularly increased almost monthly despite what the government called subsidies to fuel marketers. Within a year, it has quadrupled from N200/ltr to N800/ltr. 1.3 million barrels per day is what we are being told that are exported out of a production of 2.3 million barrels produced per day; what happens to the balance of one PLOOLRQ EDUUHOV"µ KH DVNHG The aviation industry has been tamed and frightened. Many observers note that unless the situation improves, more airlines may shut down their services.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24 , 2022

19

INTERVIEW Teriba: How Nigeria Can Unlock Liquidity from Public Assets &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU (FRQRPLF $VVRFLDWHV 'U $\R 7HULED LV RQH RI 1LJHULD·V OHDGLQJ HFRQRPLVWV ZKRVH H[SHULHQFH WUDQVYHUVHV ERWK SULYDWH DQG SXEOLF VHFWRUV &XUUHQWO\ KH LV WKH YLFH FKDLUPDQ RI WKH 7HFKQLFDO &RPPLWWHH RI WKH 1DWLRQDO &RXQFLO RQ 3ULYDWLVDWLRQ 1&3 DQG RQ WKH %RDUG RI (FRQRPLF $GYLVHUV LQ WKH 2΀FH RI WKH (FRQRPLF $GYLVHU WR WKH 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW ,Q WKLV LQWHUYLHZ ZLWK Gboyega Akinsanmi, 7HULED GLVSDVVLRQDWHO\ GLVVHFWHG WKH WULJJHUV RI WKH KHLQRXV OLTXLGLW\ FULVLV FRQIURQWLQJ JRYHUQPHQWV DW OHYHOV DQG RͿHUHG DOWHUQDWLYH PHDVXUHV WR PDQDJH WKH FULVLV ZLWKRXW LQÁLFWLQJ DGGLWLRQDO GHEW FRVWV RQ WKH IHGHUDWLRQ

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How can you categorise these assets that Nigeria can leverage WR XQORFN WKH OLTXLGLW\ UHTXLUHG WR FKDQJH WKH ÀVFDO QDUUDWLYHV" 7KHUH DUH IRXU FOXVWHUV RI DVVHWV )LUVW ZH KDYH FRPSDQLHV :H PXVW ÀJXUH RXW WKH PDUNHW YDOXHV RI DOO VWDWH RZQHG FRUSRUDWH DVVHWV WR RSHQ WKH GRRU WR YDOXDWLRQ JDLQV DQG VHFXULWLVDWLRQ RSSRUWXQLWLHV 6HFRQG ZH KDYH UHDO HVWDWH :H PXVW ÀJXUH RXW WKH PDUNHW YDOXH RI WKH JRYHUQPHQW·V UHDO HVWDWH SRUWIROLR LQFOXGLQJ HYHU\ PHWUH RI VWDWH RZQHG ODQG WR HQDEOH XV WR ÀQG RSSRUWXQLWLHV IRU YDOXDWLRQ JDLQV DQG VHFXULWLVDWLRQ RSSRUWXQLWLHV LQ UHDO HVWDWH 7KLUG ZH KDYH WKH LQIUDVWUXFWXUH :H PXVW ÀJXUH RXW WKH YDOXHV RI JUHHQÀHOG EURZQÀHOG SURMHFW ÀQDQFLQJ FRQFHVVLRQV DQG SXEOLF SULYDWH LQYHVWPHQW RSSRUWXQLWLHV LQ DOO LQIUDVWUXFWXUH DVVHWV DQG DWWUDFW DGHTXDWH LQYHVWPHQW LQWR DOO WKH VSDFHV )RXUWK ZH KDYH KXPDQ FDSLWDO &RXQWULHV WKDW When compared with our public debt stock, is Nigeria rich in LQYHVW KHDYLO\ LQ VSRQVRULQJ WKHLU QDWLRQDOV IRU LQQRYDWLYH UHVHDUFK DVVHWV WKDW FDQ KHOS JHQHUDWH OLTXLGLW\ DQG JXDUDQWHH ÀVFDO VWDELOLW\" SURJUDPPHV DW KRPH DQG DEURDG HQG XS ZLWK JURZLQJ SRROV RI 1LJHULD LV WKH ULFKHVW FRXQWU\ LQ WKH ZRUOG WRGD\ LQ WHUPV RI XQ- NQRZOHGJH DVVHWV LQ WKH IRUP RI SDWHQWV WUDGHPDUNV EUDQGV VNLOOV GHUH[SORLWHG DVVHWV 0RVW RWKHU FRPSDUDEOH FRXQWULHV KDYH XVHG WKH DQG WDOHQWV WKDW ZH FDQ ÀJXUH RXW WKHLU PDUNHW YDOXHV WR RSHQ WKH EXON RI WKHLU DVVHWV %UD]LO &KLQD (J\SW ,QGLD 0DOD\VLD DQG 6DXGL GRRUV WR YDOXDWLRQ DQG VHFXULWL]DWLRQ JDLQV $UDELD DUH JRRG H[DPSOHV 1LJHULD LV WKH PRVW QRWDEOH ODUJH SRSXODWLRQ HFRQRP\ WKDW LV \HW WR XVH LWV YDVW VWRFN RI SXEOLFO\ RZQHG FRUSRUDWH :KDW DUH WKH PDMRU WULJJHUV RI WKH ÀVFDO FULVLV WKDW JRYHUQPHQWV UHDO HVWDWH DQG LQIUDVWUXFWXUH DVVHWV WR XQORFN OLTXLGLW\ :H FDQ XVH at all levels are currently facing?

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Does your explanation suggest that it is no longer wise for Nigeria to borrow? ,W LV QRW WKDW ZH VKRXOG QRW ERUURZ DW DOO (YHU\ FRXQWU\ ZKRVH UHYHQXH LV IDOOLQJ QHHGV WR ERUURZ %XW ZH PXVW UHSODFH GHEW LQVWUXPHQWV WKDW DUH LOO VXLWHG IRU D SHULRG RI VKRUWIDOOV ZLWK GHEW LQVWUXPHQWV WKDW DUH PRUH VXLWHG IRU WKH HUD RI VKRUWIDOOV :ULWLQJ ,28V RU LVVXLQJ SURPLVVRU\ QRWHV DJDLQVW IXWXUH UHYHQXHV PDGH VHQVH LQ D ZLQGIDOO +RZHYHU LW PDNHV QR VHQVH LQ D VKRUWIDOO 1LJHULD·V GRPHVWLF DQG IRUHLJQ GHEW SRUWIROLRV DUH SHU FHQW SURPLVVRU\ QRWHV DJDLQVW IXWXUH UHYHQXHV :H VKRXOG VWRS LVVXLQJ ,28V DJDLQVW UHYHQXHV WKDW HYHU\RQH QRZ NQRZV WKDW ZH QR ORQJHU KDYH 1LJHULD PXVW QRZ PDNH WZR VLPSOH ÀVFDO DGMXVWPHQWV WKDW DUH PRUH VXLWHG WR WKH HUD RI VKRUWIDOOV WKDW ZH KDYH IRXQG RXUVHOYHV LQ IRU HLJKW \HDUV )LUVW WR UHJHQHUDWH UHYHQXH VWUHDPV 1LJHULD PXVW JHQHUDWH QRQ WD[ UHYHQXHV IURP SXEOLFO\ RZQHG FRUSRUDWH UHDO HVWDWH DQG LQIUDVWUXFWXUH DVVHWV UDWKHU WKDQ WU\LQJ WR LQFUHDVH WD[ UHYHQXH 6HFRQG WR FXW GHEW FRVWV 1LJHULD PXVW RSHQ RSSRUWXQLWLHV IRU PDVVLYH LQYHVWPHQW LQ WKH WKUHH FOXVWHUV RI SXEOLFO\ RZQHG DVVHWV UDWKHU WKDQ FRQWLQXLQJ WR ERUURZ WR IXQG WKHP How then can we Nigeria migrate from its practice of contracting revenue-based debts? :H FDQ VXP XS WKH ÀVFDO OHVVRQV RI WKH ODVW HLJKW \HDUV DV IROORZV 1LJHULD QHHGV WR RYHUFRPH WKUHH KLVWRULFDO LOOXVLRQV 7KH À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ÀWV RI KLJK FUXGH RLO SULFHV 7KLV LV RQH RI WKH UHDVRQV UHYHQXHV KDYH UHPDLQHG ORZ WKLV \HDU GHVSLWH WKH ZDU LQGXFHG WHPSRUDU\ VXUJH LQ RLO SULFH $ FRPELQDWLRQ RI HFRQRPLF UHFHVVLRQV DQG WKH SDQGHPLF LQGXFHG HFRQRPLF ORFNGRZQ KDV DOVR KHOG GRZQ WD[ UHYHQXHV DW DOO WLHUV VLQFH

Is the bid of the federal government to introduce new taxes DQ DSSURSULDWH DSSURDFK WR PDQDJH WKH ÀVFDO FULVLV" 7KH HFRQRP\ KDV WZLFH VOLG LQWR UHFHVVLRQV LQ DQG $Q HFRQRP\ WKDW LV VWUXJJOLQJ WR JHW RXW RI UHFHVVLRQ FDQQRW EH D VRXUFH RI ULVLQJ WD[ UHYHQXHV :KHQHYHU WKH JRYHUQPHQW VD\V DFWXDO QRQ RLO UHYHQXH LV EHWWHU WKDQ EXGJHW ZKDW WKH\ GR QRW DGG LV WKH H[FKDQJH UDWH LV QRZ RQO\ ZRUWK KDOI RI WKH YDOXH ZH EXGJHWHG IRU :H VKRXOG DGMXVW LQFUHDVHV LQ QDLUD UHYHQXH IRU PRYHPHQWV LQ WKH H[FKDQJH UDWH RI WKH QDLUD EHIRUH GHFODULQJ WKDW DFWXDO UHYHQXHV DUH EHWWHU WKDQ EXGJHWHG

Read full interview online - www.thisdaylive.com

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JULY 24, 2022 • T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

CONVERSATION WITH MY BILLIONAIRE FRIEND ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com 08086447494 (SMS only) PERSONAL FINANCE SAVINGS BUDGETING COMMODITIES

AYO AROWOLO

GOLD

INVESTING

CONFIRMATORY CASE STUDIES (2)

Tunde Lemo: How I Built Wealth Working 9-5 One primary hypothesis in this conversation series has been the possibility of building wealth working as an employee. In our first attempt to validate this thesis, we featured Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, former managing director and chairman of Nestle Foods Plc. He shared the pragmatic strategies he took in building his wealth.

In this second case study, we interviewed a finance tycoon, Tunde Lemo, who left the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a deputy governor six years ago after completing his 10-year term. He was a banker that has played successfully in two worlds. First, as a banker of note, having risen through the ranks to become the managing director of Wema Bank Plc. Second, he was pulled from Wema Bank to the apex bank as a regulator. Lemo was appointed Chairman of the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

Lemo was recently appointed Chairman of Titan Bank. The bank is a part of the the TGI Group, which recently acquired Union Bank. He now consults for corporate and public institutions, shares some strategies he used to build a life of comfort for himself. His note showed how he deployed some principles my Billionaire Friend shared in our weekly conversation. In this interview with me , he explains some strategies that made that feat possible.

OPENING SHOT

Although I do not regard myself as wealthy by any standards, I am comfortable and content with what I have. I did not at any time decide to continue working for others throughout my active life.

I started my career in 1985 as a staff accountant in an international firm of chartered accountants - Arthur Andersen. I moved into banking four years later and remained consistent until my appointment into public service in January 2004, after running Wema Bank as MD/CEO for three years.

I am one person who concentrates 100% on assignments given to me, believing that no matter what happens, hard work, honesty and godliness pay, whether you run your own business or work for others. It is fallacious to think you can only build wealth by working for yourself. James Dimon, the Chairman/CEO of JP Morgan, has been in that role since 2005, although the bank is not his.

He was appointed like any other employee and is worth $1.4 billion today (about N600 billion).

He achieved this by dint of hard work. We also have many other successful professionals today who have built their wealth on hard work. I am not saying ‘stepping out’ to run your business is unwise. You also need to understand that we probably have more people today who have built their wealth working for others than many years ago. This is because compensation globally is more performance-driven today than before.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR CAREER PATH?

I cannot vividly remember why I took the decision, but I was influenced by many factors, one of which was my background. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon and I started very early in life being responsible, not only to my immediate family but to my parents as well. The fear of failure was a factor. You may be very good at what you are doing. Your success when you are self-employed depends on many other factors outside your control - the economic climate, etc. You cannot quantify the protection you get from your employers. So many of my friends that veered out early regretted their actions because

they ‘saw the real world’ when they were managing their businesses. Some swallowed their pride and ran back to paid employment.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER AS SUCCESS FACTORS?

The critical success factors for succeeding and building wealth while working for others are as follows: Ensure there is significant career progression in the employment that you have. Some jobs are limiting. You cannot grow above the sectoral limit, etc. I remembered sometime in 1991, I got an offer to become a financial controller in a company importing and distributing air conditioners. I was offered twice my salary as a banker, in addition to an official car and driver. I turned down the offer because I didn’t see much scope for significant growth in that sector. I was not carried away by the initial rise in income. All I am saying is that you need to be strategic. You need to think long-term.

You cannot afford to mortgage long-term career growth for immediate benefits. Besides, you will do well in a very structured environment where the reward is based on objective criteria that are clear and fair to all. The company’s values must world d class, open p and an transparent. p Otherwise, be world-class, u willll just j be gambling, g gamblin ling, and the consequences you ay bee daring. may

HOW OW W DID YOU OU HANDLE DIFFICULTIES IFF FICULTIES S ON YOUR PATH? ATH H?

Th There here are man many ny y land mines in eer progression. p g Wh your y values, career While hich are a authentic ingredients ing which for elerat atiting ng g your you ourr career, care ca reer er,r, are are desirable, desi de sira rabl blee, accelerating u may y also be vulnerable vulnerab rable because you re are are so s many man any y competitors comp co mpet peti ettititor orss who who there ay no nott be as good g y u are but may as you ay y be desperate. des esperate. p y career ca may In my as a banker,r, I came across any y colleagues colleagu agues g who many re equally eq y upwardly up p y were obile, good g nd well mobile, and haved. Unfortunately, Un tely, behaved.

It is fallacious to think you can only lyy build d wealth by working for yourself. James Dimon, the Chairman/CEO of JJP P Morgan, has been in that role since nce 2005, although the bank is not his. He was appointed like any other employee ee and is worth $1.4 billion today (about ut N600 billion). He achieved this by dint of hard work.

•Lemo

at a particular point, they began to see me as a threat, and their attitudes changed. If you move fast in your career and get promoted ahead of your contemporaries, getting their full cooperation may be very difficult as they may become envious of you. You must beware of ‘banana peels’, intrigues, outright hatred, etc. In our clime, you may become a victim if the Lord is not on your side. I thank God because He protected me throughout those challenging years.

WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIES YOU USED IN BUILDING YOUR CAREER?

Concerning career-building strategies, first, I will say the God factor was responsible for the little I was able to do. Ecclesiastes 9:11 says, “and I look under the sun, the race is not to the swift, the knowledge is not to men of understanding…. time and chance happened to them all”. That aside, you must learn how to save aggressively. I thank God I have a good and virtuous wife with whom we planned that we would not spend our money on frivolities. For instance, I stopped buying cars in 1992 when I was given my first official car. There was no need for unnecessary expenditure. We embarked on aggressive savings and invested in quoted shares and land holdings. These paid off as prices began to rise. Most of the little we have today results from significant capital gains.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER WORK

Preparing for the years after work is for you to realise that you start preparing for retirement from the FIRST salary you collect while working. Many should realise today that they will spend long years in retirement than the number of years they spend working. Most people today do not start a serious career before age 30 and may retire before they are 60. If they lived beyond 90, as many do now, they would have spent more years than their working years. You also need to review your portfolio as you go along. Keep minimal cash because of its fungibility. You are also likely to do impulsive buying if you keep too much cash. Besides, with high inflation in this clime, money market returns always trail inflation. You will therefore be losing the real value of your hard-earned wealth. Hard currency and real estate (in choice locations) will better preserve your asse sets’ value. assets’

FINANCIAL TI TIPS IPS THAT HELPED YOU??

I read the book k titled: Riches Richest st Man y The bbook ook teaches savings s g in Babylon. a n d th hrift. It proved d to be thrift.

Preparing for the years after work is for you to realise that you start preparing for retirement from the FIRST salary you collect while working. Many should realise today that they will spend long years in retirement than the number of years they spend working very useful in those days. I also learnt this tip about investment in shares. The saying was credited to Warren Buffet (I have not checked whether or not this is true). It says: Be careful when others are reckless; be reckless when others are careful. This means the best time to buy shares is when the price is low, and the best time to sell is when the price is high.

Second, my wife and I made up our minds that we shall benchmark ourselves with friends who were earning well below us and then plug our standards of living at their level. The logic is that if they could cope at that level, we should regard what we earned above theirs as EXTRA that should be saved. This paid off as our savings far exceeded what our peers were doing. We also made up our minds that we shall not compete with any of our friends in terms of choice of cars and other things young people were spending their money on.

HOW WOULD YOU INVEST A N50MILLION CASH?

If I have N50m to invest now, I will put it in the assets class that gives good returns but whose values also rise ahead of or at the same pace as inflation.

Example: eurobond, real estate, etc.

ANY REGRET FOLLOWING YOUR PATH?

If I were to start again, given what I know today, I would have borrowed a lot to buy property in Ikoyi and Lekki axis. I would have invested more in telecomms immediately after the privatisation in 2003, etc. Hindsight, they say, is 20:20.

I have also learned the benefits of regular exercise and work-life balance the hard way. I was generally very healthy as a younger career person. I, therefore, d d not ot understand u d did the health benefits of regular exercise, i healthy hea exercise, diets and recreation. I believe I would have been healthier today if I had added such to my llifestyle much earlier.

FINAL W WORDS

The fina final thing I will say is that in all these, y cannot rrun faster than God. To succeed in life, you p embra the following principles: fear God, please embrace d unto others what you want them to be humble, do do, and be h honest because 90% of what happens y in lif to you life is outside your control. Any illicit y you y make m may not last because God warns money agai ag gains nstt it in in Jeremiah 17:11, “as the partridge lays against he eggs gg g it does not hatch, so are those who on tthe p up p riche pile riches, not by the right means, they shall live it in the midst of their days, and in the end, y will be as fools”. You should also watch your they health lth. Health Healt lt issues show up later in years when health. y can no llonger afford huge medical bills; some you irrevers rsib Work-life balance, be positive and are irreversible. prayerf yerful be p prayerful.

I advi vise th advise that we live better if we learn to take gs easy g y aand forgive quickly. Anger, bitterness, things c., are the punishment you suffer for someone etc., el misd else’s misdeeds.

It is not worth it. I remember the late sa sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, after the elec 1979 election, which he believed was rigged agai ag gains nstt him. A journalist asked him if he was against bitter against the then military government Ol of Olusegun Obasanjo for what happened.

His response was this: I am not bitter! Why sho should I? Bitterness destroys your biological sys y system.

Why should you be punishing you y yourself for someone else’s misdeed? This is p profound. We live better if we learn to forg forgive ALL THE TIME!

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www.thisdaylive.com

TAYO OGUNBIYI argues that Osun State gubernatorial election still shows voter aparthy

2023 AND VOTERS’ APATHY The recently concluded governorship election in Osun State has once again brought to fore the issue of voters’ apathy in the country. According to reports, out of the over 1,955,657 registered voters in the state, only a little over 800,000 turned out on Election Day. A similar scenario played out in the last Local Government election in Lagos State where not up to 18% of the total registered voters actually voted during the election.

In the 2019 Governorship election in Lagos State, Governor Babajide SanwoOlu won by 739,445 votes. Whereas a total number of 6,570,291 voters registered for the election, the overall number of voters that took part in the poll was not up to a million.

Democracy is about the choice that the people make. Of all the various GHÀQLWLRQV RI GHPRFUDF\ WKH PRVW universally famous is the one that refers to it as the government of the people by the people and for the people. The LPSOLFDWLRQ RI WKH GHÀQLWLRQ LV WKDW WKH people give impetus to democracy. In essence, you cannot have democracy without the people. The people set democracy in motion. However, in Nigeria, the people do not seem to understand the democratic power they wield.

The word ‘apathy’, which has its source in Greek, plainly means ‘without feelings’. According to Victor Marie Hugo, French poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic Movement, ‘the apathetic are alive but without feelings, so they are not living. They are the living dead’. Therefore, in line with Hugo’s line of thought, voters’ apathy simply refers to the insensitivity of the people towards the electoral process, particularly voting.

According to a statistics from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), only about 35% of the over, 70million who registered to vote in the 2011 general elections really participated in the voting process. This implies that over 65% of registered voters did not vote. This dangerous trend must be a source of serious concern to all genuine stakeholders in the polity.

This growing trend has grievous implications on the prospect of democracy in the country. For one, it ensures that that leaders who attain political power via the votes of the minority rule over the majority. Second, because they do not get to power

through the votes of the majority, they tend to espouse self-seeking agenda.

Third, it casts serious aspersion on the kind of democracy we practice.

Furthermore, it makes it a bit hypocritical for those who did not turn out to vote to criticize those who were elected through the same process that they shunned. As it is often said, ‘you cannot eat your cake and have it’.

Many factors are responsible for voters’ apathy in the country. Some are of the view that their votes do not really count. They believe, either rightly or wrongly, that the outcome of most elections are pre-determined. In addition, some believe that the electoral

process is replete with violence, while some consider the political class undeserving of their time because of their perceived insincerity to electoral promises.

Equally, especially, in the case of Local Council elections, many are of the view that that tier of government does not really do much to deserve anyone’s trouble. However, irrespective of the validity of the reasons, as highlighted above, it is counterproductive for the people to shun polls in a democracy.

Some people gave their lives for the democracy that we enjoy today. It is, therefore, a great injustice to their memories, if this culture of voters’ apathy continues.

There is no other way through which democracy could be strengthened other than involvement of the majority in democratic process

If democracy is to truly be the government of the people and for the people, the people must own the process from the beginning to the end.

Active involvement in the political SURFHVV VLJQLÀHV WKDW HYHU\RQH LV D critical stakeholder, having the best interest of the country at heart. It is a practical demonstration of being a responsible citizen.

