SATURDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 2021

After 40-Day Standoff, Buhari Begs Striking Doctors to Return President: Strike at this time Nigerians need you most is not the best no matter the grievances Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with leaders of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) at the State House, Abuja, over the

40-day-old industrial action embarked upon by resident doctors in the country, and pleaded with them to return to work, saying the timing of the strike was wrong.

Aside from asking the

health workers to return to their duty posts, the president urged others contemplating strikes to opt for settlement of issues through negotiation, “no matter how long it takes.”

Buhari said: “The lives of

citizens that could be lost or damaged when doctors withdraw services, are precious enough to worth opting for peaceful resolution of differences.’’

While hailing the

intervention of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to resolve issues surrounding the strike, the President also called on the resident doctors to see reason and return to work.

The President assured that all outstanding benefits owed medical doctors would be cleared, after verification, adding that embarking on Continued on page 5

PTA/BTA: Banks Move to Deal with Cheats… Page 5 Saturday 11 September, 2021 Vol 26. No 9651

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FG Douses Tension over Planned Nationwide Farm Estates Says it’s neither RUGA nor ranching scheme

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government moved swiftly yesterday to douse the tension created by its planned establishment of

Integrated Farm Estates in all the 109 Senatorial Districts across the country by the National Land Development Authority (NALDA), declaring that “it is not for the purpose

of implementing Rural Grazing Areas (RUGA) and ranches.”

The clarification by government was sequel to the recent alarm raised by the Pan-Yoruba socio-political

organisation, Afenifere, alleging that the federal government was attempting to bring back the rejected cattle colony and RUGA through the establishment of the farm

estates.

Afenifere, in a statement by its spokesman, Jare Ajayi, called for an immediate halt to the programme.

Some other people rejected

the plan, claiming that the move was an indirect attempt to acquire land for a section of the country.

Continued on page 5

Confusion, as A’Court Tells Rivers State to Suspend VAT Collection Justice Tsammani: All parties should refrain from giving effect to the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt which restrained the FIRS from collecting VAT in Rivers State Alex Enumah in Abuja Without hearing the application seeking to stay the judgment of a Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State which restrained the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) from collecting Value Added Tax (VAT) in Rivers State, nor issuing a stay order, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal yesterday ordered the Rivers State Government to suspend collection of VAT. A three-member panel of Justices of the appellate court

presided by Justice Haruna Tsammani made the order shortly after the court granted the request of the Attorney General of Lagos State to bring the state’s application seeking to be heard as an interested party in the suit.

The Rivers State Government had last month secured a major court victory over the federal government in the collection of VAT in the state, and had gone ahead to enact necessary laws and agencies for the collection Continued on page 5

Jonathan: Terrorism, Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy, Nationhood... Page 5

TALKING TRANSPORTATION IN KANO… L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and the Emir of Kano, His Highness, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero; during a courtesy call on the Emir by members of the National Council on Transportation…yesterday

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PTA/BTA: Banks Move to Deal with Cheats Promise transparent, efficient, stable FX market for legitimate users Bennett Oghifo Several banks yesterday sent out notices to their customers, warning against contravening the new Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy on the sale of forex for overseas personal and business travels and spelling out the consequences of fraudulent transactions regarding purchase of Personal Travel Allowance (PTA) and Business Travel Allowance (BTA).

Worried that some people are taking undue advantage of the CBN’s policy on Foreign Exchange, the apex bank had last week directed all banks in the country to publish the names and BVNs of customers who engage in the unscrupulous practices on their websites.

The CBN had said in a circular that defaulters of its forex policy are customers that obtain PTA/BTA from banks, using fake visas, and some others who cancel their flight tickets and fail to return the purchased PTA/BTA within two weeks as stipulated in the customer declaration form signed.

Bank accounts of people involved in shady purchase of

PTA/BTA may also be restricted under the crackdown.

The banks that sent out notices yesterday promised to strictly implement the directives of the CBN on the issue, by exposing the identities of customers engaging in forex sharp practices.

The banks also promised to ensure “transparent, efficient, stable foreign exchange market for legitimate users.”

First Bank in a message to its customers said, “We have been directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to inform all our customers that unethical practices to circumvent the new CBN policy on the sale of forex, such as the presentation of false travel documents, visas, and the cancellation of flight tickets, after purchasing personal travel allowance and business travel allowance, will no longer be tolerated.

“Defaulting customers who present fraudulent travel credentials or cancel their tickets and fail to refund the purchased PTA and BTA within two weeks, as stated in the signed customer declaration form, will have their identities and bank verification numbers published.

“We aim to implement this policy immediately as an organisation that is fully compliant with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s rules and

regulations.

“Our bank is committed to partnering with the CBN to ensure a transparent, efficient and stable FX Market that meets

the needs of all legitimate users.”

The apex bank in its circular on the forex abuse dated August 30, and signed by the CBN Director, Banking

Supervision Department, Mr. Haruna Mustafa, said the forex fraud, if not curbed, presented a risk to the integrity and stability of the FX market.

Jonathan: Terrorism, Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy, Nationhood Former President Goodluck Jonathan says Nigeria’s democracy and nationhood are under threat from terrorism, adding that the pursuit of peace may not be achieved in isolation of the pursuit of justice and other human security needs.

Jonathan said this at the public presentation of a research report, ‘Terrorism and Banditry: The Nexus,’ conducted by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), which held in Abuja, yesterday.

“The challenges posed by banditry, terrorism and other associated crimes threaten our human essence and the essential values of our democracy and nationhood,” said Jonathan, who is the Chairman of GJF. He said, “Our pursuit of peace cannot be achieved in isolation of the pursuit of justice and other human security needs.

“This is so because peace is

the bridge that links poverty to prosperity, reconciles hope with despair and imposes order on chaos.

“There is no doubt that our nation is plagued by many crises and these challenges have continued to threaten our fate and shared destinies.

“We have lost our loved ones, lost millions of properties and investment because of insecurity.

“This is why the GJF considered it apt to undertake this research with a view to engaging the relevant stakeholders towards an improved security,” According to him, the crisis facing Nigeria required sacrifice and urgency of actions from all stakeholders, adding “We must, therefore, show commitment to peace, in words, in action and in all other necessary means.”

The report, he said was proof of the foundation’s commitment to its vision of promoting peace

and prosperity, adding that they thought it appropriate to undertake the research with a desire to engage relevant stakeholders for improved security.

He said, “As a leader, I have been privileged to preside over the affairs of this nation for five years.

“I appreciate the challenges that come with nation building and the burden associated with pursuing peace and building trust in times of crises.”

“We have come to share thoughts on how to better manage and address the challenges of internal security that are affecting all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation, ethnic group and state of origin.

“This report we are presenting today contains some observations and recommendations on the challenges of banditry and other human security concerns in our

nation.

“The report is by no way conclusive and complete in itself; that is why stakeholders have been invited to discuss the way forward and suggest more solutions beyond those put forward in the research,” Jonathan said.

In her remarks, the GJF Executive Director, Ms Ann Iyonu, said that the presented report interrogated the trends and drivers of the crises in the North-West.

Iyonu said that the reports also interrogated the impact and implications to internal security whether human or physical.

“It also proffers strategies and actions required by various stakeholders at both national and sub-national levels to address the challenges of internal security; terrorism and banditry in Nigeria,” she said.

long experience.

“I am proud also to learn of various feats that have been achieved in our hospitals, like the separation of conjoined twins and also the valiant efforts of our health personnel in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, much of which has earned us recognition at home and abroad, and the recent appointment of one of your colleagues as Assistant Director General of the World Health Organisation. We again warmly congratulate Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu for his elevation.”

In his remarks, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said the NMA had been playing a critical role in the development of the health sector, particularly in tackling pandemics, participating in policy formulation and population health.

Earlier in his speech, the NMA President, Prof. Innocent Ujah, thanked the President for appointment of members

into strategic positions in government, assent to the Medical Residency Act and immunisation coverage.

According to him, the association “is concerned by the industrial action” embarked upon by doctors, and had been doing its best to alleviate the suffering of patients across the country, while appealing for an urgent resolution.

He thanked President Buhari for providing takeoff grant for the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State, Azare, Bauchi State and Ila Orangun, Osun State while also suggesting an appropriate funding module for the new institutions.

He assured the President of the continuous support of members of the association to improve health in the country.

The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, and Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora.

state government and the state legislature had enacted a law with respect to VAT, the courts were bound to obey such law.

He said the state government and the House of Assembly had duly enacted the Rivers State Value Added Tax No. 4, 2021, which makes it legitimate right of the state to collect VAT. The judge maintained that the law remained valid until it had been set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Pam said granting the prayers of the FIRS would amount to committing murder and noted that the prayers could not stand.

Sanwo-Olu signs Lagos VAT law

and rabbit rearing.

In Oyo, we already have rabbit rearing and crop farming; in Ekiti State, as well, we have crop farming. ”So, it depends on the environment. It has nothing to do with RUGA at all. It’s purely for development, and to engage the youths and for the benefit of the immediate community, that is what the integrated farming estate stands for.”

Ikonne insisted that the farm

estates were purposely to engage the youth in viable agricultural chains for the benefit of the immediate communities.

President Buhari had last Sunday directed NALDA to establish integrated farm estates in all the 109 senatorial districts to boost agriculture in the country.

The President gave the goahead for the establishment of the estates after a meeting with the NALDA Executive Secretary at the State House, Abuja.

AFTER 40-DAY STANDOFF, BUHARI BEGS STRIKING DOCTORS TO RETURN industrial action at a critical health period for the country and citizens was not a good option.

He said: “Protecting our citizens is not to be left to government alone, but taken as a collective responsibility, in which especially medical professionals play a critical role. Let me speak directly to the striking doctors. Embarking on industrial action at this time when Nigerians need you most is not the best action to take, no matter the grievances.

“This Administration has a good track record of paying all debts owed to government workers, pensioners and contractors and we have even revisited debts left by past administrations, once due verification is done. Debts genuinely owed health workers will be settled.

“I learnt that some of the 12-point demands in the ongoing strike were already addressed.

Though, the review of a new

Hazard Allowance has not been fully negotiated because of the sharp and deep division within the ranks of the striking doctors.’’

President Buhari said the outstanding issue of an Establishment circular issued by the Head of Service, removing House Officers and NYSC doctors from scheme of service had an addendum circular from National Salaries and Wages Commission to clarify that they will continue to earn the wages attached to them on their present wage structure.

“I request that the agreement reached in the meetings of 20th and 21st August captured in the MOU which I have seen be religiously implemented,” he added.

To further improve the health sector, the President said budgetary allocations had been increased and a Health Sector Reform Committee, under the Chairmanship of the Vice President, had been commissioned to identify

and address weaknesses in the Health System and align with global best practices that raise public confidence.

“We are also supporting initiatives to expand health insurance coverage and bring more resources to health financing. We have many more challenges ahead and much more to do, for our large population.

“In this respect, it is important to remind you that, as senior medical personnel and representatives of one of the most respected professional groups in the world, your responsibility for the health and wellbeing of Nigerians is clear.

“It does not end only with the welfare of your members, but continues with a sense of responsibility for the entire country and its sociopolitical health and national stability.”

President Buhari noted that Nigeria’s source of revenue over many years was dwindling,

with a rising population.

He said: “The global economy has been seriously affected by the pandemic, and despite recent pleasing news of more than five per cent economic growth of Nigeria in the last quarter, we are still having fiscal challenges to deal with, like most other countries.

“The source of revenue that Nigeria has depended on for so long experienced global decline, our population is rising fast and the tension arising from both is fueling agitation among our youth. Organisations like the NMA could play a very useful moderating role in society."

The President lauded the positive role the Nigeria Medical Association had been playing, as the apex professional medical association in Nigeria, especially with regard to the ongoing industrial action.

According to him, “This is a befitting role for the NMA, as a mature organisation, led by responsible members with

CONFUSION, AS A’COURT TELLS RIVERS STATE TO SUSPEND VAT COLLECTION of the tax in the state.

Justice Stephen Pam of a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had in a judgment delivered on August 9, held that the Rivers State Government and not the FIRS, has the right to collect VAT in the state.

Justice Pam, in the judgment subsequently restrained the Attorney General of the Federation and FIRS (1st and 2nd defendants) from collecting VAT in Rivers and directed the Rivers State Government to take charge of the duty.

But the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal yesterday ordered all parties that have submitted themselves before the court to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the hearing of an application seeking to stay the judgment of a Federal High Court, Port Harcourt.

While invoking the powers of the court in line with section 6 of the Constitution, to preserve the “res”, i.e. main case from being dissipated, the court ordered that all those who had submitted themselves before the court should maintain status quo ante bellum.

According to the ruling, all parties should refrain from giving effect to the judgment of

the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt delivered on August 9, which restrained the FIRS from collecting VAT in Rivers State.

As a result of the court’s decision in Port Harcourt, the Lagos State Government also commenced move to stop the collection of VAT by the FIRS in the state.

Miffed by the decision of the trial court and also the move by Lagos State, the FIRS approached the Court of Appeal for an order staying the judgment of Justice Pam and another order restraining the Rivers State Government from collecting VAT in the state.

However, the application for stay and interlocutory injunction could not be heard yesterday, because of the request of Lagos AG to be included as a party in the suit.

Although the appellant had opposed the joinder application but the court held that his right would be affected adversely if not heard.

Justice Tsammani consequently fixed September 16 for the hearing of the joinder application by Lagos AG. Justice Tsammani, however, held that since the application for stay and interlocutory injunction could not be heard, it was only proper to preserve

the 'res', i.e. the main case.

He subsequently adjourned to September 16 for the hearing of the application for joinder by the Lagos AG. The FIRS was forced to approach the Appeal Court, after Justice Stephen Pam of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had, last Monday, dismissed its application seeking to stop the Rivers State Government from collecting VAT in line with an earlier judgement in favour of the state by the same court.

Pam held that granting the application would negate the principle of equity. He stated further that in as much as the

In a related development, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday signed into law the State VAT Bill as passed by the House of Assembly.

According to a statement signed by Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, “the Governor signed the bill for a law to impose and charge VAT on certain goods and services at about 11. 45 am today, after returning from an official trip to Abuja. By this act, the Bill has now become a Law.”

FG DOUSES TENSION OVER PLANNED NATIONWIDE FARM ESTATES Reacting to the allegation in a chat with newsmen in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NALDA, Paul Ikonne, emphasised that the establishment of the farm estates had nothing to do with RUGA or ranches.

According to the NALDA boss, “the farm estates are not in any way related to both RUGA and cattle ranches,” adding Afenifere’s position “is aimed at misleading the people.”

He said: “The Integrated Farm Estates are what the

President mandated us to put in place in all the 109 Senatorial Districts after commissioning that of Daura; meaning he saw the productive nature and the impact that project will make. ”The project is meant for the community, to develop the community. What we have inside is poultry, fishery and for those who are doing piggery - piggery. So, it is for the people. ”The insinuation by Afenifere is meant to mislead

people as a result of lack of understanding, so to say. But the true position is that the integrated farm estates are designed to accommodate the youths from that community in order to engage them into entire agricultural value chain. ”And it depends on what the community is known for and what the community is interested in going into. Some states are getting poultry, cow – like in the North; in the south like Abia they are doing fishery

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

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

NNPC Forecasts Over N300bn Profit in 2021 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Few days after declaring a Profit After Tax (PAT) of N287 billion in its Audited Financial Statement (AFS) for 2020, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday said it was projecting a further net gain in excess of N300 billion by the end of 2021.

Group Executive Director, Finance and Accounts of the corporation, Mr. Umar Ajiya, who spoke on Arise Television, THISDAY’s broadcast arm, explained that the national oil company had been able to reverse its impairment losses from previous years.

The corporation’s auditors had raised questions over its impairment losses, a reduction in the carrying amount of an asset that is triggered by a decline in its fair value, casting doubts over the future of the national oil company.

However, Ajiya explained that the NNPC was turning the corner, with current financial obligations being met as and when due, without default, adding that although there was a “write-back’’, the process of restoring to profit a provision for bad or doubtful debts previously made against profits, it was not responsible for its 2020 profit.

“We already achieved N147

Miyetti Allah Disowns Secretary Over Comments Against Masari Francis Sardauna in Katsina A Fulani socio-cultural association, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has disassociated itself from what it termed blackmailing and unguarded utterances against the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, by its National Secretary, Saleh Alhassan.

The state Chairman of the association, Hassan Kuraye, while briefing journalists at the State NUJ secretariat yesterday, described Alhassan’s statements against Governor Masari as disrepute and uncalled for.

Alhassan, had in an interview with an online media, made defamatory statements against Masari and accused him of being frustrated by the activities of bandits in the state.

But Kuraye during the press conference, claimed that the national secretary did not obtain clearance

from the national president of the Fulani socio-cultural association before making such crummy utterances against the governor.

He said: “Alhassan’s comments against our Governor (Masari) are his personal opinions. The comments are not the position of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in Katsina State, our national president or the executive council of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.

“I called our National President, Abdullahi Bello Bodejo and he told me that the national secretary (Alhassan) did not seek his permission before making such unguarded utterances.”

He explained that the statements made by the national secretary were not the position of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore at both the national and state levels and urged the general public to discredit the statements.

Gumi’s Visit to Igboho a Misadventure, Yoruba Group Last week’s trip to Igboho, Oyo State by Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gunmi was a vexatious misadventure, the Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative (TYLPI) has said.

Gumi, accompanied by the former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf, was said to have arrived in the town, the adopted home of the incarcerated Yoruba selfdetermination activist, Mr. Sunday Igboho, and held meetings with some community leaders.

In a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Mr. Tunde Ipinmisho, the Yoruba group said Gumi’s self-assigned role of mediator in the security crisis in the North western parts of Nigeria was suspect and had not yielded any tangible outcome.

The group said nothing was heard from Gumi, by way of open condemnation of the savage murder of scores of the people of Igangan, Oyo State by so called gunmen, for doing nothing other than to proclaim the ownership of their ancestral land.

It said it was the carnage that made the incarcerated Igboho rise

in defence of the hapless people of the troubled community and other parts of Yorubaland.

“By his visit to Igboho town, Gunmi has exposed himself as a busybody who would exploit any situation to draw public attention to himself and his ignoble mission,” TYLPI said in the statement.

The group said any attempt by the likes of Gumi to hide behind the cloak of religion to divide the Yoruba or deny the well known acts of terrorism

by Fulani herdsmen in parts of Yorubaland would fail.

It expressed surprise that the likes of Gumi who had been openly fraternising with terrorists and criminal gangs in the Northern parts of the country were walking freely around while innocent persons in other parts of the country were being hounded to jail for offences that were largely unknown to the nation’s laws.

“While the Yoruba are by nature welcoming and accommodating to visitors, those like Gumi coming with sinister agenda, should desist from making such forays into places where people have been traumatised.”

billion by May and by end of June, we were nearing N200 billion. So, other things being equal, by our year end outlook, we should be far above N300 billion.

“And for sure, by the end of the year we should be able to surpass our 2020 performance, which will go a long way to reducing the accumulated losses of the group and at the same improve liquidity position such that the working capital is no longer in deficit,” he stated.

He noted that although the accounts of the corporation had been audited in the past, the audits were done some years in arrears, but were only being released to the public in the last three years since the corporation is now a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Ajiya stated that a combination of aggressive debt recovery, cost optimisation, renegotiation of all contracts, rescheduling of debts, exiting joint ventures that did not bring value as well as non-interference from President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo helped return the NNPC to the path of recovery.

However, he noted the federation continues to owe gas-to-power debts of N285 billion, admitting that the write-backs that had to do with impaired revenues or incomes that were not initially recognised, including $1.57 billion had been refunded to the NNPC. “And because of that approval, the write-back had to take place. But let me clarify one thing, it is not because of that

write-back that NNPC made profit. It was actually driven by sheer financial prudence and operational excellence in the sense that we know what we did internally.

“So, whether there was write-back or not, we would have ended up with a loss, but we went ahead through five significant options to exit existing joint ventures that are not viable and that were sucking the fortunes of the corporation,” he added.

He listed other cost-cutting measures as automation of business processes, reduction of paper work, improvement in efficiency as well as reduction in cost of travels, general elimination of wastages and optimisation of staff.

“We had thousands of staff in the refineries which we had

shut down but those engineers have now been moved to other businesses where they can add value, so that way cost is also optimised.

“There were so many initiatives within the system that were geared towards improving the profitability. The profit of N287 billion, one could say it’s small, but you recall that 2020 was a COVID year and we were faced with three variables, price collapse, demand which also collapsed, but we had to do something about cost,” he explained.

The NNPC official maintained that shutting down refineries was a cost saving measure to reduce the challenge of crude oil disruption, saying that in some instances pumping 1 million barrels into the refineries could yield half the expected product.

PA ABIODUN GOES HOME. . .

L-R: Widow of the deceased, Mama Victoria Abiodun; Son of the deceased and Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; his wife, Bamidele; daughters of the deceased, Mrs Shade Bamgboye and Dr. Seyi Kuti; during the funeral service for their late patriarch, Dr. Emmanuel Adesanya Abiodun at St. James Anglican Church, Iperu Remo, Ogun State … Thursday.

ABIODUN AJALA

Report: Nigeria’s FinTech Industry Rakes in $293.2m in H1 2021 Nosa Alekhuogie The first quarter (H1) of the Nigerian FinTech industry has generated $293.2 million with over 70 per cent being realised from foreign direct investment.

According to reports based on intelligence by Techpoint, the data and research arm of Techpoint Africa, it is estimated that Nigeria’s FinTech revenue will reach $543 million by 2022.

The report also showed that in 2018, Nigerian startups raised $178.3 million with 87 per cent of

it being from foreign investors.

According to the report, in 2019, $377.4 million was realised and 94.8 per cent of it was also from foreign investors, while in 2020, $120.6 million with 71.2 per cent was raised from foreign investors.

As the industry continues to mature and grow, there is a lot of potential for people to come on board.

From the survey of about 290 startups conducted by Ernst & Young in collaboration with FinTech Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR), 57 per cent of

FinTech startups (165) in Nigeria reportedly generated yearly revenue of over $5 million.

Since the beginning of 2021 there has been significant regulatory and legal developments in the framework for FinTechs in Nigeria as it has been an active year for the FinTech industry because the country embraced technology solutions following the COVID-19 lockdown.

Regulators have been proactive in engaging with the FinTech ecosystem and have released several circulars, guidelines,

and regulations, the report said.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed a 61 per cent year-onyear decline in foreign money flowing in Nigeria This means fewer international customers for Nigerian businesses, and fewer investment capital for Nigerian companies.

The report further said international businesses and investors spent $2.8 billion in Nigeria in the first half of 2021 and in the first half of 2020, it was $7.2 billion.

MAN Calls for Capitalisation of BOI, BOA, Demands Reduction of VAT to 5% Dike Onwuamaeze The Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called for the recapitalisation of the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) to enable them to enhance access to credit by operators in the real sector of the Nigerian economy.

It also tasked the federal government to reverse the rate of the Value Added Tax (VAT) to five per cent, the point where

it was before the introduction of the Finance Act of 2020.

These calls were contained in the MAN’s CEOs Confidence Index (MCCI) report for the Second Quarter of 2021, which made a number of recommendations to the federal government on how to improve the fortunes of the Nigerian manufacturers.

The report, which was released on Thursday, recommended the “recapitalisation of the BOI and the BOA to adequately meet the

industry credit need at single digit interest rate; Providing a credit guarantee for industrial loans from commercial banks; Direct intervention from the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure that members of the MAN access the funds, particularly the N1trillion COVID-19 stimulus package.”

It also demanded that the federal government should “reverse the Value Added

Tax’s rate back to the pre-2020 Finance Act rate to improve the disposable income of Nigerian workers, stimulate consumption, promote an upsurge in demand and increase production output.”

The MAN also asked that it should be updated on the current feasibility of the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMED) and N300 billion Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF) and how its members could access it.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

NEWS Absence of Cabinet, None Passage of Anti Grazing Bill in Edo, Worries PDP Chieftain Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

WORKING FOR HUMANITY. . .

L-R: United Nations (UN) Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Edward Kallon and Representative of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo when the latter led UN delegation to the Government House, Enugu, on a working visit/interactive session with the governor and members of the State Executive Council (EXCO)… yesterday.

GTBank’s Profit Dips, Posts N93.1bn in Six Months Guaranty Trust Bank, now Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, (GTCO) has posted a profit before tax of N93.1 billion for the six months ended June 30.

Disclosing the company’s audited financial results for the period ended June 30, yesterday in Lagos, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Guaranty Trust Holding, Segun Agbaje noted that the group’s PBT represented a decrease of 15.2 per cent, when compared to the N109.7 billion recorded in the same period in 2020.

Also, profits in the period

under review dipped to N79.41 billion from N94.27 billion achieved in the same period of 2020.

Agbaje said, “The results reflect our commitment to building on our track record of solid financial performance, and our capability to constantly innovate will ensure we stay ahead of the curve at all times.

“We are counting on the enduring support of our loyal customers and the hard work of our dedicated staff to continually make end-to-

end financial services easily accessible to everyone and to create the best outcomes for all our customers and the communities in which we operate.

“Looking forward, we are focused on bringing to bear the full benefits of our new corporate structure by consolidating our leading position in all the economies where our franchise operates.

“We will also diversify our earnings from core banking, continue to empower businesses across Africa and beyond, and

generate long-term returns for our shareholders.”

Gross Earnings dropped to N207.91 billion for the year under review against N225.13 billion recorded in the comparative period of 2020.

Agbaje also revealed that the structure and earning capacity of the Group’s balance sheet remained resilient, with total assets closing at N5.01 trillion, primarily driven by a 4 per cent increase in deposit liabilities to N3.75 trillion on June 30 from N3.61 trillion recorded in Dec. 2020.

You’re Insincere, Deceptive, ASUU Tells FG Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) Kano Zone has described the Nigerian government as insincere and deceptive for failing to honour the Memorandum of Action (MoA) signed on December 23 of last year.

Addressing journalists at the headquarters of the union at Bayero University Kano yesterday, the chairman of the zone Professor Abdulkadir Muhammad disclosed that

part of the agreement, the government offered to inject N30 billion as tranche of N220 billion fund for revitalisation of Nigerian public universities, adding that for 222 days now, it was yet to release the money.

The chairman of the zone, comprising seven universities in Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa states, called on the government to urgently address the proliferation of state-owned universities in order to salvage the educational system

MultiChoice Talent Factory Welcomes Class of 2022 MultiChoice has welcomed the third set of passionate young film creatives comprising the Class of 2022 to the MTF West Africa Academy.

After a 6-week selection process, 20 aspiring filmmakers representing Nigeria and Ghana will begin their 12-month training programme in October at the MTF Academy in Lagos.

The final candidates were selected after a rigorous interview process by the judging panel, which consisted of film and television experts including representatives of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN). On the judging panel were pioneer MTF Academy Director, Mr Femi Odugbemi, Film Director and representative of the DGN, Mr Lancelot Imasuen, Film Director and Producer, Ms. Tope Oshin, Film Director, Mr James Omokwe and Director and representative of the DGN, Mrs Patricia Oghre

Imobhio.

The Class of 2021 in partnership with the New York Film Academy (NYFA) benefited from an intensive 3-week online training which will now be part of the MTF curriculum to train the new cohort to produce micro documentaries, public service announcements, television commercials and music videos. The goal of the training will be to broaden their skillset and allow them to be economically active in various sectors, other than the film industry.

