SUNDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER 2021

Second Batch of A-29 Super Tucano Fighter Jets Departs US for Nigeria Refuels at Worcester, to arrive September 24 Troops rescue NDA officer after 24 days in captivity Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The second batch of the A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets acquired by the federal government to boost the

war against insurgency and banditry has departed the United States for Nigeria, THISDAY has learnt.

THISDAY gathered that a group of pilots flying the six

A-29 aircraft from Georgia to Nigeria stopped over in the city of Worcester to refuel Wednesday night before taking off again on Thursday.

The United States

Government had earlier promised that the six remaining A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets would arrive in Nigeria this month (September).

This is coming as the Nigerian Army said yesterday that its troops rescued a military officer, Major C. L. Datong, who was abducted by armed bandits in Kaduna.

Datong was abducted on August 24 from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna.

Continued on page 5

Presidency Confirms 15 Major Projects to Be Financed with $4bn Loan… Page 5 Sunday 19 September, 2021 Vol 26. No 9659

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Tomori, NMA, PSN Give Conditions for Local Production of COVID-19 Vaccines Virologist insists on release of N10bn fund Locally-made vaccines feasible in next 18 months, says PSN Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja A professor of Virology, Professor Oyewale Tomori;

the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have given

conditions for Nigeria to start the local production of COVID-19 vaccines.

Despite the country’s

impressive rating in its response to the pandemic, it appears not to be making progress on the issue of the

production of vaccines.

In their separate interviews with THISDAY, Tomori, NMA, and PSN explained the

challenges hindering Nigeria’s efforts to manufacture the Continued on page 8

Atiku, Wike, Makinde, Others in Supremacy Battle for Control of PDP Former vice president, Oyo gov back Jegede in chairmanship race Rivers gov throws weight behind Orbih Former govs, ex-ministers back Oyinlola PDP govs tackle Umahi over zoning of presidential ticket Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, are set to clash in a battle for the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the race for the chairmanship of the main opposition party gets tougher, THISDAY has learnt.

THISDAY gathered that before the alliance between Makinde and Wike collapsed, the two governors were backing the former governor of Osun State, Col. Olagunsoye Oyinlola (rtd) as the next national chairman of the party.

Continued on page 6

Okonjo-Iweala's ON BOARD...

Brother Escapes WELCOME Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hon. Emmanuel Jime; his wife, Comfort; and Special Guest of Honour and Minister of Transportation, Hon. Assassination... L-R: Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, at a reception in honour of Jime on his appointment in Lagos …yesterday Pg 6

MUBO PETERS

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PROJECT INSPECTION...

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (left), and officials of RCC, led by the Project Manager, Mr. Victor Dratch (right), during the inspection of the ongoing reconstruction, rehabilitation and expansion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway…recently

Presidency Confirms 15 Major Projects to Be Financed with $4bn Loan 29 states to benefit from agro-climatic projects

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Presidency yesterday confirmed the 15 major projects spread across the country’s six geo-political zones to be financed with the proposed over $4 billion loan to be sourced from multilateral institutions, under the 20182021 medium-term (rolling) external borrowing plan.

Presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had requested the Senate to approve the sovereign loans of $4.054 billion and €710 million as well as grant components of $125million for the proposed projects.

According to the letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan by the President, the sovereign loans will be sourced from the World Bank, French Development Agency (AFD), China-Exim Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Credit Suisse Group and Standard Chartered/China Export and Credit (SINOSURE).

The president’s request to the Senate listed 15 proposed pipeline projects, the objectives, the implementation period, benefiting states, as well as the implementing Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

A breakdown of the ‘‘Addendum to the Proposed Pipeline Projects for the 2018-2021 Medium Term (rolling) External Borrowing Plan,’’ showed that the World Bank is expected to finance seven projects including the $125million grant for ‘‘Better Education Services for All’’.

The Global Partnership for Education grant is expected to increase equitable access for out-of-school children and improve literacy in focus states.

The grant, which will be

implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), will strengthen accountability for results in basic Education in

Katsina, Oyo, and Adamawa states.

Other projects to be financed by the World Bank are, the State Fiscal, Transparency, Accountability

and Sustainability Programme for Results as well as the Agro-Processing, Productivity, Enhancement, and Livelihood Improvement Support Project.

The benefiting states for

the agro-processing project are, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, Cross River, Enugu, and Lagos with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as the

implementing ministry.

The objective of the project is to enhance the agricultural productivity of small and Continued on page 10

SECOND BATCH OF A-29 SUPER TUCANO FIGHTER JETS DEPARTS US FOR NIGERIA The six planes are designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance missions.

The first batch of the attack aircraft had earlier been delivered by the US and have since been inducted into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) order of battle by President Muhammadu Buhari and United States government officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

THISDAY gathered that the military planes are unable to fly across the Atlantic Ocean and have opted for a North Atlantic route, hopping to multiple spots to refuel with Worcester being one of the places to stop over and refuel.

The initial six delivered by the US flew through five countries, including Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Algeria before arriving at their final destination in Nigeria towards the end of July.

The planes refueled at Rectrix in the Worcester Regional Airport in the United States.

The A-29 Super Tucano, designed by the Sierra Nevada Corporation in Sparks, Nevada, are light attack aircraft to be deployed by the NAF in the fight against terrorism in the country.

Worcester Telegram reported that the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, a Worcester native, was in town for her high school reunion at Doherty Memorial High School.

Leonard decided to visit

the pilots Thursday and see them off.

The planes were reportedly parked near the spot of the little hangar that Leonard's father used to park his plane as a member of a pilot club in the city.

"It’s like I stood here before a very long time ago and now there are these planes that are related to my work in Nigeria," Leonard said.

The planes are a part of the United States' security partnership with the Nigerian government.

They are expected to land in Nigeria on or around September 24.

It would be recalled that the first batch of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft arrived in Kano on July 22.

The planes were received by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd); Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Faruk Yahaya and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao.

The first batch of fighter jets departed the United States on July 14, 2021.

NAF had also completed the construction of a hangar in Jaji, Kaduna State, where the attack aircraft would be domiciled.

Speaking at a joint media briefing in Abuja to herald the induction of the first batch of the planes, the United States Envoy to Nigeria, Leonard, and the Commander of the US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, Gen Jeffrey Harrigian, said the A-29 Super Tucano sale was the largest foreign military sale in Sub-saharan

Africa.

Nigeria also has the largest International MilitaryEducation and Training Sale in the sub-Saharan Training (IMET) programme in subSaharan Africa.

On the Super Tucano aircraft, General Harrigian said the delivery of the fighter planes was an opportunity for the US Air Force and Nigerian Air Force "to recommit ourselves and contribute to Nigeria's stability. It brings about capabilities.

"It is an opportunity to work together in challenging times. The A -29 Super Tucano allows us to reconnect our relationship with Nigeria", he said, while noting that the partnership would focus on intelligence sharing, maintenance, tactics, planning, contribution to skills set and other areas outside the military”.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Commander, US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, Gen Jeff Harrigian, had stated that "Nigerian Air Force is one of our key partners that play a critical role in furthering regional security and stability.

“This ceremony symbolises the strength of our unique partnership and underscores the value of training and working together. The Super Tucanos were the impetus for the significant deepening of training and professional relationships", he said.

He said precision targeting, air-to-ground integration, and human rights training are all

included in the partnership between the U.S. and Nigeria.

Troops Rescue Major Datong Abducted from NDA Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army said yesterday that troops rescued a military officer, Major C.L. Datong, who was abducted by armed bandits in Kaduna, after a fierce exchange of gunfire.

The bandits, who breached the security of the NDA on August 24, opened fire on them, killing two officers.

A statement issued by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Col. Ezindu Idiama, said following the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, and service chiefs to 1 Division Nigerian Army to rescue the officer, the division, in conjunction with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and all security agencies, conducted decisive operations to rescue Major CL Datong, who was abducted at Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Permanent Site on August 24, 2021.

It said the military high command had directed that the perpetrators be found dead or alive.

"The Division, in conjunction with the Air Task Force, Department of State Services, and other security agencies, immediately swung into action by conducting operations in the Afaka general area to find and

rescue the officer.

"The operations were being conducted based on several leads received from various sources regarding the abductors and likely locations the officer was being held," it said.

The statement said: "The operations which were sustained since the abduction of the officer proved quite successful and led to the destruction of several identified bandits’ camps in the Afaka-Birnin Gwari general area and neutralisation of scores of bandits particularly, in the late hours of today, 17 September 2021, the troops arrived at a camp suspected to be the location where Maj C.L. Datong was being held.

"At the camp, the troops exchanged fire with the bandits. In the process, the gallant troops were able to rescue the abducted officer.

However, the officer sustained a minor injury but has been treated in a medical facility and handed over to NDA for further action".

The division commended security agencies for their support.

"The Division wishes to commend the efforts of the NAF, DSS, Nigerian Police, and patriotic Nigerians for their invaluable support which contributed to the success of this operation.

"Our operations will continue until we capture or neutralise the assailants that killed two officers in the NDA on August 24, 2021", the statement added.

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Okonjo-Iweala’s Brother Escapes Assassination Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba The Obi of the Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo II, has escaped what appeared to be like a plot to assassinate him.

However, the attack on the convoy of the traditional ruler, who is a younger brother of the Director-General of World Trade Centre (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, left at least one person dead while two vehicles were burnt.

Moreover, several vehicles were reportedly destroyed during the incident, which occurred on Friday, but THISDAY learnt that the monarch and his palace chiefs miraculously escaped unhurt.

There were conflicting reports as to who masterminded the bloody attack on the convoy of the royal father of the OgwashiUku Kingdom, with one source blaming the attack on "some irate youths at the (neighbouring) Otulu satellite town," while another account claimed that some secret cult members carried it out.

The Ogwashi-Uku traditional ruler was said to have led a high-calibre team, comprising members of his Obi-in-Council and some community leaders to the satellite town to perform certain traditional rites, including prayers, intended to usher peace and tranquillity into the whole community.

Eyewitness accounts said that some youths of the Otulu community had made a bonfire on the road leading to the town appears to barricade the monarch's convoy and block his exit from the town after performing the said rites.

All entreaties by the Obi's

younger brother, Prince Onyema Okonjo, and security agents to let the Obi have his right of way were allegedly rejected by the irate youths.

THISDAY learnt that youths of Otulu had recently embarked on a protest march, demanding that relevant authorities in the state should grant the Otulu satellite community autonomous status.

One of the protesting youths was said to have been hit by a bullet in the ensuing confusion as the security personnel attempted to disarm the youths and remove the

bonfire barricade.

The irate youths launched an attack on the vehicles in the monarch's convoy with two of them burnt and several others destroyed.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), while confirming the report yesterday, said that the Ogwashi-Uku king had gone to Otulu, a satellite town of Ogwasi-Uku, to perform some traditional rites and, in the process, a certain fence fell, prompting to the youths to go on a rampage.

Consequently, two vehicles

were burnt while the youth who was hit by a stray bullet eventually died.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler has affirmed that Otulu remains part and parcel of the Ogwashi-Uku kingdom, stressing that the agitation by a few to carve out the area from Ogwashi-Uku as an autonomous community was unwarranted and unacceptable.

A statement issued yesterday from the palace of the monarch also confirmed the incident, blaming the attack on cultists.

The spokesman of the monarch, Prince Greg

Okwumbu, said in the statement that, “Obi and members of the Council of Ogwashi-Uku visited Otulu Ogwashi-Uku Friday, September 17, 2021.

“The visit was largely successful and the Obi met members of the community, prayed with them, and discussed with them about some issues.

“At the end of the visit and when the Obi was departing, cultists and thugs imported into Otulu who were aware of the visit attacked members of the entourage who were at the rear of the convoy.

“The thugs also attempted to forcefully seize a gun belonging to a law enforcement member who escorted the Obi on the visit. It is important to note that members of the press accompanied the Obi on the visit.

“Also, law enforcement agents from the office of the Area Commander and the Brigade Command in Asaba were also there at the visit and witnessed everything that happened," he noted, adding that, "The people who sponsored the thugs are known to us and will be brought to justice.”

FAREWELL TO A STATESMAN...

L-R: President, African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina; wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; and Governor Dapo Abiodun, at the funeral service of elder statesman, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, at the Cathedral of St. Matthew, Ijebu Igbo…yesterday

ATIKU, WIKE, MAKINDE, OTHERS IN SUPREMACY BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF PDP Investigation however revealed that Wike has now thrown his weight behind the Deputy Vice Chairman of the party in the South-south, Mr. Dan Orbih, while Atiku and Makinde are behind the chairmanship aspiration of the former governorship candidate of the party in Ondo State, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN).

On the other hand, former governors and ex-ministers in the main opposition party have thrown their weight behind Oyinlola, ahead of next month’s National Convention of the party.

This is coming as the governors elected on the platform of the PDP have called on the Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. Dave Umahi, to face his frustrations and the misrule of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and bother less on how the PDP would zone the 2023 presidential ticket.

A source privy to the PDP power game told THISDAY that the Rivers State governor withdrew his support for Oyinlola because he would not want a national chairman who will be "taking instructions from Ota (referring to former President Olusegun Obasanjo) and Minna (referring to former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd)).”

“Makinde later learnt that his Rivers State counterpart was no longer on the same

page with him, as he was supporting Dan Orbih against their earlier plan of installing Oyinlola. After a meeting with the former vice president, Makinde shifted his support to Jegede,” the source explained.

The intrigues on who becomes the national chairman have continued as former governors of PDP and exministers are said to have backed Oyinlola.

The former governors and ex-ministers were said to have insisted that the next national chairman of the party should not emerge from a PDP-controlled state to avoid the fate suffered by the embattled National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, in the hands of Wike.

The former governors are said to be strongly supporting Oyinlola because his state, Osun, is currently governed by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

As the committee of the PDP for zoning of offices in the National Working Committee (NWC) begins sitting, new calculations have emerged for the zoning of the office of the leadership of the party.

It was reliably gathered that the position of the national chairman would be zoned to the entire South or North, instead of micro zoning it to a particular zone or state.

It was learnt that the 44-member zoning committee

led by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State which commenced sitting yesterday, is faced with the difficult choice of whether the chairman of the party should come from North or South, a decision that will also have implications on where the next presidential candidate of the party for the 2023 election will come from.

A top PDP source told THISDAY that the committee headed by Ugwuanyi has decided to be fair to any of the national chairmanship aspirants from the South by ensuring that the office is open to all.

According to the source, this is to avoid any litigation against anyone claiming that his or her constitutional right has been abridged.

"It has been decided that the office of the national chairman would be thrown open and by so doing, all interested persons from the South are free to contest.

"This is mainly for the national chairmanship position.

But we intend to be slightly different in approach for other offices of the NWC," the source said.

The source added that the offices of the two deputy chairmen for the South and North would not be micro-zoned to states, but to the zones that had earlier produced them in the pre-2017

national convention.

However, it is expected that the entire work of Governor Ugwuanyi’s committee would be subject to the final ratification of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

Meanwhile, leaders of PDP in the six states in the South-west have sent a strong message to the leadership of the party on the need to zone the post of national chairman to the zone in the forthcoming national convention.

The South-west PDP leaders believe the chairmanship should be specifically zoned to the South-west to compensate for the 2017 situation in which it was unjustly denied the slot after the post had been zoned to it.

They also argued that the denial of the zone of the post of chairman in 2017 led to the dwindling fortunes of the party in the zone.

The South-west PDP leaders noted that the zone has two governorship polls pending in Ekiti and Osun states before the 2023 general election, insisting that having the national chairmanship slot would help seal victory in two states, thereby boosting the chances of the party in the 2023 general election.

PDP Govs Tackle Umahi over Party's

Presidential Ticket Meanwhile, the governors elected on the platform of the PDP have called on the Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. Dave Umahi, to face his frustration and the misrule of his party, the APC, and bother less on how the PDP would zone the 2023 presidential ticket.

The governors expressed outrage over what they described as an attempt by Umahi, who illegally and immorally sits on a PDP mandate and calls himself an APC governor, to turn the truth on its head.

Umahi had on Friday mocked the governors of the PDP in the Southern Governors’ Forum who joined in adopting the resolution for power shift to the South, saying their body language shows the PDP won’t zone the presidency to the South.

Umahi, who spoke on a live TV programme, alleged that the PDP governors at the meeting in Enugu were being dishonest with their claim that they are keen about the 2023 presidency going to the South.

According to a statement by the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, Hon. Cyril Maduabum, "Governor Umahi left PDP for APC, according to him, because of the love he has for President Buhari, among other flimsy reasons, irrespective of the

maladministration and daily incidents of destruction of lives and properties currently going on in Ebonyi State and the entire country under the watch of APC. "Governor Umahi sabotaged the PDP in 2019 elections in his quest to deliver 25 per cent to his APC benefactors. It took the determined resistance of Ebonyi State people to checkmate him. It was good riddance that he subsequently left PDP for APC instead of continuing his role as an APC mole," the statement said.

On the issue of zoning, the PDP governors said, "we advise Governor Umahi to face his frustrations in APC and not drag PDP and her governors into it. PDP is an independent political party with workable structures and methods of doing things. It's not an appendage of the APC or indeed any other association or group."

The PDP governors said that the party would take its decision on the issue of zoning political offices at the appropriate time, stating that, "even the APC has not taken any decision yet on zoning.

"Different groups and interests are advancing arguments to defend their positions as is required in a democracy. At the end of the day, decisions will be taken by each political party," the PDP governors said.

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Buhari Departs for New York to Attend UN General Assembly Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to depart Abuja today for New York, United States of America, to participate in the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA76).

This year's UNGA session, which opened on Tuesday, September 14 has as theme: ‘Building Resilience Through Hope – To Recover from COVID-19, Rebuild Sustainably, Respond to the Needs of the Planet, Respect the Rights of People and Revitalise the United Nations.’

President Buhari, according to a statement issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, would address the Assembly during the General Debates on Friday, September 24 when he will speak on the theme of the conference and other global issues.

In the course of the Assembly, the Nigerian leader and members of the delegation will partake in other significant meetings such as: The High-Level Meeting to Commemorate The 20th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action on the theme “Reparations, Racial Justice and Equality for People of African Descent.”

The delegation will also participate in Food Systems Summit; High-Level Dialogue on Energy; and The High

Level Plenary Meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

The president will also hold bilateral meetings with

a number of other leaders of delegations and heads of International Development organisations.

He is being accompanied on the trip by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey

Onyeama; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami; and Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor.

Also on the president’s delegation are: National

Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd); Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.

President Buhari is expected back in the country on Sunday, September 26.

GET-TOGTHER...

L-R: Managing Director, Tetra Pak West Africa Limited, Mr. Oshiolamele Aruna; Managing Director, Fairtrade, Mr. Paul Marz; Project Manager, Agribusiness AHK Nigeria, Mr. Olasunkanmi Akindele; and General Manager, First Blend Limited, Mr. Lalit Ganwani, at the stakeholders’ get-together ahead of the sixth edition of Plasticprintpack and Agrofood Nigeria 2021 conference held in Lagos….recently ETOP UKUTT

TOMORI, NMA, PSN GIVE CONDITIONS FOR LOCAL PRODUCTION OF COVID-19 VACCINES vaccines locally.

While the PSN said the local production of the vaccines is feasible in the next 18 months, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof.

Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency was working to attain WHO’s Level 3 maturity, which will qualify it to supervise local manufacturers.

She, however, promised that safe and efficacious vaccines would be manufactured in Nigeria in no distant future.

But Tomori, who is the Chairman of the board of the Bio-Vaccine Nigerian Limited, said the country’s efforts to manufacture the vaccines were being hindered by conflicting decisions and pronouncements by government officials.

Tomori told THISDAY that the Executive Arm and the National Assembly appeared not to be on the same page as far as plans for the actualisation of the noble initiative are concerned.

Tomori said that the N10 billion budget approved since 2020 to secure the take-off of the vaccine manufacturing company has not been released.

"The problem is that we have not been serious as a nation regarding the issue of vaccine manufacturing. We have had a budget of N10 billion since last year but nothing has been released. So, when you said that Nigeria is at the forefront of countries bidding for the deal to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines, that is not true; we are not in the forefront, we are on the back burner.

"You can't compare Nigeria with those countries which are acting, we are mere talkers," he said.

The virologist lamented that

Nigeria is not where it should be on the issue of vaccine production considering the enormous human and material resources the country possesses.

According to Tomori, many of the factors that are delaying the local manufacturing of vaccines in the country are man-made.

"We are reaping the benefits of our lack of seriousness and neglect. That is why we are still talking about vaccine donation; that is why we have not been able to secure a deal to manufacture vaccines locally", he added.

Tomori argued that country’s inability to focus on long-term goals and work genuinely towards achieving such goals without attaching personal or parochial interests has robbed the country of the opportunity to secure a deal to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines ahead of other African countries.

"The challenges are many and multifaceted. They include inconsistent government policies that make it impossible to set and meet long-term goals and objectives, overriding national interest by personal interests that ensure that Nigeria continues to import vaccines through translucent (semi-transparent) procurement processes.

"Others are time-bomb obstacles placed in the way of doing business where getting approvals becomes difficult and forever obstacles/steeplechase race, dealing with pretenders, who loudly proclaim and carry the banner and flag of accountability and transparency, but gunning to milk the country dry using you as the conduit pipe to drain the national resources into their filthy and leaking pockets".

Tomori also bemoaned what he described as the

government's prolonged dependence on donations as a major source of acquiring COVID-19 vaccines to tackle the ravaging health emergency.

He said that such dependence has not enabled Nigeria to meet up with COVID-19 vaccine requirements for her teeming population in need of protection from the deadly virus.

"There was a budget of N296 billion set aside since last year for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccine. Since then, how many doses have been bought except for the recent purchase of 177,600 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine from the United States?

Some serious countries had even before the production of the vaccines started paying for it.

"It is not by word of the mouth that I am going to buy the vaccine, the question is did you pay for the vaccine?” he added.

Tomori however said that as individuals who love the country, patriotic Nigerians must never relent in their efforts but continue to fight for the development of the country.

On his part, the President of the NMA and a former Director-General of Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Prof. Innocent Ujah, said that for the country to manufacture the COVID-19 vaccines locally, the federal government should establish a partnership with a foreign company to facilitate the manufacture of these vaccines locally.

"This requires a partnership between government and the private sector entities to sign Memorandum of Understanding. What they need is to get this MoU done because it is going to be driven

by the private sector but the government has to create the enabling environment; they have to make it conducive for the company to start production," he said.

Ujah, however, said that the country presently lacks such a conducive environment to quicken the establishment of a vaccine manufacturing facility.

For instance, he disclosed that there is no hospital or health facility with the equipment that can conduct clinical trials in the country.

Ujah said that although the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) in Lagos has started building hospital wards for clinical trials, the government needs to activate the national centre for research and innovation to drive the process.

According to the NMA president, what was lacking is the right commitment to getting things done.

"I know Nigerians are very resilient and resourceful people; all that is needed is a firm commitment by the government and the private sector and we will achieve results," he added.

On his part, the President of PSN, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa told THISDAY that two critical stakeholders in the vaccine manufacturing venture NAFDAC and private sector firms were still in the process of setting up the needed facilities for the project.

He said: "At the moment, one or two companies are trying to set up plants for the manufacture of vaccines in the country but they are just at the preliminary stages.

“Some of them just got some facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and they are trying to acquire equipment

because vaccine manufacturing requires the highest level of GNP compliance.

"Even the regulatory agency, NAFDAC is currently struggling to get qualified to be able to regulate and inspect vaccine manufacturing process. So, while the regulator is trying to get itself ready to be able to regulate, the companies are still in the process of setting up plant".

Ohuabunwa said that there is presently a high appetite for local manufacturing, adding, however, that getting to the stage of actual manufacturing in the country won't be possible until at least, the next 18 months.

He, however, said that the delay in actualising the dream was due to a lack of requisite facilities and qualified regulators.

He said: "At the moment, it is important that NAFDAC secures the certification it needs to be able to regulate the vaccine sector because if companies set up their plants first, they may be required to make further adjustments that may condemn the equipment due to poor standards".

Ohuabunwa said that some international vaccine manufacturing firms have shown interest in licensing vaccine manufacturing in Nigeria so long as the required facilities are ready.

NAFDAC Working to Attain WHO’s Level 3 Maturity, Says Agency On her part, the Director General of NAFDAC, Adeyeye, who spoke through the Resident Consultant of the agency, Sayo

Akintola, said NAFDAC was working to attain WHO’s Level 3 maturity to be able to regulate the local manufacturers.

Adeyeye said Nigeria was assessed in July 2019 with a couple of follow-up assessments in a bid to ensure that the country attains the WHO maturity level 3.

The WHO Global Benchmarking exercise is a regulatory system strengthening effort used to assess the national regulatory systems of medicine regulatory authorities in the world.

Adeyeye said that the assessment would position the country, especially NAFDAC, to be better equipped to regulate the prospective vaccine manufacturers.

According to her, it would also give the local manufacturers the opportunity of being WHO pre-qualified, which means potentials to participate in international bids.

"There has been a global challenge in the supply of COVID 19 vaccines. Countries, where these vaccines are manufactured, are ensuring that their populace gets access to this scarce essential health commodity before they are allowed for exports. This has necessitated the need for Nigeria to sustain efforts in supporting the local capacity for COVID-19 vaccine production. NAFDAC being the national medicine regulatory authority in Nigeria is poised to give the required guidance in terms of capacity building. There have been several stakeholder engagements with prospective applicants in this regard. It is hoped that in no distant future, quality, safe and efficacious vaccines would be manufactured in Nigeria," she explained.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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͹΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

NEWS

Lagos #EndSARS Panel Suspends Sitting as Adegboruwa Raises Concerns Gboyega Akinsanmi The Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for Victims of SARS and the Lekki Tollgate Incident yesterday suspended its sitting until further notice, a decision that raised concerns in some quarters.

The panel announced its suspension shortly before one of its members, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), alleged an attempt by some powerful persons to frustrate it from reaching meaningful conclusions.

The Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi (rtd), announced the decision at the resumed sitting held at the Lagos Court of Arbitration, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lekki Phase I Estate, Lagos.

The state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had set up the judicial panel investigate the brutality of the operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and look into the grievances of victims of SARS abuses and the incidents at the Lekki Toll Gate, among other terms of reference.

Alongside Okuwobi, a retired judge of the Lagos State High Court and Adegboruwa, the seven-man panel comprises a former Deputy Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mr. Taiwo Lakanu; Director, Lagos Citizens Mediation Centre, Mrs. Olutoyin Odusanya; a civil society practitioner, Ms. Patience Udoh and two representatives of the youths.

After its proceedings yesterday, Okuwobi explained the rationale behind the decision of the panel to defer its sitting indefinitely, ascribing it to two reports that the panel had to work on.

She said: “There are two reports that we are expected to work on. We are not close enough to any of them. We cannot continue with the sitting and end the assignment without concluding. So, we will not be sitting from today.

“We have to collate and evaluate petitions already heard so as to make findings and recommendations, even on the Lekki shooting. But as soon as we find ourselves in a comfortable situation, we will send hearing notices for cases that have been listed.

“Please, bear with us. We cannot speculate on any further extension. We have to work towards completing the assignment as early as we can.

“This is without any prejudice to us coming back to conclude on partheard cases. Dates will be

communicated to petitioners who have petitions pending,” Okuwobi added.

Just before the panel announced its decision to adjourn its sitting indefinitely, Adegboruwa, a human rights activist, alleged attempts to frustrate the panel from reaching meaningful conclusions.

Adegboruwa alleged that some powerful individuals in the state were behind the attempts to truncate the panel from completing its mandate

to look into the grievances of victims of SARS abuses and the incidents at the Lekki Toll Gate.

He raised the alarms in a terse message he released to THISDAY yesterday, warning against attempts by any individuals or power-that-be to prevent the panel from concluding its mandate.

In his two-paragraph message, Adegboruwa claimed that there “are attempts to frustrate the EndSARS Judicial Panel

from reaching meaningful conclusions on investigations into the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of 20th October 2020.”

The senior lawyer also promised to give details of attempts by powerful individuals to frustrate the panel from making meaningful conclusions.

Adegboruwa had initially threatened to withdraw from the judicial panel.

The senior advocate claimed that the consideration

“is based on the arrest of protesters at the Lekki tollgate.”

He had then claimed that he was totally overwhelmed seeing images and videos of unarmed protesters being dehumanised, stripped halfnaked and cramped together in a rickety bus.

Sanwo-Olu had constituted the judicial panel after some military officers arrived at the Lekki Toll Gate in Toyota Hilux vans and shot at peaceful protesters that

converged on the tollgate.

The protesters, who were largely youths, were waving the green-and-white flag and reciting the national anthem, calling for the dissolution of SARS over unprecedented records of brutality and extra-judicial killings.

The army, which initially denied shooting at the protesters, later admitted that its men carried live bullets that night but only to tackle armed hoodlums who had hijacked the protests.

PAPAL HONOUR...

L-R: The Erelu of Lagos, His Royal Highness Abiola Dosunmu; celebrant, Mrs. Sena Anthony; and businessman, Dr. Greg Ero, at the investiture of ceremony of MUBO PETERS Anthony at the Holy Cross Cathedral Church in Lagos…weekend

PRESIDENCY CONFIRMS 15 MAJOR PROJECTS TO BE FINANCED WITH $4BN LOAN medium-scale farmers and improve value addition along priority value chains in the participating states.

Similarly, the World Bank is also financing the Nigeria Sustainable Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project in Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Imo, and Plateau states, for the next five years.

The project, when completed, is expected to improve rural water supply, sanitation, and hygiene nationwide towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for water supply and sanitation by 2030.

Under the external borrowing plan, the World Bank-supported projects also include Nigeria’s COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project (COPREP), under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Health and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The project, which has an implementation period of five years, will respond to threats

posed by COVID-19 through the procurement of vaccines.

Furthermore, no fewer than 29 states are listed as beneficiaries of the AgroClimatic Resilience in Arid Zone Landscape project, which is expected to reduce natural resource management conflicts in dry and semi-arid ecosystems in Nigeria.

The benefiting states for the project to be co-financed by World Bank and European Investment Bank (EIB) are Akwa Ibom, Borno, Oyo, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Edo, Plateau, Abia, Nasarawa, Delta, Niger, Gombe, Imo, Enugu, Kogi, Anambra, Niger, Ebonyi, Cross River, Ondo, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Benue, Yobe and Kwara.

The World Bank is also funding the Livestock Productivity and Resilience project in no fewer than 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The China EXIM Bank is expected to finance the

construction of the branch line of Apapa-TinCan Island Port, under the Lagos-Ibadan Railway modernisation project.

The French Development Agency will finance two projects, which include the National Digital Identity Management project and the Kaduna Bus Rapid Transport Project.

The digital identity project will be co-financed with World Bank and EIB. The Value Chain Development Programme to be financed by IFAD and implemented in Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Niger, Ogun, Taraba, Nasarawa, Enugu, and Kogi states, will empower 100,000 farmers, including over 6,000 and 3,000 processors and traders, respectively.

The loan facility to be provided by European ECA/ KfW/IPEX/APC will be spent on the construction of the Standard Gauge Rail (SGR) linking Nigeria with the Niger Republic from Kano-KatsinaDaura-Jibiya-Maradi with a

branch to Dutse.

The specific project title, Kano-Maradi SGR with a branch to Dutse, has an implementation period of 30 months and will be implemented by the Federal Ministry of Transport.

The Chinese African Development Fund through the Bank of China is expected to provide a loan facility of $325 million for the establishment of three power and renewable energy projects including solar cells production facility Phase 1 & II, electric power transformer production, Plants 1, II, III and high voltage testing laboratory.

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) will implement the project aimed at increasing local capacity and capability in the development of power and renewable energy technologies and infrastructure.

Credit Suisse will finance major industrialisation projects as well as micro, small and medium enterprises schemes

to be executed by the Bank of Industry while SINOSURE and Standard Chartered Bank will provide funds for the provision of 17MW Hybrid Solar Power infrastructure for the National Assembly (NASS) complex.

The project, with an implementation period of five years, is expected to address the ‘‘NASS power supply deficit and reduce the higher overhead burdensome cost of running and maintaining fossil fuel generators (25MW installed capacity) to power the assembly complex.’’

President Buhari had in a request letter dated August 24, 2021, sought the consideration and approval of the Senate to take $4.054 billion, £710 million, and $125 million external loans to fund projects captured under the 2018-2021 borrowing plan.

The President's letter was read by President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, last Tuesday at the commencement of plenary after a two-month annual recess of the National Assembly.

21 Kaduna Baptist School Students Still in Captivity as Bandits Release 10 John Shiklam in Kaduna Another batch of 10 of the remaining 31 abducted students of the Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna have been released by bandits after spending 75 days in captivity.

The Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of

the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Joseph Hayab, confirmed their release in a telephone interview yesterday evening.

According to him, the students, who were released yesterday, have been reunited with their parents.

Hayab said with the release of the 10 students, 21 were

still being held by the bandits.

He said: “The bandits have released 10 more of our students to us this evening, remaining 21.

“They were released this evening and parents were taking their children home,” he said.