To lure the people back to the polls, elected political leaders at all levels, should not take the electorates for granted. It is sheer treachery for an elected leader to ignore his/her electoral promises while in power. &RPSDWULRWV ZKR LJQRUH DOO GL΀FXOWLHV in order to participate in voting ought to be given a better deal. In addition, to give credibility to the electoral process, the practice of turning elections into a ¶GR RU GLH· DͿDLU VKRXOG EH GLVFRXUDJHG Additionally, INEC, political parties, the civil society, the press and other stakeholders should give greater attention to voters’ education as well as other enlightenment campaigns WKDW FRXOG UH HQDFW WKH FRQÀGHQFH RI the people in the electoral process. It is important to stress that the worst illiterate is the political illiterate who take no part in the political process.

Sadly, he does not understand that everything depends on political decisions.

Unfortunately, the politically dormant even prides himself on his political ignorance by openly sticking out his chest that he hates politics. He does not know that from his political apathy comes the prostitute, the abandoned child, the robber and worst of all, corrupt and incompetent public R΀FLDOV Democracy is best defended by those it is meant for; the people.

But for democracy to really serve the interest of the people, they must respect all democratic norms and principles. Today, we all look at some of the advanced democracies of the world with envy. The truth, however, is that they have achieved greatness through the strengthening of grassroots democracy. Of course, there is no other way through which democracy could be strengthened other than involvement of the majority in democratic process.

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GLITZ PERSONALITY

Adebola Famoroti’s Elixir for Businesses From computer engineering to marketing and business coaching, Adebola Famoroti finds her passion in helping many people transition from their careers into successful entrepreneurs and building lasting customer relationships, writes Vanessa Obioha

A

debola Famoroti evinced a gift of the gab right from childhood. It was a trait that remained with her as she segued into adulthood.

Therefore, when she decided to wear the toga of a business coach last year, it fitted her perfectly as she enjoyed the process of imparting knowledge on others.

Famoroti, a Lagosian did not initially set out to become a business coach. Her first love was computers.

“I’ve always loved computers right from secondary school. When I got into the university it was a no-brainer that I was going to study computer engineering.

So, having that combination of electronics and computer engineering was stunning, exciting and challenging,” said the business coach in a recent meeting at her office in Ikeja where she leads a team in marketing communications.

While at the university, Famoroti got the opportunity to build her own computer and kept it for a long time, with the hope that her children would see her work.

After graduation, she found herself at Habib Bank where she worked in the IT department. Her stay, however, was shortlived.

“I was not just a bank person. I wanted to practice IT in an IT company and not a bank,” she explained.

Although she eventually worked with an IT company, MTech, Famoroti began to develop an interest in marketing. She approached her boss and requested to be transferred to the marketing department even though she had no formal training.

Being a fast learner, it was only a matter of time before she learned the ropes.

“With my tech background, it was very easy for me to talk to clients and sell technology to them.”

Her expertise came into full view when she joined Connect Marketing Limited in 2008. By then, she had acquired an MBA in Business Management, Marketing and Related Support from Business School, Netherlands. She also holds a certificate from Lagos Business School in Account Management Process and was one of the first two Nigerians to be certified and receive a Diploma from the European Sponsorship Association in London, England.

“While I had my first marketing experience at MTech, I was eager to learn the core of marketing and I knew the best way to do that was to work in a marketing agency,” she said.

However, her boss could not fathom

why someone with a computer engineering background would want to work in a marketing agency.

“But my MD believed in me. From the first day, he gave me the chance. It wasn’t easy coming into the field and seeing those who had years of experience. I struggled to adapt because I was trying to be somebody else, forgetting that I’m me. I don’t need to be like somebody else. I just need to understand the principle and apply myself to it. By the time I was able to understand that, I was able to grow. I grew in such a way that my MD was amazed that someone like me that did not have a marketing background would excel.”

From being an Assistant Manager at the Sponsorship/Brand and Strategy Unit of the company, Famoroti climbed the rungs to become the Senior Manager of that unit where she managed the accounts of top brands such as MTN, MasterCard, Pernod Picard, Stanbic IBTC to mention a few.

Despite the successes recorded, Famoroti had a few lows when she had to take a break from work to really understand her true calling. The lessons learnt from that period of self-reflection are the guiding principles in her life and career today.

Having left her job to start her own company, Famoroti today teaches businesses and emerging entrepreneurs how to build lasting relationships with their customers.

Over the years as an employee, she mastered the art of customer relationships, not only with her clients but with everyone she comes across. According to her, every business has two clients, internal and external. The internal are employees, the external refer to customers. The way businesses treat these two sets of people largely determines their success.

She opined that because an employee is well paid does not mean that they would be nice to the customer. Customer relationships, she argued, must be embedded in the company’s culture.

“Customer service should be at the core value of every organisation. There should be no segregation. The employees should know that the customer who pays One Naira deserves the same respect and service as the customer who pays N1000.”

Famoroti is often piqued at how some businesses employ people with low customer relationship skills at the front desk and spend more time getting new customers without taking good care of existing customers.

“But they forget that if you take care of the customer you have today, they will spread the word around.”

In her view, no business can survive without a customer.

“If you don’t treat your customers well, your business will eventually suffer. I have seen instances where customers show

Famoroti

impressive confidence in a business, especially during the COVID era. We need to stop advertising ourselves and make it more about the customers.”

One of the things she had realised in her dealings with young entrepreneurs is their lack of confidence.

“The truth is that most SMEs do lack confidence, and this is because of what they are exposed to. Our five senses are pretty delicate. And if you’re not careful, if you expose your senses to the wrong things all the time and you interpret them the wrong way, it sends the wrong message to your brain. So even things that you can ordinarily do, you start doubting yourself.”

Citing an example with celebrities, she said most people who long for their successes often ask the wrong questions.

“So I always ask what do you take out of this celebrity? Are you looking at their strategies and how you can apply them to your brand?

Or are you consumed with negative thoughts such as jealousy? Or is your self-esteem affected? Or are you seeing something that no one else does? Many people spend time complaining about their flaws instead of getting out of their shells and pursuing their goals. With such a mindset, you have already limited yourself.”

The way she sees it, entrepreneurs need to boost their confidence to succeed in their businesses by asking the right questions.

She also pointed out the need for businesses to know their target market otherwise a business plan will not get clients for a business.

“You can have a structure and yet not have the clients. Even as a company, you can have everything in place but if you do not know your clients, you cannot get anything done.

It is important that you research your target market.”

Result-oriented, Famoroti is keen on seeing her clients transition from their jobs to careers into successful businessmen and women. She does this by keeping her fingers on the pulse of the business and giving them the necessary guidance. However, she warned that she is not a magician.

With many career people toeing the path of entrepreneurship, Famoroti believes that every employee today should have the mindset of an entrepreneur.

“It is very important that an employee must have an entrepreneurship mindset because, without that, I don’t think any organisation will make you an MD. So even if you personally don’t own a business, you need to understand how to become an entrepreneur. If you want to get to the top, you must have an entrepreneurial mindset and it is not about gathering all the certificates.

You must know how to manage a business,” she said.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 24, 2022 4

51

EDITORIAL

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

THE CRISIS OF DOMESTIC AIR TRAVELS The harsh economic climate is impacting negatively on the aviation sector in Nigeria

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The estimated one per cent of Nigerians that patronise the aviation sector also happen to be the major drivers of the economy. If you ground them or unreasonably increase their costs, you deepen the difficulties in the economy T H I S D AY EDITOR DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN DEPUTY EDITORS FESTUS AKANBI, EJIOFOR ALIKE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

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LETTERS ADEMOLA ADELEKE’S DANCE TO VICTORY 6HQDWRU $GHPROD 1XUXGHHQ -DFNVRQ $GHOHNH D SKLODQ thropist, sympathetic and empathetic politician, became a 6HQDWRU DIWHU FRQWHVWLQJ WKH E\H HOHFWLRQ RI WKH 3'3 GXH WR WKH GHDWK RI KLV EURWKHU 6HQDWRU ,VLDND $GHOHNH WKH À UVW FLYLOLDQ JRYHUQRU RI 2VXQ 6WDWH :KLOH $GHOHNH PD\ QRW EH WKH PRVW eloquent of speakers, it is important to remind ourselves that eloquence in speech does not translate to administrative exSHUWLVH RU JRRG JRYHUQDQFH %HVLGHV WKH SKLODQWKURS\ DQG JRRGZLOO IRU WKH SHRSOH WKDW UXQ LQ $GHOHNH '\QDVW\ WKH GDQFLQJ VHQDWRU VKDUHV D ORW RI VLPLODULWLHV ZLWK KLV ODWH EURWKHU 7KH ODWH ,VLDND $GHOHNH was not the best of speakers, but as far as governance is concerned, his tenure is often adjudged as the best the state has HYHU ZLWQHVVHG WR GDWH *RRG JRYHUQDQFH WUDQVODWHV EH\RQG mere speeches, it includes but is not limited to, competence, capacity to deliver public good, being empathetic to the plight RI WKH SHRSOH DQG DELOLW\ WR SRVLWLYHO\ LPSDFW WKHLU OLYHV $V IDU DV , DQG WKH SHRSOH RI 2VXQ DUH FRQFHUQHG WKH ODWH ,VLDND $GHOHNH GHOLYHUHG RQ WKRVH WKLQJV DQG LQ WKH GDQFLQJ 6HQDWRU

ZH VHH DOO WKHVH DWWULEXWHV PXOWLSOLHG Earlier this year, Adeleke described himself as a goal getter and narrated how he established and successfully built and managed a series of thriving businesses which are now mulWLQDWLRQDOV 7KXV , DP PRUH WKDQ FRQÀ GHQW WKDW WKH GDQFLQJ senator will readily deploy his business and entrepreneurial acumen towards increasing the internally generated revenue RI WKH VWDWH ZKLFK LV WKH VHFRQG ORZHVW LQ WKH 6RXWKZHVW $PLGVW WKH FHUWLÀ FDWH VFDQGDO RI WKH ODVW HOHFWLRQ ZH VDZ WKH UHDGLQHVV DQG SUHSDUHGQHVV RI WKH GDQFLQJ 6HQDWRU E\ putting to rest the long overdue controversy when he went EDFN WR VFKRRO HQUROOHG DW WKH $WODQWD 0HWURSROLWDQ 6WDWH &ROOHJH LQ WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV ZKHUH KH REWDLQHG D %DFKHORU RI 6FLHQFH 'HJUHH LQ &ULPLQDO -XVWLFH $W GLͿ HUHQW WLPHV GXULQJ the governorship debate, we all saw the dancing senator intermittently referring to himself a security expert alongside DXWKRULWDWLYHO\ WHOOLQJ WKH DXGLHQFH WR IDFW FKHFN 7KDW LV WKH NLQG RI OHDGHU WKH SHRSOH RI 2VXQ 6WDWH QHHG RQH ZKR LV FRQÀ GHQW RQH ZKRVH IDPLO\ ZLOO VXSSRUW ZLWK ZKDWHYHU

resources it takes to ensure that the lives of the people are EHWWHUHG 7KH 'DQFLQJ 6HQDWRU LV PRUH WKDQ FDSDEOH DQG SHRSOH KDYH UHLWHUDWHG WKHLU FRQÀ GHQFH LQ KLP DW WKH SROOV 7KH SHR SOH KDYH VSRNHQ /HW QR PDQ WURXEOH RXU JRYHUQRU HOHFW *RG has commanded the light to be, the light shineth forth from GDUNQHVV DQG GDUNQHVV FRPSUHKHQG LW QRW $PLGVW DOO RI these, the just concluded election gives a glimpse of hope that a better Nigeria is possible, and this is not unconnected to the 2022 Electoral Act which seeks to strengthen the credibility of Nigeria Elections by introducing innovations and addressing WKH GHIHFWV RI WKH (OHFWRUDO $FW $QG PRVW LPSRUWDQWO\ WKH SURYLVLRQ IRU WKH HOHFWURQLF WUDQVPLVVLRQ RI UHVXOWV ,W LV WLPH ZH JRW RXU 39&V À QG WKH QHDUHVW FHQWHU WR UHJLVWHU DV YRWHU UHJLVWUDWLRQ FORVHV HQG RI WKLV PRQWK ,Q 1LJHULD DV ZH VDZ ZLWK WKH 2VXQ JXEHUQDWRULDO HOHFWLRQ YRWHV VWLOO FRXQW Alabi Ayokunmi Ayomikun, alabiayokunmi@yahoo.com

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

24.7.2021

Clement Mudiaga Enajemo A Timeless Pan-African Fashion Czar and His Craft Clement Mudiaga Enajemo’s intriguing creations evoke awe, transforming tangible and mundane materials into ethereal and dreamlike experiences for both the wearer and the admirer. His world is a twist of art and commerce. Making powerful statements on the elite fashion scene, ‘Mudi’ as he is fondly called, has redefined beauty and style. Adedayo Adejobi, in an encounter, captures his craft and how he makes fashion a tool for cultural emancipation.

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/victoria.olaode@thisdaylive.com.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JULY 24, 2022

53

COVER I’ve Through My Designs, Shown that Wearing Traditional Attires Patterns and Prints Can be Fashionable

Enajemo

S

ince tastes vary across generations, it may be hard to decide who is the best among the best in the Nigerian fashion scene.

But one name resonates speedily, Mudi- one of Nigeria’s most iconic, unique genius and successful names in fashion.

Over the past few years, Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, has emerged as an epicentre for fashion in Africa, and one of the busiest names to emerge from the scene, Clement Mudiaga Enajemo of Mudi Africa has played a major role in the country’s evolving industry.

From the prime of his life and humble beginning in a one-store Adebakin in Ikosi - Ketu outlet as dressmaker assistant to his world-class factory, showroom and Headquarters located on Mudi Lane in Anthony, Lagos, his works emphasise structure and purity of form. His other multiple upscale outlets across Abuja, Accra, Senegal, Nairobi, Ivory Coast, and South Africa; speak to Mudiaga’s testament to hard work, dignity of labour and street sense, and grace to grace story which reads like a Netflix storyboard. Revered as the pinnacle of luxury and craftsmanship, Mudi uses the most ingenious fabrics and rigorous

tailoring techniques to painstakingly construct and envelope the manly form with the flourish of couture.

The rain was coming down heavily last week Thursday when Mudi pulled to his courtyard, in a black Tundra truck clad in white three-quarterlength trousers and a gait that could stop any woman in her tracks. On exchanging pleasantries at the car park, he ushered this reporter into the big grey edifice. He was charming from the moment we sat down. His easy laughter emitted confidence. And yet Mudi is pleased to live within his creative contraption. It may be the thing that makes him able to create eclectic work: at his core, he is equally unafraid of failure and success.

The entrance to the Mudi headquarters, a viewing delight, has all the charm of a fascinating diversion whilst also connecting the viewer to Mudi’s vision of personal transformation. An unmarked glass door gate welcomes you to a staircase, whose white plaster of Paris ceiling frames the all-white and lemon green, yet colourful walkway.

Standing at about five foot five inches usually gives little away to strangers, but having known and kept tabs on him over the years, he is always ready to open out of his enigma. Some designers are trend

seekers, but Mudi is the trend, season after season, leaving others spinning at his heels as he unfolds his remarkable vision of what an African man can be.

Having enjoyed longevity with more than three decades in the business, he’s known to many as the pinnacle of luxury and craftsmanship in Nigeria. Mudi uses the most ingenious fabrics and rigorous tailoring techniques to painstakingly construct and envelope the manly form with the flourish of couture.

True to type, the celebrity clothier has evolved over the years into a cultural icon of some sort with his works worn by the top echelon of society, cutting across all walks of life.

Having stayed long in business reinventing the wheel, it was on my mind to ask him the same question he had been asked repeatedly: “How do you do it?”

For the designer, the secret may lie in how he connects to the spirit of all age brackets: he is a curious conservative mortal with a brilliant instinct for modern desire and a designer not afraid to reach into what makes people human, asking odd questions, then coming back with very elegant answers.

With a radical shift in fashion trends and the outcry to reclaim our lost African identity and heritage,

Nigerians at home and abroad, and Africans, have come to appreciate, patronize and wear purely Nigerian brands. Ahead of his peers in the fashion space, Mudi no doubt originated and has been at the forefront of smart wearable art for corporate and social functions, using the same fashion as a tool for the cultural expression of the Nigerian social identity.

According to the culturally aware craftsman, ‘‘gone are the days we wore African fabrics during traditional ceremonies and/or cultural festivals only. Nigerians and the rest of Africa have become awake to, and reclaim our African identity. For over twenty years, I have and counting, I have through my designs, shown that wearing traditional attires patterns and prints can be fashionable among the old and young; for casual and corporate functions as well. If you look at our people, they have become so fashion aware and they stand out representing an emancipated social African identity so much so our European and Asian brothers have taken to our fashion, style and dress sense. I love Nigeria and Africa and so I design with Africa in mind’’ Asides from his love for exquisite fabrics, one thing Mudi would spend his hard-earned sweat on are vintage cars, paintings and tasteful interior accessories. As an extension of his love for fashion, he acquires vintage cars like the 1957 Mercedes Benz 290 series, and the 1955 Peugeot 404 series, five years older than Nigeria. The designer who founded his eponymous label in 1993 with a view to recontextualising Nigeria’s maximal aesthetic rich design heritage in a fresh new way is not shy about his love for them.

For a man who has over the years, proven himself adept not only at scale but also at sensuality, with a firm understanding of how to make the Nigerian man feel his best, these words bare the core of what you might call his inspiration, “I wanted to put forward a bolder mix, combining the excess Nigeria has to offer—from exquisite handwork to vibrant colours—with clean tailoring and a minimal aesthetic. I am always trying new materials, colour combinations, and altered approaches to age-old techniques.

I enjoy putting a collection together mixing the traditional and contemporary, minimal and maximal. Each combination speaks differently,” Enajemo enthused.

For him, luxury must be comfortable, otherwise, it is not luxury. He’s one interesting and creative African designer with Nigerian roots who has conquered hearts, pockets and his place in the fashion world. No wonder he’s the darling of the celebrity world, thus yielding endorsements from top Nigerian and African politicians and businessmen who have endorsed his collection of clothes.

Mudi’s sensual, irreverent style continually challenges creativity, by embracing the freedom of masculine sexuality. His style is known to challenge standard views of fashion. Although he wasn’t born into an aristocratic family, his life has mirrored the mantra, ‘‘dignity in labour and days of little beginnings.”

Few designers can reference their own archives deftly and do so without it looking like they’ve run out of ideas. For the last two decades, Mudi’s institution dedicated to contemporary art and culture has continually questioned perceptions and challenged intentions through an evolution of projects.

This writer could not help but notice some of his most recent collection, particularly some vintage 1950’s jacquard fabrics, embroidered and bow embellishments on nipped-waist kaftans, knee-length shirts and masculine tops.

For the Fashion Czar, ‘‘intuition is a strong masculine quality and I have managed to apply that instinct to my career. The idea of seeing everybody clad in the same outfit is not really my thing.”

Working on a 2023 avant-garde collection set to be unveiled later in the year, Mudi’s work is colourful, airy, and fun and he does not shy away from creativity in the service of self-expression.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JULY 24, 2022

54

HighLife

with KAYODE ALFRED 08116759807, E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com

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

About Tonye Cole’s ‘White Elephant Project … Why Many Youths Can’t Forgive Him An ancient Chinese proverb posits that the tallest tree always faces the strongest winds.

For the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary election in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, this proverb could not have been more accurate. But between the attempts at scandals that typically accompany political victories, is there some validity to the claim that Cole is not a promise-keeping statesman?

It was a big victory for Cole in May 2022, when he was declared the winner of the APC gubernatorial primary. Cole got 986 votes out of the total valid 1,271 votes, effectively dominating his rivals. Many described Cole’s victory as unsurprising considering that he has a strong backer in the party, Rotimi Amaechi.

However, there is no doubt that Cole’s prestige also contributed to his win.

However, all that debate about who made it possible for Cole to win the party’s primary has been replaced by a curious question about Abiodun

It is a new day and age for the people of Osun State, thanks to the recent gubernatorial election that saw the emergence of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the governor-elect. With so many people raising their fists in celebration of the man, many wonder what the big deal is about Adeleke’s victory.

For one, this is not the first time that Adeleke threw his hat into the Osun gubernatorial ring. In 2018, Ademola joined the gubernatorial race under the auspices of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Even though the party had fallen out of favour in most of the states in Nigeria at that time, Senator Adeleke managed to win. At least, a tribunal sitting in Abuja declared Adeleke the winner of the election, even though this was later overturned and Gboyega Oyetola was instead declared the winner.

One of the biggest obstacles against Adeleke back then was the certificate

There is probably no nation in the world right now that has as many shameless political figures as Nigeria. For every political victory here, there is always something to humble (nay, humiliate) the victor. It just so happened that this strategy was recently employed against Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun. Unfortunately, he refused to play the game, choosing instead to swing into action and fix identified gaps in his state.

The condition of St. Kizito’s High School, a secondary school in Iwopin, Ogun Waterside, Ogun State, recently shook the internet.

A video capturing this condition showed a classroom of students who were writing their promotion exams on the bare floor. The goal of the video was to shame Governor Abiodun as he prepares for the 2023 gubernatorial election, and turn the heart of the Ogun State people against him.

However, Governor Abiodun rose to the occasion and not in the manner anticipated by his detractors. Rather than point accusing fingers at his predecessor, which is what many other governors have done when faced with the same situation, Abiodun immediately sent furniture over to St. Kizito’s High School. Moreover, Abiodun’s constructive response came less than 12 hours after the Elumelu video started making rounds, Intimidation in the corporate world is very showing that he cares more about different from intimidation in politics. For the students than about holding the most part, the former is generally more up the reputation they had attempted to ruin.

Currently, Nigerians from other states who were once swayed by the ugly classroom condition have had to change their language, praising Abiodun instead of abusing Say what you will about Dame Patience him. Moreover, even neutral Jonathan, she has made her mark in history onlookers have noted that as the Nigerian First Lady who had many although Abiodun could Nigerians sympathising with her over the not have known about such ruthlessness of politics. She is not perfect, which a situation in his state, it is is the same verdict for every one of us, but her already quite amazing that public life highlighted her flaws and even got he responded quickly and her in trouble with the Economic and Financial without submitting an excuse or Crimes Commission (EFCC). At the end of the counter-accusation. day, the woman decided to stay away from social life, which is a smart decision by every With this achievement, Governor Abiodun continues to reckoning.

Famous and wealthy people are to social hold his position as one of the parasites what honey is to bees. The only more responsive, progressive, difference is that hardly any social parasite ever and visionary governors in the helped someone climb to the peak of fame country. Only a handful could and wealth. But this is the life that Patience has have done what he has with the come to know, even when she was Nigeria’s Kizito High School situation.

