SUNDAY 31TH JULY 2022

Siemens: Nigeria’s €63m Mega Transformers Set for Shipping Before September Equipment pass factory acceptance test Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Hope for an improvement in power supply was rekindled yesterday as the federal government has disclosed that the mega transformers it

ordered under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) have successfully undergone a factory acceptance test.

A statement from the Federal ministry of power stated that the first batch of the shipments,

which are expected to be made from the Siemens’ transformers factory in Trento, Italy, would start arriving in Nigeria from September this year.

The Managing Director of the Federal Government

of Nigeria Power Company (FGN-Power), Mr Kenny Anuwe, who led a delegation that included engineers from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), witnessed the factory acceptance test

conducted on Thursday in Europe.

In the statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, on Media, Mr Isa Sanusi noted that the acceptance test

has paved the way for Siemens Energy to start delivering the transformers to Nigeria.

The development is coming after Aliyu had led a delegation Continued on page 10

Again, Biden Tests Positive to COVID-19, Returns to Isolation… Page 10 Sunday 31 July, 2022 Vol 27. No 9973

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INEC to Deploy over 200,000 BVAS for 2023 Chuks Okocha in Abuja

L-R: The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Adedotun Gbadebo; Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Reverend Gabriel Abegunrin; Erelu of Lagos and Yeye Oodua, HRH Abiola Dosumu; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion; and former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, during the thanksgiving service to celebrate Erelu’s 75th birthday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Victoria Island in Lagos … yesterday

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will deploy over 200,000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation Continued on page 6

Emulate Osinbajo, Odili, Amaechi, Lawan, Who Also Lost Presidential Tickets, Sule Lamido Tells Wike Says it’s uncultured to call Atiku a liar Insists Muslim-Muslim ticket not good for Nigeria Dogara, Babachir Lawal meet Wike in Port Harcourt Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt A former Governor of Jigawa State, Mallam Sule Lamido, has advised the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom to emulate Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan; and his predecessors in the state, Dr. Peter Odili, and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who showed maturity when they lost the presidential tickets of their parties.

Lamido further said that it is uncultured for a younger person like Wike to say that an elderly person like the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar is lying.

The former Jigawa State governor urged the Rivers State Continued on page 5

CELEBRATING LAWSON OMOKHODION @ 70…

L-R: Legal practitioner, Mr. Matthew Egbadon; former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Chairman of THISDAY/ARISE Media Group, Prince MUBO PETERS Nduka Obaigbena; Celebrant, Chief Lawson Omokhodion, and his wife, Funmilayo, at the 70th birthday in honour of Omokhodion in Lagos…yesterday

Discuss Issues, Not Individuals, Okowa Tells Tinubu… Page 6

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SPECIAL GUESTS… L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum; and National Security Adviser, Major-Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd); during the wedding of the daughter of All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima, in Maiduguri…yesterday

Insecurity: SANs Back Senators’ Threat to Remove Buhari from Office Gboyega Akinsanmi in Lagos and Alex Enumah in Abuja Six senior lawyers in the country have thrown their weight behind some members of the National Assembly over their six-week ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately halt the rising insecurity in the country or face removal from office.

The lawmakers, particularly some members of the Senate, who staged a walkout from Wednesday's proceedings, had expressed anger that the current administration had woefully failed to curtail terrorism, which has come to the doorsteps of the seat of power in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

In their separate interviews with THISDAY at the weekend, the senior lawyers described the move as commendable.

The SANs - Mr Femi Falana, Chief Mike Ozekhome, Mallam Ahmed Raji, Reverend John Baiyeshea, Mr Dayo Akinlaja and Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa - justified the ultimatum given to President Buhari by the federal lawmakers.

Some of the senior lawyers who described the lawmakers’ threat as a "wake-up call" for the president, however, expressed strong reservations about the capability of the lawmakers to implement their threat.

Ozekhome described the lawmakers’ actions as “perfectly in order.”

“It is even coming too late.

They should have done this over two years ago, when, after his second ticket, he showed no sign of improvement in his leadership capacity and governance style.

Surely, you cannot give what you don't have (nemo dat quod non habet).

Ozekhome, however, added that the ninth National Assembly is too weak to carry out this threat.

“It will evaporate into thin air.

It possesses no teeth, not even gum, to bite. It can never mobilise the required two-thirds majority votes under Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution, to carry out the impeachment threat, otherwise, President Muhammadu Buhari has done more than enough to deserve impeachment,” Ozekhome said.

He identified what he described as prostrate, insecurity, and insecurity as some of the evidence of Buhari’s failure.

"Do you not know that Nigeria has fallen into the category of failed states, with non-state actors dictating to Buhari's legitimately elected government? Do you not know that Abuja, the federal capital, is no longer safe, with

bandits and Boko Haram strolling freely, bulldozing their way into Kuje prison and releasing their fellow inmates?” Ozekhome said.

On his part, Falana argued that the efforts of Buhari’s administration “are not enough as they have not yielded positive results. Hence, the call for the

President's resignation since he says he is anxious to return home.”

He doubted the seriousness of the opposition senators about their plan to impeach the president as they have threatened.

He said: “If they had wanted to commence the impeachment of the President they would have signed

and served an impeachment notice pursuant to Section 143 of the Constitution.

“They did not sign the notice since the impeachment may not succeed because the APC controls both chambers of the National Assembly,” the senior lawyer observed.

Describing the threat of removal of Buhari as the confirmation of the reality of the failure of his government, Adegboruwa cited Section 14(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to buttress his support for the impeachment threat.

The section states: “It is hereby, accordingly, declared that: (a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority; (b) the security and Continued on page 6

EMULATE OSINBAJO, ODILI, AMAECHI, LAWAN, WHO ALSO LOST PRESIDENTIAL TICKETS, SULE LAMIDO TELLS WIKE governor to show maturity in handling issues resulting from the PDP's presidential primary.

Speaking on the MuslimMuslim ticket of the APC, Lamido said it would cause a great religious crisis in Nigeria.

He blamed the North for using fake religious propaganda to blackmail former President Goodluck Jonathan out of office.

This is coming as a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, yesterday met with Wike, barely 12 hours after they attacked the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu over the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with THISDAY, Lamido urged Wike to know that the presidential primary is over.

According to him, the process was the decision of the PDP and should not be seen as personal, stressing that the party is always supreme at all times.

“A day to the PDP’s presidential convention, which Peter Odili of Rivers State was bound to win and was also bound to win the presidential election, he was stopped by the party which went on to nominate President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who did not even show interest.

"He was promised a vice presidential ticket and yet he was not given. He took everything as the mature man he is.

"Look at the APC, Vice President Osinbajo was humiliated; the Senate president was also humiliated and even his countryman, Amaechi was given the same treatment; they took it as mature men and did not go about complaining as Wike is doing. This is called maturity.

"Do you know why? This is because the party is supreme. You cannot be bigger than your party.

Party is organic. The convention has come and gone. Osinbajo, Lawan and Amaechi have shown maturity because their party has spoken. If Wike is in the APC will he be talking and behaving as he is doing now?

"When I say that the party is

supreme, I mean that the PDP is an organic party. Many people defected to the APC in 2015, but the PDP remained strong because it is organic with root structures; it is not a one-man party. Wike should show maturity as the matter is no longer between him and Atiku. Atiku is now the PDP candidate; whatever he is doing now is not a fight against Atiku but the party. The party made him."

He explained further: "Let him learn from his former boss, Peter Odili. He will tell him a story that is so touching because I have never seen a person who was cheated on and who was so denied as Peter Odili.

"The man is so humble, so tolerant. I mean he is everything good. Wike offered himself to be elected. I came from the old order that respects political party culture. His candidate for the governorship in Rivers State was imposed by him. Others wanted to be governor; have they reconciled? The guy he imposed won the governorship ticket at the congress. Who offended Wike?

Did the convention offend Wike?

How? There is no reconciliation.

He is a party man and after the convention, he said the process was very credible. He said so."

On the claim by Wike that Atiku lied, Lamido said: "Even at that, it is against our culture to openly call an elder a liar. It is not part of our culture - or to call some people his attack dogs. If he has not been using attack dogs on some persons, how does he know that others are attack dogs? Wike should show maturity,” Lamido added.

He also spoke on the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying, "What I do know is that the ticket is a device to create impact for both. If you think you are appealing to the Muslims in the North, you will get the votes.

Conversely in the South, they are saying no to it. So, either way, it's a problem because it is not about Nigeria; it's about interest.

It's about aspiration.

"It is my time; it is my time.

He said so. I must have it; it is mine; it is my time. It's his aspiration; it is not Nigerians’ aspiration. It is personal and he

can now begin to look at how he can get that personal aspiration by using Shettima. Shettima is an excellent person. I know him very well. But you see he is being used for a political purpose," he explained.

"If it was in 2007, it could have been okay. But now, religion is being promoted as a key player in the politics of today. So the mallams are talking about religion; the Christians are talking about religion. Nobody is talking about Nigeria anymore. Whatever he may likely secure from the North, he will lose it from the South. I don't see this working for him,” Lamido added.

The former Jigawa State governor explained that the PDP would win the 2023 general election.

“I don't see it in terms of Tinubu or the person of Atiku.

I see it in terms of PDP and APC. PDP has a very strong history, founded by people with vision; people who believe in Nigeria, people who want the best for Nigeria and people who made sacrifices for Nigeria. Unlike APC - an amalgamation of various parties. So you see, to me, it's not about the candidates, it's about the parties called PDP and APC. APC has failed Nigerians. So I don't see any threat Tinubu as a person can cause PDP or APC as a threat to the PDP.” Reacting to the media reports that President Muhammadu Buhari was not aware that the terrorists threatened to kidnap him, Lamido said: “I am frightened that the man you elected as your president whom you bestowed all powers to secure you as a citizen, protect your unity, your prosperity and everything is not even aware of his security. It says a lot.

"I hope is not true. I pray it is not true. It is true, it means we have no country. There is no Nigeria then. No wonder they (bandits) are everywhere.

No wonder they attacked his bodyguards. There is no presidency, there is no government in Nigeria by this revelation,” Lamido said.

Speaking on Peter Obi’s chances, Lamido said: "It's a nomenclature. There is a party.

PDP is the party; Labour Party is a party. Even the APC is a party. So, what I am saying is this - travel to all parts of the country; go to Lagos; go to Oyo; go to Osun.

There was the election in Osun State; what was the result for Labour Party?

"So that's it. You need a structure first to carry you across.

I don't know how Labour Party can carry Obi across. I don't think so. Remove Peter Obi, what do you have left in Labour Party?

Nothing! In PDP remove any name, the party will remain because it is organic and it's the people’s party. Obi would have remained in PDP. He is a good person and good material.

He would have remained in the party that catapulted him to the national limelight. He was an APGA governor and nobody knew him in Nigeria."

The former governor said that PDP and Jonathan were blackmailed out of office, explaining that the country is worse off for it than in 2015.

“In all issues, I think no matter how bad our government was under Jonathan, we were better, far better compared to what we have under Buhari. I am a Fulani man with my brother in the villa as a Fulani man; I don't feel better than I was under Jonathan. Then I left better, more secure; I felt more Nigerian; I felt comfortable than I am now under my fellow Fulani man in the presidency," Lamido explained.

Dogara, Babachir Lawal Meet Wike in Port Harcourt Meanwhile, barely 12 hours after the former SGF, Lawal and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dogara, attacked the APC and its presidential candidate, Tinubu over the Muslim-Muslim ticket, they yesterday met with Rivers State Governor, Wike.

The meeting was held at Wike’s country home in Rumueprikom, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Wike, a strong member of the PDP, is currently at loggerheads with the presidential candidate

of his party, Atiku.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Dogara said the visit was hinged on the quest and search to build an all-inclusive Nigeria.

“Everyone agrees with us that Governor Wike is one of those indispensable political leaders.

For us, it is a search to build an all-inclusive Nigeria. So, we feel that as part of the agenda-setting we should meet with him and that is the reason why we are here. And for the rest, whatever it is, maybe in the future we can discuss that.”

Similarly, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation explained that their mission was a brotherly visit to the governor of Rivers State.

“We came to visit our brother.

He (Wike) is our brother. So, now and then, the Bible enjoins you to visit one another. That is what we just did.”

Lawal said the interaction with the governor had nothing to with the meeting some northern leaders held in Abuja on Friday.

“No; there are many things that are in the world for which you need to visit a brother; so, it has nothing to do with our meeting in Abuja.”

At the Abuja meeting, Dogara and Lawal had rejected the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the APC. Dogara and Lawal and some Christian chieftains at the ‘APC Northern Christian Leaders Summit’ held in Abuja on Friday, had rejected the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the APC. They threatened to sink the party for fielding a MuslimMuslim presidential ticket.

Lawal and Dogara, in their separate presentations at the event, urged northern Christians not to surrender to the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC. They and others who spoke urged Christians in the North to speak with one voice against the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.

Dogara, who said that APC was now looking like a ‘janjaweed’ party, also said Tinubu made a fatal error of judgment in his running mate choice, adding that the Nigeria of 2022 is not that of 1993.”

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NEWS

CELEBRATING TOGETHERNESS… L-R: Chairman of 50th Anniversary Steering Committee of Federal Government College, Kaduna Old Students Association, Mr. Abolore Solebo; Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Mr. Abdullahi Bala; Chairman of 50th Anniversary, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede; and President of Federal Government College, Kaduna Old Students Association, Mr. Seyi Gambo, at the ABAYOMI AKINYELE unveiling of the association's 50th anniversary's logo in Lagos …yesterday

Discuss Issues, Not Individuals, Okowa Tells Tinubu Omo-Julius Onabu in Asaba The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu to discuss issues and not individuals ahead of the 2023 general election.

Okowa who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Olisa Ifeajika, made the call while reacting to a statement credited to Tinubu in which he reportedly said his running mate was better than the man chosen by the PDP presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Ifeajika said the choice of who was the better vice presidential

candidate of the major political parties and the party to vote for in the 2023 general election remained with Nigerians and not for one individual to try to influence by speaking derogatorily about opponents.

He said Okowa was picked as running mate by Atiku due to his soaring political profile, his contributions to national development and his exceptional performance as governor in the last seven years.

The CPS told the former Lagos State governor that maligning the PDP's Vice-Presidential candidate would not in any way diminish Okowa’s political pedigree. He also reminded Tinubu and his APC-led federal government of the need to fulfil their 2015

electioneering promises to Nigerians before thinking of reelection in 2023.

“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had an interview on ARISE TV some days ago where he said that Sen. Bola Tinubu approached him to become his running mate of the defunct AC in 2007, but that he (Atiku) declined the request because he was averse to Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“In response to Atiku's comments, rather than address the issues Atiku Abubakar raised, Sen. Tinubu took a swipe at our governor, saying that his running mate was better than Atiku's choice of Sen. Okowa.

“We know Senator Bola Tinubu as a good politician and former governor of Lagos State. But we

expect him to know that other politicians are towering and are good, patriotic and have tried in their tracks to be statesmen.

“And, Delta Governor and by the grace of God, vice presidential candidate of PDP, Okowa, is in this bracket. If Tinubu thinks that he is good, he should not foreclose that there won't be other persons that are good or even better in politics where he thrives.

“It was his choice to pick his running mate for whatever criteria he had. The same considerations, no doubt, the Atiku, had in choosing Senator Ifeanyi Okowa over all the other candidates screened,” he said.

Stating that politics was not a game of turn-by-turn, but competence, Okowa reminded

Tinubu that the National Health Act in the country today came from his (Okowa) effort when he was in the Senate, and urged him to check in case he didn't know or may have forgotten.

He added that it was on record that Okowa headed critical committees and sub-committees put in place by the APC-led federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic to help in mitigating the challenges posed by the scourge.

The CPS said that, unlike Tinubu who had no certificate to show to meet part of the constitutional requirements for contesting the election, "Governor Okowa is well educated and owned certificates that are in the public domain and verifiable".

large turnout of young Nigerians for the CVR. He said that of the 11 million Nigerians that had completed their registration, about 7.8 million were between 18 years and 34 years.

Okoye further said that as of July 25, INEC’s record showed that about 28.5 million prospective voters registered online.

He said the figure included fresh registrants and those for transfers, destroyed, defaced and lost voter cards.

He also said that the commission had integrated Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) into the electoral process.

He noted that the commission was discussing with the Police the timely deployment of personnel to escort materials to polling units.

Okoye further said that the commission had begun intensive discussion with all the security agencies on ways to provide adequate security on the election day “so that the electorate would be confident to go out to vote”.

He said that the July 31 deadline for the CVR remained sacrosanct.

According to him, the commission has enormous tasks to accomplish ahead of the election, hence it could not afford another extension.

INEC TO DEPLOY OVER 200,000 BVAS FOR 2023 System (BVAS) across the country for the 2023 general election.

INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr Festus Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, stated that the BVAS would be deployed in the 176,000 polling units across the country, while the excess would be kept as reserves.

He said that the July 31 deadline for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) remained sacrosanct.

“We will have one BVAS reserve in every Registration Area Centre (RAC) to ensure

immediate intervention in case of any failure,” he said.

He further said that Technical Officers would be on standby at every RAC to attend to any technical issues that could arise in the course of conducting the polls.

Okoye said the commission could conduct a seamless general election in 2023.

According to him, the INEC is poised to replicate the achievements and successes recorded in the Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections.

He attributed the commission’s feat in the two elections to the deployment of technology.

The national commissioner

said that the deployment of technology and outcomes of the elections “have given Nigerians fresh hopes.”

He said that 2023 offered the commission an opportunity to improve on its record.

“The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, has assured Nigerians that this commission is determined to conduct good elections to make sure that votes count.

“The commission will deploy technology to obviate human interferences to undermine its efforts,” Okoye said.

He expressed delight over the

INSECURITY: SANS BACK SENATORS’ THREAT TO REMOVE BUHARI FROM OFFICE welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and (c) the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured following the provisions of this Constitution.”

He argued that the Buhari’s administration had failed to fulfil its statutory responsibilities to the people of the federation, citing heinous cases of insecurity across all states.

Adegboruwa explained that federal lawmakers “are the people who represent their constituents in the National Assembly. They can feel fear in the mind of everyone due to insecurity in our land. What this means is that the government has failed.

“There is no element of reasonable assurance of security anywhere in this country. That has failed. This means that there is no government. If there is any government at all, it has failed to fulfil its statutory responsibility to the people.”

While justifying the lawmakers’

threat to remove the president, Adegboruwa noted that the call should have come earlier than now concerning the failure of government, especially at the federal level.

He said: “The call is justified. I support it. And a good number of Nigerians support it. Presently, we have reached a dead end. People can no longer sleep. They can no longer travel freely. They can no longer farm.

“There is nothing people can do reasonably with some level of assurance because bandits, insurgents and terrorists have taken over. They have a plan to kidnap the president. They are working towards that goal every day.”

The senior lawyer challenged the civil society actors, human rights campaigners, professional bodies and the people of Nigeria “to rise and intensify the campaign to get rid of incompetent leadership.

“Civil society organisations

should play a major role in the campaign for the removal of the president. I also urge the people of Nigeria to become more sensitive and be involved in holding the government accountable.”

Similarly, Raji stated that the threat was a welcome development if it would make the president wake up to his responsibility of protecting lives and property.

"The state of the insecurity calls for grave concern. All efforts must be made to reverse the trend.

If it will take the impeachment threat to wake up everyone, it is a good strategy by the distinguished senators. I pray we quickly fix the security problems in the interest of all of us," he said.

"I don't think they seriously desired impeachment. They wanted to strongly register total discontent with the state of insecurity. And l think that has been achieved", he added.

Baiyeshea, on his part, observed that there is so much anger in

the land because the situation in the country is horrible, with terrorists and bandits taking over the government in the country.

While he stated the government seems ridiculously helpless, adding that its failure has brought Nigerians into a state of hopelessness.

He lamented that "the more annoying and disturbing thing is that in this state of anomie, the President is always travelling out of the country".

Baiyeshea said that the call for the President's impeachment by members of the National Assembly is justifiable.

"However, I will say that other than the call for impeachment being a 'wake-up call to the President, the call will not serve any useful purpose. The people making the call are just playing at the gallery. They are also part and parcel of the problem of our nation,” he added.

"They live in their comfort zones, earning fat salaries for

doing nothing, in a country whose economy is in dire straits.

“So, it does not lie in their mouths to be asking for the president's impeachment.

Also reacting, Akinlaja stated that "when it is borne in mind that Section 14 of the Constitution prescribes that the welfare and security of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, it is bound to be understood that the President as the chief executive and commander in chief has a constitutional duty to ensure adequate welfare and security for the people.

"An inescapable upshot of this scenario is that failure to provide welfare and security for the people is tantamount to a violation of the Constitution and may qualify for gross misconduct upon which a President may be removed. The caveat here, however, is that the National Assembly is the sole determinant of what constitutes gross misconduct for the removal of the President."

“Senator Bola Tinubu has been in the news lately for what we know is not for good reasons. We are not surprised that he took an unwarranted swipe at the PDP Vice-Presidential Candidate because that is his patent. It's his character to abuse and not discuss.

“We recall that Tinubu had boasted that he made Buhari the President and that it was, therefore, his turn to be the President of Nigeria. In other words, he has been putting people there, but now it is his turn to be.

"Those who follow social media would have seen the mockery that followed that comment.

“He, Tinubu has also been reported to have said that in attaining his ambition of being president, he was going to fight dirty.

"And, about the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, he reportedly said that the man will labour in vain.

"These are the languages Senator Tinubu has come to be identified with. So, we are not surprised that in an attempt to get back to Atiku, who said that Tinubu approached him to be his running mate and he refused, he, (Tinubu) took a swipe at an innocent man, Okowa, who is not in direct contest with him.

“We are asking Tinubu to face his contest. He has a joint ticket with whom he has chosen as his running mate just as Atiku has done. So, he should be preoccupied with how to go to the contest and leave the campaign of calumny.

“He should be discussing issues affecting the general wellbeing of the people, not discussing individuals.

“Dr Okowa, as governor and Vice Presidential candidate of PDP, has his CV in the public domain.

He has a record and he is a well known man. So, a Tinubu's swipe cannot diminish what Okowa has attained.

“Senator Tinubu should confine himself to the contest he has. He has so much around him to deal with, given the size of baggage that people know that he has.

“In the national turf, apart from being 'the national leader' of APC, as the members say, what we have on Tinubu is that he was a senator for a very short period and a two-term former governor.

“Senator Okowa was a senator and a two-term governor. So, it is for Nigerians to judge who is a better person in all of these. Who has done well, for not just his state, but the country, adding value?"

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FORGING ALLIANCE? L-R: Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara; Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike; and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, during a visit to the governor's private residence in Rumueprikom, Rivers State…yesterday

Deliver Us from Insecurity, We’ve No Other Country, Obi Cries to God Chuks Okocha in Abuja The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter

Obi, has cried out to God to deliver Nigeria from insecurity and other challenges currently facing the country.

Obi made the spiritual call at the weekend during his worship with Dunamis International Gospel Centre

IPC Expresses Worry over FG's Threat to Sanction BBC, Trust TV Sunday Ehigiator The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, has expressed worry over the threat by the federal government to sanction the BBC and Trust TV, owned by the Media Trust Limited, the publishers of Daily Trust Newspapers, for airing documentaries, which allegedly glorify and fuel terrorism and banditry in Nigeria.

In a statement issued yesterday by the IPC Programme and Safety Desk Officer, Melody Lawal, the organisation described as preposterous and indefensible for the government to have hastily concluded that appropriate sanctions would be meted out to both platforms.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, on July 28, 2022, said, “the federal government was aware of the unprofessional documentary by the BBC Africa Eye, where interviews were granted to bandit warlords and terror gangs, thereby allegedly promoting terror in the country.”

The minister also condemned Trust Tv for using its platform to grant an interview to a bandit, Shehu Rekeb, thereby allegedly promoting the activities of terrorists.

IPC, however, said while it was appropriate for the government to complain against any news report it finds offensive, "it is preposterous and indefensible that the same government will hastily conclude that “appropriate sanctions would be meted out to both platforms."

According to IPC Executive

Director of IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, "it is trite law that Mr Lai Mohammed, who is also a lawyer, cannot be the accuser, prosecutor and judge in the matter at hand.

"Rather than proclaim the media houses guilty, the minimum standard of expectation is that the federal government would develop a petition and dispatch same either to the concerned media or to appropriate regulatory bodies for intervention and wait for them to act."

Arogundade said the threat by the federal government to sanction BBC and Trust Tv could be interpreted as an attempt to stifle information flow in the country.

“This threat is an attempt among several others by the government to suppress information flow from the media. Sanctioning media organisations for granting interviews to bandit warlords on issues that have to do with the security challenges facing the country is also a subtle attempt at suppressing the rights to information,” he added.

“While we are all affected by the spate of insecurity in the country, credible information is equally key towards getting to the root cause of the worrisome development. However, what this threat aims to achieve is to make the media a one-faced channel of information where it is only permitted to give perspectives from government sources; this is inconsistent with the journalistic practice of engaging in balanced coverage and providing balanced information to citizens,” Arogundade stated further.

IPC emphasised that the

fundamental rights of freedom of expression by citizens and media freedom should be guaranteed and respected and the government should not dictate how the media should present its report to the public.

headquartered in Abuja.

During the visit to the church, Obi was accompanied

by Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State and the First Lady of Delta State, Mrs Edith Okowa, and others.

Also in attendance were the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, and Mr Thami Mseleku, among others.

Dunamis Church is presided over by Dr Paul Enenche.

After the session, a video of Obi circulated on social media.

Introducing Obi to the congregation, Enenche’s wife, Becky said: “And we

also have tonight, Mr Peter Obi who has joined for the service this evening.”

The LP candidate could be seen holding the Nigerian flag, and kneeling, as he prayed for Nigeria.

“God, we have no other country except this one, God deliver us, God heal us, God liberate us; we have no nation except this one, God deliver us,” Obi prayed.

The congregation of the International Gospel Centre erupted in loud applause as the worshippers cheered Obi. Obi, a former Anambra State Governor, is one of the frontline contenders for the 2023 presidential election.

Obi has enjoyed online patronage and growing acceptance among many youths, especially from the southern part of Nigeria since he emerged as the LP presidential flagbearer.

Enenche, while praying for the nation, said that Nigeria was at war with the forces of hell, adding that prayer was a potent weapon to defeat them.

Reading from the book of Numbers 10:9-10, he prayed for the rebirth of the nation and a new Nigeria and prayed that the nation would not go down.

The pastor urged Christians to continue to pray for the peace of the country.

Tee Mac: I Only Expressed Fear for the Rigours of Office, Not Tinubu’s Competence Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Popular flutist and former President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli, yesterday walked back on his comments questioning the age and secrecy surrounding the life of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu.

Tee Mac, in a statement, noted that he was only expressing fear over the energy required for the rigours of office of a sitting President of Nigeria, stressing that he still has enormous respect for the former Lagos State governor.

In his initial social media post, Tee Mac who was responding to a Facebook post by one Yemi Olakitan, who was publicly declaring his support for the politician, had addressed Tinubu as his in-law and alleged that he (Tinubu) is currently 86 years and not 70.

While warning Nigerians against voting for the APC presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, he had argued that the former Lagos governor’s total existence was too shrouded in secrecy to be given the job of leading Nigeria.

He pointed out that for instance, the controversies surrounding Tinubu’s age, background and how he made his money remain unresolved.

“Did he tell us the truth about his age, background and how he made his money? Is this man healthy enough at 86 to take up the task of a run-down country?”

Tee Mac had queried.

According to the flutist, he (Tee Mac) stopped visiting Tinubu after he sold President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians in 2015, adding that even as his in-law, he won’t support his ambition to rule Nigeria.

