SATURDAY 14TH AUGUST 2021

FG May Be Liable for N25bn of N45bn Ruling against Shell in Ogoni Shell N13.77bn, Total E&P Nigeria N4.59bn, Eni N2.29 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), may be liable for

roughly N25.24 billion, that is 55 per cent of the total N45.9 billion court-ordered compensation against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), for oil

spillages in Ejama Ebubu community in Ogoni, Rivers State, THISDAY learnt yesterday.

Though, Shell is the operator of the affected oil field, some

analysts said last night the Joint Venture (JV) arrangement implied that all the partners would be responsible for the judgment award to the Ogoni community, “since they must

all absorb all liabilities.”

“The judgment is against one of SPDC’s joint ventures and the partners would have to contribute in the proportion of their interests,” remarked

one analyst.

However, another analyst said it might not be that straight forward, arguing that Continued on page 5

Marburg Virus Hits Guinea, NCDC Says Nigeria at Low Risk… Page 5 Saturday 14 August, 2021 Vol 26. No 9623

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President Hails ‘Robust Response’ to Insecurity By Military Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday admitted the challenges of insecurity bedeviling the country, even as he hailed his government and security agencies’ response

to the situation as “robust.”

In his message at the graduation of Course 29 of the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, delivered by the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), President Buhari said despite the rising

insecurity, his government and the security agencies’ responses had been strong, determined and robust.

He added that in spite of the challenges, his regime had consolidated the peace in the Niger Delta and recovered vast

territories formerly taken over by terrorists in the North East.

The President said his government was focused on taking the country out of the security challenges.

He said: “We are making continuous efforts at

consolidating the progress made in improving the enabling security environment for peace and development.

I commend personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, intelligence and security agencies, as well as local

vigilante and community groups for their efforts at securing the nation.”

He said the government had also focused on nonkinetic actions centred on Continued on page 5

Accolades as Elder Statesman, Ahmed Joda, Dies at 91 in Yola Buhari: He was a hero; his lofty ideals will continue to motivate all Obasanjo: Nigeria would have broken into pieces but for Joda An Iroko has fallen, says Atiku Charles Ajunwa in Lagos, Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Daji Sani in Yola Elder statesman and former federal “Super Permanent Secretary”, Ahmed Joda, died yesterday at the age of 91.

In a swift tribute, President Muhammadu Buhari highlighted Joda’s “monumental contributions to Nigeria’s unity and progress,” from birth of the nation until his death, saying “his lofty ideals will continue to motivate millions across the nation.”

One of Joda’s associates, Mohamed Baba told THISDAY that he died in the afternoon at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Yola, after a prolonged illness.

Another source said Joda

had been buried according to Islamic rites.

“As I’m talking to you, the elder statesman has already been taken to the family cemetery for burial,” the source said.

Joda will always be remembered as the chairman of the 18-member transition committee nominated by the President Muhammadu Buhari to receive the handover notes from the Goodluck Jonathanled administration in 2015.

He rose through the administrative cadre of the Northern regional government, and then the federal civil service, to retire as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industries. During the administration of the youthful Continued on page 5

NARD Strike: Ngige Drags Doctors to Industrial Court... Page 8

AHMED JODA: 1930 TO 2021...

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Marburg Virus Hits Guinea, NCDC Says Nigeria at Low Risk Highly infectious disease in the same family as Ebola Ahamefula Ogbu As Guinea, Nigeria’s co-West African country is cringing over the spread to the country yesterday of Marbug virus, said to be deadlier than Ebola, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu has assured Nigerians that the country "is at low risk of its outbreak."

Guinea is the first West African country to record a case of the highly infectious disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, and it is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola.

Ihekweazu spoke following the reported outbreak of the virus in Guinea.

According to the NCDC boss, the center is collaborating with sister West African health

organisations and the Center for African Disease Control to extend needed support to combat the virus.

“We are very aware and it tells us that we have to always be on our guard here. We set up a risk analysis team yesterday, evaluated the risk for Nigeria. It is low at the moment.

“What we did is to make sure that we have the facilities to detect this if there were to be a suspect case. We are watching out for travellers and working with our colleagues in the Port Health Services to look at the travel history of individuals,” he said.

While yet to detect a case in Nigeria, he counseled that, “We need to learn to do the simple things while not losing the beautiful aspect of our

culture that mingles us together.

“Right now, if it is our culture to have a big ceremony like a wedding that puts together thousands of people into an enclosed space, the fact is that

within the context of COVID that will expose you and your guest to significant risk.

“You have to mitigate those risks by limiting the number of people you are inviting,

insisting on masks wearing, insist on a certain level of distancing. There is a conflict between our culture at the moment and the threat that we face.”

He, however, assured that preemptory steps to contain it if detected in Nigeria were “already afoot in the proactive system of approach of the center.”

Buhari Returns to Abuja After 18 Days in UK Deji Elumoye ÓØ ÌßÔË President Muhammadu Buhari is back in Abuja after his 18day visit to London, United Kingdom.

His plane, Nigeria Air Force 1, touched down at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja at about 18.00 hours yesterday.

On hand to receive him were his Chief of Staff, Prof

Ibrahim Gambari; National Security Adviser, MajorGeneral Babagana Monguno (rtd); Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor; the three service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello.

On arrival, President Buhari inspected a guard of honour mounted by officers and

men of the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army before watching displays by cultural troops representing different Nigerian cultures.

Thereafter, the President hopped into an helicopter which took him to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Nigeria Police Force had on Thursday night hinted that President Buhari would return to Abuja yesterday after his visit to United Kingdom,

during which he attended an international summit on education, as well as see his private doctors for routine medical check-up.

Buhari left Nigeria for the United Kingdom on July 26 to participate in the Global Education Summit on Financing Global Partnership for Education (GPE) 2021-2025.

The President spent the rest of his stay for his medical check-up.

without justice.”

Shell had argued in court: “This spill was caused by third parties during the Nigerian Civil War, a challenging period, which resulted in significant damage to oil and gas infrastructure in the region. While SPDC does not accept responsibility for these spills, the affected sites in the Ebubu community were fully remediated.

“The claimants have, at their own admission in court, materially miscalculated and overstated the value of the award previously sought in this case. The ruling of the Supreme Court did not decide liability or the size of the award, which remains in dispute in other ongoing court proceedings.

“It is our position that any attempt to enforce payment should not be permitted. It is regrettable that the legal process in this case had focused for so long on procedural issues and

not the merits of the case. We have always maintained that we are ready to defend this case based on the available facts.”

There’s currently an ongoing negotiation between the federal government and the oil giant as to its future operation in the country, with the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Ben van Beurden, insisting in May that the company could no longer bear its exposure to the risk of theft and sabotage in the Niger Delta.

With 19 Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) in its SPDC subsidiary, a THISDAY report quoted Wood Mackenzie , a global research firm, yesterday as valuing Shell’s JV assets in Nigeria, excluding export pipelines and terminals, at $2.3 billion.

Shell is planning to sell off all its assets in the shallow waters and onshore, leaving only its offshore operations intact in Nigeria.

“Oh! What a heartbreaking news, that my friend for well over 60 years has passed to the great beyond. If every Nigerian have the attributes of Joda, Nigeria will have been better than what it is now.

“Ahmed Joda by his feature did not need to tell you he is a Fulani man, but, in everything I know he did, he lived not just as a Fulani man, he lived, he worked and he laboured as a true Nigerian. They are not many like him, and that was what strengthens our relationship since 1959,” Obasanjo was quoted to have said.

He said they met when he was a Second Lieutenant in the Nigeria Army and Joda was a Deputy Chief Information Officer in the Federal Civil service.

Obasanjo recalled that the effort of Joda and his other Super Permanent Secretaries as they were fondly called in the then civil service saved Nigeria in 1966.

According to the former President, “I know that if not for people like Joda and other Senior Permanent Secretaries, as they were called Super Permanent Secretary as at that time, after the second upheaval of 1966, we would have had Nigeria broken into pieces.

“But, it was Ahmed Joda and other Super Permanent Secretaries (senior civil servants) like Philip Asiodu, Liman Ciroma, Alison Ayida who prevailed not to have Nigeria broken up.

“Well, Dear Ahmed, you have served your family, your community. You have served your country and indeed humanity, you have done your best, including working for the transition between the Buhari administration and Jonathan

administration.

“You have done your best working with me on the progress and programme of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.

You have done your best on becoming the Chancellor of Bells University. We love you, but God loves you best. Rest permanently in the bosom of Allah,” Obasanjo added.

FG MAY BE LIABLE FOR N25BN OF N45BN RULING AGAINST SHELL IN OGONI all the joint venture partners would only be liable, “depending on the JV agreement and the operator agreement signed.

Shell only runs the operations of joint ventures (JVs) in Nigeria where the federal government is the holder of 55 per cent of the assets.

If it turns out that all the JV partners are liable for the Ogoni compensation, based on the JV/operator agreement, Shell is expected to pay its share of 30 per cent of the recompense, estimated to be N13.77 billion; Total E&P Nigeria Limited will pay its 10 per cent, about N4.59 billion; while Eni which holds five per cent will pay the least amount of N2.29 billion.

The affected oil field has the government-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation – NNPC owning (55 per cent share), SPDC (30 per cent), Total E&P Nigeria Ltd (10 per cent) and the Eni subsidiary Agip

Oil Company Limited (five per cent), according to details on Shell’s website.

Last Wednesday, Shell finally agreed to pay an agreed compensation after a long legal battle, which commenced in 1991 over the spill that occurred 31 years ago, but was silent on the liabilities of the JV partners.

Judgment first came in favour of the Ogoni community in 2010, courtesy of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Lagos division of the Federal High Court.

The oil giant had initially declined payment and proceeded up to the Supreme Court twice; first in 2017 to appeal the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had upheld the judgment of the trial court and in 2019, to seek a review of the apex court judgment dismissing its appeal.

Aham Ejelamo, a lawyer to Shell, the local arm of the Royal Dutch Company, said the

company resolved to pay the monetary compensation awarded in 2010 after several attempts to amend earlier judgement failed.

He informed the court of the decision to pay up the money and sought permission of the trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, to make payment through the Chief Registrar of the court in a bank account to be opened for the purpose.

However, Mohammed ruled that the money should be paid through the counsel to the Ogoni community, Chief Lucius Nwosu (SAN).

The development will put further strain on the finances of NNPC, which is currently struggling to meet its obligations to its stakeholders, including the federal and state governments, having been consistently unable to remit up to 30 per cent of its statutory contribution to the federation account for several months.

Those to benefit from the judgment include the people of Ejama Ebubu, a community in Tai Eleme local government area of Rivers State, one of the six kingdoms in Ogoni land, while other kingdoms are Babbe, Eleme, Gokana, Ken-Khana, and Nyo-Khan.

The Shell’s nod ended the legal tussle that entangled the oil giant and the community for decades.

The case was instituted in 2001 by 10 representatives of the Ejama Ebubu community against the oil company for the losses caused by the oil spills.

A source at Shell said: “The spills occurred during civil war… it was caused by the soldiers.

And immediately after the war, we mobilised, cleaned, and remediated the site. We got a certificate from National Oil Spill Detection & Response Agency (NOSDRA) to that effect. The case is one-sided and judgement

ACCOLADES AS ELDER STATESMAN, AHMED JODA, DIES AT 91 IN YOLA General Yakubu Gowon, he was considered to be among a group known as Super Permanent Secretaries.

Joda was born in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State in 1930. His great-greatgrandfather was Modibbo Raji, a 19th-century Islamic scholar and contemporary of Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio.

He attended Yola Elementary and Middle schools before proceeding to Barewa College.

After completing his secondary education in 1948, he was admitted to Moor Plantation, Ibadan.

He worked briefly at an agricultural centre in Yola.

Then, in the 1950s, he attended Pitman College, London and gained practical experience

in journalism while staying in Britain. On his return to Nigeria, he practiced journalism at Gaskiya Corporation, Zaria.

He later worked with the then Northern Broadcasting Corporation in Kaduna before joining the Northern Nigeria civil service as Chief Information Officer.

Joda became a federal permanent secretary in 1967 in the Ministry of Information and subsequently moved to Lagos.

He retired into private business during the second Republic, where he served as chairman and board member of various companies, including the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation; Nigerian Communications Commission; SCOA Nigeria; Chagoury Group; Flour Mills of

Nigeria, and the Nigerian LNG. He was also a member of the 1988 Constituent Assembly which planned the constitutional transition of the Third Republic.

In 1999, he was appointed as a member of the Committee to Advise the Presidency on Poverty Alleviation and in 2015, headed the Buhari presidential transition.

Buhari: He was a Hero for all Nigerians In his tribute to Joda, who is the last surviving member of Governor Hassan Usman’s Northern Nigeria cabinet, President Buhari highlighted his “monumental contributions to Nigeria’s unity and progress”, saying “his lofty ideals will continue to motivate millions

PRESIDENT HAILS ‘ROBUST RESPONSE’ TO INSECURITY BY MILITARY humanitarian efforts to reduce the distress of the people and improve human conditions.

According to him, some of the measures include disarmament, demobilisation and rehabilitation, deradicalisation programmes, political reconciliation measures and instruments of development intervention.

Buhari charged the 96 graduands to "deploy the eleven months values of knowledge, skills and aptitudes acquired in the college to improving the overall service delivery in the defence of the national security to make the country safer and secured."

The president, therefore, renewed his faith in the nation and expressed the determination of his administration to take the country to greater heights by leveraging technological

innovations which he said were evident in the profound changes in the national democratic space and policy environment.

In his remarks, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji, who had earlier confered the prestigious award of fellow of the NDC on the graduands, appealed for presidential intervention for the speedy completion of projects at the permanent site of the college at Piwoyi, Abuja.

Rear Admiral Daji said the completion and relocation of the college to its permanent site would be the icing on the cake of the 30 years anniversary next year since the establishment of the institution.

The climax of the ceremony was the presentations of certificates and awards to the graduands by the representative

of the special guest of honour, who was also led by the commandant to undertake a tour of the college museum.

The course, which commenced in September 2020, had 22 participants from the Nigerian Army, 25, from Nigerian Navy and 11 from Nigerian Air Force.

There were 24 participants from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), comprising six from Nigeria Police, three each from Department of State Service (DSS), National intelligence Agency (NIA) and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), among others.

There were also 14 international participants from 10 African countries, Niger, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Republic of Congo and Chad, as well as from allied counties of Bangladesh, Nepal and Germany.

across the nation.”

The President, in a release issued by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, noted that the late “Super Permanent Secretary”, as Joda and some of his colleagues were referred to in the 1970s, “distinguished himself as a remarkable scholar, journalist, intellectual, public servant and farmer.”

President Buhari called Joda “a hero for all Nigerians” who, even in death, “will continue to inspire every generation to move forward with love, brotherhood and harmony.”

He prayed to Allah to accept his good deeds and grant fortitude to those he left behind in his family, Adamawa Emirate Council and the entire people of the state, to bear the loss, adding, “We will not forget his sacrifices."

Obasanjo: He was not Just a Nigerian, But, a True and Great Nigerian Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo described Joda’s death as “heartbreaking”.

In a statement yesterday, signed by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo said the late Joda was his friend for about 60 years.

The ex-President explained that the late former Federal Permanent Secretary saved the unity of Nigeria shortly after the 1966 coup d’état when others insisted that Nigeria should collapse.

Obasanjo described Joda “as not just a Nigerian, but, a true and great Nigerian, committed to unity, development and progress of the country”.

An Iroko Has Fallen, Says Atiku The former vice president, Atiku Abubakar expressed shock about the death of Joda, saying “an iroko tree has fallen.”

In statement he signed, Atiku said: "Today, our beautiful Adamawa State has lost a colossus. Indeed, an iroko tree has fallen in Nigeria particularly Northern Nigeria."

He said that the news of the death of Joda, came with some kind of a jolt even though he lived to a prime old age.

The former vice president said Jorda belonged to the first generation of Adamawa indigenes that put the state and the North in the map of modern Nigeria.

Atiku said: “His stature as an accomplished administrator was towering and colourful. He was a shining star in the galaxy of Nigeria’s public servants.

“Ahmed Joda, with a few of his peers, wrote the rule book of Nigeria’s civil service and his footprints will remain indelible.

“Nigeria mourns this great Nigerian with immense contribution to growth of our country, we pray that the Almighty Allah accepts his soul and provide his family with fortitude to bear the loss of a forthright and iconic patriarch.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

NEWS Declare Emergency on Food Supply, Presbyterian Church Tells FG 08064268968 (sms only)

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Nzie Nsi Eke, has urged the federal government to urgently implement measures that would avert hunger and starvation currently staring Nigerians in the face.

The Prelate who addressed a press conference yesterday to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Presbyterian Church in Nigeria expressed concern over the precarious state of affairs in the country, saying that the level of banditry, kidnappings and herdsmen attacks, robbery, cult violence and the likes were driving Nigeria

steadily close to precipice.

He said the church was declaring a 30-day of special prayers from Sunday August 15 for the release of those who were in captivity across the country.

Eke said the church was worried about the pervading hunger and starvation arising from the combined impact of COVID-19 pandemic, insecurity and weak currency which were staring Nigerians in the face.

“The way food prices have skyrocketed, an emergency programme should be declared to increase food supply in the country because a lot of people are finding it very difficult to feed,” he said.

Eke also lamented the situation where Nigerians no longer sleep

with their two eyes closed due to insecurity and kidnapping, adding that government should do more to ensure security.

In addition, the Prelate said that federal government should do something urgently to arrest the spate of unrest caused by activities of separatist groups.

According to Eke, the government should adopt constructive engagement with all the agitators to allow superior argument to prevail.

“We suggest a constructive engagement of all agitators.

Without equity, justice, inclusiveness and fair play, unity is difficult. We must not pretend

News Editor Charles Ajunwa Email charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

to be united country, we must truly united or agree to go our separate ways to avoid an implosion,” he said.

Eke further expressed support for electronic transmission of election results saying that it would go a long way to mitigate electoral malpractices.

“We are living witnesses to

what happened in the last Edo elections. It gave us hope for the possibility of freer and fairer elections in Nigeria.

“We believe it is not too late for the National Assembly to amend their decisions on this otherwise, the President should not sign the new Electoral Bill until the e-transmission included,” he said.

With 90m Persons in Darkness, Nigeria Least Electrified Nation Worldwide, Says Minister Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja With over 90 million persons still without electricity, the Minister of State, Power, Mr. Goddy Jedy-Agba, has said that Nigeria remains the most deficient country in the world in terms of access to basic energy needs.

Speaking at the 2021 edition of the Nigeria Energy Forum (NEF), led by Daniel Adeuyi, the minister noted that gas would play a major role in the country’s quest for efficient power supply, stating that this year was a critical year for the energy and climate agenda.

According to him, Nigeria’s huge figures in energy poverty remained a major challenge that must be resolved, advising that the global climate change agenda must be sped up to meet targets set forth in the Paris Agreement.

“About 2.6 billion people still lack access to clean cooking solutions. Unfortunately, Nigeria has the highest electricity deficiency globally with 90 million people ‘unelectrified’, while 175 million people lack access to clean cooking solutions.

“These are huge figures that must be addressed, because energy access underpins economic development, and enables other human capital, capital potential, such as access to adequate healthcare services, quality education, and economic productivity,” Jedy-Agba stressed.

He added that the energy sector will be a critical sector of focus for climate negotiations as energy production and consumption, including electricity, heating, and transport account for 70 per cent of global greenhouse gases emissions. “As we engage in these negotiations in the run up to COP26, and beyond, it is critical that we will work towards aligning our energy transition outcome, which is equitable, inclusive, and just.

“This means, accounting for adverse realities and accommodating various pathways to meet net zero by 2050. In the case of Nigeria, a just and equitable transition will be one that addresses energy access challenges and looks to enable universal residential and industrial assets to gain sustainable energy,” he said.

SGF Mourns Joda, Shagari’s Passage Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of the elder statesman, Ahmed Joda and former First Lady, Hajiya Hadiza Shagari.

In a statement yesterday, he described the death of Joda, who died in Yola yesterday at the age of 91 as a personal loss, noting he derived inspiration and guidance from his wise counsel in the execution of government activities.

He lauded Joda’s sterling contribution in 2015, when he was appointed the Chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, which led to a successful transition.

Joda, who was a retired Federal Permanent Secretary in

the 70s, carried out extensive reforms in the public service besides serving on the boards of various government agencies and private companies. He was an astute administrator, journalist and businessman.

The SGF said he took consolation in the fact that the deceased made unparalleled contributions in various aspects of human endeavour to impact on the growth and development of the country.

Similarly, the SGF also mourned the passing away of Hajiya Hadiza Shagari, the widow of the late former President of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

He described the matriarch as a humble and dutiful wife of the late former President, particularly in overseeing all family matters which enabled the former President to concentrate on service to the nation.

BACK, REINVIGORATED… President Muhammadu Buhari (r) arriving Abuja after 18 days visit to London, the United Kingdom…yesterday.

Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of N241m Diverted from SDG Office A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday ordered the interim forfeiture to the federal government N241 milion allegedly diverted from the office of the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Justice Nicholas Oweibo, who made the order, also forfeited a property linked to the diversion – Real Tower Centre Shopping Complex at Plot 1121, Ekukinam Street, Utako District, Cadastral Zone, Abuja – to

the federal government.

The judge’s order was sequel to an ex-parte application filed and argued by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo.

Oyedepo told the judge the N241million was warehoused in two banks in the sums of N65 million, N61 million, N50 million and N65 million.

The EFCC said its intelligence showed that the Abuja property was purchased with funds furtively diverted from SDG,

Aregbesola Lauds Ugwuanyi for Promoting ‘One Nigeria’ Spirit The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has expressed delight at the many ways the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State is promoting the spirit of ‘one Nigeria’ through the display of cultural identities of different ethnic groups in the country.

The Interior Minister who spoke during a Gala Night organised in his honour by Governor Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, said he was highly impressed that the cultural display, decorations and attires including cowry worn by some Enugu dignitaries such as the immediate past President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, at the event, depicted the spirit of love and one Nigeria, stressing that such demonstrations were what the country needed to make steady progress.

Aregbesola was in Enugu for the inauguration of the new office of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Enugu State Command, located at Kilometre 5, Enugu-Abakiliki

Expressway, Emene, Enugu.

Welcoming the minister and his entourage, including the Comptroller General of NIS, Muhammad Babandede, Governor Ugwuanyi disclosed that he was glad that the office was finally inaugurated “despite all the challenges the Command encountered during the preparation for this event.”

The governor pointed out that the NIS office complex in Enugu was torched by arsonists during the nationwide #EndSARS protests, two days to its scheduled inauguration.

Governor Ugwuanyi stated that his administration, acting on the recommendation of the state’s Administrative Inquiry into the hijack of the #EndSARS protests by miscreants, gave financial support to facilitate the Command’s relocation to the new office.

“I therefore congratulate you on today’s successful commissioning of the new office of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Enugu State Command, in spite of the challenges.

office of the SSA to the President where Mr. Abdulsalam Bawa is a Principal Accountant.

The EFCC fingered Bawa, as the key suspect, adding the diversion was perpetrated in grand conspiracy with some SDG staff.

It also linked three firms, Kouchdim Unity Nigeria Ltd and Lankass Global Ventures, to the diversion.

Justice Oweibo adjourned the suit marked FHC/L/CS/90/2021 till September 6, 2021 for final forfeiture proceedings.

Oyedepo’s application was backed by a four-page affidavit of urgency deposed to by an EFCC operative, Ebunoluwa Amusan.

Amusan averred he was assigned to investigate the “damning intelligence report received by the EFCC by some concerned citizens in respect of abuse of office, diversion of funds and monumental fraud perpetrated by some officers of the Sustainable Development Goals, office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President.”

Ganduje: I’m a Yes Man to My Wife Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, yesterday jokingly declared that “I am a yes man to my wife. Yes, what is wrong with that?”

Ganduje, who declared this while inaugurating his wife’s office named ‘Office of the Wife of the Governor’ inside 10 Charlet at Government House, Kano.

Governor Ganduje said, “I am a yes man to her, not someone waiting for her instructions. We consider this office as very important because of the role she played to empower women and orphans.”

The governor who spoke in Hausa said “Ni kafin tace ne, ba mai jiran tace ba”, meaning “I am a yes man to her not waiting for her instructions.”

Ganduje also narrated the level of his wife’s commitment to the development of women and orphans in the state, explaining that the First Lady secured appointment of women into

various political positions in 44 local government areas.

“This office is for Kano women.

It is also for Her Excellency, Professor Hafsat Abdullahi Ganduje, who goes up and down to improve the lot of women in the state. She shuttles between the 44 local governments empowering women.”

While disclosing the role played by his wife, in the appointment of councillors in the 44 local governments and in the appointment of advisers to local governments chairmen, the governor further appreciated the role she played in the inclusion of women in governance.

“She is always thinking of how to carry women along.

We came up with this office to strengthen her mission in that direction. We will continue to support her to improve the life of other women,” he said.

The governor committed to improving the lives of women and strengthening their political inclusion and participation in governance.

SATURDAY AUGUST 14, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

NEWS APC: Reports of Indefinite Suspension of LGA, State Congresses False Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

BACKING EDUCATION. . .

L-R: Chief Corporate Services Officer, Seven Up Bottling Company, Yemi Faserun; MD/CEO Seven Up Bottling Company, Ziad Maalouf; winner 7Up Harvard Business School MBA scholarship 2021, Desayo Ajisegiri; and General Manager, Marketing, Seven Up Bottling Company, Segun Ogunleye, at the unveiling of the 2021 7Up Harvard Business School MBA scholarship winner sponsored by Seven Up Bottling Company in Lagos...recently

NARD Strike: Ngige Drags Doctors to Industrial Court Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has formally referred the trade dispute between the federal government and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for adjudication.

The transmission was done on Thursday and a copy sent to NARD and the Federal Ministry of Health.

The minister had earlier given the NARD leadership till the end of work last Wednesday to convene a virtual meeting of its National Executive Committee to brief its members on the efforts of the government with a view to calling off its strike.

A ministry source who confided in THISDAY yesterday, said that part of the

instrument issued on August 11, 2021 by the minister read, “Whereas trade dispute has arisen and now exists between the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Federal Ministry of Health/Federal Government and whereas efforts to promote settlement through conciliation were on-going but had now failed.

“And considering the facts that members of NARD who are classified as Essential Services workers/employees had embarked on strike on Monday, August 2, 2021 over the issues under conciliation, contrary to the provisions of Section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act CAP T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, after attending a Conciliation and Agreement Review meeting on July 22, 2021 and further considering

that the Federal Ministry of Health claim to have and produced evidence to having met most of their demands based on the various Memorandum of Action reached during past conciliations especially that of July 22, 2021.

