SUNDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2023

P&ID: How Ex-CBN Gov, Emefiele Resisted Pressure to Pay off $11bn, Aondoakaa Explains Ejiofor Alike

(SAN), has revealed how the immediate-past governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, saved the country billions of dollars that

A former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa

would otherwise have been paid as arbitral award to a foreign company, Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID).

Nigeria’s effort to upturn

the whopping judgment debt and avert a major economic consequence paid off last week when a United Kingdom Royal Courts of Justice held that the

seizure of its assets anywhere in the world in payment of the said debt, Justice Robin Knowles

earlier judgment awarded against Nigeria in favour of P&ID was fraudulent.

Delivering judgment in Nigeria’s appeal against the

Continued on page 5

See eCopy of THISDAY Style on www.thisdaylive.com Sunday 29 October, 2023 Vol 28. No 10427

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Marketers Hint of N800 Petrol Pump Price… Page 6

Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Polls: CDS, IG Read the Riot Act Kingsley Nweze in Abuja The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, have warned those planning to disrupt the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa,

Imo and Kogi to stay clear of the three states.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting in Abuja, Musa urged the residents of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states not to entertain

any fear.

Musa pledged that the Armed Forces would provide full support to the police in ensuring that the elections were free and fair.

“The Armed Forces, the police, and other security agencies would be on the ground. Every Nigerian,

we are sure, is tired of elections with violence and this will try to make a difference.

“We want at the end of the day, every Nigerian should be proud of, first to be a Nigerian and to understand that elections are now free and fair.

“We want everybody who wins our elections to be happy that he won very well without any intimidation,’’ he said.

The army chief said that a warning had already been sent to security personnel to be deployed for the elections that

whoever misbehaved during the elections would face the consequence.

Musa advised that the presence of security agencies in the three states should not scare anybody, Continued on page 5

NUPRC Moves to Enforce Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation to Feed Emerging Refineries Threatens sanctions against saboteurs Says it will send wrong signals for Nigerian refineries to import crude Summons 52 oil-producing companies Seeks crude oil requirement of refineries Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) yesterday said it was taking all necessary steps within the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (2021) to ensure an adequate and consistent supply of crude oil to the emerging refineries in the country.

Following this development, NUPRC has summoned a meeting with 52 crude oil exploration and production companies, in a bid to ensure the ramping up of feedstock for emerging refineries in the country.

In a statement signed by the commission’s Head of Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, Olaide Shonola, NUPRC warned that there would be consequences for sabotaging the process.

The commission explained that it would send wrong signals to the

CELEBRATING THE NEW CHANCELLOR...

L-R: Vice Chancellor, Augustine University, Prof. Christopher Odetunde; newly installed Chancellor, Augustine University, Mr. Femi Otedola; Archbishop and Metropolitan of the See of Lagos/Visitor to the University and Proprietor of the institution, Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins; and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Sir. Steve Omojafor, at the Continued on page 5 fifth Convocation ceremony and investiture of Otedola as Chancellor of the university, in Epe, Lagos…recently

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PenCom: Contributory Pension Scheme Increased by N5.94tn in Three Years James Emejo in Abuja

The Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Aisha DahirUmar, has said pension assets under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) surged by N5.94 trillion over the last three years.

The CPS is an arrangement where both the employer and the employee contribute a portion of an employee's monthly emolument towards the payment of the latter's pension at retirement.

Speaking with journalists on the development of the Nigerian pension industry, the PenCom boss also said the commission had recorded remarkable strides in enhancing the efficiency and transparency of the scheme.

She said the scheme grew from N11.35 trillion in August 2020 to N17.29 trillion in August 2023.

She added that over one million new contributors had also keyed into the CPS within the period under review.

Umar also pointed out that the recapitalisation of the shareholders' fund of Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) from N1 billion to N5 billion remained one of the commission's outstanding achievements under her watch.

According to her, "the significant increase in the number of registered contributors and pension assets under the management of PFAs had necessitated increased capital injection, to meet minimum service standards and address various operational needs in

the pension industry."

She stressed that following the successful conclusion of the recapitalisation exercise, PFAs have become financially stronger and better equipped to offer quality service to Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders.

Among other things, Umar said the decision by the commission to allow a portion of the RSA to be used for mortgages had yielded positive results.

She said from the commencement of the implementation of the guidelines to August 31, 2023, PenCom had approved 339 applications amounting to over N4 billion for payment of residential mortgage equity contributions.

In 2022, PenCom issued the Guidelines on Accessing Retirement Savings Account (RSA) Balance towards Payment of Equity Contribution for Residential Mortgage by RSA Holders.

Essentially, the guidelines gave effect to the provisions of Section 89 (2) of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014, which provides that "a Pension Fund Administrator may, subject to guidelines issued by PenCom, apply a percentage of the pension assets in the Retirement Savings Account towards payment of equity contribution for payment of residential mortgage by a holder of Retirement Savings Account."

She said: "This landmark achievement by PenCom seeks to ensure that employees become homeowners while still in service."

According to her, the Nigerian

P&ID: HOW EX-CBN GOV, EMEFIELE RESISTED PRESSURE TO PAY OFF $11BN, AONDOAKAA EXPLAINS held that P&ID had engaged in fraud, bribery, and concealment of material facts regarding the contract it entered with Nigeria, among others.

Knowles held that Nigeria was able to establish that there was, indeed, a serious irregularity that affected the tribunal.

Reacting to the judgment on an ARISE NEWS Channel breakfast programme, ‘The Morning Show’, Aondoakaa, who was AGF when P&ID agreed with Nigeria in 2010 to build a gas processing plant in Calabar, Cross River State, said the CBN under Emefiele greatly assisted Nigeria’s legal team in the case instituted against Nigeria in a London court.

P&ID had said the contract failed because the Nigerian government breached the terms of the contract.

It succeeded in securing an arbitral award of $6.6 billion against Nigeria, as well as pre-and post-judgment interest at seven per cent, which accumulated to $11 billion.

Speaking on the development, Aondoakaa, who was one of the senior lawyers collaborating with Nigeria’s lawyers at the London court, also urged the incumbent Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to look at other fraudulent cases filed against the country.

He said: “This fraud has been exposed and it gives us a window to look at other similar cases like Ajaokuta and the rest of them that they hurriedly went abroad, got arbitration, and are trying to enforce against Nigeria.

“I, particularly, give credit to the CBN under the then Governor, Godwin Emefiele because there was strong pressure that settlement should be made.

Our team was in the minority

that we must fight till the end.

There was also apprehension that if we didn’t settle and the court would now give judgment against us, Nigeria would lose everything. But for them to have confidence in us, there was one man in the CBN, the Director of Legal Services; he gave us the confidence, gave us the support, and ensured that we were able to present to the UK lawyers that this was a fraud. So, I am most grateful, I completely agree with the honourable Attorney General that this is a big fraud.”

Aondoakaa’s comment on how Emefiele and few others resisted pressure, also confirmed what presidency sources revealed at the time that many, including top government officials, had mounted pressure on the then President Muhammadu Buhari to approve payment for the award to avoid a heavier penalty if the matter dragged on.

Emefiele was said to have resisted and advised the President strongly against such approval, staking his name in convincing the president that the contract was fraudulent and that the P &ID would not succeed in court if Nigeria hired competent lawyers.

It was based on the assurances of Emefiele that President Buhari refused payment and rather encouraged litigation, which eventually favoured Nigeria.

The federal government had on Monday won the legal case against P&ID Limited in a London court.

The judgment was delivered after five years of legal frameworks.

Emefiele, who had been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), was released Thursday night but was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) shortly after.

pension industry has witnessed significant growth in assets under management, pointing out that the pool of funds had significantly enhanced savings mobilisation, capital market development, and economic growth.

She noted that pension funds have been deployed for investment

in infrastructure targeted at financing waste management, independent electricity generation, and road construction (Sukuk).

She added that pension assets have also increased the availability of long-term funds for investment in the real sector of the economy.

She listed the infrastructure

projects financed with pension funds including roads built across the six geopolitical zones under the Sukuk programme, the Akute power plant, and the Island power plant.

Others are Pipp Genco, Gasco Marine Limited, and the construction of 1200 hostel rooms

at the University of Calabar, Cross River State.

She said: "In the final analysis, an improved economy and financial system directly benefit individual pension contributors through improved returns on pension savings and enhanced payouts at retirement."

Oil Host Communities Back NUPRC, Say Controversy over New Portal Unnecessary Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) at the weekend defended the Gbenga Komolafe-led Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) over issues surrounding the administration of the three per cent Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT).

The communities stated that the seeming controversy over the establishment of ‘HostComply’, an online reporting platform for stakeholders was unnecessary, noting that the portal will help ensure openness in the management of the HCDT fund as outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

There was a media report that the three per cent fund would shrink following the alleged decision of NUPRC to

make it mandatory for the host communities to fund the portal, including hiring lawyers and accountants.

But in a press briefing in Abuja, the National President of HOSTCOM, Dr Style Tamaranebi, alleged that certain vested interests were unhappy with the new wind of transparency and the efforts to ensure that oil-bearing communities feel the impact of the PIA. According to him, the communities do not have issues with the NUPRC on the particular issue as it will help track, analyse, and report on the use of funds for development initiatives.

Tamaranebi argued that in the past, a powerful individual could divert the funds belonging to the communities to their private pockets, adding that such fraud is no longer possible with the public portal, which now

allows openness in what goes on with the monies available to communities.

In addition, he explained that it will allow the HCDTs to upload and showcase projects to be executed by the communities and provide easy proof of three per cent operating expenditure to be paid by settlors as verified by the regulator.

Tamaranebi maintained that it will help the regulator detect and identify non-compliant situations through IT forensics and compliance intelligence tools.

“Over the years, the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and industry players had pumped millions of naira into the said communities before the advent of PIA 2021, and we did not see any meaningful projects being initiated by these players.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the HostComply which is now put on the firing line by

industry players is the ultimate to checkmate the activities of the settlors and HCDTs, both in their annual OPEX due for every Trust, knowing very well that it will expose their sharp practices.

“It is not a hidden fact that our communities producing oil and gas in the country have been suffering devastation, deprivations, and desecration of all sorts due to the activities of some critical stakeholders who short-change and create divideand-rule systems to flourish.

“The HCDT was deliberately created to address the concerns of the host communities and stop the activities of the Shylocks and their collaborators. The NUPRC as the regulator is putting everything in place so that the overall intent of the PIA on this score is effectively realised for the benefit of those envisaged,” he said.

BAYELSA, IMO, KOGI POLLS: CDS, IG READ THE RIOT ACT but those with plans to disrupt the election.

Also speaking, the IG, Egbetokun, said there would be no room for those planning to perpetrate trouble or violence in the states to operate.

“We are aware of negative mobilisations by some supporters of some candidates and we are already monitoring them. We are ready for them for these elections.

I appeal to them to stay away from this election.

“I also appeal to the electorate to come out en masse to cast their votes during this election. We are committed to peaceful elections and no going back,’’ he said.

He said that the security agencies were ready and committed to making the off-cycle elections free and fair.

“We have received all necessary information from INEC which has informed us on where to deploy during these elections.

“We have carried out a threat

assessment and that has informed us concerning the allocation of our resources and the deployment of our men.

“All the security agencies are collaborating strongly to ensure that these elections are violence-free,’’ he said.

He assured that accredited journalists for the election would be protected in the cause of carrying out their duties,’’ Egbetokun said.

The IG also shed more light on why the police planned to hold its

annual retreat in Imo, saying the choice of the state was deliberate.

“Our choice of Owerri is deliberate. It is deliberate because of this election. We want to send a message to the people of Imo that the state is free for this election.

“We want to encourage the voters to come out en masse to take part in this election.

“We are deploying massively for Imo to make sure that the election in the state is free and fair and hitch-free,’’ Egbetokun said

NUPRC MOVES TO ENFORCE DOMESTIC CRUDE OIL SUPPLY OBLIGATION TO FEED EMERGING REFINERIES international business community if operators of domestic refineries in one of the world’s largest crude oil-producing countries started importing feedstock for their production.

NUPRC said it would advise the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to furnish it with the domestic crude oil requirement of the refineries in operation.

According to the commission, it was in contemplation of the inadequate supply of crude oil to the refineries that Section 109 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 introduced the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO) to Nigeria's oil industry in a bid to ensure that domestic refineries are not starved of crude oil supply for their operation.

Many modular refinery operators had recently begun a campaign to draw attention to the scarcity of feedstock for their facilities despite the country being Africa’s biggest crude producer.

The commission stated that it had already taken some steps in furtherance of this goal by developing and signing the Production Curtailment and Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation (PC&DCSO) Regulation 2023, in line with the provisions

of Section 109(2) of the PIA 2021.

This, it said, will include preparation for approval and implementation of the DCSO framework and procedure guide, processing of application for refinery feedstock approval as well as requesting all oil-producing companies to provide information on their planned crude oil offtake and existing sales purchase agreement.

The steps, it said, would also involve advising the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to furnish it with the domestic crude oil requirement of refineries in operation.

“NUPRC is determined to take further necessary steps required to avoid inadequate supply of crude oil to domestic refineries and would not hesitate, where necessary, to enforce the stipulated penalties for violations and noncompliance to the provisions of the Act. “In pursuance to Section 109(2) of the PIA, the Commission gazetted the PC&DCSO Regulations which provides clarity on the obligations of the stakeholders.

“The law stipulates that the supply of crude oil to the domestic market shall be on a ‘willing buyer and willing seller’ basis

and the NMDPRA shall report to the commission where there is inadequate supply to the refineries.

“The commission has a responsibility to publish on a biannual basis, the domestic crude refining requirements of operating refineries in Nigeria as received from NMDPRA, in line with Section 109(3) of the PIA. “Where there is a reported crude supply shortage from the Authority, the commission is under obligation to issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) to producers asking for submission of quotation for bridging the shortfall, whereupon the commission will contact affected refineries to facilitate contract negotiations between the stakeholders.

“Failure to meet the terms will attract from the commission an obligation on the oil producers to supply the required volumes and notify the Authority accordingly,” the statement added.

In furtherance of this, and in line with the commission’s mandate of ensuring crude oil supply to licensed refineries in Nigeria as enshrined in Section 109 (4) of the PIA, the NUPRC stated that all the 52 exploration and production companies have now been invited to a meeting on November 1, 2023.

According to the commission,

this would ensure the alignment on the implementation of domestic crude oil supply obligation, operator’s compliance status, and operator’s response.

By October 27, 11 of the operators, the commission said, had responded, while the response from the remaining 42 operators was still being awaited.

The commission listed those that have so far responded as Dubri Oil Limited, Heirs Energies Limited, Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, Midwestern Oil & Gas Company Limited, Frontier Oil Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited, All Grace Energy Limited, Green Energy International Limited, Enageed Resources Limited and Pillar Oil Limited.

“The commission reiterates its determination to apply all required penalties for default and has emphasised that a company that fails to respond to the Request for Quotation (RFQ) within the specified period is liable to pay an administrative fine of $10,000 while a company that has not complied with its DCSO, where the willing buyer(s) exist will not be granted an export permit.

“A company that fails to comply with the DCSO would be made to pay a penalty of 50 per cent of the fiscal price per barrel not delivered,” it added.

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NEWS

PRESIDENTIAL RECEPTION… President Bola Tinubu (left), and Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, when the president received in audience the former senator at the President Villa in Abuja…recently

Marketers Hint of N800 Petrol Pump Price Amid Surging Landing Cost, Worsening FX Constraints Peter Uzoho Marketers of petroleum products in Nigeria have hinted that the pump price of petrol in the country could rise further to between N700 and N800 per litre, up from the current N580 - N617 per litre.

The oil marketers gave the hint in Lagos at the just-concluded Oil Trading and Logistics (OTL) Africa Downstream Expo, where they expressed their frustration over the return of a regulated petrol pricing regime amid rising landing costs, and shortage of foreign exchange.

Moderating one of the panel sessions with the topic: "Africa Fuels Update -Overview of Trends and Market Development", Chief Operating Officer of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, Mrs. Adenike Labanjo, raised the alarm over the looming price hike when she posed a question to the Executive Vice President (Downstream) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mr. Adedapo Segun.

Labanjo stated: "Now given the discussions with the panelists and taking into consideration the

subsidy announcement and implementation, we saw a reduction in the consumption of petrol from about 65 million litres per day to 45 million litres per day.

"Now, with the widening gap between the NNPC costs and imports, which plus or minus, could land close to N700 to N800, how do we ensure that the illegal export of petrol does not come back?

Because the gaps seem to be widening by the day with the various activities going on all over the world".

She argued that the rising cost of sourcing petrol had become more unbearable to the marketers than the NNPC because of the imbalance in foreign exchange accessibility that favours the national oil company more than the private marketers.

She added that the challenge faced by the marketers in the importation of petrol at the beginning of the deregulation pronouncement was that the market moved against them due to the volatile nature of FX or due to the inability of some marketers to lock their cargoes at the time.

Labinjo further said: "There is a major imbalance in the FX.

Now, NNPC has access to that and others don't have. NNPC too is a business on its own, but clearly, there is a competitive edge that no one in the industry can compete with. That is very clear even from the very salient points that were made today.

"We talk about things around investments even in refineries or any other type of investment on infrastructure that can support the downstream business.

"With this imbalance in FX access, how can that promote investment to drive the business that we currently do, given the scenario that we see today".

In his submission, the Executive Director of Northwest Petroleum and Gas Company Limited, Dr Mohammed Salaudeen, said the high cost of sourcing petrol had led to the shutting down of 90 per cent of petrol depots nationwide.

He lamented that the cost of buying a 10,000-metric tonne of petrol locally from the NNPC and others had surged to N7 billion, up from below half of that amount last year.

Salaudeen said the foreign exchange challenge facing the marketers had resulted in most of the players being unable to import petrol even with the approvals given by the

government regulatory bodies to bring in their products.

He categorically said that only less than 10 per cent of marketers were able to buy petrol locally while about five per cent were able to import and did so at a huge loss.

He said, "If you look at the marketing plural of petroleum marketers both at MOMAN level, DAPPMAN level even at IPMAN level, how many members of these associations are functioning today? Go to Port Harcourt, Calabar, Lagos, 90 per cent of depots are shut down, not operating.

"To buy a 10,000 metric tonne of petrol locally and land the same in your terminal in Nigeria, you will need about N7 billion. Twice more than what you will need about the same time last year. So, you see what's happening and it's quite a lot of challenge and that's the situation of things today.”

On his part, the Managing Director of Rainoil Logistics, Mr. Jude Nwaulune, said the cost of landing petrol in Lagos has reached about N560 - 565 per litre.

Nwaulune said the cost of moving the same product from Lagos towards the company's depot in Oghara, Delta State

Election Tribunal Dismisses Binani’s Petition, Affirms Fintiri’s Victory Daji Sani in Yola The Adamawa State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Yola, the state capital has dismissed the petition by Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the reelection of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Delivering the judgment yesterday, Justice Theodora Obi Uloho, said the petition lacked merit and substance.

She said the petitioners failed to prove allegations of noncompliance with the Electoral Act 2022.

Binani had challenged the election of Fintiri, alleging that the exercise did not comply with the Electoral Act. However, the tribunal dismissed Binani’s petition and affirmed Fintiri’s victory.

The governor had secured a total of 430,861 votes in the entire election, while Binani got 398,788 votes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Fintiri as the winner after the April 18 supplementary election.

Shortly after the tribunal’s verdict, Governor Fintiri described his victory as the triumph of

truth, morality, and honesty over falsehood and deceit.

The governor who made the position during a statewide broadcast, thanked the judiciary for being bold, upright, and courageous.

"Today, we are all witnesses to the triumph of reality over fiction; truth over falsehood, and honesty over deceit.

"It is a verdict in favour of popular will; it is a verdict that reaffirms that the truth is sacred and justice is proportionately served to all parties," the governor said.

The governor noted that the verdict has closed the first phase

of litigation, adding that even though the tribunal has consumed productive time and energy, as the captain of the ship, he remained undeterred in his resolve to work for the betterment of the state and its people.

"We have remained undistracted on our mandate and undeterred on the delivery of good governance to Adamawa State.

"This victory is therefore only a tonic that would spur us to rededicate our commitment to the call of our democratic mandate by ensuring that in Adamawa State we leave no one behind and nothing untouched,” the governor added.

was about N570/litre while taking the product towards Calabar, Cross River State was around N580.

He pointed out that the challenge was basically around FX in addition to the cost of local distribution to the pumps amid the rising cost of diesel to power their trucks as diesel price now hovers around N1000 per litre.

"What that means is that when we transport this product to the filling stations, you find out that the pump price is highly unaffordable. In this chain, the independents are beginning to miss from the chain because 4,000 litres of petrol used to be N7.5 million before deregulation, is now about N25 million", Nwaulune said.

However, reacting to questions around the perceived FX imbalance and cost of doing business that favours NNPC more than other private marketers, the Executive Vice President of Downstream, NNPC Limited, Mr. Segun,

boasted that the national oil company as a private integrated company has a natural edge over its competitors.

He urged other marketers to rise to the competition posed to them by the NNPC because of its competitive edge over them.

"One thing I have to do quickly is remind people that NNPC Limited is not a government; NNPC Limited is not a regulator; NNPC Limited is a competitor to these guys. So, sometimes, when I get questions about what is NNPC doing to encourage, I think, we are in business to compete with other players and if we have a competitive edge which I alluded to earlier, it becomes imperative for our competitors to rise to the occasion," Segun stated.