“You see, Tinubu is my in-law.

His wife Remi is my cousin.

Her Itsekiri mother and my Itsekiri mother are sisters. I have known Tinubu since the mid-1980s personally and even arranged for him to stay in my stepfather’s house ( Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony) in London when he went on exile”.

But in a separate statement issued yesterday, Tee Mac said he sought to clarify what he said was a private conversation with his acquaintance and praised Tinubu to high heavens regarding his capacity to attract what he described as

an exceptional talent.

“My attention has been drawn to a post that has gone viral on social media regarding a private banter with a Facebook acquaintance on the eligibility of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN).

“Whilst it is regrettable that such a private conversation went viral vide a Facebook account, let me state that the conversation was taken out of context.

“In the first instance, I have high regards for the person of the APC presidential candidate; a two-term governor of Lagos state, and a revered leader of the APC,” he noted.

Tee Mac, who was silent on the controversial statement he made about Tinubu’s age, explained that he has lived in Lagos since he relocated from Switzerland, and could attest to Tinubu’s “transformational impact” in the state.

He noted that more significantly Tinubu’s ability to identify and engage exceptionally and committed technocrats in governance with tangible results over the years.

“This, I believe will be

replicated if he is given the opportunity at the federal level. His all-inclusive style of governance has seen people from other states, ethnicities and faith take up appointments in Lagos, serving meritoriously too.

“Consequently, his competence is not in doubt. I only expressed my fear of the rigours of the office.

“My personal view is that anyone can choose any candidate, but must ask themselves if they have chosen rightly. This is a pertinent question for everyone. I simply admonished a friend to vote by his convictions,” he said.

According to him, his only grouse, which he said he still stands by, is that it was Tinubu who sold Buhari to the nation in 2015, and who contrary to all expectations has underperformed.

“The above notwithstanding, I neither have a personal grudge with Asiwaju nor would I pursue a path of acrimony with my cousin, Remi Tinubu, whom everyone adjudged pleasant and supportive.

“Tinubu remains a man I admire regardless of what sycophants have tried to make of my comment,” he explained.

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Again, Biden Tests Positive to COVID-19, Returns to Isolation United States President, Mr. Joe Biden, has again tested positive to COVID-19 after consecutive days of testing negative to the virus.

His physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, disclosed this in a memo shared by the White House.

O’Connor said 79-yearold Biden is experiencing no new symptoms and “continues to feel quite well”.

The doctor said the president will, however, “reinitiate strict isolation procedures”.

Biden, in a tweet, said he was asymptomatic but would isolate “for the safety of everyone around me”.

The president tweeted: “I’m still at work, and will be back on the road soon.”

When he initially tested positive, Biden, who is fully vaccinated and had received two booster shots, had also experienced “very mild symptoms.”

A statement from the White House said: “He has begun taking Paxlovid.

Consistent with CDC guidelines, he will isolate at the White House and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. He has been in contact with members of the White House staff by phone this morning, and will participate in his planned meetings at the White House this morning via phone and Zoom from the residence.

“Consistent with White House protocol for positive COVID cases, which goes above and beyond CDC guidance, he will continue to work in isolation until he tests negative. Once he tests negative, he will return to in-person work.”

The statement added: “Per standard protocol for any positive case at the White House, the White House Medical Unit will inform all close contacts of the President during the day today, including any Members of Congress and any members of the press who interacted with the President during yesterday’s travel. The President’s last previous test for COVID-19 was Tuesday, when he had a negative test result.”

The rebound is expected to clear out in days.

As the oldest US president in history – he will turn

80 in November – Biden’s health receives constant attention.

He contrasted his seemingly quick recovery to Trump’s more serious bout with the disease in October

2020, before vaccines were available.

“When my predecessor got COVID-19, he had to get helicoptered to Walter Reed Medical Center,” Biden said. “He was severely ill.

Thankfully, he recovered.

When I got COVID-19, I worked from upstairs of the White House.”

He added that being fully vaccinated, taking preventative tests, and

then using the Paxlovid therapeutic prevents deaths and is available at no cost.

“You don’t need to be president to get these tools,” he said.

O’Connor had warned

after clearing Biden from his first round of COVID-19 that the president would wear a mask for 10 days when around others and continue to test regularly in case of a “rebound.”

MEETING WITH DEVELOPMENT PARTNER...

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma (left), and Country Director, World Bank, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, when the governor paid a working visit to Chaudhuri at the World Bank, Abuja office...weekend

Nigeria Records 857 Lassa Fever Cases, 164 Deaths in 2022, Says NCDC Onyebuichi Ezigbo in Abuja The Lassa fever cases in Nigeria have jumped to 857 and 164 people have so far died from the disease in the first seven months of 2022.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said this in its latest Lassa fever situation report for week 29, which showed that there were 857 confirmed cases of the disease in the country.

Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever transmitted by rats.

It has been known since the 1950s, but the virus was

not identified until 1969 when two missionary nurses died from it in the town of Lassa in Nigeria.

Found predominantly in West Africa, it has the potential to cause tens of thousands of deaths.

Even after recovery, the virus remains in body fluids, including semen.

Neighbouring countries are also at risk, as the animal vector for the Lassa virus, the “multimammate rat” (Mastomys natalensis) is distributed throughout the region.

The NCDC said that

the cases were distributed across 24 states and 99 local government areas in the country.

It said that 54 healthcare workers had been infected with the disease.

“A breakdown indicated that of all confirmed cases, Ondo has 30 per cent Edo, 26 per cent and Bauchi 14 per cent.

“Cumulatively from week 1 to week 29, 2022, 164 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 19.1 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021, 23.7 per cent.

“In total for 2022, 24 States

have recorded at least one confirmed case across 99 Local Government Areas.

“Of all confirmed cases, 70 per cent are from Ondo, 30 per cent Edo 26 per cent and Bauchi 14 per cent cases.

“The number of suspected cases has increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2021.

“One new healthcare worker was affected in Ondo State,” it said.

Lassa virus is transmitted to man by infected multimammate rats and humans become infected from direct contact with the urine and

faeces of the rat carrying the virus.

People also contract the disease by touching soiled objects, eating contaminated food, or exposure to open cuts or sores.

Secondary transmission from person to person can also occur as a result of exposure to the virus in the blood, tissue, urine, faeces or other bodily secretions of an infected patient.

Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease associated with high morbidity and mortality, and it has both economic and health security implications.

on his Twitter handle.

In February, Aliyu inaugurated the Project Management Office (PMO) to oversee the implementation of segments of the Siemens power deal.

Aliyu, who charged the new team to be up and doing in the discharge of their duties, informed the gathering that members were carefully selected based on competence and technical background.

The project is to provide power to Nigerians in three phases of 7,000MW, 11,000MW and 25,000MW between now and 2025 under the federal government's initiative to supply reliable power to the

national grid.

The minister who chronicled the progress made so far said the deal had culminated in a signed agreement with the German technology firm under the former German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

While explaining the composition of the members of the PMO, the minister said that independent experts were selected to be supported by nominees of statutory agencies.

According to him, the team’s competence to run the project had been proven, assuring them of his support as the chairman of the technical and regulatory board of the presidential initiative.

SIEMENS: NIGERIA’S €63M MEGA TRANSFORMERS SET FOR SHIPPING BEFORE SEPTEMBER to Germany in April, where he paid visits to Siemens Energy factories in Berlin and Frankfurt, and held meetings with the senior leadership of Siemens Energy.

He engaged the company on the need to fast-track the delivery of the early orders that it said would kick-start the transformation of Nigeria’s electricity.

“The successful factory acceptance test shows Nigeria’s engagement with Siemens Energy is on track. It also shows the federal government’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s electricity challenges,” said the minister.

In December 2021, the

Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed and Aliyu secured the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for €63 million for the procurement of equipment to boost power supply under the PPI. The first phase is expected to provide 10 mobile power substations and 10 mega transformers that will be deployed across the country to boost and stabilise electricity supply, the government stated.

In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari initiated the PPI to enable Siemens Energy to upgrade Nigeria’s electricity systems.

The first phase of the PPI seeks to modernise, rehabilitate

and expand the national grid by investing in the electricity value chain, including generation, transmission and distribution systems.

“On 28 July 2022, a team of Nigerian engineers led by the MD of Federal Government Power Company Mr Kenny Anuwe witnessed the factory acceptance test of the mega transformers ordered by the federal government under the first phase of the Presidential Power Initiative.

“The factory acceptance test was conducted at Siemens Energy factory in Trento, Italy. The transformers will start arriving in Nigeria in September. In December

2021, the Federal Executive Council approved €63 million for realising the partnership between the Nigerian government and Siemens Energy.

“The Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) was set up

by President Muhammadu Buhari to engage the global energy giant, Siemens of Germany for the upgrade and modernisation of Nigeria’s electricity value chain to deliver stable electricity across the country.

“On electricity supply, the federal government is committed to improvement and will not be distracted,” the minister wrote separately

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 31 , 2022

BUSINESS

Buhari

Ahmed

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

Fayemi

ECA and the Collapse of 1LJHULD·V )LQDQFLDO %X;HUV As Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account tumbled from $35.37million to $376,655million within a month, at a period when the economy is gasping for breath, analysts say all hands must now be on deck to avoid a total collapse of the economy, reports Festus Akanbi

I

n the realm of ideas and conjectures by the government’s image launderers, the Nigerian economy is too resilient to go under, even if it does, there are mechanisms in place to ensure it stages a dramatic recovery as the current administration begins to wound down in a few months.

However, in reality, economists argued that it will take a miracle to insulate the economy from collapse because presently, Nigeria’s economy LV EXͿHWHG IURP DOO DQJOHV E\ DFXWH UHYHQXH shortfall, frightening level of insecurity, fear of indiscriminate political spending as campaigns for the 2023 elections loom, foreign direct invesWRUV· ÁLJKW KLJK LQÁDWLRQ VHULRXV GHQW WR WKH naira value and the unrestrained sabotage to oil production.

The Depletion The uncertainty over Nigeria’s case is worsened by the shocking depletion of what would KDYH EHHQ D YHULWDEOH EXͿHU LQ WKLV XQXVXDO WLPH the Excess CrudeAccount (ECA), which tumbled from $35.37million in June to $376,655million this month.

7KH UHDOLW\ RI WKH QDWLRQ·V SDWKHWLF ÀQDQFLDO situation came as a shock to many Nigerians last week when a communique issued at the end of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting for July 2022 indicated that the balance in Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account (&$ KDV UHGXFHG VLJQLÀFDQWO\ IURP WKH million it was as of June 2022 to $376,655.09 as at July 25, 2022.

Interestingly, no immediate explanation was given for the huge drop in the ECA. The slump in the account came as allocation to the federal, state, and local governments increased

by N121.624 billion as FAAC shared a total sum of N802.407 billion for June.

However, in a late response to public outcry, the federal government on Wednesday explained that the $35million disbursement from the ECA was from June 2022, it was an advance payment for the purchase of brand QHZ 2ͿVKRUH 3DWURO 9HVVHOV 239V IRU WKH 1LJHULDQ 1DY\ DV SDUW RI HͿRUWV WR FRQVROLGDWH on maritime security gains recorded in the Gulf of Guinea.

Excess Crude Account ECA, according to Governor Nasir El-Rufai

of Kaduna State is described as a part of an administrative arrangement to save for a rainy day. Established in 2004, the ECA’s primary objective is to protect Nigeria’s planned budgets against shortfalls caused by the volatility of crude oil prices. By detaching government expenditures from oil revenues, the ECA is aimed to insulate the Nigerian economy from external economic shocks. It seeks to protect public expenditure from being patterned on the boom-and-bust cycle of the international oil market.

7KH (&$ LV IXQGHG E\ WKH GLͿHUHQFH EHWZHHQ the market price of crude oil and the budgeted price of crude oil as contained in the government’s appropriation bill.

Despite its good intentions, the ECA has been riddled with controversy, allegations of corruption, and uncertain performance. This is because the status of the account is not made public regularly. Sometimes in 2015, former 3UHVLGHQW 2OXVHJXQ 2EDVDQMR KDG FODLPHG WKDW KLV DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ OHIW ELOOLRQ LQ (&$ D ÀJXUH that was dismissed by Goodluck Jonathan’s administration which claimed to have met $9.43 billion in that account.

However, some state governors had opposed the plan to save the excess fund from crude oil sales because they believed that the saving was meant for immediate distribution to all tiers of government.

While speaking at the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in 2016, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a two-time ÀQDQFH PLQLVWHU FUHGLWHG ZLWK WKH VHWWLQJ XS ECAin 2004, had said there was no political will to save excess crude revenue under Jonathan, blaming governors in particular.

“We tried it in Nigeria, we put in an oil priceEDVHG ÀVFDO UXOH LQ DQG LW ZRUNHG YHU\ well,” she said.

“We saved $22 billion because the political will to do it was there. And when the 2008/2009 crisis came, we were able to draw on those VDYLQJV SUHFLVHO\ WR LVVXH DERXW D ÀYH SHU FHQW RI *'3 ÀVFDO VWLPXOXV WR WKH HFRQRP\ DQG ZH never had to come to the bank or the fund.”

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority As savings in ECA continues to deplete, the federal government is taking solace in the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority which

manages the Nigeria sovereign wealth fund, into which the surplus income produced from Nigeria’s excess oil reserves is deposited. This sovereign wealth fund was founded to manage and invest these funds on behalf of the government of Nigeria. The fund was established by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (Establishment, etc) Act 2011, signed in May 2011, and commenced operations in October 2012. It is intended to invest the savings gained RQ WKH GLͿHUHQFH EHWZHHQ WKH EXGJHWHG DQG actual market prices for oil to earn returns that ZRXOG EHQHÀW IXWXUH JHQHUDWLRQV RI 1LJHULDQV The fund was allocated an initial $1 billion in seed capital, and an additional $0.60billion has been contributed to date by the current administration. In December 2021 the fund had $ 2.56 billion in assets under management.

Governors’ Opposition to ECA At a point, the ECA became a political tool in the hands of state governors who decided to determine how and when to spend the savings.

For instance, in February this year, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) said it would dedicate portions of the excess crude account, natural resource development fund, and the economic stabilisation fund to provide support for the procurement of necessary military equipment to address the insecurity challenges in the country.

However, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike was opposed to the withdrawal, saying he was not in support of the plan for a fresh withdrawal except Rivers State is given its 13 per cent share from the account.

Economists explained that opposition to the retention of the crude oil account by the NGF came to a head in 2012 when the state chief executives opposed deductions from WKH H[FHVV FUXGH DFFRXQWV WR RͿVHW IXHO VXEVLdies. It criticised the continued deduction of oil subsidy from the excess crude accounts, saying the deduction negated the principle of federalism and budgetary provision.

A Vulnerable Economy Now that the ECAhas been stripped bare, the fear is that the Nigerian economy will become more vulnerable to election spending and the penchant for any outgoing administration not to pay attention to details. $OUHDG\ WKH EXUGHQ RI ULVLQJ GHÀFLW VSHQGLQJ

is giving cause for concern with analysts warning that the incoming administration may spend the better part of the next four years looking for ways to ease the burden of the debt payment.

In an interview granted THISDAY last year, the International Monetary Fund’s Resident Representative for Nigeria, Mr Ari Aisen, UDLVHG WKH QHHG WR PDLQWDLQ EXͿHUV JLYHQ WKH volatility of the international prices of crude oil, Nigeria’s main export.

Aisen maintained that in terms of the question RI FUXGH RLO SULFHV LW ZRXOG EH GL΀FXOW WR VD\ what level of prices would be enough to allow 1LJHULD WR VWD\ DÁRDW $FFRUGLQJ WR KLP WKDW LV simply because oil prices are very volatile; hence, it rises and drops unpredictably sometimes.

He pointed out that Nigeria is not the only country facing instability in the oil market, maintaining that, the important question is what countries can do to become more resilient to its impact. “In my opinion, there are two important factors to tackling this: Firstly, do not depend entirely on one sector to increase the options for revenue,” he said.

Arien said factors such as government deposits, and building international reserves, can enhance economic resilience and enable it to VWD\ DÁRDW ´7KHUH LV DOVR D QHHG WR FUHDWH EXͿHUV VR WKDW in good times, savings can be made; so that in bad times, those savings can be deployed to help. Many countries have put together Sovereign Wealth Funds which accumulate in good times so that when the bad times come, they can be deployed to help the economy stay DÁRDW 6R , ZRXOG VD\ WKDW EXLOGLQJ EXͿHUV DQG KDYLQJ D PRUH GLYHUVLÀHG HFRQRP\ FDQ help Nigeria overcome some of the volatility and macro-issues it is facing.

Given the paucity of funds in the Nigerian Sovereign Fund and the near depletion of the Excess Crude Account, one cannot dismiss the fear from certain quarters that the Nigerian economy is vulnerable. Government cannot do much to save the situation until the unrealistic policy of fuel subsidy and other revenue-gulping ones are dropped. A government facing a protracted university crisis and the attendant threat by organised labour cannot make headway unless drastic action to save costs is put in place. When this will happens will depend on the incumbent administration.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 31 , 2022

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FINANCE

Nigeria Losing Battle to Save the Naira )RU WKH HPEDWWOHG 1LJHULDQ FXUUHQF\ WKH 1DLUD WKH FKLFNHQ KDV ÀQDOO\ FRPH KRPH WR URRVW ZLWK one dollar exchanging for N716 last week at the parallel market. In this report, Festus Akanbi examines why various interventions of the regulatory authorities have failed to halt the sustained loss of naira value and ways out of this frightening scenario

T

he reality of Nigeria’s precarious economic situation became manifest last week when the national currency, the naira succumbed to the cocktail of contradictions in the economy to trade at N716 to a United States Dollar in the parallel market.

And according to a Bloomberg report, Nigerians accumulating cryptocurrencies to shield assets against a weakening naira have contributed to a slump in the value of the naira to a record low in the unauthorised market. It was also a week when the Central Bank of Nigeria blamed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd for the dollar scarcity.

The embarrassing situation has compelled the Senate to summon the Governor of the Central %DQN RI 1LJHULD 0U *RGZLQ (PHÀHOH WR LWV plenary apparently to explain why previous regulatory interventions have failed to nib the persistent fall of the naira in the bud.

The resolution to invite the CBN chief was a sequel to the deliberation on a motion by the Ekiti senator, Olubunmi Adetumbi. The motion came amid the rapid depreciation of the naira.

The concern was reinforced by the realisation that apart from the free fall of the naira at the parallel market, the currency also received EDVKLQJ DW WKH R΀FLDO PDUNHW )RU LQVWDQFH WKH QDLUD RSHQHG DW WKH R΀FLDO PDUNHW ODVW Tuesday at N427.30 and closed at N431.00 to a dollar the same day.

At the parallel market, the exchange rate was up to N670 a dollar and as of Wednesday morning, it was pegged at N716 to a dollar RQ )ULGD\ Measures to Halt the Crash of Naira Rate ,Q -XO\ (PHÀHOH SODFHG D EDQ RQ WKH sale of foreign exchange to bureaux de change, explaining that BDC operators have become a FRQGXLW IRU LOOHJDO ÀQDQFLDO ÁRZV ZRUNLQJ ZLWK corrupt people to conduct money laundering in Nigeria. The apex bank, therefore, zeroed on banks for forex sale to members of the public.

Unfortunately, the naira rate against the dollar has continued to tumble ever since then. $QRWKHU HͿRUW ZDV WKH 5DFH WR ELOOLRQ VFKHPH RWKHUZLVH NQRZQ DV 57 ); Programme, which was launched last year in response to what is an existential problem IRU WKLV FRXQWU\ 7KH 57 1RQ 2LO ([SRUW 3URFHHGV 5HSDWULDWLRQ 5HEDWH 6FKHPH RI WKH Central Bank of Nigeria. The CBN announced LQ )HEUXDU\ WKDW LW ZRXOG SD\ H[SRUWHUV 1 for every dollar sold into the economy through WKH ,QYHVWRUV ([SRUWHUV ZLQGRZ DQG 1 for every dollar repatriated and sold into I&E for personal use. The CBN recently disclosed WKDW WKH SURJUDPPH KDV SXPSHG PLOOLRQ into the Nigerian economy.

However, analysts said Nigerians’ appetite for imported goods and services is making nonsense of many of the interventions of the apex bank.

Oil Windfall )LQDQFLDO DQDO\VWV KRZHYHU ZDUQHG WKDW the assault on the naira is programmed to continue as long as the political authorities ÀQG LW GL΀FXOW WR LPSOHPHQW VRPH VWULQJHQW policies capable of halting the downward trend in the value of the naira.

They described as unfortunate, the failure of the federal government to harvest the current high price of crude oil in the international market at a time other oil-producing countries are investing oil windfall in their economies.

As reported by THISDAY earlier in the week, the inability of Nigeria to take advantage of rising international oil prices due to massive

oil theft, skyrocketing petrol subsidy which remains a drain on the economy as well foreign H[FKDQJH ); VSHFXODWLRQ E\ FXUUHQF\ WUDGers, among others, have combined to push WKH QDLUD WR D UHFRUG ORZ RI 1 RQ WKH parallel market.

The development comes against the backdrop of seemingly unbridled borrowing and rising debt service costs which exceeded the country’s revenues by as much as N310 billion LQ WKH ÀUVW TXDUWHU 4 RI DQG FRQWLQXHV to rise.

Shortfall in Oil Production Out of the 1.772 million barrels per day of crude oil allocated to the country by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting CounWULHV 23(& LQ -XQH 1LJHULD ZDV RQO\ DEOH WR SURGXFH PLOOLRQ ESG DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH ODWHVW 0RQWKO\ 2LO 0DUNHW 5HSRUW 0205 $W D FRQVHUYDWLYH DYHUDJH SULFH RI SHU barrel for the month, a THISDAY analysis showed that Nigeria’s daily underperformance pegged against the OPEC quota yielded a whopping 614,000 bpd or 19.034 million EDUUHOV GHÀFLW IRU WKH PRQWK Unfortunately, while other oil producers are FRXQWLQJ WKH JDLQV RI WKH HͿHFWV RI WKH RQJRLQJ VNLUPLVKHV EHWZHHQ 5XVVLD DQG 8NUDLQH DQG the attendant spike in the price of crude oil, Nigeria is at the losing end given the rise in cases of oil theft and vandalisation of pipelines. )RU LQVWDQFH WKH 7UDQV 1LJHU 3LSHOLQH D PDMRU SLSHOLQH FDSDEOH RI WUDQVSRUWLQJ DERXW barrels of crude per day, has stopped transporting the product since mid-June due to theft.

Despite the development, the pipeline has not been formally shut, Bloomberg reported last week quoting a source familiar with details of the pipeline operations. The report said WKH SLSHOLQH FDSDFLW\ LV DERXW SHU FHQW RI Nigeria’s most recent average daily output. In recent years, oil theft has become a never-ending problem in Nigeria’s oil industry.

7KH *URXS &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU RI WKH NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, had in April GLVFORVHG WKDW 1LJHULD ORVW ELOOLRQ WR RLO

theft at the rate of 200,000 barrels per day in 2021. He added that the country already lost ELOOLRQ VR IDU LQ EHFDXVH SLSHOLQH vandalism has escalated.

Fuel Subsidy Perhaps the greatest drain on the nation’s economy and dollar savings is the policy of fuel subsidy. Apart from gulping the highest chunk of the income, the subsidy arrangement is inducing a high level of corruption as the DFWXDO ÀJXUH RI SHWURO FRQVXPSWLRQ LQ 1LJHULD is still shrouded in mystery.

To worsen the fate of the naira, since petrol remains an imported product, the pressure is on the federal government to set aside a large chunk of its dollar earnings for this unsustainable fuel subsidy. This inadvertently crowds out other sectors of the economy which are being forced to patronise parallel markets with the attendant ballooning rates.

Information from the NNPC’s monthly SUHVHQWDWLRQ WR WKH )HGHUDWLRQ $FFRXQW $OORFDWLRQ &RPPLWWHH )$$& PHHWLQJ KHOG ODVW ZHHN VKRZHG WKDW LQ WKH ÀUVW KDOI RI petrol subsidy claims surpassed oil and gas revenue by a whopping N210 billion.

In addition, within the period under review, the NNPC recorded N2.39 trillion as gross revenues from oil and gas receipts, while subsidy claims amounted to N2.6 trillion.

7KH GDWD IXUWKHU UHYHDOHG WKDW 1 WULOOLRQ was used to cover part of the subsidy costs in the last six months, leaving an outstanding balance of N1.01 trillion to be recovered from July 2022 proceeds in August.

Fasua: Nigerians Should Reduce Patronage of Imported Goods, Services In his opinion, the CEO of Global Analytics Consulting Limited, an international consultLQJ ÀUP ZLWK LWV KHDGTXDUWHUV LQ $EXMD 7RSH )DVXD EHOLHYHG WKH PDMRU SUREOHP ZLWK WKH dwindling rate of naira was the fact that we don’t produce much that is worth anything. ´, WKLQN LW LV LPSRUWDQW WKDW ZH UHSHDW DG QDXVHXP WKH IDFW WKDW RXU WRS LPSRUWV ² according to Trading Economics – are in each

in several billion dollars range, while only two of our exports can be so categorised. Our chief import, year on year, is technology (hardware, software, machinery for our few industries, spares, cars, and the expensive gadgets of which ZH DUH YHU\ IRQG 1LJHULDQV ORYH FDUU\LQJ WKHLU expensive phones around, and they love their JOLVWHQLQJ OX[XU\ FDUV %XW ZH FDQ LOO DͿRUG these. The government that comes next has too much to do. I pity them. It will not be a walk in the park at all. Some decisions will rile the public but they must be taken,” he said.

Speaking further of the fate of the naira, )DVXD VDLG ´:HOO DIWHU WHFKQRORJ\ RXU QH[W ELJJHVW LPSRUW LV UHÀQHG SHWURO ,I ZH LPSRUW technology, gadgets, phones and cars worth DERXW ELOOLRQ DQQXDOO\ ZH DOVR LPSRUW SHWURO DQG GLHVHO IRU FORVH WR ELOOLRQ 7KH SUREOHP LV WKDW ZH GRQ·W PDNH XS WR ELOOLRQ IURP crude in some years – being our 30% share. In our list of imports are other top-hitters, like SKDUPDFHXWLFDOV ELOOLRQ SODVWLFV ELOOLRQ FHUHDOV ELOOLRQ ÀVK DQG RWKHU FUXVWDFHDQV ELOOLRQ ,URQ DQG 6WHHO ELOOLRQ DQG RWKHUV OLNH GDLU\ SURGXFWV DQG VXJDU RQ ZKLFK ZH VSHQG DERXW PLOOLRQ EACH! These are 2020 numbers. ´2Q WKH H[SRUW VLGH DOO ZH KDYH DSDUW IURP crude oil and the gas from NLNG, are oil seeds PLOOLRQ FRFRD EHDQV PLOOLRQ IHUWLOL]HUV PLOOLRQ FDVKHZ QXWV DQG FRFRQXWV PLOOLRQ <RX FDQ VHH KRZ TXLFNO\ ZH KLW WKH ÁRRU , KDYHQ·W HYHQ PHQWLRQHG WKH IDFW WKDW ZH VSHQW ELOOLRQ RQ IRUHLJQ HGXFDWLRQ LQ WKH ODVW WHQ \HDUV &DOO WKDW ELOOLRQ \HDUO\ Could be more, because there was a slow down in the covid year. Some point to remittance of DERXW ELOOLRQ DQG WKH &%1 KDV WULHG WR encourage more of that, but what about corUXSWLRQ WKDW VXFNV RXW PRUH WKDQ ELOOLRQ or more, yearly? Even legitimate earners take their monies out. There are all sorts of things that put our currency under pressure. The gambling business which is now ubiquitous among Nigerian youths is one. Purchase of high-end foreign beverages like champagnes, brandies, whiskies, is another.”