First Lady when her husband Goodluck

his trustworthiness. The reason for the rising distrust of the Sahara Group man is one of his old undertakings called the Nehemiah Project.

Cole introduced the Nehemiah Project sometime in 2012 as his way of giving back to the people, specifically, young people. The project that was powered by his Nehemiah Youth Empowerment Initiative also partnered with the late Ibidun Ighodalo to give hope to the young and help build their skills and natural talents via career empowerment schemes and conventions.

But the Nehemiah Project has seemingly disappeared, forgotten, and archived in the dusty shelves that house ‘white elephant’ projects in Nigeria. While this disappearance is not recent, the targets of the Nehemiah Project, youths between 18 and 30 years, cannot erase its memory. Thus, Cole’s popularity is always shadowed by that singular project. He has remained a disappointment to the youths,

Cole

especially those in Rivers.

Even though people have their fingers crossed in preparation for the next Rivers governorship election, Cole may need to clear the air on the Nehemiah Project if he wishes to get on the good side of the youths.

Why Deji Adeleke Ticks All the Boxes for Osun State Governor-elect Ademola Adeleke scandal, a case that tried to discredit his candidacy by stating that his secondary school certificate and WAEC results were forged. But Adeleke trampled every opposition, going so far as to earn himself a college degree abroad just to prove that he could.

So in the recent gubernatorial election in Osun, there were a lot of expectations regarding whether or not he would win.

Even though he had the heart and approval of the people, there were still doubts whether the man dubbed the Dancing Senator would prevail against the incumbent Governor Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress

(APC). But he did. And he did it brilliantly by polling 403,979 votes, over 27,000 more votes than Oyetola.

That is his story of victory over every opposition and temptation of corruption.

Adeleke did not rely on the prestige of his family or his wealth. Yet, he won fair and square, still wearing his happy, innocent smile. Even though his elder brother, the wealthy Adedeji Adeleke, the father of singer Davido, assisted here and there, the victory still belongs to Dancing Senator. That is why the people love him and why his victory continues to resound in the state and outside.

Tony Elumelu: King of African Banking on the Move Again constructive but also has implications that reach further into the future than in the case of the latter. As Tony Elumelu is on the move again, this time to the Middle East, his peers and rivals in the African business bloc must be sighing with resignation at his unmatched vision and cojones.

The news headlines have been in a frenzy over Elumelu’s intention to expand the operations of his United Bank for Africa (UBA) to the Middle East, starting in Dubai. Knowing that Elumelu is not one to put his mouth where his money is absent, it is certain that the countries that border the Persian Gulf will soon bear witness to the genius and unyielding business character.

Earlier, Elumelu (as UBA’s Group Chairman) told the public that it was time to consolidate the expansion of the multinational bank by dropping a branch in Dubai. The Heirs Holdings and Transcorp man said that leaving the Middle East out of the bank’s expansion

efforts would be a great injustice. What he did not say was that UBA’s new branch in Dubai would help redefine banking in the Middle East, introducing Elumelu’s timeless principles for effective and efficient banking.

The new branch was unveiled on Thursday, July 14, 2022, with Elumelu and his team of visionary banking executives present. The launch took place at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), cementing UBA’s first foray into the banking sector in the Middle East.

With the new branch in Dubai, Elumelu has once again shown that there is more to a successful business than just profit. His philosophy of continuous and deliberate growth can only be described as historic at this point, especially considering how many people it is inspiring to also look beyond profitmaking and instead focus on impact-making.

All in all, the Heirs Holdings man remains the unrivalled king of African banking.

Real Reason Dame Patience Jonathan Avoids Social Life … Now on Very Low Profile Jonathan was President. She had as many friends as the fish in the sea, only to lose every one of them when they fell out of favour with Nigerians and calamity struck in the form of the anti-graft agency’s interest in her business affairs.

Although Patience has had many things that stood against her, none of these things has ruined her reputation as much as her case with the EFCC. The agency had frozen the bank accounts of some individuals accused of diverting funds, only for Patience to declare that the money in those accounts was hers. That case resulted in the agency freezing an account bearing her name, and her counter-suing the agency. But she did not succeed and eventually tripped down the rabbit hole into obscurity.

Throughout that period, none of her erstwhile friends was at her side. Instead, they all distanced themselves from her, forgetting the

Jonathan

days at Aso Rock where she entertained them and obliged their requests.

Alas, this is life. Patience has learned from her mistakes and is content to live under the radar, keeping as few friends as possible, and being her happy, ordinary self.

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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 24, 2022

HIGHLIFE

Nigeria’s Powerful Women Honour Folorunsho Alakija There are levels to this thing known as impact. It is becoming more and more apparent that some people are just so interested in the welfare and satisfaction of other people that they will do almost anything. Folorunsho Alakija’s celebration of the fifth year since the establishment of her women empowerment movement, Flourish Africa, is one such thing.

Even though the event was supposed to be a celebration of her initiative’s anniversary, it was really a gifting ceremony.

Alakija has always shown herself to be as humble as she is visionary. Since setting up Flourish Africa to help empower African women and develop a framework for them to contribute to the continent’s economic growth, she has been mulling over what to do to tip the scale in the favor of these women. After all, it is one thing to have a working framework, but another to inspire women to use that framework.

During Flourish Africa’s fifth anniversary ceremony, Alakija devised a means to speed up the movement’s march towards continental impact. This involved her giving a seed grant

of N1 billion to 100 women who own and are serious about their micro, small, and mediumscale enterprises (MSMEs). Thus, apart from the empowering information that Alakija’s initiative constantly provides to the women, the grant is guaranteed to invigorate their dreams and help them reach further than they ever imagined.

With such a heart for other people, it is not surprising that many of Alakija’s peers turned up at the event to honour her. Among these are Chief Onikepo Nike Akande, the first female Minister of Industry in Nigeria; Dr. Stella Okoli, the current CEO of Emzor Pharmaceuticals; Princess Sarah Sosan, the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State; Sisi Abah Folawiyo, super fashion designer; Olusola Momoh, the Vice-Chairperson of Channels Media Group; Lady Kehinde Kamson, the CEO of Sweet Sensation and Aisha Babangida.

Thus, for Alakija, her being one of the top wealthiest women in Africa is not worth much compared to positively impacting lives.

And her guests of equally successful women completely agree with her.

Alakija

Is Kachikwu Kidding with His Presidential Ambitions?

Kachikwu

It has to be said here and now, although it is often uttered during oddly mesmerising moments, that one man’s food is another’s furrow. The presidency, which is considered one of the grandest ambitions in Nigeria, is Times are changing for the majority of courageous Nigerian banks.

Opportunities for global collaborations and expansion campaigns are everywhere but it takes being more than just a local champion to clinch these opportunities.

Access Bank is leading the charge of courageous banks and it is going all out to see its objectives accomplished.

Since Access Bank through the brilliant management strategies

by Herbert Wigwe began making conclusive waves in the African continent, the bank has become one of the pillars of success in Nigeria’s finance sector and is continually contributing to the nation’s continental presence. During its recent Access Bank Day, the bank revealed how it has been able to penetrate the global market.

At the event, one of the bank’s global

being redefined by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu. For the first time, we have a second-line candidate who is not aggressively campaigning and shoving his agenda down the throats of all and sundry.

When Kachikwu won the presidential primary election of the ADC, it made the news. There were two fundamental reasons for this. One, Kachikwu defeated the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu, even though the latter was generally assumed to be the irrefutable choice of ADC party members. Secondly, Kachikwu never really campaigned as intensely as his peers.

Currently, folks are just floored over the apparent laissez-faire attitude of Kachikwu regarding his ambition. An outsider with no idea of his identity as the custodian of an entire party’s hope would meet Kachikwu and still

Echoes of UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament as Access Bank Lavishes Millions of Naira in London partners, UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), was granted the greatest boon in the form of generous pledges from the guests at Guards Polo Club, London where the occasion was held. Moreover, the event featured UNICEF’s Charity Shield Polo Tournament, so Access Bank did not hold back in supporting its partner.

From the reports regarding how it all went, the fundraising event came to a crescendo when Access Bank defeated Fifth Chukker 6 to 5, with so many big names presenting and receiving the awards. Among these were Wigwe himself, Access Bank MD, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Chairman of Coronation

Presidential Wedding as Shettima’s Daughter is Set to Wed

Fatima and her beau, Sadiq Ibrahim Bunu

never realise the truth about the man. It seems as if the only campaign that the founder of Roots Television is willing to organise is on Facebook.

For a position that is being seriously fought over by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP), ADC members must be frustrated over the fact that their candidate is just floating on the sidelines. If the message that the Roots TV man is passing to them is not that the party has no chance of winning, what is?

Perhaps all of this is Kachikwu’s strategy. Maybe he has a way of suddenly capturing the attention of Nigerians everywhere and becoming popular enough to rub shoulders with APC’s Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, and LP’s Peter Obi. Only Kachikwu knows.

They say that good things come in two. This is the case for top Nigerian banker and politician, Kashim Shettima. Even as the frenzy for the 2023 presidential election reaches a crescendo, Shettima is set to submit himself to the presidential ambition of Senator Bola Tinubu and also submit his daughter to the household of his new son-in-law.

Shettima’s daughter, Fatima, is set to marry into the family of top Nigerian architect and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ibrahim Bunu. Bunu’s son, Sadiq Ibrahim, is the lucky chap who will officially become Shettima’s sonin-law on Saturday, July 30, 2022. The venue of the wedding ceremony is the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, and the ceremony is slated for noon.

Capital, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, and several others. Around $1.7 million was reported to have been raised to be dedicated to the construction and renovation of schools in different parts of Nigeria.

Wigwe’s key to success can be seen in Access Bank’s generosity. Few banks in Nigeria would dare to champion the noble goals that Access Bank is sponsoring, or put so much effort into raising funds for children. So, it should never come as a surprise that Access Bank has secured banking rights in another African country or outside the continent.

Without question, this is a happy and blessed time for both Shettima and Bunu’s families.

After all, these are the kinds of alliances that blossom into crossgenerational friendship, until a single wealthy and possibly politically inclined family eventually emerges from the alliances in a few generations.

Meanwhile, while Shettima is preparing guest lists and practising that beaming smile of his, Tinubu is not having it so well. After unveiling Shettima as his Vice-Presidential candidate, more individuals and groups have risen to say that Tinubu’s inflexibility, which is his proposed Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, might be the APC’s undoing come 2023.

But nothing is certain yet. Maybe Tinubu’s proposal will eventually be accepted by all (or at least, the majority of) the members of the APC. Maybe not. Regardless, Shettima has already won solid in-laws for himself and his house

Mike Dada as a Game Changer Great things are in the offing for Mike Dada, President of All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

Not too long ago, the NigerianBritish Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), represented by its President and Chairman, Bisi Adeyemi, appointed Dada as the Chairman of one of its division committees, the Creative And Cultural Committee.

Indeed, the reward for good work is always more work. This is something that naturally dedicated individuals like AFRIMA’s Dada have come to know. Despite the evident burden and responsibility of always serving other people, Dada remains one of the most hardworking people in the creative corridors of Africa.

Thus, his recent appointment by the NBCC is just another opportunity for Dada to bring his signature diligence and virtuosity to the board, effectively improving the committee’s prospects of assisting in juicing up Nigeria’s creative industry and directing the proceeds to the nation’s economy.

Dada is not the only talent that the NBCC is recruiting.

There is also Mrs. Banke Meshida Lawal of BMPro Makeup Group (who is to serve as Dada’s Vice-Chairman), Mrs. Atinuke Olashore of PJK Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olafemi Olaniyan of Collageo Communications Limited, Mr. Joseph Edgar, Duke of Shomolu; Mathew Adigolo of Pureview photography, Mrs. Bisi Sotunde of Busy Bee Events, and Kiki Okewale of KO by Kikiokewale. Each of these individuals is expected to help NBCC revolutionize Nigeria’s creative sector. And with Dada at the helm of affairs, it is virtually guaranteed that everything will go as expected.

Dada has always been a game changer. His work as AFRIMA president is partly responsible for the regard paid to African music by western and eastern nations, especially. Always the professional, Dada’s successful career in public relations has also brought a lot of attention to Nigerian people and culture.

Dada

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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 24, 2022

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Fake Bishops: How Long will APC Continue to Hoodwink Us? Kai! Me, I don’t know what to believe again o. We have been shown clips of APC’s ‘bishops’ changing into gear before and after appearing at the unveiling of the running mate the ruling party has foisted on us on the back of their stupendously wonderful MuslimMuslim ticket.

Come and see all sorts of characters emerging from the woodworks, all adorning various Christian clerics’ costumes. All in a bid to convince hapless Nigerians that the Muslim-Muslim ticket is

sellable in a country with diverse outlooks concerning religion reigns.

If what we saw turns out to be true – I hear CAN has dissociated itself from that charade – then this would be the lowest in the campaign. But what do you expect from a structure that has been built on a lot of darkness and mysterious ethos?

Everything must be done to secure victory including garbing ‘agberos’ as Bishops.

Na wa.

ATIKU ABUBAKAR: LOOKING FOR TURAKI It was a WhatsApp chat. Edgar, are you open for a meeting to discuss Atiku? I say what concerns Christian pilgrims with baal? He laughed and said, “We need for you to write an objective essay on Atiku Abubakar and the things he will do for Nigeria.”

This is bold o. The whole world knows my position on these candidates, so asking me to write an objective assessment is asking for blood on the floor. They said, “Come for a meeting.”

I said,”Oya.” I got to their Onikan office and they were not there. One big chubby and sweetly apportioned lady with a slight frown and looking down on me — because I wear Jalabia and I no comb my hair — asked me, “Yes, can I help you?” I said, “No, I was summoned” She looked at me as if I was Naira Marley and you know I have started wearing earrings now They later called and said they were running late. I said no problem, let me go and eat Ghana High rice. When I was still working with Habib Bank, we used to indulge. The rice was the rice, but today palm oil full the thing and I nearly died from its sour taste.

Anyways, I went back to the meeting and was faced by two very goodlooking young men. “Edgar, this is my own contribution to the campaign.

This is not official, this is not Atiku sending me, but my own way of helping to save Nigeria.” I look am. I like am.

He is wearing Ankara and the other one is wearing black trousers and slip-ons. Nice uber-friendly type. A representation of a new Nigeria, boys who are running their own business and who really believe in whatever magic ‘Baba Dubai’ will be fostering.

Be like say, these ones no read OBJ book though. I like their enthusiasm and the confidence that they bring to bear having “read everything you have ever written on Atiku, we are very confident that your very objective assessment of our candidate, his person, his political pedigree will go a long way to show Nigerians that they can trust him.”

I said, “Please, I have one request.

This big girl in your office, you fit give me her number?” They both laughed.

Edgarrrr.

Will I take up this challenge? Make we dey see o.

Abubakar

Hundeyin

The Abiola/Kingibe ticket didn’t have to go this route to secure massive acceptance.

They worked hard; they went out there to show Nigerians possibilities. They gave us hope, they showed us what life would be for us in their victory and we in turn rewarded them by massively supporting them. This one, me I no understand o. This one don tire person o. This one don pass ‘emilokan’, this one na ‘to si be- piss for there’.

DAVID HUNDEYIN: SAD TAKE ON MKO ABIOLA There are some things that are sacred.

There are some names you don’t just drag like this. Even if Mr. Hundeyin has all of his evidence right — which he doesn’t from what we have seen — you still move with caution and trepidation.

The MKO Abiola legacy is not one that a two-bit mercenary can just be dragging on the floor for whatever purpose. This is the icon of democracy in the country. This same Abiola gave up tremendous wealth and ultimately his life so that we can remain a country and today, this person is attempting to soil his image and name on the altar of avarice.

Thankfully, the Abiola family has responded appropriately. Let me add my own voice, see Hundeyin or whatever your name is, please be concentrating on the Abike DabiriErewa level where you seem to have expert knowledge and leave the Abiola legacy out of your putrid and odiferous driven dribble that you call journalism.

MKO Abiola is a patron saint and will remain as such no matter what. Mbok, putting MKO in the same vein as these broom-carrying people is really bold on your part o.

Aregbesola

Adamu

Where is the comparison? We know his family house, we know where he came from, we know which schools he attended, we have his primary and secondary certificates complete with pictures and certifications. We know where he worked and we know his trajectory. Mbok, where is the comparison? Who even send you sef?

Kai. TUC: LET THEM SELL THE SCHOOLS I just saw that the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are harping against the rumoured sale of the 150 Unity Schools. Please these congress people, do they have sense like this?

I am sorry to sound a little bit rude but God is trying to work and they are throwing themselves in, as a stumbling block.

The people who have no inkling as to how to revamp our educational system are finally coming to the realisation that they can no longer handle the catastrophe they have meted on us and are now thinking of selling and you carry faded Ankara and talk crap.

Please this is what we have been saying and begging God for. SELL!!!

SELL!!! SELL!!!!. SELL EVERYTHING

Miss Edgar

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LOUD WHISPERS PLUS THE UNIVERSITIES. SELL THE WHOLE THING. Government has simply destroyed education at all levels in the country.

So, standing on pride or ‘what should be’ as the TUC is doing now is simply knocking your head on the wall. Privatising but strengthening regulation is the best way to go. You cannot compare the standards in privately-run schools with public schools.

The cost of education will now be used as an argument. Mbok, what is the cost of churning out ill-equipped children who go through these institutions damaged mentally and otherwise to the society?

The 150 schools are no better than resettlement camps where mild terrorists are bred. Standards have dropped significantly and infrastructure is bare. How many of us who attended these schools can send their children to the schools any more?

At best, let the alumni associations buy the schools. That was the thrust of my manifesto when I contested to be President of the Command Secondary School Ipaja Old Students’ Association.

I was going to raise over N100m from just N1,000 monthly contributions from the over 11,000 old students to go and beg the Army to sell the school to us or at best give us management rights over the school, so we can revamp it. The school is dead. When I went back, it was like I was in a place totally annihilated.

Today, Government College Ibadan is looking so good with the efforts of the old students. St. Finbarr’s College is looking at a N10 billion endowment fund and St. Gregory’s College is doing well.

Please, whoever is in that ministry that is pushing the idea, God will bless you. Ignore these TUC people, dem get selective amnesia, and let’s go ahead and sell. Just make sure that the indigent child will be protected through scholarships, pocket friendly fees, a percentage reservation of space for them. The rich will pay for them if and when standards are improved.

Thank you.

NNPC: IT IS NOT ABOUT THE LOGO Let me be blunt. I really do hope that this thing will not be a case of ‘bath a pig, cloth a pig...’ scenario. As I am looking at the new logo of the NNPC and the thing is looking like something they pulled out of the Brazilian samba carnival, I begin to ask myself what kind of commercial enterprise will we be seeing? Will these moves improve transparency? Will it foster strong corporate governance and will it impact very appropriately on the bottom-line? E go hard if I want to bet my two pence.

Still the same leadership, still the same ethos, still the same culture and all we have is a yeye logo and name change.

If we really are very keen on achieving this, why is the MD transmuting and not resigning and throwing himself up for election by the 200 million shareholders’ that the President says the firm now has?

This is just carrying pancake to cover pimples. But wetin we go do na? It’s a very small start in a long journey. We may not get there in this lifetime but we have started. In this vein, let me congratulate the new NNPC and its old/new management on this major redirection. I really do wish them well.

We are waiting for its first AGM to see how it will pan out. My advice is that you should not be announcing the venue of the AGM in advance before dem Sowore type come there and be asking questions that will make MD/

IGP, PLEASE COME AND WARN YOUR BOYS You see, I am a gentleman o. A peaceloving Nigerian with no scruples. It’s not that I cannot fight but I just sha like to maintain my lane. But that does not mean that if you try me, I will not react o.

Mr. Inspector General of Police, come and warn these your boys o. I don’t want the one now that when I react now, they will say, Duke of Shomolu beat police o. Me, I am saying my own now o.

Sir, that was how I was going to work jeje o in my car. That was how my car was overtaken by an unmarked Hilux and four plain cloth men jumped out and surrounded my car. I just smiled.

You know the kind of smile that Jackie Chan used to smile before he scattered 100 people with one kick.

The boldest one came closer.

“Please open your car because it is too dark inside.”

Dark? It was a bright morning. Dark?

I was weak. I have heard plenty but this one I never hear before. So I said, “Officer, what is the problem?”

He flashed an ID card and I saw Force Headquarters and police something on it. I said, “Look I am a law-abiding journalist, if you have a problem, you tell me and I will work with you to solve it, but don’t tell me my car is dark at 9 a.m.”

Luckily for him, he didn’t get agitated like they always do but kept insisting that I wound down or open the door so he could see through the car. I said, “Officer, now I am very worried. All four of you are not in uniform and if you are special forces, do I look like a terrorist or coup plotter? Mbok let me go, I don’t have time.”

At this point, the other three took an offensive position. I laughed. I said this is another national scandal that wants to erupt now o, because one kick and all four will enter the lagoon now o. My driver started to beg me, “Oga, please don’t fight. Oga your fight is bad, oga please let me engage them.”

All these while, I am just smiling. My confusion was which of my fighting techniques to unleash on these people.

The fact that I didn’t know their tribes, did not help the matter. If they were

Alkali

Igbo I know it’s wrestling because Igbo people used to think they are good wrestlers. But if they are Yoruba then na boxing and if they are a mix of tribes then I utilise all of my powers and scatter them.

But I still wanted to give them one last chance before I humiliated the Nigerian Police. I said “bro, if you are going to search my car or arrest me because my car is dark in the morning, then let’s go to the nearby Panti Police station and arrest me.”

By the time, it was clear that these were no bandits or robbers or kidnappers.

Because those ones by the ethos of their profession will not have time for all these talk, na Sambisa forest I for see myself dey discuss the power configurations between virgins in captivity and non-virgins.

So, these were real life undercover police men just trying to use me to masturbate this morning. The next thing I heard was him shouting, “bring my gun let me ride with them.”

By this time, it had become serious.

Gun ke? I said “Mr. Man, you had better be sure of what you are about to put yourself into if you are a real policeman. I just told you that I am a journalist, activist and international human rights fighter. You have not asked for the particulars of this car; you have not asked for any form of personal identification and now you are shouting gun. If I see that gun, I assure you that you will be disengaged from whatever force you belong to as long as it is registered in this country. Better google me o. I shouted. google me o.”

Me, I am not Lion Odumeje, whose powers failed when you people slapped him o. Google me ooo!!!

You will not enter this car and I will drive to Panti Police station and submit myself to a full body and cavity check and at that point if anything is found on me, you can take me to any other prison but not Kuje since we are not sure those people are coming back.