In line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), he said the national oil company remained contractor to the government and was excellently positioned to be discharging its service of guaranteeing energy security for the country.

Atiku to Speak on Supreme Court’s Judgment Affirming Tinubu's Victory Tomorrow Chuks Okocha in Abuja The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25, 2023 election and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, will address a crucial press conference tomorrow, apparently in reaction to last Thursday’s Supreme Court’s judgment affirming the victory of President Bola Tinubu.

Atiku lost the petition he filed to challenge President Tinubu’s victory after the apex court confirmed that he was duly elected president.

According to a statement from the office of the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, the press conference will focus on issues of serious importance to the nation.

Though it is not known

what would be the focus of the press conference, there are speculations that he would react to the judgment and probably congratulate Tinubu, his former political ally.

Some of his close associates told THISDAY that since the highest court in Nigeria had spoken, the former vice president has no alternative than to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court.

With the outcome of the Supreme Court judgment, PDP leaders will now focus on the battle for the control of the soul of the main opposition party as elders of the party are said to be mounting pressure on the former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki to vie for the position of the national chairman of the opposition party.

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WOMEN AFFAIR… L-R: Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulure; wife of Kwara State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Tokunbo Alabi; Founder, Lineage of Hope and Life Initiative, Atinuke Asegieme; Convener, Arise Women's Conference, Dr. Siju Iluyomade; wife of former Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Tokunbo Awoniyi; and wife of former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, at the Arise Women's Conference 2023, in Lagos...yesterday

Stop Lying, Bala Usman Fires Back at Amaechi Segun James A former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, has fired back at the former Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

Speaking at the annual lecture organised by an online publication, Amaechi accused Bala Usman of documenting a false narrative in her book titled: ‘Stepping on Toes: My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority.’

In the book, she chronicled her emergence and struggles while she served as managing director of NPA. Amaechi said he had been refraining from responding to the claims in her book, stating the lies were just too many.

The former Rivers State

governor alleged that as Managing Director of NPA with an N2.5 million approval limit, she approved a contract of N2.4 billion.

But in a statement she signed yesterday, Bala Usman asked Amaechi to “please grow up and stop all these lies”.

She said she took time to respond to the allegations levelled against her in the book, wondering why Amaechi was after her.

“Recent newspaper reports of false claims attributed to the eternally petty ex-Minister of Transportation, His Excellency Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, about me did not come as a surprise.

“In his over two decades in public office, Nigerians must be used to the fluidity with which he tells lies, manipulates facts,

Nigeria Has Highest Maternal Mortality Rate in the World, Expert Laments Says 225 women die daily during childbirth Wale Igbintade Founder of the Maternal and Reproductive Health Research Collective (MRHRC), Professor Bosede Afolabi, has raised the alarm over the increase in the maternal mortality rate in the country, stating that Nigeria has the highest number of women dying from pregnancy and childbirth in the world.

Speaking yesterday at a media event/Run/Jogging to create awareness on Maternal Mortality/ Health for Pregnant Women, held in Lagos, Afolabi said about 225 women in Nigeria die daily during childbirth.

The UK-born Nigerian Gynaecologist, and Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, said no fewer than 82,000 Nigerian women die annually due to pregnancy-related problems and childbearing difficulties.

She said: “These distressing figures continue to rise each year, even though the majority of these deaths are preventable. This event is the culmination of a month-long programme to raise awareness and funds for maternal mortality in Nigeria. The programme is also aimed at reducing the number of maternal mortalities in the country because Nigeria has the highest number of women dying from pregnancy and childbirth in the whole world.

"In 2020 alone, 82,000 pregnant Nigerian women died as a result of

pregnancy and childbirth. This figure is about three times more than that of India and India is about five times the population of Nigeria. So, if India could reduce the rate of maternal mortality, we must reduce ours too.

She added that: "In high-income countries, the total number of women dying as a result of pregnancy and childbirth is less than 20. However, in Nigeria, 225 women die daily.

So, as we have been running here, we have lost at least 10 women to pregnancy and childbirth, that is too much.”

She said the main objective of the Maternal and Reproductive Health Research Collective (MRHRC), was to ensure the highest standards of maternal and reproductive healthcare for women and girls in low-income communities.

"Through this campaign, we want to create awareness so that people can be more helpful to pregnant women. Also, it's to let pregnant women know that they should go to the hospital to deliver their babies.

They should not stay at home or go to someone who is not skilled.

They should go to the hospital and if they can't afford it, they should reach out to us.

"Right now, we are registering 5,000 pregnant women who cannot afford hospital bills, we've already registered about 300 women. We have also employed community health workers to register them, follow up, ensure that they deliver safely, and monitor them after delivery, she added.

and talks out of turn. Here is someone who once brazenly told Nigerians that he doesn’t like money, even when his public conduct contradicts this assertion.

That must be the most fantastic lie that any public official, living or dead, has ever told Nigerians and so, nothing he says should astonish us.

“Aside from exaggerations, manipulation of the truth, and outright lies which he threw at his audience on Thursday, the former Minister said nothing that I did not already reveal in my memoirs: ‘Stepping on Toes: My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority.’

“The book has been on sale since April 2023, but has he even read it to understand that I didn’t hide anything from Nigerians about the events surrounding my ‘stepping aside,’ and eventual exit as Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority.”

The presidential aide went down memory lane to explain how she addressed the issues he raised one after the other.

Countering Amaechi, Bala Usman said she did not know the grounds over which she was allegedly indicted.

“Mr Amaechi in his rant alleged that I awarded a contract worth N2.8 billion. This is false. I don’t

know where the former Minister got his N2.8 billion figure from since this accusation was nowhere in the list of infractions conveyed to me in a query arising from the reports of the Administrative Panel of Inquiry he set up.”

“The only issue relating to a contract award in the query was about the emergency purchase of operational vehicles following the vandalisation of the premises of the Marina, Lagos headquarters of the NPA on October 21, 2020.

“This subject was addressed in Query E with the title: “Unilateral and improper use of the emergency procurement mode to procure vehicles”.

“Here, the management of the NPA was accused of making the emergency purchase of operational vehicles “to the tune of N1,277,669,183.95, without approval from the Federal Executive Council.”

“In my response to the query about the N1.2 billion expenditure, I explained that we made the procurement pursuant to the provisions of Sections 43 (1) (a), (2), (3), and (4) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 (PPA) which allows procuring entities to purchase items due to the emergency nature of the need and obtain the necessary approval upon conclusion of the

procurement. The response to the query, including the approval obtained and the alleged inflation of the cost of the vehicles, are all detailed between pages 166-171 of the book.

“The former minister also spoke about waivers, which the FMOT query addressed in Item F. The query and my response explaining the circumstances and justifications for all the waivers granted by the NPA management are published on pages 171-175 of the book.

“He twisted the facts about Query C, which alleged the “unilateral execution of a supplemental agreement in respect of the Lekki Deep Sea Port Concession Project published on pages 163-165 of the book.

“In my response, I explained as follows: ‘The Authority was of the view that the supplemental agreement was operational in nature and does not alter any major aspect of the concession agreement as it only rescheduled construction timeframe for a berth and allowed other players to partake in the development of dry bulk since the company was constrained to embark on the construction at that time …”

“Mr. Amaechi also claimed that I was indicted on some ten counts. I do not know what

these ten counts are, because no one communicated any such indictments to me. But can I ask him whether these counts include the alleged non-remittance of the sum of N165 billion of operating surpluses to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) for which he sought and obtained former President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval to investigate the accounts of the NPA and my “stepping aside from office?”

Is it not true that this weighty allegation did not appear in the query that I received from the ministry after the conclusion of the work of the panel?

“Media reports from his lecture said that Mr. Amaechi “brandished” the panel report saying that he is keeping it to himself. But I wonder what the secrecy about the report is when the details of the alleged infractions were published as Appendix iii, from pages 157 through 179 of my book. On these pages, I shared the full official query issued to me on the alleged infractions arising from the investigation of the panel of inquiry by the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT), and my response. But more importantly, why is he the only one who has had access to this report?” she queried.

First Lady, Governors' Wives Pledge to Enhance Security Awareness Winner of Tinubu's competition to get N20m prize Deji Elumoye in Abuja Participants at a three-day seminar on protocol and security, which ended at the weekend in Abuja have pledged to assist the government in the security awareness campaign.

The participants, including the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wives of the 36 state governors, wives of top government functionaries and other top female officials in Nigeria, promised to enhance the image of the country by paying more attention to their public conduct and security.

The resolution formed part of the communique issued at the end of the seminar convened by the First Lady after eight papers were delivered by experts on security, protocol,

etiquette, improved public conduct and diplomatic relations.

For many of the participants who cut across former First Ladies of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, members of the National Assembly, wives of federal lawmakers, wives of Governors and former governors, Female Deputy Governors, Ministers, wives of ministers, Wives of Service Chiefs, among others, the three-day seminar was an eye opener for them, especially as it relates to security issues.

The participants, according to a statement issued yesterday by the media aide to the First Lady, Busola Kukoyi, expressed appreciation to the First Lady for building their capacity as role models and image makers for the country.

With the First Lady and former

First Ladies, Turai Yar’Adua and Dame Patience Jonathan making inputs, the session recalled some of the lessons learnt during the seminar, particularly those that dwelt on the need for cultural intelligence, security awareness and proper conduct among participants and other women on the social media."

Meanwhile, the winner of a competition, 'Every Home a Garden: initiated by the Renewed Hope Initiative, an NGO belonging to the First Lady would go home with the N20 million prize.

Smarting from the recently concluded three-day seminar on protocol and security, "A meet and greet session by the convener of the seminar, Mrs Tinubu, set a relaxed tone as participants availed themselves the opportunity to

interact with the First lady and share ideas on diverse issues.

The gathering had the opportunity to also view the video on the “Every Home a Garden” competition by the Renewed Hope Initiative, an Initiative of the First Lady. The competition, which is open to every woman from all the states of the federation, including the FCT, entails planting a garden at home whereby the harvest can provide food on their table and enough to give to their neighbour.

The winner of the competition, which will be announced in December 2024 has a prize money of N20 million.

The seminar on Protocol and Security was rounded off with the presentation of certificates of participation to the over 800 participants.

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • OCTOBER 29, 2023

NEWS

SWEET VICTORY… L-R: Adamawa State Governor, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri; Senior lawyer, Mr. Damian Dodo (SAN); and Chief Leonard Nzadon, celebrating with the governor after the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal affirmed his victory at the Government House, Yola…yesterday

Top Customs Officers Kick against Plan to Halt New Promotion Plan Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Some employees of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have kicked against the plan to halt the implementation of the recentlyapproved Competency Based Accelerated Career Progression Plan (CBACPP) in the promotion of members of staff of the organisation.

The concerned officers, THISDAY learnt, are worried that even though the CBACPP was approved by the federal government, some persons were frustrating the implementation, under the guise that it will impact a section of the country negatively.

The government through the NCS board had recently approved the implementation of the CBACPP for officers of the service, as a ‘proactive strategy’ designed to ensure the

customs is well staffed in the future.

Specifically, the NCS stated that it was meant to close the generational gap that could lead to a leadership vacuum in the higher hierarchies of the service if not addressed.

However, it was gathered that those who are opposed to the programme were doing so because they are afraid that when the new system becomes operational, a number of them who do not have the requisite educational qualifications will be side-lined.

It was gathered that the problem the NCS sought to solve arose because, before the 2009 recruitment, there was a long period when no one was recruited into the customs service.

This implies that by 2028 all the officers who joined the service before

the 2009 recruitment would retire on account of their length of service.

The consequence of this, which the government tried to avoid, is that there would be some leadership gaps, as none of the officers recruited in 2009 would have risen to the rank of a comptroller.

Realising the imminent problem, the immediate past leadership of the service designed a career accelerated programme to allow officers with certain educational and professional qualifications to step up and earn expedited career progression, one source said.

Although the last leadership of the service was slow to execute it after the approval, the career accelerated programme had been approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

However, there were claims that some senior officers from a certain part of the country would be short-changed by the approved career accelerated programme.

“This is considering that many of the officers from that region don't have the requisite additional educational and professional qualifications,” a source stated.

According to the proponents of the new policy, sweeping the programme under the carpet or not implementing it would pose a danger to the continuous existence of the service.

A memo sighted by THISDAY indicated that in the next six years, all the General Duty (GD) officers recruited into the superintendent cadre before 2009 would have exited the service, either by age

Gaza War: Nigeria, Others Demand Immediate Ceasefire Michael Olugbode in Abuja Nigeria alongside 119 other countries at the weekend voted in favour of a humanitarian ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

This followed the failure of four draft resolutions at the United Nations Security Council.

At the UN General Assembly on Friday, while 120 countries voted in favour, 14 including US and Israel voted against the resolution.

A total of 45 countries abstained.

The resolution, according to Premium Times, was on the “protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations”, according to UN News. It demanded that all parties “immediately and fully comply” with obligations under international humanitarian and human rights laws, “particularly in regard to the protection of civilians and civilian objects.”

Thousands of civilians have been killed in Israel and Gaza, with the latter recording more casualties as a result of relentless bombardments from Israel.

The recent escalation started on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel. Over 1,400 Israelis were killed in that attack.

Since then, Israel has declared

war on the group with occupants of the Gaza Strip at the receiving end. Over 7,000 Gaza residents including about 3,000 children have been killed in the air strikes, according to official figures.

Additionally, the resolution called for the protection of humanitarian personnel and humanitarian facilities to enable and facilitate humanitarian access for essential supplies and services to reach all civilians in need in the Gaza Strip.

Since the recent escalation, no less than 53 humanitarian staff have been killed in Gaza, UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) said.

Referring to Israel as “the occupying Power,” the UN Assembly asked it to rescind its evacuation order. Israel had ordered Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate and relocate to the south but continued to bombard the area.

“The General Assembly also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians being illegally held captive, demanding their safety, well-being and humane treatment in compliance with international law.

“It also reaffirmed that a “just and lasting solution” to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict can only be achieved by peaceful means, based on the relevant UN resolutions and

in accordance with international law, and on the basis of the two-State solution,” UN News reported.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has called for a truce between Israeli forces and Hamas, and asked for the immediate opening of humanitarian corridor in Gaza.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, in a statement yesterday said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria supports and reiterates call for an immediate durable and sustained humanitarian truce between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza and asks for the opening of humanitarian corridor.”

He added that: “The situation in Gaza is dire and requires immediate attention as a result of the recent uptick in violence. Women, children, and other vulnerable groups are among innocent civilians that have suffered greatly as a result of the indiscriminate violence and are currently bearing the consequences.

“The parties in the conflict must uphold the fundamental values of human rights and international humanitarian law, which places premium on ensuring civilians' safety and well-being even in times of conflict.”

Tuggar said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria is calling

on the Israeli Government to grant humanitarian access to the millions of people that have been displaced since the crisis broke.

The lack of water, food shortages, medical supplies and fuel have compounded the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria also calls on all parties involved to immediately agree to a ceasefire and engage in diplomatic negotiations to resolve the conflict.”

The minister further said: “Both parties are urged to exercise utmost restraint and prioritise the safety and well-being of civilians.

Indiscriminate attacks that result in civilian casualties must be avoided at all costs.

The prayer of the Nigerian nation is with those who have lost their lives in the conflict and families that have suffered human and material losses, and also those that are currently recuperating from injuries.

“Finally, the Federal Government of Nigeria is reiterating its call once again for a quick de-escalation of hostilities by both sides and a return to the negotiating table to continue the search for peaceful resolutions and the implementation of the two-state solution as a permanent settlement of the inter-generational cycle of violence.”

or 35 years statutory requirement, thereby creating serious human resources problems.

“Conscious of the challenge this could pose for the service in the nearest future, the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs (CGC) through the board recently approved the implementation of proper placement for officers recruited into the service at the superintendent cadre between 2009 to 2015.

“This exercise, which has received wide applause, has boosted the morale of officers and has consequently narrowed the 17 years generational gap in the system.

“Despite the significant gains achieved through the proper placement, it is instructive to note that by 2028, when the current mid-level and top management officers have all retired from the service, the most senior GD officers in the service would be wearing the rank of Deputy Comptrollers (DC).

“This projection is based on the minimum number of years that an officer must spend on a rank before being considered eligible for promotion in line with Public Service Rule (PSR) Promotion maturity criterion 020701,” the memo noted.

In addition, it explained that this will therefore mean that no customs officer of the General Duty cadre would have the requisite rank or experience at the top level to head

the service by 2028 if a proactive solution is not explored.

“From the foregoing, it is therefore obvious that the implementation of proper placement is the first bold step towards bridging the identified gap,” it added.

Based on the many problems that will be created if the accelerated progression plan is not executed, the new system suggested that there should be transparent criteria for the selection of officers for the programme.

To ensure promotion is made strictly based on competitive merit, at the end of the two-year career advancement programme, it noted that officers that complete the CBACPP with a pass mark of 70 per cent computed from external training, on-the-job evaluation, and service research paper should be automatically promoted to the next rank or granted a one-year waiver.

This, it said, would fast-track the closure process and avoid the possibility of transfer of service from other agencies.

Also, to ensure the strategic objective of the CBACPP is achieved, the top 90 officers from each geopolitical zone, based on seniority and performance, that would emerge from the first batch of the programme, should be drawn into a special pool that would constitute future management of the Service.

Lokpobiri, Kyari Inspect Progress of Work at Kaduna Refinery John Shiklam in Kaduna The Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, yesterday inspected the Kaduna refinery to assess the progress of work on the ongoing quick-fix project at the facility.

The minister and the Kyari are also in Kaduna for the 14th Refineries Rehabilitation Steering Committee meeting.

The refinery project is linked with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the Ministry of Petroleum and NNPCL to fix

the nation’s moribund refineries to start refining crude oil locally.

The 110,000bpd capacity Kaduna refinery is one of Nigeria’s four dysfunctional refineries that have produced no petrol for many years, leaving the country to rely heavily on imported petroleum products.

The last turnaround maintenance on the refinery according to official sources was carried out about 15 years ago.

In February 2023, the NNPCL signed an agreement with a Korean company, Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited for the rehabilitation of the refinery.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 29, 2023

BUSINESS

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

FX Crisis and Renewed Campaign for Made-in-Nigeria Goods As the current administration embarks on a multi-pronged approach to meet its FX obligations, shore its foreign H[FKDQJH UHVHUYHV DQG DGGUHVV WKH JDS EHWZHHQ GHPDQG DQG VXSSO\ DW WKH YDULRXV PDUNHWV HFRQRPLF DͿDLUV FRPPHQWDWRUV DUJXHG WKDW DOO WKHVH HͿRUWV ZRXOG SDOH LQWR LQVLJQLÀFDQFH XQWLO 1LJHULDQV LQFOXGLQJ JRYHUQPHQW R΀FLDOV VKRZ UHDO FRPPLWPHQW WR SDWURQLVH ORFDOO\ SURGXFHG JRRGV DQG VHUYLFHV ZULWHV Festus Akanbi

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or a nation in dire need of foreign exchange required for economic development, it was not a surprise that the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator AtikuBagudu,decidedtouse the platform created by the 29th economic VXPPLW RI WKH 1LJHULDQ (FRQRPLF 6XPPLW *URXS 1(6* LQ $EXMD ODVW ZHHN WR FDQYDVV IRU WKH LQÁRZ RI IRUHLJQ LQYHVWPHQW VD\LQJ 1LJHULD LV D KDYHQ IRU IRUHLJQ LQYHVWRUV WR take advantage of.

Bagudu said despite the country’s challenges, the government remained resilient and was taking thriving economic activities to all parts of the country.

7KH PDUNHWLQJ RI WKH 1LJHULDQ LQYHVWPHQW climate by the minister notwithstanding, analysts who expressed concerns over the state of the economy said with an import bill RI 1 ELOOLRQ LQ WKH VHFRQG TXDUWHU of the year, the severity of the pressure of competitiveness brought to bear on local industries in a period of crashing purchasing power of the people, and rising operational costs, could be better imagined.

7KLV FDSWXUHG WKH IHHOLQJV RI 1LJHULDQ manufacturers, and other economic watchers in their plea for the government to place a balance between revenue generation and industrial growth considering the threat to the competitiveness of local industries by imported goods.

their displeasure over the report that members RI WKH 1DWLRQDO $VVHPEO\ KDYH FKRVHQ WR EX\ IRUHLJQ FDUV DV XWLOLW\ YHKLFOHV DIWHU UHMHFWLQJ an initial proposal to patronise local carmakers like Innoson or CIG, which opened its car assembling plant in Ogba area of Lagos last week.

The lawmakers were said to have resolved WR SXUFKDVH RYHU XQLWV RI WKH 7R\RWD /DQGFUXLVHU PRGHO $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH UHSRUW HDFK RI WKH 689V LV YDOXHG DW 1 PLOOLRQ WRWDOOLQJ 1 ELOOLRQ IRU WKH SXUFKDVH RI WKH vehicles.

1LJHULDQV ZKR YHQW WKHLU DQJHU RQ VRFLDO media platforms recalled how the government FORVHG WKH ERUGHUV EHFDXVH WKH\ ZDQWHG 1LJHULDQV WR SDWURQLVH PDGH LQ 1LJHULD SURGXFWV

Beyond the Reprieve for 43 Banned Items

Some locally made shoes on display

Appetite for Imported Goods

Analysts explained that at the heart of the current challenges killing local manufacturing initiatives is the unbridled appetite for foreign goods and services at the expense of local production, and according to experts, 1LJHULD DV D FRXQWU\ KDV FRQWLQXHG WR SD\ dearly for this costly appetite.