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 31 , 2022

15

ECONOMY

Initiating Catalysts for Foreign Direct Investment 7KH VXVWDLQHG GHFOLQH LQ WKH ÁRZ RI )RUHLJQ 'LUHFW ,QYHVWPHQWV )',V DQG WKH DWWHQGDQW jeopardy to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings has underscored the urgent need to relaunch catalysts for foreign direct investment such as foreign exchange clarity, improved security SURÀOH VWDEOH JRYHUQPHQW DQG EXVLQHVV SROLFLHV DPRQJ RWKHUV UHSRUWV Festus Akanbi *RGZLQ (PHÀHOH LQ D UHFHQW 0RQHWDU\ 3ROLF\ Committee meeting in Abuja, admitted that the unconducive domestic investment climate ZDV LPSDFWLQJ FDSLWDO LQÁRZV LQWR 1LJHULD He said “The net FDI has been very low while there was a substantial reversal of FPI ÁRZV IURP WKH FRXQWU\ LQ WKH IRXUWK TXDUWHU of 2021.

“This poor trend is apparently due to the unconducive domestic investment climate which appears to be worsening. In February VXFK LQÁRZV VWRRG DW EQ FRPSDUHG ZLWK EQ LQ )HEUXDU\ WKH KLJKHVW since December 2020.”

Emefiele

I

n less than a year from now, the incumbent administration will be handing the reins of government to a new one after the February 2023 general election.

Like a going concern, one of the features of the transition is the handover of what can be termed as gains made so far, and losses incurred by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to its successors come June next year.

Normally various policies successfully put in place including completed and ongoing projects; the reforms in the oil industry, the infrastructure projects, especially the rail networks, among others, will form the fulcrum RI VHYHUDO DFKLHYHPHQWV WR EH ÁDXQWHG DW WKH point of change of baton next year.

At the same time, a harvest of economic challenges which include the unresolved security threats to lives and property, the energy crisis, which has been linked to the near extinction of the small and medium VFDOH LQGXVWU\ DV ZHOO DV WKH GLS LQ WKH ÁRZ of foreign direct investments will continue to haunt the outgoing administration.

Shortfall in FDIs The reality is, that the unfortunate reduction in foreign investors’ appetite for the Nigerian economy which has triggered a sustained shrinkage of the nation’s foreign reserves, and the near collapse of the naira value will form the bulk of the liabilities to be handed over to the next administration.

On the issue of the persistent fall in the ÁRZ RI IRUHLJQ GLUHFW LQYHVWPHQW WR 1LJHULD analysts contended that the Nigerian economy has not been able to halt the trend because the Nigerian market still lacks the long-awaited catalysts, such as foreign exchange clarity, LPSURYHG VHFXULW\ SURÀOH VWDEOH JRYHUQPHQW and business policies, which typically attract foreign investments, arguing further that a pre-election year, with its many uncertainties, LV QRW WKH WLPH WR H[SHFW DQ LQÁX[ RI IRUHLJQ investments.

Finance analysts assert that an increase in

Umar

foreign investment is an integral part of DQ RSHQ DQG HͿHFWLYH LQWHUQDWLRQDO HFRnomic system that promotes the transfer of technology, creates and improves the purchasing power of Nigerians through job FUHDWLRQ E\ IRUHLJQHUV DQG FRQVHTXHQWO\ contributes to an overall boost in targeted industries and the economy as a whole.

However, the decline in foreign investment in Nigeria has been attributed to the spate of insecurity in the country, and naira volatility, characterised by a wobbly foreign exchange market. In the same vein, analysts said the recent political climate relating to the forthcoming presidential election has made many foreign investors withdraw investments in the short run due to political uncertainty.

published capital importation report, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and compared to the corresponding period of 2021, Nigeria’s capital importation declined by IURP ELOOLRQ UHFHLYHG LQ 4 According to reports, the largest amount of capital importation by type was received through Portfolio Investment, which accounted IRU PLOOLRQ 7KLV ZDV IROORZHG E\ RWKHU LQYHVWPHQWV ZLWK million) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) DFFRXQWHG IRU PLOOLRQ RI WRWDO FDSLWDO LPSRUWHG LQ 4 Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investment )3, LQFUHDVHG E\ WR PLOOLRQ IURP PLOOLRQ UHFRUGHG LQ WKH SUHYLRXV TXDUWHU 2Q WKH RWKHU KDQG IRUHLJQ GLUHFW LQYHVWPHQW )', UHGXFHG E\ IURP PLOOLRQ UHFRUGHG LQ 4 WR million in the review period.

And looking at the trajectory within three years, it is evident that the decline has been persistent. This is because capital importation LQWR 1LJHULD IHOO E\ SHU FHQW EQ IURP EQ LQ WKH ÀUVW TXDUWHU RI WR EQ LQ WKH FRUUHVSRQGLQJ TXDUWHU RI according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

Based on the NBS’s ‘Nigerian Capital ,PSRUWDWLRQ· UHSRUWV IRU WKH ÀUVW TXDUWHUV RI DQG WKHUH KDV EHHQ D VWHDG\ GHFOLQH LQ FDSLWDO LQÁRZV LQ WKH QDWLRQ 7KH GDWD VKRZHG WKDW WRWDO FDSLWDO LQÁRZ IHOO E\ SHU FHQW IURP EQ LQ 4 WR EQ LQ 4 LW IHOO E\ SHU FHQW WR EQ LQ 4 DQG IXUWKHU GHFOLQHG E\ SHU FHQW WR EQ LQ 4 'DWD VKRZV WKDW LQ 4 DQG 4 portfolio investments were responsible for PRVW RI WKH FDSLWDO LQÁRZV LQWR WKH QDWLRQ while banking raked in the highest and the UK provided the most.

Sustained Decline According to a report by Nairametrics, an online news medium, Nigeria attracted D VXP RI PLOOLRQ DV IRUHLJQ GLUHFW LQYHVWPHQWV )', LQ WKH ÀUVW ÀYH PRQWKV of 2022, that is between January and May RI WKH \HDU UHSUHVHQWLQJ D LQFUHDVH FRPSDUHG WR PLOOLRQ UHFRUGHG LQ WKH corresponding period of the previous year.

However, there is little to cheer about this marginal improvement because, in contrast to the comparable period of 2020, )', GHFOLQHG E\ FRPSDUHG WR million received in the reference period.

This is according to data compiled from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The report disclosed that Nigeria’s foreign direct investment has dwindled VLJQLÀFDQWO\ UHFHQWO\ KLWWLQJ D UHFRUG ORZ RI PLOOLRQ LQ PRVW RI ZKLFK ZDV HTXLW\ +RZHYHU PRVW GHYHORSLQJ economies desire more direct investment FRQVLGHULQJ WKH EHQHÀWV LW KDV RQ WKH KRVW countries.

1LJHULD DWWUDFWHG D WRWDO RI ELOOLRQ Need for Investment-Friendly EnvironLQ FDSLWDO LQÁRZV LQ WKH ÀUVW TXDUWHU RI ment IDOOLQJ E\ FRPSDUHG WR WKH Preparing the minds of Nigerians for the ELOOLRQ UHFRUGHG LQ WKH SUHYLRXV HURVLRQ RI FDSLWDO LQÁRZV LQWR WKH FRXQWU\ TXDUWHU 7KLV LV DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH UHFHQWO\ Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,

The Fears 6RPH ÀQDQFLDO DQDO\VWV KDG UDLVHG WKH IHDU last year that as global interest rates increase, the temptation to invest overseas would be DͿHFWHG 7KLV ZDV FRUURERUDWHG E\ D UHFHQW publication of the World Bank ‘Nigeria Development Update (June 2022),: The Continuing Urgency of Business Unusual’ report, that rising global interest rates are going to lead to PRUH QHW SRUWIROLR RXWÁRZV LQ OHDGLQJ to a decline in overall capital importation.

It said, “With rising global interest rates, Nigeria will likely experience net portfolio RXWÁRZV LQ )3, LQÁRZV JUHZ VLJQLÀFDQWO\ LQ H[FHHGLQJ EQ SHU FHQW RI *'3 Explaining the unfortunate trend, the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson &KXNZX FRQÀUPHG WKDW WKH ÁRZ RI IRUHLJQ direct investment into Nigeria has already reduced principally because when interest rates go up in advanced economies, investors who were arbitraging (that is, borrowing at a lower cost to invest in emerging markets at a higher yield) won’t be able to do that arbitrary opportunity vanishes.

“For instance, if the interest rate is two per cent in America, you can borrow at that rate and come into an emerging economy and invest at a higher percentage. Even when depreciation of the local currency is factored in, there would still be yield.

“Once rates start going up, the arbitrage opportunity is almost eliminated because HTXLOLEULXP ZRXOG DOPRVW EH DWWDLQHG %Hcause the yield that they will get investing at home will almost be the same as the one in emerging economies, they won’t have the motivation to invest abroad.

“A lot of portfolio investors have already OHIW :H ZRQ·W VHH VR PXFK LQ RXWÁRZV DJDLQ EXW ZH ZRXOG ZLWQHVV D UHGXFWLRQ LQ LQÁRZV since the window for arbitrage gain has closed,” explained Chukwu.

Analysts warned that the situation may worsen before the year-end as political campaigns take the centre stage. They pointed out that the last week’s increase in the interest rate by the Central Bank of Nigeria may not help matters. There is also WKH IHDU WKDW YDULRXV SROLWLFDO R΀FH KROGHUV may abandon their posts to push for their candidates in the forthcoming elections, warning that such dereliction of duties can complicate things as more investors may decide to relocate elsewhere pending the coming of a new administration.

Another issue is the tendency of the incoming administration to tinker with some RI WKH H[LVWLQJ SROLFLHV LQ FDVH D GLͿHUHQW political party produces the next president.

It is therefore very important for President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to ensure it stabilises the polity and ensures policy consistency till the last day of the administration in order not to worsen the state of the economy in general and the foreign exchange position of the country in particular.

16

JULY 31, 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

WEALTH CAPSULE 26

Knowledge Utilisation for Wealth Building

M

y Billionaire friend had been hinting at the need to emphasise once again the importance of knowledge in wealth acquisition. But at our last session I was not too sure of what to expect. Once all the necessary protocols were observed, I just allowed him to express himself with no interruptions from my side and in all demonstrating versatility on the science of wealth.

Here is how it went; I just allowed him to fire. Please enjoy: “As previously canvassed in our past conversations, wealth-building requires clear knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of facilitating wealth-building goals. Knowledge here includes all the facts, information, exposure, skill, and education gathered through a theoretical and practical understanding of the subject of building wealth”.

“To start with, wealth builders need to acquire explicit, implicit, tacit and procedural knowledge about wealth to a reasonable extent. This will help them to navigate the intricate labyrinth of achieving their wealth-building goals. Wealth builders also need to gather conceptual, metacognitive knowledge. The truth is, wealth building is not a cup of tea. It requires a continuous search and pursuit of knowledge, especially in one’s chosen areas of wealth focus. Knowledge itself manifests in awareness, which is gained from facts or situations surrounding wealth building.

Knowledge is the condition of knowing and being familiar with the issues and the various factors that are useful for a successful wealth-building endeavour. In other words, knowledge ensures that wealth builders do not approach their pursuit like the proverbial blind man without a guide. It is thus important for wealth builders to search for knowledge as an integral part of their search for wealth opportunities. Doing so would make a huge difference. Not doing so would, without a doubt, eventually impede and stop them from reaching their wealth-building goals. Wealth builders must, as a habit, continue to learn, understand and be aware of all the issues which concern the process of building wealth. They must not only personally acquire a good knowledge base but should procure expert knowledge whenever necessary”.

KNOWLEDGE EQUIPES FOR CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING “In general, wealth building requires deep knowledge about trade and economic rules, regulations, practices and procedures, which could be acquired from a series of learning activities that exist, and have been put in place to build wealth.

The question would arise: Why is knowledge that important in building wealth? The answer to this question starts with the knowledge that helps to solve problems. In the process of wealth building, builders would encounter innumerable problems.

Knowledge helps to position wealth builders in good stead to overcome problems as they arise. The problems of life are generally better solved with knowledge. Knowledge sharpens skills. Wealth builders who have acquired knowledge would have their skills better sharpened. Knowledge aids critical analysis and establishing the rationale for solving the problems associated with wealth building.

Wealth building is an adventurous exercise. It is adventurous in the sense that losses may occur, and those losses can lead to the loss of lives and can destroy families and institutions. Therefore, wealth builders should have built their knowledge base such that their abilities to confront problems would be good. A strong knowledge base helps humans solve problems easily. It also makes learning easier. Humans with a good knowledge base find it easier to acquire more knowledge.

Knowledge is not only cumulative, it also grows exponentially so that those already rich with knowledge find it easier to grow more. This is why it is said that the rich get richer. Knowledge is characterised by being contextual and thus can be reused. Knowledge is, however, only beneficial when and if applied. There is no utility value in having relevant knowledge without utilising such to creatively build wealth. Wealth builders should not only build wealth for themselves but should assist others to start up and succeed as wealth builders. Knowledge is characterised by being changeable over time. Indeed, knowledge is not static, as it grows and changes over time.

This is the reason wealth builders must keep

Artist Impression of my Billionaire Friend

The truth is, wealth building is not a cup of tea. It requires a continuous search and pursuit of knowledge, especially in one’s chosen areas of wealth focus.

Knowledge itself manifests in awareness, which is gained from facts or situations surrounding wealth building themselves informed of new developments within and outside their sphere of wealth building. This is particularly important with the innumerable accounting, legal and technological issues that would confront them in their wealth-building pursuits. Since knowledge can become obsolete over time, it needs to be renewed from time to time. More importantly, knowledge can be obtained and transferred through education. This is why wealth builders are encouraged to regularly undergo refresher training and review a series of courses to regularly upgrade their knowledge base. As discoveries and findings are made, wealth builders must acquaint themselves with them as these emerge to keep wealth builders abreast of important developments in different spheres that make have an impact on their businesses.

Hence, in doing this, wealth builders would learn continuously about new developments in science, technology, engineering, law, finance, investment and economics and how they affect their businesses. This will enable them better control the outcomes of their various wealthbuilding pursuits”.

SCIENNCE, TECHNOLGY, ENGINEERING, ECONOMICS, INVESTMENT AND FINANCE KNOWLEDGE FOR WEALTH BUILDING “This should now lead our conversation to the importance of science, technology, engineering, economics, investment and finance knowledge for building wealth. Indeed, it is globally known, especially in knowledge-driven nations, that investments in science are investments in growth and development. This is because knowledge of science has broken numerous centuries-old myths and is still breaking many current myths held by humans. Thanks to science, humanity is discovering new frontiers of knowledge about life, the living environment and the world stratosphere that remained mystical and have hindered human development for centuries.

Science has thus broken numerous myths, which hitherto prevented the development of humanity and immeasurably hindered the quantum leap of growth and development in the wealth of individuals, nations and the world in general. An

example is how Gallileo Galleli broke humanity’s centuries-old myth about the earth being the centre of the universe, as against being the sun. History notes that Gallileo Galleli, an Italian philosopher, astronomer and mathematician, broke this age-long myth by discovering that the earth was round and revolves in an orbit around the sun. This scientific discovery by Gallileo Galleli, which was based on the forerunning scientific work of Nicolaus Copernicus , globally led to many far-reaching developments in astronomy, of beneficial developments in world aviation, which has now made the world easier to transverse.

That enabled the development of the tourism industry, which now drives some economies.

History has it that Gallileo was made to suffer for daring to align with the theory published by the Polish scientist Nicolaus Copernicus in 1543, which opposed a prevailing theory, advanced by the second-century astronomer Ptolemy, that the earth was the centre of the universe with the sun and the rest of the cosmos orbiting around it. He was condemned by Roman authorities in 1633, and was forced to recant his discoveries.

Galileo remained in house arrest until he died in 1642 at the age of 77”.

WHAT HAS SCIENCE GOT TO DO WITH WEALTH? “Science has revolutionised the world and continues to account for the sustenance of world empires. It is science that opened up the vast economy and wealth now enjoyed by humanity on numerous frontiers, which were previously unknown to humans. An example of the importance of scientific knowledge, which has built immeasurable wealth for humanity, is Michael Faraday’s discovery of electricity.

Faraday’s discovery has not only brightened the world, it has also powered and energised the world. His discovery has revolutionised the wealth-building capacity of the world beyond imagination. Developed nations have particularly benefited greatly from that discovery. It has enabled the sustenance of humanity and has helped with the driving of machinery and equipment used in all facets of human existence, creating a wealth of great value for the world”.

“The discoveries of scientists continue to attract trillions of dollars in royalties to nations that invest in science. An example is the humongous amount of money made by scientists, firms and nations in the pharmaceutical discoveries of Covid-19 vaccines when the pandemic was ravaging the world with intensity. Science, therefore, grows wealth in the world. Science is a clear source for building wealth, which has been and is being tapped by knowledge-driven nations of the world.

Unfortunately, Nigeria is still in the agrarian age, with minimal drive on industrialisation, with its defending and pursuit of the herding of cows, insistence on grazing routes for cows and similar facilitating enactment of laws for promoting herding of cows around the country, instead of a scientifically global preference for ranching”.

HOW ABOUT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY? “Information technology is currently the key driving force of knowledge-driven nations for wealth development. Information technology has been highly embraced by knowledge-driven nations in all facets of their lives and governance. The world, in general, is currently being propelled by the knowledge revolution. Knowledge-driven wealth builders like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, etc., have made and are sustaining the United States of America as the dominant economy and wealthiest nation in our world with a GDP of about $25 trillion. Meanwhile, herdsmen and agrarian-driven countries with large populations are struggling with small economic sizes and poor per capita incomes. Such nations

are steeped in debts, struggling to pay the debts and having their annual debt servicing costs outstripping their revenues. Knowledge of the modern technology which is currently driving the world is, therefore “sine qua non” for serious wealth builders that want to make a success of their pursuit. Without the knowledge of information technology, wealth building in the current world is a non-starter. This is why Nigeria needs to invest in information technology infrastructure in its public schools and universities. This investment is necessary for building wealth for the Nigerian nation and its people. Nigeria must invest in ICT infrastructure in its public universities and youths.

Young Nigerians must be encouraged to acquire skills in information technology which will lead to birthing exponentially by-products of a better standard of living for Nigerian citizens, great wealth for our nation and a better global image for our country”.

WEALTH BUILDING, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ARE INSEPARABLE “In the world of today and tomorrow, wealth building will continue to centre around science and technology. So, wealth builders are encouraged to avail themselves of knowledge of information technology and its various aspects”.

“The knowledge-driven nations of the world, which as it is, are those dominating the world economically and militarily, consistently and determinedly invest in science and technology to maintain their world dominance and comparative competitive advantages. They compete and outperform each other, investing in science, information technology and engineering to grow their national wealth and the living standards of their citizens. For instance, China, with a 19 trillion dollars economy, comes second to the United States of America. China is globally acknowledged to be the next dominant power because of that country’s heavy investment in science, technology and engineering. Such a level of investment helps to build not only the military power of nations but also grow wealth for their national pride and the living standards of their citizens”.

“Knowledge about the law also needs to be explored by wealth builders but this can usually be obtained via procuring the services of legal advisers and consultants by wealth builders for developing, protecting and sustaining their wealth. However, basic knowledge about investment, finance and economics needs to be acquired by wealth builders because they are integral parts of the wealth-building process and pursuits for successful and effective day-to-day decision-making. Wealth building is about taking good decisions in finance, investments and managing tangible assets, which require basic knowledge and understanding of finance, investment, and macro and micro economics for monitoring economic developments and optimising business operations. This analysis does not aim in any way to undermine other knowledge areas or subjects. It aims at pointing out the significance of the emphasised areas of knowledge for building wealth, generally. “Knowledge is wealth”, they say.

It is on this basis that I insist that wealth builders must explore, acquire and utilise knowledge for building wealth, both for themselves, their nation and humanity in general. Knowledge exists in the documentary, repository and implicit forms for wealth building”.

“Stupendous wealth is built by utilising knowledge in the areas canvassed in this discussion.

It then boils down to how effective each wealth builder can acquire and use knowledge for making an impactful difference in society and the world at large. Globally, strong wealth builders are leading the way, and it is therefore vital for us to follow their direction, not only for building wealth for ourselves but also for the good of humanity by effectively utilising knowledge for that purpose”.

So far. Catch you next week

In the process of wealth building, builders would encounter innumerable problems. Knowledge helps to position wealth builders in good stead to overcome problems as they arise.The problems of life are generally better solved with knowledge.

Knowledge sharpens skills

1 17

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY3131,July, 2022 Sunday 2022 Vol 27. No 9973

TR

See page18 THE MAKING OF A REVOLUTION JOSEF OMOROTIONNWAN believes that the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi is the man to beat in 2023

See page 18 EDITORIAL GOVERNORS AND THE WATER RESOURCES BILL

See page 47

& R E A SO

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

A CASE FOR OKEHO AHORO KAYODE AWOJOBI contends that Okeho Ahoro is eminently qualified to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site

UT H

OLUDAYO TADE takes readers through the meaning of the songs by protesters on the ASUU strike

THE SONGS FOR BUHARI AND OTHERS Public protests have become common feature in contemporary societies where citizens communicate their discontents in relation to government policies, actions and inactions. Public protest is a democratic platform for government to understand the feelings of her people and responsibly assuage their pains and displeasures. Through public protest, the public space is contested and appropriated between the state and the citizens.

Since protest may expose loopholes in governance and the hollowness of those at WKH KHOPV RI DͿ DLUV LW LV DOVR IXQFWLRQDO IRU driving social change and another way of political participation. It is this contestation over public spaces between the state and the civic public that brings up memories which are communicated by protesters with their placards and songs.

This piece attempts an interpretive understanding of how protest songs empower us to dissect the relationship between government and the people, as well as appreciate how bad governance brings up memories of promises unkept.

It elevates the agency of the people to query bad governance, deride exploitative leadership and call for positive change LQ WKH DͿ DLUV RI WKH VWDWH ,W JLYHV WKH participants the opportunity to catalogue existential challenges which confront 1LJHULDQV DQG WKH GL΀ FXOWLHV WKH\ IDFH LQ navigating it.

I employed some of the songs composed by Labour union activists and other Nigerians who hit the streets on 26th and 27th July 2022 to register WKHLU GLVSOHDVXUH DJDLQVW WKH RYHU À YH months strike embarked upon by the $FDGHPLF 6WDͿ 8QLRQ RI 8QLYHUVLWLHV $688 DQG WKH ODFNDGDLVLFDO DWWLWXGHV RI 3UHVLGHQW 0XKDPPDGX %XKDUL 30% and his Ministers in resolving the matter.

Although Nigeria Labour Congress footdragged as the protest was long overdue, the protesters hit the roads nationwide carrying with placards with inscriptions VXFK DV ´HQG $688 VWULNH SHUPDQHQWO\ and bring our children back to school”, “stop making universities constituency projects” among others. ´$OO ZH DUH VD\LQJ« HQG $688 VWULNHµ NLFNHG RͿ WKH SURWHVW LQ ,EDGDQ 2OG PHQ and women, strong and frail, young adult and adolescents who felt the need to express their feelings about Nigeria joined the protest. As we moved through NLC secretariat to Agodi-gate junction, they sang “e ma ba ilu je mowa loori, e balu je mowa lori, kosomo yin Kankan ni naijiria, e ma balu je mow a loori”. This is a pointed attack on the destructive act of the parasitic ruling class whom the protesters asked not to destroy the common patrimony because their children are abroad studying and enjoying Nigeria’s money. This is a clear warning to Nigerians not to invest their

votes on those who do not consume what they serve to Nigerians.

As the strike continues, some governors went abroad to attend the graduation of their children yet they failed to provide similar world class institutions for children of the masses at home. This, to the protesters is a strategic way to destroy Nigeria for the masses since they have plans B clearly mapped out for their families. How can Nigerians have been deceived to vote for someone whose children studied abroad but was said to be poor? Will someone getting treated abroad and not at home be committed to provide quality health facilities for Nigerians? The rest is history and one hopes Nigerians KDYH VXͿ HUHG HQRXJK WR PDNH WKH ULJKW choices in 2023.

7KH SURWHVW DOVR DͿ RUGHG SURWHVWHUV the opportunity to ask questions about XQIXOÀ OOHG SURPLVHV PDGH E\ WKRVH LQ government. To demand accountability, WKH\ VDQJ ´2 WL \DUD JEDJEH JERJER UH LOHUL ri re igba ipolongo, ase binti logbon ori e, iwo ti a ro poo gbon”. This song recalls the promises made by President Muhammadu %XKDUL LQ UHODWLRQ WR À [LQJ WKH HFRQRP\ À JKWLQJ FRUUXSWLRQ DQG FRPEDWLQJ terrorism and his promise to lead from the front. The song shows how the perks PDNH R΀ FH KROGHUV IRUJHWIXO ,W VKRZV D transition from someone who promised to impact positively but unleashing misery. It explains how unreal and deceitful political parties and their candidates have deceived Nigerians who are currently experiencing nosediving fortunes in every area of their lives since the birthing of this government over seven years ago.

Through another Yoruba song ‘all of you are culpable, all of you are culpable, the way education and Nigeria is today all of you DUH FXOSDEOH %XKDUL LV FXOSDEOH 2VLQEDMR is culpable, Ngige is culpable, Tinubu is FXOSDEOH 2EDVDQMR LV FXOSDEOH 7KH ZD\ Nigeria is today, all of you are culpable’,

From the songs, the Buhari administration is able to appreciate how well they have done and how Nigeria is now better secured than what they inherited from former President Jonathan and how under their watch, Nigeria was promoted to the exalted position as the poverty capital of the world

the protesters historicize the cumulative contribution of bad leadership to the SUHVHQW VWDWH RI DͿ DLUV 7KH VRQJ DOVR UDLVHV fundamental question about the quality of leadership Nigeria has had, its level of degeneration and the reduced attention paid to critical social institutions such as education by successive administrations.

The protesters lamented the hike in prices of food and associated services in the country. As they marched peacefully through the streets of Ibadan, I heard from behind “Ta lo mu gaari won? Buhari lo mu JDDUL ZRQ 2 OH ,\DQ ZR OH R OH HED ZROH o wa joba lori owo wa Buhari lo mu gaari won” (who is responsible for the hike in the price of gaari? Buhari is responsible.

He has made pound-yam and eba to be out of reach of common man yet he uses our PRQH\ WKH ZD\ KH OLNHV ,QÁ DWLRQ FUHDWHV XQDͿ RUGDEOH IRRG LWHPV ZKLFK PDNHV SURWHVWHUV MXVWLÀ DEO\ DQJHUHG DV JDDUL DQG rice prices have gone up with hunger and malnutrition as consequences.

This is attributed to the poor economic management of the President’s team and the lack of political Will to tame insecurity.

Inability to get food is considered a major challenge and that is why the protesters sang another song. Entertaining as it is, it tells us about rampant impunity in government circle, the seeming incapacity of the Buhari-led government to deal decisive blow on terrorists and bandits who have started poking their sinister hands into the eyes of PMB security zones.

Could it be corruption that accounts for such lapses or the incompetence of the Service Chiefs or the underhand of war entrepreneurs? Whichever way, the protest signposts these failures with urgent demand for positive change.

While the protest may have ended with ultimatum given to government to end the strike, public protests are critical for social change which the public should engage in to demand accountability. The lyrics interrogated have utility value for re-examining and renegotiating the social contract between government and the governed. From the songs, the Buhari administration is able to appreciate how well they have done and how Nigeria is now better secured than what they inherited from former President Goodluck Jonathan and how under their watch, Nigeria was promoted to the exalted position as the poverty capital of the world with N710 naira exchanging for 1$!