“Now therefore, I, Senator Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige OON, MD the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment in exercise of the powers conferred on me

by Section 17 of the Trades Disputes Act , CAP T8 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, hereby refer the matter for consideration, and the issues in dispute to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for adjudication.”

THISDAY also gathered that the minister met with the Medical Elders Forum, comprising practising and retired senior medical prac-

titioners, doctors who have served or are serving in top level political offices.

Some of those in attendance included the Chairman of Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Chairman House committee on Health, Hon. Tanko Sununu, all past presidents of NMA and NARD, His Highness, Dr. Haliru Yahaya, Emir of Shonga, former Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Senator Lanre Tejuosho, President of NMA, Prof.

Innocent Ujah, former Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Chairman and Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Prof. Tajudeen Sanusi, among others.

At that meeting, Ngige painstakingly explained every item on the resident doctors’ demands, upon which they

Road Accidents Claim 23 Lives in Delta

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

At least 23 persons lost their lives in 40 road accidents in Delta State in 90 days.

Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Delta Command, Mr. Patrick Okoyeocha, made the disclosure yesterday in

an interview with newsmen.

According to him, 293 persons were involved in the road crashes that occurred between May and July this year.

Okoyeocha noted that 270 out of the 293 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries from the crashes.

He identified speeding as one

of the major causes of road accidents in the state.

“The command has fought and is still fighting relentlessly against reckless driving in the state to prevent loss of lives.

“Investigation by the command showed that most of the crashes were due to human factors such as alcoholism,

Katsina to Institute Legal Action against

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

A network of 400 indigenous communities in Central and Northern Nigeria, under the aegies of Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Development Associations (CONAECDA), have decried persistent terror attacks on member communities, adding that activities of Islamist terrorist groups such as ISWAP and Boko Haram, and renegade Fulani terror militias was unacceptable.

They also described genocidal activities by Fulani militias including crop destruction and killings, displacement and occupation of lands belonging to displaced communities as barbaric.

Addressing a press conference in Jos, Secretary

Customs over Death of 8 in Jibia The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, yesterday said his government was considering instituting legal action against the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) over what he termed senseless killings of citizens by its operatives in the state.

Masari, in a statement by his Director-General on Media, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi, condemned in strongest terms “the oft recurring senseless killings of citizens through reckless driving by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service.”

The governor’s position comes in the wake of the recent death of eight people who were run over by an operative of the Nigerian Customs Service driving an official vehicle in Jibia Local

Asiwaju Tinubu Thanks President Buhari for London Visit All Progressives Congress National stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has expressed his deep thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari for visiting him in London on 12 August.

Tinubu, in a statement by his media office yesterday said: “The visit was a friendly and welcome one that underscored the considerate and caring personality of our nation’s President and Commander-in-Chief.

Government Area of the state last Monday.

He said: “Government is considering instituting legal action against the Nigerian Customs Service so that it may serve as a deterrent against future occurrence of these fatal incidents, which have assumed a frightening regularity in the state.”

He warned that the government would not fold its arms while law-abiding citizens are killed with impunity by reckless government agents who are supposed to protect them.

The governor further warned that the government would henceforth not condone any more of such incidents again in the state.

The governor, however, extended his sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and those who sustained injuries.

“By this gesture, Mr. President has, again, demonstrated his personal thoughtfulness and humility; defying the erroneous commentaries peddled by his critics.

“Once again, Asiwaju thanks President Buhari for taking the time to visit him and wishes the President nothing but the very best as his administration continues to govern and lead the nation.”

Nigerian Ambassador Seeks Better Relations with Angola Nseobong Okon-Ekong

inexperience, peer influence and speed limit violation on the expressway.

“The corps has initiated a strategy which includes public education, enforcement of traffic rules and regulations as well as use of mobile courts to prosecute traffic offenders to serve as deterrent,” he said.

400 Northern Indigenous Groups Lament Persistent Terrorist Attacks General of CONAECDA, Suleiman Sukukum, called on the government to urgently address the crisis as it could destroy the fabric of the society, adding that the level of success recorded by the government in providing security for its citizens was poor.

Sukukum said, “While the government is expected to provide the needed leadership in addressing these problems, it is obvious that the level of success achieved is hampered by many factors. Our experience indicates a weakness in the level of engagement and sincerity of public officials in dealing with these issues; the role of corruption and the failure of our security system to use information in responding on time and adequately to various early warning signals.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described reports in some sections of the media that the party had suspended Local Government Area (LGA) and State Congresses indefinitely as false.

The National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, said the committee had tentatively fixed the LGA Congresses for the first week of September, 2021.

However, the party has not fixed any specific date for the Congresses.

Akpanudoedehe said, “Reports in some sections of the media that the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC)

of sections of the media that the party had suspended Local Government Area (LGA) and State Congresses indefinitely was false.

“Following the recent inauguration of Ward Congress Appeal Committees, the official information from the party was that dates and guidelines for the LGA Congresses will be fixed after the conclusion of the Ward Congresses Appeal exercise followed by due consideration of the Appeal Committee’s reports by the CECPC.” Akpanudoedehe assured party supporters, members and leaders of the party’s unflinching commitment to credible, transparent and participatory congresses leading to the National Convention of APC.

The Nigerian Ambassador to Angola, Professor Monique Ekpong, has promised a more fruitful bilateral relation with the Republic of Angola.

Professor Ekpong stated this at a recent meeting with the Angolan President, His Excellency, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, where she presented her accreditation at the Presidential Villa in Luanda.

As Nigeria is the largest oil producing country in subSaharan Africa, she is closely

followed by Angola as the second largest oil producing country in sub-Saharan Africa and an OPEC member with output of approximately 1.37 million barrels of oil per day (bpd) and an estimated 17,904.5 million cubic feet of natural gas.

Ekpong, who emphasised on the importance of cooperation and understanding between both countries was received with a full guard of honour by President Gonçalves Lourenço for the occasion of presentation of letters of credence.

Abia First Lady, Assembly Partner to End Obnoxious Practices The Abia State House of Assembly has assured wife of the governor of Abia State, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu, of the state Assembly’s cooperation and readiness to help put machinery in motion to pass legislations that will promote the welfare of the disabled, protect children and end obnoxious practices against widows in the state.

The Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, stated this during a recent advocacy visit to the Assembly by Mrs. Ikpeazu.

While receiving the First Lady and her team in a quasi plenary session of the House, the Speaker

who thanked the First Lady for coming on the ‘all important advocacy visit’, said “this proves that you are fully committed to help enhance and improve the welfare of women in the state.

You have also played a huge role in the last six years in the areas of empowering women especially widows and the less-privileged.”

Continuing, he said “It will be to your credit that in your time, bills that are people-oriented were passed into law; you have been so outstanding and have mounted pressure on the Assembly to pass into law, bills that positively affect women and children.”

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AUGUST 14, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

BIG BROTHER SEES ALL SORTS

Uzor Maxim Uzoatu argues that even with all its corrupting influences, BBN has a place in society

B

ig Brother Naija, BBNaija for short, is one television show that no Nigerian can ever escape from.

Whether you like to watch it or not, it is always there in your face because the kids and the wives cannot have enough of it.

If you try to escape to the pub, it is even worse because now that the European football season is yet to start the only show on screen is BBNaija.

With all the debaucheries going on inside that house I feel sorry for “Big Brother” Ebuka Obi-Uchendu who sees all sorts. BBNaija aptly represents the truism that the path to hell almost always starts with good intentions.

It all started in the African continent in 2003 as Big Brother Africa, the television programme produced by Endemol that initially involved 12 African countries, notably Nigeria, Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Big Brother game entailed each country producing a contestant living with others in an isolated house while trying with all guile and might to avoid being evicted by viewers. The cash prize stood as the bounty to be carted home for the last contestant standing.

The first edition of Big Brother Africa premiered to audiences in 42 African countries on Sunday May 25, 2003, and ended on September 7, thus lasting 106 days.

Unlike the Big Brother versions in Europe and the Americas, Big Brother Africa created a record of being the first time in the world that participants of different nationalities from one continent would be taking part in the exercise.

The fourth edition, Big Brother Africa 4, became enlarged with 25 housemates from 14 different African countries with the addition of Mozambique and Ethiopia. It premiered on September 6, 2009, and ended on December 6 of the same year, lasting 91 days, with Ikponmwosa “I.K” Osakioduwa serving as the new host, replacing Kabelo “KB” Ngakane.

The 2010 show, aka Big Brother Africa 5, started on July 18, 2010, ran for 91 days, and was dubbed “an All-Star season”. The show ran into controversial waters with M-Net evicting Uganda’s Hannington Kuteesa from the house after he hit housemate Lerato Sengadi of South Africa.

The Nigerian version of the show, Big Brother Nigeria, took place from March 5 to June 4, 2006.

An innovative collaboration between Nigerian and South African production companies, it aired on DStv Channel 37 to keen viewership across the country.

The Nigerian show added a twist to the game when two new contestants were introduced on Day 23, much to the excitement of the remaining housemates. The fans’ favourite for much of the programme was the Stout-drinking Ebuka,

THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE HEALTH OF SOCIETY IS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE BANNED BECAUSE IT IS A DEMOCRATIC RIGHT OF ALL TO SEE ALL SORTS

now the “Big Brother” show host who sees all sorts in BBNaija.

Due to Ebuka’s popularity he was expected to emerge winner but however became the seventh housemate to be evicted, with the unanimous view of many viewers being that Ebuka owed his shock eviction to the overzealous Joe’s Fan Club (JFC). Joe was himself soon evicted because of the unbearable arrogance and exuberance of his fans.

In a striking twist to the game, Big Brother on day 79 cancelled the day’s scheduled nominations, thus making the housemates believe they will instead be evicted based on their performances on assigned tasks. In reality though, no more evictions were held and viewers began voting for the winner who turned out to be 26-year-old Katung Aduwak.

Enough of history as the show has now turned full circle in this current season of BBNaija dubbed “Shine Ya Eye”.

The Big Brother game leaves much to be desired, to borrow an old cliche meant for never-do-wells.

Back in the Big Brother Africa days, the Namibian government slammed a ban on the programme, just as Kano State hisbah police is calling for the ban of BBNaija now!

The show showcases much vulgarity that may end up corrupting the minors, and the idea of rewarding idleness actually goes beyond the pale. The decadence involved in the doings of the housemates can harm the commonwealth greatly.

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka dismissed the Big Brother project as empty and immodest, appealing only to prurience, and stressed: “Big Brother Africa represents those decadent, exhibitionist and voyeuristic aspects of American culture that run contrary to the sensibilities of many African societies.”

Professor Kole Omotoso, one of the original promoters of Big Brother Africa, defended the show, arguing that it boasts of some intrinsic African qualities as opposed to those of Europe and America.

Like all imitations from America and Europe, Big Brother Africa has indeed overwhelmed the entire continent, especially Nigeria, with rottenness.

M-Net has obviously continued to make a kill through the airing of the Big Brother programme.

Its success cannot be gainsaid as millions watch the programme, but then, is popularity the end of the matter?

Notoriety is more like it in the overwhelming sweep of Big Brother.

BBNaija cannot win a dime in morality but the winner ends up going home with a cool N90 million.

The damage done to the health of society is a clear and present danger, but it should not be banned because it is a democratic right of all to see all sorts.

KAS AND INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION CRUSADE Security agencies must close ranks and eliminate rivalry to actualise peace and development, writes Oludayo Tade

H

ow can interagency collaboration enhance Nigeria’s security?

Promoting interagency collaboration and conflict resolution among personnel of security agencies in Northwest Nigeria was the theme of a workshop put together by the Konrad Adenuer Stiftung (KAS), a German foundation inspired to foster interagency collaboration with a view to engendering conflict resolution and enhancing human security. KAS has been working with Nigerian partners to facilitate democratic dialogue and capacity building for different arms of government at national, regional and state levels. Sensitive to the insecurity in Northwest Nigeria, KAS assembled about 100 personnel from security agencies’ (Department of state security, Army, The Police, Immigration, Customs, Federal Road Safety Commission, and Correctional Service) departments of operations, conflict resolution and intelligence in Kano between 11-14 August 2021 to train and empower them on how to be sensitive to social context, conduct security analysis, utilise early warning systems, build trust with communities and collaborate with sister agencies to enhance national security.

In her welcome address, resident representative of KAS, Dr Vladimir Kreck represented by Senior Programme Manager, Security Sector Reform (KAS), Julcit Stolpe explained that KAS reviewed statutes of the various security agencies in Nigeria and found that “interagency rivalry was mainly being caused by the overlapping or conflicting mandates of these agencies.

To solve this problem Kreck said “we have commenced strategic engagement with

the relevant institutions and stakeholders to push for reform of these laws to ensure clarity of function. We have also been organising capacity building workshops for members of different committees in the National Assembly and also for State Houses of Assembly to strengthen knowledge and practice of effective legislation and oversight. We have to embed the culture of good civil-military relations, intelligence and information sharing between security agencies and civilian citizens through our seminars at national and geo-political zones of Nigeria.”

Available evidence indicates that poor inter-agency collaboration among Nigeria’s security institutions is one of the major factors militating against effective conflict resolution and security management in Nigeria. The consequences of not working effectively together culminate in increasing fear of insecurity and diminished trust in the capabilities of the security system to protect the lives and properties of civilian populations across Nigeria in general and terror zones in particular. The 2020 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) places Nigeria as the third country worst hit by the negative outcomes of terrorists’ activities. From Boko Haram in the Northeast, banditry and criminal kidnapping in the Northwest, secessionist agitations in the southeast and southwest, the security system in Nigeria is practically overstretched. In this situation, only the working together of the units that make up Nigeria’s security system will de-escalate conflict and neutralise security threats through complementary operations

and credible intelligence sharing among others.

KAS has since its founding in Nigeria in 2001 continues to work with Nigerian partners, to facilitate human capacity development of security agencies to deliver on their mandates. To check problems of overlapping mandates, there is need for necessary reforms to be in place so that extant laws which overlap mandates can be amended. It is important that security agencies deliver on their specific mandates to actualise peace and development in Nigeria.

Banditry in the Northwest has exposed how unmanned or poorly manned border zones can compromise national security.

The widespread smuggling and use of illicit drugs by criminals has also been implicated as a contributor to growing security and its unfolding dynamism. The use of drugs by bandits, Boko Haram terrorists, kidnappers and armed robbers is no longer a secret. As at 2017, 14.3million Nigerians between 15 and 64 years old used hard drugs such as Cannabis, Tramadol, Codeine or Morphine and this affects the nature of criminality and conflict in Nigeria. That the use of these drugs continues to proliferate implies that the National Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA) cannot do it alone without effectively collaborating with other security agencies. If other security agencies do not work with NDLEA for instance, those who get high on drugs will deploy it to do banditry and kidnapping which will then become problem for the police, army and NSCDC.

Security agencies in Nigeria must close ranks and eliminate rivalry. Security is arrived at when every part of the security system (police, army, NSCDC, NDLEA, Immigration, Customs and others) discharges their roles efficiently and balance their weaknesses with the strength of other security agencies. Inferiority complex and superiority battles between and among security agency only aggravate the insecurity of everyone and deepens national insecurity.

The successes recorded in a joint operation must be collectively owned and its failure must be shared as well. The insecurity of welfare of security personnel can also hamper their commitment to protect lives and properties. They need better welfare both in service and when out of service. Nigeria governments need to ensure that the causes of insecurity which are external to the security system are tackled. These are nose-diving fortunes of the economy, widespread poverty, comatose electricity and unemployment. If these triggers of insecurity are addressed, security agencies will have little to do. While the workshop by the Konrad Adenuer Stiftung takes the conversation about the necessity of interagency collaboration to another level by bringing actors to sit in the same venue and share ideas, it is important that heads of security agencies in Nigeria buy into this initiative and work to harmonise interagency differences that hamper security operations.

Dr Tade, a criminologist and security expert wrote via dotad2003@yahoo.com

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AUGUST 14, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

It’s time to call off the strike...

The Dictator in Every Nigerian

W

in the room, deliver wry but perfect one-liners, and seal every oration with e all detest dictatorship when we are the victims of its reverberations, powerful quotes from famous persons -- all by rote. They know what to say but when we wear the jackboots and are handing down orders, in every situation. But many of these advocates from the Nigerian ‘’activism censures; singling shots, cutting down, attacking and destroying other people we palliate our actions. In most cases, we subsume our venture community’’ found themselves in government and became what they stood against in their days in the trenches – and instead of bringing change, they in tyranny as ‘’activism’’ – a term that has now become nebulous and an umbrella caused government to atrophy with a Sadim touch. for highwaymen clutching the banner of civil advocacy.

A once vibrant activist with a mouth full of hot words revealed his true There is a dictator in every Nigerian. We want to be heard, but we do not plumage and betrayed his hypocrisy when he became state governor and then want to hear others. Even when we listen, it is not to understand but to muster national chairman of a major political party. There are many like that in the ammunition for a belligerent response. The falcon does not hear the falconer. activism community waiting for their turn at the table. And while they are We have become so regimented in our cerebration that any view which does waiting they must keep shouting until their mouth is fed. not follow a ‘’popular solitary narrative’’ is blitzed, and the messenger assailed While the ‘’activism community’’ claims to be at war with tyranny, it does not ruthlessly. brook opposition. Members who do a volt-face or have a change of perspective It must be our way or the highway to hell. A straitjacket opinion dominates are ‘’de-comraded’’ or dismissed as ‘’compromised’’. There is a dictatorship of the landscape and all contrary perspectives sentenced to silence. If you dare opinion in the activism community. It must be ‘’attack, tear down, criticise and to think different or say different, you are cancelled, ridiculed, vilified and pull down’’. If you happen to point out the flickers of hope in the system, you slandered. In our world, everyone must be on the bandwagon of the solitary are reduced to a quisling. narrative. Is this not a tyranny of opinion? Are we not dictators?

This does not obviate the place of genuine activists – those whose singular I have become a staple for vicious internet hobgoblins. These imps find my pursuit is to see a better Nigeria. Even in a crate of rotten eggs, we still have the unyielding stance on national issues vexatious. To them, it is uncharacteristic for unsoiled ones. someone from the south-east to speak in defence of Nigeria or take a position There is a dictator in every Nigerian. We hold those in government to away from the prevailing socio-political doctrine. Their run-off-the-mill arguscrutiny for alleged acts of tyranny while ignoring our own complicity. We ment is that since I am Igbo, I must defend the Igbo – whether for good or for evil. But I cannot fit into that provincial receptacle. It is not me. My calling is for should hear one another. If you insist only your way must stand, how are you different from Idi Amin? Dictatorship stirs resistance. When you come to people humanity regardless of tribe, religion or political persuasion. from a position of tyranny, naturally they will resist you. This is a normal When it is time to take a righteous stand for any group whether – Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Fulani, Igala, Ibibio, or Ijaw – I will proudly do so. What affects human reaction. No one wants to be dictated to, no one wants to be pushed around or made to feel like an indentured slave. We should hear one another. one afflicts all of us.

Fredrick ‘Mr One Nigeria’ Nwabufo, fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com Native mentation. This is our challenge -- to see in tribal silos and do not think beyond the tribe. We must evolve beyond this drawback. Armies of Nigerians from different sections of the country must rise up and defend Nigeria and Nigerians. We should not always retreat into ethnic shells and interpret national matters by sectional prejudice. We must stand in the beautiful middle T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R dividing nonsenses.

EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE My stint in activism enriched my knowledge of civil DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO advocacies – and their ugly underbelly. The clouds are not DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU always white and robins do not always sing. The Nigerian CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI civil society space is one that is tainted and blackened EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN by ego, rapaciousness, and sleaze. I participated in some MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI advocacies in the past with a mind brimming with passion THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE for Nigeria and a fist raised for a change in my country. I was naive. My dispassionate commitment to certain causes and conviction led me down the primrose path of deception. In my innocence, I assumed everyone raising a fist and T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA parroting slogans had genuine intentions.

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, It was devastating for me when I realised some of these ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI advocacies are well-oiled campaigns promoted by unclean DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE characters. Most civil advocacies do not sprout organically.

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI There is always a mighty hand behind the curtains pulling SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH the marionettes.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI There is also the all-knowing complex with the activism DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO industry. ‘’Activists’’ appear to have the right prescriptions TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com to Nigeria’s problems as well as the Midas touch to turn things around. They make pleasing noises; shout the loudest

Lessons from the Afghan crisis

I

think it is time Nigeria as a country watch the war of the world and learn that America is not the superhero of the world.

Americans will always think for Americans first and they don’t care about you or me. The Americans emboldened the Taliban and Mujaheeden to fight against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. There is a Hollywood movie that talks about the exploits of Charlie Wilson, a congressman and chief liaison officers with the Taliban.

When America needed to go after Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan they clashed with the Taliban but they still maintained a strong relationship to the detriment of the Afghanistan people. They recently negotiated the release of over 5000 Taliban fighters and left Afghanistan after they completed their mission against their adversaries. They put up a democratic structure without strong institutions and now they want the Afghans to fight the Talibans themselves. They have enunciated the numerical advantage of 350,000 Afghanistan troops over 75,000 Afghan fighters. It is shocking a lot of people are still delusional that a power sharing government will save Afghanistan. If the Taliban can make quick gains of 10 provincial capitals they can as well take over the country. The democratic gains of America in 20 years are being wiped out in two weeks. I hope we are learning in Nigeria to build strong institutions, not strong men and stop this over dependence on others. Singapore learnt the lesson the hard way but now they have become a beacon of hope. Nigerians must build Nigeria

Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail. com

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

SUPER SATURDAY

Malik, Adama Relishing Matrimony Ferdinand Ekechukwu

L

ove is a beautiful thing.

And when there is money, love is sweeter. It is in gratitude of such love that billionaire Kogi Prince and proud lover of formula 1, Malik Ado-Ibrahim, gifted his wife Adama Indimi, a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) to mark their first wedding anniversary last Sunday August 8. Adama’s sister, Meram, shared a photo of the new whip (Jeep Wrangler) on her instastory.

She captioned her post of the luxury anniversary gift thus: “I am in love.

Forever together insha Allah” Malik has a strong background in automobile. No wonder he presented a solid whip as gift to the gorgeous and vibrant Adama. Adama, who is in her late twenties, also took to her Instagram page to celebrate her wedding anniversary with her 203k fans. She wrote: “1 year down, forever to go… happy anniversary my love @realmalikado #SheSaidAdo” Malik Ado-Ibrahim is the son of Kogi State first-class monarch, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRH Dr. Ado Ibrahim.

While Adama is the daughter of Mohammed Indimi, an oil magnate and chairman of Oriental Energy Resources, her husband is the founder of Bioernergy. The couple had their Nikkai (wedding) ceremony at Adama’s billionaire father’s palatial home in Maiduguri, Borno state on August 8, 2020, after dating for over a year.

Considering the pedigree of both families, it was replete with visual spectacle. Photos and videos from the ceremony trended on social media while the ceremony lasted.

It was the first iconic wedding ceremony in Maiduguri last year. As usual with the Indimis, the wedding ceremony, which followed the Kanuri tradition, was a grand affair.

The Indimis are also in-laws to the President Muhammadu Buhari. Ahmed Indimi is married to Zahra Buhari.

Light skinned Adama Indimi is half Nigerian and half Swiss-Chadian. She’s is a model and runs a travel agency, Kauna Solutions. Her mother is half Swiss and half Chadian. Adama studied at Lynn University Florida, USA. She was first noted in the news, following her fleeting romance with a named music star some years back. Malik was born in Nigeria, educated in the UK and US and has a strong background in automobile.

Malik is famous for his role in the F1 design. He once owned Arrows, a F1 team. Malik was the first black man to work in Formula 1 and also worked for Hyundai for 6 years. He was among the most interesting characters to tread the grand prix paddock. Malik has been involved in the automotive sector since early 1990s. He once worked with Proton and Lotus and helped them to develop the position of Lotus by the Malaysian government on 1999.

In late 2000s, he began to focus on renewable solar, hybrid, and started looking at the possible ways to develop non-hydro carbons based global economy. In 2016, his company, Nigus Enfinity, did the first solar show in NNPC and the Nigerian governmentowned corporation helped to push the agenda of the firm by exposing renewables to the Nigerian market and was successful at the end. Since then, Nigus Enfinity has been involved in renewable projects in South Africa and in the UAE.

Malik and Adama

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

08054699539

El-rufai’s Farce and Tales of BH ‘Fighters’ without Arms

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ne man that has been a big disappointment in this political era is Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State. Persistent attacks and kidnappings by terrorists in this state have exposed his incompetence. The latest from calamity Elrufai is the decision to indefinitely shut all schools in the state due to unending attacks by terrorists. His government argues that the closure was to secure the lives of students, teachers and other stakeholders in the education sector, and that security agencies were currently carrying out operations against bandits to improve the security situation in the state. One of El-rufai’s aides added: “The Kaduna State Government is concerned about the safety of lives and property and will give clearance for the schools to reopen as soon as security improves.” ]Closing all schools is not the solution to the unending killings and kidnappings in Kaduna State. Yes, there will be nobody to kill and kidnap in Kaduna schools again, following the closure. But the truth is that in Kaduna State, terrorists persistently kill and kidnap people on the roads, highways, homes, farms, offices, schools, churches and mosques. So, with the schools shut, terrorists targeting people in schools will join those targeting homes and these other places. Highways, communities and the rest will record more attacks.

It is as simple as this. I thought El-rufai should know this.

For me, emphasis should be on total destruction of terrorists rampaging in Kaduna State. It should be about securing Kaduna citizens wherever they are, or will the Kaduna State Government also shut homes, offices, places of worship, highways, farms, to curtail killings and kidnappings?

El-rufai should put pressure on the federal government and also proactively use his security vote, to achieve the objective of total elimination of terrorists in the state instead of this cosmetic step of closing schools.

It is also pertinent to note that Kaduna is a garrison state, with huge number of military formations. El-rufai has to seek for wisdom, coupled with his security vote, to mobilise the huge military formations here, for real assault on the terrorists.

This governor has similarly messed up on the issue of ransoms to kidnappers. My dear El-rufai, it is not enough to say that you will not negotiate with terrorists or pay ransom. Of course, many of us are against negotiating with bandits. We support you on this. But what have you done for over six years to protect your citizens and ensure the release of hundreds still with kidnappers?

Honestly, I can’t see any serious action in this direction. Kaduna State is under siege by terrorists. As of this morning, about 83

Governor El-rufai

students of Bethel Baptist School, Damishi, Kaduna, are still in the dungeon of bandits.

545 people were killed by bandits in Kaduna State in the first six months of this year. I am talking about human beings here, not animals. In this same Kaduna State, 1723 people were abducted within the first six months of this year and ransom running into billions of Naira paid. What we have in Nigeria today is a federal government that can’t protect its citizens. The state governors have also failed woefully to protect citizens.