Hayab also lamented: “What the bandits are

doing, is to torture us. We are celebrating the return of 10 students, but we are having the challenge of those parents who have been waiting and every time their children are not among those released.

“It is very painful, but we thank God that 10 students are back”, he said.

On July 5, bandits invaded the school located about six kilometers away from Kaduna metropolis and abducted 121 students.

The students were being released by the bandits in batches.

So far, three batches of students, totalling 100 have been released including those

who escaped from captivity.

THISDAY learnt that a total of over N200 million was paid by parents to the bandits as ransom.

Fresh ransom was paid for each batch of students released.

Sources said N20 million was paid before the release of the 10 students.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 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 19, 2021

EDITORIAL

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

PITFALLS OF IPOB ‘SIT AT HOME’ STRATEGY The sit-at-home order inflicted more harm on the people

T

he recent arrest and detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has altered the face of separatist political agitation in the Southeast. The organisation recently upped the ante by ordering a weekly ‘sit at home’ protest in all the states in the zone. By the order, businesses and normal work and social activities in the zone are suspended every Monday. To date, this order has been obeyed largely out of fear of the violent enforcers acting on behalf of IPOB. Banks have been closed to the public just as markets and shops have been shuttered. Inter-state transportation has similarly been affected while educational institutions have considered it wise to observe one day of compulsory holiday every week.

Ostensibly, the sit-at-home protest is aimed at drawing attention to the plight of Kanu and possibly influencing the outcome of the court cases against him. But on their part, the various state governments and the security agencies have constantly underlined the illegality of the order.

Repeatedly, they have appealed to the people to go about their normal commercial and social activities. But the fear of IPOB and other enforcement vigilantes has kept people indoors and businesses closed on all such days for reasons of personal safety and security.

Predictably, in an effort to ensure compliance with their illegal order, IPOB has seen it fit to use thugs to infringe on the freedom and safety of innocent citizens who insist on exercising their basic freedoms of movement and enterprise on the days of the sit-at-home

There is scant evidence that this strategy has altered the plight of Kanu who is awaiting trial for a cocktail of treason-related offences in Abuja

Letters to the Editor

F

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

protests. Reports of murder of some innocent citizens in various locations under the illegal order have further complicated the internal security challenge in the zone.

So far, there is scant evidence that this strategy has altered the plight of Kanu who is awaiting trial for a cocktail of treason-related offences in Abuja where he is being held in the facilities of the Department of State Services (DSS). There is also no evidence that the sit-at-home strategy has brought IPOB and its sympathisers any closer to the attainment of their larger political objective of a ‘Biafra’ nation. Instead, the economic life of the zone and the sense of order has been adversely affected. Days without banking services, closed markets and government offices have meant vast economic losses with a cumulative dent on the wellbeing of people in the region. “How does enslaving our people, denial of means of livelihood add value to our quest for equity and justice?” asked Senator Chimaroke Nnamani.

Against the background of the civil war experience, the sit-at-home regime has created a certain siege mentality throughout the zone. The attack last week on schools and the dispersal of students undergoing examination in Imo State has heightened the fear of anarchy. In all, the sense of alienation of the people of the zone from the mainstream of national life could only increase with these disruptions.

P

erhaps in recognition of the futility of the strateg y, IPOB has itself lately issued a counter order cancelling its sit-at-home directive. Similarly, the Southeast Caucus of the National Assembly has denounced the order and pointed at its overall futility and negative impact on the economic and social life of the people. In tandem, individual governors of the states in the zone have initiated measures aimed at negating popular compliance with the IPOB order. With these developments, there is now increased optimism that this self-defeating strateg y will be reversed, thereby saving the region further economic losses and social dislocations.

While i nd iv idua ls a nd g r oups reser ve the right to protest to draw attention to matters that irk them, it needs to be kept constantly in view that the common good def ined in terms of uninterrupted leg itimate social and economic activities must not be held hostage by a pursuit of some ill-digested narrow interests.

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.

MITIGATING THE DANGERS OF FLOODING IN THE FCT

looding disasters are very serious problems for the communities that experience their devastating effects.

The Americas, Asia and even Europe recently came under the destructive force of this disaster which left in its wake the destruction of lives and properties as well as damage to public infrastructure.

The disaster underscored with stunning clarity how vulnerable even the advanced worlds are to extreme weather that the human-caused climate crisis and other activities are bringing.

According to reports, many residents drowned in their cars or in basement apartments as flash floods struck several regions causing water to overtake residential buildings, subways and streets.

Similar incidents also occurred here in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), most notably at the Trademore Estate in Lugbe where flooding disaster wreaked serious havoc on the estate, killing some persons and destroying properties and infrastructure.

In Kwali Area Council also, the problem of flooding has been a recurring feature with farmlands, residential houses and most recently a bridge connecting Dafa, Tunga and Gwomani communities was washed away by flood.

Although the much talked about climate change has been blamed for the recent flooding in the FCT and indeed many parts of the world, there are however other human related activities that are equally responsible for this situation.

According to the FCT Admin-

istration, flooding in some estates in the FCT are as a result of housing developers not following laid down building regulations as provided in the district design.

A Ministerial Committee set up by the FCTA to assess the causes of flooding in parts of the city revealed in its reports that structures are wrongly erected on waterways by housing developers, either causing the diversion of the natural courses of rivers or substantially narrowing their pathway, resulting in flooding.

According to the committee’s report, FCT District master plan recognizes the flood plains and waterways and ensures that they are not obstructed in any way. In this regard, erection of structures is only permitted at least 40 meters away from river courses (20 meters either side of the river), to ensure unencumbered flow of

water.

However, what has been discovered by the authorities is that housing developers in flagrant disregard of this regulation in the FCT would often erect structures along the path of water during the dry seasons and sell them off to unsuspecting off-takers who would then be faced with problem of flooding when the rains return.

The Head Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Johnson Uwazuruonye also corroborated this point in a recent media chat on the issue of flooding in the FCT. According to the disaster manager, until estate developers and Nigerians in general change their attitude towards indiscriminate building of houses on flood plains, flooding will continue to ravage communities.

Mr. Uwazuruonye further stated that interlocking and cementing of compounds without leaving space for water to go into the soil, lack of

drainage systems and building on flood plains are also among other causes of the recent flooding incident at Trademore Estate.

Other human related activities that have also been blamed for the recurring flood in the FCT and its Area Councils include the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels and farming on river banks.

The effects of these human related activities have necessitated the call for attitudinal change towards the environment to forestall the problem of flooding in the FCT. Consequently, human actions that encumber natural flow of rivers, block drainages and exacerbate erosion are chief among the activities that must be discouraged in the FCT. t %BOMBEJ "LJMV (VEV %JTUSJDU "CVKB Read the full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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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 19, 2021

NEWS

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

Again, JOHESU, AHPA Issue Fresh 15-day Nationwide Strike Notice Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have issued a fresh 15-day strike notice.

This followed a unanimous resolution adopted by the groups to step down the notice of strike that expired mid-night September 17, and issue a fresh notice of 15 days.

The union had on September 2, issued the federal government a 15-day ultimatum to meet its demands or embark on nationwide strike at the expiry date.

JOHESU’s Acting General Secretary, Mr. Matthew Ajorutu, said this in a communique issued at the end of an expanded National Executive Council (NEC) emergency meeting of the union via Zoom and physical attendance on Friday in Abuja.

The expanded NEC comprises the Presidents and General Secretaries of affiliate unions and professional associations, NEC members of affiliate unions and JOHESU chairmen and secretaries at the state and branch levels.

Ajorutu said that NEC-insession had critically appraised the reports of JOHESU negotiation and conciliation meetings with the federal government

since the declaration of the trade dispute through the 15-day strike notice issued on September 2.

He said that NEC also noted the appeal from President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to show understanding with his administration and the president’s pledge to pay any debt owed health workers.

He said that NEC also received and examined reports of congresses held at various health facilities across the country on the mobilisation for the strike action due to have commenced on September 18.

According to Ajorutu, NEC after long hours of exhaustive deliberations on issues surrounding the planned industrial action, resolved that the Federal Ministry of Health should ensure speedy circularisation of all establishment and welfare matters as agreed during negotiation meetings. ”The federal government should ensure that the new data for the computation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for JOHESU members be completed and submitted to the ‘High Level Body (HLB)’ of the FG not later than Wednesday, September 22, as agreed.

“NEC-in-session urges the federal government to ensure

that the High Level Body (HLB) completes and submits the computation of the adjusted CONHESS for inclusion in the 2022 budget within September 30, submission window. ”NEC urges the Federal

Government to reciprocate the patriotic humanitarian gesture of JOHESU in the interest of the larger Nigerian masses to expeditiously resolve all the demands within the fifteen days window.

”Finally, NEC-in-Session unanimously adopts a resolution to step down the notice of strike action due to expire mid-night September17, and issue a fresh notice of fifteen days,” the communique reads

in part.

He further said that NEC commended all members for their commitment and understanding towards the struggle for better working conditions, improved healthcare services

Rhodes-Vivour Recommends Removal of Judges Complicit of Conflicting Orders Gboyega Akinsanmi

A retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour has asked the National Judicial Council (NJC) to recommend for removal any member of the Bench found complicit in granting conflicting ex parte order.

Rhodes-Vivour has also challenged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to sanction any legal practitioner, who are indulged in filing outside jurisdictions or involved in practice that infringes the rules of professional conduct.

He made these recommendations during a virtual session organised by the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) under a theme, ‘Contradictory Ex-Parte Orders: Implications and Consequences’ on Thursday.

SPIDEL convened the confer-

ence amid conflicting orders arising from the multiplicity of court actions filed in respect of the primaries conducted by major political parties to select their candidates for the next Anambra State governorship election.

The court actions had culminated in the issuance of conflicting orders on the same subject matter just as the leadership tussle of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elicited multiple litigations that resulted in divergent court decisions.

Consequently, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad had consequently summoned Chief Judges of states; queries judges who granted conflicting orders and referred to the NJC to face probe for allegedly falling short of what was required of them.

During the virtual conference, Rhodes-Vivour frowned at the

practice of filing court actions outside jurisdictions with the intention of obtaining injunctions favourable to them.

Rhodes-Vivour explained how a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais (rtd) responded to the resurgence of conflicting orders in the 1990s, which according to him, led to the removal of some judges.

He added that Uwais then set up the Justice Kayode Esho Panel “to sanction judges, who fell short of what is required of them.

Quite a number of judges were removed from the indiscriminate grant of ex parte orders.

“After the report of the Esho Panel was presented to the government, the NJC continued recommending judges for removal and they were removed from offices for

the indiscriminate grant of ex parte order, which invariably resulted in conflicting orders.

“This was the period when judges were heard to say the fear of NJC is the beginning of wisdom. Judges, who fall short of what is expected of them, especially those who grant ex parte order indiscriminately, were always reported to the NJC.” Similarly, Rhodes-Vivour suggested that legal practitioners, who make it a practice to file suits outside jurisdictions or obtain ex parte orders knowingly that the similar order had already been obtained, should be sanctioned for infringing the rules of professional conduct.

He, also, attributed the resurgence of multiple court actions and consequent conflicting orders to the desperation of political actors, who were hell-bent to use the court to obtain injunctions favourable to them.

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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 19, 2021

OPINION

REFLECTIONS ON THE COUNTRY BABANGIDA BUILT The house Ibrahim Babangida built is riddled with pain and suffering, contends Ike Okonta

G

eneral Ibrahim Babangida, Nigeria’s former military Head of State, has dominated the politics of this country since December 1983 when he and then General Muhammadu Buhari shot their way to power. Indeed, there is a sense in which it can be said that political events in the past four decades have been shaped directly or indirectly by these two political actors and their followers.

However, when General Buhari assumed office in May 2015 as President General Babangida retreated into his shell for understandable reasons. He had eased Buhari out of power in August 1985 as head of state and clamped him in detention for several years. The fear in the Babangida camp in 2015 was that Buhari would have his revenge on the former. The fear was further heightened when Buhari had Colonel Sambo Dasuki, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s National Security Adviser, detained and charged for embezzling an estimated $2 billion given to him by Jonathan to facilitate his re-election in 2015. Even so, President Buhari did not go after Babangida as expected. He did not probe Babangida’s administration as some of his lieutenants had urged him. Buhari forgave and let Babangida be.

This generosity on President Buhari’s part has so emboldened General Babangida that on the occasion of his 80th birthday last month he criticized the former’s administration as being more corrupt than the one he presided over between 1985 and 1993. His sidekicks, including General Abdulsalaami Abubakar, former military Head of State and Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger State took to the airwaves and challenged Nigerians who had evidence of corruption during Babangida’s tenure to make it public. Babangida himself gave several newspaper and television interviews where he passed himself off as an elder statesman, pontificating on national affairs. All in all the 80th birthday celebration was a blatant attempt to wash Babangida’s image clean.

But facts are stubborn things and no amount of image-laundering will wash away the fact that General Babangiga is till date the worst Head of State Nigeria has had the misfortune to

encounter. Some have argued that the late General Sani Abacha was worse than Babangida because he jailed M.K.O. Abiola, the winner of the 1993 presidential election and proceeded to empty the national treasury into his capacious pocket. But this position does not take cognizance of the fact that it was General Babangida who prepared the ground for Abacha to tread on. Babangida so traumatized Nigeria morally, politically and economically that Abacha simply continued where his predecessor left off.

Consider the moral aspect of General Babangida’s tenure in office. Corruption has always been common practice in Nigeria since independence in October 1960. Even so, corruption was clandestine, something the right hand did in the dead of night without letting the left hand know. But all this changed

Politically, the shadow that General Babangida cast on the nation’s landscape is still with us. When Babangida banned political parties and insisted that only ‘newbreed’ politicians would participate in his long-winded political transition programme, he deliberately encouraged the corrupt, the self-serving and the visionless

when General Babangida became Head of State in 1985. He popularized corruption. He transformed it into an instrument of governance. He made it the go-to strategy with which followers and critics alike were ‘settled’ and made to join the bandwagon. On Babangida’s watch, corrupt practices became so commonplace that the honest and God-fearing stood out like a sore thumb and were made to look foolish. From local government councillors right up to military governors and ministers – all were merrily partaking in the corruption festival. The country had never had it so bad.

So loud was the demand to probe Babangida’s administration after he was forced to quit office by pro-democracy protesters in August 1993 that General Sani Abacha, his successor had to establish a panel of enquiry headed by the respected economist, Dr Pius Okigbo, to examine Babangida’s financial activities. This was in July 1994`. In his statement on the occasion of the submission of the report of the Panel On The Reform And Reorganisation Of The Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Okigbo accused Babangida and members of his government of stealing the country blind: ‘Between September 1988 and 30 June 1994, $12.2 billion of the $12.4 billion in the dedicated accounts was liquidated in less than six years.

They were spent on what could neither be adjudged genuine high priority nor truly regenerative investment; neither the President nor the Central Bank governor accounted to anyone for these massive extra-budgetary expenditures.

These disbursements were clandestinely undertaken while the country was openly reeling from a crushing external debt overhang.’

The Persian Gulf Oil crisis of 1990-1991 was exactly what General Babangida needed to make the final killing.

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IS FEDERALISM ABOUT ‘EAT WHAT YOU KILL?’ Simbo Olorunfemi argues that federalism should be about the best interest of the collective

F

ederalism is not a Nigerian creation, tempting as one might be led to assume it is. Federalism is a concept in Political Science, with a consensus on what constitutes its grundnorm and what its main features are. I had thought, as a student of Political Science, that I had a modest understanding of what federalism is, having taken a number of courses wholly devoted to it at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. But that was until Nigerians happened on the concept of federalism and I realised how little I knew about it. I have now come to accept that what Nigerians cannot happen to does not exist. Nigerians took hold of federalism, created the aberrant idea of 'true federalism', as if there is 'false federalism' in practice somewhere, and there has been no rest ever since.

Yet, even though dissensus over definition of concepts is part and parcel of interrogation in the field of Political Science, there is, in fact, a broad consensus on the definition of Federalism. "What sets federal states apart from other national communities is not their values but a number of institutional design principles that include a division of legislative authority between two orders of government, each of which is elected directly by citizens, and each of which is sovereign in at least one legislative domain. This division of powers is set out in a written constitution that cannot be amended unilaterally by either order of government. In addition, federal states provide for the formal representation of their constituent communities (states or provinces) within the national legislature, although the means by which this is done range from direct popular election (Australia and the United States) to indirect election through constituent governments (Germany), and even to the appointment of friends and partisan colleagues of the prime minister (Canada)" (Watts,1998).

In simple terms, federalism is essentially about shared and self rule, is about sharing powers, functions and responsibilities, against the backdrop of forces of plurality and diversity pulling the people apart. In accordance with this principle considered

by Political Scientists as the fundamental plank upon which the concept of Federalism rests, Watts (1996) submits that there are 23 federations in the world. "They vary widely, however, in the character of the underlying social diversity, in the form and scope of the distribution of legislative and administrative powers and financial resources, in the form and processes of the shared representative institutions, in the scope and role of the courts as constitutional umpires, in the character of intergovernmental relations, and in the processes for flexibility and constitutional adjustment".

The variety out there again reinforces the argument against the 'Nigerian' assumption of one Federalism as true and another false. It is absolutely erroneous. As I have repeatedly argued, every federal arrangement is a work in progress, each with its

imperfections, with no finishing line for any to arrive at, that it might be adjudged as having attained perfection. On account of constant friction and collision by what Tekena Tamuno described as 'centre-seeking' and 'centre-fleeing' forces, federations are often under stress and in a constant state of flux, coming under pressure to undergo recreation and adaptation.

In North America, Canada has been struggling with what Ronald Watts described as "three decades of political and constitutional crises, rooted deeply in its fundamental cultural cleavages". Her neighbour, United States has her issues to deal with as the national and state governments clash. Mexico has its own issues, just like Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela in South America. The situation is the same in Australia, countries in Europe, India and of course, in Africa as well.

While the nature of the stress in Nigeria, as to be expected, does differ from that of other places, that does not in any way vitiate the position that what is in practice in Nigeria is federalism, contrary to what some argue. It is simply a confirmation of the fact that federalism is a coat of many colours, with our green-white-green being one of the variants.

I recall that it was in the course of our conversations around federalism five years ago, that the distinguished Prince, Adekanmi Ademiluyi anchored his submission around a statement he attributed to the former Canadian Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker that " Federalism means that you eat what you kill". I disagreed with his position then and I, obviously, still do now. I don't even think the essence of Federalism is about pulling apart, as the statement seems to suggest, as it is about pulling together. I do not think the essence of the coming together is that each might farm with the mind of self, by eating on the strength of the kill, rather I would suggest that it is more about broadening the collective base, that there might be enough for the collective good.

I have, however, only just decided to check up on the statement by John Diefenbaker to gain insight into the context in which he might have made it. Unfortunately, I have been unable to track it. Well, what does it matter? The statement provoked enough curiosity in me to have inspired this interrogation. Taking a second look at it, I cannot find grounds to agree with it. I would even argue that Difenbaker must have been misled about what federalism to have made such a statement. What will be the point of a federation if it is all about self? Why will anyone want to be a part of a federation if the fundamental plank upon which a group, diverse in culture and other respects, is just to "eat what you kill"?

As I have repeatedly argued, federalism is primarily about pulling together, with accommodation for the interests and peculiarities of the component parts, with a view to widening the pool and leveraging on opportunities that come with size

and other factors.

Indeed, there is the economic component embedded in the political shell of federalism and for some, it is about the political component tucked inside an economic shell, especially for federalist arrangements that started out as 'customs unions'. I do not even think that the primary essence of federalism is about eating. Eating what one kills is not and cannot be the driver for federalism. Fundamental to the concept is shared duties and responsibilities with governance.

As we have come to see, the Nigerian elite has managed to make the arrangement here about eating, the same way everything else is reduced to food. That misunderstanding of the essence of Federalism is at the root of a lot of the crises - real, imagined or contrived. It is what is fueling the confusion around VAT. It is behind the divisive and bigoted positions increasing dominating the civic space. It is about people assuming themselves to be better endowed arguing that it should be about "eat what you kill". If only the mentality can change from that to "eat what you need".

The argument about eating what you kill is largely about revenue allocation. On that, I had this to say in 2017: "Much has been made of the revenue allocation system which many see as rather lopsided in favour of the FG and have called for a review. One Senator declared the formula being used by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) illegal' by some weird deduction.

There is really nothing new to the debate as finding the most appropriate revenue allocation formulae, just like the debate, is an age-long one. Some recommendations have been made, just as reviews have taken place over the time, especially in the last 40 years.

Before independence, there was the Phillipson Commission set up in 1946, the Hicks-Phillipson Commission of 1953, Raisman Commission in 1958 and the Binn's Commission of 1964, even after independence, all with the mandate to work out an acceptable formula, to no satisfaction of any group. There was the Dina Commission in 1968, the Aboyade Technical Committee of 1977 and there was the Okigbo Commission which largely influenced the 1981 Revenue Act which allocated 55% to FG, 30.5% to State Governments, 10% to LGs and 4.5% for Special funds.

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Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

15

LETTERS

2023 PRESIDENCY: WHO WILL GO FOR US?

C

orrective leadership. Nigeria needs corrective leadership in 2023.

No government has it all figured out. While a government may perform superlatively on infrastructure development, it could be a spectacular wreck on security and managing diversity. Progressive leadership is corrective leadership.

It is expected that every succeeding administration should surgically address the malignant afflictions and infecundity of the preceding government.

Insecurity and corruption were staples under the former administration. The Buhari administration rode on a messianic chariot to revise these malefactions.

But these problems are still much alive today.

In fact, they have been compounded by mass disaffection and ethnic tensions. Nevertheless, the government has raked in some significant dividends in infrastructure development and in whittling down brazen corruption.

So, for Nigeria to make progress, succeeding governments must be corrective where there are performance cavities and consolidatory where there are winnings. A government may not be all egregious – if we look through uninvolved bifocals.

Where we seek to only find faults, we will definitely find them, and where we apply ourselves to observe from

both sides of a crystal ball we become illumined to see unprejudiced.

In 2023, Nigeria needs a government that will better manage the country’s diversity, retool the economy, deal conclusively with insecurity, and build on the burgeoning infrastructural records of the Buhari administration.

But most importantly, heal the bruised and battered national umbilicus.

2023 should be for national healing. As I said in ‘Nigeria needs a president in 2023 – not Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba’ on February 2, 2021: ‘’Nigeria needs a doctor.

Yes, the country needs a carpenter. It also needs a builder and an architect.

If we are all desirous of healing from nearly six years of hate-slinging, recriminations and animosity, why are we not having conversations around a ‘healer president’ in 2023 – a Nigerian president who will mend the broken and possibly put humpty-dumpty together again? Why are we having conversations on the primordial – ethnic origin and religion? Have we not suffered enough for our poor choices driven by atavistic proclivities? ‘’While we are fixated on ethnic origin and religion as the primary basis for choosing the next president, we lose sight of the fundamental yardsticks of leadership – antecedents, competence, credentials, achievements, verifiable records, and tested abilities.

Yes, there are people with

these qualities in every ethnic group in Nigeria, but my concern is that these qualities are not emphasised in our electoral process and conversations. Rather the premium is on the ethnic and religious identity of who must be president. ‘’We cannot rise as a country if we do not rise above our ethnic and religious biases. When we go to hospital, do we seek to determine the ethnic origin of the doctor before getting treatment? When we want to have our cars fixed, do we care if the mechanic is Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba?

In these instances, we are much more concerned about getting expert solutions to our health and auto challenges. So, why are we fixated on ethnic origin and religion when it comes to the office of the president – a leadership position that can make or ruin our lives and

future? ‘’Just as we would not want to compromise our health by seeking ethnicity instead of competence in getting treated, we should not compromise our future by accentuating ethnicity and religion instead of competence, antecedents, and proven records for leadership positions. When the combustible emulsion of ethnicity and religion becomes the benchmark for leadership, then failure is certain. We will fail as a country again and again if we continue on this primrose path. ‘’The conversation should be on the ‘’Nigerian president’’ in 2023, a leader who is not defined by his ethnic and religious bearings; a healer, unifier, commanderin-chief and consoler-inchief. Nigeria needs healing.

Nigeria needs a president

FANI-KAYODE AS A VICTIM OF OUR SOCIETY

I

t seems that as a Nigerian, one cannot completely avoid commenting on the affairs of the nation no matter how determined you are to watch events from the side-lines or from the back row. Perhaps, that is a price for being intimately connected to the theatre of the absurdities - Nigeria.

The current scene being played out is the volte-face of Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK). That is his theatrical defection from PDP to APC. Sadly, most of the comments about his action have been on the man, rather than seeing it as exposing the deep malaise lying at the heart of the country’s political life, or what we Nigerians erroneously describe as politics. A country that willingly accepts that the lack of integrity, ideology, conviction and above all, the relegation of values and public interests in public service equates to “politics’’ is gravely misguided.

If Nigeria continues to define politics or politicians in the above terms, the country will continue to oscillate in the vicious cycle of poverty, ignorance, and under-development.

Nigerians, please let us begin to accept the universally accepted definition of, and the agreed principles that underly politics.

There is a clear difference between apostasy and conviction politics. Politics is not a catch-all phrase for all manner of behaviour.

Never call apostates, politicians. Apostates have overwhelmingly populated Nigerian existing political parties. They are mendacious, emotionally unstable, and morally deficient.

Real politicians are not so.

They are nation builders.

And we desperately need them. No nation has attained any meaningful progress without adopting ennobling progressive ethos which conviction politicians abundantly offer. If Nigeria were to be an exception to this rule, it would have long reached the zenith of human endeavour.

Back to FFK, apart from conforming to the general bad behaviour of Nigerians who have managed to attain high political office, what really could be his personal reason for his latest action? Answer - FFK like his type is a victim of the coercive economic system in Nigeria. Unlike other countries that started from the same base as

Nigeria at independence, Nigerian governments have institutionalised poverty and adopted it as an instrument of securing the obedience and loyalty of its citizens.

Thus, Nigerians have been deliberately pauperised to weaken their capacity for questioning and resistance; even though there is the pervading knowledge that the people innately lack the will or ability to organise for collective actions. For their determined efforts Nigerian power holders have successfully turned the country into a beggars’ colony, in which anything goes for the sake of individual survival.

FFK has simply done what your relative who begs you for money do.

The difference between FFK and your relative is the level at which they each pitch their requests.

FFK goes higher while your relative goes lower. I am certain that if Nigerian governments at all levels have been interested in expanding the country’s economic base, with increased economic opportunities in the country for all, the numbers of FFK would have been negligible. Instead, they are swelling on daily basis.

Frankly, their numbers

have never been this high in the land. Therefore, brace yourselves as it is unlikely that this type of spectacle will be ceasing anytime soon.

Question - a very serious question, the actual prompting for this article. What useful political, economic and social purpose does the devoting of huge time and energy discussing FFK’s action serve? If you are like me, I think that the answer would be - NONE. But here is the trick, spend time discussing his action, you unwittingly encourage others of his psychological make to act out their bad behaviour.

Discussing these people is to supply them the oxygen they crave to feed their exaggerated sense of self-importance.

With the avalanche of the free commentaries trailing FFK’s defection, he now has the bundle of evidence to present to President Buhari of what he and APC have gained, never mind that APC “won” elections despite him. Nigerians, can we change? Chorus - Yes, we can. Okay, let us see!

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who will openly declare in words and in deeds – ‘’I am for every Nigerian, regardless of ethnic origin, religion or political affiliation.’’

People with leadership ichors dot the Nigerian landscape. They are in every group and zone. No region is more endowed than the other in leadership stuff distribution. We can have a great Nigerian president from the north; we can also have a fantastic one from the south. Candidates for leadership are in profusion here.

I understand that power must be sensitive to diversity; hence the mantle must be orbital. When a section of the country has had its turn, another should have a go at it for the sake of inclusion, justice and fairness. This is only natural. While I agree that power at the centre should orbit, I strongly

believe that premium must be on the content of any candidate.

Nigerians should judge any candidate by his antecedents. If there is anything we have learnt lately, is that antecedents matter. Any candidate who claims he can fight corruption, but his antecedents say otherwise is obviously a defective product. We should not also discount rumours about any candidate; we should rather probe those gossip and speculations. As regards political candidates in Nigeria, sometimes in idle talk and tittle-tattle is eternal truth revealed.

It is a few months before 2023 electioneering begins, make we shine our eye well. t 'SFESJDL A.S 0OF/JHFSJB /XBCVGP GSFESJDLOXBCVGP!ZBIPP DPN

WIKE, VAT AND FEDERALISM

T

hanks, no thanks to Nyesom Wike, the indefatigable governor of the Rivers State Government of Nigeria.

Depending on the side of the divide you belong to, he's either a villain or a godsend. Any which way, though, it's gladdening that at last our much-touted federalism has at last been put to a legal test.

For the unaware, the governor had gone to court to challenge the legality of the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) in the state by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). An aberration that has held ever since the consumer tax regime was introduced by 'President' Ibrahim Babangida in the dying days of his reign.

Apparently, Wike's sublime gambit was undertaken discreetly.

Perhaps, to hide it from the umpteen 'wise and prudent' overpopulating the land. But, in no time, its success was revealed to even the babes and the suckling. All the more so as Wike had subsequently signed the VAT bill passed by the state assembly into law without hesitation.

But rather than douse the tension like some expected, things only started to happen following the assent.

First, the embattled usurper agency quickly filed for a stay of the order's execution.

But much to their chagrin, their request was rejected by the court.

It was rumoured that they had next attempted to head to the National Assembly through the back door.

The aim: to amend the constitution to put the collection of VAT under the exclusive legislative list. They have since denied the anomaly,

though. But we gather that they haven't slept with closed eyes ever since.

Anyway, much to their relief, the federal government has since won a reprieve for them. Like reported, an appellate court to which they ran has called for a return to the status quo ante.

A development unfavoured by the Rivers State Government who have vowed to commence VAT collection in their domain this month. In fact, at press time, the Rivers State Government is said to have dragged the FG to the Supreme Court with the FIRS and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) cited as respondents.

While the legal fireworks tarries, Nigerians as always have upped the ante in their usual media trial. This has seen learned and unlearned ladies and gentlemen putting words into the matter.

Expectedly, the most intriguing of these voicings have come from the high places. None more virulent than Governor Wike himself. According to him, the time was over-nigh to address the abnormality. With well-articulated statistics, he has been able to prove that some states were being robbed to pay others.