The man looked at me in confusion and said, “but why una dey like to dey complicate matter, oya go.” I said thank you officer. He had just saved himself because my anger is very bad o.

Kai. My car is dark inside? A new one o.

CEO purge. Only in Nigeria RAUF AREGBESOLA’S UNWANTED INTRUSION Some mumu people take this so-called activism too far. Going to harass a citizen anywhere in the world and claiming freedom — we are in America — is low and outright stupid.

The man was ‘jejely’ about to have his breakfast and worrying what the food will do to his amala compliant tummy and you suddenly thrust a foolish phone in his face to talk crap.

The man gave you the opportunity to sit down and have a reasonable discussion and you said no but kept harassing him for social media hits if nothing else. Abi, with that kind of opportunity, won’t you grab it and ask the man some very pertinent questions and demand answers.

Too many things to ask him reasonably – Kuje prison attacks, Osun debacle, prison congestion — so many things.

But this illegal migrant gallivanting in his uprooted status could only be shouting, “This is America.” If it is America, nko? America is now what, heaven?

I have always said a mumu in Nigeria is a mumu anywhere in the world.

This is a typical mumu who has exported his mumuness to the outside world. Who even allow him enter that kind hotel?

Aregbe, well-done. Well-done for your calmness and gentlemanly disposition during the traumatic experience. If na me, I trust myself, I will not even hear that I am a minister, I will kick his balls and smash his head in the bowl of soup and after I resign. Rubbish.

ANNETTE JOSEPH EDGAR: A BEAUTIFUL TURN Well, as a detribalised Nigerian, I have children from all the geopolitical zones in the south of Nigeria. I have children with mothers from the South-western part, South-south and I also have from the South-east.

As soon as the insecurity problem in the North abates, we will father children from that zone. I must also announce that the process of getting a Hausa/Fulani mothered child is in my five-year rolling plan if the insurgency permits.

So, Annette is my South-eastern mothered daughter and she graduated last week from the prestigious Chrisland Secondary School Lagos.

The ceremony took place last weekend at the Oriental Hotel and although I was manhandled and kicked out by an overzealous bouncer, the event went smoothly after I regained entry.

I just want to use this medium to say thank you so much to my very beautiful daughter who graduated in flying colours. I want to say, “Annette, I might have a funny way of showing it but I love you deeply and will work with you very strenuously in making you the first female Governor of our State – Akwa Ibom.”

Well done my baby and God bless you.

ADA AMEH: WHAT A STORY? The news of her passing hit with a thud. Wasn’t it this actress who lost her daughter just two years ago? She had also lost six of her family members and now she had passed. Wow. God, why do you allow these things to happen?

She must have gone through a lot and it is no wonder that she was said to have some mental health issues.

Kai, she must have really been a very strong lady. Never met her, but saw her movies and was a fan.

Please Lord, kindly waive whatever must have been her shortcomings and bless her with eternal life. Kai.

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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 24, 2022

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Queen of Makeup Industry, MeshidaLawal’s New Role

Meshida-Lawal

The Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, NBCC has appointed Mrs Banke Meshida-Lawal of BMPro Makeup Group and the queen of the beauty and makeup industry in Nigeria, as the Vice Chairman of its Creative and Cultural Committee.

With the mandate to explore the many opportunities in the business world and Nigeria’s economy, the Chamber recently launched the Creative and Cultural Sectoral Group to further help in harnessing the economic potential of the Nigerian creative industry.

In a letter signed by the President/ Chairman of Council, Bisi Adeyemi, the appointment of Meshida-Lawal took immediate effect.

Other members of the committee include; Mr. Mike Dada, the President of All African Music Awards, AFRIMA, serving as the Chairman, Mrs. Atinuke Olashore of PJK Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olafemi Olaniyan of Collageo Communications Limited, Mr. Joseph Edgar, Duke of Shomolu, Mathew Adigolo of Pureview photography, Mrs Bisi Sotunde of Busy Bee Events and Ms. Kiki Okewale of KO by Kikiokewale as members.

The letter read partly, “I look forward to your acceptance of this responsibility as it would afford the Chamber the opportunity to benefit from your wealth of experience, which I hope you will make available by your regular attendance at Committee meetings.”

According to Adeyemi, terms of reference for the creative and cultural sectoral group include encouraging and creating a platform for collaboration among members of the group, fostering the growth of member organisations as well as generating B2B opportunities, organising programmes and events to showcase the diversity and robustness of the Creatives Sector. In this regard, organize an annual “NBCC Creatives and Culture Day.” Others include reviewing the impact of government policies on the Creative and Cultural Sector and working with the Advocacy Committee to engage policymakers and enlighten members as appropriate, preparing position papers to support the Chamber’s interface with private and public sector organisations and providing support to the Program Committee and other Committees in generating creative content for the Chamber’s program and events among others.

Ademola Adeleke’s Tortuous Journey to Victory Can you blame Senator Ademola Adeleke if he embarks on a marathon dance now?

Victory is sweet. But it is sweeter when it comes after a previous loss to the same opponent. Now is the time for Osun Stateborn fun-loving Ademola Adeleke to dance his heart out after flooring Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in a rematch of the 2018 governorship election.

Having achieved his major aspiration of winning the election to become the number one citizen of Osun State at the last week’s governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Adeleke, who had been dubbed as the dancing senator, residents of Osun can be sure that there will be no dull moment in the act of governance for the next four years, at least.

Adeleke at different times suffered undeserved humiliation in his political trajectory. But like a man of destiny, he has always come out better and triumphed over his adversaries. Little wonder then that he chose to dance like the biblical David after he was declared the winner of the poll by INEC on Sunday.

Truth be told, his defeat of Oyetola last Saturday was indeed revenge served cold despite the flurry of humiliations meted out to him by his opponents in the past.

Adeleke shot into the political limelight following the death of his elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who represented Osun East Senatorial District in the Senate. Adeleke showed his belief in the words of Mark Twain: “Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you believe that you too

can become great.”

He held on firmly to his belief that he would surely be victorious. He left the All Progressives Congress (APC), after a fierce battle with former Governor Aregbesola who preferred the more politically experienced Mudashiru Hussein of the ruling APC. Aregbesola reportedly stated that he could not work with Adeleke, who he said lacked the wherewithal to win a local government chairman election, let alone a senatorial district.

His defection to the PDP turned the fractured political platform into a formidable force for the July 8, 2017, senatorial contest where he won convincingly, this was indeed shocking to many. Since then his political career shot into the sky.

A few months after he became senator, Adeleke became more ambitious, he threw his hat into the ring for the number one job in the state. This again created a wide gulf between him and Iyiola Omisore that was also interested in the governorship race, having played a major role in Adeleke’s senatorial victory. A source revealed that Omisore was shocked back then that Adeleke would become a cog in the wheel of his political ambition. It was a payback of sorts as Omisore stood in his way to realise his governorship ambition after he aligned with the APC to defeat him after a rerun.

But like the incurable optimist that he is, he came back stronger, wiser and more politically wiser. He knew he had so many hurdles to cross and the odds against him were literally mountainous. But he surmounted them all. He won the election with 403,371 votes

Adeleke

to emerge victorious while the incumbent governor polled 375,027 votes. The victory came 30 years after his late brother became the first executive governor of the state after its creation.

While Oyetola is biting his finger in regret and quietly licking his wounds, Adeleke on the other hand is dancing his heart out.

What a twist of fate!

The fun-loving man has again etched his name in the record book in the state.

His father, the late Chief Adeleke, who was Balogun of Ede, was a Senator under the Obafemi Awolowo-led Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN); his elder brother, the late Isiaka Adeleke, otherwise known as Serubawon became the second person in the family to become a senator.

UK-based Nigerian, Olabimpe Fasuyi’s New Innovation

Fasuyi

Beautiful and brainy Olabimpe Fasuyi comes across as a restless spirit. She likes to set a target for herself and once she sets

her mind on a project, she pursues it with gusto and resilience without looking back no matter how difficult the challenges are.

A few years ago when the ingenious woman developed the idea for the first contactless fuel cards in Nigeria, many of those she approached failed to understand what she was talking about. Some even sneered at her, believing the idea was simply impracticable.

But all this did not deter her, as she remained determined to launch her name into the world of digital technologies, knowing fully well that technology is the future of global business practices.

Fasuyi is gradually achieving her dreams and desire to transform her beloved country and write its name on the

world map through her innovativeness.

With her tenacity, she has risen above the prevailing odds to make a name for herself. Her secret to success is her foresight and the ability to stay strong in the face of challenges. Indeed, her persistence and commitment have paid off hugely. Her firm, Conveola, developed contactless card solutions that reduced transaction costs, speed up processing payments and provide a suite of additional benefits to assist business operations in any way you can ever think of.

Society Watch gathered that the card is reportedly achieving a lot of great acceptability, as some filling stations have accepted it as a form of payment for fuel.

Abuja Serial Entrepreneur, Omolara Hunvenu’s Exceptional Intellect Omolara Hunvenu must have put to heart popular television personality Oprah Winfrey’s quote on passion. According to Winfrey, “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”

The popular Abuja-based businesswoman and owner of Spring Interiors Limited, a leading interior design outfit, is truly feeling the energy behind her passion by turning her passion into a money-spinning venture and multi-million naira business.

Without a doubt, there are lessons to be learnt from the life of this beautiful woman. An encounter with her would reveal a woman of exceptional intellect, a profound passion for her immediate environment and a life that thrives on hard work. The intelligent interior decorator evokes a rare combination of critical approval and public affection. This may be because she is audacious in her simplicity and brilliant in her

Ifeanyi Ubah, a Proud Father

Ubah

business exploits.

Her plan to open a furniture company was met with scorn back then. But before the eyes of her detractors, the company has gradually metamorphosed into a big and popular outfit.

She has sown in sweats and now she is reaping bountifully with smiles.

The business which started with her passion and love for making up beautiful spaces has today grown to become a household name in furniture making.

She now has in her kitty a far-flung clientele, which includes corporate organisations as well as government offices across the federation.

The one-stop furniture showroom that provides bespoke interior design solutions deals in furniture and architectural building materials for commercial and residential building industries and also deals in decorative items for both local and international markets.

Hunvenu

Today, Ifeanyi Ubah, billionaire businessman and senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District can thump his chest as a proud father. The businessman turned politician is extremely happy that his daughter, Chidera made him proud after she graduated from the Department of Business Administration and Management, Aston University, Birmingham.

The oil mogul was unable to hide his happiness and put to social media to celebrate the brilliant girl who came out with First Class from the department.

As gathered, the department congratulated the young woman in a letter.

The letter stated: “We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you

on this major personal achievement. Your Aston Degree is a leading qualification of its kind and we are delighted at your success.

If you are dissatisfied with the decision of the Examination Board you may be entitled to appeal against the decision of the Examination Board.”

In turn, Ubah took to his social media to celebrate his daughter.

He also wrote: “God, thank you for the academic excellence of our daughter, Chidera, we are in awe of your mighty works and awesomeness in our family. Congratulations on being awarded the best result, First Class from the Department of Business Administration and Management, Aston University, Birmingham.”

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

24. 7.2022

Plodding on, With Resolution and Independence Segun Victor Owolabi has transcended his early beginnings as a skilled draughtsman to see art in a new light as an endeavour capable of impacting positively on humanity. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke writes

“A

rt was what reconnected me to the world after I became disconnected.”

Dredging up the memories RI D GUHDU\ SDVW UHTXLUHV TXLWH DQ HͿRUW 2Q WKDW Monday, July 18, night—two days before his 23rd ELUWKGD\³6HJXQ 9LFWRU 2ZRODEL ZDV GLYXOJLQJ VR much about this chapter of his life to his interlocutor, ZKR ZDV VWHDGLO\ JDLQLQJ KLV FRQÀGHQFH During his early primary school years at Gateway Nursery and Primary School in the rustic .ZDUD 6WDWH WRZQ RI ,ORͿD KH ZDV D IUHH SUH\ IRU VFKRRO EXOOLHV (YHQ WHDFKHUV ZRXOG VRPHWLPHV pick on him for not participating in extra-curricular DFWLYLWLHV +HQFH D VHOI SUHVHUYDWLRQ LQVWLQFW PDGH KLP VWDUW DYRLGLQJ SHRSOH VLQFH KH WKRXJKW KH ZDV EHLQJ MXGJHG XQIDLUO\ IRU EHLQJ GLͿHUHQW “This was when I started embracing art,” he recalled. “I stopped going out and all I would GR ZDV GUDZ LQ P\ URRP ZKHQHYHU , ZDV QRW in school. I hated school. I would get punished for drawing in my exercise books. My drawing ERRN ZDV QHYHU ELJ HQRXJK µ It wasn't long before his draughtsmanship skills WXUQHG WKH WDEOHV LQ KLV IDYRXU +LV WUDQVIRUPDWLRQ IURP EHLQJ VHHQ DV D YLUWXDO SDULDK WR EHLQJ acknowledged by his peers and practically earning superstar status as the only pupil in the school with outstanding artistic skills was quite remarkable.

1RW OHIW RXW ZHUH KLV SDUHQWV EXW WKHLU MR\ RYHU his artistic prowess only lasted until when he was set to conclude his secondary school education at Adeoti College in another Kwara State town, 2PX $UDQ $V KLV XQLYHUVLW\ DGPLVVLRQ ORRPHG his dad thought it was high time he got more serious and chose a more respectable course like PHGLFLQH $IWHU DOO ZKR GUDZV IRU D OLYLQJ" KH DVNHG +H REYLRXVO\ VDZ QR IXWXUH LQ DUW $V IRU KLV artistic skills, this was about as big an impression DV WKH\ ZRXOG HYHU PDNH RQ KLV SUDFWLFDO PLQG Undaunted, Segun Victor stuck to his guns. For him, art was the only thing in which he found - and FRQWLQXHV WR ÀQG MR\ DQG WKH RQO\ WKLQJ WKDW NHSW his mind intact. “I felt that I would lose my mind if I were to be separated from it,” he explained. $W $KPDGX %HOOR 8QLYHUVLW\ =DULD ZKHUH KH enrolled in 2016, he began as a painting major to VHH DUW GLͿHUHQWO\ +H GLVFHUQHG WKDW LW WUDQVFHQGHG the mere act of drawing and painting, being the RQO\ KXPDQ HQGHDYRXU WKDW EHDUV OLIH ZLWKLQ LW DV D ZRUN RI WKH VSLULW 3DUWLFLSDWLQJ LQ VHYHUDO exhibitions during his undergraduate years further exposed him to the fascinating world of art and EROVWHUHG KLV FRQÀGHQFH HQRXJK WR VXEPLW KLV entry for the 2021 edition of the annual Life in My &LW\ $UW )HVWLYDO FRPSHWLWLRQ ZKHUH KH ZRQ WKH prize for the Best Sculpture/Installation. +LV ZLQQLQJ WKH SUL]H TXDOLÀHG KLP WR EH RQH RI the chosen 18 winners, who were recently sponsored by LIMCAF on an all-expenses-paid trip to the Dakar Art Biennale, known as Dak'Art, in 0D\ ZLWK IXQGV PDGH DYDLODEOH E\ WKH UHQRZQHG artist Professor El Anatsui.

Curiously, it was the year 2020, and not 2022, that would remain etched in his consciousness as one of the most remarkable years in his artistic FDUHHU ´, FDOO LW WKH \HDU RI VHOI GLVFRYHU\ µ KH VDLG Perhaps it was because 2020 was the year he OHDUQW KRZ WR UHFUHDWH LPDJHV XVLQJ D VSHFLÀF FRPputer algorithm generated from a mathematical HTXDWLRQ +LV ÀUVW HQFRXQWHU ZLWK WKLV WHFKQLTXH was in the work of Alfred Cheng, a well-known DUWLVW IURP +RQJ .RQJ 7KH ÀUVW HGLWLRQ RI KLV award-winning thread was made that year when

The artist working on a painting in his studio

Segun Victor in his studio

WKH &29,' ORFNGRZQ ZDV LQ HͿHFW , took my time to study more about it on my own, and I then showed the second YHUVLRQ DW 'DN $UW A question gnawed at his mind as he researched and experimented with this WHFKQLTXH +H ZRXOG JHW WKH DQVZHU WR this question while reading Dan Brown's P\VWHU\ WKULOOHU QRYHO 2ULJLQ 7KLV TXHVWLRQ bordered on who takes the credit when computers are taught to create algorithmic art—that is, art generated by highly complex FRPSXWHU SURJUDPV 2U WR SXW LW DQRWKHU way, who is the artist—the computer or the SURJUDPPHU" ´:HOO , VD\ WKH SURJUDPPHU LV WKH DUWLVW +LV WKRXJKWV JR LQWR WKH FRPSXWHU and thus create the art.” $ TXLFN UHZLQG WR WKH 'DN·$UW 2Ϳ H[KLbition, which featured both the LIMCAF ÀQDOLVWV DQG PHPEHUV RI WKH 3DQ $IULFDQ Circle of Artists (PACA), showed that this work—a product of his computational WKUHDG DUW³ZDV ZHOO UHFHLYHG E\ DÀFLRnados.

Visitors at an exhibition before Segun Victor's work Titled “Blinded by Sight”, the 24" X 24" artwork was produced in 2022 with thread, measuring PHWUHV DQG QDLOV RQ FDQYDV 7KLV WLWOH is the artist’s allusion to the limited capacity of man’s physical eye, which, like his other physical VHQVHV FDQ JUDVS DVSHFWV RI UHDOLW\ EXW QHYHU LWV entirety. “All that we get is an opinion, not a reality,” KH DUJXHG ´$OO WKDW ZH VHH LV D SHUVSHFWLYH QRW reality. True sight is in opening our inner awareness.

Consciousness makes awareness. This is being enlightened. In complete darkness, we are no GLͿHUHQW HLWKHU ZD\ 2XU NQRZOHGJH DQG ZLVGRP separate us. Things are not generally what they DSSHDU WR EH WKH ÀUVW DSSHDUDQFH PLVGLUHFWV PDQ\ WKH LQWHOOLJHQFH RI D IHZ SHUFHLYHV ZKDW KDV EHHQ carefully concealed.”

7KLV ZRUN ZKLFK LV VHW LQ ÀYH FLUFXODU IUDPHV XUJHV WKH YLHZHU WR VHH EHQHDWK WKH REYLRXV 7KH organs of the physical body, which act merely as mediators of the impressions of the outer world, DUH XQHTXLSSHG IRU ÀQHU YLEUDWLRQV +HQFH WKH ,ORULQ EDVHG DUWLVW EODPHV PDQ·V OLPLWHG YLVXDO perception and judgement for the wrong choices he makes.

$QRWKHU ZRUN D [ DFU\OLF RQ FDQYDV ZRUN WLWOHG 6XQVHW LV D SRUWUDLW RI D SHQVLYH OHDWKHU\ faced old woman, which alludes metaphorically to that stage in human earthly existence when this awareness of imminent mortality begins forcefully to assert itself. From childhood to adulthood, the earth-dwelling man has been haunted by grim reminders that his earthly life would one day end.

They whisper to him from old pictures, the sudden demise of old acquaintances and the passing of the years. But he would rather rush through his earthly life, closing his eyes and ears to the LQHYLWDEOH ZLWK QR WKRXJKW RI WKH PHDQLQJ RI life or what lies “after death.” ´:KHQ ZH DUH ZRUNLQJ ZH DUH WRR EXV\ VWUXJJOLQJ DQG KDQGOLQJ OLIH WR KDYH WLPH WR WKLQN DERXW death. If we still do not feel that the sun of life is VHWWLQJ ZH VKRXOG ORRN DW ROG SLFWXUHV +RZ PDQ\ SHRSOH LQ WKHP DUH VWLOO DOLYH" +RZ PDQ\ RI RXU IULHQGV KDYH ZH DFFRPSDQLHG RQ WKHLU ODVW WULS WR WKH FHPHWHU\" $V ZH EHFRPH DZDUH WKDW WKLV LV LW OLIH LV FRPLQJ WR DQ HQG ZH DVN RXUVHOYHV ZKDW OLIH LV DOO DERXW :KDW KDYH , GRQH DOO P\ OLIH" :KDW ZDV WKH SXUSRVH RI P\ OLIH"µ ,Q WKH SDLQWLQJ WKH ROG ZRPDQ VHHPV WR KDYH GLVFRYHUHG WKH DQVZHU WR WKHVH TXHVWLRQV $V WKH sun is about to set on her earthly life, she looks back with recognition to the things and moments that really mattered and the sand castles she spent her energetic years building.

Basically, Segun Victor’s art is powered by his belief in the interconnectedness of humanity. ´,Q P\ RZQ YLHZ , WKLQN ZH KDYH D ORW PRUH LQ FRPPRQ WKDQ WKH GLͿHUHQFHV DQG D ORW PRUH LV SRVVLEOH LI ZH FRXOG DOO FRPH WRJHWKHU WR DFKLHYH a common goal,” he adds.

In an extension of the metaphor of the work, “Blinded by Sight”, he explained that just as each thread contributes correctly or incorrectly to the RYHUDOO SLFWXUH VR GR KXPDQ DFWLYLWLHV UHÁHFW RQ ZRUOG HYHQWV Meanwhile, with determination and resilience, he confronts the challenges that confront him as a self-employed artist in Ilorin.

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

60

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24, 2022

ARTS & REVIEW\\POTPOURRI

Screen Out Loud Premieres Cesaria Evora Documentary, Launches Research Journal Yinka Olatunbosun

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t its debut festival, Screen Out /RXG D ÀOP RULHQWHG FXOWXUDO VWDSOH GRPLFLOHG DW $OOLDQFH Française, Ikoyi Lagos screened IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH LQ 1LJHULD WKH PLQXWH GRFXPHQWDU\ E\ $QD 6RÀD )RQVHFD WLWOHG &HVDULD (YRUD 7KH PRYLH is centred on the biographical account of the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that dark reality; she sunk deeper into depres VLRQ DQG DOFRKROLVP +HU VWRU\ DOVR DPSOLÀHV WKH LPSDFW RI D PXVLFLDQ V IDPH DQG ZHDOWK RQ KLV RU KHU PHQWDO KHDOWK DQG UDLVHV WKH TXHVWLRQ RI FRQVHUYDWRUVKLS When an artist is incapable of exercising good MXGJPHQW HVSHFLDOO\ ZKHUH VSHQGLQJ KLV LQFRPH LV FRQFHUQHG WKH ODZV LQ DGYDQFHG FRXQWULHV DOORZ D OHJDO JXDUGLDQ WR WDNH RYHU WKH DUWLVW V asset as seen in the case of British pop princess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ÀOPV RUJDQLVHG E\ 6FUHHQ 2XW /RXG 2Q -XO\ WKH DQLPDWLRQ

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Smart, Omovo Featuring at Nike Gallery’s Exhibition Yinka Olatunbosun

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24 , 2022

CICERO

Editor: Ejiofor Alike SMS: 08066066268 email:ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com

IN THE ARENA

As NLC, Others Attempt to Break ASUU’s Jinx The threat by the Nigeria Labour Congress to embark on a nationwide protest in solidarity with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities may be the panacea for the protracted strike by the university lecturers, Vanessa Obioha writes

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he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) last Sunday announced that it would embark on a nationwide protest on July 26 and 27 to compel the federal government to resolve the over five-month-old strike that has kept students in public universities at home. In a circular signed by its President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba and General Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Ugboaja, to its Chairpersons and Secretaries of State Councils, the union said the decision was in line with the resolutions of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the body on June 30.