The deceit of 2014 and failure to correct it in 2019 landed Nigeria at this dire condition. Will Nigeria repeat the same error in 2023?

Dr Tade, a sociologist/criminologist writes via dotad2003@yahoo.com

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2T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 31, 2022

KAYODE AWOJOBI contends that Okeho Ahoro is eminently qualified to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site

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JOSEF OMOROTIONNWAN believes that the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi is the man to beat in 2023

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exercise. The workers are not particularly out to recruit a president who will cut RͿ DOO WKH IULQJH EHQHÀWV WKH\ KDYH EHHQ ¶HQMR\LQJ· 7KRVH VWRULHV RI KRZ \RX WXUQHG \RXUVHOI WR D IXHO DWWHQGDQW DV $QDPEUD *RYHUQRU ´EX\LQJ IXHO RQO\ ZKHQ \RX ZHUH LQ WKH FDU DQG SD\LQJ FDVKµ VKRXOG EH NHSW WR \RXUVHOI <RX VKRXOG QRW SLWFK \RXUVHOI DJDLQVW WKH ZRUNHUV EHFDXVH QRERG\ LV LQ SXEOLF VHUYLFH ´WR DFFXPXODWH SRYHUW\µ WR HPSOR\ WKH HOHJDQW SKUDVHRORJ\ RI WKH /DWH &KXED 2NDGLJER 6RPH RI WKRVH IULQJH EHQHÀWV FRXOG EH WKH YHU\ UHDVRQ ZK\ WKHVH SHRSOH DUH LQ SXEOLF VHUYLFH

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SUNDAY JULY 31, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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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 31 , 2022

INTERNATIONAL Boko Haramism and Proposed Ban on Okada Transportation:The Option of Encirclement Strategy

B

oko Haramism is currently the most critical challenge withwhichthegovernmentofPresidentMuhammadu Buhari (PMB) is faced. Boko Haramism is manifested in various forms: insurgency to oust a secular Nigeria and impose a new Sharia order; armed banditry to terrorise; kidnapping to raise funds for Boko Haram’s politicalagenda;Fulaniherdsmenandfarmersconflict to displace local farmers from their ancestral land; forceful acquisition of titled land by government for Fulani herdsmen to ensure a home for more Fulani coming from West and Central Africa; and conscious PMB policies that openly sustain all the foregoing.

These manifestations should be differentiated from the segregationinduced activities of the MASSOB (Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra) and the IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra).While the MASSOB and the IPOB complain about marginalisation, unfairness and injustice meted out against them (Igbo ethnic stock) in the governance of Nigeria for seeking disengagement from Nigeria, theYoruba South West are also basically complaining about Fulanisation agenda, and therefore launching a peaceful protest against Nigeria as it is.

TheYoruba people are seeking separation from Nigeria because of boko haramism and rightly or wrongly perception of a Fulanisation agenda. Again, while the IPOB is using force to make its case, theYoruba South west have opted to seek a United Nations plebiscite on their right to self-determination to define their future.This is why they have joined the membership of the Unrepresented Nations Peoples Organisation (UNPO) with the ultimate objective of seeking international assistance in their struggle for an Oduduwa Republic.

It is against this background that insecurity in Nigeria has become very recidivist in character and also very problematic in also containing it. And true enough, containing insecurity in Nigeria is not simply about the using heavy weapons, but particularly about how to also neutralise the instruments of insecurity that are hardly reckoned with in the deepening of insecurity. The case of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada in Nigeria, is currently a major issue of concern in Nigeria as at today.

In this regard, the Federal Government is reported to be considering the banning of the activities of Okada riders across the whole of Nigeria in order to reduce, if not outrightly, nip in the bud the main logistic backbone of insecurity in Northern Nigeria, in particular, and Nigeria, in general. The proposal raises some fundamental questions: is the PMB’s Government of Nigeria really serious about squarely dealing with the Boko Haram? The terrorists have threatened to kill PMB. How does he want to fight the Boko Haramists with this threat? More disturbingly, a six-week ultimatum has been issued by the group of minority Senators in the Senate to PMB to contain insecurity or face impeachment process. Quo Vadis?

Banning Policy: Good but a Non-Solution There is no disputing the fact that the use of commercial motorcycles is a potent tool of the armed bandits and terrorists. It is what they use to quickly escape from the scenes of their crimes against humanity.

The consideration of the PMB administration is that insecurity may be drastically reduced if the means of escape, as well as the sources of their funding, which include illegal mining, are also stopped.

In this case, does banning the use of Okada and stopping all activities of the Okada riders imply a new readiness of Government to tackle insecurity more seriously in Nigeria? If it is truly a new determination to address the problem of insecurity from a more holistic approach, then the policy cannot but be a very welcome development. However, that does not mean it is adequate as deterrent? Is it an enduring solution?

Available empirical data do not lend any credence to any suggestion of seriousness of purpose on the part of the Government of Nigeria.What is tenable as an argument is Government’s policy of remissness that create doubts in the minds of the Nigerian people about any sincerity to address the problem. In the eyes of observing elite, Government is only publicly purporting to be fighting insecurity.

First, a former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, told the United Nations General Assembly at a plenary of Heads of State in November 2008 that there was a terrorist training camp very close to Abuja municipality.This statement was made more than a decade ago.We drew attention to this statement by then (See“Gordon Brown and the School ofTerrorism in Nigeria,”ThisDay on Sunday, November 30, 2008, p.22).

Did the Government of Nigeria not know about this terrorism school before it was made public at the UN General Assembly? Must Nigeria be reported to the international community before action would be taken against terrorist activities in Nigeria? If the Government was

“

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Monguno not aware of the training camp, what was the response of the Government of Nigeria, if any, to the Gordon Brown’s statement?

TheopenstatementonterrorismtrainingschoolwithintheFederal CapitalTerritory can either be considered an indictment or a call to draw attention to the need to act against it.The problem here is that no one is in the position to ascertain what response the then government of Nigeria was. Expectedly, there have been terrorists operating around Abuja since then.

Secondly, on 29 August 2018, the United Kingdom and Nigeria signed an agreement to end boko Haramism. The agreement was on better training and anti-terrorist propaganda techniques that were developed in the United Kingdom. In the words of the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, ‘we are determined to work side-by-side with Nigeria to help them fight terrorism, reduce conflict and lay the foundations for the future stability and prosperity that will benefit us all.’What is it that have been done that has increased the anti-terrorism capacity of the Nigerian army to overcome the Boko Haram on the battle fields? How do we explain that the already technically defeated Boko Haram is still seriously threatening the existential life of Nigeria? Can it not be rightly argued that there is government’s acquiescence of the situation of insecurity in Nigeria?

Thirdly, and without any whiff of doubt, Former President Goodluck Jonathan made it clear that there were Boko Haram agents in his government.The statement was only publicly and jokingly taken. But why would such a statement be made and the Boko Haram agents would not have been identified and squarely dealt with? Under PMB, the Nigerian soldiers have, on different strategic missions, always been ambushed and killed, undoubtedly because of leaked strategic information about their missions and routes.

General Theophilus Danjuma once accused the Nigerian military of aiding and abetting the Boko Haramists. There were

In this regard, since attacks and kidnappings mostly take place during daytime and the hiding and negotiations take place in the hiding bushes, the encirclement strategy must, after identifying the precise location of the hoodlums by air surveillance, be the attack and arrest of the hoodlums. Stricto sensu, the bombardment of the location, in which case the lives of those under terrorist detention can be compromised must not be the strategy. The Nigerian military can encircle the whole area in about a stretch of one kilometre square. The logic is to advance towards the hiding place in such a way that there is never an escape route for the terrorists.

If hundreds of soldiers are lined on each side of the square and moving gradually and simultaneously towards the target enemy, a strong message cannot but be sent to the terrorists that their time has come into expiry. Without doubt, the terrorists can release those kidnapped or killed, and then surrender. They can launch a counter attack, and still kill their victims. If they kill their victims, they too will not exist. Loss of lives of the kidnapped, there may be. Situations in which those kidnapped are flogged and some killed already exist. This situation is most unacceptable. Thus an encirclement strategy is deterrence by mounting pressure and containment. When this is done in various forests and simultaneously, the hiding tool of kidnapping can be quickly thrown into the garbage of history. The banning of Okada cycle will become unnecessary

other testimonies to this allegation of the Nigerian military aiding the enemy. In fact, there were the reports of the former Governor of Borno State, Shettima, who has not only been unveiled as the APC running matetoSenatorAhmedTinubu,butalsobeingconsideredbythepublic as unsuitable, based on Muslim-Muslim ticket.The former Governor is also being accused for having played host to wanted terrorists when he was governor. No one is talking about this in the open, especially, in the context of a pro-terrorist candidate who is seeking election as a would-be Vice President of Nigeria. Can it be rightly argued that a terrorist sympathiser can have any good intention to fight terrorism?

Can terrorism be contained when their agents or supporters are in the government?

Fourthly, how do we explain the fact that captured insurrectionists were incarcerated and, after purported rehabilitation, were released under the pretext of their having been rehabilitated and have suddenly turned new leaves?The truth in this regard is that many of those d rrehabilitated were reported to have also escaped and have again engaged in anti-Nigeria activities.Why should this be so?Why should e N Nigerians be expected to believe in whatever the PMB Government ssays in matters of national security? Several times, when suspected ccriminals were accosted by the public and were taken to the police, tthe suspects have always and generally been released on the basis o of orders from above?

Fifthly, specifically on the issue of banning Okadas, many constittutive States of Nigeria have either partially or totally banned the use of commercial motorcycles, meaning that the proposal by the u FFederal Government to ban Okada possibly in the whole country is not really a big deal. It is not new. What is new and quite challenging n iis determining why terrorism has not ended in States where Okada h has been banned. In States where there has been stiff opposition to FFederal Government’s perceived Fulanisation and Islamisation agenda, tterrorists have been hitting them hard. One recent critical illustration iis the attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. In aan expected rhetorical rationale, the Minister of the Interior, Ogbeni R Rauf Aregbesola, attributed the attack to the ISWAP (Islamic State’s W West Africa Province), a militant group and an administrative division o of the Islamic State, which is actively engaged in the Chad Basin and p particularlycarryingoutinsurgencyagainstNigeria,Cameroon,andChad.

M Most unfortunately, using falsehood to enhance political governance ccannot exalt a nation, especially Nigeria which is generally seen as a ccountry of three different nations.

Sixthly, there is the issue of linkage between the sponsors of illegal m mining and cattle rustling in mining communities. It has been argued that ‘those sponsoring illegal mining also fund banditry and cattle rustling in mining communities, but many people have blamed the conflict in the region on rural banditry, without addressing its links to illegal mining.’ In this regard, it is also observed that there is a critical problem of unemployment which illegal mining partly addresses. By seeking to severely punish illegal mining, the unemployed people are pushed into the hands of the terrorists who even pay them better.True enough, Government is much aware about this development. Thus, because the youth have limited income-generating opportunities, illegal mining necessarily provides the labour force for funders of terrorism (See Hope Newspapers).

Seventhly, and perhaps most disappointingly, there is the issue of jail breaks in various parts of the country. The most recent and critical case is that of the Kuje prison, which is ranked as one of the prisons with maximum security. Intelligence was reported to have been given on the impending attack by the terrorists.There is nothing to suggest that the intelligence was adhered to. Besides, the military guards that were also responsible for security in the area were also reportedly withdrawn.

Why? OneYoruba proverb has it that‘the witches cried yesterday and the child died today.Who would not know that the witches that cried yesterday are responsible for the death of the child?’The withdrawal of military security guards on the eve of the attack on Kuje prison cannot but be likened to this Yoruba adage. But how can insecurity still be contained if we admit that the ban on Okada motorcycles is an expression of true determination to fight terrorism in Nigeria?

Insecurity and Encirclement Strategy nsecuritybecameendemic in Nigeria for various reasons of neglect and the solutions variously given have also not been good enough to nip insecurity in the bud. A school of thought has it that there is the need to first frontally address the source of funding of the terrorists, in the strong belief that the aspect of sustainability of terrorism will be removed the moment there is no room for its upkeep.

True, this logic is tenable but raises the issue of when terrorism can be neutralised. If the Federal Government has a greater fire power and the terrorists are successfully denied financial capacity to acquire new weapons, terrorism has the potential to be quickly weakened. But before then, much havoc could still be done before peace could reign.

Another school of thought believes that banning commercial Okada cycles is a good solution to the problem of insecurity.The logic is that Okada is always the first and immediate means of escape for the terrorists. If the means of terrorism is removed, the likelihood of the criminals being promptly accosted is high, especially when there is the politicalwilltodoso.AnglicanBishopofKubwaDiocese,RightReverend Duke Akamisoko specially appealed to the Federal Government to out rightly ban the use of commercial motorcycles.This appeal should be understood against the background of governmental politics of insecurity in Nigeria.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 31, 2022 4

T H I S D AY SUNDAY JULY 31, 2022 4

47

EDITORIAL

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

GOVERNORS AND THE WATER RESOURCES BILL The contentious bill is antithetical to the promotion of a true federal structure

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LETTERS

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A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

31.7.2022

Charles Okpaleke The Stylish Entrepreneur and His Imprints on Nollywood Until a few years ago, the name Charles Okpaleke would not easily ring a bell. Nowadays, he is the go-to guy for everything entertainment and luxury lifestyle. In the film industry, his imprints are seen in award-winning films such as the sequel and remake of Nollywood classics, ‘Living in Bondage’ and ‘Rattlesnake’ respectively. Vanessa Obioha engages the entrepreneur in a conversation about his lifestyle and film projects.

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 31, 2022

49

COVER

Delving into Films that tell Nigerian History is important

“D

on’t believe everything you see on social media,” warned Play Network Studios founder, Charles Okpaleke in a recent phone interview. He was miles away in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory where he works and lives with his family.

Whether he is showcasing his luxury cars or vacationing on an exotic island, it’s hard not to drool over those captivating pictures of Okpaleke on Instagram with envy.

Always decked in fashionable attires with a cigar hanging on his bearded lips, it takes no soothsayer to see that he loves and lives the good life. After all, he wakes up every day feeling like a king. And a king he is. His kingdom, you may wonder, is one occupied by high-net individuals who are keen on providing solutions to lifestyle problems. Hospitality? Check.

Technology? Check. Entertainment?

Check.

But in an era where there are growing suspicions surrounding acquired wealth, Okpaleke whose parents worked in the police force is keeping his businesses away from any fraudulent deals. The last thing he wants is to be complicit in any shady deals that will dent his reputation. Morality, he said, is ingrained. During our conversation, he would repeatedly use the word ‘legit’, as he referred to his businesses.

“I like to be able to sleep at night,” he said. “I don’t want anybody calling me about their money. I just want to make enough money in such a way that I’m not stepping on anyone’s toes or making somebody else cry. I can’t think of anything that I have done that is too good to be true.”

Part of this morality comes from his upbringing as well as his spirituality. He does not joke about his spiritual life. And if you call him a Catholic or a Pentecostal, he would gladly take the title. The most important thing for him is the relationship he has with the Supreme One. Of all his businesses, entertainment seems to put Okpaleke in the klieg lights. A graduate of Medical Laboratory Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he was known among a close circle when he partnered with his brothers to launch the Play Network. However, his name became prominent when he acquired the rights to the Nollywood classic ‘Living in Bondage’, in 2015. “’Living in Bondage’ got me interested in the business of filmmaking. It was one of the films I enjoyed watching as a child. As an adult, I thought it would be nice to revisit it to make it better or extend the feeling I had when I was younger, so that when my kids grow up they can also have that experience.”

His plan was to make a sequel.

It was a first-of-its-kind deal in the film industry. Unlike Hollywood where sequels, remakes and reboots are the order of the day, the Nigerian film industry format is quite different. To be sure, most Nigerian films have continuity but are usually presented in parts. That was why when Okpaleke flipped the script and decided to acquire the rights to five Nollywood classics, it raised eyebrows.

“If I had not done what I did, nobody would have done it. It was new in Nollywood because I

Okpaleke started it and that’s a problem,” he paused briefly before continuing his explanation.

“It is easier to make an original story than a classic. Despite investing so much money in classics, people still get offended by your efforts. They just want you to leave the idea of such Nollywood classics, let it die off or be forgotten.

“The people that own these classics also want their stories to be told, even after their lifetime. If I made a movie 30 years ago and someone approached me to acquire the rights, I would be delighted.

There are people who have made movies, died and no one remembers their movies. Then what is the joy of having such good classics not being retold? It is done in other parts of the world.”

If Okpaleke harboured doubts over his new venture, they paled in comparison to his passion. He has always entertained the thoughts of telling these classics in a new light. Perhaps, due to the memory and feelings they evoke, which in the business of entertainment is very key, he was convinced that he was on the right track. Moreover, he does not invest his money in a fruitless venture. He is as cautious as he is spontaneous.

So far, four of these titles have been produced. The first was the sequel to ‘Living in Bondage’, released in 2019. The film earned Nollywood veteran heartthrob Ramsey Nouah his first Best Director award at the 2020 AMVCAs. It was Nouah’s directorial debut. ‘Rattlesnake:

The Ahanna Story’, a remake of the original, again stole the show at the 2022 AMVCAs, taking the trophies for Best Actor and Best Actress in a Drama.

His sequel for ‘Nneka, the Pretty Serpent’ also went ahead to bag five nominations, winning the award for Best Lighting Design at the 2022 AMVCAs, despite fetching mixed reviews from viewers, and his latest classic ‘Glamour Girls’ caused a media frenzy.

Many interpreted the film as a remake of the original and criticised the film producers for not doing justice to the original screenplay.

Okpaleke cleared the air by clarifying that the film was not a remake or sequel but simply a new story with the same title as the original.

“It was neither a remake nor a sequel. I acquired the lifetime rights to the intellectual property (IP) and I did a brand new story that had nothing to do with the old story. I like the name.

It is mine. I can turn it into a clothing line or whatever I deem fit.”

He elaborated further that apart from sharing the same title, the only connecting dot between the film and the original is the feature of Dolly Unachukwu and Gloria Anozie-Young who were featured in the original.

“The idea behind ‘Glamour Girls’ is about girls who are glam but are not straightforward with how they make their money. They do a lot of things with men to make their money.”

Despite the criticisms the film received, it made the top 5 on Netflix Global Films chart. Okpaleke further disclosed that over seven countries have shown interest in having their own ‘Glamour Girls’ iteration.

A recurring trait of Okpaleke’s films is the quality of production.

The art direction is always top-notch.

But the effect does not come cheap.

According to Okpaleke, 90% of time and money determine the quality of his production.

“Pre-production of ‘Glamour Girls’ started last January and people are just seeing it now. It took us three months to shoot the film. We went to Abuja, Lagos, and Beirut, all of which cost time and money. We spent another three months in post-production.”

Okpaleke’s love for filmmaking is not limited to classics. His net is wide enough to look at other stories that reflect the Nigerian story. Recently, he landed a collaboration with the United Kingdom for his upcoming film ‘Hijack 93: The Mad Men and the Aircraft.’

The film tells the story of four hijackers, dissatisfied with the series of events that followed the June 12, 1993 elections, hijacked a plane heading to Abuja from Lagos.

“We interviewed three out of the four hijackers and also two of the passengers. The UK government liked the story, having seen what we have done in the past and our level of production. They like the kind of stories that amplify our history. A lot of Nigeria does not really know about this.”

Other films in his slate include ‘King Jaja of Opobo’ which is already in the works.

For Okpaleke, delving into films that touch on Nigerian history is important.

“These are films that our children will benefit from. There are lots of stories that if they are not told, they will get lost. I want to tell the Nigerian story.”

Even though many people know him as a filmmaker today, Okpaleke likes to be described as an entrepreneur.

“To be honest,” he said, “I just want to be a legit businessman. I want to make enough money to take care of my loved ones, impact people around me and live the kind of life I want to live.

I’m into anything that gives me legit money.”

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JULY 31, 2022

50

HighLife Fayose Undergoes Surgery Abroad

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

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

Titi Oseni-Gomez: From Politics to Boardroom There are many individuals whose achievements have nothing to do with their gender, only the determination they have to be custodians of change. Former Ogun State House Assembly Speaker, Titi Oseni-Gomez is one such person. Knowing that she lives only to promote sustainable development wherever she is, the well-known manufacturing company, Nigerite Limited, recently appointed Oseni-Gomez as the first Chairman of its board of directors. Unsurprisingly, the company has enjoyed a refreshed wave of focused growth in the months that have passed since OseniGomez’s appointment. This is the kind of feat that the former speaker is known for. Since she settled into the life of a progressive politician many years ago, the narrative around her has continued to change, going from contributor to transformer. At the moment, it appears as if politics has to take a step back while she immersed herself in business, which just

Human life is so very fragile.

Oftentimes, the only rubric under Fayose which our lives can be suitably placed is that of our contributions to the lives of other people. For Politics can kill. This is the this, Senator Gbenga Ashafa may consensus regarding leadership be considered one of the most in Nigeria, especially election valuable individuals in Nigeria. positions. Former Ekiti State Since taking over the Federal Governor, Ayodele Fayose, knows Housing Authority (FHA) of Nigeria as MD/CEO, it has been this very well. In 2018, he wept a story of glory to glory for the the loudest about the dangers of agency. Thus, some of the most having political rivals. Recently, and informed Nigerians he announced to his well-wishers prestigious bent their heads in gratitude to that his surgery for the wounds God for the life of Ashafa when he he sustained in 2018 was very clocked 67 a few days ago. successful. And people had a lot It has to be said that when to say in response. thanksgiving is offered to God on someone else’s behalf, that person It is no news that Fayose is a favourite subject among Nigerian is something indeed. This is one politicians. As one of the leaders of the biggest pieces of proof that Ashafa is one of the best things to of the Peoples Democratic happen to Nigerians.

Party (PDP) and a person with By no definition or great political momentum and categorisation is Ashafa like ambition, Fayose has learnt to return as many mental and physical blows that come to him. In recent times, however, his ricocheting ability has been less than stellar, with his recent surgery abroad indicating that the man is no longer what he used to be.

The news of Fayose’s surgery abroad is still raising waves on social media. The news was confirmed when Fayose’s younger brother announced it and his aide congratulated him on its success. By piecing everything together, Nigerians found out that Fayose had to be bundled out of the country for the back surgery, and that it was the second surgery in five months.

Osifeso In response to the news, many Nigerians were sympathetic and wished the former Ekiti Governor a speedy recovery.

Unsurprisingly, other Nigerians took the news of the surgery Somebody needs to write a comprehensive to mock him, stating that the book about politics in Nigeria, explaining in great detail that there is a way politics is done Fayose of yesteryear would not groan and moan on a bed abroad, here than what is obtainable in other civilised nations of the world. Then a copy should be but fix himself up in a Nigerian hospital while daring his attackers sent to the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom to come at him.

State, Akanimo Udofia. Otherwise, the man Whatever the dominant will continue to fall into the gap between what opinion on Fayose’s surgery, this is obtainable in Nigeria’s politics and what is still a happy time for him. It is should be. also something of a consolation The Independent National Electoral considering the recent loss of the Commission (INEC) has released the list of governorship position to the All qualified candidates and parties for the Akwa Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibom election slated for 2023. Curiously, Udofia’s name was not included. But it is not Ekiti. Fayose and his party may a personal swing at him, no. The INEC list have lost the election, but they appears to indicate that the APC does not have were able to salvage his back. If a candidate yet, so they may not be allowed to he can endure for another four or eight years, Fayose may be able to participate in the forthcoming election.

A few weeks ago, Udofia was announced make a full political recovery.

happens to be a former pastime for her.

When Nigerite appointed her as Chairman, it became clear to onlookers that there was much more to Oseni-Gomez than her exploits as Ogun Speaker. And yet, in the months between that appointment and now, Oseni-Gomez has proved that all her experience with people, not to mention her training as a business administrator from a United States college, is enough to polish the storyline of Nigerite. Currently, the company has climbed further and faster on the ranking list of best construction and building business establishments in Nigeria.

Who knew that Oseni-Gomez would make such an easy transition from politics to the boardroom? Then again, this is what you get from mixing natural talent with commitment.

And that is Oseni-Gomez in a few words: a very gifted individual with a predilection for perfect work.

Gbenga Ashafa: Many More to Offer at 67

Ashafa

Oseni-Gomez

everybody else. The man is essentially a walking corpus of dedication, loyalty, vision, indomitability, and natural talent.

When he was at the National Assembly, the people of that senatorial district relaxed and went about their business knowing that Ashafa is as dedicated to their welfare as he is to his own. When he rose to the position of FHA MD, he was not as well known across Nigeria as he was in Lagos. Thus, there were doubts about how well he would perform. But how the songs have changed.

FHA has become an agency on the same level as the entire Ministry of Works and Housing.

And because Ashafa’s contributions are not any less than a Minister’s, he has become a national hero.

Thus, at 67, the cheers and kudos accompanying Ashafa are all over the place.

Abuja Society Woman, Tola Osifeso, to Celebrate 60th Birthday in Dubai Time is one of the best indications of the kind of life we live. Individuals who cross 60 years and remain cheerful and charitable individuals are the best in this world. Thus, as the wife of High Chief Lekan Osifeso, Tola, clocks 60 today, July 31, 2022, Lagos and Abuja will stand still in awe of her person and personality.

Also, following reports about her birthday celebration, Dubai will have to stand still to let the day pass in Tola’s honour. Tola will celebrate her birthday with her family and friends.

At 60, Tola remains one of the most sophisticated society women

in Nigeria. It is likely because of her sophistication and influence that her brainchild, Terrifik Fashion, remains a leading fashion establishment in Abuja. Even now, Tola continues to influence clothing and style in both Abuja and Lagos. And as she takes her birthday party to Dubai, it is evident that she wants to leave a bit of her stylish intent in the place.

For Tola, life is one blank page to be coloured beautifully. As she touches 60, she is becoming more and more suitable for the title of Fashion and Style Paragon in Nigeria.

Akanimo Udofia: Learning Politics the Hard Way as the winner of the APC governorship primary in Akwa Ibom. According to the election committee’s report, Udofia got 1,227 votes out of 1,313 accredited delegates, which is approximately 93% of all the recognised votes.

The remaining 7% of the accredited votes were shared among eight other aspirants, which just shows the fierceness of Udofia’s momentum.

Then came the report from INEC that the primary did not hold at all.

INEC’s report came after Akwa Ibom APC released news that Udofia had won. What went wrong? It has now been confirmed that the difference in reports came because INEC did not monitor the APC primary. INEC officials explained that the party conducted the primary in a different location than initially agreed upon.

Thus, INEC does not recognise the primary since it did not monitor it.

The battle is still ongoing, so there is still hope for Udofia’s name to be included in INEC’s list.

Udofia

In the meantime, someone needs to get Udofia that book and help him reconcile the APC in Akwa Ibom.

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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 31, 2022

HIGHLIFE

Rotimi Amaechi: The Aftermath of Presidential Aspirations… Political Dynasty Crumbles Things are happening in Nigeria’s jungle of political interests. It looks to every informed onlooker that the majority of top political parties are having a hard time presenting a political front. This is especially the case for the biggest ones, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). And yet, set against the background of Rivers State, it is APC’s flag that is currently burning to ashes.

It is no secret that the presidential primary elections in Nigeria yielded both expected and unexpected results. For the APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu came first with former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, in second place. However, the implications of Amaechi’s stance on that particular election have begun to bite at APC’s chance to reclaim Rivers State, especially with Governor Nyesom Wike of the PDP at the helm of affairs.

Even though Amaechi stood as the strongest opposition to the expansion of Wike’s political influence in Rivers, all that has

stopped since he lost his presidential ambition.