For instance, he posited that in June 2021, his state generated a total VAT of about N15 billion, only to receive a paltry sum of N4.7 billion. This as opposed to a state like Kano that generated 2.8 billion and received the same amount from the federal government. t *TJEPSF &NFLB 6[PBUV 0OJUTIB "OBNCSB 4UBUF Read the full article online - www. thisdaylive.com

16

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

BUSINESS

17

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

As Anambra, Kogi Join Oil-producing States To the government and people of Anambra and Kogi states, the admission into the league of oilproducing states and the attendant eligibility for the 13 per cent oil derivation fund have raised the prospect of better days to come However, economists warn that what seems to be ¶oil boom’ may become an ¶oil curse’ unless the two states learn their lessons from previous marginal oil-producing states with virtually nothing to show for the oil windfall over the years, writes Festus Akanbi

I

n an economy where crude oil sale forms the bedrock, it will not come as a surprise that states will Jo to war to ÀJht for spheres of inÁuence in the oil sector This is because the reality is that oil revenues contributed 2/3 of state revenues although oil only contributes about to the *'3 Given the current arrangement which sets aside 13 per cent of oil revenue for oil-bearing states, it is natural for states with oil potential to see crude oil in their domain as a golden goose that must be claimed by all means However, as more states continue to explore the possibility of joining the league of oil-producing states, emerging data on the payment of 13 per cent derivation fund to the aͿected states have shown that the crude oil fortune has failed to give the beneÀciary states an economic leap to justify the humongous amount of money set aside for them over years For instance, it was gathered that eight oilproducing states received 1 trillion from the Federation Account under the 13 per cent derivation principle, between 2009 and 2019, with little or no impact on the lives of citizens of the states, according to a report published by A&I2( Associates The Business of Crude Production At its peak, 1igeria produces 2 million barrels of crude daily, making it the largest producer of crude oil inAfrica and the sixth-largest in the world although 1igeria·s daily production Àgure has fallen considerably over time as the nation grapples with the realities of collapsed infrastructure, sabotage, and outright oil theft Eight states with a combined population of about 47 million receive the 13 per cent derivation fund, based on their contributions to national oil and gas production The states are Abia, Akwa Ibom, %ayelsa, 'elta, Edo, 2ndo, Imo, and 5ivers /agos State is yet to get a derivation fund until it starts contributing to the daily production Akwa Ibom is the largest contributor, as it’s responsible for 31 4 per cent of the nation’s crude oil production, followed by Delta which produces 21 per cent of the total crude 5ivers and %ayelsa followed with 21 43 per cent and 1 07 per cent of the total production, respectively 2thers are fringe producers and the list includes 2ndo, 3 7 per cent, Edo 2 0 per cent, Imo, 1 0 per cent, and Abia 0 per cent Anambra, Kogi Become Oil Producers In Anambra and .ogi states, political o΀ce holders and members of the opposition parties are basking in the euphoria of the recent inclusion of the two states as the latest entrants into the group of Nigeria’s oil-producing states by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission RMAFC

8nderstandably, political diͿerences are suspended in the two states as the new status is believed to have raised the prospect of more revenue inÁow for them The new status was conÀrmed by the recognition of their oil wells by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission RMAFC The recognition is an indication that the states would also beneÀt from the 13 per cent Derivation fund once the proceeds from the oil wells are contributed to the Federation Account The development is the sequel to a letter from RMAFC to a request of Governor Willie Obiano for a due share of revenue accruing to the nation from oil and gas production activities inAnambra State Going by the calculations of theAnambra State’s

An oil rig

government, with oil wells at Nzam -1, Alo-1, Ogbu-1, Ameshi 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as Enyie 1, 2, 3, and 4, in addition to River 1, 2 and 3 oil wells, this is the time to reap bountifully from the oil-producing states’ 13 per cent oil derivation However, the state will share the proceeds from its oil wells equally 0 0 with .ogi, a state with which it (Anambra) shares a boundary at Aguleri – Abaji area, despite the government’s claim that the boundary dispute between the two states has been resolved The state governor, Willie Obiano was quoted in newspapers reports as giving credit for the victory to all members of his cabinet saying, ´This Àght has not been a one-man show, but the collective eͿort of Anambra people, especially those in my administration who have deÀed all the odds to Àght for their beloved state µ Analysts: It’s Risky to Bank on Derivation Fund However, as government and politicians in Anambra and Kogi states continue to clink glasses in celebration over their new status, analysts said such excitement is misplaced Managing Director, Financial Derivatives, Mr Bismarck Rewane is of the view that unless a state belongs to the class of Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Rivers State with a substantial chunk of the total production, the anticipated 13 per cent Derivation Fund may be too insigniÀcant to make any meaningful diͿerence in the economic lives of Anambra and Kogi He also believed that non-oil-producing states in Nigeria appear to be more disciplined and purposeful than the oil-producing ones His view was corroborated by the Managing Director, Cowrie Assets Management Company, Mr -ohnson Chukwu, who advised governments of the two states not to lose focus over the euphoria of their new status as oil-producing states

Rewane said nothing much will change in Anambra, which he said is not doing more than 10,000 barrels per day Anambra is a marginal producer and it is their right to demand the payment of 13 per cent derivation, based on the quantity they produce ´Even Cross River has some oil but look at the allocation of Cross River compared to others; Imo State also has oil but look at its allocation compared to Delta,µ he explained One of the fears expressed by Rewane is the tendency of the government to lose its guards in anticipation of the derivation fund He said, “To be an oil-producing state is one thing, the proportion of oil coming out from that state is another thing entirely One also needs to consider the mentality of oil-producing states Anambra is known to be a very prudent state over the years and well managed “The status of an oil-producing state can bring about a false sense of Ànancial security which can destroy the Àscal culture of the state government µ Although he couldn’t say much about Kogi, he, however, pointed out that the status of the state as a marginal crude oil producer will means the state shouldn’t expect too much from the derivation fund He argued that residents of oil-producing states like Delta and Akwa Ibom haven’t fared better “If you look at Delta, the lots of people are not better What you use proceeds of the oil sale for is what is important Non-oil-producing states in Nigeria are far better in terms of economic management I don’t think anybody should celebrate the status of being an oil-producing state There is an oil boom and oil curse “With my experience as an indigene of an oilproducing state (Delta), I have not beneÀtted anything, neither any of my siblings nor children We envy those from non-oil-producing states

because they have better management /agos is not part of the Derivation Fund yet, but it’s a better place to live than Delta,µ he said Speaking on expectations from the new status of the two states, Chukwu said it is not on record that being an oil-producing state had helped anyone in the past He said, “Abia is an oil-producing state and I’m not sure if its fortunes have changed much Ondo is an oil-producing state, I doubt if this has changed its fortune It depends on the volume you produce; if you are a marginal producer, it’s good you will have the psychological beneÀt of being an oil-producing state, but if you are not a major producer, I do not think it will make any diͿerence Imo and Edo are also marginal producers µ Saying some non-oil-producing states are better managed, Chukwu explained that better management of the economy is key He, therefore, enjoined state governments to focus on the economic environment that will support productive activities so that people can come into the state to invest instead of focusing on extractive activities Down the Memory Lane Kogi State Governor, Yahya Bello said President Buharis’ decision has brought peaceful resolution of the dispute The disputes between two communities of Odeke in Ibaji local government area of Kogi and Aguleri in Anambra State have come to an end “The Ibaji oil crisis has been on for a while and has led to large scale destruction of property with the loss of many lives µ According to him, “The Odeke and Aguleri communities of Kogi andAnambra, laid exclusive claim to the ownership of the oil in the disputed area which has been Ànally resolved in favour of both states

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

18

ECONOMY

When will Inflation Decelerate in Real Life?

As the headline index continues its downward trajectory in recent months, James Emejo writes that Nigerians await the corresponding impact on prices of food and other commodities

Oke Arin Market, Lagos

F

or about 19 months consecutively, inÁation wreaked untold havoc on the Nigerian economy, rising from 11.24 per cent in September 2019 to 18.17 per cent in March 2021.

Given its benign impacts on any economy, the rising prices had distorted several macroeconomic parameters, aͿecting both the cost of borrowing and weakening the real value of the Naira.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), whose mandate it is to contain inÁation to a single digit target had been under intense pressure to respond appropriately.

No doubt the headline pressure had largely emanated from largely structural issues particularly the inability of farmers to access their farms as a result of the farmer/ herder clashes, which spiked food inÁation for several months.

Another contributors to inÁation was the closure of the country’s land borders by the federal government to check smuggling, thereby creating some huge supply gaps along the line.

At a point in time, the monetary policy was at a dilemma on how to respond appropriately to inÁation using monetary policy tools.

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin EmeÀele had warned amidst calls to lower the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to make Ànance more accessible to small businesses that such monetary easing could further worsen inÁation - especially amidst lack of productivity occasioned by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nigerians had continued to groan under the severe impact of rising food prices as most often the harvest periods have failed to douse the high cost of living.

In the midst of the growing inÁationary

concerns however, the CBN recorded a major break in its bid to achieve price stability when the spiralling inÁation rate dropped to 18.12 per cent April 2021.

The index had since assumed a downward trajectory falling for the Àfth consecutive month to 17.01 per cent in August and raising hope that Nigerians would soon feel the impact of disinÁation in their daily lives.

However, this expectation may not come anytime soon.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Consumer Price Index, (CPI) which measures inÁation further dropped to 17.01 per cent (year-on-year) in August compared to 17.38 per cent in -uly, indicating the Àfth consecutive months of decline.

The declaration is a major boost to the CBN’s eͿorts towards achieving a single digit inÁation.

EmeÀele, while reacting to the downward movement in inÁation stated that the apex bank had been able to reverse the rate which is now in its Àfth consecutive month of decline.

He said “ReÁecting several measures put in place by both the Àscal and monetary authorities...We do expect that the pace of inÁation will continue to moderate in the following months as we approach the harvest season.”

In the same vein, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on the Economy, Dr. Doyin Salami, pointed out that the downward trajectory of inÁation will continue as the harvest season commences.

But analysts said despite the deceleration in the headline index, it was too early to celebrate, partly due to the fact that the statistics do not conform to reality.

They said though the drop in inÁation was a welcome development, increases in pump price of fuel which comes with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 as well as higher electricity tariͿs still posed major threats to prices.

The analysts, in separate interviews with THISDAY, argued that in real terms, the inÁationary trend in cost of household goods had continued to increase with consistent rise in the exchange rate to the 8S dollar, thereby aͿecting importation of raw materials and the cost of goods and services.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), food inÁation slowed to 20.30 per cent in the review period compared to 21.03 per cent in July.

The NBS, in its CPI report for the month under review noted that food prices increased at a slower rate in August following moderation in prices of bread and cereals, milk, cheese and egg, oils and fats, potatoes, yam and other tuber, food product, meat and coͿee, tea and cocoa.

On the other hand, the core inÁation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce also slowed to13.41 per cent in August 2021, down by 0.31 per cent when compared with 13.72 per cent in July.

The highest increases in the core index were recorded in prices of shoes and other footwear, household textile, motor cars, garments, game of chance, major household appliances whether electric or not, hospital services, catering services, appliances, articles and product for personal care and clothing materials, other articles of clothing and clothing accessories.

The urban inÁation rate dropped to 17.59 per cent (year-on-year) in August

from 18.01 per cent in July 2021, while the rural inÁation rate also slowed to 1 .43 per cent from 1 .75 per cent.

However, speaking with THISDAY, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dignity Finance and Investmemt Limited, Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, said even though there are indications that the economy is easing oͿ with resilient economic traction and activities, the harsh economic reality does not call for celebration yet.

He said: “Although exchange rate continues to go up, one would have expected a resultant increase in CPI but we are seeing a drop. The implication is that availability of goods and services has increased and movement of goods has eased up also. The impact of COVID-19 lock down is gradually reducing its eͿects.

“We should however, not celebrate yet, considering what the inÁation rates of other countries experiencing the same harsh economic conditions are.”

Also, Chairman, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Abuja Branch, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, further predicted the deceleration in inÁation rate to continue in the wake of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s sustained interventions in the agricultural sector particularly as the harvest season approaches.

However, he said: “So long as the implementation of the major threats to inÁation are delayed. I am referring to increases in pump price of fuel which comes with the PIA 2021 as well as electricity tariͿs”.

On his part, Managing Director/Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Management Limited, Mr. Idakolo Gbolade, said the deceleration in inÁation could not oͿer the country the needed relief at the moment as the “impact of the decline in inÁation from 17.38 per cent to 17.01 per cent is not being felt in the economy.

He said: “The CPI report is not in congruent with the realities on ground with unemployment rate increasing and more people moving into poverty on daily basis.

“The impact of increased borrowing by government is not also being felt and the government is now servicing existing borrowings with almost 90 per cent of generated revenue.”

Also commenting on the CPI report, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Credent Investment Managers Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, pointed out that decline in inÁation rate simply highlighted that the rate at which inÁation was increasing had reduced.

He said: “Core inÁation itself is still rising and can be felt by the majority of the population.

“From a socioeconomic viewpoint, we must not be overly focused on the statistics but must also look at the reality to the populace.”

Also, as rightly observed by Salami, an uptick in structural factors contributing to inÁation and and high crude oil prices would mean an increase in the cost of reÀned petroleum, resulting in higher inÁation rate in the country.

Why Gains May Be Delayed Further providing insights on why the beneÀts of decelerating inÁation may elude Nigerians for the moment, Shelleng said, “The falling rate does not mean that there is no inÁation, it just merely means that the rate that inÁation was Increasing has reduced.

“We must be careful in using statistics as it can be misleading. The average man on the street couldn’t care less about statistics unless he feels it in his pocket.

He added: “Until underlying structural issues are addressed, we can expect to see further inÁation. Rise in foreign exchange, insecurity, poor infrastructure are all factors of cost push inÁation.”

Similarly, Ekechukwu, explained that at the present rate of inÁation, not much could be expected in improved standard of living for the ordinary Nigerian.

According to him, “At a double digit inÁation rate, cost and standard of living will continue to be high. Whatever that will bring the prices of goods down, has the propensity to improve quality of life. This will come in the form of higher supply of goods and higher disposable income that can aͿord same. When people’s income can aͿord a better quality of life, then the economy will be impacted.”

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

19

TRADE

Making Nigerian Agro Export Conform with International Standards Chinedu Eze writes that despite its huge potential to become a major foreign exchange earner for Nigeria that could exceed oil proceeds, the country has not been successful in exporting its goods and services that have been in high demand overseas. In a recent conference on cargo held in Lagos, experts identiÀed the impediments to the export of local products and the invaluable economic gains that could be realised if the right actions and decisions were taken

W

ith over 15 million Nigerians living overseas yearning and nostalgic about made in Nigeria products and others who long to have organic farm produce from Africa, the country could have been earning billions of dollars from perishable goods if the right environment were created for export.

Largely, Nigeria’s administrative system at the airports is clogged with slow bureaucratic bottlenecks, self-serving personnel at the government agencies, and policies that are not poised to spur economic growth.

On the other hand, the situation under which perishable and manufactured goods are produced in Nigeria is still below the standard such goods can be accepted in various countries where the demand for made in Nigeria goods is high.

These and many others were the key points raised at the recent Aviation and Cargo Conference held in Lagos on August 25 and 26, 2021, where aviation experts, cargo operators, insurance experts, and handling companies brainstormed on how to maximise the beneÀts of the export of Nigerian made products.

Export Process The CEO ofABX World, a cargo airline, Captain John Okakpu in his presentation said one of the primary failures of the export process in Nigeria is the inability to match exports to markets, especially in the areas of documentation and certiÀcation requirements. He said exporters in Nigeria continue to rely on the country’s own bogusdocumentationandcertiÀcationsstandards, which are mostly not recognised anywhere in the world.

“The Àrst step in engaging in export is to identify, properly analyse, and conform with the requirements of the proposed importing countries. Thus, the exporter has to provide the commodities needed, their satisfaction, and documentations. Then a seamless export can be carried out.

“It has been severally identiÀed by economic experts that agro-export is the surest and fastest way to shore up the increase in forex inÁows and as such our government has spent a huge chunk of resources to initiate this process, but today, we are almost at the brink of economic collapse as a result of serial failures by the government agencies that have been mandated and economically empowered to drive the process,” Captain Okakpu said.

He observed that due to the continuous dwindling of revenue accruing from crude oil sales and the failure to increase Nigeria’s export activities, especially agro-export activities, the country’s currency “is continuously degenerating into worthlessness”.

On the other hand, he noted that Nigeria, with proper adherence to export market requirements, have the innate capacity to rake in $250 billion per annum on only agro-export commodities.

He said the only way to resolve this anomaly is to strictly comply with the primary export markets requirements, which are to provide the following: GAP certiÀcate for the agro produces to be exported; Phyto Sanitary/ Veterinary CertiÀcates and Custom CertiÀcation.

Obstacles “The major obstacle preventing Nigerian exporters from having a seamless export experience are: GAP CertiÀcations (Good Agricultural Practice) and our exit points choked up with multiple/multiplication of agencies and too many MDAs (relevant and irrelevant) positioning

SAHCO’s temperature-controlled warehouse

themselves to drive agro-export! TheAgro-Export program is 100 per cent private sector driven and will forever remain so. For almost Àve decades, Nigeria has had about Àve diͿerent policies on the agro program. Each of them died immediately after that regime is over. So. what does that tell you, private sector is the answer, and the public sector to be the enabler.

“Another critical part and one of the most important aspects part of our agro-export woes is government fees and taxes which is about 90 per cent higher than our nearest competitor. So, in most cases, it is cheaper for most freighter aircraft to depart from Nigeria empty than carrying cargo.

Okakpu said it is known that the foreign exchange rates go up every day and all aircraft spare parts are imported and most of their maintenance checks are done abroad. This, he said, eats into the revenue of airline operators. This situation, he noted is exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has made income generation by airlines very lean that most of them barely survive now.

“We import almost everything for aircraft operations including fuel. Then we are now looking at heavy government fees/taxes and expect our agro products to be competitive in the world market, not possible.

“For example, 2kg of pineapple from Costa Rica about 12 hours Áight to London is 0.95 1.10 in most supermarkets. 2kg of pineapple from Nigeria about six hours Áight to the same London, logistics cost, I mean logistics cost alone is about 1.75 without production. Now tell me how are we going to compete?

“Furthermore, almost all our farmers are not GAP certiÀed neither do they understand what it is. Instead of the government to be wasting its resources on ventures that would not yield any results in agro-export activities, the government should invest in sponsoring the GAPcertiÀcations of our major known farmers who will eventually form the nucleus of GAP certiÀed farmers that will be able to establish our GAP standards as in the case of many advanced countries, Ghana, Kenya, and others,” he said.

%HQHÀWV Okakpu said this process would have multiplier eͿects on the farmers’ ability to have assured oͿ-takers, prompt repayment of loans taken, increased farm yield per hectare, increased proÀtability, and little or no post-harvest losses.

“It should, however, be noted that some people are of the erroneous belief that proper packaging or a trade and bilateral agreement between two countries guarantees free Áow of agro-products.

Yes, such agreements open the doors to free trade between countries for mutual beneÀts. But there’s a caveat here that ensures that advanced countries will only accept agro products that are traceable with internationally recognised GoodAgricultural Practices (GAP) CertiÀcations/Traceability. A responsible country wouldn’t because of trade agreements or beautiful packaging allow poison or sub-standard products into its country to kill its citizens,” he said.

Right Facilities The CEO of Mainstream Cargo Limited, Seyi Adewale who looked at Growing the Air Cargo Value Chain in Nigeria, emphasised the need for the right facilities to be provided to enhance cargo export in the country.

Adewale said since airports are a critical need for the movement of air cargo, connecting the dots in moving mostly agricultural produce is a veritable need. He said that many agricultural products or farm produce are moved via road transport particularly from the north / middle-belt region of Nigeria to its southern region whereas Ànished or manufactured goods, equipment, and material resources move in the northern and middle-belt direction.

“So, there is the need to encourage and support these state governments to build this infrastructure to grow aͿected state economy, generate IGR, create jobs, noting that supply creates its demand.

“To support the needs of the domestic airports, we need good and eͿective cargo warehouses within and around these airports. We can explore the current opportunity within the airport itself using Lagos domestic airports as an example.

Does MMA2 or GAT (GeneralAviation Terminal) have a good/ large storage, sterile, or temperature regulated warehouses to hold perishables, pharmaceutical products, etc within?

“Secondly, as a guide, the imminent Lagos Airport around Ibeju Axis/ Free Zone axis of Lagos state needs to plan for the construction of a good cargo warehouse with temperature regulated modular storage assets to support the investments of businesses/ entrepreneurs that have invested in an excellent storage centre and warehouses along the Lekki-Epe Axis, Free Trade Zone Axis and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Axis,” he said.

Adewale regretted that, as of today, Nigeria does not have dedicated air cargo airlines operating within the domestic airports, remarking that Allied Air appears to be the only cargo airline attempting to bridge this gap.

He observed that when airfreight transport opportunities occur, freight forwarders, businesses seek air (cargo) charter but the process of doing so makes it ine΀cient. In other words, the businessman faces processes that are so cumbersome, costly, and frustrating that he could be discouraged from embarking on the business.

Domestic Cargo Airlines “If we have at least two approved/ licensed air cargo airlines operating in the domestic side, I trust they will be busy all year round and this could be embedded with West Africa Regional air cargo Áight. We need to highlight and emphasise these needs to aviation investors.

What even stops any of the handling companies in Nigeria to procure aircraft for this purpose and thus provide this domestic air cargo service? This will even largely beneÀt their quest of enjoying tax, forex, and other incentives enjoyed by the airlines (especially international) as they could integrate their handling services with this. I understand they have explored this opportunity from a Free Trade Zone, but they have met legal hurdles and challenges that have limited these expectations of beneÀting from such FTZ license,” he said.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

20

THE EXECUTIVE ABIMBOLA PINHEIRO:

FinTechs are the Bridge between Banks and Future Payment Systems With the Lagos startup ecosystem valued at more than $6 billion, attracting almost $1 billion in FDI annually, FinTechs have the prospect of becoming the pivot of Nigeria’s economy. There are challenges ahead though, which Abimbola Pinheiro, Founder and CEO of O3 Capital Limited, says requires the concerted eͿorts of all stakeholders to surmount. He speaks with Eromosele Abiodun

0

3CapitalLimitedisoneoftheearliest FinTech companies in Nigeria; tell us about your company and your experience over the years?

O3 Capital Nigeria Limited is a Ànancial services institution that oͿers various consumer loans using the credit card as its delivery channel. We are the Àrst non-bank card issuer in Nigeria, and we aim to be the preferred credit card issuer for years to come.

Our credit cards work on the existing Interswitch network, which means they are compatible on all ATM, POS and Internet payment sites in Nigeria.

When we started about seven years ago, the idea of FinTech was very strange to the Nigerian market. Not many people knew what to do; even the regulators were not sure how to place us. So it has been a long journey. The market acceptance has been tough, the culture of credit card has been growing gradually in Nigeria, but now in 2021, there are more companies, which we can be compared with. People now understand the concept of FinTechs and cards and payment solutions much better. So, the market is growing and is expanding accordingly.

FinTech players like O3 Capital are breaking new grounds with lots of innovations. How will you describe the growth of FinTech in Nigeria?

It has been fantastic. I believe outside ofAmerica and China, Nigeria should be in the top Àve of FinTech giants in the world. It has been amazing.

It is as if Ànally the energetic minds of young Nigerians have been able to express themselves.

And luckily the environment now enables such innovations and practice.

So, it has really been amazing. I mean, we have gone from Ànance to management, to investment.

It’s truly unbelievable, frankly. And the good thing is that as a nation FinTechs can only help our economy. In the whole ecosystem, we have been lucky, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under this dispensation has been quite enabling.

And the infrastructure is catching up, the telcos are growing bigger, the Internet provision is with more bandwidth. So, it is really a lot of things coming together and making it work.

One major challenge of FinTech players remains access to funds from local and foreign LQYHVWRUV +RZ KDV WKLV WUHQG D;HFWHG WKH JURZWK of FinTechs in Nigeria?

I think the challenge is breaking by itself. I will say that there are not much local in vestors in FinTechs currently. Like you said, it is hard to convince Nigerians about this concept. We have had our own fair share of issues when people don’t understand what credit card is or how it works. But, we have had a few Nigerians dabble into it and that is not bad, and I am sure it will get better as time goes on.

But for the foreign investors, they have seen virtually all these concepts and innovations succeed everywhere else in the world. And what Nigeria has going for it is the population – 200 million. The foreign investors see the market and they are saying, ¶if this can work over there, it can work over here.’ There is no way it will not succeed. We need to take that gamble that bet. I believe that the same way we have gotten almost $600 million dollars investment in the last 7 years, which is huge, we will overcome similar challenges. I can say that the di΀culty

Pinheiro

in raising funding before is getting easier these days. Now, investors are trooping into Nigeria and they have brought funds and looking for FinTechs to fund.

As a player in the FinTech industry, what aspect of the market is O3 Capital pulling its weight on? Also, what is the mission and proposition of O3 Capital to customers?

03 Capital as a company has the saying, what we call a mission, “An 03 Card for everybody.” Every Nigerian should have a credit card. We, for instance, oͿer access to funds and convenience. We believe that no matter your status in life, there is an O3 card for you. O3 Capital is a Ànancial supermarket, we oͿer prepaid card, we oͿer the credit card, and we also have other Ànancial products. We say if you are a student, you can get a prepaid card, learn how to use cards and practice so when you have your card it makes it easier. With the credit card, young career holders, family men, executives, everybody needs something. One thing we say in 03 card is, ‘life happens.’

And what people need to understand is that for 03 Capital, an 03 card is not what you get when something happens to you. It is a life companion, so that when life happens you

are ready. Whatever life throws at you, you are already. You take care of it and you don’t break your stride. That is what 03 Capital cards do, they give you that comfort. It is a life companion tool. It is not about loan or credit; it is actually life companion. With your 03 card, even if you don’t want to use the loan, we don’t charge you anything, the card is there in your pocket. And in some places, like airports and supermarkets, you get certain discounts and beneÀts by using an 03 Card. If you have money in the other bank, you move it to that card, and you get all those beneÀts.

money, withdraw cash from theATM, use a POS terminal, look at your balances, change your PIN, everything. It is that convenience that 03 brings to the fore for people.

So, in terms of innovations, 03 is like a Ànancial supermarket, what some people will call a digital bank. Because we oͿer lending and saving services, we oͿer money management services, soon we will oͿer remittance services.

And that is just the beginning. In the future we are going to expand these services to go global. So, Nigerians can take an 03 card from Nigeria and go anywhere in the world and get the maximum beneÀts available.

FinTechs have developed solutions that DGGUHVV VSHFLÀF FKDOOHQJHV +RZ FDQ \RX describe the impact of such solutions on WKH ÀQDQFLDO LQGXVWU\" We see 03 Capital as a bridge between the old brick and mortar banks and the future mobile or any kind of payment system.

Because Nigerians have a΀nity to cash, the next thing to cash is card. At 03 Capital we oͿer credit card or prepaid card that works on any platform. We now have a mobile app that mirrors that card on your phone.

So everything you can do on your card, you can do on your phone, including to transfer

Industry players have called for closer collaboration between the FinTechs and the banks.

Do you see the need for collaboration, and how best can the collaboration drive Nigeria’s digital economy initiative?

Well, for me as a person and at 03 Capital, we were at the forefront of this collaboration quest because everything is an ecosystem. No matter what you do, there is always someone that can add more value to it. FinTechs are more of the last man to get to the end user. For instance, we do cards and all that, but at the backend, money has to move from one bank to the other. So, if we don’t collaborate with the banks, it will not help.

21

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

THE EXECUTIVE FinTechs are the Bridge between Banks and Future Payment Systems The telcos are there providing services, we collaborate with them. You also know that our POS terminals will not work without the telcos.

The truth is no single entity can be everything.

Banks do wholesale banking, FinTechs like us do the retail to the end users, everybody wins and everybody makes their money. And the thing is that everybody is an expert in a certain area.

I have told some banks in the past to leave retail banking to the retail experts. Some banks have tried to do some funny FinTech arrangements; they have not had good experiences. But at 03 Capital, we have default of less than 4%, which is amazing. This is because we know what we do, we know how to analyze our proÀles, we know what algorithm to ask for. So, there is no way you will not collaborate. And it is only a matter of time really, because you can’t be everything.

The telcos learnt this long ago.

+RZ ZLOO \RX GHVFULEH WKH VXFFHVV UDWH RI WKH ÀQDQFLDO LQFOXVLRQ GULYH RI WKH &HQWUDO %DQN of Nigeria, and want are the roles of FinTech OLNH 2 &DSLWDO LQ DFKLHYLQJ ÀQDQFLDO LQFOXVLRQ LQ 1LJHULD" The CBN initiative is a very fanatic strategy. I understand that we have about 40% unbanked in Nigeria, 40% of 200 million, which comes to about 80 million people. What people don’t realize is that 80 million people unbanked do not translate to 80 million poor people. These 80 million people have their own economy and they thrive in that economy in their small ecosystem.

Imagine 80 million people having N1,000 a day in the banking system. That is like N80 billion every month.And some of them have a lot more.

You mentioned collaboration, when you give an 03 Card to somebody in the village and there is noATM in that village, collaboration has made it such that there are agent bankers that have POS terminals that can give them cash. So, it all comes together.

There is a federal parastatal that we are having something to do with that deals with Social Intervention Fund, and there has been discussion around people not appreciating what they are doing. I told them, ‘take an 03 prepaid card, put your colour and design on it and give it to these beneÀciaries.’ So, when anybody comes to ask the beneÀciaries Àve years down the line that, ‘what happened to you and this scheme,’ they can say, ‘this is the card that I got where my money comes into.’ If you give somebody cash, the cash disappears and there is no evidence.

Pinheiro

you pay it over two years. So, you have a better quality of life. Everything happens to everybody, for a man sometimes, you don’t have N50,000 in your pocket. You can’t be asking colleagues and family for everything. Take care of your business quietly, even your wife would not know.

It gives you a better quality of life. That is why our slogan now is ‘With 03 Card, live your best life’. That is how it works.

TheaverageNigerianisthetargetofO3Cards, yet majority of Nigerians in that category who are mainly traders, are not tech-savvy. How VLPSOLÀHG DUH WKH IHDWXUHV RI 2 FDUGV KRZ FDQ the illiterate or market woman take advantage <RXU FRPSDQ\ SURYLGHV WKH DYHUDJH 1LJHULDQ RI WKH SURGXFWV WKDW \RX R;HU" Like we say, 03 Card is for everybody. For those ZLWK DFFHVV WR IXQGV XVLQJ WKH 2 FDUGV KRZ that have smart phones and internet services, does the card operate and how accessible is just go to the site or any app store, download WKH FDUG" and move on. For those that don’t have that Like I said earlier, our motto is, ‘a credit card access, we have physical marketers that go out for everybody.’ All you need to do is download and onboard these people. And like you said, the app and apply for the credit card. We give the ecosystem where banks are used to giving limits between N100,000 and 5 million naira people debit cards, you know, people are used depending on your cash Áow or your salary. to having cards work. So, the average woman in And within 24 hours instantly you get that Mushin market can take a card, put in an ATM virtual card on your phone and you can start or POS and do her transaction. We now have to do your transactions from there. In a day or a version of our cards such that if you are not two, you will get the physical card. You can now literate you can operate in the ecosystem. There take this card and call our call centre to activate are cards that we call PINLESS cards that we the card. Then you go to the nearest ATM to will give you, we put your limit and put your change your PIN. That card is with you for two form inside and the PIN process is easy. So, it years. You don’t need to call us; we don’t need takes away that stress of not being literate, it’s to see you. As you spend, we charge interest, if just easy business. you don’t spend, there will be no interest. For Like I said, these people, even though they example, we give you a card of N100, 000 and are unbanked, actually have a big economy that you spend N50,000, we will only charge you revolves around them. So, that card enables them interest on that N50,000 and it is not a Áat rate. to process that economy through a structured If you use that card for two weeks, that’s 14 system, and the whole country beneÀts. You days, we charge you interest only for 14 days on know they say that money not in circulation is that N50,000 and we charge at 0.013 percent per paper. Now we have that policy and we strive day. So, it is very, very cheap and convenient, to try to achieve it. it is cheaper than loans. A lot of people don’t realise that the credit card is actually cheaper than Given the fact that there are several chanloans. So, you have it, you pay it back, is in your QHOV RSHQ IRU ÀQDQFLDO WUDQVDFWLRQV LQ 1LJHULD pocket, you don’t use it again. You want to pay ZKDW PDNHV 2 FDUGV XQLTXH DQG ZK\ GR \RX school fees, after three months, you take it to the WKLQN 1LJHULDQV QHHG 2 &DUGV IRU ÀQDQFLDO school, pay your school fees and you move on. WUDQVDFWLRQV" And when you pay back, you don’t have to When you say there are diͿerent kinds and pay back everything you spent at the end of the diͿerent conditions, yes, there are. But you see month. You are allowed to pay back, only 10 very rarely do you Ànd a company like 03 Capital percent of what you have spent. If you spend that will oͿer you all the channels in one spot.

N50,000, you pay back N5,000; the N45,000 left The common channel now is mobile. We have you can roll over to the next month. If you have an app that does everything your card can do. money, pay the whole thing down to zero and We have a web app; everything you want to do your interest will stop. is possible there. Then you have the card, which So, it is really a life companion. We all have in my opinion is not going anywhere anytime emergencies, so we all need a credit card. We soon. China, US, UK are far advanced than we tell people that with 03 Card, you live a better are; they have all these FinTechs more than we life. And some of these things I say are personal do. But, that plastic card is still the mainstay and experiences. We have had people that are sick it is going to be so for the next 10 to 20 years. and they don’t want to go to hospital because And if you look at cars for instance, a car is a car they have to pay for test. What will they do? but some people have ‘Tokunbo,’ some people They go to the pharmacy and buy any drug. But have Honda, some people have Toyota, and some with your 03 Card, take the test, see the doctor, have Jeep. The market is so big, everybody can

use other channels and compete. But, what we have to address everybody’s common need and whatever you want to do. When I tell people that with an 03 App on your phone, you can withdraw cash from ATM without a card, they are amazed. We take innovation to the next level, and it is going to continue to build up like that.

And by the time competition comes, we have moved on to the next level. There are some things that we want to do either by Q4 or Q1 next year, it is going to change the market. But I am not at liberty to discuss it at this point, but watch this space.

0RVW 1LJHULDQV DUH VWLOO VNHSWLFDO DERXW XVLQJ GHELW FDUGV IRU ÀQDQFLDO WUDQVDFWLRQV EHFDXVH of the perceived online risks associated with it. +RZ ZLOO 2 &DSLWDO FRQYLQFH VXFK 1LJHULDQV DQG RWKHUV WR XVH FDUGV IRU ÀQDQFLDO WUDQVDFWLRQV" The good thing about 03 Capital is that we are a licensed CBN Financial Institution. So there regulations we must to adhere to. We oͿer credit cards; the credit cards contain customer’s personal data and we adhere to the KnowYour Customers (KYC) policy.

Also, there are some regulatory certiÀcations and levels that you must attain before you are allowed to operate. There is the PCI, DSS, there is data security that deal with encryption. It is a long list and we are able to meet every criteria required of us. Our systems are Àrewalled against the Internet or hackers. For there to be fraud on our platform, a customer must have given somebody his password. The customer must have given his card and PIN to someone.

Otherwise, there is no way they can hack into your mobile phone or mobile app, they can’t hack into it. We have been doing this for seven years and we don’t have one case of fraud. If that is not a testament of safety, I don’t know what is.