El-rufai is a big disaster in this direction. This governor has never been there for anybody in this state. He enjoys showboating and persistently spins rubbish, without offering relief to victims of unending killings and kidnappings in his state. This is the tragedy of the Nigerian nation.

Today, I will leave El-rufai and those running the show at the centre in Abuja with the words of the President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Olasupo Ayokunle: “On many occasions, when I read of ‘unknown gunmen’ it ends there and I wonder whether it is not the duty of those governing us to make sure that the ‘unknown gunmen’ are ‘known’ and brought to book! The people causing trouble are not spirits, so, it should not be too difficult to apprehend them and bring them to book. If there are people sponsoring them, a thorough investigation should be able to fish them out and cause them to

face the wrath of the law.”

On the flip side, one of the weird stories from the Nigerian Military this week was that 335 Boko Haram fighters and 746 other family members of the fighters, adult women and children, surrendered to the Army.

But I was shocked that the so-called fighters surrendered without coming along with their weapons. They can’t be fighters without weapons. Are they really fighters? I did not see a single weapon in the footage shared by the military this week. The whole thing is looking creepy. Were they fighting with bare hands or, is the Army telling us that the Boko Haram fighters returned their weapons to their commanders before heading to the camp of the troops of operation Hadin Kai in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State to surrender? If the weapons of the terrorists that surrendered are still with the commanders, then, this country is still in trouble.

Again, I saw the terrorists that surrendered being celebrated by the military.

We were told that the Chief Bomb Expert of the terrorists known as Musa Adamu a.k.a Mala Musa Abuja and his second in command, Usman Adamu a.k.a Abu Darda along with their families and followers are among those who submitted. By Thursday, we were told that a senior commander, Amir Adamu Rugu Rugu, his three wives and children had also surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Gwoza. Rugu, who is responsible for the deaths of troops and commuters around Mandara hill and Sambisa forest in Gwoza, also surrendered without handing over his weapons.

I saw new clothes, assorted food items, groceries and toiletries given to the repentant terrorists, their families, and then, their placards begging Nigerians to forgive them. The Army told us the fighters would undergo some rehabilitation process at a government facility before reintegration into the larger society.

Honestly, if these guys are indeed ex-Boko Haram fighters; if they are the guys with blood of innocent civilians and soldiers on their hands, then, for now, they should be in detention, helping the military with information to end this Boko Haram madness. This is clearly not the stage to start giving them food, new cloths and drinks. This is not the time to be talking about rehabilitation and resettlement for these fighters. They should be in prison, helping the military with information to dislodge thousands of Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters scattered in the North-east, terrorizing this country. The Nigerian Army must not be seen celebrating and sharing photographs of the so-called terrorists who

Ideal President Should Be in His 60s? No, IBB!

Babangida

I just laughed when former military President Ibrahim Babangida proposed that the President Nigerians should elect in 2023,

in order to save this country, should be in his 60s. My dear IBB, leadership is not about age.

It is about capacity for a job, both physical and mental. President Buhari has failed to deliver, not because of his age. It is simply because he lacks the capacity for the job.

Buhari’s extreme clannishness has also been a big drawback. Nelson Mandela took office as President of South Africa at the age of 75.

He delivered. Mandela’s records are indelible.

Mahathir bin Mohamad of Malaysia came back in 1988 at the age of 93 to serve for the second time, laudably, as Prime Minister. So, it’s not about age, but capacity for the job.

We have young men like Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State that have messed up our system. So, we should be looking for a man with capacity, capable of uniting this country, not “somebody in his 60s.”

As the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State chapter, Rev. Joseph Hayab noted: “What Nigerians need is a leader that can deliver the goods and take the country out of its present security

and economic challenges. The age of whoever will become Nigeria’s leader should never be an issue for debate because Nigerians must never allow anyone that does not have good leadership credentials and capacity to be their leader just because he is a young or old person.

Our concern should be for everyone to look for a good and detribalised Nigerian who can fight insecurity, stop corruption, and move the country forward.”

Babangida also punched holes in rotational Presidency, saying it would deprive the country of quality President. Rotation is the tonic that has sustained Nigeria’s democracy so far. Besides, there is no part of this country that can’t supply quality candidate for the office of the President of Nigeria. In my own little Ikorodu town in Lagos, we can safely supply dozens of world-class candidates for the office of the President. This country is blessed. Unfortunately, these high quality men are hindered from getting to positions of authority by devious people who dominate Nigeria’s political landscape at all levels.

submitted. I heard the acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander, Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai Brigadier General Abdulwahab Adelokun Eyitayo, telling the repentant terrorists to “also try and talk to their brothers and colleagues in the forest to come out and embrace the new life of peace and rehabilitation.” That’s the military begging terrorists. Some things are clearly not adding up in this war against Boko Haram.

Osinbajo

Run, Osinbajo, Run! Last Sunday, I spent time watching supporters of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, under the aegis of Osinbajo Grassroots Organisation, at a forum in Abuja, urging him to run for the presidency in 2023.

The group, set up to motivate the vice president to run, during the second edition of Osinbajo Day, described the vice president as “a neutraliser and stabiliser”, who provides backbone for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Some of them carried placards with inscriptions such as: “In Osinbajo, we see a loyal leader”, “2023: Let Osinbajo lead”, “Nigerians love Osinbajo”, “Great Nigeria, Great Nation, Great Osinbajo”, “Thank you, Buhari for giving us Osinbajo”, and “Osinbajo: The future beckons.” These guys have chosen, at personal sacrifice, to build a movement around him.

I don’t understand the meaning of most of those things written on the placards. For me, Osinbajo is highly under-utilised in this government. Only toadies will claim that this professor is playing a major role in the Buhari government. Osinbajo has the ability to do a lot, but unfortunately sidelined by his boss and the cabal running the show. This is the truth that must be told.

Nevertheless, I agree that Osinbajo has all it takes to lead this country in 2023. He has both the mental and physical capacity for this job. More so, he is a peace builder.

Osinbajo’s sense of humility is also a big plus. These are the things that should be stressed; not creating the impression that he is being properly utilised by the Buhari government. Yes, Osinbajo can offer great things to this troubled country if he is the President. We can indeed entrust the future of this country to him. This is my humble submission. My dear Osinbajo, run like a titan! Many of us are desperate for a new Nigeria. This country is in a big mess.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

PERSPECTIVE Governance and Development in the COVID-19 Era COVID-19 pandemic presents Nigeria with an opportunity to exit the malaises fire brigade and lottery syndromes, and retool governance to achieve development, writes Hon. Toby Okechukwu

B

eyond the high mortality and human suffering, pandemics greatly shaped human history. As aptly captured by Stanley Johny, pandemics have triggered the collapse of empires, weakened pre-eminent powers and institutions, created social upheaval and brought down wars. Walter Scheidel also lists pandemics, wars, revolutions, and state failures as the “four horsemen”, which have flattened inequality. I couldn’t agree more.

In the 6th century, the Justinian Plague irreversibly weakened the Byzantine Empire. Between 1347 and 1353, the Black Death, which killed between 75 and 200 million people had enormous effect on the berthing of industrial revolution. The Spanish Flu (1918 to 1920) contributed substantially to Germany’s loss of the World War I. It was also detected in Onitsha, Nigeria, on October 14, 1918 and the ensuing food scarcity was responsible for the introduction of cassava as a staple food (and a good substitute for yam).

COVID-19 was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) on December 31, 2019 and characterised as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. In Nigeria, the index case was reported on February 27, 2020.

Even though the real impact of the pandemic and its attendant lockdown is still being articulated, it is evident that it has been far-reaching and devastating on Nigeria. The immediate shocks caused by COVID-19 have drastically reduced our oil revenues, pushing Nigeria to massive borrowing that has returned us to the debt trap exited in 2005.

The pandemic has also induced a free fall of the Naira. Inflow of foreign exchange was halted as foreign investors queued for dollars to exit their investments.

The pandemic also had a devastating impact on households and businesses. Governments were compelled to reorder their expenditures in favour of the social sector, while the already decaying socio-economic infrastructure in Nigeria remains underfunded.

But it is not all gloom and doom. The pandemic lockdown unlocked an unprecedented digital revolution as many of us, especially the privileged ones, relied on digital transformation in areas like remote work, telemedicine, e-learning and much more. This in turn created an armada of digital entrepreneurs from among our young people. It led to a renewed focus on research and development.

The nexus of governance and development In the broadest sense, the challenge of development is to improve the quality of life – higher incomes, better education, higher standards of health and nutrition, less poverty, cleaner environment, equal opportunities, a more secure society and greater individual freedom. Therefore, when crises such as a pandemic directly impact them, as was the case with COVID-19, we must know that development is in peril and governance must come to its rescue.

Therefore, if we want to deliver sustained growth, create more jobs and economic opportunities, expand social inclusion and social safety nets to Nigerians in times like this, then we must turn to good governance and strong institutions. Therein lies the nexus of governance and development.

Our repeated failure to activate governance to save development each time it is threatened by a crisis is the jinx we must break, and public administration is an effective tool we need to do it.

Strategies for breaking the jinx During the darkest days of the World War II, Winston Churchill famously said: “Never let a good crisis go to waste”. While we debate the nature of good and bad crisis, I urge us to internalise the context of that statement, look for the silver

L-R: Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Toby Okechukwu; Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Charles Esimone; and Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Uche Okafor, at a recent international conference organised by the Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka lining in the cloud and retool governance to achieve development. I will now advise on various strategic approaches we can adopt.

Introduce smart legislations: The US economy was in tatters during the Great Depression that lasted from 1929 to 1933, but a raft of smart legislations under the New Deal agenda rebooted the economy and today.

At the outset of COVID-19, the UK Parliament was virtually enacting laws in real time to respond to the challenges brought about by the pandemic. In Nigeria, the House of Representatives also rose to the challenge, but their efforts, such as the Hon. Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila’s Infectious Disease Control were caught in the throes of political headwinds and conspiracy theories. That nobody has cared again to find out what “sicknesses” it sought to cure or proffered any alternatives exposes our proclivity for fire brigade arrangements.

Also, despite a House resolution upon my motion calling for the mobilisation our local resources in the fight against coronavirus, Nigeria is yet to manufacture a dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

But we cannot sidestep smart legislations if we truly want to respond to the challenges of the moment, build institutional frameworks that restructure our nation, enable the growth of our economy, improve the business environment, achieve competitiveness, but above all, strengthen governance to deliver development.

Invest in the future: As I mentioned earlier, crisis can become a driver of societal change. As stated by Raghuram Rajan in his book, “The Third Pillar”, “after the Black Death, technological progress took over”.

He notes that the 17th century philosopher, Francis Bacon, saw gunpowder, printing and the compass as the three greatest inventions known to man. Their arrival in the West played a part in the expansion

of markets and heralded the rise of the nation-state.

During the Nigerian-Biafra Civil War, Biafran engineers and scientists developed several breakthrough inventions, innovations and technologies. Most of them could have provided the technological underpinnings of industrial development and advancement after the war. But we failed to invest in that future.

Today, we are at the cusp of another societal change as COVID-19 has provided an opportunity for us to innovate and go digital. We must invest in the future by scaling up investments in the expansion of digital infrastructure, promoting digital transformation and encourage investments in ICT and innovation. We must break the jinx of inaction and realise that access to digital technologies will create jobs, increase incomes, enhance learning, close the digital divide, and very importantly, improve governance to unlock development.

Strengthen institutions: In the wake of the Asia Financial Crisis in July 1997, a combination of economic, financial and corporate problems led to the collapse of the emerging market economies of East Asia that had earned the sobriquet of Asian Tigers. In response, they undertook fundamental reforms that strengthened their economic and financial institutions.

Today, they are in a much stronger position as drivers of the global economy.

When we witnessed a sharp decline in crude oil prices in 2016, our economy slipped into a recession. The fallouts of the pandemic has again exposed our vulnerabilities to external shocks such as the fall in crude oil prices. Evidently, Nigeria is plagued by the ‘Dutch Disease’ or what Prof.

Charles Soludo calls the Lottery Syndrome whereby a nation spends recklessly in the spirit of the boom of today without planning for tomorrow. Although the oil prices are

going up today, we are unable to reap its benefits due to our inability to meet our OPEC production quota. And since we are spending 98% of our entire revenue on debt servicing, we are left with little option but to keep borrowing.

This is the time to reform our petroleum industry and strengthen the institutions that will drive the diversification of our revenues to protect us from external shocks. A groundswell of institutional reforms also yearn for urgent attention in terms of inter-agency, inter-organs of government checks and balances as well as synergy in providing social services and delivering on development expectations of the citizens.

Reposition the educational system: No nation can grow beyond its knowledge power.

The capacity deficit that was on display at the pandemic peak in Nigeria underscored the knowledge gap, which our economy and the social service sector, grapple with.

The current embarrassing rate of unemployment put at 33% of the population reflects the preponderance of educational curricular and administrative structure that may not be in sync with global best practices and our realities. We need to re-visit our educational system as a matter of urgent national and public importance.

Reform the Security Sector: All the foregoing strategies would make little impact without a comprehensive reform of the security sector.

How can we make progress in a situation where school children are being abducted en masse, schools are shutting down, farmers cannot go to farm, livelihoods are destroyed, where businesses either pay huge sums of money to various criminal cartels or fold up, and where Nigerians cannot commute safely between towns?

Hon. Okechukwu, Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives, presented this at the 2021 international conference organised by the Department of Public Administration, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, recently.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

‘King of Boys’ Returns to Netflix Ferdinand Ekechukwu

F

or movie director/ producer Kemi Adetiba at the moment, it’s all about “King of Boys 2: The Return of the King,” the much anticipated sequel to her 2018 blockbuster movie as she continues the journey with Netflix on August 27. Though, the first installment of King of Boys premiered in cinemas before its Netflix debut, this time the sequel will go straight to the global streaming platform as a seven-part Netflix Original series, the first of its kind in Nigerian.

Confirming this once more, the award-winning filmmaker via her Instagram post entreats her fans and viewers to see the movie as she assures of the best viewing experience. “If you can do me one favour... watch KOB: The Return of the King only on NETLFIX come August 27th. No illegal downloads.

No illegal means. Straight from this source. Not only would it be the best visual and sound quality and experience, but you also make your viewing count for US!!!” she wrote.

“In fact, if you’ve never had a NETFLIX account, or had previously deactivated yours... Enable it for KOB: The Return of the King.

If you’re attending a watch party (I know a lot of you are planning so many fun events around KOB 2), do me the biggest favour and still subscribe or reactivate your personal NETLFIX account for KOB: The Return of the King!!!”

Released in 2018, King of Boys is a political thriller that chronicles the life of Alhaja Eniola Salami, a businesswoman, philanthropist, and ruthless lord of the underworld whose thirst for power almost led to her ruin. In the sequel, Eniola Salami starts anew and sets her sights on a different position of power, fueled by revenge, regret and ruthlessness.

However, her shocking, unannounced return from a five-year exile rattles the cages of her enemies – both old and new. And once-trusted allies desert her at her most vulnerable moment, while she faces an even greater battle within herself for the redemption

Kemi Adetiba

of her tortured soul. The upcoming seven-part series will see Reminisce, IllBliss, Akin Lewis, Osas Ighodaro, Titi Kuti, and Keppy Ekpeyoung, reprise their roles from the first movie.

New additions to the cast include Nse Ikpe-Etim, Richard Mofe Damijo ‘RMD’, Efa Iwara, Deyemi

Okanla-won, Charly Boy and Lord Frank. King of Boys: The Return of The King is just one the packed list of exciting movies coming to Netflix this August. The list is filled with blockbuster movies one probably didn’t get a chance to see at the cinema. Netflix is investing heavily in Nigerian films and

series across all genres and for all generations, including much-loved hits like King of Boys: The Return of the King; Castle & Castle 1&2 as well as Swallow, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives and Death and the King’s Horseman which are already in the pipeline.

Okpala Nominated for Young Entrepreneur Award Last weekend, the organizers of The Entrepreneur Africa, an annual award ceremony that celebrates enterprise and innovation in Africa revealed the nominees for its 2021 edition.

About 1,223 nominees were screened and only 127 people/ entities were shortlisted and nominated across various categories. One of the nominees is Victor Okpala, the CEO and founder of NABsolute Media - a reputed agency that caters to the creative and music ecosystem.

Okpala is nominated in the coveted ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ category for his contributions to the African music industry through innovative communications and marketing. In 2020, the Okpala-

led agency was listed by US publication Billboard as one of the gatekeepers in African entertainment for their work in communications and in 2021, Business Day spotlighted Victor Okpala and his agency’s solution-driven approach to music marketing especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

NABSolute Media have managed campaigns for artistes like; Dare Art Alade, Reekado Banks, Runtown, Seyi Shay, Skales, K1 De Ultimate, Grammy nominee, Somi and JUNO award winner, Tome.

In 2020, Victor Okpala and his team oversaw the induction of Nigerian music onto Red Bull’s global music library and till date, the agency has curated over 60 Nigerian songs for the

energy drink company. Other brands that have consulted NABSolute are D’usse, Gidi Fest and Livespot.

Beyond business, NABSolute Media is igniting future change makers through a nonprofit initiative called The Pass It On Programme.

Through this initiative, the agency is curating free classes across multiple disciplines including digital marketing, data analysis, programming and creative design for teenagers and young adults in rural and suburban communities. The winners for this year’s edition of The Entrepreneur Africa award will be announced at an upscale live event in Lagos later this August.

Okpala

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

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Adebimpe Oyebade

When I Got into Nollywood, At Every Point, Everybody Wanted to Sleep with Me Adebimpe Oyebade’s meteoric rise to stardom within a short space of time is undoubtedly one that not a few in the industry would wish for. Her debut role in an English-Yoruba movie titled Crossroad (Agbede Meji) had earned her love and acceptance from people within and outside the industry. It further opened doors of opportunities and paved her ways in modeling. Her career soon witnessed another height following her impressive performance in the blockbuster movie ‘ Adebimpe Omo Oba’, which she is now widely referred to as. The actress/model, in this encounter with Ferdinand Ekechukwu, reveals quite a lot about her career and background

Y

ou are basically known as an actor what other things do you do alongside acting?

Aside acting I model; I started as a model actually.

I got into acting through modeling. I’m a professional model. And I also have businesses I run. I KDYH D IDVKLRQ OLQH FDOOHG $GHÀWV , KDYH D makeup line too – Shades of Mo Beauty. So that’s basically what I do. So if I’m not on set working, I’m either shooting or at work, I mean my empire.

Tell us about your background, childhood, growing up. What was it like? :HOO , JUHZ XS LQ D IDPLO\ RI ÀYH ,·P WKH last born of my family. We are four girls, one boy. I would say my growing up was D ELW GLͿHUHQW EHFDXVH , GLGQ·W KDYH IULHQGV growing up. And that’s why even till now, I still don’t bow to make friends. I grew up in the midst of my siblings; they were my friends. I grew up in Akure, that’s in Ondo State. And I attended my nursery, primary and secondary school there. Then I moved to Ado Ekiti, in Ekiti State for my University. I studied English. It was UNAD then but I think (NLWL 6WDWH 8QLYHUVLW\ QRZ , ÀQLVKHG immediately I went for NYSC in Benin. And , ÀQLVKHG 1<6& , WKLQN WKDW·V DERXW LW You said you didn’t have friends growing up, was it as a result of parental restriction or what?

Well, I wouldn’t really say restriction actually because I was the last born. But you know… Back then as the baby of the house, I was always with my mum, I always want to be at home. Then I think it’s just how we were brought up generally. And let’s say probably because we lived in an apartment where you can’t just go and say you want to be making friends. I have siblings, so we just play in our house and that’s it. I grew up that way.

Even when I was in the University, I will just be in my hostel; private hostel and all that.

Can one say you were born with a silver spoon?

Not really; not really. But let’s say from a privileged average family.

Adebimpe Oyebade

Let’s talk about acting which is your mainstay actually… You started by modeling then you transitioned into acting. Tell us about that journey, how did it start?

Yes. I was modeling then signed to G & G Models. But at the same time, I was serving.

You know all this WhatsApp broadcasts we get a lot of it usually in our model platform like they need model for a movie role. But that particular one came, and the prescription, it was for a lead role this time around. The SUHVFULSWLRQ UHDOO\ ÀWV PH ,Q IDFW HYHU\RQH ZDV like ‘Bimpe, this is for you’, so I was like ‘I’m not interested’ and truly I wasn’t interested in acting. I had never thought about it. I never participated in anything acting. There were a lot of opportunities from auditions; every time they will say ‘oh come and do this role’.

But I will always run and hide because I

was a very shy person. But then, when that one came, they were like ‘try this…try this bla bla bla’ but I said no to the audition. I’m not even sure I can make it. I wasn’t even in Lagos then that I was in Benin. I told my manager that I could not make it there. But you know how agencies are. They don’t like to be disappointed. But he was like ‘I can make it if I want to.’ That was it.

But I think after two weeks or more, the VDPH VHW RI SHRSOH WKDW GURSSHG WKH ÀUVW LQIRUPDWLRQ FDPH DJDLQ WKDW WKH\ FRXOGQ·W ÀQG the perfect cast for that role. So they needed us this time to start sending in audition videos.

They dropped their email address and this guy, the manager, now called me personally, saying ‘you don’t even know if this is for you’.

But then, he just encouraged me that ‘it’s not like you are travelling for this. This is just to record a video and send.’ So, the people that were with me encouraged me that I should just do it since it’s just a video just have fun lounging. Then I said ‘okay let me try it’ because it was two videos. Then I recorded it, then I recorded the two monologues and I sent it. Then they got back to me. They were like ‘you are the pick for this, can you come to Lagos for a script reading?’ How come?!

So, that was how I got into acting.

What movie was that?

That was Crossroad, an English-Yoruba movie. I played alongside Gabriel Afolayan and Toyin Abraham. It was produced by Yomi Fabiyi. After that movie, I got a lot of feedback.

The love and acceptance from people within the industry and people outside when the movie came out gingered me to do more of acting and that opened doors for other roles for me. It did…a lot of directors, producers reached out.

We have heard stories of people like girls been challenged and taken advantage of for the fact that they want to be featured or given lead roles in a movie and all that were you in any way faced with such challenge at that point coming into the industry?

Yes! Okay… You want to talk about it?

Of course; I wouldn’t want to say I didn’t go through it because there’s one thing I would say. When people say ‘oh the industry is this, is that’ I feel like it happens everywhere. The reason we talk about the industry is because we are in public space so people can talk because even when I was in school, my lecturer wanted to sleep with me. As a student, my own project supervisor (laughing) wanted to sleep with me. So when I was coming into the industry, I wasn’t even expecting less because as a woman you are not, even if you are ugly, men would still get attracted to you. So I feel like the problem of sex for role is not the fault of the men! I blame the women more.

Really, how do you mean?

Yeah. Because we encourage it…

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

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As a Student, Even My Project Supervisor Wanted to Sleep With Me The most expensive of…ah ejor o! Ah I don’t think I want to answer that question.

How, because this is coming from a lady and its quite revealing so to say?

See, let me be honest with you. The reason I’m saying this is we already know men are, sorry to say this you are a man, but men can be stupid sometimes. So they have been asking stupid things. When they feel like they can approach you with anything and you know, thinking they have the right to do this or that with you. So I feel like women do not really appreciate or know their worth. If you are sleeping with men for role and you are doing it/this you are encouraging them! The reason it is still happening in the industry is because a lot of people have encouraged it.

So, if they had rejected it for a long time (speaks in Yoruba), it would have reduced. I went through it. Even as I wouldn’t want to mention names, I went through it a lot with some of them. And I was like ‘ah what kind of industry is this?’ In fact, when I got in at every point everybody wants to sleep with me. I was like ‘is this how it is here?’ But you know it wasn’t something I wasn’t expecting.

I just didn’t know it was that bad that at every point, at every location an actor is trying to sleep with you, a producer is trying to sleep with you, a director is trying to sleep with you. But then I just feel like we women need to handle things better. That’s what I feel.

So how did you survive it? You mean you didn’t concede to such demand to give you roles?

I wasn’t maybe because… a lot of people say maybe the reason I escaped this thing was because I wasn’t desperate. And I wasn’t desperate. I wasn’t exposed to even social media, like Instagram. I wasn’t on Instagram.

Then I didn’t know this celebrity world or this celebrity lifestyle, I didn’t come to the industry to be a celebrity. I didn’t know what I was exposing myself to. It just happened. You get what I’m saying. A lot of people do dirty things because they want to achieve things they want to jump from zero to hundred.

I feel like it takes work, it takes patience. I know quite a lot of people but not everyone LV OLNH WKDW LQ WKH LQGXVWU\ 7KRXJK WKH ÀUVW person that featured me, even though it was through an audition, he did not ask me out.

He did not say ‘oh come and sleep with me or something’. Though, after the shoot, he started asking me out, and that is the reason.

Then, maybe because aside the fact that I wasn’t desperate, when I was coming in, I just wanted to do my thing. I had other plans.

You know we plan our lives but God’s plan is superior. I had plans to travel. I was just doing this acting thing as plan B. And it was IURP WKDW ÀUVW PRYLH WKDW HYHU\WKLQJ ZHQW up. So, there was no reason for me to say ‘oh I want to sleep with this person or that’.

What was your dream career/profession before modeling/acting?

Newscaster or Airhostess, though my parents wanted me to be a lawyer.

Do you have any plans of leaving acting for some other career anytime?

Well, that will be for my Masters. But I don’t plan to leave acting for now. Even though my dad wants me to go for my Masters, he’s always begging me. I feel like at a point I will do that. But for now I’m still here.

So which would you say is your biggest movie role and what was the experience like? I mean you started from 2016 and this is 2021, like 5 years now in the industry and you have done pretty well for yourself looking at the roles you have played?

I actually started I featured in that movie (Crossroad) 2016 December. But I went back for NYSC. You know, I didn’t know anyone in the industry. The movie came out 2017 September. That was when I started acting.

That was when I now came back because as at then I was already done with NYSC. So, when the movie came out, people started reaching out to me, especially through Facebook. Like ‘oh are you the “Onikede” in Crossroad?’

‘We want to see you. We want to shoot a PRYLH · 6R , ZRXOG VD\ , VWDUWHG R΀FLDOO\ LQ 2017 September.

So that would be taken as the movie that

Okay tell me off camera I wouldn’t put it in the public…

Are you sure?

I have given you my words I wouldn’t. I just want to know…

Okay… but like I said I just love jewelries (laughing). And because it’s gold, I have a diamond ring, me I can spend any money on gold if I have. But you know they could get missing.

Let’s talk a little more, what’s the craziest thing a fan or critic has ever done or say to you?