Following that loss, not only does it seem that APC has no foothold in Rivers, but it is also becoming apparent that Amaechi has lost control of his political might in the state.

In the history of Rivers, there is likely no governor who has been able to unite the people so that they think the same thing about the government. And it was not always positive. Yet, Amaechi somehow managed to maintain his position as an overlord even after he left the governorship position and became Transportation Minister. Now, very little of his influence remains, with his detractors celebrating and claiming that his political dynasty has crumbled totally with no chance to rise again.

Whether Amaechi will be able to salvage the situation in Rivers or leave it to other members of the APC, his presidential aspiration is certainly history, at least, with 2023 in view.

So, what will become of his political sons and daughters? Nothing, unless they dump APC for

Billionaire Mohammed Indimi in the News Again

Amaechi

other parties—which is exactly what some of them have begun to do.

Real Reason Austin Avuru Put His Books on Hold

Avuru

It is not every day that the Nigerian justice system pokes its nose in the matters of book publishing. And yet, this is the conundrum that Nigerian energy tycoon Austin Avuru has found himself in. From every indication,

this is going to be the state of things until Avuru resolves matters with the court or decides to take his mind away from revealing nuggets about his journey in his books.

Not so long ago, Avuru informed the public of his desire to publish a book that chronicled his journey to greatness. Being the founder and Executive Chairman of AA Holdings, not to mention a former CEO of Seplat Energy, Avuru’s experiences will doubtless renew the determination of young Nigerians to remain diligent as they continue to work and groom themselves in business administration and management. But all of these expectations are going to the trash can now.

According to reports of the new development, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Bwari, Abuja, has issued a restraining order

which effectively prevents Avuru from publishing his books. The court gave this directive in response to an application from some shareholders of Seplat Energy that the content of Avuru’s books titled “My Entrepreneurship Journey” and “ASafe Part of HandsandPolitics, Economics & the Nigerian Petroleum Industry” are detrimental to their interests.

Even though Avuru retired from his position at Seplat Energy in 2019, it is clear that the company has not retired its influence in Avuru’s life. Otherwise, the businessman would have been able to launch the books on August 4, 2022. Preparations were ongoing at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, before this court order.

Leo Stan Eke Set to Take Youths out of the Streets Compared to his peers, Leo Stan Eke has also carried himself as someone who lived for other people more than they do for themselves. Unsurprisingly, his Zinox Group has inherited the same ideology, going for adding advantages to every place of business interest and enriching the people of that place.

To this point, Eke and his team have turned their attention to unemployment in Nigeria and started to push buttons to ensure that it is resolved as soon as possible.

Unemployment is a big deal among Nigerian youths. Only a pitiful number of these youths are gainfully employed after graduating from tertiary institutions. And those who try their hands at entrepreneurship face obstacles such as epileptic power supply and callous reception at the hand of official business registrars. But all of this is set to change, thanks to Eke’s initiative which is backed by his Zinox Group.

According to reports on Eke’s movements, the internship program which was instituted to reduce the number of

unemployed youths in Nigeria on the streets has taken the form of a 30-day intensive Mini-MBA training programme. Of the more than 5,000 qualified applicants, Eke’s Zinox Institute of Technology (ZIT) has chosen another 50. The selected applicants who represent the second batch of participants who passed through the intensive programme have been offered employment.

Even though a relatively few of the 5,000+ programme participants get to work with Eke and his group, the others have been given incredible training which will allow them to create lasting businesses. After all, the training overseen by Eke’s ZIT covered soughtafter modules for Accounting, Procurement, Core Engineering, Software Development, Business Development, Etiquette and Grooming, HR/Admin, and many others.

Thus, it is only a matter of time before we see a new crop of young Nigerians ready to take over the world.

Indeed, Eke’s contributions to employment efforts in Nigeria remain matchless.

Will Ooni of Ife Remarry Again as New Marriage Tales Hit Town?

Ooni Ogunwusi

King Solomon of ancient Israel, a historical authority on matters of love between a man and a woman wrote that love is so potent it is stronger than death.

This remark has driven many people to deep contemplation, but so many others are simply living their lives. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi is likely one of the people under the latter banner, especially since the rumours of his getting a new wife into the palace began making the rounds.

Very few can claim to have the same natural style and grace as the Ooni of Ife. Concerning speech and clothing, Ogunwusi is the best of the best.

Concerning family matters and business, he is also one of the few men that can be depended on to give quality advice.

After all, he has seen it all, from the wife of his youth to one that wore the veil of

Eke

divinity until she left. So, when rumours of Ogunwusi’s remarriage become a popular tag on social media, you have to pay attention.

According to reports, the king is already making moves to marry a new queen. The name of the alleged Olorito-be is Mariam Anako, a supposed indigene of Kogi State. Furthermore, it is said that the jovial monarch has already visited her family to introduce himself and ask for the bridal requirements.

And he has reportedly been approved and started renovating his palace to accommodate her when it is time.

It was not that long ago that his wife, Evangelist Naomi Silekunola, divorced him. The evangelist-turned-queenturned-social-media-model reportedly stated that the king had to keep up appearances in public that were not compatible with his true person and that was the factor that separated them.

So, if the rumours of his remarriage are true, then Ogunwusi has found a way to replace his last wife, having found love in the arms of a better person.

These are not the best of times for the founder and chairman of Oriental Energy Resources (OER), Mohammed Indimi.

Based on a recent ruling by a Federal High Court in Lagos, the businessman’s company has effectively been banned from attempting to access the money in his bank accounts, all of this because of an allegation that he is owing around 1.5 million dollars to another Nigerian company, Uniterm Nigeria Limited.

Indimi is one of the most accomplished businessmen in Nigeria. Owing to his business smarts, he has been able to build up something of an empire stretching from Northern Nigeria to other parts of the country. Moreover, Forbes capped his net worth at around USD1.5 billion, the same amount that Uniterm has accused his company, OER, of owing them.

From the reports on the court case, Indimi’s OER is in a tight bind because of the accusations of Uniterm. OER reportedly secured the services of a drilling company in May 2021 and failed for all the services covered by the company. As a result, the company stopped the drilling services while waiting for OER to resolve its outstanding. But it still has not, and so the company had to involve the court.

As a result of the evidence provided by the complainant, the Federal High Court in Lagos agreed to restrain OER from withdrawing, transferring, and removing any of its funds, properties, or assets from banks, unless it is approved by the court or is directed towards the payment of salaries.

So, things are not looking good for Indimi and his company. Last April, the businessman had to fly to Tamale to mourn with his Ghanaian friend, Aliu Mahama, who lost his wife. So, from that sorrowful incident to this one, the businessman must have great expectations for this year.

Indimi

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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 31, 2022

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Let No Man Touch Muhammadu Buhari We all watched the chilling video. It was scary and very offensive. Goose pimples erupted on my skin and a cold engulfed me. The man said he will kidnap not only our President but also the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el Rufai. For el-Rufai own, abeg they should postpone it till he answer my request o.

This is however not a joking matter, abeg.

The brazen nature of the threat and the confidence, coupled with the pedigree gives a lot of concerns. The Nigerian Defence Academy has been attacked, the Brigade of Guards in Abuja has lost some men, Owo Catholic Church decimated, the president’s advanced team taken out and you say, we should keep watching Big Brother?

An attempt at the President — successful or not, is a major attack on the sovereignty of the nation. It is time this whole thing be taken a little bit more seriously and we should not wait until we - God forbid - see

our president on TV sending a message to CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to immediately send money quick o. God forbid, but in some of these things, even God will be watching if we don’t take very concrete steps.

I think it is time we go get foreign intervention. There is nothing to be ashamed of. We can no longer do it alone. We have tried, it is enough.

Thousands have lost their lives and millions are living under very intense and scary conditions having been displaced.

Look, it is not a matter of pride. Our military and security architecture has been stretched. They have tried. They are heroes and we will continue to thank them for the gallant lives lost within their fold, but please let’s go and beg any foreign country to move in troops. This is the solution; the troops will come in with technology and superior firepower

FEMI ADESINA, THIS IS NOT A JOKING MATTER You know part of the job description of Femi Adesina is to be hitting his head on the wall. The head has been fortified with ‘juju’ and stubbornness such that no matter how long you hit it, it cannot break o.

How do you explain this one o: some PDP senators were reported to have issued a six-week ultimatum to the president to sort out the insecurity issue once and for all or face impeachment and oga is calling them minority of the minority. This arrogant streak in his job is really annoying and terrible.

Abuja is shutting down, schools are hurriedly vacating, law school is crying for help, the heat is on and senators are shouting and you are calling them a minority. My brother, if this thing continues, you will see that there is nothing minority about 200 million people. It is that time that you will see what my Uncle Ekpo used to call, ‘ukwak ke mbre’.

I know as spokesperson, you must be overly optimistic, but you must get sense in this optimism. Is it not better if you had said “We have received the call from the PDP senators with grave concern. The issue of insecurity is a thing that concerns all Nigerians and we would be calling

them in to discuss the grave danger in our bid to fashion out an all-inclusive response.

Please come with your bullet proof.” Is this not better than abusing them and calling them minority of the minority?

Be speaking big English there, shebi me I am in Shomolu. The only bandits we dey see here na agbero and that one we dey use ogogoro beg them. Wetin concern me.

Last last, we will be all ok. Shebi na refugee for Cameroun go kukuma end everything.

Me, I don pack.

Adesina

Adewunmi

ADEDEJI ADELEKE’S STERN WARNING As incoming is all over the place dancing and generally basking in the euphoria of the victory, his elder brother has sent a very stern warning. Let me paraphrase: “I will expose you if you fail as governor….

You have no reason to fail, you have no godfather to refund any money to, so whatever people contributed for the election is contribution and sacrifice to Nigeria so all you need to do is to go and serve the people.” He continued: “I will be the first to call a press conference if I see things go wrong.”

Need I add anything? Mbok, let’s keep dancing, we need the burst of energy and joy in the country. Things are too gloomy anyways.

to dislodge all these people once and for all.

Our army can partner them and in the process train alongside them. That way, we may begin to see an end to this thing that is gradually crippling this country.

We cannot continue behaving like it is ‘gbomo gbomo’ that we are dealing with. These are well armed, well-trained forces and they are taking us out o.

For President Buhari and El-Rufai, I think you should build an inter-religion select committee that will have Muslims, Christians, animists everybody including that lawyer that will be dressing like masquerade in court to immediately form a spiritual bulwark around you o. This one no be only for people to be wearing black dirty suits and black sunglasses and be carrying big belle and be running in front of your cars o. This is no longer a joke o. Me, I am in hiding.

FEMI GBAJABIAMILA’S INSENSITIVITY You know say some people no dey listen to advice. This is what Yoruba people will see and say, ‘o ma be’. That is, he is too forward. Or how will you explain this one? Daddy, carry gray beard go stand in front of Harvard when the whole Nigeria is striking in support of ASUU which has been on a nationwide strike since I last got an erection.

The number four man, adding insult to the pepper of our seeing public officials children graduate in foreign universities now went to stand in front of Harvard signboard because they have admitted him into one periphery programme.

I am sure the only thing on his mind will be, “before they say, I don’t have a certificate now o, let me go stand for the main road of the school to make the thing show.”

The apology is not enough. He should go ahead and institute a Femi Gbajabiamila Harvard Scholarship Fund for at least one Nigerian university student in all federal universities then we will know he is serious in his penance. Na wa.

ZAINAB AHMED: ONLY $300,000, HOW CAN? It was my friend that pointed it out. She said, “Edgar, what is ECA?” So me, I want

Gbajabiamila

Buhari

to pose for the fine girl, I begin to explain that it is the excess crude receipts over and on top of the benchmarked crude price used to cut the budget. I smiled to myself as the yellow girl smiled. The next thing she told me made me piss. “But how come we have only $300,000 left?”

I said what? Are you sure you are correct?

She said, yes na and read it out. I piss o.

Fear catch me.

So, Akan Udofia get money pass Nigeria.

I read the whole story with shaky hands.

Today, I have seen the explanation from Mama Zainab and she said they are on expenditure for security. I just shout yepa.

It is finished. So, we have spent all of that money and train passengers are still in the den of bandits and Abuja is beginning to look like Kiev in Ukraine? Please na.

So, this $300,000 wey no reach the cost of Arthur Eze’s new private jet. So, when it finishes, what next? This one that we have seen circular that ‘our egbon dem’ are coming to Lagos and other states.

Mummy, this is really not your fault, because it is not your job to generate the funds but execute as you are instructed.

But my advice is, that Accountant General, instead of going through the long and tedious process of a court case, can’t we just go and hang him upside down and put fire in his balls so we can

Ahmed

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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 31, 2022

LOUD WHISPERS collect all that money and add to this matter? Abeg, consider. Thank you OMOYELE SOWORE: A VERY WICKED MAN The way this guy has been going with his own presidential campaign is ‘devilish’.

Be like say, he knows he cannot win so he has decided to be a spoiler. The way he is tackling and taking out his senior colleagues is very funny o. He first took on Peter Obi asking why that one is pretending like he doesn’t know what is going on, afterall he was an adviser to President Jonathan.

This week, he has come to Atiku with a more poisonous take. He has been reported as stating that Atiku through Garba Shehu used to leak information to him to fight Obasanjo. This na treason in my books. You see why Obasanjo in his book called Atiku ‘fatuously corrupt’ – na me add the jara o. Obasanjo English no reach that level.

If what Sowore is saying is true, then it’s time we begin to look Atiku with another eye. This Judas behaviour if true cannot be excused. Leaking information and sensitive documents in a government that you are number two can never be acceptable. If he did this under Saddam Hussein and he was caught, no be book like OBJ that one go write o.

Is this the person we will be giving the presidency? I ask. Thank you.

PETER OBI: BIG BROTHER NIGERIA IS THE ENEMY This Peter Obi matter is like when you go and fall in love with a prostitute. It used to happen in Shomolu those days. You fall in love with your favourite sales girl and be expecting her to be loyal. That is what Peter Obi and his ‘structure’ have done.

Social media? Today, Big Brother has started and focus is beginning to shift. His running mate had to plead to the youths to maintain focus. Easier said, people have started gossiping about who is doing who in the house. One ugly boy has already started creating a frenzy with his open relationship.

Youths have gone o.

Peter!!! Peter!!! Peter!!! How many times I call you? Better go and start building alliances with structured players. Work groups, associations, NLC, NUPENG all those kinds of people all over the country and see if we can push this thing o.

Leave all these millennial people. People that were coming to #EndSARS with gas cookers and condoms. Na another thing dey drive those ones. A very fickle demographic but don’t worry, let us even pray because the Big Brother will finish before election time or better still go and spend three days in the house. Yes, that will be a very powerful move. Kai. A RARE SIGHTING OF ALIKO DANGOTE I have seen oga in many places and everytime I see him, I just respect myself and watch him from a distance. Last week, I saw him again. This time, coming into his office in Ikoyi. I was on my way out of the elevator when he came in with a lot of people. As usual, I stood clear and watched him from a distance.

This week, I am concerned about the daily erosion of the Naira in the markets.

Truth is that there is no magic that can shore up the Naira except when we start learning forex, change spending patterns and diversify the economy. We can shout Emefiele as much as we want to. If we do not achieve any of these and more, na so we go see naira for N5,000 to $1 in this lifetime. Shebi we are approaching N1,000 small small?

So, when the news of the coming on stream very soon of the Dangote Petro – chemical Plant hit, I was excited. This initiative will not only open up the space, create jobs but very importantly pull in and conserve forex. We must begin to start very practical steps of reordering the scheme of things. The outflow of forex is

ABAH FOLAWIYO: A PRICELESS AND TIMELESS GEM I have been following this legendary beauty long before I even knew how to walk. Those days when I see her pictures’ in the Sunday papers, I will stare and wonder at her beauty and sense of style. I will just be wondering just how she was created. Let me just say that I am a huge fan. Very big one at that o.

So, when my egbon and Co-Executive Producer of AWO UK, Mr. Segun Awolowo, sent in the invites for her 80th, I jumped up in amazement. I was excited and told the Duchess that I have to go alone o, you know lightning can strike o.

I walked in and saw the whole of Lagos social establishment in attendance. This was my first real introduction to this very elegant and distinguished crowd o. I saw legendary comedian, Ali Baba who offered to take me round. I told him to wait first, let me eat. I ate two plates – Ofada and Amala with Ewedu.

I will describe that Ewedu later but let me just say that the mixture of the Ewedu and the stew reminded me of the one I used to eat in Ilaro. Kai. I was ready. Ali Baba took me to my mummy, the ever-beautiful Senator Ita-Giwa. I hugged and thanked her for hosting the super Afang party for me. Then to Abike Dabiri-Erewa, still looking sweet. Then he introduced me to the talented actress, Sola Sobowale.

She fine die. Then Mrs Folorunsho

Folawiyo

Alakija ooo. Kai, I went to greet her. I am supposed to do something on her at some point. We are still talking with her people. Then I saw Mrs. Tinubu on her way out and Otunba Gbenga Daniels came in. I didn’t greet him o. I look at his lace from afar o. Then my egbon newly minted Chairman of Odua Group, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru waltzed in looking very resplendent.

Then Uncle Segun came, “Duke are you ok. Have you eaten?” I said yes, my lord. Then Ali Baba said we should go take a picture with Mrs. Alakija. I said boss, “I don greet am already before them throw me out o, make we no push am.” Then I saw Patrick Doyle asking for Afang at an Owambe party and then I saw one beauty. Kai, I didn’t know it was her till the next day o – Bimbo Akintola. Kai. If I knew, I for give am hug that can give someone belle. My everlasting crush. Kai. Then mummy was ushered in. Oh my God! This 80 was not 80 ooo. This was regenerative beauty. Everlasting beauty and her slit eyes are still there the way I used to see them in the 80s. She was proud, who wouldn’t be. The whole Nigeria came out for her.

Happy birthday mummy. Thanks for the Ewedu and Amala, the Ofada was good but thanks for the Ewedu. I have kept the date in case Uncle Segun no invite me next year.I will walk in and just eat that Amala and run away. God be with you mummy.

massive as against inward bound.

This Dangote plant is expected to massively play a leading role in this regard, hence my joy. Can we now get some copy cats initiative too? You know Nigerians, they now will not copy this one o. If it is to open a church now, everybody will be fighting to build the biggest church. Na wa.

TIMI GEORGE: A SUPER BRILLIANT GENTLEMAN It was Segun Ojo that I met at Ghana High where I went to eat rice that said, “Edgar you know my Managing Director?”

I asked “Who be your MD?” He responded: “Timi George.” I shouted I want know Timi die? Timi was my Oga at Magnum Trust bank where he ran the corporate finance desk. He was a very intelligent young man whose dress sense was impeccable. I used to admire him o.

I said, Segun but since when was he your MD and Segun said since. I said “abeg, give me him number and I no go call your name.”

He warned “no call my name o.” I said I would not. Moreover, me I don’t know how to betray trust so I have not told anybody that it was Segun Ojo that gave me Timi’s numbers.

Timi was in the middle of a long conference call. He had just closed one of the biggest acquisitions in the custodian business. His First Custodian had just acquired Access Custodian, throwing up an expansive firm with assets in excess of N3 trillion. He was in an expansive mode and rightly so as he spoke impeccable English on the call.

Timi has always been very intelligent and smart and he stood out in Magnum. You could see even at that time that this was a leader. Young but very powerfully spoken.

Bold and courageous.

After his call, he came in for a hug.

“Edgar!!!” he exclaimed, “I just dey see you everywhere. You just dey do movie star everywhere. How body?”

“My brother, I dey hungry, una get Afang for this office?”

Well-done bro on this new acquisition, I am very proud of you. Well-done. First Custodian is now truly the first. Kai. BOLAJI ADEWUNMI: ANOTHER BRILLIANT GENTLEMAN Mbok, una will pardon me this week. Me, I like to look at positives. When a young man who is not up to 40 leads a team that acquires a firm and pushes it from a loss position and records profit before a task of N661 million, showing a 116% increment what else will you call him but brilliant.

The other day, I was in his office. Very humble and respectful. He wore a simple shirt and said, “Duke, what can I do for you?” You see life, other people who are running loss making companies dodging shareholders will be there and not taking calls or be saying talk to my ‘people’. This one just picks and says, come.

I wanted his perspective on an article I was writing for The Alvin Report and his positions on rates, markets and the real estate space were on point. We spoke for an hour and I left him more than impressed.

Bolaji is a part of the team led by great Nonso Okpala – I have hailed him here before o – that has taken the economy by storm. Their interests span finance, hospitality, real estate and the rest.

They recently took a huge chunk of the NGX holding firm, most of them not yet in their 40s.

Let me tell you guys something.

During Awo, people were sponsored to have logos on the wall. They said, “Edgar, we will sponsor if you allow us to build a green room that will allow us to host the Vice President, The Speaker of the house and the Governor of Lagos one hour before the show.” You see the thinking. I gave them the green room and they had their way. You see thinking?

54

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JULY 31, 2022

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH Prince Ifalade Oyekan’s Giant Strides

Oyekan

Apart from being the son of the immediate past highly revered Oba of Lagos; the late Oba Adeyinka Oyekan; Prince Ifalade Oyekan has refused to live under the influence of the name of his father. He deviated from the norm with his affable personality, charismatic composure, highly cerebral persona and witty demeanour to carve a niche for himself as a time-tested technocrat, boardroom guru, politician and public servant.

The trained lawyer from the Lagos State University, with over two and a half decades of experience post-bar, has continued to make a loud statement after leaving the private sector to work with a big offshore dredging company.

Since his appointment as General Manager of the Lagos Neighborhood Safety Agency (LNSA) in 2021, the one-time moribund alternate security and paramilitary outfit established by the Lagos State government to provide helping hands, bring security closer to the people, gather intelligence and work with relevant security agency to ensure a safer Lagos, has since witnessed a massive revamp and a restructure in its road map which has further made the agency a pride and envy to other government agency in the state.

With just over a year in charge of LNSA, the former head of Lagos State Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI) has since scored a high point as dark spots across the state have been identified with robust reports, leading to a massive crackdown on elements who are hell-bent on causing unrest across the state.

Despite several threats, the Lagos Prince has reaffirmed publicly that he won’t back down in his drive to ensure a reduction in the crime rate across Lagos to the barest minimum if not eradicating it.

Despite several coordinated attacks on his person by the enemies in their desperate attempt to bring him down, his excellent works, keying into the Babajide Sanwo-Olu T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda further spoke well of him.

Sources close to the Erinjogunola Foundation boss averred that he is currently extending security by partnering with other agencies in Lagos to further ensure a positive synergy in curtailing crime in Lagos.

“Falade has rebranded that agency. He is currently infusing a research and documentation unit, forensic unit, situation room, waterWays surveillance, and drone deployment among others. This will further ensure a safer Lagos where all and sundry can walk around without fear of criminal activities,” a source said of the Lagos Prince.

Tongues Wag over Indimi Twin Daughters’ Attack on Buhari’s Govt For the embattled Chairman of Oriental Energy, Muhammadu Indimi, this period is definitely not the best of times. Despite facing a case of mounting debt portfolio, which unfortunately has led to the freezing of the account of the family’s cash cow, a great concern to some of the children, his twin daughters are not breaking any sweat and have continued to delight in washing dirty linens in public.

The controversial twins, Ameen and Ya’ Gumsu, have lately renewed their habit of criticising the family of President Muhammadu Buhari on social media, a pastime that saw them being shut out of the 2016 wedding of their brother, Ahmed to Zahra, Buhari’s daughter.

Some friends and followers of the twins on social media now wonder why they delight in attacking and mocking every step of the government on social media.

While some people believe that, as citizens of the nation, they have a right to criticise the government, they are also quick to urge the twins to realise that the families of Buhari and Indimi are one by marriage and that some issues should be taken as family affairs for the sake of the future.

Many would recall the first sore point between the Indimi girls and the ex-wife of Mohammed Babangida, Rahama occurred during the 2016 wedding, when the three girls reportedly caused a major embarrassment during the introduction/lefe ceremony.

Yakata had insisted on taking her phone into the presidential villa against protocol, she wanted to record all the proceedings, a struggle ensued

between her and security officials who tried to stop her and only took the intervention of Mrs. Al-Makura to abate. That day, the girls were said to have said unprintable things about the Buhari family.

So, the latest social media onslaught against the family of President Buhari from one of the Indimi twins is said to have got to the first family as an embarrassment and has become a source of worry to observers of events.

The lady, whose video has gone viral on social media, said: “Yesterday, we saw the video of the train victims. All I know is that all of you in power, God will judge you. I feel for the victims, I feel for their families. I don’t know any single person there, but I’m devastated.

May Allah protect us, protect our families and our country. May Allah give us a president that will love our families, that will love our country.

This is not it. This is not it.”

While observers are saying that this is not a bad message in itself, they said that she should have made her reservations known to the president or gotten across to him through her brother, Ahmed “rather than going public with such a message as an in-law of the president.”

The recent actions of the estranged wife of Mohammed, a son of the former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, has led to many wondering if this actually runs in the blood of the family. Rahama attacked Mohammed on her Instagram page on Father’s Day, where she systematically cast aspersions on her former hubby.

Indimi Twins

The latest social media onslaught by Rahama against her ex-hubby is said to be part of what she has been consistently displaying against “anyone in her bad books no matter how close.”

Rahama had posted that “Happy Father’s Day to my baby daddy. Here is wishing you more understanding of what being a father is all about. I wish you to be a better dad by listening to our kids, by communicating with our kids, and by understanding each of their personalities. Being a dad is just not about being a figurehead. It is a lot more than people think.

Please, let’s do better for our children. Happy Father’s Day to you, to me, to all the fathers out there and the mothers that do it alone. May Allah prevail over us all. Ameen yarabb.”

Air Peace Boss, Allen Onyeama’s Unending Beautiful Ideas

Onyeama

With his huge body of work available as evidence, no wise person will dare bet against the indefatigable Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyeama, as he focuses again on performing new

streaks of magic.

The aviation top shot is not one of your run-off-the-mill businessmen. In several ways, he has proved to be head and shoulders above several competitors in the industry having proved himself to be one of the few Nigerians that rub shoulders with other top executives around the world.

From law to aviation, this great achiever has soared high on the wings of his uncommon brilliance and business acumen to become a shining light in the sectors.

Like the majestic eagle, he perches atop the leading airline, Air Peace. Vigilant-eyed and sharp-nosed, he has never disappointed his mentees and admirers, and he doesn’t look like he’s going to start now.

After delivering such a resounding slap to the face of his numerous doubters who insist on

remaining blind and deaf to his incontestable greatness, he has continued to do triple-digit successes in all of his endeavours.

While many of his counterparts continue to groan in the midst of unforeseen economic hardship, Onyeama has kept with the quote of a notable Zimbabwe politician, Roy Bennett that says, “Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going.

Tough situations build strong people in the end.” Under his watch, Air Peace has confidently kept to this vision of providing seamless connections and expanding existing networks to accommodate the evolving air travel needs of the flying public.

Penultimate week, the airline expanded its network to Asia with the commencement of a direct one-weekly flight to Guangzhou, China.

Yahaya Bello Shocks His Detractors Though his style and approach to some issues may be distasteful to many, youthful Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello is not someone who gives in to the conventional way of doing things. He is known to be a problem solver who thinks outside the box and does things without unnecessarily creating noise over it. Rather, he allows his achievement to speak for itself.

For him, fulfilment and bettering the lives of Kogites remain a top priority.

Determined to make a change, he has continued to show that governance should not be about noise making but touching the lives of his people.

Little wonder his people refer to him as a Maliaka (angel) sent from above to make Kogi great again.

As governor of the multi-tribal state, he has made it more united. But how he was able to achieve that is all known to the brilliant man.