7KHUH DUH VRPH RWKHU SHRSOH RXW WKHUH ZKR PLJKW QRW KDYH KHDUG DERXW &DSLWDO ZKDW GR \RX KDYH WR WHOO SHRSOH OLNH WKDW" If you have not heard about 03 Capital, you have been missing out; I will tell you for a fact. We are not trying to brag. But you see, life actually does get better with 03 Card.

Let me give you an example why 03 Card is fantastic. Part of our terms and condition is that if you have our credit card and you lose your job, we will give you six months to get back into the work system, to Ànd another job, and then we kick oͿ from there. 03 Card is very humane.

I am talking about features that come out of personal experiences. Things happen in life so if you have our credit card and you lose your job, don’t panic, let us know, we will stop your interest charges, give you a six month period, when you are re-engage, we continue.

Now there are some places that you will go that if you buy one item, you get one free. There are some places that you will go, if you ask for Àrst level, because you are using an 03 Card, they will give you the next level. So, there is

so much beneÀt to the card. People should not think of 03 Cards as taking loans, it is way better than that. Students that use our cards can have their parents send their money on the card, its that simple. You enter plane in Lagos to go to Abuja, the person that wants to send money to you, by the time you land and you go to the ATM, the money is in your account and you move on. For banks to have come to us to study what we do, we are not experts in everything like I always say, but in this Credit Card Market, we are experts.

In fact when we started credit card business, Interswitch did not have the credit option. That is why if you use 03 Card at any ATM or POS, you have to pick currency option. So, it can only get better. Credit card is a culture everywhere else in the world; every Tom, Dick and Harry has a credit card. But in Nigeria, it seems to be a big deal. Worst case you must start with a small limit once you use it well, they will increase it for you.

When something happens, when you should be running up and down looking for money, use your credit card. 03 Card gives you that comfort. You should not go anywhere without that 03 Card.

You go abroad and see Nigerians on holidays and you will be wondering how they are doing it. With your 03 Card, you get to do those things.

Youwanttodosomething,youdon’thaveenough money, you save for the next six months, by the time you come back to do that thing, it is either it is no more in fashion or prices have changed.

But with 03 Card you can get that immediate satisfaction and beneÀt. Then that savings you want to do, call it reverse savings. What you save on a monthly basis, pay it into you card and you start enjoying the beneÀt today. With 03 Card you are ready now. It is not just a fashion card, it is a massive tool. So, if anything happens, just do it and you move on, and that savings you want to do, call it reverse savings.

Despite the several channels open to NigeULDQV IRU ÀQDQFLDO WUDQVDFWLRQV FRXSOHG ZLWK &%1·V DZDUHQHVV FDPSDLJQV WR GHHSHQ ÀQDQFLDO LQFOXVLRQ WKH 1LJHULDQ HFRQRP\ LV VWLOO UHJDUGHG as cash-based where most people prefer the XVH RI SK\VLFDO FDVK :KDW LV \RXU WDNH RQ WKLV DQG KRZ FDQ WKH QDUUDWLYH EH FKDQJHG" It is going to take the collective eͿorts of all stakeholders - CBN, Banks, the FinTechs and the people. Because really cash is king and some of these doubts or lack of trust comes from the infrastructural challenges we have in Nigeria, which everybody understands. You go to the ATM, and they tell you no network, no POS, but you know you have money. But if the cash is in your hand, it is not going anywhere.

So, it is only a matter of time, because if you look at CBN numbers, the volume of online or POS or e-transactions have more than tripled in the last few years. There are less cash in circulation now, so we are getting there and it is only a matter of time. :KDW RWKHU PHVVDJH GR \RX KDYH IRU \RXU FXVWRPHUV MXVW WR DVVXUH WKHP DQG WKRVH ZKR DUH \HW WR FRPH RQERDUG WKH &DSLWDO UHYROXWLRQ" I like the word revolution because that is what we use regularly here. The thing is if you join the 03 revolution, your life will never be the same. This is because a lot of things are there for you to do to take business opportunities.

Most of us can’t aͿord the kind of schools we want our kids to go. But, if you save for three months, we can pay the school fees for you.

You now downgrade your children’s school, for what? Take a our credit card, pay the school fees and pay us back over a three-month period.

Just join the 03 Capital revolution then life will never be the same again, and those that have joined, you have not seen anything yet.

There are some massive things coming up; even when I think about it, I start to smile to myself. I know it takes a while, because even me, I didn’t have a credit card until I started working with 03 Capital. And the good thing about 03 Capital is that you don’t have to change where your bank is to get our card. Stay with your bank wherever it is, that is what 03 Capital oͿers; we oͿer freedom. There is nothing more important than Ànancial freedom. We are diͿerent because if you collect a credit card from bank A, you must have an account with that bank.

But with 03 Capital, you can have an account with any bank in Nigeria. We will give you a card, we have all the required process to ensure whether you are a good person, or not, your credit history and everything works.

I will say it again, seven years and we are still here, we must be doing something right.

22

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

IMAGES Member representing Ika Federal Constituency and Chairman, Committee on Banking and Currency, House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, recently celebrated the exit of his Mother, Mrs. Ezinne Grace Nwokolo at a well attended ceremony in Igbodo, Delta State PHOTOS: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

23

IMAGES

R-L: Chief Ross Uredi, Mrs. Ruth Osiegbu, with Chief Lawrence Osiegbu

Mr. Ekugun Jackson (left) and Mr. Emmanuel Emefienim

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Mgbakor

Marilyn Daramola (left) and Comrade Hilary Ibegbulem

Mrs. Clara (Nee Nwokolo)

Dame Nkem Okwuofu

Hon. Oghene Egoh

Chief Benson Agadaga

Hon. Legor Idagbo

Hon. John Dyeh

Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley Erigbuem

24

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • SEPTEMBER 19, 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 16Sept-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 159.52 160.85 -1.47% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 6.25% Nigeria International Debt Fund 316.29 316.29 -15.98% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 109.49 110.54 -1.26% 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 9.12% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.28 3.45 -3.33% 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 7.83% Anchoria Equity Fund 133.02 134.66 0.77% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.13 1.13 -14.94% 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 19.47 20.06 7.37% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 430.29 443.26 7.47% ARM Ethical Fund 38.20 39.36 13.33% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.10 -0.50% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.98 0.98 -6.89% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.38% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 106.26 106.26 4.47% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,034.62 1,034.62 3.46% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.04 2.04 -6.83% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.13 2.17 -7.18% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.02 1.02 3.14% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.59% Paramount Equity Fund 16.41 16.72 2.63% Women's Investment Fund 136.41 137.97 2.50% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.45% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 119.04 119.81 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.11 108.11 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 N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 7.71% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.22% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,156.04 1,173.60 0.40% 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 N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund 190.88 192.12 1.71% FBN Halal Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.64% 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

N/A 158.12

N/A N/A 160.14 4.59% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.97 1.58 1.19

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 6.00% 3.97 2.72% 1.62 4.05% 1.19 4.59% 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 7.71% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.79 2.85 -2.40% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 153.20 153.47 -1.48% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.28 1.32 1.33% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.10 1.10 0.84% 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 1.43 1.45 4.86% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,151.54 1,151.54 6.02% 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 11.39 11.43 8.70% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 9.14% 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 11.61 11.60 -4.57% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.35% PACAM Equity Fund 1.69 1.70 6.70% PACAM EuroBond Fund 113.23 115.18 3.12% 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 130.98 133.26 8.69% 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 10.04% 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 3,290.86 3,325.52 2.46% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 233.04 233.04 3.64% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.22 1.24 4.24% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 307.46 307.46 4.34% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 226.00 229.36 3.55% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.59% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,437.94 10,579.17 -0.57% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.27 1.27 3.86% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 115.66 115.66 4.12% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 103.81 103.81 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 2.23% United Capital Bond Fund 1.92 1.92 4.73% United Capital Equity Fund 0.87 0.89 9.16% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.32% United Capital Eurobond Fund 120.36 120.36 5.14% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.07 3.67% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 6.26% 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 12.83 12.94 8.11% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.27 14.42 16.93% Zenith Income Fund 24.44 24.44 1.89% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.97%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 53.10

10.62% 5.15%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.33

13.43

0.87%

120.75 96.35 17.09 18.32

123.75 98.45 17.19 18.42

0.42% -2.89%

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

3.83 5.45 17.37 1.00 19.47 156.29

3.87 5.53 17.47 1.00 19.67 158.29

1.64% -4.23% 7.02% 7.58% -5.09% -28.87%

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

19.9.2021

F

VICTOR OMOLE ROOMING HIS TURF ON TEAM WORK With his signature beard, glistening face, an infectious smile, and a physique to break any woman’s strides, he is the epitome of self-motivation, discipline and empathy. Victor Omole, the Chairman, Archers Group, is as strong as a lion but known to operate like a sheep. Growing up in a purely polygamous home but with a robust pedigree, he has learned the place of leadership. With business interests spanning healthcare and real estate, across Nigeria and Ghana, his life reads like a script anchored on enduring success unquestionably forged in the place of discipline. Adedayo Adejobi writes

or a businessman whose day begins at 4:55 a.m. with a cup of black coffee and raisins, followed by a 12-kilometre walk, Victor Adeoye Omole still believes his forefathers were stronger on account of their walking to the farms and back home.

“Sometimes, when I go on a walk, I go with my wife and in the process, we are able to discuss issues soundly,’’ he begins, calmly.

“It is at that communication level that most issues are resolved; issues about family, the kids, health, and virtually everything.”

He doesn’t joke with his daily one-hour devotion after the early morning walk, a die-hard habit since 2004.

His daily regimen includes going to the office in the morning to oversee the activities in Nigeria and the arm of the business in Ghana while returning home to bond with the children later in the day.

He considers himself a boss who is accessible.

“I believe you should be accessible but don’t deplete yourself. You must delegate but be accessible because what you don’t supervise doesn’t get done.”

Asserting his presence at the office is deliberate: to supervise, inspect and motivate. With his superior judgment, he could resolve issues from an informed state of mind.

“You must do an on-thespot assessment. That’s how the President does it. That’s how governors do it. Why do presidents visit their troops? It’s to boost their morale. This is because you can’t leave men fighting on the war-front without going to see them. So, it’s the same thing with your work. Most companies that prosper depend on the level of administration by the owner. Once you’re not on the ground things would go bad. Experience has taught me that.”

His management philosophy is hinged on an all-inclusive involvement of those in the production process. For him, his staff must have a sense of belonging enhanced by either paybacks or giveaways.

“Once a member of staff has a problem, everybody rallies around that staff to help solve the problem.

For example, when someone’s father dies, he must not ask for a loan. You must be able to offer some form of assistance. A wife wants to give birth. There must be that kindredship, that family conviviality around the staff. Once you are able to do that, you don’t need to talk to people because

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 19, 2021

COVER

I Have learnt over time that leadership at home rises and falls with the wan… your action has shown glaringly that you’re a people-centred individual and therefore they will be ready to follow anywhere.

They’ll give you their all,” he enthuses.

Omole is one who loves his staff to take initiative as he believes that there are many approaches to solving an issue.

“For example, 2+2=4 just as 1+3=4; so you must allow people because your approach is not the only approach there is. Let people give you feedback because if you micromanage, you’re killing people’s values.

But the leadership must come in where there seems to be a problem, like a mother vessel, to solve the problem. I believe in an organisation, the lowest staff has something to say because as they say, ‘a chain is as strong as the weakest link.’ Every member of the organisation must all believe we’re in it together. Whatever you do prosper more in the place of counsel and it’s very important,” he says.

Though a very busy CEO, he is never stingy with his knowledge. An avid reader, he also unwinds by watching documentaries with a bias for fantasies, animation, and crime.

But generally, he loves films and vacations. His choice holiday destination? “Oh, that’s Lagos and outside the country, that would be Accra, in Ghana. The country I like most is India; India for variety. I love India for accessibility and I love India for respect for other nations.

They enjoy it a lot because they understand how to manage their population so that other people will consider them in major economic policies.”

A self-motivated individual, Omole thinks that “the only way you can make it and sustain it is through commerce. In commerce, when you innovate and give value, people will pay for that value and what people pay is in relation to how they value what you have. So, if it’s valuable they’ll pay you and it will win you accolades. I try as much as possible to solve a problem and once that problem is being solved, I get motivated by it and want to do more. I’m a self-starter, innately and Godmotivated.”

Omole loves seeing great success built from the scratch, but not at the detriment of losing other things. “Yorubas usually have a prayer point that Oluwa, ma fikan gbakan lowo mi (meaning Lord, don’t bless me with success on the one hand and cause me sorrow on the other hand). Some people might be so rich but yet have poor health and vice versa. So, in summary, what makes me tick is to see something fantastic built from scratch. Once you achieve that kind of success, that thing would tamper you and make you less ticky!”

Speaking on the way he motivates his staff, the CEO reveals: “I motivate my staff in three ways. First is through creating an enabling environment and two, through a fantastic

reward system. Thirdly, I recognise those who are doing well and let those who are acting below par to also know they’re being watched closely, as such don’t feign ignorance with people.

That way they know they have to sit up or they find their way out of the system. You know there are many battles we fight at the workplace.

There is a battle for recognition and want to be at the forefront, some cherish more than the others. So, appreciate those who want it. Let everybody come to their own realisation. Always try to come through for your staff by doing the little things. Their needs are very few. People need to be appreciated.”

He, though, uses the stick-andcarrot approach when the need arises. Not given to manipulating others, he said there must always be checks and balancesallowing each to be accountable to someone.

In addition, he suggested good planning which helps a lot in business, family and relationships.

He illustrated this using the imagery of a well.

Digging a well before one gets thirsty prepares one ahead of the possibility of a loss of strength when one gets thirsty much later.

Also, growing up in a purely polygamous home instilled some values in him. His doting father had four wives and even so, he never fought with his mother. In his view, for a family to succeed, the husband and wife must work for it.

“A man must be as strong as a lion but operate like a sheep.

What I have learned over time is that leadership at home rises and falls with the man,” Omole said.

On his sense of style, looks and eating habits, he offered more than just a few tips. “Sometimes I could wear all tight. At other times, I could wear all loose. I dress according to the nature of my work at hand. I maintain my physique with constant exercise like walking and I play table tennis very well too. I also watch what I eat. I used to love cake and ice cream, but I had to leave it. As you get to a certain age, your metabolism drops. So, it’s very important you watch what you eat

Omole with wife, Magdalene

or you’re going to lose it at some point. You must find the physical exercise that fits. More importantly, we should watch what we eat because the first medicine is food.

My food is cheap but nutritious and

Omole is one who loves his staff to take initiative as he believes that there are many approaches to solving an issue

it can be accessed anywhere I am, as such, I don’t have any problem being able to see what to eat at any time, anywhere. I prefer fish to red meat.”

As a CEO, he is surprisingly domesticated. He could perform some household chores without considering them as demeaning.

“I don’t say ‘such is beneath me’. The greatest men on earth are the meek ones. One of the greatest principles of Nelson Mandela was that he always made his bed in the morning when he was in prison. I also remember an American General, who said, ‘if you cannot make your bed, you’re not a disciplined man.’”

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

51

GLITZFOCUS

NNENNA-MIRACLE KALU

Newly Crowned Queen of Girl-Child Advocacy She is only eight years old but already toeing the path of girl-child advocacy. Meet Nnenna-Miracle Kalu, the newly crowned queen of Little Miss Damsel Nigeria (LMDN) World. Funke Olaode reports that the damsel is on a mission to promote female child education and gender equality globally

A

s she walked the runway in her flamboyant evening dress, her comportment caught the attention of the judges. The way she strutted the runway and displayed her brilliance spoke volumes of her wisdom. It came as no surprise then that by the end of the glittering evening, the judges crowned the eight-year-old Nnenna-Miracle Kalu the winner of the fifth edition of Little Miss Damsel Nigeria (LMDN) World.

Held recently in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the 2021/2022 edition of the kids’ pageant paraded beautiful young girls from different parts of the country.

LMDN World is a kids pageant that not only emphasises beauty and intelligence but campaigns for the girl-child. The vulnerability of the girl-child is a global problem and LMDN World is tackling it through programmes that promote female child education, encourage children in the areas of academic and career, thereby advancing gender equality. It is focused on grooming serious-minded adolescents through academic competitions, moral sensitization, as well as fashion events that celebrate African fashion designers and talents.

Since its inception, it has impacted the lives of Phoebe Pepple, Zikora Niz and Christabel Bonny among others in achieving their goals. The newly crowned Kalu is the latest to join that list.

The indigene of Abiriba in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State started her journey to stardom at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos where she auditioned and emerged as one of the top contenders for the prestigious pageantry.

“It was exciting and hard for me at the initial stage when we went for selection in Lagos. And having made it, we went camping in Port Harcourt. After camping, we were taken to see a movie at Genesis Cinemas. The next day we had a football match at Pleasure Park and my team won.

So far, the show was packed with lots of fun activities and it was educational as well,” said Kalu, narrating her experience in the pageant.

She got to know about the beauty contest from her school. “The information came to my school so I picked up interest because I love beauty pageants and fashion even though I’m a young fashion designer. I got home and I decided to tell my parents about it. My mum was excited about it and gave me her full support. My dad was a bit reluctant at first. But being a child I used my trick, I cried as if my life depended on it and after a while, my dad also gave his consent.”

The unflinching support of her family saw the young and dashing damsel clinched the coveted crown and went home with One Million Naira. She acknowledged that she wouldn’t have gone far into the competition without the support system from everyone who believed in her. She expressed her gratitude and promised to be a torchbearer in campaigning and promoting gender equality for the girlchild.

Leadership comes with responsibility, and despite her young age, Kalu is ready to take up the task that comes with her crown.

She has already hit the ground running by rolling out programmes that will support the aims and objectives of the pageant.

Her first mission is to take up a pet project

Miracle Kalu

by visiting Government Schools where she intends to donate ‘back to school’ items to the less-privileged. Also, she will visit the orphanage home and the vulnerable. Not done yet, she intends to give back to society by donating part of the money to charity, particularly the poor, while the rest will be used to pay hospital bills for the sick. But above all, she will love to promote LMDN because it is a brand that has changed her life.

Recalling her mood as she was announced the new queen, Kalu said she was excited.

“I was really happy. It was an exciting moment, you know, winning such an

amount of money. I was happy and I’m still happy. But becoming a queen is not just about the crown. There are lots of responsibilities attached to it.

Through this event, l learnt so much about confidence and being bold also. So I’m going to give that back by showing good morals and being a role model to other children.”

Reenacting what the LMDN stands for and how to promote its objectives, Kalu promised to stand for the girl-child, to ensure that their voices are heard, to be fearless, trust their inner knowing, to believe in themselves “because if you don’t know, how can you expect others

to do so? It all starts with you. The moment you start believing in yourself, everything will start to fall into place.

“Yes I’ll always speak the truth and fighting against child abuse should be a general thing irrespective of your status.

I am an advocate for the girl child and standing up for them I must do.”

As the queen embarks on the mission and vision of her project, she is confident that she will achieve her childhood dreams of becoming a fashion designer, a model and a global queen. She believes with the help of her parents, her manager, her teachers and everyone around her, her dreams will come true.

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GLITZ ENTERTAINMENT

Shaffy Bello, Gideon Okeke, Munachi Abii to Feature in ‘Obsession’ Nollywood movie stars Shaffy Bello, Gideon Okeke, Munachi Abii, Mercy Aigbe are among the cast members of a new film ‘Obsession’. The stars are currently on set. While details about the film directed by Chidiebere Nwosu is yet to be disclosed, Vincent Tobi, who serves as the executive producer, stated that his production outfit Vnation Pictures would donate 20% of the proceeds from the film sales to the Vincent Tobi Foundation (VTF).

‘Obsession’ will mark Nwosu’s feature film debut. Earlier in 2021, the Whistling Woods and SAE Dubai alumnus received accolades from Alvin Abayomi and Jessica Williams in his short film, ‘Accused’. The film went on to garner several award nominations.

‘Obsession’ is expected to receive similar recognition when it goes to cinemas and film festivals.

Normani at MTV VMAs 2021

Now That the MTV VMAs Are Over, Can We Have the MAMAs? Stories by Vanessa Obioha The jaw-dropping performances at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) 2021 were all the rave on social media platforms recently. From Normani’s ‘Wild Side’ performance that closed with an erotic scene with Teyana Taylor, nailed to cross, to Lil Nas X steamy performances, the show which took place on September 12 at the Barclays Center in New York City grabbed headlines.

Nigeria’s Wizkid was among music stars that took home awards. Beyoncé’s ‘Brown Skin Girl’ which he featured in won in the Best Cinematography category.

While the MTV VMAs spotlighted music stars from other parts of the world, it is time for the company to host the MTV Africa Music Awards which celebrates the musical talents on the continent. It announced the return of the awards last year with a lot of fanfare, after a five-year hiatus. The award, scheduled to hold virtually in Kampala, Uganda on February 20, was however postponed on February 4, almost three weeks to the D-day.

It’s been more than six months since the postponement and no update yet on when the event will return. The significant contributions of the award in the entertainment industry cannot be overemphasized. It is instrumental in the international collaborations most African artists enjoy today.

“The MAMA has long shown its commitment to bringing diverse cultures, African and international artistes and society together to unify, create hope and inspiration. There could not be a more powerful or important time than now to bring the MAMA to life in celebration of the continent, to bring excitement, to unify, and to support music, cultural unification, and youth from across Africa,” said Senior Vice President and General Manager ViacomCBS Networks Africa, Monde Twala in a THISDAY interview early this year.

There were speculations that the continental awards were postponed due to the political conflict in Uganda happening at the time. While the company’s financial loss promoting the event in Kampala is unimaginable, it should consider bringing back the awards as the past few months have seen several music artists showing their creative prowess both on the local and international scene. Examples include Tems who recently inked a recording deal with America-based record label, RCA Records/Since ’93 following the release of her sophomore EP ‘If Orange Was a Place’. It is indeed time for the MAMAs to return and celebrate Africa.

Pat Nebo: Tunde Kelani Deserves a National Honour

Pat Nebo

Prolific art director and production designer Pat Nebo during his session at the Nollywood Film Studies Centre’s The Filmmaker Forum stated that veteran cinematographer Tunde Kelani deserves a national honour for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry.

Nebo, who has worked with Kelani on different productions, praised his professionalism and the way he highlights topical issues in his film. He gave an example of ‘Arugba’, a 2008 production he worked on with the cinematographer. The film he said highlighted climate change and how Nigerians through their actions can help keep the environment safe. The film won an award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in 2009.

Kelani’s film career spans more than four decades. His films are notable for showcasing and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the country while educating his audience on social, political and cultural issues. His latest film ‘Ayinla’ is based on the life and times

of the legendary singer Ayinla ‘Omowura’ Waheed Yusuf.

Collaborating with a younger filmmaker Jade Osiberu, the film was financially backed by First Bank Nigeria.

He was also among the list of filmmakers noted for their contribution to the film industry in Femi AkintundeJohnson’s book ‘Reflections on Nigeria’s Movie Industry: Salute to Pioneering Creativity & Perseverance’ released early this year.

Nebo, who also has spent close to 30 years in the Nigerian film industry, advised students to show excellence in their projects while sharing details of his experiences on different film sets. For instance, while talking about the importance of research to art direction, he disclosed that during the filming of ‘’76’, the IzuOjukwu’s directed film, they had to find the original military uniforms worn in the 70s to reflect the setting of the film.

The art director began his career in 1993 with his role as a production designer in ‘Ti Oluwa Nile’, a 1993 production. Today, his outstanding works can be seen in critically acclaimed films such as ‘The Milkmaid’ ‘The Figurine’ and ‘Lionheart’. Although he worked mainly behind the scenes, Nebo has exhibited his acting skills in two films ‘The Figurine’ and ‘’76’. He is a recipient of several awards that include the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for Best Art Director for his work in’76’.

Munachi Abii and Director Mo on the set of Obsession

Wofai, Chuey Chu Co-Host New TV Show Media personalities Wofai Ewa “Wofai Dada” and Chukwuebuka Okoye “Chuey Chu” have been revealed as the co-hosts of a new television sports betting show, SuperPicks.

The show will be hosted by SuperSport’s Neil Andrews alongside Chisom Ezeoke and Mozez Praiz, and together they will share their opinions, betting tips, interview winners and offer viewers the chance to participate in a weekly jackpot of N50 million, using the free-to-play gaming app, SuperPicks.

The SuperPicks predictor app is part of a major joint initiative between MultiChoice and BetKing, Africa’s fastest-growing digital and sports entertainment platform, and showcases the potential of the combined capabilities of the two organisations – entertainment, football, and impacting lives.

“MultiChoice is committed to providing top-ofthe-range sporting entertainment and deepening our customers’ engagement with our products. Our vision is to bring football into your living room or leisure spot and to give viewers richer experiences that will make them talk, laugh, share in every moment that is played out, in every minute of every match. SuperPicks, the TV show, represents the next generation of sports content married with sports betting - giving our viewers a richer, more rewarding experience,” he said.

Eligible players must be above the age of 18 and will get the chance to win a weekly jackpot of 50million by correctly predicting the scores of six football fixtures for each weekend. There is also a 1million prize for the player with the closest set of predictions each week.

The TV show airs Thursday nights at 9pm on SuperSport LaLiga (DStv channel 204).

Wofai and Chuey Chu

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 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 19, 2021

HighLife Mixed Feelings for Governor Ganduje

Ganduje

Russian writer Leo Tolstoy said that happy families are all alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. In Nigerian lingo, there is a fascinating Super Story in every home: some are complete and clear, but some are confounding and disconcerting.

It would seem that the Super Story of the family of Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, belongs to the latter category.

Folks are rushing en masse to read and comment on the story of the alleged rift in the Ganduje household.

According to the news, the son of the Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has reported his mother, Hafsat Ganduje, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This alleged case of an inverted Oedipal complex has money, lands and feelings of having been dwindled underlying it.

Based on the explanations to people who are closer to the source, Abdulazeez had been approached some time ago by an individual (or group of individuals) who were interested in using his influence as the son of the Kano State Governor to secure some plots of land in choice areas in the State. The plots supposedly cost several hundred thousand US dollars, but these folks were interested enough to pay the said amount. Furthermore, it is alleged that these folks were willing to part with N35 million which they would hand over to Abdulazeez as commission for his good work. Said deal was signed and seal and monies changed hands. Being a good son, the story continues, Abdulazeez handed over the money to his mother, the First Lady. However, three months after this delivery, the land buyers discovered that the plots of land had been sold to other individuals and reasonably asked to be refunded. However, neither the money nor Madam Hafsat is forthcoming, even though Abdulazeez has reportedly been pestering her.

Faced with no other choice, Abdulazeez went to the EFCC to report that his mother had swindled him.

But, even after requesting her presence, Madam Hafsat has reportedly refused to appear before the anti-graft agency.

Thus, folks are wondering whether to feel sorry for Governor Ganduje or bump fists that the family is in the eye of the storm.

Meanwhile, the man and wife in question are currently in a celebratory mood as another son of theirs, Muhammad, graduates from the renowned Regent’s University, London.

In response to this news, the mixed feelings for Governor Ganduje only continue to deepen.

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

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

Citizen of Humanity: Mike Adenuga to Reconstruct Otta-Idiroko Highway Billionaire mogul, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. is prepared to undertake the reconstruction of the dilapidated Otta-Idi-Iroko International Highway subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun revealed this last Wednesday when he led the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, on an inspection of the ongoing construction of Toll Plaza at Lotto area along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Just as the state partnership with the likes of Alhaji Aliko Dangote who also is using his tax credit to build the Sagamu Interchange to Papalanto Road, the State has engaged with Dr. Adenuga who has graciously accepted that he was going to use his tax credit to fund the construction of the road; but that has to go through a process for him to fund the road.

He explained that federal government must accept his (Adenuga) design, valuation and a lot of things have to go to the Federal Executive

Council.

“On the Otta-Idiroko road like the Minister, Fashola has shared with us, that road is not under contract, but graciously, we spoke to Otunba Mike Adenuga. This has never happened before this government came on board. These people have been in Nigeria and they’ve not partnered the state or federal government before. We must be doing something right to make Dangote to decide to use his tax credit to construct two major roads. Papalanto is almost N70 billion and also the Epe-Ijebu-Ode road going through Odogbolu road, it is another road he has accepted to do,” Governor Abiodun stated. The governor also announced that the people of Sango-Ota and its environs would soon heave a sigh of relief as palliative works will soon commence on the bad portions of the Lagos-Ota and Ota-Idiroko roads, and to be concluded by December. He stated that the palliative which would be done

by December, is to reduce the hardship being experienced by commuters along the roads.

Adenuga

Adenuga is a force of nature. A towering force of hope and entrepreneurial depth, indeed, very few men can knead the tripartite traits of genius, modesty and character into that moral and human centaur that remains unattainable to generations of tycoons and the multi billionaires like Adenuga, the entrepreneur extraordinaire.

The Globacom Chairman achieves this with unequalled grace.

A-listers Anticipate Dele Momodu’s High-Octane Installation Ceremony

Dele and Bolaji Momodu

Who cries glad tidings for the town crier? Who stands in the village square and announces that the most prominent man of information is now the centre of the latest news in town? Who but the people who have benefitted from the town crier’s career and craft? This is exactly how it is with socialites and

the family of super journalist, boss and Publisher of Ovation Media Group, Chief Dele Momodu (alias Bob Dee), especially now that the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has decided to confer an honorary chieftaincy title on Bob Dee. The news has begun to make global rounds about Oba Akanbi’s decision to honour Momodu with a chieftaincy title. Recognising Momodu’s unrivalled value in global journalism and his impact on the gradual shaping up of the Nigerian society, Oba Akanbi’s decision has been met with many cheers from all around the world.

According to the news, come October 2, 2021, the friends and allies of Momodu will be gathering at Oluwo’s Palace to witness the conferment. Naturally, the fact that it is a paired conferment (with Momodu and wife becoming Aare Tayese of Iwoland and Yeye Aare Tayese of Iwoland, respectively) indicates that there is likely

to be a deluge of the elite, including those that have been reclusive since the last change of government. But such is the span and depth of Momodu’s influence, not to mention his great love for the country.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) has refused to stand back and let only the monarch of Iwoland approve of Momodu’s good works.

Thus, the Institute also recently named the Ovation boss an Associate Fellow, stating that his qualification for the status derived from his peerless contributions as a journalist, politician and advocate for a fair society.

In fact, Momodu’s celebrations are likely to overshadow the country’s Independence commemoration. Were it not that the man is patriotic, all of October would be dedicated to him. This is always the case with men of honour.

Calm Down, Gbajabiamila is Not Contesting for Lagos Governorship The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has hit the nail on the head regarding the news making the rounds that he intends to contest against Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the 2023 Lagos State gubernatorial elections. In the process of unchecking all the boxes that rumours and false allegations have constructed for him, Gbajabiamila also did something that more and more influential people are going to do in the coming days: pick a side and endorse a candidate.

Gbajabiamila has always been the kind of individual whose private affairs are no more immaculate than his public doings.

A forthright fellow, Gbajabiamila does not hesitate to speak his mind. This has come in handy in many situations. Recently, it was in his brisk debunking of the rumours that he has it in mind to compete with Governor SanwoOlu for Lagos State top office in 2023.

Recall that it was not so long ago that it was

It is a fact that above all the elements of Nigerian politics, intimidating campaigns and accusatory press conferences, the will of the people is the ultimate sceptre of power.

In Ondo State, there is an indication that this sceptre will soon see the light of day with respect to Senate representation. This is all the more important considering that the man who is the focus of this will of the people has exhibited the highest levels of loyalty to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, another individual that is the pride and joy of his people.

Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye is currently under pressure to join for the next available Senatorial contest in Ondo State. As a man of the people, Elegbeleye’s intention is evidently not to feed the seemingly bottomless pit of political ambition, but to serve his people in whatever capacity they deem him fit. And they deem him fit in a Senatorial capacity.

What stands Elegbeleye out, above

first reported that Gbajabiamila had his eyes trained on the Lagos governorship seat. News bearers insisted that Gbajabiamila had begun making underground moves to unseat SanwoOlu, come 2023, even at the risk of falling out of sync with the rest of the All Progressives Congress (APC). But these rumours are nothing but smoke and shadows.

According to Gbajabiamila, he has no immediate plans to seek the Lagos State gubernatorial mantle. He gave two very clear reasons for this fact: one, that his function as Speaker of the House of Representatives is no less significant, taxing or indispensable; two, that the current governor is doing a good job.

It is rare to see an independent and brilliant public officer openly praising the work of his colleague from whom he receives no brown envelope, but that is Gbajabiamila.

In his attempt to defend himself against the rusty colouring brush of rumour mongering and artificial allegations, Gbajabiamila has

Between Rotimi Akeredolu and Gbenga Elegbeleye

Elegbeleye

Gbajabiamila

essentially endorsed Sanwo-Olu for the 20232027 gubernatorial journey. It must be said that this is a big boost for Sanwo-Olu: the fewer the odds stacked against him, the better.

everything else, is a solid relationship with the Governor of the state, Akeredolu. There are about half of a handful of people who are as loyal to the Governor as Elegbeleye.