7KLV LV EHFDXVH DV 1LJHULD RSHQV LWV GRRU WR WKH LQÁX[ RI IRUHLJQ SURGXFWV WKH FRXQWU\ LV being denied all the gains associated with a thriving manufacturing industry. These gains, according to Partner and Chief Economist RI .03* 1LJHULD 'U <HPL .DOH LQFOXGH HPSOR\PHQW RSSRUWXQLWLHV GLYHUVLÀFDWLRQ and reduced dependency on oil, regional economic development, import substitution and export promotion. .DOH LQ KLV SUHVHQWDWLRQ DW WKH WK 1LJHULDQ (FRQRPLF 6XPPLW RUJDQLVHG E\ WKH 1(6* OLVWHG RWKHU DFFUXDEOH EHQHÀWV RI D WKULYLQJ manufacturing sector including favourable trade balances, infrastructural and human capital development, transfer of technology and innovation, and government revenue generation. The title of his presentation was Manufacturing for Prosperity: A Roadmap IRU ,QGXVWULDO *URZWK LQ 1LJHULD It was therefore understandable that the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde SanwoOlu was full of praise for the Chinese car manufacturing company, CIG, last week when the company marked the completion of DVVHPEOLQJ WKH ÀUVW YHKLFOHV LQ WKH 2JED DUHD RI /DJRV 7KH DVVHPEOLQJ SODQW LV WKH ÀUVW to be built in Lagos by a Chinese company in partnership with the state government.

The governor said the development would FUHDWH PRUH MREV LQ WKH VWDWH DQG 1LJHULD +H GHVFULEHG WKH DVVHPEODJH RI YHhicles in the plant as a remarkable milestone DQG D UHÁHFWLRQ RI WKH SURPLVLQJ V\QHUJ\

Some products from Innoson Vehicles between international partnerships and local talent. The governor said the state is open to PRUH LQYHVWPHQWV WKDW ZRXOG FUHDWH MREV VNLOOV development, wealth creation, entrepreneurial opportunities, and reduce unemployment.

WRWDO H[SRUWV VWRRG DW 1 ELOOLRQ DQG WRWDO LPSRUWV DPRXQWHG WR 1 ELOOLRQ 7RWDO H[SRUWV LQFUHDVHG E\ ZKHQ FRPSDUHG WR WKH DPRXQW UHFRUGHG LQ WKH ÀUVW TXDUWHU RI 1 ELOOLRQ EXW GHFOLQHG E\ FRPSDUHG WR WKH FRUUHVSRQGLQJ TXDUWHU LQ 1 ELOOLRQ /LNHZLVH LQ WKH Low Production There were reports that the growth of the period under review, total imports increased manufacturing sector has been weak and slug- by 2.99% compared to the value recorded in JLVK VLQFH LWV UHFRYHU\ IURP WKH &29,' WKH ÀUVW TXDUWHU RI 1 ELOOLRQ EXW pandemic with an average annual growth of GHFOLQHG E\ ZKHQ FRPSDUHG WR WKH LQ DQG LQ DQG DQDO\VWV value recorded in the corresponding quarter think that the contribution of the manufacturing RI 1 ELOOLRQ VHFWRU WR 1LJHULD·V *'3 VWLOO IDOOV IDU VKRUW RI JOREDOO\ FRPSHWLWLYH OHYHOV DYHUDJLQJ Leading by Example DQQXDOO\ LQ LWV FRQWULEXWLRQ WR *'3 LQ DOPRVW The drama playing out today is the failure two decades.

RI JRYHUQPHQW R΀FLDOV WR OHDG E\ H[DPSOH LQ The manufacturing sector also under- the campaign to support local industry. This performs in its contribution to exports as the perhaps, was the main issue that provoked VHFWRU DFFRXQWHG IRU RQO\ RI WRWDO H[SRUWV WKH UHFHQW FRQGHPQDWLRQ RI WKH 1DWLRQDO UHFRUGHG LQ FRPSDUHG WR RWKHU FRXQWULHV Assembly over the preference of imported ZKHUH PDQXIDFWXULQJ DFFRXQWV IRU RYHU R΀FLDO YHKLFOHV WR WKH ORFDOO\ SURGXFHG FDUV +RZHYHU LQ WKH VHFRQG TXDUWHU RI 1L$V WKH FRQWURYHUV\ UDJHV PDQ\ 1LJHULDQV JHULD·V WRWDO WUDGH VWRRG DW 1 ELOOLRQ KDYH WDNHQ WR ; IRUPHUO\7ZLWWHU WR H[SUHVV

Analysts argued that although the Central %DQN RI 1LJHULD &%1 LQ LWV ELG WR HDVH WKH pressure on the FX market, unbanned 43 items previously restricted from accessing FX from WKH R΀FLDO ZLQGRZ WKH SUHVVXUH FDQQRW DEDWH XQWLO 1LJHULDQV FXW GRZQ RQ WKH FRQVXPSWLRQ of imported materials. %HWZHHQ DQG WKH &%1 LQLWLDOO\ restricted 43 items from accessing FX from the , ( ZLQGRZ WKH FRXQWU\·V R΀FLDO PDUNHW %\ implication, importers of the commodities were forced to source for FX at the black market often at higher rates.

The list included rice, cement, margarine, palm kernel, vegetables, meat, poultry chicken, eggs, wheelbarrows, head pans, wire rods, wooden doors, and furniture. The list also LQFOXGHG URRÀQJ VKHHWV HQDPHOZDUH LURQ rods, plywood boards and panels, toothpicks, cloths, plastic and rubber products, soap and cosmetics, tomatoes/tomato pastes and fertiliser, among others.

Analysts, however, said there is no reason why some of these items should be imported given the fact they all have local variants which would not add to the current crisis in the fx market.

To position the manufacturing sector for the challenge ahead, experts said this is the time for the current administration to revive the manufacturing sector to boost the local economy.

One of such experts, Okechukwu Unegbu, said the priority for the government and its relevant agencies is to help the industries to start producing again.

“Production and manufacturing of essential goods will stop the dependence on imported goods, and go a long way in revamping the economy and strengthening the naira.

The federal government should address fundamental dislocations in the country, like boosting investment, reducing the unemployPHQW UDWH DQG FXWWLQJ GRZQ RQ LQÁDWLRQ µ he said.

He maintained that the absence of a vibrant industrial and manufacturing sector in the country had exacerbated various economic FKDOOHQJHV OLNH ULVLQJ LQÁDWLRQ DQG DQ XQVWDEOH currency.

With adequate regulation, local manufacWXULQJ ÀUPV DUH FHUWDLQO\ UHDG\ WR PHHW WKH people’s needs once the business climate is clear and conducive enough for them to churn out quality products. This is a sure way of conserving foreign exchange and removing undue pressure on the government.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 29, 2023

BANKING

L-R: First runner up, Hackaholics 4.0, Nelson Nelson-Atuonwu, for Team Grip; Managing Director/CEO, Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni; Winner, Jane Agbaohwo, for Team Ireti; Deputy Managing Director, Wema Bank, Wole Akinleye; Second runner-up, Oluwatimilehin Ogunme, for Team Trakka, at the Wema Bank/ALAT Hackaholics 4.0 grand finale in Lagos…weekend

Wema Empowers Youths through Hackaholics The fourth edition of the Wema Bank’s Hackaholics, which provided a platform for young innovators to bring their creative ideas to life, hone their skills, and gain a competitive edge in the global technology and digital space, will long be remembered as one of the empowerment schemes needed to break the jinx of unemployment in the country, writes Nume Ekeghe

T

he just-concluded fourth edition of Hackaholics

by Wema Bank witnessed over 3,000 young Nigerians indicating their interest in showcasing their talents DQG SURͿHULQJ VROXWLRQV to real-life problems bedeviling the country.

Hackaholics is Wema Bank’s youth and start-up-focused initiative, designed to provide a platform for young innovators with gamechanging, tech-driven ideas and products, to bring their creative ideas to life, hone their skills, and gain a competitive edge in the global technology and digital space.

The participants, which spanned across the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory in over 37 universities, were mentored, groomed, and given adequate encouragement to achieve their purpose.

Since its launch in 2019, Hackaholics has toured the six geo-political zones in Nigeria including 37 universities across Africa, sourcing creative undergraduate students, youth, and start-ups, challenging them to innovate and create practical solutions to real-life problems, using technology.

The fourth edition of Hackaholics, dubbed ‘Hackaholics 4.0: Re-imagine: Disrupting the Ecosystem for Scale,’ witnessed participants pitch compelling creative ideas for impactful solutions that would ease struggles across GLͿHUHQW DUHDV RI KXPDQ OLIH ZKLFK LQclude: education, climate, gov tech, health, JHQGHU EDVHG YLROHQFH ÀQDQFLDO LQFOXVLRQ HQWHUWDLQPHQW ÀQWHFK LQVXUDQFH DQG FLYLF WHFK Out of the 3,000 applicants, the bestperforming contestants were unveiled as the

7RS ÀQDOLVWV RQ 7KXUVGD\ LQ /DJRV ZKHUH they convened for a week-long programme of strategic digital empowerment activities, carefully curated by Wema Bank. ,Q WKH ÀUVW IHZ GD\V ÀQDOLVWV UHFHLYHG RQH of-a-kind executive mentorship from renowned national and global technology corporations like Microsoft, KPMG, Samsung, Paystack, Flutterwave, and Dream Space, among others, to equip them with hands-on insight and prepare them for the Hackaholics 4.0 grand ÀQDOH SUH SLWFK +RZHYHU RXW RI WKH RQO\ ÀQDOLVWV HPHUJHG DW WKH JUDQG ÀQDOH SUH SLWFK HYHQW held at Wema Bank headquarters in Marina, after intense scrutiny by the judges. The ten ÀQDOLVWV LQFOXGH ,5(7, *5,3 7UDNND 2XWVLGHH Chao, Raptor, Pup Industries, University-X, Naijabox and MumAlive.

Speaking at the Pre-Pitch, Head, of Innovation and Emerging Technologies, Wema Bank, 6RORPRQ $\RGHOH QRWHG WKDW WKH ÀQDOLVWV ZHUH shortlisted from over 3,000 applications from students from universities across the country.

Ayodele explained that the essence of Pre3LWFK ZKLFK VDZ HPHUJH IURP ÀQDOLVWV ZDV WR KHOS WKH ÀQDOLVWV UHÀQH WKHLU SLWFKHV through rigorous training as the bank aims to bring out the best for the Grand Finale.

“It is clear on both individual and industrial levels that the Hackaholics vision has been perfectly brought to life and its impact on the lives and businesses of Nigerians nationwide cannot be over-emphasised. This year’s Hackaholics Digital is a gathering of innovators, disruptors, regulators, policymakers, investors & customers in the digital space. It is part of Wema Bank’s quest to empower lives through

innovation, to a whole new level.

He added that the digital summit serves as a hub for sharing cutting-edge insights, trends, and best practices in the tech industry towards the positive transformation of technology and innovation not just in Nigeria but across Africa.

“With over 300,000 lives already impacted, the future of innovation in Africa is potentially glistening, thanks to Wema Bank’s unwavering commitment to fostering collaboration and driving innovation.”

One of the panel of judges at the event, Startup fund manager at Google, Femi Awoniyi said part of the things that were considered were how strong the team is, how innovative the solution is, how sound the business model is, and its propensity for scale.

“I’m a big fan of innovation and seeing how innovation can touch lives and defend businesses. The more we come up with things of this nature, these kinds of events, where we are creating a space where innovators can feel comfortable, while providing them with some capital should be encouraged.

“Today’s event is a catalyst and motivating factor for the participants to roll out their solutions and help more people or more businesses becomes like a vicious cycle.

“We just listened to a couple of solutions in various sectors including health care, and we are seeing how we can help women and people that are facing things like breast cancer, and solve other real-life problems that the people are facing every day. If things like this can be encouraged, lots of lives will be touched.”

Another judge, Rosemond Phil-Odhihiwa, a startup attorney and corporate consultant noted that one of the key things that the panel

was particular about was innovation as the theme of the Hackaholic portrays. “So, we’re looking for viability, innovation, and capacity to scale,” she said. $W WKH GLJLWDO VXPPLW DQG JUDQG ÀQDOH event, Team Ireti, a health-tech startup that helps women bridge the gap and manages breast cancer, emerged winner of the Wema Bank’s Hackaholics 4.0. She won the N15 million cash prize for the best-pitched business, ZKLOH *5,3 ² D ÀQWHFK VWDUWXS ² ZRQ 1 PLOOLRQ DV WKH ÀUVW UXQQHU XS DQG 7UDNND ZRQ N7 million as the second runner-up.

Also, Outsidee won N5 million for the :RPHQ /HG $ZDUG ² D SUL]H LQVWLWXWHG WR support women in tech. Other winners are Naijabox as the best energy startup; PUP Industries won the award for the best climate subset; MumAlive won in the health startup category; Chao won the e-commerce category, and University-X won the edutech category.

Also, three universities won the Wema Bank Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics endowment fund. They are Babcock University N10 million; Afe Babalola University N7 million and Nile University won N5 million respectively.

Speaking after picking the prize, founder and creative director of Ireti, Jane Agbaohwo, said “Going forward we will be able to reach out to women in urban communities and also women in rural communities because we are partnering with NGOs. We are reaching out to them; helping them to create awareness about breast cancer – it kills, but you stand a chance to live if you detect early and start treatment on time,” MD/CEO of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, stated that a unique blend of traditional banking expertise, and technology embedded deeply in the bank’s system has allowed them to support the growth of the tech ecosystem in Nigeria.

“We also recognise that any economy that is serious about sustainable economic and social development must pay serious attention to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Entertainment and sports have put Nigeria on the global landscape in a positive light, but they cannot help to predict WHFKQRORJ\ DQG LQIUDVWUXFWXUH GHÀFLWV WKDW will see Nigeria achieve its true potential.”

Oseni noted that innovation is essential to sustainable success, urging the audience to collaborate, innovate, and leverage opportunities to sustain the growth of their businesses and innovative solutions.

“This is just the beginning. We are deeply rooted in this journey of empowering lives and fostering a digital and national transformation through innovation and collaboration. Rest assured that the Hackaholics Digital Summit 2024 will be bigger and much better. I thank you for your support all through our journey and I resound our commitment to you; We are with you, all the way.”

Founder /CEO of Flutterwave, Olugbenga Agboola, in a keynote address, said events like Hackaholics 4.0 could provide valuable opportunities to founders who are leveraging technology to solve both local and global challenges.

Commending Wema Bank’s record of sustainably empowering lives and businesses, he expressed gratitude to the bank for consistently enabling FinTechs and small businesses across Nigeria to thrive.

“The Flutterwave story is incomplete without Wema Bank. Their dedication and passion are inspiring and I say this because , KDYH ZLWQHVVHG WKH VDFULÀFHV DQG VXSSRUW Wema Bank has given. We have grown sitting on the shoulders of this giant and the symbolic nature of Wema Bank as the infrastructure that not only drives innovation but also provides a platform for innovations to emerge is second to none. I am excited about the Hackaholics Digital Summit and I conclude by saying this: If you want to go far, go with people.”

Executive Director of Retail and Digital Business, Wema Bank, Tunde Mabawonku, said that the digital summit transcends boundaries to unite digital innovators, visionaries, and industry leaders from across Nigeria. “It’s all about harnessing the collective potential of VWDUWXS IRXQGHUV WR UHGHÀQH WKH ERXQGDULHV of what’s possible in the digital age”.

Read full article online - www. thisdaylive.com

17

OCTOBER 29, 2023 • T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

with

SOFT FINANCE

AYO AROWOLO ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com 08086447494 (sms only)

INVESTMENT | ECONOMICS | FINANCE | MONEY | E-COMMERCE

The ₦50 Million Investment Challenge: The Concluding Submissions In this edition, we publish the concluding submissions on the N50m investment challenge we had thrown to members of the Thisday Life Lessons forum ADEWALE OLUTOBI: I WILL DIVERSIFY

I

nvesting N50 million to generate an attractive return on investment within 12 months is a significant challenge, as it involves careful consideration of risk, market conditions, and investment goals. Here are the comprehensive steps involved: 1. INVESTMENT CHOICE: I would choose a diversified investment strategy that spreads the risk across multiple asset classes.

Here’s how I would allocate the funds: Equities (40%): Invest N20 million in a diversified portfolio of Nigerian and international stocks. This would provide the potential for high returns but also carries higher volatility.

Real Estate (25%): Allocate N12.5 million to real estate investments, focusing on properties in growing urban areas or commercial properties with stable rental income.

Fixed Income (25%): Invest N12.5 million in fixed-income instruments like government bonds, corporate bonds, and fixed deposits. This provides stability and income.

Alternative Investments (10%): Allocate N5 million to alternative investments like mutual funds, private equity, or venture capital. These offer the potential for high returns but come with higher risk.

2. STEP-BY-STEP STRATEGY: a. Research and Analysis: Conduct thorough research on potential stocks, real estate opportunities, and fixed-income options.

Diversify within each asset class to mitigate risk. b. Portfolio Construction: Build a well-diversified stock portfolio with companies from various sectors and regions. In real estate, select properties with strong growth potential or stable rental income. In fixed income, choose a mix of short-term and long-term instruments for balance. c. Risk Management: Regularly monitor the portfolio’s performance and make adjustments as needed. Use stop-loss orders for stocks to limit potential losses. Ensure proper due diligence in real estate investments to mitigate risks. d. Professional Assistance: Consult with financial advisors, real estate experts, and investment professionals for guidance.

3. EXPECTED RETURN: The return on this investment would depend on various factors, including market conditions, economic trends, and the success of individual investments.

However, here’s a rough estimate: Equities: Historically, equities have the potential to generate annual returns of 8-12% on average. So, a 40% allocation could yield around 10% or N2 million.

Real Estate: Real estate returns can vary widely, but a 25% allocation might yield around 5-8% annually, or N1.25 million to N2 million.

Fixed Income: Fixed income investments could provide a more conservative 6-8% return, or N750,000 to N1 million on the 25% allocation.

Alternative Investments: Depending on the specific investments chosen, a 10% allocation might offer returns in the range of 10-15%, or N500,000 to N750,000.

In total, the expected return could range from N4.5 million to N6.75 million, but it’s important to note that these figures are estimates, and actual returns may vary significantly due to market fluctuations and unforeseen events.

Remember that investing always carries risks, and it’s essential to have a well-thought-out strategy, diversification, and a long-term perspective when managing a substantial sum of money like N50 million. Consultation with financial experts is crucial for making informed decisions.

Adewale Olutobi

Regularly review my portfolio’s performance and rebalance it if necessary to maintain the desired asset allocation.

Reinvestment of dividends, interest, or rental income can boost overall returns.

LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE: While the investment horizon is 12 months, it’s essential to have a long-term perspective in mind. Market fluctuations can impact on short-term results. Avoid making impulsive decisions based on short-term market movements.

EXIT STRATEGY: I would define clear exit criteria for each investment.

Decide when to take profits or cut losses. I would have a plan for the end of the 12 months, whether it’s to reinvest, withdraw, or adjust the portfolio.

RISK TOLERANCE AND LIQUIDITY: I would assess my risk tolerance carefully and consider my financial goals and how much risk I can comfortably take. Ensure I have access to some liquid assets to cover immediate financial needs or emergencies.

CONTINGENCY PLANNING: I would plan for unforeseen circumstances. What if the market experiences a significant downturn? I would consider having a portion of my portfolio in highly liquid assets that can be easily accessed in emergencies.

STAY INFORMED: I would stay updated on economic news, geopolitical events, and market trends that can impact my investments.

Being informed helps you make informed decisions and adjust your strategy as needed.

PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE: I would consult with financial advisors, investment experts, and legal professionals to ensure my investments are well-structured and compliant with regulations.

It’s important to note that while the suggested asset allocation and estimated returns provide a starting point, the actual outcome may differ significantly due to market volatility and unforeseen events. Moreover, past performance is not indicative of future results. Hence, careful planning, diversification, and ongoing monitoring are key to success

Mac Atom

Titus Abe

when investing a substantial sum like N50 million within a 12-month horizon.

TITUS ABE: FOREX ALL THE WAY

If I were given 50 million to invest in any instrument of my choice to generate attractive returns within the next 12 months; I’d go about it thus: 1. Where would you invest the money?

I will invest 100% in the FOREX MARKET. 2. What is the step-by-step strategy you would employ?

2.1. Select not more than three instruments in the market to trade.

2.2. Set a target of 0.5% returns on every trade per day. ( 250,000.00) and my RISK TO REWARD will be 1:3 per trade.

2.3. Stick to a RISK TO REWARD ratio of 1:3 per trade.

2.4. Stop loss MUST be on every trade.

2.5. Once I meet my target for the day, I close all my trades and wait to continue trading the following day.

2.6. Out of five days of the week, I may leave one day free of trading. Effectively, active trading will be for ONLY four days in the week. This translates to an income of 1 million weekly.

2.7. At the end of the week, I’d move ALL my profit from the trading account to my bank and ensure that I’m left with a balance of the initial trading capital of 50 million to start trading at the beginning of every trading week all through the 12 months.