Under his watch, Kogi is rated one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria. How he was able to activate

all his internal security apparatus still baffles many naysayers.

With over 300 verifiable projects, Bello loathes unnecessary media attention. The more reason he has remained silent when his traducers were dragging him for not performing. Like an eagle with long sight, he was observing, working and strategising Despite losing out on theAll Progressives Congress presidential ticket, an unperturbed Bello shut cynics up with the inauguration of his numerous legacy projects littering the state.

The projects cut across healthcare, education, food security, road, employment, and infrastructure, among others. He recently inaugurated the ultra-modern General Hospital, Gegu, Kogi LGA, Koton-Karfe; Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja; Prince Abubakar Audu University Teaching Hospital Clinical Complex, Anyigba; Ganaja Flyover Bridge, Ganaja Junction, Lokoja; and a host of others.

Bello

Araoyinbo Scores another Goal, Emerges Ondo Commerce Chamber President

Araoyinbo

Looking at the mouth of a king, you’ll think he never sucked at his mother’s breast. This timeless proverb made popular by the late novelist, Chinua Achebe, best captures the story of entrepreneur, politician and philanthropist, Olugbenga Araoyinbo.

For the lively former Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, it was yet another beautiful milestone after he emerged as the President, of Ondo State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONDOCCIMA).

The Irun-Akoko-born Araoyinbo was elected president at the chamber’s annual general meeting, held in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Popularly known as Sokoto among his

friends and followers, Araoyinbo has proved that it is possible to rise from ground zero and attain great heights. With his dexterity and dedication, he may have finally rewritten his popular alias of Sokoto.

Before his latest achievement, Araoyinbo was the President of the Akoko Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (AKOCCIMA).

The APC chieftain etched his name as a businessman of repute with his business concerns, which cut across Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo State. Shortly after his election, Araoyinbo promised to build on the legacies of the founding fathers of the chamber as bequeathed to their generation for onward delivery to the next generations.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

31. 7.2022

With Gamut of Emotions, a Trio Returns to Limelight As a much-needed fillip to the careers of three leading Lagos-based artists, a recent exhibition on the upscale Banana Island also lifts the veil on what aficionados should be expecting from them. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

F

or dredging up the memories of the not-so-distant glory years of its featured artists, Embodiment deserves a special mention in the local exhibition circuit's annals.

Indeed, not even the fact that Abraham Uyovbiesere, Chinze Ojobo, and Ogbemi Heymann appear to have recently faded from the limelight of the local art scene deprives them of their well-deserved seats of honour among its leading names.

And that is one reason why these artists’ careers could be seen as getting a new breath of life through this invitation-only exhibition, ZKLFK R΀FLDOO\ RSHQHG RQ 6XQGD\ $XJXVW 24, at a location in Lagos' upper crust, Banana Island.

It is indeed in a nod to its title that the curator, Udemma Chukwuma, succinctly describes the 40 works on display—which eloquently attest to the artists’ pedigree—as “embodiments” of the trio’s memories, emotions, styles, and media. In her introductory remarks in the H[KLELWLRQ FDWDORJXH 8GHPPD IXUWKHU D΀UPV that “the quality of works on display shows years of experience, mastery of colours and Celebrate, 71 x 71 inches, Acrylic on fabrics, 2019 by Chinze Ojobo composition.”

Amidst the babel of visual expressions, which WUDLOV WKH YLHZHU WKURXJK WKH IRXU ÁRRUV RI WKH townhouse, Chinze Ojobo's works stand out for their eclectic impersonality and creative restiveness. As a testament to her years as a former devotee of such renowned high priests RI WKH 1VXNND $UW 6FKRRO·V FUHGR DV (O $QDWVXL and Obiora Udechukwu, among others, her predilection for experimentation glows through KHU GLYHUVH RͿHULQJV There is no doubt about the fact that the award-winning international artist, who JUDGXDWHG LQ ÀQH DQG DSSOLHG DUWV IURP WKH University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1985 and subsequently studied interior designing in Los $QJHOHV &DOLIRUQLD WKH 86$ DV ZHOO DV DUW FXUDWLQJ DQG DUW EXVLQHVV DW 6RWKHE\ V /RQGRQ has grown both in stature and experience since her last major outing at the National Museum in Onikan, Lagos back in 2016.

L-R Abraham Uyovbisere, the curator Udemma Chukwuma, Chinze Ojobo and Ogbemi Heymann +HU UHOHQWOHVV HͿRUWV DW VHOI LQYHQWLRQ ZKLFK can be gleaned from the glaring diversity of her modes of expression, are the disconcerting E\ WKH 6LJQDO +LOO &RXQW\ /RQJ %HDFK ÀUVW LPSUHVVLRQV WKDW DVVDLO WKH YLHZHU )RU &DOLIRUQLD WKH 86 IRU DQ H[KLELWLRQ LQ instance, in one of the acrylic-on-carved wood 2001, where she showcased her patented works, titled “Bull’s Eye”, an easily discernible highly-textured Uli-designed artworks, VKDGRZ\ PXVFXODU ÀJXUH SRLVHG ZLWK D ERZ and the following year to Los Angeles and arrow looms out from a dense mass of Uli for an exhibition titled 40 x 40, which motif-inspired whorls set in an earth-coloured featured women celebrities celebrating backdrop of what she calls “Ute-Osisi” (wooden their 40th birthdays. mat). But her expressions are more ambiguOjobo, whose works are in the colous, given the fact that they are abstract, in lections of Robert Kiyosaki (author of another acrylic on carved woodwork titled Rich Dad, Poor Dad), the American “Rise Above.” singer and songwriter Ron Kenoly, Then, there are the pen and ink, abstract the Nigerian-born Oxford University paintings—the “Life’s Choices” and “Your Voice SURIHVVRU &KULV ,PDÀGRQ WKH $PHULFDQ Matters” series, as well as “Graceful”—which, SDVWRU (GZDUG %LVKRS &KDUOHV %ODNH 6U in a world of their own, compel the viewer the Guyanese-American actress CCH to linger as long as possible before them.

Pounder (of Law and Order fame), and Without a doubt, some of her works' globalWKH 1LJHULDQ EXVLQHVVPDQ /HR 6WDQ (NH ist leanings are clear testaments to her forays among others, is currently the president into the international art scene, which have of the Female Artists Association of seen her appear in several shows not only in Nigeria (FEAAN).

1LJHULD EXW DOVR LQ WKH 86 DQG (XURSH DV ZHOO $V IRU 'HOWD 6WDWH ERUQ 8\RYELVHUH Shadow People I, 48 x 48 Inches, Oil on DV LQ IDPRXV DXFWLRQV LQ WKH 8. 6KH ZDV IRU Canvas, 2021 by Abraham Uyovbisere whose 59th birthday was on Monday, instance, invited as an international guest artist

July 18, the exhibition formally ends his threeyear self-enforced withdrawal from the local art community’s limelight. The 1984 Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria graduate, who also holds a 1996 University of Benin Master of Fine Arts degree in painting, was, during those three years, mourning the demise of his wife. Hence, he dedicated one of the paintings, titled “Echo,” to her memory.

In this work, “Echo,” a slightly distant silhouHWWHG SURÀOH RI D ZRPDQ OXUNV VRPHZKHUH LQ the hotchpotch of a chiaroscuro-like backdrop reminiscent of turbulence, while a more apparent, realistic image of a woman's face facing in the opposite direction looms larger in the foreground. There is however something about the colour scheme of this painting that, despite its elegiac tenor, echoes with the familiar theme song of the practice of the award-winning artist.

Consider his rather ethereal images of the feminine sex, which frequently appear torn between Impressionism and Realism. It gives the impression of a kind of adoration that is evocative of the Negritude philosophy. This is a feature that gleams through the oil on canvas paintings like “Expression” I and II, “In the *DUGHQµ , DQG ,, ´6KDGRZ 3HRSOHµ , DQG ,, and even the unseemly depiction of the lady in “Nude.”

Beneath the penumbra of serenity in the aforementioned paintings seethes the artist’s gamut of other unexpressed emotions, which in turn are, so to speak, embodied in the subjects of these paintings. But so many things are concealed under the lush impasto of “Lady in Blue” and, WR D OHVVHU H[WHQW ´(EXWHPHWWD DW 6XQULVHµ DQG “We Pray.” As for the charcoal series on “Nap Time” paper, the viewer's attention is rather focused on the artist's skill in drawing.

Uyovbisere, whose works adorn both private and public collections both within and outside Nigeria (which include The Presidency), has so far held only three solo exhibitions. This is despite his participation in several group exhibitions on the local and international scene.

The third artist, Heymann, who like Ojobo and Uyovbisere, is reasserting his status as leading artist with this exhibition, continues KLV DOPRVW OHJHQGDU\ 6ZLIWLDQ VDWLULFDO MDE DW human depravity with his anthropomorphic depictions of apes. For the 55-year-old, who, before studying art at Auchi Polytechnic in (GR 6WDWH DOUHDG\ KDG D GLSORPD LQ PDVV communication, the ape metaphor – which KH DFNQRZOHGJHV ZDV SDUWO\ LQÁXHQFHG E\ KLV close interaction with the late Ben Osaghae – is only a tool to vent his frustrations caused by socio-political issues. In the exhibition, this is evident in virtually all his works done in acrylic on canvas, except for a few like “Burden” and ´5HÁHFWLRQ µ In the paintings “Committee Chairman,” “Enticement,” “Red Eyes,” “High Table," “Friends and Cronies," "Oga," and "Possession” I and II, his frustrations—and, perhaps, anger—at the depraved humanity, who, in his opinion, have fallen below the level of animals, are easily discernible. Through this world swarming with metaphors, which mirror contemporary realities, he hopes to awaken the viewer to his plight.

7KH H[KLELWLRQ ZKLFK FORVHV RQ 6DWXUGD\ $XJXVW PHUHO\ OLIWV WKH YHLO RQ ZKDW DÀFLRnados should be expecting from these artists.

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 31 , 2022

56

with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

ENGAGEMENTS

Enemy at the Door

O

n the matter of ensuring national security by all means necessary, I accept being called a hawk. But on the concomitant cautious fear that bad things could happen to the nation if our defenses are lax, I will accept the title of coward. In short, a nation is entitled to deploy maximum force to ensure its continued sovereignty while constantly looking out to protect its citizens from those forces that do not wish both government and people well.Taken together, this is the contradiction that now defines our security imperative. Nothing better gives our situation more urgency than the clear consistent threat on the security of Abuja. Life, limbs and the very state are now at risk as the national capital is daily assaulted by an undisguised enemy force. And yet the embarrassing laxity of our defense and security forces in response to this existential threat dictates that we prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

In the last couple of weeks, an enemy we are used to casually dismissing as a bunch of bandits has consistently targeted Abuja.

Without fear of any contradiction, the forces of insecurity have coalesced into an enemy with a concerted strategic focus.The target of this adversary is clearly and unambiguously the sovereign heart of the Nigerian state. I am convinced that some evil force is out to hoist its nasty flag and shout a familiar bad slogan somewhere in he heart of Abuja.

Only in the last fortnight, ISWAP terrorists have stormed and breached the Kuje medium security prison and freed an indeterminate number of inmates.These includd over 60 dangerous Boko Haram combatants. An operation that reportedly involved over 200 ISWAP operatives on motorbikes and which lasted a few hours has merely been explained away by an untidy exchange of blames and excuses by those paid to secure that facility. An embarrassed President Buari visited the broken prison and demanded a report on why our intelligence set up woefully failed to prevent the attack.

Soon afterwards, alarms by some institutions in Abuja about imminent terrorist attacks have produced evidence that the enemy we fear to name is very much at the door. An elite Brigade of Guards patrol in the reported area of the Abuja Law School yielded a bloody ambush that has claimed the lives of a number of soldiers of the presidential guards unit. If the well trained and armed guards of the president cannot survive an attack by thi enemy force, what chance is there for the ordinary Abuja resident?

Meanwhile a reported siege of a Federal Government high school in…a neighborhood of Abuja has alarmed school authorities into asking parents to evacuate their children from the school. In a reflex over reaction, authorities of the Federal Capital Authority have ordered a shut down of any number of private and public schools in and around Abuja as a preventive measure.There is no word as to for how long these unforeseen closures will last. I shtere a level of intelligence available to the officials ordering these closured that is not available to either commonsense or the public?

As if that was not enough, only lastThursday evening, a roving unit of terrorists attacked an army checkpoint around Zuma Rock on the busy Abuja-Kaduna highway. Casualty figures remain hazy and conflicting. Predictably, these sporadic attacks in and around Abuja have created an understandable atmosphere of fear among the populace.

Understandably, the president has taken some feeble action. He has met with his Secueity Council.The National Security Adviser has briefed a frightened and unsettled nation about steps being taken to tame terrorists and in particular defend Abuja. In an unusually candid admission, the NSA admitted that Nigerians have become weary of the security situation and the numerous official reassurances. By his admission, the public has incrementally lost confidence in the ability of the state to protect and defend the citizenry thereby making selfhelp and personal protection an increasingly attractive option.

Mr. Monguno revealed that defense and security authorities are working on a new set of strategies to contain and combat the insecurity

Buhari in the nation! After seven years of Buhari’s anti corruption and maximum security administration? The army has quickly reshuffled its commanders as if the mere moving of personnel and military furniture will translate into a fundamental strategic refocusing or tactical review of the old methods that have woefully failed us in the last seven years under a president with a military background.

Clearly, the political leadership of the nation has been vastly deficient. Mr. Buhari has serially fallen short in the enormous powers which the Nigerian constitution give him as commander –in- chief. Moreso, for a president who was elected partly because he has a military background that was hoped would equip him to deal with the insecurity that preceded his ascendancy. However, given the present critical stage of the threat to national security , it would be a disservice to the nation for politicians to aggravate what is already and incendiary moment. Therefore, the six -week ultimatum given the president to fix the insecueity or face impeachment is an irresponsible political gambit. It is at best a cheap political blackmail with an intent to frighten an insecure president with a history of epic incompetence. At worst, the threat by senators of the opposition PDP has an inbuilt extortionist undertone that is familiar in Nigeria’s murky political culture of corruption and unbridled mercantilism. It is bad business to try and extort money out of a desperate national security emergency.

Call my alert on the threat to Abuja baseless scare mongering if you like.

But I see a clear strategic purpose in the pattern of recent attacks on facilities in and around Abuja. It ought to interest a perceptive public however that the government has never given the adversary a name. It is in fact the terrorists themselves who strike installations like the Kuje prison and reveal unapologetically through vivid videos that they are ISWAP. The government has been reluctant to admit either

Boko Haram or ISWAP as the enemy against which they are fighting. The government just tags the attacks the handiwork of terrorists and moves on.

The progressive advance of the enemy forces is by no means haphazard or just opportunistic. What we are witnessing is a clear purposive and directed movement of hostile actions even in an asymmetrical fashion which is typical of jihadist guerilla tactics. But the direction is obvious. It is governed by the territorial ambition of a movement intent on controlling a strategic swathe of territory from the Sahel to the larger West African Gulf of Guinea oceanfront. Nigeria is central to that calculation on account of its population and resource base. It has also become more attractive in recent times on account of the proven serial failures of the institutions of state and the weakness of national defense and security to stoutly defend the nation’s sovereignty.

Some analysts have pointed at signs of collusion between elements in Nigeria’s security forces and the enabling financiers of Boko Haram and ISWAP. Some have seen signs of infiltration of intelligence sources and outright complicity between guardians of state security and defence and the enemy forces leading to ease of some of the operations. No one is certain that these suspicions are either true or totally false.

What we can see is a clear purposive enlargement of the theatre of these attacks in the direction of Abuja as the centre of power in Nigeria. What started out in Borno state has spread throughout the entire North East. It has strayed into the North West and descended on the North Central zone. In the North West zone, it has targeted Kaduna as the military industrial nerve centre of the nation and the last line of defense for Abuja. It has successfully tested the nerves of the Nigerian Defence Academy by killing and abducting some of its officers right on the campus.

The enemy briefly knocked out the Kaduna airport by invading its perimeters and abducting some airport workers, thereby briefly closing the airport to many commercial airlines. It has made the Abuja- Kaduna high-

way untenable as a route for normal civil traffic.

The enemy has severally attacked the rail link between Abuja and Kaduna and has knocked it out of the national civil transportation grid. It has taken out the rail link on the Abuja-Kaduna corridor while its rolling stock is marooned.

Meanwhile, the Chinese loan that funded the rail line is gathering interest and charges while the project is returning zero revenue. Government has remained silent on when the rail link will reopen. And yet we remain silent on the identity and purpose of this enemy!

The ISWAP/Boko Haram coalition forces have similarly zeroed in on states adjoining Abuja. In Niger state, for instance, the terrorists have taken over whole local governments and are exacting tributes, rents and levies from local populations. It attacked a miners in Shiroro and. killed over 30 soldiers and policemen that dared to challenge their abduction of Chinese miners.

In the same week, an advance contingent of presidential staff on their way to president Buhari’s home town of Daura were attacked and a couple of them injured. A deliberate targeting of the president as the ultimate symbol of our national sovereignty cn only mean one thing: an arrow in the heart of the Nigerian nation.

Those intent on diminishing the urgency and import of the obvious threat to Abuja and Nigeria’s sovereignty need to learn from recent jihadist takeovers and disruptions of nations in recent times. The dramatic fall of Kabul to the forces of the Taliban proceeded in similar fashion, At first the Taliban forces were concentrated far in the provinces, far away from the capital.Through a series of lightning raids and coordinated but sporadic attacks on major strategic routes to Kabul, they stunned both the government in Kabul as well as its supporting US military backers. All that American training, air power, hardware, logistics and communications backing were neutralized overnight.

Taliban operatives who had effectively infiltrated the intelligence and defense architecture of the state merely streamed into an already softened and besieged Kabul.

America retreated in stampede almost like in Saigon on April 30, 1975. All that sophisticated arsenal was reduced to a huge scrap yard of useless military technology that no one could use. All the generals with their fancy titles, epaulets and shiny medals were reduced to a horde of scampering cowards on the run. Many of them had long been in the payroll of both the Americans and the Taliban simultaneously. That lesson ought to be instructive to those paid to guard the secrets of Nigeria’s security and defence in today’s unfolding engagement.

There may still be some residual professional muscle left in our military to confront our security nightmare. But the political interpretation of the crisis has bred a doctrinal anarchy and confusion of terminologies which is not helping those whose business it is to worry about Nigeria’s insecurity.

The political leadership has finally agreed that the power base of the state is confronted by a terrorist onslaught. It took a while to officially pronounce the ISWAP/Boko Haram coalition a terrorist undertaking. But even that is hardly the whole truth by the strict characterization of terrorism. We are not dealing with mere sporadic terrorists. Terrorists strike at the soft underbelly of society’s complacent zones to disturb the peace, violently distort the norm and frighten the innocent.Terrorists storm train stations, airports, convert air planes into Kamikaze missiles, blow up restaurants, mosques, churches, night clubs and other places where society takes normalcy and tranquility for granted. These are the favorite targets of determined terrorists. As a rule, terrorists do not take territory or seek sovereignty over any place, peoples or things. They bomb, shoot or stab and instill horror through sudden violent acts. Thereafter, they move on, hoping not to be caught but leaving an unmistakable message through blood and tears. Their aim is to shock us all into an awareness of a cause or a cultural injury. The aim is to provoke the question: Why?.

The hope is that the quest for answers to that question will lead to some justice or atonement of an original injustice.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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Editor: Ejiofor Alike SMS: 08066066268 email:ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com

IN THE ARENA

As Terrorists Take Battle to the Seat of Power

The killing of 10 officers and soldiers of the elite Guards Brigade in Abuja by terrorists, last week, signals a dangerous upscaling of insecurity and again puts President Muhammadu Buhari squarely on the spot, writes Louis Achi

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o fewer than two military officers - a captain and lieutenant and eight soldiers of the 7 Guards Battalion Abuja were last week killed in an ambush by terrorists in Bwari, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The fallen military personnel were on internal security operations at the Nigerian Law School, Bwari.

The audacious attack threw the entire Nigerian Army, Guards Brigade and the 7 Guards Battalion, which was their mother unit, into a mourning mood as officers, soldiers, and their bereaved families expressed shock at the incident which is coming weeks after the Kuje prison attack which freed over 60 detained terrorists.

Last Thursday, the federal government finally confirmed that elite soldiers guarding the president were ambushed and many of them killed. The National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), confirmed that soldiers of the Presidential Guards Brigade “were ambushed and decimated,” an affirmation of worsening insecurity in the country.

An embattled Monguno spoke after the National Security Council meeting summoned and presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. According to Monguno, “so far, we have recovered all the bodies of the two officers and eight soldiers and are making contact with their families, some of whom are not in Abuja.”

With residents of the FCT, Abuja on edge, the federal government on Monday officially shut the Federal Government College, Kwali, in the Kwali Area Council of the city. Subsequently, schools were ordered shut in the capital city as insecurity upscaled. Nasarawa State also ordered schools closed.

The bloody attack on the Guards Brigade, whose duty is to protect the president, comes on the heels of similar terrorist attack on a presidential convoy in Dutsinma, Katsina State.

With curious operational synchronisation, on the same day, terrorists invaded the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja and freed hundreds of inmates, including Boko Haram suspects.

Forty-eight hours prior to the attack on elements of the Guards Brigade, terrorists

Bandits gleefully released a video showing them manhandling persons kidnapped from the Abuja-Kaduna train attack incident. One of the terrorists in the video even threatened that his group would abduct President Buhari, Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai and other prominent Nigerians.

Significantly, even as insecurity scales up, the presidency has repeatedly insisted that security has improved under Buhari’s administration. But in the mounting gloom, a flicker of light emerged when the Defence Headquarters announced that its operatives have killed 30 of the terrorists who killed 10 elite Guards Brigade officers and soldiers in Abuja.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, made this known at the bi-weekly news conference on military operations on Thursday in Abuja. Onyeuko said the operation was conducted by troops of 7 Guards Battalion and 167 Special Force Battalion in conjunction with the air component of “Operation Whirl Punch” between Sunday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, apparently miffed at the manner the security situation in the country has turned out, the rubber-stamp Senators, across party lines, on Wednesday, gave President Buhari a six-week ultimatum to properly address worsening insecurity or face immediate impeachment.

But an attempt to raise the motion to that

effect on the Senate floor was frustrated by the Senate President Ahmad Lawan. Led by Senate minority leader, Philip Aduda, the Senators staged a walkout from the chambers to address the newsmen.

But for all their efforts, the presidency dismissed the legislators move as bravado and a waste of time.

It could be recalled that in April 27, 2021, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State had raised the alarm that Boko Haram terrorists had hoisted its flag in Kaure Village, in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state. He alleged that Boko Haram elements were trying to use the area as their home just as they did in Sambisa.

The unsettled governor then warned that “Kaure is just a two-hour drive from Abuja.

So, nobody is safe anymore, not even those in Abuja.” He further alerted the federal government that: “This is the time to act. All hands must be on deck, it is not a fight for Niger State alone”.

Before Governor Bello’s warning, an internal memo dated September 4, 2020, was issued by the Comptroller in charge of Enforcement at the Nigeria Customs Service, H.A. Sabo on behalf of the Deputy Comptroller General, Enforcement, Investigation, and Inspection, stating that Boko Haram had established camps in and around Abuja FCT. Clearly, these could not have been tourism camps.

A copy of the intelligence report read: “Fur-

ther reports have it that they are planning to attack some select targets within the territory.

They are reported to have set up their camps in several identified enclaves” The Defence Headquarters also confirmed the plots by the terror group to unleash mayhem on Abuja. In a statement issued by the Defence Headquarters a few days after the NCS alert and signed by the then Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major-General John Enenche, the apex security body reassured residents of the federal capital territory and contiguous states of their safety.

It could be recalled that the devastating September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the US, scripted by the baleful Al Qaeda terror group led

by Osam Bin Laden represented an unimaginable strategic surprise, exposing American vulnerabilities. But there were intelligence warnings, met with very tepid responses. Intel warnings also preceded the Kuje jailbreak and Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

The Islamist Boko Haram group and ISWAP oppose the constitutional secularity of the Nigerian state, repudiate western education, democracy, and seek to fight for their version of justice. The operational base and activities of these bloodthirsty groups have been spreading from the Northern regions to the South.

The problem of risk communication in the context of imperfect intelligence regarding a prospective, rather than actual, terrorist attack presents its peculiar challenges. This is especially so when the difficulty of offering tactical warning without a prior strategic analysis and the tendency to focus on the vulnerabilities of a society rather than the intent of the terrorists is the dominant thread.

Any successful terror attacks targeting the FCT would send the wrong signals both to the international community and domestic constituents. The terror group’s successful attacks on the police headquarters and UN building, both in Abuja, during the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration have not been forgotten. But those were suicide bombers who had no courage to face Nigeria’s superior military firepower. Today’s terrorists are audacious, daring and courageous to confront the Nigerian Army and threatened open assault on Buhari and el-Rufai.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

Wike

Each time the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, opens up about how he lost out in both the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the selection of a running mate to the winner, he always ended up justifying why no one at all, much less the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would have settled for him.

From his poor temperament, to his uncultured attitudinal disposition and his oft unguarded outburst, Wike’s leadership quotient is not only unfit for the office he currently holds, he would have been a disaster in partnership had he been picked to run the 2023 presidential race with Atiku.

Wike is among many other things, a sore loser, whose belief in the power of money, has created the sort of delusion that could only lead him to nowhere

Weep Not Wike

but self-destruct. Unfortunately, at the rate he is going, he appears determined to pull down the entire house, irrespective of the consequences on their collective stake.

There’s no denying the fact that Wike has paid his dues in the PDP, the same way the party too has indulged him over the years. He had been given opportunity a couple of times to determine who emerged the national chairmen of the party and also allowed the same number of times to remove them, even when such decisions signposted danger to the party’s overall interest.

However, because the party considered him a critical stakeholder and also appreciated all that he had done and was hitherto doing for them, they had overlooked many of his excesses, especially, given the need for

peace to reign. It is no wonder, therefore, that Wike has begun to take these privileges for granted, with a mindset that he is bigger than everyone else since he boasts the biggest war chest.

But the time has come for the PDP to put him in his place. His worst cannot undo what’s been ordained.

After all, if he did not say a word on the Osun governorship election, his body language suggested he less than wished the party well. Yet, it ended in praise for the PDP. Thus, the PDP leadership cannot afford to let Wike play God and therefore, must cut him and his co-travellers to size. To think if performance determines how people vote, not a couple of them can stand before the people to even campaign.They’re all nothing but expendable!

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 31 , 2022

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BRIEFINGNOTES Water Resources Bill: History Beckons on Gbajabiamila Some members of House of Representatives who are determined to cede the ownership of Nigeria’s river banks and the surrounding lands to the federal government for the resettlement of foreign herdsmen recently flew a kite with impeachment threat against the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to cow him to submission for easy passage of the obnoxious Water Resources Bill. Ejiofor Alike writes that with last week’s rejection of the bill by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Gbajabiamila should stand firm against this relentless attempt to deny some parts of the country the commercial use of their God-given water resources the same way the people of Niger Delta were denied the control of the oil and gas resources

A

few lawmakers who are desperate to ensure the passage of the vexatious Water Resources Bill recently flew a kite with impeachment threat against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, should he fail to support the bill during its second reading.

This bill almost tore the eighth National Assembly and other Nigerians apart, a few years ago.

When the bill was passed for the first reading a few weeks ago in the House, no member had seen a copy, except those behind it. This had prompted Gbajabiamila to direct that every lawmaker should get a copy of the bill to study it ahead of the second reading debate.

This controversial bill, which has the backing of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, among others, was first introduced during the tenure of Hon. Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. But it was rejected and thrown out.