One could even say that the current status of Akeredolu came about as an aftereffect of the blood, sweat and tears of loyal individuals like Elegbeleye who paved the way, going so far as to leave one prominent political party for another. Today, Elegbeleye is a notable chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but still a very loyal member of Akeredolu’s inner circle.

It is interesting that the Ondo people’s reason for encouraging Elegbeleye to take up the charge and vie for the senatorial has very little to do with the man’s background. Rather, folks look to his accomplishments as the former DG of Sports, member of the House of Representatives, Chairman of Ondo State Waste Management Authority, and Local Government Chairman.

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HIGHLIFE

Adesola Adeduntan’s Great Work as First Bank Bags Another Honour

Adeduntan

One can only conclude that regardless of weather conditions, eagles will be eagles and bantams will be bantams. This is the case with Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan, the MD/CEO of First Bank Nigeria. After what is now described as one of the darkest coups in Nigeria’s corporate history, the stardom of the man has continued to amaze and astound, especially considering his many good works.

Global Finance, a corporate entity that is renowned for its grasp and supervision of the financial industry, international business and global economy, has bestowed the award of Private Bank of the Year 2021 to Adeduntan’s First Bank of Nigeria Limited. According to Global Finance, the award is predicated on the fact that First Bank makes a habit of exceeding expectations, especially with respect to customer satisfaction, service delivery and quality and visionary leadership.

This is the second acknowledgement of Adeduntan’s peerless contribution to the growth and prestige of the bank in the last two

months. Few weeks ago, Adeduntan was again smiling widely as Global Banking and Finance magazine recognised First Bank in three dimensions: hailing Adeduntan himself as Retail Banking CEO of the Year 2021 in Nigeria; hailing the bank’s mobile app as the ‘Most innovative Retail Banking App Nigeria’; and dubbing the bank the ‘Best CSR Bank Nigeria’. It appears as if Adeduntan has left his peers in the dust—and he has.

It should be recalled that this Adeduntan who is doing a fine job as First Bank MD/ CEO was almost ousted from his position a few months ago. According to reports, the attempt of the board of directors was motivated by the fact that they considered Adeduntan as no longer useful or suitable for the MD/CEO position. Had the coup, as it is now reported, not been interrupted and aborted by Governor Godwin Emefiele of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), First Bank may not be the focus of so many admiring and envious gazes and reflections.

TV Queen Extraordinaire, Mo Abudu Celebrates 57 Birthday with the Opening of Jinja Restaurant Be a person of the people and only the best things in life will come to you. This is the kind of wisdom that was likely taught to Mosunmola Abudu (Mo Abudu, for short) when she was still a little girl with caramel skin in West London. Now that she is 57, a renowned businesswoman and celebrated philanthropist with a hegemonic grasp of media in Nigeria, that wisdom has come to bear. With such a momentum, it is not altogether surprising that Abudu would start off a new chain of business upon clocking 57.

To say that several mighty individuals showed up for Abudu’s 57th birthday is to state matters too lightly. That birthday bash of September 11, 2021 will be remembered for a long time for more than one reason: the highsociety personalities that were on ground to celebrate and celebrate with Abudu, and the new restaurant in Lagos that bears her marks.

Among the dignitaries that graced the These are really the best of times for the people of Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Ondo State. It now appears as if their champion in the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Adeyemi Adefisoye, wants to deliver and distribute Christmas packages and bonuses for them every month. As folks have determined and declared, this is what it means to stand in for one’s people. This is what legislation is all about.

A few weeks ago, Hon. Adefisoye won a new round of approval and applause from his people at Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency. This he unintentionally accomplished when he dispensed community grants to assist the people in their respective businesses and raise their economic statuses a little. Now, Adefisoye has devised a new means to gladden their hearts even further.

According to findings, Adefisoye’s new ‘Christmas bonus’ is coming in the form of a bursary and scholarship scheme. With Adefisoye at the bottom of it, the Scheme is targeted at students of tertiary institutions.

event are paragons of politics like Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. Media personalities included artists like Dbanj (and his wife) and Dare Art Alade, alongside Nollywood icons like Toyin Abraham, Uche Jombo, Ini Edo, Eniola Badmus, Lilian Afegbai, and many more.

The highlight of the party, however, was the opening of Abudu’s Jinja Restaurant.

Situated in Victoria Island, Lagos, the Restaurant is underlain with Oriental concepts, truly an Asian-fusion place. In other words, folks will have meals of Japanese, Chinese and Thai origin close enough to savour and swallow. Moreover, the interior designs of the place renders that natural away-from-home feeling.

For one who has dominated media in Nigeria with her EbonyLife concepts, the new Jinja Restaurant is sure to appeal to as many as

Tajudeen Adefisoye: Raising the Bar of Legislation

Adefisoye

Okonjo-Iweala

Encomiums as OkonjoIweala Made Latest List of Time’s 100 Most Influential People

Abudu

Abudu intends to impress and convert to the flavour of Asian-Nigerian dining and enjoyment.

And that’s how the media panther tipped her cap on her 57th birthday.

Moreover, the first rollout is expected to reach 500 of such students in one go, all of whom will be getting sizable sums to support and further their education.

Never the layabout, Adefisoye is ever thinking of ways to improve the people of Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, especially with regards to youth empowerment. So far, the constituency stands out as one with an active champion with more momentum than some State Governors can squeeze out. But Adefisoye is peerless in his own right.

It is still noteworthy that Hon. Adefisoye, a member of the House of Representatives that won his election through Social Democratic Party (SDP) and later decamped to the ruling party. He also happens to be the youngest member of the lower chamber of Nigeria’s House of Assembly. So, one would expect so many things to go wrong. But no, Adefisoye is still doing wonders for his people.

Adefisoye really is what legislation is about: to cheer and champion the cause of the people without fear or favour.

How Aisha Babangida Makes WEnA the Biggest Women Alliance Organisation When Nigerian women like Erelu Aisha Babangida rub shoulders with their peers in far more colourful climes, it is because they stand for something. With Babangida, it is all about women empowerment in any and every form. With much devotion and commitment comes an immeasurable degree of success and fulfilment. This is traceable in the life and accomplishments of Babangida, especially with her Women Enterprise Alliance (WenA).

WenA has become a standard bearer for the promotion of women’s rights and privileges.

The organisation does not recognise such factors of erudite education or a supreme political background. All of these are put to good use in helping women be the best they can be without bending to the unfair dictation of an illiterate society.

All that WenA is what Babangida has made it: all encompassing, flexible, active, and relevant to Nigerian and African women everywhere. Thanks to her tireless efforts

and continued attempts to see women like and unlike her rely on themselves and help others, WenA is gradually reaching out to places never before explored.

One could argue that in terms of women alliance and empowerment, WenA tops the list of nonprofit organisations. In Babangida’s bid to push women to the frontier in business, administration and social life, she even partners with financial institutions. Through this means, WenA is like a massive city with blocks that meet every need of the Nigerian and African women. It is in this spirit that Babangida founded Egwafin Microfinance Bank in 2016 and continues to help cooperatives and small business owners gain access to credit facilities.

It was the Prime First Lady, Maryam Babangida that first dreamt elaborately of bringing Nigerian and African women to the financial, administrative and social roundtable. Through WenA, her daughter is bringing that dream to life.

Babangida

Nobody knows who the first Nigerian or African is. But to have someone like Ngozi OkonjoIweala as one of their descendants indicates that they had to have been awesome. After all, there is no better way to describe the lady and her intellectual and influential luminosity. Now that she has been named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People, encomiums are pouring in from every corner of the civilised world.

Time Magazine recently released their long-awaited list of the 100 Most Influential People on the planet. Given that the list generally includes folks whose every wave of hand commands some part of the world, it was not altogether surprising to find Okonjo-Iweala there. As the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO) as Director-General, Okonjo-Iweala’s position is as unshakeable as the imagination.

And so is her position in the hearts of Nigerians.

It was not strange, therefore, that Okonjo-Iweala has become the cynosure of encomium and accolades. From the bottom of the Nigerian society to the top of the administrative ladder, OkonjoIweala is still receiving the kind of praise and adulation that comes with birthing a messianic figure.

In a way, perhaps that is exactly what Okonjo-Iweala represents to Nigerians.

We cannot forget how the world grinded to a halt on February 15, 2021, when the WTO General Council unanimously agreed to assign Okonjo-Iweala the role of the organisation’s seventh DG. She was—and still remains—a woman of dark colouring and kinky hair. So it was evident that no special favour was being done to her. But through sheer diligence, a brilliant career profile and allies in every high chair of the world that recognised her value, Okonjo-Iweala came on top.

Whatever she is today, one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People, or DG of WTO, OkonjoIweala will always be Nigeria’s own first and foremost. Moreover, even though she is the only Nigerian included in the list, her position and merits are more than enough to bear the pride of all Nigerian—nay, African—men and women.

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

A Huge Appreciation for Prof Yemi Osinbajo Please, guys, you will give me small space to gloat this week o. It is not every day someone of my little status would organise something and a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; a sitting Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; a sitting Governor, Mr SanwoOlu; a sitting Speaker of the House of Representative, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila and two former governors, Segun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel would attend. I didn’t even give them refreshments and I apologise for that.

It was my brother, Ladi Soyode, who a week to D-day confirmed the VP’s attendance at the command performance of my play ‘Awo’. I was awed.

“You don’t mean it? VP? The same one?” I asked him, just to be 100 per cent sure, and he replied “yes o.”

Confusion enter my matter. I didn’t know what to wear to receive the VP especially as they said, his beautiful wife would also be in attendance. That is how I carried my other brother, Yemi Shodimu, enter Lagos Island to look for something to buy.

Anyways, D-day arrived and the whole

Lagos was at the Glover Memorial Hall when the protocol people called me, “Mr. Duke, the Vice President just landed Lagos and the convoy is on the way to you. Remain on standby.”

Me? VP coming to me? Oya na, let’s go there. That was how they lined us up to receive the VP: Me, Duchess, Olisa Adibua, my brother-in-law Etim in full Ibibio regalia; my brother Nonso Okpala, GMD of VFD, his Chairman — I don forget him name abeg — the Governor, Speaker and Segun Awolowo.

My people, immediately the VP arrived, I don’t know where the crowd came from o. They surged and I was kicked out. See Nigerians, big men struggling.

They push me wey get show comot to crowd VP. Ah! In my mind, I was already thinking of closing the show. Abeg, make everybody go their house. Imagine.

Anyways, VP found his way to me and said, “Duke of Shomolu, it is indeed a huge pleasure to finally get to meet you” OMG! That moment, I wan faint. I even fart come dey fear make VP no smell am

GOVERNOR JIDE SANWO-OLU – LEAVE MY TOAST BREAD My brother Bonu Solomon the Special Adviser to His Excellency on Culture and Arts was with me throughout that day. A very hardworking young man who kept me informed on His Excellency’s movement regarding the command performance.

He said: “Edgar, His Excellency is on the way.”

I replied, “Bro, make he come, we dey wait.”

His Excellency arrived and in a sweet jocular manner headed for my wife’s toast bread stand and said something in Yoruba that my girl ‘Mo’ has refused to interpret to me except I pay N5,000. This one does not know that I am a principled leader like Awo. You see, Awo in the play refuses to beg for his freedom, so why me, Executive Producer will now pay for interpretation. I ignored her.

His Excellency was sprinted off into the

VFD holding room where he sat with the directors of the firm who were our major sponsors. He was playful, happy and entertaining. He looked at me and said: “Duke, your pen is bigger than you.”

“Baba, I am on a strict diet,” was my humble reply.

After the play, he went on stage and took the spotlight. I liked the fact that he spoke so eloquently without a prepared speech which to me showed deep immersion in his work.

His speech made headlines the next day. He talked about the ‘curse’ Papa Awo placed on Lekki where he was incarcerated and how that curse had now turned Lekki into a very profitable landmass. Brilliant off the cuff speech.

He shook me again and exited. Let me carefully say something at this point.

Governor Sanwo-Olu renovated the Glover Memorial Hall and has done a lot to support entertainment and tourism. He has better positioned it as part of his economic drivers and has gone ahead in supporting it through

infrastructural development, grants, human capacity development and the rest. Thank you so much, Your Excellency.

Let me announce here that he has also commissioned our play ‘Baba Kekere’ which is based on the life and times of Alhaji Lateef Jakande. Hold tight and I hope Your Excellency will once again grace the occasion. God bless you, sir.

Sanwo-Olu

Gbajabiamila

Awolowo

o. I said to him “Thank you my Lord, oya rush inside, the show wan start.”

After the show, the VP came on stage and shook me again and said, ‘Duke I must confess, I had an open mind before the show, but what I have just seen is quite impressive’. He shook my hands again.

My people, forget say VP short small o. The man is fine sha. His chest be like say he dey go gym and he stand like who fit fight o. Well built and with a firm handshake. But his eyes looked really tired. I pity am for that one. Be like say oga no dey sleep, but who goes to sleep in his position in this country?

Anyways, my Lord, I really remain so very grateful that you found time to attend. Your attendance was a big boost not only to the cast and crew but also to the whole industry.

Help me greet your protocol and Chief Security Officer, especially Kingsley and SA teleprompter; very courteous and well-behaved people.

Next time, wait small for Afang.

Thank you, Your Excellency.

FEMI GBAJABIAMILA: YOU SAID IT ALL He walked into the holding room looking quite neat. The man fine o. That was the first thing that crept into my mind as he walked in, very simply clad. He was wearing a well-sewn linen trad. And very beautiful black shoes. We all stood up to greet him and asked to take a picture with him.

That was how one overzealous security man- na so dem dey do opushed me back o, almost breaking my ankle. Lord Gbaja vex.

“What is this na? It’s just a simple picture,” he said. That one slithered away to a dark corner and remained

Osinbajo

there for the rest of the night.

He watched the show very quietly.

Enjoyed it thoroughly and at the end of the show, he came on stage to also give a very remarkable speech.

He talked about how musicals were reserved for the very few — how he knew that as a politician still dey wonder me sha.

He yabbed Segun Awolowo small, said that one was crying when they showed his father’s passing during his grandfather’s incarceration and also quipped that Sanwo-Olu should please give Segun land in Lekki since his grandfather had already blessed the land.

Beautiful speech, not long or filled with sweet anecdotes, and crisp.

As he walked away, I prayed for him to trip and fall so that I could collect the shoes; they were too fine.

The bobo no gree fall o, he still went home with those shoes. See me in disbelief.

Awolowo-Dosunmu

57

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

LOUD WHISPERS SEGUN AWOLOWO: A BROTHER NEXT DOOR He arrived with his mother, Princess Abah Folawiyo and his Uncle, Professor Oyediran, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.

Let me detour and talk a little about Lord Segun of Ikenne.

He wore a green trad that was made up of …. I don forget the name o. No be adire, no be cotton, no be the one we dey use sew native o. Kai, I don forget the name o and I just remember now o.

But I don forget again.

Anyways, it was green and he killed it with a green pair of tennis shoes. His gold chain shining in the afternoon sun and with his Awo cap, he looked really regal.

That was how my only sister, the Dame Mayen Etim of Nsit Ibiom, not understanding the latest fashion trends for Aristocrats said, “Lord Ini you don’t even know how to dress, how can you wear sneakers with traditional wear?

See mumu, I will have to send her to the South of France, make dem go better prepare you for aristocracy. I just showed her Segun Awolowo’s picture with the green canvas. She apologised.

Segun was the perfect host. He made the top dignitaries very comfortable and held my hands as we received the top dignitaries, showing me how to stand and shake and seat them. He would say, ‘Sit this one here, no be cabinet level, put am for back... Sit this one beside this one, they were both governors at some point.

Stand here, go here.” Phew! Thank you so much, Segun. I can safely say that without his support and continued encouragement ‘Awo’ would not have been a reality.

TOKUNBO AWOLOWO-DOSUNMU: MUMMY!!! MUMMY!!! MUMMY!!!

She was unavoidably absent and that in no way removes her great contribution to what has now become the biggest theatrical show in the history of Nigeria. With over 200 actors, a N50 million budget and about 6,000 people physically attending, you will agree with me that history never had it so good.

Mama was the spirit behind it all.

She commandeered from the back, ensuring the script was intellectually and factually strong, making calls to sponsors and getting very difficult people to even listen to me. But her greatest influence were those calls. She would call me and say, “Edgar, how is it going? Eku se oo.”

I would reply, “Ese gan ma,” in my Ibibio-laced Yoruba.

Let me use this opportunity to say thank you so very much for her support.

Today Nigerian theatre is richer because of her.

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS: WATCHING WITH ONE EYE I am watching you very carefully o. You have just released a report showing a decline in headline inflation in August dropping to 17.01% from 17.38% in July.

You went ahead to say that there has been a consistent drop in inflation for the last eight months.

My people, things on the ground don’t agree with this assertion o. Which indices are you using to calculate this your own o?

The Naira haemorrhaging in a full import-dependent economy cannot justify this your report o. Like I said, I have my doubts but we will still be watching and I hope that the thing Mr. Kale said about being pressured is not finding foot here o.

The need for us to receive data with strong integrity cannot be overemphasised. It is very good for all sides – the government to measure

its performance, opposition to track, planners to work with and international partners to rate and grade so that we can have access to better grants and aides and loans.

Another sore point is the point in your report where you said food prices dropped by 20.3% in July compared to 21.03% in the previous month. You said the small rise was caused by the rise in food items like eggs, bread, cereals, oil and fats while farm produce dropped to 13.41% from 13.72%.

Please the real test for all these is for you in that Bureau to drop the chop money you give your wives at the same percentage that you say food price index is dropping and see if you will not find yourselves at the National Hospital needing stitches. Na wa.

EFCC: CORRECT ON LEKKI They say that the EFCC has said that Lekki is now the capital of yahoo, yahoo. This statement is so correct that you will weep. My people, me sef I have been watching this thing with a bit of concern.

Walk into any hotel in Lekki or an eatery or lounge and the vast amount of young children dressed in very expensive clothes and driving very expensive cars carrying very expensive girls will amaze you.

Na the expensive girls own be my real

issue. They make us, otherwise very hard working 30-day a month salary earning sugar daddies find it very hard to compete. I tell you when your target lady is holding a N500,000 iPhone which is your son’s school fees or rent, where will you want to start from?

The EFCC must continue with this fight. It is not only for them but for us who are being beaten in the field. Now, to take small girls out is expensive.

Before, if you take them to Mr Biggs they will be calling their friends and saying, “Come and see one big boy I just catch.” Today, if you never spend N100k for two plates of ‘Ofada’ rice you never start.

These yahoo, yahoo boys have spoilt market o. You can’t even get a discount in our so-called five-star hotels. The very biggest of them all really rely on the patronage of these boys o. Lekki is now the headquarters. Out of every five people you see there, one na yahoo, yahoo or related to yahoo, yahoo.

Please EFCC come to our aid, ‘bring back our girls’. I don run o!

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: MY WIFE BEATS ME Shebi we know how to look at the other side. Everybody is looking at one side.

My husband beats me. The system, judiciary, NGOs everybody is an expert on- my husband beat me matter-

OSCAR ONYEMA: LET’S GO HOME I think I have met bros only once in my whole life and it was him walking into Senator Florence Ita Giwa’s restaurant at the opening. I greeted him and he greeted me back and he rushed in, maybe not to miss the Afang that was being announced.

Anyways, he has superintended the stuffiest reforms of any institution that I have seen. They have restructured the Stock Exchange and given it more layers of red tape than before.

So now they have Holdco

Onyema

on top. There is now MD of the Exchange and GMD of NGX. Whatever that is aimed at achieving begs my belief.

Holdco for Stock Exchange? Na wa.It looks like after 10 years; my brother has just bought another five years at the helm and the market has responded by dropping its share price from N30 to N13.5 as at the time of writing. Congrats.

Meanwhile, the new name sounds like something out of a Marvel comic book. Keep it up.

Nice one.

nobody is looking at the other side.

I have just seen a report from the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team stating that 194 males had been beaten by their spouses and partners. The report shows a sharp increase of 44.33% against the 108 reported during the same period the previous year.

The scary thing is that, according to the report, males find it difficult to report this because of cultural norms and public ridicule.

Please I beg for us to look more critically at this growing menace because if you now add the verbal assault 100% of us males suffer, you can see why we have more widows in the country today.

Our men are dying and in silence and nobody is saying anything. Not fair.

AISHA BUHARI: MUMMY GOES NOLLYWOOD During the week, my favourite First Lady was said to have released a video of the Minister of Communications and recently minted Professor of something crying over a sermon. She was said to have put as caption the need for people to do the right thing. I hear that she has even released a follow up on the initial video giving a further explanation for her film debut.

Me, I have always loved- sorry, liked, before they come and turn my face into something else — her forthrightness, her strong resolve to stand by the truth, justice and fair play. Her ability to always stand and say her mind despite her position always used to hit me in my sore points. Well done Madam, really well done. God bless you for us.

Please help us release more videos. We dey wait.

GODWIN OBASEKI: FEAR OF COVID-19 E Be like say Chief Obaseki na him fear this Covid pass all of us. The way he is going about this thing, everybody will soon be vaccinated in Edo. The man says, if you are not vaccinated you will not be allowed to sleep with your wife and talk less of your maid. Everybody in Edo must show a vaccination card before anything.

Much as I support this push, the thing is becoming ridiculous abeg. Do we even have enough vaccines to go around? Why not concentrate energy in procurement before this push? With supplies that can cover less than 5% of the population this hysterical drama will lead to all sorts of sharp practices which will even come and kill the people.

Bro, let’s not put the cart before the horse. Make the thing available plenty and then use persuasive tactics and leave all these military-type instructions.

Cannot ‘werk’.

MUSA GOWON: BLAST FROM THE PAST Musa and I went to the same school – Command Secondary School in Ipaja.

I think he didn’t really stay and left almost immediately. But his last name and who he was as a person resonated in the school and left an indelible mark in the place.

Then we lost contact and over 30 years later, I began to see him on social media displaying some of the most powerful designs in fashion.

I asked myself, is this the same Musa Gowon in Command? The same General Yakubu Gowon’s son doing fashion? So I reached out.

It was him o. I started following his works very diligently and have seen mercurial talent. No wonder he chose this path. One would have expected a career in the military or even in leadership or politics but my brother has chosen a totally different path of using fashion to bless the world with his gift.

Nice one.

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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 19, 2021

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s Romantic Side A former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, is one experienced politician in Nigeria’s history who has climbed every rung of the ladder to attain his current enviable height. He is one of the political gladiators that this country has produced since its return to democracy. Since he joined active politics in 1997, he has not looked back and his star has never suffered any eclipse. Providence, no doubt, has literally lavished its favour on him.

It is a given fact that his enviable status in today’s Nigeria was not thrust on his laps; rather, he has worked tirelessly to attain his current height. He is tough, strong, hard-willed; and all these have helped him to remain in the political arena to date.

Interestingly, those who are close to the Enugu State-born politician are always quick to say that he is a great romantic and one who is as chivalrous as they come.

As if to lend credence to this claim by his supporters, the lawmaker, penultimate week, celebrated his wife on her 55th birthday.

With a deep sense of appreciation and love, Ekweremadu was quoted to have described his wife as the solid rock behind his success story.

He also showcased his poetic side on social media as he wrote: “She’s a shining diamond in my life, my friend, my woman, my wife, the mother of my wonderful children, my comfort in times of challenges, my ally in thick and thin, and my prayer warrior. My people, kindly join me in wishing Lady Nwanneka Ekweremadu, PhD, Achalugo Ikeoha, a happy birthday.

“Achalugom, may our Good Lord continue to renew your strength like the eagle. May His grace, love, peace, protection, and blessings continue to rest upon you. Amen.

Congratulations!”

The Drumbeat of War at TB Joshua’s Synagogue Church

Late TB Joshua.

During his lifetime, the late Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) was considered controversial and even rejected by many in Christendom. Not a few saw the prophet, famously known as No doubt, Oyo State-born politician, Bisi Ilaka’s political odyssey would make an interesting read if documented in black and white. This may not be due to his popularity, but the fact that the book will be full of interesting plots.

For those who are aware of his journey into politics, he is fast becoming a subject of pity and ridicule, as his political career has once again suffered a set- back, following his sack as the Chief of Staff to Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde.

Before his appointment by the governor, the Ladilu of Oyo Kingdom had become what many described as a serial contestant. Society Watch gathered that Ilaka joined Senator Rashidi Ladoja at the inception of Accord Party just three months before the 2011 election and contested as Senator to represent Oyo Central Senatorial District.

He was defeated by the candidate of the now-defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), Senator Ayoade Ademola Adeseun.

Again, in 2015, the London- trained lawyer contested for the same position but

TB Joshua, like a wolf in sheep’s skin. Even his miracles, which drew many to his church, were considered fake. While he was popular and revered in other parts of the world, he was never accepted by most of his brethren in the vineyard of God as he was believed to be an exorcist or a charmer. The prophet, indeed faced attacks from fellow pastors who never saw anything good in him.

Strangely, even in death, controversy has not ceased from his church, as the elders of the church are up against his wife, Evelyn.

The crisis is about the leadership of the church since the late founder died without choosing a successor.

The woman, last week, was announced as the successor to her husband, a development that did not go down well with the elders in the church. According to the elders, TB Joshua’s successor should have been appointed from among the pastors in the church whom he had anointed rather than his widow, whom they claimed unilaterally announced herself as the new leader of the church. They reportedly faulted her claim that the congregation of 2,000 church members appointed her.

In a chat with Society Watch, a source who pleaded anonymity said: “Mrs. Evelyn Joshua is not a pastor. She was never anointed by Pastor Joshua. She was not part of the founding

Top Politician Bisi Ilaka Is Back in the Cold lost to Senator Monsurat Sunmonu of the All Progressive Congress (APC). When he later contested as the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 National Assembly election, he was thoroughly beaten by Senator Teslim Folarin of APC. However, his career was given a lifeline when Makinde first appointed him as his Chief of Staff in 2019. But he was again thrown into the political wilderness, as he was later sacked among other appointees by the governor.

Though the former member of the Board of Directors for the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) appears to be unfazed, many of his fans believe that this is not too good for his political profile.

While a source disclosed that he has not fallen out of favour with his former boss, another source

Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola Soars Higher

Adeola

members of the church. So, there is no basis for her emergence as the person now parading herself as the new leader.”

However, another group that threw its weight behind her described the elders as “unscrupulous elements who have appointed within themselves a new General Overseer. They also established the Governing Council for the church in which all positions were shared among themselves, with no member of TB Joshua’s family or any church member on board.”

The group further said: “These are mere TB Joshua’s workers who are not even qualified to be called church members because by the Church’s Constitution, for you to be recognised as a church member, you must also be a financial member. This is a critical factor for membership, which none of them has.

“Right from the moment of TB Joshua’s death, they have made themselves an uncontrollable authority. They wield enormous power. They are so worldly; they conduct themselves with total disrespect to their late mentor and his widow.”

Already, many believe that the war may take time to end, as the warring factions are not ready to sheathe their swords any time soon.

If there is one politician being talked about mostly in the political landscape of Ogun State now, it is no other than Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola, otherwise known as Yayi.

Anyone familiar with the political setting in Lagos and Ogun would definitely affirm that the lawmaker is fast becoming a recurring currency in both states. Society Watch confirmed that the “West To West” campaign slogan of the Senator, who is currently representing Lagos West Senatorial District, is being roundly accepted in Ogun West ahead of the 2023 elections.

A source revealed that the 52-year-old, who has over 20 years of experience as a state and federal lawmaker, is the most popular politician in Ogun West at the moment. His profile has continued to soar higher so much so that it is said to have now dwarfed the incumbent senator representing the district, Tolu Adebiyi.

It was gathered that though some politicians,

Ilaka

hinted that they have not seen eye-to-eye since he was thrown out of the cabinet. including former House of Representatives members, Abiodun Ishiaq Akinlade and Abdulkadir Adekunle Akinlade and Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, are said to be warming up for the position, none of them can reportedly match him in terms of popularity. His relevance is attributed to his aggressive campaign and massive touching of lives as well as his understanding with players across political parties.

In 2015, the senator went all out in a failed bid to become Ogun West Senator; and he massively built on it when he attempted to become Ogun State Governor in 2018.

Ibikunle Amosun, the then governor of the state, made a mess of his ambition on both occasions. But Yayi and his team are reaping from the solid political structure they were forced to lay then. And it is this structure that reportedly helped Governor Abiodun to power against the common foe, Amosun in 2019; hence the main reason members of the Yayi structure hold key positions in the current administration in Ogun.

Oba Yisa Adeniyi Olaniyan Celebrates Coronation Anniversary

Ekweremadu

It was an interesting event, last weekend, when the Onipokia of Ipokia in Ogun State, Oba Yisa Adeniyi Olaniyan, celebrated his first coronation anniversary. Expectedly, the urbane and graceful monarch, alongside his delectable Queen, Olori Folasade, did not leave any stone unturned to make the event classy and glamorous Last year, the monarch, who is the first traditional ruler to be installed

by Governor Dapo Abiodun, had assured all during his installation that his reign would herald growth and

development in the town. He has kept faith in his promise to his subjects. The 51-year-old Oba had been unanimously elected by the kingmakers in the Ipokia kingdom, perhaps due to his exquisite poise, carriage, maturity and intelligence.

Olaniyan, who is the 46th Onipokia of Ipokia Kingdom, is described as sociable, humorous and amiable. Before assuming his royal status, he piloted the popular Afro-Heritage Entertainment Awards during his stay in the United States.

Oba Olaniyan

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

19.09.2021

A view of the exhibition hall

BOB-NOSA UWAGBOE AND HIS SMUDGES ON COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE Having clawed his way into the limelight through his peculiar figurative expressions, Bob-Nosa Uwagboe currently engages an international audience in Barcelona, Spain with his latest solo exhibition. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

E

ven as the echoes of the last year’s #EndSARS protests recede from recent memory, the spectral forms that instigated them still float ominously about.

Indeed, it is only a matter of time before they again impel their ever-willing homogeneous human tools – wherever they may be found – to the crudest perpetration of their contents. Speaking of protests, it is no secret that Bob-Nosa Uwagboe – as a self-proclaimed “protest artist”– feasts on such narratives. And this is one reason why his choice of the title, Police Brutality, for his recently-opened solo exhibition at the OOA Gallery in Barcelona, Spain should not really surprise the local art scene’s cognoscenti.

Given the dreadlocks-sporting artist’s penchant for churning out hideous ghoulish forms (indeed, the visual equivalent of antiestablishment rants), it was inevitable that the theme would, sooner or later, come under his spotlight. Besides, aren’t the international news media replete with grim reminders of police brutality?

About the ghoulish forms, they are not just the expressions of his non-conformist disposition, but could also be likened to smudges on humanity’s conscience. As depictions of his anti-establishment taunts, they unintentionally offer glimpses into mankind’s immediate ethereal environment.

Hideous, though their contents may be, the exhibition’s mostly acrylic and spray paint

on textured canvas paintings seethe with messages that are hard to gloss over. While, for instance, the 2020 work“Boy in Detention” depicts the untold sufferings and cold brutality that detainees in police custody are often subjected to,“Abuse of Human Right”(produced in 2021) is a protest against the bestial conduct of the police anti-riot squad. Yet, it is obvious – as the artist rightly expresses in the 2020 painting “Gross Misconduct”and in a 2017 acrylic on textured canvas work“Chained in Immorality”– that the so-called law-enforcers are hardly above board in their conduct. And these are the very ones, who often hide behind the protection of their offices, to perpetrate even worse crimes on criminals!

Peddling eye-pleasing works have, in any case, never been the Edo State-born artist’s stock-in-trade. That was already evident even from when he held his debut solo exhibition, Homme Libre (French for“Free Man”) at the African Artists’Foundation’s former premises in Ikoyi, Lagos in 2011. Thus, leaving no one in doubt about his proclivity for iconoclasm, he had gone on to recycle the nightmareinducing horrors in such memorable shows as Obituary at the Signature Beyond Art Gallery, Lagos in 2018, Protest Art at the OOA Gallery in Barcelona, Spain in 2019 and Transit at the National Modern and Contemporary Art Museum in Gdansk, Poland in 2020.

Still on Uwagboe’s unflattering images on canvas, they are the dredged-up poignant reminders of the depraved nature of man’s

Uwagboe

inner life. Through them, manifestations of mankind’s base propensities and inner realities, which fills the viewer with repugnance, float to the surface. Under such circumstances, which the artist seems to echo in the acrylic on canvas works“Backwardness”(2019) and“Uniform Man (2021), it would be difficult – indeed, impossible – to expect any semblance of fairness from the extant systems of justice.

Doubts about the 2004 Auchi Polytechnic graduate’s resolve to prick his society’s conscience with his visual jeremiads could easily be dispelled by his confessed love for reggae music, which he once called his core

source of inspiration as well as for the music of the late maverick Afro-beat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Meanwhile, this is a society, whose concept of morality constantly spirals downwards with the emergence of each new generation!

