SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER 2021

No Plan to Convert Domiciliary Accounts to Naira, CBN Insists Disowns fake circular on social media James Emejo in Abuja The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again dispelled speculations that it was planning to convert the foreign exchange (FX) in domiciliary

accounts of bank customers into naira.

The apex bank has also disowned a fake circulation in social media circles, of a circular with its fake logo curiously dated ‘September

13, 2021’ and purportedly issued by it to the effect that all domiciliary account holdings are to be converted into naira.

The bank warned corporate bodies and the public against

the use of the CBN's logo under any guise.

This is coming as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has commended the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; the President, African

Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, and other recipients of awards at the 2020 Leadership Conference and Awards, held in Abuja over the weekend.

The clarification on dollar

accounts came against the backdrop of false social media reports making the rounds that the apex bank had issued a circular to banks to "convert Continued on page 5

FG Tackles States over Alleged Non-remittance of N2tn Recovered Assets… Page 8 Sunday 12 September, 2021 Vol 26. No 9652

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Surrender When There’s Still Time, Military Warns Terrorists Matawalle rejects bandits’ peace overtures Fleeing gunmen killed in Niger

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Laleye Dipo in Minna Military authorities at the

weekend urged terrorists in the North-east to surrender to troops when there is still time to do so.

The call came as the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, has charged troops to sustain the onslaught against

insurgents in order to rid the North-east of terrorists.

This is also coming as the Zamfara State Governor, Mr.

Bello Matawalle, has rejected all overtures of peace offered by bandits in the state, insisting that the state government

was no longer interested in negotiating with bandits, who Continued on page 8

26 States Delay Judicial, Legislative Autonomy Laws, 54 Days after Deadline Fayemi, Okowa, Tambuwal, Matawalle, Akeredolu, Ayade give assent to bills Ganduje, Obaseki, El-Rufai, Uzodimma yet to enact bills NJC committee writes state CJs, demands implementation status Judicial workers meet this month to review reports Our Correspondents No fewer than 26 states were yet to enact laws for the implementation of the financial autonomy for the state legislatures and judiciaries, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

This is coming exactly 54 days after the expiration of the 45-day deadline reached in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the 36 state governors and the leadership of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) for the implementation of the financial autonomy for the two arms Continued on page 6

PDP Commences PRESIDENTIAL TIPS...

Search for New TAKING Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo; and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the funeral service of Pa Emmanuel BoT Members... L-R: Abiodun, father of the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State…recently Pg 6

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PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT...

L-R: Second Vice President, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Mr. Victor Alonge; President, NIESV, Sir Emmanuel Okas Wike; Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN); First Vice President, NIESV, Mr. Johnbull Amayaevbo; and Chairman, BoT, NIESV, Mr. Emeka Onuorah, shortly after the courtesy visit by the management committee of NIESV to the minister in Abuja…weekend

PDP Commences Search for New BoT Members

Writes zones for nominations South-south nominates Duke, Dokpesi, others as zone’s representatives Secondus, Oyinlola, Jegede to contest for national chairman Chuks Okocha in Abuja As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prepares for its October 2021 National Convention to elect new members of the National Working Committee (NWC), the party has also commenced search for new members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and its chairman, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

THISDAY gathered that the main opposition party has written to the six geopolitical zones to send their representatives.

It was also learnt that former senate presidents, Adolphus Wabara and David Mark have been tipped as the next chairman of the PDP BoT. In a letter dated August 9, 2023, the Secretary of the BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, asked all the zones in the country to nominate their new members of the party’s BoT. The BoT is the conscience of the party and members are nominated once every four years.

THISDAY gathered that the current Chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jubrin, who was the Secretary of the Board when the late Chief Tony Anenih was chairman had also acted as BoT chairman before he was later confirmed as substantive chairman.

Party sources revealed that age is no longer on the side of Jubrin, who was elected Senator in Nasarawa State at the age of 31 under the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

To give the BoT firm leadership, Mark and Wabara are being considered as a possible replacement.

Although consultations are still ongoing, it was gathered that party leaders are zeroing down

on both of them considering their track record of service and commitment to the party both in and out of office as senate presidents.

Top ranking members of the party leadership who craved anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media on the issue told THISDAY that the party leaders are in the process of rebuilding the party, adding that sacrifices will have to be made.

One of the sources said: “Discussions are also ongoing about reconstituting our Board of Trustees and some of us are considering someone like former Senate President, David Mark for that role.”

The other source further said that considering the sacrifices made by Wabara, he is also under consideration.

He, however, pointed out that the party would not impose any one of them, adding that after consultations and composition, the incoming members would be allowed to choose their chairman based on the party’s guidance.

THISDAY also gathered that the party has also commenced its search for a new national chairman.

According to one of the party’s sources, there is the likelihood that the zoning committee will throw the position open to the South.

And the indication so far is that the embattled National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus from the South-south; former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the party’s governorship candidate in the October 2020 election in Ondo State, Mr. Eyitoyo Jegede (SAN) will contest for the position of the national chairman.

Secondus is said to be enjoying the support of some governors of the party from the North, while Oyinlola is enjoying the support of Governors Wike of Rivers State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

Jegede is said to be backed by

the Atiku’s political machinery.

The source said that the PDP Constitution guarantees the constitutional rights of any member to contest.

According to the source, the office of the national chairman would be thrown open to the South and anyone so interested is free to contest, including outgoing members of the PDP NWC. Meanwhile, the party's BoT has accepted the nomination of Chief Raymond Dokpesi; former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke; Remi Kuku, Dr. Esther Uduehi from Delta State, and Chief Ferdinand Alabraba as the representatives of the South-south.

In the letter dated August 9, 2021, the BoT Secretary, Wabara requested the nomination of new BoT members from the zones.

In response, the National Vice Chairman of the PDP in the South-South, Mr. Daniel Orbih, sent the names of the nominees from the zone to the party.

In the letter, Orbih wrote: "In accordance with Section 32 (4) of the amended PDP Constitution of 2017, please find below the five BOT nominees from the South-South Zone, two of whom are women. The nominees are: Ferdinand Alabraba, Raymond Dokpesl, Donald Duke, Dr. Esther Uduehi, Mrs. Remi Kuku.”

NO PLAN TO CONVERT DOMICILIARY ACCOUNTS TO NAIRA, CBN INSISTS domiciliary account holdings into naira".

However, CBN’s Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, in a statement yesterday insisted that the bank had not "contemplated, and will never contemplate, any such line of action".

He said: "The speculation is a completely false narrative aimed at triggering panic in the foreign exchange market.

"It will be recalled that the bank had previously assured members of the public that there was no plan whatsoever to convert the foreign exchange in the domiciliary accounts of customers into naira to check purported shortage of availability of the United States dollars.

"Operators of domiciliary accounts and other members of the banking public are therefore advised to completely disregard these fictitious documents and malicious rumours, and go about their legitimate foreign exchange transactions, as we do not doubt that these rumours are only aimed at impugning

the integrity of the CBN and activating chaos in the system."

He pointed out that any circular issued by the apex bank would usually be posted on its website (www.cbn.gov.ng) for the attention of the public.

The bank further warned corporate bodies and members of the public against the unauthorised use of the CBN logo for any purpose whatsoever, adding that the attention of appropriate authorities had been drawn to this effect while culprits would be sanctioned accordingly.

The CBN said its attention had been drawn to a "fake circulation, in social media circles, of a circular with a fake CBN logo curiously dated ‘13 September 2021’, and purportedly issued by its Trade and Exchange Department to the effect that all Deposit Money Banks, International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) and members of the public are to convert domiciliary account holdings into naira".

The bank had earlier clarified

that it does not intend to convert their dollar accounts into naira.

On August 2, the apex bank had refuted speculations that it was planning to convert customers' domiciliary accounts into naira.

The bank further assured members of the public that it would monitor the commercial banks to ensure they meet the legitimate FX demands of customers.

It had dismissed insinuations in some quarters that it planned to convert FX in the domiciliary accounts of customers into naira to check the purported shortage of availability of the dollars.

Meanwhile, in his special remarks at The Leadership Awards event chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Osinbajo commended the recipients for their respective leadership roles, which he said should serve as inspiration to other Nigerians, irrespective of origin or religion.

While paying tribute to the late founder of Leadership Media Group, Mr. Sam Nda-

Isaiah, who he described as a detribalised Nigeria, Osinbajo urged Nigerians to embrace peace and guard against actions capable of disintegrating the country.

Echoing the views of the Vice president, the Sultan of Sokoto enjoined Nigerians to focus more on issues that bind the country together rather than dwell on those that threaten to divide the country.

On his part, Adesina urged the federal government to consider the economic investment as a way to address the spate of insecurity in the country instead of relying mainly on the military approach.

Top of the list of awardees as joint Leadership Persons of the Year 2020 was the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele; the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina; and the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum.

In a citation, the organisers said Emefiele was awarded the Leadership Person of the Year 2020 “for a lifestyle of service that held the economy and the nation together in the face of a monumental global crisis; for his consequential interventions that turn crises into moments of economic opportunity, and for positively redefining the role of the Central Bank”.

The highpoint of the evening was the presentation of the Person of the Year Award by Osinbajo to Emefiele, who was represented at the event by his Deputy Governor in charge of Economic Policy, Dr. Kingsley Obiora.

Other recipients on the night were Governors Mai Mala Buni (Yobe) and Godwin Obaseki (Edo), who were awarded Politicians of the Year 2020; and the trio of Governors Ezenwo Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Babajide SanwoOlu (Lagos), and Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), who were named Governors of the Year 2020.

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NNPC Cuts Directors’ Fees by 60.2% to N214m Reduces entertainment expenses from N8.3bn to N1.3bn Spends N14.2bn on travels, transport Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) slashed the various fees collected by directors of the national oil company from N606 million in 2019 to N214 million in 2020, a THISDAY’s analysis of the just-released Audited Financial Statement (AFS) for 2020 has shown.

This represents a 60.2 per cent reduction in directors’ fees.

Typically, directors' fees entail compensation for services as a member of the board of directors of the company, excluding reimbursement of expenses or other non-regular forms of compensation.

In all, the audited statement showed that in certain areas, the corporation did remarkably well in its avowed cost-cutting efforts during the year under review, while other administrative cost centres, gulped a substantial portion of the NNPC’s finances.

Following the economic downturn occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic last year, which led to the fall in oil prices, the NNPC said it was embarking on the internal restructuring of its operations, including shaving off unnecessary spending as well as automation of its processes.

“The corporation saved a lot of cost through contract renegotiation by up to 30 per cent on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, introduction of technology that drastically cut travel cost through reduction in in-person meetings and the general automation of processes that enhanced efficiency across the group’s businesses,” Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, said last week.

He was speaking on how the NNPC made its first gain in 44

years, amounting to N287 billion in 2020.

Under general administrative expenses, although the NNPC paid N6.2 billion for rent and rates as opposed to N5 billion in 2019, it however reduced repairs and maintenance costs from N38 billion to N26.6 billion.

Security expenses were reduced from N12.6 billion in 2019 to N12.3 billion, in 2020, while directors’ fees were reduced from N606 million to N214 million, a slump of about 60 per cent.

The NNPC board is led by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, who doubles as the alternate chairman, assisted by Senator Magnus Abe, Dr. Tajudeen Umaru, Dr. Steven Dike, Mrs. Lami Ahmed, Chief Pius Akinyelure, Mallam Mohammed Lawal and Secretary of the Board, Mrs. Hadiza Coomassie, as well as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance.

For general and administrative charges, the NNPC’s bank charges increased from N370 million in 2019 to N845 million in 2020, exchange loss was N72 million, advertisement and publicity gulped N5.3 billion, up from N1.2 billion in 2019.

In addition, employee benefits expenses cost increased from N357 billion to N397 billion, donations rose from N279 million to N3.63 billion, audit fees rose from N1.040 to N1.07 billion, while entertainment expenses were slashed from N8.3 billion to N1.6 billion in the 2020 financial year.

Between 2019 and 2020, legal and professional fees paid by the corporation reduced from N30 billion to N24 billion while printing and stationery came down from N1.6 billion

to N976 million.

Staff training and recruitment cost slumped from N12.8 billion to N7.5 billion in the year under review and what the corporation termed management and facilitation fees increased from N1.3 billion to N5.6 billion.

However, the document revealed that transport and travelling gulped N13.5 billion in 2019 and N14.2 billion in 2020, a

year marked by travel restrictions as countries embarked on lockdown due to the pandemic, even as postages and telephone expenses which consumed N8.5 billion in 2019, dropped to N5.6 billion in 2020.

Office running cost jumped from N11 million to N83 million, while under the subheading other expenses, which included Nigerian content expenses,

business development expenses, decoration and beautification expenses, the amount spent was reduced from N53.2 billion to N26.6 billion.

Similarly, NNPC paid N94 billion as pensions in 2020, up from N90 billion in 2019 and gratuity costs decreased from N51 billion to N46 billion in 2020. Cumulatively, the NNPC spent N678.171 on general

and administrative expenses, a reduction from N695.949 in 2019.

The AFS stated that the share of loss of NNPC in Nikorma Transport and West Africa LPG, the corporation’s shipping and transportation company engaged in transportation of energy products, was not recognised since the accumulated share of loss was higher than the initial investment.

COURTESY VISIT...

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (left), and wife of the Inspector General of Police and President, Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), Hajia Hajara Usman Alkali Babba, shortly after a courtesy call on the governor by members of the association at the Government House, Asaba…yesterday

26 STATES DELAY JUDICIAL, LEGISLATIVE AUTONOMY LAWS, 54 DAYS AFTER DEADLINE of the government.

Investigation revealed that while some state assemblies have passed the relevant bills, the governors of the affected states have not assented to these bills for implementation.

The states include: Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Benue, Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, Taraba, Nasarawa, and Akwa Ibom.

While states such as Edo, Kaduna, Kano, and Imo have not even prepared the bills, the bills are at various stages at the state houses of assemblies in other states.

However, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, as well as Governors Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Ben Ayade of Cross River State have signed the bills, for the implementation of the financial autonomy of the two arms of government.

THISDAY gathered that following the expiration of the 45-day deadline, the committee set up by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to monitor the implementation has written the 36 state Chief Judges (CJs) demanding the status of implementation in their respective states.

The five-member committee appointed by the NJC to ensure that the governors did not renege on the agreement includes President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olumide Akpata; a retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Emir of Lafia in Nasarawa State, Justice Sidi

Bage (Chairman); President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Benedict Kanyip; Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Onuoha Ogwe; and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Muiz Banire.

Of the 36 states, only Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa claimed that they have started the full implementation while Plateau State has commenced partial implementation.

But the Deputy President of JUSUN, Mr. Emmanuel Abisoye told THISDAY at the weekend that the 45 days had expired with only a few states enacting the laws.

He, however, said that none of the states has implemented the financial autonomy fully as agreed by the parties.

"We are going to meet to review the situation after we must have received the feedback from the National Judicial Council (NJC) on the status of implementation of the financial autonomy agreement," he said.

Abisoye explained that after the agreement was signed with the state governors at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the NJC had set up a committee to monitor the compliance by states.

"As I speak to you now, not every state has passed that Bill into law - the law that will establish the Fund Management Committee, which is to handle the disbursement of revenue accruing to the state to the various arms of government.

"Only a few states have done that. So, we are still gathering the information on the number of states that have complied with that. While in some of the states, the Bill is at the stage of passage by the State House of Assembly but not yet signed into law, a

state like Ekiti has signed the bill into law,” he said.

The JUSUN scribe said that at the moment, the union is waiting to get the report of the NJC’s monitoring committee before it can decide on the next line of action.

"As of now, the NJC has written letters to all the state Chief Judges (CJs) and copied the state chairmen of JUSUN. The content of the letter is that they should furnish the NJC with information on the progress being made by the respective states on the implementation of the financial autonomy agreement," he added Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor, Fayemi and his deputy, Governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal had put their pen on paper on behalf of the 36 state governors on the historic agreement reached on May 20, to bring to an end a two-month industrial action embarked upon by JUSUN and PASAN. The agreement, which was prepared on May 20 but signed on June 5, stipulates that all the states shall enact laws for the implementation of the financial autonomy of their judiciaries and legislatures, within 45 days of the signing of the agreement.

The 45 days expired on July 20, exactly 54 days ago.

Before the judicial workers embarked on the strike, President Muhammadu Buhari had issued Executive Order 10 for the implementation of this autonomy as enshrined in the Constitutions but the states defied the order.

However, Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Plateau states claimed they had started the implementation of the financial

autonomy.

Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ayabaina Duba, told THISDAY at the weekend that the implementation of the financial autonomy started during the administration of the late Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

Chairman of the Plateau State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Hon. Peter Dasun told THISDAY at the weekend that the law had been enacted, while implementation had also commenced.

But the state Chairman of JUSUN, Mr. Philip Longji told THISDAY that: “Full implementation has not begun.

What we have now is partial implementation.”

In Ekiti State, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye told THISDAY that Governor Fayemi had signed the Judicial and the Legislative Funds Management bills into laws to prepare propitious grounds for financial autonomy for the two arms.

Governor Okowa of Delta State has also signed into law the financial autonomy bills for the state legislature and the judiciary.

In Cross River State, the House of Assembly passed the Judiciary Funds Management Bill 2021, and the Legislature Funds Management Bill 2021 in the first week of July, while Governor Ayade signed the bills last week.

In Niger State, the lawmakers have passed the State Assembly Service Commission Bill, the Judiciary Fund Management Bill, and the Assembly Fund Management Bill but Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has not given his assent.

The Clerk of the House of

Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Kagara confirmed the passage of the bills to THISDAY. In Kebbi State, the Chairman of JUSUN, Comrade Umar Bawa told THISDAY that the state governor, Mr. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has not signed the bill passed by the state lawmakers.

The Oyo State House of Assembly has also passed the Oyo State Judiciary and Oyo State House of Assembly Funds Management Bills, 2021, on July 15 but Governor Seyi Makinde has not signed the bills.

The Clerk of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr. Pius Udoh also told THISDAY at the weekend that the lawmakers have signed the bill, and are awaiting the assent of the state Governor Willie Obiano.

Also speaking on the issue, the Kwara State branch Chairman of JUSUN, Mr. Ibrahim Sambo told THISDAY that the bill was still before the state House of Assembly.

The Chairman of Enugu State House of Assembly’s Committee on Information, Hon. Jeff Mba told THISDAY at the weekend that the lawmakers had prepared the necessary legislation and were awaiting the state government to set up the necessary commission for implementation.

Ebonyi State chapter of JUSUN and PASAN told THISDAY that the state government had started the process of setting up the State Accounts Allocation Committees (SAAC).

The State Chairman of JUSUN, Oko Nnachi, told THISDAY that the processes that would lead to the formation of the committee had started in the state.

The Ebonyi State Chairman of PASAN, Mrs. Uche Edene noted that the state had gradually

started the implementation of the Financial Autonomy even before the strike started.

She noted that the state had enacted Fund Management Law in 2016 which gave birth to the State House of Assembly Commission.

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon Timothy Owoeye, told THISDAY through the Special Assistant on Media Affairs, Mr. Kunle Alabi that the Osun State Legislative Funds Management Bill 2021 and Osun State Judicial Funds Management Bill were passed recently and awaiting assent of Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

The Chairman of PASAN in Benue State, Mr. Joseph Adole told THISDAY that the state lawmakers had passed the bills but Governor Samuel Ortom has not given his assent.

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly last week passed the Assembly Financial Management Bill, waiting for Governor Abdullahi Sule's assent.

Chairman of the state House of Assembly Committee on Information, Hon. Mohammed Omadefu, who disclosed this to THISDAY, added that the Judicial Financial Management Bill has scaled through the second reading in the house.

In Taraba State, the two bills seeking financial autonomy for the judiciary and legislature have only passed the first readings in the state House of Assembly.

THISDAY also gathered that the Akwa Ibom State Legislative Fund Management Bill is still at the committee level and may be committed to a public hearing for further input, while the bill on the judiciary was yet to be sent to the House of Assembly for consideration.

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NEWS

FG Tackles States over Alleged Non-remittance of N2tn Recovered Assets Insists not all revenues are paid into federation account Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government has replied to the suit filed by the Attorney-General of the 36 states of the federation, faulting the claims that it failed to remit over N2 trillion received as proceeds from recovered and forfeited assets into the federation account.

The federal government in the reply dated August 9, 2021, argued that not all revenues must be remitted to the federation account as claimed by the plaintiffs.

The AGF, in the reply filed on his behalf by one Mrs. Maimuna Shiru, is asking the Supreme Court to discountenance all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs because they are lacking in merit and should be dismissed.

The 36 states in the suit with number SC/395/2021 dated March 9, 2021, alleged that the federal government between 2015 till date from both international and domestic forfeitures recovered the sum of N1.8 trillion cash, 167 properties, 450 cars, 300 trucks, and cargoes and 20 Continued on page 10

STATE VISIT...

L-R: Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Hassan Adamu; and Director General, Songhai Farms, Rev. Fr. Godfrey Nzamujo, during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Owerri...weekend

SURRENDER WHEN THERE'S STILL TIME, MILITARY WARNS TERRORISTS had rejected the Olive Branch offered to them earlier by the government.

Also following the sustained onslaught against bandits in Zamfara State, many of them, who fled from the ongoing military operation in the state on several motorcycles were on Friday ambushed and killed in Niger State by men of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Speaking yesterday in a media interview in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the Theatre Commander of Operations Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa, urged the Boko Haram members, who are yet to surrender not to allow other recalcitrant members to deceive them.

"Those that surrendered recently are currently undergoing re-orientation under the Nigerian Army and I am calling on those that are yet to surrender, to follow suit.

"We are not going to release them into their various communities until they have gone for re-orientation under the Nigerian Army as well as fully screened," he said.

He explained that: “So far, we released 500 to Borno State Government in July 2021, pointing out that before their release, they were given vocational training to be selfreliant.

Musa further explained that some of them are innocent but were forcefully conscripted into the terror group.

Speaking on the closure of Damboa, Damaturu and Gamboru Ngala roads, he said the roads were being opened.

"We have started re-opening the roads and the new arrangement now is that everyday; our troops will escort the travellers using the road in order to ensure they reach their various destinations safely.“ “We have started re-opening the road which was closed for a very long period of time; people should be patient, we have been witnessing return of

peace in Maiduguri", he said.

He, therefore, called on people of the liberated communities wishing to re-locate to their various communities to seek permission from the state government, adding that the Nigerian Army will provide security for the protection of their lives.

Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Amao, has charged personnel of the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) to sustain the onslaught against terrorists and insurgents in the Northeast.

He gave the charge while on an operational visit to frontline troops of 105 Composite Group, Maiduguri and 103 Strike Group, Yola.

The visit, which served as morale booster to personnel of the air component, afforded the air force chief the opportunity to interact with them with a view to addressing some of their immediate operational challenges.

A statement issued by the Nigerian Air Force said on arrival in Maiduguri, Amao was briefed by the Air Component Commander, OPHK, Air Commodore Nnamdi Ananaba, who gave a summary of the major achievements recorded by the air component towards degrading the capabilities of insurgents in Borno State, especially in the last 30 days.

The CAS, thereafter, commended the troops for their commitment to the current onslaught against insurgents in the North-east, while urging them to sustain and maintain the momentum.

According to him, "the outcome of our air operations has been very encouraging and positive and we must sustain these efforts to remain on course towards meeting our overall end state of ridding the region of these criminals" He went on to charge the troops to remain focused and committed towards their operational objective.

"Absolute commitment, discipline and dedication is required at this point in time for us to get the job done", he said.

Amao also expressed optimism that the security threats confronting the country would soon be a thing of the past as the NAF, in synergy with other sister services is working assiduously to flush out all criminal elements so as to enable all Nigerians go about their daily lives and businesses without fear.

He stated that in view of the centrality of air power in joint operations, the NAF would continue to provide the much-needed air support for the ground forces in all theatres of operation in the country.

While at Yola, Amao expressed appreciation to the personnel for their commitment and dedication to duty and charged them to continue to synergise their efforts with other security agencies within their location.

He told the troops that the entire nation remains grateful for their sacrifice and commitment towards keeping Nigeria safe.

Matawalle Rejects Bandits’ Peace Overtures Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Governor, Matawalle, has rejected all overtures of peace offered by bandits in the state.

Matawalle insisted that the state government was no longer interested in negotiating with bandits, accusing them of rejecting the Olive Branch offered to them earlier by the government.

The governor said the barrage of attacks on bandits by security forces had made them to make fresh overtures to government seeking dialogue.

He said the bandits’ emissaries informed him that they had repented and would want to dialogue with government.

He said instead, security forces would flush them out

of the state.

“My administration will no longer grant amnesty to bandits as they have failed to embrace the peace initiative earlier extended to them,’’ the governor said, while addressing a congregation in Gusau, the state capital at the weekend.

He urged residents to be patient and to support new security measures put in place to flush out bandits and their collaborators to restore peace in the state.

He noted that some of the bandits were running out of Zamfara to other states as a result of the new security measures introduced by the state government.

Matawalle warned politicians against giving any form of support to bandits, stressing that: “politicians should fear God and stop buying motorcycles to distribute to people who, in turn, sell to bandits to perpetuate their evil acts.’’

The governor said also the state government would prosecute any politician caught in the act.

The state government had cut off food, petroleum products supply and other essential commodities from the reach of the bandits in their various camps.

The government had also incepted several vehicles conveying food, drinks and petroleum products to various bandits’ camps in the state.

The government said earlier that it had also arrested more than 100 violators of Matawalle’s Executive Order to restore law and order in the state.

Matawalle had established the Special Taskforce to enforce measures to address the lingering security challenges of mass kidnapping for ransom and cattle rustling in the state.

On August 26, the governor signed an Executive Order suspending all weekly markets in Zamfara, banned bicycles and motorcycles from carrying

more than one passenger and not more than three passengers in the case of tricycles.

The state government had also established a Special Taskforce to ensure full compliance with the order while mobile courts were set up to prosecute violators.

Meanwhile, commercial activities in the state have been halted following the two weeks suspension of telecommunication networks in the state by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

All banking services, mobile telephone services, internet and other related services have also been suspended.

In a related development, the state Commissioner for Police, Mr. Ayuba Elkanah, announced the suspension of movement of all motorcycles with clutches in 13 local government areas of the state.

In a chat with newsmen, Elkanah urged members of the public to continue to support security agencies by giving them vital information that would assist in fighting crimes and criminally in the state.

“In a bid to achieve this aim, additional measures have been put in place - riding of motorcycles that have clutches have been banned in the 13 local government areas of the state in addition to the earlier enforcement of restrictions on motorcycles and tricycles in Gusau Local Government Area.

“In Gusau area, Damba and Mada are equally affected in the ban on riding motorcycles with clutches,’’ Elkanah said.

The police commissioner said they had authoritative information that some unscrupulous elements use the vehicles, especially Golf III cars and Canter trucks, to supply petroleum products and food items to bandits’ camps,

Fleeing Bandits Killed by Military in Niger

In a related development, many bandits, who fled from the ongoing military operation in Zamfara State on several motorcycles were on Friday ambushed and killed in Niger State by men of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The exact number of bandits killed could not be immediately ascertained but a source at Maganda village in the Shiroro Local Government Area where the incident happened told THISDAY that "they were many".

He added that one soldier involved in the battle "is still missing".

Some of the bandits who escaped with serious bullets wounds were being trailed by the soldiers as the entire forest was being combed in search of the escaped ones while the villagers had been engaged to assist in evacuating the remains of the neutralised bandits.

It was gathered that six submachine guns and a number of AK-47 riffles and bags of ammunitions were recovered from the bandits.

According to a source at Allawa community, who spoke to THISDAY on the condition of anonymity, most of the bandits neutralised resembled foreigners because: "from the dead bodies that we saw, they are not Nigerians; these are foreigners; all of them are carrying long hairs like women".

One of the Co- Conveners of the Concerned Shiroro Youth, an organisation monitoring the security situation in the local government area, Alhaji Yussuf Kokki when contacted on phone confirmed the incident, saying "we heard about it but we don't have the details".

Meanwhile, the District Head of Wawa in Borgu LGA, Dr. Mahmud Aliyu who was abducted by bandits a week ago has regained his freedom.

Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the release of the monarch.

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NEWS

Ortom Faults MACBAN, Accuses Group of Inciting Members against Him George Okoh in Makurdi Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has accused the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) of inciting the members of the group against him for his refusal to accept their offer to him to betray his people and repeal the anti-open grazing law of the state.

In a statement issued yesterday by his media aide, Mr. Terver Akase, in response to the outbursts of MACBAN’s National Secretary, Alhaji Suleiman Ngelzarma, on a live TV programme, the governor said Miyetti Allah’s anger was due to his refusal to repeal the law.

"The anger towards Governor Samuel Ortomi’s well understood. We expected the MACBAN National Secretary and his group to feel frustrated after the governor refused to accept their offer to betray his people and repeal the law to attract personal favours from their sponsors.

"Ngelzarma’s comments did not come to us as a surprise.

He is indeed one of those whose willful ignorance and misinterpretation of the law have fueled bitter emotions and hatred among pastoralists to embark on a killing spree of farmers in Benue State and other parts of the country.

"The MACBAN National Secretary is not new to contradictory statements.

It is on record that he and other officials of the group visited Benue State in 2017 and after a meeting with Governor Samuel Ortom, addressed the media where they pledged support for the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law." "On that occasion, Ngelzarma who spoke on behalf of the delegation

admitted that with their deeper knowledge of the law during their visit to Benue, it was now obvious to MACBAN that the legislation was indeed not targeted at Fulani or any other group. Their only appeal was for an extension of the November 2017 deadline given for the commencement of implementation and enforcement of the law," the statement explained.

The statement added that for the Miyetti Allah’s mouthpiece to go to national television to

kick against the same law they once described as a win-win for all’ only proves that he is a merchant of crisis and one of those bent on truncating the peacebuilding process in Benue and other states of the federation.

The statement further stated that Benue State’s law on open grazing has recorded tremendous success since it was enacted.

"Many people who own livestock in the state have ranched their animals, while over 400 lawbreakers have

been arrested with some already tried by competent courts and convicted," the statement said.

The statement insisted that the utterances of the Miyetti Allah’s scribe confirmed what Ortom had been saying all along that they were responsible for the killing of the people of the state.

“Miyetti Allah members are sacred cows, who are not only untouchable but who also enjoy the protection and patronage of their sponsors; otherwise, they should have

since been proscribed and their members put behind bars.

“Miyetti Allah groups have not hidden their evil agenda. They threaten farming communities and carry out such threats leaving hundreds dead, yet, they dare to go to television studios and heap insults on victims of their carnage.

“The question Ngelzarma and others who blame herdsmen’s attacks and killings in Benue State on the law fail to answer is: What

is responsible for similar killings in states which have no laws on open grazing such as Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Plateau?

“Lastly, we must make it clear to Miyetti Allah groups and others who want Benue to repeal the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law to stop daydreaming. The law has come to stay, and no amount of sponsored propaganda can compel the state government to repeal it,” the statement explained.

LIFE AND TIMES OF KUMUYI...

L-R: Deputy Chairman, Editorial Board of the Book, Kumuyi, Defender of Faith, Pastor Segun Babatope; Chairman, Pastor Philip Oluwi; Co-Author, Pastor Emeka Izeze; and Member of the Board, Pastor Andrew Umoru, during the press conference to herald the launch of the authorised biography of the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor WF Kumuyi in Lagos...recently ABIODUN AJALA

FG TACKLES STATES OVER ALLEGED NON-REMITTANCE OF N2TN RECOVERED ASSETS million barrels of crude oil worth about N450 billion, but illegally appropriated the assets meant for the three tiers of the government.

Among the issues raised for determination are whether, by sections 162 and 80 of the Constitution, assets confiscated, recovered, or forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria constitute revenues payable to the federation account instead of the Consolidated Revenue Account of the federal government.

They further asked the apex court to determine whether, by the constitutional provisions mentioned above, revenues accruing to the federation can be appropriated and applied by the President through the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning or any other ministry or agency without due allocation from the Federation Account and the approval of the National Assembly.

If the questions raised are answered in the affirmative, the plaintiffs want the Supreme Court to declare, "that by the provisions of Section 162(1) and Section 162(10) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), all income, returns, proceeds or

receipts howsoever described derived from confiscated, forfeited and/or recovered assets constitute revenue of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which must be remitted to federation account for the collective benefit of the federal, state and local governments.”

They also want the court to declare that “the failure and/or refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari, the minister of finance, the office of the AGF, and the Accountant-General of the Federation, and all other relevant authorities and/or agencies of the federation to remit the receipts, income, returns or proceeds derived from all assets recovered, seized, confiscated and forfeited into the federation account to be distributed by the provisions of the Constitution is unconstitutional.”

But, in his reply, Malami maintained that only funds accruable to the federation account are paid into the federation account, adding that funds not accruable to the federation account are paid into the government account such as the Consolidated Revenue Account of the federal government or Consolidated Revenue Account of the states if such

funds belong to them.

The AGF in urging the apex court to dismiss the suit stated that some paragraphs of the plaintiffs’ affidavit are not facts and the conclusions offend section 115(2) of the Evidence Act. In a 40-page paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Friday Zekeri, a Civil Litigation Officer in the Ministry of Justice, the defendant claimed that the proceeds of forfeiture ab initio belonged to the federal government.

He stated that the invitation of the apex court by the plaintiffs is to give an absurd interpretation of the constitution.

The AGF, while denying that recovered assets are being re-looted by the Buhari administration, said that the creation of a Recovery Account and Interim Recovery Forfeiture Account were for administrative convenience.

He explained that the enabling laws governing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related offences Commission (ICPC), empowered the AGF to make rules for the sale and disposal of forfeited assets, adding that assets of former Chief of Defence Staff, the late Air

Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and others were assets gotten from the federal government, insisting that such proceeds should be remitted into the consolidated account and not the federation account as expected by the plaintiffs.

The defendant further noted that most of the actions of the federal government in respect of recovered loots were being handled in line with international agreements the country entered with other countries before identified looted funds were repatriated.

"Nigeria cannot rely on its internal law to avoid international obligations entered into", the deponent said, adding that, "the management of repatriated assets complied with all known laws".

While insisting that all the listed looted and repatriated property and funds belong to the federal government, the defendant urged the apex court to dismiss the case of the plaintiffs for lacking in merit.

The 36 states had, in a 71-paragraph affidavit deposed to in support of the originating summons, claimed that they had been denied their fair share from the federation account.

They also submitted that the establishment of the

“asset tracing, recovery and management regulation 2019” done by the president through the AGF, contradicts the provisions of the Constitution, adding that the AGF acted beyond his constitutional powers.

The affidavit deposed to by the Director-General of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Mr. Asishana Okauru, alleged that the recovered assets have not been accounted for by the federal government, adding that it was in the interest of equity and fiscal federalism for the said assets already appropriated by the federal government to be recovered.

The plaintiffs are therefore seeking an order of the apex court directing the president, finance minister, AccountantGeneral of the Federation, and all other relevant authorities “to give an account of all the receipts, income, returns or proceeds derived from all assets recovered, seized, confiscated and/or forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the sum of N1,836,906,543,658.73 (cash) and N450,000,000,000.00 (non-cash)”.