2.8. With four weeks in a month, the income becomes 4 million and the capital is still intact.

2.9. Within 12 months of not deviating from the strategy and being consistently disciplined, the total income equals 48 million.

3. How much return do you think you can generate?

Within the stipulated 12-month period, I’d have generated a minimum total income of 48 million. (That is about 100% return on investment).

CHUKWUDI OKAA: I SETTLE WITH CREDIBLE FUND MANAGERS

There are few investment opportunities in Nigeria.

We also have the problem of most of the investing fund managers not being ready or willing to attend to individuals who are not in a certain net-worth bracket.

It is even worse for you if you are not in business or live in Abuja or Lagos.

With N50 million, my strategy will be to identify the best fund managers in the country, the investment options they offer and the returns. I will also identify fund managers with good custodial fund management.

Finally, I will have to identify and speak with, the staff of the fund managers and convince myself that they are ready and willing not only to accept my funds but are willing to help me with investment options that are available in real-time. This is important because my experience with a few of the fund managers showed a lack of seriousness of their staff who will never attend to your inquiry on time, will not provide real-time information on the market and even when I applied to terminate and receive my investment it became a big problem. I was asked to identify myself. I sent my National Identification Number (NIN). It was rejected.

I sent my Nigerian passport and voter’s card. It’s over a week. I have not received my money.

NOTE: Read the full Interview in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

CAVEAT: Please note that none of the investment opinions expressed in the three propositions above represent those of THISDAY NEWSPAPERS and THISDAY LIFE LESSONS. Readers interested in experimenting with any of them are advised to consult their investment experts.

MAC ATOM: I WOULD SPREAD THE RISKS

RISK MITIGATION AND DIVERSIFICATION: Diversification across asset classes and within each class helps spread risk. It’s important not to put all the money into one investment.

Consider using mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to achieve instant diversification within equities or bonds. Maintain an emergency fund in a low-risk, highly liquid account to cover unexpected expenses or market downturns.

TAX PLANNING: Be mindful of tax implications on my investments.

In Nigeria, different investments are subject to varying tax rates. Consult a tax advisor to optimise your tax Officials of the Funds Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN) were at the King’s College, Lagos last week to educate the senior classes on the benefits of savings and investments. Here, with some of the students, is the President of FMAN, Mr. Aigbovbioise Aig-Imoukhuede, flanked by his colleagues, Mrs. strategy and minimise tax liabilities.

Fadekemi Obasanya, Head, Technical and Enlightenment on the left, and Mrs Laura Fisayo-Kolawole, Executive Secretary, on the right.

MONITORING AND REBALANCING:

FMAN TAKES INVESTMENT EDUCATION TO SCHOOLS…

18

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 29, 2023

INTERVIEW PenCom: Employers, Employees Can Collaborate to Resolve Issue of Low Pensions The Director General of the National Pension Commission, Mrs. Aisha Dahir-Umar, in a recent interview with journalists, spoke on the Nigerian pension industry which has witnessed VLJQLÀFDQW JURZWK LQ DVVHWV Eromosele Abiodun was there. Excerpts:

I

t has been three years since the PenCom management team was inaugurated. How would you describe your experience, both the highs and the lows?

5HÁHFWLQJ RQ WKLV SHULRG , FDQ describe the journey as a blend of achievements and challenges. On the positive side, we have made remarkable VWULGHV LQ HQKDQFLQJ WKH H΀FLHQF\ DQG WUDQVSDUency of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

2XU HͿRUWV LQFOXGH WKH LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI FUXFLDO reforms aimed at optimising procedures and fostering compliance among pension contributors and employers.

The outcomes are impressive: pension assets have surged by N5.94 trillion over the last three years, growing from N11.35 trillion in August 2020 to N17.29 trillion in August 2023.

Furthermore, over 1 million new contributors have keyed into the CPS within this timeframe.

One of our outstanding achievements is the recapitalisation of the shareholders’ fund of Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) from N1 ELOOLRQ WR 1 ELOOLRQ 7KH VLJQLÀFDQW LQFUHDVH in the number of registered contributors and pension assets under the management of PFAs had necessitated increased capital injection, in order to meet minimum service standards and address various operational needs in the pension industry. Following the successful conclusion of the recapitalisation exercise, PFAs have become ÀQDQFLDOO\ VWURQJHU DQG EHWWHU HTXLSSHG WR RͿHU TXDOLW\ VHUYLFH WR 5HWLUHPHQW 6DYLQJV $FFRXQW (RSA) holders.

3HQ&RP KDG DV SDUW RI HͿRUWV WR FOHDQ WKH database of contributors under the CPS and pave way for RSA holders to initiate transfers from one PFA to another, deployed the Enhanced Contributor Registration System (ECRS) in June 2019. The ECRS replaced the Contributor Registration System (CRS) which had become obsolete. Accordingly, PenCom directed all PFAs to commence the Data Recapture of RSA holders registered on the legacy CRS. The exercise, which involves the recapturing of contributors’ biodata and biometrics, applies to all RSAholders who registered with PFAs before 1 July 2019.

Over 1,103,237 RSA holders have, from the inception of the exercise in August 2019 to 31 September 2023, been recaptured on the ECRS. It is noteworthy that the deployment of the ECRS has greatly improved the integrity of contributors’ data and led to the automation of the process of generation of Employer Codes for employers in Nigeria.

The deployment of the ECRS has also enabled the Commission to launch the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) Transfer Window on 16 November 2020. The RSA Transfer Window provides the platform for RSA holders to seamlessly transfer their RSAs, with the associated balances, from one PFA to another once every year. This development has engendered competiWLRQ DPRQJ 3)$V WKXV SURPRWLQJ TXDOLW\ VHUYLFH delivery and competitive investment returns.

222,141 RSAs have, from the inception of the RSA Transfer Window to 31 August 2023, been transferred to new PFAs alongside associated pension assets.

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 had prevented PenCom from conducting the hitherto annual physical enrolment exercise, which provides necessary data to determine the Accrued Pension Rights of FGN employees who were in service before the commencement of the CPS in June 2004.

Accordingly, PenCom launched the Online Enrolment Application, which was designed DQG GHYHORSHG LQ KRXVH DQG VXEVHTXHQWO\ commenced the maiden online Enrolment and 9HULÀFDWLRQ ([HUFLVH IRU UHWLUHHV DQG SURVSHFWLYH retirees of Treasury-funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on 1 September

market development and economic growth.

6SHFLÀFDOO\ 3HQVLRQ )XQGV KDYH EHHQ GHSOR\HG for investment in infrastructure targeted at ÀQDQFLQJ ZDVWH PDQDJHPHQW LQGHSHQGHQW electricity generation and road construction (Sukuk). Furthermore, Pension funds have increased the availability of long-term funds for investment in the real sector of the Nigerian economy.

Some examples of infrastructure projects ÀQDQFHG ZLWK SHQVLRQ IXQGV LQFOXGH URDGV built across the six geopolitical zones under the Sukuk program, Akute power plant, Island power plant, Pipp Genco, Gasco Marine limited and the Construction of 1200 hostel rooms at the University of Calabar, Cross Rivers State. ,Q WKH ÀQDO DQDO\VLV DQ LPSURYHG HFRQRP\ DQG ÀQDQFLDO V\VWHP GLUHFWO\ EHQHÀW LQGLYLGXDO pension contributors through improved returns on pension savings and enhanced payouts at retirement.

Dahir-Umar

2021. The Online Enrolment Application can be accessed through the Commission’s website.

In 2022, PenCom issued the Guidelines on Accessing Retirement Savings Account (RSA) %DODQFH WRZDUGV 3D\PHQW RI (TXLW\ &RQWULEXtion for Residential Mortgage by RSA Holders.

7KH JXLGHOLQHV JDYH HͿHFW WR WKH SURYLVLRQV of Section 89 (2) of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014, which provides that “a Pension Fund Administrator may, subject to guidelines issued by PenCom, apply a percentage of the pension assets in the Retirement Savings Account WRZDUGV SD\PHQW RI HTXLW\ FRQWULEXWLRQ IRU payment of residential mortgage by a holder of Retirement Savings Account”. This landmark achievement by PenCom seeks to ensure that employees become homeowners while still in service. PenCom has, from the commencement of the implementation of the Guidelines to 31 August 2023, approved 339 applications IRU SD\PHQW RI UHVLGHQWLDO PRUWJDJH HTXLW\ contributions amounting to over N4 billion.

One persistent issue is the complaint of low pensions by some of those enrolled under the CPS. You have often suggested ways of VXSSOHPHQWLQJ WKH EHQHÀWV :K\ DUH ZH ÀQGLQJ LW KDUG WR DGGUHVV WKLV LVVXH RQFH and for all?

7KH FKDOOHQJH RI LQVX΀FLHQW SHQVLRQ EHQHÀWV is a multifaceted problem that extends beyond the purview of PenCom. It is imperative to note that several factors are responsible for LQVX΀FLHQW SHQVLRQ EHQHÀWV EXW WKH PDLQ one is the issue of low salaries, especially in the public sector.

It is worthy of note that the PRA 2014 has VX΀FLHQW SURYLVLRQV WR DGGUHVV WKH LVVXH RI ORZ EHQHÀWV )RU LQVWDQFH 6HFWLRQ D of the Act provides that an employer may, notwithstanding the pension contributions made by the employer and employee into the employee’s RSA, agree on the payment of DGGLWLRQDO EHQHÀWV WR WKH HPSOR\HH XSRQ UHWLUHment. Employers, especially those in the public sector, can take advantage of this provision to HQKDQFH WKHLU HPSOR\HHV· UHWLUHPHQW EHQHÀWV Furthermore, employers can consider an upward review of the rate of pension contri-

butions in respect of their employees. Section 4(1) of the PRA 2014 stipulates a minimum pension contribution of 10% by the employer and 8% by the employee. However, the pension contribution rate can be enhanced through a collective agreement between the employer and the employee as provided under Section 4(2) of the PRA 2014. An employer may also elect to bear the full responsibility for the pension contribution of his employees.

Achieving a comprehensive solution to the FKDOOHQJH RI ORZ SHQVLRQV UHTXLUHV FROODERUDWLRQ between employers and employees. PenCom, KRZHYHU UHPDLQV UHVROXWH LQ ÀQGLQJ D ODVWLQJ resolution to the challenge.

PenCom introduced the Non-Interest Fund to cater for the choices of contributors. How well has it been received?

The Non-Interest Fund (Fund VI) is one of the fund types under the Multi-Fund Investment Structure introduced by PenCom. The key objective of the Multi Fund Structure is to empower pension contributors and retirees to achieve optimum returns by aligning their pension savings with their individual risk/ returns objectives. In addition, the structure is meant to provide investment portfolio choices to contributors.

The Non-Interest Fund is a fund that complies with Sharia principles. It has provided an inclusive option for contributors to save for their retirement while respecting their ethical preferences. The reception for the Non-Interest Fund has been positive and PenCom is continually working to expand awareness and access to this option. As at 31 August 2023, the value of the Active Non-Interest Fund and Retiree Non-Interest Fund stood at N42.43 billion and N5.24 billion respectively.

Nigeria’s pension assets are now over N17trillion. What does this mean in a layperson’s language?

The Nigerian pension industry has witnessed VLJQLÀFDQW JURZWK LQ DVVHWV XQGHU PDQDJHment which, as at 31 August 2023, stands at 1 WULOOLRQ 7KLV SRRO RI IXQGV KDV VLJQLÀcantly enhanced savings mobilisation, capital

The impression outside is that PenCom is awash with money like NNPC, FIRS and similar institutions. How much of the pension assets are with PenCom? The roles and responsibilities of all players LQ WKH SHQVLRQ LQGXVWU\ DUH ZHOO GHÀQHG E\ WKH PRA 2014. PenCom was established by law to UHJXODWH VXSHUYLVH DQG HQVXUH WKH HͿHFWLYH administration of pension matters in Nigeria.

Accordingly, the functions of PenCom include the regulation and supervision of the CPS; issuance of guidelines for the investment of pension funds; and approving, licensing, regulating and supervising Pension Fund Administrators, Custodians and other institutions relating to pension matters as the Commission may from time to time determine.

On the other hand, Pension Fund Administrators are companies licensed by PenCom to manage and invest the pension funds in the employee’s RSA, while Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs) are responsible for holding pension assets in safe custody on trust for pension contributors.

PFCs receive pension contributions and settle transactions relating to the administration of pension fund investments on behalf of PFAs. Based on this explanation, I believe it is clear that PenCom does not have custody of pension assets, neither can it access the funds which are held in custody by PFCs.

You introduced the Micro Pension Plan for individuals and small businesses. It would appear that adoption has been very low. Why is this so?

The Micro Pension Plan (MPP) was introduced to broaden pension coverage, particularly for individuals and small businesses in the informal sector. From its inception to September 2023, about 105,455 contributors have been enrolled in the MPP. However, registration numbers have fallen short of initial projections due to several factors.

Firstly, there are notable challenges within the informal sector which are related to accessing ÀQDQFLDO VHUYLFHV EXLOGLQJ WUXVW DQG XQGHUVWDQGing the pension system. Secondly, the current unavailability of appealing incentives associated with the product has made it less attractive to our target clientele. PenCom is actively exploring the introduction of incentives, such as health insurance coverage for MPP participants, in order to address this challenge.

Finally, the economic situation in the country, FKDUDFWHULVHG E\ KLJK XQHPSOR\PHQW LQÁDWLRQ and rising poverty levels, has slowed down the uptake of the MPP. The MPP remains a vital initiative and PenCom is committed to making it more accessible and appealing to a broader spectrum of individuals and small businesses in the informal sector.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

SUNDAY OCTOBER 29, 2023 • T H I S D AY

19

20

T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 29, 2023

PARABLE OF PLATEAU MOUNTAINS, HILLS, ROCKS

CHRIS GYANG bemoans the fate of the plateau, a once vibrant state turned into shreds Is this our true story? Is this our true LGHQWLW\ ZKDW ZH UHDOO\ UHSUHVHQW" +RZ GLG ZH JHW WR WKLV MXQFWXUH WKLV GDUN FURVVURDGV of political disjuncture where we have EHFRPH WKUHDWV WR RQH DQRWKHU WKH EXWW RI the laugher of our friends who once held us in very high esteem?

Who tells the tale of this bleeding mountain? Is it the people who dwell in LWV YHUGDQW YDOOH\V VHH DQG XQGHUVWDQG LWV predicaments that should say it? Absolutely.

But sometimes even these hill dwellers may not perceive its painful and anguished JURDQ PXFK OHVV WKH WHDUV LW VKHGV PRVW RI which is imperceptible to the uninitiated.

We may be too absorbed in our daily pursuits of eking out a living from this VKLIWLQJ MXQJOH VHHNLQJ IRU IDPH DQG JORU\ RQ WKLV VKLPPHULQJ JDXG\ VWDJH WKDW ZH may easily lose sight of the travails of these rocks.

But the rocks are also weeping. The JUDQLWH LV VORZO\ WXUQLQJ WR GXVW VRRQ WR be blown away by the gusts of political UDFNHWHHULQJ DYDULFH VHOILVKQHVV GLVWUXVW Unlike the mountains that once bound and sheltered not only us but the country as a ZKROH WKHVH KLOOV KDYH QRZ EHHQ WXUQHG LQWR PHUH VDQG GULIWLQJ RQ WKH ZLQGV RI SROLWLFDO VXEWHUIXJH DQG FRQIXVLRQ 6XUHO\ WKH FRQVHTXHQFHV VKDOO EH GLUH $QG ZKR triumphs at the end? :KHQ WKH WLPH IRU UHFNRQLQJ FRPHV ZH RXU RZQ RXU GHVFHQGDQWV DQG WKH HQWLUH nation will be at the receiving end. And what shall we tell tomorrow’s children?

That we were so much caught up in our RZQ SHUVRQDO SHWW\ EDWWOHV WKDW ZH ORVW sight of the bigger picture that the future KHOG" :KDW NLQG RI SHRSOH DUH ZH WKHQ" We have since turned politics into a blood sport where red-eyed gladiators ruthlessly eliminate each other for the pleasure of their backers and their (gladiators’) selfpreservation. :H FODLP WKDW ZH RI WKHVH OXVK YDOOH\V we say that we have illustrious founding fathers to whose graves we pay homage daily. But did they ever foresee that we shall someday be so ferociously at each other’s necks?

Could they have had an inkling that this land for which they made the supreme sacrifice would be turned into the playground of shylock politicians bent RQ EDUWHULQJ RXU SDWULPRQ\ IRU IOLPV\ WUDQVLHQW SROLWLFDO JDLQ" %XW DOO RI XV , GDUH VD\ VWDQG DFFXVHG 8QIRUWXQDWHO\ IHZ RI XV FDQ FRPIRUWDEO\ DFTXLW RXUVHOYHV We must pray that we do not fall into that FDWHJRU\ RI WKH GDPQHG RI ZKRP LW VKDOO EH said that our forebears wept in their graves on account of our deliberate transgressions.

Let us not be cursed for transforming their SUHWW\ IRUPLGDEOH GUHDPV DQG PDQVLRQV into glorified sepulchers.

The undulating green mountains that symbolize our state and the dogged and valiant spirit of our people are crying RXW ORXGO\ ZHHSLQJ IRU WKLV SROLWLFDO dispensation that has turned us into arch HQHPLHV DQG PDGH SROLWLFV D EORRG\ UHPRUVHOHVV EDWWOHJURXQG Plateau’s solid rocks are weeping. They tearfully moan that this is not the nature of a people imbued with the nature and character of rocks. The nature of being resilient and capable of absorbing and ZLWKVWDQGLQJ HDUWKTXDNHV ZLWK UHVROXWH FDOP DQG HTXDQLPLW\ This is the Plateau spirit that should not EH FKLSSHG DZD\ E\ SROLWLFDO WULEDO DQG political bigotry. The founding fathers who cast this virtue on the stones and rocks of our minds had this in mind even as they sacrificed their all for us; so that we should make this rocky piece of Nigeria a home for a proud people. &DQ EHDXWLIXO PRXQWDLQV KLOOV VXFK as these weep? Closely observe Plateau State today and you will make sense of the notion that whenever human beings DUH HQJDJHG LQ ELWWHU VWULIH QDWXUH RIWHQ bears the brunt. That is the wisdom

CAN INEC CLEAN UP ITS ACT? The off-cycle elections will again test the capability of the electoral body, writes IKE WILLIE-NWOBU

encapsulated in the timeless truism that ZKHQ WZR HOHSKDQWV ÀJKW WKH JUDVV VXIIHUV :H PXVW EH FDXWLRXV WKDW DV PHQ and women endowed with the gift of discernment and differentiating between JRRG DQG HYLO ZH VKRXOG DOZD\V GR WKH ULJKW WKLQJ QR PDWWHU WKH FRQVHTXHQFHV +DYH ZH EHFRPH VR GHVSHUDWH EOLQGHG by our self-serving ambitions that we have completely forgotten that even WKHVH PRXQWDLQV URFNV DQG KLOOV ZHDWKHU" That only truth and goodness ultimately prevail? Try as much as we may to turn WKLQJV LQWR RXU RZQ LPDJH WKHUH ZLOO certainly come a time when their true form must manifest.

It’s in the nature of human beings to GRJJHGO\ SXUVXH WKHLU VHW JRDOV ZKHWKHU JRRG RU HYLO %XW ÀQDOO\ JRRG WULXPSKV over evil. And truth prevails. ,W·V MXVW D PDWWHU RI WLPH 2I ZKLFK VDGO\ ZH KDYH D YHU\ OLPLWHG VXSSO\ $QG PRVW QRWDEO\ DQ HYHQ OHVVHU FDSDFLW\ WR manipulate as we do politics.

Plateau is hurting. She is deeply ZRXQGHG JRUHG E\ WKH VKDUSHQHG ZHDSRQV GDUWV RI SROLWLFV ZKLFK KDYH been mutually unleashed against each RWKHU 7KLV ÀHUFH LQWHUQHFLQH EDWWOH LV bound to leave scars that may take a long time to heal.

7KLV FRQWHVWDWLRQ IRU SROLWLFDO SRZHU IRU UHDVRQV WKDW DUH QRW RIWHQ DOWUXLVWLF has poisoned relationships between both friends and communities. Even within FRPPXQLWLHV ORQJ VWDQGLQJ DVVRFLDWLRQV have been shattered.

5HOLJLRXV JURXSV ZKLFK DUH DPRQJ WKH ELJJHVW DQG PRVW VLJQLÀFDQW VRFLDO VWUXFWXUHV RI RXU VRFLHW\ KDYH EHHQ LQÀOWUDWHG DQG VW\PLHG E\ SROLWLFV Ordinary citizens are so distracted and tormented by this noxious atmosphere that they cannot apply their minds and energies towards meaningful creative endeavours. How does a government concentrate on bringing development to its citizens when political distractions and shenanigans surpass every other productive activity within the polity?

This democracy has become a bugbear to us rather than a driver towards alleviating the human condition. Can we extract any sense from this frightening chaos? ,QGHHG ZH DUH FDXJKW EHWZHHQ D URFN DQG D KDUG SODFH KHUH ,QFLGHQWDOO\ 3ODWHDX 6WDWH LV D URFN\ SODFH IXOO RI PRXQWDLQV DQG KLOOV %XW LURQLFDOO\ KHU people are blessed with the softest hearts on earth; hearts that uplift fellow men with boundless love.