The labour union had barely concluded the announcement when it received strong support from the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), which also promised that it would shut down the banks in the country.

Also, aviation workers’ unions led by the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) in separate statements said they would support the position of the NLC by shutting down the country’s airspace on July 26 and 27, 2022.

ASUU and other trade unions in the education sector have been on strike for more than five months over the alleged failure of the federal government to keep to the agreement entered with the unions. The union had accused the government of failing to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Memorandum of Action (MoA) signed by both parties.

The demands of the striking workers include funding of universities, as well as increasing salaries and earned allowances of lecturers.

The union is also protesting the government’s poor commitment to the payment of academic earned allowances and the continued use of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS). The lecturers are also unhappy with the refusal of the government to adopt the Universities Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), and curb the proliferation of universities in the country.

The three other unions that embarked on strike are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU); the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

ASUU has always maintained that the strike action was its last resort. It had on called on Nigerians to engage the federal government on issues it said are currently threatening the industrial peace in public universities. It had equally noted that the Nigerian government has refused to implement the MoA that led to the suspension of its nine-month prolonged strike in 2020.

Since the strike commenced, the federal government has not shown enough sincerity of purpose in addressing the issues raised by the striking teachers. It has continued to invent excuses

Wabba to explain its inability to meet ASUU’s demands.

Students mostly bear the brunt of the strike. Some of them have fallen victim to rape and other criminal activities in the country; and their youthful energies are wasted at home. Part of the consequences of these regular strike actions is the frequent disruptions in the academic calendars of universities. Programmes that are designed to run for four years sometimes run for five or six years for a student without a record of failure. It is worse for those whose courses run longer than four years. They end up staying on campus close to a decade. It is thus sheer agony when they finally graduate to join the labour force, given the fact that the entry-level age requirement for many graduate jobs is 26 years.

Stakeholders have also raised concerns about the incessant strike action, considering its heavy toll on the academic pursuit of students in public tertiary institutions. They had appealed to the government to dialogue with ASUU and resolve all outstanding issues amicably as well as honour all agreements reached with the union.

What could have been a sigh of relief when reports emerged on Tuesday that President Muhammadu Buhari gave a two-week ultimatum to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to end the impasse with varsity unions after meeting with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), was denied by the presidency.

But responding to the NLC, the federal government on Wednesday said its decision to embark on protests was unlawful. It claimed that the planned protest was a plot to create anarchy in the country.

Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, who briefed State House Correspondents after the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, claimed that the NLC was taking sides with ASUU and acting as a political party. He queried the right of the union to embark on the protest when it had no industrial dispute with the federal government.

When reminded that the prolonged strike had grounded academic activities in universities and was affecting the children of members of the NLC as well, the minister said government was equally worried. He argued that rather than call out a mass protest, the NLC should partner to find solution to the crisis.

“They are part of the tripartite agreement that have been negotiating with the federal government on this ASUU issue. So, why are they now going out to take sides? How does that solve the problem? What you are going to create is more anarchy. And I think the NLC should think twice about their proposed strike in solidarity with ASUU.” Also reacting, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, expressed concerns with plans by aviation sector unions to shut the airspace. He said grounding aviation sector assets as planned by the unions would compromise safety and security of air travellers and the country.

“I’m naturally concerned about this if the aviation union will shut down in support of ASUU. I would say they have no need to… this is democracy, you can push for demands but in pressing for demands you should be reasonable in doing so. So, civil aviation workers, I think should not be part of this. Yes, I am concerned and yes we’ve spoken to them and I don’t think they will join because they know that there’s huge responsibility of lives on their heads.

If you’re an air traffic controller, it involves national security; it involves the capability of preventing external aggression and so on so forth.” From the reaction of the federal government to the threat by the NLC, it is evident that government is worried. With the threat by the aviation unions and banks to join in solidarity, the government should now understand that the economy is under the threat and quickly address ASUU’s demands. Officials of the federal government play politics with ASUU’s demands simply because their own children are schooling in the best schools in the UK and United States.

Tackling the federal government, the NLC said it is well within its rights to protest against the continued stay of students at home, following failure of the authorities to reach an agreement with ASUU. It noted that all the four trade unions involved in the university strike are affiliates of NLC.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S Whose Interest is Gbajabiamila Serving on Water Resources Bill?

Gbajabiamila

In their desperate bid to pass the widely rejected Water Resources Bill, some lawmakers in the House of Representatives recently reintroduced the obnoxious legislation, claiming that they received the blessing of Southern governors and Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State. Ortom and his colleagues from the South had vowed never to allow the bill see the light of the day. But the Minister ofWater Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu and his allies at the National Assembly have embarked on relentless campaign to ensure that the bill is passed to secure river banks for foreign herdsmen and force Nigerians to pay taxes to the federal government like operators in the oil and gas industry, before they drill boreholes at their backyards.

Many Nigerians have described the bill as an evil plot by the federal government to take over the river banks

and allow herdsmen from other parts of Africa to take over lands especially in the southern and middle belt part of the country.

When the bill was reintroduced, Hon. Mark Gbillah (PDP, Benue), reminded his colleagues that most Nigerians rejected the bill the last time.

But the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said that governors contributed in the drafting of the new bill.

“Apparently it is a new bill that all the governors of the federation both south and north participated in this bill and I want to take him (chief promoter of the vexatious bill, Hon. Sada Soli (APC/Katsina), by his word,” he said.

Gbajabiamila disclosed that Benue State Governor, Ortom, also supported the bill.

“Like I said your governor (Samuel Ortom) was specifically mentioned as one of people that bought

into it,” the speaker added.

Also,responding,Solisaidtheminutesofthemeeting with the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) had been attached to the bill.

But reacting to the development, Ortom described as “evil” the re-introduction of Water Resources Bill at the National Assembly. Speaking at the flag-off of the distribution of seedlings in Makurdi, the governor decried what he described as the agenda of the federal government to seize land from the 36 states of the federation.

If one may ask, why is the same bill being introduced and reintroduced on the floor of the green chamber by legislators from Katsina State, President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state. What is its importance to the development of the country?”

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24 , 2022

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BRIEFINGNOTES With Election over, All Eyes on Ademola Adeleke to Perform Having received the mandate, which many believe was denied him in 2018, Osun State Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has tough tasks ahead to justify the confidence of his people, Ejiofor Alike reports

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fter the failed attempt by the police and the agents of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to nail him with an allegation of examination malpractices, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke last Saturday won a tough electoral battle to regain the mandate, which many believe was snatched from him in 2018.

According to the results announced by the Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the PDP governorship candidate polled 403,371 votes to defeat incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the APC, who scored 375,027 votes.

The results also showed that Mr. Kehinde Atanda of the ADP polled 10,104 votes; Akinade Ogunbiyi of Accord, 4,515 votes; Yussuff LasunofLP,2,729;AwojideSegunofAAC,2,148 votes; Ademola Adeseye of YPP, 1,303 votes; Awoyemi Lukuman of APM, 1,222 votes; and Ayowole Adedeji of PRP, 1,007 votes. Adeleke’s wide acceptability by the people of the state was manifested in his 403,371 votes, which are more than the combined 401,083 votes polled by the other 14 candidates. In all the previous elections he contested, Adeleke had always enjoyedtheoverwhelmingsupportofthepeople of the state. When he contested for the Osun West senatorial by-election in 2017 following the death of his elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, a former governor of the state, the APC leaders denied him the party’s senatorial ticket to complete his brother’s tenure.

But he crossed over to the PDP and defeated the candidate of the ruling APC in the state.

In 2018, he vied for the governorship position on the platform of the PDP with Oyetola of the APC but lost with less than 400 votes after a controversialrerunelection,whichmanybelieve was contrived by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rob him of victory.

When it was obvious that Adeleke was coasting home to victory in the main governorship election conducted on September 22, 2018, INEC had in a controversial circumstance, cancelled the results from seven polling units in four local government areas in the state, and ordered a rerun poll.

At the end of the rerun poll, the electoral umpire declared Oyetola winner, which was disputed by Adeleke who filed a petition before the tribunal challenging INEC’s declaration.

The tribunal had in a split decision of twoto-one, said it was satisfied that there was merit in the petition lodged by Adeleke and the PDP against INEC’s use of the outcome of a supplementary governorship election held on September 27, 2018, to declare Oyetola winner.

Ad l k Adeleke The tribunal, in a lead ruling that was delivered by Justice Peter Obiora noted that all the parties agreed to the fact that it was the State Returning Officer that cancelled the initial election.

The tribunal held that the State Returning Officer acted beyond the power that was allocated to him under the Electoral Act when he voided results and ordered supplementary election in the affected areas.

It described the cancellation as unlawful and ultra-vires of his powers.

According to the tribunal, the onus was on Presiding Officers in polling units where the alleged electoral infractions took place, to cancel the result and report same to Ward Collation Officers.

The tribunal invalidated the outcome of the re-run election on the premise that it was not conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended.

It deducted votes that were credited to both PDP and APC in those units and declared Adeleke winner.

The tribunal also took a swipe at INEC

after it confirmed that there were alterations in Certified True Copies of result sheets (Form EC8A), which were issued to the petitioners and tendered in evidence.

It observed that the figures in the said CTCs were different from what were contained in the signed pink/duplicate copies that were handed to party agents at the end of the governorship election.

However, while the third member of the panel, Justice Ayinla Gbolagunte, concurred with the lead judgment, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, disagreed with the verdict, insisting that the rerun was valid.

When Oyetola appealed the tribunal’s judgment, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja set aside the judgment of the tribunal.

Deliveringtheleadjudgment,JusticeHannatu Sankey set aside the entire proceedings of the tribunal because of its ‘faulty composition’.

Whiletheleadjudgmentbyfourjudgesupheld Oyetola’s appeal, Justice George Mbanmba gave a dissenting judgment in favour of Adeleke.

But the majority judgment was on technical grounds – the judges argued that the lead judgment of the tribunal was delivered by Justice

Peter Obiora who did not participate fully in the proceedings of the tribunal.

It was on the same technical grounds that the disgraced former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad and other justices at the Supreme Court upheld Oyetola’s victory.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Bode Rhode-Vivour, the Supreme Court held that the appellate court was right to nullify the judgment of the tribunal because Justice Obiora was absent at the tribunal on February 6, when two witnesses, Ayoola Soji and Oladejo Kazeem, testified for the respondents.

Muhammad and three other Justices: Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Amiru Sanusi and Uwani Aba-Aji, concurred with the lead verdict But two other membersof thepanel, Justices Kumai Akaahs and Paul Galinje, maintained that Adeleke won the election and ought to have been declared winner.

In his dissenting judgment, Justice Akaahs accused INEC of partisanship, saying it failed to act as an unbiased umpire.

Despite all efforts to suppress the people’s will, Adeleke contested again in 2022 and emerged victorious. He won in 17 of the 30 council areas while the governor won in 13 councils. Having demonstrated overwhelming confidence in Adeleke in a consistent manner, the people of the state cannot afford to be disappointed by the governor-elect.

A statement issued last Monday by his spokesman, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, maintained that the governor-elect was committed to his five-point agenda, including payment of arrears of workers’ salaries, pensions and gratuities.

Olawale reiterated that Adeleke would never renege on the promises he made during his campaign.

The governor-elect has since unveiled his agenda where he pledged to create programmes of action meant to boost productivity as a way of increasing the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and reviving the agricultural glory of the state, especially in cocoa production.

He also pledged to boost youth empowerment through the introduction of Small and Medium Enterprises schemes, and trainings on agricultural opportunities.

On issue of insecurity, Adeleke said he would also introduce community policing across communities in the state.

To revamp the educational sector, he promised to address the infrastructure, learning environment of the children and also encourage teachers.

On the issue of healthcare, Adeleke promised to revamp both primary and secondary health care infrastructural facilities.

Indeed, all eyes are on Adeleke to use the mandate to sustain the good name of the Adeleke family.

NOTES FOR FILE

Complicity in Turbaning of Bandits’ Leader in Zamfara?

Usman

WhentheKadunaStateGovernor,MallamNasirEl-Rufai, recentlysaidthatsecurityagenciesknowthelocationof thebanditswreakinghavocinthestate,buthasrefusedto bombtheirhideouts,manyNigeriansdidnotunderstand what he was talking about.

Hewasvindicatedlastweekwhennewsbrokethatthe Emir ofYandoton Daji, Aliyu Marafa, has made a wanted terrorist,AdamuYankuzo,whoisalsoknownasAdaAleru, the Sarkin Fulani of the emirate.

The news simply broke the hearts of many Nigerians becauseinJune,theKatsinaStatePoliceCommanddeclared the47-year-oldAleru wantedandplacedabountyofN5 million on him – dead or alive. The suspect is accused of beinganotoriousleaderofgroupsofbanditsterrorising communities in Katsina and Zamfara states.

Days before he was declared wanted by the police,

AlerureportedlyledagroupofbanditstoattackKadisau villageonJune9.Thearmedmen,numberingover200and armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded the village onmotorbikes.Atleast20villagerswerekilledwithmany others left injured during the attack.

EventheKatsinaStatePoliceCommandspokesman, GamboIsah,whilespeakingonlastMonday,confirmedthat Aleru is still on wanted list in the state. According to him, Aleru is also wanted for the killing of over 100 residents of Kadisau village in Faskari LGA of the state.

What shocked many Nigerians is that turbaning ceremonywasattendedbytheZamfaraStateCommissioner forSecurityandHomeAffairs,MammanTsafe;security advisertothegovernor,AbubakarDauran;TsafeLGChairman,AminuMudi,andrepresentativesoftheinformation commissioner, district heads and other traditional title

holdersandgovernmentofficials.Aleruwasevensited withapoliceorderlyinapictureoftheeventthatwent viral.

ThisclearlyconfirmsEl-Rufai’soutburstthatsecurity agenciesindeedknowsomeoftheterroristandyethave refused to arrest them or take them out for Nigerians to have peace.

SincethenewsofAleru’scoronationbroke,Nigerians havenotheardthathehasbeenarrestedbythepolice.

WouldtheInspectorGeneralofPolicestillsaythathis men don’t know where he is?

WhattheInspectorGeneralofPolice,UsmanBaba is interested in is the arrest of a singer, Portable, for mere saying that he is in control of one million boys.

ButbanditswhohavekilledhundredsofNigeriansare beingrewardedwithchieftancytitlesinfullpublicglare.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24 , 2022

CICERO/REPORT

Maikyau

Can Maikyau Restore NBA’s Lost Glory?

AsthenewexecutivesledbyYakubuMaikyautake over the leadershipof the Nigerian Bar Association, it is expected that they will hit the ground running and restore the lost glory to the revered association, Alex Enumah writes

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he Osun State governorship election which was held last weekend overshadowed the election conducted in Abuja by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to elect the officials that would run its affairs for the next two years.

In the election held virtually, Yakubu Maikyau, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), emerged as the 31st president of the association.

The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Professor Ayodele Akintunde (SAN), while announcing the result of the poll, said Maikyau polled a total of 22,342 votes to defeat his closest rival, Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), who scored 10,842 votes.Taidi Jonathan came a distant third with 1,373 votes.

Akintunde disclosed that the records of 59,388 out of a total of 59,392 eligible voters on the NBA database were okayed to vote. He added that while 1,346 emails that were sent out to some of the eligible voters bounced back, 34,809 lawyers, representing 58.61 per cent of the membership strength of the association, participated in the election that was conducted electronically.

The SAN stated that some of the common complaints the Electoral Committee Secretariat received included the inability of some lawyers to correctly input their Supreme Court Number (SCN) as instructed, wrong/invalid

contact information, no voting links, as well as multiple email reminders.

Other national officers elected are Mrs Linda Bala – 1st Vice President, Mr Clement Ugo – 2nd Vice President, and Mrs Amanda Demechi-Asagba – 3rd Vice President.

Also elected are Mr. Adesina Adegbite – General Secretary, Mr. Daniel Kip Ka-Ayli – Assistant General Secretary, Ms Chinyere Obasi – National Welfare Secretary, Mr. Habeeb Lawal – National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olawole Ajiboye – Assistant Publicity Secretary, and Anze-Bishop Ladidi –Treasurer.

Twenty lawyers were equally elected as members of the NBA General Counsel to represent the western, eastern, and northern zones.

In his acceptance speech, the NBA president-elect Maikyau urged all those who lost to join his team to make the association better. He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to leverage the technology the NBA deployed in the conduct of its elections to achieve smooth, credible, free and fair general election in 2023.

He added that online technology enabled the participation of a very large number of the NBA, who did not need to

travel from one point to another or even gather in a spot, as people cast their votes at their convenience within the time slated for the ballot.

In his victory speech, Maikyau said his administration would be transparent, promote the rule of law, and protect human rights in the country. He promised that the NBA during his tenure would speak truth to power and promote the rule of law and protect human rights.

He sought the cooperation of all contenders in the election for the greater good of lawyers in Nigeria. “I extend my hand of fellowship to those who took part in the process as contestants, let us put our hand on the plough to cultivate the fertile land of the NBA,” he said.

He lauded the outgoing president of the NBA, Olumide Akpata, for his quality leadership of the NBA in the last two years.

On his part, the outgoing President of the NBA, Akpata, commended the members of the NBA electoral committee for their hard work to ensure the success of the election.

He advised those that lost in the election to accept the results in good faith in the overall interest of the NBA. Akpata, whose tenure expires on August 26, said the NBA has mandated its Public Interest Litigation Committee to approach the INEC to verify an allegation that it allowed the

substitution of names of candidates that did not participate in the primary election of their political parties.

With his victory, Maikyau is expected to take over the leadership of the legal body from the outgoing Akpata on August 26.The presidentelect no doubt is coming to take over the NBA at a time the association is at its lowest ebb. He, however, promised that under his watch, the association would promote the rule of law, and protect human rights in the country.

Maikyau, who is from Kebbi State, was born on February 6, 1965. He obtained a bachelor of law (LLB) degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State in 1989, and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

He was called to the Nigerian bar on December 12, 1990. After completing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in 1991, the senior advocate went into private law practice and joined the law firm of Messrs. Danladi Bamaiyi and Company in Sokoto, where he spent about 12 years and rose to become the head of chambers.

In 2003, he founded his law firm – Y. C. Maikyau & Co. – with offices in Abuja, Sokoto and Kebbi states. He attended the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London, between 2013 and 2014 where he obtained a diploma in International Commercial Arbitration, and was subsequently admitted as a fellow of the Institute (FCIArb) in September 2014. In November 2021, he was admitted as a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (FICMC).

As the new executive takes over the leadership of the NBA next month, it is expected that it would restore the lost glory to the revered association. Many Nigerians still remember with nostalgia the era when the likes of Alao Aka-Bashorun and other activists were the President of the NBA and the vibrancy they brought to the association. In the last seven years, many Nigerians would argue that they have not been feeling the impact and vibrancy the NBA is known for.

Many look forward to seeing an association that would not only speak truth to power and promote the rule of law and protect human rights in the country but an association that would make the government of the day and the people think twice before they act.

In the last seven years, so many unimaginable things and events have happened both in the judiciary and society that have made Nigerians wonder if there is still an NBA.The government of the day has not only trampled on rights but ridiculed court judgments, and the constitution; harassed and intimidated judges to the consternation of the people without any strong resistance from the NBA other than the mere issuance of press statements.

This is why many observers feel that the last time they saw the Aka-Bashorun kind of vibrancy in the NBA was when the likes ofWole Olanipekun (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) were presidents of the association.

“It’s so sad for Nigeria, all the pressure groups we grew up knowing how they stood up to the government, defending the rights of the people, be they NBA, NLC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN, etc, have all been hijacked by incompetent and inactive people, thereby relegating these bodies to the background.They have all lost their voices because they are all pursuing personal agenda instead of a better society for all,” said a lawyer who spoke toTHISDAY on account of anonymity.

Another senior lawyer also revealed to THISDAYthus: “The NBA officials we have in recent times are very disappointing. Most of them are vying for these positions for personal aggrandizements.

“They have turned the NBA into a fashion show. An association that is usually a serious organ that should be a major weapon in the fight for the protection of the common man. Its main reason for existence should be the protection of the sanctity of the judiciary. Even in that area, it has failed Nigerians woefully.

Despite the enthusiasm that greeted Maikyau’s election, many feel he is largely unknown in the legal profession and is wondering if he would give the NBA the strong voice it was known for.The association over the years has been in the vanguard of promoting the rule of law and the entrenchment of good governance in Nigeria. It also acts as the voice of the voiceless and the watchdog that barks when things go against order and bites when necessary.

Observers are also wondering if his presidency would be able to reconcile the growing divisions in the legal profession and the deep quest for the salvaging of ethics among lawyers.

The days ahead would certainly be the judge.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24 , 2022

CICERO /REPORT

Okowa

Shettima

Baba-Ahmed

2023: How Choice of Running Mates ZLOO ,QÁXHQFH 3UHVLGHQWLDO &RQWHVW With the presidential candidates of the three of the major political parties unveiling their running mates, the battle has now shifted to how their choices will influence the contest, Ejiofor Alike writes

A

fter days of dithering procrastination, the three major political parties in the country have now unveiled the identities of their running mates.

The gap in the completion of the exercise opened up the new political lexicon of placeholder in the country after two of the three major parties initially filed in placeholders to hold the positions of running mates after the emergence of their presidential candidates.

Senator BolaTinubu who emerged as the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) pushed forward Alhaji Ibrahim Masari as his placeholder before finally unveiling Senator Kashim Shettima from Borno State as his running mate.

Mr. Peter Obi of Labour Party had on his part pushed forward the director general of his campaign, Dr. Doyin Okupe as the placeholder before finally unveiling Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed from Kaduna State as his running mate.

Senator Rabiu Kwankwanso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) which draws its strength from his local base in Kano did not announce a placeholder and has forged on with Ladipo Johnson from Lagos State as his running mate.