They also urged the apex court to grant: "An order directing the earlier mentioned persons to reconcile accounts of all the receipts, income, returns or proceeds derived

from all assets recovered, seized, confiscated and forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the sum of N1,836,906,543,658.73 (cash) and N450,000,000,000.00 (non-cash), and remit same forthwith into the federation account,” the document reads.

The plaintiffs are also seeking: “An order directing the president, the minister of finance, the Office of the AGF, the accountant-general of the federation and the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), to determine forthwith, the modalities for distributing the receipts from seized, forfeited and recovered assets, among the federal, state and local governments from the federation account; an order directing that any sum due to the federal government from the federation account should be set off against and to the full extent of any component of the receipts, income, return or proceeds derived from all assets recovered, seized, confiscated, and/ or forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the sum of N1,836,906,543,658.73 (cash) and N450,000,000,000.00 (non-cash), which has been utilised, applied and/or expended by the federal government without due allocation/distribution.”

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

EDITORIAL

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

THE RUMBLINGS OVER VAT JUDGEMENT Any tax regime that is served arbitrarily cannot endure

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he recent judgement of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Port Harcourt on the rightful authorities to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) and Personal Income Tax (PIT) has continued to raise fundamental questions in our polity. The court had on 8th August this year held that only the Rivers State government and not the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) has the right to collect VAT in the state. The judgement prompted the Lagos State House of Assembly to pass an accelerated bill on VAT collection. According to the House Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, the VAT law would lead to an “increase in revenue and infrastructural development,” for Lagos State, evidently the biggest beneficiary of the judgement. “This is in line with fiscal federalism that we have been talking about,” he said.

However, shortly after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu signed the bill into law in Lagos on Friday, the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja ordered all parties to maintain the status quo and refrain from taking action that would give effect to the VAT judgement. A three-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani gave the order while ruling on an appeal filed by the FIRS. Whatever may be their misgivings, we enjoin both Lagos and Rivers States to abide by the appeal court ruling and not resort to self-help.

But the most significant message from the VAT judgement is that we can use the instrumentality of the law to right many of the accumulated wrongs in our federal structure. The letter to the National Assembly by FIRS Executive Chairman, Muhammad Nami, seeking exclusive powers over adjudication of all tax disputes in the country smacks of

The most significant message from the VAT judgement is that we can use the instrumentality of the law to right many of the accumulated wrongs in our federal structure

Letters to the Editor

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desperation. Some contents of the letter also betray the fact that the federal authority has been exercising powers it does not have.

As we stated in a recent editorial, to strengthen our union, critical stakeholders must begin to seek judicial interpretations of grey areas of the law and our courts should also be bold to intervene on the side of reason and common sense. While the 1999 constitution (as amended) defines the powers of each tier of government, the federal government has continued to usurp powers that ordinarily belong to states and sometimes even local governments. And with that, we now run a unitary government that does not serve the interest of the populace.

We understand that the VAT judgement comes with profound implications in a milieu where the ‘sharing spirit’ have for decades defined governance and resource allocation. Research firm, SBM Intelligence, has stated in its analysis that to implement the judgement, “a few states like Delta, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Oyo and Rivers may experience minimal impact, while 30 states which account for less than a fifth of present VAT collection will take significant revenue hits.” There are also implications for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that may have to contend with multiple tax authorities for VAT purposes. But these considerations are not enough to advocate a continuation of the status quo that has become a problem for the peace and progress of the country.

S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN DEPUTY EDITORS FESTUS AKANBI, EJIOFOR ALIKE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

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his newspaper has always argued that it is patently wrong that the federal government should impose VAT on the same goods and services upon which state authorities still charge ‘state tax’. We also believe, as it is in other jurisdictions, that tax on consumption which VAT represents, cannot be collected by the federal government. Many also query the rationale for sharing the proceeds of VAT generated from the sales of alcohol with states that have not only placed a ban on its consumption but willfully destroy the products.

While we deplore recourse to ethnic baiting by those who define every issue in north-south rhetoric and may be muddling the waters on the VAT judgement, this is the time for the FIRS to put on its thinking cap on how to address declining revenues beyond fighting for every crumb with the states. The lesson the authorities in Abuja ought to learn from the reactions to the VAT judgement is that any tax regime that does not meet the twin requirements of efficiency and equity in a diverse nation such as Nigeria cannot endure.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

RE: RELOCATION OF EDO STATE LIBRARY

n behalf of the board and management of the Civil Empowerment and Rule of Law Support Initiative, we write to thank the Edo State government for relocating the decrepit Edo State library from its former location at Sapele Road to its present location at the Civic Centre at the Secretariat building.

We are disappointed with the politics and ongoing campaign to malign the Edo government over its excellent decision to relocate the library to its present location,

and are we interested in joining same.

At the old location, books and shelves were rotting away, the place was stuffy, and the central air-conditioning system was a no-no.

The toilets were an eyesore and the very system was not one to be ascribed to any responsible society in the 21st Century political milieu.

But come to the Civic Centre at the Secretariat building location of the Edo State Library. The lights are on all day, the air conditioner hums quietly in the background, and

shelves settle in a clean and conducive environment, one meeting the needs of those operating in a knowledge economy.

The toilets are clean, and more work is being done to equip all other sections of the Edo State Library at the Civic Centre.

This is not enough but it is a start, and we welcome the move. Whether the government sold off the Sapele Road building or not cannot compare to the critical role a library plays in this Covidy epoch, this era of fake news, and where the right source of

information is key to national and local growth and development. If we must quote President Buhari, no one can rise above his or her level of education.

At CERLSI, we value knowledge and its place in the development of human potential, and we support any one and any government move that has the potential to introduce measures that promote and nurture her people.

Unnecessary bickering over the fate of the old building is actually unnecessary and self-serving in our opinion. We should come together and offer strong criticism devoid of partisan, cultural and other affiliations. We use

this opportunity to urge the Edo State government to equip that library with computers and internet facility for users. These are not luxuries but tools to build and drive the development of the human potential, especially in an age where reading, research and knowledge potential is in serious deficit.

Thank you again Edo government for this very significant effort to improve on the development of the human potential in Edo State. t #PC .BKJSJ0HIFOF &UFNJLV %FQVUZ FYFDVUJWF EJSFDUPS $&3-4* #FOJO $JUZ

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OPINION

REMEMBERING BOLA IGE

Babs Onabanjo pays tribute to Bola Ige, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice

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n celebrating the posthumous birthday of the Cicero, Chief Bola Ige, on September 13, 2021, I dug into my video archives. What I discovered nearly brought tears to my eyes.

In the course of the search, I unearthed a lot of videos on the activities of Nigerian Alliance for Democracy (NAD) when I was the president of the group between 1993-1999. During those years, NAD was at the forefront of the fight against military rule and domination.

In one of those videos I unearthed, the late orator spoke passionately for 90 minutes in Atlanta about his intention to restructure the domineering Nigerian state the right way through regional autonomy. Hear him: “Restructuring is about devolution of power and greater autonomy for the regions. They are matters of liberty and justice. It is the right thing to do, let us embrace it. Without liberty and justice, any hope for unity is an illusion.”

He continued: “For heaven’s sake, were power devolved to the regions in Nigeria today, would Yoruba nation be the only one to benefit? Shall the Ogoni, the Edo, the Urhobo, Efik, Igbo, Kanuri, Tiv not benefit from getting away from the overbearing federal might? Shall Tiv, Fulani, Kanuri not be able to marshal local strategies to issues in their locality? Is that not what federalism is about?”

He uttered those immortal words before he fell under the brutal bullets of the assassins.

One can’t but wonder if Chief Ige was killed by enemies within to extinguish his relentless push for the realization of regional autonomy.

Though he might have made some error of judgement during the Alliance for Democracy (AD) primary election ticket tussle with Chief Olu Falae, Chief Ige stood out as the voice of

reason and restructuring. He lived and died for it.

When he resigned his position as Attorney General of Nigeria to prepare the ground to contest for the Office of the President against former President Olusegun Obasanjo-Atiku led administration, he was going to make restructuring – regional autonomy - the nucleus of his campaign.

Indeed, he was the perfect candidate for Nigeria. Chief Bola Ige was raised in the northern part of Nigeria. He was proficient in the three major Nigerian Languages: Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa.

I believe so much that his death shall not be in vain. He is crying from the grave and saying that

As we mark the posthumous birthday of Chief Bola Ige, Nigerians must rise and embrace peace, justice, fairness, equity under the law, and freedom by demanding for nothing less than restructuring

restructuring into regional autonomy must be realized for peace to reign in Nigeria.

This reminds me of what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said: “Truth crushed to earth will rise again and that the arc of the universe bends toward justice”.

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution possible.

And this is evident in the country as the nation is under the yoke of insecurity and myriad of challenges. Those who oppose restructuring – regional autonomy notably from the Northwest and North-east of Nigeria and a few elements from the south will make the disintegration of Nigeria possible. It is just a matter of time and will come sooner than later.

The strive for liberty, life and the pursuit of happiness is inherent fundamental rights and not privileges granted by the state. This must be recognized and accepted.

We must restructure. The fraud entrenched into the 1999 Constitution which concentrated power at the center must be abolished.

I would like to conclude with the thoughts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He stated that: “True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.”

As we mark the posthumous birthday of Chief Bola Ige, Nigerians must rise and embrace peace, justice, fairness, equity under the law, and freedom by demanding for nothing less than restructuring – regional autonomy and the abolishment of the fraudulent 1999 constitution must be done right now. t 1SPG 0OBCBOKP XBT 1SFTJEFOU /JHFSJBO "MMJBODF GPS %FNPDSBDZ BOE 1SFTJEFOU $&0 "% ,JOH 'PVOEBUJPO 6OJUFE 4UBUFT

AFGHANISTAN: A FRACTURED FUTURE The Taliban should modernise and team up with sensible countries to establish democratic institutions, writes Rajendra Aneja

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he American troops have abandoned Afghanistan. Now, the Taliban, ISIS, etc., will forge to ferment trouble in the USA, Western democracies and countries like India. Extremist groups like Taliban, ISIS, etc., loathe the western democratic way of life. They abhor education, women’s uplift, free media, independent thought, music and media, etc., in this time and age. The extremists will perpetually battle modernism. The leaders of the extremist movements may change, but their ideological combat will continue unabated. As it has, for many centuries.

Afghanistan is an agrarian economy. It has no industry. Half the population of 40 million, subsists below the poverty line. Opium contributes seven percent to the GDP of Afghanistan, at 9,900 tones, valued at US$ 1.4 bn. Afghanistan is not self-sufficient and does not export many commodities or products. Wheat is grown locally, but is also imported. About 75 percent of the economy depends on foreign aid handouts from Western nations. Now, those taps are drying. The USA has frozen $9.5 billion Afghan reserves. World Bank has suspended $ 5.3 billion development aid. The IMF has also choked funds.

The West will not pump money into a country, which lacks a trustworthy, cogent government.

The Taliban has no institutions, systems or protocols. The Taliban is not a government; it is an amorphous movement.

The educated global elites, will not fund a group, which shoots women for going to school or not wearing a “burqa”. Taliban will have no money to import even basic necessities like food or medical supplies.

The local currency, the Afghan, has eroded by 10 percent in four weeks. It could depreciate further. Prices of basic food products like wheat and lentils have soared by 25 percent in recent weeks. Many traders and middlemen, who imported food grains have fled the country. So, sourcing basic foods will be a challenge. Local Afghani citizens are desperately withdrawing moneys from local banks.

The Afghan economy could crash perilously, since there are no macro-economic strengths to support it. The Taliban are fighters, not economists. Some friendly countries like Pakistan may

help. However, such countries themselves, are surviving on IMF and World Bank handouts.

Unless the Taliban beat their guns into shovels, they will not be able to feed the Afghans.

This will result in aggravated misery for common Afghans. Unfortunately, the world may watch, rather than help. Western nations like the USA, are weary of carrying the burdens of others. President Biden is clear on this.

It has been a serious error for the USA to exit the region. Super-powers like USA, Russia, China, etc., have the crucial responsibility to maintain global peace, directly or via a global policing force, e.g. NATO, UN, etc. They cannot flee from it. If the Western and developed countries like the USA, Europe, Japan, etc., wish to relish their freedoms, then they are obliged to protect their way of living. As in a school, the world too needs a monitor or a prefect, to ensure discipline in the class.

Nobody wants to see a repeat of the 1998 Embassy bombings in Dares Salaam and Nairobi, 9/11 attacks in 2001 in USA or the 2008 Mumbai attacks. I saw the impact of the bombings in Tanzania and Kenya, when I was on a Unilever posting in East Africa in 1998. It was gut-tearing. We have to monitor the manufacturers of terrorism. Democratic nations cannot abdicate their responsibility to protect their people. Otherwise, radicals will manage rogue nations and strike at will.

The USA entered Afghanistan to flush out the Al Qaeda operatives responsible for the 2001, 9/11 attacks. Since then, the Al Qaeda is debilitated. There has not been another 9/11 genre attack. This alone, makes the 20 years of the USA’s longest war in Afghanistan, worth it.

These extremists will continue to stir havoc in Pakistan too. Yet, Pakistan will rejoice that some of these extremists will trouble India, in Kashmir. Pakistan is being short- sighted.

It too, will be pricked by the Taliban. Recall, when the USA needed Pakistan’s support to ferret Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, the USA Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Richard Armitage warned Pakistan, “Be prepared to be bombed. Be prepared to go back to the stone age.” President, Musharraf admitted this on

CBS Television in 2006. Yet, Osama Bin Laden took refuge in a villa, barely a mile from a military compound in Abbottabad in 2011.

Pakistan has floundered between a small educated minority and a vast ideologically impacted population. The elite, frustrated with the domestic imponderables, prefers to work as expatriates in the USA, Europe and the Gulf countries.

Pakistan has faced an identity crisis for decades. Prime Minster Imran Khan was expected to shed the shackles of the past and build a modern Pakistan. However, by eulogizing the victory of the Taliban over the USA, he too has shown that even idealists and modernists can have clay feet. Sad. The Taliban lacks leadership and institutional skills to govern Afghanistan. A gun spouts a bullet. Guns do not spout systems to manage countries. The immediate future could see clashes between the Taliban and the ISIS for a leadership struggle. If Afghanistan devolves into a civil war, it would exacerbate the humanitarian disaster.

Afghanistan could become the global terror capital, as it was in 2001. Then, expect history to repeat itself. Western troops will march in again to control the mayhem, within a decade. However, if the Taliban decides to modernise and teams up with sensible countries to establish democratic institutions, there could be hope. If Taliban turns a new leaf and relaunches itself, to bolster the economy and hold general elections, it will be a panacea. This is the only way forward, for a country whose people have battled poverty, bullets and tears for centuries.

Afghanistan is renowned a s the graveyard of empires. However, this graveyard, cannot even grow enough wheat to feed its people. It is time to harvest wheat and maize, instead of zealotry. t "OFKB XBT UIF .BOBHJOH %JSFDUPS PG 6OJMFWFS 5BO[BOJB )F JT BO BMVNOVT PG )BSWBSE #VTJOFTT 4DIPPM BOE UIF BVUIPS PG CPPLT FOUJUMFE i5JOZ 5IPVHIUT GPS B #FUUFS 8PSMEw

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

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LETTERS

WIKE, VAT AND FISCAL FEDERALISM

“In June, Kano generated N2.8bn and was given N2.8bn. Lagos State generated over N46 billion But got just over N9 billion. Rivers generated N15bn But got N4.7bn.

Have you seen injustice in this country?”

-Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State

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he economic equation does not add up. And it hardly makes common sense too. If not, how do we explain the paradox of the pitiable penury of most of the states generating much of Nigeria’s common wealth in the midst of plenty resources?

The painful irony is such that their state governors keep going cap-in-hand to the federal centre to collect peanuts, every month-end!

It is a crying shame, to say the least that decades after the agriculture-driven First Republic, Nigeria is still being run with a militaryimposed constitutional aberration, characterized by a centre that controls what it should not. Is this how the American democracy, from which we borrowed ours is being run?

As yours truly has often highlighted, it would have been impossible for the then Chief Obafemi Awolowo-led Western Region to have brought to bear the praiseworthy achievements of free education policy, the vast infrastructural development, the first television station in

sub-Saharan Africa, the Liberty stadium and the iconic Cocoa House back in the ‘60s. That was especially so if the cocoa revenues went to the purse of the federal government. Ditto for the Michael Opara-led Eastern Region that championed the agricultural, educational and infrastructural development of the region.

Ordinarily, the federal government should concern itself with the issues of the formation and running of military structures, the federal police, international relations and some infrastructural developments relating to its offices. But here and now, in the 21st century Nigeria issues such as education, healthcare delivery, transportation and even internal security have been hijacked by the pseudo-democratic might of the all-conquering federal government. It goes further to attempt to brow-beat states with anachronic and outdated policies of opengrazing of cattle, long-lost cattle routes and farm settlement centres. This has outraged not a few patriots including the no nonsenseGovernor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, of course.

Recently, he threatened that henceforth the oil-rich state will be collecting the Value-Added Tax (VAT) instead of the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS).

He threatened to shut down all FIRS offices in the state if they continue to bully the state. This was made known by the

governor while speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting that included representatives of oil companies and business owners in the state capital, Port Harcourt. Putting it point blank, he stated that he does not care a hoot if the heavens fall, insisting that Rivers money is not meant for Abuja, but for the development of his state.

He explained that Rivers State generated about N15 billion as VAT in June 2021 but received a paltry N4.7 billion. Lagos State generated over N46 billion as VAT in June, but got just an insulting amount of N9 billion, whereas Kano State generated N2.8 billion and also got N2.8 billion as allocation! That is one of the states where Hisbah openly destroys bottles of lager beer, yet it enjoys the VAT that comes from states such as Lagos and Ogun.

In his memorable words,

Wike stated that “People say that let heaven not fall but sometimes I believe that heaven should come down so that everybody will rest…

When we do the right thing, heaven is at peace. So, the right thing must be done at all times. Rivers State is challenging FIRS from collecting VAT in Rivers State. I am not challenging FIRS from collecting VAT in Abuja. Let it be understood.

But the law says Rivers must collect VAT in the state.”

Going further, he explained that “The Federal Government surreptitiously lobbied to amend the constitution to place VAT collection under the exclusive legislative list.

We have challenged it and we have no apologies to anybody.”

It would be recalled that on August 9, 2021, a Federal High Court sitting in Port

RMAFC AND NIGERIA'S RECTITUDE

F

rom the very beginning of Nigeria`s existence as a country, a central question has been one of equity variously expressed as resource control and resource allocation. What has been of paramount interest to neutrals and stakeholders alike is that every section of the behemoth receives its due while contributing its quota to national development. With the wisdom of elders, the founding fathers of Nigeria recognized long ago that this was the only way an ethnically and religiously diverse country can thrive. The journey so far has been tumultuous to put it mildly.

Merely seven years into the country`s independence, a devastating civil war broke out between the newly independent country and the self-styled Biafran Republic. More than 50 years since Nigeria`s bloodiest period ended, the chilling carnage of those days have continued to haunt Nigeria`s memory.

Since then, the country has found division along ethnic lines with sections of the country occasionally nursing grievances about exclusion real or imagined, and episodically sprouting

agitations that violently convulse the fragile unity of a beleaguered country.

It is not alarmist to say that at the core of the agitations is the question of resource control and allocation. Nigeria used to have viable options until oil was discovered. As oil flowed out of the Niger Delta region laying waste the region`s farmlands and water bodies, the groundnut pyramids in northern Nigeria disappeared; the cocoa plantations in the Southwest became a shadow of themselves, and the palm oil plantations in the South-east became redundant. The country was too busy counting petro-dollars to notice the frightening developments, and foresee the debt the future would come to exact.

Now, many years down the line, regions of the country quake with discontent. These grumpy complainants which are not shy about their grouse bring unsteady hands to the Nigerian project. It is little wonder that the project has continued to stagger and stutter.

It is into this burning cauldron of resource allocation that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act was born by the constitution. It was to address the thorny

question of who gets what and in what quota that the commission was born.

It has since experienced mixed fortunes.

The commission has long been accused of overseeing Nigeria`s severely imbalanced revenue allocation formulae. The commission has weathered savage accusation of favouring the federal and state governments at the expense of local governments that stand badly in need of funds.

Local governments in Nigeria by their very proximity to the people have the best opportunities to make the most impact.

However, many years of Nigeria`s flawed federalism has ensured that the local governments have achieved only little.

Now that the commission is about to embark on the formulation of a new revenue allocation formula, the country`s changed and changing realities must be given prime consideration.

It is a bit incongruous that the revenue allocation formula which is now about to undergo review has been in place for all of 28 years.

In that time, much has changed in the country.

Insecurity has become rife and the slopes of poverty have grown steeper. These

challenges not only remarkably reflect the failure of governance but have come to compound them.

As the RMAFC embarks on this critical national assignment, there is no doubt that it has the weight of history on its shoulders.

It must now do everything to respect the wishes of Nigeria`s present and future generations. It must proceed to act accordingly in discharging its duties.

It is beyond argument that revenue allocation in Nigeria is scandalously lopsided, favouring the federal government at the expense of the state and local governments who are better placed to do more for Nigeria`s poorest people.

The inexplicable revenue allocation formula which has been in place for such a long time have no doubt contributed to the growing calls for the country to be restructured on a more equitable basis.

The RMAFC must recognize that it owes Nigerians a critical duty to promote the unity of the country by ensuring that resources are more effectively and efficiently distributed so that the polity will be free of rancour and bitterness.

t ,FOF 0CJF[V "CVKB

Harcourt in its judgment in a suit marked FHC/PH/ CS/149/2020 held that the Rivers State Government had the powers to collect VAT and Personal Income Tax within its territory. The FIRS, which had earlier appealed the judgment, applied for a stay execution on the judgment. However, the presiding judge, Justice Stephen Pam, rejected the application, saying that granting it would negate the principle of equity.

The judge also ruled that it may be a difficult task for the federal government to refund the state if his judgment authorizing the state to collect the tax is upheld at the appellate courts. This is because the federal government already has a huge liability arising from the many years it has collected the tax on behalf of Rivers State. The judge agrees that whatever amount Rivers State may have collected within the litigation period can easily be remitted to the FG if the state loses at the Appeal Court.

Recently, the Lagos State Government toed the path of Rivers State as a bill to empower it to collect VAT passed the first and second reading in the state House of Assembly. According to

the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr.Moyosere Onigbanj(SAN) no booby trap will affect its implementation. It is titled: ‘A bill for law to impose and charge Value Added Tax on certain goods and services provided for the administration of the tax and other related matters ‘. Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has signed the bill into law.

VAT is a consumption tax paid when goods are purchased and services are rendered. It is charged at a rate of 7.5 per cent. It means that this judgment is a landmark one as Prof.

Kingsley Moghalu, former CBN Deputy Governor rightly noted. “The Federal High Court ruling on VAT is the correct one, though we can expect litigation all the way to the Supreme Court.

It strikes a strong blow at the lazy federal government whose head once called our youth “lazy”. Nigeria has long been a fiscally failed state. Why should states in a supposed federation be producing mainly for the federal government?

Restructuring has already begun, by fire by force. I pity those who think they can stop the wind.” t "ZP 0ZP[F #BKF -BHPT

WHY BUHARI SHOULD SACK MORE MINISTERS

F

or the first time in his six years, President Muhammadu Buhari sacked his power and agriculture ministers, a development that surprised many Nigerians. Sacking or changing of ministers is not new. During the administrations of Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, Nigerians witnessed cabinet changes frequently. The sins of most of the sacked ministers hinged on poor performance and corruption. Other ministers who had a political misunderstanding with their state governors were not also spared. However, looking at the high expectations that greeted the Buhari's administration and the role of ministers in delivering democracy dividends, many Nigerians thought that their scorecard would be impressive. Unfortunately, to the dismay of many, President Buhari has failed to scrutinize his cabinet’s performance hence they came under severe criticism or attacks over poor performance. Do you know the buck always stop on his table?

With the exception of Kemi Adeosun, former Minister of Finance, who bowed to pressure and resigned from government over allegation of NYSC certificate forgery, President Buhari has never effected

any cabinet reshuffle. Could this be an indication that Mr President is fully satisfied with the performances of his ministers?

If the answer is yes, why the sudden sack? Nigerians need to know whether the ministry of agriculture under the erstwhile minister, Sabo Nanono, has fared well within the two years he served or not. They also need to know what happened to our power sector in the last two years under Sale Mamman. Have Nigerians gotten the very best of them? What about the stable power supply and food value chains? Have they improved under their watch? President Muhammadu Buhari is right to have done the needful by sacking them.

Power and agriculture ministries have not delivered the policies expected of them.

Whatever might have been the reasons, President Buhari should not hesitate to wield the big stick on his non-performing ministers. Many of his ministers have failed to align with his change agenda.

The sacking of the ministers should serve as a wake- up call to other ministers to brace up and help the administration to deliver its campaign promises in the remaining years. t *CSBIJN .VTUBQIB 1BNCFHVB ,BEVOB 4UBUF

16

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

17

BUSINESS

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

Appeal Court Order as Game Changer in FIRS, States’ Tax War Last Friday’s order of the Court of Appeal on Rivers and Lagos State governments to stay action on their bids to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) pending the resolution of the legal dispute on the matter is bound to slow down agitation by state governments to take charge of VAT matters in their domains, but whether the judicial intervention is capable of tackling the restiveness over the prevailing flawed revenue sharing formula is a different ball game, writes Festus Akanbi

T

he supremacy battle between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and some states over the collection of the Value Added Tax (VAT) snowballed into an unprecedented number of actions by o΀cials of the federal and state governments last week, with tax experts warning that corporate taxpayers and other business owners will be the ones to bear the brunt when the dust Ànally settles However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Rivers and Lagos state governments to stay action on their bids to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) pending the resolution of the legal dispute on the matter Athree-man panel of the appellate court ordered that the enforcement of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, latched on to by the state governments be put on hold So, as the waiting game for the Appeal Court’s decision on the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court continues, and as the two opposing camps continue to Àght for the soul of taxpayers, especially in the states, tax experts say corporate organisations especially in Rivers and Lagos States (the two states which have so far passed own tax laws) may be left with the bloodied nose when normalcy returns, given the confusing orders of the FIRS and some state governments to businesses to pay VAT to them Like Rivers, Like Lagos But despite the controversy the VAT issue has generated, Rivers State, said it had commenced full implementation of its VAT law, while the Lagos government announced the passage of its version on Thursday :ike spoke about the take-oͿ of the Rivers VAT laws during an interactive session with representatives of corporate organisations in Port Harcourt Analysts, however, said the latest order from the Appeal Court will force Rivers and Lagos to go back to drawing boards on the issue :ike said the enforcement would prevent members of the business community from falling prey to the antics that could be deployed by FIRS o΀cials, whom he said could attempt to use force to collect ´what does not belong to them µ :ike alleged that FIRS had in the past collected VAT in the state with impunity, knowing it was unconstitutional for them to do so He pointed out that his administration challenged the matter at a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, where it secured a positive judgment on the matter As tension mounts, there are feelers that the governments of Lagos and Ekiti State have concluded plans to Àle applications to be joined in the ongoing legal battle between the FIRS and Rivers Just like the Rivers State government, Lagos passed its laws on Thursday while Ekiti State is on the verge of enacting similar laws on VAT collection It was gathered that some southern states are on the verge of rolling out their tax laws Marching Orders to Business, Corporate Taxpayers :ike urged business operators to be ready to pay VAT for September 2021 and subsequent months to the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service He said he had already assented to the Rivers State VAT law passed by the State House of Assembly The governor warned corporate organisations not to feign ignorance of the state VAT law and declared that the government would not hesitate to seal up the premises of any company that defaulted

Chairman LIRS, Ayodele Subair

Taiwo Oyedele

Acting Chairman RIRS, Chibuzor Aholu

He explained, “Let me tell you the injustice in this country In June 2021, which we shared in July, VAT collected in Rivers State was 11 1billion :hat they gave us was 1 billion See the gross injustice, and the money includes contracts awarded by the Rivers State *overnment “This is not an issue of party, it is the issue of infraction of the constitution, issues of illegality Look at Lagos, it is not the same party as me In June 2021, the VAT collected in Lagos was 1 billion but see what Lagos got ² 1 billion

High Court ruling, it means the corporate taxpayers will revert to FIRS for the payment of VAT If again, the Rivers State eventually wins at the Supreme Court, it means taxpayers will go back to the Rivers State board of internal revenue,µ the tax expert stated The PwC o΀cial, who disclosed that states cannot collect VAT, however, made the case for the review of the existing tax laws by the national assembly “I think what we should do is to allow FIRS to collect VAT from states, and ensure such is given back to the states :hatever is collected from international trade, import duties, and federal government contracts should be shared by all the tiers of government In that case, nobody will feel short-changed,µ he suggested 2n his part, Ànancial analyst, Chapel Hill 'enham, 2motola Abimbola, believed that businesses will be at the receiving end should states take control of VAT collection According to him, “The biggest losers by far will be business promoters, who would have to navigate government bureaucracy across states At best, many companies will run rings around state governments that have a weak capacity to collect such a complex indirect tax, thus worsening income inequality At worst, we will end up with a multiple tax structure that will worsen the ease of doing business environment µ Meanwhile, Executive Director, Cordros Capital Limited, Mr Femi Ademola, in his response to THISDAY inquiries explained that the FIRS lacks the power to bully taxpayers judging by the Rivers judgment He said: “Based on the judgment, which interestingly was delivered by a Federal High Court, the FIRS does not have the powers to compel taxpayers to remit VAT to the federal government And as a law-abiding agency, it is expected that the FIRS will comply with the judgment, especially in Rivers State “The FIRS has taken all the right steps by appealing against the judgment and also seeking a stay of execution of the earlier judgment 8nfortunately, the court rejected the request for a stay of execution since the state government has already enacted a VAT Law and since the state law has not been set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction, the stay of execution cannot be granted; hence

Rivers State Government will continue to collect VAT within its jurisdiction µ Ademola explained it would be di΀cult for the FIRS “to bully taxpayers to continue to pay VAT until the issues are resolved And we can relate this to the conÁict between the FIRS and the 1IP2ST on the collection of Stamp Duty which was on for some years before the Ànal resolution During the conÁict period, taxpayers had the choice of either paying to any of the two federal government entities or setting the fund aside to pay to the right agency when the imbroglio was over :e may have to apply a similar approach in this case, so as not to break some important canons of taxation, that is “Certaintyµ and “Convenienceµ µ Many commentators said the decision of the appeal court and subsequent decision of the Supreme court will bring peace, Ademola however explained that whatever may be the outcome of court proceedings, the fact remains that there is a need to revisit the nation’s Àscal structure He said: “Regardless of the outcome of the appeal, there would be the need for serious engagements between the federal government on one side and the states on the other on how to move forward It would appear that the much-talked-about restructuring will need to happen as part of the resolution of the ¶crisis’ The revenue sharing formula will have to change to accommodate states that are contributing more to the centre and also to push more funds to the states and local governments while transferring more responsibility to them µ

When Two Elephants Fight…

Analysts said given the speed of implementation of the Rivers and Lagos state VAT laws, members of the organised private sector are in a dilemma on who to pay tax to ConÀrming the state of confusion of corporate taxpayers, especially in Rivers and Lagos, the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at PwC, 0r Taiwo 2yedele, said the implementation of the Rivers State Tax laws will put business organisations in a di΀cult position 2yedele said the Rivers State *overnment (and by implication, Lagos State) should have waited for the full determination of the case up till the Supreme Court level before coming up with its tax laws, to avoid going back and forth on the issue However, he cautioned taxpayers in the aͿected jurisdiction to be cautious in remitting tax proceeds He said: “Corporate taxpayers and businesses have up to 21st of 2ctober before they remit any VAT collected under the state law This is based on the provisions of the law which requires VAT to be Àled and paid by the 21st day of the succeeding month AͿected businesses can also seek a court ruling as to which authority they should pay to Hopefully, there will be an accelerated hearing by the court given that it is a declaratory judgment on such a crucial national matter “If the issue is not resolved by the due date to Àle and pay the VAT, then taxpayers can pay based on the subsisting court judgment and seek a refund or oͿset against other taxes due to the state in the future if the decision is upturned by a court of higher jurisdiction µ “Imagine you start paying VAT to Rivers State now and the Court ofAppeal quashes the Federal

FIRS: VAT Cannot Be Bandled at Sub-national Level Meanwhile, the FIRS explained its opposition to the administration of VAT by states in the country, saying it might stiÁe businesses and investments It argued that the decision of the Federal High Court to grant powers to states to administer VAT would make it di΀cult for businesses to thrive The Group Lead, Special 2perations Group, FIRS, Mathew Gbonjubola, insisted that there was nowhere in the world, where the administration of VAT was done at the sub-national level, adding that the service cannot aͿord to devolve such powers to states

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

18

CAPITAL MARKET

NGX Group and Commitment to Corporate Governance After a successful process of demutualisation, the Nigerian Exchange Group held its 60th annual general meeting last week, where shareholders, management, and board of the new entity met to ratify the 2020 performance report and renew commitment to adhere to the principle of corporate governance, reports Festus Akanbi

I

n a corporate environment, where the issue of corporate governance has been a knotty issue for a considerable length of time, it is always inspiring when a regulator leads by example.

This was the sentiment at theAbuja venue of The Nigerian Exchange Group’s (NGX) 60th annual general meeting last week.

As a form of endorsement of the leadership direction of the board and management of the Exchange, shareholders voted overwhelmingly in support of the resolutions presented by the Group at the annual meeting.

The meeting, which was the Àrst AGM of the Group as a demutualised, shareholder-owned, for-proÀt entity, further to previous shareholder and regulatory approvals, marked a historic moment.

Capital market watchers said the meeting, which provided the board of the NGX Group a great opportunity to give their stewardship, especially in the Àrst year after the completion of its demutualisation processes, should be seen as a lesson in corporate governance.

They explained that the statutory action also provided the opportunity for stakeholders including shareholders, management, and staͿ to assess the new structure put in place after the Exchange became a public quoted company.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the approval of the shareholders for the Group’s proposals to introduce equity-based incentives to employees’ remuneration, including an Employee Share Ownership Plan and a Long-Term Incentive Plan, aligning the interests of internal stakeholders with those of shareholders in long term value creation.

Equity-based incentive compensation plans are an increasingly popular component of overall compensation packages.Analysts explained that at its core, an equity-based incentive plan is used to attract, retain, and incentivise employees. It is a common practice for companies to reward employees, partners, directors, contractors, or others by granting them shares or in an equity plan, thus the massive support given by the shareholders for the incentive plan.

Basking in the overwhelming support of the company’s shareholders, the Group Chairman, NGX Group Plc, OtunbaAbimbola Ogunbanjo, described the meeting as historic as the Àrst of such meetings after going through the demutualisation processes.