Sending me dicks o! Yes o via DM... Like GLͿHUHQW JX\V WKH\ MXVW VHQG LW 1R FRQYHUVDtion whatsoever, nothing led to it, they will MXVW VHQG \RX WKHLU VWXͿ 5DQGRPO\« \RX get what I’m saying. So, when I see such, I just block them. Because I feel like it’s crazy.

How can you just do such? What if I post it? It’s crazy. I just block them because what conversation do I want to be having with crazy people like that? You know I feel like it’s crazy. So I just block them.

But really what’s your kind of man?

God fearing, hardworking; because I’m very hardworking, loving, kind, I think that’s it.

How do you handle advances from men, male fans?

That one has been tough o but then as a woman you know advances from men will keep coming. It’s not something that would stop like anytime. Even if you get married, guys will still come at you and all that. It’s something one should handle from time to time. One should learn to handle it. So, basically, what I do is I avoid personal conversations. I don’t.

I’m a very difficult person to reach.

Adebimpe Oyebade

How about the stubborn ones you know there are some like that? They will insist sending you gift, send you this and that?

They do. They do. But I’m not. I don’t even have friends you can get me through, like my address.

brought you to the limelight? , ZRXOG MXVW VD\ ¶$JEHGH 0HML· WKDW ÀUVW movie ‘Crossroad’. It made people know me.

What role did you play in that movie? Tell us about your role and character?

Yeah the character name was Onikede.

And she was a young girl who grew up in a village. We shot it in Abeokuta. So, there were these educated guys who came to the village to work and she fell in love with one of them (Gabriel Afolayan). And he took the girl back to the city. It’s just a story about a young girl who wanted more in life. So, he promised he’s going to give her education and the good life. When they got to Lagos, everything just changed because he was a very jealous lover, so obsessed with her…

But then, I would say my biggest movie right now is ‘Adebimpe Omo Oba’. ‘Adebimpe Omo Oba’ took me to another height and it got nominated for AMVCA last year (2020).

And it took me to another level entirely after the AMVCA nomination. Good movies, good productions started reaching out to me. And of course, brands. And then I walk around the streets or when I just go out people started shouting “Adebimpe Omo Oba”, you know that’s what everyone calls me “Adebimpe Omo Oba”, “Adebimpe Omo Oba”. So right now I’m shooting a story something like that for the big screen very soon. Something inspired by that.

Let’s talk about actors’ lifestyle. Many actors seem to live fake life, from your lexperience in the industry within this short time why do you think it’s like that?

Well, I don’t want to make excuse for them.

But I would just say one or two things. I feel like the reason most of these actors live this fake life is because of pressure; pressure from the society like from fans, from people. Just from the environment.

So because let’s take for example, if you have a face, you have a name, you are popular on Instagram, at the market, everywhere you are popular and you don’t have a car and you

want to go out. You feel like ‘oh I want to be presentable to my fans maybe you have a Meet and Greet’, they will now start borrowing cars, doing this and that. And the truth is the fans, I wouldn’t blame them.

They feel like once they start seeing you in movie, or you are a popular face then you should be superhuman.

Even when they see you wear some kind of hair they are like ‘oh how can you a whole you be wearing this thing’ when they don’t even know how much you have in your account.

A lot of people do not know how to handle that. That’s why they do a lot of things to live all sorts of lives, especially the females.

Because you want to look good on Instagram, you want to pose for the glam.

So on what do you spend the most?

I like investing o! But on material things that would be jewelries, gold jewelries. I used to spend on hair before I got signed to a hair brand. So jewelries, and makeup, that was even why I decided to have my own makeup line. So I would just say bags and jewelries right now.

Which is the most expensive of the bags and the jewelries? What is the worth? Can you put a figure to each of them?

But the gift they send reaches you?

They just ask me to send them my details.

Male fans, that’s what they do most too female celebrities. They just say ‘hi you are so beautiful oh my God bla bla bla, please I just need your account number ’. I have seen a lot. I have gotten that a lot. ‘Please can I just send you money, I don’t want anything from you’. ‘Just to appreciate you’ (laughing). It’s a lie o! They will send you money and that’s where they will now start with their wahala. So, I try to avoid anything like that. So when you come to me, of course I have gotten gift from a male fan. I wouldn’t say I haven’t. And of course female fans too when I produce movies, when I have new movies out. They say ‘nothing attached, I just want to send you money for this movie.’ And I’m like ‘are you sure it’s the reason?’ I have asked people that. I just ask straight up, just let me know if it is my number you really want or you want something else? No you are not getting my number. It’s a lot of work actually.

Maybe you have not gotten one powerful one that will woo you with everything that has to be offered in this life, woo you with heavenly offers?

I have even from some politicians, known ones. You know it’s just you knowing what you want.

So what’s the most expensive gift item you have ever received maybe from an admirer or fans?

That’s a car gift.

What brand of car gift is it a Range Rover because that seem to be the in-thing now in the industry?

A Mercedes Benz actually…

20

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Tosin Clegg

07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

Adeola Shyllon

Unemployment Pushed me to Success House of Amearypearl is one of the reputable names in Fashion, Beauty and Jewelries in Lagos. It was founded by Adeola Shyllon, who went into fashion after a stretch of unemployment. She has grown the brand to become a household name with strong appeal. Adeola strongly advocates utilising social media platforms for profitable activities and not just as a means of wasting time and human capital. She speaks to Tosin Clegg about unemployment, getting into the fashion business, challenges of running a business and why youths should shun idleness, amongst other issues How l got into online fashion and beauty business am an Engineer by profession, I was in the university for seven years, no thanks to ASUU. But after two years of job hunting, post-NYSC, I went back to what I enjoy doing most, business. I have always been a businesswoman, selling all sort of fashion items back in university days, ranging from clothes, shoes, jewellery, bag, and hair extensions. That was how HouseofAmearypearl was birthed.

I

Major challenge My major challenge has been to literally do everything all by myself, such as posting goods, taking orders and having them sorted out for delivery. This is because my business is a very delicate one, it’s really not easy. You know how gold can be, you can’t really trust anyone with it, and it’s quite delicate. Another challenge is to attend to

all my customers at the same time. If you spend too much time with one, another will complain you are ignoring him or her. To crown it all, it is very capital intensive and no one can even support you. Bank loans are also not an option to facilitate running the business because their interest rate is just too high.

Role of the social media Social Media is very key for business growth. God bless the creator of all social media apps, you get to interact with all kinds of people all over the world who will patronise your business and you even get to be friends with some. It is unfortunate that some people do not use their social media handles well. Rather than utilise it well, they are careless to the extent that they block opportunities that can set them on the path of breakthrough. Entrepreneurs should not fall into this trap because social media is a space where you don’t know who

you are talking to and impressions matter in business.

The joy of being a woman Women are special beings and tend to excel in most critical aspects of life. A woman always does well in leadership positions. I feel it’s very very important for women to be independent. ‘Our money’ is different from ‘my money’. It doesn’t speak well if you wait on someone to foot your bills, so it’s okay to strive, it’s okay to hustle. There’s no shame in making your legit money.

What makes us exceptional is consistency and our top notch customer service and new business strategies.

We also want to make sure everyone owns gold this year and I tell everyone how important it is to invest wisely because of bad days. So what we did lately is that we introduced deals matching lightweight jewelry together and make them really cheap for everyone.

Adeola Shyllon

Papa Ajasco & Company Sean Dampte, Don Crucifixto Concludes Filming to Release ‘Essence’ Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP) has concluded the recording of a brand-new season of the multiple-award-winning TV Comedy Papa Ajasco & Company Reloaded. According to Wale Adenuga Jr., Managing Director WAP, “We have been receiving very positive feedback from viewers since we recently-rebranded the Papa Ajasco & Company programme and we are pleased at this new season which contains a wide range of elements to appeal to audiHQFHV RI GLͿHUHQW JHQHUDWLRQV HVSHFLDOO\ WKH youth. Viewers are in for a special treat, as all the major characters now live in the same compound, leading to back-to-back hilarious encounters; all under the watchful eyes of their stern no-nonsense landlord, and his vain and sassy trophy wife.”

This upcoming Season 3 of Papa Ajasco & Company Reloaded stars Abiodun Ayoyinka (Papa Ajasco), Kayode Olasehinde (Pa James), Mojisola Oyetayo (Mama Ajasco), Victor Oyebode (Boy Alinco), Yetunde Barnabas Olayinka (Miss Pepeiye), and Bashiru Balogun aka Big Bash (Ajasco); as well as a wide range of super-

Wale Adenuga

stars including Etinosa Idemudia, Saka, Ronke Oshodi-Oke, Emeka Okoye, Chichi King, Dayo Davies, Deborah Anugwa and others.

PapaAjasco & Company Reloaded is watched by millions of viewers across Nigeria and globally, through a strategic combination of Terrestrial and Satellite TV Providers.

From the popular Mile 2 in Lagos State, these two brothers, Oluyole Oluwaseun and Tumi Oluyole, fondly called Sean Dampte and Don &UXFLÀ[WR KDYH KHOG RQ WR WKHLU GUHDPV LQ OLIH WR be successful entrepreneurs and notable forces to reckon with in the entertainment scene.

The UK-based Sean Dampte, an Afro Pop singer and songwriter, has many hit songs and beautiful visuals to his credit, while Don &UXFLÀ[WR DOVR NQRZQ DV 7XPFUX] KDV YRZHG to continue to showcase talents to the world via his record label platform known as Don &UXFLÀ[WR (QWHUWDLQPHQW Currently, the brothers are on the verge of delighting their fans from all over the world with a new joint project, entitled “Essence”, an ([WHQGHG 3OD\ FRQVLVWLQJ RI ÀYH WUDFNV 7KH (3 title ‘Essence’ strives to bring people closer to who they are as individuals and also as a family.

It is to encourage everyone not to give up on their pursuit of happiness.

7KH (3 GUDZV IURP GLͿHUHQW JHQUHV IURP Afrobeat to AfroTrap. The EP was produced

L-R: Don Crucfixto, Alashi Eniola Kunle and Sean Dampte

by world renowned Nigerian born international producer JayOcean, a long time production partner of Sean Dampte and the Savage Music Brand. Meanwhile, the EP is a closed project that has no artiste featuring.

CIFEST 2021 to Celebrate All Creatives The Creative Industry Festival (CIFEST 2021) will be a celebration of creativity, a platform for showcasing and rewarding excellence in the creative sector. CIFEST 2021 is put together by the Creative Industry Group which was founded by Felix Duke in 2018.

In line with the announcement, an unveiling was held at The Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos on July 27, 2021, and in attendance was PWAN Chairman, Dr. Augustine Ozioma Onwumere, Elvina Ibru, Lancelot Odua Imasuen, Emeka Ossai, Pupa Orits Williki, Tee Mac Omastola Itseli and a host of others who spoke about the festival and also joined

hands in its unveiling.

Speaking about the festival, the convener, Felix Duke stated: “The purpose of this festival is to unite all creatives and bring everyone together. With oneness, we will build the industry as the festival would create employment and do a lot more from its maiden edition.”

This is the maiden edition of an annual event and participants would be from the creative spaces worldwide. Tafawa Balewa Square will play host to the opening and closing ceremonies. CIFEST 2021 is sponsored by PWAN Properties Limited and Realty Invest.

Creative Industry Festival

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

21

PEOPLE Joy Osifo

Refreshed at 40 The founder of JENIKS Oil and Gas, Princess Joy Osifo, recently marked her 40th birthday. Stanley Nkwazema writes about this go-getter and the the “restoration” God gave her this year

T

o some people, age is not just a number and certain dates in life mean so much to them. Indeed, some start early and end it late while some have numbers attached to dates; neither by their might nor power, but by special grace.

They spring up when it is their time, despite the vicissitudes of life. Recently, the founder of Princess Foundation and Helping Hands Home and JENIKS Oil and Gas, Princess Joy Osifo, marked her 40th birthday. Though on a low key, organised by her friends who felt she needed to thank God for His mercies and protection over the years. They surprised her with a shindig that was worth all the wait, for reaching that milestone. She was so surprised that she shed tears; pleasantly surprised that there are still so many very kind people who still think well of her.

Since 2015, it would appear, she had stayed away from social gatherings.

Not even her own birthday could pull her out of her cocoon, where she has been cooking so many things and fighting many battles. She was trying so hard and indeed, she got closer than close to her faith and clung to it. “The restoration God has given me in 2021 has been worth more than what I have ever worked for in life,” she said.

A billionaire entrepreneur, who had hitherto treated Africa with serious suspicion and never wanted to have anything to do with Nigeria, suddenly agreed to partner with this woman of solid faith and disciplined upbringing.

The deal is worth more than the annual appropriation of several Nigerian states put together. And suddenly, the financial institutions which, before now, never wanted to hear anything about the company are all scrambling to provide the much-needed guarantee to back the business. That is one of the many good things that have been happening to this lady who lives a very modest but prayerful life.

Although, she rarely talks much about her lovely parents, whom she adores because they were able to imbue in her, the much needed discipline to live a good life. They were not only religious, but what people today refer to as prophets. She thought her parents, particularly the father, were wicked. For the dad insisted she and her siblings, as a matter of rule, must be home by 4:00p.m. each time they were privileged to step out of their house.

She has now realised the good they did by insisting she followed their instructions. “My mum died in 2012, my dad is still alive. I thank God for using them to mould a God-fearing and deeply spiritual character out of me,” remarked the JENIKS boss.

A lawyer by training later turned banker; rose to managerial position in two of Nigerian banks in Abuja, and Port Harcourt.

Princess Osifo was mentored and tutored by one of the best top bankers ever produced in Nigeria known for his intelligence and strict adherence to the rules of the games. The usual envy that follows high performers, especially when they are females, became the order of the day, with she, and some of

Joy Osifo

The gas sector and hospitality industry will soon be unveiling her footprints. This lady of substance has been through so much and learnt so much, and one can be assured that if she is doing anything; she wouldn’t be doing it just for doing sake, but it will of global impact for humanity her colleagues being tagged with negativity by petty minds.

This hastened her exit from the banking industry to where God destined for her global elevation and excellence. She set up JENIKS

Oil and Gas firm. By dint of hard work and God’s providence, Osifo did not waste time finding not just her feet but thriving where in a sector thought to be the preserve of men.

Since she had a check list of governments and agencies, she was marketing while in the bank, fortune again smiled at this daughter of Zion.

From previously marketing customers for deposits, she is now being ‘chased’ by both male and female bankers for her juicy accounts. “I am not going to abandon those who so much believed in me despite my victimisation,” she insists.

This beautiful lady has bounced back big in the oil and gas business, though quietly; she has learnt her lessons after the troubles that practically ‘benched’ her in the last six years. Many attribute her resilience, doggedness and the never-giving-up character to many factors. Those she calls brothers and sisters are not necessarily biological, but the inner circle believes that she is a special breed, created to excel.

She may not want to mention names, but she daily consults only the Supreme Being whom she flaunts in all she does. Prayerful to a fault, this lady cannot do anything without asking her Father, not her biological father (because he just sired me and helped to bring me to this world).

Apart from Elder David her loving dad, the Father she calls all the time is the Almighty Jehovah. She could be discussing with you and suddenly keeps mum. She comes back to the topic refreshed after apologising that she needed guidance to push.

What is happening to her now, is such a thing to be proud of as some state governments have not attracted such investments to their people. Yet, she will easily tell you that the life she lives was not chosen by herself, but God. Her late Mum Deaconess Elizabeth, she will readily tell anyone, was her foundation of love for God, the secret of Princess Osifo’s success.

Many who felt she could have been in their social circle jumping from one party to the other with glee and living ‘the life’ wanted to rubbish her person. Tagging her as snobbish and a recluse, they never knew they were exacerbating the life and would not cause her to change her way of life. She easily tells you that you don’t just learn how to use your left hand at old age when you were born right-handed.

The rebirth of Princess Osifo certainly is here and with a bang. The gas sector and hospitality industry will soon be unveiling her footprints.

This lady of substance has been through so much and learnt so much, and one can be assured that if she is doing anything; she wouldn’t be doing it just for doing sake, but it will of global impact for humanity.

Again, she is also not in a hurry to gain new friends or those who are easily referred to as fair-weather.

With what people say about this lady, you will still be pondering how she got back bigger and better than imagined. For people have been wondering and cannot fix exactly what she is cooking or what has become of her. Don’t eat your hearts out yet, you will be in suspense. And as the saying goes... life begins at 40. So is the rebirth of this Princess Royal.

22

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

PEOPLE

Mac Atasie

Mac Atasie

I was Born to Solve Problems, Crack New ways of doing Things You may mistakenly pass him thinking his is an ordinary folk, but Mac Atasie comes fully packaged, highly cerebral, witty, restive in problem solving and thinks ahead of everyone as his brain is permanently on overdrive when it comes to finding solutions. He jumped into sciences through brain capacity but was brought back by nature and providence into management consultancy, building startup companies and linking companies to funds and markets where he has hit gold in life sitting on several boards of companies like Chams and Satrack. He consults for Anambra and Abia states, which have witnessed a turnaround in their IGRs. He is the unseen hand in the Aba leather manufacturing cluster push.

Atasie, who is CEO of NEXTZON, shares the story of his ventures with Ahamefula Ogbu… Excerpts The Man, His Mission

I

am Macauley Chidinma Atasie from Abia State. Most of my life I have spent it solving one problem or the other; as a little boy in primary school, solving family problems in bigger families; stepping in to say this family doesn’t talk to that family, we need to resolve it and all the way into the corporate world where I moved from being a scientist to entering the management phase solely because I felt naturally drawn to solving problems; so managementconsulting whichismycore profession has one of its major value propositions in life as solving problems. You are either solving problems as a new business or a new idea you want to give expression and you don’t know what to do so you have to work with a management consultant that is interested in startups and he consults for you and assist you to follow the right

process to start your business… that is problem solving , it could be that this is a massive organisation that is not doing well anymore as far as the shareholders, markets and other things are concerned and it wants to redirect itself and begin to do well, that’s strategy development, that’s is transformation, that is problem solving. They have a problem and I believe that given my nature, the organisation that I have built will help to solve that problem.

Transition from Microbiology to Management Consultancy I think that the best thing that can happen to anybody is to live his mission. If you realise what you are built to do, you will enjoy your life. You need to see me in a strategy session, I come to life, I’m excited. I was meant to be a medical Doctor by my mother’s advice. She was a nurse and I believed everything she said so when she said medicine, I said great. I usually tell my story of how I got

my first and only bicycle, very beautiful and is still in my house in the village, The first time I took an exam in primary one, I failed. I failed because I did not enter the exam hall, I was a playful child and at home, every effort to teach me I refused because she was my mother. So when I failed she got a cane to flog me but somehow she got news that I cried, I was very unhappy , I was five years; she said because you cried, I believe you know what you’ve done. She was a community nurse and we went from one location to another , next time I took third and next term I took third again and she went to my teacher and asked is that my son’s result? The teacher said yes; and those were primaries one, two, three and she said she was tired of this third position so she now said if you take first I buy you a sports bicycle. So, I went to that new school in primary four and asked them who is number one in this class, they pointed at him and I called him and said you are taking first for the last time in your life

23

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

PEOPLE Nature Steered me away from Science to Management a dead place? If you ask me, I will say something is happening, but more importantly he has put in effort to push the leather sector. I was in a preparatory meeting as we are going to Kano to meet the German fund GIZ and Kano leather cluster on how Aba can collaborate on the leather industry.

The whole world consumes $365 billion worth of leather, just shoes from leather, I’ve not mentioned belts, handbags, boxes just in 2019. That amount is literarily Nigeria’s GDP, shoe alone in the world.

We are among the most respected shoe clusters in the world but then we sell only to ourselves and to the poor people Shoes should be $25 - $40 but our own shoes are N5000 as a very expensive pair of shoes. What he has done is that he has set up a factory that is fully automated and that can compete with any other factory in the world. It means that the over 100,000 shoe makers can now begin to explore how to play in the international market.

They will stop selling shoes of five dollars and start selling shoes of $40. Gradually, we will start bringing money into the country. So if we can do what Vietnam, China and other countries did in the shoe sector I think we can go places and I am using shoe as an example. I believe the best thing is to put your money in productive sectors because those are the sectors that will make people pay their taxes. Everybody may not get it right at the same time but remember that one was one year ahead of this but we are making progress.

and of course he never smelt first position again till I left the school.

I was willing and able to take that medicine; all my mates scored over 300 in Jamb but I got nearly 270 and Nsukka said no. Somehow, I entered for Microbiology and believed that I will still enter for medicine. I read like a medical student and scored all the As and my HOD refused to release me, he said he won’t release his best student but my uncle was Dean of Faculty of Medicine in UNIPORT, he said bring your result, if you score XYZ I will take you and we sent the result and it got there but between the VC’s office and his office it disappeared; so I concluded am not meant to be a medical doctor. I wouldn’t have enjoyed it. I’m not interested in that type of exactitude, I want to imagine things. You don’t solve a problem by doing what people have been doing; you must do things differently. My journey from Microbiology to business came as being who I should really be; I need to be a problem solver, I need to be creative to make things happen in a different way. I am not just a microbiologist but I also have Masters in Pharmacy and I worked in Nigeria Breweries for a short time and this will interest you. At NBL the Director of HR after interviewing me said what do you want to do? I said management. He said yea, we know you are coming as management trainee which means you are positioning as a manager in future but today what do you want to be, a brewer, marketing or management person and I said management, that’s admin. Last on the list was brewer so he gave me brewer because I’m a microbiologist.

Pursuing my satisfaction The day I resigned he said I knew you will resign.

Where are you going? I said Accenture. Accenture was then called Anderson Consulting which was paying me lower than Nigerian Breweries but I wanted to go to Anderson because it is where I thought i could learn on diverse problems solving opportunities. In Accenture, we worked for 7up Bottling Company Plc, that’s like a brewery right but I was able to work for 7up at the highest level, then the CEO at night will come and call me kekere, rub my head and say I want that solution tomorrow morning because he knew I will crack it; so my point is that’s where I am and that is problem solving.

When you say schools, I think the most important schools I attended was the Accenture School of Business because everyday in Accenture you are learning new things because I was working with CEOs of massive organisations. You are talking of UBA, First Bank; I would teach the Board of First Bank marketing. Which other training is bigger than that because you are engaging big men? I will be involved in teams transforming NAHCO, participate in a team that is checking what the aviation industry is like, so by the time you have done five years in Accenture or NEXTZON, that maybe like 10 years of MBA , so that’s how I built my business acumen. The first 12 months in Accenture, I handled a project for NNPC, working with top flight Accenture managers and I handled financial projections that touched on dollar-based infrastructure - Eleme petrochemicals and Kaduna refinery etc - doing works at the highest level.

On Job Creation There is me Mac and job creation in my businesses and there is me Mac and the country. I think as we speak between myself and the companies I own, we have at least 200 people that work for us directly on my payroll. Over time, we just started the alumni association of NEXTZON, I’m sure we have over 200 people that have passed through NEXTZON, excluding the various other companies NEXTZON owns or is affiliated with. The key business i have commercialised is called business incubation. We have incubated in NEXTZON over 20 companies.

In Accenture, we incubated Interswitch and several others. In NEXTON we incubated Chams Consortium limited which led to the national identity programm.

The federal government has concessioned the roll out of national ID programme to two different groups. Chams consortium which my company owns 35 per cent, Chams Plc owns 65 per cent or thereabout; that was an investment that led to the National ID programme that we have today because as at 2011, using my influence, I used to walk in to Central Bank; NIMC, I was like their staff, at a point I was the most valued client of Sheraton in Nigeria because every week I will spend three or four days with the DG of NIMC trying to build the NIN and by 2011 we had gotten CBN to assist banks to adopt NIN for KYC in banks.

Everywhere in the world every human being is a digit, you are a number and numbers can’t be faked. If you are 101, you are 101 and even if you

What creates satisfaction for me Solving problems. Once I see a smile on someone’s face. I like to succeed and I like to win, I don’t like being a failure, seeing people smile and winning, doing something that has never been done and succeeding. I want to do great things, win and make people happy.

Mac Atasie

have a twin, the twin must be a different digit from you, if not, you can confuse anybody. What that programme wanted to do for us was to modernise Nigeria architecture, I put in my innovation, my time to bring it to be so by 2011, CBN had written to all the banks after four years of investment, after Obasanjo had given us the mandate if allowed to continue, there was no longer any need for any other identification method in Nigeria. . Do you know how many jobs that would have created? It has in any case created job because you know the number of people involoved in NIN, doing biometrics, that’s massive. The BVN came because two weeks after that announcement, that is how the efforts of 2007 to 2012 was lost as it was stalled because the BVN came in to focus only on banks and CBN withdrew the directive given two weeks earlier to banks to use the NIN for KYC from February 2012 The jobs my efforts have led to are in hundreds in NEXTZON, Chams and interswitch which is everywhere in the world. The Interswich guy gotthe idea, gave it to his boss and they came to us for business case and i did my best, convinced our South African and Nigerian partners and we collectively convinced the big banks in Nigeria You talk about the agency sector, we went to Columbia 2011, came back after study and did a white paper that Central Bank adopted that led to roll out of Agency for financial institutions in Nigeria and I am sure you know there are loads and loads of financial agents who act as bank branches but they are one man shop, that’s is creation of value as we speak so I think it is the use of concepts, conversion into business ideas that people can subscribe to that is my claim to fame in terms of creating jobs with this now it will be nice I go and check how many of my efforts in companies

we incubated have created how many jobs directly and indirectly.

Consulting for Anambra, Abia There is something the governor of Abia did some months back. I also oversee the IGR of Abia and I also did that for Anambra which moved and more than trippled. Abia was also like that and we have increased it upwards of four times now, so there is progress. The challenge of Abia I think Anambra overcame it long ago which is the political aspect ,they have managed to find a way to allow reasonable independence to their leadership.

So, in Abia, my take is that the depth of our lack of infrastructure was overwhelming. It was like throwing a cup of water into an ocean, the deficit has made even the people to distrust government. You need to visit Aba and you will know that things have really changed in terms of development though there is still much to be done.

The Abia State Governor mentioned in an interview recently that a key achievement was the entry of some fast foods and people started laughing, do you think they will go there if environment was useless? So it is the action of government that enables people to come out. You are going to start having good hotels coming, businesses and lots of other businesses that will make life better coming into Abia State.

So if you ask me I think what he has achieved is to rebase Aba society, the Abia society. If you can take the opportunity to visit the state you will see that we have moved from minus 20 to about plus 20 so it is still quite low but nothing succeeds like success. We are beginning to attract interest, a year ago, Abia was the third state in attracting foreign direct investment. Why will anyone invest in

Silver bullet for Nigerian Economy Number one for me is export. So I would say, you have Kano and Aba, you link them together. If shoes generated $365 billion last year we target say 10 per cent and that $36 billion and that’s Nigeria’s external reserve from shoes alone and we do garments. It is not complicated, we just buy machinery that is readily available and we have cheap labour, $100 a month is cheap, I don’t know any other country that will let its people earn $100 a day with the kind of skills our boys in Aba have.