7KLV LV EHFDXVH MXVW DV +H GLG ZLWK 3HWHU &KULVW KDV DOUHDG\ EXLOW +LV &KXUFK on this rock – Plateau State.

Gyang is the Chairman of the N.G.O, Journalists Coalition for Citizens’ Rights Initiative

Nigeria’s democracy may be undergoing D WXUEXOHQW SHULRG EXW WKH ZHDOWK RI RSWLRQV it offers Nigerians remain unparalleled.

2Q 2FWREHU 1LJHULD·V 6XSUHPH Court reserved judgment in the petition ÀOHG E\ VRPH SUHVLGHQWLDO FDQGLGDWHV against the victory of Bola Ahmed Tinubu LQ WKH )HEUXDU\ SROOV 7KH MXGJPHQW GHOLYHUHG RQ 7KXUVGD\ 2FWREHU FRQÀUPHG WKH HOHFWLRQ RI Tinubu as Nigeria’s 16th president.

A new administration was sworn in May 2023 but not a few Nigerians continue to reel from the aftermath of polls they deemed manipulated.

2Q 1RYHPEHU LQ ZKDW LV D PRQXPHQW WR 1LJHULD·V PDPPRWK HOHFWRUDO VWUXJJOHV VWDJJHUHG HOHFWLRQV DUH WR EH KHOG LQ ,PR Kogi and Bayelsa States.

In Kogi State a battle royale appears afoot between the ruling All Progressives &RQJUHVV DQG D QHZ NLG RQ WKH EORFN WKH Social Democratic Party. The circumstances which produced Yahaya Bello as the governor of the state in 2016 are not in WKH RIÀQJ WKLV WLPH DURXQG DV WKH SHRSOH·V choice is set to be determined in the ballot box.

Having found dark fortune in the unfortunate death of Prince Abubakar Audu who was on the verge of victory in WKH JRYHUQRUVKLS SROOV LQ %HOOR KDV done two terms. +LV WLPH LQ RIÀFH KDV GLYLGHG RSLQLRQ but it is in the way he has attempted to foist a successor on the state that has really rankled many. His choice of Ahmed Ododo is widely unpopular. This is as opposed to Yakubu Murtala Ajaka who is the candidate of the Social Democratic 3DUW\ 6'3 ZKR LV QRZ ÀQHO\ SRLVHG WR snatch victory in the polls. :KDWHYHU KDSSHQV RQ 1RYHPEHU Kogi State deserves a swift change of story and direction from the chaos and circus of the last eight years. ,Q ,PR 6WDWH WKH GD\ RI UHFNRQLQJ GUDZV ever near for Governor Hope Uzodinma.

Having snatched victory from the laps of the gods of the Supreme Court through an HWHUQDOO\ FRQWURYHUVLDO GHFLVLRQ RI KH KDV had no compunction wielding an iron fist in the governance of the state. $UURJDQW DQG DJJUHVVLYH KLV OHDGHUVKLS style which has largely featured sacrificing his people on the altar of good relations with Abuja will face a test of fire on November KLV RXWUDJHRXV FDPSDLJQ SURPLVHV notwithstanding. ,Q %D\HOVD 6WDWH 'XR\H 'LUL WKH LQFXPEHQW *RYHUQRU VDZ YLFWRU\ RQ KLV ODS LQ ZKHQ WKH Nigerian Supreme Court invalidated the election of David Lyon who won the Governorship (OHFWLRQ LQ +H KDV VLQFH WDNHQ LQ IRXU years and is seeking another four years. +RZHYHU %D\HOVDQV DSSHDU WR KDYH had enough of him. The fact that he came second in the last election conducted in the state before the Supreme Court intervened speaks loudly for itself. Given he was the IDYRXUHG FKRLFH RI KLV SUHGHFHVVRU ZKR XQGHUZKHOPHG LQ RIÀFH PDQ\ %D\HOVDQV cannot wait to get rid of him.

After the farce it registered during the ODVW HOHFWLRQ WKH ,QGHSHQGHQW 1DWLRQDO Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised to learn from its mistakes in conducting the elections in the three states.

But who knows lessons have been learned and that INEC will not repeat past mistakes? Were they really even mistakes and not deliberate attempts to alter the

choice of the Nigerian electorate?

Can INEC really clean up its acts?

Can it sort itself out and take a shot at redeeming its battered image?

Many Nigerians remain sore from what transpired during the last election.

Many Nigerians consider events then a travesty.

A lot of the blame has been placed at the doorstep of INEC. In a country whose stop-start journey of democracy LV ÀQDOO\ JDLQLQJ VRPH WUDFWLRQ LW borders on the calamitous that the institution entrusted with the conduct of elections is faltering embarrassingly. %XW DW WKH VDPH WLPH LW LV QRW surprising that bias is never far from INEC. Nigeria’s electoral umpire has a long history of crucial interventions that have thwarted the will of the Nigerian people.

The annulment of the 1993 elections will endure in the memory of Nigerians as long as there is a country. So will the WUDYHVW\ RI WKH and 2023 elections.

Time will tell if INEC can perform its constitutional responsibilities when voting commences in the three states. :KDWHYHU KDSSHQV WKH 1LJHULDQ electorate must remain steadfast and resolute in protecting their right to vote and their votes.

It is eternal vigilance that sustains democracy. That vigilance is hardly better expressed than when voters not only brave the odds to vote during HOHFWLRQV EXW GR DOO WKH\ FDQ WR SURWHFW their votes and hold their elected leaders to account.

By remaining vigilant in defense of GHPRFUDF\ 1LJHULDQV FDQ HQVXUH WKDW DOO those whose business is truncating the democratic process are soon rendered redundant.

Ike Willie-Nwobu, Ikewilly9@gmail.com

21

T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 29, 2023

EDITORIAL

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

TINUBU: NOW THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED… I t ’s t i m e fo r t h e p r e s i d e n t t o f i x t h e c o u n t r y ’s p r o b l e m s . H e h a s h i s w o r k c u t o u t

O

n Thursday, the seven-man panel of the Supreme Court, chaired by Justice ,Q\DQJ 2NRUR XQDQLPRXVO\ DIÀUPHG the election of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The apex court threw out the SHWLWLRQV ÀOHG E\ WKH 3HRSOHV 'HPRFUDWLF 3DUW\ 3'3 candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar DQG WKH /DERXU 3DUW\ ÁDJEHDUHU 0U 3HWHU 2EL :KLOH we congratulate Tinubu, we hope that he can take VXIÀFLHQW OHVVRQV WKDW ZLOO VHUYH KLP IURP ZKDW transpired in the public domain before, during and after he won the February 2023 presidential election.

We also commend both Atiku and Obi for toeing the path of peaceful disputations in their failed bid to have the result upturned in their favour.

Although the apex court has ruled on the presidential election, that verdict merely helps to calm the nerves of a nation.

It does not wipe away some of the reservations that informed challenging the outcome by the opposing parties. That places a reorientation burden on the Tinubu administration.

It must quickly exit the campaign propaganda mode and slide into governance and accountability. In that regard, the politics of incumbency should not extend to undermining opposition political parties.

All agencies of government, especially those in the justice and law-enforcement sector, should make widening the frontier of freedom a credo. For that is the real democracy dividend at the end of the day.

Partisan affray is over. Responsible governance is in.

0HDQZKLOH QRZ WKDW KH KDV SXW WKH HOHFWLRQ behind him, President Tinubu must come forward with fresh ideas on how to tackle the harsh economic climate that is pauperising millions of Nigerians.

For him to succeed, his focus must be on the people, their safety and welfare, the optimal allocation of scarce resources, and the effective implementation of policies for service delivery. And the measurement of achievements in confronting the festering socioeconomic crisis should go beyond what rating agencies say or fail to say. In the efforts to rebuild our nation that is so blessed with enormous natural and human resources but has consistently been

held down by poor leadership at all levels, the barometer of progress should be in taking children from the street to classrooms; provision of universal primary healthcare coverage, access to potable water, banishing hunger, boosting mass transit, social housing, etc.

On the security front, while lives and livelihoods are being threatened by the latest surge in crimes, adding to the growing feeling of unease in the country, the knee jerk ‘president has directed’ orders of the previous era will not do. The spate of violence across the country has prompted several critical stakeholders to call for an urgent review of the national security architecture. In the challenging times that we are in, all options should be on the table, especially as the nation quivers under threats of unknown colouration, with sundry mischief makers prancing forward to contribute whatever they can for reasons of their own. The president must understand that a government that cannot guarantee the security of life and property for citizens and residents in a country has failed.

Across all sectors and in all spheres of our national life, the task before President Tinubu is quite daunting. For him to succeed, he must also address the challenge of our operating environment and the demands that inadvertently imply the expectation WKDW SXEOLF RIÀFHUV VKRXOG WDNH OLEHUWLHV ZLWK WKH WUHDVXU\ 7KLV LV D WLPH IRU VKDUHG VDFULÀFH $ERYH DOO the president must enlarge and expand his conception of the diversity of the nation. Reservations are currently being expressed about the increasing lopsidedness of his key appointments. That must stop and be quickly remedied. The president must reach out and feel the pains of all sections and segments of the nation. Acts of inclusive statesmanship have become imperative and urgent. Finally, for Nigerians, the 2023 presidential election is over. Regardless of whom we voted for, the mudslinging and hate mongering between and among supporters of the leading candidates must now end in the interest of our country.

We wish President Tinubu well in his onerous responsibility to reposition Nigeria for peace and prosperity.

The president must enlarge and expand his conception of the diversity of the nation. Reservations are currently being expressed about the increasing lopsidedness of his key appointments. That must stop and be quickly remedied 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 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, 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

Letters to the Editor

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

LETTERS

L E T T E R TO A S I WAJ U B O L A A H M E D T I N U BU I write this open letter with the highest sense of profound reverence for your exalted office.

I feel obligated to write to you being a patriotic citizen with a deep sense of having a stake and responsibility in the Nigerian project. I sincerely hope that you pay utmost heed to my concerns which are devoid of malicious intent and political colouration.

Your Excellency, no amount of justifications could suffice the removal of fuel subsidy. The price of petroleum products has been the major driver of the cost of living in Nigeria. It is not rocket science that fuel subsidy removal would have an inflationary effect due to the crucial role which petroleum products play on Nigeria’s economy. The lead world economic powers such as China, USA, Russia and Saudi Arabia, amongst others, still pay fuel subsidies to make the cost of fuel products affordable to their citizens.

The diversion of funds usually alloted to fuel subsidy for the improvement of the education sector, healthcare system, agricultural and

infrastructural sectors, security architecture, amongst others, as enumerated in your administrative blueprints seem impracticable.

Going by the recent astronomical tuition hike across tertiary institutions, the Nigerian masses have no hope in sight for possible long-term benefits from the other sectors.

Asiwaju, the poverty alleviation intervention programmes and proposed pay rise for public officers which your administration has in store can’t cushion the unbearable financial burden placed on the masses’ shoulders. However, there is need for palliatives and increment in workers’ salary and wages but the restoration of fuel subsidy has become more compelling.

The ripple effect of skyrocketed pump prices has continued to cause an unprecedented wave of hardship across the length and breadth of our dear nation. The growing economic hardship is therefore capable of fuelling political instability, national chaos and upsurge in criminal activities.

Fuel subsidy is both obtainable and sustainable in numerous economic giant nations. It is neither

an economic deficit nor a fiscal constraint on Nigeria’s fiscal balance. An overhaul of the fuel subsidy regime which was riddled with corruption and manipulation ought to have been resorted to rather than fuel subsidy removal. The regime of inflated fuel consumption figures, inaccurate account of revenue figures derived from the petroleum products coupled with the massive looting of the national treasury by the political elite and the high cost of governance which are clogs in the wheel of the economy should have been tackled.

0U 3UHVLGHQW WKHUH LV QR EHWWHU WLPH IRU restructuring than the moment. Over the years, the demand for restructuring has become a song on the lips of patriotic Nigerians as your predecessors were guilty of mere lip service to the agitation. It is high time some recommendations set up in the 2014 national conference got implemented in synergy with the National Assembly. There is urgent need for formulation and implementation of state policing, cutting cost of governance, state legislature’s autonomy,

removal of immunity clause, proposed resource control formula, revenue allocation, derivation principle, and the creation of one additional state for the South East Zone in the spirit of reconciliation, equity and justice. $VLZDMX WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI 6WDWH 6HUYLFHV '66 KDELWXDO LPSXQLW\ JHVWDSR VW\OH DQG fascist operating system may put an abrupt end to Nigeria’s democracy. The security agency doesn’t have any regards for democratic principles, institutions and officials. For years, the successive presidents have transformed the '66 WR D UHSUHVVLYH DSSDUDWXV WKDW LQWLPLGDWHV the opposition parties, dissenting voices, lawmakers, judges, lawyers and journalists from discharging their constitutional and conventional onuses. Nigeria’s polity deserves a breath of fresh air as all the vestiges of the dictatorial dark days should be erased through total compliance with the rule of law.

Binzak Azeez, Newworth LLP (Legal Practitioners), Onikan, Lagos

22

SUNDAY OCTOBER 29, 2023 • T H I S D AY

SUNDAY OCTOBER 29, 2023 • T H I S D AY

23

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

29.10 .2023

FUNKE AKINDELE BREAKING BOUNDARIES, ASCENDING NEW HEIGHTS

Funke Akindele, a.k.a. Jenifa is one of the Nollywood stars who have etched their names in the hall of fame. The actress who never ceases to impress since she ventured into the movie industry 25 years ago as a child, has continued to break boundaries and climb to new heights. Versatile and industrious, the actress who hails from Ikorodu, Lagos State is also a politician. Her latest cinematic offering on the Amazon Prime Video drama series, ‘SHE Must Be Obeyed,’opened the dark secrets in the entertainment industry. It is apt and timely considering the recent happenings in the sector. Funke Olaode encounters the humble Akindele, who advises that young artistes should follow due process while seeking fame in the entertainment industry.

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/victoria.olaode@thisdaylive.com.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R OCTOBER 29, 2023

25

COVER

Young Talents are Hungry to Be Seen

L-R: Director, Prime Video Africa, Gideon Khobane, Nollywood Superstar and Actress,, Funke Akindele and Head of Originals, Nigeria, Prime Video, Wangi Mba-Uzokwu, at the premiere of She Must be Obeyed movie series in Lagos.

W

hat does it take to be relevant in one’s field?

Determination, commitment to duties, versatility, dedication and more. She ticks all the boxes and is still counting. Funke Akindele has lived through the lens of the camera as a child actor since 1998.

And years later, the popular Jenifa character impacted film and television with Akindele being one of the few female trailblazers who have remained consistent in breaking boundaries from acting to producing.

There is no denying the fact that most people see Akindele as a screen diva, a compelling performer, and a savvy businesswoman. With many heights conquered, many believe there is hardly anything that this incredible woman can’t do. She has produced award-winning stories. Her brilliance in her trade has earned her fame and fortune. Her movie “Battle on Buka Street” currently holds the record of being the highest-grossing movie of all time in Nigeria, breaking the two-year record of her movie “Omo Ghetto: The Saga.”

According to a statement broadcast by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), in February 2023, the movie grossed over N640,000,000 after maintaining its number one spot for many consecutive weeks. Akindele has the most wins at award shows like AMVCA and NEA Awards.

Akindele came into the limelight after starring in the popular United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)sponsored sitcom “I Need to Know” which ran from 1998 to 2002. She played Bisi, a curious but highly intelligent secondary school student.

However, her major big break came in 2008 when she appeared in the movie Jenifa.

Akindele’s consistency on screen has paid off. In recent years, she has built her own brand and fan base.

Admired by many, Akindele is like a phoenix; one who has weathered the storm and moved on.

Recently, the attention of her fans was caught in her latest exploit when she starred in a five-part miniseries, “SHE Must be Obeyed.” As her fans held their breath for the arrival of Akindele at the premiere of the series held at Filmhouse IMAX, Lekki, Lagos, the air was electrifying with charming appearances on the red carpet.

The event was like a roll call of Nollywood greats as they arrived at the Film House venue in their elegant forms with each rolling high and higher with all of the excitement for the love of the job, going through necessary profiling by storms of photographers and social media influencers, who moved to have shots of them as they stepped on the blue-carpet arena, individually or in groups.

At around 9pm, the time everyone had been waiting for finally arrived. The star of the moment, Akindele walked majestically into the venue looking regal and radiant in her simmering black short gown.

Akindele, though led by other stars in the movie, was obviously the star of the night as she was surrounded by the media.

The well-tempered series, ‘SHE Must Be Obeyed’’ is apt and timely following the recent happenings in the entertainment industry with controversy that trailed the death of an upcoming young artiste, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba popularly known as MohBad. Bullying, harassment, and in-fighting are all part of the intrigues of getting into the entertainment scene. Akindele believes that the movie will educate the younger generation of artistes showing them that beyond the glitz and glamour, there are lessons to be learnt and due process to be followed to see the bright light at the end of the dark tunnel while seeking fame.

“Young artistes need to be educated, and we need to organise many seminars and workshops to let them know that they are essential; yes, you want to be seen, but you would have to go through the correct

phases.”

Akindele noted that she wrote the script to teach moral values. The captivating miniseries features a stellar cast such as Funke Akindele, Lateef Adedimeji, Nancy Isime, Akah Anani, Patience Ozokwo, Mike Ezuronye, and Rachael Okonkwo, among others.

Responding to this reporter in a chat, Akindele, the embodiment of the ‘SHE’ in the new film, said: “Synopsis? I will not let the cat out of the bag but ‘SHE Must Be Obeyed’ is all about a character called ‘SHE’ and how she wants to remain on the top not minding whoever is hurt, not minding who is trampled upon. “‘SHE’ the character is very condescending, a bully. And we have a lot of bullies in the entertainment industry too. In any sector, you have a bully everywhere as long as there is a hierarchy.

“And ‘SHE’ Must Be Obeyed’ centres on the competition in the entertainment industry, the music industry and we decided to work on Afrobeat, you know Afrobeat is from Africa, from Nigeria and we have to explore what we have.

“So in ’SHE Must Be Obeyed’ you get to see competition, drama, fashion, and music, all put into one.

Upcoming ones want to showcase their talents, unfortunately, they do not study their contract and they do not get a lawyer or anyone who is experienced enough to educate them.

“All these things affect them and at the end of the day, they get to sign the wrong contract and all these you get to see in ‘SHE Must Be Obeyed.”

In her view, young artistes can be better protected, urging young and emerging artistes to be very careful.

“Like I said, that is why we joined a contest that affects young artistes.

That is why we came up with ‘SHE Must Be Obeyed’. When they watch it, I am sure they will be very careful.

Young artistes need to be educated.

We need to organise a lot of seminars, and workshops for them to let them know that they are very important.

“Yes, you will be seen but you

Akindele

have to get through the place. That is how we have been able to achieve the ‘SHE’ Must Be Obeyed”, Akindele said.

The series offers a window into the lives of three successful music stars, unveiling the cut-throat rivalries and backstabbing activities they engage in, all in an effort to outshine one another and protect their top positions in the game.

Described as an embodiment of poignant role interpretation, Akindele commands the spotlight as SHE – Siyanbola Adewale, a thriving artist whose public humility conceals a realm of avarice, hubris, and machiavellian schemes. Apart from the mentioned cast, Waje, a vocal powerhouse is among the cast alongside BBNaija star Veeiye.

Akindele is the second director to gross over a billion naira at the Nigeria box office. In 2022, she was nominated by the People’s Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate, Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, as the running mate for the 2023 Lagos State governorship election.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R OCTOBER 29, 2023

26

HighLife

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

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

Wedding Across the Sea….Son of Media Mogul, John Momoh, Marries Russian Bride

Oyebanji

Gov. Biodun Oyebanji’s One Year of Unity Good work continues to be the mark of an excellent state governor in Nigeria and everywhere else.

In Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Oyebanji is adding the final touches to the principles of good governance, having proven their validity with his tenure.

If there is any doubt as to how effective Oyebanji has been as Ekiti governor, one only needs to appraise recent endorsements from his predecessors: Adeniyi Adebayo, Chief Ayodele Fayose, and Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Such a three-tier endorsement is virtually unheard of in Ekiti, but Oyebanji has made it happen.

The endorsement of Oyebanji

by Adebayo, Fayose, and Fayemi is coming very early. Oyebanji has only been Ekiti governor for about a year.

But, within the space of 12 months and some days, Oyebanji has shown his worth to the people of Ekiti, necessitating the praise and approval of three of his predecessors.

In the opinion of former governors Adebayo, Fayose, and Fayemi, Oyebanji’s unique style of governance enables Ekiti to reach new heights of regional growth and development.

More than that, Oyebanji utilises the means at his disposal to breed unity among all the children and residents of the state. The result of Oyebanji’s work, according to Fayose, is unity. This unity extends beyond just political affiliations and covers even religious sentiments. It underlines universal mobilisation and is what Ekiti needs to move forward, successfully competing with its sister states in matters of sustainable regional progress.

With Adebayo, Fayose, and Fayemi supporting Oyebanji, returning to the governorship seat for a second term is virtually guaranteed for Oyebanji. This is good news for the governor and also for the harvest from the positive seeds of solemn diligence that he has sown.