“This meeting is also historic in that it marks the Àrst time in the history of the NGX Group that itsAGM will hold outside the hallowed conÀnes of the Exchange House in Lagos and we have chosen the Federal Capital Territory – Abuja – in recognition of the integral role the Federal Government of Nigeria played in actualising the demutualisation of NSE and its support in establishing NGX Group. I am both thankful for the invaluable support of our stakeholders and proud of the resilience NGX Group continues to demonstrate after over six decades. Despite the global pandemic and other economic shocks, it is indeed noteworthy that we have already begun to actualise the beneÀts of demutualisation including the alignment of stakeholders’ interests in the value created by the new Group under a revised Corporate Governance framework.”

He explained that special case made for employees at the meeting was in line with global best practices, saying, “We received approval of new equity-based incentive schemes for employees which are in line with the authority granted to directors by then members of NSE at an Extraordinary General Meeting conducted in March 2020 and adhere to global best practices allowing us to attract and retain the best talent.

L-R: Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group) Plc, Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, Group Chairman, NGX Group, Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo; and Group Company Secretary and Head, Compliance, NGX Group, Mrs. Mojisola Adeola at the 60th Annual General Meeting of NGX Group held on Thursday, 9 September 2021 in Abuja

Today, I am more conÀdent than ever that the Group is well-positioned to deliver value to shareholders as we move into a new growth phase.”

The Scorecard Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director Chief Executive O΀cer, NGX Group Plc, Oscar N. Onyema, described the group’s performance as a reÁection of the global economic realities.

He said, “Our 2020 results reÁect the challenging macroeconomic and market conditions, as well as operational resilience of the Group with income and resulting surplus after tax valued at N6.02bn and N1.84bn respectively.

“In the context of COVID-19 pandemic, we maintained tight cost controls, which reduced expenses by 13 per cent despite investments in technology that allowed us to operate remotely with zero downtime. The Group ended the Year 2020 in a sound Ànancial position with net asset growth of over 10 per cent to N31.28bn.”

Restating the commitment of the NGX Group to realise its vision, Onyema noted that the group and its wholly-owned subsidiaries – Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX Regulation, and NGX Real Estate – have continued to advance the realisation of the group’s vision to be Africa’s leading integrated capital market infrastructure provider. “As the Group progresses its plans to list on Nigerian Exchange, we look forward to welcoming a broader group of investors to share in our journey,” he said.

Commitment to Highest Governance Standards As part of its statement to the public, the NGX Group said it is committed to the highest governance standards, recognising that it operates critical capital markets infrastructure.

“As a recently demutualised group, our board of directors is responsible for the alignment of our strategy with the interests of our stakeholders.

In addition, our operating subsidiaries have

independent boards,” the statement said.

Demutalised for Better Performance Earlier this year, the entity formally known as the Nigerian Stock Exchange was demutualised into the Nigerian Exchange Group. The Exchange has now completed its demutualisation process, having received all the requisite approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Corporate AͿairs Commission (CAC).

A new non-operating holding company, the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (‘NGX Group was therefore created with three operating subsidiaries, namely: Nigerian Exchange Limited (‘NGX’), the operating exchange; NGX Regulation Limited (‘NGX REGCO’), the independent securities regulator; and NGX Real Estate Limited (‘NGX RELCO’), the real estate company.

The group explained that the development marks a critical and historic milestone for the Exchange as it enables it to execute its strategic vision to be Africa’s premier exchange hub. The group promised that stakeholders, including its new valued shareholders, will beneÀt from its enhanced corporate governance, access to capital to fund strategic developments, and a more globally competitive Exchange.

Demutualisation is a process by which a private, member-owned company, such as a co-operative, or a mutual life insurance company, legally changes its structure, to become a publictraded company owned by shareholders.

In demutualisation, the members give up their rights and receive shares in the company in return, which the (now former) members may then sell. Demutualisation happens most often when a stock exchange owned by its members goes public. As an aside, a mutual company should not be confused with a mutual fund.

The Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) is such an example of a demutualised company that announced the development in an update published on its website on Wednesday, March 10, 2021.

Meanwhile, members of the Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) have renewed conÀdence in the Exchange group.

ASHON also described the NGX Group’s 60th AGM as a symbol of current diversiÀed ownership and sustained national outlook.

Commending the leadership of the Exchange, ASHON said despite the prevailing economic challenges the NGX Group has been able to maintain investors’ conÀdence.

The Chairman of the association, Chief Onyewenchukwu Ezeagu, explained that the association’s members had always partnered with the exchange as they played pivotal roles during all stages of the demutualisation process, promising continued support.

In July, NGX Group engaged investor relations consultants, Vaerdi, and Ànancial advisers from Rand Merchant Bank to provide key insights into the setup of the new structure, current operations, and plans.

The analysts were said to have engaged the CEOs on issues around the activities of NGX by way of listings and the introduction of exchangetraded derivatives to the market.

In what was an engaging session, analysts further engaged the CEOs on issues around the activities of NGX by way of listings and the introduction of Exchange Traded Derivatives (ETDs) to the market. Of particular interest was also NGX RegCo and the stringent policies it has put in place to maintain independence in its regulation of NGX Group, NGX, and the capital market as a whole; as well as the new business lines that NGX RelCo will open up for the Group.

The Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group) o΀cially commenced operations on 2 August 1961, as the Lagos Stock Exchange, after it was founded on 1 September 1960.

In commemorating the Diamond jubilee milestone, the Group Chairman, NGX Group Plc, Abimbola Ogunbanjo in a statement, paid glowing tribute to the original subscribers of the articles of association.

19

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

BUSINESS OUTSIDER

Music Studio

The Business of Music Tunji Adegbite

“M

usic what a powerful Instrument, what a mighty weapon” - Maria Augusta Von Trapp In times past, and to a degree today, musicians sometimes have knowingly (albeit often unconsciously) infused their lyrics with subtle references to brands, products, companies, and even individuals. For example, “Alhaji Rasak Akanni Okoya (Eleganza)”, “Biri ka mbiri”, and “Pass the Courvoisier” are a few of the many songs that strategically placed brands, Eleganza Group, Tura Soap, and Courvoisier Cognac respectively, in what turned out to be commercially successful songs whose rhythm and lyrics are in the hearts of minds of people till today. Utilising music in brand awareness is what is referred today in business-speak as ‘Audio product placement’. Brands such as Jobitex Foods, Ciroc, Hennessy, among others, in the past and today, have enjoyed some commercial popularity correlated with product placements and this is because of the intriguing power of music on the human mind.

Product placement is a marketing technique that involves strategic brand placements either unobtrusively or prominently in a body of work (music, video, books, etc.) intending to generate sales. It is a common brand positioning and advertisement strategy albeit more popular in audio-visual works. For example, the Nigerian music video scenes are replete with embedded marketing through subtle visuals depicting brands; Korede Bello’s ‘Godwin’ cleverly advertised Access Bank and Lekki Gardens in its music video. Another visual product placement example is the unobtrusive place-

ment of the Nokia Lumia series in the hands of some artists in the “Dorobucci” music video, during Nokia’s Àrst stint with Android. It would not really come as a surprise if viewers missed these subtle product placements.

While the tact towards brand sensitisation and awareness using music videos is applaudable, they do not have nearly as much verve as embedding them via the medium that has been established to be more powerful – music i.e., audio product placement. Commercially successful books and movies like the James Bond series, year-on-year placed some brands of automobile, luxury watches, vodka, etc. giving the brands signiÀcant visibility, even many music videos do that but the ‘conversion rate’, or recall rate is likely not as signiÀcant when this product placement is not accompanied by verbal/musical exposure.

Musical art and performances in the past especially the more indigenous genres like Fuji, Juju, Highlife, Ogene, among others have been a viable medium of product placements.

Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, Oliver de Coque, Osadebe, Okonkwo Asah, and other notable Nigerian musicians mastered these audio/verbal product placements. Although it could be argued that some were unintentional or with brand placements in mind, the success of many of these songs and the corresponding eͿect on brands they marketed sheds light on the potency of consciously targeting brands via this medium.

“To ba fe lowo, to ba fe ta pools, Face to Face ni o lo… Eni nla ni se ohun nla, Adebutu Kessington pelu Ayoku mi” – Ebenezer Obey The above line is from a 1967 Ebenezer Obey song (record), which gave signiÀcant exposure to Premier Lotto’s business. The impact of the record on

the business was quite signiÀcant that Adebutu Kessington (Chairman of Premier Lotto) testiÀed it made not just him and his name popular, but the business boomed by over 100 per cent. In a similar vein, Alhaji Razaq Okoya also mentioned in an interview he granted while celebrating his 80th birthday how the subtle placement of the Eleganza Group in a record by Ebenezer Obey massively brought attention to his store, which laid the foundation for the success of the group today.

This form of product placement has been used to a large degree in the entertainment space (music) to signiÀcant success not just in Nigeria. “Pass the Courvoisier”, a hip-hop song by Busta Rhymes and P.Diddy, after becoming a massive hit signiÀcantly boosted the sales of the Courvoisier cognac. ‘’Pass the Courvoisier Part Two’’ helped increase the sales of the liquor by 4.5 per cent in the Àrst quarter of 2002 and into the double digits in subsequent months, said Jack Shea, a spokesman for Allied Domecq Wine and Spirits, an American arm of the British drinks company that owns Courvoisier. The inÁuence of the music on sales was eye-opening to the industry and marketers as Courvoisier sales eventually doubled in 2002 after the 2002 remix of the same song by Busta Rhymes, P.Diddy, and Pharrel.

Today, however, inÁuencer marketing and other forms of marketing are the more common methods that brands use to create awareness, stay relevant, and drive sales, relegating the signiÀcantly eͿective product placement strategy via music or movies to the shadows.

Brands across diͿerent sectors from Alcoholic, Energy Drinks and Beverages to telecommunications, to fast-moving consumer goods, endorse musicians and music producers nowadays and the

musicians, in turn, oͿer largely just staticvisual product placement. Oftentimes, the music artist who is the brand ambassador just oͿers his or her or its physical appearance for the product or brand or subtly placing the products they are advertising in music videos not taking advantage of the strong connection between music and memory for these brands.

The potential for proper brand placement via music i.e., audio product placement or a mix of audio-visual product placement is quite huge especially in a digitally connected world taking into consideration the proliferation of digital distribution platforms and how prominent music is in the lives of people globally. Looking at the numbers, Burna Boy’s “Twice as Tall” album has well over 175 million streams across all digital platforms (and is still growing). This means the number of times a product mentioned there would have been heard, consciously by fans and unconsciously by those who hear the songs in passing, is signiÀcantly high.

Recalling the eͿect music has on memory, it could be argued that the numbers this could pull for a mentioned brand would be signiÀcantly higher compared to just having his face on a billboard or having a product sitting idly in a music video.

The argument for music as a product placement medium holds signiÀcantly, given how it could be listened to at almost any time even in passing, unlike visuals which require signiÀcant concentration from viewers and fans, which even most times they still miss.

Brands should begin to realize that the popularity of a musician could fade over time, but the music would always evoke memory, and would always stay.

This is an avenue brands and artists should consider generating revenue from while ensuring they leave a mark on the hearts of listeners and prospective customers via music.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

20

THE EXECUTIVE ALFRED AKOKHIA:

Multiple Taxation from FG, States Killing Outdoor Advertising Business In the last 10 years and counting, the Nigerian Out-of-home advertising industry has been plagued by all sorts of intrigues. From over-regulation to policy somersaults and piling debts- all of which have threatened the existence of the industry. Managing Director/CEO, Rainbow Advertising Technologies Limited, Alfred IsahAkokhia, speaks to Adedayo Adejobi on the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, some of the challenges bedeviling the industry, the way out of the quagmire, the role of the primary regulator in stabilising the industry, and how APCON’s new code of practice will change the face of advertising in Nigeria

W

hat’s your take on what’s the changes that have occurred in the outdoor advertising space in the past 10 years?

The integrated marketing communications industry has gone through a lot, but outdoor advertising, from the onset, has had challenges. The past 10 years have been very terrible. The challenges of multiple taxation, non-payment after you have rendered service and the challenges of multiple regulations have always been there.

We are however surmounting those challenges.

All hands are on deck to ensure that they are minimised.

One thing the outdoor advertising industry has to contend with is the growing importance of the digital world; a threat to traditional advertising. What is your opinion on this?

Digital doesn’t portend a threat to outdoor advertising in Nigeria. Certainly not. The world is dynamic. New technologies are emerging, and we are beginning to experience them in outdoor advertising. The way of doing business and professional practice will change. We have 3D outdoor apertures today. Because our business is specialised, anything digital can only complement what we are doing. It can never put us behind. It can only complement what we are doing.

Outdoor advertising exists as a secondary medium. Remember, it’s a reminder medium.

And so, it will continue to play its role. For that reason, outdoor advertising will continue to exist. But what we need to do as practitioners is to move with time.

Thank God we are doing that seriously now.

Nothing can take the place of the outdoor, especially in a country like ours, where we don’t have constant electricity. So, outdoor advertising is not only performing its role as a secondary and reminder medium but now as a primary medium to a lot of brands.

How has COVID-19 impacted Out-ofHome (OOH) Advertising industry?

The Covid-19 pandemic has seriously negatively impacted Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising industry. At a point when it started, almost all our clients asked us all to shut down operations. Contracts were cancelled, billboards campaigns were halted and it was a huge loss. Again, we have been able to surmount the challenges and we are picking up again. We hope the federal government does not shut down the economy again, because shutting down at the Àrst instance did not help the business, the economy, and the government.

Last week, the government says they are not considering a shutdown, because of its negative eͿect on the economy. It aͿected our business, and even though it aͿected our businesses, the various government regulators were running after us to come and pay taxes.

It was very di΀cult for us.

Akokhia

What do you think is responsible for the seeming disconnect between the regulator and the regulated, and why is it so?

Who is the regulator? I think that is the question we should ask. The law of advertising gives APCON the right to regulate advertising in all its aspect and ramiÀcation. And the law of Nigeria gives local governments the power to collect rates on billboards. To that extent, for outdoor, the local government is the one to regulate outdoor. But all of a sudden, we begin to have diͿerent regulatory agencies being backed up by-laws created by these governments to regulate outdoor advertising. They are the ones who are our problems.

When you go to the local government, they will tell you they have ceded their powers to those regulators to regulate.

How can you cede your constitutionally given power to another person? These

are the challenges.

Again, what are they regulating? Are they regulating advertising and advertisements or billboards? If they are regulating advertising and advertisements, then they are performing the role of the primary regulator- Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

But if it’s billboards they are regulating as though they are regulating houses that people build, why are we paying so much? For instance, for a face of a Uni-pole structure, we pay as much as N3.5million to a regulator.

For two faces, that’s N7million. Is it the structure I’m paying that for every year?

We need to spell out a lot of things.

The challenges of multiple taxation, all sorts of gangster ways of doing things.

In the process, we are at the receiving end. The government we should run to is becoming our problem. It’s a big challenge.

As a practitioner, what do you think, is the way out?

The government needs to look at things holistically by working according to the constitution of Nigeria. The only government organ that can collect rates on advertising is the local government because that is what the constitution says. You cannot cede the powers given to you by the constitution to another body. It is not done. It doesn’t make sense to any person.

I like what APCON is doing. It should seriously take this issue as a big task. It needs to go to court on behalf of all sectoral groups. Let us have a deÀnite solution to the problem, so we know whom we are paying our taxes to and outdoor rates to. They shouldn’t leave outdoor advertising practitioners to face their problems alone. APCON should be more proactive, and our fathers in the industry should sort those issues out. If they need to go to court, or for the constitution to be reviewed they should.

I think the new APCON Registrar is doing a

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

21

THE EXECUTIVE Local Governments should be allowed to collect rates on billboards lot of reforms. APCON law has passed the second reading at the National Assembly. This would spell out all the speciÀcs. The code of advertising practice is also being reviewed.

On our part at the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), we have been engaging practitioners all along to see reasons with us. I don’t know how long those engagements will last, but I think there should be a deÀnite solution to those challenges, and the only body which can take up the challenge is APCON, the regulatory body for advertising in Nigeria.

You are on the committee reviewing the APCON Code, what does the code entail, and its import for the industry?

The review is overdue, and it’s a code that has been on for over 10 years. The Minister set up a Ministerial ad-hoc committee to look at it. Every sector of practice is represented.

I represent OAAN in that sector and we have been meeting every Thursday so we can meet the deadline. Lots of things this current code did not take into cognisance need to be addressed. Issues of rate, deÀning who a regulator is, what constitutes advertising, how a Media Purchase Order should be, and what should constitute a contract were part of the issues on the front burner. I believe the new code should be able to address those issues we are facing. The new APCON code will sanitise the industry.

The Out-of-home industry is burdened with a deluge of debts. How are you grappling with these near-crippling debts? Is there a united front in addressing the piling debts? What lasting solutions would you recommend for adoption by the industry?

It’s a big challenge and it is crippling our business. Debt is one of the greatest challenges outdoor advertising practitioners face. From my personal experience, I have a lot of friends on the agency side. They will tell you clients have not paid, and truly clients haven’t paid.

You begin to wonder why clients wouldn’t pay for a campaign that has been run, whereas a lot of the clients get paid before they sell their products. So why are they not paying?

We also have other people who have collected monies and not remitting to others.

There are media owners also. I chair the OAAN Committee on debt review and collection. We asked our members to give us lists of those owing and amounts owed. Lots of them are not coming forward for fear of being blacklisted by clients, by those agencies. And the people who owe you are living fat. When the regulator charges you, they want you to pay upfront.

It’s a very big problem, but those debts are there. Some of them have been collected by agency guys and they did not remit. I think the new APCON code will resolve a lot of the problems. Meanwhile, we, practitioners must Ànd better ways of doing business.

What’s the best way to put an end to the many underhand dealings, corruption, and lack of trust between advertising, clients, and industry operators?

It’s a complex cycle, but the problem is one and same-debt. When the new registrar came into power, even APCON is handling it. It set up a six-month-old Standard of Practice (SOP) committee to look at better ways of doing business, business contracts, and debts. It’s not just OAAN they are owing, MPAN, NPAN are also complaining. All they are culprits, they are also complaining. majority of them will collect money and not remit to media owners.

And when you take the bold step of reporting the matter to your client, they get angry and blacklist you. There is something wrong, and it comes down to having proper procedures for doing business. When we begin to have that, all these issues will begin to reduce to the barest minimum.

Very soon, and sooner than you can think, there will be standards and procedures put in place, especially in this time of the new registrar. Once that is done holistically, it will solve a lot of problems and lay a better foundation for advertising practice in Nigeria.

With the proliferation of outdoor advertising agencies and regulators competing with you, what is OAAN doing to tackle that?

The challenge of non-registered outdoor companies is part of the challenges we are dealing with. OAAN is like a pressure group.

We can only advise. OAAN is the only body for outdoor advertising recognised by the law of APCON, as a sectoral body. It behoves those

Akokhia

who are not members to join OAAN. APCON should Ànd a way of dealing with all those unregistered and unqualiÀed practitioners. Not just outdoor, but also advertising.

The regulator being part of the business is part of the challenge we at the end of those reviews we talk about, would address. A lot of them are not doing it without the connivance of our members.

They are regulators, and for them to say they want to put billboards, they must get a practitioner to design the board and present the board as his own. Being more socially responsible in practice is the Àrst way to start. APCON’s new code will give powers to self-regulation in other sectoral bodies and that will help to resolve these problems. Sectoral groups should be given powers to discipline their members.

What do you see as the role of the leadership of OAAN in the scheme of things?

If you have a leadership that is not proactive, you will always have challenges. The new leadership under Emmanuel Ajufo we have in OAAN, is very proactive and ready to change things. In the last three years, a lot of changes have happened in the outdoor advertising industry. We are reviewing our constitution and all those issues are parts of those the new constitution will

be dealing with. There are innovations.

We have also made membership easy and not strict. They have set up a good foundation, and I believe that there would be dynamic changes in the next two years. Any other person who will come after Emmanuel Ajufo can build on those standards.

What is your advice to the federal and state governments on issues of over-regulation and policy somersault Out-of-home industry operators are faced with?

World over, outdoor advertising is regulated. Bills and rates collected on billboards are from local authorities because that is what the constitution says. Outdoor advertising is a business like another business. Multiple taxation from federal, states governments, and street urchins are killing the outdoor advertising business. The issue of multiple taxation should be resolved.

It’s a big problem. Local governments should be allowed to collect rates on billboards, whilst APCON should do its full regulation through sectoral groups.

We learnt that LASAA is about to concession some route to some companies in Lagos. What’s your take on that?

I have not heard that. But if it’s true, it will be unfair and totally against the spirit of free enterprise. It will kill innovation in the out-of-home platform

The government needs to look at things holistically by working according to the constitution of Nigeria. The only government organ that can collect rates on advertising is the local government because that is what the constitution says.

You cannot cede the powers given to you by the constitution to another body

and create unhealthy competition amongst practitioners. APCON and OAAN should just join forces together and ensure that it does not happen. Lagos is too big to be concessioned to few practioners. 80 if not more of outdoor advertising practice happens in Lagos. It will be rsiky to do that. If it’s true LASAA should rescind that decision so as not to create confusion in the outdoor advertising space.

What’s the future of out-of-home advertising practice in Nigeria?

The future of out-of-home practice is very bright. With new innovations in technology and exposure of practitioners to international standards, the future is bright for out-of-home practice in Nigeria. Government, however, should not strangulate the practice with obnoxious policies like multiple taxation, etc in the name of regulation. I think the practice is unduly overrgulated.

It’s said in some quarters that there are proliferation of out-of-home companies in Nigeria and to help the outdoor companies must come together to make the business strong. What’s your take on that?

I agree with that totally. The out-of-home business in Nigeria like any other business is becoming more and more capital intensive.

For sustainability and e΀ciency, we must begin to think of mergers and acquisitions.

It’s better to be a manager or director in a company that declares proÀt every year than being the managing director of a company that has no direction or future plans.

At a point the challenges of street urchins was seriously impeding the practice. How have practitioners been able to resolve that?

That challenge is still there. The only thing is that practitioners have devised a better way and method of managing them. Some of them are in the pay roll of our members while some serve as security for our structures. It’s part of the numerous challenges we are facing.

APCON has functioned for the past three years without a council, why and don’t you WKLQN LW·V D;HFWLQJ WKH SUDFWLFH RI DGYHUWLVLQJ in Nigeria?

Why? I don’t know. May be you should ask them in APCON. It will surely aͿect the practice as major decisions to move the industry forward that need the council endorsement cannot be implemented. Now that we have a substantive Registrar, I believe government should expedite action on that too.

22

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

IMAGES

A

senior executive in the Operations Department of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Mr.AyodeleDurowaiye, along with his siblings, paid his last respects to his mother, the late Mrs Felicia Adeyemi Durowaiye, who passed on recently at 84. The life and times of the matriarch of the Durowaiye-Herbert family was first celebrated at Baptist Church, Ogidi Ijumu, Kogi State and later at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Sabo Oke, Ilorin.

Friends, colleagues, associates and family members of the Durowaiye siblings were at both events.

Children of the deceased from right, Mrs Lola Onamusi, Navy Captain(rtd) and Mrs Funke Owonubi, Ayodele and Biodun Durowaiye, and Kemi Owonubi

Mrs Lola Onamusi and Adams Jato

Hon. Onari Brown

L-R: Ayodele, Abiodun and Temitope Durowaiye

Eniola Bello

Navy Captain (rtd) & Mrs John Owonubi with Abraham Durotola

Rev. Taiwo Adeola

Chief Laide Fowosere and Mrs Temilade Ogunbiyi

Mrs Funke Ilori

23

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

IMAGES

Mr and Mrs Bello Abdulkareen

Alhaji Moruf Oyejide Jimoh

Chief Remi Ogunremi and Abudu Eroje

Park Pire

L-R, Charles Okaga, Tunde Faponle and Sylvester Ogede

Sunday Ewolabi

L-R: Nnorom Emmanuel, Abudu Eroje and Akin Leosho

Rasaq Oladipo

John Okanlawon

Mrs Elsie Williams

Revd. James Olawuyi

Mr. Roland Onamusi

Koni Wonosikou

Muhammed Abdullahi Kaoje and Aliu Barbado

Mrs Seun Okanlawon

Mrs Funmi Durowaiye and Mrs Kemi Olayinka

24

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

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

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 09Sept-2021, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS

AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 160.61 161.95 -0.80% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 6.15% Nigeria International Debt Fund 324.76 324.76 -15.98% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 109.83 109.83 -1.88% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.67% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.31 3.47 -2.67% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 7.16% Anchoria Equity Fund 133.04 134.69 0.03% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.15 1.15 -13.70% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 19.52 20.11 7.63% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 431.69 444.71 7.82% ARM Ethical Fund 38.18 39.33 13.25% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.10 -0.57% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.98 0.98 -6.99% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.41% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 106.15 106.15 4.37% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,032.49 1,032.49 3.25% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.04 2.04 -7.30% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.13 2.17 -6.65% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.56% Paramount Equity Fund 16.51 16.81 3.22% Women's Investment Fund 136.48 138.05 2.55% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.23% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 118.67 119.43 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.19 108.19 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.95% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.21 1.22 0.66% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.44 1.44 -9.14% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 8.01% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 5.47% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,160.35 1,177.53 0.74% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,414.23 1,414.23 11.45% FBN Balanced Fund 191.88 193.13 2.24% FBN Halal Fund 112.59 112.59 9.80% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.86% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

127.07 158.15

127.07 3.61% 160.18 4.61% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.97 1.59 1.19

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 5.90% 3.97 2.62% 1.62 4.40% 1.19 4.50% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price N/A N/A N/A

Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A

GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.63% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.79 2.85 -2.39% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 152.99 153.27 -1.61% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.28 1.32 1.38% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.10 1.10 3.89% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.42 1.44 4.17% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,149.43 1,149.43 5.84% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.46 11.50 9.38% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 9.23% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.68 1.70 7.10% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.59 11.58 -4.73% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 5.57% PACAM Equity Fund 1.66 1.67 4.65% PACAM EuroBond Fund 113.21 115.13 3.09% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 131.53 134.11 8.75% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.05 1.05 10.05% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.31 1.33 2.20% United Capital Bond Fund 1.92 1.92 4.61% United Capital Equity Fund 0.87 0.89 9.30% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.07% United Capital Eurobond Fund 120.18 120.18 4.99% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.08 4.12% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 6.19% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.84 12.95 8.18% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.31 14.46 17.26% Zenith Income Fund 24.35 24.35 1.52% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.98%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 53.10

10.62% 5.15%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.30

13.40

0.63%

121.41 96.63 17.20 18.19

124.43 98.74 17.30 18.29

0.97% -2.61%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.88 5.46 17.37 1.00 19.49 158.11

3.92 5.54 17.47 1.00 19.69 160.11

2.87% -4.01% 7.02% 7.94% -4.98% -28.12%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.40

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

12.9.2021

Bukola Iluyomade Nigeria’s Bedazzling Real Estate Amazon Without a formal training in engineering or architecture, Bukola Iluyomade has over the years metamorphosed into a real estate amazon. A trained nutritionist, Iluyomade who is the Managing Director of Aimart International Nigeria Limited tells Funke Olaode about her foray into the housing sector and why shelter remains a top priority for every human being ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

50

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

COVER

BUKOLA ILUYOMADE

On Self-Realisation, Determination and Actualisation

Iluyomade

F

rom a young age, providence cut a path for Bukola Iluyomade, the brain behind the real estate agency, Aimart International Nigeria Limited.

The daughter of an army officer, the trained nutritionist was raised in the barracks in the northern part of the country. Due to her father’s military career, the family moved around a lot. It was during one of the trips to the United States that she was drawn to the American system of affordable housing for the masses. Recalling her journey in the real estate world in a recent encounter, she revealed that she evinced a passion for functional accommodation from childhood but the trip to the States was an eye-opener.

“I have always had a thing for functional accommodation since my childhood. My father was an officer in the military so we used to travel a lot those days. The family travelled with my Dad to the United States for his post-graduate studies from the Nigerian Army. I noticed a lot of difference in the way a lot of things are done over there and here in Nigeria.

I took particular interest in the way their houses were built and the kind of functionality it has,” she said.

Bright-eyed, Iluyomade couldn’t help notice the stark differences when she returned to Nigeria. She described it as a rude shock.

“When we arrived in the country, my father was posted to Ojo Military Barracks in Ibadan. He superintended over a lot of construction works within the barracks.

This further aroused my interest in the provision of affordable accommodation for the generality of people,” she said.

However, her fascination with real estate didn’t materialise immediately for she obtained her first and second degrees in Human Nutrition from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and the University of Ibadan respectively. But with years of personal development, Iluyomade steadily began her journey to her childhood passion. Her mother, she said, played a critical part in helping her realise that dream.

“She has been asking me to come and see a particular land that she bought in a particular area. When she saw it, I was not too keen on coming there, but she played a fast one on me. She bought land in the name of my children and brought the documents to me. After all, I have to go and see the land she bought for her grandchildren. That was how I got there and saw a need to acquire more for myself.

I ended up buying 20 acres for myself in that same location. Before then, my husband and I had built a couple of houses for rental income.”

Having reawakened her vision and

mission in real estate, she hit the ground running immediately and the 20 acres she first acquired became her first portfolio in the commercial real estate sector. It is called Aimart Treasure Park. Others include Intercontinental Park 1 and 2 at Ibeju Lekki, Landmark and Birchbury Estate; Sunshine and Diamond Parks at the Mainland.

“Our portfolios are designed to meet the yearnings of different strata of people in the society both in commercial and residential. In fact, we are marketing both, depending on the location of the property.

We have estates that we market strictly for commercial purposes and we have the ones that are purely residential,” she explained.

Today, the nutritionist-turned real estate tycoon is keen on providing befitting accommodation for all and sundry. This is evident in her commercial housing outfit which she established to compliment Lagos State’s affordable housing scheme.

According to her, Lagos is still a hub for real estate despite being saturated.

“Lagos property market is the real deal in the Nigeria real estate market. Lagos has the highest density per square metre in Nigeria. The implication is that demand for property in Lagos will always increase.

Land is inelastic but droves of people keep coming in for economic reasons. Rural-urban migration has increased due to the current security challenges in the country, especially in the rural areas. Real estate will always be in demand and especially in Lagos where the resources are scarce.”

While some investors have suffered setbacks, Iluyomade offered advice to prospective investors.

“This happens in every business and every sphere. I have been there so I know how it feels to have a setback in real estate investment. It is also one of the reasons we are in this business to let people know they don’t have to give up. The fact that people built houses and it collapsed doesn’t mean other people won’t still live in houses.

Conducting due diligence before any transaction as an investor is key.”

Continuing on the unwholesome trend where investors don’t get what they bargained for, she said, “You see, we Nigerians are always in haste and don’t like reading, especially terms and conditions. An American jokingly said something a while ago that ‘if you want to hide something from a black man, put it in a book.’ Most times we sign documents we haven’t really understood. We assume a lot. My advice is for clients to read and fully understand terms and conditions governing the property they want to invest in before they cross the t’s and dot the i’s. Everything should be spelt out before commitment. All parties should respect what has been agreed

initially. That, in my opinion, will solve the problem.”

While the real estate tycoon is interested in helping the Lagos State government in affordable housing for all with finance remaining a crucial component of homeownership, one wonders how affordable these houses are to the masses. She put it this way: “The Nigeria mortgage system is evolving. We might not be there yet but I think we were no longer where we used to be. There are a lot of facilities that mortgage banks are offering but in my opinion, a lot of us have not made a good effort to see how they can be accessible.

Imagine the federal civil servants who they have been deducting their housing allowance from the National Housing Fund (NHF) for over 30 years but never care to know how to use the fund to their advantage. This is why we are educating our clients and prospective clients on how to access their NHF account and become a homeowner. This is not in our culture in Africa where everything is cash and carry.

You dare not go to buy a house abroad and pay with cash at once. You will be arrested,’’ she said.

Recalling an experience in Pretoria, South Africa some years ago when she chanced upon some spectacular low-cost housing development on her way from the airport, Iluyomade suggested that similar housing schemes can be replicated in Nigeria.

“It is a one-bedroom semi-detached development. This kind of mass development is called social housing schemes. It can only be done by government or nonprofit organisations. The houses are subsidized so that a lot of people can afford them. Also, the government should give out housing loans to her citizens with two per cent interest for a tenor of 30 years as applicable in other countries. The amount the Federal Government claims to be spending on oil subsidies can take care of this. Government should also amend the Land Use Act to make it easier for investors to be able to perfect their title documents easily and on too.”

Despite the stiff competition and depressed economy, she still believes that affordable housing can be all-inclusive.

“All our estates are carefully selected to give maximum return on investment to clients. Our return on investment varies depending on the project. The minimum returns on any of our sites range from 10 to 30 per cent per annum despite the depressed economy. What we sell actually is homeownership that comes with a peace of mind package. We give a stressless and hassle-free real estate package. We guarantee wealth creation and wealth preservation for all our esteemed clients.

We are accessible to different strata of

Iluyomade

people based on our carefully designed products. We also have instalment payment platforms.

“In the affordable housing sector, we are in partnership with mortgage banks to give out mortgage loans to our clients for up to a tenor of 15 years to pay back. This reduces the burden of having the bulk money at once to buy our properties.”

In a way, growing up in a family where the emphasis is laid on ability rather than gender has helped her to navigate the maledominated real estate industry.

“My upbringing made it very easy for me. We were taught not to have an inferiority complex. First, in my family, there’s nothing like what a man can do a woman cannot do.

We were all made to go through the same drilling. The irony of it is that my father is a gentleman to the core. He is a disciplinarian but very loving. He doesn’t joke with his children.

He makes sure all our needs are met but there are boundaries you dare not cross. There’s no difference between a boy and a girl in terms of the chores or errands we run for the family. I learnt how to change flat tyres as a small girl. My father was in the education corps in the Nigerian Army.

So, it is a no-brainer we were all bookworms. It was tough, but when I look back now it was those pieces of training that prepared me for challenges later in life.”

An indigene of Ifon in Ondo State, she has been married for 14 years to an Ondo town man whom she met during her National Youth Corps Service (NYSC) year.

“We were friends. We were in the same NCCF fellowship. The friendship grew and it was easy for me to say yes when he asked for marriage. It’s been wonderful. We have our fair share of challenges but it’s been an exciting journey thus far.”

Being a professional, mother and wife, juggling all three can be quite a herculean task.

“But I thank God I have a very understanding husband who tries to help anywhere I fall short.

That’s the only way I could cope.”

When she is not in the field, Iluyomade relaxes by going to the cinemas and visiting new places. “Maybe because of my upbringing and experience growing up. I enjoy travelling. During long vacations, the whole family will travel by road to visit a tourist site within the country. I enjoy the beautiful sceneries of green vegetation and undulating landscapes across the country.”