By the way America is the largest consumer of shoes in the world and I will go there and I think they do like six pairs per person, we do one pair per annum, they buy at higher rate of $40-$50 and we do N5000 so why should I do the same thing and focus on cheap market? I will rather focus on international market. Now America has a special act that favours Nigeria’s shoe industry. We have a discount when you are exporting into America, we also have a discount when you exporting anything leather and a few other things. Why not have an arrangement where the tanneries in Kano move their leather to Aba and create export organisations that will go into America and find markets supported by government. If we truly produce the quality they want supported by government, I would expect our leaders to set targets. China’s challenge over that sector is dropping why not let ours grow?

It is all in our hands to make it happen The second is decongesting the civll service and upgrading it. At the various level in our country, we don’t pay our civil servants very well because they are way too many for the kinds of jobs they do; we must remove those that are not creating value, not by sacking them as that will create a different kind of problems. If you look at CBN and other types of intervention, there is a lot of money for intervention running into hundreds of billion of naira. If you ask me, those monies should be used to provide capacity for civil servants that are willing to exit. I will professionalise and prune the civil service for competence. In countries that are doing well like Singapore, the civil servants earns as well as those in the private sector. A perm sec in the civil service earns same thing as Director in a bank, that’s the type of thing I want to see. That means we have to do it with a human face, decongest the civil service.

The third layer will be the psyche of the people. We believe government must dash us money. Government on its own believes that people must steal to succeed. There are so many psychological things we have to work on; a national orientation that will help us focus more on the business aspect of governance is what I will like to do. If you have a business plan that is bankable, there are funds for you. You must change and put them into groups that will make then strong enough to succeed.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

POLITY Agbasimalo: Labour Party will Reposition Anambra State Labour Party’s candidate for the November 6 Anambra State governorship election, Obiora Agbasimalo, believes that the ‘Home for all’ desperately needs a new lease of life through a committed leadership that comes with accountability.

The chartered accountant/philanthropist, who believes he remains the best candidate for the governorship of Anambra State, shares his plans for the state with select journalists, including Olaoluwakitan Babatunde Eddie Mbadiwe

development, IT advancements, manufacturing, raw materials processing, healthcare development, legal advancement etc.

Anambra State has produced great minds such as Dr. Oby Ezekwsili, Olisa Agbakoba SAN, the Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Late Sir Alex Ekwueme, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, Late Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Adichie, and many industrialists and business moguls and so on. In the business environment, the state has more millionaires and billionaires per square kilometer than any other state in the country. We have enormous potentials to surpass the likes of Taiwan and Vietnam, and even India in manufacturing. We have the potential using our traditional apprenticeship methods, to usefully engage every youth in the state and also bring them far above the poverty line.

Anambra has had enough of political alertness and eagerness.

Every local government in the state has what it can contribute to the state. If well harnessed, the state would become the envy of Nigeria.

W

hy did you join the Anambra guber race?

I joined the race because Anambra is in need of and is ripe for a new lease of life. Anambra requires leadership with accountability. It is time for Anambra State to truly take its place and live up to the true meaning of its National Slogan as “the Light of the Nation”.

I believe and know that I can implement the required changes Anambra needs to become that Light. Also, being a youth, I would be an example to Anambra and the nation at large that the youth are ready to take up the mantle of leadership in the land.

What do you think stands you out among other candidates?

I am selfless. I am a youth. I am energetic. I have worked in a top-notch private establishment where result-oriented performance and accountability is paramount. I’ll bring all these to leadership in Anambra.

Do you think Labour party is popular enough in Anambra to win the forthcoming guber election?

There is nothing like popular party. People should be looking out for credible round-peg in round-hole candidates with deliverable blueprints and not false and bogus promises. The idea of so called popular parties branding money bags; that is our undoing in this part of the world. We should come together and stop it. Look out for a healthy, sane, safe and calm party that presents a youthful and wholesome puff of fresh breath to the state or nation, especially the party with a youth flag bearer. I bet you that Labour Party is that party.

My party will win the November 2021 guber elections in Anambra State. It can also win in any other level of government elections in the country.

The party has previously won seats at federal house elections, and at some other time finished as 1st runner up in guber elections in the state. Labour party is the party of the Civil Service, the workforce of the state, the pensioners, the artisans, etc. We have the popularity to win the November 6 elections if electoral processes are free and fair. As for our

Agbasimalo A b l

party, we will always do the right thing. And I know that we will win by the special grace of the Almighty. Watch us coast to victory at the elections.

Anambra is a state of billionaires. Do you think you have the financial war chest to win the Nov 6 election?

It is highly unfortunate that winning elections in this country has become a highly capital intensive project. But that notwithstanding, we have the requisite financial muscle to pull it off.

What do you think is the greatest challenge facing Anambra State?

There is a myriad of challenges facing Anambra State that if one starts to comment on them, a good journalist such as yourself may be able to write a 10,000-page epistle on them. One of the challenges facing the state is its unutilised and unearthed wisdom, which we are going to dig up when we come up.

Anambra has the potential to be in the fore-front in areas of economic development, political leadership, infrastructural

How would you raise the IGR when you emerge as governor?

Income leakages and diversion are part of the issues my administration would tackle. I can grow Anambra’s IGR by at least 30 per cent from this. Other percentages will come from genuine, proper and calculated income/revenue drives from areas neglected and or taken for granted.

It is too early to express all here and now. Rest assured that they abound and we are capable. I would also seek support from the center to speedily conclude Federal projects in the state to boost our IGR. Our ever willing brethren in the diaspora will not be left behind.

What is your relationship with the Church, which is a critical factor in winning election in Anambra?

The Church is indeed critical in winning elections in the state. I am in constant touch with all the religious denominations in the state. I am in the centre of friendship with all churches and indeed mosques in the state, leaving out none. I believe I would have the full backing of the church at the polls. I would say that my relationship with the Church is cordial.

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Dakkada Towers: Symbol of Akwa Ibom’s Readiness for Business Udeme Asuquo

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he 21-storey smart building that goes by the name, Dakkada Towers, has remarkably changed the landscape and skyline of the Banking Layout in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. You cannot fail to notice the eye-popping architectural masterpiece from wherever direction you are approaching it – even from a distance of 1000 meters – whether coming into town from the Victor Attah International Airport; through Udo Udoma Avenue from the Aka Road end, or from the Oron Road-Nwaniba Road Junction. It is a sight to behold.

Originally slated for siting at the old Akpan Ndem market, the location of Dakkada Towers had to be moved to a more befitting area that is designed to be the Uyo Central Business District –where financial institutions and other high profile economic structures like the Ibom Tropicana Shopping Mall have already established strong presence.

But Dakkada Towers is not all about beautyandabold statementinarchitecturalingenuity.Thesignificanceofthestructure andtheroleitisgoingtoplayinthelifeofastatethatisbeingpositioned tobeaneconomichubinNigeriaandtheWestAfricansub-regionare quiteenormous.Theygobeyondthealluring,sereneandwelcoming environment,andthegadgetsthatspeakvolumesaboutthedeployment oftechnologyfromthemaingatetotheinteriorsofthebuildingwhere everythingiselectronicallyoperatedtofunctionwithclockworkprecision.

ThebuildingspeakstothedreamofGovernorUdomEmmanuelto transformAkwaIbomfromacivil service state to an economic giant that is privates-sector-driven. It is an embodiment of virtually everything the government set out to do from inception in 2015 – provision of infrastructure, economic transformation, job creation and betterment of the lives of the people of the state. Indeed, with Dakkada Towers, Akwa Ibom is ready for business.

Infrastructure Charles Ekpenyong, and Uyo-based development economist and management consultant, says existence of a structure like Dakkada Towers in Uyo has given fillip to the government’s

efforts at creating an enabling environment for investments to thrive in the state. He said shortage of accommodation has been a major issue for investors, especially startups, which may not have the wherewithal to build their own structures.

“You will recall that when Akwa Ibom was created in 1987, the seat of government was in an old colonial building that had been abandoned for decades”, he said.“Government ministries operated in rented properties until Governor Victor Attah came up with idea of building the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat. Only recently, Governor Udom Emmanuel’s clamour for ExxonMobil to relocate its administrative headquarters to Akwa Ibom where it has its operations always met with the argument that there is no accommodation in the state for a company of that size, apart from the fact that its head office in Lagos houses more than one company which cannot all relocate to the state”.

Ekpenyong said with the world-class facilities available in Dakkada Towers, multinational companies intent on setting up shop in the state will no longer have the issue of befitting accommodation to worry about.

Indeed, Dakkada Towers is designed to provide the kind of accommodation international oil companies (IOCs) would need to operate in Akwa Ibom. At the moment, some IOCs, including ExxonMobil, as well as others like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Oriental Energy have indicated interest in taking up spaces in the building. The probability is high that the presence of oil companies in Uyo would attract ancillary businesses to the state, who may also wish to operate from a building that has all the facilities any modern office anywhere in the world can boast of.

A banker in one of the leading financial institutions in the vicinity of Dakkada Towers says the presence of the structure in the area is a welcome development for banks, as its tenants would need their services. “Apart from the tenants that are going to occupy the structure, it is also going to attract other businesses to the area, and this is good for the banks”, he said.

Ekpenyong believes the presence of the Ibom Deep Sea Port and the proposed Liberty Oil and Gas Free Zone will attract businesses like clearing and forwarding, logistics, exports, etc, which would all want to operate from Uyo. “Dakkada

Towers would certainly be an attractive option in terms of office accommodation”, he said. “I believe there will be need to build another structure like Dakkada Towers in Uyo, because I do not see that building offering enough accommodation for businesses that are going to come into the state in the next two or three years. Private investors may need to look in the direction of building this kind of structure, because government cannot spend scarce resources on the provision of accommodation for businesses”.

Businesses that are going to utilize the accommodation opportunities offered by Dakkada Towers are not limited to Akwa Ibom.

The structure is probably the tallest in the entire South South and South East regions. The building has the potential to make Uyo the business centre for the two geo-political zones.

It bears mentioning the fact that Dakkada Towers is not designed only for big companies. There are provisions for small businesses that may not need whole floors.

Employment generation Engineer Francis Uwah, the project coordinator for Dakkada Towers, said over 400 workers were involved in the construction of the building. The number did not include suppliers of the various materials and components that were used in building the structure. He said it is difficult at this stage to estimate the number of jobs that would be created when the structure is fully occupied, as the companies that take up tenancy will employ the number of workers according to their sizes and needs.

“But I can say that the number of direct and indirect jobs that will be created when the building is fully occupied will be in their hundreds, if not thousands”, Uwah said. “ Dakkada Towers is going to add to government’s efforts at creating jobs and improving the standard of living of the people of the state.

And we are not talking only about those who will work directly in thebuilding. It is possible some of the companies will engage the services of suppliersof various items. That is a huge business opportunity for people in that line of business”.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

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POLITY

Bring the Coliseum Back at Adamasingba Stadium Babajide Balogun

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or the new generation of residents of Oyo State, they will grow up to have a sporting facility located in the heart of the ancient city of Ibadan, that they can be proud of.

The decent looks that now adorns the Adamasingba Stadium will motivate these new generation of sport enthusiasts in Oyo State to explore their dreams in the world of sports, thanks to the decision of the Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration to make an uplift of the facility. It is a relief to both the city of Ibadan and its residents who have watched that stadium become a shadow of itself through the years.

Long before now, Adamasingba is more renown as a terminal point for commercial public transportation in Ibadan than being reckoned with as a destination for sporting activities. Not only had the arenas and utilities inside the stadium become derelict over the years, the outward aesthetics of the stadium had become weather beaten, while the facility in its entire self was more or less a nuisance to the environment around it.

Conceived in 1976 and commissioned in 1988, several generation of residents in Ibadan grew up knowing the Adamasingba Stadium as breeding ground of great names in the world of sports especially football and lawn tennis.

For those great names and their fans, it must have been emotionally disappointing to watch that great facility go into the relics.

Such was the pervasive state of anomie about the Adamasingba Stadium until the Seyi Makinde administration signed on to the mission of rescuing it. The vision to resuscitate the stadium came through the project financing ingenuous scheme known as Alternate Project Funding Approach (APFA) as espoused by the Makinde administration.

Through the scheme, the remodeling work at the Adamasingba Stadium will cost the Oyo State government approximately N6 billion, which the contractors will finance and the state government will repay in a 29-month stretch.

And, as it is typical with many of the infrastructure work of the Makinde government, the delivery of the remodeling of Adamsingba Stadium was done within a record time of barely a year and six months without any hullabaloo. As a matter of fact, it is fitting to describe the Oyo State governor as a master craftsman. He brings his expertise in engineering to bear as he creates symmetry in the fine art of social engineering and structural reconstruction. He comes with a special skill of equanimity while he undertakes tough tasks and his sense of judgement in policy priority comes with faultless precision.

With the Adamasingba Stadium added to the catalogue for infrastructure development by the current administration in Oyo State, it should be expected that the state government will boldly contest a hosting right for the national sports festival and other iconic sporting events in Oyo State. This is how the economics of high value investment in the stadium can have a direct impact in the local economy of the state.

It is through such events that the people of Oyo State can enjoy the business side of sports. No effort should, therefore, be spared to ensure that the availability of a modern sporting facility becomes a fulcrum in the activation of sport businesses in Oyo state and in the city of Ibadan in Gov Udom Emmanuel particular. through organizing state-wide sporting events where Another advantage that the remodeling of this stadium future athletes will be discovered and nurtured. would bring is sports development. For a long time, Oyo The way the Makinde administration is going State has lost its pride of place in the medal gallery of major by its massive investment in social infrastructure sporting events. Such a decline is understandable owing will invariably drive more private sector investthe near absence of a functional training facility for Oyo ments to Oyo State and an ample way to evaluate State athletes . this is how real estate has become a booming It is instructive to advise the Makinde administration enterprise in the state now. If the Makinde’s that its approach to sports developments should be government continues this way, it is straight bottom-up, and not just a one-off reconstruction of a major logic to expect that in the next few years, the state sporting facility in the state. The state government may government would be in a viable position to expand its borrow a leaf from its approach in education investment tax index and cause an increase in the state’s internal which is a full circle reformation through investment in revenue portfolio. both physical structures and manpower.

In the same vein, it will be appropriate if the state Babajide Balogun sent this piece from Ologuneru, government will go a step further by identifying and Ibadan recruiting future athletes in Oyo State from schools and

When Will SERVICOM Focus on NIN and Passport Processing?

Raheemat Adeniran

I

had an unwholesome experience registering for the compulsory National Identification Number (NIN) scheme, encountering overzealousness of persons in positions of authorities, and a general apathy towards the status quo common among the citizenry. I was discriminated against on the basis of religion and struggled to be enrolled. I also escaped entrenched extortion rooted in the delivery of basic services, often perpetuated by fellow Nigerians who tend to cash in on delivery of essential services to fellow Nigerians in dire need of such services.

My journey towards enrolling for the NIN dates back to 2014 when I filled the online form required as pre-enrollment for the registration ahead of biometrics data capturing at any National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) registration center. Unfortunately I was unable to do the biometrics data capturing due to long queues of booked participants I often met each time I went to my most accessible designated NIMC centre located at the Lagos State University main campus, Ojo, Lagos.

So when the Communications and Digital Economy Minister, Dr. Isa Pantami, suddenly announced a deadline for linking all active mobile lines, I simply dismissed it as an empty threat knowing it will be impossible to achieve within the very short period given. I relaxed, expecting the worst case scenario should they make good their promise. I was simply not prepared to spend a whole day at any of the centres, with the attendant risk of the COVID-19 pandemic. I just could not afford to spend my precious time on such ‘frivolities’ with my challenging lifestyle of managing a career as an academic with family commitments, while shuttling between two states, Lagos and Osun, just to maintain some form of balance.

Then came an unusual call on a Saturday from a customer relations agent of one of the major telecommunication companies in Nigeria, Globacom (Glo) from the Osogbo centre, inquiring to know why I failed to subscribe for data the previous month. We chatted for a while on that. Just before ending the conversation, I casually asked if Glo was still registering people for the NIN at its offices. He answered in affirmative and encouraged me to come to the office the following the week to get it done. Since I was in Osun state at that time and billed to stay there for the following week, I decided to try it out.

I arrived the Gloworld outlet at Osogbo around 12 noon on Tuesday, June 15, 2021and was excited at the limited number of people on queue for the NIN registration. In less than 30 mins, I was already next-in-line to the capturing desk.

Just then, the capturing officer turned to me to inform me that I will have to show my ear for the biometrics capturing exercise, else I will not be attended to. I am a Muslim woman who wears the Hijab as a religious obligation and showing off my ear was a not an option for me. I insisted that he must be

mistaken as such denial is against international best practices which allows the use of such head coverings on religious grounds.

But he was adamant. He confirmed that as his usual practice and that anyone who unwilling to comply usually leave unattended. Shame. I ended up creating a scene insisting I speak to his superior officer. But he would not budge, claiming the buck stops at his desk when it comes to data capturing at the center. I eventually had to leave that day as no one would agree to my stance. They simply could not understand the drama “just to show my ear”. But they were wrong; evaluating my defiance from their narrowed and bias perspective. My insistence is simply a fight for societal inclusion for Muslim women. I should not be discriminated upon and denied essential services on the bases of my religion.

As I left the office I called a friend who has ties with hijab advocacy groups to help report the discrimination I just experienced. She later linked me up with a senior official at Glo who called me two days later, on Thrusday, June 17, to inquire about the incident. He apologised for my treatment at the center and promised that the issue will be resolved.

The Manager of the Gloworld outlet at Osogbo also called to apologise and assured that I could visit the centre to get the registration done. He noted he was not around on the day of my first visit as he would have resolved the issue in my favour. I agreed to go the following day.

As a further precaution, I did some little research and found a NIMC Harmonization and Implementation Committee document online on Biometrics Standards and Specifications which clearly specify that “Partial covering of head, without covering the face from forehead are allowed due to religious reasons”. The clause permitting head covering is contained in page 16 of the document under subsection 8.7 on “accessories” under Section 8 titled “Enrollment of face image”.

I was eventually captured by the same man who blatantly refused claiming the system has been programmed to reject any face image captured without the ear. He simply arrogated the power to interpret the guidelines thus denying others like myself the opportunity to get captured at the centre. Although the manager assured that he has since been briefed to desist from such practice, I still witnessed him asking two women in hijabs to show their ears for the face capturing before my turn.

Then came the next drama regarding the collection of the NIN slip. I was at the centre again on July 17 with the hand written slip containing my name and a serial number to trace my NIN. I met two men by the entrance calling out names from similar slips and returning the slips to their respective owners with a N200 note. I was curious. I learnt the names being called were for those whose NIN were yet to be generated. There were reports of some who had done the data capturing since May but whose NIN were yet to be generated.

Afterwards, one of the men started collecting the slip again from ‘the new comers’, and people simply handed him their

slips with a N200 note. On getting to me, I requested to know what the money was meant for, and he simply said it was “for checking” if the NIN had been generated for collection. I told him I would not pay. He said that was the pre-condition for collection, but that if the NIN has not been generated the money will be refunded so I could check back another day.

I did not need any soothsayer to confirm that it was illegal.

Armed with the contact of the outlet Manager, I called him up and introduced myself. He was quick to intervene. He called me in and collected the slip from me. Within seconds my NIMC slip, with the generated NIN, was handed over to me. He apologised again noting that the men were wrong to have insisted on the N200 as a pre-condition to getting the slip. He said he just learnt that the N200 naira being collected was lamination fee for the slip and confirmed that they should not have insisted on the payment since it was optional. I left the main hall to meet the others within the open space in the compound who were aware of my refusal to pay.

They were surprised I had collected the slip and simply attributed it to my “knowing someone” within. I told them they could have challenged the decision to pay but they confirmed that they had no choice than to pay the requested N200 “checking fee” and another N200 for lamination when the slip is ready for collection, making a total of N400. I called the attention of the outlet manager to the anomaly but he insisted the men claimed they only collect the N200 for the lamination.

I chose not to argue further. Whether N200 or N400, it still did not negate the fact that those men at the gate chose to cash-in on the situation as is typical of many such situations when people require essential services. And as usual, people simply complied without argument, just to get the required services.

It is high time many Nigerians started to challenge the status quo and ask basic questions. Though, we may not always get our way, we may at least get the attention of relevant authorities to the plight of the ordinary man.

I once evaded such exploitation when I applied for a renewal of my international passport in 2017. I had recently read two Premium Times reports on passport racketeering at the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) passport offices nationwide; with the agency’s official response urging people to directly apply for their international passports on the NIS website and make the approved payments online.

The officers were stunned at the NIS passport office in Ibadan which I had visited to submit the filled application form. It was evident I was in for a long ordeal. But an official complaint my husband lodged on the agency official Facebook page fact-tracked the application process.

r Adeniran is a journalism lecturer at Lagos State University, School of Communication.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

POLITY

Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Nigeria’s Failure Eddie Mbadiwe

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he Tokyo games have come and gone. It was a celebration of humanity which has now been consigned to history. The International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government deserve kudos for pulling off such successful games inspite of strong opposition from within, and other risks associated with Covid-19 pandemic. What the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government displayed was a robust committed leadership.

Many nations celebrated, some wept and others was just there – indifferent not realizing what hit them. Where did Nigeria fit in? Mr. Sunday Dare the Minister of Sports at the Airport said Nigeria came 62nd (not true, we were 74) out of 205 countries. He said his contingent did very well. Mr. Minister your standards must be terribly low.

The small motley crowd presumably assembled by your Ministry should have convinced you that Nigerians were not impressed by your performance. In better times they line the streets, singing and jumping on the roof top of buses welcoming the Athletes. Mr. Minister all that did not happen In days gone by when one was a University lecturer, Nigeria’s performance will deserve nothing but a red pen across the page.

If one wanted to be less charitable, that performance would merit nought in the language of my friend Professor Gaius

Igboeli.

This nation must stop celebrating mediocrity and abject failure. People must be held accountable for non-performance and we must have the courage to sign-post them to the exit door. It was Margaret Thatcher who said that to be a good leader, you must be a good butcher. We must get out of this cesspit of budget padding and crass negligence to have any chance of advancing as a nation.

One ingredients for success in international competition is patriotism. That is the spirit to do or die for the right as the anthem of Government Secondary School Owerri distils into every student on their first day at school. The Chinese were at the top of the medals table until the penultimate day, when the Americans pulled all stops and with grit and determination recharged the blood in their veins, toppled the medals table and emerged overall winners. That was patriotism in keeping with their Presidents mantra that “America is back.” The Americans showed the world who they are despite of all the shenanigans by their political class. Regrettably patriotism is in short supply or non-existent in Nigeria because President Buhari and his government cannot motivate the citizenry due to their track record of siting projects in one part of the country coupled with skewed appointments to all major offices in Nigeria. To worsen matters, there is no empathy between the government and the people they rule. Unless we have a change of direction agitations for restructuring will continue. Let

us remember that you can take a horse to the watering pond but you cannot force it to drink.

Now is the time to start preparing for Paris 20/24 if we want to avoid another show of shame. Sixty athletes could only bring back one silver and one bronze to show for all that expense. We appreciate those who did strive to at least bring back something.

This is the time to search for brand sponsors and there are many.

All the companies scooping billions from the fat of Nigeria should be cajoled and if that does do not work, be forced to adopt at least one sport and start funding it from now till Paris. Organizations that came to mind include; NNPC, Nestle, Dangote, MTN, DSTV and their competitors. Let us remind ourselves that some of the gold medalists were as young as fourteen (14). This is the time to build school sports. It is senseless and stupid to start investing in people in their thirties and forties when their bones have started the process of calcification.

One other point nation’s gloss over is the economic value of a gold podium appearance. Arise O’ Compatriots; the Nigerian National Anhtem was not played even once. No amount of propaganda by Lai Mohammed and his Ministry will provide 20% of what a podium appearance will deliver to Nigeria in economic terms.

This is the right moment to start preparing for a rich harvest in Paris 2024 r Hon. Dr. Eddie Mbadiwe writes from Abuja

Switzerland, IOM to Fund Relief for 450 Migrants Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

T

he Tokyo games have come and gone. It was a celebration of humanity which has now been consigned to history. The International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government deserve kudos for pulling off such successful games inspite of strong opposition from within, and other risks associated with Covid-19 pandemic. What the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government displayed was a robust committed leadership.

Many nations celebrated, some wept and others was just there – indifferent not realizing what hit them.

Where did Nigeria fit in? Mr. Sunday Dare the Minister of Sports at the Airport said Nigeria came 62nd (not true, we were 74) out of 205 countries. He said his contingent did very well. Mr. Minister your standards must be terribly low.

The small failure. P American re The Swiss government, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are collaborating with the federal government to provide relief for 450 vulnerable returnee migrants impacted by COVID-19 in Katsina, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kano and Yobe states over the next nine months.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar

Farouq this at the launching of the programme.

She applauded the Swiss government and IOM for supporting the initiative that enhances the livelihood of the persons of concern in Nigeria and for entrenching better migration management in the country.

She said the programme would tackle emerging issues and challenges confronting the protection and livelihood of returnees and potential migrants in Nigeria.

The minister noted that returnee migrants in the northern states, especially the elderly, the chronically ill, people living with disabilities, women and child-headed households, unemployed youths and refugees, would benefit from the programme.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R; Vice President, Association of Sustainability Professionals of Nigeria[ASPN], Ini Abimbola; Director, Public Affairs Communications and Sustainability, Coca Cola Nigeria Limited, Amaka Onyemelukwe; Sunday Idowu; Head of Learning and Development Directorate, ASPN, Eunice Sampson; and, Director, Strategy and Membership ASPN, Bekeme Masade-Olowola at the Inaugural Induction Ceremony of the Association of Sustainability Professionals of Nigeria [ASPN] in Lagos …yesterday

L-R: CEO, Lagos State Lotteries Board, Bashir Are; Managing Director, Kingmakers, Mr. Gossy Ukanwoke; Brand Ambassador, BetKing, Jay Jay Okocha; Director General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC),Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila; and Chief financial officer, Kingmakers, Nigeria, Oladapo Olasope during the unveiling of Betking’s New brand identity in Lagos… yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Managing Director, Allott Consulting Ltd. Attahiru Bala Usman; and, Project Manager, MotaEngil Nigeria, Fernando Alves Morais during a site verification of the Kano-Maradi Railway Project L-R; CEO, Tobbies Touch/ Academy Coach, Oluwatobiloba Ogunbiyi; Okeke Peace; Williams Faith; Head of partnership, Lush Hair Folasade Oluwafemi; during the first graduation ceremony at Lush Environment and Social Impact Assessment exercise.

Hair Academy in Lagos.