The Russians say that love is like the wind that one cannot see but feel. Oluwatobi, the son of media industry pioneer and mogul, John Momoh, takes this quote to heart, evidenced by his decision to get a dazzling Russian bride.

This is a happy time for the entire family of Momoh, the Chairman and CEO of Channels TV. Seeing no better opportunity to go Italian in grand style, the happy Momoh family decided to tie Oluwatobi and Elizaveta in nuptial knots at Lake Como, Italy.

A union between a Nigerian and a Russian would ring the bells of celebration anywhere in the world, least of all in the romantic nation of Italy. Many Nigerian and Russian dignitaries graced the occasion. Witnessing the spirited Oluwatobi obtaining the blessing of two nations with his blushing sweetheart, the eyes and hearts of wedding guests grew brighter as the event progressed.

Wedding locations often symbolise the imagined worth of marital engagements.

This union was no different. Lake Como is one of the most enchanting locations in Europe, consequently becoming a favourite wedding destination. With such an auspicious location, a resplendent bride, and happy guests, the Momohs had a field day.

Momoh

Being the person he is, the Momoh patriarch and his charming wife, Sola, had to entertain influential bankers, politicians, and celebrities as guests. But this is nothing for the Nigerian media industry pioneer who further distinguished himself by being the biggest support for his well-trained son.

Undoubtedly, Elizaveta and her relatives have come into Nigeria’s corporate royalty. One might say that she is a lucky woman, recognizing the charm of her now-husband and his family.

Oluwatobi is just as fortunate to find love in his Russian girl, approved and supported by his parents.

Zacch Adedeji’s Remarkable Exploits at FIRS

Adedeji

Optimistic Nigerians are clear that a new era of progress is just around the corner for the country. Following many of the

appointments by President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria is at the cusp of favourable transformation. As one of the appointed, Zacch Adedeji occupies a promising position in the hearts of Nigerians at home and abroad.

As the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Adedeji is expected to transform Nigeria’s tariff and levy system. So far, the man has achieved much, leaving observers with the distinct feeling that history books will remember him for his doings at FIRS. Revenue generation is one of the economic nerve endings of Nigeria, a very sensitive and challenging area. Adedeji recognises this challenge and puts in the work to enhance the tax system across the nation. And while this would ordinarily imply an increased burden on Nigerians, Adedeji finds ways to go around this condition.

Very recently, Adedeji’s intentions to wheel Nigeria’s tax system onto the next level of progress leaked into the public domain. This intention is believed to be

in line with President Tinubu’s agenda of sustainable development, decisively harmonizing Adedeji’s balanced tax supervision dynamic with Tinubu’s progressive economic blueprint.

Adedeji’s accomplishments up to this point are not surprising. It is on record that his animated intellect is derived from 15-plus years of experience in corporate accounting, public service administration, and public service consultation.

The man reported to have graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University with a First Class degree in Accounting, has a resplendent track record everywhere he has worked. This includes the Oyo State Ministry of Finance where he served as Commissioner (2011 to 2015), the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) where he served as Executive Secretary and CEO, and with President Tinubu’s advisory team on revenue (as Special Adviser).

Adedeji is set to change the tax system in Nigeria for the better. His exploits follow him and are responsible for his good name among Nigerians.

Moment of Pride as Lekan Adebiyi’sVisible Construction Gives National Assembly a Facelift The 10th National Assembly can still be considered recent, and it stands out for that. But what makes it outstanding is the edifice which now bears the touch of Olalekan Adebiyi and his company, Visible Construction.

Transformation is the watchword of construction companies, but Visible Construction takes this principle up a notch. Since starting the renovation project, the National Assembly Complex has leaped out of the architectural dossier of old and ageing to ultra-modern and progressive.

Media agencies used to submit reports of happenings around the complex using old photos. This is no longer the case. If the camera lenses of Nigeria’s paparazzi could speak, they’d want to capture the work of Adebiyi’s Visible Construction all day long.

No wonder the 10th National Assembly is always on the news these days.

To think that Adebiyi, the genius behind all these good things, is an engineer at heart but not by academic training.

Although he has the eager assent of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) now, the boss of LaraLek Ultimate Constructions remains focused on delivery quality with the highest efficiency possible.

Nigeria is indeed blessed to have individuals like Adebiyi holding the reins of the construction industry. With the National Assembly Complex demonstrating his work, one wonders how the man continues Adebiyi to be humble.

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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 OCTOBER 29, 2023

HIGHLIFE

Oba Rilwan Akiolu: The Lagos King of Kings at 80 Leadership is not a trivial business. Nobody knows this better than individuals under leaders without a conscience, pursuing personal— rather than collective—interests. But the people under Rilwan Akiolu have it good, a cause for their celebration of the monarch’s 80th birthday.

If clocking 50 is glorious, what can one say about reaching the age of 80? Oba Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, is one of the most beloved monarchs in Lagos. Being at the helm of monarchical powers in the state, Oba Akiolu has enjoyed considerable adulation from Lagosians, indigenous and otherwise.

Oba Akiolu has come a long way since his birth on October 29, 1943. Outside his kingly prowess, he has also demonstrated astounding talents, especially in civil policing and the law.

But this is expected considering that he appears to have been born for the throne.

It may be argued that Oba Akiolu sharpened himself for the throne in the Nigeria Police Force. After serving Nigeria in

Oba Akiolu

this capacity for 32 years, he retired and was almost immediately drafted by the Lagos State government as the 21st Oba of Lagos. That was in 2003.

It has been 20-plus years since Oba Akiolu arrived on the throne and the people of Lagos doubtless have many things to say about him. Nevertheless, from the time of his coronation until now, Oba Akiolu has been featured in the news in ways that other kings in Lagos can only dream about.

Oba Akiolu remains the king of Lagos kings. That he continues to be supported by all people, great and small, indicates how marvellously he has conducted himself as king since 2003. Given that Lagos is his traditional domain, Oba Akiolu deserves some accolades for lasting this long.

At 80, Oba Akiolu’s head may be grey, but not his wisdom or strength. He remains, as he has been since 2003, the Lagos king of kings.

Otedola, Giant of Philanthropy: The Gift that Keeps Giving The original idea behind “the gift that keeps giving” is one of elation and good repute.

Top corporate mogul and the mind behind Geregu Power, Femi Otedola, is such a gift. Despite the biting levels of destitution across Nigeria, this man remains committed to alleviating poverty by helping ordinary Nigerians to keep their heads above the water.

Otedola is widely recognised as the prime philanthropist in Nigeria. Compared to him, other humanitarians seem to be missing something. It is not a matter of cumulative donations, to be sure, even though Otedola still tops the list in that regard. Rather, it is an issue of indulgent willingness, like a crystal pipe conveying clear water.

Nobody can claim that the times are not harsh. Nigeria’s economic condition has relocated the middle class to a level lower compared to the past. The former occupiers of the lower level have been knocked out of the game entirely. But Otedola is doing his best, reducing financial burdens everywhere

and hoisting the banner of hope and confident expectation.

It is not totally strange that Otedola remains committed to this altruistic course.

Over the years, he has given away billions of naira to assist individuals, communities, and initiatives.

Among some of the most news-borne donations of Otedola are the $14-million Save the Children UK donation in 2019, the N1 billion contribution to efforts to eradicate COVID-19 in Nigeria in 2020, and the $6-million edifice that he donated to Augustine University, Ilara, Lagos.

With Otedola, true philanthropy is not only a matter of individual monetary donations. The man has taught his children to imitate him in this area. DJ Cuppy’s Foundation is a prime example of this enviable imitation.

Ultimately, Otedola is a pillar of hope for humaneness among the biggest earners in Nigeria. The man gives and keeps giving, demonstrating compassion that is neither dead nor distant.

Oyedepo’s Son Quits Winners Chapel to Set Up Own Ministry

Oyedepo

The pastoral ministry is one of the noblest occupations. Considered a calling rather than a profession, it does not follow the mould in many ways. As such, when the rumours started that Pastor Isaac Oyedepo, the son of Bishop David Oyedepo, intends to set up his own ministry, foreheads scrunched.

Bishop Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners Chapel), has always been regarded as a blessed man. Firstly, his ministry has touched lives all over the world. Secondly, his sons, David Jnr. and Isaac, are pastors in the ministry. But this second point is about to change, allegedly.

Pastor Isaac, the younger of Oyedepo’s sons, has reportedly decided to set up his ministry.

Social media is replete with stories of how he has pulled out of his father’s church and will no longer be considered a pastor there.

The alleged decision of Pastor Isaac is raising

Otedola

brows nationwide. The main reason for this is that the younger Oyedepo was ordained as a pastor in Living Faith as far back as 2007 by popular preacher, Kenneth Copeland. He is very influential at Winners Chapel and is well-liked in Christian circles in Nigeria and abroad.

In September, Bishop Oyedepo appointed Pastor Isaac as the National Youth Pastor of the Youth Alive Fellowship (YAF), the youth wing of the Living Faith Church. As a result, his alleged decision to resign from Winners Chapel has caused waves in the hearts of concerned individuals.

Insiders allege that Pastor Isaac’s mandate is to “reclaim a generation and to ensure that this generation sees the fire of God-revival in our generation.” Perhaps this is the reason for his decision.

Pastor Isaac has served as the resident pastor of the Living Faith Church International, Maryland, USA, since October 2018. He is married to Ayomitide Oyedepo and has four children with her.

Sylva Banking on Alliances as He Suffers Major Setback Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State is in the eye of the storm. He continues to contend with the incumbent governor, Douye Diri, for the number one job in the state. But Sylva is no longer running with steam as he did at the start due to the recent ruling by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The court disqualified him on the grounds that he had been sworn in as Bayelsa governor two different times.

This implied two-term tenure is on record, although Sylva ruled for five years and not eight.

But neither Sylva nor the APC is willing to let things

slide so easily. With the gubernatorial election slated for November 11, not going to the Appeal Court to contest Sylva’s disqualification would be making things easy for Diri, his primary opponent.

While preparations are ongoing, Sylva has decided to pitch his tent with local kingmakers in Bayelsa. He has reportedly secured the approval and endorsement of Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas, accounting for two out of the eight LGAs in Bayelsa state.

At present, Sylva is believed to be banking on a double-plan blueprint to seize Bayelsa from

Diri. APC will take up the judicial matter, tabling their complaints at the Appeal Court. Simultaneously, Sylva would woo as many local chiefs in the state as possible.

Even though the 2023 gubernatorial elections are being held in three states, including Edo and Kogi, Bayelsa’s case is looking progressively intriguing. If Sylva’s efforts to revert his disqualification from the race fall through, that would mark the end for him and APC in Bayelsa for the next four years.

Although Sylva has suffered a major setback at the judiciary, his alliances might help return him to the game.

Sylva

A First Lady and Her Many Battles

People only see the grace of a gliding swan, not the exertions of her paddling feet beneath the water’s surface. Such is the case with First Lady Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the wife of Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu. Even as rumours about his ill health stretch from one end of Ondo to the other, Lady Betty picks quarrels with rumoured rivals.

Social media is currently on its toes to get all the gist regarding Lady Betty. This is coming after the Ondo First Lady uploaded picture slides of her husband on Facebook. The slides present Akeredolu in full health, standing or walking with her, with thought-provoking music in the background.

Any other action from the First Lady online might have raised only a bit of dust, but not this one. For one, she appears to have targeted certain individuals whom she referred to as ‘CIA side chicks.’ Secondly, the accompanying music is Sunny Ade’s “Ina Ti Eda” song.

In some quarters, Lady Betty’s gestures intimate some of the battles she has been fighting with female admirers of her husband.

Apparently, she has triumphed over these intending side chicks, celebrating her monogamous relationship with Governor Akeredolu. This is not the first time the public is bearing witness to Lady Betty’s passionate protection of her home. In times past, the First Lady called names and pointed fingers, proving her awareness of these ‘wall geckos’ or ‘cracks in the wall,’ as she recently referred to them.

However, some people frown at Lady Betty’s actions, arguing that this is not a good time to throw pebbles at others, real or imaginary. Given the rumours of her sick husband and how she needs to take care of him, she could be using this energy elsewhere, they say.

At the end of the day, it is between Lady Betty and her husband. Then again, the husband is a state governor, one rumoured to be governing Ondo from Oyo State.

Akeredolu

Interior Minister, Tunji-Ojo as a Poster Boy in the Making Dignity and respect are important indices for self-evaluation. With the Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo in the Minister of Interior seat, Nigeria will achieve these indices. Plotting the graph from what Tunji-Ojo has done and intends to do, many other good things are in view for this country.

Nigeria is many things to many nations, including Africa’s Big Brother. But this is often understood in softness a n d f l e x i b i l i t y r a t h e r than toughness and firmness.

All this is about to end with the w o r k a n d i n t e n t i o n s o f Tu n j i Ojo. Starting soon, Nigeria’s o p enness to international actors will be based on the principle of mutuality.

Speaking during the BusinessDay Conference tagged “Nigeria Forward: Catalysing Funding for High Impact Social Projects,” Tunji-Ojo described his plans for the country’s future and foreigners’ right of entry. During his session marked “Funding for Change: Building Bridges for a Resilient Nigeria,” Tunji-Ojo explained the conditions for approving visas for visitors.

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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 OCTOBER 29, 2023

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

ASARI DOKUBO: CROCODILE TEARS OF INCONSISTENCY I happen to really like this person. Not for his politics but for his looks. He looks very cuddly and sweet like a teddy bear. His rosy cheeks and portly round belly remind me so much of my father after bouts of Afang at the end of the day.

Anyways, during the week, we were inundated with a video where he was railing at Sheik Gumi who just likes to rattle our feathers anytime he is bored.

Apparently, that one with his silver beards, had in his usual style dropped some meaningless rants. He was reported to have asked for Wike’s resignation, stating, according to the report, that as a Christian he was not qualified to hold the position at the FCT. He was also quoted as saying so many things that didn’t really make sense to me.

Asari in anger threw away his welldocumented “hatred” for Wike and jumped at this man who wears clothes that look like “he no dey see iron.” In anger, Asari also forgot his much vaunted support for his President and started pouring hot water on that one o.Me just

dey look in amusement. This is what you get when you play politics of “anywhere bele face.” No ideology or guiding principle as you engage. So, you are either driven by the stomach or emotions. In this case, my brother has let emotions drive him as he rails on his oga’s history-making appointments amongst others.

The one that I will beg Bro Asari to let go is the one that he was doubting the Holocaust. Me I am not there o, I did not even hear o. Someone should go and show Alfa Asari the movie ‘Raid on Entebbe,’ where Israel entered a country in the night and freed their people. If they come for Asari, no be that him army wey dey for creek that will defend him o. Shey, you know that the Nigerian Army has not been able to free General Duru from kidnappers, so no be Israeli army they will come and repel when they appear in Nembe in search of you o.

My brother, let us be abusing Sheik Gumi and leave holocaust o. This is genuine advice o. Thank you.

Agbakoba

Olaleye

OLISA AGBAKOBA’S SUPREME CONCERNS By the time you all read this column, the Supreme Court would have delivered its ruling on the appeal by the “terrible duo” Atiku and Peter Obi. Well for me, the confidence that the ruling will be above board is really not there and I am sure a lot of Nigerians feel this way.

Before writing this piece, I went to Olisa Agbakoba’s interview on his thoughts on the integrity of the apex court and felt so sad. In very carefully chosen words, he made his doubts about the sanctity of decisions coming out of that place known. He said, in the past, we felt very cocksure that decisions were well thought out and could stand the sanctity of any rigorous test. But today and according to him, some decisions that have come out of that place have been “ridiculous”. He cited the cases of the Senate President and the Imo state one, all leading to the growing voices querying the system where seven people will have a final say in

everything that concerns us.

My people, this Supreme Court of fire, have started to tire Nigerians. Before, when they talk of the Supreme Court, people will be fearing but now, it is just looking like one kind.

Let me not talk too much before they will leave Olisa and come for me. You know those kinds of people like to go to the weakest link to show power.

But before I run to Uyo to hide, let me just say one thing – history is a very strict and finite judge. Its ruling will eventually come, so my brothers of the bench - abi what do they call Supreme Court own - before you dust up your heavy black gowns and wear your wigs, remember that history will not be kind to you if you pervert justice.

FOR FEMI OLALEYE, IT’SANOTHER SAD SONG My brother, the very brilliant Dr. Femi Olaleye has bagged for himself two life sentences for inappropriate sexual dealings involving a minor and

Akpabio

patients under his care. As I watched him walk from the court in a white apparel and in handcuffs, I bowed my head in tears.

He is my friend and I will not deny that he had plans of opening micro health facilities all over the place and we walked together on the plan. I even visited him at home many times in the course of the project.

Then all these stories started coming out and he moved on.

Those crimes he has been accused of committing and have been found guilty are some of the most heinous crimes that could be committed in these times. Taking advantage of a minor under your care, especially one with a biological relationship with your spouse? It’s almost unforgivable that even beginning to ask for clemency is looking very heavy in my mouth.

But I usually do not know how to join the mob in stoning an already defeated horse and in that vein, I

Dakubo

Abbo

want to very humbly and meekly seek some form of …. Fear is even catching me to say it.

Dr Olaleye is a very brilliant medical doctor who has done a lot of work in the area of cervical cancer. Granted, he is a mad man with a mental problem, bothering on sexual perversion as this court ruling has defined, I still would like to --- kai…. Fear is catching me o ….. but you people know what I am trying to say ooo…….

Even on Whatsapp, the mere mention of his name, come and see the way, women came at me o – Edgar, you should not even be seen to be standing on that side of the street….. and this is my fear in asking for what I am about to ask for….

Let me just leave it like this. Another very sad song.

Pitiable and sad. A brilliant man has fallen because of a lack of control of his impulses.

Lesson!!!

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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 OCTOBER 29, 2023

SUNDAY KARUMI: PUTTING A FACE ON IT My dear brother, you see there are some assignments they will give you and you will tell who sent you, “please sir, don’t vex , can I excuse myself from this one?” Judges do it a lot, they recuse themselves. You see how many have done the same with this Atiku and Tinubu matter, but you, with no strategic intent, just jumped into the matter and made yourself public enemy number 3, after Tinubu and your brother Akpabio.

I have never seen such a lack of “public sense” as shown by you in the reports that have come out. So according to the reports, it is far better to buy sturdy cars rather than ensure and insist that the roads are built well?

Where did you even go to school, because I am beginning to doubt it. I do not think any well-read person can come out in the midst of public anger to “vomit” such annoyingly insensitive talk in the midst of the economic crises we find ourselves in.

Mbok, what is even the work of senators o that we have to spend this humongous sum in providing them with cars that is making this one to come out and be spitting bile in his attempt to explain the unexplainable.

Please can his constituency help us start the journey of reclaiming our country by starting a recall process for this one. This baba has shown very clearly that “he no dey see road,” I tell you. Kai, incorrigible conscionability as Chief Eleyinmi of the rested Village Headmaster would have said. Na wa.

GODSWILL AKPABIO: I AM PRO NIGERIA AND NOT ANTI-AKPABIO Following my tirade last week on these pages, I got a call from Mr. Akpabio’s media aide. Now I get these kinds of calls most times I “attack” their principals. When I hail their baba, nobody calls me to give me afang o, but when I punch, they will be calling with all sorts of dribbles.

Let me say it here very quickly that Ekweremadu and Amaechi have reserved the very best in media aides that I have encountered. Those ones will come at you with facts and the discussions will be robust and encouraging. But the Ogun State Publicity Secretary of APC, na alawada. That one came shouting with abuse and insults. Small he would have invited me to Sagamu to a duel complete with juju and all. No name he didn’t call me. I just laughed and said to myself, see media aide. Na wa.

The worst so far is this Akpabio own. He called me and the first thing was “Bro, where are you from?” I humoured him, “Akwa Ibom,” and he goes, “What part?” and I said Nsit Ibom and he told me his village is near my own and then drops the historical vacuous statement: “Why do you want to pull your brother?

We are together na, we should work together to help him succeed.”

I could not even laugh. I told him very clearly that I don’t roll that way o. Even if Akpabio and I shared the same breast milk, I will still shout at the pantomime that is going on. The man is simply bereft of what it takes to be a Senate President, lacking in depth and clarity as to his role in a structure that is expected to have been enshrined with a separation of powers.

So, coming at me with the tribal mantra is not only annoying but lacking in respect of my person and what I stand for. It can never be about tribe but about what is right and wrong and as at today oAkpabio is very wrong in that role in the way he has carried on since he emerged.

So, my brother now offered to go tell Mr. Akpabio that his “brother is the one that is trying to pull him down, because he had spoiled my business when he was Governor.”

I almost laughed, imagine. Me that did not even step into Akwa Ibom the whole eight years of his

uncommon administration.

Politics of prebendalism is our bane.

The material pursuit of individual well-being as against the pursuit of the common good. Mr. Media aide, please, if you cannot tell your principal what we discussed in my real words, let me come and tell him myself, pata pata he will beat me na?

Abi. PROF ALI PATE: MY REAL WORRY You see, these forex crises are really annoying and scary. But it appears that we have not been able to dimension its true and wholesale effect especially as it affects health care

Osime

I NEED PALLIATIVES URGENTLY Now this legend has reached out.

“Edgar, I want you to come and talk about a very important topic on my programme – Perspectives on ARISE TV.” I said Oya, me that I used to have a crush on Ruth? I said oya I am ready. Then she said the topic is why married women cheat- ahhhhhh, I say madam ahhhhhhh, you want to kill me.