Simple and reserved in nature, Iluyomade is living her dreams. Giving a few tips on life lessons, she believes that in all human facets, including business, putting God first is important. “Patience and standing for what you believe is very important. Also, hard work does not kill. The reward may tarry but the multiplier effect, in the long run, is rewarding. In other words, there will always be a profitable moment,” she concluded.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

51

GLITZ TRIBUTE

How Abiodun Laid Father to Rest in Grand Style

In his lifetime, Pa Emmanuel Adesanya pulsed with a lambent glow that never seemed to peter out. It brightened his world, bathing everyone that came in contact with him, in his halo. His humanity transcended tribe and religion and he never cringed when beneficiaries of his humaneness, morphed into an adoring mob. Luminous with uncommon charm, he lived to impart love with a common touch. Deceased, Pa Adesanya assumes a larger than life presence in the lives of his loved ones as family, friends, and colleagues converged on his native land, Iperu Remo, in Ogun State, to bid farewell to the man who raised several titans, including Governor Dapo Abiodun, writes Lanre Alfred

N

obody likes funerals. All those flowers decorating a tombstone and eulogies draped across the coffin, like a farewell jewel; amid the hubbub, a full life careens to a close. It is understandable, therefore, that many would gladly shirk appearances at the entombment of a friend or even a close relative.

In light of this, it was humbling to behold the creme de la creme of Nigeria’s high society as they thronged the funeral of Pa Emmanuel Abiodun.

Their presence was infinitely ennobling for Governor Abiodun, who withdrew from the furbelow of his high office in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, to honour his late father and patriarch of the Abiodun clan with a befitting burial.

Interestingly, however, the Ijebus had always been good at keeping a stiff upper lip, even in the face of monumental tragedy. At funerals, intense emotions are expressed through quiet sobs, a hand on the shoulder, and noiseless shedding of tears.

But on September 9, as Pa Emmanuel Adesanya Abiodun, a native of Iperu Remo, was interred in mother earth, the Ijebu enclave trembled in grief as several friends and family of the deceased broke into tears.

Iperu Remo virtually keeled over as mourners thronged the funeral of the accomplished patriarch of the Abiodun clan and father of Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

Pa Adesanya could not have wished for a more perfect farewell. The sky over his native Iperu Remo was a picturesque blue and the ambiance of the town morphed into subtle gloom as if in mourning with the bereaved.

Governor Abiodun, his beloved son, best friend and confidant, watched with undisguised grief as the pall bearers bore his casket to the St. James Anglican Church, in Iperu Remo, Ogun State.

Pa Adesanya’s final departure from mortal life was no doubt a spectacular affair. For a man who lived an impactful life, it was only fitting that he enjoyed the rare privilege of such a grand funeral.

At the funeral service last Thursday, many state governors including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, industry titans, first class monarchs and academic giants, among others, were in attendance. But, best of all, the people, the ordinary people who he had thrilled, inspired, and given hope, were there en masse to say goodbye.

That was exactly how Pa Adesanya dreamed his final departure from the mortal world perhaps.

His funeral was attended by the inevitable phalanx of VIPs politicians, sportsmen, celebrities of every walk of life and hue. A lot of ordinary people were there too. In death, Pa Abiodun was accessible to everyone, just as he was in his lifetime. On the streets outside, the crowds were even greater, lined in their tens of thousands along the route of the funeral procession, as the hearse, journeyed from his home and through the neighbourhoods where he was fondly hailed and revered as Baba Teacher.

Grand Departure

The ceremony for Pa Adesanya, who died at age 89 after a brief illness on August 2, was highly unusual — in part because coronavirus restrictions meant that it had to be scaled back, but also because it attracted the creme of Nigeria’s high society, despite the stringent circumstances.

His bereaved family comprising his widow, Victoria, his children - including Governor Abiodun - children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, walked in a somber procession behind his coffin as it was driven to the chapel.

The presiding minister, the Most Rev. Olusina Fape, received his corpse and subsequently delivered a heartfelt eulogy emphasising the many ways in which Pa Abiodun impacted positively on his loved ones, friends and even his casual acquaintances.

The incidence of the coronavirus pandemic caused the funeral to be pared down with adjustments including crowd control at the

Governor Abiodun (second right) with some dignitaries during the burial

church service. The deceased’s family members in attendance all wore masks and were seated six feet apart in the chapel.

But the subdued service reflected not only the reality of life in a pandemic, but also Pa Abiodun ’s larger than life persona. The ceremony was rich with symbolism and nods to the deceased’s life of service to his loved ones, hometown and Nigeria.

A Life Spent in Service

By many quantitative metrics, Pa Adesanya proved himself the quintessential educationist.

By qualitative metrics, he was no less impressive.

Arguably one of Nigeria’s most efficient administrators and celebrated academics, he displayed the track record of an impressive leader. He was soft-spoken yet charismatic, logical yet passionate.

Born on February 23, 1932, to Isaac and Alice Abiodun, in Itasanyin, Iperu Remo, Ogun State, Pa Adesanya attended St. James’ Anglican School, Iperu between 1948 and 1950, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. He then proceeded to St. Paul’s Grade III Teacher’s College, Abeokuta from 1951-1952. Soon after he commenced his teaching career as a Grade III teacher at St. Paul’s Anglican School, Odogbolu in 1953, Pa Abiodun then went to St. Luke’s Grade II Teacher Training College, Ibadan between 1955 and 1956. Three years later, he joined the Joint Provincial Grade II Teacher Training College, Sagamu as Tutor. Baba had a stint as a teacher at Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Iperu, before returning to Joint Provincial College in 1962.

He subsequently acquired a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) English Language and Literature from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), Master of Arts in Education (M.A.ED) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education (Guidance and Counselling), all from OAU. In 1971, he became a lecturer at the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, where he spent the next 28 years, imparting knowledge and moulding future leaders before retiring in 1999.

At the college, he rose to become the Head, Department of English; Dean, School of Arts; Head, Department of Education Foundation and Counselling; Dean, School of Education; Director, Institute of Academic Extension Services; and Head, Department of Educational Foundation and Management.

Pa Adesanya never set limits to possibilities of success throughout his career as an academic

and administrator. He inspired every member of his faculty at the Adeyemi College of Education, in Ondo, to perform at their optimal. Many of his colleagues and subordinates attest that he was a great administrator, role model and ambassador of the academic community.

He was also a master of innovation.

His ingenious approaches to scholarship and administration attest to his depth, high professionalism, and work ethic.

All through his lifetime and tenure as an academic and administrator, he remained committed to the highest standard of professional excellence. There is no gainsaying Pa Adesanya established himself as a super administrator. He relished every challenge as an opportunity to demonstrate his resourcefulness and ingenuity at resolving problems. His associates claimed that he seemed hard-wired to attack conflict and administrative problems and resolve them, even in circumstances that many would cringe and seek the safest way out.

A Quintessential Patriarch

With Pa Abiodun, no relative could ever be despondent. He was committed to the emotional and spiritual well-being of his family.

Recalling his impact on his life, Governor Abiodun said, “I learnt humility from my father because he always believed that life is transient and that we must impact positively on others.” Pa Abiodun painstakingly nurtured the bonds of filial love with his immediate and extended family members.

He paid a listening ear to his children from childhood through adulthood, to the extent that they chose him as their personal confidant and mentor.

His capacity to bond with his loved ones may however be traced to his relationship with his father. Though he was born to disciplinarian parents, Pa Abiodun’s father, Isaac Abiodun, gave him adequate attention and guidance emblematic of a perfect fatherson relationship.

Thus he was simply paying it forward while he devoted similar time and affection to his own children. Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, for instance, enthused that he learnt most of his leadership traits from his late father, best friend, mentor and confidant, Pa Abiodun.

A Selfless Giver

But in parsing Pa Abiodun’s legacy, his most visible role while alive was in giving large chunks of himself in building up others. He lived to please people and worked hard at it all his life: he sought to fulfill his role as an administrator and academic; he sought to impart useful knowledge and skills in his students; he sought to efficiently play his role as a husband, father, grandfather and greatgrandfather - all these while pursuing his own personal ambitions.

Yet these demands and roles which literally consumed a large part of his time never caused him to burn out. Despite his oft busy schedule, he was approachable and easy to relate to.

It was hardly surprising, therefore, that his demise excited an unprecedented outpouring of grief by his native land. His funeral befittingly resonated somber pomp and ceremony; it was a pageant of solemn procession and visibly saddened statesmen; of effusive speeches from past and present presidents, parliamentarians and flowery messages from the public on the rousing citizenship and humanity of the deceased.

The long lines of dignitaries filing past the coffin lying in state in the hallowed sanctum of the St. James Anglican Church, in Iperu Remo further attested to his endearing citizenship of humanity while alive.

The overwhelming tone in all the tributes was genuine affection and respect, sentiments that Pa Adesanya Abiodun had invariably evoked during his lifetime.

Watching him from a distance, Governor Abiodun shouldered a gracious kind of manhood, stepping to the graveside in honour of his late father. According to him, the untimely demise of Pa Abiodun was a regrettable blow to him and other family members. He wished that the Almighty God grants the deceased sweet repose, stressing that he would never get over the absence of his beloved father, mentor, and confidant.

Hovering by his side as he was borne toward an enchanted afterlife, Governor Dapo rued the final departure of his father after a brief illness. He struggled in his grief to deal with the humbling reality that his sweet, chaste confidant had finally set out alone into eternity.

In one sense, though, Pa Emmanuel was not gone. The day before he was blessed and buried, his son made a rare, profoundly wrought surmise after days of puzzling grief, that no one who knew his father would ever forget him.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

GLITZ ENTERTAINMENT

Why Social Media Users in the Middle East Want to Boycott ‘Money Heist’ Stories by Vanessa Obioha There have been calls to boycott the popular Spanish heist drama series ‘Money Heist’ in the Middle East after two of the actors praised Israel in an interview. Reports filtered in that Palestinians and other antiZionists were not happy with the interview of Darko Peric, who played Helsinki, and Spanish-Armenian actor Hovik Keuchkerian who played Bogota in the hit Netflix series.

Peric had spoken glowingly about Israel in his interview with Israel’s Channel 12. “It was a marvellous experience and I hope to come back again. I know that there are a lot of fans here, and the people here are great.

“When people travel to Israel, they always talk about strict security and police measures, but when I arrived here even the police wanted to take pictures with me. It was great!”

On Keuchkerian part, his praise of ‘Fauda’, a Netflix Israeli drama about an undercover unit, the mistaravim, whose commandos carry out missions in the occupied Palestinian territories while disguised as Arabs, earned him a backlash.

Fauda, which was created by journalist Avi Issacharoff and actor Lior Raz, was pilloried by activists and commentators, who have accused the show of exploiting Palestinian suffering and turning it into entertainment.

Since the ‘Money Heist’ actors’ interview went viral, social media users in the region have been calling for viewers to boycott it despite its popularity. “While millions of Money Heist fans wait for the fifth season, performers from the successful show appeared on an Israeli channel, expressing their support for the Israeli occupation and celebrating its criminal activities against Palestinian(s),” wrote one Twitter user.

The protesters went as far as writing negative reviews on the series IMDb profile page.

One commenter wrote: “I love the series but praising Israel? What a Shame.” Another wrote: “Will stop watching series that support an apartheid state that’s terrorising the Palestinian people.”

The social media protesters believe that the negative comments could help in raising awareness about the Palestinian struggle.

Helsinki and Bogota in ‘Money Heist’

Netflix premiered the first volume of the final instalment of the series on Friday, September 3. The series follows the story of a criminal mind known as The Professor who recruits thieves with special skills to carry out the greatest heists in history. First, The Royal Mint of Spain and later the Bank of Spain.

Nigerian Breweries Assures Safety of Gulder Ultimate Search Participants

GUS returns October

As the regional selection for the survival reality TV show, Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS), kicks off this week, Nigerian Breweries Plc (NB), has assured the safety of participants for the For the first time, creators who are involved in a DJ Mix featured in Apple Music will be identified and paid.

Apple made the revolutionary announcement at the weekend.

Deploying Shazam technology, the music streaming service said that it has developed a tool that will “allow it to properly identify and compensate all of the individual creators involved in making a particular DJ Mix including any artists behind the music in the mix.”

This, it said, is in cooperation with major and independent labels- whereby it can properly identify and directly pay the rights holders within a DJ Mix. “We also are working with the DJs, and the suppliers of the DJ Mixes including festivals, clubs, promoters, curators and independent labels to ensure that they are compensated fairly.”

With thousands of mixes on Apple Music, Nigerian artists can benefit from the new tool. DJ Spinall for example has independently produced mixes under the Platoon Mixes. Titled Afromix, it featured artists like Flavour, Wizkid and Davido.

new season.

With the reality show involving mostly outdoor activities, the organisers in a statement disclosed that high tech security agencies are deployed.

“We have the full complement of all private, public and high tech security agencies who have been mobilised to keep the facility impenetrable and protect the lives and properties of contestants and crew members. The entire sites are fully equipped with an all-around armed team monitoring the CCTV footage round the clock.”

The statement added that Covid-19 protocols and guidelines will be strictly adhered to.

“We are working with the full Nigerian Breweries’ Plc. medical team, as well as top medical consultants who have set the medical and Covid-19 protocol guide to be used during the regional selections, the filming in the jungle and also for the entire GUS and NB crew.”

The show is coming back after a five-year hiatus with the theme ‘The Age of Craftsmanship’.

According to the organisers, the edition is specifically for individuals who have “a curious mind, are continually searching for answers beyond set boundaries, and are willing to try new things and enjoy every moment.”

Registration began on September 1 and closed on September 10. The regional selection will take place in three cities: Abuja (September 14-15); Enugu (September 15-16); and Lagos (September 16-17).

The ultimate winner of the season will be walking away with over N50 million worth of prizes.

Apple Music to Compensate Creators Featured in a DJ Mix

All the Buzz on BBNaija At the start of the new season of Big Brother Naija, Showmax, the streaming service from MultiChoice, announced that for the first time, it was making the show available in the UK for subscribers. It also announced that it has created a unique and exclusive show just for this season, ‘The Buzz’. Hosted by award-winning media personality Toke Makinwa, “The Buzz’’ is a carefully curated breakdown of weekly happenings in Biggie’s house. A new episode of the show is released on Tuesday (covers events of the weekend) and Saturday (covers weekday events). It also features a segment that only Showmax subscribers can access - the secret diary sessions.

These secret sessions allow housemates to rant about any and everything, and some of the juiciest details are revealed here. People discuss who they like, who they want to be with, those they can’t stand and more. Through the sessions, we have learnt the desires and feelings of the housemates. For instance, in the 11th episode, Liquorose revealed to Big Brother that she is worried about viewers’ perception of her since she doesn’t know if she is doing the right thing or not in the eyes of the viewers. Jackie B, on the other hand, is yet to get over Michael’s elimination. The housemate who joined later in the game was evicted last Sunday alongside Boma, Tega and Peace.

Spicing up the show, at least two guest stars join Makinwa in each episode. So far, ex-BBNaija finalists Mercy Eke and Dorathy Bachor, comedians Chigul and Senator, influencers EfeWarri Boy and Enioluwa, and superstar rapper Ice Prince have been guests on the show.

Besides streaming the show live, Showmax also allows fans to take in content from the show in bits with their weekly updates of its staple activities. Such activities include the nomination show, daily highlights, and Head of House challenge shows. This allows avid viewers who are too busy to stay connected to the official channel 24/7 to still enjoy the show, albeit in bite-sized pieces.

Toke Makinwa is the host of BBNaija The Buzz

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

HighLife Helen Prest-Ajayi in the News

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

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

Golden Era as Funke Kuti Turns 50 These are rainbow times for Funke Kuti, the ex-wife of Afrobeat singer, Femi Kuti. A few days ago, Funke clocked the golden year of 50 and was nearly overrun by a deluge of encomiums. Considering that she is as lovely as when she was half that age, one could argue that Funke stepped into the golden lane with Lady Fortune holding the lappets of her skirts.

When Femi clocked 50 a few years ago, the entire Kuti clan was roused into a frenzy.

Drums talked and people sang. Now that it is the turn of his ex-wife, a similar arrangement shook the country a few days ago. She even got a celebratory ping from the prestigious New Afrika Shrine. Of course, her son, Made, was at the forefront of the celebrations.

Consequently, folks could not help but think back to the glory of the past, a time when Funke was free of the burden of being society’s flower girl. Back then, she was only a happy dancer in Femi’s Positive Force Band.

Nearly every person who watched Femi’s

band way back noticed how the then Funke St Matthew Daniel, a sensational dancer, brought Femi’s sagacious lyricism to life. It was not a surprise, therefore, when both Femi and Funke decided to take things up a notch and become man and wife. It was not a surprise when another singer, Made, emerged from their union. It was a surprise, however, when they went their separate ways.

In the years that have gone by, Femi and Funke have grown closer to the point where one might say that they are best friends again.

As the boss of the independent event and artiste management, F. K. Management, there is almost always some business deal tying her together with her ex-husband’s Positive Force Band, especially after her son, Made joined the band. Even so, Femi and Funke have remained nothing but best friends, attending parties together and celebrating each other online and offline at every given opportunity.

50 years and counting, and Funke is no less a happy beauty than when she was 25. She

Kuti

remains, among other things, single, cheerful, surrounded by friends and relatives, and the darling of everyone that knows her.

Pastor Paul Adefarasin Becomes Most Influential Personality Prest-Ajayi

It is something of a cliché but that doesn’t lower its legitimacy: there is no smoke without fire and no fire without smoke. When Helen PrestAjayi fought tooth and nail for the rights to her husband’s remains and eventually won, those with a visionary disposition understood that the battle had yet to be concluded. Considering that the late Dr Tosin Ajayi was wellto-do, it was only a matter of time before the clash for properties and inheritance. That time came earlier than expected. Nevertheless, it seems as if Prest-Ajayi is coming on top as a Federal High Court in Lagos has declared her entitled to 50 per cent of the net assets of her late husband.

The news of the death of Ajayi, the Founder of First Foundation, came without any warning. However, upon his death, drama ensued regarding which wife was legitimate and which was not. Even though the man had lived a peaceful life, his death stirred up the proverbial hornet’s nest within his family. The main battle was fought between his first wife, Oluwayemisi (whom he had separated from for over 30 years) and Prest-Ajayi (with whom he had shared the last 25 years of his life). Eventually, Prest-Ajayi got the upper hand and Ajayi was buried with as much peace and harmony as both sides could muster. And so ended the drama. Or so it seemed.

More recently, the question of Dr Ajayi’s prime heir and legatee became a new source of contention.

Oluwayemisi was never legally divorced from the deceased and has five children that bear his name.

Prest-Ajayi, on the other hand, stayed with the deceased for over two decades and has a child for him.

What was the court to do? Who gets the hand of favour and who does not?

Without question, the fact that the former beauty queen gets to keep 50 per cent of the late Ajayi’s wealth is telling: her place as his wife (even though the union was reportedly never solemnised) has been established. Even though Prest-Ajayi is well-to-do, the entitlement is proof that she did not love and accompany the deceased for 25 years for nothing.

Adefarasin

“...I stand in the strength and the ability of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, who is Himself the Most Influential Personality in Heaven, on the Earth and beneath the Earth.

He sometimes graciously allows us to receive His accolades and recognition, choosing to remain invisible and allowing us to be His

visible vessels through which He impacts our world and the lives of mankind.”

These were some of the words spoken by Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Senior Pastor of The House On The Rock and Most Influential Personality according to Forbes Best of Africa Award.

A few days ago, some of the most notable characters of African origin, including Adefarasin, gathered at the Foreign Investment Network (FIN) Leadership and Philanthropy roundtable and received awards for the amazing things they have done in the past year. Among these were supreme business figures like Lesotho’s Sam Matekane, South Africa’s Wendy Ackerman and Nigeria’s Mahmood Ahmadu; tech personalities like Ghanaian Kwame Bediako and Nigeria’s Leo Stan Ekeh.

For those who have followed Adefarasin’s story, it would be difficult to find five or more

ecclesiastics with a larger international sphere of influence. One might even say that the clergyman has transcended what is generally referred to as the dividing line of Church and State and begun to function as his Lord and Master did: as welcoming to aristocrats as he is to the multitude. Adefarasin has not shirked his original duties, which is to use everything at his disposal to bring all men to the truth.

What the Forbes Best of Africa Awards recognised in Adefarasin is giving to the needs of others. Pastor Adefarasin’s The Rock Foundation, for instance, has made significant contributions to the welfare of about 3,000 wrongfully imprisoned inmates, one of the few charity organisations with such a mandate. Not to mention his international ministry that continues to reform people for the better in more ways than the provision of nutrition and skill.

Toyin Saraki: Champion for the Wellbeing of Women at 57 Some people make it their life’s work to see justice done, others take up the mantle of the ecclesiastic and go all out to reform the acts and attitudes of other people. Erelu Toyin Saraki is neither and both at the same time. She does not get into confrontational debates with those who have blemished humanity nor wear the uniform of crusaders. But she champions the wellbeing of women and children. As she clocks 57, one is reminded of how far she has come and is willing to go to see women freed from the chains of bias and discrimination and children happy and inspired to pursue their dreams.

The past few days have been nothing but remarkable in the household of the Sarakis of Kwara State, kinfolk of Senator Bukola Saraki, the former president of the Nigerian Senate. As the captivating matriarch of the house, Toyin, celebrated her 57th birthday, encomiums poured in from left and right and nearly upended her social media handles.

Beyond being the wife of one of the most powerful political figures of yesteryear, Toyin is notably known for her work as the defender of the innocent and protector of the weak. Most mini-biographies of hers introduce her as a global health advocate, health care philanthropist, and the Founder and President of Wellbeing Foundation Africa. In truth, all three titles are the same in purpose: to help women and children in unpleasant and distressing situations. And that is what Toyin has done for the past 20 years.

Someone else might have used her L.L.B degree in Law and L.L.M in International Economic Law to carve out wealth and fame from the boundless opportunities that these hallowed qualifications grant access to. Not Toyin.

What she did was establish a foundation that has done nothing but see to the needs and welfare of women and children, so much so that she has become the number one advocate in the country for maternal, newborn and child health, gender-

Edward Akinlade in the Eye of the Storm More and more trouble, it seems, is stewing for some of the notable characters of the Nigerian high society. This is especially the case when commercial banks are showing what others have called their true colours as they bear down the necks of these super business personalities. The CEO of Suru Homes Limited, Edward Akinlade, is the most recent example.

His is a tango with Fidelity Bank as he allegedly sold off a property that he had already registered as the collateral for a loan with the bank.

The report of the collision of interests between the Suru Homes Limited CEO and Fidelity Bank emerged

Akinlade

on social media when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dragged Akinlade to court, the Ikeja Special Offences Court, for that matter, for defaulting in his agreement with Fidelity Bank. With a ten-count charge stacked against Akinlade, the watchword in his case

Saraki

based discrimination and violence, improving education, socio-economic empowerment, and community livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa.

in the Lagos court is fraud.

According to the reports compiled from the court proceedings, Akinlade sold off the property way back in 2017 intending to defraud Fidelity since he sold it off without telling the management of the bank or sharing the proceeds with them. Moreover, the loan that Akinlade obtained from Fidelity amounts to about N1.7 billion, none of which he has paid back.

The reports further claimed that Fidelity and Akinlade have been playing cat and mouse since the bank made obvious attempts to secure the payment of the loan. Furthermore, Akinlade is alleged to have presented nine different cheques from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), each supposed to amount to N10 million.

However, not even one of these cheques was accepted, meaning that Akinlade did not pay back N70 million as he intended and still owes the bank N1.7 billion.

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HIGHLIFE

Allen Onyema: The New Pillar of Sports

Onyema

Once in a while, there is a unifying factor that forces the citizens of a country to band together and accomplish the impossible.

Sometimes, the motivation behind this unification takes the form of peril, other times it takes the form of a prize. The cherished Super Eagles are in for one of the easiest prizes of their lives, thanks to the cash carrot promised to them by Allen Onyema.

There has been quite a bit of pressure on Nigeria to perform for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. For a team whose forebears used to dominate the world, hence the boundless prestige that follows the name, the present Super Eagles are likely spending as much time worrying about eventualities as they are about their opponents. Seeing through the facade of well-placed confidence, the renowned lawyer, entrepreneur and CEO of Air Peace decided to step in and inspire the team for a change.

According to Onyema, the Super Eagles

have much to offer Nigeria in the coming match. For one, there is the momentum they need to build up. Secondly, this is an opportunity to unite the country even further by securing a win that would eventually become a beacon of hope against the battering efforts of internal and ethnic fractures. It is based on these reasons that Onyema swore the oath to hand the team the sum of N20 million upon their win.

This is not a new strategy; countless individuals have resorted to a similar gambit in Nigeria’s football history to get the Super Eagles to play better. However, this is the first from Onyema and also the first to truly see the big picture and therefore point the team in the right direction rather than aggressively urging them to victory.

Thus, Onyema has proved again that his genius insights extend beyond the courtroom and his boardroom. That’s a pillar of sports for you.

Inspiring Mileage: How Sanwo-Olu and Tokunbo Wahab Digitalise Education in Lagos Lagos State is set to become the regional centre for efforts towards sustainable growth and development in the country. This is particularly based on the new and improved measures that Governor Babajide SanwoOlu and his cabinet have taken against illiteracy and mediocre methods of formal learning. The first phase of these measures, EkoDigital, has already started.

The fact is that there is no amount of encomium that would be too much for Sanwo-Olu, and his assistants, particularly Tokunbo Wahab, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Education. Now that the EkoDigital Initiative has hit the ground running, it is only a matter of time before Lagos becomes the Holy Land for pilgrimage for other states and governors interested in improving the access of their These are the best times for Dr Babajide Agunbiade, the renowned businessman and global leader in the design, manufacture, and sale of equipment and components used in oil and gas drilling. A few weeks ago, he bagged a prestigious chieftaincy title that raised his value among his peers and consequently set him perpetually in the limelight as the new socialite in town.

Oba (Dr) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, Iku Baba Yeye, the Alaafin of Oyo, recently congregated some of the most notable personalities in Yorubaland for the celebration of two Oyo sons: Hon. Shina Abiola Peller and Agunbiade. Beyond this celebration, the Alaafin conferred on them the titles of Ayedero of Yorubaland (for Peller, implying that he will bring peace and prosperity to his people) and Atobaase of Yorubaland (for Agunbiade, implying that he is competent enough to be a king). Agunbiade’s title is more a prophetic declaration than anything, as recent events have shown.

Before the chieftaincy title, Agunbiade was most notable for his subsea engineering, thriving oil and gas business and multi-streamed investments. After, Agunbiade has become a name regularly spoken by the high and mighty and common people alike. One might say that

Ashafa

Gbenga Ashafa: Proving His Mettle in Federal Housing Authority

citizens to formal education.

Even those with a bone to pick with Governor Sanwo-Olu and his All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot but approve of the strides that the government has made to education and the educational sector. It has not only upgraded the mode of education for the many citizens of the state but also significantly improved access to it, especially for those who were originally out of school.

Based on the reports, the EkoDigital initiative, which might soon become the lasting legacy of Sanwo-Olu and Wahab, started to register youngsters in primary and secondary schools on September 10. Furthermore, preparations have been made to begin training young students and aspiring entrepreneurs on Wednesday, September 15.

Wahab

Babajide Agunbiade: Inside the World of the Latest Socialite

Agunbiade

the Alaafin’s conferment opened up the world of socialites to Agunbiade, a world of limitless possibilities, recognition, encomium and every other benefit that only a character at his level has access to.

It is no secret that Agunbiade is one of the sharpest tools in the oil and gas shed.

The fact that he made a resounding name for himself in the sector, with over 20 years of successive achievements indicates his vision and wisdom. Even so, his being a Director of Houston-based National Oilwell Varco, the world’s largest oilfield equipment manufacturing company, speaks something of Agunbiade’s abilities.

And now, those abilities will be employed in the social scene to the admiration of all and sundry. Truly, the days are about to get sunnier with Agunbiade, the Atobaase of Yorubaland, gracing the limelight with his presence.

Between Adeleke and Oyetola, the Battle is Not Over Nobody says that politics has to be sombre and serious or that political figures cannot have funny bones. This is not a question in Nigeria considering that it is even difficult to tell apart when politicians jest and when they are deadly serious. With the Dancing Senator, the lines are blurred even further.

These are evidently the best of times for Osun State gubernatorial aspirant, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke (alias Dancing Senator).

After stewing for a whole tenure, the freedom to contest against his peers for the number one chair in his native state, Osun, has returned to his characteristic audacity. Recently, he challenged the incumbent Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, and ‘advised’ him to start packing his bags and making farewell notes.

“I am back and ready to kick start my campaign…”, said the ever-smiling senator.

After this, he went on to implore the other aspirants under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to take things a bit easy and ensure that their contest is marked by peace

and fairness. This attitude of the Dancing Senator is nothing new to those who have followed him.

What is new is the confidence that nothing will stop his march to the top seat this time, not Oyetola and definitely not a misplaced college degree.

While it is true that it was the allegation of his never having completed a tertiary institution that cut short his time as Osun State Governor in 2018, it was Oyetola that came out on top and therefore might be labelled as the figure that toppled Adeleke’s ambitions.

In fact, during the elections that first saw Adeleke into gubernatorial office, Oyetola was his fiercest opponent. Moreover, using the momentum of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyetola almost crushed Adeleke in some regions of the state. Therefore, their rivalry is not a new deal.

Consequently, folks are wondering which is in a better position to clinch the Osun State Chair come 2022: the tenacious Oyetola or the flexible Adeleke? Time will tell.

Oyetola

“Today is a historic day as we begin the process of having a Diaspora City within the Federal Capital Territory that Nigerians in the Diaspora wherever they are can be proud to own a home in their own country.”These were the words spoken by Hon. Abike DabiriErewa, the Chairman and CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) when she played a gracious host to Senator Gbenga Ashafa.

The liaison of these brilliant characters signifies the amazing things to come for Nigeria and Nigerians.

It is no secret that Ashafa took control of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and began to revolutionise the agency. Beyond the celebration of some occasional project that would then be advertised as the pride of the FHA, Ashafa went all out to shift the gears.

And now, the agency is really the joy and pride of the public construction/housing sector.

Based on the reports from the former Senator’s meeting with Hon. Dabiri-Erewa, FHA is pulling out all the stops to grant many benefits to the Nigerian people. For one, the project in view, the Diaspora Mega-City Housing Project, is expected to bring to existence over 17,000 housing units of different models. This addresses the direct goal of the agency. However, the project is also expected to create a conservative estimate of three million jobs.

Based on these opportunities for local and national growth and development, one can see the benefits of having a visionary like Senator Ashafa in office. Even now, it appears as if the Senator has spent three to four years in FHA rather than the 12 months he has spent there. Regardless, it is the fortune of Nigerians that Ashafa continues with as much momentum now as when he started. It can only get better.

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

How Osinbajo Sent Atiku Back to School You see, you have to be very strategic in everything you do in this life. That is the advice someone close to Alhaji Abubakar Atiku should give him. You must learn how to pick your fights. You just don’t go and be poking trouble anyhow.

Look, I am an expert in this kind of thing. I know how to pick an opponent and also the terrain of the fight. So, for example if I am looking for trouble, I will go to people like Osa and fight him at the level of light-skinned women and their love for Akwa Ibom men.

You see, Osa na Bini man, he just tall and dey speak with a heavy accent. He no fit play for that turf so I will decimate him.

But you went to look for a whole Professor of Law trouble on an issue wey ordinary customs officer wey go night school cannot comprehend.

Mbok, come and see the response that I saw in the papers. Osinbajo finish Atiku o. Is it in the flow, data integrity, the clarity or the logical

sequence? It is that kind of letter that as you are reading it out, your fans will be shouting.

Osinbajo show that he no borrow him qualifications o. By the time he finish, I start to ask, who send Atiku this kind message?

Mbok, Osinbajo wicked o! He just bully daddy, I swear. He be like say Osinbajo don dey tire for all the yabis he has been getting that he just seize this opportunity to just finish Atiku to send a very strong signal to the horde.

I swear, Atiku would need to converge a team of Harvard-trained scholars to respond to this one o. Make he no try respond himself o, he go get headache, I tell you.

Bro Osinbajo, it’s not good o. What was the matter about sef? E be like say Atiku go attack am on something about restructuring or something like that. I still dey laugh as I dey pity Atiku. Mbok pick your battles, go fight Masari or Ganduje, na your intellectual mates be that. Leave dem Osinbajo, abeg na different class.

THE GOMBE RIDICULOUS APPEAL I saw the appeal made by the Gombe State Commissioner for Finance, Muhammad Magaji on this VAT matter. His humility and sincerity have gotten the better of me and made me want to consider a middleground.

In his submission, he had said that only three states in the federation are viable. He mentioned Lagos, Rivers and maybe Delta.

I weak as he no mention my state Akwa Ibom, and look at me, planning retirement there. Maybe I should just siddon for my Lagos o.

Anyways, his position is that we should be our brothers’ keepers and allow for the status quo to remain so that other states can survive.

My brother, in view of the things that have been happening in this country to the contrary especially when it comes to the federal government style of doing things, this position of yours will be very hard to consider.

Brotherliness has been eroded, unity has gone down the drain and it is now everybody to himself. It is some of these policies that has made people start thinking of how best they can get a better deal in this contraption.

The fact that some of us will never support a dismemberment or the senseless violence that has come with agitation for separation does not mean that we all do not see the injustice that goes on in the system.

The federation has turned into a caricature

legitimised by a warped constitution so weak that it allows for the continued ‘chancing’ of whole regions within the country. This, you will agree, is fuelling public angst and making people ask very real questions as to what exactly they are doing in the union. This is really not fair on the huge potential of the region as a regional power. This has thrown millions into poverty and helplessness. This fight for VAT for some of us is an intelligent way of seeking redress and rebalancing.

My honest take on this is, let all states collect their VAT and possibly send an agreed percentage to the centre which could now be shared out like una dey do the petroleum equalisation thing. This way, everybody will carry him papa name and those who can’t meet up will still have a buffer fund at the centre that they can use to augment.

Las, las, if Wike no gree, ask for a naval base in Gombe. Simple.

Magaji

Wike

DNA WARS: THAT BOY CALLS YOU FATHER It is a well-known fact that over 70 per cent of firstborns in Nigeria cannot pass a DNA test. This fact was revealed by experts in the field. You will agree with me that Nigeria is on fire right now as we speak. Men are waking up on a daily basis to see that the children they had nurtured and brought up belong to the gardener.

Families are being thrown into chaos, violence is the order of the day and we are seeing a lot of trauma, hurt and pain.

Social media is rife with the paternity story of the OAP Nedu and his estranged wife.

Reports revealed that the wife was quoted as saying that the man only assumed that the child was his own since they were married and that she never told him that the child was his. If I have ever heard anything as idiotic na during Civil War. Is this not enough to make the man run to

Osinbajo

the nearest bridge and feed himself to the sharks?

That said sha. My position is totally different as to how we should respond to this kind of wahala. Chinua Achebe’s Okonkwo readily comes to mind. When it was time to kill Ikemefuna, they took the boy to the bush and as he was walking, they gave the sign and one of the men slashed him with the cutlass.

Ikemefuna screamed and ran to his ‘father’, “Father, father, they have killed me.” Okonkwo the coward dealt the last blow and finished him off only to hear the famous words, “That boy called you father” and the man in him died.