GLOBAL SOCCER

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

14. 08.2021

NEWS

THE RIVALRY BEGINS

PAGE. 29

Simy Nwankwo Can He Sustain Salernitana at Topflight?

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Simy Nwankwo Can He Sustain Salernitana at Topflight?

Simy Nwankwo celebrating one of his goals

One characteristics of promoted teams to topflight in big leagues is not being able to stay at the top. Statistics have shown that two out of three promoted teams got relegated. Last season, Super Eagles striker, Simy Nwankwo could not save Crotone from being relegated to Serie B despite scoring 20 goals - the fifth highest in the league. Having joined another newly promoted team- Salernitana, will he be able to help them remain at the top flight?

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fter being linked with several Serie A sides, Nigerian international, Simy Nwankwo finally pitched tent with Serie A newboys- Salernitana.

With 20 goals to his name which made him the fifth -highest goalscorer in the 20/21 Serie A season, Nwankwo, still could not save Crotone from relegation.

The big question on the lips of observers is whether Simy would help newly-promoted Salernitana stay in Serie A. Nwankwo scored 20 goals last season but it was not enough to help Crotone stave off relegation.

Football Italia reports that the 29-year-old has moved to Salernitana for “€6m, including bonuses and add-ons.”

Simy joined Crotone in 2016 and left after 66 goals in 159 competitive appearances, making him the club’s all-time top scorer.

He is now the second Nigerian international to sign for the team this summer, after Joel Obi. Before his move to Salernitana, the 28-year-old was rumoured to be on the wishlist of Spanish side Real Mallorca and another Serie A new comers

Venezia.

When it was confirmed that Crotone had been relegated from Serie A, former Nigerian midfielder Henry Nwosu had advised the Super Eagles forward to move to a club where his goal prowess would be of great value.

It was a disappointing return for Crotone, who could manage only five wins in 34 Serie A games with Simy playing a big role in all of those wins.

“Simy Nwankwo has shown to be a quality striker in the Serie A where his goal-scoring prowess has been fantastic.

He’s deadly in front of goal any time he finds himself in the 18-yard box,” former Nigerian international, Henry Nwosu said.

“It is so sad that his club, Crotone, has been relegated after losing to Inter Milan, but that is not the end of the world for him. Every club will definitely want to sign a player like Simy because he knows how to deliver the goals.

“I will advise him to move to a better club in Spain, England, and Italy where his impact can be felt in the Super Eagles.”

Before now he had dismissed concern about his future at Crotone saying: “I do not know. For now I’m in a place where I feel good and people

love me, the transfer market doesn’t interest me,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport when he was asked about his future.

Crotone’s Sporting Director was however optimistic that the striker will certainly be sold.

“Simy has requests from Serie A, but above all from the Bundesliga. Many Serie A teams have requested for him, and he will certainly be sold. Simy is on the market because he is in great demand,” Crotone’s Sporting Director Beppe Ursino told Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport earlier in June.

Salernitana was always leading the Serie A race for the Nigerian ahead of Lazio, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Genoa and Monza.

There are also French and Belgian clubs interested in the Super Eagle, whose contract with Crotone ends in 2022.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku, Luis Muriel and Dusan Viahovic scored more league goals in Italy than the Nigerian international.

Nwankwo also broke and surpassed the record as the highest Nigerian scorer in a single Serie A season.

Simy is coming off an excellent campaign in Serie A. The Super Eagles striker’s 20 goals

for Crotone tied him with Lazio’s Ciro Immobile as the joint-fifth on the Serie A goalscorer ’s chart.

In doing so, the 29-year-old became the Nigerian to have scored the most goals in a single campaign in Europe’s top five leagues, overtaking Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s previous record of 17.

Simy also eclipsed former Inter Milan star, Obafemi Martins as the highest scoring Nigerian in the Serie A. Martins scored 28 times in 88 matches for Inter Milan, but Simy ended with 30 goals, all in the colours of Crotone.

Asked when was the first time he kicked a football, Simy said: “I was little, I was maybe four years old. I started playing at home, outside, everywhere. Every time. I always wanted the ball between my feet. My father said I was sick from this game. It didn’t take much to give birth to my passion, or rather obsession, for football.”

The gangling striker was a member of the Super Eagles team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia though he saw only three minutes of action throughout the three group stage matches. He won the first of his four caps for Nigeria against DR Congo in 2018 but he has not played for Nigeria since August 2018

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

Man City Start Title Defence with Visit to Tottenham Premier League defending champions, Manchester City will start their title defence tomorrow as they visit Tottenham Hotspur. A very hostile awaits Pep Guardiola and his men for attempting to woo the Lilly Whites’ jewel, Harry Kane to the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City players celebrate their 2020/21 Premier League triumph at the Etihad Stadium

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ottenham Hotspur welcome defending champions, Manchester City at the New White Hart Lane Stadium on Sunday hoping to start the new Premier League campaign brightly.

Spurs were very poor last season, failing to qualify for the Champions League and losing to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. Under new manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, the north Londoners will aim to challenge for a place in the top four this term.

They head into Sunday off the back of a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over north London rivals Arsenal in a friendly game.

On the other hand, after a slow start to the 2020/21 season, Manchester City ran away with the Premier League title, finishing 12 points above cross-town rivals Manchester United.

However, they suffered heartbreak in the Champions League final, losing to Chelsea in May. Guardiola’s City come into Sunday’s game off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Leicester City in the FA Community Shield at the Wembley Stadium.

Ryan Sessegnon remains out with a hamstring injury, while new signing Cristian Romero, who was a part of the Argentina squad that won the Copa America in July, hasn’t trained with his new teammates and appears unlikely to feature.

Tanguy Ndombele was not picked for the friendlies against Arsenal and Chelsea, so he remains a doubt for Sunday’s game even though he’s not injured, as confirmed by Nuno.

Meanwhile, Kane is in contention for Sunday’s encounter against Manchester City, despite returning late to the club.

Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden sustained injuries in Euro 2020 earlier this summer and are set to miss the start of the new Premier League campaign.

Guardiola’s squad is taking shape nicely ahead of City’s season opener, with Gabriel Jesus, Ederson, Kyle Walker and John Stones all returning to training on Tuesday morning after long summer holidays following their international duties in the Copa America and Euro 2020.

Despite less than a week’s training, Ederson should start in goal.

The most expensive player in the English top-flight, Jack Grealish is set to start on the bench at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Meanwhile, Manchester United will begin their 2021-22 Premier League campaign with a home fixture against Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United this afternoon.

The Red Devils finished second behind Manchester City in last season’s table, while Leeds impressed on their return to the top flight, picking up 59 points from 38 matches to claim ninth.

Man United will be expected to challenge for this season’s Premier League title, with the club again making progress under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last term, claiming second spot, 12 points behind the champions Man City.

Statement signings in the shape of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane have arrived, and the Red Devils will be looking to put down a marker in the early stages of the campaign. Indeed, the 20-time English champions will not face a genuine top-four rival in the league until they travel to Leicester City in the middle of October.

There are no easy games at this level

of football, but Solskjaer will be expecting his side to pick up some serious points in the opening weeks and that will surely have to be the case if they are to genuinely challenge Man City for the title, with the Citizens likely to be the team to beat once again.

The team’s pre-season has been interrupted by late returns from international duty and coronavirus issues, but they managed to play four friendlies and put in a strong performance against Everton last Saturday with a 4-0 win.

Man United finished last season without any silverware, but they made the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, semi-finals of the EFL Cup and final of the Europa League, and Solskjaer will be desperate to take the final step in 2021-22, with the Norwegian certainly being backed in the transfer market this summer.

Leeds, meanwhile, finished ninth in the Premier League last season on their return to the top flight, and it would be fair to say that they provided plenty of entertainment along the way.

The Whites finished just two points behind eighth-place Arsenal and three points behind seventh-place Tottenham Hotspur, who secured a spot in the Europa Conference League; Bielsa’s side were only six points off the Europa League positions, meanwhile, which is so impressive for a promoted team.

The team’s form in the latter stages of the 2020-21 campaign was also excellent, as they lost just one of their last 11 matches and won their final four to rise into the top half, and expectations will be high this term, certainly for the club’s supporters, which will bring new pressure this term.

Leeds have signed both Junior Firpo

and Kristoffer Klaesson this summer, while Jack Harrison has made a permanent move to Elland Road from Man City; more new signings are expected before the end of the window, but there has not been too much change over the last couple of months.

In terms of pre-season, the Whites have played six times, recording one win, two draws and three defeats, and they will enter this weekend’s contest off the back of a 2-2 draw with Villarreal; the results have been far from impressive, but not too much can be read into a team’s pre-season.

PREMIER LEAGUE TODAY

Man Utd v Leeds Utd 12:30 Burnley v Brighton 15:00 Chelsea v Crystal Palace 15:00 Everton v Southampton 15:00 Leicester v Wolves 15:00 Watford v Aston Villa 15:00 Norwich City v Liverpool 17:30 SUNDAY

Newcastle Tottenham

v v

West Ham 14:00 Man City 16:30

v v v v

Levante 18:30 Real Betis 18:30 Real Madrid 21:00 Espanyol 21:00

La Liga TODAY

Cádiz Mallorca Alavés Osasuna SUNDAY

Celta Vigo v Atlético 16:30 Barcelona v Sociedad 19:00 Sevilla v Vallecano 21:15 MONDAY

Villarreal v Granada 19:00 Elche v Bilbao 21:00

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

L-R:LOC chairman Seyi Akinwunmi, Marketing Consultant Mr Ige, Hon Ayo Omidiran, Chief of Staff to the First Lady, Dr Turin, Director of Organization Ms Aisha Falode and Deputy Director of Organization Mrs Daura after the LOC met with the Office of First Lady at the State House in Abuja

Samuel Chukwueze outpaces Barcelona duo of Clement Leglet and Jordi Alba is one of he players expected to light-up the La Liga this season

NFF Board Backs Pinnick’s Position on Biennial World Cup Cycle

Players to Watch Out for in the New Football Season on DStv, GOtv

The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation yesterday unanimously endorsed the position of its President, Amaju Pinnick in support of a two-year FIFA World Cup cycle, tabled before the FIFA Congress at its meeting three months ago by FIFA President, Gianni Infantino.

At a meeting held via video conference, the board toed the line of Pinnick and argued that the 166 countries that already supported the idea (out of FIFA’s 211 members) were in order.

President of the Confederation of African Football, Dr Patrice Motsepe and football legends Lothar Matthaeus and Gary Lineker are among the leading campaigners to half the current four-year cycle of football’s flagship competition.

“With the World Cup being played every four years, the opportunity to have this experience is too rare and spread over too great a time. Whole generations of players miss out, sometimes because of one match potentially decided by one incident…the World Cup is played every four years for historic reasons linked with the Olympic cycle… it has been like this for almost 100 years…we can add one more month every four years to organise the most beautiful competition in the world and find ways to protect the players, clubs, leagues, federations and Confederations’ interests and this is neither irrational nor absurd.

“It is a fact that competing at the highest level helps the less developed countries to raise their level. It increases their

experience and helps them to learn from mstakes. It is also a key way to bring a country and its key stakeholders behind an objective; including the fans, the sports authorities and also governments,” Pinnick told an online publication, cajnewsafrica yesterday.

The NFF supremo, a member of the 37-member FIFACouncil that is the highest decision-making organ for world football, also insists that a two-year World Cup will hasten the infrastructural development of host nations – which would be more this time – and also create more wealth, lead to more FIFA projects, enable more footballers to play in the World Cup, enable more FIFA World Cup appearance for star players and enable more winners of the coveted, 24-karat gold trophy.

Okpekpe Organiser Mourns Death of Captain Hosa Okunbo Pamodzi Sports Marketing, a leading sports marketing, sponsorship, hospitality and rights acquisition business and organiser of the Okpekpe international 10km road race is saddened by the loss of billionaire businessman and Chairman of Ocean Marine Solutions Limited, Captain Hosa Okunbo who passed away after months of a hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer at a London hospital.

Mike Itemuagbor, Chief Executive Officer of Pamodzi Sports Marketing in a condolence message said Captain Hosa’s death was both a personal loss to him and a big loss to the annual 10km road race which the late billionaire helped to make the

first road running event to be granted a World Athletics label in West Africa and the first member of Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) in Nigeria.

‘Captain Hosa’s death came as a shock to me albeit I knew he was battling to save his life after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was one of the pillars that made our race, Okpekpe international 10km road race to attain the historic heights it has attained in just a few years,’ said Itemuagbor who recalled one of the contributions of the late captain to the race. ‘’I remember when he came in to become one of our esteemed sponsors of the race two years ago through his five-star hospi-

tality outfit, The Wells Carlton Hotel and Luxury Apartments.

The company came in as our hotel/hospitality partner. Captain Hosa even registered for the 2019 edition of the race although his busy schedule prevented him from being physically present in Okpekpe,’ wrote Itemuagbor in a statement he personally signed.

Itemuagbor says the race will resume next year after two forced postponements occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic that has plagued the world since early 2020.

‘The race will resume to honour the memory of Captain Hosa who will be happy in heaven that his dear state, Edo state has been placed on the map of the world as a destination of sort for sports.’

Football fans on DStv and GOtv get to witness a brand new season of Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, which promises to be worth watching. The Premier League season kicked off yesterday, as well as the La Liga season. While the Serie A season is scheduled to kick off later on August 21.

With the start of the new football season, we take a look at the Nigerian players and other players around the world participating in the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A games: Premier League Players: Starting off with Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho. The 21-year-old English international joined the Red Devils from Borussia Dortmund in the biggest transfer of the European summer thus far. He is expected to add an extra edge to United’s attack and possibly inspire them to a first Premier League since 2012-13.

One of the Premier League signings which may have gone under the radar is Brentford’s acquisition of Nigerian Frank Onyeka. The midfielder joined the Bees from Danish side Midtjylland and is expected to be a hit under the guidance of manager Thomas Frank. Other African newcomers to the Premier League who deserve a mention are Zambian attacker Patson Daka and Nigerian striker Emmanuel Dennis.

Another signing which could be significant is Wolverhampton Wanderers bringing in Francisco Trincao on loan from Barcelona. The 21-year-old winger will add a lot to Wolves LA Liga Players: The list of players transferring into La Liga this season is headlined by Sergio Aguero, who ended 10 years at Manchester City by signing for Barcelona as a free agent. The 33-year-old Argentine is no stranger to Spanish football, having scored 74 goals in 175 Liga appearances for Atletico Madrid from 2006 to 2011.

Barcelona club icon Cesar Luis Menotti believes Aguero will fill the boots of Luis Suarez, whose transfer to Atletico a year ago was perhaps the key factor in sending the title to the Rojiblancos.

Another major arrival is Austian defender David Alaba, who swapped Bayern Munich for Real Madrid and is looking to make a major impact in the Spanish capital. The 29-year-old will wear the number four jersey vacated by club legend Sergio Ramos. A less prominent, but nonetheless important signing was Villarreal’s bringing Senegalese attacker Boulaye Dia from Stade Rennais in France. The 24-year-old will add much needed versatility to the Yellow Submarine’s attack, and he is set to link up well with fellow African star Samuel Chukwueze of Nigeria.

Other newcomers in La Liga to keep an eye on include Memphis Depay, Youssouf Sabaly and Japanese forward Taichi Hara, who is being tipped to star for Deportivo Alaves.

Serie A Players: Many of the most notable transfers in Serie A ahead of the 2021-22 season feature African players, particularly the arrival of Fode Ballo-Toure at Milan from French Ligue 1 side AS Monaco. The left-back will face stiff competition for playing time given that Theo Hernandez is ahead of him in the pecking order, but the 24-year-old Senegalese is ready to step up. Other Africans looking to make a major impact after their transfers include Musa Barrow, and is sure to see regular playing time; Nigerian defender Tyronne Ebuehi; Joel Obi moving from Verona to Salernitana; and Ivorian Hamed Traore trading Empoli for Sassuolo.

Another key man to watch is Turkish playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu, who controversially ran down his contract at Milan and signed for cross-town rivals Internazionale.

With DStv’s “Unbeatable Football” and GOtv’s “Our Home, Our Football” campaign offers for the 2021/22 football season, customers are promised a range and depth of unbeatable football coverage packed with expert analyses and commentary from top pundits.

Football lovers can enjoy the best football titles and cup tournaments such as Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Emirates FA Cup, La Liga, Serie A, and more this season with the Biggie Goals Promo The limited time only promo puts the DStv HD decoder, dish kit and one-month Compact subscription at N9,900, while the GOtv decoder, GOtenna with a one-month Max subscription goes for N6,900.

Chelsea vs Palace, Bundesliga, La Liga, Coppa Quadri Brings Fusion Tennis Foundation to Nigeria Italia Matches Live on StarTimes this Weekend The Premier League, Bundesliga and La Liga kick off this weekend with exciting crackers across Europe live on StarTimes.

English Premier League match, Chelsea vs Crystal Place will air, courtesy of Integral, on NTA at 3 pm.

The New La Liga season began yesterday, with Getafe playing away against Valencia at 8 pm. Messi-less Barcelona will begin their campaign against Real Sociedad on Sunday at 7 pm. Real Madrid, the 34-time

Spanish champions will travel to Alavés today for their first game of the season at 9 pm.

Atlético Madrid, meanwhile, begin the defence of their title at Celta Vigo on Sunday at 4:30 pm.

The Top tier of German Football, Bundesliga, kickedoff yesterday as Bayern Munich clash against Borussia Monchengladbach in the first matchday. Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, will take on Frankfurt at the Signal Iduna Park today.

Also, StarTimes has renewed exclusive rights to broadcast Coppa Italia & Supercoppa Italiana for a further three seasons in Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the contract with Lega Serie A, StarTimes extends the exclusive rights to the two Italian Premier Cup competitions in English, French, Portuguese, and African indigenous languages to the 2023/2024 season. Coppa Italia fixtures will be live this weekend on StarTimes sports channels.

Over 124 tennis players have assembled for the maiden edition of the Fusion Sports Foundation in partnership with the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club Summer Tennis Clinic.

The Summer Tennis clinic and tournament which commenced on the 9th of August is aimed at given a platform to non-privileged who are talented but have no platform to showcase their worth.

The former Nigerian Tennis Junior Champion and organiser of the programme, Fuad Quadri, said in Lagos that the Tennis Foundation is to keep the children busy through the game of tennis from any form of social vices.

According to Quadri, “this is the sport that gave me everything in life, it is all about creating opportunities for the kids in Lagos through sports. I grew up in Lagos Island, an environment filled with crimes and all sort of illegal things and this summer tennis programme is to keep them busy and to keep them away from the streets.

“What we do in the Foundation is to get many children as much as possible into to the game of tennis and sports in general and channel a plan for their lives and also see if they could play the game as a professional in the future and the non-talented could be helped to get scholarship to study in United States of America.”

The Fusion Tennis Foundation Summer Clinic and tournament will end on Sunday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

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Okereke

It’s Dream Come True for David Okereke Since his days with Serie B side, Spezia, David Okereke had always prayed to play at Italy’s topflight but his team failed to gain promotion to Serie A. After rumoured interest from Turin and Milan giants- Juventus and Inter for his signature failed to materialise, he eventually pitched tent with Club Brugge. His dream however came to fruition this summer when newly promoted Serie A clubVenezia came calling

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ewly promoted Serie A club, Venezia have completed the signing of Nigeria youth international, David Okereke on a season-long loan from Club Brugge, with the option to hand the 23-year-old a permanent contract at the end of the 2021-22 campaign.

After helping Club Brugge win the Belgian Super Cup last month with a 3-2 win over Genk, Okereke made an appearance in the Belgian First Division A opener against AS Eupen which ended in a 2-2 draw on July 25.

The Nigeria youth international who moved to Belgium in 2019, won back-to-back Belgian topflight titles with his contribution of 13 goals in 50 league appearances.

Although they finished fifth in the Serie B table last season, Venezia were promoted to the Italian top-flight after a 20-year absence via play-offs in May. He joined Club Brugge in the summer of 2019, becoming their record signing in history, and has scored a total of 15 goals for Blauw-Zwart in 71 matches.

In his second season with Club Brugge, he fell out of favour with manager Philippe Clement, making only nine starts from a possible 51 in all competitions.

Okereke’s most productive season to date was in 2018-2019, netting 10 goals and chipping in with 12 assists in 30 matches, leading to a call-up to the Olympic national team and Super Eagles He joins on-loan Benfica

defender Tyronne Ebuehi as the second Nigeria player in Paolo Zanetti’s team.

“Venezia FC is pleased to announce the signing of Nigerian attacker David Okereke, 23, on loan from Club Brugge,” read a statement on the club’s website.

“Okereke came through the youth academy at Spezia, before ultimately reaching the first team and making his professional debut in April 2016.

“After three seasons of increasing experience and progress, including a half-season loan at Cosenza, Okereke had a breakout season with Spezia in 2018/19, leading the team with 10 goals and 12 assists in Serie B. “Okereke’s form at Spezia prompted a move to Club Brugge in July 2019. In his first season

with the club, Okereke made 22 appearances, starting 13 of them and scored nine goals to help Club Brugge win the Belgian league, while also making eight appearances in the Uefa Champions League and one appearance in the Uefa Europa League Round of 32.”

The Lagos-born attacker still has two years left on his contract at Club Brugge.

He was an unused substitute for the Super Eagles in an international friendly match against Egypt in March 2019, which ended 1-0 in their favour.

The Nigeria forward is back in Italy for his maiden spell in the top-flight with Paolo Zanetti’s side.

Before joining Brugge, Crystal Palace turned their direction at the former Spezia striker with Palace having been looking to add goals to their squad, with Palace among the lowest scorers in the Premier League.

The Eagle were interested in the then 21-year-old forward who had lit up Serie B last season with Spezia.

Palace were said to have sent scouts to watch Okereke in action during Spezia’s thrilling 4-4 draw away at Brescia and Nigerian forward did not disappoint as he scored one and set up another at the Mario Rigamonti Stadium.

Serie A side Inter Milan also tracked him in view of signing him with the option of leaving him at Spezia on loan before a decision will be made on his involvement.

Though no bid was tabled but it was believed that Inter were confident of their strong relationship with Spezia and a deal could be done if all goes according to plan.

According to Italian outlet Il Secolo XIX, as cited on Inside Futbol, Turin giants, Juventus also kept a close eye on Okereke’s development.

Born in Lagos, Okereke began his career in Italy with Lavagnese before his shift to Spezia in 2016, he rose through the ranks before making his professional debut against Novara on April 9, 2016.

He has played 36 games in total for Spezia across all levels, scoring eight goals while providing one assist.

Okereke is a product of Football College Abuja, the academy that produced AS Roma young duo Sadiq Umar and Nura Abdullahi.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMIFULA OGBU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

BY

EBERE WABARA

Gossip: Count, Non-count

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HE attempts at deodorising (deodorizing) our show of shame in Tokyo by the sports minister and his praise singers (praise-singers) is (are)….”

“As at last week, the United States and United Kingdom have (had) achieved 49.9 per cent and 56.7 per cent vaccination, respectively.” (Editorial, August 4) Still from the above editorial: “As at last week, Burkina Faso is (was) said to have given 37,120 doses of the vaccine but has (had) only fully vaccinated 2,371.”

THE GUARDIAN sub-headline of July 20 disseminated a diseased line: ”Senate may review BPE Act, says no witchhunting” (witch-hunt) From the above edition comes the next juvenile word error: “Former President of the Senate, David Mark, said there is (was) no political undertone to the move.” Reporters who do not know the rudiments of reported speech writing have not begun intellectual journalism. I recommend celebrity genre of the profession for such neophytes!

“30% DISCOUNT on hotel accomodation when you fly…” No jet-lag spelling: accommodation.

“Trees as antidote against flood” (DAILY INDEPENDENT Metro Headline, July 18) My antidote to (not against) lexical slipshoddiness is carefulness in collocation.

Another spelling interlude: “NASS seeks funds for excercise” (DAILY NEWS Front Page Headline, July 18) Spellcheck: exercise.

Let us welcome Nigerian Tribune of July 16 to this column: “And the electorate has (have) been taken for a ride

because….”

THE NATION SPORT of July 16 boldly advertised illiteracy in just one inarticulate and lengthy paragraph that unfortunately was lifted as the quote.

You can deduce the character of the two-page article from this extract: “This year’s edition of the National Sports Festival was marred with (marred by) series (a series) of protests by many states against the medal haul (medals haul or the haul of medals) by the host which they believe was achieved by dubious means. States like Bayelsa, Edo and Kaduna could not hide their feelings as they pointed accusing fingers on (they pointed the finger at) the ways and manner (ways and means) by which Team Rivers dominated every event they partake (partook in).” What a scandalous and utterly embarrassing piece of sports journalism!

“Kano athletes poise for war over NSF reward” I am not poised for war. This reminds me of one of the titles in the heyday of Daily Times, Poise, which was edited by vivacious Medline Tador in the 90s.

“Celebration galore as….” (THISDAY Banner, July 17) For the legend: celebrations galore. ‘Celebration’ is both countable and uncountable quite all right, but in the anniversary ceremonial circumstance of this global citizen, it must have been pomp celebrations.

“Bereaved Nigerian mother lashes Austria over son’s death” Fixed expression: lash out at.

“South African minister to clampdown on guns” Noun: clampdown; phrasal verb: clamp down (which applies here).

“Rediscovering the African idiom at World Music Day” Art and Life: on World Music Day.

Random Thoughts: Of Friendly Abductors and Bullying Spoilt-brats

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here are moments when situations that should evoke joy turn up with a streak of bile. Such is the news of the release of Ruth Pogu who was on August 7, 2020 presented to the Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, and her relieved parents. The welcoming parties were expectedly joyous. Ruth had been abducted, and in captivity for seven years. She ‘surrendered’to the Nigerian military alongside a male partner said to be her husband on July 28, somewhere in Bama, Borno State. She was not alone. Two children sired during her captivity showed up with her at Bama, where the former tormentor turned husband elected to renounce his evil ways, and surrender.

Everyone appeared excited to welcome Ruth back, including the beaming governor, her family members, and Yakubu Keki, the chairman of the association of parents affected by the Chibok girls abductions, called the Chibok Girls Movement. It is understandable.

Not only do the parents of the girls still in captivity are now given some sort of hope-filled shot in the arm, that others may also return, with or without repentant spouses and little children in tow, but that they may have a chance to re-graph the trajectory of their lives, with full government backing. This is further underlined by the governor’s avowal to similarly support every abducted girl-child to a programme of rehabilitation and reintegration which would focus “on Ruth’s health, psychosocial well-being and her chosen path to a productive future, all of which will be determined by her.”