Talking about the ongoing exhibition, which opened on Wednesday, September 15 and ends on Thursday, October 14, it re-establishes Uwagboe’s relevance as a credible African voice in an increasingly identity-blurring globalised art scene. In the exhibition’s catalogue, Małgorzata Paszylka-Glaza – the curator of the National Modern and Contemporary Art Museum in Gdansk, Poland, which hosted the artist during the period of the government-imposed COVID-19 lockdowns last year – writes that the“strength of Bob-Nosa Uwagboe's protest lies in his consistency and wise humility, and his faith in the power of art.”

Perhaps, this explains the 47-year-old’s admirable tenacity and resilience even when his works cannot be counted among the most sought-after among the local art aficionados.

Paszylka-Glaza also sees“an extremely talented painter”in the artist and draws parallels between him and the late Nigerian reggae star Majek Fashek, whose song“Police Brutality” influenced the exhibition’s title. In both Fashek and Uwagboe, she sees revolutionary souls, who constantly railed against violence and injustice, albeit through different mediums.

Months – perhaps, years – of close interaction with the artist stands her in good stead to discern his true nature beneath the“primitive and brutal form of expression”. Indeed, she avers that the artist is both “sensitive and compassionate”.

Yet, despite Paszylka-Glaza’s reference to Uwagboe’s “faith in the power of art”, it is hard not to see the artist’s grotesque expressions as complicit in further nourishing such tyrannical dispositions. This complicity is premised on the time-honoured Socratic dictum, which rather sees the secret of change in focusing all one’s energy on building the new than on fighting the old. Hence, it can be inferred from a natural law, which decrees the attraction of similar species, that the artist’s fixation on such crude forms would only reinforce their dark and noxious power-centres in the earth’s finer material environment.

Of course, it is understandable that this artist asserts his inimitable uniqueness through his peculiar figurative expressions. Besides, he has paid his dues through his consistency and defying all odds in a recession-threatened industry.

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

ARTS & REVIEW\\EXHIBITION WITH POWER OF PORTRAIT, OLIVER ENWONWU RETURNS TO THE EXHIBITION CIRCUIT Yinka Olatunbosun

W

ith 20 portrait paintings, the award-winning artist and art historian Oliver Enwonwu hopes to make his solo exhibition, which opens today at the Alliance Française building – a. k. a. Mike Adenuga Centre – in Ikoyi, Lagos, a talking point of the local art scene. Absent from the exhibition circuit since in 1999, when he held a show at the now defunct Iola Art Gallery in Victoria Island, the last of the legendary Ben Enwonwu returns with style.

The exhibition, whose opening this afternoon by 4pm will be graced by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the French Ambassador Jerome Pasquier and the French Consul-General Mrs Laurence Monmayrant, is curated by Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, the Founder and Artistic Director, SMO Contemporary Art and is an articulation of years of research and critical appraisal of post-colonial as well as contemporary issues of identity. Titled Politics of Representation: The Power of Portraiture, the body of works in itself is a journey-cutting through centuries and cultures.

At a press preview of the works held at Omenka Gallery’s lagoon-front garden, the artist shared his thoughts on the exhibition.

“I celebrate the African woman in form and

rhythm through jewelry, adornment and apparel, drawing on historical narratives of black female defiance against cultural and political imperialism,”he said.

With a view to challenging the negative stereotypes of the African, he uses European techniques to explore African subject matter in the show supported by Louis Guntrum wines.

In form and content, the fascinating pieces echo the painter’s father’s take on the construction of identity under colonialism. The late Ben Enwonwu rejected the colonisers’construct of identity for the African, defining it as“an identity in politics.”In the same vein, Oliver’s confident brushstrokes evoke that“generational cry of affirmation and power.”

The powerful portraiture celebrates the cultural, political, socio-economic achievements of African and how these have affected the identity of the global black race.“His works are odes to beauty, excellence and regality, reminding one of visual poetry in the style of a classical Shakespearean sonnet,”Obiago chipped in.

Some of the pieces are“Body of Power”, “Signares”and“Belle of Senegal”in which the artist interrogates women’s self-representation in connection with jewelry patronage and expensive garb; the cutting edge of fashion.

With Wanderers’Series, he explores the effects of migration,“dissolving boundaries and our notions of time and space.”

At the risk of being a show-spoiler, one of his portraits glorifies his father’s auction-smashing

Oliver Enwonwu painting of an Ife princess, titled“Tutu”. The super-imposed painting fastens the kinship thread to her grand-daughter Princess Ronke Ademiluyi, who is also the great grand-daughter of the late Ooni Ajagun Ademiluyi, the King of the Ife Kingdom.

A master’s degree holder in visual arts with distinction from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, he has participated in over 15 exhibitions, delivered talks on global art market at international conferences.

The exhibition runs till October 10.

ENCOUNTER

WITH OLUDAMOLA ADEBOWALE, DIGITISING ARCHIVES IS THE NEXT LEVEL Yinka Olatunbosun

F

ancy a regression into the past, to the Lagos of the 60s and 70s. Then, imagine being teleported to a famous Lagos nightclub of that era to watch Victor Uwaifo or Sunny Okosun in performance. For ages, archiving has been a system of documenting milestones for individuals and

institutions.

Against the backdrop of archival regression, the archivist and founder of Asiri Magazine, Oludamola Adebowale embarked on the journey of digital archiving to preserve Nigeria’s history.

In an exclusive interview, he revealed why he has remained committed to the project of digitising archives despite the initial setback.

“Personally, I think history itself on a very broad spectrum forms the basic foundation of our nation,” he said.“If you want to talk about the country or a particular era, the only reference point you have is history- what happened and the developmental phases of the country, the structure and other things put in place. In other for us to move forward and understand our nation, do better with policies and governance, we need to look at history and see the mistakes that we have done in the past; how can we move forward having a well-informed background. Our daily life is history, the conversation you had yesterday is history. It is very powerful when you transfer the knowledge that you have in the past to now and prepare for the future.”

From the point of view of citizen engagement, Adebowale believes that the spirit of comradeship is needed in order to access documentation. This will then be combined with government support to build a system that is sustainable for archiving business. Adebowale expressed concern over the general apathy towards documentation.

“Lack of documentation and information is a prime factor. Money is the least of the problems.

Access to archives is poor. Do we have archives of our history here in Nigeria? There is lack of government system that support what we do –making it difficult to fact check a story. People start looking at you as if you are digging into the past or doing something sacrilegious. It is the attitude of many years-not understanding‘or appreciating or knowing their history. So, when people are confronted with half-truths or half-baked truths, they react in certain ways. If you talk about the issue of Biafra people start getting agitated.‘Why did Gowon marry during the war? He is insensitive.’But then, it has happened and what have we learnt from it?’’

The search for archival materials sometimes gets dangerous when the concerned parties get a whiff of a researcher in need of past documents, pictures, videos or audio recording.“Some people come looking for me and sometimes, I get death threats. Whether your past is clean dark or ugly, you need to document it. But then someone gets so defensive when you ask. What are they hiding? You bury the truth so much that when the truth comes out, then you cower. We are not the alpha and omega of these narratives. We just want to have a plain ground for discussion. We bring all the back stories in history. And I try to have conversations with people based on our posts online. On Asiri platform, we have over 40,000 followers and over 3million impressions all over our social media platforms.”

Asiri is in itself a digital repository of Nigeria’s historical materials. And the social media platforms, for Asiri, are like virtual town hall meetings where conversations around the exhibits are stirred.

Often too, many misinformation about history had

been corrected on these platforms when facts are made available by the relatives or close associates of the persons in question.

At government-owned institutions where archives are kept and managed, most of the staff have not been trained on the new technologies that would revolutionise their work system.

“Many people just want to do a nine to five job,”he continued.“There is a strong link between poverty mentality and illiteracy. A lot of people just want to get salary. They are not passionate about it. They also do not have the right incentive or new technologies to do more. The government has failed in many aspects of our educational system.”

“The institutions need to take full responsibility of what we have now, understand this form of education and step up their game. We can do better with policies that will further enable archiving.”

Meanwhile, Adebowale emphasised the need for empowerment trainings to build capacity for efficient service delivery in archiving business.

Adebowale Since digital archiving is a long-term business, government grants and loans would boost the capital base for cultural entrepreneurs who are driven by passion, not profit.

PHOTO NEWS

HONOURTO WHOMITISDUE…

T R-L: Abdullahi Ibrahim Bwala President, Biu Emirate Student's Association (BESA), Ahmadu Bello University Zaria presenting on behalf of BESA certificate of award to Dr. Bukar Usman in recognition of his contribution to the promotion of History and Culture of Biu Emirate

he prolific author Dr Bukar Usman recently in Abuja presented with an award in recognition of his contributions to Biu Emirate. Dr Usman, an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, was specifically acknowledged for promoting the emirate’s history and culture and breathing life into the Nigerian folklore industry.

The leadership of Biu Emirate Students Association (BESA), Ahmadu Bello University Chapter had earlier, in a letter signed by its president Abdullahi Ibrahim Bwala, notified him of this award.

In the photograph, Bwala (left, sporting a dark suit) presents Dr Usman with the award’s plaque to Dr Usman.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Funding: Nigeria Must Block Terrorism’s Oxygen Beyond kinetic military action against insurgency in Nigeria, resolutely cutting off their vital funding sources, which serve as their oxygen, would facilitate quicker conclusion of the long-drawn war against terrorism, Louis Achi writes

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inetic military action is a euphemism for military intervention involving active warfare. The phrase is used to contrast between conventional military force and “soft” force, including diplomacy, sanctions, cyber warfare and denying funding oxygen to the foe. Credit for this coinage goes to former United States Defence Secretary, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, in his 2002 book - Bush at War. While Rumsfeld’s insight indisputably advanced and helped hone strategies for fighting terrorism, his Nigerian counterpart Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), Minister of Defence, who also brought a novel insight to the threat, had argued that Nigerians should show they are not cowards by defending themselves.

His words: “It is the responsibility of everybody to keep alert and to find safety when necessary. But we shouldn’t be cowards. At times, the bandits will only come with about three rounds of ammunition; when they fire shots everybody runs. In our younger days, we stand to fight any aggression coming for us.”

He reportedly added that: “Our own duty is to ensure that no Nigerian is hurt, and we are capable of protecting the integrity of this nation and we’ll continue to do it even though we are so stretched.”

Today in Nigeria, the distinction between banditry, rogue herders’ bloody rampage and terrorism is strangely blurred.

Currently, the lion share of efforts by the Nigerian military forces to rout terrorism is in the realm of kinetics. Successes being recorded in decimating the ranks of terrorists are mirrored in the heavy bombardments, fatalities inflicted on the enemy and rising number of Boko Haram terrorists that surrendered to the state.

But current strategies of effective engagement of terrorism show that identification and efficient blockage of their funding, which is its critical oxygen lead to quicker conclusion of anti-terror war. This core fact has guided the new design of counter terrorism templates in many countries today. It is paying off handsomely.

The Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 (as amended) expressly prohibits the funding of terrorism. This Act tacitly recognises that funding is the oxygen that powers terrorism.

In many countries, very strict surveillance and Boko Haram insurgency has killed over around 40,000 people with two million displaced, according to an AFP report. Current developments by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and US governments which have taken specific actions and offered a helping hand to Nigeria, indicate in clear terms the path Nigeria ought to thread in battling its long-drawn terrorism

Magashi story.

Last week, authorities in the UAE named six Nigerians with ties to insurgent group, Boko Haram, as terrorist financiers. The UAE Cabinet issued Resolution No 83 of 2021, designating a total of 38 individuals and 15 entities on its approved list of persons and organisations supporting Boko Haram and other terrorist cause.

The resolution demands that regulatory authorities monitor and identify any individuals or entities affiliated with or associated with any financial, commercial or technical relationship and take the necessary measures according to the laws in force in the country in less than 24 hours.

Nigerians on the UAE’s terrorism list were Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad. These six Nigerians had been previously tried and sentenced in UAE. The UAE news agencies reported that the resolution underscored the country’s commitment to target and dismantle networks that finance terrorism

stakeholders believe the country should unhesitatingly accept the offer. This is because if the terrorism sponsors’ identities become public knowledge, they will certainly have no hiding place again.

Besides its key arrowheads like Mohammed Yusuf, who was eliminated by security agents in the early days of the insurgency, and Abubakar Shekau, killed by its rival, ISWAP, in June, the identities of Boko Haram sponsors remain a mystery.

The hesitant optimism around America’s offer pivots around whether President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would accept it from the US. According to Ambassador Leonard, “I have had at least three conversations in the last two months on this subject.” The big question is - will Nigeria grab this opportunity with both hands?

This is debatable because since UAE authorities convicted six Nigerian bureaux de change operators for sponsoring Boko Haram terror operations, Nigeria curiously failed to exploit the advantage by scaling up intelligence, investigation, and identification of terror sponsors.

Rather, the federal government maintained its informal policy of non-prosecution of terror-related crimes. In the beginning of the year, the current administration announced it had made many arrests, subsequently proclaiming that 400 suspect financiers of Boko Haram would be prosecuted. The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation stated that 800 Boko Haram suspects would face prosecution. But nobody has been prosecuted after over four months. and its related activities.

A former Assistant Director of the DepartIt could be recalled that in April 2019, the ment of State Services, Nigeria’s secret Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal senpolice, Dennis Amachree, asserted that the tenced both Surajo Abubakar Muhammad US had been positively disposed to supportand Saliuh Yusuf Adamu to life imprisoning Nigeria, especially in the fight against ment followed by deportation. Ibrahim Ali terrorism, posing the question - would the Alhassan, AbdurRahman Ado Musa, Bashir federal government would embrace the curAli Yusuf and Muhammad Ibrahim Isa, rent gesture? were each sentenced to 10 years in prison, Amachree further asked: “Are we ready to and also followed by deportation. arrest and prosecute these sponsors when The court found them guilty of setting exposed? Are we simply going to lock them up a Boko Haram cell in the UAE to raise away as has been done in the past? These funds and material assistance for the are the concerns and the Americans may insurgents in Nigeria. In December 2019, lose interest if we don’t take it seriously?” a UAE federal supreme court also turned It could also be recalled that former Nigedown an appeal by the six Nigerians, uprian Navy Commodore Kunle Olawunmi said holding the ruling of the Appeal Court. The the government knows the sponsors of Boko Nigerians were said to have transferred Haram. The retired Navy Commodore stated up to $800,000 in favour of Boko Haram that the Nigerian government was not ready between 2015 and 2016. to fight insurgency because it had failed to In an important development last week, prosecute the arrested 400 persons suspectthe US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary ed to be sponsors of Boko Haram. The Nigerian Leonard stated that America was ready Government should prosecute the sponsors of to partner the nation by releasing the list terrorism and block their sources of funding of those sponsoring the terror attacks unless it has something to hide from the rest on Africa’s most populous country. Many of the world.

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

FFK: The Stomach Infrastructure Ambassador!

Fani-Kayode

Politics without principle, a former Indian anti-colonial nationalist, Mahatma Gandhi, once described as a deadly sin.

He though listed six other human misdemeanors in that category, the lawyer and political ethicist, however, featured this last, denoting the importance he placed on it.

Those, who appeared stunned about the often poor choices of a former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, are probably naive about their political environment or expected too much from a man, who is deficit in character and principles.

FFK, as he is otherwise called being the initials of his name combined, has

never been better than his choices, which of course, have always reflected in his being. His game is constant and only survives the political space through sheer rabble-rousing.

One of the few people, who know him very well is former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who said at a time that once you put food on his table, he automatically becomes the puppet of that provider.

Obasanjo was not oblivious of the impression FFK had of him before he became president and that nonetheless, he still offered him appointment, because he knew only him could run the kinds of errands he needed him for, as long as the offer could pick his bills, even if not all.

Who could have thought that FFK and President Muhammadu Buhari would ever share space despite all that he had said about him? Well, many other people knew it was all in the bid to secure the attention of the president and finally, he got it.

His jaundiced patriotism has always been about survival - nothing but cheap stomach infrastructure. He is loyal to no one or anything but his stomach. Rely on FFK only at your peril. His watch words are, “money for hand, back for ground”.

That’s all. Worry about anything else, not FFK. For him, life goes on regardless.

Shame is not a factor, for as long as his account balances smile.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

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BRIEFINGNOTES Gumi’s Strange Attacks on Critics of Bandits Presidential Spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina last week became the latest victim of the Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, in his sustained attacks on those who condemned bandits in the country, Ejiofor Alike reports

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aduna-based Islamic cleric and self-styled spokesman of the bandits terrorising several parts of the country, Shekh Ahmad Gumi, has for some time been engaging in relentless campaigns for amnesty for the bandits terrorising the country.

He also frequently attacks those who criticise bandits. A case in point was when he appeared on ARISE NEWS Channel recently, where he called journalists criminals for describing bandits as criminals.

For a group that has caused many families pain, hardship and sorrow by destroying their homes, killing them, raping women and abducting children for ransom, many had expected that Gumi would show empathy instead of glorifying them. But this is rather not the case.

Last week, Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina became his latest victim.

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 reacting to the statement credited to Gumi that the military offensive would not work and that the bandits “are going nowhere.”

“Let us face the reality, these herdsmen are going nowhere, and they are already in battle gear, and we know our military very well, so before things get messy, we need cold brains to handle this delicate situation. It’s common sense that if you allow your neighbours to be your enemy you are already conquered. Because they can easily be used against you by other forces as we see now the herdsmen are ultimately used to destabilise the region, pauperise and even depopulate it,” Gumi reportedly said.

In his reaction, Adesina said: “A bandit- lover in 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.”

Reacting to Adesina’s statement in an article posted on his verified Facebook account, Gumi said, “You bootlicker that called me a bandit-lover! I am not one, but my country-lover, my region-lover, my state-lover, and my people-lover, and humanitylover.”

He argued that only “a fool will allow his dwelling to be a theatre of war” Gumi claimed that he is not a bandit lover but his consistent publicity campaign for these criminals and his attacks on those who condemned them point to the contrary.

Zamfara State Governor, Mr. Bello Matawalle, had engaged bandits in his state in dialogue but his amnesty failed to end banditry.

Matawalle had since encouraged military actions.

Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Nasir El-Rufai had also disagreed with Gumi, insisting on military actions against the criminals.

Niger State Governor, Mr. Abubakar Sani Bello, is

Gumi also opposed to dialogue with bandits.

The Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Aminu Masari also last week admitted that he was wrong to have granted amnesty to the bandits.

To governors Masari, El-Rufai, Bello, Matawalle and other Nigerians, bandits are criminals.

But to Gumi, they are victims of cattle rustling and other societal ills and should be granted amnesty, compensated and rehabilitated.

By Gumi’s position on banditry, traders who lost their goods in market demolition and graduates who could not be given jobs by the government should go into armed robbery and other criminal activities because of the ‘injustice’ they suffered.

Gumi had once described the Nigerian Press as “criminals” for their consistent reporting of the activities of bandits and describing the outlaws as criminals.

According to him, the bandits would refuse to surrender if the press continued to refer to them as criminals.

“You are emphasising on criminality, I don’t know. Even the Press (journalists) are criminals too because they are putting oil into fire. These people are listening to you, don’t address them as criminals if you want them to succumb,” Gumi had reportedly told ARISE NEWS Channel in February.

The cleric has become a self-appointed spokesman of the bandits, who has devoted his time and resources to defend their activities and put pressure on the government to grant them amnesty.

While the Department of State Services (DSS) was busy chasing the Igbohos of this world and claiming that they did not know the enclaves of the bandits, Gumi was busy visiting these criminals in their dens.

The respected cleric once admitted that security agencies knew about his visits.

In May this year, Gumi in his sustained efforts to defend and protect the rights of the bandits, advised the federal government to pay the N100 million ransom demanded by kidnappers of

Greenfield University students to prevent the situation from degenerating further.

Gumi claimed that Boko Haram was responsible for the kidnap and not bandits.

His words: “The money they are asking for is too much; if I give you that money, you cannot run away with it. Nobody can run. So, why not give them the money, they release the boys and then we pursue them and get our money back and do what is necessary; it is simple logic. So, bring the money from the central bank. How can they move that money? We should not be stupid.

“These people are getting infiltrated; Boko Haram is getting close and they don’t respect the clergy. I need support to get them inoculated against the infiltration of these ideologies, whether Boko Haram or Ansaru, whatever it is. We need to shield them because they are naïve. If there is too much pressure on them, and they see help from Boko Haram, who are richer and have more weapons, it is going to consume everybody.”

Gumi claimed that giving bandits N100 million ransom was the best way to track them but he was visiting these outlaws with the knowledge of security agents.

In February this year, he raised the alarm that bandits were raising funds from ransom to buy anti-craft weapons.

The cleric reportedly said, “These people were the first victims of cattle rustling, who lost all their cattle to rustlers because then, the rustlers had the guns. When they lost their cattle, they joined (the rustlers) and started to kidnap people.

“In fact, most of the kidnappings, they (the bandits) are doing it to acquire weapons. They are now trying to buy missiles, anti-aircraft missiles. This is already developing into a full-blown insurgency, and we should stop that. And what we are afraid of is that if they become religiously radicalised, it will be tough to control. You see what Boko Haram has become.

Of course, the federal government and security agencies ignored his warning and chose to look the other way, the same way they ignored his visits to these bandits.”

On Monday, July 18, 2021, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, returning from a successful air interdiction mission between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna states, came under intense enemy fire which led to its crash in Zamfara State.

It took divine grace and sheer gallantry for the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, to survive the attack.

Now that Gumi has made another revelation that banditry would continue despite all the military actions, the federal government should fish out these bandits and their sponsors and bring them to book.

Since the cleric has demonstrated beyond all doubts that he knows much about bandits, Nigerians have been wondering why the security agencies are not taking him seriously.

NOTES FOR FILE

Is Edo Deputy Governor Leaving PDP? There were strong speculations last week that the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Philip Shaibu was set to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to an undisclosed political party.

Sources who claimed to be knowledgeable reportedly claimed that there were recent marathon meetings that took place outside the country between the Edo Deputy Governor and some party bigwigs in the country.

According to the sources, series of meetings took place outside the country, during the deputy governor’s vacation.

Shaibu has however distanced himself from the alleged defection plan, insisting that there is no rift between him and Gover-

nor Godwin Obaseki.

In a statement issued in Benin City, yesterday, by Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the deputy governor, Ebomhiana Musa, the deputy governor denied the claims.

Musa described the reports of his principal’s alleged defection as false and a figment of the authors’ imagination insisting that Shaibu travelled abroad on vacation to spend some time with his family.

Though the deputy governor has denied the allegations, his denial appears insufficient to erase the doubts in view of the similar denials by Governors Ben Ayade, Bello Matawalle and Dave Umahi of Cross River, Zamfara and Ebonyi states, respectively.

Before they eventually defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the two governors, who were elected on the platform of the PDP, had repeatedly denied any plan to leave the main opposition party.

A former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode had also vowed that he would rather die than defect from the PDP to the APC. Today, the four political leaders have joined the APC without offering any apology for their previous denials.

Since there is no smoke without fire, will Shaibu also defect from the PDP? The events of the next few months will reveal his next move.

Shaibu

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Understanding Land Use Act in Establishing Grazing Routes Going by the express provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, which gives governors the powers to administer control over the ownership, use, development and administration of land in their states, Ademola Orunbon writes that the federal government cannot hide under anachronistic policies to take over lands from the states

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he attacks on farmers by herdsmen in Nigeria have entered a new phase of policy direction between the federal government and state governors.

The presidency recently revealed that it is reviewing the grazing routes across the country to reduce trespassing on plantations by herders.

The destruction of farmlands and killing of farmers by herdsmen have greatly affected Nigeria’s food production capacity as more farmers keep away from their farms to protect themselves from marauding herdsmen attacks.

This also comes as the Southern governors have banned open herding in southern states with some states, recently signing an antiopen grazing law.

President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the collection of field data on the grazing routes to assess levels of encroachment, stakeholder engagements, and sensitisation, based on the recommendations of a committee chaired by Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to the president.

“The committee would also make recommendations for gazetting of ungazetted grazing reserves and create a database of National Cattle Herders and ensure that Grazing Reserves are well communicated to all stakeholders,” they added.

This recommendation comes after the president’s promise in June 2021 where he said: “If you allow your cattle to stray into any farm, you are arrested. The farmer is invited to submit his claims. The Khadi or the judge will say pay this amount and if you can’t the cattle is sold. And if there is any benefit, you are given and people were behaving themselves and in the grazing areas, they built dams, put windmills in some places there were even veterinary departments so that the herders are limited. Their route is known, their grazing area is known. So, I asked for the gazette to make sure that those who encroached on these cattle routes and grazing areas will be dispossessed in law and try to bring some order back into the cattle grazing.”

The recommendations so far from the presidency have also been met with backlash from some governors.

Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom had threatened to drag the presidency to court if they go ahead with the policy of setting up grazing reserves and routes in the country.

“In the 50s, when this policy was initiated, what was the population of Nigeria, it was less than 40 million, but today we are more than 200 million. The 923 square kilometres are not even enough to cater to the population.

The reason Mr. President is insisting on this, to some of us, I think shows there is a hidden agenda.

“Under my watch, Benue State will not accept open grazing. I have already briefed my lawyers should Mr. President insist on going ahead with the policy,” Ortom said, citing the authority of the Land Use Act which gives governors the final rights on land use in states”.

It is clear the recommendations by the presidency’s committee would be met with legal action going forward.

A report by the Director of Department of Animal Husbandry Services at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Winnie Lai-Solarin, showed there were 415 grazing reserves in Nigeria, created by the National Grazing Reserve Law, in 1965.

The 415 grazing reserves were located in 21 states, with 141 of the grazing reserves

Herdsman gazetted. Out of the 415 grazing reserves, only two are in the South, one each in Ogun and Oyo states.

However, as the Benue State Governor, Ortom stated, the Land Use Act under the Constitution gives governors the power to challenge land laws legally.

An international trade lawyer and Commercial Dispute Resolution and Litigation Team Lead at Paul Usoro & Co, Prince Nwafuru, opined that the Land Use Act provides that the control and administration of land are vested on the governor of the state where the land is situated.

Nwafuru said: “The right and control over land in Nigeria by the various tiers of government is spelled out under our laws. Reference should be made to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Land Use Act, the Federal Capital Territory Act and other legislation in that regard. Starting from the Constitution, the federal government has right over all land where there are mineral resources in Nigeria.

“Both the Constitution and the Federal Capital Territory Act also vests ownership and control of all lands in the FCT in the federal government. In relation to the lands within the states, the Land Use Act provides that, the control and administration of land are vested on the governor of the state where the land is situated. Hence, the states have control over the ownership, use, development, and administration of land in Nigeria.

He added: “However, the federal government shall continue to exercise control and ownership over the lands that were vested on it or any of its agencies prior to the coming into force of the Land Use Act in 1978”, citing that by virtue of section 28(4) of the Land Use Act, the federal government has the power to take over any land for public use by simply notifying the state government where the land is located, and the state governor is mandated

to revoke a right of occupancy in event of the issue of a notice by or on behalf of the Head of the federal government if such notice declares such land to be required for public purpose.

“Thus, these are the extents to which the federal government has power and control over lands in Nigeria. There are also some other provisions provided under certain legislations that equally impact on the powers of the federal government over land but such legislations are usually interpreted subject to the provisions of the constitution and the Land Use Act.” On the legality of past grazing routes, Nwafuru said: “The controversy around the existence of grazing routes and the legality of same came because of the need to find a solution to the constant farmers/herders clashes in Nigeria and the recent declaration by the Southern Governors banning open grazing. For me, the issue is not whether there were in existence grazing routes in Nigeria at some point.

“The more important issue is the legality of such grazing routes under our current legal regime. In other words, can the federal government hide under such anachronistic legislation (if any) to take over lands from the states? I do not think so going by the express provisions of the Constitution and the Land Use Act,” he adds He also noted that reference has been made to a Grazing Law of the Northern Region of Nigeria (Law of 1965) which applied only to the defunct Northern Region.

“Some have argued that it is an existing law by virtue of Section 315(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 4 of the Land Use Act, 1978, However, this law applies only to the states in Northern Nigeria. And secondly, the federal government cannot administer this law as grazing route is not a matter under the exclusive list in the Constitution.”

“Equally important is the fact that for the federal government to take over any land from the states in line with section 28(4) of the Land Use Act, it must be shown that the land is to be used for public purposes.

“Although the definition of “public purposes” under the Land Use Act includes obtaining the land required for or in connection with agricultural purposes, it is arguable that the term “public purposes” extends to taking over private lands to establish grazing routes or ranches for the rearing and grazing of cattle by private individuals. This is where the issue becomes more interesting.

“For me, the way forward is to allow states to adopt the ranching method as a way to solve the farmers/herders crisis rather than going the route of grazing routes which as I have shown, may be hampered by a lot of legal bottlenecks,” he opined.

Head of Research at geopolitical research firm, SBM Intelligence, Ikemesit Effiong, urged that a short-term solution over the next five years towards solving the issue is land reform which is critical.

“The Land Use Act must be completely and comprehensively amended. No other legal workaround is possible. It must be dispensed with,” he said.

The legality of the Land Use Act gives governors the power to administer control over the ownership, use, development, and administration of land in their domain. However, the Constitution states that the federal government can also administer control of land from states for public purposes.

Deferring to the old grazing routes laws in the defunct Northern Nigeria region, the presidency can speed up the process by working with Northern Nigeria governors to set up grazing routes and reserves in states that are willing to be part of the exercise.

Orunbon writes from Abeokuta

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

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Protracted Battle Looms as VAT War Shifts to Supreme Court Alex Enumah writes that the current litigations over the rightful authority to collect theValue Added Tax would become fiercer and probably long-drawn as litigants take case to Supreme Court

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arely two months after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State pronounced as illegal the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), that matter has suddenly become an issue before the Supreme Court. This is so following an appeal by the Rivers State Government seeking to set aside the interim order of injunction by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, restraining it from executing the judgment of the Federal High Court.

A three-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsanammi, of the Court of Appeal, Abuja had on September 10, 2021, ruled that in the overriding interest of justice, all parties who submitted themselves before the court should not take any further steps that would destroy the res (the subject matter of the appeal – who is entitled to collect VAT in Rivers State).

“It is hereby ordered that status quo ante bellum should be maintained, pending the hearing of the motion,” the judge ruled.

Justice Stephen Pam of a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had in a judgment delivered on August 9, held that the Rivers State Government and not the FIRS, has the right to collect VAT and Personal Income Tax (PIT) in the state. Justice Pam, in the judgment subsequently restrained the Attorney General of the Federation and FIRS (1st and 2nd defendants) from collecting VAT in Rivers and directed the Rivers State Government to take charge of the duty. The court, in addition, issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining both the FIRS and AGF from collecting, demanding, threatening and intimidating residents of Rivers State to pay to FIRS, Personal Income Tax and Value Added Tax. Based on the judgment, Rivers State enacted a law that empowers it to collect VAT in the state. The bill was signed into law by Governor Nyesom Wike on August 19, 2021.

Although FIRS had attempted to stay the execution of the judgment of Justice Pam, the request was turned down by the court, forcing the agency to proceed to the appellate court for rescue and redress.

Pending the hearing of the main suit against the judgment of the Federal High Court, the appellant had applied for an application to stay the execution of the judgment of the lower court and another application for an interlocutory injunction restraining the respondent (Rivers State) from collecting VAT in the state.

However, the application for stay and interlocutory injunction could not be heard on that day (September 10) because of the request by the Lagos Attorney General (AG) to be included as a party in the suit. Although the appellant had opposed the joinder application, the court held that his right would be affected adversely if not heard. Justice Tsammani consequently fixed September 16 for the hearing of the joinder application by Lagos AG. However, the panel held that since the application for stay and interlocutory injunction could not be heard it was only proper to preserve the res and consequently ordered that “all parties that have submitted themselves before the court should maintain status quo”.

Justice Tsanammi further ordered parties to refrain themselves from giving effect to the judgment of Justice Pam of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers

Malami

Wike State, delivered on August 9, which restrained the FIRS from collecting VAT in Rivers State. According to the panel the decision to take such action was vested to them by Section 6 of the Constitution.

But displeased by this decision, the Rivers State on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court to set aside the ruling of the appellate court on grounds that the lower court erred in ordering parties to maintain status quo after it earlier held that the application for joinder by Lagos State must be heard first before the motion for stay and interlocutory injunction by the FIRS. The appellant maintained that the appellate court lacked the powers to set aside its own judgement which held that the Lagos application for joinder must be taken before any other application. They further argued that ordering status quo ante bellum amounts to granting the reliefs being sought by the FIRS when the main application has not been heard and determined.

The Rivers State Government, in the notice of appeal, claimed that the Justices of the appellate court erred in law when they relied on the provisions of Section 6(6) of the 1999 constitution and the inherent jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to make an order to maintain status quo which they identified as restoring the parties to the position they were before the judgment of the Federal High Court in suit number: FHC/PH/CS/149/2020, was delivered on August 9, 2021.

The appellant stated that by doing so, the Justices of the Court of Appeal failed to appreciate that the inherent jurisdiction of the court cannot be applied in contravention of statutory

provisions. They further alleged that the lower court failed to appreciate the nature of inherent jurisdiction and that it cannot be invoked to circumvent the clear provisions of statute as it was done with regards to order 6 rule 1 of the Court of Appeal rules 2016, in this case.