Why are we men? Why are we strong if we cannot shield the poor innocent child who did nothing wrong but to have been given life by the wrong penis? Why should the child suffer? Why should the child suffer the notoriety that comes with such a labelling all of its life? Why can’t we be men and see that the ‘child calls us father’ and protect it from all the madness his circumstance of birth has thrown at him.

I, Joseph Edgar, The Duke of Shomolu will never carry out any DNA on any child that bears my name. I will never reject a child that has called me father. I will be man enough to handle my hurt or pain, be strong enough to fight my demons, lock myself in the room and cry my eyes out, work around like a zombie but will NEVER hurt that child.

This is why I am a MAN! THE VAT WARS: NYESOM WIKE’S STANCE His Excellency has been trending for the very right reasons. This is what some of us have been saying for a long time. In trying to achieve a much more equitable federation, we would have to be strategic and intelligent in approach. Not all these IPOB noise or the amplification of ethnic

Fadahunsi

distrust and violence.

What Governor Nyesom Wike is championing is very crucial to the continued survival of this nation.

The VAT wars are another look at restructuring of the federation. How, for the life of me, will collecting VAT which is a consumption tax be on the federal list? I just tire for this country and it gets all the more annoying when you see the revenue share from this thing.

So, some people who generate the bulk of the money get about 30% returned while others who generate a pittance get almost all of their peanuts returned. As if that was not sad enough, you ban the sale of certain things in your enclave for religious and other hypocritical reasons and the rest who generate the revenue from the same products get their VATs sent to you.

These are the things that lead to public angst, all these cries for marginalisation and the rest. It is absolutely wrong, a bare red-faced unjust system that makes a whole people feel like slaves in their own country.

I support an intelligent reworking of the federation alongside pre-agreed and legal lines that will ensure a just and deserving federation built on fair play and equity.

Nigeria go survive.

KAYODE FADAHUNSI – ‘AVAING’ A GOOD YEAR Some people will not understand this

2Baba

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LOUD WHISPERS topic now o. When they will be attending night school, they will not see that this is a powerful title casting. The man company na AVA and the man has just won the FMDQ Award for best transaction supporting player. You know say this is my space, Investment Banking, and I no dey joke with am o.

Kayode Fadaunsi is a mercurial character. He has, in four years, built a very influential firm that is taking the investment banking space by storm. We were together at BGL and even then, you could see his restlessness. He was eager to show what stuff he was made of. Even as a middle-level officer, he was also using his brain power and charisma to hobnob with the high and mighty.

Albert, those days will shout, “Kayode Fadahunsi, great man.”

Albert saw it, I saw it but I no gree that time because me sef dey look myself as a great man.

From BGL he moved to United Capital and then set up AVA that is today a signpost of what a brilliant mind can build.

In the past two weeks, I don jam am for eating joint. First Sunday, na Cactus he and his family come for breakfast. I was rushing to go to receive Chief Obasanjo and detoured to eat before I die. And there he was with his beautiful wife.

The second Sunday, I was rushing to Banana Island to drop tickets with an equally brilliant oil and gas expert, Olaide Hamilton when I started to stool o. Rather than killing my driver with afang-laced fart, I decided to branch Mike Adenuga Centre to use their facility and as you enter those kinds of places you will order food o. That is how I rushed in and said, “Please give me a sandwich and fresh orange juice,” as I moved towards the toilet.

As I came out, I saw Kayode again with his beautiful family. I went to their table and said, “Kay, you won’t come to Awo?” He said he will come. I greeted him, I congratulated him and told him that we were proud of him. He left and I went to my table and ate my food.

The skinny waiter brought a bill of N15,000 for one slice of bread, half tomatoes, one green leaf, and one slice of onions. I die o. I do an internal audit for the food. I regret it. Kayode don go. I used my week’s chop money pay and as I left, I swear for the French people, they will slap your President again. I swear.

CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO REINCARNATES IN SHALLOM MATTHEWS By now, you all know that I produced one of the most important plays in Nigeria’s theatrical history. ‘Awo’ is my play, written and directed by Makinde Adeniran and currently running at the Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos. No come o if you have not already bought tickets; they are sold out.

When we first started, this young lad walked in with a pair of glasses and a head like onions.

“Edgar, this is Awo,” said Makinde.

“You drunk?” I replied. “Mbok talk better!”

“This is Awo,” he repeated.

“How can he be Awo na. Stop this play.”

This is a N25m production. How can you put this boy as Awo? This boy that has never nack before. Makinde say na Awo. I vex comot. Be like say this one is sex starved.

That is how last Sunday, ‘Awo’ came down in the form of Shallom Matthews.

The same boy o. Come and see magic.

This boy took on Awo in a way I have never seen an actor deliver a role. The characterisation, the voice, the positioning and the legendary Awolowo’s calmness.

This boy killed the role. I ran to Makinde, hugged him and apologised.

Shallom Matthews is a sensation. People were crying, people were asking for DNA tests to see if the guy got Awolowo blood.

Mad and exciting. I have never felt this fulfilled.

2BABA: HOLD DOWN YOUR FAMILY It is when you push your wife to a point that you will understand the true meaning of Tsunami. A woman provoked can be a handful. 2Baba has not only provoked but

pushed his madam and in response, she has gone on social media and unleashed verbal violence.

The whole of this week, millions of Nigerians have been discussing 2Baba’s scabies infested bum bum. The matter is complex and I will not waste my precious time to go into it here.

My advice to 2Baba is to be a man and hold down his family. His weakness is apparent. His wife, brother, brother in-laws and exactly six million Nigerians are daily tearing his family and washing very dirty linens in public.

Please, if Annie is still your wife and is in your house, go and beg her. Simple. It is not whether what she is doing is right or not. It is not whether you are wrong or right just stoop to conquer. Go and beg her immediately and stop all this disgrace that is tarnishing your image in public.

Look, me I know how to beg o. Duchess used to catch me o. She even caught me last week sef. I would just kneel and say “I am a sinner…” She would say “Swear with your life, you didn’t touch that ass” and I would reply “What do you want, a dead husband or a useless husband?”

My brother, women no easy. Dem complex but them easy to engage. You can marry all of them if you want; just be strategic. Read MKO Abiola’s book,

you go see the strategies there. Fela married 27 and even after he died, some of the women say they will still marry him again. So, what is only seven wey you don give bele that we will not hear word again in Nigeria?

Please call Annie to the bedroom, stand naked and say “If I ever nack another woman in this life, make I die.” You will not die. God no be woman; He is very forgiving. I am a living testament. Please go and do the needful. This your matter is distracting us from the VAT wars.

BIMBO ASHIRU: A PATHWAY TO HISTORY Someone once asked me, what exactly do you think Bimbo should gun for: Governor or Senate? I ask why him dey ask me, and he laugh waka go.

Mr. Ashiru is my egbon. I was introduced to him by Hon Chike Ogeah who is presently missing in action.

Mr Ashiru has had a perfect career in banking. Some of us look up to him as we built a career in that field. From there, he moved into politics and has performed creditably well.

He contested for the governorship in Ogun State and lost to the incumbent but took it with so much grace that today his profile is larger than life.

Currently, he is on the board of the behemoth Odua Investments. His

ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU CAN I COME? I am sure by now you will be feeling that I am not happy with you since I have not come around to visit you.

My Lord, it is not true o. Some of us have been working with various Woli and Alagba Adura to make sure that you get well soonest. The horde of people visiting you has also not given me the opportunity to make travel plans. I hear the waiting list is long and I am wondering if they will even let you rest o.

Lord, please do not let people come and give you Covid o.

They will wear masks to sit far from you and then remove the masks to take pictures so that they can show Nigerians that they are supporting you. It is very risky o.

You know in your state, you need to be well-protected because even

Tinubu

a smelly mouth can cause small complications.

Please, do not use these visits to show that you still have relevance.

Your relevance is not in question but your health matters very much at this time. You must remain alive to come and fix this wahala you put us inside o. They say you are the mightiest strategist; oya do quick and well and come back to unravel this matter o.

After my visit, kindly stop all the visits so that you can recover faster.

God will be with you, Jehovah Jireh, the God of Prophetess Esther, the God of Pastor Adeboye, the God of Oyedepo and whatever God that is Prophet Idumuje own will grant you speedy healing and future health in Jesus Mighty name. Wait, I am on my way. God bless you sir.

people are pushing him towards another run at the State House. Others are saying he should go to the Senate. Whatever the case is my egbon just remember that you will always have a plate of Afang complete with periwinkle in my house waiting for you at any time. Just don’t come and ask for stew to eat the Afang with o.

FCMB: A DESERVED AWARD I sha like to celebrate this brand. Na my alumni and when they are doing well, I must shout. My brother Diran is the head of their Corporate Communications and he will be saying, “Edgar, you are crazy.” I will be looking at that one.

Anyways, FCMB has just been awarded the Best Bank in Africa and the Middle East in SME Banking at the Asian Banker Middle East and Africa Regional Awards.

The bank was said to have disbursed over N100 billion through their FCMB Quick Loans platform. Wow! They say this is the second time the bank is winning the awards.

Shebi, I told them when I was there that na me be the problem. Let me do a ‘Jonah’, cast me away and you will see that the boat will steady. They took my advice and threw me into the labour market and today, the bank is one of the best in Africa.

I had a wonderful time while at FCMB, working with some very strong professionals, people like Olu Akanmu, Temi Popoola and even Oga Ladi. I must say my 15 months with them were my very best in banking.

Well done guys. Una get space make I come back?

OMOYELE SOWORE: MY DEEPEST CONSOLATION I received his WhatsApp chat and at first didn’t know what was going on.

Sowore sends a lot of broadcasts since he has opened a branch of his activism on WhatsApp. Me I don tire for the messages so I no dey too read am again.

Then, I saw the message that his brother had just been shot somewhere in Edo State. Arghhh. What a huge sacrifice he has been made to pay for his struggles. All I can say at this point is pele egbon me. God will give you the strength to bear this loss.

It can’t be easy, my brother. Take heart.

TOPE FASORANTI: SILVER NOR GOLD… It was his birthday during the week. Dr. Fasoranti is an Executive Director at Zenith Bank and one of the most brilliant minds this country has produced. Discussions with him always leave the listener inspired and in awe.

Last time I saw him was at the upscale Cactus Restaurant in Victoria Island and I walked up to him and said, “Morning, my Lord,” and he introduced me to his wife.

“Darling, this is that mischievous person I was telling you that wrote that book, ‘Anonymous Nipples’.” If you see my smile eh… I quickly say na me o.

Happy birthday and God’s fervent blessings and protection over your life sir.

FEYISETAN DOMINIC SOSU JNR: A BRILLIANT MUMMY’S BOY When my mother passed, I was thinking of how to immortalise her. One year later, I am still thinking of the stumbling block that I didn’t think of when she was alive. So, my guilty conscience is flogging me like mad.

Anyways, that is how this young man has thought about a brilliant idea of immortalising his sweet and very beautiful Mummy, the elegant Caroline Sosu by organising an annual basketball tournament in her name.

Oh so sweet! He seized his mummy’s platform – The Caroline Dan-Anyiam Sosu Foundation to support youths and empower them by leveraging Basketball as a strong vehicle. With cash gifts for the winning teams and individual awards, Feyi is on the cusp of a great thing. Well done my guy.

Let me just note that he is of blue blood.

His late grandfather was the legendary footballer Dan Anyiam who has a huge stadium named after him. Well done.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Double Dose of Achievements for Bisi Onasanya This past weeks, the immediate past Group Managing Director of First Bank and Chairman of Address Homes, Dr. Bisi Onasanya, has witnessed many exciting life moods from turning 60 eventful years on August 18, 2021 to his official appointment as the Patron for the prestigious All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Committee of AFRIMA in June this year.

Although during the birthday, the man didn’t roll out drums to celebrate this milestone as expected by many of his friends, fans as well as admirers rather, in his characteristic way of showing appreciation to God for His grace in his life, the day was dedicated to prayers as well as thanksgiving.

Society Watch also gathered that as a philanthropist, during the birthday he tried to amplify his famed legacy of benevolence and generosity, as he put smiles on the faces of the needy in the society.

Onasanya who is considered by many as cerebral and kind to a fault are enormous and eventful in the life of any mortal, especially ones that are worth celebrating and landmark in nature, especially a cherished pedigree for doing well in many spheres of life and he has proved this on many occasions.

The source also disclosed that the former bank MD was given a heroic applause last week Monday, September 6, 2021 at the AFRIMA Patron’s Dinner held at Eko Hotel And Suites,Vicroria Island, Lagos when the representative of the Head of Culture, Social Affairs Division, African Union Commission, Allaa Zain Makky from Egypt welcomed Onasanya on board as AFRIMA Patron and appreciated his contribution and support for the creative industry in Africa as well as his passion for youth development and empowerment.

Onasanya hosted the International Jury of AFRIMA to a private Patron’s dinner in Lagos after their long-week process of intense assessment of the 8,880 songs/videos received for adjudication for 2021 AFRIMA Awards.

The Unending Love of Mohammed and Umma Babangida

Mohammed-Babangida with Umma

It was Richard Bach who said: “True love stories never have endings.”

Many who are aware of the compelling story of Mohammed Babangida and his wife, Umma, daughter of Ambassador Aminu Wali, a former Nigerian Envoy to the United States, would understand better the saying of this American writer and author.

It all dates back to over 23 years ago It is said that many have ridden on the crest of his name to fame and success. Yes, that may not be untrue because the Oyo State-born Kola Karim is one of Nigeria’s most successful businessmen.

He’s the founder and Managing Director of Shoreline Group, a conglomerate with interests in oil exploration and production, power generation, construction, commodities trading, and telecommunications.

The amiable and upwardly mobile billionaire businessman also appreciates the true essence of life, which is servicing humanity and caring for the needy. For his sustained philanthropic gestures over the years, he was recently honoured with a chieftaincy title: Agbaoye of Ibadanland, after the passing of an equally illustrious son of Ibadan, Chief Harry Akande, who had held the title.

Since Karim was installed as the Agbaoye of Ibadanland by Olubadan of Ibadan, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji last April, he has since swung into action to ensure his impact is felt. Interestingly, Society Watch gathered that Karim has decided to tell the story of the ancient city of Ibadan to the world, in its true and pure colour, via the big screen.

The big-budget movie is titled “Ogun o ko wa ri” (The war has never conquered us).

when both met through Fatima Najib, their mutual friend. At that time, Umma was a young undergraduate at Bayero University, Kano (BUK). She later travelled to the United Kingdom for further studies. But before she moved to the United Kingdom, the Babangida scion had expressed his desire to marry Umma.

It was obvious he was committed to the relationship, as he even gave her a diamond ring. Unfortunately, the relationship suffered a big setback when their parents, reportedly, opposed the affair. They were heartbroken, but there was nothing they could do. Their parents’ minds were made up. So, they had to move in different directions to search for love.

Consequently, the handsome dude later got married to his “approved” wife, Rahama Indimi, daughter of Borno Stateborn oil magnate, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, in an elaborate wedding that had many top personalities in attendance.

While Umma waited for her destined husband, Babangida was able to convince his parents and married his childhood love.

However, the marriage seemed like a mistake at the beginning, as his first wife, Rahama, would not have any of it. She was furious, her anger can literally boil water. She fought tooth and nail and vowed never to share her husband with anyone.

The dark-skinned woman was forced to leave her Minna matrimonial home for several months and moved into her father’s home in Abuja until she was pacified and persuaded into moving back to her home.

Yet, Rahama was said to have refused to accept Umma.

The rivalry between the two wives was intense and bitter. The younger Babangida reportedly didn’t help matters as he pitched his tent with Rahama who showcased her superiority tendencies. Having been outnumbered, the development made Umma very bitter and unhappy. She couldn’t cope with the powerful forces that confronted her home, coupled with the fact that she was still looking for the proverbial fruits of the womb.

Eventually, when she was pushed to the wall and could no longer cope, she decided to move out of her matrimonial home again.

But Mohammed ran back to her and brought her back home. This, again, infuriated the daughter of the oil mogul that she finally left home.

Luckily, beautiful Umma had reason to smile again as she finally had her baby in 2017.

Today, the Kano State-born beauty is enjoying the love of her life, as Rahama who has four children for Mohammed is yet to return to the house.

Society Watch gathered that Umma and Mohammed’s love has continued to grow deeper as they attend events together, where they always display their affection. They are always seen holding each other’s hands, laughing, cuddling and smiling like young lovers that have just fallen in love for the first time.

Agbaoye Kola Karim’s Wondrous Dream for Hometown

The massive project, according to sources, is not going to be just another movie but an epic film that will be the first of its kind.

While it is intended to basically tell the story of how Ibadan is the only town that was never conquered by any war in ancient times, it will also tell the story behind a seemingly demeaning popular saying that is linked to the city: “Ibadan tio j’ale, oju lo ro” (Ibadan man who doesn’t steal only manages not to), and how the actual meaning of the saying is opposite of the popular belief, as it actually depicts a virtue synonymous with Ibadan people.

The project is also intended to give visibility to tourist attraction locations in Ibadan and Oyo State, generally; while several millions of naira would be expended on the project.

In the same vein, the food and cultural festivals of the city will be systematically showcased.

The movie, which will be coordinated by prolific and frontline production guru, Prince Ademola Adelakun, will feature the Olubadan of Ibadan. Adelakun had produced several blockbusters and also hit songs for top singers like the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, the late Dauda Epoakara, K1 D Ultimate, Saheed Osupa, Pasuma, among other singers.

Karim

Stamp of His Honour: As Shareholders Hail Oando Boss, Wale Tinubu

Onasanya

Tinubu

The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory and the only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance, and to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill, just like the debonair oil mogul and quintessential Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu.

For some time now, the trained lawyer has been in the centre of the company’s major battles. In all of this, he has remained unshaken, undaunted, even as this is made worse by the inclement business climate occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The fact that he has sailed untroubled in the entrepreneurial ocean, navigating numerous business boats with grace and nous of a veteran captain, and surpassing all expectations says much about his wizardry, passion and achievements. He has shown a substantial capacity to manage every storm that has hit the oil sector, particularly his company.

This is evident in how he managed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-Oando crisis. He has also succeeded in engraving his name in the hearts of the company’s shareholders with his business acumen.

In appreciation of his efforts, the shareholders, last Tuesday, passed a vote of confidence in him at the company’s 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM), held at the Wings Office Complex, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The company’s AGM came in the wake of an out-of-court settlement with the SEC that had hitherto suspended the company’s AGM in 2019. The shareholders further encouraged the Tinubu-led management to keep up the good work and focus on creating value for shareholders. This applause from the shareholders is simply to prove that he is a master of the game, a stamp of his honour.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

12.09.2021

WITH INVINCIBLE HANDS, SHYLLON MUSEUM FRAMES ITS 40-FEMALE ART SPECTACLE A cross-generational bond of 40 female artists has crystallized at the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) housed by the Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos with a former interior designer, Olufisayo Bakare making her debut as guest curator of the show called The Invincible Hands. Yinka Olatunbosun reports.

B

efore the world went wild with associating women’s worth with the size of their bosom and derriere, women of substance across cultures and centuries had been judged by the value of their creations -- if simplified, one would say “the works of their hands”. In Nigeria, Flora Nwapa, Ladi Kwali, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Sandra Aguebor and a host of others have engraved their names in history by the virtue of the works their “hands” had done.

But the irony of it all is that the visual arts scene in Nigeria continues to be dominated by male artists. With the infiltration of new galleries in Lagos and environs, attention is beginning to shift to this imbalance in the visual arts eco-system. Curators have become more gendersensitive and intentional in showcasing works of women who have demonstrated exceptional skills using diverse materials and media. To this end, the young art connoisseur Olufisayo Bakare has curated a body of eye-popping works by 40 female artists across generations and culture at the Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos.

A cathartic experience it was for Bakare; an interior designer whose grandmother was an adire-dyer of international repute.

With a first degree and masters in interior design, her venture into art curation was well-timed despite the initial pressure from parental scrutiny.

From being inquisitive about art works, she evolved and engaged several artists in conversations, which fuelled the idea for this exhibition done with the support of the Pan-Atlantic University. With her need to preserve the various identities of these artists, some of whom had died, 69 works were selected for this show which kicked off on August 28.

“It started from that historic lens of paying homage to women who could have been marginalised and bring them to the forefront of the art,” she explained prior to the show. Behind her was a collection of brass and bronze pieces shining though the transparent glass compartment that secured them. “We want to close gender gaps in the art ecology. Through the vehicle of education, art history and culture, we want to start infusing into the minds of people identities and nationhood,” she continued.

The array of featured artists forms an intersection of ideas between established and mid-career artists and the emerging ones namely Fati Abubakar, Anne Adams, Peju Alatishe, Ruby Amanze, Lucy Azubuike, Olawunmi Banjo, Nike DaviesOkundaye, Ndidi Dike, Nathalie Djakou Kassli, Nmadinachi Egwim, Ayobola Kekere-Ekun, Joy Labinjo, Peju Layiwola, Amuche Nnabueze, Abigail Nnaji, Anthonia Nneji, Rita Doris Ubah, Valerie Fab-Uche, Omoligho Udenta, Chidinma Nnoli, Chigozie Obi, Wura Natasha Ogunji, Bolaji Ogunrosoye, Amarachi Okafor, May Okafor, Nnenna Okore, Ngozi Omeje, Nengi Omoku, Odun Orimolade,

Guest Curator, The Invincible Hands Exhibition, Olufisayo Bakare at the opening of the show

Obiageli Otigbo, Opeyemi Owa, Tiwa Sagoe, Damilola Tejuosho, Anthea Epelle, Juliet Ezenwa, Modupeola Fadugba, Taiye Idahor, Yadichinma Ukoha-Kalu, Winifred Ukpong and Susanne Wenger. Around the well-ventilated space is an assemblage of paintings, photography, tapestry and textiles, sculpture and mixed media. While some of them were curated from the permanent collection of the YSMA, others were temporary loans by artists and collectors. Call it a celebration of women’s contribution to the arts from the precolonial era to the more contemporary era, the show also tells a poignant story for every pair of keen and attentive eyes.

“You’d notice that the works speak to puberty, menstruation, and menopause,” Bakare added. “So, we start from the historic lens to mimic some of the founding mothers of arts in Nigeria and celebrate their historic contributions.”

The cross-pollination of ideas suggested through the arrangement of the works at this show is a like a mentoring session done in absentia. Most artists work in isolation -- a situation which often makes it challenging to have that ‘table talk’ across generations of female artists. But with Invincible Hands, the gap is closed; and the pieces are sealed.

“None of these works would be sold and this is solely for educational purpose,” Bakare explained, revealing also that classes are held in the museum to rekindle the interest of students in Nigeria history which had long been expunged from the school curriculum.

“You’d see sculpture pieces. From that point where Modupe Fadugba’s piece is, I have a red wall that signals puberty and all the way down to the corridor has more intense constructions of red because of mimicking a woman’s evolution. And when you come towards the end, you’d see black and white which relates to menopause or the stopping of time. At the end of the show, we bring it back to Peju Olayiwola’s piece ‘Stamping History.’

In a way, we pay homage to history and prepare for the future.”

Although most of the featured artists are Nigerians, Djakou Kassli hails from Cameroon while Wenger was originally from Austria known for her historic role in reinventing the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove to become one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

One of the most breath-taking pieces at the show is Natasha Ogunji’s four-piece centerspread painting at the floor ground christened, ‘Olori Funmilayo Shyllon Exhibition Gallery.’ On its right side hangs Okundaye’s characteristic and larger than life painting. Other captivating pieces include Nnaji’s electrifying wire mesh piece titled ‘Each for Equal’, Tejuosho’s mastery of nails in the making of the pointillist piece called ‘Distorted World View,’ amongst others.

“Conversations around identity can be found in Tiwa Sagoe’s works, and the intrinsic nature of basket weaving and how it is related to common practice today.

This is her first show after school. There is a piece that is created from cigarette

box and you’d see them starting there.

That was done by Amarachi Okafor and it is about community,’’ Bakare said while walking through the exhibition hall.

Some of the guests at the grand opening of the show include the curator’s father, Pastor Tunde Bakare who scored the show high on attempting to break the barriers against female artists.

“For a very long time, you have a society that thinks that women are only good for this or that. What we can see today clearly shows that what men can do women can do and sometimes better,’’ he said. His views were mirrored by the lead patron of the museum, Otunbo Yemisi Shyllon who said that the show provides the “opportunity to tap the great potential of women artists in the growth and development of our country and in showcasing the positive image of our country.’’

The show which runs till January 18, 2022 is the third exhibition to be staged at the museum since its opening in 2019. Like the first Making Matter and the second Mirroring Man, the current show is designed as a pedagogical tool for the new audiences who will interrogate history through the works.

“The exhibition presents a perfect opportunity for the YSMA to gain more visibility and accessibility, provide more relevant resources on Nigerian art history and collaborate with artists to engage with the public,’’ the Director, Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Pan-Atlantic Jess Castellote said.

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

ARTS & REVIEW\\BOOK

AWAKENINGOKIGBOWITHFESTIVALOFPOEMS David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

M

embers of the Awka Literary Society recently relived the sweet memories of Christopher Okigbo, the Ojoto-born renowned poet. Okigbo died in 1967, during the civil war, while fighting on the side of Biafra forces.

In honour of his literary legacy, the group held a three-day event described as a festival of poems, featuring leading Nigerian poets drawn from different parts of the country. The event was held in iconic venues such as Ogbaukwu cave in Owerre Ezukala; Nri the ancestral home of Igbo; various shrines in Ojoto, which were made popular by Okigbo's works, and the country home of Okigbo in Ojoto.

The event which started with a night of poems in Awka witnessed performances by visiting poets such as Ifesinachi Nwadike, Aj Daggar Tolar, Nwachukwu Egbunike and winner of the 2020 ANA prize for poetry, James Eze, who was the star poet of the night. Several other upcoming poets also shared the limelight.

Tagged“Return to Idoto“, the second day of the programme featured a visit to Ogbaukwu cave in Owerre Ezukala community, where poems were also read at a natural setting provided by the ancient caves. There, the voices of the performing

poets reverberated through the forests. A bonfire night at Okigbo's compound, a visit to the seven stations of Ojoto, as well as visits to Ukpaka Oto and Idoto shrine, evoked the memories of Okigbo’s poetic lines where he referred to the River Idoto and other places.

Dr Okechukwu Asika who read from his poem, “Portrait of an Artist as a Mad Man”, regaled the audience. At Okigbo’s compound in Ojoto, the poets read from Okigbo's collection at his grave side, in what looked like an attempt to rouse the late literary legend. The performance was accompanied by a traditional flutist.

The group, moved like pilgrims to Ukpaka Oto shrine, Mother Idoto shrine, and then the oil-bean tree, which was a resting spot for Okigbo while returning from the Idoto River to fetch water. In each of the stations, the poets read one of Okigbo's poems. The event climaxed at Mother Idoto River where the group entertained performances from all the poets.

Odili Ujubuoñu, an award-winning novelist who was anchor of the programme explained that the seven stations where the poets made a flag stop to read from Okigbo's collection were the places Okigbo always passed through, while coming back from the River Idoto. "By going through this seven stations, we are walking the path walked by Okigbo the legend while he was alive, and we are honoured to be the ones engaging in this,”he said.

Speaking at Nri Community, where the event ended at the home of the former Chief Judge of

L-R: Poets Aj Daggar Tolar, Ifesinachi Nwadike, winner of the 2020 ANA prize for poetry; James Eze and Nwachukwu Egbunike reading a poem by Christopher Okigbo at his graveside, during this year's Return to Idoto Anambra State, Prof Peter Umeadi, Umeadi said: "I consider it a privilege being the host of today's event. I dedicate the night to my friend, late Ogbueshi Emma Okocha. Even though I'm the host, I consider myself a guest and would like to

sit down and enjoy the performances. The pilgrim (Okigbo) you're celebrating was a great man, and we are happy that his memory has remained alive."

‘Return to Idoto’is an annual event, in its third edition.

FILM

ARTXLAGOSLAUNCHESSHORTFILMSERIES Yinka Olatunbosun

A

rt X Lagos has announced the launch of a special project called ‘Art Across Borders.’ It is a short film series that highlights impactful figures in the African art scene. Created to showcase artistic voices across the continent, the series aims at inspiring and celebrating the emergence of new initiatives within Africa’s burgeoning creative ecosystem.

The first season of Art Across Borders, filmed with the support of Afreximbank, features four exciting artists within the African contemporary art scene namely Hassan Hajjaj (Morocco), Mary Sibande (South Africa), Boniface Maina (Kenya), and Nengi Omuku (Nigeria).

Hassan Hajjaj creates layered artworks blending together traditional elements from his North African culture with pop references from the Western world. His works are greatly influenced by his encounters with popular figures from the global sport and art scenes throughout his career.

In 2011, Hajjaj launched ‘Riad Yiad,’ an artist residency and events space in Marrakech, aimed at bringing together a diverse community of art enthusiasts to celebrate culture. Today, the project is instrumental to the dynamism of Morocco’s creative scene. His second project was launched in Jajjah earlier this year. Hajjaj’s works are part of some of the world’s most important collections such as Guggenheim Museum,

One of the featured artists in the series, Nengi Omuku. the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL), the Brooklyn Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and The British Museum.

In her work, Mary Sibande explores the concepts of family and heritage. In her interpretation of her own family’s history, she radically challenges the black exploitative narrative inherited from South Africa’s apartheid era. Her stunning photographs and sculptures provide

vibrant metaphors of black women’s power, deconstructing the traditional stereotypes associated with them.

Since 2016, she has actively supported ActionAid South Africa and the Young Urban Women Programme’s fundraising campaigns to foster the development of art education programs targeting young girls from the township communities.

Over the years, Sibande represented South Africa at the 54th Venice Biennale (2011), and

received numerous awards including the prestigious Smithsonian National Museum of African Arts Award, and the Standard Bank Young Artist Award in the Visual Arts category.

Inspired by the mundane encounters of his daily life, Boniface Maina projects a highly personal style on his mysterious surrealist canvases.

In 2013, the Nairobi-based artist co-founded Brush Tu Collective, a collaborative studio space aimed at fostering collaborations within the Kenyan artistic scene.

His works have been presented in Transitions at Nairobi Gallery (2017), and in Waiting, Watching and Wishing at Circle Art Gallery (2020), another solo exhibition held in the Kenyan capital. Maina has also participated in group shows in Johannesburg, Paris, Dubai and Venice.

Through an extremely versatile and organic body of work, Nengi Omuku explores her relationship with the body as the sensitive key to regain ownership over her identity, emotions and power.

The African in diaspora obtained both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Slade School of Fine Art in the United Kingdom. In 2018, she was commissioned by the Arts Council England to paint a mural within an intensive care psychiatric facility in London. Realising the positive impact of her art on the patients’ wellbeing, she later founded The Art of Healing (TAOH), an organisation aimed at using art as therapy.

Her works are in both private and public international collections including the HSBC Art Collection, the Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection and the Dawn Art Collection.

MUSIC

AFROBRITSENSATIONEQUATIONBILLIONZSERENADEDLAGOS Yinka Olatunbosun Afrobeats seems to ring familiar with global music fans but when an artist creates his own variant, he may call it Afropop, Afrofusion or Afrobrit. The UK-born Nigerian singer and rapper Equation Billionz is selling his Afrobrit to the world. Recently, he returned to Nigeria for a Friday Live Band Session at the Microbrewer Bature Brewery’s arena in Victoria Island, Lagos to give the Lagos audience a taste of his mid-tempo music. A hybrid of African and British tonality, Equation Billionz music is considered as one of the fastest-growing in

the UK with collaborations that feature the likes of Teni Makanaki.

His Lagos performance was savoured by an audience comprising expatriates, youthful fun-seekers and members of the media.

Backed by his seven-man live band, he dished out some of his hit singles like Aute, Faaji, Nowadays and the hit song ‘Benz’ that is currently enjoying massive airplay on local radio and TV stations.

Born Afam Efiong Ephraim, his recent visit to Nigeria coincided with the release his debut album. Citing Davido, WizKid and Burna Boy as some of his influences in music,

he observed that Nigeria’s music scene is the cynosure of global music.

“I must say that I have similarities when it comes to Afro fusion from the likes of Burna Boy especially,” he said in a brief chat with journalists. “I bring a UK flavour and merge it with the current Afro scene; something I call Afrobrit. I have my own style of singing and my own pattern of melodies. Yes, there are similarities but if you listen closely to my sound you will know it is different.”

Equation Billionz is managed by Quillibrium Entertainment and powered by Inspiro Productions.

Equation Billionz

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

2023: Will Jonathan Bite the Northern Bait?

Louis Achi writes that in order to simultaneously neutralise the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party and reclaim power for the North in 2027, the ruling All Progressives Congress is allegedly wooing former President Goodluck Jonathan, to defect from the PDP and fly its 2023 presidential flag. Will the Bayelsaborn statesman bite the bait?

N

igeria has entered a transition period - a crucial leadership changeover phase. This is understandably sparking a frenzy which cannot be decoupled from the nation’s peculiar political history. With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scheduling of February 18, 2023, as the presidential Election Day, multi-partisan jostling - both overt and covert - on who succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari is gaining momentum.

Watched carefully by Northern political hawks, Southern governors rising from their recent Lagos meeting, proclaimed a resolve that Southern Nigeria should produce the President in 2023. Perhaps with some circumspection, they did not finger any particular political party that would produce such candidate - heightening both expectancy and some tension.

The strong perception that for Northern Nigeria, lack of political power represents a potent existential threat sits pretty nicely within the unswerving logic of the alleged new proactive calculations of enlisting former President Goodluck Joanthan for the big job come 2023.

This cagey political project is also seen by many as essentially satisfying the Southern symphony for power shift and the installation of a ‘safe stooge’ to succeed President Buhari who concludes his second term in 2023.

Certain fundamental considerations are speculated to qualify the soft-spoken former president as the North’s beautiful bride: he will do only a constitution-circumscribed single term and then the region can reclaim power. According to a source privy to the incubating plot - “Yes we are looking at the Jonathan option, he is a safe bet and of course a very amiable gentleman, who is not likely to rock the boat.” The third is that he is from the South and should satisfy the region’s shrill clamour for power shift.

The fourth dimension is that a Jonathan ticket paired with a Northern running mate will neutralise South-east’s strident clamour for a president of the region’s extraction as the Bayelsa-born politician has morphed into a widely and nationally acceptable force. The North curiously remains cagey about a president of Igbo extraction.

Looking at the post-war big picture, the Igbo of the South-east zone have been left holding the short end of the nation’s political stick - walled off from the office of the president. Under the Buhari presidency, the region’s sense of marginalisation has immeasurably scaled-up. His visit to Imo State some 72 hours ago has hardly diminished the negative feelings the zone nurses for him.

The fifth consideration is the reality that the North does not want or trust Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu who is currently in London for critical medicare. Many in the South also believe he is a

Jonathan hard-sell. This gaming is tied to the political logic that power will definitely shift to the South in 2023, given the unwritten North/South power rotation agreement. And what’s more - Buhari apparently wants to decide who will succeed him.