Women have not forgiven me since I went to Azuka’s 50th and later wrote that the waitresses were looking finer than the female guests because of all the pancake those ones were carrying na him, I will now come and be telling the whole world why and how they are cheating.

But she was very convincing so I agreed. I didn’t tell Duchess I was going for the talk o. That Saturday morning, I just bathed, ate my last supper and quietly told her, I am coming.

Appeared at the studio and it was just me and three very beautiful women on the panel and Ruth fired- “Edgar, why do married women cheat?” and I opened my mouth wide.

Since the show, I have been kicked out of the room, blocked by over 100 women, lost three

side chicks and have not been given food to eat in my house since last Saturday. I have been eating buka and have no access to my accounts since Duchess changed all passwords.

Nigerians are wicked people.

Me that was just doing national duty in trying to explain why married women cheat and why women for that matter cheat and be doing like tiny demons in relationships. As I was talking, some wicked people were sending the thing to Duchess, complete with comments on how to deal with me. All explanations that it was national duty I was doing have fallen on deaf ears.

The fact that I even said: “It was not me talking that it was the producer CJ who was putting the words in my mouth using AI,” has not moved her.

Well, I will not apologise. I will be like Mandela and stand by my position because this is a fight for manhood. It’s just that, real hungry is catching me and that is why I am requesting that my dear Ruth who put me in this wahala, should kindly send me palliatives make I no faint o.

delivery.

The biting effect especially in securing forex to import the necessary drugs is now impacting very aggressively in not only cost of health care delivery but also in cost of drugs. Let me give you one small example: that was how I had my usual eye infection.

My doctors would be saying it is eye infection but my brother Lami said it is juices that pour out and enter my eyes during activities that cannot be mentioned in a family column read nationwide.

Anyways, the infection came back and my eyes were red and blurry as usual. I cannot see the afang I am eating, talk less of a buxom light skinned damsel walking past the road. So, I called my usually very brilliant eye doctor and she recommended the usual eye drops.

I rushed down Lagos and could not find the eye drop to no avail. Then I called her and she said, “it’s in our clinic, come tomorrow for it,” and I said how much and she said, “it’s just N2,500,” and I said ok.

But she said, “you have to take something this night so it doesn’t get worse by morning,” and since I need my eyes to screen Tinibu’s transcripts, I sent my driver out. My people the next thing I saw was alert- N12,000.

I thought the man had stolen my money and screamed at him. He replied, “Oga, this is the third place and cheapest. The rest is N13,000.”

I immediately called the eye doctor and said, shouldn’t I just risk it till morning na, I will watch porn till morning so I don’t have to close my eyes. She replied, “Edgar buy it quickly.” I just got a call from the clinic that it is N15,000.

Aghhhhhhhhh.

My people, me, my driver and the eye doctor are ready to come to the senate whenever they resume from VIO where they went to inspect their new jeeps to testify on this matter.

Mr. Health Minister people are dying o. Helppppp.

RENO OMOKRI: AN ETHICALLYDEFICIENT PATRIOT Me, I really don’t know when this one converted because I still remember seeing him in a brown coat and dark glasses looking like Johnny Bravo and shouting “Tinubu ole” in front of Chatham House, London.

It is people like Reno that makes me want to write a book and interview Tinubu. How he does it - convert hard opponents to now become his rabid supporter needs to be studied. If Tinubu continues like this, he will be able to turn the Pope into a rabid polygamist o.

Well, that was how Reno - Saul of Tarsus - Omokri now takes a shot at Peter Obi using the legendary actor Mr. Ibu as cannon fodder. Mr. Ibu had sent out a desperate cry for public assistance upon hearing the sad news that his legs could be amputated and instead of Reno to shut up, he was reported to have wondered why Peter Obi hadn’t come to his assistance.

This was ethically low even for him, leveraging on someone’s illness to play naked and vile politics. This Reno continues to play irritating politics which verge on verbal bullying and cyber-attacks – mbok, which other big words can I use?

Anyways, I am not really bothered about him and his ilk since history has a particular dustbin it throws them into.

The most important thing is that Mr. Ibu has received respite through Dr Saraki I think, and has gone through two very successful surgeries. That to me is the most important thing and not Reno’s rants. Thank you, you may now come and beat me.

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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 OCTOBER 29, 2023

GLITZ ENTERTAINMENT

For Longevity, Afrobeats Artistes Need to Be Business Savvy, Says Phiona Okumu Recently, top executives of the global music streaming platform Spotify was in Nigeria to celebrate one of the country’s greatest exports, Afrobeats. The two-day visit featured talks and tours and culminated in a one-of-a-kind afrobeats concert. Vanessa Obioha chats with Spotify’s Head of Music Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, on the success of Afrobeats, its subgenres and ultimately, the advantages of technology in the music business One of the exciting news that emerged from your platform this year is that Rema hit the one billion stream mark on your platform.

What would you say are those unique elements of afrobeats that continue to resonate with audiences globally?

Well, number one I think that there is a joyous nature about Afrobeats. It’s very rare. I’ve never heard a super sad afrobeats song even if there is sometimes a bit of contemplation or an introverted message in the lyrics, there’s still something about happiness in there. So that’s something that will always make it universally appealing. It’s accessible. It’s kind of easy to understand. That accessibility is what makes other genres think that this could be good music for us to marry with our music because it’s that open. Even though we call it afrobeats, it’s many things. There are the traditional aspects of it, sometimes it’s R&B influenced or hip hop influenced or dancehall influenced. That makes it a kind of everybody’s type of music. It is just very universally appealing all around.

What emerging subgenres of afrobeats do you see gaining traction, and how are they pushing boundaries creatively?

It’s not necessarily a genre, but a movement, which I think we really should be giving a lot more credit to. It is the alté. The reason why I say this is and I hope this doesn’t sound controversial, but afrobeats is cool now. It’s stylish. I very much remember a time when it was only us who thought it was cool. Now, the thing about the little alté kids is that they very much push how they are; what marks their own little subculture is the fashion aspect. And I truly believe that has influenced a lot of the big afrobeats artistes. For sure, I know that Rema is influenced by alté. I know that someone like Tems comes much more from the alté side than afrobeats. So for me, I feel like these subgenres have always existed and that’s how culture works. It’s never just everything all at once. It waves everyone’s attention to it depending on the mood, the spirit of the culture, and so forth.

It’s great to see that. One thing we know for sure is at some point in time whatever music we like,

successful emerging genre to the rest of the world so that they understand where we’re coming from.

Okumu

potentially gets its time in the sun.

In curating a dedicated website, ‘Afrobeats: A Journey of a Billion Streams’ for the genre, have you in any way achieved the goals of that initiative?

I think we have. The vision of it is twofold. It’s for two different audiences: the fans of the music, who might necessarily either be new to it and want to get a primer on it, or those who have always been fans of it and just kind of reminisce on all of the things that have happened within it. But also, I think it’s important to be able to help creators tell the story. And as our artistes start to break out and become international stars, people are going to be curious about them. I always like to use Drake as an example. One of the reasons why a person like Drake is so popular is because we almost feel like we know his story. That kind of familiarity is really great for creators. And so this site is again there to be able to tell from our perspective as African people the story of this really

AMAA’s Renaissance Begins Tonight The ninth edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) will take place today, Sunday, October 29, 2023, in Lagos, Nigeria and the organisers are promising a thrilling ceremony.

“It’s been a long time coming for AMAA and the 19th edition is special and dear to us as a board and members of the family,” said Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe, a member of the board of Africa Movie Academy (AFA), the organisers of AMAA. “We would be honouring our beloved sister, who was passionate about AMAA, the industry and Africa till her death and we would be giving a tip of what is to be expected at the 20th edition.”

Music stars KCee, Yinka Davies, Camido and Zadok are some of the artistes that will be performing at the event which will be held at the Balmoral Convention Centre, inside the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

Hosting the awards ceremony is the trio of Nancy Isime, Rahama Sadau and Richard Ato Turkson.

Themed ‘Renaissance: Legacy in Motion,’ the 19th edition is in partnership with the Lagos State Government.

KCee to perform at AMAA 2023

What do you believe are the prospects and opportunities for African music to continue its global influence?

Authenticity is important. Okay. There’s a reason why they like our music. So we shouldn’t compromise on it. And by compromise, I don’t mean we shouldn’t collaborate, we should always collaborate. But we must always maintain the aspects of our essence that make us because otherwise, we will sound like someone else. And if we sound like someone else, then what makes us stand out? We must also absolutely get the business of it. The opportunities and attention are here. But as creators, whether it’s artistes, labels or managers, we need to be a little bit smarter.

And from a Spotify point of view, for example, If you’re an artiste, we have this app called Spotify for artistes. And when you go to that app as an artiste, and you have a profile there, you release a song. The app can track where your music is being listened to, and the demographic of the people listening to your music. And why that is important is that it lets you know where your audience is and you can plan doing shows there or selling merch or collaborating with artistes from there. It’s a very efficient way of driving your own demand. Before we had these kinds of tools, it was a guesswork. It’s things like that, that I feel we need to be smart about. Yes, the attention and interest are there. For longevity, we have to be able to make a living from the music.

Considering the substantial N11 billion in revenue generated by Nigerian artistes from Spotify, as reported in ‘Loud & Clear,’ can you provide more insight on how technology and data analytics are shaping the future of music streaming within the afrobeats genre?

The story of amapiano is the best way to explain this because it’s a recent example. I wasn’t in South Africa, but I had just started working at Spotify. And I remember having two perspectives. On the platform, there were a few amapiano songs. And then in real life, in a face-toface experience what I was hearing was that this music was popping off. The platform wasn’t really reflecting what was happening and what was happening was that amapiano producers would make this song on Monday, then test it repeatedly.

If it gets some traction, it will be able to give them a gig on that same Saturday. So there was a cycle and that’s part of the origin story of amapiano.

They were not really thinking of streaming. This was before COVID. The moment COVID hit. Then you don’t have gigs on Saturdays. With that, I saw an opportunity to really demonstrate that guys, it’s not only in the club that you can make money. Come to streaming, start distributing your music here, and your royalties become what you eat. Nobody had that opportunity. Everybody had no choice but to focus their attention on how to generate money using digital tools, and it’s worked and it’s working, and it’s going to continue to work because music streaming is going nowhere. Streaming is becoming the way that everyone primarily consumes music. It’s not everyone everywhere in Africa yet, but that time is coming. Once that starts to happen, then you will start to see even more streaming revenue generated because everybody will have no choice but to listen from the app. That is the most basic way that I can explain why technology is good for the music business.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

29. 10. 2023

In Abuja, a Fiesta Conceived to Connects the Dots The Abuja Open House initiative, currently in its third iteration, should be commended as an answer to the federal capital city’s intending art visitors’ prayers. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

N

o doubt, it’s been a hit so far! Even as the curtains are drawn today (October 29) on this year’s edition of the Abuja Open House—the third since it was first held in 2019—with the opening of a group art exhibition and a sponsored brunch at Fraser ’s Suites in Abuja’s Central Business District, there is no gainsaying the fact that it did after all get off to a great start on Thursday, October 26, at the Abuja’s showpiece Transcorp Hilton Hotel located along Aguiyi Ironsi Street in the affluent Maitama neighbourhood.

Indeed, the formal opening ceremony emceed by Imal Emmanuel Silva at Kano Hall, adjacent to the Transcorp Hilton’s Congress Hall, set the tone for the remainder of its scheduled activities.

Besides brief remarks by representatives from the US embassy, the National Council for Arts and Culture, and the Transcorp Hilton, the event also featured lectures by the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art’s director, Dr. Jess Castellote, the art historian, Dr. Kunle Filani, and the artist, Victor Ehikhamenor, and a panel discussion with Nduwhite Ndubuisi Ahanonu, Sarah Duchêne, Abdulkareem Baba Aminu, and Jacqueline Dogun Suowari. As an icing on the cake, the VIP reception, held later that evening, which was serenaded by the Turkish musical duo, the violinist Sinan Bora Saribas and the guitarist Kutluhan Gozutok, just before the official opening of a group exhibition titled Time in Perspective at the lobby of the Nordic Hotel in the Mabushi area of the city, gave the guests good reasons to look forward to the subsequent days.

On Friday, October 27, there was an artist talk with Dr. Kunle Filani, Professor Jerry Buhari, the Turkish curator, Beste Gursu, and Nduwhite Ahanonu at the Moeshen Art Gallery at the Life Camp, a Sony masterclass with Nate Genius for content creators and filmmakers, and a group exhibition opening at the Thought Pyramid Art Centre. The day concluded with another group exhibition opening at the Turkish Embassy. An art event titled “Harmony Unveiled” heralded the activities on Saturday, October 28. There was subsequently a solo art exhibition opening of the works of Sidney Osioh at the Moeshen Art Gallery and an artist talk. As for today’s group exhibition opening at the Fraser Suites, which is at 11 a.m., will feature the works of John Oyedemi, Akachukwu Benjamin, Italian artist Luigi Ballarin, and Fenegal Ejiro.

Abuja Open House, with this year’s activities rallying around the theme, Catalytic Synthesis, is a one-of-a-kind blend of dynamic art experiences and gallery hopping. It may not have been the panacea for all the ills afflicting Abuja’s emerging art community. Yet, it does provide solid foundations for possible convergence and synchronisation of the framework for learning

The Turkish musical duo, the violinist Sinan Bora Saribas and the guitarist Kutluhan Gozutok serenading the audience at one of the events

The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art director, Jess Castellote, making his presentation at the opening event

about the federal capital city’s creative areas, developing connections among creatives, and encouraging enthusiastic consumption of the arts, comparable to a pyramid leaning towards creative grandeur.

This was why it was conceived in the first place as a four-day event to connect and bridge the gap between Abuja’s creative audience, art spaces, and galleries by the International Institute for Creative Development (often abbreviated as IICD) in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy.

Each of its iterations, explained Nduwhite Ahanonu, who cofounded the IICD with his now deceased friend Harrison Ikibah, signifies a point of divergence in progress, discovering, sharing, and learning before merging into

Dr Kunle Filani delivering his lecture

Nduwhite Ndubuisi Ahanonu welcoming guests to the event

a triangle.

For this reason also, it should be lauded as a welcome relief for the city’s would-be art tourists, since it is afflicted with none of the numbing predictability and officialdom of the major art events hitherto held in the federal capital city. In addition, its unique selling proposition—its multivenue model—guarantees intense art and creative experiences, stimulating discussions, and assured civic and cultural exchanges throughout its four days.

The IICD has, in any case, been working for the past 10 years to deliberately develop the Abuja art scene as a distinct cultural identity. This Abuja Open House initiative could be regarded as one of its spin-offs. As a result, the event preens itself on attracting over 1500 attendees and inspiring increased gallery visits, which helps to develop

new cultural competitors in the market.

There are also plans to expand the event’s activities in order to democratise art and culture. This would result in their expansion to underserved populations, increasing cultural consumption and developing new creative methods to absorb art and culture.

The Abuja Open House is without a doubt the most significant visual arts festival in the federal capital city, animating over 22 venues over four days and elevating the city’s cultural prestige.

However, due to the major disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, the festival was only able to hold its second edition in 2022. Inspired by the success of that edition, Beste Gursu, a renowned female Turkish curator, came back with four of her compatriots: two artists, Baris Sarinas and Kadir Akyol, and two musicians, Sinan Bora Saribas and Kutluhan Gozutok.

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

32

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 29, 2023

ARTS & REVIEW\\POT POURRI

At Rele Gallery, It’s More Than Just a Game Yinka Olatunbosun

T

he rainy Sunday evening ushered in a new solo exhibition at Rele Gallery, Ikoyi by Ameh Agwuh. Around the exhibition halls were works made of graphite largely inspired by the classic indoor game called “Snakes and Ladders.”

The solo show, which is the third from the artist, is a marked deviation from his brightcoloured canvases to present a greyed-out body of works that, among other things, celebrate the resilience of the human spirit.

Using a mixture of lines and images, Agwuh explores the moral values embedded in the famous game to highlight the socio-political issues in his society. The ladders in the game are conceived as symbols of positive virtues and good deeds. $JZXK ZKR VWXGLHG ÀQH DQG DSSOLHG DUWV at the Delta State University, Abraka was born and raised in Lagos. At the opening of his show titled “It was meant to be a game,” he discussed the philosophy behind the large size works on display.

“As you walk into the exhibition hall, you can almost tell it is more than just a game,” he began. “I adopted the famous Snake and Ladder Game for the show which is a metaphor

EXHIBITION for ups and downs in life or the motion through life. I use the snake and ladder game as a soft landing to have various conversations about life.”

One of such issues is a power struggle. In his work with the same title, he spotlights the abuse of power by public servants while H[SORULQJ WKH LQÁXHQFH RI UHOLJLRQ RQ SHRSOH The subject matter of power is at the core of global crises, one of which is the spate of sporadic wars between one country and another. The need for dominance over others is another accidental subject in the body of work. “I am also curious about the idea of life and death, light and darkness, virtues and vices.”

Agwuh had always seen himself as an artist, right from his younger years. For him, there was no backlash to his career choice from his parents, and their support has spurred him on until now.

The 22 works curated by Adeoluwa Oluwajoba also include a piece titled “Lovers: The Lift and the Kiss.” This piece alludes to a romantic relationship between a man and a woman which sometimes plays out as a game or more than just a game.

The artist guiding a guest through the exhibition hall For the artist, the game is a comfort zone to and bad times in pursuant to his exploration VLW DQG UHÁHFW RQ RWKHU VHULRXV FRQYHUVDWLRQV of the concept of duality.

In another piece called “Day and Night,” he The show, which opened on October 22, brings to the fore the consciousness of good runs until November 26.

Korean Culture Lights up Banana Island Multicultural Festival Yinka Olatunbosun

T

he Korean Cultural Centre, in collaboration with the Banana Island Property Owners and Residents’ Association, recently gave the residents an independence celebration treat. Tagged ‘Banana Island Multicultural Festival,’ the cultural fiesta was an opportunity to strengthen cultural ties and foster good neighbourliness.

The Banana Island, Lagos community is home to many expatriates from diverse nationalities alongside persons of indigenous tribes in Nigeria. The idea is to celebrate Nigeria’s independence using a spectacular platform to showcase cultures and promote unity and peace. For the 63rd Independence, the festival had as its theme ‘A New Season, which is a reflection of the spirit of hope and optimism for a better Nigeria under a new administration.

Curated as a day-long event, the evening wore on into a night of thrilling performances, including dance troupes representing India, South Korea, Ghana, Indonesia, and South Africa. Earlier in the day, a colour food tasting and fairground experience engulfed the participants, who

A dance performance at the Banana Island Multicultural Festival

FESTIVITIES relished a variety of cuisine and an assortment of drinks.

Family members arrived in droves and shared the picture-perfect moments in the bright afternoon daylight. At the South Korean stand, it was a delight to see a great

number of festival buffs swarming around and getting in line to enjoy the culinary experience.

After relishing their meals, a few of them shared their views on this one-stop multicultural food-tasting affair. A Korean culture enthusiast, Kenny excitedly said she enjoyed every bit of the festival.

“Today, the experience was awesome, and

I love everything,” she enthused. “We’ve tried South African zobo, Indian food, and Korean food—the kimche and the spaghetti.

The weather is great too. I’m wearing the Korean ambo; it is a traditional Korean dress. I am into Korean culture. I started learning the language. I fell in love with K-pop, and I am also a dancer-singer.”

For Motunrayo, it was a rare experience to partake in several aspects of Asian culture without having to book an international flight ticket.

“I am interested in Asian culture. I tasted Korean and Indian food,’’ she said.

While reflecting on the whole cultural fiesta, the Director of the Korean Cultural Centre, Nigeria, Kim Changki, reiterates how the festival aligns with the Korean Cultural Centre’s goals.

“We want to promote Korean culture in Nigeria,” he said. “The Korean cultural centre itself is in Abuja, but we have decided to bring the Korean culture to Lagos as well. We invited the Korean performance team to Nigeria today for this festival.

By promoting Korean culture through its food, we hope to share the awesome Korean experience. I think many Nigerians love Korean food, music, and drama. We also know that Nigerians love dancing, and they are very dynamic.”

,Q $QWLFLSDWLRQ RI 7L;DQ\ $QQDEHOOH 'DYLHV·V &UHDWLYH 2G\VVH\

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LͿDQ\ $QQDEHOOH 'DYLHV arguably one of the local DUW VFHQH·V PRVW HͿHUYHVcent young female artists, is set for another exciting solo outing, which opens on Thursday, November 2.

The exhibition, titled Good, Bad, and Crazy: An Artistic Odyssey,is an artistic narrative that transcends boundaries and invites the viewer to explore Nigeria through her artistic lens. An immersive experience, which is not just an art installation, will be hosted at the concept store in Lekki called 30s and has been described as a cultural revelation that captivates and enlightens.

Those who are already acquainted with this remarkable Delta State native can attest to the fact that she has forged a unique path in the art world.

Hence, the expectation is that the exhi-

EXHIBITION bition—a profound exploration of Nigeria’s intricate emotions and rich diversity—will be one that is worth seeing. Curated by Addie Mak, it unfolds as an awe-inspiring map of Nigeria, not merely a geographical representation but a canvas pulsating with feelings.