Speaking on a survey carried out to ascertain how MTF academies are igniting Africa’s creative industries and the findings which revealed 92% of the inaugural class of 2019 are economically active in the industry, CEO MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, stated that the programme “is what the industry needs and why MTF was founded.”

of the country.

According to Muhammad, the government had also promised to release N25 billion to universities

by May this year as part of the payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), lamenting that “as at today, the government is yet to release the fund.”

He also expressed displeasure over the government’s failure to honour the agreement it signed in February, through the Ministry of

Budget and Planning to release N170 billion as the balance of N220 billion, adding that “however, the government, in its usual manner of deceit, has yet to convene this meeting, not to talk of releasing the agreed balance.”

“It is very clear that the government has failed to address the core issues in the MOA of 23rd December, 2020 and the issues related to the draft of the renegotiated agreement of May, 2021.

Chrisland Schools Graduate Class of 2021 Chrisland schools has graduated a total of two hundred and seventyeight students in a joint ceremony across four of its branches which include Chrisland College Idimu, Chrisland High School VGC, Chrisland High School Ikeja and Chrisland High School Abuja.

The class of 2021 virtual valedictory service which held recently was themed “Destined for Greatness and Distinction”. The theme was carefully crafted to inspire the students to excel in life.

The graduation ceremony opened with a fellowship session which was officiated by prominent clerics, Dr Ishmail Akinlade Jimoh (JP), Senior Research fellow and Former Acting Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan; Reverend Professor, Dapo Folorunsho Asaju, Professor of Theology, Lagos State University and Former Vice Chancellor Bishop Ajayi Crowther Memorial University.

The clerics commended and

congratulated the teachers and management of Chrisland for their effort in giving their best into the development of the students which has in turn prepared them for the next stage of their lives.

The guest speaker of the day, Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development also charged the students to live up to the theme as they navigate the journey of life through the pursuit of excellence in higher institutions across the globe.

“Today you have all grown up to be bold and young adults ready to take on society. For you to achieve that dream, “destined for greatness and distinction”, you must be committed to following the rules of life anchored on integrity, hard work. So, success is observing and sustaining a high standard of integrity in life and not caving into a negative peer or social pressure by following what others are doing.”

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Mr. Charles Idahosa, has described as worrisome the none constitution of cabinet by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

He also expressed surprise that the state governor has refused to put modalities in place for the passage of the anti-open grazing bill.

Idahosa, a former Political Adviser to ex-governor Adams Oshiomhole, and now chieftain of the PDP, who stated this in Benin City yesterday while fielding questions from journalists ahead of his 68th birthday which comes up on September 21, further lamented the frustration of former APC members who defected to the PDP with Obaseki, but have been left in the lurch.

According to him, “I am worried that there will be no cabinet after close to one year. We are not happy, I must make that clear to you.”

Although Idahosa commended Obaseki’s performance in office through numerous achievements, he nevertheless reiterated his worry over his delay in constituting a cabinet.

He also pointed out that though the constitution did not give the president or governors time frame to constitute a cabinet, there ought to have been a cabinet in place by now in the state.

On anti-open grazing, he declare: “I am not comfortable with Edo State not passing the Anti-Open Grazing Bill as agreed by the Southern Governors’ Forum at Asaba in Delta State, noting that it is Obaseki’s Government and that the day of report card would come.”

Abia ALGON Chairman Sacked Over Vehicle Purchase Row Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia The Chairman of the Abia State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Michael Nwoke, has been sacked following a vote of no confidence passed on him by the other I6 council chairmen.

Nwoke, who is the chairman of Obingwa Local Government Area got himself in hot soup when he alleged the existence of “a cabal” in theadministrationofGovernorOkezie Ikpeazu. He said that the cabal had hijacked the procurement of vehicles forALGON members and attached exorbitant prices, adding that his life was in danger.

But in “a special resolution” yesterday the other I6 council chairman dissociated themselves

from the ALGON Chairman, saying that “we have never experienced any form of cabal in the local government system of Abia State.”

The ALGON members therefore condemned Nwoke in totality and moved against him for raising issues that “are provocatively distasteful and can ignite disharmonious and acrimonious relationships within the polity.”

“We hereby unanimously vote for his removal from office as Abia State ALGON Chairman with immediate effect,” the council chairmen said in their resolution.

“We will meet and elect a new Abia ALGON chairman that would have the support of all members for collective and smooth running of activities of Abia State ALGON”.

Alleged Office Sex: Lagos CP Moves DPO, Orders Investigation Sunday Ehigiator Following allegation levelled against the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Denton Police Division, CSP Adegoke Akinlade, for detaining his lover, Jennifer Madueke, upon discovering that his service pistol was missing after an office sex with her, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered an unbiased investigation into the matter, just as he has redeployed the DPO away from the division.

In a statement yesterday, signed by the state’s police

spokesperson, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, CP Odumosu was quoted to have taken this action in the interest of fairness and justice.

Odumosu said that he directed the immediate redeployment of the officer in the eye of the storm so as to pave the way for diligent and unbiased investigation.

The statement further assured members of the public that “appropriate actions will be taken against anyone found culpable at the conclusion of the ongoing investigation such that at the end, justice would have been served.”

British High Commissioner Commends Nasarawa’s Budget on Education Ugo Aliogo The British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing, has commended the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, for the 35 per cent increase in the state education and improving business environment indicators, attracting investment and carrying out some critical investment to the lives of the citizens.

Laing disclosed this recently

during a state visit to the state aimed at having high-level discussions with the state governor and key stakeholders in the state government, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and business leaders.

The visit gave the High Commissioner the opportunity to see at first hand some of the examples of what is making Nasarawa such a prosperous area to live, work and invest in.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

NEWS EFCC Chair: Nigeria Spent N6trn in Fight against Terrorism Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, said yesterday that Nigeria had spent N6 trillion in prosecuting the war against insurgency.

He said Nigeria lost N5.7 trillion to tax evasion by multinational companies even as the anti-graft agency recovered N6 billion, over $161 million, £13,000 and €1,730, 200 since assumption of office.

Bawa spoke while presenting a paper entitled, ‘Combating of Crime, Corruption and implication

for Development and Security’, at the 38th Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime, organised by the Center for International Documentation on Organised and Economic Crime (CIDOEC), Jesus College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Citing a report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), he said “resources that could support a country’s development are lost through criminal acts like corruption, tax evasion, money laundering, and others.”

The EFCC Chair, according to a statement by the commission, said the absence of substantial improvement in the living condition of the people in Africa and the rest of the developing countries in spite of their natural resources endowment could be blamed on pervasive economic crimes taking place in these countries.

“The incidence of illegal mining, smuggling of goods, tax evasion, illegal oil bunkering, illegal arms deals just to mention but a few does not allow the government to receive the full accruals from the continent’s vast resources that

are needed for development.

“The revenue generated are embezzled by government officials and their collaborators in the private sector. This does not allow for economic growth and by extension a hindrance to development,” he said.

Speaking on the Nigerian experience, Bawa disclosed that “over N6 trillion has been expended so far on the war against terrorism in Nigeria since 2008 while about N5.4 trillion was lost to tax evasion by multi-national corporations operating in the country from 2011 – 2021.

Niger Gov, Etsu Nupe Mourn Late Emir of Kontagora, Saidu Namaska Laleye Dipo in Minna Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, Senator Sani Musa and the Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar have expressed shock over the demise of the Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, Alhaji Saidu Namaska, who passed on to the great beyond in Abuja on Thursday.

They described the deceased who was the longest reigning monarch in Niger State as a peace loving, friendly and accommodating traditional ruler.

Governor Bello in his condolence message to the people of Kontagora Emirate charged the people to accept the demise of Alhaji Saidu Namaska as an act of God, saying it is God who gives and takes.

The governor in the message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mary Noel Berje, said “the deceased Emir was so much an asset to the entire people of Kontagora Emirate owing to his fatherly role to all.”

Bello also acknowledged that the late Sarkin Sudan “served humanity with all sincerity, commitment and dedication,” pointing out that the Emir would be greatly missed for his wise counsel.

The Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, in his condolence message said he had lost a confidant and an adviser with the death of the Sarkin Sudan.

Zungeru Dam: Displaced Communities Complain About Poor Compensation Laleye Dipo inMinna

CULTURAL INTERFACE… L-R: Secretary, LGS of IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, Lizzy Asomugha, Kayode Stephen, Olusegun Adekunle, Director General, NCAC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Joy Ikwue, Vice Captain, Mike Ekoja, and Eunice Atuejide, during a courtesy visit on DG, NCAC in Abuja…recently

N’Delta Group Disputes NDDC Probe Figures, Demands Review Emmanuel Addeh inAbuja The Niger Delta Justice Forum (NDJF) has raised questions over the N6 trillion allegedly mismanaged by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since inception, demanding a review by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami.

Describing the report recently submitted to the federal government as ‘mendacious and dissembling’, the group stated that those who orchestrated it deliberately misman-

aged the entire process to mislead the government in order to achieve a predetermined outcome.

Led by its Convener, Bassey Idongesit, the group said the exact amount of funding received by the NDDC from 2001 to 2019 remained a matter of public information and is available in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and that of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

It argued that the Niger Delta had received N2.495 trillion since

2001 and not N6 trillion, broken down into N760,165,606,560.32 as federal government contribution, N2,500,000,000.00 as OMPADEC electricity fund and N18,175,000.00 as state government grants.

In addition, it stated that N1,623,690,225,765.07 was contributed by the oil companies, N19,566,957,137.81 was recorded as other income, amounting to a total receipt of N2, 405,940,964,463.20.

The group wondered if the auditors did know the difference between income and approved

budget, suggesting that they were probably instructed to engage in deliberate misrepresentation.

“This misinformation is not only misleading, wicked and unconscionable but also inimical to future growth of the Niger Delta region. It is capable of inciting other regions against the Niger Delta now already being perceived as having frittered away a whopping sum of N6 trillion. To this end, we implore you, sir, to verify these figures and urgently correct this callous falsehood,” it insisted.

Police Rescue 8 kidnap Victims, Parade Outgoing Minister of Environment Suspect Terrorising Rivers Waterways Hands Over to Ikeazor Blessing Ibunge in PortHarcourt The Rivers State Police Command has paraded one Baridula Gbolo for alleged involvement in the gang terrorising the Bonny waterways in the state.

This is as the Police command has rescued eight passengers who were abducted in two separate attacks on September 6 and 7, this year along the Bodo/Bonny waterways by sea pirates.

The rescued victims are Ossai Christian, Grace Jumbo, Rita Allison, Johnson Osel, Gladys Long John, Maimuna Abiba, Obianuga Angus and Adekola Opayemi.

BrieÀng journalists yesterday on the achievement while parading the suspect at the command headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, the State Police

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Public Relations O΀cer, SP Nnamdi Omoni, disclosed that the victims were rescued Thursday night at Bolo Creek in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking further, Omoni explained that investigation on the kidnap of the victims led to the arrest of the suspect.

He disclosed the suspect as a native of Bodo town in Gokana LGA, adding that the suspect has made useful confusions which was helping the police in further investigation.

“Their rescue was made possible due to the intense pressure mounted on the kidnappers by the Operatives of Anti Cultism Unit who had earlier arrested one Baridula Gboro ‘m’ 35yrs from Bodo in Gokana LGA.

The outgoing Minister of Environment, Dr. Muhammad Mahmood Abubakar, has officially handed over the affairs of the ministry to the Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Abubakar, affirmed that in the last two years, the ministry had achieved tremendous successes in areas of Ogoniland cleanup, climate change issues and concerns, together with formulation of policies and environmental service matters, which have positively redefined the country’s environment sector.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, penultimate Wednesday, dropped the Minister of Agriculture and

Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono. He redeployed the (then) Minister of Environment, Dr. Muhammad Mahmood Abubakar, to assume office as the new substantive Agriculture and Rural Development Minister.

The outgoing Environment Minister, expressed gratitude to the Minister of State for her support, cooperation and resilience, which resulted in the numerous achievements recorded in the ministry, during the two years they worked together.

While noting that his new assignment is taking him to a diͿerent ministry, he however stressed that Environment and Agriculture have a lot in common. He assured that the two ministries will continue to work together to boost the fortunes of the Environment Sector.

The multi-billion naira Zungeru Dam project, nearing completion in Niger State, is already attracting negative reactions from the host communities and those displaced from their ancestral homes, leading to a petition being written to both the federal and Niger State governments on the issue.

One of the complaints of those displaced is that they have not been adequately compensated for the loss of their land, economic trees and other valuable items and where compensation was made the beneÀciaries were “shortchanged.”

Another issue raised by the communities in the petition authored by the Coordinators of the Concerned Shiroro Youths, Comrades Abdullahi

Yussuf Kokki and Bello Ibrahim presented to journalists in Minna recently, was that people around the dam were already witnessing the negative eͿect of the multibillion naira project.

“Unfortunately, many intricacies and inadequacies have been occasioned by monumental scam arising from crass negligence and complacency from the combined conspiracy of the handlers of the project on one hand and the aͿected communities’ representatives on the other hand even before the completion of the gigantic power plant,” the group stated in the petition.

“In respect of compensation, a monumental and catastrophic scam took centre-stage by way of shortchanging virtually all people directly aͿected by the dam construction.

Edo CP Averts Violence as Mob Attempts to Lynch 2 Policemen Over Extortion AdibeEmenyonuinBeninCity What could have degenerated to another #EndSARS protest was averted yesterday following the timely intervention on the Edo State Police Command Commissioner, Philip Ogbadu who saved the lives of two police o΀cers, who were about to be lynched by an angry mob for extorting the sum of N10,000 and a phone from a young man in Benin City.

The incident, according to eyewitnesses, happened at about 9:30a.m. at the Obakhavbaye Street Junction, oͿ Oba Market Road

in the heart of the state capital.

The mob, in their hundreds, had descended on one of the police o΀cers, holding him hostage, out of the Àve o΀cers alleged to have collected a phone and the sum of N10,000 from the young man.

But the quick intervention of the police commissioner, however, saved the situation.

It was further gathered that the o΀cers had accosted the young boy at the TV Road area of Benin metropolis and forcefully collected the boy’s android phone and the sum of N10,000.

Emenike Debunks Parallel

Congress Claims in Abia EmmanuelUgwu-Nwogoin Umuahia

Secretary of the Contact/ Strategy Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ikechi Emenike, has debunked claims that parallel congress was held in Abia State, saying that it was “a mischievous Áight of fantasy to conjure up something that did not happen.”

Members of the Abia chapter of APC had last Saturday trooped out en masse to elect party executives in all the 17 local

governments of the state. It was supervised by the Hon. Sonny Goli-led a seven-man local government congress committee sent by the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

Speaking with THISDAY on the outcome of the congress, Emenike commended party members for the peaceful conduct of the congress throughout the state, adding that the elected local government executives emerged through a democratic process which started from the ward level.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

DELTA: 30YEARS ON

Okowa rolled out drums to honour Deltans of excellence, writes Ray Umukoro

O

n August 29, Delta joined 11 other states to mark their 30th anniversary since creation by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) on the same day in 1991. Delta Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa seized the opportunity to score the Bull’s Eye. He rolled out the drums to honour 18 Deltans, men and women of renown who have excelled in their fields of calling and brought glory to the state.

Delta was carved out from the old Bendel. The other half was Edo State. Other states created on that day were Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Enugu, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Osun, Taraba and Yobe. A dozen bunch of states created by military fiat. While some of these states have continued to struggle economically and even socio-politically, Delta has managed to ride the storm. It has survived struggles, upheavals and sundry schisms and has continued to shine with zillion stars.

Since its creation, the state has seen worst days, good days and better days, having passed through the hands of nine leaders (civilian governors and military administrators) with Okowa being the tenth, and the fourth democratically elected governor. These past years, leader after leader had marked the anniversary of the creation of Delta.

But none has ever chosen to honour outstanding sons and daughters of the state, 18 of them, in the manner Governor Okowa has done.

Decorating 18 Deltans, three of them posthumously, for their exploits in their various stations of life at a time the state marked its third decade of existence was not only instructive but symbolic. Though the list of those honoured may not have been exhaustive, it more than casts the state as a grateful community of responsible men and women. It also projects Okowa as a perceptive and grateful leader.

Delta is never in short supply of heroes and heroines. Men and woman who have and are still making a mark on the continent and on the global stage. Arriving at only 18 names among the stellar assembly of distinguished Deltans must have been one of the hardest assignments in the long list of activities that presaged the anniversary.

The list is a roll call of heavyweights, living and dead. From those who rocked the state in its cradle shortly after its creation to those who ensured they flew the Delta flag both at home and abroad in clear reminder to the world that Delta never lost its legendary traits of excellence and derring-do.

Step forth for your diadem: Highly esteemed politician, former minister and an astute advocate for justice for the Niger Delta, Chief Edwin Clark; maverick banker and Chairman of Zenith Bank, Mr. Jim Ovia; African youth entrepreneurship promoter, banker extraordinaire and Chairman of UBA, Mr Tony Elumelu; history-making President of World Trade Organisation (WTO), (the first female to occupy that position) and former World Bank Managing Director among other portfolios, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; academician, respected researcher and historian, Prof Obaro Ikime.

And yet another woman, Prof Grace Alele Williams, a mathematician, historically the first female Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, first Nigerian woman to earn a doctorate degree, among other ensigns and insignia of scholarship. From the sciences came Prof Emmanuel Nwanze, a celebrated biochemist and visiting Professor to several overseas universities including the University of Milan, Italy; Mr. Charles Majoroh, an accomplished architect whose designs and masterpieces have won him multiple awards and mainstreamed him into the privileged stage as an international architectural design juror.

In the Nigerian media landscape, Delta has been the home of founders of the big media houses in the country. And it was no surprise that

ALL THE RECIPIENTS DESERVE THEIR MEDALS. IT’S A REWARD BASED ON MERIT, NOT A PROMOTION OF MEDIOCRITY OR PRIMITIVE EXALTATION OF PATCHINESS. THE AWARDS REPRESENT THE TYPICAL DELTA CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE

the inimitable media icon, serial media business pioneer and Publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka (aka Uncle Sam, Sad Sam – title of a column he wrote in his younger years in journalism) made the honour list.

From the highly intellectualized frontiers of diplomacy, one amazon who had distinguished herself and brought glory to the nation, made the list. A quintessential diplomat who is a combination of beauty, brawn and brain, a former Foreign Affairs Minister and first woman to hold the post of Permanent Representative at the United Nations in the history of Nigeria, Professor Joy Ogwu made the list, deservedly.

Of what use is it for a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul? Compilers of the list must have thought about this and were properly guided as to include popular Pastor and televangelist Ayo Oritsejafor, an uncompromising preacher and minder of the business of the soul. It’s often said that where two or three Deltans are gathered, there’s entertainment, sports and innovation. It’s therefore no surprise that four Deltans in the sporting and entertainment ecosystems made the list. They were all crowned with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Take a bow for the pathfinder of the Nigeria comedy industry, the ever witty Atunyota Akpobome aka Alibaba and his alter ego in the music industry, the multi-talented Michael Collins Ajereh (Don Jazzy); Olympic medalist and decorated long jumper Ese Brume and the sensational swimmer Timipamere Akiayefa. These four, members of the younger generation, also made the honorees’ list.

Three legends of politics and unrepentant protagonists of true fiscal federalism: Chief Mukoro Mowoe, Chief James Otobo, former Deputy Premier of Mid-West region, and Chief Dennis Osadebay, former Premier of Mid-West were honoured posthumously.

Needless restating that the 18 honorees do not extensively reflect the number of Deltans that have impacted the nation, continent and the world at large, but it’s a good starting point and a memorable template laid by the Okowa government. Next year and in subsequent years to come, Deltans would like to see the likes of Stephen Keshi, Chief Abel Ubeku, the Ibru business dynasty, Professor Augustine Esogbue, the first black man to become a fully tenured professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, and many other outliers honored while alive or posthumously.

When Pastor Oritsejafor, who spoke on behalf of the recipients, made his speech after they had been decorated, it was obvious that this must rank as the best and most cherished awards among the recipients, all of whom had won several awards in and outside the country. It’s honour from home, from their people. Oritsejafor likened it to a prophet being honoured at home, a rarity in human history, especially going by the Biblical account of the Lord Jesus not being honoured in His homestead. It is said that when you praise a warrior, you rouse him to do more exploits. This special recognition should challenge every Deltan to aspire to be the best knowing that someday to come, a prophet would be honoured at home, by his own people.

All the recipients deserve their medals. It’s a reward based on merit, not a promotion of mediocrity or primitive exaltation of patchiness.

The awards represent the typical Delta culture of excellence and laudation of only what is noble and virtuous. It’s a fitting postscript to the litany of activities that headlined Delta at 30. Governor Okowa truly scored the Bull’s Eye with this. A strong foundation to build on in subsequent celebrations of the state’s anniversary.

Umukoro, a Deltan, wrote from Warri

DAY ATIKU, OTHERS CONVERGED ON IBADAN Remodeled Lekan Salami Stadium is commissioned, writes Babajide Balogun

T

he past one week has been quite busy for the residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital city. The reason is not far-fetched.

The state government has done what generations of its predecessors could not do and, therefore, all drums and flair were set out to celebrate the feat.

It was the official commissioning of the remodeled Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State felt it was a good enough reason to blow his own trumpet. The ovation of the celebration was loud as Ibadan hosted quite a few VIPs in the world of business, politics and sports and entertainment.

The important highlight of the entire celebration is the showcasing of Governor Seyi Makinde as the real man of the people. The huge amount of sheer love that he received from the masses was phenomenal. It was inspiring to see how ordinary folks on the streets of Ibadan, mostly market women and artisans thronged to the road side to wave at his motorcade.

Ace musician Teni dazzled dignitaries and other spectators at the commissioning to a session of beautiful performances. And when Governor Makinde led the retinue of guests led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar into the arena, the whole stadium was thrown into a thunderous applause.

At all traffic positions during the VIP motorcade to the stadium, there was an enormous show of love to the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Atiku, as the crowd rend his name in chorus.

Between the people of Oyo State and their governor, the remodeled Lekan Salami Stadium is a promise kept. It is part of the Omi Tuntun agenda, which is a commitment of renewal and restoration by Governor Makinde.

The Makinde administration had promised a massive investment in social infrastructure in Oyo State and if there is any big elephant in the room of infrastructural decay in the Pace Setters state, it is obviously the derelict state that the Lekan Salami Stadium hitherto was.

Constructed in 1989, the stadium has lived 32 years of repeated neglect by successive administrations in Oyo State. For many years, facilities in the stadium degenerated as a result of neglect by successive administrations.

However, under the leadership of incumbent Governor Makinde, a grass to grace story of the stadium began to unfold. The administration initiated the remodeling project that has taken the stadium to the level of earning a hosting capability for international competitions. The main bowl of the stadium is fitted with FIFArecommended specified standard natural grass, four dressing rooms which are equipped with modern showers, heaters and players’ lockers, modern and adjustable flood lights, five-mile radius CCTV, modern electronic score board and the Video Assisted Referee (VAR).

In addition, all the stands in the stadium are fully covered apart from a VIP lounge equipped with grand style seating arrangement. The unique aspect of the seating arrangement is that all the seats are numbered. In addition, the

stadium boasts of two new specialized gymnasiums for combative sports and gymnastics; as well as a new 1,200-capacity tennis court. Of course, the remodeling work on the stadium would not be complete as Governor Makinde is an avowed tennis enthusiast and it is hoped that the governor will, himself, find time to patronize the facility.

It is obvious that Governor Makinde is putting his mouth where his money is, by taking a bold step at empowering youth sports enthusiasts.

The governor has not hidden his policy priority of promoting Oyo State youths: be it in education investments, agro-business, political and public service appointments and through sports development.

The remodeled stadium is equally expected to optimize sporting performance of Oyo State in national sports festival, actualizing Governor Makinde’s vision to lift the state to the top of the table in future national sport festivals.

Lofty as the idea of the stadium renovation is and the facility upgrade around, it is preposterous that some unscrupulous opposition elements still chose to pick a fault with the governor on the topic.

They went to town attempting to blame the governor for causing the rainfall that clogged the field of play during the commissioning event and quickly shared some video of a leaking rooftop. They did not acknowledge that the stadium had been under a state of disrepair for 30 years and eight of those years, in the minimum, are years when the government of

the All Progressives Congress (APC) could have done something - no matter how little - on the stadium.

None of that meant anything to them!

Rather, they went to the ultra highway of miscommunication trying to abuse the minds of the people about the effort by the Makinde administration. These politicians know that before the Wednesday, September 29, commissioning of that stadium, Ibadan had been under persistent rainfall which has saturated the soil from absorbing water. They blame the contractor for the leaking roof and the glee at which they share and rejoice about the viral video suggests that could have been the primary agent of saboteurs that compromised the roofing sheets.

But they know quite well that at many instances in European football, heavy rainfall causes the pitch to be waterlogged and reduces the kinetic impact of the ball. They know also that for a massive work of that scale, it is not impossible that there would be minor structural defects which the contractor would be obliged to fix even after the facility has been delivered.

The opposition in Oyo will not rejoice with the people for having a turn-around stadium.

They will not be happy that the Makinde administration continues to deliver on its promises of renewal to the people. But whether they find a reason to rejoice with the people or not, Oyo State is in for a jolly good ride with Governor Makinde in the saddle and the people are not ready to stop that ride anytime soon.

Balogun wrote from Ologuneru, Ibadan.

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SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

There is need for more...

Wike and Restructuring in Nigeria

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Anambra generated N28bn compared to FAA of N94bn representing 29.6%. The ’Restructuring Nigeria’’ is a quandary. There is no concord on the complexion or total internally-generated revenues of the six most viable states in 2020 at N695bn as dimension which the re-engineering of Nigeria should take. There has been a computed by Economic Confidential was more than the entire IGR collected by the cacophony of arguments, but one opinion which a good number of Nigerians hold is that the orbital states that make up the country should determine, manage and control remaining 30 states put together which was less than N600bn.’’

Why should any state in Nigeria be in the red – when all of them have the latent their own resources. This is reasonable.

It will be duplicitous to argue that the present complex is sustainable or rewarding. capacitance to be economically fecund? It is lucid that the present complex discourIt is clearly not. We have been on this tenuous scaffolding for decades without ages innovation and retard the development of the states. So, should there be a tilt measurable progress. Really, it makes no moral sense that the accruals from certain towards economic independence by the states? I think so but within the bounds of states are prodigalised among other states which seem not be making efforts to the constitution. become financially viable. What this system has created is indolence and a predilecNyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, asserting the right of his state to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) did a derring-do no doubt. tion for sponging off the federal government.

In August, a federal high court in Port Harcourt issued an order restraining the States naturally should be self-sustaining and competitive. What is the sense in creating states that end up sticking their proboscis deep into the national wealth bank, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) from collecting VAT and Personal Income Tax (PIT) from the state, and directed the Rivers government to take charge of running it down with every gulp? This charade has effectuated stunted development the process. The epochal judgment compelled the FIRS to file a stay-of-execution across the board. While the productive states do not have enough for developmental projects and have to borrow in deficit, the beneficiaries of the ‘’papa-dash-me system’’ application. But the court declined to grant the application.