But on Thursday, Kwankwaso announced a Lagos cleric, Archbishop Isaac Idahosa, from Edo State as his new running mate in the 2023 general election The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) unarguably the major opposition party also did not have to announce a placeholder as the candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had within one week of his emergence announced Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.

With all four major parties now having announced their line-up for the contest, the focus is now being put on the synergies the combinations could bring to the contest.

Tinubu and Shettima The announcement of Senator Kashim Shettima as the APC vice-presidential candidate has been swallowed by the controversies over the religious slant of the ticket with several political stakeholders and religious leaders fuming over the decision.

In going for Shettima, Tinubu was believed to have gone against the unwritten agreement with the party’s northerngovernorstoproduceoneofthemashisrunning mate. That agreement it was gathered, was reached in the days leading to APC’s presidential primaries.

The initial decision to field Masari as a placeholder it wasgathered,wasmainlyonaccountofthepressurethat came upon Tinubu after he emerged as the candidate despite his long-held preference for Shettima.

Just as they were divided over the choice of a presidential candidate, the governors were also divided over the choice of a running mate.

THISDAY gathered that the pressure that was mounted from sponsored groups and a section of

the presidency in favour of the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was about the most pressing on Tinubu.

Remarkably, those who had an insight into Tinubu’s plan to push forward Shettima had tried to truncate that plan by talking the APC presidential candidate into picking the popular governor of Borno State, Prof.

Babagana Zulum as a running mate.

It was undoubtedly a very irresistible choice given the popularity of the governor as a performer and the populism that he has engendered through some of his actions.

It was based on the development that Zulum following the APC primaries that returned him as the governorship candidate on May 26 ruled himself out of running for the position of presidential running mate despite offers that were reportedly made to him.

Following his primaries victory, he said: “Let me reveal with apologies, that some close associates of key Presidential aspirants have sent me offers for the position of running mate, as possible Vice President, depending on the outcome of the APC Presidential primaries by the weekend.”

“I have thought deeply about these offers because becoming Vice President is considered attractive. I have thought about all the powers and privileges of being VP. I can see the honour of presiding over meetings attended by Governors and Ministers, and the privilege of having a Presidential Jet at one’s disposal.

I can see the honour of Presidential receptions within and outside Nigeria.”

“However, I have asked myself, that should I get the opportunity to become VP and raise my political profile, what happens to all our ongoing works for the people of Borno State?”

The governor’s decision to reject the offers was in part seen as an attempt not to hamper the chances of his political godfather, Shettima who plucked him from the world of academia into the political terrain.

With Zulum out of the way, the options according to sources remained between El-Rufai and Shettima.

El-Rufai was a long shot for Tinubu especially given the past animosity between the two chieftains of the APC. THISDAY reported that El-Rufai had gone to the extent not too long ago to urge residents of Lagos to dethroneTinubu as their political godfather, prescribing the formula he said he used in dethroning the godfathers he met in Kaduna.

Remarkably, because the governors were not united behind El-Rufai, it was only a waiting game for Tinubu to unveil Shettima as his running mate. However, that choice has now been swallowed by the discontent among many Christians who have accused the APC leader of polarising the country along religious lines to achieve his life ambition.

It is a charge that indeed poses serious challenge for Tinubu. Key associates of the APC presidential candidate have openly rebelled.

Babachir Lawal, a long-time associate ofTinubu’s has decried the Muslim-Muslim ticket as a prescription for rebellion. He has also bombed the personality chosen

by Tinubu as unfit.

There are many who feel that Tinubu had a wide range of Christian leaders to choose from among Northern leaders but as Lawal said, Tinubu appears to have been trapped by some Northern governors and other politicians pushing an Islamic agenda.

Not only Northern Christians have been revolted by the choice. Some southern allies of the APC candidate have also taken a walk.

It is now feared that rather than project him positively, that the choice made by Tinubu could snowball into an open rebellion against him in the South.

Atiku-Okowa Just like Tinubu, the choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State by Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate as his running mate was shadowed with controversy.

The fact that multiple committees were conceived

by Atiku and the PDP leadership to come up with a running mate led to the controversy of two recommendations: Nyesom Wike who was recommended by a panel of some party leaders and Ifeanyi Okowa who was recommended by another panel constituted

by Atiku.

Atiku stuck to Okowa. Many in the party were not initially happy about the decision but to the shock of many, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has welcomed Okowa acclaiming him as their son. Okowa also acknowledged on ARISE NEWS Channel that he is Igbo.

What, however, would have easily been considered as a major gain for Atiku and Okowa now has the form of threat from the Obi movement.

With the challenge from Obi, those sympathetic to the Atiku-Okowa joint ticket have now gone to showcase the Delta State governor’s achievements in office in the areas of peace and human capital development.

Apart from Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Niger Delta Peace Initiative (NDPI) have also hailed Okowa in his efforts in stabilising cordiality among the different ethnic groups in Delta State, has urged him to bring the same magic wand to the country as vice-president.

While applauding his nomination as the PDP presidential running mate in a statement, the group in a statement affirmed that there could not have been a better choice in terms of peace and security among contemporaries of the governor.

Aftertheinitialhiccupsthataroseafterthenomination of the Delta governor, peace is gradually returning to the party on the issue especially given the limitations for Wike who many say would be averse to joining the APC where his former friend-turned- foe, Rotimi Amaechi holds sway in Rivers State.

The permutations on Okowa as running mate are also

being helped by the credentials he brings as governor in the realm of promoting peace in a multicultural setting like Delta State.

As the first governor from the Igbo speaking section of Delta North, the governor has against expectation and even the records of his predecessors successfully put the once hostile relationship between the different ethnic groups in the state at bay.

It is thus instructive that the NPDI in its endorsement of Okowa’s nomination encouraged him to go forth and replicate the same peace formula at the national level.

The charge is especially significant given what many see as the poor management of the diversity by the outgoing APC government.

As the group said in a press statement issued by its national coordinator, Emma Ekpe: “We note Dr Ifeanyi Okowa’s management of the diversity of Delta State which has made all major tribes in Delta to feel most of the people of the state to feel at home in allocation and utilization of the resources available to the state.

“It is salutary to note that before his time that the major ethnic groups in the state were particularly suspicious of one another, but today after seven years the governor has succeeded in breaking down the wall of suspicion and bringing a sense of equity across the three senatorial zones and diverse ethnic groups in the state.”

“We remember that barely three months into office he inaugurated the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council headed by Professor Sam Oyovbaire.

“The work of that committee and other initiatives were key to the sustenance of the peace that has made ethnic acrimony a thing of the past in Delta State.

“We thus charge Dr Okowa to apply the same formula at the national level in assisting Atiku Abubakar in putting to silence the ghosts of ethnic, religious and other issues that have fanned criminality in Nigeria.

“We are hopeful that his record in Delta can be positively applied at the national level and with it the restoration of peace in the country,” the group said in urging Okowa.

Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed The emergence of Baba-Ahmed has amazed many.

Undoubtedly, the speeches he has made, the deep insights he has shared, and the policy failures of the APC-led government could deepen interest in the Labour Party, especially in the North.

However,thereareemergingissueswithBaba-Ahmed, including the fact that he was once very close to Buhari.

Manywouldwanthimtocomeopenontherelationship he had with the outgoing president and what led him to move away from Buhari after winning a Senate seat in 2011 on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24, 2022

GAVEL

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Editor: Ejiofor Alike SMS: 08066066268 email:ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com

Will Senate’s Bill to Boost Power See the Light of Day? Udora Orizu writes that in a renewed effort to resolve the challenges in the power sector, the Senate has passed the Electricity Bill, 2022 to allow states generate and distribute power

Senate chamber

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embersoftheSenateattheplenary last week passed the Electricity Bill, 2022 to allow states generate and distribute power. The bill will allow the federal government to license investors who intend to operate mini-grid within the state as against the initial situation where electricity was on the Concurrent List in the Constitution.

The poor performance of Nigeria’s power sector, resulting in unstable electricity supply and frequent grid collapse has long been seen by citizens as evidence of the ineffectiveness of the successive governments.

Over the past decades, successive governments have struggled to tackle the country’s energy deficit by maintaining a monopoly in power provision. But despite billions of Naira spent annually on electricity, there’s little or no improvement to show for it.

The national and states’ assemblies through enactment of various legislations have tried to solve the power sector problems.

Just like the Senate, the House of Representatives on its part had considered several bills on the Nigerian power sector, with public hearings on the bills held by relevant committees in the green chamber. Some of the bills include, Electric Power Sector Reform Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020 – HB 681, Electric Power Sector Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021 HB 1528, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2019 –HB 657, Energy Commission of Nigeria Act (Amendment) Bill, 2019 –HB 243, National Renewable Energy Development Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2021 –HB 1241, and Energy Commission of Nigeria (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

So bad has the power situation in Nigeria become that last week the Edo State House of Assembly, passed a bill to repeal the Rural Electricity Board Law of 1972 to re-enact a new law that makes provision

for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity for the residents of Edo State, paving the way for the establishment of an electricity market in the state was passed by the lawmakers.

The lawmakers unanimously adopted all six parts of the bill during a session of the committee of the whole on July 19, 2022.The Speaker, Hon. Marcus Onobun, directed the assembly’s Clerk to forward clean copies of the bill for assent to Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The passed bill provides for the liberalisation of the electricity market in the state to allow for a more pragmatic approach to rural electrification and expansion of distribution infrastructure in the state.

Similarly, earlier this year, a bill to reform the Delta State electric power sector passed second reading at the state House of Assembly. The proposed legislation was sponsored by Anthony Elekeokwuri (PDP-Ika North East) and 26 other PDP lawmakers.

Meanwhile, the Senate’s Electricity Bill, which scaled through second reading on September 28, 2021 was subjected to a two-day public hearing held from February 28, to March 1, 2022.

The hearing was well attended by major stakeholders in the power sector, including the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET), Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Distribution Companies (DisCos), Generation Companies (GenCos), among others.

However, in a letter to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Gabriel Suswam, the governors of the 36 states faulted the bill. They particularly criticised a provision

empowering the power minister to head all the relevant agencies.

The forum described the legislation as unconstitutional, saying that “electricity” is not an exclusive federal matter, but it is rather guided by the provisions of the Concurrent Legislative List.

In the letter signed by the NGF Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, and addressed to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, the governors noted that the reality of the states as key partners in the achievement of universal electricity access by all Nigerians must not only be accepted by the federal government but must be legislated by the National Assembly.

They, therefore, called for a close collaboration between the NGF, the National Assembly and the Federal Executive Council in charting a new and productive path towards bringing energy security to the country.

On his part, the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu at the public hearing, decried the dilution of some of the supervisory powers, saying that it rather needs to be strengthened.

He described the bill as a quantum leap in the right direction and presents the nation with a new paradigm to accelerate generation through diversification of the power sector to accommodate cleaner renewable energy sources in our energy mix.

The bill’s passage last week was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Committee on Power.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Suswam (PDP, Benue North East), in his presentation, said the bill seeks to, amongst others, provide an ideal legal and institutional framework to leverage on the modest gains of the privatisation phase of the electricity power sector in Nigeria.

Suswam noted that the bill would stimulate policy and regulatory measures to scale up efficient power

generation, transmission and distribution capabilities of the sector; as well as address technological limitations and outdated infrastructure that are responsible for value chain loses.

He added that when signed into law, the bill would improve utilisation of generated power through increased investments in new technologies to enhance transmission and distribution of generated power to minimise aggregate value chain loses.

He said, “The bill, when signed into law, will open up the space in the power industry and allows states or individuals with capacities to generate their own power and distribute. Since electricity is on the Concurrent List in the constitution, the bill has allowed state governments to license people who intend to operate mini grid within the state.

“The bill also gives legal backing to renewable energy.

If you decide to generate one megawatt of power using solar as energy source, that is also provided for. That is the only way the power problem would be solved. The space is now opened. There is little restriction as to who will generate power and distribute.

What is obtainable now is that any power generated must be put on the national grid for transmission and distribution. The bill also provides that any power generated below one megawatt does not require license to distribute.”

The Senate President, Lawan, in his remarks after the passage of the bill, said, “because of its importance and sensitivity, we would like to see a quick concurrence by the House of Representatives, because time is of essence as far as Nigeria is concerned when you “So, we would like to see that this bill is fully processed in the National Assembly and sent to the Executive side of government for the consideration for assent by Mr. President. We believe that this piece of legislation can change the fortunes of the electricity industry in Nigeria for the better.”

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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 24 , 2022

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INTERNATIONAL NIIA’s Roundtable on Insecurity in Nigeria: The Neglected Aspect of the Profound Causal Factors

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he Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) held an interesting online roundtable on‘Insecurity in Nigeria’on Friday, 15th July, 2022 from 4pm to 6pm.

The meeting was quite interesting, from the perspective of the many leading scholars and professionals involved.ThelikesofGeneralIsholaWilliams,Professors Femi Otubanjo, Attahiru Jega, Rotimi Suberu, Richard Joseph, Akin Osuntokun, Peter Lewis, Efem Ubi, Taiye Simbine, Habu Mohammed, Balogun M.J, Isa Salami, Ebenezer Obadare, Mojubaolu Okome, etc, all seasoned academic and practitioners, were not only there, but also took active parts in the discussion.

The roundtable was also interesting from the perspective of the time limitation of five- minute rule given to the panellists but which none of them respected. If the NIIA Director General, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, of the NIIA condoned the disregard for his own rule, it might bebecauseofthepertinentpointsofsubmissionwhichwouldbeuseful for policy purposes. And more notably, the roundtable was important becauseofthetopicalityofthethemeandtechnicalmanagementofthe meeting which was free from interconnectivity challenges. Presenters addressed the subject from a multidimensional approach, but mostly from theoretical perspectives.What is noteworthy about the meeting is that there was a near consensus on the deepening situational reality of insecurityinNigeria,whichtheGovernmentofNigeriahaslittlecapacity to contain was never in dispute. What was in dispute is how best to address the containment of insecurity in Nigeria.

Without doubt, insecurity in Nigeria, be it considered from the angle of social insecurity, state insecurity, or humanitarian insecurity, and even insecurity of public administration, is currently threatening Nigeria’s political unity and integration. Insecurity is now more complex. Boko Haram’s insurrection in the North East, which reportedly had been technically neutralised but which, in truth, has apparently resurfaced as armed bandits in the Northwest; kidnapping and train-jacking, Fulani herdsmen and farmers hostilities; open-day armed robberies and Nigerian government’s terror. In fact electoral insecurity, arising from terror of thuggery and open vote buying, with the acquiescence of the law enforcement agents, is more of a threat to political stability, good governance, peace and security, than the use of violence or the error of terror government. In all these cases, it is noteworthy that the profound causal factors of insecurity in Nigeria were not adequately addressed at the roundtable.

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

The Roundtable TheholdingoftheroundtablecoincidedwithPresidentMuhammadu Buhari(PMB)’scallatthegraduationof247studentsoftheSeniorCourse 44 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. Kaduna State.

PMBnotedinhiscallthat‘mostofthesecuritychallengesfacingtheworld todayarebothasymmetricandtrans-borderinnature,involvingmainly non-state actors in different regions and sub-regions of the world.’More important, PMB directed the military‘to confront these terrorists and insurgents and wipe them off the face of the earth and bring peace to our countries… Combating these prevalent security threats effectively demand that African countries continued to work together at all levels, be it tactical, operational and strategic.’

The directive is interesting because of its meaninglessness. Many are the times PMB had instructed the military to cut all the feathers of the Boko Haram, but all the instructions have been to no avail. As a matter of fact, the Boko Haramists have always and promptly responded to PMB’s instructions with more serious attacks on innocent citizens. At best, PMB’s instructions have remained manifestations of braggadocio.

Besides, terrorism, right from its 1789 French Revolution origin, through theintroductionofletterandparcelbombsandskyjacking,tokidnapping forransom,ithasbeendifficulttosuppressterrorism,despitethesigning of many international conventions on terrorism and counter-terrorism.

This is again in spite of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1368 of 12 September 2021, which declared international terrorism as a threat to international peace and security.’If the global community has not been able to nip terrorism in the bud for centuries, it is not PMB’s instructions that can do the magic simply because Nigeria lacks the capacity, which is one of the issues generally discussed at the zoom meeting.

The roundtable can be explained and understood at three complementary levels, analytical framework, issues addressed, and the way forward. As regards analytical framework, Professor Richard Joseph, who kick-started the conversation, adopted the medical diagnostic method to make the understanding of the issues and the problematic easy to understand.

Asheputit,heaskedeveryonetoimagineasituationofanemergency

in which case a sick person is rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention.What the doctor will normally do is to first seek stabilisation of the patient. After stabilisation, the doctor must find out what the causal factors of the emergency or the ailment prompting the rush to the hospital.When the cause of the ailment is diagnosed and known, the level of prescription of treatment and courseoftreatmentthencomesin.Andfinally,thedoctorwillneed to work out the long-term rehabilitation agenda for the patient.

Professor Richard Joseph cannot be more correct based on this framework of analysis except that, at the level of diagnosis of an ailment, there can be very serious implications if the diagnosis is faulty. In some cases of medical diagnosis, there have been wrong diagnoses, leading to wrong prescriptions and unnecessary loss of innocent lives.This can be true in the case of failing states. Most of the submissions at the roundtable relied heavily on Professor Richard Joseph’s framework. As much as I also share the goodness in the framework of analysis, the framework does not enable the profoundcausalfactorsofinsecurityinNigeriatobeunderstoodand without which there cannot be an enduring solution to insecurity in Nigeria.

Rightly, Professor Richard Joseph, in the context of Nigeria, raised the issue of stabilisation, which he said is most urgent. He raised both the State Responsibility to Protect and International Responsibility to Protect (IR2P) to which Nigeria is a signatory both of which underscore the responsibility of states to protect their citizens, responsibility of other states to assist whenever they are called upon to do so, and when situations of insecurity become so dire, the international community owes it a responsibility to intervene, and not simply interfering. Intervention involves the use of force while interference is limited to use of diplomacy.

True, IR2P deals more specifically with crimes against humanity, genocidal crimes, ethnic cleansing and war crimes. It is not a rule of customary international law. In fact, apart from its application

Consequently, in terms of quo vadis, opinion of the roundtable is mixed. Four main points were agreed to: doctrine of responsibility to protect; stabilisation of the polity and determining who its drivers are; establishment of State Police Force; and ensuring political will. Other points of agreement were the need to address Nigeria’s porous borders, institutional neglect, capacity development, societal lawlessness, restoring community spirit, and avoiding Srilankanisation of Nigeria. In this regard, the doctrine of responsibility requires ensuring security.

Security cannot be ensured without commitment of which political will is the foundation. Political will only exists when there is objectivity of purpose. Political governance in Nigeria is not predicated on any objectivity of purpose for various reasons: PMB’s Fulanisation agenda which is defined by policies of open grazing, cattle colony, Ruga Colony and Water Resources bill all of which are being vehemently contested by many states, especially in the South and the Middle Belt. For as long as the Government is seeking Fulani hegemony, Islamisation agenda and using brute force or manu militari, peace and security cannot but remain a dream. This is the neglected aspect of the NIIA zoom meeting and which requires more attention

“

“

Onyeama

in 2011 to contain the excesses of Muammar Gaddafi, the principle has not been of general application. Consequently, the extent to which the international responsibility of Nigeria can be called to question is still very limited.

Ontheseobservations,eventhoughProfessorRichardJosephcannot be more correct, particularly on the urgent need to stabilise Nigeria, we strongly believe that, on the issue of determination of the causal factors of insecurity in Nigeria, there is a missing point and that is the neglect of the profound causal factors. In this regard, Professor Bola A. Akinterinwa addressed the theme from the perspective of polemology in which he distinguished between and among profound causal factors, accidental causal factors, catalytic causal factors, and the remedial factors. Professor Akinterinwacontendedthatthevarioussubmissionsfellunderaccidental and catalytic factors and therefore arguing that no recommendation will be good enough to nip insecurity in the bud without firstly and aappropriately addressing the profound causal factors (see below).

As regards the main issues discussed at the zoom meeting, stabilizattion, fears of a possible Srilankanisation of Nigeria, that is the option of p public revolt, the neglect of institutions, bad governance and conscious promotion of Islamisation and Fulanisation, which is responsible for the p order and counter-order, amounting to disorder in the country, were o rraised for discussion.

And more concernedly in this regard, Chief Akin Osuntokun argued aalong the profound causes by drawing attention to PMB’s security aarchitecture which is largely driven by nepotism to the extent that whenever any fresh appointment is to be made by the president is w quite predictable. Chief Osuntokun said Nigeria had lost her sense and q sspirit of community and that the reasons being given for insecurity in Nigeria were irrelevant.

N He referred to the maiden edition of the Fulani cultural festival held at tthe Abuja headquarters of the Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, a Fulani socioccultural association, on 5th June 2022. At the festival, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, tthe President of the association, said‘we know our friends and enemies aand we will act at the right time.’He also said members of the Miyetti Allah ‘have been cheated, denied all the necessary opportunities for A good life and education, and this time, our sources of livelihood are g being targeted. Obviously, we have been pushed to the wall, hence b tthe justification for the recent display of anger by our people. It’s left for tthe government to do the needful.’ But who are the friends and who aare the enemies?What was the right time to act? In any case, the Fulani ffestival was held on the eve of the massacre of Christians who were worshipping at the Francis Catholic Church in Owo. This underscores w tthepointofanIslamo-Fulaniagendaandsanctionsagainsttheenemies of the Miyetti Allah.

ProfessorAttahiruJegaremindedthatthemoreonesees,thelessone also understands, and therefore, whatever recommendations that are made cannot but be difficult.While admitting the recommendation of Professor Richard Joseph that the insecurity situation in Nigeria requires an urgent stabilisation, he asked what he called a big question: if Nigeria needs stabilisation, who are the would-be drivers of the stabilisation?

He also asked when the stabilisation agenda will begin.

While Professor Mojubaolu Okome discussed insecurity in Nigeria in the context of human insecurity, especially in terms of no human respect of human life and dignity by the law enforcement agents, non-payment of legitimate taxes to lawful authorities, inability of the military to meaningfully address the problem, she also cautioned the Government of Nigeria to seek to avoid the Srilanka option. Professor Femi Otubanjo explained the insecurity situation in the same vein. He said Nigeria has become an agglomeration of lawlessness in various ramifications. Many are the ungoverned spaces and so many are the criminalcasesbeggingforattentionandprosecution.Mostunfortunately, the perpetrators are left to frolic freely with AK-47 rifles with impunity.