“That they failed to take into account the principle governing the exercise of inherent jurisdiction laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of Shugaba V Union Bank (1999) 11 NWRL (pt.627) 459 - to the effect that no court has Inherent Jurisdiction (except in extreme circumstances) to set aside the exercise of discretion of another court with regards to order made in respect of application for stay.

“That the Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they wrongly assumed jurisdiction to entertain the oral application for maintenance of status quo made by counsel to the FIRS in spite of the fact that a condition precedent to the invocation of the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal was not fulfilled by the FIRS”, the appellant submitted while adding that under order 6 rule 1 of the Court of Appeal rules, 2016, “every application shall be by notice of motion supported by affidavit and shall state the rule under which it is brought and the ground for the relief.”

Arguing further, the Rivers State Government claimed that the Court of Appeal erred in law and breached its right of fair hearing when they entertained a “vague oral application for maintenance of status quo and even went ahead to make far-reaching orders,” which according to it was aimed at maintaining status quo ante

bellum.

Among the reliefs being sought include an order dismissing the oral application for interim injunction and another order excusing the panel which granted the status quo order from further hearing of the appeal.

Shortly after the court held that it would give priority to the Lagos motion and adjourned for its hearing, counsel to the FIRS, Mr. Mahmud Magaji (SAN) had made an oral application for interim injunction so as to preserve the res. Although this position was opposed by counsel to Rivers and Lagos States who was yet to be joined as a party, the three-member panel however in a unanimous decision held that parties must maintain status quo.

In the appeal filed by its lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, (SAN), the Rivers State Government argued that the appellate court erred in law when it ordered maintenance of status quo on a case that is not perishable or have any evidence of being damaged or destroyed. The appellant further argued that the appellate court erred in law when it went outside the reliefs sought by the respondent in its motion on notice filed August 27. They further maintained that the court was wrong in ordering status quo ante bellum after the Rivers State had passed its VAT law, which was passed by the governor on August 19.

They therefore want the court to set aside the ruling of the Justice Tsammani led panel against the judgment of Justice Pam for being a nullity.

With the early stages of the litigations already at the Supreme Court, coupled with the accusation against the Appeal Court panel, the VAT battle will probably be so long-drawn that a political solution may be explored.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

CICERO/REPORT

NJC Moves to Sanitise the Judiciary The recent actions by the National Judicial Council ahead of the 2023 general election show that the body is determined to put an end to impunity and misconduct in the judiciary, on election matters, writes Vanessa Obioha

A

s part of efforts to remove the bad eggs from the judiciary, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has ordered the Judicial Service Committee (JSC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to immediately initiate disciplinary action against the Upper Area Court Judge who issued direct criminal summons against a former governor of the Central Governor of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.

Justice Gambo Garba of the Upper Area Court, Zuba, Abuja, had in July 2021, issued a direct criminal summons against Soludo over his alleged failure to declare his assets while serving as the CBN governor between May 29, 2004 and May 29, 2009.

The Upper Area Court had issued the direct criminal summons against Soludo over perjury, corruption and false assets declaration which is completely outside the jurisdiction of the Upper Area Court.

FCT Judicial Service Committee is under the Chairmanship of the Acting Chief Judge, Hon. Hussein Baba Yusuf.

It was gathered that from all indications, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman National Judicial Council, Muhammad, seems determined to put an end to impunity and misconduct in the judiciary”.

The acting Chief Judge of FCT is expected to submit his findings to the CJN within 21 days.

The CJN had met with the chief judges of the FCT, Rivers, Kebbi, Cross River, Jigawa, Anambra and Imo states on Monday, September 6, 2021 and directed some of them to admonish the judges in their jurisdictions on the danger of granting ex parte injunctions.

The move followed concerns by Nigerians over the spate of incongruous and conflicting orders by courts of coordinate jurisdiction against political parties, politicians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This was obviously accentuated following the build-up to the Anambra State governorship election.

Muhammad had recently summoned Chief Judges of six State High Courts across the country where these were prevalent.

The move was fuelled by an urgent need to halt the decay, disregard, contempt of the judiciary, occasioned by the indiscriminate granting of court orders and injunctions by some judges.

Unlike previously when the NJC would wait for a petition from the public before investigating and disciplining any erring judge, the CJN on his own, in this instant case, took the decision to look into the issue with the possible punishment of any judge found culpable.

Among the affected CJs the CJN had invited for explanation is that of Rivers, Kebbi, Cross River, Anambra, Jigawa and Imo States High Courts.

According to the invitation letter dated August 30, the heads of the courts were to appear before the CJN as a prelude to the forthcoming plenary of the NJC to explain what might have warranted the issuance of conflicting court orders by judges in their courts.

Between June and August 2021, no fewer than six High Court judges had issued restraining orders on INEC and major political parties in the country, as well as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus.

While the CJ of the High Courts of Imo, Jigawa and Anambra are to explain the roles of their courts in the Anambra governorship election slated for November 6, 2021, their counterparts in Rivers, Kebbi and Cross River are to explain the role of their courts in the PDP leadership crisis.

From the tone of the CJN’s invitation letter, it was obvious that the CJN was very bitter over the development, which sources around the CJN noted is a huge embarrassment to the Nigerian judiciary and the country at large.

However, it was not only the leadership of the bench that had been worried about the

Tanko Muhammad unfortunate descent of the judiciary in recent times.

Few hours after the CJN’s summons of six Chief Judges, the leadership of the umbrella body for lawyers, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) issued a statement condemning the development.

President of the NBA, Mr. Olumidie Akpata, in the statement issued August 30, promised that the body would support necessary steps to stem the tide, adding also that it would not hesitate to sanction lawyers behind the unfortunate acts.

It would be recalled that Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme of the Court of Appeal, Awka, Anambra State in a judgment early August had indicted lawyers for shopping for favourable judgments for politicians.

The judge in a ruling on the authentic governorship candidate for the APGA, called for disciplinary actions against the judges of the High Courts that went out of their territorial jurisdiction to entertain motions due to alleged inducements.

She also made similar recommendations against the lawyers that brought those applications before the judges.

“By the issuance of this statement, the NBA confirms unequivocally that it will not stand by and watch a ridiculing of the profession and the justice administration system by a handful of its members and will be considering its deterrence options in this regard,” Akpata said.

To this end, Akpata said the NBA would urgently seek audience with the CJN to address this issue holistically and as such would “enlist the support of the Chairman of the NBA Judiciary Committee, Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, (SAN) as well as the Chairpersons of the NBA Section of Legal Practice (NBA-SLP) and NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBASPIDEL), Mr. Oluwaseun Abimbola (SAN) and Dr. Monday Ubani for this proposed engagement.”

Although the country’s constitution and the Electoral Act allow the judiciary (courts and election tribunals) to intervene particularly when issues of non-compliance, manipulation, violence allegedly marred the process of electing a particular representative, however, the manner and ways these interventions are being carried out by some judges have become a source of worry and strong concerns, particularly as preparations for the 2023 general election gears up.

There are fears that if the interventions of the courts within the last two months in the Anambra governorship election are anything to go by, one can only predict dangers in 2023. Between June and August alone, various courts have given orders and counter orders to INEC over who to be on the ballot for the three major political parties contesting the November 6, governorship election. And sadly, most of these orders were issued by courts that lacked the

territorial jurisdictions to hear such matters.

Most sadly is the fact they the orders were hinged upon ex parte application for which the leadership of the judiciary has warned judges to be “circumspect” of. For example, INEC had on July 16 published the name of Umeoji as the APGA candidate following an order by the Jigawa State High Court on June 28. On July 18 Justice Charles Okaa of Anambra state High Court directed INEC to publish Prof. Charles Soludo’s name as APGA’s candidate. Meanwhile justice Iheka of the Imo state High Court again ordered INEC to publish Umeoji’s name as APGA’s candidate.

Still on the Anambra governorship poll, Justice Obiora Nwabunike, of an Anambra State High Court, had declared Ugochukwu Uba as the PDP candidate for the November 6 governorship election, while at the same time, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, of a Federal High Court, Awka, ordered INEC to publish the name of Valentine Ozigbo as candidate of the PDP for the same election.

At a point, INEC had to drop the names of APGA and PDP candidates from the list despite its assurance to obey court orders. According to INEC, the decision was taken in cognisance of the judgments/court orders served on it in relation to the primaries of the political parties and other processes leading to the election.

The courts were again indicted for another professional misconduct in the case of PDP National Chairman, Secondus with one High Court appearing to be sitting as an appellate court over another, suggesting that something else is involved outside the pursuit of justice.

First, Justice O. Gbasam of a High Court of Rivers State, on August 23, 2021 issued an order of interim injunction restraining Secondus from carrying on as Chairman of the PDP, pending the hearing and determination of a suit challenging his continued stay in office.

Justice O. Gbasam of the Degema Division of a High Court of Rivers State, sitting in Port Harcourt issued the orders while delivering ruling in an exparte application by some chieftains of the PDP in Rivers State.

But three days later, August 26, Justice Nusirat Umar of the Kebbi state High Court ordered Secondus to return to his position as the National Chairman. The judge made the order while delivering ruling in a suit marked KB/AC/M. 170/2021, filed by three concerned members of the party, Yahaya Usman, Abubakar Mohammed and Bashar Suleman.

Just like the electoral umpire, which was confused on which of the various High Courts orders to obey, the PDP was also confused on which of the orders to obey. Initially Secondus obeyed the order of his suspension but later said he is obeying the latter order to go back to office. So, the confusion continues, with negative impact on the judiciary and the image of the country globally.

An exparte application, which is a preservative order is usually granted by a court to protect the ‘res’ from being destroyed, abused, or tampered with. Before granting it, a judge must be fully convinced that something is being endangered and needed court’s temporary order for protection, and preservation before parties are called upon to present their cases for adjudication. However, in all these cases where the affected courts have issued restraining order, nothing seemed to be in danger that must be protected by the court.

Rather than granting the applications, these judges ought to have placed the respondents on notice. This is where the need to be circumspect as has been advocated comes in.

Since the Supreme Court in several decisions, had held that the internal matters of political parties are not issues of the courts, one begins to wonder the attraction to disobedience and disregard to precedence by some judges.

The move by the CJN as well as the NBA will help redeem the image of the judiciary, especially when any judge or lawyer found culpable is given the maximum sanction to serve as a deterrent to others.

66

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

GAVEL

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

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

Lawan’s Obsession with Loans Adedayo Akinwale writes that the National Assembly’s lack of capacity to check the excessive borrowing by the executive arm of government is fuelling its unbridled appetite for loans

F

ollowing the resumption of the National Assembly from its annual recess, the Àrst request from President Muhammadu Buhari was a request for the legislative arm’s approval of a fresh N2.5 trillion loan despite the current debt overhang of N33 trillion.

The request seeks to consider and approve an external borrowing plan amounting to about N2.5 trillion to fund projects captured under the 2018-2021 borrowing projections.

This fresh loan request, if approved, will increase the country’s national debts to over N35 trillion.

Since 2015, Nigeria’s debt has also been increasing in double digits year-after-year, with the highest increase recorded between 2015 and 2016.

According to the Debt Management O΀ce (DMO), public debt stock stood at N12,603 trillion in 2015, N17.360 trillion in 2016, and N21.725 trillion in 2017. In 2018, 2019 and 2020, public debt stood at N24.387 trillion, N27.401 trillion, and N32.915 trillion, respectively.

From the foregoing, the highest increase occurred between 2015 and 2016, while between 2015 and 2020, Nigeria’s public debt increased by 161 per cent, indicating a yearly average increase of 37.74 per cent.

Buhari, in a letter to the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, dated August 24, 2021, which was read at the plenary last week explained that the projects listed in the 2018-2021 federal government Borrowing Plan were to be Ànanced through sovereign loans from the World Bank, French Development Agency (AFD), Export-Import Bank of China, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Credit Suisse Group and Standard Chartered/China Export and Credit (SINOSURE).

The president said the amount is in the sum of $4.05 billion, И710 million and a grant component of $125 million. He explained that the money would be used to fund federal and state government projects across key sectors such as infrastructure, health, agriculture and food security, energy, education and human capital development, as well as the COVID-19 response initiative.

Between 2015 and 2020, the federal government committed a total of N11.679 trillion into debt servicing, while N8.31 trillion was expended on capital/development expenditure A breakdown of the amount showed that in 2015 and 2016, N953.620 billion and N1.475 trillion, respectively, were spent on debt service, while N1.841 trillion and N2.203 trillion went into the same line item in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

The analysis of the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper showed that the sums of N2.254 trillion and N2.951 trillion went into debt service in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

The N11.679,845,205, 997 Àve-year debt service proÀle (2015-2020) also translated to a yearly average of N1.386 trillion.

Coming just three months after the Senate approved $8.3 billion and И490 million loans requested by the president, the alarming rate at which President Buhari continues to borrow money has led the country to sink deeper in overwhelming debt.

The staggering amount has also left many Nigerians worried, making them wondered if the lawmakers are properly monitoring or asking questions on how the loans are spent through oversight.

For instance, the President of the Senate, Lawan, had right from the beginning of the second term of this administration made it clear that anything Buhari desired must be approved because the president always

Lawan meant well for Nigeria.

With the ‘rubber stamp’ nature of the present 9th National Assembly, the fresh loan request is as good as approved as no one expects the legislative arm to turn question the executive’s unbridled appetite for loans.

The only lone voice that spoke against the loan was former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume who accused the Lawan-led Ninth Senate of denying the lawmakers of the opportunity of debating and deliberating on critical issues, stressing that this has already created a wrong perception of the Senate as a ‘rubber stamp’institution.

While acknowledging that he was not an expert in debt analysis, the senator representing Borno South lamented that the rate the country’s borrowing is increasing is worrisome.

Ndume stated: “It is not wrong, for example, to borrow money from the bank with some reasonable interest to buy a car, especially when you have a family – wife and children to take to school, and you plan to repay gradually with your salary. It is Àne, because you cannot aͿord the money to buy the car on your own. Borrowing to you, becomes a necessity.

“But, when you borrow and you cannot buy fuel, then you keep borrowing to buy fuel, and you give the car as collateral to collect fuel« I don’t support that. It is not the borrowing. And this request for a loan that the president sent to the National Assembly is part of the approved external borrowing plan, but as I said. I am just being very careful”.

He advised his colleagues to take a critical look at the condition of the loan, its purpose, and if necessary look for an

alternative or negotiate the terms, rather than hastily approving it just to remain in the good book of the president, even at the detriment of the country.

Ndume added: “Look at what the borrowing is for in the Àrst place - is it necessary? Are the terms good? Borrowing is not a crime but when the rate of debt service increases and I understand it is getting to 80 to 90 per cent, you have to be cautious, you have to look at alternatives.

“There are certain borrowings that are just absolutely necessary, there are some that are not necessary. There are some that can be delayed, there are some that the terms can be negotiated or renegotiated. This is what we should analyse and see if it is necessary. Let us look at the implications and what the money is meant for.

“For example, we have an infrastructural deÀcit in this country and what we hear when people come to Abuja or when allocations are made, you can’t tell what is done with it”.

Ndume pointed out that he was not happy with the way the upper chamber under the leadership of Lawan was handling the external loan issue.

He said: “Another thing I am worried about is the way the Senate is handling it. The Senate, by deÀnition, is the House of deliberation. When things like this (loan request) comes, you don’t just say, because you want to be good, you approve it. No. You are supposed to look at it critically. Cross the Ts, dot the Is, ask questions, carry the people you are representing along, ask if they agree. Not that we just sit down and just approve it.

“We thought it might be good but the way we do it makes the people we

represent to look at us suspiciously. There are situations where the time is short and we need to act fast, then we will have to carry the people along. I feel pain when they say “you people again.”

“You call us rubber stamp and all that. But if there are certain things that can wait, we need to analyse and not rush. We rushed to approve certain borrowings. Up till now, we didn’t get the money. So why did we rush?

These are the questions that come to my head most of the time.”

Despite Ndume’s warning, the Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu told journalists last Thursday that while the House was worried about the debt burden of the country, it would approve the fresh loan request of the President provided the parliament is convinced about what the loan would be used for.

He said, “There is a projected new borrowing of N4.89 trillion. We are looking at approving it on the condition that there is the provision of the details of the borrowing plan and where it is going to because it was reÁected in the MTEF. “Now when you break down this proposed expenditure for 2022 which is at N13.89 trillion, you have a makeup of total recurrence, non-debt of N6.21 trillion, personnel cost by MDAs at N3.47 trillion, and capital expenditure exclusive of transfers of N3.26 trillion; special intervention recurrence amounting N350 billion and special intervention capital of 10 billion. We are thinking these should be approved but subject to debate by the House.”

Indeed, the lack of capacity of the National Assembly to question the Executive Arm’s obsession for loans has encouraged the present administration to engage in a borrowing spree that will plunge the country into serious economic crisis sooner or later.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

67

INTERNATIONAL Beyond the Reckless Petitions to the PCC on the NIIA: The Case of the Steam Accusing the Kettle

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CC is an acronym for the Public Complaints Commission, which was established in the 1970s to receive complaints from the public against civil and public servants, especially when such complaints are about engagement by public officials in acts of corruption, favoritism, nepotism, incompetence., use of false documents in the application of civil service rules. In this regard, the PCC is to investigate only the complaints but cannot enforce its decisions or recommendations. It is also not empowered to reverse or probe the decisions and actions of courts, presidents or governors, ministers, commissioners, judges or such government officials in top sensitive political positions. Put differently, the decisions and recommendations of the PCC are, at best, left for Government to take final decision on them. One major rationale for this is the need to ensure state security which procedurally requires limiting ‘the access of the ombudsman to vital records, information and documents.’

NIIA means the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, which was established in 1961 and generally referred to as Africa’s foremost foreign policy think tank, but which its very patriotic founders considered as a World Institute in Africa, an African Institute in Nigeria, and ultimately a Nigerian Institute in Lagos, Nigeria.

This is one major rationale for the non-relocation of the institute to Abuja under the presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The case of the steam accusing the kettle was necessarily raised in a report on 9th August 2021 by The Sun News, which said that it got a copy of a petition from a member of staff of the NIIA and that the petition was addressed to the Commissioner of the PCC. From the report of The Sun News, there are two deductive observations: that the petitioner is Dr. Fred Aja Agwu who wanted to be the Director General of the NIIA, but when a better candidate in the person of Professor Eghosa Osaghae was appointed the Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Agwu then struggled to be the Director of Research and Studies in the Institute. Besides, Dr. Agwu saw in Dr. Efem Ubi, the current acting Director of the Department, who acted the position of the Director General of the NIIA at the time of the crisis, as junior to him and should not have been appointed at all as head of the Research Department.

This issue has been raised several times in the past, but Dr. Fred Agwu always preferred to misinform the press and the government on the matter. Let me restate here for the umpteenth time that Dr. Agwu is, at best, a GCP (Governing Council-sponsored Professor) and not an NIIA-appointed Professor. By implication, his professorial claims, not to mention his being the most senior academic at the institute before the retirement of Professor Bukar Bukarambe, are not tenable. There is, therefore, the need to go beyond the reckless petitions sent to the PCC. Recklessness of the Petitions Dr. Frederick Aja Agwu’s petitions are very reckless in conception, very fraudulent in design, provocative in content, and unfortunately most misleading and myopic in strategic objective.

Put differently, what does Dr. Agwu want to put to the Nigerian public with his petitions? Is it that he was the only and most senior member of staff? Is it that he was qualified to be the Director General of the NIIA or that it is only professorial status that is required for eligibility? Who, of all his advisors in the Administration Department of the NIIA, got him confused with such wrong information?

Who says that the NIIA is only functionally guided by Public Service Rules? Who also says that Dr. Efem Ubi is not qualified to head the Research Department and Studies in an acting capacity? Who really says that the introduction of the position of a Director in the Office of the Director General of the NIIA is fraudulent or not governmentally approved?

When I was Director-General of the NIIA, from 16th November 2010 to 30th November 2015, the Administration Department was the epicentre of acts of serious misconduct and fraudulent activities, especially with Ms. Agatha Ude as Director of Administration and Finance and General Ike Nwachukwu as Chairman of the Governing Council, which consciously laid the foundation for the various problems of indiscipline with which the incumbent Director General is now faced. General Ike Nwachukwu, coupled with the very subjective and poor advice given by Ambassador Pius Ayewoh who acted on his behalf for about ten months when General Nwachukwu was on medical vacation abroad, forced me to ensure the promotion of Dr. Agwu contrary to the extant rules that the same Dr. Agwu now wants respected. Dr. Agwu was frequently given classified information by the Director and Deputy Director of Administration which was unconsciously revealed in Dr. Agwu and Dr. Charles Dokubo’s petitions sent to me. When I left

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Onyema office, I took them to court and won my case against them as they had to apologise to me.

Without whiffs of doubt, there are other more critical questions to address here, but our intention is essentially to provide explicative truths about the petitions, not to lay emphasis on the person of Dr. Agwu. Our emphasis will be on the various allegations by Dr. Agwu in order to prevent the distortion of the truth for posterity and also to stop the attempt by Dr. Agwu to project a bad and wrong image for the NIIA in its current activities competently being organized by its Management to celebrate the NIIA at 60 in December 2021.

First, The Sun News reported that Dr. Agwu is‘appealing that the succession process in the civil service be upheld. The consequence of all these is that there is now practically no seniority in the NIIA. There is now complete lawlessness in the institute. Checking the unruliness and the breach of rules in the NIIA is very important, because, if things continue to go this way, unwholesome precedents would be institutionalized. The result, if the ill practices are not checked, would not be good for the institute and the Civil Service.’

This allegation is the most brutal in character. What does‘no seniority in the NIIA’mean in practical terms. I am very conversant with the NIIA as I go there for frequent research. One truth is that no one has any jot of respect for him because of his own attitude.

In this column on 7 June 2020, which was entitled‘Truths about Untruths,’I noted that many members of staff of the NIIA said they would prefer the use of the NIIA as a COVID-19 quarantine centre than have it as a research institution under Dr Aja Agwu as Director General. This observation speaks volumes.

Respect begets respect at various levels of inter-personal relationships and particularly at the official levels. As at today, I can make bold that Professor Eghosa Osaghae is fostering healthy horizontal relations amongst all members of staff at the inter-personal level while also insisting on vertical instructional relationship in the conduct and management of the official businesses of the institute. There is no iota of truth in the allegation of complete lawlessness or lack of respect for seniority in the NIIA. It is Dr Agwu that is suffering from lack of self-respect. Who really is Dr. Agwu senior to in the Institute?

Dr. Agwu also said if‘things continue to go this way, unwhole-

Consequently, the PCC should thread very carefully in dealing with the petitions from Dr. Fred Aja Agwu. He is not an NIIA-appointed professor but an ethnically motivated and appointed professor by the Ike Nwachukwu-led Governing Council. Any investigation by the PCC should begin with the records of the Governing Council, because it is a special case of the steam accusing the kettle. His claim of status of a full-fledged professor is founded on a fraudulent foundation.

Claiming seniority when he has a questionable professorial assessment and having the effrontery to be petitioning is self-killing, especially that the PCC cannot implement its own decisions. It is the NIIA management and Government that are being accused that will still be required to implement the recommendations to be made by the PCC. More important, Dr. Agwu must learn how not to destroy others in order to climb the ladder. He prevented the promotion of many others under frivolous pretexts and the same people simply waited for him where he never expected. This is a good case of what goes round coming around. He should therefore make haste slowly in his business of petitioning

some precedents would be institutionalized.’The truth is that he is the very first person to lay the unwholesome precedent that General Ike Nwachukwu, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, Ambassador Pius Ayewoh, and even Professor Akin Oyebode, a scholar of national repute and international standing for that matter, et al, tried to institutionalise. It is on record that Dr Agwu was Associate Research Professor for only two years when he began writing protest letters against me to compel his promotion into the substantive grade of a professor contrary to extant regulations.

He came up with an old regulation which stipulated‘minimum of two years’on the grade of an Associate Professor before eligibility to be considered for elevation into the professorial cadre.

This regulation was thrown into the dustbin of history ever before he was recruited into the NIIA and also following the decision of the NIIA Management to adopt the academic regulations of the University of Lagos, but with more stricter conditions. It was considered that the academic colleagues in the University were saddled with more teaching responsibilities, which was not the case with the occasional lectures being given by the NIIA Fellows.

Consequently, rather than the 28 academic points or 33 points required for prima farcie eligibility for consideration for promotion to the grade of associate and substantive professor in the University, the NIIA Fellows were required to have 48 and 65 points respectively for the two professorial cadres. In the same vein, rather than the requirement of two years minimum, it was changed to three years minimum to be eligible for promotion from the position of an Associate to that of a substantive professor of the NIIA. The Ike Nwachukwu Governing Council blackmailed me, but I resisted. The truth was that, even when the requirement was two years, it was not automatic, because of the qualifying adjective, ‘minimum.’Besides, evaluation of eligibility was also predicated on academic publications, behaviour, contributions to national development efforts, and, on qualitative contributions to existing knowledge, rather than on quantitative number of publications.

Two relevant observations ought to be made at this juncture before providing a background truth analysis of Dr Agwu’s petitions. The first is that he had a critical problem with Professor Osita Eze when he was the Director General of the Institute (2006-15th November 2010). The problem was that Professor Eze did not accept Dr. Agwu’s claim that he was an international law scholar, and perhaps most disturbingly, Professor Eze frowned at Dr Agwu’s use of an existing book title,‘World Peace Through World Law,’written

by Louis B. Sohn and Grenville Clark, and first published in 1958. It is a popular book because it advocated a review of the UN Charter.

In the eyes of Professor Eze, an acknowledged international scholar, this was partly an intellectual theft and therefore a copyright infringement. Professor Eze never had any warm relationship with him because of this. As if this was not enough, there was also another controversy: how Dr Agwu used a MILD (Master in International Law and Diplomacy) qualification to pursue a doctoral academic programme in the University of Lagos. MILD is a professional qualification. It is not academic. The animosity vis-à-vis Dr. Agwu at the NIIA is largely derived from the foregoing. If there is any lawlessness in the NIIA, it cannot but begin clearly at the level of the petitioner. The background truth not only lends further credence to this observation, but also points to how a Governing Council chaired by General Ike Nwachukwu which tried to fast track his promotion, ended up permanently destroying him. Excessive ethnic politics does not pay. I predicted the destruction of the NIIA and told General Ike Nwachukwu as Chairman of Governing Council in black and white. The Council fraudulently got professorial appointments for people who should have been objectively assessed but, in the mania of manu militari, were pronounced professors without one of them meeting the requirement of two points.

The Background Truths As reported by The Sun News,‘Professor Agwu complained that the substantive DG, Prof. Osaghae, had equally ignored him as a full-fledged professor, and even went ahead to recognize an Assistant Director on Grade Level 13, as the Acting Director of Research, against Civil Service Rules and Regulations, which prescribe seniority in such appointments.’This allegation is most unfortunate. First, promotion in the Research Depart is not governed by civil service regulations but by the academic community rules. Second, it is wrong for Dr. Agwu to see himself as a full-fledged professor at the NIIA, because he is certainly not, and if we are to consider him as one, it can only be as one of the pioneer Governing Council Professors (GCP). The other pioneer Governing Council Professor is Dr. Charles Dokubo. The two of them were not qualified to have been considered for NIIA Professorship for reasons not far-fetched.

The then Director of Research and Studies, Professor Ogaba Danjuma Oche, revealed the names of the professorial assessors of both Dr. Dokubo and Dr Agwu to them, which should not be. I complained in black and white, but to no avail, to the Ike Nwachukwu-led Governing Council. And true enough, rather than sanctioning anyone, the Council kept quiet, because of its grudges against me, particularly because of my insistence on the fact that professorship is neither a chieftaincy title nor a commodity that has to be negotiated in the markets or on the altar of bargaining.

The title of a professor, and for that matter, Academic Professor, is always earned in international academic practice. The title is not honorary and not inheritable.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

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SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

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

ENGAGEMENTS

Don’t Sit at Home, Go out and Face Nigeria Chidi Amuta

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new political current that portends anarchy and violent division is brewing in the South-east. It is an imminent tussle between elected politicians and sundry non-state organisations for control of hearts, minds and political support. Disciples of IPOB and other separatist cults in the zone have since assumed informal dominance of the streets and countryside, leaving the federal and state governments in charge of formal authority structures. As things stand today, street people and ordinary folks in the villages of the South East recognise and seem to obey mostly the orders of IPOB and other separatist groups. People ignore the police and the army when they reassure people of their safety. Government and its presiding politicians now desperately want to regain control of the political space. But IPOB, ESN and their army of thugs are holding strong. Elders, the socio cultural elite and hapless ordinary citizens are thus in danger of being caught in a crossfire they hardly bargained for.

The immediate ignition point is the new politics of weekly‘sit at home’orders being deployed by IPOB to deepen its support base and push its grievances around the detention of IPOB leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu. In the run up to the election season, the‘sit at home’strategy is likely to be followed by boycotts of elections and other civic obligations all in an effort to send a message to Nigeria that all is not well with a significant section of the national community.

But the message of the ‘sit at home’ strategy is not getting to the powers in Abuja. It seems to be achieving the direct opposite of its intended goals.

I cannot see how it is going to advance the separatist cause of IPOB and its misguided sympathizers.

Instead, it is hurting the economy of the zone. It is alienating the people from the national common market and creating an enclave siege mentality that willultimatelydeepenthepovertyandmarginalisation that prompted the agitations in the first place. The‘sit at home’method is a political strategy designed by thugs and motor park touts and enforced by street urchinsandjoblesscommoncriminals.Thementality, if not halted quickly, is bound to reduce the South East into a theatre of perpetual conflict and instability as rival vigilantes are poised to clash with aggrieved traders and honest economic operators. Eventually, the strategy will impoverish the very people whose anger and grievances IPOB and related devotees claim to be championing.

In the aftermath of the arrest and detention of Mr. Kanu, on successive Mondays, the streets of urban areas in the south east have remained deserted.

Markets and shops have been closed by their owners who would rather stay safely home than risk life and limbs in the hands of enforcement thugs. Although IPOB has belatedly issued a statement shelving the weekly‘sit at home’order, the message does not seem tohavereacheditsvigilantesandthehordesofrandom criminal elements who have hidden under the IPOB umbrella to commit murder, looting and arson under the guise of enforcing the‘sit at home’order.

With the benefit of hindsight, what began as an annual one-day ritual observance to remember the dead of the Biafran war has given birth to the present mayhem. In the early days, a cross section of people of the South East in different parts of the country would shut down their businesses on Biafra Day, usually 30th May every year. It was usually a solemn observance with the occasional prayers, peaceful processions and recollections by those who knew what the memorial day was all about. In spirit, it resembled the Jewsih observance of Holocaust Day around the world. The emergence of militant nationalism tainted with hate rhetoric mostly since the Buhari presidency has altered all that.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has since emerged to replace more sedate movements like MASSOBasthekeyBiafraorientedsecessionistmovement with greater mass appeal and sympathy. Its initial message of marginalization of the peoples of the zone has since degenerated into a theology of hate and intolerance of Nigeria and an illogical insistence on secession predicated on a relapse to the defunct Republic of Biafra. Its arrowhead, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, has since emerged as some kind of folk hero, a self appointed merchant carrier of a communal sense of persecution mostly by the Igbo nationality.

The recent kidnapping, rendition and detention of Mr. Kanu by federal government agents has further weaponized IPOB and its militant formations and outgrowths. The organization has since declared a weekly ‘sit at home’ in the south east as a form of

Nnamdi Kanu protest to pressure more attention on Mr. Kanu’s plight. Every Monday, Banks do not open all over the zone. Markets are shut down. Shops remain shuttered and jobless urban youth and miscreants either play soccer on deserted streets or appoint themselves enforcement vigilantes to ensure compliance with the‘sit at home’order.

Sensible people stay safely at home and out of trouble, more out of fear of violence in the hands of street hoodlums and careless policemen than outofsolidaritywithNnamdiKanu’sIPOBandtheir travails in the hands of the Buhari government.

Even on these deserted‘sit at home’days, the stray bullets of official security personnel sometimes manage to find innocent casualties among observers of the order or its hapless enforcers. The general atmosphere in the south east on these‘sit at home‘ days is one of eerie unease and palpable abnormality. Something dies on each of those days as roops in combat gear patrol the streets and highways, sometimes roughing up innocent people who venture out to obey government’s reassurance that people should go about their normal businesses.

In the process of pursuing whatever agenda IPOB may have set for itself, it has infused political confusion into the consciousness of the people of the south east. Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and his crude propagandists have a confusing narrative that seems to be equating IPOB with Biafra.The limited objectives of IPOB are not synonymous with the essence and meaning of Biafra in the hearts and minds of the people of this zone. In its ownership and methods, IPOB is looking more like a private enterprise and commercial franchise. At best, it is a disruptive political personality cult rather than a rallying force of a collective aspiration.

The aspiration of the peoples of the South East is not to break away from Nigeria or to enact a Biafra 2.0 at all costs.