Now, what happens to the so-called husband? Virtually all the media reports were silent on the man who presumably raped Ruth serially, making her pregnant at least twice. While we do not denigrate the harrowing process it took him to follow his former captive and children on an uncertain journey of surrender, it is vital to know what the military authorities have in mind concerning him, after a thorough debriefing. While Ruth might have been influenced by a variant of Stockholm Syndrome, a grateful nation should insist on even-handed, civil but unmistakably firm activation of extant laws as they affect abductions, rape, forced marriage, among other infractions. He should not perpetuate the idea that on getting our kidnapped girls pregnant, you buy some sort of reprieve on humanitarian grounds from the state.

While we rejoice with the return of Ruth after seven years, and hopeful that other victims, who are possibly in the same situation as Ruth, will end up with the same pleasant ending, their abductors must believe that they have a chance to submit to the authorities, and be dealt with fairly and firmly in consonance with the gravity of their criminal activities, the depth of their remorsefulness and the weight of

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

“Otherwise, somewhere down the line with their loots, these men would continue to come back to rape the polity.” ‘Loot’ is uncountable.

“Resident doctors in neighbouring Ghana went on strike less than a week before our own strike and theirs have (has) since been resolved.”

“Perhaps, Babatunde Raji Fashola’s roads was (were) never meant to withstand ‘satanic’ rains, the type that has been tormenting Lagos.”

“Others are outrightly ugly.” This is American corruption of language.

Standard English: Others are ugly outright.

“Kidnapped people were turned into beasts of burden to cart away all RUF booties (booty).”

“They point accusing fingers towards female prostitutes who are girlfriends to the armed robbers and provide those anti-social miscreants accommodation and succour to perpetuate their despicable crimes.”

Delete ‘accusing’ and point the finger at (not towards) prostitutes. And this: anti-social miscreants? This is the summit of illiteracy and loose thinking!

“It will present events in the two chambers, record achievements, gossips and behind-the-scene moves of the assemblymen.” ‘Gossip’, in this context, is uncountable.

“Shoot-at-sight order in Borno State” Get it right: shoot-on-sight order “The last but not the least is about corruption” No task: the last but not least.

“These children disappeared atimes from home after their parents had gone to search for daily bread.” Children for sale: at times.

intelligence offered.

Then, to politics. When former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, came from nowhere in the first week of August, 2021, to make a scathing comparison of the ruling All People’s Congress, APC and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, he ran into a riot, some sort of unhinged class hysteria. Usually taciturn since he left the hot seat of the INEC chair in 2015, perhaps the only man to oversee two national elections, Jega skinned the bloated egos of both political parties. And like a spoilt brat whose candy had been yanked off his stuffed hands by the village priest, the parties yelled blue murder, calling Jega all sorts of names, and lampooning his new political adventure. But was Jega really wrong in his condemnation of both parties? Is any Nigerian, unblinkered by partisan politics, unaware of the devastating pedigrees of both parties under which Nigeria has rocked in the past 21 years of this democratic dispensation?

Here are a few snapshots of Jega’s cinders: “Looking at their inability to change the economic fortunes of Nigeria for 20 years now, it is now apparently clear that they would not do anything even if Nigerians vote for any of the two parties again... The APC and PDP have formed governments; we were all witnesses. They did not come with good intentions to make amends. If you look at the fight against corruption, all these corrupt people that were supposed to be prosecuted sneaked into the APC... We are hearing nothing. That is why I’ve since registered with the People’s Redemption Party, PRP. I am now a PRP member looking for ways to help Nigeria...

“Since 1979, I’ve been teaching in the university for 40 years now.

So, from what I read and observed when I was chairman of INEC, honestly, the way I see our politicians conducting elections and from the manner they represent their people when elected is something to be afraid of...”

Apart from the introduction of his entry into PRP, how many politically observant Nigerians have not ruminated over similar sentiments, and wished longingly for some sort of a miracle to change the current trajectory of our politics, at all levels?

Expectedly, petulant outbursts surged from both parties. First excerpts from the APC: “While Professor Jega is right about the PDP, a party under which he served as the chairman of the nation’s election management body, we reject his comparison of the APC with the PDP…. Professor Jega got his facts wrong and mixed up in his baseless comparison of the PDP with the APC… While we do not intend to join issues with Professor Jega, we encourage him to engage in genuine scholarly research and come up with evidence-based conclusions on the progressive orientation of the APC.

“No sooner had the morning papers commenced at (on) the main campus of the university at about 10 a.m.”

Either at or about 10 a.m. ‘At about’ smacks of thoughtlessness and uncertainty.

“Having shown that he means business, all shades of people are quickly jumping into (on or aboard) the ‘anti-corruption’ bandwagon.”

“Another feather to (in) Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s cap” “Following reports of molestation and harassment of law-abiding citizens by members of vigilante groups supposedly in anti-robbery patrol….”

Get it right: vigilance committees.

“I literarily (literally) saw the yoke of military rule.” “…the officials who would be carrying files from Abuja to Lagos to treat in the morning and return them back in the evening. No linguistic sabotage: delete ‘back’. “…several universities from across the universe were practically falling over themselves (one another) to give Mandela one honorary award or the other (another).”

“Staff correspondent x-rays the government White Paper on the two organizations…and related companies in the industry. ‘White Papers’ are issued exclusively by governments. So, yank off ‘government’.

Wrong: non-challance; right: nonchalance. “…the desire by the president to utilize best hands available in the running of government in these trying times....” Do you utilize what is unavailable?.

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

“It is, however, instructive to note that having recently abandoned his academic pursuit and blindly plunged into the arena of PDP’s brand of politics, the erstwhile electoral umpire as a politician can make such political statements occasionally while trying to launch his political career in a mushroom political party...” Typically abrasive.

Not to be outshined, PDP fired its own broadsides: “It is indeed unfortunate that Jega, as a Professor of Political Science, could portray an ignorance of the manifest contrasts between the robust fortunes of our nation under the PDP and the wasteland she has become under the APC. “Perhaps the Professor needs to be reminded of how the PDP worked hard to revamp our nation’s economy, paid off our huge foreign debts and went ahead to grow the economy to become the largest investment hub in Africa as well as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with Fitch B+ rating; only for the APC to wreck the economy and turn our nation into the world’s poverty capital and a debtor country in a space of six years….” Predictably indignant.

To non-partisans who know there is no saintly politician in Nigeria, including Jega, the predictable vehemence and vitriol of both parties to Jega’s missiles are symptomatic of the deplorable state of our politics in the hands of easily irritable and excitable individuals… people who fly into rage and ramblings at the slightest provocation. We can run a long list of failed and missed opportunities and promises by both parties since the fourth republic began in 1999; and preface that with litany of hijacked policies and unmitigated siphoning of our national resources - claims and counterclaims that adroit spinners are willing to defend or oppose relentlessly without a pint of scruples.

Frothing with righteous indignation at Jega’s ‘expose’ of what is an open secret, is a reminder to us that much as our political platforms have been corrupted by posturings and activities of unprincipled and mercantile mobs, the people of Nigeria appear to have no one to stand in gap for them, and make combatants play by the rules of engagements. We are reminded, by the outbursts of the angry parties, that they are established and unshakeable in the belief that they run an equitable and progressive political enterprise, contrary to the sickening and impoverishing evidence all around us.

They spit on our faces when they deodorise the pains and devastations of the past two decades as they flaunt their mastery of sophistry and counter-revisionism. Yet, 2023 is still about two years away.

SATURDAY AUGUST 14, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

AUTO WORLD

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

TIPS OF THE WEEK How to Clean a Car Engine Safely When it comes to cleaning your car’s engine it can sound like a daunting task. Washing under your bonnet sounds like more trouble than it’s worth. Yet, it is actually simpler and can be safer than you have been led to believe. A trusted procedure with a couple of basic precautions can avoid any complications.

L-R: Hitesh Mohan; Prakash Gidwani; Mandar Ghadge; JayJay Okocha; Alhaji Almas; CEO Auto Stallion Group, Anant Badjatya; MD, Von automobiles, Manish Rohtagi; and CFO Stallion Group, Samar Sapre, at Stallion Auto Keke first anniversary in Nigeria… recently

Stallion Auto Keke Celebrates First Anniversary in Nigeria, Sells 50,000

S

tallion Auto Keke Limited, a member of the Stallion Group and the Sole Distributor of the world-leading Bajaj 3-wheelers & 4-wheelers in Nigeria has announced tremendous growth and significant successes despite the many challenges as it celebrates its first anniversary in the Nigeria market.

Speaking on the Anniversary and the company’s journey since it began operations, the Managing Director, Stallion Auto KeKe Limited, Mr Manish Rohtagi, stated that Stallion Auto Keke Limited or Stallion-Bajaj, as the company is mostly referred to has emerged stronger and better despite the Nigerian socio-economic and environmental challenges like stiff competition, shifting consumer mindset, increase in the foreign exchange rate, stringent government policies (Keke ban across some states) and more.

“We are excited to announce that we have recorded over 10,000 happy customers and more than 50,000 Keke sales across the country. It was

indeed remarkable when we recorded a market share (India Export Figures) of 49% during the financial year 20-21 against 35% during 19-20.

Precisely, we achieved a market share of 55% in the last quarter of the FY 20-21, Jan-Mar’21, and not only that, we have made huge inroads in East, Ibadan and Lagos.

“It is noteworthy that we are also delivering huge value to the Nigerian society through our various initiatives. We are committed to the empowerment of Nigerians in general and especially young women which is why our expansive Stallion Empowerment Initiative (SEI) programme focuses on female threewheeler drivers, mechanical training and assembling.

More than 2000 young women have benefited.

In addition to this, we train females on financial management, inventory management and other aspects of management.

“We have not only trained females but also hired them in our assembly plants and as field mechanics.

We also arrange for loans and driving licenses for

them to ensure their upliftment. Many females are now earning 3 to 5 times what they used to earn before our interventions. Currently, we have around 20% females with a commitment to make it 33% by the end of the year 2022. In line with this vision, 40 women have been trained and integrated into our VON assembly plant in Lagos, Nigeria, our goal is to train and absorb 500 female technicians by 2022. We also run park by park activations and launched a special ‘Pan Nigeria Keke Rally’ where we inform customers about our product features and benefits and many more,” he said.

Rohtagi disclosed that the company’s relentless effort has always been on delivering international quality Kekes and creating value for all its stakeholders - its people, customers, and the communities around them.

“Despite several unfavourable factors that marred the year 2020 especially the COVID-19 Pandemic, we continued to excite Nigerians with lots of activities which directly and indirectly positively impact the Nigerian economy”, he added.

CFAO Motors Suzuki new PromoThrills Nigerian Car Buyers

N

igerian car buyers are in for another exciting time with the drastic slash in the price of the Suzuki Ciaz sedan model sold and serviced by CFAO 0RWRUV 7KLV VOHHN DͿRUGDEOH OLWUH HQJLQH VHGDQ FDU RͿHUV D VPRRWK GULYLQJ experience on the roads.

Company sources stated that part of the advantages of the ongoing sales promotion, which runs from August 1 to August 31 across the country, is the DYDLODELOLW\ RI FUHGLW ÀQDQFLQJ RSWLRQV WR prospective customers when purchased within the promo period.

The sales promo knocks away almost N2million from the current price of the Suzuki Ciaz, making it the most DͿRUGDEOH PRGHO LQ LWV VHJPHQW 7KLV is a very strong and reliable Japanese model suitable for businesses that desire an executive car. Built to attract buyers, it is no doubt an elegant car that leaves occupants excited with the incredible driving experience.

Aissatou Diouf, who was deployed to Nigeria as the general manager in February 2020, stated: “The Summer promo shows our commitment to make brand new cars more accessible to Nigerians”.

The promo follows the recent event tagged “Suzuki is Back ‘’ which was an opportunity for the brand to introduce its latest technology, the Smart Link Display, and the Micro SUV S-Presso model.

It was also an opportunity for guests to watch a documentary on Dr Jibunoh’s desert crossing in Suzuki cars. According to the general manager: “We are working on some plans to enable us to become a big actor in providing solutions to the

2021 Suzuki Ciaz

transportation challenges in Nigeria”.

She further stated: “CFAO Motors is a partner of renowned automotive brands DQG 6X]XNL RͿHUV -DSDQHVH TXDOLW\ DW DQ DͿRUGDEOH SULFH LQ DGGLWLRQ WR JRRG IXHO H΀FLHQF\ ZKLFK LV JUHDW YDOXH IRU PRQH\ Building a strong after-sales service is my target. We want Suzuki to be trusted by Nigerians and be the main actor in the automotive industry.

To achieve this, it is important to build a strong after-sales service network across the country”.

Reacting on the outcome of the last ‘’Suzuki is Back’’, the CFAO Suzuki boss explained that, feedback from the market has been very positive in terms of public perception of the brand. The general manager said the dealership is now doing more and requests including other marketing activities.

According to her, “We are working on some deals and would really want to be a big actor in providing solutions to the transportation challenges in Nigeria”.

Why Clean an Engine?

The engine is the most important component in your motor vehicle. Therefore it should be imperative to keep it in tip-top condition. Whilst hidden under the bonnet it is still regularly exposed to dirt.

Over the years a choking residue of grime will surely have built up. If neglected the poor engines will feel like it is suffocating. Here are the key reasons why you should learn how to clean an engine.

– Clean engines run far better than grime covered ones – Leaks, breakages and problems are far easier to spot – A huge positive signal to any future buyers, higher sale value – Your pride and joy will gleam both inside and out Routine maintenance is essential if our cars are to provide us long-term reliability. Cleaning, servicing and replacing parts keeping things running smoothly. So don’t overlook the importance of a well-kept engine bay. Continue reading and learn how to clean a car engine effectively.

Disclaimer – A Light Warning Understanding how to clean a car engine safely will prevent any water related running problems. This guide outlines the best practices and protective measures from experienced professionals. Carefully follow the steps and precautions to ensure your engine remains perfectly happy.

Deviating from the guide or recommendations can result in temporary electrical issues. Your model could contain delicate electronic devices within the engine bay so you must take extra care.

Never become over-zealous with a pressure washer or hose whilst rinsing the engine bay. Always use low power settings and rinse carefully.

Before commencing with the engine cleanse you must check the manufacturer’s handbook for model specific precautions that need to be followed.

Precautions and Preparation Before you learn exactly how to clean a car engine, consider preparing for the procedure.

Allocate an appropriate area for cleaning an engine. Oil, dirt, grease and nasties will be washed away, allow for suitable drainage. Consider the fact that cutting chemicals can have an adverse effect on the environment. Ensure your current drainage system is up to the task.

You can run some warmth into your engine before you begin. A little heat helps loosen the hardest of the heat baked dirt. Don’t let the engine get too hot though, one minute running should be long enough!

For extra precaution you can disconnect the car battery before beginning. Remember to disconnect the negative before the positive. Whilst you’re clean up the terminals and remove built up corrosion with a stiff metal brush.

The electrical components will not be happy if they become flooded with water. Ensure they are fully protected and water tight by using plastic bags and wraps. Specifically you must cover the battery, alternator, relay boxes, distributor and Electronic Computer Unit.

Other sensitive parts in your engine bay will need water protection. Air breathers, intakes, filters and carburetors must be covered before cleaning can begin. Use plastic or aluminium foil then secure them with cable ties and tape. You really don’t want water getting in these places!

What Can You Use to Clean a Car Engine?

There are a number engine cleaning products and tools to clean a car engine at home. Here are the essentials items you need to achieve a great result: A medium brush with optional air compressor or leaf blower can be used to remove the initial loose dirt. You can even use a vacuum cleaner if yours is up to the job.

Grease cutting chemicals are needed for degreasing and de-gunging the engine. This can be applied using a common paintbrush, trigger spray bottle or aerosol.

Numerous engine cleaner products are available, but you could still use of grease cutting dish detergent mixed with water. (The only time and place this should be used on your car).

Rinsing your engine bay of dirt and chemicals calls for a hose or pressure washer. Ensure only low powered settings are used and always rinse with caution.

Since your electrical components need extra care you must use a non-residue cleaner to prevent electrical issues.

Dry brake cleaner is highly effective and commonly used.

(Source: Performance motorcare)

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

35

AUTO WORLD

How To Prevent A Tyre Blowout (2)

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Mercedes-Benz Incorporates Feature to Detect Potholes, Bumps

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SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa Assistant Corps Marshal Zonal Commanding Officer Federal Road Safety Corps.

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SATURDAY AUGUST 14, 2021 • T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

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NEWS Private Sector Health Providers Offering Argungu Emir to Turban Lai 60% of Nigeria’s Needs, Says Fayemi Mohammed as Kakakin Kebbi Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Preparations have reached advanced stage for the investiture and turbanning of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the traditional title of Kakakin Kebbi (Ambassador of Kebbi Culture in Nigeria and Beyond) by the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Mohammed Sama’ila Mera, at an elaborate

event in Argungu on Saturday, 25th September, 2021.

A statement from the Kebbi Emirate Council yesterday, stated that the decision to bestow the traditional title of the Kakakin Kebbi on Alhaji Lai Mohammed was reached at the Council’s meeting based on the recognition RI WKH HͿRUWV RI WKH PLQLVWHU in projecting the cultural heritage of the diverse people

of Nigeria to the world and create jobs, income and positive awareness for the youths through festivals, arts and cultural exhibitions.

The statement further noted that the Emirate Council equally observed with great admiration the loyalty and VHOÁHVV VHUYLFH RI $OKDML /DL Mohammed in the discharge of the responsibilities of his R΀FH ZKLFK KDV SRVLWLYHO\

projected the general image of the country to the world as well as the cultural contents of the country’s diversity and in particular, the Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival that earned it global recognition and was thus admitted into the UNESCO list of intangible festivals and humanity in 2016 during the tenure of Alhaji Lai Mohammed as minister.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, has said that private healthcare providers were responsible for 60 per cent of health service delivery in the country.

Fayemi stated this in Abuja at a one-day round table dialogue on private sector intervention in healthcare in Nigeria organised by the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN).

Speaking on the role of the private healthcare providers in the country, Fayemi said that the contribution of the private

healthcare professionals was a very critical one “given that 60 per cent of health service GHOLYHU\ LV RͿHUHG LQ WKH SULYDWH VHFWRU µ He said that it was important for the government to work together with the private sector to ensure the delivery of the goal of Universal Health Coverage.

As a country, Fayemi said that Nigeria was experiencing its worst recession in the past 40 years, adding that the limited ÀVFDO URRP DW WKH IHGHUDO OHYHO RI JRYHUQPHQW KDG DͿHFWHG WKH states, noting that states have had to adjust their spending DQG SULRULWLHV WR VWD\ DÁRDW

Confusion in Ondo Community over Obaship Tussle James Sowole in Akure

ACTIVATING NEW FACILITIES… L-R: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Comptroller-General, Nigerian Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede and former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator (Dr.) Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, when the governor played host to the minister and his entourage, at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday

Confusion has set in among the indigenes and residents of Ipele Community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State over selection of a new monarch for the town, Olupele of Ipele, which has been lingering for six years.

The development has polarised stakeholders in the process of selection of a new king as they are now engaging in claims and counter claims on who should constitute the kingmakers.

Some youths had last week reportedly embarked on a protest, calling on the state government to order a process for the selection of a new king within the shortest time.

However, another section of the stakeholders including youths said the process should be put on hold pending the determination of two suits, on the eligibility of some acclaimed kingmakers.

The youths of the community, at the weekend, cautioned the state government to allow the court to determine the two pending suits before the selection process of the new monarch is done.

The youths under the auspices of Ipele Youth Progressive Movement, gave the advice in a statement addressed to the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwatotimi Akeredolu and signed by the duo of Bola Orisadare and Segun Osuntuyi, the President and Secretary of the youth organisation respectively.

PENGASSAN Seeks Public Private Minister Tasks Nasarawa Partnership for Refineries Women on Yam Export

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Industry Bill, saying it was a good starting point.

Speaking at the maiden edition Petroleum and Natural Gas 6HQLRU 6WDͿ $VVRFLDWLRQ RI of the group’s security awareness Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has campaign in Abuja, the National said that it was against the President of PENGASSAN, VDOH RI WKH FRXQWU\·V UHÀQHULHV Mr. Festus Osifo, said that the but would advise that they be association had never advocated remodeled under the Public- IRU WKH UHÀQHULHV WR EH VROG +H VDLG µ:KDW ZH KDYH Private-Partnership.

The association said they sup- always advocated for is that port the three per cent provided there should be a Public-Private for oil producing communities partnership in such a way in the recently passed Petroleum that the government will not

be involved in the day-to-day UXQQLQJ RI WKH UHÀQHULHV :K\ is the federal government not exploring the possibility of adopting the LNG model where the government holds minority 49 per cent while the private sector will take 51 per cent? That PRGHO KDV ZRUNHG YHU\ ZHOO µ He said that PENGASSAN welcomed the rehabilitation RI WKH UHÀQHULHV DGGLQJ WKDW it’s position was that once the rehabilitation work was complete,

government should divest from WKH UHÀQHULHV DQG DOORZ SULYDWH sector to run all of them. ´,I ZH ZHUH WR VHOO WKH UHÀQHUies the way they are, they will be sold as scraps. If government À[ WKH UHÀQHULHV DQG WKHQ GLYHVW the money that government will JHW ZLOO EH UHDVRQDEOH µ He disclosed that while PENGASSAN had never opposed deregulation as a policy, it would not support a deregulation policy that is hinged on importation.

New FCT Police Chief Reads My Kidnap a Set Up, Says Niger Commissioner for Information the Riot Act to Criminals Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

I want to state categorically that no criminal elements will The new Federal Capital Ter- be tolerated within the FCT, ritory Commissioner of Police, hence, anyone with criminal Mr. Babaji Sunday, yesterday intentions should either repent read the riot act to criminals or be prepared to face the full in the territory, warning them ZUDWK RI WKH ODZ µ KH VDLG The new CP said “the comto repent or face the full wrath of the law. mand must synergise with all He spoke yesterday at his stakeholders bearing in mind PDLGHQ PHGLD EULHÀQJ DIWHU that security is everyone’s DVVXPLQJ R΀FH ODVW ZHHN business, nonetheless, I am conSunday took over from AIG ÀGHQW WKDW WKH DOUHDG\ H[LVWLQJ Bala Ciroma, who was promoted collaboration with the Federal recently and redeployed to Zone Capital Territory Administration, 7 Police Headquarters, Abuja. sister security agencies, key “I will consolidate on the community stakeholders and legacies of my predecessor WKH PHGLD ZLOO GHÀQLWHO\ DLG by ensuring that we enhance WKH ÀJKW DJDLQVW FULPH ZLWKLQ proactive intelligence-based WKH )&7 µ 7KH FRPPLVVLRQHU FULPH ÀJKWLQJ VWUDWHJLHV WR further stated that the primary nip crime in the bud within responsibility of the command the FCT. remained delivery of security “Without mincing words, services to the residents of FCT.

Laleye Dipo in Minna The Niger State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Idris, has described his abduction by unknown gunmen last Sunday night as a set up.

This is as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has again challenged Governor Bello to secure the release of the 136 Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School girls who have spent more than 70 days with bandits like he has done for the Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Idris.

Idris, who regained his freedom on Thursday night, told people in his Babantunga town in the Tafa Local Government Area of the state, that his abductors informed him that he was getting N200m from Governor Abubakar Sani Bello every month. Idris, who

was incarcerated for five days, said that he was fed with bread and water by his abductors.

According to him, those that set him up allegedly paid the gunmen and also gave them a diagram of his residence in his village and how to get him abducted.

“The gunmen insisted that they must get nothing less than N200m out of the money the governor has EHHQ JLYLQJ PH µ WKH FRPPLVVLRQHU told the gathering in a video now circulating in the state.

According to him, the kidnappers later realised that the information they got was wrong.

“I left them crying, they have UHJUHWWHG WKHLU DFWLRQ µ ,GULV VDLG adding that “I have forgiven those that set me up and the kidnapSHUV µ ,GULV VDLG EHIRUH DVNLQJ all his well-wishers to also do the same.

IgbawaseUkumbainLafia The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum, yesterday tasked women of Nasarawa State to take advantage of the abundant yams and other crops being produced in the state by packaging the commodities properly for export in the international market.

The minister gave Nasarawa women the task through the ministry’s Deputy Director on Gender, Mrs. Achilam Chima Fidel, on the occasion of the Nasarawa Entrepreneur Initiative’s (NEI) maiden edition of Nasarawa Young Women Entrepreneurs &RQIHUHQFH KHOG LQ /DÀD This was even as Katagum advised the women against

limiting other packages of their products to only Nasarawa State, but to take them to international consumption as well.

She said: “I wish to encourage you to take your product to African Continental Free Trade Fare which is coming up in a few months’ time so that your product can be sold to other parts of Africa. Don’t hesitate to unlock every opportunity that comes your way by maximising your opportunity.

“My ministry runs an open door policy, especially among women, hence we encourage and support Nigerian women and women groups within our mandate to be empowered. We also provide linkages for women ZLWK ÀQDQFLDO LQVWLWXWLRQV µ

2023: Give Me 3 Weeks to Declare My Ambition, Bauchi Gov Tells Nigerians Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has asked Nigerians to give additional three weeks to decide on whether to run for president of the country in 2023 or not.

Governor Mohammed made the appeal yesterday, when a mammoth crowd of a coalition of Northern Youth Leaders Forum and other organisations paid him a solidarity visit at

the new Government House Annex in the state capital.

The governor who assured that in the next three weeks he would make a public declaration of his intention for the 2023 general elections after he might have concluded consultations, said as wide as the country is, with its diversity, there is the need for him to deepen consultations before making his position known.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

38

NEWSXTRA Minister Extols SWAN on Girl-child Education Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

A HELPING HAND… L-R: Head of School, Mrs. Maryam Aminu; Director, Olive Crescent Scholars, Mr. AbdulKabir Aminu; Education Secretary, Obafemi/Owode LGA Mrs. E. O. Martins, Mr. Sofoluyi and High Chief Ola Akinyele, Chairman, School Based Management Committee, Obafemi-Owode Local Government, during the donation of tables, chairs and resource materials to Obafemi/Owode LGA, as part of events marking the 10th Year Anniversary of Olive Crescent Scholars ...recently

ANCA Urges Buhari to Unite Nigeria, Tackle Insecurity John Shiklam in Kaduna The All Nations Christian Assembly (ANCA) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to do everything within his power to unite Nigeria.

Addressing a press conference yesterday at the end of its annual conference in Kaduna, the chairman of the Church Council, Mr. Sunday Oibe, noted that Nigeria has never been so divided like it is under the current Buhari administration.

He also lamented the increasing level of hunger and poverty in the country which, according to him, has worsened as a result of insecurity, occasioned by killings

and kidnapping for ransom.

“We urged President Muhammadu Buhari to do everything within his power to unite Nigeria irrespective of tribe, religion and political lineage.

“The level of disunity as being witnessed in Nigeria today is frightening,” Oibe said.