In October 2020, the bill was curiously reintroduced into the Gbajabiamila-led House through what many had described as “the backdoor.” But following the uproar that erupted due to the fraudulent reintroduction, the sponsors were forced to withdraw it. With few months to the end of the Buhari’s tenure, the lawmakers and their backers have launched the third but most audacious attempt to ram what many Nigerians see as evil bill down their throat.

Why are Nigerians angry with this bill and their sponsors? Most Nigerians are currently clamouring for resource control and devolution of power to the states and local governments. But the suspicious bill seeks to empower the federal government to control all water resources in the country, including rivers, streams, lakes and even underground water.

Those opposed to the bill argue that the federal government should concentrate efforts on providing security and leave water resources managementforthestatesandlocalgovernments.

The bill is also seen by many Nigerians as one of the many ploys devised by the Buhari-led administration to seize the Benue Valley, banks of River Niger and River Benue, surrounding lands and the entire water resources of indigenous Nigerians for the benefit of foreign herders. These rampaging herdsmen were believed to have been brought from all parts of Africa to settle in Nigeria as their permanent home, in furtherance of their alleged territorial expansionism agenda.

Gbajabiamila When the previous attempts to create Ruga, cattle colonies, and grazing reserves failed, the MinisterofWaterResources,Mr.SuleimanAdamu and other sponsors of the agenda, saw a fresh opportunity in the proposed legislation, which was originally envisaged by former President Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration.

However, the Obasanjo’s government and successive administrations abandoned the idea due to the emerging threats and the clamour for power devolution. Since Adamu and others saw the opportunity to implement the failed Ruga through the bill, they have been pursuing the bill as if their lives and the survival of Nigeria depend on it.

When the bill was introduced in the Dr. Bukola Saraki-led Senate, the then Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, had mobilised other southern senators to throw the bill out. But Akpabio later joined the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC).WhenheappearedbeforeLawanled Senate for his ministerial screening, Lawan had shockingly told him to go and liaise with Adamu to ensure that the bill is passed, stressing that the bill “must be passed.”

Lawan’s utterances had raised fears that the

Senate must pass the bill once it gets to the upper chamberevenifonlyfivelawmakersareinsupport.

Adamu further raised further suspicions on the ulterior motive of the sponsors of the bill when he told the Senate during his screening that his greatest regret as minister during Buhari’s first tenure was the non-passage of the bill.

Nigerians are also angry with the bill because the federal government wants to control the water resources the same way it is controlling the oil and gas resources at the detriment of the oil-producing Niger Delta region. One of the provocative provisions of the bill is that Nigerians must obtain permits in Abuja and also pay taxes to the federal government before drilling boreholes at their backyards for commercial use of water.

Section 120 of the bill makes it compulsory for Nigerians to obtain a driller’s permit before sinking a borehole in their homes.

Southern Nigeria in particular, is also opposed to the bill because the federal government wants to use it to deprive them of their God-given water resources.

When the sponsors sneaked the bill into the Gbajabiamila-led House in October 2020, they were forced to withdraw it but they refused to

give up. They reintroduced the offensive bill a few weeks ago at the House.

When a member of the House from Benue, Hon. Mark Gbillah, reminded his colleagues that most Nigerians had earlier rejected the bill, the Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Sada Soli (APC/Katsina), told him that all the 36 governors contributed in the drafting of the new bill.

The chief promoters of the bill at the House are: Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Wase (APC/ Plateau);theChairmanoftheHouseCommitteeon Rules and Business, Hon. Abubakar Fulata (APC/ Jigawa); and Soli.

Soli further added that the minutes of the meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had been attached to the bill. On his part, Gbajabiamila, who was being overwhelmed by pressure from the sponsors, told Gbillah that Ortom supported the new bill.

But Ortom has since denied the claim and described as “evil” its re-introduction at the House.

The governors of the 36 states of the federation have also last Tuesday disowned the fraudulent claim by the sponsors of the bill.

In a communiqué issued at end of the 5th teleconference meeting, the governors kicked against the bill because of what they described as its inconsistencies with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

By telling lies against Ortom and the 35 other governors, the sponsors of the bill have demonstrated the extent they can go to get the bill passed. It is clear to the governors that the bill is dead on arrival because the motive of the sponsors is evil and unpatriotic.

The governors know that no amount of review will produce an acceptable bill because any reviewed bill must contain the hidden agenda of the sponsors. However, the sponsors will not give up.

In a point of order raised on Tuesday, the Chairperson of the Northern Caucus of the House, Hon. Sarki Ardar denied that the caucus was planning to remove Gbajabiamila over the controversial bill.

Nobody had expected the lawmakers to publicly admit such alleged plot.The sponsors merely flew a kit to cow Gbajabiamila.

All the speaker needs to do is to stand firm as the position of the governors has reconfirmed that the bill is being sponsored in bad faith.

The federal government should also not be allowed to mismanage Nigeria’s water resources the way it destroyed the country’s oil and gas resources. Water resources should be under the states and local governments.

NOTES FOR FILE

Insensitivity to Nigerian Students

Gbajabiamila

Though he has apologised due to the backlash, the action of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila last week typifies the insensitivity of the Nigerian political leaders to the plights of the people they govern.

Last week, Gbajabiamila had shared pictures of himself receiving a lecture with other colleagues for a leadership course at Harvard University, United States on Twitter.

Coming exacting on the day the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other allied labour unions were protesting the continued strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government’s lackadaisical attitude to resolve the crisis, many Nigerians saw his action

as irresponsible and gross insensitivity to the plights of Nigerian students and their lecturers.

Many were angry that since Gbajabiamila knew that ASUU has been on strike for over five months and the NLC was protesting same day due the federal government’s inability to resolve the lingering crisis, he should not have posted such and annoying photos.

Nigerians are also angry because Gbajabiamila would not have had the opportunity to attend the course if politicians in America had mismanaged the education sector like Nigeria.

Like @onlylaka wrote: “You are extremely shameless. Super irresponsible. Public universities in a country you draw billions from year

remain shut for months. But because you think it doesn’t concern you, you are shoving your ability to pay for Harvard certificate in the faces of poor Nigerian students.”

In another tweet, @korie_ wrote: “There’s no way Nigerian politicians aren’t from the deepest recesses of hell. Schools in Nigeria have been shut down for five months. At least two labour unions are protesting over the issue at the moment.

But there you are, in your private ivy league uni bragging about ‘going back to school’”.

Luckily he quickly apologised but his action of Gbajabiamila shows how those in government perceive the people they govern and why there is massive corruption in the country.

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Members of NLC protesting

Will NLC Protest End ASUU Strike?

Despiteatwo-daynationalprotestbytheNigeriaLabourCongressoverthecontinuedclosureofpublic universities, the federal government has not changed its lacklustre approach to the implementation of an agreement it brokered with the university lecturers, Gboyega Akinsanmi writes

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he closure of public universities entered its 167th day today. By implication, students of these public institutions have been at home for five months and 17 days. Yet, this never occupies a prime place in the priority of the federal government to resolve the dispute as urgently as it could.

Rather, its principal negotiators - the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige - keep going back and forth, rejecting the reports of its own renegotiation committees and setting up new ones as though public universities had lost their relevance in national development.

To know that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) wants to continue in office in 2023 despite these obvious flaws, baffles many Nigerians.

This situation prompted the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and their affiliates to embark upon a two-day national protest to solidarise with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-AcademicStaffUnionofUniversities(NASU),Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) that had been on strike since February 14.

Labour activists, civil society actors and human rights campaigners peacefully marched to the government houses nationwide to register their concerns about the closure of the universities and the government’s failure to honour an agreement it entered with the striking unions in 2009.

In Abuja, the President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, led the protesters from the Unity Fountain to the National Assembly on Wednesday. The leaders of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also took part in the protest that complicated traffic congestion in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with a strong message to rescue the public universities.

Theprotesterschallengedthegovernmenttodecisively address the demands of the striking lecturers and their non-academic colleagues in all public tertiary institutions.

They also challenged the federal government to end the strike, which they argued, had utterly disrupted the academic calendar of the public universities.

But can the protest end the strike in public universities? At least, for two consecutive days, the protest succeeded in drawing the attention of the world to the state of public universities in Nigeria, failure of the

government to respond to the public education crisis and the paucity of clearer vision to rescue the institutions from outright collapse under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari Beyond evoking global awareness, the protest may not really push the government to rejig its lacklustre approachtotheimplementationofthe2009FGN-ASUU Agreement. This is evident in its penchant for setting up renegotiation committees and rejecting the reports of the committees on the ground that it lacks financial wherewithal to implement the agreement it brokered with the ASUU. Besides, as shown in its recent balance sheet, Nigeria is now practically running on debt. In the first quarter, for instance, its debt cost was N310 billion more than its actual revenue with its debt burden that increased to $100.1 billion recently. With its gnawing liquidity crisis and deepening insecurity, the government had already prepared its reasons to box the ASUU into the corner again.

Even though the government appeared unruffled by the protest, it may be under undue pressure eventually to address the causes of incessant strikes in the public universities for two reasons. First, as the labour unions observed, the protest was just the first phase of their strategy.The labour unions are subsequently planning a three-day national strike to further push for an antidote if the government fails to respond decisively to the demands of ASUU within the specified time.

Second, unlike before, the striking lecturers are no longer ready for a compromise that will not elicit the government’s commitment to the 2009 agreement, a trap hole that the ASUU has vowed never to fall into. This resolve is perhaps built on a premise that previous strikes since the agreement was brokered did not produce a significant outcome before they called them off.

Under Buhari alone, for instance, ASUU had embarked on strike action four times. In 2017, ASUU was on strike for one month. The union went on strike for three months in 2019, nine months in 2020 and its latest ongoing strike will enter its sixth month on August 14.

This indicates that the public universities for about 20 months between 2017 and 2022, were closed.

President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke said any progressive government ought to have addressed such unending crisis as an issue of national emergency.

But why has the government been playing a hide-

and-seek game with the striking lecturers? Why has the government failed to honour the 2009 government?

For the government, the core rationale relates directly to the deficit of wherewithal to fund the demands of ASUU. In its argument, the government claimed that the country had slid into recession twice within four years and might be plunged into its worst economic doldrums before the end of the year.

For the labour activists, the government is insensitive to the degenerating conditions of public universities nationwide. At the National Assembly, last week,Wabba put forth compelling arguments to justify the government’s insensitivity to the crisis that bedevilled the public tertiary institutions. In the first instance, according to him, the government is not concerned because the children of the less- privileged are the victims.

In another instance, as some labour leaders observed, the government functionaries are never concerned about the five-month industrial action because it is now fashionable among them to either enrol their children in private universities within the country or in foreign universities in Europe and North America.

Hence, whatever happens to the public universities is not their business.

For the lecturers and parents, it is a sheer deficit of patriotism and vision for the strategic positioning of the public institutions on the part of the Buhari’s adminstration. Like most members of Federal Executive Council, Buhari’s children had their tertiary education in the United Kingdom.This trend spurred the Chairman of ASUU, Niger Delta University, Prof. Kingdom Tombra to call for a bill to regulate how children of the government’s functionaries enrol in schools outside the country.

“This is one of the challenges confronting us as a federation,” Emeritus Professor at the University of Ibadan, Prof. John A. Ayoade said. “Those who are leading do not believe in the country they are leading,” the don lamented. From these perspectives, Ayoade observed that successive governments from 2007 to date do not actually understand the place of public universities in the development agenda of any country that desires a double-digit economic growth, one of the triggers, which according to him, plunged Nigeria into an intractable fiscal crisis that now undermines governance at all levels.

Rather than exuding so much energy on the implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, the don believed the national debate should focus on

“developing a national strategy for tertiary education and framework for implementation to produce graduates, who can compete effectively anywhere they find themselves on the globe.”

As it is in the western world, Ayoade canvassed a paradigm shift in the management of public education, an indispensably critical sector, which he argued, Nigeria required for its socio-economic rebirth. On this note, he challenged the political leadership to embrace public universities as a tool for sustainable economic growth if the government can inject significant investments into the sector.

Achieving this lofty feat definitely requires strong political will, which the don said, should start with a holistic review of existing education policies. He argued against the current regime, which under-price the cost of tertiary education. He called for an outright autonomy for universities, though with cushioning strategies to enable indigent students access tertiary education.

He explained how public universities were run in the 1960s and 1970s with a view to producing graduates for global competitiveness. During these periods, he observed that tertiary education cost a lot of money.

However,accordingtohim,thegovernmentsetupindigent scholarship scheme, disable scholarship scheme and merit scholarship scholarship to guarantee inclusion across all the strata of the society.

Like Ayoade, the Chief Executive Officer of Economic Associates, Dr. Ayo Teriba subscribed to repositioning public universities for the country’s national socioeconomic transformation. While Ayoade canvassed a national strategy for tertiary education, Teriba argued for leveraging human capital to redirect the economy from the path of regression to progression.

He thus explained how China, India and the Philippines, among others, adopted strategies of massively training highly skilled citizens in different fields to meet both domestic and global demands.With this approach,Teriba claimed these countries “have been able to generate funds that help them tackle the roots of economic crises through remittance and employment generation.”

These options are before Nigeria. But the government, especially under Buhari, has not accorded public tertiary education a prime place in its programmes.This perhaps justifies the government’s resort to delay tactics as an approach to the university labour dispute rather than implementing the agreement it entered with the university teachers since January 2009.

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Is SAN Rank Losing Prestige?

The recent list of lawyers released by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee for the award of the prestigious rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria has raised concerns among lawyers that the manner in which the award is being conferred lately is making a mockery of the elevation process, Alex Enumah writes

S

ince the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) released the list of shortlisted lawyers to be conferred the prestigious rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) for the 2022, lawyers have been rasing concerns over the new conditions for lawyers wishing to attain the rank.

This is because for three consecutive years, the headlines on the number of lawyers being churned out by the LPPC for the award have remained practically the same.

While in 2020 it was “LPPC shortlists 137 lawyers for SAN rank”, it was “129 lawyers shortlisted for SAN rank” in 2021, and in 2022 it is “LPPC shortlists 130 lawyers for award of SAN rank”.

The committee in an advertorial published on January 5, 2022, announced that the application for this year’s SAN rank would be made through its website which opened on January 1 and closed on April 1. It also stated that applicants should pay a non-refundable processing fee of N600,000 into the account numbers of the committee and upload the evidence of such payment to the portal.

This immediately sparked worries among lawyers who have decried “commercialisation” and “politicisation” of the bar’s highest honour and privilege, which is similar to the UK’s rank at the inner bar known as the Queen’s Counsel (QC). They also worry that the award is becoming too expensive and beyond the reach of most lawyers without connection and financial muscle.

Many lawyers who spoke with THISDAY said the award of the SAN rank was supposed to be based on proven integrity by those who had developed the hard work and legal skills required. They lamented that the way and manner the award is being conferred now leave much to be desired.

Most of the lawyers who did not want their names in print called for a review of the guidelines for the award of the prestigious rank. They bemoaned the huge sums involved in applying for the rank of SAN. “N600,000 is just the amount made public, when the committee comes to inspect the offices of applicants and their libraries, they do get much more than that,” said a lawyer.

The 2016 federal government’s official gazette, updated in 2018, for the appointment of SANs listed the criteria on which candidates’ competence would be based and other qualifications. They include Section 16 (2) of the Act that stipulates integrity – 20 per cent; opinion of judges and the strength of references received by candidates -20 per cent; general knowledge of law – 25 per cent; contribution to the development of law – 10 per cent; leadership qualities in the profession – 10 per cent; and qualities of law office/library – 15 per cent.

Sub-Section 2 further provides that: “Each member of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee shall receive copies of application forms, copies of references and a list of particulars of reported cases (from Supreme Court) or copies of unreported judgments and reports of chambers inspection in respect of all candidates at least one week before the final selection interview date.

Section 17 of the Act provides diverse criteria, among which are that candidates must have been called to bar for at least 10 years, consultation may be held with the chief judge of the high court where the candidate practices and the local branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to determine this; the candidate must be of good character and must have successfully concluded several cases, and must

Justice Ariwoola present income tax for three years.

As of 2019, Nigeria had just 526 senior advocates with the first two being late Chief Rotimi Williams and Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas who were conferred with the title on April 3, 1975. The number of awardees rose to 526 in 44 years.

Up till 2017 and 2018, very few lawyers were shortlisted for the prestigious award. But in the first two years of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad as the Chairman of LPPC/ Chief Justice of Nigeria, the number shot to 670, adding 144 new Inner Bar members, in just two exercises.

Many believed that if the former CJN had not been forced to leave office last month, the list would have shot up by 250 under his watch alone from the 130 lawyers shortlisted for this year.

“You can see that if Justice Muhammad had not left office, from the 130 lawyers shortlisted for this year, the number of lawyers appointed SANs under his watch in three years would have risen to over 200. When you compare this figure with the 526 senior advocates since inception from 1975 to 2019, you will notice that prestigious award has been bastardised and compromised. It is losing its value because it is now

given to all Tom, Dick and Harry. Like every other thing, it is now given to the highest bidders. It has been tribalised and based on quota, and this has reduced the prestige attached to the rank. I remember during our time, we were challenged to work very hard. We were grilled by icons like Chief Afe Babalola. Today the situation is different, and when one sees the calibre of those being conferred, it makes mockery of the entire elevation process,” a SAN told THISDAY. The sharp increase in the number of senior advocates has not gone down well with the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN). After the release of the list of lawyers shortlisted for SAN rank in 2020, BOSAN wrote a letter to the disgraced Justice Muhammad, praying him not to elevate any lawyer to the premium rank until 2024 to enable them to revamp the elevation process. BOSAN criticised the LPPC for making a mockery of the elevation process with the conferment of the rank on an unprecedented number of 72 senior lawyers in the 2020 exercise. It warned that unless a holistic review of the process is undertaken by the LPPC, the rank stands the risk of losing its prestige and standing among stakeholders.

The letter signed by Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN), Chief Folake Solanke (SAN), and Mr. Seyi Sowemimo (SAN),

read: “Upon receipt of the letter from the Committee, we were hopeful that necessary changes as conveyed in our letter would be implemented to preserve the dignity of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

“However, following the recent announcement of the shortlisting of 130 candidates shortlisted in the process for conferment with the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, we are of the considered opinion that the concerns raised in our earlier referenced letter have not been addressed.”

BOSAN noted, “It is not willy-nilly that all candidates that meet the set criteria should be appointed in any given year, as such an approach cannot but result in the degradation of the rank. It is those that prove to be outstanding within the shortlist that should be conferred with the rank.

This is the time-honoured rule applied in relation to admissions to all reputable institutions in situations where competition is high and spaces are limited and where it would be inappropriate to accommodate all those persons who appear to have met the criteria” The members of the Inner bar are concerned that the current system and criteria for conferring the rank of SAN may result in a watered-down perception of the status of SAN Noting the urgency of its Save-Our-Soul letter, BOSAN said: “We would like to point out that a comprehensive review of the screening process is an urgent and necessary step to retain the dignity, respect, and reverence of the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the legal profession in general. The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria is still committed to providing its expertise and support at every stage of the review process and we are anticipating positive feedback and implementation of the recommendations in this letter.

Also, Samuel Adeyemi said the prestigious rank of SAN was supposed to be awarded to lawyers of proven integrity and those who had developed the hard work and legal skills required.

He said: “Are there such lawyers? Yes. But the way and manner of the award now leave much to be desired. It is not just ever expensive but is beyond the reach of most lawyers without connection and the financial muscle.

“To get an appeal or get a date in the superior courts is now like attempting to get a visa to the Western nations. While not advocating scrapping of the rank, more needs to be done to ensure the son or daughter of a nobody who has no connection but has all the requisite qualities earlier stated is not left out.”

Another lawyer, who pleaded anonymity, bemoaned the huge sums involved in applying for the rank of SAN. But Eragbai Agbodion said the unnecessary preference given to SANs was killing the legal profession and causing delays in proceedings.

According to Agbodion, this happens when cases of junior lawyers get delayed or adjourned because those of SANs have to be called out of turn due to their seniority.

“The SAN rank has become highly commercialised and politicised. Sometimes many persons who are not supposed to be SANs are the persons who are there. There are so many quota system SANs who ought not to be so appointed,” he said.

While not advocating that the SAN rank be scrapped, another lawyer who spoke to THISDAY on account of anonymity there was need to check and review the processes. He contended that quota and tribal sentiments should be put aside when considering lawyers for the award.

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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 ˾ ULY 31, 2022

NEWS

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

Gunmen Kill Three Policemen, Five Vigilantes in Kogi Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja At least three police officers and five local vigilantes have been killed in an ambush by suspected gunmen at Jidda-Bassa, a community Ajaokuta, Ajaokuta Local Government Area, Kogi State.

The incident occurred yesterday when some residents of the community were reported at the Ajaokuta Police Division, killing three police officers and five vigilantes.

A source in the community revealed some persons living

Kwankwaso Warns Senators against Plot to Impeach Buhari Ibrahim Garba in Kano The presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has cautioned members of the National Assembly to tread softly on the move by some of them to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kwakwanso expressed concern after paying a courtesy call on the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, at the Government House, Ilorin, the State capital.

The presidential hopeful said the federal lawmakers should not be in a hurry to rock the boat, though he acknowledged that “there are reasons to be worried

in Jeddah-Bassa reported to the Divisional Police Office that some unknown people had attacked their farms, carting away produce.

The source further stated that the DPO mobilised some of his men and the vigilantes to the scene, but before they could get to the farm, they were ambushed by some unknown gunmen.

During the attack three policemen and five vigilantes were killed, the source said.

The source added that the

bodies of the victims have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre’s mortuary.

Meanwhile, the Kogi state government has vowed to arrest those behind the killings.

Security Adviser to the Kogi state governor, Jerry Omodara made this known while confirming the attack on a telephone conversation with our correspondent in Lokoja.

He said the state government will take proactive steps to arrest the situation pointing

out that all those involved in the killings will surely be apprehended.

Omodara added that the state government is doing its best to curb criminal elements in the state.

Omodara said the divisional police officer, acting on an intelligence report that hoodlums had invaded their farm and engaged in illegal activities, mobilised officers in collaboration with local vigilantes and headed for the area

He said: “They were however ambushed and in the process Eight of them were killed including three Police Officers and five members of the local vigilantes”.

He, however, said no matter what the state government would not rest until the culprits were brought to book, saying the state government had assured the people of the state of government protection as Saturday’s incident would not be allowed to repeat itself.

about the security situation in the country.”

Kwakwanso, however, urged the government to brace up to the challenges of insecurity across the country.

He stressed the need for the government to reach out to people with genuine concerns on the nation’s problems with a view to finding solutions to the challenges.

Also speaking, AbdulRazaq called on politicians to play the game according to the rules.

He also urged them to eschew bitterness in their prosecution of the electioneering campaigns ahead of the 2023 general election.

Oyebanji, APC Risk Losing Ekiti, FOR THE LOVE OF CHILDREN …

L-R: NAOWA Coordinator Corps of Engineers, Mrs Adebukola Kadiri; NAOWA President, Mrs Salamatu Yahaya; Elese of Ilese, Oba Oluremu Oni’s Lawyers Warn Obayomi; Representative of Ogun Governor, AIG Olusola Subair, and Commander Corps of Engineers, Maj.-Gen. K.O. Kadiri, at the inauguration of NAOWA Creche, Nursery and Primary School and Secretariat at the Sappers’ Barracks, Ilese Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State ... yesterday Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The legal team handling the election petition filed by the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 18 poll in Ekiti State, Mr Segun Oni, has warned that the governor-elect, Biodun Oyebanji, may lose his victory if the respondents continue to dodge court service within the time stipulated by law.

The lawyers, who accused Oyebanji and the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly committing contempt of court, said it was against the rule of court for respondents to be resisting service, adding that the implication may be that the case may proceed without defence.

Oni’s counsel had last week accused Oyebanji, his deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye and the former APC National Caretaker Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni of being difficult to serve for lack of fixed addresses.

Consequently, the petitioner approached the Election Petitions Tribunal, seeking an order of substituted service, and was

granted through a ruling delivered by the panel’s Chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, at its inaugural sitting on July 25, 2022.

Despite the order of the court, Oni’s lawyers still contended that the respondents had been resisting attempts by the court’s bailiffs to serve them a speedy trial of the election dispute matter.

Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital yesterday, over the perceived recalcitrant posture of the respondents regarding service, one of the Senior Lawyers handling the petition, Mr Owoseeni Ajayi, warned that the brazen disregard for a court decision in the case may boomerang.

Ajayi said: “APC has been playing pranks with the issue of service and this should be condemned. After we told the public that they were running away from service, they closed down their party’s Secretariat in Ado Ekiti.

If the APC is a respecter of the rule of law, they ought to come out and allow us to serve them with the necessary papers.

Nigeria to Exhibit Culture in Jamaica’s 60th Jubilee As Jamaica marks her 60th independence anniversary, Nigeria’s High Commission in Nigeria has said Africa’s biggest country will display her rich cultural heritage in the form of drama, poems, dance and others.

The envoy disclosed this in a statement yesterday, saying Nigeria’s participation “is to also expose the rich cultural heritage of the country to the outside world, and cement the excellent relationship between the two nations.

Some of Nigerian cultural

heritage to be performed include: Ada Ada – (a cultural performance depicting the Igbo traditional marriage), “Spoken word on “Motherland” – (by a Jamaican student in a high school in Calabar), Unity Dance – (a cultural performance showcasing the major ethnic groups in Nigeria), Nigerian Solo Highlife song – to be performed by a Nigerian doctor, cultural performance – by Seki Cultural Troupe from Rivers State in Nigeria and Nigerian contemporary dance.

The celebration runs from July 31 to August 7, this year.

Resident Doctors Give FG Two-week Ultimatum to Implement Welfare Agreement Sunday Ehigiator The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the federal government two weeks to implement agreements concerning their welfare or face industrial disharmony.

The association gave the ultimatum after their National Executive Council meeting held in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

In a communique signed

by NARD President, Dr. Dare Ishaya, the doctors said they would reconvene in two weeks to review the progress made so far, as it relates to their demands.

They vowed to “take further actions for which nationwide industrial harmony may not be guaranteed.”

The doctors are asking the federal government to expedite action on the payment of the

newly reviewed Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) so its members can meet up with the closing date of examination registration as advertised by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN).

They are also demanding the immediate implementation and payment of the new Hazard Allowance and arrears as contained in the circular from

the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC).

Other demands include the payment of the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015 and 2016 to deserving members and immediate payment of consequential adjustment of minimum wage to its members who have not benefited since it was implemented several years ago.

Innoson Vehicles Sues Imo Govt over N2.5bn Debt

Alex Enumah

Nigeria’s indigenous vehicle manufacturing company, Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing (IVM) has dragged the Imo State Government before a High Court of Anambra State over an alleged N2.5 billion debt.

The amount constitutes the purchase prices of the various IVM Vehicles, including their parts manufactured by IVM, sold and delivered to the state government.

This was revealed in a state-

ment by the Head, Corporate Communications and Affairs, IVM Innoson Group, Mr Cornel Osigwe.

According to the statement, the legal action was as a result of the failure of the Imo State Government to pay or service the debt of N2,547,666,435.

The statement said: “The lawsuit which was filed

by Prof Joseph Mbadugha, SAN, counsel to Innoson Vehicles coming against repeated attempts made by the Chairman of Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing, Chief

Innocent Chukwuma to the Governor urging him to pay the company on the vehicles sold, and delivered to the state government.