It is judicious that our laws are tested on matters of this character. Already some cannot drive themselves to growth. Both the giver and the taker are suspended in a states like Lagos and Adamawa are mulling following the Rivers example. I believe loop of unrealised potential. this will only precipitate economic restructuring and push the states to be forwardStates should be able to compete on the basis of innovation, education and thinking and innovative. productivity. No state in Nigeria – whether in the north or in the south – is economiHowever, there seems to be some politics to the Rivers’ feat. Wike’s politics has cally unviable. But the current arrangement is sapping them of the needed oomph to always been belligerent, caustic and brash. The governor, by his utterances on the drive their development. case, appears to be foe-fighting. By making statements like, ‘’Rivers VAT not for For example, Zamfara is the state with the highest gold deposit in Nigeria. This is Abuja people’’, and threatening to seal off FIRS offices in the state, the governor is in addition to other minerals which are in commercial quantity -- asbestos, columbite, betraying his real intentions. This may not be about Rivers people, but about Wike’s chronite, iron ore, manganese, marble, lithium and tantalite. This alone is enough to personal agenda. make the north an affluent region.

I do not think any rational Nigerian will resist a process that will spur the Other states in the north as well are rich in mineral resources. Adamawa has development of the states, but Wike should desist from seeking ‘’restructuring’’ with nentonite, gypsium, Kaolin and magnesite; Borno is blessed with bentonite, clay, a machete. diatomite, gypsium, hydro-carbon, kaolin and limestone; Kebbi is weathly in gold; Fredrick ‘Mr OneNigeria’ Nwabufo, @FredrickNwabufo Kaduna is endowed with amethyst, asbestos, clay, flosper, gemstone, gold, graphite, kaolin, hyanite, mica, rock crystal, ruby, sapphire, sihnite, superntinite, tentalime, topaz and tourmaline; and Kano is opulent in gassiterite, copper, gemstone, glass-sand, lead/zinc, pyrochinre and tantalite.

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R As a matter of fact, it is an exertion of ignorance and bigotry EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU to say the north brings nothing to the national till. The north is MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO blessed with tremendous resources enough to be self-sustaining.

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU But the defective system is also holding it down. Most of the CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI mineral resources in the north are unquickened – because of the EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI flawed structure. So, it is only logical to say, all are victims of THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE the impaired set-up.

According to a report by Economic Confidential, a financial intelligence magazine, six states – Lagos, Rivers, Kaduna, Ogun, Oyo, and Anambra generated more internal revenues than 30 T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D other states put together in 2020. The report says eight states are EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA insolvent.

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, The report says: ‘’Lagos remained steadfast in its number ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI one position in IGR among the states with a total revenue DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE generation of N418bn compared to FAA of N299bn which DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH translate to 139% in the 12 months of 2020. It is followed by ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI Rivers state which generated IGR of N117bn compared to its CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI FAA of N198bn representing 58%; Ogun with N50bn compared DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO to FAA of N88bn representing 57%; Kaduna State with N50bn TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com compared to FAA of N124bn representing 40%; Oyo with IGR of N38bn compared to FAA of N127bn representing 29.7% and

Commissioning Inefficiency

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am tired of the culture of project commissioning in Nigeria. It has become another appalling interface of our national life. We show off half-baked and terribly done jobs at the expense of the useability of the infrastructure by the citizenry. In most cases we don’t even complete some of the projects but we use the media to project the completion when a lot more work needs to be done. I know politicians love to show off their achievements but the greatest impact should be on the lives of people.

If a politician truly loves the people his commissioning exercise should not be about the show off but his ability to make sure the commissioned project will better the lot of the people. Commissioning a drainage system in a state already prone to erosion is a no brainer; while erosion is destroying property of people in the state, the real fanfare should be about permanently solving the problem of erosion that is ravaging the state and putting everything in place.

We should be systemic in our approach to governance and we should be circumspect enough to remember there is a difference between growth and development. In the bid to show growth with impetuous commissioning let’s not forget the hallmark of society is real development and that should be our priority. It’s time to focus on the issues of poverty and environmental degradation-That I believe will truly improve the life of the people. Building a road, I repeat, is not big deal. These must be done to improve transport network.

The question should be: have we developed our transport network enough to promote free and efficient movement of goods and services?

It is time to get to work, Nigerian leaders.

Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail. com

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

08054699539

The Audacity of Aminu Masari

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nending lies by the federal government, frontline state governors and security agents, have all contributed greatly to the growth of terrorism in Nigeria in the last six years. Stories of imaginary raids on the hideouts of the terrorists are pushed out daily, while attacks by the guerrillas persist. No doubt, ethnic consideration has made it impossible for those running this country to deal with terrorists. Even to admit that most of the attacks in the North-west, North-central, some parts of the South-west and South-east are carried out by Fulani militias is a problem. I find this shocking. To tame terrorists, those running this country must rise above aboriginal sentiments.

Few weeks back, when I challenged security agents to checkmate Fulani militias in Maradun, Zamfara State, a Fulani man, who identified himself as Aminu Sebore, called from Abuja, and spent several minutes abusing me for saying the obvious by identifying the attackers as Fulani militias. This is the truth the average Fulani is running away from. President Muhammadu Buhari is running away from this truth.

Governors in the North-west are running away from this fact. They have all suddenly forgotten that only the truth can end terrorism and set this country free. Identifying Fulani militias as being responsible for the killings across the country does not imply that every Fulani is a terrorist. I persistently emphasise this.

It is gratifying that Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has decided to stand out. He has decided to follow the path of truth. The Katsina governor admits that most bandits are of the Fulani ethnic stock as himself, adding that they speak Fulfulde and profess the same religious beliefs as himself. Masari, in a recent television interview said many northerners might not like his revelation but maintained that his disclosure remains the truth.

The governor said: “So, what we have here on ground are bandits; they are not aliens, they are people we know, they are people that have been living with us for hundreds of years. The infiltration we have from some West African countries and North African countries are also people of the Fulani extraction.

“Majority of those involved in this banditry are Fulanis whether it is palatable or it is not palatable but that is the truth. I am not saying 100% of them are Fulani but majority of them are, and these are people who live in the forest and their main occupation is rearing of cattle.”

Clearly, Fulani militias have been emboldened by the failure of the Buhari government

Masari

to act appropriately. The federal government has refused to clamp down heavily on them simply because they are Fulani. This is the truth that must be told. These militias go about seizing land from farmers, which they then hand over to herders. Farmers who dare to resist are killed. In the North-west, Hausa farmers formed a vigilante group called Yan Zakai to protect their land, but have been largely limited by arms and ammunition.

Fulani militias are enjoying a free rein because their “father” is the President. Right in Katsina State is Ali Kachalla who leads the main Fulani militia terrorising the state in particular and other parts of the North-west. He has been doing this for almost five years. This Fulani militia leader, based in Dansadau, has the blood of hundreds of innocent people on his hands. Kachalla enjoys a free rein in Zamfara State and beyond. He goes about, unhindered, killing, maiming and kidnapping for money.

Everybody in the state knows Kachalla has his major camp in the notorious Kuyambana forest (Maru Local Government Area) from where attacks are launched on other parts of Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Katsina states. Security agents know this. Governor Bello Matawalle knows this. Unfortunately, concrete steps have not been taken to checkmate him. The military,

Police and DSS pretend to be unaware of his location. Perhaps, they are waiting for “clear instructions” from President Buhari before moving against Kachalla.

In Zamfara State, Fulani militias control vast areas in Maru, Dansadau, Zurmi, Shinkafi, Bungudu, Bakura and Maradun LGAs. In Katsina State, they control large land in Batsari, Jibia, Faskari, Sabuwa, Safana, Kankara, Danmusa, Dutsin-ma, Danja and Kurfi.

Security agents hardly respond to attacks

by Fulani militias. Many believe it is deliberate.

I will cite four recent cases that occurred in the last 10 days to validate this. Last Sunday, Fulani militias entered Mahuta village in Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State, and operated for hours. Security agents did not respond to SOS calls. The militias killed three people on the spot and abducted scores of Mahuta villagers. As at press time, virtually everybody in this village had relocated to Dandume and Funtua.

Another set of militias were at Sabuwar Kasa in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State last Sunday. As usual, they operated for hours unhindered. Four children of Hamza Umar, the village head of Sabuwar Kasa were kidnapped.

Some other Fulani militias stormed Tafoki village in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State on September 5, where Asma’u Dalhatuone, sister of Shehu Dalhatu Tafoki, the Deputy Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, was abducted. Asma’u was preparing for her marriage when the militias entered the village and took her away.

Two weeks back, the militias entered Dan-Kumeji community, in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing and maiming. No fewer than 11 villagers were killed and six others injured.

A resident of Dan-Kumeji, Abdulmumini Sani, said the terrorists arrived in the night and started shooting sporadically. According to him, as the villagers started running for safety, unknown to them, the militias had stationed themselves in strategic positions, killing the villagers at sight.

In all the four attacks mentioned, the Fulani militias operated for several hours. Unfortunately, security agents did not respond to calls for help. Again, days after the attacks, not a single one of the militias had been apprehended. So sad!

Let’s flip back to Masari. His thoughts on open grazing are also pragmatic. For me, other governors in the North must spend quality time reading Masari’s epistle on this issue. He agrees nomadic cattle rearing is an aberration

CBN Should Stop Squandering Nigeria’s Forex

Emefiele

Late last month, the Central Bank of Nigeria instructed banks to publish the names and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) of customers who abuse its forex policy. The apex bank

lamented that it had received, and noted with concern, reports of sharp practices “by some unscrupulous customers,” circumventing the new CBN policy on the sale of forex for overseas personal and business travels”.

The bank said some of the unwholesome practices included the use of fake visas and cancellation of air tickets after the purchase of PTA/BTA. Travellers must return unused PTA/BTA within two weeks as stipulated in the customer declaration form signed by them, so says the CBN. If not utilised for the intended purpose, or if for any reason, the scheduled trip is cancelled, the PTA/BTA must be returned.

So, Godwin Emefiele and his men expect Nigerians to return unutilised PTA/BTA? I don’t think this can ever happen. The CBN is being unrealistic.

How will the banks know those who purchased PTA/BTA and turn around to cancel their flight tickets? So, our banks are expected to have financial crime units and operate like EFCC and the Police?

This task is preposterous.

Why won’t there be unwholesome practices in the purchase of PTA/BTA, when there is a huge gap between the official rate of forex and that of the parallel market? As of yesterday, those

who got PTA/BTA from the banks and decide to join the “dubious travellers club” will make a profit of N133 on every USD purchased. The CBN is evidently encouraging corruption with this policy of selling PTA/ BTA at official rate.

Sharp practices will persist in the purchase of PTA/BTA because of this huge gap between official and unofficial forex rates. The CBN knows this. Purchasing PTA/BTA is big business because there is big profit in it.

Bank customers can apply for PTA/BTA once in a quarter, and PTA/BTA requests are limited to a maximum of $4,000 and $5,000 per quarter, per applicant, respectively. With this, and at current rate, crooked travellers can make a profit of at least N2.2 million annually just buying PTA/BTA, without actually travelling.

The CBN has simply been wasting this country’s forex by selling PTA/BTA at official rates. The era of multi forex exchange rates must end. The IMF and the World Bank have persistently told the Nigerian government this. Government forex must be sold at market rates. This will naturally eliminate sharp practices in the purchase of official forex, the PTA/BTA inclusive. A country struggling with forex can’t be selling the limited amount it has at dubious rates.

in modern societies and that Nigeria cannot be an exception. Masari also went beyond this, saying open grazing is un-Islamic.

The Katsina governor remarked: “Herdsmen should stay in one place. Roaming about should not be encouraged. In fact, for us, it is un-Islamic. Why do you have animals that you cannot feed and you have to go to other people’s land and farm and you say that is right? I don’t think it is right. We intend to have a law banning cattle roaming but before we do that, we would make provisions for where the animals would stay.”

Undoubtedly, anybody genuinely interested in ending the brutal clashes between farmers and migrant herders must not be talking about grazing sites and routes. No right-thinking person should be advocating the continuation of this Stone Age idea. Ranching should be on the front burner. Herders must return to their bases and cuddle ranching. If it does not happen, rampaging criminal herders and Fulani militias will persist in their nefarious activities against crop farmers. The culture of nomadism in Nigeria must be eliminated.

Wike, Pay Rivers State Pensioners Now

Wike

It was heart-wrenching watching Rivers State pensioners on the streets of Port Harcourt last Wednesday. They were protesting against huge unpaid pension arrears and gratuities. The pensioners, mainly retirees from 2015 till date, commenced their protest from the Rivers State secretariat complex, but were stopped by policemen from storming Rivers State Government House. How I wish they were allowed to smoke out Governor Nyesom Wike from the Government House. When next they are on the streets, they must occupy the Government House by force in order to send a message to Wike. This governor’s silence on this issue is infuriating.

It has been over six years of trauma for these seniors. Wike has denied them their pension arrears and gratuities since the inception of this administration. One protester remarked: “So many retirees have died; over three hundred have died. Our children are out of school, marriages have broken, so what have we done wrong?”

Haba! This is outright wickedness. Wike should show some respect to these seniors by paying all their entitlements.

While the coldblooded Rivers State Governor is spending billions of Naira on largely useless bridges in Port Harcourt, the state’s senior citizens are dying in droves.

The blood of these people is on Wike’s head. He knows this but cares less. Well, let Wike continue to ignore the seniors.

Judgement Day is around the corner.

Someday, somehow, Wike will account for the ill-treatment of these seniors.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

Trophy Engages Talents with ‘Stand By Me’ International Brewery’s flagship brand, Trophy, has announced its latest initiative tagged “Trophy Stand By Me” to engage and reward creative talents for the next four months.

The organisation explained that the motive for the initiative “is to reward and consumers in obviously tough economic environment, fuelled by COVID-19.”

This is in addition to enabling growth in the nation’s creative sector which is positioned as the second-largest employer on the country.

Speaking at the official launch of the campaign that held in Lagos, Marketing Director, International Breweries Plc, Mrs. Tolulope Adedeji reiterated that the initiative aims to support and enhance the visibility of budding creatives.

She said, “We are acutely aware of the challenge of unemployment that continues to plague millions of young people in Nigeria, and creatives in particular, therefore, we considered it important and are delighted to be launching the “Trophy Stand By Me” initiative in fulfilment of our desire to lend a hand of support to the numerous creative talents that abound in the country.”

Adedeji explained further that the initiative is targeted at creatives who are into photography, dancing, acting, music, comedy and the general arts or anyone who has flair for any of the listed.

She added that interested persons will be required

to interpret “Na Who Stand By Me, Be My Honourable”- which is the theme of the campaign, through their art in a 60 seconds video featuring Trophy Lager.

Providing more details, the Marketing Manager, Bamise Oyegbami pointed out that participants must be following all Trophy’s social media pages, while entries are meant to be posted on all relevant brand social pages within two weeks of the commencement of the initiative.

“Prospects must also get their Honourables to stand by them by liking their posts”, he clarified.

Oyegbami added, “After a thorough shortlisting process, 100 winners who will receive an N100,000 allowance from Trophy for three months will emerge.

In the second and third months, they will be assessed and pruned to 70 and 40 respectively after performing a series of tasks.

“And in the fourth month, 20 winners who will be coached by industry leaders will emerge after yet another round of tasks and assignments have been completed. Upon the assessment of the industry leaders who double as coaches, three final winners who will receive one million naira contract each will be selected.”

He urged all creatives and talented individuals to leverage their opportunity, reassuring of the brand’s commitment to live up to its promise of standing by its teeming consumers.

L-R: Trophy Brand Ambassador, Folarin Falana, aka Falz; Marketing Manager of Trophy, Bamise Oyegbami; Marketing Director, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC),Tolulope Adedeji; Trophy Brand Ambassador, Femi Adebayo and Co-founder, Empire Mates Entertainment (EME), Tunde Demuren; at the launch of Trophy “Stand By Me” Initiative.....in Lagos

Epe Festival to Promote Local Fish Market The organisers of the Epe Kayokayo festival in Lagos has said that this year’s festival will explore business opportunity with potential tourists to improve the local Àsh market .

It noted that this was important to reverse the trend of Àsh importation, which has further drained the country foreign exchange reserve.

According to report, Nigeria spends over N125 billion ($625 million) annually on Àsh importation.

The organisers expressed belief that expanding Àsh production locally will create massive employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, while also boosting foreign exchange.

Speaking at a Press Conference to declare the the four-day event open, Traditional Ruler of Epe Kingdom, Oba SheÀu Adewale, explained that the purpose of the festival was to commemorate major events that shaped the Epe community including the arrival of King Kosoko to Eko-Epe in 1851 and the new Islamic calendar year.

He added also that the event would serve as a platform to promote the local economy, address

some of the socio-economic challenges of the community and propagate Epe’s rich cultural heritage.

Adewale urged both the state and federal governments to leverage the tourism proÀle and prospects of the community to develop the national economy.

Also speaking, General Coordinator, Kayokayo organizing committee, Otunba TJ Abass, said in view of the resurgence of COVID-19 , this year’s festival will be observed on a low key and under strict adherence to Covid-19 preventive protocols.

According to him, Kayokayo means that, “Branch and be fed”.

“It was all about food, eat and prayers. The festival started in 1851 during the emergent of King kosoko and his followers into Epe community.

Since then, Epe community members had been celebrating the festival annually till date and will continue to celebrate it till that kingdom come, “he said.

L-R: Group Corporate Communications and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Temitope Ashiwaju, Media Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Aramide Folorunsho, and Head of Media, Digital and Sponsorship, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Wasiu Abiola, during the presentation of “Outstanding FCMG Corporate Brand of the decade” to Dufil Prima Foods Plc at the 2021 Marketing Edge National Marketing Stakeholders Summit And Brands And Advertising Awards Of Excellence in Lagos...recently

Shoprite Gives Facelift to Ota Store Ketron Investment Limited, the new owners of Shoprite has revamped the Shoprite store in Ota, Ogun State to enhance customers experience with the store.

This is happening barely two months after Ketron investment completed the acquisition of Shoprite Nigeria in line with the brand’s strategy to change from an ownership model to a franchise model.

The opening of the store was accompanied by product sampling activities, activations and special promotions on speciÀc products.

According to the organisation, the move was in fulÀlment of its promise for a better shopping experience to existing and new customers.

Speaking, Chairman of Ketron Investment Limited, Tayo Amusan expressed optimism that the changes made would attract more shoppers to the store. He said, “Beyond giving the store a proper facelift, we have also made key changes that will ensure that shoppers can easily pick up items they need and have a stress-free shopping experience.”

Chief Executive O΀cer of MBO, Jide Ogundare also described the move as smart once considering the return such would yield to the organisation.

Jide Ogundare, CEO of MBO Capital, described the investment made into revamping the Ota Store as a smart one given the increase in footfall it will bring.

L-R: Brand Manager, Chivita, CHI Limited, Tony Ogbonna; Chairman of the occasion, Otunba Seni Adetu; and Brand Manager, Hollandia Yoghurt, CHI Limited, Bose Ogunyemi, during the presentation of Outstanding Juice Brand of the Decade to Chivita and Outstanding Dairy Brand of the Year award to Hollandia Yoghurt at the MarketingEdge Awards 2021 in Lagos… recently

Goldberg Marks Maiden ‘Omoluabi’ Day

Doculand Opens New Office

Indigenous beer brand, Goldberg has restated its commitment to the promotion of culture as it marked the maiden ‘Omoluabi’ Day celebration today. The day is set aside by Goldberg to properly recognise and laud the efforts of industrious sons and daughters from the southwest region, commonly known as Omoluabis.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi had recently issued a proclamation, declaring September 11 as Omoluabi Day. According to the monarch, Goldberg has always demonstrated its passion for growth of culture and tradition, adding that its latest move was highly appreciated.

He said, “I am proud to support an event that places true sons and daughters of the soil on a deserved pedestal. It is my honour to announce that I with the rest of the Omoluabis around the world will mark the occasion annually.”

“There is no gainsaying that the brand stands in matters that concern culture preservation and celebration of the good people of the land. I’ve observed their

Doculand Nigeria, has opened its new o΀ce at 17a Bishop Aboyade Cole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking at the o΀ce opening, The Executive Director, Doculand Group, Anwar Jarmakani reiterated plans of the company to add an o΀ce in Lekki and run a franchise model to expand to Port Harcourt, and other areas in Nigeria.

According to him, the company has an interest to develop young talents especially through their employment scheme by training its work force to get the best results.

Giving an instance he said, “Our branch manager at Opebi worked as an o΀ce assistant in her old role, but now is in charge of the entire operations at the branch.”

He lauded Nigerians on their response to digitalization, noting that the interest of the nation in digitalisation would provide a favourable environment for the nation to compete in the global advancement, and while announcing the company’s interest in creating

various engagements to empower people through their various initiatives.”

Also speaking, National Trade Marketing Manager of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Funsho Ayeni announced the extension of the company’s economic empowerment platform, ‘Isedowo’, to online channels to be able to support entrepreneurs with non-refundable grants.

The Àrm recently disbursed over N20 million through the platform in the bars and online.

“Through programmes like Ariya Repete that celebrate indigenous music and talents to Isedowo that disburse grants to entrepreneurs in the southwest region, the Goldberg brand has become synonymous with people and culture.

To further amplify the core values of the brand, we are indeed excited to receive the support of Ooni of Ife to launch the Goldberg Omoluabi Day. It is a day where our consumers who have stayed true to our tradition of hard work and good character will be recognised and celebrated”, he said.

an online store.

The Group Marketing Manager, Franklyn Uwajuonye, said: “Nigeria is going digital. Everyone has a smart phone and people are ordering products online at an exponential pace. We are starting an online store that would be launched soon to leverage on the available market.”

Head, Human Resources, Doculand, Olaoluwa Odefunsho, a΀rmed that the company started with Àve employees, but have grown to above 100 work force capacity with a projection of about 500 staͿ in the next three years.

The company reiterated its focus on digital printing technology which allows the printing of digital-based images directly unto a variety of media substrates.

Digital Àles such as PDFs or desktop publishing Àles can be sent directly to the digital printing press to print on paper, photo paper, canvas, fabric, synthetics, cardstock, and other substrates.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

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Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Wale Ojo in New Sci-fi Movie Having countlessly graced international stages and screens, it doesn’t come off much as surprise but pretty good for British-Nigerian trained actor, Wale Ojo who stars in new Apple TV+ adaptation titled “Foundation”, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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t’s noon at the White Orchid Hotel, Lagos. The hints and highs of covid-19 measures put in place at the boutique hotel fascinate the eyes and minds of its guests. Meanwhile, it’s also the set of Blood Sisters, a Nigerian original production which recently rounded oͿ Àlming. Just then Wale Ojo arrives, looking his usual self as young as ever. At about same time, the British-Nigerian trained actor is joined by other members of the cast, including Ramsey Nouah, Nancy Isime, and Ini Dima-Okojie.

He quickly acknowledged the presence of this reporter before checking in and returned almost immediately for a chat. “This is going to be like nothing you have ever seen”, he began. “Blood Sisters is going to be amazing. I play a very interesting cameo role in the Àlm. It’s directed by my good friend Biyi Bandele, and the second director is Kenneth Gyang.” Why cameo in the Blood Sisters Áick by EbonyLife Studios for NetÁix" Why not the lead" As if he anticipated the poser, Wale Ojo swiftly responded with a chuckle, albeit jokingly. “It doesn’t quite work like that. DiͿerent roles come up in diͿerent script and each script appeals to you in a diͿerent way and the characters one is drawn to don’t necessarily have to be the lead characters all the time.” Though the last two weeks has seen him on the set. He recalls having a very good rapport with the Àlm production house, adding that they have been in bed since the movie ‘Fifty’.

He also mentioned that audiences should watch out for a big announcement soon to be made with the same production house later in the year. For the thespian, whose much sought-after craft has graced both local and international stage and screen, his focus now is set pretty much on the release of “Foundation”, a new Hollywood sci-À movie which will debut globally September 24, 2021, exclusively on Apple TV . “I have just been oͿered this new Hollywood role. Filming was completed on season one this year.

It’s called ‘Foundation’. It’s a big deal.

“The locations have been all over the world in Malta, Canary Islands, and Ireland. In Malta, we Àlmed on the same location where a part of Game of Thrones was Àlmed.

You can watch the ‘Foundation’ trailer on YouTube where it has picked up almost over 12 million views,” he said. This oͿer now, this ‘Foundation’ project, compared to his other works, where does he rate it" He says it’s pretty good for him so far on the international scene.

Wale Ojo plays the part of Professor Arren Sorn in the new movie. Professor Arren Sorn is a highly knowledgeable man who has to hide his knowledge from religious extremists bent on controlling the upper galaxies and the planets they inhabit. He narrates further his character and role on set of the movie, showing me clips and videos from

his i-phone. Wale then recalls a particular episode during Àlming where he had to be pushed into the water.

“You know this is all set in the outer reaches of the galaxy and I had to be pushed into a huge black sea for going against the status quo of the Galactic Empire,” he adds.

“This was pretty exciting as I like to do all my own stunts. I was preparing to train in a water tank when all of a sudden the studio called me from LA and said ‘no, no, no, that Wale is one of our top actors please we Áy in his body double to do the stunt instead’. I was Áabbergasted. I was really looking forward to showing oͿ my swimming skills.

“I always feel very comfortable when I’m in the water as I loved to swim. My disappointment soon turned to excitement when I met my body double, a stunt actor from London by the name of Raymond Charles. He really did look like me with a costume beard, height and everything. We had soon become friends and he promised to Áy anywhere in the world to be stunt double or train me to do my own stunts, Àghts, hanging oͿ trailers, jumping through windows, the lots. So in the end it turned out pretty well.”

The highly anticipated epic saga is based on Isaac Asimov’s timeless trilogy of the same name. Asimov’s book represents science Àction at its highest level at par with Star Wars, etc. Revealing a deeper look than ever before at the unprecedented adaptation, the trailer invites audiences across the galaxy to embark on a thrilling and emotional journey following a band of exiles who discover that the only way to save the Galactic Empire from destruction is to defy it.

The Àrst season of ‘Foundation’ will come with the Àrst two episodes available, followed by one new episode weekly, every Friday. The inaugural 10-episode season of ‘Foundation’ is led by show runner and executive producer David S. Goyer, who was the one that cast Wale Ojo in the role. David Goyer wrote the movie The Dark Knight. And he directed Wesley Snipes in the Blade episodes. He’s also credited with producing ‘Batman Begins’, and ‘Man of Steel’.

Featuring an international cast led by Emmy Award nominees Jared Harris and Lee Pace, alongside rising stars Lou Llobell and Leah Harvey, the monumental adaptation chronicles the stories of four crucial individuals transcending space and time as they overcome deadly crises, shifting loyalties and complicated relationships that will ultimately determine the fate of humanity. Wale Ojo, who is currently Àlming in Lagos but is based in LA where he is represented by international acting agency, is looking forward to the release of ‘Foundation’ and hopes his many fans home and abroad will join him enjoy this Apple TV movie when it is released on September 24.

Wale Ojo being prepared to appear as Prof W Prof. Arren Sorn

Cheque Unveils New Single, Features Olamide Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Talented Penthauze’s star,Akinbi Bamidele Brett known by his stage name ‘Cheque’, ahead of his forthcoming debut album has released a senseational follow-up to his last single ‘Call me Baby’. Featuring indigenous hip-hop Àgure, Olamide with the song ‘LOML’ (Love Of My Life), Cheque gained massive popularity after releasing the hit track “Zoom” as part of his Razor EP project (his second body of work and his Àrst under Penthauze) last year and followed it up with a super collaboration featuring Fireboy in ‘History’. Cheque seems to be showing how much he has evolved as an artiste and how he is constantly upping his craft.