To be fair to the Machiavellian ruling Northern oligarchy, political gaming is a legitimate preoccupation that preserves its perceived advantages.

They also believe that the extant North/South power rotation arrangement is not a constitutionalised template. Since the country returned to civil rule in 1999, political power had been rotating between the Northern and Southern regions of the country.

Not permitting grass to grow under its feet,

various influential PDP stakeholders have been reportedly begging Jonathan not to join APC. When acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Yemi Akinwonmi, led a delegation to Goodluck Jonathan’s Abuja residence early this month, appealing to the exPresident not to dump the political party topped the agenda.

Among those who joined Akinwonmi to see Jonathan were Daisi Akintan, former caretaker secretary of the PDP in the South-west and the secretary of ex-officio forum; and a member of the National Executive Committee, Helen Taiwo.

The PDP has been embroiled in crises lately. Its de facto National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus,

has been sacked, re-appointed to his position, and sacked again by courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

“We don’t want him to leave and so we asked him to give us more time to sort out the conflict in the party. We also asked him to continue to play a role in the party as we brace up to unseat the APC in 2023,” one visiting chieftains revealed.

In February, PDP top shots led by a former Senate President Bukola Saraki met with former President Jonathan over the lingering crisis rocking the party. At the end of their meeting, Saraki, who chairs the PDP National Reconciliation Committee said Jonathan was not contemplating decamping to APC, revealing the former president has assured them of his readiness to offer his experience and resources to return PDP to power in 2023.

“He gave us his views and we are very happy. He reassured all of us of his commitment to the PDP and he told us that he is still ready to offer his time, experience and resources to strengthen the party and that is very strong and important to us,” Saraki had enthused.

The meeting was attended by former governors of Katsina, Gombe and Cross River states, Ibrahim Shema, Ibrahim Dankwambo and Liyel Imoke, among others. On their part, successive APC delegations have also being reaching out to Jonathan.

Some intimation that the North may be weighing its options for the post-Buhari era came last year, when Mallam Mamman Daura, the influential nephew of President Buhari said there was no need for zoning the presidential ticket to any part of the country. He held that Nigeria’s political space should be left open for the best candidate to emerge as president.

He told the Hausa Service of the BBC that the most qualified person from any part of the country should succeed his uncle. His position shored up suspicions that some elements from the North were perfecting plans to retain the presidency after Buhari’s second tenure lapses in 2003.

Rumours have been swirling that Jonathan is mulling the idea of jumping ship and pitching tent with the governing APC. But these have not been substantiated. Even as the political drama unfolds, Jonathan has not expressed a clear position on the Northern plot. He has been more recently busy with statesmanlike and diplomatic assignments from the presidency - crisscrossing the continent. He was also at Buhari’s side at the Eagle Square, Abuja, during the recent 60th independence anniversary.

THISDAY could not elicit a specific response from Jonathan’s minders on the trending matter when it reached out to them. Will the humble biologist from Otuoke bite the bullet and take the bait as the plots thicken? Big question!

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

Paris Club Refund: Fayemi Got This!

Fayemi

The Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has never left anyone in doubt whenever the debate is about holding tenaciously to patriotic stands. He might shift grounds and show understanding, when other considerations are put on the card.

Certainly not when the collective fate of the country and her people is on the line.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision, at the weekend, to suspend the payment of $418 million as consultant fee in the controversial Paris Club Refund was though, a temporary victory for Fayemi, it is difficult to turn the tide against his position at the end of the day, having a full grasp of the issues.

Call it what it is: a conspiracy of the high and mighty to defraud Nigeria in the name of consultancy. Of course, this has been driven a long winding route in the name of many excuses, including slinging a lot of indignation in the way of Fayemi. He didn’t, however, falter but stood solidly on what he believed in.

Truly, if three presidents: Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan refused to pay the same money based on their convictions that it was suspicious, even when these people never hawked integrity or audaciously marketed anti-graft war, on what basis would Buhari say he paid off such humongous money as consultancy fee?

At the end of the day, Buhari not only listened to the voice of reason, but in a sense, showed that he could be a listening leader, contrary to familiar misgivings. Even more noteworthy is that Fayemi has proven worthy of representing both his colleagues and the Nigerian people, in a matter they could have easily disowned him if it had been messier.

Perhaps, those who had thought that Fayemi had an ulterior motive or would have switched position if the bargain was right, should know by now that the concept of Omoluabi is not a title everyone merits, and hopefully, the president too would shut down this desperate fraud against the nation for good.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

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BRIEFINGNOTES

The Return of Adeleke Ejiofor Alike reports that the political temperature in Osun State is set to rise with the return of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2018 governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, who has declared interest in the 2022 governorship race and told Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to start preparing his handover notes

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he candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2018 governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, last week caused a stir in Osogbo, the state capital, when he returned to the state and announced that he was ready to flag off his campaign for the PDP governorship ticket, ahead of the 2022 governorship election.

Speaking at a welcome rally organised by the party at it Secretariat in Osogbo, Adeleke had urged interested parties to be modest with their campaigns in the interest of peace in the party and state in general.

“The ruling party has messed up the state since coming to power. I am appealing to the Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola to start preparing his handover notes because his days as Governor are numbered.

“I am back and ready to kick-start my campaign. PDP belongs to everyone, I can’t stop anyone interested in the party’s ticket from contesting it, but l appeal for decency among everyone for peace within the party and the state,” he reportedly said.

Adeleke, who is not new in the game, narrowly lost the 2018 election to Oyetola.

In fact, after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Oyetola winner of the election, the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, in March 2019, nullified the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, and declared Adeleke as the valid winner of the September 2018 governorship election in the state.

The petitioners – Adeleke and the PDP had through their team of lawyers led by Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), prayed the tribunal to declare that Oyetola was not the valid winner of either the substantive poll that held on September 22, 2018, or the re-run election that took place on September 27, 2018.

The tribunal had in a split decision of two-to-one, said it was satisfied that there was merit in the petition the PDP and Adeleke lodged against the declaration and return of Oyetola of the APC as winner, based on the outcome of a supplementary governorship election that held in the state on September 27, 2018.

INEC had at the end of an initial election it conducted on September 22, cancelled results from seven polling units in four local government areas in the state, and ordered a re-run poll.

At the end of the re-run poll, INEC declared Oyetola winner which was disputed by Adeleke who filed a petition before the tribunal challenging INEC’s declaration.

The tribunal, in a lead ruling that was delivered by Justice Peter Obiora noted that

Adeleke none of the parties before it disputed the fact that it was the State Returning Officer that cancelled the initial election The tribunal held that the State Returning Officer acted beyond the power that was allocated to him under the Electoral Act when he voided results and ordered supplementary election in the affected areas.

The tribunal nullified the Certificate of Return that was issued to Oyetola by INEC, and ordered the issuance of a fresh one to Adeleke.

A third member of the panel, Justice Ayinla Gbolagunte, concurred with the lead judgment and declared Adeleke winner of the Osun governorship election.

However, Chairman of the tribunal,

Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, said he disagreed with the verdict, insisting that the petition lacked merit and ought to be dismissed.

The respondents were represented

by Mr. Lasco Pwahomdi, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), respectively.

However, the Court of Appeal quashed the decision of the tribunal and reaffirmed Oyetola’s victory at the polls, which the Supreme Court also upheld.

Adeleke and the PDP appealed the appellate court’s decision but the Supreme Court, in a split judgment of five to two, dismissed the appeal.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Bode Rhode-Vivour, the Supreme Court, held that the appellate court was

NOTES FOR FILE

Why is Gumi Lover of Bandits?

Why is the Kaduna-based Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, fighting for bandits terrorising the country? These days, he has suddenly become fastidious, attacking anyone who dares disagree with his proposal on how to handle this notorious group. Last week, Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, became his latest victim in his sustained onslaught against those who condemn bandits in the country.

The cleric, who has engaged in a relentless campaign for amnesty for the bandits terrorising the country, had during an interview on ARISE News Channel, called journalists criminals for describing bandits as criminals.

He had also disagreed with his friend and

Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, for insisting that the bandits should face military bombardment and should not be given amnesty.

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State had also disagreed with the cleric on the issue.

Gumi last week lashed out at Adesina after the presidential aide called him a bandit-lover, though Adesina did not mention his name.

Adesina was on Thursday reacting to the statement credited to Gumi that the military offensive would not work and that the bandits “are going nowhere.”

Adesina said:“A bandit-lover is on record as saying a military offensive would not work, and that the bandits“are going nowhere.”True?

False. They are going somewhere. And that is: hell.”

But in what seems like a firm attack on Buhari’s media aide, Gumi, said only“a fool will allow his dwelling to be a theatre of war” Reacting to Adesina’s statement in an article posted on his verified Facebook account, Gumi said,“You bootlicker that called me a banditlover! I am not one, but my country-lover, my region-lover, my state-lover, and my peoplelover, and humanity-lover.”

Even though Gumi has claimed that he is not a bandit-lover, his consistent publicity campaign for these criminals and his attacks on those who condemn them point to the contrary.

G i Gumi

right to nullify the judgment of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal that declared Adeleke winner.

It agreed with Oyetola’s lawyer, Olanipekun that the majority judgment of the tribunal amounted to a nullity since it was delivered by Justice Peter Obiora who did not participate in the entire hearing process.

The apex court noted that Justice Obiora was absent at the tribunal on February 6, when two witnesses, Ayoola Soji and Oladejo Kazeem, testified for the respondents, saying he therefore failed to observe the demeanor of the witnesses to warrant the final conclusion he reached in favour of Adeleke.

The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad and three other Justices: Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Amiru Sanusi and Uwani Aba-Aji, concurred with the lead verdict However, two other members of the panel, Justices Kumai Akaahs and Paul Galinje, disagreed and maintained that Adeleke won the election and ought to have been declared winner by INEC. Before the election, the police had charged Adeleke for alleged examination malpractices in what was seen as an effort to stop him from contesting the election.

In fact the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Bwari Area Council had nullified his candidacy in the election.

The Abuja court had on April 4 disqualified Adeleke from participating in the polls on the ground that he did not possess the requisite qualification.

But the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal dismissed the ruling of the FCT Court.

Justice Emmanuel Agim, who read the judgment, held that the defendant’s West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate was not forged, adding that the testimony of the official from the organisation was also valid.

He stated that the suit was statute-barred and that the judgment delivered in 209 days by Justice Othman Musa ran foul of the constitutionally stipulated 180 days for adjudication on pre-election matters.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, had also in January 2021 discharged and acquitted four persons accused alongside Adeleke, for alleged involvement in examination malpractices.

Justice Ekwo freed the defendants from the seven-amended-count-charge while delivering a ruling in their no-case submission against the suit.

The court had in 2020 freed Adeleke from the charges after it was withdrawn by the police.

Adeleke has indeed demonstrated that he is a dogged fighter and his return to the governorship race after his further studies abroad will change the political equation in Osun State.

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CICERO/REPORT

As Controversy Trails Electronic Voting in Kaduna With the desperation by politicians to undermine the use of electronic voting machines in the recent Kaduna State local government elections, John Shiklam writes that the adoption of the voting system will only make the desired impact on the electoral process if politicians play according to the rules

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n September 4, 2021, the Kaduna State Government conducted local government elections using its upgraded electronic voting machines (EVMs).

The first experiment with the technology was conducted in 2018 after the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission Act No. 10 of 2012 was amended to provide for the use of the EVMs. The recent polls were supposed to be an improvement on the elections in 2018.

Though polls were an improvement on the 2018 experiment, they were characterised by low voter turnout and pockets of violence in some places.

For instance in Giwa and Igabi LGAs, several of voting machines were reportedly snatched by hoodlums, a development which was confirmed by the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM), Dr. Saratu Audu-Dikko, at a briefing with journalists in Kaduna.

“Thirty EVMs were carted away at Kwarau in the Igabi Local Government Area, with two destroyed, while nine others at Panhauya, Giwa Local Government Area, were equally vandalised.

“The hoodlums also carted away election materials and assaulted the driver and staff of the commission conveying the materials,”she explained.

Some of the EVMs machines were said to have been taken to the wrong polling units while others did not function, thereby causing hitches in the process.

Of the results released by SIECOM returning officers at the headquarters of the 17 out of the 19 council areas where elections held, the ruling APC won the chairmanship elections in 15 LGAs while the PDP won in two.

Interestingly, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, lost to the PDP in his Angwan Sarki 001 polling unit, a defeat which some observers attributed to the effectiveness of the use of the upgraded EVMs. The SIECOM Chairperson, Dr.Saratu DikkoAudu, said with the machines, it would be difficult for elections to be rigged. Giving insight on how the machine functions, she said, it is powered with a battery, which last up to 16 hours in the field, in addition to the provision of a generator.

According to her, the machine responds to authorisation card that gives the voter access to the voting platform, adding that the platform will not open for actual voting until it sees and recognises permanent voter’s card that belongs to the voter.

“When the machine sees and recognises the card, it will open the voting page for the voter. The first page is for election of chairman.

“The logos of all the political parties of candidates that are contesting the election are on the page. The voter is required to indicate the logo of the party of the candidate he wants to vote for by touching the screen.

“When he does that, the logo will be enlarged so that he can confirm that it is the party he is voting for. He will then press a green button, showing ‘Ok’”, she said.

She explained further that the machine has a transparent window by the left through which a paper trail is generated for the vote cast.

She said the machine does not accept voting with the same card more than once.

“If you have voted and you try to vote again, the machine recognises the voter’s card and tells you that you had already voted.

That will stop multiple voting”, she explained.

According to her, at the end of the election, the machine prints out a summary of results for both chairmanship and councillorship.

“If the agents feel this is not the number of votes recorded on the machine, they can

El-Rufai open the ballot box, sort out the paper trails and count them.

“The results are printed in 10 copies; so, the party agents and security agents will have a copy each. The results are transmitted to our server here in Kaduna; it is also stored on a USB. “So, you have four levels where the results is stored- the paper trail, summary of results, the memory on the machines, the USB and the transmission to SIECOM headquarters.

“So it will be hard for anyone to rig an election by changing all those four values. Ten people also have the results.

We tested the machines across the state and they work very well”, she said.

El-Rufai, who is the first governor to introduce technology to the electoral process, said the fact that the PDP defeated him in his polling unit showed that the APC did not manipulate the e-voting machines.

He dismissed allegations by the PDP that the machines were programmed to favour the APC, maintaining that the outcome of the election showed that the APC did not interfere with the programming of the electronic voting machines.

“Those that reported that the machines were programmed were ashamed when it was reported that APC lost in my polling unit.

“People were laughing that I lost my polling unit, but it is democracy that won,” the governor said in a live television interview.

El-Rufai, had while speaking to journalists shortly after casting his vote, harped on the need to deploy technology in the conduct of elections.

He said: “Technology is the key to minimising cheating in elections and unless we removed cheating in elections, we will never have credible leaders, we

will never have accountable leaders and this is why we are committed to this”.

According to him, there has been a significant improvement on the machines compared with the ones used in the 2018 LG polls, stressing that the improved voting machine being used for the elections made it nearly impossible to do multiple voting which, according to him, “happened a lot in 2018.”

He said: “What we have shown in Kaduna is that it is possible to do this across Nigeria and I think INEC is looking at the experiment in Kaduna very closely.”

However, the opposition PDP lamented that even with the EVMs, the election was not free and fair, insisting that the APC manipulated the process.

It also accused the SIECOM of allegedly allowing the replacement of trained ad-hoc staff with untrained people to operate the machines, adding that this was responsible for the malfunctioning of the EVMs in many polling units.

The state Chairman of the party, Mr. Hassan Hyat, in an interview with THISDAY, commended El-Rufai for introducing EVM to ensure credible elections. He, however, regretted that the governor did not ensure the strict use of the machines.

“As far as we are concerned, let me commend the governor for introducing electronic voting machine. To me, it is a good innovation, but unfortunately he didn’t follow up in the next step in terms of ensuring its utilisation”.

The PDP also alleged that some of the machines were programmed with results in favour of the APC. “In Barnawa we brought an instance where a machine was reading APC 186 votes against PDP with 82 votes while voting was yet to even commence.

The same thing happened during the 2018 elections,” Hyat alleged.

He said SIECOM trained ad-hoc staff on how to operate the machines, “but when it was time to deploy them to the polling units, different names came up and therefore the machines were not functional in many polling units across the state.”

The PDP chairman said “the governor must take responsibility for this in the sense that that there are allegations that the Local Government Electoral Officers of SIECOM, changed the names of those who were trained as adhoc staff.”

Hyat said: “Where those who were trained were allowed to work, the machines worked successfully.”

He further alleged that “government officials and officials APC officials went behind the governor and forced the Electoral Officers to replace the names of those who were trained for the job with their untrained cronies and that brought the whole mess to the system.”

Hyat said the “PDP is very proud of the results that went through the right process, but the results that didn’t go through the right process, we completely condemn it and say that it should not stand.

“For instance, in Sanga LGA, our agents were not even allowed to go near polling units; they were chased away by heavily armed security men including soldiers.

“Sanga is the local government where the deputy governor comes from; so, she takes responsibility for that.”

According to him, the introduction of electronic voting in Kaduna, showed that there is a great prospect of conducting elections electronically in Nigeria.

“I am sure INEC must be studying what is happening in Kaduna and all the lapses and areas of concern so that they can address them in the conduct of their elections.

“We cannot continue to conduct elections manually in this era of technological advancement; it has to be by electronic means”, Hyat said.

The PDP chairman called on SIECOM to ensure that only those trained to operate the machines are deployed to conduct elections in the remaining five of the 23 LGAs which were scheduled for September 25 due to security concerns.

Efforts to speak with the state APC Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Jekada was unsuccessful as he did not respond to telephone calls. The state secretary of the party, Yayaha Pate, could not be reached as his telephone line was not connecting.

The spokesperson of SIECOM, Mrs. Hajara Pyeng declined to respond to allegations by the PDP that ad-hoc staff trained by commission were replaced by government and APC officials, saying she cannot talk on any issue.

“I don’t have any authority to talk. You cannot talk to anybody until when the commission wants to talk to you; they will invite the press”, Pyeng said on telephone.

Nigerians have been yearning for the electronic voting to curb fraudulent electoral practices by desperate politicians.

The Kaduna experiment has the prospects to transform the electoral system as new innovations would continue to be explored for continuous improvement.

However, electronic voting alone will not bring about the desired change in the nation’s electoral process if politicians do not change their crude and lawless attitudes and play according to the rules.

One of greatest obstacles to the evolution of transparent and credible electoral process in Nigeria is the desperation by politicians to grab power at all costs.

This accounted for the efforts by politicians to frustrate the use of the machines in the Kaduna local government polls.

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CICERO/REPORT

How the VAT War Triggered Restructuring The decision of a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on the collection of Value Added Tax has obviouslysignalledthebeginningofrestructuringoftheNigerianfederation,Gboyega Akinsanmiwrites

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he debate over restructuring of the Nigerian federation has been pervasive since the enthronement of democracy in 1999. The arguments had culminated in three different attempts to restructure the country’s federal structure, which a Professor of Political Science, Emeritus Professor John Ayoade, like other federalists, had described as lopsided and unprogressive.

The first attempt took place under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2005, Obasanjo convened the National Political Reforms Conference in response to popular demands then. Also, former President Goodluck Jonathan convoked National Conference in 2014 under the late Justice Idris Kutigi to address imbalance and injustice that characterised the federal system.

In 2018, the All Progressives Congress (APC) set up a Committee on True Federalism to devolve more powers to the federating units.

None of these attempts made any significant change in the country’s governance structure.

Since 1999 some states of the federation, especially Lagos State and recently Rivers State, have successfully challenged the constitutional powers of the federal government in areas of conflicting interest.

In Lagos, for instance, such attempts have resulted in key reforms, which the immediate past APC National Legal Adviser, Mr. Babatunde Ogala (SAN) argued, has strengthened Nigeria’s federal system. The attempts, according to him, have led to the enactment of Lagos State Lotteries Law, 2004; Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2005; Lagos State Waterways Authority Law, 2008; Wharf Landing Fees Law, 2009 and Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Tax Law, 2009.

None of these laws, however, has revolutionised the country’s federal structure like the recent judgment of a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.

Based on the prayers of Rivers State, the presiding judge, Justice Stephen Pam declared that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) “has no constitutional authority to enforce and administer taxes not expressly stipulated under Items 58 and 59, Part I, Second Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Consequent upon the decision of the court, Rivers State House of Assembly passed a bill to enact the State Value Added Tax (VAT) Law No. 4 of 2021. The state governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike signed it into law on August 20, to end the authority of the FIRS to administer, collect and enforce the Value Added Tax Act, 2007 in Rivers State.

Origin of VAT Act On August 24, 1993, precisely three days to the end of his regime, the Federal Military Government under Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd) promulgated the Value Added Tax Decree No. 102 of 1993. But the decree did not become effective until December 1, 1993 under the junta of the late tyrant, Gen. Sani Abacha.

At the time of its promulgation, the Babangida regime recognised that the VAT enforcement authority lied solely with the federating units.

But the regime, by fiat, designated the FIRS as the enforcement authority on the grounds that the federating units lacked the capacity to collect VAT within their defined jurisdictions.

The VAT regime continued until the advent of the 1999 Constitution. Consistent with Section 315 of the Constitution, all the decrees, which fall directly with the purview of the federal government, became the Acts of the National Assembly.

In specific terms, the section states: “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, an existing law shall have effect with such modifications as may be necessary to bring it into conformity with the provisions of this Constitution and shall be deemed to be an Act of the National

Wike Assembly to the extent that it is a law with respect to any matter on which the National Assembly is empowered by this Constitution to make laws …”

On this ground, the Value Added Tax Decree No. 102 of 1993 became Value Added Tax Act, 1993, retaining five per cent as the chargeable rate in 1996 under the Federal Military Government. Under the Obasanjo administration, however, the VAT Act, 1993 was amended twice, first in 2004 and also at the twilight of the administration in 2007.

Like Babangida, Obasanjo assented to the VAT Act, 2007 about four days to the expiration of his administration. Under the VAT Act, 2007, the chargeable rate of VAT was increased from five per cent to 10 per cent. However, the amendment stoked public disapproval, which compelled the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration to reverse it to five per cent on September 25, 2007.

Constitutional Justifications Should the Value Added Tax Decree No. 102 of 1993 be an Act of National Assembly? Or should the National Assembly legislate on value added tax or consumption related taxes? The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt attempted to resolve these questions with emphasis on which level of government has the power to collect VAT within the ambit of the constitution.

Obviously, Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution has defined the legislative powers of the National Assembly and States’ Houses of Assembly.

Under Part I, Second Schedule, the constitution recognises 68 items, on which the National Assembly can make laws for the purpose of good governance at the federal level.

Specifically, Items 58 and 59 on the Second Schedule further defined the taxing authority of the federal government. As these provisions suggest, the National Assembly cannot exercise its powers beyond legislating on matters on relating to stamp duties as shown on Item 58; taxation of incomes, profits and capital gains as indicated on Item 59.

Also, under Part II, Second Schedule, the 1999 Constitution lists 30 items on which the state Houses of Assembly can legislate. Likewise, the National Assembly can as well legislate on any item or matter under the Concurrent Legislative List. It is on these grounds that the Federal High Court declared that there “is no constitutional provision which grants the National Assembly

Malami power to make the VAT Act.” Obviously, as Ogala argued, VAT falls within the Residual Legislative List.

Also, the judgment is consistent with the decision of the Supreme Court when the Lagos State Government challenged the powers of the federal government to grant licenses and permits to organisations to build house and erect structures within its jurisdiction without its permission, prior knowledge or consent in 2003.

In this legal contest, the apex court held that any item “not expressly mentioned in the Exclusive Legislative List or Concurrent Legislative List is Residual and within the legislative competence of the state government.” This reinforces the power of sub-national governments as the enforcement authority of VAT or consumption related taxes.

Resort to Political Warfare With one month, the FIRS lost the substantive legal battle to the Rivers State Government.

Also, the court refused its application to stay execution of the judgment. However, it has filed an appeal to challenge the decision of the court, which former Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (SAN) observed, entailed that all parties should wait for the decision of the appellate court on the dispute.

Rather than observing the rule of law, the FIRS has resorted to political warfare to retain its position as the designated authority of the VAT Act, 2007. In a statement by its Director of Communications and Liaison, Abdullahi Ahmad, the agency directed taxpayers in Rivers State to disregard the decision of the court and Rivers State VAT Law, 2021.

Also, after the court refused to stay execution of its judgment, the FIRS had, in a letter by its Executive Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, requested the National Assembly “to sponsor a bill establishing Federal Revenue Court of Nigeria and insert VAT under Item 58 of the Second Schedule to the 1999 Constitution.”

The FIRS anchored its request to the National Assembly on eight grounds. First, as it claimed, the revenue court will provide the tax authority and taxpayers a platform for quick resolution of tax disputes. Second, it claimed the court would reduce time spent on the adjudication of tax matters. Third, among others, the Tax Appeal Tribunal should be converted to the Federal Revenue Court as the take-off point.

As shown in its four-page letter, the FIRS

did not establish the constitutional basis to substantiate its authority to administer, collect, enforce the VAT Act, 2007.The request, obviously, suggests that there is no constitutional provision to support the appeal of the FIRS. Hence, it resorted to the National Assembly as a laid-back to reclaim the powers, which a constitutional lawyer, Dr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) argued, the FIRS could not exercise within the ambit of the 1999 Constitution.

Domino Effects The decision of the federal high court obviously strengthened the arms of the Rivers State House of Assembly to pass the Rivers State VAT Bill, 2021. It equally justified the resolve of the state governor to sign the bill into law, which a human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) claimed, did not contravene any provision of the 1999 Constitution.

But these decisions have started impelling domino effect among other states of the federation. As adopted under former US President Harry Truman, domino effect simply suggests the fall of a non-communist state to communism would precipitate the fall of non-communist governments in neighbouring states.

Consistent with the arguments of domino theorists, the Lagos State House of Assembly has enacted its own legislation to enable it administer, collect and enforce value added tax or consumption related taxes. With the conclusion of the legislative process on Thursday, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu will assent to the bill any moment.

Likewise, Ekiti State has kick-started the process of legislating its own statute to enable it administer, collect and control its own VAT and assume the role of the enforcement authority. A senior lawyer, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) has justified the state laws on value added tax, which according to him, are a form of restructuring.

Adegboruwa, also, argued that the laws would redefine the country’s feeding-bottle federalism and the tradition Abuja financial pilgrimage for betterment. Human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), too, shared Adegboruwa’s standpoint. For him, the decision of the federal high court has confirmed the struggle for restructuring through litigation and will strengthen the campaign for restructuring.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

65

INTERNATIONAL 20Years of US Foreign Policy and 9/11: Afghanistan as an End or a Beginning?

T

he 9/11 at 20, without any jot of doubt, is a true reflection of a popular saying that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. President Joe Biden currently wears the US crown, and his cervical vertebrates appear to be seriously challenged by the heaviness of the burden of crown. This is because the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11, following the withdrawal of the United States troops from Afghanistan, not only raises questions on the future of extremist jihad and international terrorism, but also on whether Afghanistan is now the crescendo and end, or a fresh beginning, in the US struggle against international terrorism.

9/11 is an American coinage for the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 by terrorists led by Osama bin Laden, who was then operating from Afghanistan. The coinage is not simply to remember the date of the aggression on the United States, but particularly to re-freshen and honour the memories of the direct victims, as well as stop the use of terror on the people of America. Yesterday, 11th September, 2021 marked the 20th Anniversary of the unwarranted assault and this policy objective.

What is particularly noteworthy about the 9/11 twentieth anniversary is that, it not only coincides with the withdrawal of the United States on August 30, 2021 from Afghanistan, but also with the opening trial on Wednesday, 8th September 2015 terrorist attacks that killed 130 people in Batclan, a restaurant in Paris 11 and Stade de France in Paris. More important, it is also marked by the declared intention of the US president, Joe Biden, to declassify some documents on the 9/11 saga, as well as uncover all those sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria. At the level of Nigeria, is the Government of Nigeria in any way interested in such an assistance, bearing in mind that there have been accusing fingers already pointed at President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) and members of his Government? Is the offer of US help to reveal those sustaining insecurity in the interest of Nigeria or in that of the United States? Is it a reflection of a new approach in US foreign policy technique?

As regards Americans, they have taken the need for declassification of 9/11 documents as a desideratum and conditionality for President Biden’s presence at the 9/11 ceremonies, which, since 2001, have been variously celebrated: laying of wreath; giving of presidential speeches and remarks that were disseminated worldwide through the US diplomatic missions; observance of one-minute silence in honour of the 9/11 victims; US invasion of Afghanistan with all its attendant manifestations, etc. With this, what then should be the next line of action? Should we be talking about the beginning of the end or the end of a beginning in the war on terror in international relations?

Issues in 9/11 Anniversaries A first issue is how to interpret the impact and significance of 9/11 for both the terrorists and the Americans. At the level of the terrorists, they wrongly see 9/11 as a victory. Wrongly, because it is only about winning the battle, about reckless killing of people and destruction of property, but losing the essence and critical objective of the terrorist war on the United States, which is to create fear and subdue the Americans, their beliefs and values. Put differently, 9/11 is only self-defeating for the terrorists, as Americans have remained very unwavering, even though 9/11 was a surprise assault like the 1941 Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service attacks on the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbour in Honolulu territory, that was not bargained for.

Twenty years of US foreign policy in the context of the war on terror, and particularly in Afghanistan, have been very fruitful in terms of set objectives. The first immediate objective was to neutralise and punish the attackers and sponsors of 9/11, as well as prevent the use of Afghan territory for terrorism against the United States. To a great extent, this has been achieved. But, to what extent can this objective be sustained following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan?

As explained on the very day of the terrorist attack by President George W. Bush,‘these acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed.

Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world.

And no one will keep that light from shining. Today, our nation saw evil - the very worst of human nature - and we responded with the best of America.’This is one interpretation of the 9/11 saga.

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Biden Additionally, in terms of attitudinal disposition, President George Bush made it clear that‘the search is underway for those who were behind these evil acts. I have directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbour them.’This policy attitude largely explains American intervention in Afghanistan and also justifies why he said that 9/11 may be the beginning but surely the end. Thus the invasion of Afghanistan cannot have any better justification.

For the Americans, 9/11 is a very criminally and unwarranted terrible aggression on the whole people of America, but which needs to be philosophically taken as a catalytic agent of nation-building in all strategic plans. In other words, it is simply taken as a reason for pursuit of greater unity and strength, greater cultural identity and renewed determination not to let the terrorists sleep and have peace in any given operational nook and cranny of the world.

It was in light of this renewed determination that every September 11 was designated as‘Patriot’s Day’by a joint resolution approved on 18 December, 2001 (vide Public Law107-89) and also as an annually-recognised‘National Day of Service and Remembrance,’ by joint congressional resolution approved on 21 April, 2009 (vide Public Law 111-13.

Consistent with this, President Obama proclaimed‘September 11, 2012 as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance in honour of the individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.’And perhaps more importantly, he also invited all Americans‘to reclaim that abiding spirit of compassion by serving their communities in the days and weeks ahead. From volunteering with a faith-based organization, to collecting food and clothing for those in need, to preparing care packages for our men and women in uniform, there are many ways to bring service into our everyday lives - and each of us can do something. Even the simplest act of kindness can be a way to honour those we have lost, and to help build stronger communities and a more resilient Nation. By joining together on this solemn anniversary, let us show that America’s sense of common purpose need not be a fleeting moment, but a lasting virtue - not just on one day, but every day.’

And true enough, President Obama not only invited the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and interested organizations, but also all individuals to join in

In sum, 9/11 anniversary is as important as the celebration of US Independence Day, if not more important. It is a day for the celebration of patriotism, to underscore patriotic service, to remember all heroes past and honour the victims of 9/11, and a day to promote recommitment to the protection of American lives and values. But in doing all these, the burden is quite heavy: how should terrorism be better fought at home and abroad in the foreseeable future? Can weapon only really de-radicalise people who want to replace Western civilisation with Islamic education? How can President Joe Biden prevent the likely terrorist attacks on US interests outside of the United States, bearing in mind that many are the Islamic faithful followers in the US? To what extent can the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, in order to have more time to deal with US relationships with China, be helpful in the war on terror? Terrorism is not simply the activity of the laymen, but also that of the most sophisticated in knowledge. The 9/11 attackers are a reflection. Without scintilla of sentiments, In marking or celebrating 9/11 at 20, there is the need for greater reflections on how to re-strategise against the potential wave of terrorism in Afghanistan and elsewhere. 9/11 should be taken as a new beginning in the anti-terrorism struggle.

this observance... to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, including remembrance services, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to honour the innocent victims who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.’

In furtherance of the proclamation, President Donald Trump, in his 2017 memorial speech transcript, said that‘when Americans are in need, Americans pull together — and we are one country. and when we face hardship, we emerge closer, stronger, and more determined than ever.’More important, he said‘the terrorists who attacked us thought they could incite fear and weaken our spirit.

But America cannot be intimidated, and those who try will soon join the long list of vanquished enemies who dared to test our mettle... We are making plain to these savage killers that there is no dark corner beyond our reach, no sanctuary beyond our grasp, and nowhere to hide anywhere on this very large earth.’

This is precisely what every 9/11 anniversary has become, a platform and opportunity for nationalist rejuvenation, even when there are other more serious natural calamities like the hurricane Irma and hurricane Harvey which had devastating effect and catastrophic severity in 2017. Indeed, 9/11 as an assault to undermine what the United States represents, has weakened international terrorism, but strengthened the United States and international coalition against the use of international terror. And true enough again, in his reflection on 9/11 during the 10th anniversary of the event in 2011, former Vice President Joe Biden remarked that ‘never before in our history has America asked so much, over such a sustained period, of an all-volunteer force... the 9/11 Generation ranks among the greatest our nation has ever produced.’

This statement is in appreciation of the dignity, patriotism and resilience of the American people regardless of colour, creed and religion. This is what 9/11 is still reflecting as at today.

Obama, Trump, and 9/11 President Barack Obama underscored at the 15th Anniversary of 9/11 in 2016 the strength and resilience of the American people by saying that‘it’s the ultimate sacrifice of men and women who rest for eternity not far from here, in gentle green hills in perfect formation - Americans who gave their lives in faraway places so that we can be here today, strong and free and proud. It’s all of us - every American who gets up each day, and lives our lives, carries on. Because as Americans, we do not give in to fear. We will preserve our freedoms and the way of life that makes us a beacon to the world. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you… write them on the tablet of your heart.’

More important, President Obama had it that‘fifteen years into this fight, the threat has evolved. With our stronger defenses, terrorists often attempt attacks on a smaller, but still deadly, scale.