To my mind, the aspiration of the people of the zone is to be treated as co-equal citizens of a more equitable Nigerian federation in which the rights of all citizens are respected.That is a political objective which is best pursued and realized in the context of constructive engagements with other groupsinthecontextoftheNigerianfederation.The marginalization of the Igbo nationality is a typical challenge of identity politics in a diverse polity.To live peacefully with others in this diverse polity, we need to engage by pushing our advantages while respecting the sensitivities of others in the national community. The memory of Biafra can come in handy as a historical pivot in this process of continuous engagement.

In and of itself, the memory of Biafra is a much higher historical imperative and reality. It is some-

thing more sacrosanct, more noble and eternally etched in the collective memory and consciousness of all the peoples who call today’s South East zone their ancestral home. Biafra died over half a century ago. It is now quartered in the treasury of collective memory and therefore remains ‘alive’ as an enabling spirit of eternal possibility for a significant segment of our national populace. It also shows the road not taken, the lessons and the routes never again to be travelled.The sad branch of that road is strewn with unmarked graves of heroes, the faces of the hungry, landscapes of avoidable devastation, victims of malnutrition and ugly refugee camps. But it also shows a will to survive, to defy odds and emerge from the crucibles of war to thrive again in strength after half a century of sweat and tears. Biafra was never a‘sit at home’place.

Biafra was a place of unrelenting creativity and innovation. The driving spirit of Biafra was work, tenacity and the will to survive. The driving spirit was education and enlightenment and a belief in the redeeming power of science and technology.

Therefore, the thugs of today who chase away children from examination halls or shut down banks, businesses and markets are a betrayal of the spirit of Biafra.These miscreants and thugs are actually enemies of the Biafra spirit and could actually be closer cousins of the jihadists and bandits now terrorizing other sections of the nation.

In the immediate present, a nasty political confrontation could be looming in the zone.

The governors and other elected politicians are worried about too many political implications of the increasing influence of IPOB and its affiliate organizations. On a good day, a rally organized

by IPOB would overwhelm the best efforts of the most popular politicians in the zone. There is a message in this scenario: the performance of the politicians and their messaging runs contrary perhaps to the real aspirations of the grassroots in the region.The challenge of the moment is for politicianstoreconnecttheirrhetoricandmessage to the real aspirations of the people in the zone.

Now the political leaders of the zone are worried andseempoisedtoendtheineffectiveandunproductive‘sit at home’regime. Governors of states in the zone seem poised to counter the negative effects of the sit at home campaign. Governor Obiano undertook to lead a protest against the sit at home campaign in order to embolden his citizens to begin defying the order. His other colleagues in Ebonyi, Abia an Imo states have similarly appealed to their citizens to resume their normal daily activities. Mr. Umahi of Ebonyi has gone the route of threatening sanctions against banks and otherorganizedprivatesectorbusinessesthatobey

IPOB‘sit at home’orders.The South East caucus of the National Assembly has recently added its voice to the anti‘sit at home’campaign with a stiff resolution against the order. But so far, the South East public has tended to heed the orders of IPOB rather than trust the reassurances of the governors and the police.

President Buhari’s recent visit to Imo state was an object lesson on the new gap between government and people in the South East. Predictably, the airport reception ceremony was full of politicians, the socio culturalelite,governmentofficialsandtheusualrented crowd. But on the drive from the airport into Owerri city centre, Mr. Buhari may have been embarrassingly struck by the empty streets and eerie quiet of the usually boisterous Owerri metropolis.The people sat at home in compliance with an IPOB order.The ugly message: government controls government people and politicians; IPOB and opposition forces control the streets and the grassroots people who inhabit the streets. That is the political reality in the South East today.To carry that equation into an election season in which the politicians of the zone are pressuring Nigerians to agree that a president of Igbo extraction will not be a bad idea is rather unfortunate.

A permanent sense of self -imposed siege cannot help any group in a diverse polity. Unfortunately, that iswhatthecurrentstrategyofIPOBhasunconsciously created in the South East. In an effort to enforce compliance with its regime of civil disobedience through fear, the unschooled operatives of IPOB and blind separatism are now competing with the security forces for a dominion of fear throughout the South East. Fear has created a new psychology of insecurity which can only prolong the siege by federal occupation forces.The fear of fear itself seems to be the new narrative in the South East.

The new culture of‘sit at home’is hurting the South East in its areas of natural strength. Work, learning and commerce define the lives of these people.The images of deserted streets and highways, of closed schools,shutteredshops,desertedmarketsareimages of literal death. They indicate the slow death of the life blood of the people. If the Igbo cannot travel to distant places in search of trade and livelihood, if they cannot trade in shops and markets, if their children cannot go to school to learn or they cannot go to church to worship and commune, they will die slowly.

Beyond disruptions of commerce and trade, the rough enforcers of the‘sit at home’order are committingsacrilege.Theyrecentlydisruptedongoingschool certificate examinations in some school in Imo state.

I doubt that the people in Abuja are being affected or even interested in how many days people in the south east decide to stay away from markets, shops and schools.The captors of Mr. Kanu in Abuja may in fact be pleased that IPOB and its vigilantes are fast descending into terrorist territory. In their reckless enforcement of the‘sit at home’order, IPOB, ESN and their kindred agents are beginning to look more like Boko Haram and jihadist terrorists. Targeting educational institutions, commercial enterprises and government installations that indicate the pursuit of civilized and orderly progress is barbaric and must be condemned. It becomes difficult to see how a relapse to backwardness can be used as a tool to redress the marginalization inflicted by an insensitive federal authority in Abuja.

There is a curious irony in the adoption of the ‘sit at home’ metaphor to convey the strategy of civil disobedience in today’s Nigeria. In the era of the Corona pandemic, the strategy of ‘working from home’ has been adopted by countries and companies as a tool of saving the many from the ravages of a virus that endangered all. Working from home presupposes an advanced digital economic ecosystem. On the other hand, ‘sit at home’in an analogue and largely commercial and agrarian economic environment is a recipe for collective economic suicide. That lesson should quickly embolden the political leadership of the South East to seize control of the very survival of their peoples from the menace of miscreants and thugs parading as separatist messiahs.

The current reality in Nigeria resembles a war front. Daily life is a war of survival in which only the aggressive and hardy stand a chance of survival.

Physical and economic danger lurks everywhere.

To abandon work and‘sit at home’in the hope that other strugglers will hear your cry and heal your wound is foolhardy. In the fierce competitiveness of our current national environment, it is even an act of despicable laziness to ‘sit at home’ while other contestants for national pre- eminence are wide awake, working tirelessly. Among the Igbo of the South East, such laziness and cowardice is an abomination.

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NEWSXTRA Defection of Governors, Lawmakers Endangers Democracy, Warn Falana, Ozekhome Gboyega Akinsanmi

Human rights activists, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) and Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) yesterday lamented that the decisions of serving governors and lawmakers to defect from the political parties that brought them to office were detrimental to the future of democracy in the country.

The senior lawyers, also, lamented that such defections in most cases were not based on any moral or ideological underpinnings, but purely on their interests and convenience.

They expressed these concerns in separate responses to THISDAY’s inquiries yesterday, accusing leaders of both All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of political prostitution.

Three governors, who were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had defected to the ruling All

Progressives Congress (APC) in the last seven months, citing divergent reasons to justify their decisions.

The governors include Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi who defected to the APC on December 7, 2020; Cross Rivers State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, who dumped the PDP on June 1 and Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, who officially joined the ruling APC on June 29.

Within the same timeframe, no fewer than six senators and 15 members of the Houses of Representatives had defected from the political parties that fielded them for legislative elections.

In response to THISDAY’s inquiries yesterday, Falana pointed out that political prostitution was prohibited in the Second Republic by the 1979 Constitution.

Specifically, Falana said the Supreme Court frowned at the

Yoruba Group to Hold National Seminar on Restructuring The Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative (TYLPI) is to hold a national seminar on the restructuring of Nigeria with a view to providing more clarity on the need to reorganize the polity.

The group said it was of the strong view that restructuring was an important step towards ensuring enduring peace, progress, unity and cohesion in the country.

TYLPI’s Director of Publicity and Media Affairs, Mr. Tunde Ipinmisho, who made this known in a statement, said the seminar would hold at the Segun Aganga Hall, University of Ibadan International Conference Centre on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at 10:00 am.

The seminar, with the theme

“Strategies and Tactics for the Actualization of a Restructured Nigerian Federation”, will be chaired by the Leader of the Afenifere Group, Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

Speakers expected at the event include Dr GG Darah, a professor of Oral Literature, Folklore and Cultural Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka; Dr Usman Bugaje, a former member of the House of Representatives and the founding Secretary-General of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the political parties that merged to form the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as Alhaji Adegbenga Kaka, one time deputy governor of Ogun State and a former senator representing Ogun East senatorial district.

crass opportunism of some politicians who wanted to engage in cross carpeting by abandoning the political parties that sponsored them before the expiration of their term of office.

He, however, said when Alhaji Atiku Abubakar defected from the PDP to the Action Congress (AC) in

2006, the apex court curiously held that he was exercising his freedom of choice to the detriment of the voters that elected him as part of the Obasanjo presidential ticket.

He said: “That was how the apex court opened the floodgate for political prostitution under the current political dispensation. But other cases

decided after the Atiku case appear to have altered the state of the law on the vexed issue of cross carpeting.

“In the case of Amaechi vs INEC that was decided in 2007, for instance, the Supreme Court held that elections are won by political parties. In the appeals arising from the governorship election petitions

in Zamfara and Bayelsa, the Supreme Court specifically held that the elections were won by the PDP.” Based on the clear pronouncement of the Supreme Court, Falana argued that some of the governors who recently defected might be removed from office if they are challenged in a court of competent jurisdictions.

MIDWIVING DECENT HOMES INITIATIVES..

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Mr. Wasiu Akewusola; Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Mr. Tunji Bello; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai at inspection of Lagos Housing Scheme in Sangotedo Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos… weekend

Aboki FX: Speculative Attacks Affect Naira Value, Says Moghalu Dike Onwuamaeze

A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, yesterday disclosed that the currency speculators’ attacks affected the value of the naira.

The Governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele had on Friday vowed that the apex bank would track down and bring the founder of AbokiFx, Mr. Oniwinde Adedotun to book for alleged speculative activities on the foreign

exchange “which amounted to economic sabotage.”

Emefiele said Adedotun had been conducting nefarious and criminal activity on the Nigerian economy by indulging in forex speculation in contravention of the CBN Act, which vested the apex bank with the sole responsibility for determining the rate of the Naira.

Moghalu, who was a deputy governor at the apex bank from 2009 to 2014, wrote on his Twitter handle yesterday

that speculation affected the naira value, Moghalu stressed that there “are currency traders around the world for whom the weakness of a currency is their very good fortune”.

He disclosed that such traders ‘attack’ such currencies for profit, especially where the currency is using a fixed, official exchange rate determined by the central bank instead of the market.

Moghalu listed factors that affect the value of the Naira to

include “supply and demand (if too much Naira is chasing scarce dollars, the dollar gets stronger relative to the Naira, and vice versa)” “Others are inflation (a high inflation economy such as Nigeria’s weakens the value of the legal tender), high government indebtedness again, our case especially relative to our revenues and ability to pay which will be stretched the more we borrow on poor revenues, and 90 kobo out of every N1 goes to debt servicing).”

Insecurity: NDN Asks FG to Tap from Experience of Nigerians Abroad

Osinbajo: Those Who Built Dubai Aren’t Spirits

Nigeria Diaspora Network (NDN) has called on the federal government to tap from the wealth of experience of Nigerians living abroad to tackle security challenges.

Speaking with THISDAY on the telephone, NDN’s Deputy Director of Finance, Mrs Vivian Iwuji, said the group was working to see how some of their members who are in security sector in developed nations could come together and synergise with the security agencies in Nigeria on advocacy programme, intelligence gathering and other areas to confront the security challenges facing the country.

NDN is an association of Nigerian professionals abroad who have come together to channel their skills and resources to the development of Nigeria.

Nigeria is currently grappling with numerous security challenges including terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, banditry, armed robbery and assassination.

The security agencies are overwhelmed as they fight Boko Haram insurgents in the North

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has disclosed that Nigeria needs to invent and produce cuttingedge Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications for education, business, medicine and security, stressing that those who built Dubai were men and women, and not spirits.

He said that effective collaboration between public and private sectors to build world-class institutions focused on innovation in science,

East, banditry in the northwest and central Nigeria as well as uprisings in the south East.

“We are searching for the best hands in the area of security all over the world to have a meeting point. We are working in synergy with Nigerians, foreign citizens who are in the security sector abroad on how to bring this into fruition.

“For instance, we are trying to link up with the Nigerian woman, Olufunmilola Obe, who is the first African-American to become a police inspector in the New York Police Department (NYPD).

“Like this lady, nothing stops Nigeria from tapping her expertise as part of an effort to solve our problem.

“We are looking at these experts, those who have retired from the army, police in America, Europe, Canada, Australia, anywhere in the world, on how to bring them to Nigeria to come and interface with the inspector-general of police, chief of defence staff, minister of defence, etc, because the country needs help in terms of security.”

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

technology and management sciences would help proffer solutions to the country’s challenges.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, in a statement issued yesterday, said the vice president delivered a keynote address to the founding class (2021) of the Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM), Lagos The event was the institution’s maiden graduation ceremony of its flagship Scholars Programme.

NUTM is a top-notch school of innovation and technology focused on nurturing leaders in Nigeria and Africa, promoted by the immediate past Industry, Trade and Investment Minister, Dr. Okey Enelamah.

“The most significant problems of this generation, especially in Africa, will require innovation in science, technology and the management sciences, especially entrepreneurship and innovative leadership if we are to stand a chance

of resolving them.”

The vice president said that the graduates of the NUTM programme had what was required to be among those who would in the future, provide solutions to national and global challenges in different sectors.

“I think sitting before us today, the graduates of the NUTM Scholars Programme, we might just be beholding the men and women with the answers to some of the world’s most significant challenges.

Police: Report Accusing HEDA’s Chairman of Falsehood against Adoke is Not Fake The Nigerian Police Force revealed that its report accusing the Chairman of HEDA Resource Centre, Olanrewaju Suraju, of falsehood against a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, is not fake.

Premium Times reported that a top official of the InspectorGeneral of Police (IG) Monitoring Team confirmed that the report was produced by the leadership

of his unit based on Adoke’s request.

Recently, the police force had indicted Suraju of falsehold in the probe of an allegation that an email and phone conversation attributed to Adoke were forged.

HEDA alleged that Adoke had communicated with JP Morgan in June 2011 over an oil prospecting licence (OPL) 245 transaction between Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd, Shell and Eni. Adoke was accused of using

the email address of a company owned by Aliyu Abubakar, who was on trial in Italy over the OPL 245 affair.

The email was intended to support the claim that there was corruption in the deal, that Adoke — who was not on trial in Italy — and Abubakar “worked together” to fleece Nigeria in the deal.

However, the former AGF denied the accusation, explaining that he was no longer minister

as of the date it was sent and had no reason to use another person’s email address.

He also refuted claims that he had a phone conversation with an Italian journalists in 2017 where he was said to have acknowledged that the OPL 245 deal was a scam.

Adoke said the phone conversation was state-managed, adding that he was on self-exile at the time and had stopped using a Nigerian line since June 2015.

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NEWSXTRA Jime: We Must Unite to Rescue Benue from Poor Leadership Eromosele Abiodun

The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), Mr. Emmanuel Jime yesterday blamed recruitment process for poor leadership recorded in Benue State for the past 40 years.

Jime, therefore, challenge the people of Benue State to put all hands on deck to construct effective ways to bring about credible leadership in the state.

He made these remarks at a programme organised by the Tiv professionals in Lagos State to honour him on his appointment as the executive secretary of the NSC. Jime explained that time had come for the people “to decide as a united front to impact on the bad leadership happening back home. Recruitment processes have been left in the hands of selfish elites who really do not wish well for the state.

“We all have a role to play in ensuring that the correct kind of leadership is enthroned back home in Benue. Believe me sincerely there is nothing impossible for us to do if we decide as a united front to impact on what is happening back home.

“I just hope I have made some remarks that would give us food for thought. My job here is to instigate the thought process that will ensure and enable the emergence of a

quality leadership that Benue State is in dire need of.

“Except for the four-year period of the first civilian governor of Benue State, I am not too sure that we have had any leadership to be proud of.

“For 40 years after the first civilian governor, we are still going back referring to the past achievements the former governor made. This is a big challenge that has been thrown at us,” he said.

According to him, we cannot keep talking about 40 years of achievement from the past.

Time has come for us to put hands together to construct how leadership is decided back home.

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SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

PREMIER LEAGUE

Emmanuel Dennis Scores Again as Watford End Winless Run Mane scores his 100th goal as Liverpool cruise to 3-0 victory at C’Palace

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uper Eagles forward, Emmanuel Dennis, ended his straight four games goals drought yesterday as he netted Watford’s curtain raiser in the 3-1 defeat of Norwich in the English Premier League.

The victory was also Watford’s first after winless in their last four fixtures.

Dennis drew the first blood in the 17th minute after nodding in an in-swinging ball.

He has now scored two goals in five Premier League appearances.

It is now two wins in five league games (three defeats) for the newly promoted club.

Also in action for Watford were Super Eagles duo of William Troost-Ekong and Oghenekaro Etebo with the latter coming on in the 82nd minute.

Elsewhere, Liverpool remain unbeaten in the Premier League this season after Sadio Mane scored his 100th goal for the club in a 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace.

Now on 13 points, the Reds are now on the summit of the Premier League, two points ahead of second place Everton.

Jurgen Klopp’s side created numerous chances against a resilient Palace before Mane pounced on a rebound at the

back post in the first half.

Mohamed Salah doubled their lead with just over 10 minutes remaining when he smashed home a flick-on from a corner, before Naby Keita’s late curling strike made it 3-0.

Liverpool were wasteful in the first half as Diogo Jota fired over the bar from a few yards out in a glorious position.

At Turf Moor, Arsenal made it back-to-back wins after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Burnley.

Martin Odegaard’s superb free-kick in the 30th minute to secure the important win.

Champions Manchester City could not find a way through a resolute Southampton side and ended up fortunate to get a goalless draw despite the noisy backing of the home fans at Etihad Stadium.

City, who did not manage a single shot on target until the 90th minute, were sloppy in possession as well as lacking their usual spark in attack and Saints will feel they should have left Manchester with all three points, not just one.

The visitors were awarded a penalty on the hour mark when Kyle Walker was sent off for bundling Adam Armstrong over in the box, but both decisions were overturned when VAR intervened and referee Jon Moss watched replays of the incident.

Dennis Emmanuel was on scorer’s sheet as Watford defeat Norwich City 3-1...yesterday

Inter Hammer Bologna 6-1 to Move to Top of Serie A there was a bit of worry (for the reaction),” said Inzaghi to DAZN. “But the boys approached the game in the best way possible.”

Academy product Federico Dimarco laid on two of those goals as Inter ran riot in front of their delighted home fans on a beautiful night in Milan.

On the other flank Inzaghi was also happy with Denzel Dumfries making an almost instant impact on his first Inter start since signing from PSV Eindhoven last month, replacing Achraf Hakimi who moved to Paris Saint-Germain.

The Netherlands wing-back, who scored twice at Euro 2020 and was a highlight for the disappointing Dutch, laid on Martinez’s opener and caused havoc down the right flank throughout the match.

“I’m very happy. I think it was a good game from us, after the defeat of Real Madrid we needed to bounce back and we did a very good job as a team,” said Dumfries to DAZN. “I feel good, my teammates gave me a warm welcome and Edin Dzeko (second left) scored a brace as Inter Milan defeated Bologna 6-1 to move helped me a lot so I’m happy to the top of the Italian Serie A to be here.”

Inter Milan bounced back from midweek Champions League disappointment on Saturday with a 6-1 hammering of Bologna which moved the reigning champions top of Italian Serie A. Simone Inzaghi’s side were sucker-punched in the last minute by Real Madrid in Wednesday’s single-goal defeat but made no mistake this time at the San Siro.

They are a point ahead of

Roma, AC Milan, Napoli and Fiorentina following a thumping win which came thanks to goals from Lautaro Martinez, Milan Skriniar, Nicolo Barella, and Matias Vecino and a brace from Edin Dzeko.

Bologna sit seventh on seven points after their first defeat of the season.

“I was worried about this match because after a match like the one with Madrid, in which we definitely deserved more,

HiFL 2021 S’Finals: UNIMAID Desert Warriors Eye Final Ticket UNIMAID Desert Warriors have made a strong claim for a place in the finals of the ongoingHigherInstitutionsFootballLeague (HiFL) as the team defeated the FUTMinna Transformers from the Federal University of Technology 1-0 in the first leg of the semifinals played in Maiduguri.

Coach Dauda Daniel led DesertWarriors metadeterminedTransformersledbyCoach Usman Bosso before Stanbic Man-of-theMatch Bukar David scored the only goal of the match in the 78th minute. It would be recalled that Coach Dauda Daniel led Desert Warriors ousted the 2018 champions UAM Tillersthrough3-1goalsaggregatescoreline.

In theothergameplayedattheUniversity of Nigeria Sports Complex in Nsukka, the UNN Lions were held to a 1-1 draw by their

visitors,AAUALuminariesfromtheAdekunle Ajasin University, Akungba.

The Luminaries led by Coach Joseph Abuo scored the first goal in the 11th minute through Ayomide Akinlosotu before Chinegwu Obinna scored the equalizer for the Lions in the 22nd minute after some passes. Coach Ike Chijoke led Lions were limited to long-range shots as the Akungba boys showed their resilience in defence and held to their away goal advantage going into the second leg. In his reaction, Stanbic Man-of-the-Match Destiny Onukafor of the Lions maintained that his team may be down but not out promising that the Lions will re-strategize as they seek to get the desired return when they play the return leg in Akungba.

Aisha Buhari Cup: MoroccoTake on Mali After yesterday’s rest day, hostilities will resume today in the ongoing Aisha Buhari Six-nation Invitational Tournament in Lagos with Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses and the Femelle Aiglons of Mali setting the stage.

A brilliant goal by Fatima Tagnaout 13 minutes from time separated Cameroon and Morocco in the second match of the maiden edition of Aisha Buhari Cup at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos last

Thursday.

Both Lionesses were matched in all aspects for large swathes of the game, with the North Africans showing both power and athleticism on similar scale as can be found in sub-Saharan teams.

But in Mali, the North Africans will find a hard nut to crack.

Forget they lost their first game to hosts Nigeria. The Malians have the capacity to turn the table this evening.

TR

Sunday September 19, 2021

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“We advise Governor Umahi to face his frustrations in APC and not drag PDP and her governors into it. PDP is an independent political party with workable structures and method of doing things” – The PDP tackling Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, as nursing an imaginary presidential ambition in APC.

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SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

Nigeria Needs a Fiscal Revolution

C

ome to think of it, I have spent the past 18 years campaigning for restructuring, although not along ethnic lines. My campaign has been three-fold: (1) restructuring our mentality so that we can see the errors of our ways and begin to apply our hearts to wisdom (2) restructuring our politics to deliver good governance through competent and patriotic leadership (3) restructuring the economy to deliver prosperity, peace and justice to ordinary Nigerians — northerners and southerners alike. My tiny faction of the restructuring movement thinks Nigeria has two basic divides: the oppressors and the oppressed.

These divides cut across all ethnicities, age groups, genders, religions and regions.

Undoubtedly, when you strip all my articles naked, these three propositions will always stare you in the face. But while restructuring the Nigerian mindset is one hell of a job — so many of us have been programmed from birth to view every single national issue through the prism of ethnic and sectional sentiments — we can always hope to make progress, no matter how slight, in our demand for good governance and economic prosperity. That is why I pray the VAT crisis would not be allowed to waste. It affords our leaders an opportunity to put heads together and work out how we can restructure our public finance to tackle the perennial crises and the accompanying political tensions.

Nigeria can be easily classified as a “rentier state” — originally defined by Hossein Mahdavi, an Iranian economist, as a country that receives “on a regular basis substantial amounts of external economic rent”. In our case, oil money is the external economic rent. This contrasts with a “fiscal state” which is run largely on revenues raised from domestic tax payers. Norway is oil-rich but it is a fiscal state — the bulk of government expenditure is raised from taxes. Norway’s oil revenue is saved in a sovereign wealth fund.

Part of it is devoted to specific interventions in education and health care — not presidential jets, Prado SUVs, ultra-modern government houses and duty tour allowances.

We need a radical reappraisal of public finance in Nigeria. We spend money without thinking. We have carried on for too long thinking more about how to spend money, reflecting less on how to raise revenue — largely because of the seasonal oil windfalls. A modern state cannot build its finances on oil windfalls and hand-outs. The revenue base must be well established, reliable and predictable.

For every new project, the state must work on raising extra revenue — either by cutting down expenditure elsewhere or adjusting a tax rate to raise the funds. For instance, to increase funding to its public health service, the UK recently raised the employee national insurance rates.

Conversely, a rentier state embarks on projects hoping that another windfall is just around the corner. Nigeria’s budget is eternally benchmarked against crude oil price. That tells the whole story.

If oil price rises, government doubles the wage bill, builds new airports and Nigerians go on an importation binge. If oil price falls, we begin to owe salaries, abandon projects and start throwing even the kitchen sink at saving the naira. Any economy built around the prices of commodities, such as crude oil, is a fickle economy. Ours is even worse because we do not save — we keep eating the oil money, sometimes borrowing with the hope that we will pay back when crude prices rise again.

The vulnerabilities of public finance in Nigeria hardly feature in public discourse. Our emotions are elsewhere. As things stand, 35 of the 36 states are parasites on oil. Take away the oil revenue and only Lagos has a chance of surviving. It is the only

Buhari state that currently makes more from IGR than from federation allocation. Also, if oil-producing states keep the petrodollars, no fewer than 30 states will struggle to survive. It is the sharing of the oil revenue that stabilises the finances of states.

Until federation allocation becomes mere “pocket money” to states and IGR becomes the real deal, we will continue brawling over the national cake.

We all need to wake up and smell the coffee.

The good news is that most states are viable. I have heard many people argue that most Nigerian states are not viable. That is true — if all that matters in this world is federation allocation. As I pointed out years ago, Luxembourg, a European country, has a landmass of 2,586.4 square kilometres — half of Toro LGA, Bauchi state. With a population of 600,000, Luxembourg has fewer people than Oshodi-Isolo LGA, Lagos state. But its GDP, built on industry, agriculture and banking services, is $72 billion. That is more than the combined GDP of Lagos, Rivers and Delta states, Nigeria’s top three states by GDP ranking. Countries are developed by brains, not allocation.

The bad news is that this fact never sinks into our heads — no matter how many times we hear it per second. Luxembourg would not exist today if viability were determined by natural resources.

Banking services form the largest sector of the economy — Luxembourg is one of the world’s most competitive financial centres. The country also manufactures steel. Its farmers are producers and exporters of meat, dairy products and wine.

Anytime I think about the possibilities Nigeria sits on in every sector and in every region, my heart breaks to pieces. We have too much potential to be living this beggarly life. We are suffering basically because we are a sheepfold without the right shepherds.

But the good news again: with most states now seeing their vulnerability without VAT redistribution, there is a slight chance that this might ignite what I generously tag “fiscal revolution” — by which I mean a new thinking on how we can radically improve IGR by using the existing tax handles. As I advocated last week, it is not about instituting new taxes. We already have enough tax handles in my opinion. I would also not suggest increasing the tax rates. I believe the rates are generally fair and should remain so for now. Rather, the fiscal revolution can be achieved by (1) improving state capacity to ensure more compliance (2) expanding the local economy to enlarge the tax base.

In fiscal federalism terms, our current structure allows states to collect and retain personal income tax (PAYE and self-assessment) and withholding tax on certain rents, in addition to sundry levies.

However, FG collects VAT, company incomes tax, petroleum profit tax, WHT, stamp duties, technology tax and tertiary education tax on behalf of the federation. All the tax revenues go into the

federation pot, from where they are shared by the three tiers of government using a matrix that tries to ensure equalisation and stabilisation. Mineral-rich states take an extra 13% as derivation. Nevertheless, southerners often criticise the allocation formula which they say favours the north.

Irrespective of the outcome of the VAT dispute, the greatest thing that can happen to states, going forward, is for them to improve their IGR meaningfully. That is a tough job. It is very easy to say “improve your IGR” but it cannot happen overnight. While ensuring tax compliance can immediately raise the revenue, even if not massively, the economy of a state also needs to grow consistently before it can enjoy an enlarged and predictable revenue base. That will take a number of things to achieve: critical infrastructure, good security, creative policies and a number of productive incentives. I must of necessity acknowledge that many governors are not in the mood for this.

Why? It requires good thinking and hard work.

It is not a champagne party. Most states are not creating the productive environment for business, so how can the local economy grow and broaden the tax base? According to the World Bank Ease of Doing Business 2018, it takes the whole of 118 days (four months) to get a building permit in Lagos. When it comes to having the title deed to a property, Ogun’s score of 82.9% is the only one above 50% among the 36 states. Getting a CofO is even worse: every state scored F9, with Lagos (22.9%), Kaduna (21.4%) and Adamawa (18%) being the best in class. These things hamper local economic growth and consequentially hurt the IGR. There is good news, though. When Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu became governor of Lagos state in 1999, the IGR was N600m a month.

When he was leaving in 1999, he had taken it to N6bn per month. No state was anywhere near that. Today, Lagos is averaging N34bn monthly. This is the closest example of a fiscal state. We can argue that Lagos enjoys an unusual advantage because it was federal capital and plays host to the ports, telecoms and financial services. But the IGR did not grow on its own.

It was stimulated. I agree that every state will not move from N600m to N34bn like Lagos, but we must start working hard to move away from the comfort zone of federation allocation.

This should count as good news too: many states are making progress on the IGR issue.

In 2020, for instance, NBS data showed that Kebbi grew its IGR by 87%, the highest in the federation, followed by Ebonyi (82%), Oyo (42%), Borno (42%), Katsina (34%), Gombe (26%), Taraba (24%), Zamfara (20%) and Plateau (16%). The naira and kobo may not be humongous yet but any progress is better than no progress. And to achieve fiscal prudence, states need to ask themselves: do we really need to build a cargo airport? Do we really need a new stadium? Do we really need a new university? Before increasing expenditure, they should ask: can we really afford this? Is this the best way to spend?

If all goes well, the ultimate benefit of fiscal revolution would be “fiscal social contract”. That is, the government feeling contractually obliged to deliver the goods to the citizens because it is their taxes, not oil money, that provide the bulk of the revenue. That way, the demand for accountability will be people-led and this should ordinarily impact on the quality of governance. The current rentier structure, built on oil windfalls, makes us treat public money as nobody’s money. We all want to take our share and run. Unfortunately, many theories fail in Nigeria. Even if tax revenue forms the bulk of public revenues, accountability may not be automatic. We just have to fight for it.

And Four Other Things…

UNFEDERAL CHARACTER The house of representatives on Thursday passed a resolution accusing President Buhari of violating the constitution in his appointments in the Federal Character Commission (FCC). The two top positions in the commission — chairman and secretary — are occupied by northerners. The commission is constitutionally mandated “to promote, monitor and enforce compliance with the principles of the proportional sharing of all bureaucratic, economic, media and political posts at all levels of government”. If the appointments into the Federal Character Commission itself do not reflect federal character, that would be ironic. I think we need a convincing explanation. Puzzling.

FURORE OVER FFK Who helped popularise the tag, “clueless”, as a nickname for President Jonathan?

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. He had left PDP for APC at the time. FFK returned to PDP in 2014 to become spokesman for the same Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election. Having done tremendous work in the last six years to help classify APC as a party of almajiris and participated in “Jubrilising” President Buhari and defining the narratives around “Fulanilisation”, FFK was seen in Aso Rock on Thursday formally returning to APC. He attributed his decision to the “Spirit of God”. His embarrassed disciples are livid and have been raving mad at him. Me: what’s shocking about FFK jumping ship? Amusing.

RICE REWARD The Kaduna police command paraded two suspects, named as Bashir Mohammed and Nasiru Balarabe, allegedly linked to the death of Abdulkarim, son of Senator Bala Na’Allah. Their reported confessions are so distressing. Abdulkarim, who was a pilot, had struggled with them at his Malali home.

They overpowered him and they tied him with a rope, one of the suspects said. With him motionless, they went ahead to rob the apparently dead man. They said they stole his car and sold it for N1m. One of the suspects said he used his own share to buy 33 bags of imported rice but they were seized by Customs. The life of a human being wasted for a reward of 33 bags of rice. Sick.

BANDITS OR TERRORISTS? There has been an interesting debate over the difference between bandits and terrorists.

This, I would say, is a purely academic exercise.

Whatever name they are called, the bandits are wreaking havoc on the country. Still, there is a distinction for whatever it is worth.

Terrorists usually have a political demand.

Bandits are purely out for the material gain without making any political demand. Boko Haram wants to establish an Islamic Caliphate.

The bandits have not told us yet if they have a political ambition. However, both invoke fear and terror in people, and the increasing sophistication of the operations of bandits means we are not safe, whatever name we call them. Simple.

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