On ‘Love of My Life’, these two artistes bring their A-game to play with Cheque and Olamide complementing each other in the most dynamic of ways. Cheque takes his fans to the top of the ninth with this song and they are deÀnitely picking up what he’s putting down. This evocative love story rendered in the beautiful trademark Cheque voice, has the 26 year old Ondo State native put up his umbrella providing this much needed shade for music lovers. ‘Love Of My Life (LOML)’ is out on all digital platforms. Cheque signed to Phyno’s Penthauze Music in February 2019.

Phyno, Cheque Ph Ch and d Olamide Ol id

Before then, he was signed to Cruel Station alongside Fireboy [then DML]. The contract earned him and DML an apartment before it expired in the Ànal months of 2017. DML and Cheque then moved in with a friend who owned recording equipment. DML became Fireboy DML and then an YBNL artiste in 2019 and Cheque found his conÀdence before

joining Penthauze. These days, he thinks that he’s also partly Igbo because he’s a΀liated with the very Igbo Penthauze, but he’s Yoruba. He says, “I’ve been hearing it since I was attending OAU and I don’t really take it seriously - I never did. But I’m Yoruba.”

Convincing his parents that their bookworm boy was going into music was hard,

but they’re more conÀdent these Penthauze days. As much as Cheque has more things these days, it’s still about the music and not the money. One day in the middle of 2018, Cheque got a random DM from Phyno. His excitement waned after he didn’t hear from Phyno again for a couple of months. Phyno came back with more enthusiasm and vim, and Cheque signed to Penthauze in February 2019. “I wasn’t making Afro-pop - I was rapping - so I didn’t think someone of that magnitude was going to reach out. . . I felt validated,” he said.

A couple of days back, the Nigeria singerrapper, announced his debut album. It is set to be titled ‘Bravo’ and it will be released on September 24, 2021. This will be his third body of work after 2020’s Razor EP, his Àrst EP on Penthauze and The S.O.O.N EP, which he released under the moniker, Kyle B in 2015.

The announcement followed after he released ‘LOML’ featuring the legendary Olamide. On his Instagram page, he wrote that, “My Debut Album “BRAVO” Out Sept 24, 2021. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Thank you for always staying with me, I hope you love and appreciate this album like I do... Brvao is Here...” The album will be released under Penthauze and Empire Distribution.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Tems’ Sophomore EP is Ready Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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hen her fans are not mischievously teasing her for miserly showing oͿ her admirable derriere in her posts, they acknowledge her beautiful voice and her songs. Now, it has gone from teasing to praising, following a picture of the starlet, Tems and Canadian rapper, Drake dining together after Drake featured the Nigerian singer-songwriter on his new album ‘CertiÀed Lover Boy’.

While Nigerians gushed about the viral video on social media with many trying to pinpoint what the two were up to, it thus appears Tems has got something up her sleeve. Now, the cat is out of the bag. The alternative R B singer shared a new single titled “Crazy Tings” on Friday September 10. The track is oͿ her forthcoming EP If Orange Was a Place, which is out September 15.

This comes after her Twitter post that thrill music fans on Monday September 6. Thanking her new and old fans for their support, she wrote: “My beautiful gang, thank you for the massive love you’ve shown me. It’s too plenty. Honestly, believe me when I say I love y’all baaaaaddd. New EP out next week It’s time...” Her recent appearance on Drake’s ‘CertiÀed Lover Boy’ track “Fountains,” has thrown fans of the pair into frenzy.

Last year, she joined Wizkid on the ‘Made in Lagos’ song “Essence.” The latter track received a new music video earlier this year, plus a new version featuring Justin Bieber. Featuring on Drake’s 21-track album appears to be the high of Tems’ career as A-list artistes featured in it including Jay-Z, Travis Scott, Young Thug, Future, 21 Savage, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross among others.

Soon after the release of the album, the rising young star took to her Twitter

Tems

handle with a post appreciating Drake.

“CLB Babyyy Honestly I could talk about many things still to come. But what’s better than surprise" All Glory be to the Most High God, she tweeted.

“Large Fonts you know hahaha, so grateful and honoured. So Crazyyy Thank you Drake.” Tems has secured her spot as one to watch in 2022 and

beyond with tracks like ‘Looku Looku’, ‘Mr Rebel’, and the smashing hit ‘Try Me’.

In 2019, Tems launched with singles, ‘Looku Looku’ and ‘Mr. Rebel.’ She followed it up with ‘Try Me’ and then released two more singles before her debut EP, ‘For Broken Ears’, in September 2020. At the start of 2018, a

message from her daily devotional drove Tems, born Temilade Openiyi, to quit her day job as a digital marketer to pursue a career in music full-time. Two years later, the artiste has unlocked society’s cage and set herself on Àre to light the way for a new vanguard. She’s ready to ascend to her destined position as the leader of the rebel gang.

Willie X.O, Dappy, Bring ‘Good Times’ Ferdinand Ekechukwu

UK-based Afrobeats singer/songwriter, Jocey Joseph Ekwuazi, known professionally as Willie X.O, has got highly anticipated audio and visuals to his hot new single ‘Good Times’ featuring popular British rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer and actor, Dappy for the Àrst time on a track that feels like a perfect antidote to the hardships experienced by so many.

After recently inking a deal with major label, Atlantic Records UK, Willie X.O whose features include highly acclaimed international artistes like Tory Lanez and Popcaan in ‘Comfort You’ and R B goddess, Ashanti in ‘Early in the Morning’ is one to look out for when it comes to blending rich authentic African sounds with latest musical trends. The visual speaks to game buͿ as ‘Good Times’ brims with the splendor and freestyle of a games’ arcade, playing on the idea of having the entire arcade to oneself for one night.

Set in a place where time doesn’t matter and rules don’t apply, ‘Good Times’ is a feel-good song, and the colourful arcade world mixed with the seamless lyrical harmony between Willie X.O and Dappy, provides the perfect setting for a mixture of harmless fun, some serious blackjack wins and a wild night of unlimited fun and games.

Where Dappy’s ad-libs punctuated with phrases of pidgin English in between, warm the heart, Willie’s easy energy in delivering his lyrics boast of his evolution as an artiste who hints of never-ending

Dappy and Willie X.O

creativity, making this collaboration of two music greats, each in their individual genre, a classic work of art.

Directed by the talented Caroline Hajny, who is a photographer, and shot in Southend-On-Sea, Essex, England, ‘Good Times’ is everything it’s supposed to be: fun, creative and easy on the eye. Styled by Christina Okpala, Willie X.O’s charm is on a diͿerent level, captivating the audience with his swag and Áow.

According to him, “We’d been in lockdown for a while and everyone was having

a bad time. People were getting stressed out, desperately looking for an escape to get back out there, put this whole thing behind us, live life, and have a good time, so I made ‘Good Times’. When I was making the track, I had this feeling it would bang harder with a UK artiste on it, so I decided to go for one of UK’s best, and straight away I thought Dappy “He’s a great artiste and always delivers.

He actually came up with the African words like Omoge and Efe-riro himself and I was shook I was like this dude knows« It

felt proper organic.” ‘Good Times’ is streaming on all digital platforms. Willie XO, is an artist who describes his unique genre of music as ‘Afrovibes,’ a combination of R B with Afrobeats. Born in London, Willie XO spent his early childhood in Nigeria where he discovered he had a keen interest in music.

Drawing inspiration from musical inÁuences like Fela Kuti and Bob Marley, Willie carved out his own musical niche with ‘Afrovibes’, a modern convivial interpretation of Afrobeats. His musical fusion evolved over time and he released his Àrst single in 2017 titled ‘’Kraze’’ which became an instant hit. Willie XO successively released the commercially successful track ‘Comfort You’ in 2018 - a collaboration with canadian singer and rapper Tory Lanez and Jamaican DJ and songwriter, Popcaan - which became a national anthem hitting over 27 million views on YouTube.

In 2019, he pushed the envelope when he released ‘Early in The Morning’, featuring American singer/songwriter, Ashanti.

When he’s not behind the microphone, Willie XO is busy with his charity organisation, set up with the purpose of helping young people start their own businesses, helping the less-priviledged and aiding undeserved communities in Nigeria. According to him, he made a pact with himself that whenever he made it, he would always help the less-priviledged and give back to his community. Willie XO is proving to be more than just another artiste. It is clear as day that this artiste is positioning himself to be one of the outstanding talents shaping the new African sound.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • T H I S D AY

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

POLITY

NEDC Turns Ngwom into Modern Village Ngwom is a Kanuri hamlet on the outskirts of Maiduguri. At the height of Boko Haram insurgency, it was completely destroyed by the insurgents, who left it in total rubble and desolation. In this report, Michael Olugbode highlights what the community is now like after the intervention of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) that is rebuilding the troubled region from the ruins of the over a decade crisis, raising hope for every other destroyed town in the North-east

N

gwom, a small village by the road side on the way to Dikwa, few kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, fell not once nor twice but severally to Boko Haram. The community was left without a building standing, leaving its residents with no other option but to flee to Maiduguri with whatever they could pick.

As they fled to Maiduguri for safety, uncontrollable tears gushed like a river from their faces leaving unforgettable pains and sorrows in their hearts and souls. The thoughts of abandoning their ancestral homes as they sought refuge outside re-echoed; the thoughts that their homeland had been lost forever, and that they would never have an opportunity to return to their beloved Ngwom.

But as they say, no condition is permanent; or better still, as the people of faith would say, there is nothing that God cannot do. Though God is hardly known to come down from his majestic heaven to change bad stories but He often uses the instrumentality of man to change situations and rewrite history. The story of Ngwom few years down the line had been rewritten all thanks to the NEDC established by Buhari administration with the mandate to assess, coordinate, harmonise and report on all intervention programmes, and initiatives by the federal government or its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), states; and other development partners and for the implementation of all programsmes and initiatives for the North-east states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe.

The Commission has its programmes classified into humanitarian, coordination, early recovery, long-term development and North-east recovery and stability programme.

The commission which was established in 2017 has finally picked up as major projects are being cited in the six states of the North-east. The interventions in Borno State, being the epicentre of the crisis, include and not limited to the following: donation of 40,000 (two-seater desks) for all public schools across the state, construction of primary healthcare facilities in Shani and Kwayakusar LGAs, provision of agricultural machineries and inputs - herbicides, fungicides, improved seedlings and fertilizers.

In tacking the COVID-19 pandemic, ambulances, PPEs, medical consumables and palliatives were provided in the state, boreholes drilled in some local government areas, and provision of security operational vehicles to security agencies.

Some of these projects are either replicated in the other five states of the region or plans are underway to provide them.

But the commission’s major projects are sited in Ngwom which used to be a remote rural area with a thriving livestock market with virtually no basic social amenity for a robust modern life. However, the story has changed with the intervention of NEDC as the residents, who hitherto could not boast of modern facilities, can now boast of modern facilities.

Ngwom was picked among the initial benefitting communities of the Special Presidential Intervention Fund (SPIB) for a mass housing project geared at facilitating resettlement of IDPs in their respective communities.

The ambitious housing project has become a reality following the speedy and accelerated construction by the NEDC with 1,000 housing units inaugurated and handed over to the Borno State Government for resettlement and reintegration of the IDPs. The housing project could be described as the best ever constructed in the whole of the region, as it has social economic facilities like solar powered street lights, access roads, four solar powered industrial boreholes, over 3,000 economic trees as well as provision for the construction of market, police station, motor parks and other facilities.

The houses consist of blocks of four units of two-bedroom bungalows with veranda and courtyards in a cluster arrangement. Each block sits on four hundred square metres, with a perimeter fence and ample space for other home activities.

And in order to open up the area and promote socioeconomic activities, NEDC plans to link Ngwom town with the agricultural bowl of Jere by constructing a network of 27km surfaced rural roads on the Maiduguri-Dikwa Road to Dusuman and Zabamari to North-west, up to Khaddamari in the North and down South to Gongolong on the outskirts of Maiduguri.

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the inauguration and handing over of the housing units, MD/CEO of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali, disclosed that as part of the execution of the Special Presidential Intervention in Borno State (SPIB), that NEDC was also funding the establishment of Technical and Vocational skills Acquisition Centres for the IDPs around the state at an estimated cost of N2 billion.

L- R: Governor Zulum; Chairman, NEDC, Major General Paul Tarfa; Chief Chukwuemeka Nwajuba; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk; the Managing Director, NEDC, Dr. Mohammed Alkali and the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Pauline Tallen; during the inauguration of the 1000 house in Ngwom.

To make the resettlement of the IDPs in Ngwom comfortable and economically sustainable, Alkali said NEDC had provided relief materials which include 2,000 bags of rice, 2,000 cartons of spaghetti, 2,000 gallons of vegetable oil, 5,000 pieces of blankets and 5,000 pieces of mattresses.

This is in addition to two thousand different vocational items such as cooking stoves, sewing machines, grinding machines, spaghetti machines and knitting machines.

Other items given to them include 5,000 pieces of mats, 4,000 sets of children wear, 4,000 mosquito nets, 5,000 pairs of slippers, 2,000 pieces of men brocade and 1,000 cartons of anti-septic soaps.

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, said like Oliver Twist, the state government was seeking for additional special support from the NEDC and the ministry in areas of roads and housing construction to facilitate efforts of reintegrating thousands of surrendered Boko Haram members into the society.

As a direct response to Zulum’s demands, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Faruq, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the handling over ceremony of the housing units, said both her ministry and NEDC, would key into the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement initiatives of the governor.

She noted that since the establishment of NEDC as a brainchild of the present administration, it had lived up to the expectation of government and people of Nigeria in addressing developmental challenges in the region which were brought about by Boko Haram insurgency.

Testimonies of NEDC’s faithful implementation of its core mandate across the region, also came from the National Assembly which commended the commission for its smooth implementation and interventions on the current humanitarian challenges ravaging the people in the Northeast, especially Borno which is the epicentre of Boko Haram crisis.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Abubakar Yusuf, maintained that the National Assembly would continue to give all the necessary support and assistance to the commission to enable it discharge its duties effectively without hindrance.

For the Chairman, Board of NEDC, Major General Paul Tarfa (rtd.), the commission would continue to do everything possible within its mandate to develop the region.

He said at the occasion: “Today, is one of the happiest days in the history of NEDC since it was established. This programme we are witnessing demonstrated the return of relative peace in the region.

“I want to commend the untiring efforts and commitment demonstrated by President Muhammadu Buhari, our security forces, governments and people of the North-east towards defeating Boko Haram terrorists, the NEDC under my watch with support from Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and development partners will do everything possible to nip in the bud the challenges facing the people at

the moment.”

There were goodwill messages from the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen and the Minister of State, Education, Chief Chukwuemeka Nwajuba, who were on hand during the ceremony. They thanked the federal and state governments of the six North-east states and other developing partners for their relentless efforts in giving hope to the hopeless, especially women and children who are more vulnerable groups in the society.

Alkali noted that the Ngwom Housing project was just the beginning of NEDC intervention in the housing sector and that the commission intended to replicate similar project in other parts of Borno State as well as in the other five member states of the commission. He said in the first instance, a total of 500 houses would be constructed in each of the five states of Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba with the foundation laying ceremony expected to be performed in the coming days.

He said the overall goal of the federal government and NEDC, was to construct a total of 10,000 housing units across the region for the resettlement of IDPs who are currently sheltered in public and private places with Borno State having the lion share of nearly two million IDPs. The people of the village, who are expected to be living in the new houses, expressed their joy. One of them Modu Bukar said: “This is unbelievable. I still do not believe that I will be living with my family in one of these houses. I used to stay in a thatched hut in this village and now I am going to be living with my family in this modern building. It is definitely beyond my expectation and what my income in years could have built.

“Though the memories of Boko Haram is hard to wipe away, but definitely the joy of living in this house would bring joy back to my soul, and the humanitarian package I am going to be given will go a long way to bring my family and I from extreme poverty and beggarly living to selfsustenance with hope of greater things ahead.”

And to Yagana Abdullahi who lost her husband during one of the attacks on the village, she said with tears in her eyes: “How I wish my husband was here today to see where I will be living with his children. I know definitely he is looking from heaven and happy that we are going to be staying in this beautiful house and we are going to be assisted to get back on our feet with humanitarian assistance package. He will definitely be happy that we are no longer going to go to bed with nothing to eat and that we will not continue to go to the streets to beg for what to eat. I must thank NEDC, the governments of Borno and Nigeria.”

Definitely the people of Ngwom now have a place to call home after living in desolation and they have food to eat with humanitarian assistance and economic packages delivered to them, now it is time for every other village and its people to be hopeful that their turn to live comfortably is right at the corner. This is nothing but a life from desolation and poverty to a change to modernity and happiness, all thanks to NEDC.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

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POLITY

Ademola Adeleke’s Spirit of Service to Humanity Olumide Lawal pays tribute to Senator Ademola Adeleke who has just returned to Osun State from his sojourn in the United States, to contest the 2022 governorship election in the state

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enator Ademola Adeleke has passed through life’s vicissitude with candour and large heart. He was rather learning the ropes through the mentorship of the iconic trail-blazer, his late brother, Senator Isiaka Adetuni Adeleke and the mercurial humble go-getter, Dr. ’Deji Adeleke. Both of them gave him every support he needed to stand tall in his various callings, politics inclusive, very remarkably. They both entranced him into the big public life that enabled him to face life’s challenges with great courage.

Never quitting, whatever the odds; he thus forged a formidable business and personal lifestyles for greater successes in life.

Senator Adeleke has been a colourful personality since his youthful days. One never to hurt a fly, mastering his moments and never letting off his guard. He is the proverbial cat with nine lives.

A very dynamic and resourceful individual who charged the political landscape of Osun State in so short a time that he tested the murky water of politics.

To him, life is a sunny fire, and fire is a real wild beast that can devour everything in motion. He is prepared, therefore, to face whatever challenges the future placed before him.

He believes God alone is the master planner and His plans never fail. But it is still this mystic motion of our living that is propelling Senator Adeleke, with immense joy, to make service his objective.

The passion is burning in Senator Adeleke to give opportunities to the less priviledged through philantropism without let or hindrance.

He is, triumphantly, back among the loving people of Osun State, whom he has sorely missed for sometime now, out of his resolve to search for the proverbial Golden Fleece, as there is no time and age limit to knowledge acquisition in all spheres of life. He is back for good. He is back in

Adeleke

peace. He brought peace and love with him.

Senator Adeleke is back home and extending the olive branch to all. He is ready to use his good upbringing to identify with all and sundry as his door is open to all at all times.

Senator Adeleke, enjoins all his teeming wellwishers, supporters and friends to continue to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner and avoid rancour, rather embrace politics without bitterness, which his late brother and political mentor played throughout his lifetime, and which also is the anchor of his own political endeavour.

He places his gratitude and appreciation before everybody who was there for him. He advised his ardent supporters to abstain from foul and caustic languages in their dealings with fellow politicians of whatever persuasions. To Ademola Adeleke, his concern is “love to all”.

It is his true wish to see that there is absolute peace and happiness immersed in God’s boundless powers of love for humanity.

In our country generally, it is in an atmosphere of peace and concord that progress and prosperity could be achieved. All these are boundless powers of love that binds us together.

Let us pray: May God Almighty nudge us to the envisaged glorious destination through His mercy and glory. Great blessings are approaching and a glorious bliss will stay permanently with us in our collective lives.

Most of all, let each of us love one another just a little bit more, do good always and live with justice and with every present fear of Almighty God. For you Senator Ademola Adeleke, your life has achieved glorious accomplishments that assembled all the disputations of your life into great giant strides imbued in God’s unending grace of love for your family and your teeming admirers, the world over. What a life of charm! For Ademola Adeleke, it is a triumphant home coming. Home, sweet home. t -BXBM XBT NFEJB BJEF UP MBUF 4FOBUPS *TJBLB "EFMFLF

International Women’s Day Colours: Myth or Reality?

Bunmi Olowu-Adekoya

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he International Women’s Day (IWD) is a day set aside globally to celebrate women for their doggedness and achievements in the context of social, economic, cultural and political sagacity. The day was instituted in the early 1900s. It is set aside to, among others, increase awareness on the need for gender equality and remind the world of the inhumane handling of women’s fragility and disparity with their male counterpart.

On the occasion, women are specially celebrated, while some are distinguished with awards having been identified as role models or game changers.

This writer, however, is mainly interested in the IWD by the three (3) colours identified with the celebration, which originated in 1908 in the United Kingdom (UK) from the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU).

The colours are purple, which signifies justice and dignity; green, which stands for hope and white, which symbolizes purity.

It is pertinent to examine the efficacy of these colours as it affects today’s women. We need to understand and put into perspective if truly justice and dignity, hope and purity, are appropriately enmeshed and still relevant in today’s life journey of an average woman. Are these colours myth or reality?

How do you celebrate a handful of a privileged few in the midst of molestation, battering, sexual assault, rigid societal institutionalized norms and so on, which has now become a new normal within the society? Please, do not get me wrong. It is neither wrong nor bad to celebrate outstanding women. In actual fact, who would do it better if not the women themselves?

However, though women have continued to ascribe a lot of value to their self-worth, the celebration night mean little or nothing to the ordinary or downtrodden women out there. Most of them do not even know the relevance of the celebration, not to talk of knowing about the existence of the colours or the meanings attached to them.

In spite of its globalization, a lot of women still believe there is nothing worth celebrating. They consider it to be very trivial and has no relevance or bearing to their lives. Many claim that it does not put food on their tables, neither does it solve any of their problems or provide for immediate needs.

Experience, they say, is the best teacher. Thus, how relevant are these colours today in the face of the foreboding realities of women across the world? Do they encapsulate what women have been going through in the last few decades or have they been significantly liberated?

Justice, according to Paul TP Wong, “is at the heart of other-related morality; it is the foundation for the virtue of treating other people with respect and dignity”.

This, of course, is not what prevails today. Women are constantly being dehumanized, humiliated, mutilated, sexually harassed, molested and discriminated against.

A woman who is forced into arranged marriage or sex labour cannot be happy or join in the celebration. Yet, every year some privileged few are celebrated, while the struggling ones who are supposed to be the real heroine are neglected. It is about time for a paradigm shift where also the downtrodden making an impact within their environment should be bestowed with such honour.

Often, women are treated like pariahs that don’t deserve to be seen or heard. This is preposterous.

Where is the place of human dignity and justice in all of this? In reality, according to Viktor E. Frankl, ‘today’s society is characterized by achievement orientation, and consequently it adores people who are successful and happy and, in particular, it adores the young’ and this as expected leads to misplaced priorities.

It arouses the egocentric nature of such celebrated women and the youth to the detriment of those at the lower ebb of the economy. Today, justice and dignity have been thrown into the wind and women have become more vulnerable; a lot still needs to be done.

Perhaps, this aspect of colour needs recycling to suite today’s situation, justice and equity must be achieved for the oppressed.

As for hope, it is all a subterfuge where women have suffered and continued to suffer in the hands of the opposite sex. They have been misrepresented, oppressed, abused, dehumanized, name it.

According to the English Dictionary, ‘hope is a general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled’. Yet, over all these centuries, women are still waiting and answerable to those who are oppressing them. They wear a melancholic look each time as if the world is coming to an end.

I wonder how long women will keep suffering in silence and continue with the waiting game. This parochial act of derision against women must stop now.

Women must be more pushful and forceful themselves.

They must realise that they can’t start a war and win without putting up a fight against the resistance. It is about time they stopped treating themselves with disdain.

They must love themselves with such mien and stop being loquacious. After all, action, they say, speaks louder than words. Hope is useless if almost everything about a woman’s case is helpless and despairing. According to Winston Churchill, all things could be better if ‘all things are simple, and many can be expressed in the following words: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy and hope’. How much longer must they wait and hope for a better tomorrow? What if tomorrow never comes?

Succinctly put, Jamie Le Fay, observed that “The pursuit and preservation of purity can drive prejudice and hate. Many crimes against humanity have been committed in its name. Purity is best applied to water”.

Today, all over the social media, everything unimaginable will stare at you in the face with your mouth agape. Obviously, this is a quantum leap from the normal and ethical social norms to moral decadence, not realising their self-worth, they inflict themselves with stress infused frustration and misplaced priorities which is really sad. Even if the battle is slow, women must never give up, they must be courageous, regain their self-respect and self-worth in order to remain relevant and purified.

A very commendable and encouraging example in Nigeria today is that of the eight (8) leading banks in the country that have women as their Chief Executive Officers (CEO). This offers a glimpse of hope that things are getting better.

Women are the only genuine activists that walk the face of the earth. Not only are they resilient in their demands, they are true to their calling and belief. All their life, they fight for justice and human rights. And, oh yes, they are very good at it, but they still need to do more for themselves.

It is sad to see that 113 years after, women are still struggling for recognition and emancipation. Are women winning this battle? I do not think so. According to Lyndon B. Johnson, “Until justice is blind to color, until education is unaware of race, until opportunity is unconcerned with the color of men’s skins, emancipation will be a proclamation but not a fact.”

In all sincerity and without prejudice, women and women organisations must have a critical appraisal of the relevance of these colours with a view to actualise their yearning.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

POLITY

Abia Onyike: Why I Criticise Umahi

Chief Abia Onyike, a former Commissioner for Information and Social Orientation in Ebonyi State has been a critic of Governor David Umahi. The former Deputy National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), is also the Chairman and Convener of the Ebonyi Advocacy for Human Rights Initiative-an organization that works to defend the rights of Ebonyi citizens against political impunity, tyranny and oppression. In this interview with select journalist, including Olaoluwakitan Babatunde, Onyike bares his mind on the governance of Ebonyi, insecurity in the South-east and other burning issues

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revoke one or two C of Os but never to revoke all the C of Os in the state. That is anarchism. Umahi is an uncontrollable land grabber and we suspect that he was embarking on the exercise as a selfish and self-serving land grabbing strategy to confiscate landed properties belonging to his critics and political opponents who own property in Abakaliki. He had done the same thing when he closed the old meat market and opened the new Abakaliki International Market. Most of the traders who owned shops in the old market were subjected to fulfilling impossible conditions before they could get stalls in the new market. Many of them developed hypertension and died. We cannot allow Umahi to continue to experiment with the lives of Ebonyi citizens.

ou have been in the news of late for criticizing Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State.

What actually is the problem?

Well, the problem is Umahi’s mediocre leadership style which is a combination of autocracy and anarchism. Umahi is far from being a democrat. He came into governance with a totalitarian mindset. He has uprooted and destroyed all the legacy institutions he inherited from his predecessor in 2015. He has retarded the progress of the state. The first quarter report released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that Ebonyi State has been on the table as one of the ten poorest states in Nigeria. The state also came third in food inflation in Nigeria.

Ebonyi is the only state in Southern Nigeria falling into such dangerous poverty levels in recent times because of Umahi’s vicious anti-people’s policies. His definition of development is extremely dubious.

He worked for four years (2015-2019) without Permanent Secretaries in order to deliberately destroy all forms of checks and balances in the governance of the state. It was only in his second tenure which started in 2019 that he reluctantly appointed Permanent Secretaries. Ebonyians have witnessed a lawless and oppressive government. For the first time in the history of the state, the civil service and local government service have been submerged and destroyed. Communal disturbances have reached abnormal levels with attendant destruction of lives and property, because of Umahi’s divide and rule tactics.

The Ebonyi State University, rated as one of the best state universities has been ruined and relegated because the Governor has no respect for University autonomy. He constantly invites the university authorities and lecturers to his office to intimidate them. Workers are paid half salary in the state and he has banned new employments into the civil service.

He also banned the payment of retirement benefits to retired

Onyike civil servants since 2015. People are dying instalmentally in the state because of Umahi’s evil policies.The state is getting poorer while Umahi and his trading/construction companies are getting richer.