Groups like al Qaeda, like ISIL, know that we will never be able they will never be able to defeat a nation as great and as strong as America. So, instead, they’ve tried to terrorize in the hopes that they can stoke enough fear that we turn on each other and that we change who we are or how we live. And that’s why it is so important today that we reaffirm our character as a nation - a people drawn from every corner of the world, every colour, every religion, every background - bound by a creed as old as our founding, e pluribus unum. Out of many, we are one. For we know that our diversity -- our patchwork heritage -- is not a weakness; it is still, and always will be, one of our greatest strengths. This is the America that was attacked that September morning. This is the America that we must remain true to.’

In the thinking of Donald Trump, relations and loved ones might have been taken away,‘but no force on earth can ever take away your memories, diminish your love, or break your will to endure and carry on and go forward. Though we can never erase your pain, or bring back those you lost, we can honour their sacrifice by pledging our resolve to do whatever we must to keep our people safe...’

And perhaps most importantly, he summed up the essence of 9/11 anniversary thus:‘We are reminded of the timeless truth that when America is united, no force on earth can break us apart - no force. We have overcome every challenge - every single challenge, every one of them - We’ve triumphed over every evil, and remained united as one nation under God. America does not bend. We do not waver. And we will never, ever yield. Our values will endure. Our people will thrive. Our nation will prevail. And the memory of our loved ones will never, ever die.’

Again, in his 2018 speech at the Arlington memorial burial ground, President Donald Trump said:‘a piece of America’s heart is buried on these grounds but in its place has grown a new resolve to live our lives with the same grace and courage as the heroes of Flight 93. This field is now a monument to American defiance. This memorial is now a message to the world: America will never, ever submit to tyranny.’

President Donald Trump advised at the 2020 Memorial Speech that Americans should‘carry the memory of how they (9/11 victims) came together on that day to make our nation and world a better place for all.’This cannot but be so because‘it was a unity based on love for our families, care for our neighbours, loyalty to our fellow citizens, pride in our great flag, gratitude for our police and first responders, faith in God, and a refusal to bend our will to the depraved forces of violence, intimidation, oppression, and evil.’

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

66

SPECIAL FEATURES

From Lagos to Winchester: How a Divisive Nigerian Pastor Built a Global Following Matthew McNaught

O

n the second day of TB Joshua’s funeral in Lagos, his disciples took to the stage. A microphone was passed around as more than 60 disciples introduced themselves by name and nationality. They came from 18 diͿerent countries, among them Nigeria, South Africa, Indonesia, Mexico, the US and the UK. Some seemed barely out of their teens; others were in late middle age, having spent decades serving Joshua, the millionaire Nigerian pastor and self-proclaimed prophet being laid to rest. A senior Nigerian disciple, recently promoted to prophetess, began her tribute. “How to describe someone so indescribable?” she said. “How to deÀne someone so indeÀnable? Human and divine?”

Joshua died on 5 June 2021, a few days before his 58th birthday. The news spread on social media, before the Synagogue, Church of All Nations, known as Scoan, made an o΀cial announcement. “God has taken His servant Prophet TB Joshua home,” the statement read, “as it should be by divine will.” Over a month later, his funeral under way, there had been no mention of a cause of death.

In a city saturated with megachurches and charismatic pastors, TB Joshua stood out for his global celebrity. He drew huge crowds on his stadium tours across Africa, Asia and LatinAmerica. His satellite channel, Emmanuel TV, was a presence in countless households across sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Before the pandemic, his church was the biggest international tourist attraction in the country.

About 15,000 people would come to Scoan every week.

Some visitors came out of curiosity; many came in desperation, hoping for healing from sickness or deliverance from evil spirits. Politicians came in the hope that Joshua’s blessing might win them favour with the electorate.

George Weah, the Liberian football star turned presidential candidate, took a much-publicised trip to Scoan shortly before winning the 2017 election. The church is based in Ikotun-Egbe, a relatively poor neighbourhood situated amid the urban sprawl of the Lagos Mainland, far from the Ànancial centres of Ikoyi and Victoria Island. Joshua’s fame transformed the area into a thriving commercial hub. Markets, banks, hotels and restaurants rose up to meet demand from visitors.

What made Joshua unique was not just his international reach, but the intensity of devotion he inspired in his disciples. They called him “Daddy”, kneeling at his feet when greeting him in his o΀ce. They accompanied him on international crusades and philanthropic trips.

As well as intensive church duties, they spent long hours memorising hundreds of pages of his teachings, known as Quotable Quotes, which they believed to be the word of God. They lived in dormitories within the church complex.

Many of his international disciples came from comfortable, middle-class backgrounds. In following TB Joshua, some had cut themselves oͿ from friends and family, foregoing marriage, education and conventional careers.

“Daddy,” said a senior disciple from Senegal at the funeral, “it was divine destiny that brought all of us to you. We came from diͿerent nations, from diͿerent backgrounds, with diͿerent hearts: unlikely people indeed … ” When Giles Hurst Àrst heard the news of Joshua’s death, his Àrst feeling was elation.

“I remember thinking: ‘This was what VE Day must have felt like,’” he told me on the phone from his home in southern India. “I thought: It’s over. Justice is done. He’s not got away with it.” I told Hurst I was thinking the opposite – he did get away with it, didn’t he?

“In this life,” Hurst added. “But I believe he’ll have to answer to God.” Hurst’s second reaction was an urge to reconnect. After sending Facebook messages to a number of fellow former disciples, he ended up having a long conversation with Mary

TB Joshua preaching

WinÀeld , another British ex-disciple. They hadn’t spoken since Hurst had left Scoan in 2006. In Lagos, their relationship had been fraught. WinÀeld was, he said, one of the more zealous ones. He remembered being denounced by her in disciple meetings. Now, there was a kinship in their shared experience. They reminisced about life in Scoan, shared news about life since leaving.

A month later, watching disciples speak at the funeral service, Hurst was struck by how many familiar faces he saw. He thought of the experiences he’d had since leaving: Àve years in the British army, marriage, moving to the Isle of Wight, bringing up three kids. He was now working as a teacher in a Christian residential school in India. It was strange, he said, to think that so many of his old disciple friends had spent those years sleeping in the same dorm, caught up in the endless urgency of disciple life. (Scoan did not respond to my request to comment for this article.)

I never met TB Joshua. But for years, he loomed large in my consciousness. I had been writing a book that explored, among other things, the unlikely relationship between Scoan and the church of my childhood, Immanuel: a middle-class, predominantly white evangelical congregation in Winchester, Hampshire.

When Joshua died, I was working on the last chapter of the book. In the days that followed, I felt oddly unmoored. It was like nothing I’d known before: no grief, but all the disorientation of a bereavement. The fresh double-take each morning, the small astonishment of every verb pulled into the past tense.

I contacted old friends and interviewees. I spoke to Hurst, as well as Mary WinÀeld and her brother Dan , who were old church friends of mine as well as former Scoan disciples. I asked Dan and his wife, Kate , also an ex-disciple, what they thought would happen next. At Àrst, Dan had hoped that his relatives – several of whom remained devout SCOAN supporters – would Ànally leave the church. With Joshua gone, he thought, the whole thing might quickly collapse. After Dan and Kate discussed the news with their counsellor, they sobered up.

He urged caution. That’s not how these things tend to end, he said.

By the second day of the Àve-day funeral celebration, it was clear that this was not just a laying to rest, but a statement of intent. The last disciple to speak was a blond American woman in her 30s. “Daddy, we will preserve your legacy, we will defend your legacy,” she said. “One chapter in this remarkable journey

View From Abroad/ The Guardian of London I first encountered TB Joshua as a teenager, when his preaching captivated my evangelical Christian community in Hampshire. Many of my friends became his ardent disciples and followed him to Lagos. How did he have such a hold over people? may have come to an end, but it is not the end, never the end. Prophet TB Joshua lives on.”

TB Joshua Àrst entered my awareness as a curiosity: a sharp-suited Nigerian preacher on the chunky plastic cover of a VHS tape, which sat among books and audio cassettes on the table at the back of the church hall. It was the late 90s and I was in my teens. When I Àrst watched the clips of his healings and exorcisms – which somehow combined Billy Graham’s stadium evangelism with the kinetic drama of WWE wrestling – they provoked, above all, my growing teenage scepticism.

But there was also a faint hope, a question hovering: what if this was the real deal? It was the remnant of a familiar anticipatory wonder that soon evaporated entirely.

In the years that followed, my aversion to Joshua intensiÀed. He came to personify the toxic, tyrannical potential of the born-again Christianity I’d left behind. Since I started writing about him, and the conÁuence of forces that connected him with the church of my childhood, a kind of wonder has returned.

Not at the possibility of his anointing, but at his audacity, and the sheer unlikeliness of what he achieved.

It’s hard to disentangle the facts of Joshua’s life from his self-mythologising. The o΀cial Scoan narrative is repeated in many online articles: his birth was foretold by a prophet, he spent 15 months in his mother’s womb, he received a divine revelation in 1987 while fasting for 40 days and 40 nights in an area of swampland that would later be called Prayer Mountain.

The basic facts are remarkable enough.

Joshua was born into poverty in 1963, in a village called Arigidi in Ondo State, south-west Nigeria. He moved to Lagos as a young man, his secondary school education unÀnished, and found work on a poultry farm. He was in

his mid-20s when he founded the Synagogue, Church of All Nations. The earliest videos of Scoan show a skinny young man addressing a small congregation under a bamboo tent, wearing a white gown and a long, ragged beard. He barely resembles the plump-faced, well-groomed millionaire pastor he would become, but his movements are unmistakable: the antic energy, the easy mastery of the crowd.

Joshua was always a controversial and divisive Àgure. From the 90s onward, he was an outcast from the Nigerian Christian establishment. He was refused membership of the Christian Association and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria for making unorthodox claims about himself (his insistence, for example, that he became a Christian before he was born, during his 15-month gestation). He was criticised for his claims of healing. Aids and cancer were two of his specialities, and he once sent 4,000 bottles of his anointed water to Àght the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone.

He was banned from YouTube in early 2021, after complaints about his videos showing him exorcise “demons” of homosexuality. His supporters, on the other hand, often proclaim him as a man of many good deeds, pointing to his philanthropy: he is reported, amongst other things, to have donated large sums of money to repair the electricity infrastructure in his native state.

Joshua’s prophecy videos, purportedly demonstrating his foreknowledge of events in the news, have created headlines of their own. In 2012, he prophesied that an African head of state would die within 60 days. In a later video, he appeared to name a speciÀc date. When the Malawian president, Bingu wa Mutharika, died of a cardiac arrest on this day, he was succeeded by Joyce Banda, a devotee of TB Joshua who’d visited his church several times. In the press, there was speculation as to whether Joshua’s prediction was down to divine anointing or more mundane explanations.

The personal qualities that enabled Joshua’s rise to global fame might not be obvious to the casual observer. He had an infectious smile, a warm and open demeanour, but his preaching was simplistic, repetitive, bordering on crude.

It lacked the slick Áuency of fellow Nigerian pastors such as Matthew Ashimolowo or Paul Adefarasin. Perhaps its simplicity was part of its power. Joshua rarely attempted personal anecdote or biblical interpretation. He traded in aphorisms, the kind of memorisable nuggets of inspiration that could provide equal comfort to lorry drivers and international businessmen.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 5, 2021

67

SPECIAL FEATURES From Lagos to Winchester: How a Divisive Nigerian Pastor Built a Global Following But Joshua had not simply hit on a formula with broad appeal. He meant diͿerent things to diͿerent people. It’s not hard to understand his appeal among the locals of Ikotun-Egbe, whose families his ministry nourished in the most literal way. It’s a little harder to account for his hold over my old church friends, who’d swapped lives of privilege in the leafy suburbs of Winchester for the privations of disciple life.

When my old church, Immanuel, Àrst made contact with TB Joshua in the late 90s, it was a time of frustrated hope. Immanuel had begun in the early 80s as a house church, meeting in people’s living rooms. It was a local oͿshoot of Southampton Community church, which came out of a 70s movement so radically anti-denominationalist that it evaded being precisely named. “Evangelical” worked as a broad umbrella term. Sociologists called us “restorationist”, related to a North American theological movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation. But in Immanuel, I’d never heard either of these labels.

We believed in the truth of the Bible, and the continuation of the spiritual gifts granted to the early Christians, such as tongues, healing and prophecy. We rejected dry liturgy and inherited tradition, and looked to the New Testament for a model of the church. Many believed that a return to the authentic church outlined in the gospels would lead to its worldwide restoration, which in turn would pave the way for Christ’s second coming.

To grow up in Immanuel was to absorb a radiant sense of anticipation, of being on the cusp of something unprecedented and barely imaginable. By the mid-90s, this anticipation had clariÀed into a speciÀc prophecy. “Today, respected prophets and church leaders at home and abroad are conÀdently predicting that the Lord will surely give us the land in revival,” wrote our pastor in the summer 1996 issue of the church magazine. Revival did not just denote a boom in Christianity. Some people spoke of the Holy Spirit hitting Winchester like a tidal wave.

Shoppers in the city centre would collapse in the street, suddenly overwhelmed with God’s power. The church would be inundated with people desperate to give their lives to Christ.

There would be miracles, healings, countless people saved.

The prophecies felt plausible. Our church was expanding. Having moved from living rooms to rented halls, we’d recently got a long-term lease on a large Georgian building, formerly a concert hall, in the centre of Winchester. Around the world, we saw places in which the Àrst stirrings of revival seemed to be happening. We read The God Chasers, by the US evangelist Tommy Tenney, whose title captured the restless, febrile spirit of the era. Our condition of material abundance kept us apathetic and lukewarm, he wrote. If we could shake ourselves out of the complacency of the times, we would surely see Him move.

Church members travelled to places in which God was apparently doing something, in the hope that they might bring back the anointing with them. They went to Toronto, BuenosAires, and Ànally, Joshua’s church in Lagos, where the signs and wonders of the Book of Acts were said to be a daily reality.

Years passed, and the people in the supermarkets and betting shops of Winchester remained vertical and unrepentant. A divide emerged between the God chasers and the revival sceptics, whose low expectations were, in the minds of the God chasers, one of the reasons why revival hadn’t happened yet.

To some in the church, TB Joshua seemed the epitome of a religious conman. To others, he was a bracingly radical presence, and his ministry the very opposite of comfortable Christianity. Members of Dan WinÀeld’s family set up an organisation oͿering trips to Scoan from the UK. “Why do I need to go to Nigeria to see what God is doing, when it should be happening here?” asked one of the FAQs on their website. The answer: “The diͿerent environment helps expose the depth of disappointment, cynicism and unbelief we live under in the west. It allows the Holy Spirit to renew our minds.”

Our pastor was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2001. He went to Scoan, where he was proclaimed healed by Joshua. He stopped taking medication as an act of faith. Around this time, another member of the church was diagnosed with cancer. After Joshua declared her healed, she cancelled her scheduled surgery. I was not around much during the period of desperate prayer and silent division that preceded their

TB Joshua laying hand on a woman

deaths. I was at university, getting occasional news from my parents, who were as horriÀed as I was by the rejection of medicine that accompanied these claims of healing.

I could understand, even in my disillusion, the appeal of this teaching. The prospect of our beloved pastor’s death was made more unbearable by the promise of revival we’d been hanging on to for years. What if his illness was not just cruel randomness, but demonic attack, intent on thwarting God’s plan for us?

Not a tragedy, but a triumph deferred?

Joshua’s healing ministry, and others like it, had a get-out clause. If someone got better, it was thanks to the anointing of the Man of God. If they didn’t, it was because they – or those around them – lacked su΀cient faith. There is no surer recipe for private misery than a belief in divine healing that can be prevented, even undone, by your own momentary doubts.After our pastor died, Immanuel’s decline accelerated.

It limped on for a few years, losing members steadily, before Ànally disbanding.

TB Joshua found his vocation as prophet in a time of crisis in Nigeria. After the high oil prices of the early 70s prompted a decade of state spending and dramatic growth, their subsequent fall left Nigeria on the edge of an economic precipice. By 1986, the military regime was forced by the International Monetary Fund to accept a structural adjustment plan to facilitate the repayment of debts. The currency was radically devalued. Many state services collapsed. Much of Nigeria’s emergent middle class was plunged into poverty. There was a wave of violent crime: kidnappings, car-jackings, home invasions. It was in this context that a boom in Nigerian Pentecostalism began.

Some scholars argue that this rise in Pentecostal Christianity amounted to a kind of neo-imperialism. At a time when western Ànancial institutions were imposing brutal austerity measures, western preachers came to Nigeria spreading a prosperity gospel that taught people they could pray their way out of poverty, and that the struggle that mattered was in the spiritual realm, not the political. Other scholars, such as the Nigerian theologian Ogbu Kalu, have paid more attention to the ways in which Nigerians have taken this form of doing church and made it serve their own needs.

There are surely more benevolent examples of Nigerian Pentecostalism than TB Joshua, but he does nothing if not exemplify this creativity.

Nigerians often lament the ways in which their country’s abundance of natural resources has failed to translate into lasting prosperity: how they export raw materials such as petroleum and palm oil, only to buy them back from abroad in expensive reÀned form.

Joshua’s trickster genius lay in the way he took the raw materials of western Christianity and transformed them into something to sell back to the west.

After leaving Scoan, Dan WinÀeld sent a cache of Joshua’s supposedly sacred words to a friend, who put them through an academic plagiarism detector. As a young disciple, Dan had spent long hours transcribing and memorising these words, convinced that their uncanny, fragmented eloquence was proof that Joshua was channelling something beyond himself.

This much was true. The plagiarism detection programme found that at least 19 of the text

was plagiarised, largely from US evangelists such as Billy Joe Daugherty and Don De Welt – the kind of writers whose pamphlets Áooded the Christian bookstands of Lagos in Joshua’s early years as a prophet.

Some of his inÁuences were more overt. On the walls of the Synagogue Church, there were framed pictures of famous, predominantly American evangelists: a group dubbed God’s Generals by the US writer Roberts Liardon in his book of the same name. Disciples told me that Joshua often spoke of this book. The lives of these evangelists exempliÀed, at least in Liardon’s telling, the man or woman of God as entrepreneur: driven, individualist and charismatic, contemptuous of the checks and balances of the law or denominational church. Several touched on a trope central to Joshua’s own story: that of the unlettered Man of God. He was clearly literate enough to have gathered that his lack of formal education could be invoked to authenticate his prophetic gifts.

Far from reÀning western Pentecostalism, Joshua distressed it, like stonewashed denim, taking advantage of western Christians’ yearning for supposed authenticity, and the blindspots of their exoticising gaze. In turn, the white faces and BBC voices of these disciples – always featured prominently on Emmanuel TV – gave his ministry extra prestige among his Lagos followers, and the attenders of his stadium tours across the global south.

For years, TB Joshua existed on the periphery of my awareness, one bizarre aspect of a religious upbringing I was glad to have left behind. Then, in 2010, he came sharply back into my life. I was forwarded an email that Dan and Kate WinÀeld had written, explaining their reasons for leaving the church after so many years of devotion. Kate had conÀded in Dan that she’d been regularly sexually abused

by Joshua over the course of several years. “It was like a veil was removed from my eyes,” wrote Dan. Her disclosure made sudden sense of the depression that had a΁icted her since they’d married in 2006. It also brought into clarity the authoritarian nature of Joshua’s leadership that Dan had managed to justify to himself for years.

In the email, Dan and Kate went on to describe their experiences in astonishing detail. They spoke of sleep deprivation, public shaming and a community in which Joshua was considered infallible. They described witnessing Nigerian disciples being whipped and beaten by Joshua.

They had been senior disciples, tasked with running a Scoan branch in London, now defunct.

On leaving, they’d sent the email to a large number of friends, disciples and supporters.

I couldn’t fathom how the people who sent this email – clearly not lacking in intelligence or moral integrity – could have spent years in such a place.

At the time, Dan and Kate were not the only people to have left Scoan because of alleged sexual abuse by Joshua. Two other British female disciples had left with stories similar to Kate’s.

Bisola Johnson, who had been a senior Nigerian disciple, had made public allegations against Joshua, claiming she was one of numerous female disciples Joshua had abused. Her testimony had prompted Scoan to release a lengthy video called Beware of Blasphemers, which accused Bisola of being possessed by evil spirits, and having a “contemptible character”.

Dan’s exit from Scoan led me to reconnect with old church friends with whom I’d previously lost touch. We reminisced about Immanuel. We talked about Joshua, and shared our frustration about how di΀cult it was to Ànd credible information about his church online.

He was, according to the search results, either a great Man of God or the antichrist. The critical articles were as hyperbolic as the puͿ pieces.

We decided to start a blog called TB Joshua Watch. The Àrst few posts gathered the better critical accounts of Scoan that were scattered around the internet. Some of my friends, who were still practising Christians, addressed the holes in Joshua’s theology. We wrote posts debunking Joshua’s prophecy videos, which were released after the events they claimed to predict.

The blog soon picked up momentum. We started receiving emails from people around the world keen to share their experiences as disciples. We got threatening emails from Joshua supporters, including one promising that “confession” videos would soon be released to discredit disciples who had written posts.

What was surprising was the number of emails we received that were addressed to TB Joshua himself. People must have come across our blog and concluded, without reading it, that we were an o΀cial Scoan site. The emails were mostly pleas for healing or prayer, and occasionally for money. Most were from sub-Saharan Africa: Nigeria, Ghana and =imbabwe, among others. Some were sagas in miniature: tales of orphaned children, traitorous husbands, wayward brothers, dreams of studying electronic engineering thwarted by poverty. There were stories of indebtedness and precarity; postcards from a world with no safety net, in which professions and degrees failed to guarantee a basic level of survival.

Some included attachments: CVs or scanned diplomas, photos of those asking for prayer.

“I have tried to save my family from this Ànancial hardship by creating other sources of income but to no avail,” read one email.

“I currently have another business (selling of houses and lands, sugar and oil). Man of God, please help me break through with this business successfully. My sisters and I rely on my meager salary which does not even last us the entire month. As a result, my mum supports us from her little daily sales.”

The average westerner went to Scoan seeking deliverance from the ennui of comfortable modernity. Others, inhabiting diͿerent modernities, looked to TB Joshua for a radical Christianity equal to the radical uncertainty of their lives. I was struck, reading these emails, by the bare fact of Joshua’s psychological power.

How many human longings converged on him? He entered people’s dreams. He rallied them on. He illuminated hopes of a better future.

It seemed wrong to receive these heartfelt pleas and not reply. But as TB Joshua Watch, we could oͿer nothing but disappointment.

In the end, we only sent one reply, to an Ethiopian man in the US who was asking for healing from HIV. We didn’t pretend to be Joshua, exactly, but left the email unsigned.

On Friday 12 September 2014, at around midday, a six-storey Scoan guesthouse collapsed. About 300 visitors were staying in the building at the time. Many were having dinner in the ground-Áoor canteen.

TV footage showed the aftermath: a dense tangle of twisted metal, ripped mattresses and bedsheets, layers of collapsed concrete Áoors. Weeks later, a Ànal death toll would be conÀrmed: 116 people were killed, 85 of whom were visitors from South Africa.

Two days after the collapse, the Sunday service went ahead as usual. Joshua explained to the assembled crowd that Scoan had been attacked. He showed a video that attributed the collapse to a plane Áying low over the guesthouse. Later, the church would make the claim more speciÀc: a mysterious plane Àred an infrasonic weapon at the building, which caused it to collapse. The video showed CCTV footage of the guesthouse, pausing to highlight the silhouette of a plane Áying overhead, then unpausing. Seconds later, the building fell. Joshua claimed that this was a failed assassination attempt. “Don’t be scared,” he said to the congregation. “You are not the target. I am the target. I know my hour has not yet come. Anything close to Jesus receives attack.”

Cont’d on Pg. 70

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

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ENGAGEMENTS

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

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

Ugly Street Dance in Conakry Chidi Amuta

R

ecent footage from the Guinean capital of Conakry is not good. Following last week’s coup that toppled the government of Alpha Conde, spontaneous jubilations and wild elation prompted excited mobs to troop out in street song and dance. They were celebrating the overthrow of a government that they ought to be defending; a democratic government.

Soldiers paid to guard the nation and protect those who govern it arrested and put away the president, sacked the parliament and suspended the constitution.

Among the jubilant throngs, the dominant mood was a curious combination of ‘freedom’ from something self- imposed and the embrace of something more familiar. Guineans have lived most of their lives under a succession of military dictators. The Alpha Conde government was the first elected government they have ever known. After a decade under democracy, the jubilant crowds were curiously welcoming the opposite of democracy. Hardly anyone was seen protesting against the return of dictatorship.

The coup d’etat in Guinea is the fifth in less than five years in countries in the Sahel and West African region. Sudan, Mali(twice), Chad and now Guinea haverecentlywitnessedthereturnofafamiliarAfrican political ailment: military coups. On 11th April, 2019, the Sudanese military took down the authoritarian but elected government of Omar al- Bashir whose human rights abuses were legion. But civil society groups stubbornly protested the return of the military and insisted on a power sharing arrangement.

A deal was brokered between the military and the pro democracy organizations for a power sharing arrangement leading to an eventual transition to civil rule. Al-Bashir was ferried off to the Hague to answer to charges of serial rights abuses and crimes against humanity for which the International Criminal Court had previously indicted him.

In Mali, it was a combination of persistent insecurity in the north following a prolonged Tuareg jihadist insurgency and protracted partisan political firefights that powered two military coups in quick succession. Feverish diplomatic pressure fromWest African leaders and France helped broker a hybrid transition arrangement with the involvement of some civilian politicians in a predominantly military government.

In Chad, a rather suspicious battlefield assassination of Idris Deby ended his protracted and corrupt family autocracy in that poor and parched country.

The immediate Guinean instance bears familiar Africanimprints.Guineahasfromindependencebeen ruled by a succession of military autocrats since after the death of its founding leader SekouToure in 1984.

The military overthrew his immediate successor in Marchofthesameyearandlargelyremainedinpower till the election of the recently toppled government of AlphaCondetenyearsago.Conde,aformeropposition leader, was the first elected leader in the history of the impoverished but mineral rich country. Guinea has huge deposits of iron ore and bauxite exploited in minesmostlyownedbyFrenchandChineseinterests.

The deposed President Alpha Conde serially violated the codes of democratic governance. He used parliament to alter the constitutional term limit from two terms to a give himself a renewable third term.

The election for his third term was characterized by malpractices. Violentcivilunrestandprotestsfollowed.

Conde beat down the protests with characteristic ferocity and repression, leading to detentions and deaths. Just before he was overthrown last week, worsening economic conditions fed widespread public disenchantment and a palpable popularity deficit. In defiance of the public mood, the president approved pay increases for himself and parliamentarians while foolishly cutting the salaries of public servants and the security forces including soldiers.

Worsening economic conditions had led to higher pricesofutilitiesandessentialsupplieswithincreasing poverty and hardship among the urban populace.

A predictable clampdown on opposition politicians and the media formed the immediate backdrop to this coup.

The soldiers, led by Col. Mamadi Doumbouya, have indicated that they wrested power from a selfish political elite in order to return control of the country to‘the people’.The coup leader, an elite officer trained in the United States and France and whose wife is currently serving with French security has made speeches echoing the temper of late Ghanaian leader and veteran coup maker, John Jerry Rawlings.This is a subtle indication of some superficial revolutionary preference in an age that abhors left leaning revolutions and favours liberal democratic governments

Colonel Doumbouya no matter how imperfect .

The United Nations, ECOWAS, the African Union and major world democracies have unanimously condemned the coup in Guinea. ECOWAS has suspendedGuineaandblockadeditsborders.Widespread international condemnations of coups are of course predictable as democracy has become the universal currency of political reality and discourse. There is a threadbare consensus that the worst democracy is better than the best military dictatorship. That axiom has not however excluded coups from the global register as we have witnessed in Myanmar and now Guinea.

In the international condemnations of the coup in Guinea, one country stands out, namely, China.

It has become an axiom of modern day Chinese foreign policy not to meddle in the internal affairs of African countries where it has been busy investing and executing huge low interest rate infrastructure projects. Guinea presents a somewhat different scenario. China has vast interests in the bauxite and iron deposits and mines of the country. The background of the new coup leader as a US trained and Western friendly officer has raised China’s antenna in its unfolding global face off with the United States.

Next to Guinea, China’s major source of iron ore and bauxite is Australia, a country that China considers essentially adversarial in the long run. Therefore, China’s condemnation of the coup in Guinea and its call for the release of the former president may in fact be quite strategic. But the coup has wider and more consequential implications for the future of democracy in Africa going forward than the agenda in the back pockets of mineral hungry global powers.

In all the instances of the recent coups in Africa, elected governments have been replaced by military dictatorships in a growing trend that is reminiscent of Africa from the mid 1960s to the mid 1990s. Coups to topple fragile civilian governments are fairly easy undertakings for military establishments spoilt by long years of power and privilege. Worse still, in environments where bad governance under elected rulers has aggravated social and economic hardship, illegitimatechangehasseemedlogicalandinevitable.

In a good number of African countries, democracy hasbecomemoreamannerofspeakinginalanguage spokenbyaminorityelite.Alienatedfromthepopulace and consumed in the pursuit of its narrow group interest, elites elected into office under the label of democracy have gotten so entrenched that honest democraticmeansseempowerlessinreplacingthem.

Inconsequence,thepopulaceembraceundemocratic political change as the only alternative to achieve much needed change.

Therefore, bland universalist responses to reversals in African democracy fail to understand the unique problemsofdemocracyinacontinentstillblightedby poverty, ignorance and bad governance. First, African countries are at different stages of development even if they share fairly common historical circumstances.

In real terms, democracy remains a manner of speaking in a continent where an essentially elite political leadershipmostlyconnectswiththepeopleonlyduring election seasons. It is only in a minority number of African countries where leaders have engaged the people to give meaning to democracy as a lived experience.

In such places, we have seen recent instances of the honest pursuit of the common good and welfare of the people as the essence of democratic governance.

In today’s Africa, we can think mostly of Botswana, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, and perhaps a bit of South Africa as the most effective democracies in Africa. It is no wonder that most of these countries arealsoamongthebestperformingandfastestgrowing economies on the continent. Ethiopia averaged 10.3% in 2019 as Africa’s fastest growing economy. It was followed by Rwanda andTanzania in the league of Africa’s fastest growing economies from 2001 to 2017.The tempting conclusion therefore is that the countriesthatdeliverbetterdemocraticexperiencefor their populace also have more effective governance and economic growth prospects.

We cannot however expect democracy in Africa to travel exactly the same trajectory as what happened in Europe. The factors that led to the development of democratic culture in the West are peculiar and historically specific.The industrial revolution, popular literacy, the emergence of a middle class, the sacking of monarchies, the emergence of parliaments, the emergence of the press and public opinion as well as the concept of the separation of powers. Above all, there was the universalization of education through the democratization of literacy which equipped men and women to know their rights and understand their limitations.

ItoughttoconcernAfricandemocratsthatinpracticallyalltherecentinstancesofcoupsthathavetoppled Africa’s fragile democracies, the knee jerk condemnations by world leaders and organizations have been counteredbystreetdancescelebratingtheoverthrow of these elected‘democratic’governments. In almost all these instances, the ready excuses of coup makers have been the familiar ones of worsening economic conditions leading to political tension and increasing insecurity. This touches on the betrayal of the very foundation of democracy itself which is the common good defined loosely as the welfare of the people. In most of‘democratic’modern Africa, the adoption of democracy has unfortunately translated into‘bi-polar states’.These are states in which the government and ‘the people’ exist as separate, tangential and even opposing realities. The government thrives on the formal appearance and benefits of democratic order whilethepeoplesuffertheconsequencesandburden of formal democracy.

PartofAfrica’scrisisofleadershiphasbeenidentified as a predominance of strong men and a deficit of strong institutions. The military as an institution of the modern African state has suffered serial crises.

In its repeated incursions in the politics of different countries, most African military establishments have not managed to regain the doctrine of their ultimate subordination to elected civilian authority.

Nor have the new African democratic leaders managed to reverse the doctrinal misdirection of Africa’s military. The protection of national sovereignty for which the military is constitutionally established does not include the usurpation of political authority from elected leaders.There needs to be an urgent debate as to whether poor African countries that have no forseeableexternalthreatsevenneedstandingarmies.

The pursuit of the external trappings and formats of democracy-parliaments, bureaucracies, the pomp and pageantry of power and the funding of the paraphernaliaofofficialdom-haveoftenoverwhelmedthe commongoodintheircostlyimplications.Theordinary people whose welfare ought to be the measure of the relevance and effectiveness of government have oftenendedupasmerespectators,watchingtheritual of government from the sidelines. This alienation is deepenedbydireeconomicconditionswhichweaken the will of the people and render them helpless in determining the fate and tenure of the very governmentsthattheyelectedintooffice.Desperationresults and the people either resign to fate and superstition or are primed to welcome undemocratic change as a path to salvation.

Therefore, the most effective route to the consolidation of democracy in Africa is effective and relevant governance. The governments emplaced by democracy must address the urgent problems of human capital development in areas such as healthcare, education, security and even basic nutrition.

A higher degree of accountability has also become imperative. Most importantly, African democracies mustbecomeincrementallyparticipatoryiftheymust become meaningful to a vastly illiterate populace.

Elected governments must engage more with the people in the process of governance in a manner that translates democracy into the daily experience of the people. Only then can rights become natural entitlementsandelectoratesbecomeforcesofcontrol against the excesses of selfish elites.

RecentdevelopmentsinAfricandemocracyshould resonate with Nigeria. Nigerians have spent 26 years out of 61 years of independence under intermittent democratic rule. The rest of 31 years were years of military dictatorship. Of the years of ‘democratic’ rule, 14 years have so far been spent under former military dictators (Obasanjo and Buhari) who claim to be democracy converts. Overall, therefore, the dominant political culture that governs the sensibility of Nigerians is essentially authoritarian. Our governments have not shaken off the instincts of dictatorshipjustasourpopulacestillcarrytheremnants of subjugation and subservience. Our institutions especially the armed and security forces still carry the psychological remnants of decades of oppression and violent authoritarianism. Policemen and soldiers still beat up and traumatize civilians in public. Most of our courts still feel an obligation to rule in favour of governments at the expense of the rights of people.

In general, then, formal democracy has come to Nigeriansatsuchahighdeliveredcostthatthewelfare of the people has been constantly short changed.The hope that democracy would deliver a dividend of a better life has been frequently dashed.The result is a culture of distrust of government among the majority of citizens. Politicians have failed to instill trust just as democracyhasfailedtodeliveronmaterialdividends.

People have merely learnt to wait in ambush for politicians at the next election.

Consequently, when election seasons come, the peoplehavedevelopedwaysofremindingpoliticians of what democracy actually means to them.

The creative local parlance for it is something called ‘stomach infrastructure’. In the metaphor of ‘stomach infrastructure’, therefore, when politicians come calling for votes, ordinary people merely display their shriveled stomachs and emaciated frames, an indication that only those politicians who can address their immediate needs for food and cash merit their votes. In response, politicians have taken to distributing cash, bags of rice, cooking oil and loaves of bread at election time. Only those politicians who have surplus of these stand a chance of getting elected. Those, incidentally, are the real‘infrastructure’that the people believe in, not the far fetched promises of politicians for roads, bridges, schools and factories that never get built.