The Neglected Causal Factors Withoutanyshadowofdoubt,theforegoingobservationsaredynamics of insecurity in Nigeria. Isa Salami is not wrong for agreeing with the need for stabilisation and state policing. He posited that volunteering information is difficult in Nigeria, particularly for reasons of lack of faith in one another. Charles Edomsomwan argued that the current security architecture of the PMB government cannot meet the challenges of insecurity in the country. He observed in this regard that Nigeria has a monolithic police force and that, because security is existential, there is the need to quickly rethink our security architecture.While Professor Peter Lewis reminded of the cases of agitation for separation and asked how the agitation came into being, ProfessorTaiye Simbine agreed that there had been a lot of neglect of our institutions over the years. We share these observations. Ditto for the argument of porous borders, unemployment and wrong framework to the national malaise raised

by Professor Simbine which are also other dynamics of insecurity to be attended to.

As pertinently observed by Dr Efem Ubi, the problem of insecurity is basically that of leadership and governance. He strongly believed that if there was good governance, the problems of poverty, unemployment andinsecuritywouldnothavearisen.Heunderlinedtheexternalaspects oftheincursionsandindirectlysubscribedtotheideaofNigeriaasafailing state, bearing in mind that the core values in Nigeria’s Constitution are securityandterritorialintegrity.ProfessorHabuMohammed,inthesame vein,arguedthattherearebothinternalandexternalfactorsresponsible for insecurity in Nigeria. He also observed that Government does not have adequate capacity to deal with the current situation of insecurity.

More important, he observed that insecurity is a consequence of the long neglect of the institutions.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24 , 2022

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with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

ENGAGEMENTS

Please, Rent Me a Bishop

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oth the social media and many legacy media outlets were united in their report and verdict on a significant recent event. Majority of the untidy assemblage of ‘clergy’ that thronged Aso Rock Villa to grace the unveiling of Mr. Kashim Shettima as Mr. Bola Tinubu’s presidential running mate for 2023 were fake. Interestingly, the public was hardly shocked about the travesty, being so used to a political class that is endlessly resourceful in its creativity for good and for ill.

An untidy pageant of strangely clad ‘clerics’ were gathered for an entertainment tour of Aso Rock. Most of the hirelings were in such a hurry to don their costumes for the show that they dressed up in a car park nearby. Like in Restoration comedy, they wore a motley of ill-fitting costumes, some rented, and others hurriedly knocked together by roadside tailors. It was a festival of colours: brilliant red, screaming purple, deep ocean blue, sunflower yellow and even mourning black all, competed for prominence in the costumes of these rented bishops of darkness. They were all ‘unknown’ men of God summoned to an urgent earthly mission of playing holy men for less than a day in return for a handsome payout of political cash. In a country that has become world famous for ‘unknown gunmen’, unknown bandits as well as sundry other tribes of troublemakers, the addition of fake bishops and unknown men of God is only a comic addition to an unfolding national tragedy.

The public presentation of Mr. Tinubu’s running mate should ordinarily have gone unnoticed. Having named Mr. Shettima as his choice, the Tinubu campaign should have left the matter to rest in the hope that the anxiety over faith would burn out over time. But someone had a better idea and a business proposition. The anointed prince of a nebulous Muslim-Muslim ticket needed to be unveiled despite having been named to an anxious nation weeks earlier. Why ‘unveil’ a man that is already very well known? The simplistic logic was not farfetched. Flood the ‘unveiling’ event with fake Christian men of God to create the dubious impression that Mr. Shettima’s choice is acceptable to Christian’s as well.

An indiscriminate recruitment drive yielded a mixed bag of Okada riders, mechanics, jobless housewives, ladies of the night and motor park touts. Their recruiters had improvised clerical gear on the ready: Choristers gowns, cheap school graduation gowns, left over Father Christmas apparel etc. Being so garishly attired, the chorus was chaperoned into the hallowed chambers of the presidential villa as ‘Christian clerics’ from across the country massed in solidarity with the APC presidential ticket.

President Buhari probably needed and possibly desired this uniform faith ticket.

An impressed President Buhari was moved to enter a prophetic mode. Predictably, he prophesied a landslide victory for his APC in the 2023 elections. No one can blame the president for partaking in the inspirational moment especially when surrounded by such a powerful and colourful assemblage of ‘Christian’ clerics for full effect.

Thank God for the social media and the age of ‘a camera in every hand’. The backstage footage of the scam was in full display.

Soon enough, the foolish scam began to unravel. The cast of make-believe priesthood had fulfilled their obligation under the contract. They had acted their roles up to the presidential dais. It was time to get paid by the political contractors who engaged them. It was also time to shed the costumes of fakery.

From the revelations of the actors, each bishop or pastor was hired at an agreed sun of N100,000. But the contractors and crowd rent merchants could only pay between N30,000 and N40,000! When the fake men of God threatened earthly mayhem near the citadel of power, the political contractors evaporated! The actor godlings shed their

Tinubu borrowed garbs and grumbled aloud as they dispersed. Shorn of their costumes, the carpenters, Keke operators, women of the night, Okada riders and small-time gangsters and thugs melted back into the anonymous crowd of hunger and hopelessness from which they emerged in the first place.

The entire incident is just another open parade of political bad manners.

In a sense, the sacrilege that just took place in Abuja is merely an opening act in what might become commonplace in the dramatic run up to the 2023 election.

Professional crowd renters will get even more creative. In the past, they have been known to supply fake policemen, fake soldiers and fake electoral officials during elections. The addition of fake bishops was a cake walk in the park!

Questions and concerns have come tumbling in from across the nation.

Where does political rascality stop and respect for the sensitivities of fellow citizens begin? Is there not a minimum level of civility and decorum that we should expect from those who rule us or aspire to lead us? The enlightened public can debate these troubling questions endlessly as we digest the recent abomination committed as part of the Abuja unveiling of Mr. Kashim Shettima as Mr Bola Tinubu’s running mate.

Never before had bad politics brazenly strolled into the tinder zone of faith in our nation as on this occasion. To rent a motley squad of rascals under a false identity and chaperon them into the presidential villa is a reckless breach of national security. It is indeed a needless trifling with matters that touch the hearts and minds of many citizens.

To deliberately clad the mixed bag of persons of doubtful livelihood as fake Christian clergy and ferry them, past all that security cordon, into the revered confines of Aso Rock is further travesty and brazen disrespect for the institution quartered in the Villa. To commit these

heinous acts in the name of politics leaves the authors’ intentions open to severe doubt and entitles them to universal rebuke.

This reconstruction of the public presentation and unveiling ceremony of the APC vice presidential candidate contains nearly everything wrong with Nigeria’s constant political tinkering with religion. For a gamut of understandable reasons, Mr. Tinubu’s option for a Muslim- Muslim presidential ticket was bound to generate more heat than light. The way out of that pregnant choice is not to manufacture an across board acceptability that does not exist. The way out is to quickly engineer a national elite consensus on the necessity for more effective good governance over and above religious, ethnic and other factional considerations.

The easier way out for Mr. Tinubu is to go all out during the campaigns to promise a systematic walk back and dismantling of the divisive, religion driven policies of the outgoing Buhari government. A promise to review lopsided public sector appointments would be nearer the mark than the kind of silly political drama that took place in Abuja last week. Even then, the foolish act of creating a solidarity of non-existent clerics needs to be addressed and roundly condemned for what it is.

First, it is a blatant disregard and disrespect for the feelings of the nation’s Christian community. Anxiety to appear politically correct on the matter of a Muslim-Muslim ticket is a normal political malady. In a nation so suffused with religion and superstition, the reactions of the public, especially the Christians, is understandable but can be allayed. But you do not stage a marionette show to convey an impression of something that does not exist. What has just happened is an open mockery of a serious matter of faith which defines a very significant section of the national population.

It is easy to dole out mounds of cash and purchase any group of political tools. But

there ought to be a limit to the growing tradition of transactional politics when it comes to sensitive issues like the faith and beliefs of people. Our new tradition of transactional politics reached an industrial peak during the recent presidential nomination conventions of the two dominant parties. Politicians have been known to deploy cash to purchase favorable outcomes including votes and the support of vital constituencies. But to purchase a collection of fake Christian clerics to score a political point is to degrade the sensibilities of well-meaning citizens and believers of one faith.

In an election year, all manner of political jobbers would be available for hire. More so, the desperate economic conditions of today have created a ready market for practically every conceivable undertaking. People are broke and hungry. It was therefore easy to find any number of miscreants or even some low-level pastors and cash strapped citizens to be decorated as clergy for the Shettima unveiling. But why the desperation to find clergy men and women by all means? After all, Shettima was not being unveiled as a Christian ambassador or representative of the Holy See! The Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) has justifiably castigated the antics of the APC while of course disowning the sundry miscreants who posed as clergy.

It is of course regrettably true that the calling of priesthood among Nigerian Christians has been serially bastardized and trivialized by the recklessness of a few bad eggs. It is true that nearly every street side miscreant who establishes a church in his living room quickly anoints himself pastor, bishop, general overseer or even pope!

It is true that religion cannot be regulated like banks or joint stock companies in a free society. A mushrooming of Christian factions, sects, denominations and sub denominations has come with an efflorescence of titles and hierarchies sometimes too large to keep up with.

A travesty like the invasions of politics into religion is possible only because of the indiscriminate commercialization of religion. Faith has become a merchandise just as churches have become unregulated exploitative sole proprietorships. Denominations especially in the Pentecostal variety have become more like brands with pastors as salesmen and marketers.

There is a raging competition among a new breed of faith entrepreneurs on ownership of vast real estate, private jets, retinue of expensive automobiles and cross border enterprises and chains of companies.

Taken together, the blurring of the dividing line between faith and the empire of profit has conferred on Christian clerics a certain amount of financial and political clout that is hard to ignore or combat.

The corresponding implication for the traditional division between church and state has been horrendous. The state has invaded the church just as much as mosques and churches have cornered the commanding posts of the state. By the nature of their trade, politicians like to dominate every inch of space. What they cannot dominate, they try to invade, pollute or uproot. Every politician hungry for apex power seeks out the owners of the most influential Pentecostal super churches for endorsement or ‘blessings’. What they seek is of course vast demographics of voters and donors of cash.

Having taken the risk of a Muslim-Muslim ticket, Mr. Tinubu and his party need to get on with the urgent task of building first and elite consensus on the primacy of delivering credible and impartial governance. That is the best way of submerging the emphasis on religion and ethnicity in our polity. But even then, those citizens who remain skeptical about the potential abuses of a single faith ticket are well within their right.

It is risky for Tinubu and the APC to forget that they are in a contest for power. Other contenders have chosen a different type of ticket. Only the voters will ultimately decide on the wisdom or foolishness of a MuslimMuslim ticket in today’s Nigeria.

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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 24, 2022

NEWSXTRA Gunmen Kill Five as Police Foil Kidnap Attempt in Plateau Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Gunmen at the weekend attacked Fobur, a community in Jos East Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, killing at least five persons.

In another development, however, the Plateau State Police Command said that it had foiled a kidnap attempt on some persons in a community in Bassa LGA of the state.

THISDAY findings revealed that the gunmen stormed the community while the people

were asleep and shot at the people killing them in their homes.

On their way from Fubor, findings further revealed, the assailants reportedly stopped over at Fusa village where they took one Mr. Haruna Ajik away with them.

Confirming the attack, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Alabo Alfred said the police were alerted after the gunmen had escaped.

He explained that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area immediately alerted other security

agencies, including the military taskforce, adding that security had been beefed up in the area.

Meanwhile, the police also said the command had foiled an attempt by gunmen to kidnap some residents in Bassa LGA, describing it as a milestone achievement.

Alfred, in a press statement

yesterday, advised residents of the state to get the phone numbers of security officers within their areas, and ensure that timely information is passed to the Police and other security and law enforcement agencies to enable them respond quickly whenever there is an incident

in their areas.

The statement said: “In his bid to continue to fight crime and criminality on the Plateau, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bartolomeo Onyeka has recorded another milestone achievement by repelling an attack from men of the underworld in Bassa LGA.

“On 22/07/2022, at about 2300hrs, a distress call was received by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Bassa Division, SP James Yakubu, from a concerned citizen that some unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers were operating at the residence of one Mark Inkasu.

Buhari, Others Attend Yar’Adua’s Wedding in Maiduguri President Muhammadu Buhari and other prominent Nigerians yesterday attended the wedding fatiha of Shehu Yar’Adua, son of late former President of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua with Yasir Mammanoor Sheriff in Maiduguri.

The wedding which took place at the Sheriff’s family house situated along Giwa Barracks was attended by minister of aviation Hadi Sirika, Governor Babagana Zulum and his Kebbi State counterpart, Atiku Bagudu as well as Jigawa State governor, Abubakar Badaru.

The bride’s uncle and former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Sheriff, led other dignitaries including the former Bauchi State governor, Adamu Ma’azu; former governor of Gombe State, Senator

Danjuma Goje and former Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema.

Others were former Kebbi State governor, Senator Adamu Aliero; former governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda; former SGF, Yayale Ahmed; former governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Yarima and the CEO of the NNPC, Mele Kyari Kolo, among others.

The Emir of Daura, Umar Farauk Umar, stood as the groom’s father who also accepted the wedding vows on behalf of the groom while the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin Elkemi, stood for the bride.

The wedding vows were received and accepted by both representatives of the bride and groom with the bride price of 24 gold coins.

Big Brother Naija Kicks off with 12 Housemates Vanessa Obioha Twelve housemates made their way into the Big Brother Naija House last night to kick off the seventh season of the popular reality TV show.

The show returned with an energetic crowd and an excited Ebuka Obi-Uchendu who mingled with the audience.

Since the capricious coronavirus emerged in 2020, the show restricted its live programme without a physical audience. As vaccination continues to ramp up, however, the fear of infection has dwindled.

The seventh season will also see the return of the Ninjas and other elements that made the show a hit during the pre-COVID era. However, the show maintained its double launch.

The first set of housemates (six

males and six females) who went into the house were a diverse mix: a lawyer, a pharmacist, a tech pro, music artists, and a beauty queen among others. They are Groovy, Amaka, Cyph, Phyna, Christy, Beauty, Ilebaye, Khalid, Kess, Daniella, Pharmsavi and Bryan. The housemates will spend 71 days in the house.

As Big Brother’s voice boomed from the speakers, the housemates screamed with excitement.

Playing with the theme ‘Level Up’, the house this season is colourful with shapes that look like it borrowed a leaf from the popular Korean horror TV series ‘Squid Game’.

With Big Brother talking about the Metaverse in his speech to the housemates, there is a possibility that the game this season will be techy. Tomorrow, according to the host, the mysterious master of the game will make a big revelation.

AAAN Re-elects Board Members The Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has renewed the tenure of members of its Executive Board for a fresh two-year term.

The members were returned at the 49th Annual General Meeting/Congress of the association, which was held in Epe, Lagos State yesterday.

With the election, AAAN President, Mr. Steve Babaeko; Vice President, Jenkins Alumona; Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Tope Jemerigbe; Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mrs Tola Obi and AAAN Treasurer, Mr. Kayode Ebatamehi will remain in office for two additional years.

The same gesture was also extended to Dr. Tunji Olugbodi, Mr Onuora Molokwu, Mr. Lanre Adisa and Mrs. Biodun Adefila, who returned as exofficio members.

In his address yesterday, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed delivered a keynote address at the congress, themed “The New World Order: Technology as a Game Changer.”

Mohammed noted that success in advertising will be based on technology, adding that the opportunities technology provides for the enhancement of advertising are vast.

DISCUSSING STATE ISSUES… Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, Mr. Oma Djebah (left); and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, General Prayut Chan-ocha, when the former paid a courtesy visit on the Thai Prime Minister at the Government House, Bangkok…recently

Abiodun Decries Deplorable Condition of Sango-Abeokuta Road James Sowole in Abeokuta Ogun State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun Abiodun yesterday decried the deplorable condition of the Sango-Abeokuta road, saying the federal government had failed to respond to his call to reconstruct the road.

Abiodun also threatened that the state government “will take over reconstruction of Sango/ Ota-Abeokuta Road in two weeks, if the federal government fails to fix it within that period.”

He expressed concern about the

state of the road shortly after inspecting some bad portions in the Ewekoro axis yesterday. He said the action had become necessary after the state government alongside Lagos State had made frantic efforts several times to draw the attention of the federal government, through the office of the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola to the bad shape of the road without any positive response.

The governor expressed worry over the hardship motorists are being subjected to on the road and declared that the state government

would not fold its arms and allow its citizenry to continue to suffer due to the negligence of the authority in charge of this road.

“If after two weeks, the federal government refuses to commence work on this road, I will take it over and reconstruct it,” the governor said.

While appealing to the people of the state, particularly those living along the road to be patient, the governor said the reason behind the inspection was to examine the level of infrastructure development in Ogun Central and Ogun West

with a view to ascertain the level of damages done to some of the major roads in the areas so as to fashion out the best way towards their reconstruction.

He said the road awarded to Julius Berger about 15 years ago had been abandoned making it impassable, saying despite the various palliative being carried out on the road, some of the blue chip companies located along the road had failed to support the efforts of the government through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Niger, Police, Community Disagree over Rescue of Kidnapped Victims Laleye Dipo in Minna The Niger State Government, the State Police Command and Kuchi have disagreed over the number of victims rescued from the clutches of armed gunmen on Friday night.

While the government claimed that 22 victims were rescued, the police put the number of those rescued at five and the community said 29 villages were released.

The conflicting figures were contained in separate statements issued by the police and the state

government and oral reports from leaders of the community.

On Friday, gunmen raided Kuchi, a community in Munya Local Government Area during which no fewer than 50 villagers were abducted from their homes by the bandits.

The gunmen and their victims were however unable to cross into Kaduna State following the overflow of the river as a result of heavy rains earlier in the day.

The community claimed that special hunters from Kuchi and adjoining villages stormed the

forest and facilitated the rescue of the victims.

In their statements, however, Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Police Command, Mr. WasiuAbiodun and Commissioner for Internal Security Mr Emmanuel Umar claimed that the rescue of the victims was facilitated by “Special Security Forces” Umars, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said: “Consequently, security forces mobilized for a manhunt and engaged the terrorists within the river line of Dangunu axis. During the encounter, the terrorists scampered into the overflowed river and forest

belt, abandoning their victims and some of their items and equipment, were recovered” “All the victims have been debriefed and reunited with their families. However, one of the victims is currently receiving treatment for gunshot wounds in a government medical facility.

“The Niger State Government appreciates the continuing efforts of the heads of security agencies in the state and that of the community leaders towards mitigating the spate of insecurity in some parts of the state.

Jonathan Tasks Pharmacologists to Spearhead Vaccine Production Research Sunday Ehigiator Former President Goodluck Jonathan has charged members of the West African Society of Pharmacology (WASP) to spearhead research for the production of vaccines to contain epidemics that are endemic in the sub-region.

Jonathan gave the advice in Abuja yesterday at a programme of the West African Society of Pharmacology where he was invested as the Grand Patron

of the Society The former president said that the world had been experiencing outbreak of viral diseases, some of which were more prevalent in West Africa Jonathan said that pharmacologists and scientists in related disciplines must give their best to ensure that such peculiar health challenges were adequately tackled.

“Let me therefore, use this opportunity to task and challenge

pharmacological scientists in this sub region to invest more energy in finding solutions to medical challenges, especially the ones that are peculiar to us.

“The sub-region is in dire need of essential Covid-19 vaccines, following the imperative of tracking and halting its mutating variants.

“We are now accustomed to hearing of the outbreak of new viral diseases, some of which are more prevalent in our part of

the world.

“One of such diseases is the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)which has killed thousands in West Africa. In 2014 an outbreak in Guinea spread to many West African countries including Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria.

“My administration had the good fortune of containing the spread through a clinical contact tracing mechanism which significantly reduced the fatality rate in the country,” he said.

JULY 24, 2022 • T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

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B AC K PAG E C O N T I N UAT I O N THE PECULIARITIES OF THE PRESIDENTIAL POLL region produces the president but the way the president handles matters of equity and fairness in office. He has promised to be fair to all.

I believe that the PDP decided to go north for practical purposes. That is the only advantage it can gain in the race. The assumption before the primaries was that APC was going to pick a southerner. If PDP had also picked a southerner, the field would be wide open to APC in the north where it controls 14 of the 19 states. By going north, PDP would hope to get northerners to prefer a fellow northerner to a southerner.

PDP can also hope to enjoy the fallouts from the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the south and the Christian north. If Atiku wins, there will be novelties to it: the first time power would stay beyond eight years in a region and the first president to be elected from the north-east.

For those who are religiously sensitive when it comes to politics, a Muslim-Muslim ticket is a no-no, and this is one battle Tinubu will have to fight — and win — if he is to actualise his presidential ambition. The peculiarities of Nigerian politics, as I have pointed out in the past, are evident in the dilemma. It is usually thought that a southern presidential candidate must be Christian and a northern one must be Muslim. Since we like to do balancing, we always prefer a Muslim-Christian match and a north-south pairing. If this understanding holds forever, a northern Christian will struggle hard

to be president or vice-president and a southern Muslim will find it very hard as well.

With Tinubu, a southern Muslim, as the APC presidential candidate, he was faced with a dilemma in choosing a running mate. It had to be a northerner, no questions about that.

But should it be a Muslim or a Christian? That was the question. The north is predominantly Muslim, plus Tinubu will be up against Atiku, a “homeboy” in the region. I guess Tinubu did his calculations and decided that he would stand a better chance up north with a Muslim-Muslim ticket — with the hope that he would also win convincingly in his south-west base and put up a decent showing in the south-south. It is a big gamble, I would say, but some political analysts were expecting this scenario all along.

Tinubu probably calculated that those who would vote for him would still do so irrespective of the faith of his vice-presidential candidate and those who would not vote for him would not change their minds even if he picked someone of a different faith. It is possible he reasoned that many of those opposed to the Muslim-Muslim pairing even before he picked Ahaji Kashim Shettima are known to be opposed to the APC. In the final analysis, nonetheless, if Tinubu wins with a Muslim-Muslim ticket, a major jinx will have been broken and political balancing at the national level may experience a re-engineering.

After all, this is how precedents are set. We

eagerly await how it will pan out.

If Obi wins, that, in my opinion, will be the biggest landmark. Virtually everything about it would be novel. That would be the first time a party without a state under its control would win the presidential election. It would be the first time a party without control of the national assembly would produce the president.

Above all, it would be the first time an Igbo would be elected president. The icing on the cake, of course, would be that an Igbo is elected president without “zoning”. Before the presidential primaries, Igbo leaders were asking the APC and PDP to concede their presidential slots to the south-east. Achieving this without zoning would be extraordinary.