It was reported in the news that you gave Gov. Umahi a two-week ultimatum or you will drag him to Court.

What was the problem?

On the 2nd of September, 2021, Gov. Umahi announced that he had issued an Executive Order withdrawing all Certificates of Occupancy in the state. Which meant that he was embarking upon the total revocation of all C of Os in Abakaliki and Afikpo.

That was the height of Executive recklessness unbecoming of an elected public officer. We gave him the ultimatum calling on him to withdraw the punitive order or we shall deploy all legal and legitimate instruments to compel him to step down his threat. We appreciate that a responsible government may have a genuine reason based on overriding public interest to

But some people hold the view that Umahi has transformed Ebonyi State?

Umahi is a propagandist. He is not a humanist. Anything he does, he blows out of proportion. Moreover, like I said before, he came into government not to render service. He was a contractor even though he was just struggling to make ends meet. He became governor and felt that the opportunity to make it had arrived. Umahi came into office and decided to embark on some white elephant projects, such as the new Government House at Ochudo city, the Ecumenical Centre, the Shopping Mall, the 10 over-head bridges. Unfortunately, the bridges are being built in places without any atom of traffic congestion. Umahi is merely experimenting with the lives of the people. How can someone spend billions of naira building flyovers when he has cancelled scholarships and re-introduced extortionate levies in primary and secondary schools? How can you be so fixated to certain useless projects such as the Ecumenical Centre which gulped about N7 billion?

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Guaranty Trust Bank Group Head, Financial Institutions and Telecoms, Kelvin Biiranee; Director Enterprise Development Centre Mr. Peter Bamkole; Winner of the Entrepreneurship World Cup, D-Olivette Global Enterprise CEO, Tunde Adeyemi; Development Bank of Nigeria’s Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services Mrs. Ijeoma Ozulumba; at the recently concluded Entrepreneurship World Cup Competition in Lago

L-R; Group Marketing Manager Doculand, Mr. Franklyn Uwajuonye; Operations Manager Doculand, Mr. Nadeem Traba; Executive Director Doculand, Mr. Anwar Jarmakani and Group HR ManagerDoculand, Mr. Olaoluwa Odefunsho at the opening ceremony of Doculand Nigeria Victoria Island office in Lagos….recently

L-R Chief Adviser, WaH, Mr. Franklyn Udemgba; Convener Woman and Half, Mrs. Chile FrankUdemgba; First Lady of Lagos State, Her Excellency, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwoolu; Chief Client Officer, AxA Mansard Insurance Plc., Mrs. Rashidat Adebisi and Founder, Thistle Praxis Consulting limited, Mrs. Ini Abimbola during a courtesy visit and presentation of certificate of appreciation to the first lady, Mrs. Sanwoolu, for attending the last WaH conference held at the Civic Centre… yesterday

L-R: Lagos Coordinator, International Family Foundation (IFF), Mr. Kerian Igboekweze; Official of IFF, Bawo Ogbefuo; National President, IFF, Prof. Emeka Oguzie; Guest Speaker, Hon. Mojisolaoluwa Alli-Macaulay; Guest Speaker, Rev. Fr. Stephen Ogbe; Secretary General, IFF, HRM. Ovie Omaleh; Chairman of the Occasion, Mr. Kayode Krarkue; and Zonal Coordinator, IFF, Mr. Bashy Alade, at the official launch of International Family Foundation in Lagos PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

25

POLITY

Who will Mend the Broken Fences in Kwara APC?

L-R: AbdulRazaq, Gbemi Saraki, Mohammed and Mustapha Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

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t is no more news that the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State remains unabated, as the factions in the party have refused to sheathe their swords over the control of the party. The crisis started immediately after the party took over the leadership of the state on May 29, 2019.

However, the question yet to be answered now is who will mend the broken fences in the party ahead of the 2023 polls in the state? The two major factions in the party are that of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed which has three groups in its folds, including that of the Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Rukayah Gbemisola Saraki, the chairman of board of governing council of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo and that of the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem. They called their group ‘Loyal APC’.

The other faction in the party is led by the incumbent governor of the state, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the group is called AA Group in the APC. The party came into power under the amalgamation of political forces which assisted the party to wrestle political power from the control of the former Senate President and Peoples Democratic Party leader, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

The acrimony among factions in the party dates back to the months leading to the 2019 general elections, when politicians of different political and ideological persuasions came together to form a formidable front against the then ruling PDP in the state.

The PDP was quite strong in the state, with considerable followership across the length and breadth of Kwara. It was therefore imperative for those already in the opposition to team up with others who fell out with the ruling PDP in order to defeat loyalists of the Saraki dynasty at the polls.

The development prompted the party to form a movement called “O To Ge” (Enough is Enough) and this platform penetrated all the nooks and crannies of the state which at the end helped the ruling APC to win all the elective positions in the state and at the national assembly. But given the potency of the ‘Otoge Revolution’, the politicians who felt unfairly treated in the primaries had to sheathe their swords and work together for collective victory of then candidate Abdulrazaq AbdulRahman.

Political pundits in the state expected that the emergence of Abdulrazaq as the governorship flag-bearer of the party, and his eventual victory at the general elections, should have helped built bridges and align conflicting interests.

However, two years after mounting the seat of power at the Ahmadu Bello Way Government House, and effectively becoming the “leader” of the party in the state, the governor has failed in his efforts to unite the party members.

Since AbdulRazaq was sworn in as governor, there had been a war of supremacy between him and other major stakeholders of the party in the three senatorial districts in the state, including those holding strategic positions in the government of the federation.

Instead of managing the success, the party has been fragmented and this has continued to cause disharmony. The faction led by Alhaji Lai Mohammed has its secretariat located along Flowers Garden, GRA, Ilorin with Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa as its state chairman, while the other state secretariat, led by the governor, is located along former Ministry of Housing, GRA, Ilorin with Alhaji Abdullahi Samari as its state chairman.

The crisis became pronounced when the two factions of the party held separate local government congresses to elect their executives. The congresses, held at the LG secretariats across the 16 local government areas of Kwara, were conducted by factions loyal to Lai Mohammed, and AbdulRazaq.

Both factions adopted consensus arrangements for the congresses as encouraged by the national secretariat.

Though, Samari has said that there was no parallel local government congress during the last congress of the party, but some party stakeholders in the other faction of Alhaji Lai Mohammed confirmed to journalists in Ilorin that their faction held its local government congresses in the 16 local government councils areas in the presence of national secretariat officials of the party, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission officials.

The crisis has continued unabated and now looking insurmountable. This will no doubt affect the fortunes of the party ahead of the critical 2023 elections.

But the question on the lips of many party stakeholders in the state now is why has the Kwara APC self-inflicted division defied solution over the last two years? Who will broker peace between the two warring groups in the party ahead of the 2023 polls?

It should be noted that some party members have

opined that if the party is interested in sustaining its leadership of the state, it is either the major actors sheathe their swords and come back to the drawing board or the party’s national leadership should wild the big stick.

It has also been opined that non-aligned party bigwigs with considerable influence have a major role to play in mending broken fences.

Abdulrahman is a major player that many believe could help calm frayed nerves within the party, being perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the collective efforts of politicians who united to push for the Otoge revolt.

Earlier in February, a member of the House of Assembly, Hon. Saheed Popoola, said only the governor could resolve the crisis in the state chapter of the party.

He said, “Everything that we are talking about on the crisis still stops at the table of the governor; if he wants it to be settled, it will be settled immediately.

“If the governor doesn’t want it to be settled, there is nobody on earth that will settle it.”

Others that may well have the capacity to douse the tension in the Kwara APC are Mai Mala Buni, the party National Caretaker Chairman himself; the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, who is also from Kwara State and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in view of his considerable influence on Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Gbemisola Saraki, both federal Ministers from Kwara State.

One other name on the lips of many is the erstwhile Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mallam Saliu Mustapha, who is candidate for the party’s national chairmanship position. Regarded as one of the party bigwigs with unifying aura, Mustapha is believed to have the capacity to align conflicting sides and build consensus, given his standing in the party in the state and at the national level.

In a recent interview, Mustapha established his appreciation of this concern quite vividly. “It is quite unfortunate that Kwara State’s APC had to find itself in this kind of situation; it is uncalled for; it is unnecessary because it started way too early,” he said.

“But it is understandable that in politics, there would always be a divergence of opinions, views and interests. It is now a task for people like me to see that we reconcile everybody and find a solution to the crisis that has been rocking the party in the past two years. “This is my state, and I will take this as a challenge for me to communicate with all stakeholders and bring back everyone on board in oneness.

“No doubt, this is going to be a litmus test for my capacity and ability to manage crises in the party. I believe that in the shortest time possible, I would be able to achieve this by sitting together with the Governor and other stakeholders of the party in the state and finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

“The crisis is definitely not beyond our capacity to resolve and we shall do so without wasting time, so that we are able to strategise together again and win the next election in the state as overwhelmingly as we did in 2019.”

Commenting on Mustapha’s capacity to mend broken fences, Pastor Bejamin Yissa, a former Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly and presently Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, explained that Mustapha has not been fingered in aligning with any of the factions in the crisis.

“Definitely, it’s only a neutral person like Mustapha that can actually come in to intervene in the matter,” he said.

Without mincing words, there is no doubt that time is ticking for the APC in the state. While the party is emnessed in avoidable internecine crisis, the opposition PDP is raking and reaping from it. Some party members of the party last week in Omu-Aran, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Council Area publicly defected from the APC to PDP while feelers from other local government councils in the state hinted that more members of the APC are preparing to defect to PDP anytime from now. How this would not affect the fortunes of the APC in Kwara State in 2023, only time will tell.

Migration, Remittances and Nigeria’s Youth Population Gbenga Okejimi

D

espite the many socio-economic challenges facing the world, Nigerians always seek opportunities within their immediate environments or across borders to succeed while transferring the gains within communities and beyond. Over 1.2 billion youths are growing up in the digital era, and for many who emigrate from places like Nigeria, there is an expectation to fast-track development in communities and safeguard the future.

There are many ways to ensure that our young population can continue to thrive and fulfil their potential. Access to infrastructural opportunities like a quality education, skills acquisition, and early introduction into financial resources and best practices are some of the most important resources for youth empowerment.

However, many youth lack funding and cannot afford to go to school or acquire a skill. This is why remittances are an important source of income for many people in Nigeria. Remittances fuel education. Access to education has the potential to power productivity, foster an entrepreneurial-minded population, and raise awareness of global economic challenges.

In Nigeria, young people are utilising their education and leveraging technology to tackle national problems, such as improving access to finance, education, food, and driving youth

empowerment.

As we continue to evolve how we operate as a country in the aftermath of COVID-19, having smart, technology-forward solutions and options are more essential than ever. In finance, having digital solutions is critically important for people in rural communities where resources are limited, but has made a massive impact to help sustain our way of life throughout the pandemic.

The outbreak of COVID-19 drove innovative solutions that proved how effective application of advanced education can be as we quickly advanced various platforms like video conferencing for both personal and daily business life, financial solutions, medical communications and in countless other ways.

In a recent survey by The World Bank, 50% of respondents said they were willing to leave Nigeria for better economic futures, representing an increase of nearly 20% since 2014.

This means that opportunities exist to increase remittances to the country, thereby funding access to education and skills development that are critical for driving youth empowerment and youth-led solutions.

The decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria to incentivise remittances through the Naira for Dollar Scheme is laudable. It means that young Nigerians in the Diaspora are encouraged to send funds home through approved channels like WorldRemit, and the benefits thereof will be felt by both the country and individuals’ families thereby creating income for economic,

empowerment.

The Nigerian youth diaspora communities are included in this circle of impact, many of whom emigrated in search of economic and educational opportunities. In return, they are making contributions in their host communities, transferring knowledge to empower other youth at home or fueling a pipeline of funds for the general well-being of family and friends at home.

A great example of how this can impact one’s life is through Afua Osei’s story. Afua Osei is an entrepreneur, partnership strategist, global growth coach and TEDx speaker who was recognised in 2014 by Forbes Africa as one of the youngest “power women in Africa.”

Through “She Leads Africa” a platform she co-founded with Yasmin Belo-Osagie, she has been providing mentoring and networking opportunities for young women across Africa to grow their careers and build their entrepreneurial and business acumen.

Our youth are one of the most critical segments of the population that must continue to receive investments, support and protection. They own the future and will be responsible for driving many of the investments and economic plans already in motion. If we do not empower them with the right levels of skills, resources and education, we may be setting ourselves up to undo many of the successes already recorded in the country.

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26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

BY

Sanwo-Olu’s Marching Orders

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OU are welcome today: “Cladded (Clad) in black, they came in connection with….”

“I am making this post only because an unusually heavy downpour (because a downpour)….” We can also talk of ‘torrential rains’, but certainly not ‘heavy or torrential downpour’ because the rainfall intensity is encapsulated in ‘downpour’.

In other contexts, we also have ‘showers’, ‘drizzles’, ‘light/heavy rainfall’ etcetera.

Saturday Tribune of September 4 vitiated its ‘most informative newspaper’ pay-off line on two occasions: “Oil spill triggers fire outbreak” Tacitly put, ‘outbreak’ is clearly otiose here. Therefore, oil spill triggers fire.

“Salami refuses to handover” The phrasal verb error used to be just hyphenation. Now, it is horrendous (‘handover’) instead of ‘hand over’! Let the truth, courage and lexical fairness of 1949 still prevail.

“Paucity of funds threaten Egbin power plant” (DAILY SUN Headline, August 22) A recurring case of subject-verb disagreement (S-VD): Paucity of funds threatens….

“OBJ, IBB bite more than they can chew” (THE NATION, August 22) Both of them bite off more than they can.

“Below are some correspondences from BPE (Bureau of Public Enterprises) to BUA and Council Memo to Mr. President.” (Full-page advertisement by the Management of BUA Group) BPE can of worms: ‘correspondence’ is uncountable.

“Indeed, President Muhammadu Buhari has said little and done even littler (less)” (THE NATION ON SUNDAY, September 5) “While trying to locate the address close to a hotel at (on) the outskirts of

the town.…”

“Lagosians welcome Sanwo-Olu’s marching order on tanker drivers along Apapa-Oshodi expressway” Fixed expression: marching orders.

“More grease to your elbow.” More power (not grease!) to the elbow of Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s epochal president.

“8 policemen arrested over extortion” When will police criminality stop going the rounds? They will always be arrested for (not over) weapon misuse (‘accidental discharge’), extortion and banditry!

“But even at that, labour was not overtly involved in the arrests and detentions that followed” ‘Detention‘ uncountable “In fact, it looks like increase in the prices of petroleum products have (has) become an annual ritual.” Another S-VD embarrassment “Female lawmakers angry over treatment meted to the female minister.” No chauvinism: meted out to. “…until 1998 when individuals and groups converged in (on) Italy.…”

“I throdded that strange land and it took the grace of God to survive.” What is going on? ‘Throdded’ for ‘trod’?

“Given the fact during the electioneering campaign of 2019 in the country….”

Buhari’s right steps: ‘electioneering’ indicates ‘campaign.’ ‘So, to employ the two words is morphological abuse.

“Unfortunately for the US government, majority (a majority) of the UN members were not.…” “…as the attending leaders would be falling over each other (one another) to get the attention of the world’s number one citizen....”

“Succeeding (Successive) governments have shown no inclination to (for)

overhauling our antediluvian criminal justice system.”

“A TV footage of the visit showed a heart-rending scene of inmates kneeling and wailing and pleading to (with) her to secure their release.”

“By leaving so many frivolous laws on (in) our statute books....”

“One of Nigeria’s finest and pioneer professor (professors) of dentistry….”

“Real development in (on) the African continent cannot be achieved through coups.”

“Nigeria successfully restored Sierra Leone’s president (another comma) into (to) government after he was deposed by.…”

“Although the government is still settling down into (to) its second term.…”

“Transporters are usually the first to do so making workers spend the lion (lion’s) share of their salary on transportation (why not just transport, which is Standard English; not the excerpted Americanism?)

“I and my wife plotted the scheme which….” No spousal coup, gentlemen: My wife and I plotted the scheme.

“Community commends Wike over grassroot (sic) development” The community surely commended the governor for (not over) grassroots development.

“10 arrested at Apapa Ports over (for) hemp dump.” Fixed expression: ‘arrest’ takes ‘for’ (never ‘over’) always. It is not optional.

“With regards to the first question (a comma, please) the answer will be twopronged.” Choose between ‘as regards’ and ‘with regard to’, which applies here.

“How I lost my lover to a bossom friend” From the stable of the Flagship: bosom.

“Nigeria’s speedster…in his hey days”

Lamentations of a Frustrated Nigerian The worst evils which mankind has ever had to endure were inflicted by bad governments - Ludwig Heinrich Edler von Mises

S

ometimes you wake up and sincerely wish you could spend the entire day simply keeping to yourself, and refusing to share your thoughts, and indeed, any other things with any human being. You just feel that unexplainable craving to be selfish…

I don’t know if it is right or wrong, but I have been feeling like that quite often lately.

For reasons I don’t yet understand, Nigeria has been weighing heavily on my mind. We all have our several “Whys” to ask of Nigeria. We all have our several scars to show of how Nigeria has impressed on us and our psyche. Almost everyone has one story or more, on the traps and craps we have had to endure simply because we were born on this side of this earth. Is there any adult who has not been scarred or seared by the peculiar circumstance called Nigeria? I believe we can only quibble about the degree of Nigeria’s ‘influence’ in our lives - for good or bad. Some deal with the circumstance with grace or grit, while others succumb to devious means to survive…yet some allow themselves to be sucked in completely without raising a finger in audible protest.

One major issue always leaves me drained as I have not been able to find an answer to it that can put my mind at rest. The question is: Why do we work so hard, bargain so hard, pursue our dreams, goals and ambitions with so much passion and sometimes desperation… Why do we do all we have to do to become successful, and probably grow old doing it…and finally…die, leaving all to those we are in no position to advise, guide or command about how to manage, invest or dispense our “hard-earned” wealth, riches or reputation?

When we sit to reflect on the fruitlessness of pursuits of personal growth and accomplishments, we are

Buhari stormed with undisguised frustration of dressing well for an outing without destination in mind.

On several occasions, I have concluded that it was pointless working so hard in this very harsh country, amidst mostly hateful people who barely can contain themselves in their haste to deny you your entitlements, or frustrate your drive and vision.

If you are lucky, you may find yourself around mentors and subordinates who share your dreams and are enthused by your passion. That ‘lucky’ scenario is an exception, rather than the regular.

But what do we really want? Why do we struggle to amass wealth we can hardly spoil ourselves with so that we do not attract others less privileged but desperate enough to kill - so as to correct the “unfairness”? Why do we persevere in a busy itinerary that will produce humongous profits but scant satisfaction in our ultimate success and acquisitions?

When we sigh at approaching ill-health, or whimper at the whiff of danger, we express our vulnerability, our ordinariness… we are not so strong

that we can eradicate things that have the potential to eliminate us. Basically, our riches and successes are mocked by the tiny unpredictable and often inescapable circumstances like accidents, robberies, infernos, and other natural or man-made situations.

There are people who have worked all their lives to give their children the best education money can buy; their families the best that life can offer…yet before they die, their children (on whom they have desired and nurtured to prolong their ‘legacies’ and ‘traditions’) have succumbed to the lure of drugs, masochistic contra-religions and such morally bankrupt tendencies that simply mocked all their parents’ permutations and projection. Surely, the Nigerian oligarchs often die miserably - disillusioned and disoriented.

There are others who are now bogged down by debilitating diseases as a result of relentless and soul-wracking pursuits of financial and professional successes…they mull over their wasted youth and impotent wealth as they pine away loveless, childless, empty and lonely…even as hangers-on surround and preen over and around their sick beds. At a point when such wisdom is of no use to them, such people must face the traumatising realisation that their lives have been one big emptiness, as all they have acquired cannot truly give them peace, joy and fulfillment.

Should we then not aspire to the heights of our profession? Should we not work hard to make good clean money so as to put food on the table for our families? Should we because of the fear of what tomorrow holds not work hard or dream big and truly hope to live out our dreams?

By all things good and right, please pursue your dreams…run after your purpose… do not dwell on the impossible…keep an eye on the probable, and do not be afraid of hard work. In all these though, be clear in your mind that your life is not lived for yourself alone.

A life lived for spectacle, dash and flash will

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

Simply heyday (a word and non-count) “They came to enjoy music, not pay through their noses (nose) for a few hours of fun.” “…the dead would have done a dance of approval at the befitting honours accorded them by their offsprings.”

‘Offspring’ is uncountable.

“Today, not only is the civil conflict still raging, but the fall-outs of the wars....”

‘Fallout’ is uncountable. “…the prospects of bilateral military co-operation between Nigeria and the US in the troubled spots of West Africa….”

One of the fascinating aspects of the English language: trouble spots.

FROM MY INBOX I do enjoy your weekly analysis of grammatical blunders made by our journalists who speak and write the English language as their first language (LI). I want to use this opportunity to commend you for your great critical work that is worthy of emulation.

From Olanrewaju Temitope Adedapo (08156970191) Thanks so much for your weekly Media Gaffes. Do we still have proofreaders and sub-editors in our newspaper houses? Some of the ever-recurring errors are too basic for the checkers not to notice before publication. I am not a journalist but we were thought all those things in O’ level English language. May be the standard has dropped so much. Our children are in trouble except for the intervention of someone like you. Please, keep it up.

Oladele (08057689906) Once more, constructive criticisms, observations and comments are welcome.

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

procure for the owner a giant grief in years to come.

Be clear in your mind that the best laid out plans can tumble not because you are a weakling, or irresponsible or disorganized… Remember, there are things in life we cannot control or dominate.

There is a much greater Being holding the strings to our lives…and since we cannot manipulate Him, it is useless making plans for what tomorrow shall be. Place emphasis on the Now, and individuals who populate your Now… treat them well, cater to needs you are privileged and equipped to do so for, and devote your attention to propagating goodwill and good gestures.

The spinoff of that is: you cannot be disappointed by the actions and attitudes of those who are close to you. Your children will not wait on you for a lifeline before they can stand on their feet. The chances of you dying a failed father or benefactor are greatly reduced as your life has shown brightly that you have built people, not money-making machines.

So, what is this all about? It is the need to understand that people we build today will determine how well we die tomorrow…if we spend our prime time building strong structures, durable and self-sustaining institutions and procedures… then we empower our future (not just our families and fond associates). What you build today will define how you end tomorrow.

For one, that is how, I believe, Nigeria may become a better place to live, and to call our own. When, from the bottom up, we appreciate, encourage and honour honest, good, old hard labour…and yet give quality and sensible time and resources to build and nurture our homes and children, in the straight and narrow path.

Over the years, through honest service and selfless application, we can build a great and strong nation…not just by mere jingoism and platitudes.

GLOBAL SOCCER

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

11. 09.2021

Chidozie Awaziem Second ‘Missionary’ Journey to Turkey

NEWS

BATTLING FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS PAGE. 29

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

28

GLOBAL SOCCER

Chidozie Awaziem tries to stop former Barcelona Captain Lionel Messi

Chidozie Awaziem

Second ‘Missionary’ Journey to Turkey Everything pointed to the fact that he was going to join compatriot,Terim Moffi at FC Lorient but rather it was Super Lig club Alanyaspor that won the heart of Super Eagles’defender, Chidozie Awaziem in his second stint in Turkey after he had earlier played for Rizespor in the 2018/19 season

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efore now, speculation was rife that ChidozieAwaziem would be joining national teammate Terim Moffi at French Ligue 1 side FC Lorient on transfer deadline, that the French side will initially take him on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season.

It however did not come to pass as the 24-yearold immediately travelled toAlanya on a private jet to sort out his future after helping Nigeria beat Cape Verde in the World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

Turkish Super Lig club Alanyaspor signed Awaziem on loan from Portuguese club Boavista until the end of the 2021-22 campaign.

Awaziem left the Super Eagles’ camp in Cape Verde immediately after their 2-1 victory in the second game of their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign to complete the deal before the Turkish summer transfer window closed on Wednesday night.

The former Leganes defender played the entire duration on Tuesday as Victor Osimhen’s strike and an own goal from Kenny Rocha Santos secured maximum points for the visitors in Mindelo.

Prior to his invitation to Gernot Rohr’s team

earlier this month, the former Porto youth star played three Primeira Liga matches for Boavista.

Awaziem’s arrival is expected to boost Alanyaspor’s backline after they lost two out of their three Super Lig matches so far this season.

The Nigerian international joins Angola’s Wilson Eduardo, and Senegal duo Khouma Babacar and Famara Diedhiou in Bulent Korkmaz’s team.

They are currently 13th in the table with three points from three matches and they host Giresunspor for their league fixture on Monday.

“Boavista FC informs that it has reached an agreement with Alanyaspor from Turkey for the temporary transfer of player, ChidozieAwaziem, valid until the end of the 2021-22 season,” read a statement on the club’s website.

“Boavista FC wishes ChidozieAwaziem all the best personal and professional happiness in this new stage of his career. Good luck, Chidozie.”

Awaziem joined Boavista on an initial loan for the 2020-21 season, which was later made into a permanent four-year deal at the end of the season until June 2025.

The Enugu-born centre-back started his football career at El-Kanemi Warriors before he joined Porto in 2014 where he shone for their youth side. His impressive performances earned him promotion to the Dragons’ first-team as a 19-year-

old in January 2016.

During his stay at the Estadio do Dragao, the Super Eagles defender was sent out on loan four times to Nantes, Rizespor, Leganes and Boavista.

On the international scene, Awaziem made his Nigeria debut in a 3-0 friendly win over Togo in June 2017. He was also part of Rohr’s squad to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt where they won bronze.

Awaziem was expected to move from Portuguese Primeira Liga side this summer; but his destination was unclear as offers had come from different directions but that of France was very promising.

The delay in a deal happening before the window closed in major leagues and other factors had also affected the defender’s early resumption to the national team camp for the World Cup qualifiers.

He was flown into Turkey aboard a Private jet to immediately complete his move, a return to the country, where he had previously played for Rizespor in the 2018/19 season.

The move is yet again a loan deal, his fifth since moving to Europe, and it’ll run its course for just a season with no mandatory option to buy.

The 24 is one of Nigeria’s bright prospects ahead

of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon next year and in the qualifiers for the World Cup, could stunt his development with the move and play himself out of reckoning with Super Eagles coach, Rohr. The versatile player could be thrown straight into action when Alanyaspor host Giresunspor in the League on Monday.

Had his move to Lorient gone through before Tuesday’s deadline, it would have also been the second time the defender would play in France after he previously played on loan at FC Nantes three years ago.

In this summer transfer window, Awaziem was also linked with Turkish champions Besiktas, which Alanyaspor president, Hasan Cavusoglu attested to.Awaziem was officially presented as a new player of Turkish Super Lig sideAlanyaspor on Thursday after completing a deadline day transfer to Alanyaspor on Wednesday.

Alanyaspor president admitted during the unveiling ceremony that it was difficult for Alanyaspor to pull off the deal to sign the centreback from Boavista as they were competing with Istanbul giants Besiktas for his services.

“He is a football player that we believe will contribute to our team. Transferring such players will not be easy,” Cavusoglu said toAlanyaspor’s official website.

“He was almost coming to Besiktas in the past days, but we were lucky. A very good team. We think we did it.” He added: “Awaziem is now a part of Aytemiz Alanyaspor. We are together until the end of the season. I think we will have a good season”.