“Our diversity should be for the advantage and growth of this nation rather than the unfortunate acrimony being witnessed by different sections of the country,” he said.

According to him, the activities of criminal elements, especially the Boko Haram insurgents, bandits and kidnappers have destroyed socio-economic activities as many

people cannot go to farm or travel for business.

He said, “There is serious hunger and poverty in the country and the government needs to take urgent steps to avert a looming food crisis in the coming year.”

Oibe said some members of the church who have farms around Kaduna, had since abandoned the farms because of fear of kidnappers.

“Eight members of our church were kidnapped in Kajuru, so how do you encourage anybody to go to farm in situations like this!

“We are begging the government to end insecurity because average Nigerians are farmers,” he said.

He further lamented the skyrocketing prices of food and growing youth unemployment, warning that hunger, poverty and joblessness may lead to anarchy in Nigeria if the government does not act fast.

He said the future of the Nigerian state “looks very bleak”, as children, especially, in the North, can no longer access schools for fear of being kidnapped.

“We urged President Buhari to declare a state of emergency in the security sector by seeking help and collaborating with external bodies to tame the menace of Boko Haram, criminal herdsmen and kidnappers that are terrorising Nigerians,” Oibe said.

The Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, has urged relevant stakeholders to as a matter of priority educate the girl-child in order to give them the ability to make informed choices.

Ogah noted that educating a girl-child would build stronger families, communities, economies and establish strength to pilot the system for sustainable value development in the society.

He made the call when he received a delegation of the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN), Abuja Chapter, led by its Chairperson, Miss Mbang Joy Esu, FCA, at the ministry’s headquarters recently.

According to him, “an educated female population increases a country’s productivity and fuels economic growth, noting that as a Chartered Accountant himself, who knows how very courageous female accountants can be, noted that educating the girl-child and

encouraging them to choose Accounting as career path, would broaden their mind and instill sound judgement in them.”

He enjoined the group to continue the laudable projects of touching lives and encouraging the girl-child and women to aspire to lead more healthy, productive lives, earn higher incomes, participate in the decisions that most affect them and build better futures for themselves and their families, adding that, “girls’ education reduces inequality.”

In her remarks, the Chairperson of the Society, Mbang Joy Esu, disclosed that the Abuja Chapter of the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) in its 13 years of existence, has undertaken various life touching programmes and projects, such as the ‘Catch them Young Program’, which grooms the young girl-child in choosing Accountancy as career path, ‘Women Empowerment’ which focuses on skills acquisition for widows, single mothers and young girls, among others.

Warri/Uvwie Drainage Project Gets Additional N4.5bn for Expansion Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba In a bid to step up the pace RI ZRUN GXH ÁRRGLQJ FKDOOHQJHV the Delta State Executive Council (EXCO) has approved more than N4.5 billion as additional sum to the over N9.5 billion towards the FRPSOHWLRQ RI WKH ÀUVW WZR SKDVHV RI :DUUL (ͿXUXQ DQG HQYLURQV drainage project, which was recently expanded.

Chairman of the Warri/Uvwie and Environs Development Agency (WUEDA), Ovuozorie Macaulay, GLVFORVHG WKLV ZKLOH EULHÀQJ newsmen on the resolution of Thursday’s EXCO meeting presided over by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, at the Government House

Asaba.

Macaulay said that the additional funds would enable the contractors meet the targeted completion date of the Phase I and Phase II of the project designed to GHÁRRG PXFK RI WKH FULWLFDO DUHDV in communities in Warri South and Uvwie local government areas,within the jurisdiction of the WUEDA. He disclosed that the upward review of the initial contract sum of over N9.5 billion for the two phases of the project was also to accommodate the addition of 15 new sites from Phase III and Phase IV to the ongoing 61 working sites under Phase I and Phase II.

Wildlife Care, Tourism INEC Raises the Alarm over Adegbite Reiterates FG on African Voices Fake CVR Online Portal Commitment to Support Chuks Okocha in Abuja Mr. Okoye revealed the Investors in Mineral Sector Preservation of wildlife star of tourism who guides fake portal as https://regand tourism is the focus of nature enthusiasts round The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised the alarm over a fake Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) registration portal in circulation.

The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, in a statement yesterday said the attention of the Commission was drawn to a post, which is currently being circulated on social media, about a website for INEC voter registration ZKLFK LV GLͿHUHQW IURP WKH INEC CVR Portal.

ister.inec-pvc.online/ with shortened URL as https:// bit.ly/INEC-PvcReg2021.

“INEC wishes to totally disassociate itself from this website and any activity carried out on it.

“The Commission states that it has not accredited any agency or organisation to capture details of intending voters on its behalf.

“The general public is hereby informed that the INEC Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) online portal remains https://cvr. inecnigeria.org,” Okoye said.

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite, has said that his ministry would continue to collaborate and support legitimate and genuine entrepreneurs in mineral sector who are adding value to the economy and creating employment for the teeming Nigerian youths.

Adegbite disclosed this while on a working visit to ZEBERCED Limited Quarry, along Arab Road, Kubwa, Abuja, to have an on the spot assessment of the operational modalities of the company.

The minister in a statement by the Director of Press of the

ministry, Mrs. Etore Thomas, commended and acknowledged ZEBERCED Limited for its size of operation and quarry business in Nigeria.

According to him, “We should encouraged people like you creating employment and adding value to the economy, apart from the negative narratives there, people can come and see what is on ground.”

The minister urged the company to expand its scope of business operation from quarry business to lead and zinc exploration, stressing that there exist great business potentials in the mineral sector.

Journalists Laud Delta for Capital Projects Focus of 2022 Budget Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Journalists under the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, have lauded the state government for LWV SURDFWLYH ÀVFDO LQLWLDWLYH E\ prioritising the capital provision over the recurrent estimates in the just approved 2022 budget

proposal of N425 billion.

The commendation was part of the resolutions reached at the monthly meeting of the chapel held in Asaba on Thursday, which examined certain critical national issues but bearinging directly on media practictioners nationwide.

The chapel noted in particular the emphasis which the state 2022 budget proposal placed on capital

projects over recurrent expenditure, noting that it is indicative of the administration’s desire to consolidate on its infrastructural development across the state.

The journalists said that they found it interesting that the state government could demonstrate visible concern for the crucial issues of development of critical infrastructure that bore directly on

the lives of the citizens especially at a time when too many state actors were apparently being distracted by the politics of 2023.

“The focus of the budget LV LQ OLQH ZLWK ÀQDQFLDO DQG development standards across the globe aimed at building critical infrastructure, human capital development and scaling up the welfare of citizens.

this week’s edition of African Voices Changemakers. The CNN magazine programme is sponsored by telecommunications services provider, Globacom.

Guests on the 30-minute programme are Miguel Gonçalves, a wildlife conservationist at the Maputo Special Reserve in Mozambique, and Bemugi Sochaka who is uplifting his Santa Maria community, also in Mozambique, through sustainable tourism development.

Dubbed ‘nature warrior’, Gonçalves is the Park Warden of Maputo Special Reserve (MSR) and Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve (PPMR) – the Mozambique components of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation and Resource Area.

He is a recipient of the 2018 African Ranger Award – a prestigious accolade presented by Paradise Foundation International and Alibaba Foundation.

On the other hand, Sochaka is reputed as the country’s

major spots in Mozambique.

39

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 14, 2021

SPORTS XTRA

Mourinho Turns to Iheanacho’s Direction for Dzeko’s Replacement Following Edin Dzeko’s move from Roma to Inter Milan, Jose Mourinho has identified Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho as a replacement the Bosnian.

The Nigerian is a transfer target for the Portuguese’s AS Roma.According to Skysports,

Roma are considering making a move for Iheanacho as an alternative to TammyAbraham.

The Yellow and Reds are in the market for a striker following the departure of Dzeko to Inter Milan.Abraham is the first choice, but the Chelsea striker has reservations over a move

to Italy.

Romahaveagreedadealwith Chelsea, but Abraham, who is also a target for Arsenal, is not sure if a move to Italy is the right one at this stage of his career.

Abraham is expected to decide this weekend, but Roma have lined up Iheanacho as an

alternative should the England star choose Arsenal.

Iheanacho is finally delivering on the potential he showed asateenager,andRomabelieves he could come in fill the void left by Dzeko.

The Nigerian international finished as Leicester City’s top

scorer in all competitions last season with 19 goals, including 12 in the league.

He has started on a promising note this season, coming on to win and score the penalty that helped Leicester beat Man City in the Community Shield.

It remains to be seen if the Foxes will consider selling the 24-year-old, but should they be willing to sell, Roma will have to

pay big money to sign him as he just signed a contract extension last season.

Iheanacho contract at the King Power Stadium does not expire until 2024. But having signed Patson Daka from RB Salzburg for big money, the Foxes could be tempted to recoup the money by selling Iheanacho to Roma.

Napoli Greats Backs Osimhen to Solve Club’s Goals Scoring Problem

Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal against Southampton last season must have had great impression on Mourinho

Ahmed Musa Targets Success with New Club Ahead of today’s Fatih Karagümrük clash with Gaziantep FK 2021-22 Super Lig opener Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has expressed his satisfaction with his transfer to Turkish side just as he pledged to help the club achieve success.

Established 95 years ago, Fatih Karagümrük are one of the least successful clubs in the Turkish top-flight with no major honours to their names.

The Black Reds only gained promotion back to the Turkish Super Lig from the TFF First League at the end of the 2019–2020 season after a 36-year absence.

But under the management of their ambitious owner Suleyman Hurma,

Fatih Karagümrük were able to assemble a fantastic squad boasting the likes of former Liverpool ace Fabio Borini, ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Vivano, and Argentine midfielder Lucas Biglia.

With the help of Italian manager Francesco Farioli, who was hired in March, Karagümrük were able to defy the odds to finish in 8th place in the 21-team Süper Lig. More success is desired in Karagümrük, signified by the signing of Musa, and the Super Eagles’ most-capped active player has pledged his commitment to helping the club reach greater heights.

“When I came here, President Süleyman Hurma talked

about the success of the club in recent years,” the Nigerian skipper told Anadolu Agence, asper Fanatik.

“I also want to contribute to the success of this team. I want to take this club higher.”

Musa completed his free transfer move to Fatih Karagumruk on July 22 and has joined in the club’s pre-season preparations ahead of the start of the league campaign this weekend.

And after his first couple of weeks at his new side, the former Leicester City man is satisfied with how he has been received.

Musa said: “There is a family atmosphere for me here. My

coach, club staff, president and teammates are great. I feel very happy to be in this team.”

The supporters of the Black and Red have also warmed up to the 28-year-old, firing his desire to give his best football for them.

“I will do my best to please the Karagümrük fans,” Musa added. “Our supporters came to one of our training sessions and cheered for me. I felt very happy. I will give my best to make them happy.”

Musa will likely get the chance to make his competitive debut for Fatih Karagümrük when they kick off their 2021-22 Super Lig season with a home clash against Gaziantep FK today.

Falconets Resume Camping Ahead FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Coach Chris Danjuma has invited 35 players to the camp of the U20 Girls’ National Team ahead of the African qualifying series for the 2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals, which enters the second round in the third week of September.

The Falconets, runners-up

at the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and 2014, were drawn bye to the second round, and will now confronttheU20girlsoftheCentral African Republic in the first leg scheduledfor23-25September,with the return leg in Nigeria between 7-9 October. Equatorial Guinea, which was to battle it out with the Central Africans in the first

round, withdrew from the race.

In fact, the return leg between the Falconets and the Central African girls will come up same period as the clash between the senior men teams of both countries in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying showdown in Lagos – a Day 3 encounter.

Once done with the fixture against the girls from Central African Republic, the Falconets must negotiate two more rounds successfully to be eligible to participate in the 2022 FIFAU20 Women’s World Cup finalsto be hosted by Costa Rica and Panama.

Nigeria SGEL Chinese Wushu Performance Enters Second Stage

CAF Knocks Eight Nations over Turf, Moves Ties to Neutral Ground

The 2nd Stage of the 2021 Nigeria First SGEL Chinese Wushu Performance Championship has commenced with lot of excitements and Performances.

The events presently ongoing in Lagos is aimed at rewarding, promoting and utilising the human creative and imaginative potentials of the Nigerian youths, while also uniting the relationship between China and Nigeria.

Five -year- old Christo-

Eight African countries have been stripped of home advantage in next month’s World Cup qualifiers after their grounds were deemed unfit to host international matches and they will now have to play their home ties elsewhere.

Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Guinea Bissau, Malawi, Mali, Namibia and Niger have all had matches moved to neutral grounds at the start of the group phase of Africa’s qualifiers for the next World

pher Oyelu of Iron Lady Shaolin KungFu Academy thrilled everyone with Shaolin combined with animals routine style of performance.

Chairman of the Chinese Industrial and Commercial Enterprises Association and Huaxing Arts Troupe Nigeria, Chief Dr. Eric Ni, expressed satisfaction with the skills exhibited by the contestants both in the junior and the senior category.

Cup in Qatar.

Their venues failed inspections by a team from the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

The changes, confirmed in the list of fixtures issued by FIFA for next month’s opening two rounds of group qualifiers, come after an extensive review last year of stadiums and playing surfaces across Africa.

Countries were warned to upgrade their facilities or risk being banned from hosting international matches.

Two Napoli icons Francesco Montervino and Gennaro Iezzo are in agreement that Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen is an excellent striker who can bear the goalscoring burden for the Luciano Spalletti-led team.

Napoli acquired Osimhen for a club-record transfer fee last year from Lille but only saw flashes of his brilliance after injuries, and coronavirus-related issues limited his contribution.

The 22-year-old still scored ten goals as I Partenopei finished fifth in Serie A behind champions Inter Milan, AC Milan, Atalanta, and Juventus.

But Osimhen has acquainted himself well with coach Spalletti’s philosophy, netting seven goals in four pre-season games, including an impressive brace in the 3-0 defeat of Bayern Munich.

Former Napoli captain Montervino has praised the exLille lad’s physical attributes, his passion on the pitch, and his eye for goal.

“Osimhen is the centre forward and is the attacking point of Napoli,” the former Taranto sporting director told Radio Kiss Kiss, as per Area Napoli.

“He tasks himself to score, to attack the depth, give the depth and stay in the area. Surely the extra mezzala (midfielder) can change something, but I saw an

Osimhen who wants to score; as soon as he sees the space, he kicks towards the goal, more vertically.”

Gennaro Iezzo, another former Napoli ace, agrees with Montervino that Osimhen is a ‘devastating player’ who can lift the Gli Azzurri to success this term.

But the former manager of Serie D club Sant’Antonio Abate has warned that the best of Osimhen may not be seen in the early stages of the season as the Napoli players continue to internalise Spalletti’s methods.

He also advised Osimhen to learn to attack more depth to become an all-round attacker.

“Victor Osimhen? With the workloads you do at this time of year, it is difficult to see physical and mental brilliance,” Iezzo said.

“It takes time; you have to metabolise what you are doing between athleticism and ideas, mechanisms of the coach, and to do so, you have to play and understand well.

“In the open field, he is a devastating player; to become a great all-rounder, he has to learn to attack more depth.”

Osimhen is expected to be in action for Napoli when they kick off their Serie A campaign with a clash against Venezia at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona next weekend.

Sadiq Umar Sets Promotion Target for New Season The top European leagues begin this weekend, UD Almeria have their engines ready and revved up to start, and a crucial part of their set-up is Nigerian Striker Sadiq Umar.

The Rojiblancos hopes rest on the firm shoulders of the 24-year-old after scoring 20 goals in 38 league appearances in his debut season.

The Kaduna born striker is not afraid to carry the responsibilities and has stated his readiness to help his team achieve promotion which they narrowly missed last season.

“It was a great achievement and an important progression for me individually, but my goal above all else was promotion,” Umar said on Almeria’s website.

“We are going to work hard to try again and get it,” he added.

Almeria begin their campaign today when they travel to the Estadio Cartagonova to face Cartagena. Last season, The Rojiblancos were only able to extract a point from Cartagena after two meetings.

However, the striker expressed his belief that they would win their season opener.

“I remember the game last season when we lost in Cartagena; It is a very tough course, but we are ready to go there and bring us the three points, although we will have to be very focused and do things well.”

The 2016 Olympics bronze medallist has never played for the Super Eagles, but if he continues from where he left off last season, it would only be a matter of time before he gets his senior team debut.

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Hayab to Nigerians

“The age of whoever will become Nigeria’s leader should never be an issue for debate. Nigerians must never allow anyone that does not have good leadership credentials and capacity to be their leader just because he is a young or old person” – Chairman, Kaduna State chapter, Christian Association of Nigeria, Joseph Hayab, rebuffing suggestion that Nigeria’s next President should be in his 60s.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

UT H

& RE A S O

N

26 years

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Lessons From My 2011 Presidential Bid

F

ellow Nigerians, I’m happy to be back again with my political analysis but I must instantly warn that I have yet another negative prediction to make and it is very simple; Nigeria is not likely to select and elect a brilliant and competent President in 2023, if the country remains intact.

I am no longer sure that Nigeria will remain one peaceful and indivisible country by then, particularly if things continue the way they are, and this administration is engendering, fostering and festering the cracks and divisions.

I know that many people would argue that the problems of Nigeria are not about one man or woman, and so electing a brilliant and competent President is not a sine qua non for our existence and development. However, I wish to disagree vehemently. The incurable optimists and jejune analysts are likely to tell you that our challenges are institutional and not personal but that is not wholly true, as I will explain in a jiffy.

It is my personal belief, gained from empirical evidence, that every problem and solution begin and end with the leader at the very top, especially strong leaders like President Muhammadu Buhari who is virtually the law unto himself, and unto us. The Buhari government has so much influence on other arms of government such that it can get away with almost anything, either positive or negative. Despite the muchvaunted constitutional separation of powers, an autocratic and dictatorial personality like this will always ride roughshod over all the safeguards and maintain that it is either his way or the highway! Unfortunately, true to its antecedents, this omnipotent government of Buhari has blatantly refused to deploy this humongous power to the good and progressive use and advantage of Nigeria and Nigerians.

The day Nigerians succeed in electing a very capable President, that would be it as far as I am concerned. So, what are the impediments militating against electing that ideal President, who I will stress once again need not be a saint?

One, I’m not sure Nigerians actually know the attributes of a good leader. I’m almost certain if we see a genuine Messiah, we’ll be busy arguing till he disappears forever into oblivion. Some will say he must be a saint. That’s what led us to Buhari who we clothed in the toga of an Angel and apotheosised for good measure. Others will say, he must come from one particular region or religion. Many will say that he is too young and inexperienced, or that he has no money.

The saddest part would be that most of the youths clamouring for a leader of their own would never form a consensus about who from their generation they should back. Instead, they would all hanker after the same position and, thus, dissipate their energy and chances. It is so tragic. Let me take this opportunity to go down memory lane and use my 2011 Presidential bid as a case study.

When I offered myself in 2011, many people I knew said “Dele must be kidding! Does he think the Nigerian Presidency is like the Ovation magazine he runs? How much has he got to spend?” But they were right and wrong. Though I did not have government experience, it is not a compulsory prerequisite to being a President in Nigeria or elsewhere else. The truth is that in a country like Nigeria one wonders what experience our leaders have to proffer the people. For the most part it is the same experience in failure, corruption, incompetence and ineptitude. Examples abound in other countries about those persons who became Presidents without being career politicians. They had distinguished themselves in other spheres of human endeavours and were

Fawehinmi

naturally imbued with leadership skills. Barrack Obama was virtually a rookie in politics when he tried his luck as American President. Donald Trump was much worse, having never been a politician at all but more of a reality star who had used the opportunity to turn around his ailing businesses. He became extremely controversial from the outset of his political campaign but he was able to defeat some of the biggest political machines in America.

I was largely influenced by Obama. I was convinced I had the educational background, business experience and acumen to manage resources, backed by global contacts and exposure.

I believed in myself, as Abiola constantly preached to us both in business and politics, and I felt that I had the carriage and charisma, the temperament, the tolerance and detribalized natture, the caring attitude, the courage, the vision, the resilience and tenacity to take on the daunting challenge and goals I had set for myself. I had no doubt that I had the capacity to lead a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation such as ours. Beyond these attributes, I was ready to do what most of our leaders don’t worry about doing, establish a clear ideology and philosophy for my movement. A country as poor and impoverished as Nigeria must operate on the principles of welfarism. No country can practice rabid capitalism without capital, and certainly not without thinking of catering for the greater will-being and welfare of the teeming masses.

Nigeria is too poverty-stricken and afflicted by mass ignorance to continue to run an outlandishly profligate variant of democracy, that is even alien to those who introduced us to democratic concepts and ideals. A reasonable, effective and efficient leader must urgently and reasonably work with other stakeholders to restructure the country politically, economically and socially.

I made strenuous efforts to link up with some members of the British Labour Party in London. They were going to collaborate with us on welfare policies, especially in the areas of poverty alleviation, education, national health insurance, housing, transport and agriculture.

Unfortunately, the Labour Party back home in Nigeria had no proper links to the labour unions.

It was labour in nomenclature only and did not really tap into the stupendous assets that the labour unions in Nigeria have to offer in terms of numbers, organisation and economic might. The Labour Parties of the UK and Nigeria were identical in appellation but that is where the similarity ended. The Parties were certainly

not at tandem or similar in principle or policy.

Indeed, the Nigerian Labour Party was at best a creature of circumstances and happenstances.

I got frustrated and headed to what I always like to describe as GANI FAWEHINMI’s party, the National Conscience Party. It is sad and unfortunate that Nigeria is governed without any clear technical template. Every leader rules ruthlessly and whimsically. Booby-traps are meticulously and rigorously laid for perceived enemies of government. It is a kind of relay race in which batons of wickedness, ignorance, mediocrity and backwardness are exchanged remorselessly and ceaselessly. Of course, my result was utterly predictable in such a caricature of democratic will and principle.

Two, the uninformed electorates. Most Nigerians don’t know how terrible the situation is. You only need to travel to some remote parts of the country to see and understand the magnitude of the problem. The poorest of the poor turn out to be the worst fanatics of these inept and visionless leaders. They accept and savour whatever crumbs are thrown at them periodically from the lofty heights that the charlatans have manipulated themselves into. Since a man who’s down fears no fall and feels nothing good can ever happen to him, the lumpen proletariat can’t see anything wrong with the pittance being given to them to sell their respective souls and future.

Three, the media as the fourth estate of the realm is also culpable in this grand conspiracy against good candidates. My experience was extraordinary. I discovered the unbelievable.

Journalists actually look down on themselves.

We seem to lack self-esteem. Despite my personal successes (I’m not being immodest) and global brand, my colleagues were not ready to promote me as a credible alternative to the other contestants. They were happy to push others onto the front page but not one of their own. I made uncountable media rounds and visits, leaving nothing to chance, but met brick walls in most newsrooms, which was my natural constituency. Till today, I struggle to fathom the rationale for their attitude. Some say that it was simple envy or jealousy. Others suggest that it is a trait synonymous with the oppressed who cannot see beyond their noses and slavishly and sycophantically follow their oppressor. Unknown to most of my friends, if a Dele Momodu was not qualified to lead Nigeria, it may be an impossibility for any of them to climb that Herculean height even within their profession. Perhaps, many of them lacked a sense of history. Many of our Nationalists had one form of journalism stint or the other, Herbert Macauley, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Anthony Enahoro, Ernest Okoli, Samuel Ladoke Akintola and even Ooni Sir Adesoji Aderemi whose newspaper was the forerunner to the Nigerian Tribune of today and others. So, I often wondered when journalists became dregs of the society that they can no longer aspire to the greatness that their predecessors attained.

Four, The Godfathers in Nigeria hardly consider non career politicians. They usually go for hard core politicians and military chieftains who are actually probably better politicians without a civilian garb. After watching, and later reading, former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s interview last week, I pray members of the privilegentsia will be willing and ready to throw their weight behind global champions instead of the usual lacklustre candidates. Nigeria is too richly blessed to continue to throw up those who have not achieved much at home and abroad. I know some people who don’t know how Nigeria works may want to dismiss The

Godfathers as inconsequential, I won’t join them.

They may not be able to give you votes in general elections but they have the capacity to determine the candidates at the top party levels. In effect they direct the voter’s mind and choice by placing only their own candidates as the alternatives from which the people are to choose. To me, that is the ultimate voting card. The joker in the pack!

There are many vested interests in who becomes the next President of Nigeria.. The ex-military Generals are right at the top of the pyramid. You can’t ignore the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, former military Generals Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo (the longest serving leader), Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi, Theophilus Danjuma, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, Alani Ipoola Akinrinade, David Jemibewon, and others. There are also very influential and powerful traditional rulers including the Sultan, the Ooni, The Alaafin, Emirs, Obas, Obis and Amayanabos amongst others. It is a testament to the power and influence of the traditional rulers that government falls back to them at the first hint of major crisis including, insecurity and social upheaval. The Captains of Industry would always want someone who can protect their business interests. They are very critical to the emergence of candidates of both leading political parties. Candidates need tonnes of cash and Nigeria is not yet a country where you can rely on regular folks making substantial donations. In this category, no candidate no matter how saintly can ignore the Dangotes, Adenugas, Elumelus, Rabius, Ovias, Otedolas, Alakijas, Adebutus, Otedolas, Sayyu Dantatas, Okoyas, Bola Shagayas, and many of the big personages and companies operating in Nigeria.

Religious Organisations are not left out. Apart from generating mega bucks, they wield enormous influence on their members. They include the Imams, the Adeboyes, Oyedepos, Olukoyas, Kumuyis, Esther Ajayis, Tunde Bakares, Paul Adefarasins, Tony Rapus, Agu Irukwus, and so many others. Remember, politics is a game of numbers, so they are all adding up.

Five, you must factor in INEC, the armed forces, secret services, judiciary. I can confidently confirm that none of them is truly independent.

Finally, I venture to say that as a matter of fact, the hoodlums, thugs and miscreants have become incredibly influential in Nigeria, powerfully emboldened by our desperate and despicable politicians. Depending on the government of the day, the security forces are not able to arrest anyone when the gangsters go on rampage.

Six, our celebrities, social media influencers and bloggers are expected to influence who to vote for, but they often prefer to support the government of the day, stay aloof or even go for awoof from the highest bidder. It is such a shame how superstars waste their incredible popularity on useless candidates.

Seven, the big Brothers are lurking around somewhere. These are the foreign powers who are in Africa to mint money and exploit resources where possible and available. Don’t let anyone fool you that their interest is altruistic or in any way noble. They like most people are in it for what they can grab! No matter how much they sermonise about Democracy, the economic interests of their countries remain paramount and irrevocable. They will never support a hot-headed candidate who will rock the boat.

They are more potent than all our leaders put together. Ignore them at your own peril.

There is so much to write but little space. I shall be back…

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