Obi’s candidacy is, as it were, accidental. He wanted to contest for PDP’s ticket. With the signals not looking bright for him, and with the possibility of being picked as the vice-presidential candidate not looking good either, he defected to LP. Before you knew what was happening, his popularity caught fire on Twitter as he was branded the “frugal” and “honest” president Nigeria needs. Soon enough, his Twitter popularity started translating to tangible support on the streets, so much so the notion of him being anyone’s running mate was no longer something to be contemplated. Although much of his Twitter base is considered ill-mannered and foul-mouthed, I believe it is working well for him.

Many things are aligning for Obi: the home support in the south-east, the passion of the youthful #EndSARS movement, and the displeasure in sections of Christendom over the choices of the other parties. Plus he is the new symbol of those searching for “change”. Buhari was the symbol in 2015. Obi’s strength outside the south is not considered significant enough to turn the table, but he can also make use of the relatively long period between now and the February 2023 presidential election to widen and deepen his base. If he wins, it will be one of the most momentous developments in our politics since 1960, ranking almost side-by-side with the defeat of a sitting president in 2015.

We have quite an election in our hands.

It will be the third president-to-president transition via the ballot, thereby consolidating our democratic experience. Beyond that, the election will challenge some received wisdoms.

Will the voters choose to have power retained in the north — in spite of the power rotation understanding? Will they vote for a MuslimMuslim ticket — overlooking lack of religious balancing? Or will someone from the south-east finally break the jinx by winning organically — proving that zoning is overrated? No matter who wins, something unusual is bound to happen next year. INEC and security agencies must put in their utmost best to help us make history. Epic.

And Four Other Things…

LIFE AND DEBT We have finally done it! We are now spending more than we earn to service our debts.

Imagine you earn N1 million and pay N1.2 million as interests on your debts! When we were told last year that we were spending 95 percent of our revenue to service debts, I joked: “We will soon start borrowing to pay our debts.” Sometimes, I crack jokes that I feel are outlandish and impossible. Now it has happened. The Budget Office released the data on Thursday. We earned N1.63 trillion between January and April 2022 and serviced our debts with N1.94 trillion. We effectively borrowed N310 billion to pay the debts. And fuel subsidy will cost more than N4 trillion in 2022 alone. Wonderful.

SUBSIDY JEOPARDY Federal government has projected to spend N6.7 trillion on petrol subsidy in 2023, according to Mrs Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance. The subsidy budget for this year is N4 trillion, although it looks likely to surpass that except Russia decides to end its campaign in Ukraine. There are plausible economic arguments about why it does not make sense to spend that kind on money on subsiding petrol consumption, notably the thinking that N4 trillion pumped into health and education sectors will be more beneficial to Nigerians. That is a good argument, but my worry today is that Nigerians are already buying petrol above the subsidised N165/ litre. That is double jeopardy. Short-changed.

VARSITY TRAVESTY Are we about to see an end to the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)?

Since the latest action started on February 14, 2022, also known as Valentine’s Day, there has been no love lost between the government and the university teachers. I grew up hearing of ASUU strikes. I experienced a couple myself while I was in the university. Whatever the federal government and ASUU resolve now will be temporary, from experience.

There will be another ASUU strike next year and the year after that. Until we address the regressive structural and ideological issues with public university management system in Nigeria, strikes will continue to be an annual event. Foundational.

‘FAKE BISHOPS’ The criticism of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for picking a fellow Muslim as running mate is obviously getting to his handlers or camp.

That is the only way I can explain the spectacle of the “Christian clerics” that flooded the unveiling of Alhaji Kashim Shettima as the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Wednesday. Please correct me if I am wrong: I have never seen clerics attend the unveiling of a presidential or vice-presidential candidate before. This is ridiculous. Whoever came up with this silly stunt should get a befitting knock on the forehead. I am sure those who will not vote for Tinubu will not change their minds, bishop or no bishop. Pointless.

unvarnished truth is that our oil sector has been in precipitous decline over time.

Underinvestment, peaking oil fields and the shift in production arrangements have created a perfect storm leading not only to diminished production overall but to government’s take of less than 30% of total output. But the most critical factor here is that even government’s

current paltry take is devoted almost exclusively to domestic consumption, bartered sort of with petrol refined abroad.

This quaint prioritisation has negative implications. NNPC pays for domestic allocation in Naira after deducting subsidy and other costs. Payment in Naira means that the country cannot benefit correspondingly from higher oil prices in terms of forex inflow. This puts pressure on the Naira. And high oil prices push up subsidy on imported fuel, resulting in little or zero remittance by NNPC. This underscores the link between fuel subsidy and low revenue. But there is also a link between fuel subsidy and the relationship between debt service and revenue. If there were no fuel subsidy, debt service would not have surpassed revenue. The three ailments are thus linked.

It is tempting to see fuel subsidy removal as the magic wand. It will go some distance but it won’t be the cure-all. Removing fuel subsidy will not solve our revenue challenge, as adding back the subsidy deductions into revenue makes clear. Clearly, we do not generate enough revenue for our need. Total revenue from all tiers of government is just about 8% of GDP (tax-to-GDP is even much lower). The average revenue-to-GDP in Africa is 18%. We are definitely not leveraging the size of our economy for revenue purposes.

Also, our budget is too slight for our size in both absolute and per capita terms. Our 2022 federal budget of N17.32 trillion is about $41 billion which even in absolute numbers lags behind the $111 billion for Egypt and the $128 billion for South Africa for the same year. And for context, the estimated population of South Africa is 59 million, Egypt’s is 102 million and Nigeria’s is 206 million. Our federal budget per capita ($199) is thus about a fifth of Egypt’s ($1,088) and less than a tenth of South Africa’s ($2,169).

From all indications, we are bedevilled by a suffocating trifecta which cannot be addressed by denial or by kicking the can down the road. We cannot borrow our way out of it either. We need to halt the freefall, and quickly make some painful and pragmatic adjustments.

We shouldn’t wait until the adjustments are forced on us.

AGAIN, THE DEBT-SUBSIDY-REVENUE TRIFECTA that every month next year the government is projecting to spend N560 billion, or over half a trillion Naira, on only fuel subsidy.

The amount allocated for fuel subsidy in the revised budget for 2022 is N4 trillion. Just last month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that Nigeria’s fuel subsidy expenditure may hit N6 trillion this year.

Whatever the amount spent on fuel subsidy this year or next, it is clear that it has become a major and unsustainable strain on our public finance. The N4 trillion budget for this year alone is 23% of the revised 2022 budget of N17.32 trillion and 2.4% of 2021’s GDP. If the current revenue pattern continues, the extrapolated FG revenue for 2022 will be N4.89 trillion, which puts the amount budgeted for subsidy at 82% of FG’s retained revenue for the year. That is just one item.

We are thus swiftly moving to a point where the fuel subsidy payment may outstrip total revenue. Prior fears centred on two areas: fuel subsidy crowding out important social expenditure in health and education and the amount for fuel subsidy surpassing oil revenue.

But we have since gone beyond such puny fears and are set for other sad milestones.

Before long, we may need to be borrowing to cover fuel subsidy, in addition to borrowing to service debt, pay salaries and meet other obligations.

The third point that can be gleaned from the minister’s presentation is Nigeria’s lingering revenue problem. Based on the amended appropriation act, FG’s pro-rata revenue for January to April 2022 was N3.32 trillion but the actual was N1.63 trillion, a shortfall of 51%. If current revenue pattern holds and the budget is implemented fully, this deficit may sttetch from budgeted N7.35 trillion or 42.4% to an actual of N12.43 trillion or 71.8%. This revenue shortfall is despite the fact that the average oil price per barrel for the period was at least $30 above the $73 per barrel adopted as the price benchmark in the revised budget.

The document adduced reasons for government’s shrinking revenue at a time of high oil prices: growing oil theft and higher subsidy payments. This is largely true. Our average oil production figure for the four

Ahmed months was 1.32 million barrels per day.

This is far below our OPEC allocated quota of about 1.8 million barrels per day or our peak of 2.5 million barrels per day of a few years ago. High level of oil theft and ageing infrastructure have been cited as reasons for the embarrassing decline in our oil production.

But it is much deeper than that. The

71

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 24, 2022

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Amusan Sets African 100m Hurdles Record as Oregon 2022 Ends

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana defeated Morocco 2-1 to win their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, Morocco...last night

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana Win First WAFCON Title Duro Ikhazuagbe

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onquerors of Super Falcons, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana won their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) last night after defeating hosts Morocco 2-1 in Rabat.

Hildah Magaia scored twice in the space of eight minutes in the second half after the hour mark to hand South Africa a first-ever WAFCON title.

It ended a run of five finals without success for Banyana Banyana, who completed the tournament in Morocco with a 100 per cent record, as well as securing qualification to next year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The South Africans kicked off their campaign in Morocco with an opening Group defeat of the Super Falcons. They there after build on the momentum, winning every other game till the final with the Atlas Lionesses last night.

Magaia tapped in an excellent cutback from Jermaine Seoposenwe, who ran onto a long ball out of defence to create the opening goal

as she held off the defence to provide an expert pass in the 63rd minute.

It took the sting out of a frenzied atmosphere created by a sellout crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium, where only weeks earlier South Africa’s men had lost to Morocco in a Cup of Nations qualifier.

Magaia then doubled the lead in the 71st minute with another close finish, this time from a cross out wide from Karabo Dhlamini that Morocco’s defence failed to cut out.

But a lapse in concentration saw South Africa lose possession and offered Morocco hope of a comeback as Rosella Ayane pulled one back in the 80th minute after being set up by Fatima Tagnaout.

It meant an anxious last 10 minutes for Desiree Ellis’ team – plus another nine minutes of referee’s time added on – before they could get their hands on the trophy.

The game started with a high tempo, fueled by the large crowd who greeted every Moroccan touch with a cheer

and Banyana move with a chorus of whistles.

After 11 minutes, there was a muted shout for a penalty, but while Tagnaout’s challenge on Magaia in her own penalty area was risky, it proved expertly timed.

Both sides pressed high to allow little space for chances and, as a result, the first 30 minutes went by without any goalscoring opportunity.

South Africa had a chance with a long-range free-kick in the 32nd minute that Nomvula Kgoale hit it onto the roof of the net and three minutes later Seoposenwe played through an inch-perfect pass for Magaia, but her leftfooted effort was blocked by a brave save by the home goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi.

Magaia had another chance with a freekick five minutes before the break but was unable to properly bend the ball and was well off target with what looked like a good opportunity.

Morocco had their first real effort a minute later for tall English-born striker Ayane, who tried to rag the ball from behind her and was unable to find the target.

The second half was a closeted affair until Magaia opened up the scoring, suddenly offering the occasion a rip-roaring finale.

...Waldrum Admits Super Falcons Loss to Zambia Disappointing Super Falcons Head Coach, Randy Waldrum, has admitted feeling disappointed that Nigeria failed to retain the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations ((WAFCON) which ended last night in Morocco.

Zambia’s Shepolopolo defeated the Super Falcons 1-0 on Friday night to win the consolatory third place bronze of WAFCON 2022.

Speaking to reporters at the weekend, Waldrum who has come under intense criticism

by Nigeria’s Sporting media for his questionable game plans and substitutions during the competition, the American gaffer couldn’t hide his disappointment over the outcome of the match.

He admitted that the Nigerian coaching crew led by him would need to evaluate the team’s performance at WAFCON 2022.

“We were disappointed we didn’t win against Zambia and more pained about not getting to the final.

“We are a bit satisfied that we qualified for the World Cup, even though we wanted more.

When you don’t achieve the goals that you want, in major tournaments like this, then you need to access, find and improve on some areas you think you should have done differently,” reasoned Waldrum.

But when reminded that qualifying for World Cup by the Super Falcons is almost a birth right, having never missed any edition of the edi-

tions since inception in 1991 in China, Waldrum emphasised:“To just make an assumption that Nigeria will qualify for every World Cup is not a good assumption.”

“You need to also consider the growth of women’s football in Africa. Most teams are much better now than they were 10 years ago,” he concluded defiantly.

Edo Queens FC Gets New Head Coach Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The management of Edo Queens Football Club has unveiled Moses Aduku as the new Head Coach of the team.

Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, who supervised the unveiling, said: “I want to commend the chairman and board of the Edo State Sports Commission for deeming it fit that you become the new coach of Edo

Queens.”

He said the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration will continue to provide the needed support to encourage sports development in the state, noting, “We rebranded Bendel Insurance and after a year, we saw the successes and advantages and how people’s interest came back to Bendel Insurance. We also worked on Edo Queens and rebranded it in line with the same standard of Bendel Insurance.”

Tobi Amusan ran an incredible 12.40 seconds in her opening performance at the World Athletics ChampionshipsinOregon,USAtosetanewAfrican record and Nigeria’s fastest time in the history of the competition.

Curtains will be drawn on the Championships today to end 10 days of topflight global track and field.

The petite Amusan’s time is two hundreth of a second faster than the 12.44 seconds Glory Alozie ran to win a silver medal in the event 23 years ago in Seville, Spain.

Amusan,whoisgunningforherfirstWorldChampionships medal today after finishing fourth three years ago in Doha, Qatar threw down the gauntlet in her first race in the event and topped the list of qualifiers for the semifinals scheduled for the final day of the championships.

The Nigerian has now made the semifinal of the eventthreetimeswhichisanextensionofherrecord astheonlyNigerianfemale100mhurdlesrunnerto make the penultimate round of the competition.

Amusanhasalsosmashedfourofthesixrecords AloziesetbeforeswitchingallegiancetoSpainafter the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

The25-year-oldstartedwithAlozie’s12.74seconds African Games record set in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1999.

Tobi Amusan..sets African record in the women’s 100m hurdle at the Wordl Championships in Oregon, USA

...Brume, Usoro Make World Championships Long Jump History For the first time since the inaugural edition of the World Athletics Championships, Nigeria will be having two women in the final of the long jump event.

The duo of Ese Brume and Ruth Usoro made sure of this by equalling the feat the male duo of Yusuf Alli and Paul Emordi achieved in Rome, Italy at the second edition of the championships.

While both Alli and Emordi ( despite jumping 8.14m in the qualifying round) did not leap into the final eight where they could target podium appearances, both Brume and Usoro will be confident of their chances.

For Brume, this would be her second appearance in the final after three trips toWorld Athletics’ flagship event. In 2017 in London, the 26 year old did not make it to the final but leapt 6.89m in the qualifying round two years later to qualify for her first final.

In the final she leapt a distance of 6.91m in the second round which puts her in the gold medal position before the duo of Ukraine’s Maryna BekhRomanchuk and Malaika Mihambo of Germany leapt farther (6.92m and 7.30m respectively) to win the silver and the gold medal.

Brume picked the bronze medal and became the second Nigerian woman after Blessing Okagbare to win a medal in the event at the World Championships.

In Oregon on Saturday, the reigning African record holder leapt a distance of 6.82m in her third and final attempt to secure automatic ticket to the final scheduled for the final day of the championships.

Sunday July 24, 2022

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Tinubu to Atiku

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“I feel sorry for dear old Atiku. Love of his own ambition has eclipsed his relationship with the truth and an honest account of the past. We formed the AC without his knowledge. When President Obasanjo virtually exiled him from the PDP, we lent him our support by giving him the AC platform for the 2007 election” – APC presidential candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu, accusing his PDP counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, of distorting history.

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The Peculiarities of the Presidential Poll

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friend, who is a pastor, chatted me up on WhatsApp recently. We often discuss Nigerian politics. When he buzzed, I knew it was time for another session in view of the prevailing circumstances. “Who are we voting for o... been looking forward to your analysis,” he asked. Of course, I do not endorse candidates. No matter the soft spot I have for them, I do not say “this is the candidate to vote for”. I prefer to analyse them, list their good and bad sides and let the readers judge. When people seek my opinion, I always try to make them pipe down on their enthusiasm that a messiah is in town. Nigeria’s problems will not disappear overnight. The direction of leadership is the key thing.

After chatting back and forth on each of the top presidential candidates and how we think the elections would go, my friend and I concluded that a credible election will be more imperative than ever.

I expressed faith in the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under the leadership of Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, to deliver the goods. My friend then fired a parting shot: “This election’s throwing us into a rare situation.

Muslim-Muslim ticket. Igbo presidency. Power remaining in the north. Either of tribal or religious sentiments will have to give way for the other.” I was wowed! “I didn’t even see things this way,” I replied. “You’ve just inspired an article in me.”

Yakubu There is a sense in which we can say every election in the fourth republic comes with its peculiarities and 2023 would not be an exception. In 1999, we had two candidates of the same ethnic stock and religion on the ballot — Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae. In 2003, we had the first election to be organised by a sitting government and many feared it would end the way the 1964 and 1983

elections did — in chaos, ultimately leading to the termination of democratic rule. Our democracy survived the sad predictions. In 2007, we had the transfer of power from one elected president to another — the first in our history. The elections were a sham but we managed to survive.

In 2011, we elected the first president from a southern ethnic minority but he had to ward off a strong northern challenge from within and without his party. It was also noteworthy because the entire southern states, minus one, voted in one direction, coupled with support from seven northern states, to defeat a candidate from one of the major ethnic groups. In 2015, we recorded perhaps the biggest landmark so far — an incumbent being defeated by the opposition candidate and conceding the election before the final results were officially announced. In 2019, the novelty was not that much, just that an incumbent retained power for the second time since 1999. Small statistic.

As my friend noted, 2023 may be the most significant yet. There are more that the regular two major candidates. We now have four: Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). If Atiku or Kwankwaso wins, that means power will be in the north for 12 years non-stop. If Tinubu wins and is inaugurated, a Muslim-Muslim

presidency will be a first. It nearly happened in 1993. And if Obi wins, he will become the first elected president from the south-east. Another sensational novelty.

Atiku, unlike Tinubu, does not have any issues with religious balancing — he is a northern Muslim and expectedly picked a southern Christian as his running mate. But a peculiarity, or novelty, is also on the horizon. By May 29, 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, will have spent eight years in office. Conventional wisdom is that power should move to the south after that.

However, Atiku, who harbours a lifelong ambition to be president, was backed by the “elders” of the PDP to win the party’s presidential ticket. In this fourth republic, Atiku has always participated in the presidential race since 2007 irrespective of where the position is zoned. This is nothing new to him.

Although southerners might be calculating that if Atiku wins, power will be in the north for 12 to 16 years non-stop, his calculation is different: that the PDP has only produced one northerner, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, as president. Yar’Adua fell terminally ill and died before his third anniversary in office. Therefore, Atiku would argue, the 16 years of PDP in power was overly dominated by southerners and it is only fair for a northerner in the party to finally get it. He has always argued, openly, that national unity is not a function of what Continued on page 70

WAZIRIADIO POSTSCRIPT

Again, the Debt-Subsidy-Revenue Trifecta

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n Thursday, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, provided some startling insights into the health of the Nigerian economy. Her presentation was part of the consultation for the 2023 to 2025 Medium Term Fiscal Framework/Fiscal Strategy Paper. Her disclosure on debt service, 2023 projected subsidy, and government’s revenue profile should give a serious reason for pause to everyone, especially those jostling to take over the running of the country from mid next year. The unflattering take-away: our public finance is in a bad place.

That our public finance is health-challenged is not exactly news. That should be apparent not only to those who have been paying attention to official figures but also to everyone else taking a hit in their pockets due to the supersize impact of public finance on the larger economy and on citizens’ welfare. What is new is that despite the relief that the record-high oil prices of the past few months should offer to an oil-producing country such as ours, things are actually getting progressively worse.

Ordinarily, the simultaneity of high oil prices and worsening fiscal indicators, especially

government revenue, in one of the world’s leading oil-producing countries should be counterintuitive. But this present—and future—crisis is well foretold. Wrong policy choices have, inevitably, produced the enervating trifecta of mounting debts, spiralling petrol subsidy and dangerously low revenues. We need bold and swift actions on these linked challenges to grant our public finance, and by extension the larger economy, a breathing space.

The headliner from the finance minister’s presentation is that debt service gulped more than the revenue realised by the Federal Government (FG) between 1st January and 30th April 2022. According to the minister, FG’s retained revenue for the period was N1.63 trillion and debt service stood at N1.94 trillion.

This is very rich on many levels. First, it meant that debt service was 119% of revenue. The previous record, set as recently as last year, was 98%.

The concern then was that almost all of FG’s revenue was going into debt service. It was feared then that one day all of government’s revenue might not be enough to cover just debt service. That day has come. And this leads to the second, and the more troubling, point: government has to borrow to service

debt as well as to meet its other obligations like paying salaries, providing for overhead, and executing capital projects.

Then a third point: it will get worse.

Government will need to take on more debts to get just the basic of things done, and the more debts it takes, the greater the amount needed to service the debts. Talk of a perfect vicious cycle.

A closer look at the official data will put the debt issue in grimmer relief. The total expenditure for four months was N4.72 trillion, out of which personnel and capital expenditure took N1.26 trillion and N773 billion respectively.

This meant that debt service alone was 41% of the total expenditure. Put differently, it means that four-tenth of the total expenditure went into debt service and almost two thirds of the total expenditure itself came outside of revenue.

(Interesting side note: the 65% budget deficit for the period will further increase future debt service bill.)

The data also shows that debt service was 154% of personnel expenditure and 251% of capital expenditure. An interesting wrinkle: of the N3.96 trillion budgeted for debt service in 2022, a sum of N1.94 trillion was expended instead of the pro-rata sum of N1.32 trillion.

Actual amount for debt service surpassed the

budgeted sum by close to a half (47%).

Whichever lens we choose to adopt, it is clear we have a serious debt problem. Government officials like de-emphasising the enormity of the problem by using a convenient metric: the debt-to-GDP ratio. The latest data from the Debt Management Office (DMO) puts Nigeria’s total public debt at N39.5 trillion. At 22.44% of the 2021 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of N176 trillion, our public debt is still within the acceptable threshold. Besides, it compares favourably with the 59% for Ghana, the 107% for the USA and the 237% for Japan.

But this metric is of limited utility because public debt is paid and serviced from government revenue, not from GDP. And the government revenue has fallen short of many points, including failure to cover even just debt service. That is the sobering and humbling reality. This should thus mark the end of any specious talk about debt-to-GDP ratio in a country with abysmally low revenue.

The second issue that came to the fore from the minister’s presentation is the continuing haemorrhage from fuel subsidy. She shared two scenarios for 2023: N3.36 trillion for half year and N6.72 trillion for full year. This shows Continued on page 70

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