The Alanyaspor newcomer was unveiled with the number 16 jersey, which was last worn

by Mali centre-back Mamadou Fofana in the 2017-2018 season.

He came through the ranks at FC Porto, who shipped him out on loan severally before they finally sold him to another Portuguese club Boavista after a successful loan spell this year.

He has already been capped 22 times by Nigeria and has scored a goal.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

Man City on Revenge Mission to King Power Stadium Ronaldo set for United’s second debut Manchester City’s start to the season was far from blissful. First, Pep Guardiola side were humbled 1-0 in the Community Shield by their today’s opponent-Leicester City and went on to lose by the same margin in the season’s league opener to Tottenham Hotspur. The Citizens however recovered fast from those two losses and went on to score 10 goals without conceding any in their next two games. Against the Foxes whom they had lost two of their three matches to would indeed be an intriguing duel Head to Head 21-04-03 Leicester 0-2 Man City 20-09-27 Man City 2-5 Leicester 20-02-22 Leicester 0-1 Man City 19-12-21 Man City 3-1 Leicester 19-05-06 Man City 1-0 Leicester 18-12-26 Leicester 2-1 Man City 18-02-10 Man City 5-1 Leicester 17-11-18 Leicester 0-2 Man City 17-05-13 Man City 2-1 Leicester 16-12-10 Leicester 4-2 Man City 16-02-06 Man City 1-3 Leicester 15-12-29 Leicester 0-0 Man City 15-03-04 Man City 2-0 Leicester 14-12-13 Leicester 0-1 Man City

Premiership Table Tottenham West Ham Man Utd Chelsea Liverpool Everton Man City Brighton Leicester Brentford Aston Villa Watford Southampton Crystal Palace Leeds Burnley Newcastle Wolves Norwich Arsenal

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

3 5 5 5 5 4 9 1 -1 2 1 -2 -2 -3 -4 -3 -4 -3 -9 -9

9 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 5 4 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 0

PREMIER LEAGUE TODAY

Crystal Palace Arsenal Brentford Leicester Man Utd Southampton Watford Chelsea

v Tottenham 12:30 v Norwich City 15:00 v Brighton 15:00 v Man City 15:00 v Newcastle 15:00 v West Ham 15:00 v Wolves 15:00 v Aston Villa 17:30

SUNDAY

Leeds Utd L-R: Leicester City midfeild enforcer, Wilfred Ndidi and Man City Kevin De Bruyne in an intriguing battle

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anchester City will be looking to make it three straight Premier League victories when they resume their domestic campaign away to Leicester City this afternoon.

The Citizens have collected six points from their first three matches to sit seventh on the table, while Leicester have also picked up six points to occupy ninth after three rounds of fixtures in England’s top flight.

Leicester have already beaten Man City in a competitive fixture this season, running out 1-0 winners in the Community Shield last month, and the Foxes then started their 2021-22 Premier League campaign with a 1-0 success over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the King Power Stadium.

Brendan Rodgers’s side suffered a 4-1 defeat at West Ham United in their second game, though, with Ayoze Perez receiving a straight red card in a difficult match for the FA Cup holders.

Leicester managed to return to winning ways before the international break, as goals from Jamie Vardy and Marc Albrighton allowed them to beat Norwich City 2-1, and a return of six points from three matches has left the top-four hopefuls in ninth position, three points off leaders Tottenham Hotspur.

The Foxes will begin their Europa League group-stage campaign with a mouthwatering clash against Napoli next week, while a busy end to September will also see them face Millwall in the EFL Cup - a competition that is unlikely to be taken too seriously by the club this term due to their other commitments.

Leicester have now won two of their last three matches against Man City, but they have not actually beaten the reigning English champions at the King Power Stadium since

December 2018, when Ricardo Pereira came up with a late winner for Claude Puel’s team.

Man City’s start to the 2021-22 campaign was underwhelming, as they followed the Community Shield loss to Leicester with a 1-0 defeat away to Tottenham in their Premier League opener.

The Citizens did not manage to sign Harry Kane over the summer despite a long pursuit but have been irresistible in their last two matches, recording back-to-back 5-0 home wins over Norwich City and Arsenal to move onto six points, which has left them in seventh position.

Like Leicester, Pep Guardiola’s side will begin their European campaign next week, facing RB Leipzig at home in the Champions League, while the club will take on Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup on September 21, in addition to facing Leicester, Southampton, Chelsea in the league during a busy period.

Man City will know that they cannot afford to drop too many points in the early stages of the season, and their two recent excellent results have come at the Etihad Stadium, so it will be a huge test for the champions this weekend away to a Leicester side capable of beating any side in the division.

The Citizens had the best away record in the Premier League last term, though, picking up 45 points from their 19 matches, and Guardiola’s team will be full of confidence heading into today’s interesting battle.

Interestingly, City’s neighbour, Manchester United will be looking to record their third Premier League win of the season when they welcome Newcastle United to Old Trafford today.

The match is expected to mark the second debut of Cristiano Ronaldo, who incredibly returned to Old Trafford from Juventus in the

final stages of the summer transfer window.

Ronaldo is set to pull on the famous Man United shirt for the first time since 2009 this weekend, as the Portugal international prepares to make his second debut for the Red Devils.

An early release from international duty has allowed the 36-year-old to train with his new teammates this week, and it appears likely that he will go straight into the starting XI for today’s clash with Newcastle, which will be some occasion.

The return of the former Sporting Lisbon youngster is a huge story, but Man United cannot afford to take their eye off the ball in terms of picking up a strong result, as they have already dropped two disappointing points away to Southampton in the early stages of the season.

That said, a return of seven points from three matches represents a solid start, beating Leeds United 5-1 in their opener before recording a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers before the international break courtesy of a late effort from Mason Greenwood, who has three goals in three outings this term.

The league table is not too important at this stage, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side occupy third position, two points behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur; it will be a busy end to the month for the club, meanwhile, as they feature in both the Champions League and EFL Cup. Indeed, Man United will open their Champions League group-stage campaign away to Young Boys on September 14, while West Ham United will be their opponents in the EFL Cup on September 22, just three days after the two teams lock horns in the Premier League at the London Stadium.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have made a disappointing start to the 2021-22 Premier

v Liverpool 16:30

MONDAY

Everton v Burnley 20:00

La Liga TODAY

Espanyol v Atlético 13:00 Madrid v Celta Vigo 15:15 Villarreal v Alaves 17:30 Sevilla v Barcelona 20:00 SUNDAY

Cádiz v Society 13:00 Osasuna v Valencia 15:15 Getafe v Elche 17:30 Granada v Real Betis 20:00 MONDAY

Bilbao V Mallorca 20:00

League season, picking up just one point from their three matches, which has left them in 17th position in the table.

The Magpies opened their season with back-to-back defeats to West Ham United and Aston Villa before losing on penalties to Burnley in the second round of the EFL Cup. Steve Bruce’s side did manage to pick up a point at home to Southampton before the international break, though, with Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin on the scoresheet, and Newcastle will surely need to have their shooting boots on this weekend to stand a chance of picking up a positive result.

The Magpies only have the Premier League to worry about until their FA Cup campaign starts, meaning that they only have three fixtures before the end of the month, facing Man United, Leeds United and Watford, and it will be fascinating to see where they sit in the table heading into October.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

Tiger Woods

Emma Radukanu, the history maker

IBB Golf Club Seeks Support from NCAC

GOtv Boxing Night 23

Baby Face, Real One, Others in Action at Molade-Okoyo Indoor Sports Hall Today The attention of boxing fans will be on the Molade-Okoyo Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, as the 23rd edition of GOtv Boxing Night holds today. Scheduled for the event are seven bouts across weight categories, with two of them featuring World Boxing Federation (WBF) champions, Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde and Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu, who are billed to fight opponents from Benin Republic and Ghana.

There is also the potentially spicy confrontation between Isaac “I-Star” Chukwudi and Taiwo ‘Gentle Boy” Olowu, who meet in the national welterweight title contest.

Equally of huge interest is the ring return of former national lightweight champion, Nurudeen “Prince” Fatai, who

is billed to fight Rilwan “Show Memorial Trophy for the best Boy” Lawal in a featherweight boxer, who will be selected, challenge bout. via weighted scores, by the The bout line-up pits light journalists at the event. heavyweight bruiser, Segun The event will be broadcast “Success” Olanrewaju against live across Africa from 6:00pm Fatai “Hit Man” Balogun, on SuperSport Select 2 (GOtv cruiserweight big timer, Abio- Channel 34) and SuperSport dun “Infiniti” Afinni, against Variety 4 (DStv Channel 209).

Michael “Emirate” Godwin, as well as Segun Adeyemi against Abolade “B.Bee” Balogun, both debutants and graduates of GOtv Boxing NextGen Search.

Event organisers, Flykite Productions, have advised fans coming to the venue to wear face masks in line with Covid-19 safety measures, warning that fans without face coverings would be turned back at the entrance.

Up for grabs at the show is a N1million cash prize attached to the Mojisola Ogunsanya Babatunde

Aisha Buhari Cup to Serve as FIFA Ranking Tournament World football governing body, FIFA has confirmed that the maiden edition of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament taking place in the City of Lagos from September 15– 21, will be employed for ranking of participating teams.

This much was contained in a letter sent to the Director of Organisation of the ABC, Ms

Aisha Falode and signed by Sara Booth (MBE), Head of Competitions (Women’s Football Division).

The letter read, inter alia: “We are working very closely with CAF on this particular topic as we want to make sure that all African teams that are playing friendly matches are eligible for ranking points.”

FIFA has also given the Local Organising Committee authorisation

to go ahead and stage the one-week tournament which holds at the Mobolaji JohnsonArena andAgege Stadium.

Nigeria, Cameroon, SouthAfrica, Mali, Ghana and Morocco are the six teams who will battle for honours at the tournament being staged in honour of the country’s First Lady, Dr (Mrs) Aisha Muhammadu Buhari.

US Open: History Beckons for Raducanu, Fernandez Britain’s Emma Raducanu continued to rewrite the history books as she became the first qualifier ever to make a Grand Slam final, sweeping into today’s US Open final where she will play fellow teenager Leylah Fernandez.

The 18-year-old qualifier from Kent defeated Greek 17th seed Maria Sakkari 6-1 6-4 to set up the first all-teen final at the US Open since 1999, before either was born, when a 17-year-old Serena Williams beat an 18-yearold Martina Hingis.

Raducanu had only just sat for her A-Levels when she reached Wimbledon’s fourth round in July, but she has exceeded all expectations by storming into the final at Flushing Meadows without dropping a set - winning 18 consecutively and dropping just 27 games in her six main

draw matches.

She said on court: “Honestly, the time here in New York has gone so fast. I’ve just been taking care of each day and three weeks later I’m in the final. I can’t actually believe it.

“Today I wasn’t thinking about anyone else except for myself.

While I have the moment, I want to thank my team and the LTA and everyone at home for all their support.

“Since I’ve been here from the first round of the qualifiers, I’ve had unbelievable support.”

As for her chances in the final?

“Is there any expectation? I’m a qualifier so technically there’s no pressure on me,” she added.

Despite causing a massive upset to knock out reigning Olympic champion Belinda Bencic in the last round, going up against experienced Sakkari

was expected to be her toughest test yet under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium on primetime TV in the States.

The fast-rising star, who will be installed as British No 1 next week, took advantage of a nervy start from Sakkari to surge through the opening three games, with one of the heaviest hitters on the WTA Tour failing to take any of her seven break-point chances.

The opening set was turning into a nightmare for Sakkari when she double-faulted to put Raducanu in total command, with the possibility of a bagel set. But the Greek, who came one point away from reaching her first Slam final at the French Open before losing it to eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova, held serve in the sixth game to get on the board.

The IBB International Golf and Country Club have solicited the support of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) to make the 61st Independence Day Golf Tournament a success.

Adelegation from the club which comprised members of the tournament planning committee sought assistance from NCAC Director General, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, during a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja.

The head of the delegation, Mike Ikoja, stated that their visit as members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the tournament was firstly to show gratitude to Runsewe for his selfless contributions to the development of golf as evidenced in the IBB Golf and Country Club and to seek the support of NCAC for the 61st Independence Golf Tournament scheduled for 24th of September to the 1st of October 2021 at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

Ikoja revealed that the IBB International Golf and Country Club is the most prestigious Golf Club in the country with a diverse membership of over 5000

drawn from government agencies, captains of industries, senior Diplomats and high net worth individuals.

Ikoja, who is the Vice-Captain of the Club maintained that over the years, the club has provided a platform for Nigerians and foreigners, particularly those in the public and private sector the opportunity to recreate and network, while leveraging on the huge national and international brand values to enhance their businesses aans goodwill.

“The Independence Golf Tournament is the biggest event in the club’s calendar in commemoration of Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary and the highlight of the event will be an international match between IBB Golf Club and golf clubs from some African Countries,” he added.

The Vice-Captain however solicited the full support of NCAC in making this year’s tournament meet the expectations of the golfing family.

In his response, the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Runsewe, thanked the delegation for the honour in recognising his little contributions to the

development of the game of golf.

Runsewe said that golf as a unifying game always provides a veritable platform for people from all spheres of the society to share ideas. He revealed that he was working on some cultural brands which he hopes to showcase during the tournament.

“Golf and culture are closely knitted and NCAC hopes to use the platform provided by the tournament to showcase some of them” Otunba reiterated.

Runsewe who doubles as the President, World Crafts Council, African Region pledged to dedicate the next edition of the Magazine on Golf published by him to the tournament which will be distributed free.

The Director General therefore promised that the NCAC Cultural Troupe would feature prominently throughout the tournament to entertain guests. The council will also showcase its collections in a culturally embellished stand during the tournament while the Executive members of the club as well as members of the planning committee will be provided with cultural golf attire.

IGC Set to Honour Golf Captains in Historic Tourney The prestigious Ibadan Golf Club is set for the maiden edition of Captains Golf Invitational competition, initiated by the captain of the club, Ola Ibironke to host all the Golf Club’s Captains in Nigeria, either past or present on September 18.

While explaining the rationale behind the unique golf tournament which is first of its kind, Ibironke who described IGC as the home of golf and its tradition said the club wants to consolidate on its 30th anniversary by taking over airspace again by inviting the Kings and Queens to come back home.

“Leadership is not a job you take, it’s a decision you make. It pays no money, yet has the greatest reward. All past and present Captains, female and male, old and young, in short if you have served in this category before, your day of reward has come. Come join us to pamper you”, said IGC Captain.

He added that people in that category in golfing

have worked selflessly for humanity, and it is time now to be served too, “let’s relax, let’s golf, let’s merry and renew our strength for many more years of greatness. Golf is life if you play it well”.

His words: “Golf is life and it is a game of intelligence, it is a game of how best you can present yourself and have a straight mind towards what you’re doing.

“I just found out that immediately after you finish serving as captain people just forget about you and there’s nothing connecting us together again, you only just carry on with the title of being a past captain.

“It was just done on me that definitely you will also be a past captain and this is how things will continue.

We have captains that had served for the past 10 to 20 years ago in this club and other clubs in Nigeria, and I think they should be celebrated, just like what obtains in the army that you see retired generals and officers that they still

Ibadan Golf Club Captain Ola Ibironke Dudu

connect with themselves and be recognised for that attainment for the rest of their lives”.

The Chairman of the organising committee for the epic golf event, Larry Agose, who is also a past Captain of IGC has urged intending participants in the historical golf tournament to register earlier because of the limited space that is available.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

Moses Simon Continuing from Where He Left Moses Simon remains one of Nantes’ standout performer so far this season

Moses Simon has not looked back since moving from Spanish Premiere Liga side UD Levante to pitch tents with theYellow Canaries. Last season, he was one of Nantes best performers and he’s looking to continue in that order. It therefore came as no surprise when he was recently named the club’s best player in the month of August

T

he Nigerian forward, Simon Moses put up stellar performances in Nantes’ opening Ligue I fixtures, and his efforts did not go unnoticed as has been voted as the best player in Nantes for August.

The Nigerian striker amassed 57.7 per cent of the votes to beat Alban Lafont, Nicolas Pallois, and Ludovic Blas.

A statement via the club’s website read: “With 57.65% of the votes, Moses Simon is, therefore, your Canary of the Month for the month of August.”

Moses was in scintillating form for the Yellow Canaries in August and was their major outlet upfront. The former Levante man supplied the three assists for all of Nantes’ goals in their first two games of the Ligue 1 season.

His contributions were vital as they helped the Yellow Canaries to pick a draw at Monaco and see off Metz with 2-0.

However, the 26-year-old failed to perform in the next two games against Rennes and Lyon, with Nantes falling to a 1-0 defeat in both games.

Simon continues his incredible start to the 2020-2021 French Ligue 1 for FC Nantes.

He assisted Nantes only goal in their opening day 1-1 draw against Monaco, and he followed it with two assists against Metz at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

Simon started in the attacking midfield along with Randal Kolo and Muani Ludovic Blas. The trio were outstanding and caused problems for Metz defenders all through.

He assisted his partner Randal Kolo Muani for the first goals inside opening 12 minutes.

Moses completed his brace of assists five minutes into the second half, when he set up Ludovic Blas who made it 2-0 for Antoine Kombouare’s side.

The former Levante forward played

the entire minutes and was named as the man of the match.

Moses who finished last season with just five assists, now has three in two games for the season.

Meanwhile, Nantes defender Fabio has described Simon a perfect teammate. The former Manchester United player has a good understanding with Simon in the pitch and the duo were one of the top performers for Nantes last season.

They played important role in the 2-0 home win against Metz.

“Simon Moses, we get along very well on the field, I like to play with him and I think it’s reciprocal. We complement each other well,” Fabio told the club website.

Simon was voted FC Nantes Player of the Season for the 2019/2020 campaign after scooping 40 per cent of the total vote cast by the fans to be named the Canaridelasaison for the year.

Simon has enjoyed his best season with Nantes since moving to Europe as he finished as the club’s top scorer with nine goals in 2020, he recorded eight assists which is the highest by any player in the French Lig 1 and also bagged one hattrick to his name.

Simon arrived at the club penultimate summer on loan from Spanish Premiere Liga side UD Levante and the former Gent man has proven to be an instant hit at the club, which has encouraged Nantes to be interested in taking up the option that allows them to sign the player permanently for €5 million in the Summer.

The 24-year-old made 30 appearances for the French side in the last campaign scoring nine goals and registered eight assists.

“It can only be God. I became the Player of the Season in FC Nantes a traditional club. I am so excited it gives me a sense of recognition in my career,” he had said.

Life for Simon in Spain was far from rosy as he failed to establish himself in Levante’s starting 11. He then decided

to take his trade to French Ligue 1 side, Nantes, and the move has proved to be a success story.

The 24-year-old had been impressive since joining FC Nante on loan from Spanish side, Levante.

Simon revealed he is thoroughly enjoying a new lease of life in France.

“I am more relaxed and settled at Nantes, no pressure. I am also playing to my full potentials because here I am a very offensive winger,” he explained.

“At Levante, I had to fall back to help out in the defence. Now, I am a winger in a 4-3-3 formation as against the 3-5-2 we played in Spain. And so, the goals and assists are coming now.”

Simon is however optimistic his current scoring form for FC Nantes will continue with the Super Eagles.

“It’s been an amazing season for me so far here in France; the team is doing well and I hope to also take the same form to the national team,” Simon said.

Simon moved to Levante UD for about five million Euros, which is a figure far from the 20 million Euros a top official had predicted KAA Gent will eventually sell him.

Gent sports director Michel Louwagie proudly predicted that his club would break transfer records when they eventually sell the Nigerian winger after they bought him from Slovak club AS Trencin for 650,000 Euros in January 2015.

“The transfer record in Belgium will have to be shattered when we sell Moses. We will be talking of about 20 million Euros,” Louwagie had predicted. The prediction was prompted by the fact that Moses was an instant sensation in Belgium.

But the player will go on to suffer injuries and lack of consistency for such huge hope not to be fulfilled in the three and a half seasons he was there.

Altogether, he scored 21 goals and provided 18 assists in 136 appearances

for ‘The Buffaloes’.

He won the Belgian league with Gent in his first season after his transfer from Slovak club AS Trencin.

KAA Gent paid glowing tributes to Simon after the player secured a move to Spanish club, Levante.

“He leaves the club with his head up and will forever belong to the select group of players who won the first league title in the history for our club and then became part of an historic Champions League campaign stamped in the collective Belgian football memory. The following season, he was also a member of the group of players that beat Tottenham at Wembley in the Europa League,” the club said in its official website then.

Simon had his first call-up to the Nigeria national team by Coach Daniel Amokachi in March 2015 and made his debut on the 25th of the same month in an international friendly against Uganda, when he replaced Anthony Ujah.

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 SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

EVENTS

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atrimony between Mr. Adekanmi Harold Laoye and former Oluwadamilola Beatrice Obisesan was blessed at The Bishop Vining Memorial Church, Ikeja GRA. The families and friends of both Chief Gbenga Obisesan and Prince Steve Laoye attended the service and then the reception at the Heaven Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos… recently . Here are the photographs of the personalities at the events PHOTOS: ABAYOMII AKINYELE

The Newly Weds, Adekanmi Harold Laoye and his wife, Oluwadamilola Beatrice

Bride’s parents, Chief Gbenga Obisesan and wife, Mopelola

Groom’s parents, Prince Steve Laoye and wife, Olori Patricia

L-R Venerable. Samuel Bamisaye and Venerable Isaac Ojuade

Bishisp of Ilesa Diosece, The Right Rev. Dr. Samuel Olubayo Sowale and wife, C.M.B

Chief Felix Fagboungbe, SAN and wife, Bukola

L-R Mrs. Nike Atewojaye and Mrs. Buky Akinleye

L-R Kola Osunnuyi and Otunba Tolu Osinnowo

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

EVENTS

Pastor Kunle Ayeni and wife, Kenny

L-R Yemisi Fasakin, Foluke Adebayo and husband, Kunle

L-R Otunba Bimbola Olaniyi and Engr. Kola Suarau

L-R Mr. Wasiu Gaffar and Mr. Odunayo Awe

Barr. Paschal and Mrs. Lynda Madu

L-R Dolapo Akinleye, Radeke Kupoluyi and Kemi Ariyibi

Olori Yetunde Adeyeye and Mrs Theresa Awobusuyi

Mrs. Joke Ilesanmi and Mrs. Funmi Fanimodu

L-R Mrs. Oluwakemi Fagbamila and Funso Oyenuga

L-R Mr. Gabriel Akinyemi, wife,Temidayo; and Mr. Olusegun Sunday

L-R Adewale Osinnowo and Segun Ilesanmi

L-R Mrs. Mojisola Obadan and Mrs. Modupe Akinsola

L-R Funmi Aremu and Tola Osuya

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

AUTO WORLD

Bennett Oghifo 07052343083 Email:bennett.oghifo@thisdaylive.com

TIPS OF THE WEEK

Effect of Weight on Fuel Consumption

The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Weststar Delivers 2021 E-Class Saloon to Showrooms in Nigeria

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he new Mercedes-Benz E-Class excites with automotive intelligence! Taking on a comprehensive upgrade from its 10th generation predecessors, it comes with a host of innovations in design and technology.

With this model upgrade, the E-Class continues to live up to its reputation as the “heart of the Mercedes-Benz brand” Weststar Associates Limited, Authorised General Distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria is proud to announce the arrival of the new E-Class in showrooms nationwide.

The exterior design of the new E-Class comes with a more dynamic design, showing a clear upgrade from its predecessor. The front end comes with increased chrome content, with the headlamps and radiator grille being totally redesigned. The bonnet features distinctive looking powerdomes, while the headlamps come in a Áatter design, featuring all-LED technology. On the rear end, the all-new E-Class features a new rear bumper and a new boot lid. The tail lights also get a

redesign with new inner components. Another highlight from the exterior is the new aero wheels, which contribute to more sustainable driving.

The interior design of the new E-Class comes with a sensual aura, high-quality materials and technical innovations. It is equipped with an entirely redesigned, intelligent steering wheel as part of the facelift. The Touch Control buttons on the steering wheel spokes are now also capacitive, reducing the need for mechanical control panels.

The design of the front seats accentuates the sporty aura of the interior, by oͿering strong lateral support without compromising on comfort.

There are also new appointment colours and materials added in the interior; these include the new colour combinations magma grey/neva grey, black/nut brown and magma grey/macchiato beige, and trims in silver open-pore ash wood, fondant burr walnut wood, brushed aluminium and aluminium with a carbon grain.

The new E-Class is equipped with the latest generation of the MBUX multimedia system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). As standard,

it includes two large 10.25-inch/26 cm screens, which for a widescreen look are arranged side by side. Two 12.3-inch/31.2 cm screens are optionally available. The information in the instrument cluster and on the media display is easily legible on the large, high-resolution screens. An emotive presentation with brilliant graphics underlines the comprehensibility of the intuitive control structure.

For the Àrst time the E-Class comes with electriÀed powertrains, the four-cylinder petrol (M 254) engines will feature a second-generation integrated starter-generator (ISG) producing up to 15 kW of additional output and 200 Nm more torque. This technology is also standard equipment for the six-cylinder petrol (M 256) engines available for the Àrst time in the E-Class.

The line-up of high-e΀ciency, low-emission and powerful petrol engines will cover an output range from 115 to 270 kW. Also, included is the 9G-TRONIC transmission which has been further developed to accommodate the secondgeneration ISG.

Do your drivers need to lose some weight? Research suggests that drivers who turn their vehicles into mobile warehouses or offices can reduce mileage by 2% for every 3,7 litres of fuel if they have approximately 50kg of extra weight in their car. While it might be convenient to carry extra products, equipment or even personal items in one’s vehicle, it might cost your company in the long run.

The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says fleet managers need to take the correlation between weight and fuel economy seriously if they are committed to reducing costs. “When you pay attention, managers will be surprised by how quickly a vehicle can fill up with items, some necessary, many not. Effectively, for some employees their vehicles are their offices and may seem like an ideal place to store items both for work and personal effects.

“This increases the fuel consumption because for every extra kilogram of weight, the engine needs to work harder. Working harder requires more fuel. Thus, removing unnecessary items from the car removes this demand on the engine and also improves the braking and acceleration.”

The question you may now be asking is how to change this habit? “Bring the difference that extra weight could make to fuel consumption to the attention of your employees who work on the road. Get all employees to go through the items in their car to remove those that are clearly not needed to perform their roles and others they seldom need.

“Reinforce this by making it a permanent part of your policies for drivers. If you find that drivers are consistently falling back to their old habits, you may find it necessary to attach consequences to not following the policy. Ultimately, recognising the effect unnecessary weight can have on your fuel bill requires employees to understand this and play their part in reducing it.”

The part that relies on fleet management rather than employees is the choice of fleet vehicles. “The weight of the vehicle itself can also affect fuel consumption.

If you have narrowed your choices down to two or three options, all with similar fuel consumption estimates, take the time to check the weight differences of the cars. If there is a difference, this could help you make the best choice.”

Take the time to investigate if your employees need to ‘shed a few kilos.’ “For every 10% reduction of weight in a vehicle, fuel economy increases by 7%. During a time when companies are pressed to save costs wherever possible, ensure your fuel bill has not been needlessly increased,” says Herbert.

(Source: MasterDrive)

Autochek Acquires ROAM Africa’s Online Car Platforms

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utochek, an automotive technology company facilitating auto Ànancing across Africa and ROAM Africa (Ringier One Africa Media) have entered into an agreement for Autochek to acquire automotive marketplaces Cheki Kenya and Cheki Uganda, as Autochek expands further into the African market. The deal will be Ànalised within the following weeks and will see Cheki Kenya and Uganda’s operations integrate with the wider Autochek operations. The move comes just one year after Autochek successfully acquired Cheki Nigeria and Ghana as part of its launch in West Africa.