In this existential and transactional definition of democracy, politicians who get toppled by soldiers can only expect street dances to welcome a new set of messiahs that have come to free the people from the burden of democracy.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

NEWS

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

Poor Salaries Driving Pass-mark Bribery in Public Schools, Says Report Gboyega Akinsanmi

Nigeria’s education sector is a rich context for bribe solicitation, bribe giving and extortion, resulting from poor levels of remuneration and failure of governments to pay salaries in publicly-funded schools, a survey by Chatham House has revealed.

The survey, also, revealed that the prevalence of bribery in universities and schools generally has complicated the effects of anti-corruption agencies to stamp out corrupt practices in the federation at large.

The 25-page report titled, ‘Passmark Bribery in Nigerian Schools under a project of Chatham House African Programme, Social Norms and Accountable Governance (SNAG)’, was supported by the MacArthur Foundation.

The report provided an indepth analysis of data from the different survey scenarios on three separate behaviours: the diversion of government funds for religious community use; bribery in exchange for improved grades in national examinations; and vote selling.

Coordinated by its Country Lead in charge of Social Norms and Accountable Governance (SNAG), Dr. Leena Hoffmann, Chatham House surveyed 5,600 households across urban and

rural areas in Abuja, Adamawa, Benue, Enugu, Lagos, Rivers, and Sokoto states.

It also partnered with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to conduct the survey, which benefitted from the National Integrated Survey of Households (NISH) conducted in 2018 in 36 states of the federation, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and with 200 Enumeration Areas (EAs).

As part of its findings, the survey found variations in empirical expectations regarding pass-mark bribery across the states that were sampled.

In Adamawa, Enugu, and Lagos states, for instance, the survey held high empirical expectations concerning passmark bribery, suggesting that 40 per cent of people paid for their children to receive a pass mark in a national examination.

It, thus, said the sector “is a rich context for bribe solicitation, bribe giving and extortion, yet Nigerians overwhelmingly believe that parents should not pay a bribe for their children to receive a pass mark in a national examination.”

It pointed out that bribery in the education sector changed according to context and does not affect all people equally.

It admitted that bribe giving “takes place in response to

demands from teachers and education providers in some cases.

“In others, it occurs due to unwritten expectations that poor levels of remuneration ought to be topped up or paid by parents when the government fails to pay salaries in publicly-funded schools. Notably, bribe offers may also occur in the context of local gift-giving practices.

“Sometimes the distinctions between these motives and dynamics are clear, but it can be difficult to isolate them when they occur amid systemic dysfunction or informality,” said the report. It also detailed the worrisome trend of corrupt practices at all levels of education.

The report, therefore, delineated common examples of corruption in Nigeria’s education sector, which

encompassed the embezzlement and diversion of funds, equipment, and school supplies; procurement fraud; examination malpractice; sexual exploitation; nepotism; favouritism, and bribery.

While all these forms of corruption contribute to significant whole-of-society consequences, according to the report, these are considerably worse for students from low-income backgrounds

and poor communities, because they are often the victims and rarely the beneficiaries of corruption.

Specifically, the report linked the growing trend of pass-mark bribery to the poor quality and availability of both secondary and tertiary institutions, which it argued, was the bane of development and anti-corruption fight.

PARTNERSHIP TO SAVE CHILDREN… L-R: Founder, African Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF), Mr. Noah Dallaji; Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, and his wife, Eunice, at a dinner rounding off ACTDF and Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF) partnership event in Makurdi … weekend.

Stanbic IBTC Reveals Plan to Protect Pension Funds from Falling Naira Value Dike Onwuamaeze

Nigeria’s biggest pension fund administrator, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited yesterday disclosed that a framework would soon be put in place to protect and grow pension funds by investing a portion of these funds in dollar-denominated assets.

The administrator explained that the changes would address the concern of pension contributors regarding the devaluation of their pension account due to the erosion of the value of the Naira in the foreign exchange market and

domestic price inflation.

The Head, Investment Management, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Mr. Jide Allo revealed this plan during its a virtual wellness session yesterday, which he said, had been a subject of engagement in the pension industry.

At the session, Allo explained two fundamental changes, which according to him, would allow pension managers to invest pension funds in dollar-denominated assets and allow contributors to use part of their pension accounts as equity contribution for mortgage or homeownership loans would be rolled out soon in Nigeria.

He added that the changes would address contributors’ concern regarding the devaluation of their pension account due to the erosion of the value of the Naira in the foreign exchange market and domestic price inflation.

Allo said: “There are two major changes we are going to see in the short and medium terms. One major concern from our clients is the devaluation of their pension accounts.

He said: “We are happy to inform our clients that based on ongoing engagements in the industry. We believe that very soon a framework will be put in place that will allow

Jigawa to Establish 200 Nomadic Schools, Employ 270 Herdsmen Ibrahim Shuaibu in Dutse Jigawa state Government has promised to establish 200 more new nomadic schools and employ 10 herders from each of the 27 local government areas in the state, as part of its effort to continue to provide and expand qualitative nomadic education to the herders in all parts of the state.

The state Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar made the promise when he received a delegation from the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a socio cultural Fulani organisation at the

Government House in Dutse, the state capital.

This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Relations to the governor, Mr. Habibu Nuhu Kila.

Badaru said his administration was committed to providing education to all citizens of the state, including the herders.

He said in addition to about 400 nomadic schools across the state, the state government would also establish 200 more new nomadic schools and employ 10 herders from each of the 27 local government areas.

He also said that after his recent working tour to the Netherlands, plans were underway to expand the existing cattle routes and grazing reserves which would provide enough all-year grass for the herders.

Badaru called on the association to support the state government in the fight against negative vices among the Fulani especially youths who are engaged in criminal activities.

Chairman of the association, Alhaji Adamu Hadejia commended the efforts of the state government in maintaining peace in the state.

us to better protect and grow pension funds by investing a portion of these funds in dollar-denominated assets.”

He, also, said another imminent improvement would be the ability of contributors to use part of their pension assets as equity contribution for mortgage or home loans.

According to him, I am sure our clients will be very delighted to hear that. These are things that will come onboard any moment from now.

He said that those who would not subscribe to the pension contributory scheme were denying themselves “the

privilege of intentionally creating a social safety net for themselves.

“We have seen so many SOS calls to the general public to rescue some of our icons in the entertainment industry.

But setting funds aside in the pension account would help to better manage some of such developments.

“Definitely, pension is something that is very important for everyone,” he explained.

At the session, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Mr. Demola Sogunle explained the significance of RetireFit, which according to him, was an attempt to encourage people to adopt

a healthy lifestyle that would optimise their wellbeing beyond their active work-life.

Sogunle said: “To us, retiring fit incorporates healthy living, being physically active, and strategic financial planning for the future.

“This, we hope, will be a clear reminder to people to pay attention to self-care and be physically active just as we mind our money. Our sole desire is to see more people become physically and financially fit, as these two factors contribute to the general health and the wellbeing of our clients.”

Ozekhome: Appeal Court’s ‘Maintain Status Quo’ Order Empowers Rivers to Collect VAT Alex Enumah in Abuja

Nigeria’s human rights lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) has stated that the ruling of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Friday means that the Rivers State Government has the power to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) until the court decides otherwise.

He made this clarification in a statement issued yesterday and titled, ‘FIRS & Rivers State Government: Who Should Now Collect VAT?’ A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had in a judgment in suit number FHC/

PH/CS/149/2020, held that the Rivers State Government had the powers to collect VAT within its territory.

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike had assented to the Rivers State Value Added Tax Law 2021 in August after it was passed by the state House of Assembly.

Some states have since followed with the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu signing the State VAT Bill into law a day after it was passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Lagos had also asked to be joined as a respondent alongside

Rivers State in the appeal filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) challenging the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt regarding the issue of VAT collection.

Justice Haruna Tsammani of the Appeal Court had adjourned to September 16 to hear the application by Lagos and asked all parties to “maintain status quo”.

But in his interpretation of “maintain status quo” as reportedly said by Justice Tsammani, Ozekhome argued that: “Clearly, the status quo ante bellum was before the breakout of the hostilities.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

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SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

PREMIER LEAGUE

Ronaldo Scores Double in Dream Man Utd Return ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report

C

ristiano Ronaldo enjoyed a dream return as a Manchester United player by scoring twice as the Red Devils beat Newcastle 4-1 in front of a rocking Old Trafford on Saturday.

Elsewhere, another Premier League returnee, Romelu Lukaku scored his first ever goals at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea beat Aston Villa 3-0 to maintain their unbeaten start.

Lukaku kissed the club badge as he celebrated his opener in front of Blues fans after beating Villa goalkeeper Jed Steer on his 15th appearance at the stadium overall.

Back at Old Trafford, Ronaldo’s double has now taken his United goals to 120. The first of the double is first since leaving for Real Madrid 12 years ago and it took Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men to the top of the Premier League table.

“He’s still a ruthless and clinical goalscorer,” said Solskjaer.“He smells the big moments when there is a goal in there.”

United were made to work harder than expected for the three points, but were able to rely on Ronaldo’s predatory instincts to strike twice Cristiano Ronaldo (right) celebrating with Bruno Fernandes his double as Manchester United defeated either side of Javier Manquillo’s well-worked Newcastle 4-1 ...yesterday equaliser for the Magpies. spark once more as Freddie Woodman spilt his Bruno Fernandes then sealed a day where the club,”added Solskjaer.“The supporters have really enjoyed the last 10 days or so.

There was deflected effort and the ball fell perfectly for Portuguese stars shone with a stunning longRonaldo to smash home. range effort 10 minutes from time before Jesse loads of expectation on him and the team and he’s delivered. ” Rather than opening the floodgates for a Lingard rounded off the scoring in stoppage Ronaldo’s arrival has added even more comfortable win, Newcastle emerged for the time.

United’s fortunes on the field have declined firepower to an already loaded selection of dramatically since Ronaldo’s departure with no attacking options on offer to Solskjaer.

Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood flanked Premier League or Champions League success since Alex Ferguson retired as manager in 2013. Ronaldo in a front three with Fernandes and His return was enough to generate a feverish Paul Pogba supplying the ammunition from atmosphere among 74 000 in attendance not midfield.

The crowd who had come for a party were seen at Old Trafford for many years. starting to get restless as Newcastle held out The 36-year-old was serenaded with songs in his honour long before kick-off and even relatively comfortably until Ronaldo’s first big received celebrations of the goals he scored moment arrived in first-half stoppage time.

Greenwood had scored in all of United’s first in a shooting drill in the warm-up.

“The atmosphere has been electric around three Premier League games and provided the

second-half with a far more potent threat and cut United open to stun the home support 10 minutes into the second-half.

Miguel Almiron burst through midfield and released Allan Saint-Maximin, who rolled the ball perfectly into the path of Manquillo to slot home his first Newcastle goal in 85 appearances.

United on the other hand now have one of the deadliest finishers in the history of the game and Ronaldo ensured the day would be all about him on 62 minutes.

Despite his advancing years, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner showed no shortage of pace to burst away from Isaac Hayden to latch onto Luke Shaw’s pass and his powerful strike went straight through Woodman’s grasp.

Fernandes has been United’s talisman for the majority of the 20 months since he joined from Sporting Lisbon, just as Ronaldo did in 2003.

And the midfielder ensured he was not completely overshadowed by his compatriot with a sensational strike into the top corner from Paul Pogba’s pass.

“Everyone knows what Cristiano means for the club, what he means for the world of football,” said Fernandes. “We are really happy to have him, but the most important thing is the team performance. At the end we got the result we want.”

Pogba now has seven assists in four games this season as he also created the fourth for Lingard as the English international turned onto the Frenchman’s pass and curled into the far corner.

Tennis

US Open: Emma Raducanu Becomes First British Woman in 44 Years to win Grand Slam Emma Raducanu won the 2021 US Open women’s singles title, and becomes the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title since Virginia Wade in 1977.

The 18-year-old Brit took out the Canadian teenager, Leylah Fernandez in straight sets 6-4 6-3 in one hour and 51 minutes.

Raducanu’s win is historic. She is the first qualifier -- male or female -- to ever win a Grand Slam title.

She also becomes the youngest women’s major champion since 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won her 2004 Wimbledon crown.

This is Raducanu’s second main draw appearance at a major, which would be the Open era record for the fewest attempts required by any woman to win her first championship.

Raducanu said in an on-court interview:“Thank you all for making me feel so at home, you’ve really spurned me on at some really difficult moments. I hope me and Leylah put on a good performance for you.

The score might make it look one sided, but the match was anything but. In a hard-fought first set, Raducanu broke Fernandez early to take the lead 2-0, but got broken immediately after to even out the match 2-2.

Both the power players played long baseline games, pushing each other to break points and deuce several times in the first set. At 5-4 with Fernandez serving, Raducanu set up two set points,

and after an eight-minute game, took the first set 6-4.

Fernandez came out strong in the second set, breaking Raducanu for the first time to take the lead in, 2-1. But, Raducanu wasted no time, immediately following it up by breaking Fernandez’s serve for a 3-2 lead.

Emma Raducanu gleams as she celebrates her astonishing US Open title in New York

Okowa Salutes Amusan, Says It’s A New Dawn for Nigerian Athletics The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa has said that Tobi Amusan’s historic feat at the Diamond League final in Zurich last Thursday is the perfect way to close what has been a glorious year for Nigerian track and field.

Amusan made history as the first Nigerian, man or woman to be crowned Diamond League champion after winning the 100m hurdles race at the Weltklasse Diamond League meeting in Zurich .

The 24 year old also set a new 12.42 seconds African record in addition to winning the $30,000 (about N15million) top prize money and securing qualification for the World Athletics Championships in Oregon,

USA next year. “Tobi has proved she is one of the best sprint hurdlers in the world and has made up for not making the podium at the Tokyo Olympics,”said Okowa who has personally congratulated the reigning African and Commonwealth 100m hurdles queen.

“Tobi’s feat is a continuation of the positive developments we have been seeing in track and field since the start of the year and, on behalf of the executive board of the AFN, I want to sincerely thank the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, for his huge support our federation received during the crisis that engulfed the last board since 2017.

“He ensured the athletes didn’t lack competition since he was appointed by Mr President in 2019 and the results have been

phenomenal,” added Okowa.

The AFN president said his board is building on the solid foundation the Sports Minister laid.

“For the first in 13 years we achieved our best performance at the Olympics by winning a medal and getting as many as four athletes to qualify for the finals of their respective events at the Tokyo Olympics.

“We also achieved our best ever performance at the World U-20 Athletics Championships, winning an unprecedented four gold in an equally unprecedented seven medals haul.

“Now Tobi has written a new script at World Athletics elite one-day meetings 21 years after Falilat Ogunkoya was crowned the 400m Golden League champion.”

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Ijaw Elders Kick against Presidency’s Silence on NDDC’s Forensic Audit Report Sylvester Idown in Warri Ijaw elders from the nine Niger Delta states have expressed anger over the continued silence of the Presidency on the forensic audit report of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), saying that the report should be made public.

The Ijaw elders under the aegis of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), noted that the secrecy surrounding the report was worrisome and demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari should make the report public and unmask those culpable in the mismanagement of the funds of the NDDC and abandonment of projects over the years.

President of INC, Prof.

Benjamin Okaba, in a statement at the weekend, condemned the secrecy with which the report of the forensic audit was being handled.

He argued that the people of the Niger Delta region

deserved to know the details relating to the report of the forensic audit on the interventionist agency.

Okaba insisted that there should be no coverup or sacred cows in the implementation of the outcome of the forensic audit, noting that all the persons culpable, irrespective of party or political affiliations, should be brought to justice without fear or favour.

He urged the federal government to stop the practice of using the NDDC as a political patronage agency, which is controlled and managed from Abuja instead of the people of the Niger Delta region.

He said the commission must be accountable to the people it was created to serve and not those in positions of authority in Aso Rock.

He warned that any further delay in the inauguration of the NDDC board would be a clear betrayal of trust and display of the federal government’s insensitivity to

UNICEF, Monarchs, Others Declare War on Female Genital Mutilation in Ekiti

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and other critical stakeholders have urged Governor Kayode Fayemi to ensure diligent prosecution and conviction of female genital mutilators in the state.

The stakeholders, which also included the market women, religious leaders, students and top government functionaries, agreed that the practice had damaged the reproductive health of many Nigerians and destroyed their marriages.

The stakeholders made the call in Ado Ekiti at the weekend during a one-day workshop organised by UNICEF in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Information on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

A South-west UNICEF FGM

Consultant, Mrs Oluronke Adetayo, who rued the practice, urged Fayemi to do everything possible to stop violence against girl child using the instrumentalities of governance and law.

Adetayo added that Ekiti has the highest prevalent rate in the South-west, having overtaken Osun that was leading in 2013, with Imo State rated highest in Nigeria.

"No force can come from Abuja and stop FGM in Ekiti, except the locals themselves led by our traditional rulers, religious leaders, market men and women, women groups and students to stop this harmful practice. We must apply the laws and deal with those engaging in the practice.

"In 2013, Ekiti has 72 per cent prevalent rate, but in 2019, it has reduced to 57.9 per cent, which was not enough. We still have to work harder".

AKTH Staff to Receive Award from American Society of Hematology The Aminu Kano Teaching projects that will help them Hospital (AKTH) has get to the next step in their announced that Dr. Ibrahim careers,” the statement said.

Musa Idris, has been selected According to the statement, by the American Society of the nine researchers selected Hematology (AHS) to receive for this year’s award represent the 2021 ASH Global Research 10 countries – Australia, Award.

Brazil, China, India, Italy, In a statement issued at the Nigeria, Portugal, Singapore, weekend, AKTH disclosed that Switzerland and the United Idris one of the nine talented Kingdom. early-career investigators The statement added that selected for the honour.

Idris will receive research “Through the ASH Global support for his project titled: Research Award, ASH helps ‘ A Randomised Controlled ease the difficult transition Double-Blind Trial for researchers outside Prevention of Ischemic the United States Priapism in Men and Canada by with Sickle Cell providing partial Anaemia: A Pilot salary or other Study’.

He is the first support during Nigerian to be the critical period, selected for the allowing recipients award. to pursue research Idris

the plight of the ljaw nation and Niger Delta region.

The INC boss also noted that since the submission of the report to the Presidency, President Buhari had not said anything about it and about the constitution of the substantive board of the NDDC. Okaba stated: “After 16 months of postponement

and rigmarole, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has finally submitted the long overdue report of the forensic audit on the NDDC two weeks ago through the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The complexities and superfluousity that trailed the

said audit process in addition to the diversionary comments of Malami have left us more worried and suspicious of the true intentions of the exercise. Why has President Muhammadu Buhari till date not said anything about the report and the inauguration of the substantive board six years into the life of his administration, despite public

concerns on the implications of managing the NDDC as a private estate for this long?’

“It is a huge integrity test and task on Mr. President to immediately submit the forensic report undiluted to the corridors of public domain with the guarantee of free and easy access by anyone that cares in line with the Freedom of Information Act.”

COMMITTEE OF FRIENDS...

L-R: Chairman, Benneks Industries Limited, Chief Ben Amuta; Managing Director, Full Page International Communications Limited, Mr. Ingram Osigwe; and Chief Executive Officer, Nispo Poecelain Limited, Chief Mallinson Ukatu, at the funeral of Hon Emmanuel Osigwe in Akokwa, Ideato North Local Government Area, Imo State…recently

FROM LAGOS TO WINCHESTER: HOW A DIVISIVE NIGERIAN PASTOR BUILT A GLOBAL FOLLOWING If Joshua was distraught about the loss of life, he did not show it. He gave one concession to the gravity of the occasion. He proposed a minute’s silence in memory of the victims, whom he referred to as “Martyrs of Faith”. The dead, lying under rubble just a few metres from the auditorium, had not yet been counted. Some of them, in all likelihood, were not even dead yet. But they had already been co-opted into a minor supporting role in Joshua’s personal mythology.

The minute’s silence lasted just under 20 seconds, and TB Joshua moved on.

Over the coming months, the church’s PR machine pushed Joshua’s explanation for the collapse. Newspapers printed unquestioning stories about infrasonic weapons. (One brave journalist, Nicholas Ibekwe, released audio that captured Joshua offering cash for friendly stories.) Some reports drew on the judgments of supposed engineers, whose papers had hastily appeared in obscure payto-publish journals (one such paper contained 170 references, the vast majority of which were links to Emmanuel TV clips on YouTube with titles like Face to Face with Lucifer! and Human Possessed by Lizard Demon!).

In 2015, a coroner’s inquest concluded that Scoan was guilty of causing death through criminal negligence. They found that the guesthouse was constructed poorly, using substandard building materials, without planning permission or input from a structural engineer.

Builders had recently added two extra floors to the guesthouse, without making changes to the foundations. Joshua was

summoned to give evidence at the inquest several times but failed to appear. He kept his head down for a few months, letting disciples take services.

Then he returned. A criminal case was brought against Scoan by the Lagos state government, but the case got nowhere, mired in endless adjournments and delays. Scoan resumed its status as the No 1 tourist destination in Nigeria, even while rubble from the guesthouse still lay in the Scoan complex.

When I first heard Joshua’s response to the collapse of the guesthouse, it seemed like the height of hubris and callousness.

But it also made a kind of sense. One side-effect of his claim of divine anointing was that it forced him to constantly outrun the facts of his ordinary humanity. To have even acknowledged the collapse as a tragedy would have risked a greater collapse in his reputation as Man of God. He could only up the ante, whatever the cost to truth or dignity. The collapse could either be proof of his human fallibility, or a satanic attack that proved his anointing.

TB Joshua did not merely make a fortune from the story of prophethood he told. He built a vast and teetering human edifice around it, one that defied gravity for decades, held up by money and silence, and one that now faces a crisis in the wake of his death. He rose far above the poverty of his upbringing, but never left the precarity behind.

On the fourth day of the funeral, Joshua’s body was brought from Prayer Mountain to the Synagogue for the lying in state. A motorcade of police

vehicles and SUVs made its way through the dense crowd gathered outside the church, followed by a military marching band on the back of a lorry, then a hearse displaying Joshua’s body.

At the time of the funeral, the question of succession remained unclear. Joshua’s wife, Evelyn, was named the head of the church immediately after his death. A few weeks later, the official Scoan Facebook page released an interview with Joshua, purportedly conducted in the final weeks of his life.

He stopped short of definitive statements, but appeared to suggest that Evelyn did not have his blessing as successor.

“The issue of family should not come into the issue of the church,” he said. Scoan was an apostolic ministry, he added, not a business to be handed down. When asked what he’d done to prepare for succession, he pointed to the five senior disciples to whom he’d recently given the titles of prophet and prophetess.

Other large Nigerian ministries, such as the Redeemed Christian Church of God, have navigated succession struggles and gone on to thrive. But Scoan has always been a one-man show. The disciple community lacked any stable hierarchy, relying on a provisional pecking order, subject to Joshua’s mercurial moods. Joshua rarely delegated, instead fostering a relationship with every individual disciple.

For disciples, to serve TB Joshua was to be one step away from the unfettered power of the Holy Spirit. It also meant living under relentless pressure, always chasing the prophet’s

favour, always frantic to avoid missteps, always worried about sleeping later than him, who insisted on being greeted by disciples no matter what time he woke.

Watching the disciples pay their last respects, it struck me how even for the most devoted and grief-stricken, Joshua’s death might be experienced, in part, as a liberation. While holding up the promise of anointing, he also kept a check on ambitions, fiercely protective of his own authority. But the atmosphere of conflict and mutual suspicion that he encouraged will undoubtedly shape whatever comes next.

On the fifth day of the funeral, Joshua’s mausoleum was revealed: a hangarsized hall within the Scoan complex, constructed with impressive speed. A pathway of illuminated posts marked the route that future visitors would tread, past a large circular fountain, its water lit up neon blue, towards the marble grave, housed within a white colonnade that held up a triangular roof, like a Greek temple in miniature.

Scoan did everything possible to emphasise how his passing was neither untimely nor unforeseen. He was called home – and if he did not physically ascend to heaven, his death could at least remain perfectly vague, unblemished by details of bodily failure.

Now the inconvenient fact of the mortal man was gone, TB Joshua had become pure mythology. All-too-fallible flesh had become word. r$VMMFE GSPN XXX UIFHVBSEJBO DPN

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“Miyetti Allah members are sacred cows, who are not only untouchable but who also enjoy the protection and patronage of their sponsors; otherwise, they should have since been proscribed and their members put behind bars” – Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, accusing the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) of incitement.

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SIMONKOLAWOLE Ending the War over VAT SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

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simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

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he evolution of Nigerian federalism has undergone major genetic variations in the last 20 years, but the war that has just broken out over the value-added tax (VAT) may become the turning point because of the potential impact on fiscal federalism and the political economy. On December 11, 2020, Justice Stephen Pam of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had ruled — in a case brought by Mr Emmanuel Chukwuka Ukala, SAN, against the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) — that it is states, not federal government, that should collect VAT. He also held that the constitution lists the taxation powers of FG as covering only incomes, profits and capital gains.

Although I am a novice in legal matters, Pam’s judgment looks very sound to me. There is nowhere in the constitution where VAT is mentioned, and since it is linked to consumption, that appears to be in the terrain of states. The judge also held that there is no constitutional backing for the collection of VAT, withholding tax, education tax and technology levy in Rivers state, or any other state of the federation, by the FIRS. Based on the letters of the law, I do not expect any court to upturn his determinations. That is why I think the best way out of the impasse is a political, rather than legal, solution because of the likely negative impact on businesses, individuals and nation-building.

I want to draw out a few observations from what I consider to be the implications and complications of the VAT judgement. For those who may not understand much about VAT even though they pay it regularly when they make phone calls or drink Chivita, it is similar to a sales tax but is collected at the point of consumption in the value chain.

Farm produce, medical services and educational materials are exempt. The FIRS, a federal agency, collects VAT and remits to a special account which is not part of the federation account. The revenue sharing formula is also different: federal government, 15%; states, 50%; and LGAs, 35%. For the states, there is a derivation payment of 20%.

Here are a few implications of the judgment, some of which many analysts have also pointed out. One, FG may be the biggest winners. In 2020, Nigeria earned N1.531tr from VAT. While local VAT was N763bn, foreign VAT — collected by FG — was N768bn. Therefore, rather than take just 15% (N230bn) from the N1.531trn, FG may now pocket the entire N768bn from foreign VAT since it does not go into federation account and may not be subject to the regular sharing formula.

That would deprive the states, Rivers and Lagos inclusive, of about half of the total VAT revenue. This is HUGE. The FCT may also win as it generated N202bn in VAT last year but got only N34.6bn as its share.

Two, the general impression is that Lagos state will win massively from the judgement. I have my doubts. Yes, Lagos is the biggest beneficiary of the current arrangement: the state collected N216bn as VAT share in 2020. By comparison, Kano got N53bn and Oyo N45bn. This is quite a gap. Lagos also contributes about 60% to the VAT pool: that is why it is called “the goose that lays the golden egg”. This might have prompted the Lagos government to quickly pass a VAT law, even charging a rate of 6% — lower than the prevailing 7.5%. I hope Lagos state officials did their homework well because it looks like they are not seeing what I am seeing, except maybe some facts are not yet in the open.

You see, by the time every state enacts a VAT law, much of the derivation attributed to Lagos will reduce. Currently, all VAT incomes from telecoms and banking transactions are attributed to Lagos because the companies have their headquarters there. That

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Gov Wike means derivation on all phone calls made, bottles of Coke gulped and banking transactions done in 36 states and FCT are attributed to Lagos. That is why Lagos contributes about 60% to domestic VAT. That also explains why Lagos gets the lion’s share. Calls and transactions emanating from 35 states and FCT will no longer be attributed to Lagos — going by the judgment. That is why it looks like Lagos share of VAT may actually drop.

Three, will Rivers state win big? Again, I have my reservations, but they may not lose that much.

Last year, Rivers got N40bn from VAT, but this includes their share of the N768bn revenue from foreign VAT. That also includes their share of the local VAT revenue generated in other states and FCT. Thus, if FG holds on to the foreign VAT, every state will be affected. This is contrary to the impression (even trepidation up north) that only northern states will suffer. In the meantime, states cannot make laws on import VAT as Lagos assumes it can do. The constitution is quite clear on who has the power to legislate on import: federal government. Devil is in the details but are we aware?

Four, it is argued that Sharia-compliant states cannot be breaking beer bottles and at the same time sharing the VAT revenue from alcohol. Fair point. However, beer contribution to VAT is not that much. The figures are not disaggregated by FIRS, but the NBS Living Standards Survey for 2018/2019 puts total annual spend on alcohol at N150bn. The VAT on N150bn is not heavy.

Meanwhile, south-west topped consumption spending (both food and non-food) with N12trn; followed by south-south, N8.4trn; north-west, N6.8trn; north-central, N5.7trn; south-east, N4.8trn; and north-east, N2.5trn. And most are VATable expenses. The north may not lose as much as is being speculated.

Five, the biggest losers will be businesses — and that will further damage our fragile economy.

There is a reason VAT collection is centralised in other countries, both unitary and federal. For practical purposes, if you produce soft drinks in Lagos and pay VAT to Lagos, you will still pay VAT to Oyo when you take your products there, and Oyo will have to calculate how may bottles you sold. Companies will now have to deal with 37 VAT regimes in 36 states and FCT, unlike now when you pay at once to FIRS. (By the way, the FIRS will be losers. That is why they are fighting day and night over the judgment. The agency gets a cool commission of 4% which I will touch on shortly.)

India used to do what we are about to do. Its 29 states had different VAT regimes. Inter-state commerce was hell. A truck carrying goods could wait for three days at a state border awaiting VAT inspection. When India finally decided to centralise VAT collection by enacting the goods and services

tax (GST), it was a big relief for businesses. Brazil and Canada, which are federations like India and Nigeria, are currently trying to centralise VAT collection because of the complexity. But Nigeria is racing towards a different direction. Just imagine the nightmare of handling VAT stress all over the federation if you have to deal with 37 tax authorities, even though you are one company.

In sum, I foresee fiscal crisis in many states. Why? The redistribution of VAT has been their saving grace. Some people are gloating and screaming “restructuring”, not knowing that it is not only one part of the country that will be affected. In 2020, only six states made more from IGR than they got from VAT allocation: Rivers, Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, Delta and Edo. Akwa Ibom had parity: IGR, N30.6bn; VAT, N30.8bn. The other 29 states got more in VAT allocations than from IGR. On the average, VAT represents 33% of gross statutory allocations and 26% of total revenue for states. It is to address the imbalance between richer and poorer states that all federations, including the US, do fiscal transfers. That is the driving principle of fiscal federalism: stabilisation through redistribution.

With the VAT judgement, what is the way forward? For one, some states believe the present sharing formula is unfair. This is a legitimate concern.

But the solution should not be pursued in ways that will make life more miserable for businesses and individuals, or cause further animosity in our severely challenged nationhood. We can create a win-win for all. That would require working out a robust political situation. Luckily, this is not a constitutional matter: the VAT Act can be amended in one week as along as the political authorities can reach a consensus on what is fair and just to all. Most importantly, this is a revenue issue: the states are under pressure to meet their needs.

Here are my suggestions. First, I believe FIRS should continue to collect VAT for ease of administration. The agency has built the capacity.

However, its commission of 4% is too much.

Customs also takes 7% as commission on foreign VAT. Both should get 0.5% each. This will increase the distributable amount in the VAT pool. Second, why does the North East Development Commission (NEDC) collect 3% from VAT? What’s the logic?

The commission got N45.9bn from VAT last year.

If it was a state, it would rank third behind Lagos and Kano. That money should go to the VAT pool. It even conflicts with the VAT Act, which clearly spells out the sharing formula.

Third, many items on the VAT-exempt list deprive us of good revenue. For instance, why should air tickets be exempt while train tickets are not?

Why should aircraft be VAT-exempt while buses are not? What’s the sense in that? Fourth, VAT revenue can be disaggregated per state. Every state will be able to get derivation on items consumed within their territories. That way, alcohol VAT will not be shared with Sharia-compliant states because it is haram. Alternatively, we can abolish VAT altogether and allow states to charge and collect sales tax. We can also adopt or adapt the Indian or Canadan model on goods and services tax. There are so many options we can consider.

The National Economic Council (NEC), chaired

by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and made up of the 36 state governors, need to burn the midnight candle over this. Actually, Nigeria is not raising enough tax revenue given the size of its economy.

There are too many inefficiencies and leakages in the system. We need to fix that. Our tax revenue has gone up partly because of the crude oil crisis.

We can do more without increasing tax rates or instituting extra handles. I propose we study other federations and see what we can learn from them.

In the end, the VAT imbroglio may turn out to be a blessing in disguise and lead to a win-win outcome for all. Everything doesn’t have to be war.

And Four Other Things…

DOLLAR RAGE Sometimes I cannot but pity Mr Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as he battles tooth and nail to save the naira in the one-sided wrestling with the US dollar. As the naira fell to a record low against the dollar in the parallel market last week, you knew it was inevitable. The dollar in-flow is simply not there. Although oil is selling for $72/barrel, our production is 1.2mbpd (we were doing 2.2mbpd at a point in time). To make matters worse, the little FX gains we make mostly go back into paying for fuel subsidy as we keep pump prices at N162/litre. Emefiele insists CBN will meet all legitimate FX demands, but some fundamentals just have to change. Tight.

SCAM YARD Thankfully, President Buhari has suspended his approval for the payment of $418m to “consultants” who said they helped states and LGAs “calculate” Paris Club refund as well as “contractors” who built invisible health centres. Presidents Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Jonathan ALL refused to approve the suspicious payments when they were in office. That Buhari approved it is bewildering. He was apparently blackmailed or hoodwinked by those who might have been promised a cut. Imagine how far $418 million can go in combating cholera! Buhari would now do well to direct the anti-graft agencies to probe the whole affair. I would love to see some crooks behind bars. Filthy!

JUDICIAL ANARCHY God bless the Court of Appeal for throwing out the case filed by a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and fining the two chieftains N10 million for abuse of court process. The faction had been doing everything in and out of the books to displace Prof Chukwuma Soludo as the governorship candidate of APGA in Anambra state. How can you appeal the ruling of the appeal court by going to another appeal court? Most recently, a high court overruled another high court in a case over the status of Chief Uche Secondus, the PDP chairman.

While litigation is a fundamental human right, it is getting ridiculous. Politicians need to stop spitting on our democracy. Desperados.

CLARIFICATION & CORRECTION In my article, ‘The Fallacy of Ethnic Homogeneity’ (THISDAY, September 5, 2021), I said Bangladesh broke away from India. That was inaccurate. The all-Muslim Pakistan was excised from India by British colonialists in 1947 while Bangladesh, known as East Pakistan, broke away from Pakistan in 1971 after a nine-month civil war. Thanks to my pal, Cheta Nwaze, I have also been made to understand that there are indigenous Igala communities in Anambra state. Ironically, I was aware but it somehow escaped my mind. Cheta further told me that there are communities that identify as Ibibio in Abia state. These put paid to my claim that the south-east is 100% Igbo. Apologies.

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