“For the avoidance of doubt, sometimes in April 2021, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma invited the Chairman/CEO of Innoson Vehicles, Chief Dr. Innocent Chukwuma to the Imo State Government House, Owerri where they discussed and agreed that Innoson Vehicles would sell and supply various specifica-

tions of its brand of Vehicles to the State Government which includes, inter alia; 70 units of Innoson 5 Seater double cabin pick-up (IVM Carrier) 4WD, 10 units of Innoson 5- Seater double cabin military pick up (IVM G12), 10 units of Innoson 5 seater single cabin military pick-up (IVM G12), 100 units of a complete siren with public addressing system, revolving light, and street police light; 2 Units of IVM Ambulance Vehicles, 20 Units of IVM G12 MS11 and 20 sets of B. Canopy”, the statement read.

Lawmaker Asks JAMB to Review Cut-off Mark for Universities’ Admission Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Deputy Chairman Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Akon Eyakenyi has asked the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to review upward the cut-off mark for students seeking admission into the universities.

The senator said to address the falling standard of education in the country, the curriculum and quality of

teachers should be improved as well.

She made the suggestion during the monitoring exercise of the 2022 National Personnel Audit, being carried out by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in Abuja, saying the educational sector “needs more funding.”

She said: “We have called out for that in the chambers.

When we miss it at this level, the country will have issues to face. With the cut-off

marks approved by JAMB, candidates who couldn’t make it into universities and polytechnics will be sent to the colleges of education.

“This should not be so.

Only the best are needed in the teaching profession.

We have maintained that education is not to be left to the government alone even though it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the public schools are properly maintained.”

She said parents and wealthy Nigerians should support the government to improve the falling standard of education.

Eyakenyi, who also raised concern on the growing numbers of out-of-school children, said due to insecurity in the federation, children would not go to school.

“Parents do not want to send their children to school again and that has increased the number of out-of-school children,” she added.

JULY 31, 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 WHY DOES ANYBODY WANT TO BE NEXT PRESIDENT? the skies and drop their heads moaning that this was not the Nigeria they were promised in 2015.

As a matter of fact, we have been going through some of the worst economic mayhems in our history. We first had to endure falling oil prices, starting from 2014, and the resultant fall in forex inflow, the dollar squeeze and the inevitable fall of the naira. We now have high oil prices — the spot price for our dear Bonny Light was above $100/barrel on Friday — but, unfortunately, our production has fallen over the years as a result of so many factors: lack of fresh investments by oil companies as a result of the 12-year delay in passing the petroleum industry bill (PIB) into law; some oil fields reaching end-of-life stages with the juice underneath drying up; oil theft; and such like.

Before, we were producing 2.5 million barrels per day and building up excess crude savings and swimming in dollars — with all the associated effects of attracting the inflow of non-oil forex partly because of the confidence in the economy.

Today, we are getting hurt by every rise in oil prices. Why? Our export is at its lowest since the 1970s. We are not benefiting from the boom. This is the first time in our history that oil prices are riding high but we are in severe pains. The irony: we are better off with lower prices. If nothing else, the subsidy bill will fall too. We are spending the equivalent of our oil and gas sales to subsidise petrol consumption in order to “protect the poor”!

As things stand, we are only managing to produce 1.32mbpd on the average, out of which our share is about 28 per cent because of the contractual terms. That is less than 400,000bpd. That is what the NNPC gets to sell on behalf of a federation of 200 million

people. NNPC then uses most of our share of crude oil production to import petrol and sell at N165 per litre. It is from our share we pay for petrol subsidy — something that will cost us at least N4 trillion this year alone. In the first half of 2022, according to NNPC, we earned N2.39 trillion from oil and gas sales while the subsidy bill was N2.6 trillion. Actually, revenue from oil sales was not enough to pay for subsidy in the first half.

Those expecting the naira to stop sliding down the bottomless pit need to adjust their expectations. Do not let anyone deceive you: we are not earning much forex. Dollar will continue to be scarce and naira will continue to fall. Those in the know told me that in 2014, NNPC brought over $98 billion in forex into the coffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In 2021, the total from the same NNPC was $92 million. Do the math. I don’t know if NNPC will bring in one cent in 2022, although miracles are not out of fashion yet. As we read in O’Level economics textbooks, when a product is scarce, the price will rise. We just don’t earn dollars anymore. Nigeria is no longer what it used to be. Fact.

With all these problems hanging as a noose over the country, why then should anyone want to be the next president? Look at the number of aspirants that bought APC presidential form for N100 million. Look at the number that bought PDP form for N40 million. Is it because they sincerely want to tackle these problems and believe that they have the capacity and the will to do so — or because they just want political power and the unlimited perks of office? Is it because they are genuinely worried about the future of Nigeria and are determined to give their utmost best to address the challenges — or

because they love the ogbono soup and the interior decoy of the presidential jets?

The most enjoyable part of electioneering is usually on social media. That is where enthusiastic and vulnerable Nigerians make all kinds of promises on behalf of their candidates with every emotional energy at their disposal. They build castles in the air, always. My candidate will end power failure, my candidate will end ASUU strikes, my candidate will end insurgency, my candidate will do this and that and that and this. Sometimes, these candidates are not even aware of the promises their supporters have made on their behalf. People just overdose on enthusiasm and begin to create a candidate that only exists in fantasies and fictions. Nigeria’s problems will not disappear overnight.

We witnessed many utopian promises in 2015.

Buhari’s supporters created a candidate that would not seek medical treatment abroad, that would declare his assets publicly, that would end insecurity and power failures with a snap of the finger — and banish corruption from our shores. Mallam Garba Shehu, his spokesman, was so livid after (not before) Buhari’s inauguration that he issued a scathing statement saying some APC members were “on the loose” during the campaign. “It was possible that things were being done without the knowledge or the usage of the proper channel of communication,” he said, while emphatically denying that Buhari ever made those promises.

In an article I wrote before the election, “Buhari and the Burden of Expectations” (THISDAY, January 25, 2015), I said: “I don’t know whether to rejoice or sympathise with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari anytime I read all the sweet comments about him on social media — especially on Twitter. I don’t know any presidential candidate

who has been so idolised in recent times... On the one hand, it is good for him. He will not be complaining at all. No politician will complain about such good fortune, especially with only a few weeks to an election. On the other hand, my God!... I’ve been there before — as a reckless enthusiast. I had similar expectations about President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999.”

As we approach the 2023 presidential election, I stand by my position: stop the reckless enthusiasm. Whoever is going to lead a proper change in this country must take tough decisions and Nigerians must be ready for adjustment pains. The next president has brutal decisions to take on fighting insecurity (which will certainly involve unconventional strategies and unavoidable collateral damages).

He will have to take painful decisions on the exchange rate, on subsidies, on the funding of public universities, on the civil service, on sectional agitations, on debts, etc. We cannot overcome these debilitating challenges without going through a period of tough adjustments and changes.

The next president will inherit problems that have been building up for decades, worsened by poor policy choices in recent years. No matter what he does, he will be damned. If he maintains the status quo, Nigeria will continue its journey to hell on a fast track. If he decides to do the needful, he will face stiff opposition from labour unions, internet warriors and ethno-religious war mongers, topped with a possible uprising.

The status quo is not an option but a corrective surgery will be politically costly as well. Pray, why should anyone want to be in this position?

Except, of course, they are real leaders and problem solvers who are determined to save Nigeria from bleeding to death. Catch-22.

And Four Other Things…

THE PACESETTERS Tobi Amusan has done the unprecedented in our athletics history by setting a world record on her way to winning the women’s 100m hurdles at the World Athletics Championship.

She became the first Nigerian to set a world record in track and field. I celebrate with her for bringing joy to Nigerians in this season of pains. I also pay tribute to those who came before her, did us proud and put our name on the global map — greats like Chioma Ajunwa, Mary Onyali, Falilat Ogunkoya, Chidi Imoh, Ezinwa twins, Innocent Egbunike, Sunday Bada and others. There are plenty Amusans all over Nigeria waiting to be discovered and nurtured. The harvest is plenty but the labourers are few. Phew!

OSINBAJO’S EXAMPLE Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo gave us a rare sight recently: a top Nigerian government official receiving treatment of any kind at a local hospital. You can say whatever you like — that it was a private hospital or the ailment was a “mere” fracture — but this means a lot.

Nigerian doctors being trusted on their own soil by the country’s No 2 man is just the kind of positive signal we need from government officials that, indeed, “Nigerians can do it”.

When our leaders begin to look inwards, not just in words but in deeds, they will perhaps start taking the necessary steps to upgrade the quality of public medical care available in the country to world class. It is no rocket science. Commitment.

AVIATION FOUL I accept that Nigeria is a peculiar country. The Economist once described us as importing what we have and exporting what we don’t have. Which is always true. We are importing petroleum products from Europe and exporting security to Liberia. But I still cannot fully understand why there will be scarcity of aviation fuel, leading to disruption of local flights. Aviation fuel is not subsidised, meaning you can import and sell at the market price. So how can there be scarcity of a vital product that drives an entire sector? Yes, Nigeria is a peculiar country where anything can happen and where nothing makes sense, but you still think some things should never happen at all.

Unbelievable.

ATIKU VS TINUBU Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his APC counterpart, have been firing missiles at each other over the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Atiku says it is wrong and that was why he did not pick Tinubu as his running mate in 2007. Tinubu fired back, saying he was actually offered the slot by Atiku and he turned it down. People have been asking how this cross-fire will put food on the table of the ordinary Nigerians. Nice one. That apart, though, I thought it is on record that Atiku wanted to be running mate to Bashorun MKO Abiola in 1993 — which would have been Muslim-Muslim — but Abiola settled for Amb Babagana Kingibe. Politics!

THE THREAT OF IMPEACHMENT in the US. The first and easiest step is for a notice of allegations against the president to be submitted in writing to the President of the Senate, detailing the infractions and signed by at least a third of the members of the National Assembly. The notice of allegations (which is yet to be submitted) needs the signatures of 155 of the 469 members of the National Assembly.

This is do-able. But it gets more complicated after this stage.

The notice will be shared with the president within seven days and his response, if any, will be shared with all members of the National Assembly. The second stage is, within 14 days of the notice of allegations, for each of the two houses to pass a motion to investigate the allegations. That motion must be passed with two-thirds majority. This means 73 senators in the Senate and 240 members of the House of Representatives must vote in support of the investigation.

The third stage is for the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to, within seven days of the motion to investigate the allegations and at the instance of the President of the Senate, constitute a panel of seven people to investigate the allegations.

Members of the panel must, in the opinion of the CJN, be of unquestionable integrity, and must not be members of any legislative house, civil service or political party. The fourth stage is for the panel to sit and investigate the allegations, and give the president the opportunity to defend himself personally or through his counsels.

The panel has three months to conclude its assignment and submit its report.

If the panel finds the president guilty, then the process proceeds to the fifth stage. Within 14 days of the receipt of the panel’s report, each of the two houses shall consider the report and will need to pass a resolution to impeach the president supported by at least two-thirds of its members to impeach the president. This means that when at least 73 senators and 240 representatives vote in each of the houses in

Buhari support of the resolution for impeachment, the president stands impeached.

There are many reasons why this will be difficult to see through. At two critical stages (passing a motion to investigate the allegations and passing a resolution on the report of the panel), all the president needs to do to get off the hook is to secure a third of the votes plus one in at least one of the houses. This means all he needs in each of these two critical stages is for either 37 senators or 121 representatives to vote against his impeachment.

With the enormous powers and resources at the disposal of the president of a developing country, it is inconceivable that President Buhari

will not get either of this in a long-drawn process. Unlike those moving for impeachment, the president doesn’t need to do much. All he needs is to frustrate the move in one of the two chambers with a third plus one vote.

Anytime a super-majority is needed in a bicameral legislature to get through an action, the onus disproportionately rests on the protagonists.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) currently has 66 senators and 209 representatives in the National Assembly. True, some of them (especially some of those who lost return tickets) may join up with their opposition colleagues. But before long, the proposed impeachment will acquire partisan hues, irrespective of numbers being touted. And only a bit longer, sectional dimensions will creep in. A successful impeachment assumes a utopian blurring of all partisan and sectional lines in a country with extensive fault-lines.

The only other president who has been threatened with impeachment since Nigeria embraced the presidential system is Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2002, the House of Representatives issued him a two-week ultimatum and said it was collecting signatures. But the notice of allegations with the required signatures was never served, and thus the process never took off. Even then, the 2002 impeachment threat generated a lot of heat, though Obasanjo initially had described it as a joke taken too far. The impeachment move originated from his own party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but it put the unsavoury dimension of Nigeria’s ethno-regional cleavages in full view.

Already there are insinuations in some quarters that the opposition parties are dangling the impeachment axe to weaken the ruling party ahead of the 2023 polls. Such insinuations are unlikely to disappear, and may harden party and regional divisions.

This notwithstanding, there are many Nigerians who have had it up to the neck with President Buhari to the extent that they don’t think he should stay a day longer on the seat. While

their disposition may be understandable, it is also important to bear in mind that the long and difficult impeachment process can create a distraction for insecurity to fester. Such a drawn process also induces a climate of uncertainty.

Most important, a successful impeachment presents a possible political crisis given the delicate distribution of power in the country. Even when the constitution is clear about who replaces the president if he is impeached alone or with his vice, the interpretation of such a move and the potential beneficiary and expected contestation by those for and against makes impeachment a politically combustible one. Don’t rule out the suggestion that the two potential replacements can be accused of plotting to become president through the back door and don’t under-estimate the political tension such can generate. Nigeria cannot afford to layer a security challenge with a political crisis. Not at this time.

By the time the National Assembly resumes from its recess in late September, it will be just five months to the general election and eight months to the end of the Buhari administration.

Devoting five to six out of those precious months to an indeterminate, uncertainty-laden and politically-charged endeavour may not be the best use of time and resources. Nigeria will be better served with strongly holding the president accountable, giving him all the necessary support to roll back the attacks on Nigeria, and ensuring an orderly transition.

And rather than luxuriating in the near impossibility of kicking him out of office through impeachment because the political arithmetic favours him, President Buhari should take the threat and the support it enjoys in a sizeable section of the populace as a last wake-up call. He will be better served by sitting up and redeeming, in the little space left, the promise he made and the constitutional duty he has to protect Nigerians and defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria. Time is desperately running out on him.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JULY 31, 2022

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Nunez Announces His Arrival as Liverpool Claim Community Shield Duro Ikhazuagbe

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ew £85million signing from Benfica, Darwin Nunez, announced his arrival at Anfield yesterday, sealing a 3-1 Community Shield victory for Liverpool against champions Manchester City.

In the thrilling season opening encounter at the King Power Stadium in Leicester instead of the traditional Wembley setting, the two sides did not hold back in a match that tends to be badged as a ‘glorified friendly’.

Reds full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the opening goal with a curling effort from the edge of the box which took a slight deflection off Nathan Ake and nestled in the far corner.

He celebrated by raising his finger to his lips in front of the City supporters, who had helped generate a thunderous atmosphere by trading jibes with their Liverpool counterparts.

Remember The Reds who won The FA Cup, were pipped to the Premier League title by a single point last term after a season-long fight with City.

Man City’s star summer signing Erling Haaland showed glimpses of what he will bring by drawing a good save from Adrian, while Nunez had a one-on-one effort kept out by Ederson.

But it was another newcomer - Julian Alvarez - who scored next, staying alert after Phil Foden’s shot was saved to poke home the equaliser from close range, with the goal awarded after a lengthy VAR check.

Mohamed Salah edged Liverpool back in front by scoring from the penalty spot with eight minutes remaining after referee Craig Pawson adjudged - from looking at the pitchside monitor - that Ruben Dias had handled inside the area.

And Nunez who was brought in from Benfica to replace Sadio Mane who switched to Bayern Munich had the final say, stooping to head in from close range before wheeling off to celebrate in front of his new supporters.

Liverpool came agonisingly close to a quadruple last season as they won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, but they missed out on the league by the narrowest of margins and were defeated in the Champions League final by Real Madrid.

Just 63 days on from that loss in Paris, the Reds were back in action against the side they have formed an intense but respectful rivalry with over the past four years.

Liverpool came out flying in trademark fashion from kick-off, hassling and harrying the City backline, and Salah - fresh from signing a bumper new contract in the summer - struck the side-netting in just the third minute.

Andrew Robertson headed into the side-

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G Darwin D i N Nunez... di displaying l i th the C Community it Shi Shield ld won b

by Li Liverpooll llastt night i ht netting too, before fellow full-back Alexander-Arnold broke the deadlock with a curling effort, albeit via a nick off Ake’s head.

It sparked jubilant scenes in the red end of the ground, where the Liverpool fans lit flares and filled the stadium with smoke.

The scenes were similar to those at Wembley after their FA Cup triumph over Chelsea in May, but this time the Football Association said it is investigating the use of flares following the introduction of stricter measures to tackle “anti-social and criminal behaviour in football grounds”.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES Both Ofili and Chukwuma will be seeking to return Nigeria to the top of the podium as Commonwealth Games champion in the 100m, eight years after Blessing Okagbare successfully completed a sprint double in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ofili will also be aiming to be the second Nigerian after Okagbare to win a sprints

double at the Games.

Ashe on his part will be hoping he can make history as the first Nigerian man to win the blue ribband title at the Games.

The closest the nation has come was the silver medal finishes by Davidson Ezinwa, Uchenna Emedolu and Olusoji Fasuba and Ashe can be the man to write that new chapter a whole nation has been waiting to read.

The men and women’s 100m event will start on Tuesday.

.... AFN Unveils New Kits for Athletes

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he Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has said that Nigeria’s track and field athletes will extend their record making feats to the Commonwealth Games when the athletics event start on Tuesday after Saturday’s marathon races in Birmingham.

AFN President, Tonobok Okowa said this yesterday while unveiling the new kits for Team Nigeria in Birmingham ahead of the start of

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dijat Adenike Olarinoye last night won Team Nigeria’s first gold medal of the 22nd quadrennial Commonwealth GameswhichkickedoffinBirmingham on Friday.

Competing the women’s 55kg category, the 22-year-old Olarinoye lifted 92kg in the snatch, and 111kg in clean & jerk for a total of 203kg to win thegoldwhileIndia’sBindyaraniDeviSorokhaibam and Fraer Morrow of England settled for the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Olarinoye’s lift is a new Commonwealth Games record.

At the end of competitions on the second day of the Games, Australia is leading the medals table with 13 gold, 8 silver and 11 bronze medals. New Zealand and hosts England are second and third with 7 and 5 gold medals respectively.

Competition have not started in Team Nigeria’s area of strength like wrestling, track & field and Para weightlifting.

Jesus Nets Hat-trick in Arsenal’s 6-0 Demolition of Sevilla

Ofili, Chukwuma Hit Birmingham as Ashe Targets History printers Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Favour Ashe have arrived Team Nigeria’s camp for the ongoing Commonwealth Games with a clear message: “We come here for business”.

Ashe, the reigning Nigerian champion in the 100m was the first of the trio to arrive on Friday while Ofili, the Nigerian 200m record holder and Chukwuma arrived aboard KLM on Saturday afternoon with sprint coach, Gabriel Okon.

Birmingham 2022: Olarinoye Wins Nigeria’s First Gold Medal

the track and field event at the games.

“The AFN is ready to deliver yet again like we did from the Olympics last year when we ended a 13-year wait for a podium finish to the World U20 Athletics Championships where we achieved an unprecedented feats.

“From the World Indoor Championships where we ended a 14-year wait for a medal to the World Championships in Oregon,

USA where we produced not just a world champion for the first time in our history but also a world record holder,” said Okowa who believes getting the athletes to compete in good kits will also spur them to excel.

“We have produced top quality kits for the athletes and got delivery of them on Friday.

The kits will also be used by our athletes going for the World U20 Athletics Championships in Cali, Colombia,” added the AFN boss.

abriel Jesus scored a hat-trick on his first appearance at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal thrashed LaLiga side Sevilla 6-0 in the Emirates Cup on Saturday.

Bukayo Saka struck twice, with the Gunners 4-0 up inside 19 minutes against Julian Lopetegui’s side.

Eddie Nketiah, who came on in the second half, rounded off the win after a flowing counterattack move.

The Gunners’ victory ends a successful preseason campaign, during which former Manchester City forward Jesus scored seven goals after his £45million move.

It was Saka who opened the scoring from the penalty spot after he was brought down in the area, before Jesus doubled the hosts’lead, firing home Granit Xhaka’s low cross.

He added a third just two minutes later, and Saka matched him before the 20-minute mark, pressing high and finishing well.

Xhaka went close to a fifth before Jesus grabbed his third from close range.

Nketiah completed the scoring a minute from time after finishing off a brilliant counter.

The Gunners will kickoff the new season against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Sondi, Agofure Win First Mangrove Marathon in Warri Sylvester Idowuin Warri

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26-year-old Hamadjan Sondi has emerged winner of the 10km Mangrove Marathon race in Warri, Delta State. In the women’s category, 28-year-old, Charity Agofure hit the finish line ahead of other ladies in the energy sapping road race.

The marathon was organised by the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) in conjunction with Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF); Institute of Mangrove Ecology and Environmental Technology and others.

The race tagged “10km Awareness Run/Fun Walk, Warri 2022” was in commemoration of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystems.

The race kicked off from Mosheshe Estate Junction along Airport Road and terminated at Warri City Stadium.

Mr. Daniel Okakoso, who represented Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano of Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) said the event was put together to create awareness for the people that mangroves were not just plant but very vital to the society.

He said the NFC partnered others to make the people know the importance of protecting the mangroves, which is the foundation’s green recovery programme for the country.

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“Senator Tinubu should confine himself to the contest he has. He has so much around him to deal with, given the size of baggage that people know that he has” – The vice presidential candidate of PDP, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, urging the presidential candidate of APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, to discuss issues and not individuals ahead of the 2023 general election.

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Why Does Anybody Want to Be Next President?

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eceiving some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the recent Eid-al-Adha festival, President Muhammadu Buhari made a statement that sent out curious signals: “I wish the person who is coming after me the very best. I am eager to go. I can tell you it has been tough.” I initially read this in two ways. One, he was reiterating, yet again, that he had no plans to stay beyond May 29, 2023 — contrary to wild theories on social media.

Two, he has given up on thinking he could solve Nigeria’s problems having seen many things go from bad to worse under his watch within seven years. Therefore, he can’t wait to “japa” (run away/cut loose) through the nearest exit door.

But there is a third angle: he has fully seen the difference between theory and practical, between campaign sloganeering and problem-solving, between seeking power and exercising power, between poetry and prose. As Mario Cuomo could well have said, “we campaign in phrases and govern in paragraphs”. APC campaign videos of 2015 have resurfaced. Mr Babatunde Fashola, then-governor of Lagos state, said insecurity and power failures were because Nigeria was led by “amateurs”. Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, now Kaduna governor, labelled President Goodluck Jonathan as “incompetent”. After seven years

Buhari in charge, Buhari is concluding: “I can tell you it has been tough.”

Fellow Nigerians, it has really been tough.

Insecurity used to be mainly about Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east, cattle rustling in parts of the north-west, banditry in Zamfara state and the perennial ethno-religious conflicts in Kaduna state. Today, though Boko Haram has

been somewhat contained and terrorist bombings in Kano, Abuja and Kaduna have disappeared, we are definitely not as safe as we were in 2015. Fears of insecurity are spreading across the country following the highly successful terrorist raid on Kuje prisons, the aborted attempt to kidnap students of the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, and an audacious attack on a presidential

advance team.

Before 2015, you could travel by road, night or day, between Abuja and Kaduna. You didn’t need to have your heart in your mouth. Herders/ farmers conflicts were not this deadly and widespread. There was no IPOB or ESN in the south-east slaughtering innocent people and burning police stations and ordering self-employed people to shut their shops and businesses on Mondays. There was kidnapping-for-ransom quite all right, but it was not mainstream and had only been a big thing in the pre-amnesty Niger Delta. We have spent billions upon billions on the security agencies since then and purchased all kinds of fighter jets, but the truth is that the insecurity has been “very tough”.

The naira and the cost of living? Very tough.

The naira that exchanged for about N222/$ in the open market in May 2015 is now going for over N700/$. For a country that depends so much on imports, the prices of goods have gone gaga and look untameable. Even locally produced goods are responding to the price environment — some because of the rising cost of transport and the impact of insecurity on economic activities. To cut a long story short, the cost of living is heading for the skies and the standard of living is falling to the ground.

Nigerians now look around them, stare into Continued on page 62

WAZIRIADIO POSTSCRIPT

The Threat of Impeachment

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efore embarking on a seven-week annual recess, some members of the National Assembly created a stir by dangling the impeachment axe over President Muhammadu Buhari’s head. This has created a media feeding frenzy. Both sides, and their sympathisers, are busy making the case for and against impeachment, and playing the number game.

Let’s cut to the chase: impeaching President Buhari will be difficult, not because the legislators may not be able to establish a legal claim for it but because impeaching a president is a complicated and fraught political process, especially in a divided polity such as ours.

That however is not the point. The president needs to get the message: the parliamentarians echo the frustration and fears of most Nigerians about the lingering and worsening insecurity in the land.

The most important part of the job the president signed up for is to secure Nigerians and their properties. As the merchants of terror get more emboldened, fewer and fewer of even the most optimistic of Nigerians think the president is doing enough to protect them, or that whatever he and his security team are doing is working enough.

So, this is not about whether the legislators will

go forward with their threat or not, or about whether or not they can muster the required number to remove him from office.

The focus should be about the need for the president to do much more to reassert the power of the state, to take the battle to and rout those waging war against Nigeria and Nigerians wherever they reside and by whatever names they are called or whatever their pretexts are. Nigerians want to see concrete actions and results—not vacuous threats, not endless promises, and definitely not episodic meetings with security chiefs strutting about in well-pressed fatigues and with fancy walking sticks.

Whatever the Commander-in-Chief needs to do, he should do. All Nigerians want is to be safe and to feel safe in their homes, in their farms and offices, on the roads and anywhere else in their country. That is not too much to ask for. Securing life and property remains the main justification for the existence of government, and the foundation on which every other thing rests, and the most basic expectation of citizens.

That said, it must be noted that impeaching a president is not meant to be a walk in the park. The Americans who invented the presidential system of government wanted a strong and effective leader who can take swift

and consequential actions. But knowing how absolute power corrupts and having been victims of dictatorships, America’s founding fathers erected strong measures to keep the occupiers of that exalted office in check. They created the equivalent of a democratic monarch.

Apart from other forms of checks and balances that have now become distinguishing features of the presidential system of government, they also provided for the removal of a president before the expiration of his term of office for violation of his oath of office or abuse of powers. But they were also mindful of how destabilising impeachment can be or how easily it could become a political tool. They therefore deliberately made it a very difficult endeavour.

In more than two hundred years since George Washington took the oath of office as the first president of the United States of America in 1789, only four American presidents have faced formal impeachment charges and none of them got removed from office through this process.

While only a simple majority is required to pass the articles of impeachment in the House of Representatives, a two-thirds majority is required at the impeachment trial in the Senate to remove the president from office.

Of the four, Richard Nixon resigned as president in 1974 in the wake of the Watergate

Scandal before the articles of impeachment were considered in the House. The three others were impeached by the House but not removed by the Senate and thus remained in office.

These were Andrew Johnson who was saved by only one vote in 1868; Bill Clinton in 1998; and Donald Trump who was impeached twice (2019 and 2021) by the House within one term of office. In a country polarised along party lines, getting two-thirds of votes in the Senate to impeach a US president is almost impossible.

Impeaching a president is even more difficult in Nigeria which borrowed the presidential system from the US in 1979. Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution lays out a five-step process for impeaching a president for gross misconduct. That process will take between five to six months. Section 143 (11) defines gross misconduct as a grave violation or breach of the constitution or whatever the legislators think constitutes gross misconduct. Section 143 (10) says the proceedings cannot be questioned or entertained in court. The constitution thus grants the legislators wide latitude on impeachment of the president or the vice president.

But this latitude is constrained by the same constitution and in ways more stringent than Continued on page 62

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