Launched in 2020, and backed by notable investors such as TLcom Capital and 4DX Ventures, Autochek combines technology, underpinned by data analytics to deepen auto Ànance penetration across the continent. With a presence in Nigeria and Ghana, the company’s 360-degree automotive solution also provides a strong network of after-sales services that preserves and eases vehicle ownership experience across Africa.

The acquisition of East Africa’s leading online auto marketplace is the next step for Autochek as it expands its footprint in the region and continues its mission to provide seamless access to auto Ànancing across the continent.

Building on Cheki’s 10 years of experience, Autochek is set to introduce additional technology

L-R: COO Autochek, Timi Tope Ologunoye; SVP West Africa, Mayokun Fadeyibi; SVP, East Africa, John Egwu, SVP New Markets, Iyamu Mohammed; and CEO, Etop Ikpe

solutions that will integrate the auto ecosystem as well as increase market adoption for auto loan Ànancing. As part of the agreement, ROAM Africa will transfer ownership and operational control to Autochek.

Speaking on the acquisition, Founder and CEO

of Autochek, Etop Ikpe said, “The acquisition of Cheki Kenya and Uganda is an important milestone for us, and we are excited to be working with ROAM Africa once again, building on their achievements over the past years.

ROAM Africa has an unrivalled track record

of operating and scaling some of Sub-Saharan Africa’s most innovative classiÀed marketplaces and we look forward to leveraging on this solid business foundation” “Autochek’s mandate is to accelerate the ability of African consumers to access better quality and aͿordable vehicles by providing access to Ànancing, while also derisking the auto lending process for Ànancial institutions.

We are long-time admirers and collaborators of the Cheki brand; following today’s news, we intend to provide even more trust and transparency in East Africa’s automotive sector, leveraging the unique networks we are now joining together.”

Founded in 2010, Cheki Kenya has built a network of hundreds of dealers, more than 12,000 vehicles listed monthly and 700,000 monthly unique users on its platform with 80% plus year-on-year growth in the last two years.

Clemens Weitz, CEO of ROAM Africa, said, “Across the world, we see a new evolution of digital automotive platforms, requiring deep specialization. SpeciÀcally in Africa, we believe that Autochek is the one player with the best team and expertise to truly create a game-changing consumer experience. Our Cheki team has built a unique, market-leading brand and a truly remarkable business. Most importantly I want to thank everyone in the team who contributed to this success. Now we are excited to see that taken to the next level. Whilst this is good news for everyone directly involved, the ultimate benefactor will be African car buyers and sellers.”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

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AUTO WORLD

Hyundai Motors, Access Bank Launch Vehicle Purchase Scheme

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yundai Motors Nigeria Limited (HMNL) in collaboration with Nigeria’s top Ànancial institution, Access Bank Plc., has launched a vehicle Ànance scheme to inspire perceptive customers and Áeet buyers to buy precision engineered and aͿordably priced made-in-Nigeria Hyundai vehicles.

The scheme which is ongoing is designed to encourage local patrons to own and drive Hyundai vehicles, using convenient bank credit with low interest rates.

Announcing the scheme in Lagos, the duo of Hyundai Motors Nigeria, manufacturers and distributors of Hyundai vehicles and Access Bank PLC explained that the scheme has convenient monthly repayment tenor up to forty-eight months (48) months, depending on the customer’s payment option.

While also adding that a three month payment holiday will be oͿer to customers from date of disbursement, the facilitators of the scheme said customers would in addition be oͿered labour free service for six months or 10,000kms (whichever is Àrst) and warranty of Àve (5) years or 100,000kms (whichever is Àrst).

Both establishments brokered this agreement in Lagos at the launch of the scheme aimed

at easing challenges associated with accessing low interest bank credit to procure choice cars.

“The credit initiative is a seamless plan for desiring patrons and Áeet managers to access low interest bank credit for the procurement of discounted Hyundai vehicles without necessarily paying commitment and management fees,” the duo explained.

Gaurav Vashisht, Head, Sales, Hyundai Motors Nigeria said “The joint credit initiative is in line with Hyundai’s strategy and direction of making vehicle acquisition a seamless experience and essentially assists prospective customers to buy new Hyundai vehicles and experience Hyundai inspiring technology.

The oͿer was intended to ease vehicle acquisition and assist customers including those without functional account with Access Bank to access the facility.

What we are simply doing is to help prospective buyers starve-oͿ the burden of sourcing funds in one fell-swoop to buy a new car. You can now walk into any Access Bank branch to apply for credit to buy your choice car and thereafter, pay conveniently,” Mr. Vashisht a΀rmed.

The oͿer which can be accessed in all Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited accredited dealers nationwide includes select Hyundai models like Hyundai Accent, Elantra, Sonata, Kona, Creta, Tucson SUV and H1 Bus.

2022 Hyundai Santa Fe

Stakeholders Call for Policy Consistency in Nigeria’s Automotive Industry Policy inconsistency, poor implementation and increasingly dwindling purchasing power of Nigerians have been identiÀed as the bane of automotive sector development in Nigeria. Making this identiÀcation during a ‘meet the stakeholders parley’ held at Dana Motors (KIA) head o΀ce in Lagos, Mr. Olawale Jimoh, Marketing Manager, Kia Nigeria, bemoans the forex volatility, lack of access to aͿordable auto loan schemes as provided in the county’s Auto Policy has continued to hinder the acquisition of new vehicles in the country, amongst other key factors hampering the growth of the industry in Nigeria.

The parley, which is spearheaded by BKG Exhibitions Limited organizer of the Abuja International Motor and the Lagos Motor Fair & Autoparts Expo Africa, is aimed at making the key players in the industry to aggregate their views/opinions on the challenges of the sector and forging a common front in tackling it with other stakeholders especially the policy makers. According to Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, the Managing Director and CEO of the company, the lack of unity amongst the players is not helping in the tackling of the myriads of challenges confronting the sector.

Bemoaning the negative impact of this state of aͿairs the Managing Director said that the outcome

of the ‘meet the stakeholders parley’ will be taken to the relevant federal government ministries, departments and agencies which functions impact on the industry for necessary actions. He urged other stakeholders whom he disclosed have been written to by his team to key in into it. This according to him will help in seeing to the success of the move and the expected positive turnaround in the sector.

In his contribution, Mr. Olu Tikolo, the Vice President of Kia Nigeria noted that Nigeria has the market and potentials to be the hub of automotive business in Sub-Sahara Africa which it is fast losing to Ghana, advising that implementing the National Automotive Industry Development Plan as well as backing it with appropriate laws and addressing the forex volatility and vehicle acquisition challenges

by Nigerians will go a long way in restoring sanity and fast-tracking the development of the sector.

While thanking the management of Kia Nigeria for granting him and his team audience, Mr. Agwu announced the date for the forthcoming 21stn Abuja International Motor Fair.

According to him, the event will take place at the International Conference Annex, Area 10, Garki, Abuja from October 25-30, 2021. According to him, intensive publicity activities are ongoing to drive much tra΀c into the venue of the event.

L-R: Marketing Manager, KIA Motors, Mr. Wale Jimoh; Marketing Manager BKG Exhibitions Limited, Franca Igwe; Vice President KIA Nigeria, Mr. Olu Tikolo; and MD/CEO, BKG Exhibitions, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, during the ‘meet the stakeholders parley’ at KIA Motors in Lagos… recently

Night Trips

Sometime in August 2021, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, reeled out the status report for the first half of 2021(January to June).

The breakdown, according to him, showed that there were 5,320 road traffic crashes, involving 8,808 vehicles with 2,471 deaths. A further breakdown showed that 33,737 persons were involved, 15,882 of them sustained various degrees of injuries, while 15,398 were rescued without injuries. In that same report, he raised the alarm on the increasing state of road traffic deaths at night and the planned commencement of night patrol by the Corps. I know that I have treated this topic extensively especially its implications. I had high-.alighted on the ugly crash incidences associated with night trips, and the causative factors like lack of highway rescue facilities, reduced visibility, as well as other sundry issues that hamper the course of night trip safety. Today, I wish to continue with an observation by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), a government agency charged with road maintenance, that our road signs and markings, in terms of their shapes, colour and reflectivity, do not meet international standards. The consequence of this is that driving is made more difficult and hazardous because of the absence of the appropriate road furniture to guide motorists at night and during had or poor weather.

The result is the recourse by transport operators to violate the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations by fixing extra lights, which has led to crashes and deaths.

SAFE DRIVING with

Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa Assistant Corps Marshal Zonal Commanding Officer Federal Road Safety Corps.

This is why FERMA opined that if maximum reflectivity is maintained in our pavement markings, signs and delineators, there would be increase in night time and poor weather safety on our roads and ultimately, fewer crashes, injuries and fatalities may be recorded. Retro-reflectivity is a critical element that has helped the US Department of Transport to achieve its safety goals of reducing fatality by 20 per cent.

Inadequate visibility because of environmental factors, which make it difficult to detect vehicles and other road users, as well as poor eye sight of road users, are all listed as factors influencing road crashes. All these are prevalent among night time operators. It is perhaps pertinent to dwell more on the issue of visibility, since that is actually seen globally as the number one factor militating against night driving.

Ninety per cent of a driver’s reaction depends solely on vision, and vision is greatly hampered at night. Depth perception, colour recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised after sundown.

Basically, once darkness creeps in, you lose many of your reference points on the road. Without them, it becomes increasingly difficult to make a fair judgement of the road.

What the driver depends on to guide him in visibility are artificial sources of light, like his headlights, streetlights where available, or in most cases, headlights of oncoming vehicles. But we need to know that headlights only allow us to see a small portion of the road ahead, but our peripheral vision is not as sharp as in the day. Of course, while I truly believe and know that Nigeria is on her way to global best practices in road infrastructure, I still would want to bring to the fore the fact that our expressways are not lit as is obtainable in other developed countries. And till that happens, travelling is filled with hazards. And even with the streets lighted up, other issues as raised in this piece still militate against safety in night time travelling, going by global reports on night travel.

I would also like us to look at the excessive speed at which night buses drive. The National Road Traffic Regulations, 2004, is explicit on the speed limit of 90km/hr for buses and taxis on the expressway. How many of such buses truly drive at 90km/hr, and how many of us really worry about such speed even when some of these drivers do so under the influence of alcohol and drugs? Yet we delude ourselves that we can never be victims.

It may interest you to know that most night drivers drive under the influence of alcohol or other narcotics, with the misguided notion that these will help them in staying awake and maintaining focus on the road.

But the reverse is actually the case. Add up a sleep-induced state of mind, and an alcohol-induced state of mind and what you have is catastrophe begging to occur. When you further add this to a driver who is going above stipulated or common sense speed limit simply because he believes the road is dear, then the catastrophe becomes monumental.

With sleep, alcohol, and the deluded sense of a clear road, the driver’s mental faculties are drastically dulled and his response time to sudden danger greatly reduced.

Perhaps, I need to make reference to the macabre incidence that assaulted our sensibilities couple of years back, where some night travelers had a most horrible encounter with armed robbers who, for some unexplained reasons, took pleasure in running the bus over their victims. And of course, they had ample time to carry out their devilish sport because assistance of any kind is farfetched at night on Nigerian roads. That is the fearful scenario with night trips. Night marauders are ever ready to turn an anticipated hitch-free trip into a nightmare.

Getting a mechanic, vulcaniser or other such roadside car repairer during the day is relatively easy in case of a fault development in the vehicle.

However, reverse is the case at night, since roadside mechanics, vulcanisers, and other such maintenance people are practically conscious of the security risks involved at night. By this time, they do not operate, thus further worsening the situation for night travelers.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

PERSPECTIVE NIPC and the Challenge of Public Service: The Yewande Sadiku Metaphor Olufemi Awoyemi

strengths and weaknesses. The partnership may assist in breaking down mutual suspicion and promote a better understanding of each other’s position.

The suggested change or public sector evolution would represent a disturbing alternate reality that would be disruptive to the present situation.

Nevertheless, this is needed if the public sector delivers better value and supports a straighter path towards double-digit economic growth.

Y

ewandeSadikuisnotyourtypical professional.Shetumbledright outofherindustrialchemistry classattheUniversityof BeninintoajobwiththenNigeria InternationalBank(nowCitibank Nigeria).Shethenranamarathon raceofovertwentyyearsatone ofNigeria’spremierInvestmentBanks,IBTC,later mergedwithStanbicBanktobecomethepresent-day StanbicIBTC. With an MBA from the University of Warwick tucked under her arm Sadiku has been one of the most prominent fixtures in Nigeria’s rarefied investment banking landscape over the last two decades. She has piloted several globally acclaimed big-ticket capital market transactions. Rising to become Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking at StanbicIBTC, she closed numerous top-drawer equity and debt deals. Her sojourn into the public service in 2016 took many people by surprise.

A few outside observers felt that Sadiku’s capital market expertise, experience and creativity would be wasted in the public sector. According to a former colleague who requested anonymity, “some of us thought she was making a mistake. We thought that she was too blunt, honest, and professional to survive as a public servant. In some sense, she has proven us wrong, but in some other sense, like her recent visit to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on what seems to be trumped-up allegations, we have been proven right. Sadiku’s professionalism makes her a prime target for political and bureaucratic potshots” said the lady who had worked with Sadiku for most of her stay at StanbicIBTC. Sadiku’s five-year stint as head of the Nigerian Investment Promotions Commission (NIPC) has been a trial of earth, wind and fire. Like private turned public sector professionals before her, she has had to deal with the viciousness of political powerbrokers, the backstabbing antics of public officers, the moneygrabbing greed of economic carpetbaggers, and the charming naivity of policy advisers.

Sadiku’s challenges as NIPC boss are not new, but they draw a marker to a culture of human value destruction or, at best, frustration. The deliberate and unrepentant crushing of the finest minds who have chosen to serve in Nigeria’s public service leaves the country a significant casualty.

Sadiku as Metaphor for A Broken Public Service In August 2021, Sadiku was called to the EFCC office to answer questions about her management of the NIPC. The request for Sadiku to make herself available for questioning was not inappropriate, but the summons wilted in the light of an inquisition over allegations of corruption.

The surprise here was that Sadiku is an investment banker with over two decades of experience tucked in her pretty professional purse; she is more than comfortable enough not to be tempted by petty corruption. Indeed, when Sadiku assumed office as the head of the NIPC, she made a clear case for openness and transparency and demonstrated this with the regularly, proactively publishing financial, procurement, legal and operational reports as part of its commitment to freedom of information and by ensuring that the NIPC regularly published its transfers to the national consolidated revenue fund (CRF). She believed that if she was going to achieve the Investment Promotion Commission’s goals, she needed to start by building investor and public trust.

Sadiku did not bargain for a public sector work culture miles away from her private sector antecedents and its penchant for key performance indicators (KPIs).

She was unprepared for the sustained bureaucratic delays, energy-sapping politicking, rampant obsession with gratification.

She is well versed in the regulation and operation of the capital markets and assumed that the guidance and directives outlined in government circulars about accountability and consequence management would apply in practice. She began to compile all government circulars soon after she assumed office so that she could have a clear sight of the scope within which she could operate. She then began to study them closely and apply the directives to the day-to-day management of the NIPC.

Sadiku Known in the private sector for leveraging her deep knowledge of the rules for transaction structuring, she similarly attempted to reform NIPC by leveraging freshly acquired knowledge of public sector rules.

However, in the Nigerian public sector, a lot of what is written to ensure accountability and consequence management are not practiced or enforced.

To fix Nigeria, one of the most critical areas to be mended is its broken public service. The public service must reimagine and reengineer its role in supporting a growth-oriented private sector. Graveyards are essential and inevitable, but they should not repose the country’s vibrant and breathing private sector flair turned public service talent. Not all public service jobs are compromised by poor conduct, closed minds, and infectious greed. Some offices and officers stick to an admirable creed that places them among the world’s finest public workers. Thankfully, this is also true in Nigeria.

A country thrives only when the public sector is effective, and the public sector can only be effective when well considered policy provisions are enforced in practice. In many countries, politicians and political appointees have been prevented from actions that are against the national interest by seasoned bureaucrats under the protection of the state. Recently, in the US, bureaucrats prevented political appointees from acts that might have hurt the country with the confidence that the state itself would protect them from the wrath of the power-brokers in that country.

British, French and Chinese bureaucrats have also been known to prevent their politicians and political appointees from the kind of overreach that might prove disastrous for their countries, knowing that there are state institutions that have their backs.

However, Nigeria’s public service bureaucracy, in general, is a mess, and it has been so for some time.

This is largely because written provisions about how the public sector should be managed and made truly accountable to the general public are actually not enforced. There seem to be no consequences for the prevalent disregard of laid-down guidance and directives. Over time, indiscipline and impunity have become so normalised that the rules are now rarely given any regard except to blackmail and harass officials who choose to stand up to the vicious powerbrokers. The public sector thrives on power, position, and privilege rather than efficiency, effectiveness and quality. Unlike France, where public and private sector participants easily swap roles because of shared values and communal ethics, things are different in Nigeria.

The standard of corporate governance and the quality of corporate oversight in the private sector is notably higher than in the public sector. The need for profit makes the private sector more focused on performance and customer experience than the public sector. However, a public service model based on customer service delivery satisfaction could become a goal as important as profit in the private sector. The speed of transactions, the quality of the customer journey experience, and the rise in fiscal revenues due to superior service delivery could improve economic growth and development.

Indeed, the dry bones of a deflated public service may suddenly rise, and the indomitable spirit of professional excellence may again awaken as the culture of the public service pivots away from petty and grand corruption to a framework that collaborates with the private sector to get deals done and projects started. If the public service embraces the professionalism of its private sector imports, the graveyards may have to tarry longer for The Challenges of an Alternate Reality The public service must understand the private sector’s mandate to grow the Nigerian economy by at least 10% annually over the next decade. If government officials and private sector managers adopt this view as a shared target, achieving focused growth may be more straightforward. Nevertheless, some strict measures may be necessary and will include but not be limited to the following: Set key performance indicators (KPIs) across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in line with broad national economic objectives across sectors; set KPIs against key officeholders and heads of MDAs; ensure that the heads of MDAs are provided with the tools, funding and capable staff they need to effectively function; review quarterly performances of MDAs and reward and or punish agencies and officers as dictated by agreed performance measurement templates and enforce existing written policy standards of accountability and consequence management.

Other measures are to set annual sector growth rates and bring private and public sector officers to understand their roles in achieving the expected growth target; hold half-yearly review sessions to monitor performance and recommend further action; reduce human intervention in public sector processes and procedures by applying artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) and promote fluidity in public, private sector collaboration by an internship arrangement that allows each side to see the other’s

Conclusion - Getting the Best from the Best Great countries have at least good bureaucracies.

Public bureaucrats are at the heart of getting systems to work. The whole of government rests on the public servant translating policy into action. No matter how brilliant government policy is, no policy can succeed without the civil servant pushing the gears of bureaucracy to align with the government’s goals. In realizing this fact, the United States of America’s 35th President, John F. Kennedy, was noted to have once remarked that the politician has his say, but the public bureaucrat has his way.

Since the turn of the millennium in 2000 the story of the Nigerian private sector professional in the public sector has been at best patchy. Professionals like Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s two-time Minister of Finance and current Director-General of the World Trade Office (WTO), and Dr. Charles Soludo, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), navigated the greater horrors of working in Nigeria’s public service. Still, they were not without a few bruises.

Several professionals have not been so lucky. The following private sector or academic professionals going into public sector management got ground in a blender of bureaucratic backstabbing, political grandstanding and legislative minefields. The private sector individual going into public office must be mindful that they are about to play on an unfamiliar turf with different rules of engagement. Often, the experience can be traumatizing.

Take the instance of Professor Adenike Grange, a former Health Minister under the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Grange got caught in a swirl of public office shenanigans as public officers informed her that it was usual to share that proportion of the annual budget left unspent amongst officers of the Ministry, including the Minister. The move was clever and deadly. It sank a dagger into the Minister’s credibility as a public officer and almost ruined her gleaming reputation as a public health professional.

The Minister resigned, and the bureaucrats won the day.

Arunma Oteh, a former Director-General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), was also forced into a grinder. The former African Development Bank (AfDB) executive returned home to head the capital market regulatory authority with a few bright ideas and several strategies for change.

Again the private sector yen for forward-facing transformation got ahead of the individual, and she became isolated by internal resistance and legislative highhandedness. Admittedly, Oteh made a few tactical errors, but the onslaught she faced internally and externally represented a clear example of Nigerian bureaucratic blowback. After her first term as the SEC Nigeria DG, Oteh dusted her credentials and went to friendlier engagements.

The current Chairman of Nigeria’s oldest financial institution, FBNH, Remi Babalola, is no stranger to the Nigerian bureaucrat’s massive sledgehammer. Appointed as Minister of State for Finance under the administration of Umar Yar’ Adua, Babalola came into the public sector as a technocrat who would bring discipline and private sector transparency into the budget design and management process. Indeed, his profile on Wikipedia noted that “Remi’s stint in public office was marked by a concern with transparency that began with him being one of the first ranking federal government officials in the Umar Yar’Adua administration (2007/2011) to declare his assets. This focus on improving the public expenditure management framework led to his institution of curbs on the irregular deduction from source of funds from provincial and municipal governments’ statutory allocations”.

Awoyemi, Chairman of Proshare, writes from Lagos.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

PERSPECTIVE Christianity of Controversies and Crises Uzor Maxim Uzoatu

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eligion provides an anchor to the lives of believers.

The belief in a Supreme Being lends meaning to man’s existence on earth, and the promise of the afterlife makes the toil of life more bearable. Toying with matters of faith almost always brings conflagration in its wake; little wonder church and state can hardly ever be yoked together. In the liberal evolution of the world the church, given its innate conservatism, has met with much controversy.

The confirmation of the openly homosexual Rev. Canon Gene Robinson as the bishop of New Hampshire in the United States on June 7, 2003 whipped up much controversy within the ambit of Christianity, especially the Protestant or Anglican dominion. Nigeria’s Most Rev. Peter J. Akinola formidably opposed the phenomenon to the extent that he was being seen in much of the Western world as an intolerant apostle of conservatism. The redoubtable Rev. Akinola would not bend, stressing that the church should not support what is not scriptural.

Anglican bishops in much of Africa, Asia and Latin America severed ties with the Canadian Diocese of New Westminster in British Columbia when it sponsored same-sex marriage, a development rocking the church across the globe. The 77 million worldwide members of the Anglican Communion thus became mired in a crisis that gets more intractable by the day, even as Bishop Robinson was divorced by his husband, Mark Andrew, in 2014.

Christianity is indeed in dire straits. Like the church at Antioch, its many followers are seeing all kinds of visions. Witch-catchers and sundry demon-arresters are today parading themselves as Christian preachers and Pentecostal evangelists. There are more charlatans on the pulpits of Christianity than there are criminals on the streets of Lagos and Onitsha. You can sum up the antics of these so-called Christians with one short sentence: The devil finds work.

The early church found its anchor by the salvation of the soul. The Nigerian church mostly preaches material success. Prosperity is the word. Every pastor stresses that his “God is not a poor God,” and the name of the game is crass materialism. There is no greater trading organization than the church.

All through history the church flourishes at the worst of times. Nigeria today suits the bill. Christianity has been commandeered for nefarious reasons by the cream of Nigeria’s wannabes. The man-made churches of today are as wonky as all single proprietorships which more often than not die with the owner, or may be transferred to the wife or “Mummy” until fatal fate takes its toll.

There is the need to return Christianity to its roots. The church should go back to its spiritual moorings in the Bible, to wit, when Christ anointed St. Peter. The Catholic Church traces its history to Christ’s naming of Peter the Apostle as the rock on which the church is built, thus naming him the first Pope. The Catholic Church was the universal faith until 1517 when, in Wittenberg, Germany Martin Luther challenged the Catholic sale of indulgences and the doctrine of salvation by merit. Henry VIII followed suit in 1534, breaking from Rome for marital-cumpolitical reasons. Thus was born the Protestant Anglican Communion which got a boost when the Protestant Episcopal Church was founded in the United States in 1789.

John Calvin’s efforts during the 16th Century Reformation movements led to the birth of the Calvinists and ultimately to the founding of the Scotch Presbyterian Church by John Knox in 1560. The history of the Baptists dates back to John Smyth and the English Separatists of 1609; and later, Roger Williams of Providence in 1638. The Methodists started out within the Church of England, Rev. John Wesley having founded it

Pope Francis

in 1738.

The Church of Christ Disciples would in turn challenge the decline of fervor and the factionalizing within Protestantism by carving out yet another faction among evangelical Presbyterians from 1804 to 1832. Joseph Smith received visions of the Angel Moroni as revealed on the golden tablets of The Book of the Mormons to found the faith of the Mormons in 1827 in New York.

Charles Taze Russell founded the Jehovah’s Witnesses movement in 1870, incorporating the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in 1884; and the church finally adopted the Jehovah’s Witnesses name in 1931.

A major rupture in Christianity occurred in the American cities of Topeka and Los Angeles in 1901 and 1906 when the Pentecostal movement of “speaking in tongues” began as a reaction to the loss of fervor among Methodists and sundry Christians at large. The advent of Pentecostalism has been quite sweeping across the globe.

To take one example of church-founding from nearer home, Samuel Bilewu Joseph (SJB) Oschoffa founded the Celestial Church of Christ in 1947 in the jungles of Porto-Novo after wandering in the forest for three months without food or water. Like the other sects, the Celestial fold has broken into factions since the death of the founder.

The history of the church as summarized here clearly shows that all the other churches in one way or the other were protesting against the Roman Catholic Church, the pristine universal faith. Even as far back as 1054AD the Orthodox Catholics had broken away from Rome following intractable doctrinal dissension. Even amid the factionalizing, some churches did see the need to come together to form a strong union.

The United Church of Christ is a 1957 ecumenical coming together of Calvinists and Lutherans.

The crucial issue to address in the greater need to save Christianity is that the dissenting churches have over

the years not fared any better than the original church. Critically, Vatican Council 2 has shown that the church is not inimical to change from within. As Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council in October 1962, he said: “The whole world expects a step forward.” Well over 2,400 patriarchs, cardinals, bishops and religious superiors participated in the proceedings. In an unprecedented display of accommodation, observers from Protestant and Orthodox churches were consulted and sat in attendance at the deliberations.

Vatican 2 differed markedly from the 20 previous ecclesiastical assembles of Roman Catholicism that preceded it, and the 16 promulgated decrees, constitutions and declarations are a testament to modernization and liberation. Vatican 2 did more to accommodate the other protesting churches than the First Council of Nicaea which was summoned in 325AD by Emperor Constantine to combat the Arian heresy. Of course the abortive Vatican 1 was undermined by the Industrial Revolution. It was Pope Paul VI who closed Vatican 2 in 1965, proclaiming it as “among the greatest events of the church.” As Christendom’s oldest and largest body, the Catholic Church has used Vatican 2 to provide a shelter for all followers of Christ.

It is unfortunate that factionalizing lingers within Christianity despite the catholic appeal of the universal church.

It is as though everybody wants to head his own church, in the manner John Milton wrote in Paradise Lost, to wit, “To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav’n.” Every bloke today adorns the toga of Man of God, even when caught with bleeding severed heads of human beings! Christ is simply seen as the winning brand that can serve as cover for a vast range of practices such as voodoo, juju, magic, grigri etc.

The protesting churches should retrace their steps to the beginning, that is, where the rain started beating them, to redeem Christianity from the disre-

pute into which it had fallen through crass factionalism. From within all true believers can reform the one Christian church into a great institution worthy of Christ’s name.

It is a pity that Christian brethren are still disaffected by the pejorative indictment: Roma locuta; causa finita (Rome has spoken; the case is closed.) But my inquiry shows that Rome has since embraced the modern times with all its plurality, especially with the landmark changes wrought by Pope John Paul 2. Catholic theology has taken into its stride the ideals of social justice, the revolutions of science and the mores of global secularization. Even controversial matters such as homosexuality, abortion, divorce etc can now be argued for or against without the Inquisition stepping in!

Jesus Christ led only one ministry and made faith the cardinal principle of worship.

In losing faith in the universal church, the acolytes of the other churches have without apparently knowing it forfeited their stake in Christianity.

The modern day claims of being “BornAgain” holds no water outside the very idea of becoming a Christian through baptism that started in the days of John the Baptist, St Peter, Nicodemus et al, and is still upheld today.

Christianity ought to be all about having faith in Christ’s laid-down institution instead of erecting parallel bodies.

In truth these man-made parallel bodies cannot be Christian. The founders of these other churches could well have named the bodies after themselves – instead of dragging the name of Christ along.

A revolt against a divine mission cannot be mitigated by nomenclature. Christianity is divinity and any breakaway contraption is a distraction courting damnation and the hot flames of hell.

Let’s end with a toast to Bishop Jonathan Goodall who has just resigned after eight years as Anglican Bishop of Ebbsfleet in England to join the Catholic Church in the drive for universal Christian unity.

Uzoatu, a veteran journalist, writes from Lagos. He can be reached on maximuzoatu@yahoo.com

38

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

NEWSXTRA 'HOWD *RYW &ODULÀHV 3RVLWLRQ on Open Grazing Ban Delta State Government yesterday explained that it was not acquiring lands for herdsmen as wrongly reported in some quarters.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, said in a statement in Asaba, that the bill before the state House of Assembly was for the regulation of livestock breeding, raring and marketing in the state.

He said contrary to the misinformation in the public, the state was not acquiring any land for the purpose of establishing ranches.

PAP: PANDEF Urges Buhari to Confirm Dikio as Substantive Coordinator

RECOGNISED FOR EXCELLENCE… L-R: Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman,Nigeria Governors Forum,Dr.John Kayode Fayemi receiving the Marketing EDGE Outstanding Political Brand Personality Of The Decade from the Publisher/Chief Executive Officer, Marketing EDGE Limited, Mr. John Ajayi, at the Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti... recently

African Union Suspends Guinea Ahamefula Ogbu Barely a week after a junta led by Mamady Doumbouya forcefully toppled President Alpha Conde and took over power in Guinea, the African Union (AU) yesterday reacted by slamming a suspension on the regime and country.

The suspension was announced through the veriÀed Twitter handle of the Political AͿairs, Peace and Security Department of AU which further mandated the Chairperson of the Union, Moussa Faki, to

engage stakeholders in the region.

Doumbouya of the special forces of Guinea had Sunday, ousted and detained Conde who he accused of trampling on the rights of the citizens.

He further accused the toppled former strongman of Guinea of disrespecting “democratic principles”, and also barred government ofÀcials from leaving the country until further notice.

Before he declared all borders to the country closed, the

He stated that ranching like any other business was a private concern and therefore anyone interested in establishing ranches in any part of the state was free to acquire land for the said purpose in accordance with relevant laws that regulates private ownership of any legitimate business.

He urged Deltans and the general public to disregard the earlier information that the government was providing land for herdsmen as an alternative to ban on open grazing.

coupists asserted that, “The personalisation of political life is over. We will no longer entrust politics to one man; we will entrust it to the people.”

Conde, 83, was re-elected for a third term in o΀ce in October 2020 amid violent protests after he changed the constitution to enable him become eligible to contest.

The move which was resisted by the opposition led to some upheavals which culminated in several deaths.

Since the Putsch on Sep-

tember 5, several countries and world bodies have severally condemned it with the United Nations describing violent change of power as unacceptable.

Before the current suspension slammed in the junta, the regional body, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had taken same decision to suspend the country and insisted on a return to constitutional order and immediate release of Conde.

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to confirm Col. Milland Dixon Dikio, the substantive coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

The Niger Delta group stressed that making the Interim Administrator of PAP the substantive coordinator of the programme would speedy transformation of the ex-agitators into entrepreneurs.

The forum noted that Dikio had impacted on the programme within a short time in office, adding that the reforms and programmes introduced by him (Dikio) were actualising the mandate of PAP. In a statement made available to

journalists yesterday, PANDEF’s Chairman, Emmanuel Essien, described the reintegration programme of Dikio as unique saying all the stakeholders from the region were behind him.

He said: “I want to congratulate Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd.) on his one year in office. We are very happy with his performance in the Presidential Amnesty office.

“He is doing very well compared to the past administrators that have been there. As a matter of fact, he is really focusing on the core mandate of the presidential amnesty so we are very happy with him and we congratulate him on his first one year in office.”

Essien said the best gift President Buhari would give to the Niger Delta region was to give Dikio the full authority to run PAP.

Okowa, Okonkwo Task Nigerians Kalu Congratulates Esama of PDP: Rivers Court Upholds on Committed Leadership, Unity Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Benin, Gabriel Igbinedion at 87 Secondus Suspension glad that as an Institute, you have decided to talk about it this year.

Adedayo Adejobi

Former governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu, has described the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Dr. Gabriel Igbinedion as a rare gem with passion for humanity.

Acknowledging the patriotic contributions of the elder statesman to the growth and development of Nigeria through various platforms, Kalu stressed that the philanthropist has over the years, sustained his pedigree in business, leadership and philanthropy.

While admonishing the business mogul not to relent in his good works of empowering the less-privileged, the former governor stressed that Nigeria would continue to tap from the robust experience of the elder statesman.

Kalu, who made these assertions in a goodwill message to Igbinedion on the occasion of

his 87th birthday anniversary, called on business and political leaders across the country, to emulate the good deeds of the celebrant.

He said, “I join the house of Igbinedion to celebrate their patriarch, Sir (Chief) Dr. Gabriel Igbinedion as he clocks 87.

“The life of the celebrant has been fulÀlling in view of his robust accomplishments in all facets of life “As a businessman and philanthropist, the celebrant has created wealth and employment opportunities for the teeming Nigerian populace.

“The celebrant has consistently sustained his humanitarian gestures beyond the shores of Nigeria.

“He has in no small measure contributed to nation building in various capacities.

“The Esama is a rallying point for his contemporaries and the younger generation.

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt yesterday upheld the suspension of the embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus.

The court which insisted that the suspension stands, also granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining Secondus from parading as the National Chairman of PDP. The trial judge, Justice Okogbule Gbasam gave the orders in the matter Àled by Ibeawuchi Ernest Alex, Dennis Nna Amadi, Emmanuel Stephen Umezirike Onucha (as claimants) against Prince Uche Secondus and Peoples Democratic Party (defendants), as registered in suit number PHC/2183/CS/202.

Earlier in his argument, counsel for the 1st defendant (Secondus), Godfrey Uwalaka,

made an oral application and informed the court that an appeal had been entered into by the defendant, thereby trying to stall the ruling as Àxed for yesterday.

But the counsel for the claimants, Nwosuegbe Eze, urged the court to discountenance the purported appeal, noting that there was no motion before the court for stay of execution and no motion to stop the ruling of the court.

In his ruling, Justice Gbasam dismissed the 1st defendant counsel’s application for lack of merit, saying that there was not enough reason to halt the judgement earlier Àxed for yesterday.

Gbasam, having reviewed the submissions of the both counsels stated that the court had not seen any ground to rule against its earlier judgement delivered on August 23, 2021.

Police Detectives Arrest Five Suspected Ritualists in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Police detectives from the Kwara State Police Command have arrested five suspected ritualists that had hired a sex worker in one of the hotels in Patigi town in Patigi Local Government Area of the state for money rituals purpose.

The state Police Commissioner,

Mr. Tuesday Assayomo, disclosed this in Ilorin yesterday in a statement signed by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi.

According to him, the suspects were arrested following a tip off from the members of the public in the town.

According to the statement, “the command wishes to inform

the members of the public in Kwara State on the command’s breakthrough in the investigation of a reported case of missing person turned homicide.

“On 29/6/2021 at about 2308hrs, an unknown young person later identiÀed as Samuel Peter Tsado ‘m’ of Patigi town in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, went to

one Victory Hotel Patigi and requested for the service of a commercial sex worker by name Abigail ‘f’ other names unknown.

“After the monetary negotiation of N5, 000 both Peter and Abigail left the hotel premises to an unknown place, ever since then both of them were not seen again.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) candidate in the November 6, 2021 gubernatorial election in neighboring Anambra State, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, have stressed the need for Nigerians to eschew all forms of divisiveness but to ensure that leaders are people with proven integrity and who are determined to unite and add great value to people’s lives.

They made the assertion in separate remarks at the 2021 Dr Sam Ekpelle Memorial Gold Paper Lecture, which is organised annually by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), and held in Asaba, Delta State.

Governor Okowa, who had earlier received the President and members of the Governing Council of NIPR at Government House, lamented that the growth of the country has been greatly hampered because Nigerians have often been encouraged to be divided along ethnic and religious sentiments.

“Just about a week ago I was in Lagos at the Ripples Dialogue to talk about the unity of Nigeria,” Okowa noted, adding, “I am glad that your topic today is centred on the unity of Nigeria and it shows that your institute understands the nation.

“Talking about the unity of our country is not only about persons in government, but about Nigerians ourselves. We need a forum to talk about it and I am

“We cannot build trust in the nation when the component parts of the country do not trust themselves, and that is why as an institute you have decided to talk about it this year. We cannot build trust in the nation when the components do not trust themselves.

“So, this communication will definitely help to build more bridges across the nation because we are better off united but we must continue to talk about it.

There must be an enabling platform to discuss Nigeria; we must be able to air our voices and we must listen to ourselves and find solutions to our problems.”

Okonkwo, who delivered the lecture titled, ‘Reinventing Nigeria’s Unity for Global Relevance in the 21st Century: Issues of Identity, Governance and Stability’, which also featured the investiture of Okowa as a distinguished patron of the NIPR said that committed leadership was inevitable to positively impact the people’s lives but noted that there were limits to what he could do as a private individual to positively transform lives, adding that as governor a lot of lives would be touched in the federating states to serve as launch-pad for the desired reinvention of Nigeria.

He noted that Africa and the global community recognised the strategic importance of Nigeria, saying that unity remains imperative for the country to live up to expectations.

39

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

SPORTS XTRA

Oliseh: Current Players Must Be Consulted before Biennial World Cup

F

ormer Super Eagles Captain and coach Sunday Oliseh has said that current players and coaches must be involved in any discussion about having a World Cup every two years.

Football’s governing body

Fifa is currently exploring the idea of holding the sport’s global showpiece every two years, instead of four.

Ex-ArsenalmanagerArsene Wenger, in his position as Fifa’s chief of football development, has been speaking to scores of prominent former players in Doha this week about the

proposal.

While former stars such as Ronaldo of Brazil and Denmark’s Peter Schmeichel have given their backing, Oliseh insists that current players and coaches need to be part of the process.

I don’t think we should be consulting mostly ex-players

- we should be consulting the players now,” he told BBC World Service’s World Football programme.

“The Mbappes, the Benzemas, you have to ask all those ones and they have to give their opinion. They are the actors now.

“To say ‘I played three

Diego Amando Maradona held his ground against Sunday Oliseh’s shove at the 1994 World Cup in the US

Bendel Insurance’s Dream of Returning to the NPFL Hangs in the Balance Faces tricky last Group B fixture against Remo Stars today Duro Ikhazuagbe

Bendel Insurance’s hope of returning to Nigeria’s topflight NPFLreceived a last minute shock yesterday as Ekiti United scored an 89th minute equalizing penalty at the ongoing Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 Playoff in Enugu.

Now, with just one point from two matches, Insurance are condemned to beating Remo Stars by three unreplied goals to stand any chance of picking one of the

two tickets from Group B of the playoff.

Both Remo and 3SC are tied on four points apiece going into the last Group B matches today.

The Sagamu-based Remo are on top of the log as a result of superior goal difference (plus 3) advantage over Shooting Stars (plus 1).

Insurance are third on the log, although they have one point just like Ekiti United.

The Benin-based team have a minus one-goal difference as against minus

three-goal difference by Ekiti United.

Insurance were cruising to picking their first three points of the play with Imade coming from the bench to score the goal deep into the second half.

However, sloppy defending by Insurance central defenders resulted in one of the players handling the ball in the box in the 89th minute.

Ekiti tucked the resultant spot kick into the far right corner for the equalizer.

The added two minutes

had barely ran out when the centre referee ended the game. Angry Insurance fans however expressed their displeasure with the manner of officiating witnessed during the game.

In Group A, the duo of Niger Tornadoes and Gombe United are already sure of promotion with four points apiece while the DMD can cause upset if they defeat ElKanemi by as much as four goalsshouldanyofTornadoes and Gombe United lose their last game.

Kanu Out of Bordeaux, Lens’ Showdown, Coach Confirms He must Quarantine Bordeaux manager Vladimir Petkovic has confirmed that he will not be able to count on the services of Nigeria international, Samuel Kalu and Ghana’s Gideon Mensah for the upcoming meeting with Lens which corresponds to the fifth round of matches in Ligue 1.

Kalu and Mensah were on

international duty with the Super Eagles and Black Stars respectively in the latest FIFA window, so must observe a period of quarantine following their return to France from Africa.

The former Gent star has to quarantine for seven days after his trip to Lagos, the city where the Super Eagles were

based before flying to Cape Verde on Monday.

Providing a squad update at yesterday’s press conference, Petkovic was quoted as saying by Girondins4Ever : “Obviously, we have two players who came back from Africa and who therefore cannot play (Mensah and Kalu).

“These are things that

shouldn’t happen, but they should also be decided at levels higher than us.

“Now we just have to focus on what we can do with the players available, in order to do the best we can.

“But yesterday, we already had good news, that of training with almost the entire workforce”.

Messi Overtakes Pele as Leading South American Goalscorer Lionel Messi has overtaken Pele as the leadingSouthAmericanmen’sgoalscorer in international matches with a hat-trick in Argentina’s World Cup qualifier win against Bolivia.

Scoring all the goals in the 3-0 win in Buenos Aires brought Messi’s total for Argentina to 79 in 153 games.

Brazil legend Pele finished his career on 77 international goals in 92 games.

Messi’s 14th-minute goal from outside the box put him level with Pele and he broke the record in the second half.

The 34-year-old dribbled past a defender for his second goal before completing a hat-trick from a rebound two minutes before full-time.

After the match, Argentina captain Messi and his team-mates celebrated with the CopaAmerica trophy in front of 20,000 fans at the Monumental Stadium.

He led the side to that title, his first major trophy in international football, in July, beating Brazil in the final.

“I dreamed about this day a lot and thanks to God it arrived,” Messi wrote

on Instagram alongside a picture of the team with the trophy after the match.

“I don’t have words to thank you for all the love I’ve received. What a beautiful night, I enjoyed it so much - unforgettable.”

Messi’s 29-year-old Paris St Germain team-mate Neymar has scored 69 goals in 113 appearances for Brazil.

Argentina are second to Brazil in the South American World Cup qualifying table after winning five and drawing three games.

World Cups’ would be great for some players, but let’s not forget that the actual employer of players are the clubs. No matter what happens with the national team, they are the ones who pay the wages.

“They are the ones giving the players the financial, psychological and health capability to be at their best to participate in major tournaments for their countries.

“So now we are having this discussion, shouldn’t the club owners be consulted?

Shouldn’t the club managers be consulted?”

While Wenger says he is “100 per cent convinced” his plan for a new international match calendar based on a World Cup every two years is the best way forward for football, Oliseh is not so sure.

“I really respect Arsene and I like him a lot but my opinions are to go against Arsene,” added Oliseh.

“I am just looking at the principal itself and what it could bring to the game. As someone who loves watching quality football, I think overloading it does not make it better.

“The players will need rest.

You are best after you have taken your rest.”

Oliseh also has concerns about how the changes would affect the prestige of

the World Cup, which many believe is perpetuated by its relative rarity.

“Personally, as a player, it would be interesting to say ‘OK, in a six-year period, I could play three World Cups’,” he said.

“But what actually makes the World Cup exceptional is the build-up to the event - the four-year wait and the fact that sometimes it’s a oncein-a-lifetime occasion for certain players.”

Despite his reservations and those of others, Oliseh admits he can understand the support of the Confederation of African Football for the proposal.

“I can see why African football is happy with it because it goes with the Africa Cup of Nations which, every two years, helps us to sell ourselves,” he pointed out.

“We need it. We need funds coming in like the ones these major tournaments bring in - we need it from that point of view.”

It is currently unclear how Africa’s national teams can playqualifiersfortwoseparate competitions - the World Cup and Nations Cup - every two years.

Fifa expects a decision to be made on a biennial World Cup later this year.

Shoretire Named in Manchester Utd’s Premier League Squad Manchester United have submitted their Premier League squad following the close of the summer transfer window.

AplayerofNigeriandescent in Shola Shoretire has been includedinthesquadlistandhas been classed as an U21 player.

Having spent seven years at Manchester United, the England U19 international has been registered as a homegrown player.

For the sake of clarity, a homegrown player means a player who, irrespective of nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can supplement the squad with any number of under-21 players, whatever their country of birth. For this season, these are players who were born on or after 1 January 2000.

Therefore, Netherlands youth international of Nigerian descent Dillon Hoogewerf, 18, and first year scholar Maximilano Oyedele are eligible to represent the Red Devils in the Premier League. Of the three aforementioned Nigeria-eligible players, only Shoretire has tasted action in the English top-flight.

The 17-year-old striker, who has been assigned the number 47 shirt, made his Premier League debut against Newcastle United in February 2021, before playing his second game

versus Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the 2020-2021 campaign.

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Masari on Terrorism

“Majority of those involved in this banditry are Fulanis whether it is palatable or it is not palatable but that is the truth. I am not saying 100% of them are Fulani but majority of them are” – Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State confirming that Fulani militias are largely responsible for unending banditry in Nigeria.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

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& RE A S O

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26 years

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

The Mistakes Nigerians Must Not Repeat in 2023

F

ellow Nigerians, I’m back again with my epistle this week. As we inch closer to another monumental and hopefully defining election, I need to sound this note of warning in earnest.

This admonition is addressed in particular to most of our young ones who love to grumble and lament like the Biblical Jeremiah about bad leadership in our country. What is the point in exchanging verbal blows on social media when you won’t take concrete steps to correct the anomalies in our body polity?

It is distressing and depressing to know that those that lament the most are the ones going to sit on the fence and look the other way on election day. One may understand the disillusionment and frustration of the aged but how can you explain the lackadaisical and dangerous attitude of supposedly innocent and effervescent, dynamic youth, especially our celebrities? It makes one weep for our dear country, Nigeria.

Let me be brutally frank. The old cargoes, as you like to call them and the incompetent politicians you despise so much are already warming up for another round of election cycles that will never provide any tangible development or appreciable progress for our country. And you can’t blame them. The two leading political parties are already overloaded with career politicians. And their stock in trade is to act as seat warmers for one or two terms before passing the baton of mediocrity and hopelessness to the next set of incompetent politicians. Unless our youths who are in the majority do something concrete and meaningful about this the outcome I predict is all but assured.

If anything must change in our country, how we select and elect our leaders must be the first change we embark upon. The few good aspirants must heed my clarion call. They should climb down their high horses and accept the reality on ground. None of them is going to win any Presidential election on the platforms of weak or virtually non-existent political parties. No single personality in Nigeria is able to muster the cult followership of Obafemi Awolowo, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Abubakar Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Aminu Kanos, Waziri Ibrahim, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and M K O Abiola, I believe that only Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu have been able to garner that sort of cult followership in recent times and the result is that we have a weak an ineffectual leader occupying our country’s hot seat. Whether our young guns agree or not, the only structures available today are firmly in the grip of APC and PDP. I know the standard response is “the two parties are pathologically corrupt, and I can’t join them…”

But Democracy is about majority and minority and not about saints and sinners. Politics is a game of numbers, and no candidate will invite angels from heaven to vote. And no leader will govern over saints alone. Leadership is about managing people and resources. You can never win elections if you do not know your people well and your people don’t know you well enough. To be able to do this effectively you must belong to a mainstream party and use the hugely significant structures that those parties have successfully built, even if it is at no benefit for their party or the Nigerian populace. It has always been my contention that it is an act of sheer cowardice to insist on leaving a strong party supposedly filled with charlatans and fakes to set up a weak party with no substance. If there must be change, it

Awolowo

must come from within. That is what strong personalities are made of. It is the strength and steel that I think Vice President Yemi Osinbajo possess as he subtly fights his battles from within. This is similar to the strength of character and determination displayed

by Bashorun MKO Abiola as he fought and caged the principalities and powers that had sought to dominate the Social Democratic Party (SDP) making it little different in ideology and philosophy form National Republican Convention that it was opposed to. Abiola alone made the difference and changed the narrative of the SDP convincing people that it was truly a Party that had the interest of the masses at heart and not just that of a few greedy politicians.

All those who crave change in Nigeria must first change their holier-than-thou attitudes. They must learn to be practical and ready to be reasonably tolerant and understanding. No Democrat can threaten fire and brimstone and succeed. That is the way of dictators and tyrants. Unless you are a military person and able to seize power forcefully, there are steps you will never be able to take as a thoroughbred politician. This must be part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s frustrations, the fact that he lacks the military powers that he once possessed and used to extreme effect as a maximum ruler. The more he tries to be dictatorial, the more he would be resisted by all men and women of good conscience and told pointedly that he has no such powers anymore . Buhari’s monumental failure stems largely and primarily from his military arrogance and superiority complex.

It would have been nice and sustainable if he backed both up with positive results and glorious achievements. More than six years down the line, and less than two years to go, I see no victory in the horizon. I doubt there’s anything tangible the APC can achieve in the next few months. That would be in the realm of miracles. Rather than turn water into wine, the Buhari government will easily turn wine into water.

So, what’s the way forward? Power must shift by fire by force. Those who are saying, with tongues in cheek, that it does not matter where the major candidates come from are not being fair or sensitive to the wishes of the generality of Nigerians at all. I have fervently stood for merit in the selection of who will be our President. However, there comes a time when political expediency dictates

that merit alone is not enough and it should take a back seat to some extent whilst other factors including rotation take centre stage.

That is the kind of period in which we find ourselves, just like in 1999. That is not to say that merit should not prevail when selecting the presidential candidates from the South.

It would be disastrous for power not to shift to the South in 2023, not because I have anything against the North but because the unfortunate spate of insecurity will persist for as long as a Northerner is in power.

Have you not noticed how things were a bit calmer and less unruly whenever President Buhari was out of town and the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo was in charge? Someone from the South needs to reconcile the nation urgently. The man or woman must act speedily and teach us how to love again and how to be our Brothers’ keepers. It is evident that someone from the North is incapable of doing so right now because his people will even see him or her as a traitor to their cause, notwithstanding that it is a bloody and gory cause.

The debate of whether Nigeria should be divided or remain indivisible has been raging and ricocheting across the world.

It has taken on supersonic speed under this Buhari government than at any other time. It will be very insensitive and risky if the Northern elders do not sacrifice their personal interests and reverse this blinding speed towards perdition. I won’t be surprised if they don’t. They seem not to care and are blinded by power only, while their people have gained little or nothing. It is a known fact that Southern leaders have even done more concrete projects for the North.

Let’s now move to the meat of my epistle today. I’m still willing to place a bet on PDP slugging it out with APC in the next Presidential election. As PDP stands today, the Party looks feeble and frail, but it is in its supposed weakness that I see brighter hope for Nigeria and the promise of salvation. I foresee the possibility of a Saul becoming Paul if the Party unchains itself from the debilitating manacles of the past and welcomes newcomers with open minds. I sincerely commend their online registration of new members.

Nigerians in general should proliferate the two major parties with the brightest people, otherwise the rigid politicians will continue to dominate. We must be ready to challenge the status quo. New and credible opposition leaders must emerge asap, not those who will contest and move on without as much as a whimper and only return when the next electoral cycle arrives. Political Parties should not be treated like personal property. Nigeria now urgently needs fresher and brighter minds than ever. If the opposition does not offer something and someone new, unfortunately, it should be ready to remain in opposition for much longer. Even within the ruling Party I clamour for upright, motivated and dynamic go-getters to stand up and rise to the challenge. They must be willing to fight for the soul of the ruling Party lest their Party be supplanted like the PDP and go into potential obscurity and even oblivion. The same goes for our youths. If they remain impractical and insist on repeating the same mistakes of contesting on multiple platforms, it would be good riddance to bad rubbish. My prayer is that new synergies will be formed sooner rather than later…

Season of Obituaries

I

n fact, I don’t even know where to start from because I have been totally overwhelmed of late. I have lost friends and family in recent weeks.

Let me start with Captain Hosa Okunbo, a former airline pilot, businessman extraordinaire, philanthropist and much more. Though we’ve known each other for about three decades, we got even closer in the last one year when we collaborated on a few projects. I knew he wasn’t feeling fine and had to travel to England, but no one ever envisaged the sudden turn of events. The news of Captain’s departure came as a rude shock to virtually most of those who knew him well. I have been in denial ever since because even while on his sick bed, we chatted from time to time. He fought so gallantly but lost the battle eventually.

Next came the news of the sudden departure of my wife’s Uncle, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, former banker and Director at the Central Bank of Nigeria and National Mint. He was recently the Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Council (NCC). He was a Lawyer and politician par excellence. In 1992, he was a Presidential aspirant. When the June 12 Presidential election was annulled, Chief Durojaiye fought spiritedly for its revalidation.

He was arrested and detained by the Abacha junta and Amnesty International declared him “a prisoner of conscience” and campaigned vigorously for his release. His strong health plummeted and developed complications. He was a strong man who worked tirelessly on public assignments. His reputation as a man of impeccable pedigree and integrity could

not be controverted.

Chief Durojaiye loved me to bits and the feeling was mutual. He showered his love on me and my wife and we reciprocated in kind. We shall surely miss him as our father figure we used to run to in the days of trials and tribulations. Even at 88, his energy was amazing. May his soul Rest In Peace.

Then came the news of Brigadier General Adetunji Olurin, a man who was close to our family, a good friend to Professor Femi Adelowo and our Sister Engineer Mrs Oyin Adelowo, my wife’s older sister. He was a great military man who served his country meritoriously on several occasions when he was assigned big responsibilities.

The news of Rear Admiral Sunday Adekoya’s departure hit me like thunderbolt. We became close when he was Governor of Ondo State and he invited me as Editor of Classique magazine to State House, Akure, about three decades ago. He never left me since then. He watched over me like his own son and he and his wife remained wonderful to me while out of office.

I will miss his constant prayers.

CHIEF JONATHAN ADIO OBAFEMI OLOPADE also passed on yesterday at 95.

He was a man of style till the very end. He danced so much when he celebrated his last birthday at The Metropolitan Club, on Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island, on July 31, 2021.

His close friends include former President CHIEF OLUSEGUN OBASANJO and CHIEF OYEKUNLE AREMU ALEX-DUDUYEMI in whose house I last saw him. May Papa’s soul rest in peace...

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