The pivotal question posed is, “What does it feel like to live in Nigeria?” The map invites members of the public to adorn it with an array of colourful stickers, resulting in a symbol of the multifaceted emotional landscape of the nation, encompassing the good, the bad, and the utterly crazy. Each visitor thus contributes to the masterpiece, turning the map into a breath-taking mosaic

of emotions, an embodiment of Nigeria’s collective spirit.

Good, Bad, Crazy also unveils an exclusive T-shirt collection, not as mere merchandise but as wearable art. These unisex tees feature humorous Nigerian sayings, encapsulating the nation’s spirit and wit. Available in just two sizes, small and large, they become more than attire; they are collectibles and artworks to be cherished.

7KLV LV D GLͿHUHQW DUWLVWLF GLPHQVLRQ IRU WKH artist; it’s a profound exploration of Nigeria’s cultural identity, emotions, and humour.

7LͿDQ\ $QQDEHOOH·V DUW LV DQ LQYHVWPHQW D conversation starter, and a testament to the beauty and complexity of Nigeria.

And here’s the caveat: Good, Bad, and Crazy LV D OLPLWHG WLPH DͿDLU JUDFLQJ WKH DUW VFHQH for just one week. This exclusivity adds an element of rarity that should appeal to collectors and investors alike.

Davies

33

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 29, 2023

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

For Tinubu, It’s Time for Governance With the legal hurdle over the February 25, 2023, presidential election laid to rest last Thursday, President Bola Tinubu should concentrate on solving the myriad of problems facing the country, writes Festus Akanbi

T

he Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the valid winner of the presidential election that was held in the country on February 25.

As soon as the judgment was delivered, Tinubu in his speech, promised to exceed Nigerians’ expectations in service delivery.

The court in a unanimous decision, dismissed the appeals by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi. The seven-member panel ruled out the merit of the opposition’s appeals over claims of fraud, electoral law violations, and Tinubu’s ineligibility to run for president. It thrashed all the grounds of appeal of Atiku and the PDP on qualification, noncompliance with the Electoral Act, the 25 per cent votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and electoral malpractices.

The apex court dismissed Atiku’s appeal to admit his evidence from the Chicago State University, saying the time for the submission of fresh appeals had elapsed.

“On the whole, having resolved all the issues against the appellant, it is my view that there is no merit in the appeal and it is hereby dismissed,” Justice Inyang Okoro said in dismissing Atiku’s appeal.

“The judgment of the court below delivered on September 6, 2023, affirming the election of the second respondent (Tinubu) as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is hereby affirmed,” he concluded.

On Obi’s appeal on the issue of the double nomination of VicePresident Kashim Shettima, the court held that the issue had been dealt with in its ruling on May 26.

“As for issue Number 4 which has to do with double nomination which was not in Atiku’s appeal, it is the view of this court that this issue having been dealt with by this court, this court cannot allow the matter to be re-litigated in this very court.

There must be an end to litigation,” Justice Okoro held.

“For us to sit down now and talk about when this man resigned or did not resign when they did fresh primaries to replace him which we have done before, we are not going to do this again….This appeal lacks merit and is hereby dismissed.”

Reacting to the judgment, Tinubu said he accepted the judicial victory with an intense sense of responsibility and a burning desire to meet the great challenges confronting Nigerians.

He added that the victory would further energise and strengthen his commitment to continue to serve Nigerians of all political persuasions, tribes, and faiths while expressing gratitude to Nigerians for the mandate to serve the country.

“With deep gratitude to God Almighty, I solemnly and humbly accept today’s judicial victory with an intense sense of responsibility and a burning desire to meet the great challenges confronting our people.”

The president noted that the victory at the courts has further reinforced his commitment to serve Nigeria and its citizens,

Tinubu adding that with the victory, his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda will now gain fresh momentum.

“The victory of today has further energised and strengthened my commitment to continue to serve all Nigerians of all political persuasions, tribes, and faiths, with honour and total respect for the diverse opinions and uniting values of our citizens.”

“We are all members of one household, and this moment demands that we continue to work and build our country together.

The strength of our diversity and the great citizenship that binds us must now compel us forward in directing the energy of our people towards building a virile, stronger, united, and more prosperous country.

“In the days and months ahead, I trust that the spirit of patriotism will be elevated into supporting our administration to improve the living conditions of Nigerians. I am prepared to welcome the contributions of all Nigerians to foster and strengthen our collective progress,” he reportedly said.

With the legal hurdle over the election laid to rest, Nigerians expect President Tinubu to face the myriad of challenges facing the country from insecurity, bad economy to poor infrastructure.

All Nigerians want to see going forward is a country where they can live a decent life, move from point to the other without being kidnapped or killed, travel good roads, get jobs and electricity to power their means of production.

Since Tinubu came power n May 29, many Nigerians have been groaning in hardship. During his inauguration, the president announced the end of petrol subsidy regime, a decision,

which global and local financial experts criticised for plunging more Nigerians into poverty and hopelessness.

The criticisms stemmed from the lack of a clear-cut palliative programme before the implementation of the fuel subsidy removal which many analysts described as long overdue.

Apart from the removal of subsidy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also announced the unification of all segments of the forex exchange (FX) market as part of efforts to engender transparency in the markets and boost investors’ confidence.

Although the policy has been widely applauded, it has put additional pressure on the local currency and manufacturers, with ripple effects on prices.

Both policies are being put in place at a time Nigerians are just recovering from the shocks of a controversial naira redesign policy that crippled businesses and made life difficult for many Nigerians who could not access their funds for several months.

Nigeria also faces erosion of its revenue largely caused by the failure to meet Nigeria’s OPEC quota as oil theft and opaqueness in crude oil management rob the country of the much-needed revenue.

As oil revenues dwindle so also the accretion of the nation’s foreign reserves. Coupled with the falling capital importation, the naira value has continued to nosedive so much that the Naira exchanged for a dollar at N1,168 at the unofficial market last week.

To compound Nigeria’s woes, the country witnessed a decline in total capital importation, dropping to $1.03 billion from $1.5 billion in Q2 2022, marking a 32.90 per cent decrease, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Analysts listed other challenges to include the unabated problem of insecurity especially in the food-producing regions of the North. The immediate fallout of this was the upsurge in food inflation as shown by the latest inflation figure of 26.72 per cent for September, while the interest rate is as high as 18.75 per cent.

The rising inflationary rate which underscores the corresponding rising level of hardship in the country is coming at a period when a research firm, KPMG predicts an unemployment rate of 40.6per cent in 2023, due to what it described as the continuing inflow of jobs seekers into the job market.

Similarly, the nation’s misery index, an indicator used to determine how economically well off the citizens of a country are, hit 55.2 per cent in February 2023, a continuous rise from 61.15 per cent in 2022, according to data from the NBS. The expectation is that with the legal battle over his election laid to rest, the president and his team no longer have any excuse to tender for the growing misery of the Nigerian people.

This is the time to act.

For the opposition, they must now start the arduous task of reinventing themselves. It is time to move away from a fight for power to building a veritable and people-driven opposition that will keep the government on its toes as it tries to deliver on its vision.

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

Akeredolu: Haunted by His Position on Yar’Adua

Uzodimma

Akeredolu

The videos and photographs that emanated from the visit of four governors from the Southwest states last week, to their ailing colleague, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, in his Jericho private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State have set tongues wagging with many of his opponents describing him as a hypocrite following what he told the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2009 to 2010.

ThegovernorswhovisitedAkeredoluwereSeyi Makinde(Oyo);BabajideSanwo-Olu(Lagos),Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti).

Akeredolu, who recently returned from Germany after months of medical treatment, has remained in Ibadan, a development that has generated criticisms from Ondo people, particularly the opposition Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP).

The governors were said to have had a closeddoor meeting at the Governor’s Office, Agodi, before proceeding to Akeredolu’s residence.

But as soon as the photographs went viral on social media many reminded Akeredolu of his position on the late President Yar’Adua, as the then President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Akeredolu, as NBA president, was one of the most vociferous voices, who repeatedly called on the late President to resign due to his ill-health and allow the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to take over.

On one occasion on December 8, 2009, the former NBA president said: “The prayer of the association is that the President should recover

fast, return to his office, and resign. No matter how much you love your country, it should not be at the detriment of your health. It is not your party or your wife that will decide whether you are capable of handling state matters; it is only your doctors that can decide that. The bar is not asking the president not to come back and take his seat, but the right thing must be done.”

But Akeredolu, who now faces a similar health challenge as Yar’Adua, seems to love Ondo more than himself.

Though the Ondo State governor transmitted power to his deputy when he departed for Germany in June, but as soon as he came back, he wrote to the state assembly that he had resumed, even when he was not fit enough to return to the Government House in Akure.

34

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 29, 2023

BRIEFINGNOTES

As Bawa Regains Freedom

With the release of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, by the Department of State Services after 134 days in detention, Ejiofor Alike is calling on the federal government to also extend such gesture to the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, who is also being held under a law that is known to only the detaining authorities

T

he Department of State Services (DSS) last Wednesday released the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, after 134 days in detention.

Before Bawa breathed air of freedom, the former EFCC boss had been in detention with the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, for over four months, contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

Section 35 (4) & (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), prescribes that any person who is arrested or detained in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution shall be brought before a court of law within a reasonable time.

Subsection 5 defines a “reasonable time” to mean between 24 to 48 hours, depending on the availability of a court of competent jurisdiction within the place of arrest and detention.

However, there are exceptional cases when a suspect is detained but the process of commencing trial is yet to be completed.

This is where the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) of 2015, which is today being abused by the agents of government, comes into effect.

The ACJA prescribes that in such cases, application is made to the magistrate court, requesting that the suspect be remanded in custody, pending the completion of the investigation and arraignment.

The idea behind this is to ensure that the pre-trial detentions or remands are done with the supervision of the courts so as to discourage the violation of the rights of suspects by security agencies.

Section 293 (2) of ACJA prescribes that such application shall be made, ex parte to a magistrate for the suspect to be committed to custody upon the establishment of a probable cause and also the linking of the suspect to the alleged offence.

But the magistrate must be satisfied that there is a probable cause to remand the suspect, pending a legal advice from the Attorney General.

To avoid the abuse of the ACJA, Section 294 (2) clearly listed the determinants of probable cause.

Section 296 of the ACJA, stipulates that a remand warrant issued under Section 293 of the Act shall last for 14 days in the first instance.

However, it can be renewed for 14 days each in the second, third and fourth instance, making it a maximum of 56 days for which a suspect can be detained without trial.

It, therefore, appears that the ACJA, not

Bawa only violates the 1999 Constitution but has serially been abused as evident in Bawa and Emefiele’s cases, by law enforcement agencies and compromised junior judicial officers, who connive to detain Nigerians for 56 days without consequences.

In the two cases of Bawa and Emefiele, both were detained for over four months, against the provisions of the ACJA. Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration which signed the ACJA did not take undue advantage of its provisions to detain Nigerians beyond the reasonable time stipulated in the Constitution.

However, as soon as former President Muhammadu Buhari took over, the agents of his administration took undue advantage of the ACJA to detain Nigerians without trial.

Regrettably, this impunity has continued under President Bola Tinubu-led administration, with Bawa and Emefiele as two major victims.

While Emefiele was arrested on June 10, 2023, Bawa was taken into custody on June 14.

With both the ACJA and the Nigerian Constitution not justifying their long incarceration, it is evident that the Nigerian government now deals with suspected lawbreakers on its own terms, and not based on the provisions of the law.

However, in a brief statement issued on Wednesday night by the Spokesman of DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, the agency disclosed that the former EFCC boss had been released.

“DSS confirms release of former EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, a few hours ago (today 25th October, 2023)”, the agency said.

Bawa was arrested few hours after he was suspended by President Tinubu.

The Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Willie Bassey, had in a statement announcing Bawa’s suspension, cited “weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him” as the reason for the president’ s decision.

During his detention, the DSS had kept mum on the specific offences for which he was arrested, the level of investigation and whether charges

would be filed against him in court.

Human rights groups and lawyers had protested his long detention without trial.

A statement by the DSS spokesperson, Afunanya, shortly after Bawa’s suspension on June 14, said the embattled EFCC chair arrived at the facility of the DSS in response to an invitation.

“The Department of State Services has invited Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Bawa arrived a few hours ago. The invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him,” the DSS spokesman had said.

On his part, before he was suspended and subsequently arrested on June 10, Emefiele had been fighting, perhaps the toughest battle of his career since October 2022 when he announced that the apex bank would redesign the N200, N500 and N1,000 banknotes. He gave January 31, 2023 as the deadline for the return of the old notes to the banks.

As soon as he unveiled the apex bank’s plan, many political leaders, who had been the cause of the misery of the common man in this country cashed in on the hardships inflicted on Nigerians by the scarcity of the naira notes and suddenly became the champions of the cause of the poor.

By redesigning the naira few months to the general election, Emefiele stepped on the toes of some powerful politicians, especially governors and National Assembly members who had stockpiled the old naira notes to buy votes and mobilise thugs in the general election.

The redesigning of the naira notes provided opportunity for these politicians who had never sympathised with the poor masses over the harsh conditions of living in the country to suddenly realise that the currency redesign was inflicting hardship on the poor.

In one of its recent editorials, the Financial Times (FT) of London had stated that the manner in which Emefiele, was removed from office was odd and smacked of political revenge.

Emefiele was initially arrested over frivolous allegations of illegal possession of firearms.

With the release of Bawa, the Nigerian government should end this regime of impunity, abuse of rule of law and lawlessness, and release the former CBN governor, in line with democratic norms.

Little wonder Nigeria was last week ranked 120th of the 142 countries in terms of adherence to rule of law, according to the latest global Rule of Law Index released by the World Justice (WJP). The 2023 index released on Wednesday in Washington DC, United States, also showed that out of the 34 countries ranked in the sub-Saharan region, Nigeria is rated 23rd.

NOTES FOR FILE

INEC’s Hasty Removal of Sylva’s Name from Guber List

Yakubu

Many Nigerians, especially the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were shocked when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the amended lists of candidates for the Bayelsa State governorship election with the names of the APC candidate, Timipre Sylva and his running mate, Joshua Maciver, conspicuously missing.

Recall that Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had recently ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa, would breach the 1999 Constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

The judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he won and was sworn in,

he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.

Sylva and his party faulted the judgment and have since filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal to challenge the verdict. Depending on how the appeal goes, it would definitely end up at the Supreme Court.

But INEC’s Secretary, Rose OriaranAnthony, explained that the removal of Sylva’s name was in obedience to court orders served on the commission.

“By virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Commission is bound to enforce the orders of the court on the nomination of candidates by political parties in the state.

“The amended list of candidates in

respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election is hereby amended pursuant to the orders of court served on the commission,” she said.

Many have faulted INEC for being in such a hurry to drop Sylva’s name from the list of candidates for the election. They further wonder what would happen if the Court of Appeal and perhaps the Supreme Court upturns the High Court’s decision.

Would it not be more convenient for Sylva to participate in the election and have his victory nullified by the court if he wins than INEC having to re-conduct the election when the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court rule in his favour for wrongfully excluding him?

Already the APC has kicked against the decision by the commission remove Sylva’s name from the list of candidates, saying that it is wrong.

35

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 29, 2023

CICERO/ISSUE

Senate’s Probe of TAM and Another Jamboree Since the return of democracy in 1999, both chambers of the National Assembly have been carrying out several probes into the activities of federal government’s ministries, departments, and agencies without results. It is therefore believed that the panel constituted by the Senate to probe the over N11.35 trillion spent on the refineries will embark on another jamboree, writes Wale Igbintade

T

he Senate last Tuesday constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over the whopping N11.35 trillion allegedly spent on the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the country’s four moribund refineries, without result, in the last 13 years.

The decision to carry out the probe of the four refineries - two in Port Harcourt and one each in Warri and Kaduna - was taken after the red chamber deliberated extensively on a motion by Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi West.

Karimi’s motion was on the urgent need to investigate the various TAM projects of Nigerian refineries in order to uncover waste and forestall further waste of scarce public resources.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibirin, who presided over the plenary set up the committee after the Kogi West senator moved a motion to investigate the turnaround maintenance projects of Nigerian refineries to forestall waste of public resources.

Jibirin appointed the senator representing Kogi East, Isah Jibrin, as the committee chairman while the Chairmen of the Senate committees on petroleum resources downstream; upstream; gas; finance; appropriation, and public accounts are members.

The deputy senate president said those who had taken money meant for the TAM should be brought to book. He also directed that the committee should submit their findings to the Senate within four weeks.

The red chamber asked the ad hoc committee to investigate all contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of all state-owned refineries. It also asked the panel to ascertain progress on the ongoing works in all refineries in order to forestall waste and corruption.

The committee is also expected to interrogate the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), NNPCL, and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on the best approach to commercialise and ensure the profitability of the state-owned refineries.

Karimi, while moving his motion, lamented that state-owned refineries in Nigeria had been a serious drain pipe of public finance, depriving the citizens of the joy of being an oil-producing nation.

Backing his motion with figures, he said: “Between 2010 to date, Nigeria is estimated to have spent N11.35 trillion (N11,349,583,186,313.40), excluding other cost in other currencies, which include $592,976,050, €4,877,068.47 and £3,455,656.93, on renovation of refineries, yet they are unproductive.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has spent over N6 trillion between 2010 and 2023, on fuel subsidy due to Nigeria’s low refining capacity and has spent almost twice the amount on rehabilitating (TAM) projects on its refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri between 2010 and 2022.

“Despite the moribund state of the four refineries, the operating costs of the refineries between 2010 and 2020 is estimated at N4.8 trillion. The refineries are estimated to make a cumulative loss of N1.64 trillion within four years.”

Karimi explained: “The Federal Government of Nigeria has carried out rehabilitation projects in Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) over a period of seven years from 2013-2019 at an estimated

Akpabio cost of N12,161,237,811.61.

“In addition, on the 18th March 2021, a rehabilitation contract was executed between NNPC/PHRC and Tenenimont SPA at a lump sum of $1,397,000,000 only (about N75 billion amidst public criticism.

“The Phase 1 of the project is expected to be completed in 28 months after the contract, Phase 2 within 24 months, and Phase 3 within 44 months of execution.

Despite this, the Port Harcourt Refinery remains a money pit. Going by projections and representations from NNPCL, the renovation works ought to be completed and operations of the refinery commenced by June 2023.

“In a bid to revitalise the Warri Refinery, the federal government has injected huge public funds into revamping Warri Refinery & Petrochemical Company Limited to the tune of over N28,219,110,067.10 between 2014 and 2019.”

He added: “That particularly, around the 24 June 2022, the Federal Executive Council awarded Maintenance Services for Quick Fix Repairs of Warri Refinery to Daewoo Engineering and Construction Limited at $497, 328, 500, yet at the moment the Warri Refinery is inactive.

“This is different from the 2017 contract award to Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited for Tech Plant Survey of the Warri and Kaduna Refineries at 2,025,00.32 Euros.

Jibrin “The Kaduna Refinery and Petro-Chemical Company (KRPC) has over the past 10 years gulped N2,266,248,434 in the name of rehabilitation, yet the Refinery remains unproductive. The NNPCL approved a $741 million renovation deal with Daewoo Engineering and Construction Limited to renovate Kaduna Refinery in February 2023 and it is intended to restore the refinery to production of 110,000 barrels of petrol per day (at least 60 per cent capacity) by early 2024.”

In their various contributions, senators condemned those who ripped the nation of its scarce resources and vowed to bring them to book.

While this was going on, the House of Representatives on Wednesday also resolved to investigate all the financial interventions, amounting to over N7 trillion, in the power sector since its privatisation to ascertain whether the funds were judiciously utilised But those who have been following the probes initiated by the National Assembly since the enthronement of democracy with no result, believe that this is another jamboree that would lead to nowhere. They believe that most of the probes initiated by the National Assembly are opportunities for its members to extort money from the agencies they are investigating instead of digging into alleged malfeasance, mismanagement of funds and other infractions.

For instance, in less than three months, the 10th Assembly has launched over 50 probes to dig into alleged malfeasance, mismanagement of funds and other infractions by MDAs, directing either

standing or ad hoc committees to carry out the exercise within a time frame.

This has been the trend for ages, especially at the commencement of legislative sessions. But there are concerns about how much these series of unending probes, which often gulp billions of taxpayers’ funds to conduct, have achieved in saving the country’s wobbling economy through blockage of leakages and prosecution of corrupt officials.

Experience has shown that the noise emanating from these investigative hearings which often come with much drama and startling revelations of mind-blowing corruption, fizzle away after the initial media hype.

Despite the numerous probes, there is still endemic corruption being perpetrated in the system.

In the 9th Assembly, just like previous assemblies, hundreds of probes were carried out by both chambers but many of them were either not concluded or abandoned before the end of the life of the parliament.

However, a major setback for most of the probes is that the National Assembly lacks the constitutional power to prosecute erring officials. After investigations, the parliament often sends resolutions and recommendations to the executive for implementation. But it is at the discretion of the executive to implement such recommendations.

Analysts have said the constitutional provisions that make the implementation of the resolutions and recommendations made by the parliament non-binding on the government have only made it easy for agencies to disregard them.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 29,2023

36

INTERNATIONAL

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easefire is always a desire when there is a military lull or when international humanitarian law is recklessly violated. In the case of the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinian Hamas in Gaza, it is both a situation of military lull and reckless violation of international humanitarian law. On the one hand, the Hamas launched an attack on the Israelis on October 7, 2023 without any initial formal declaration of war, but apparently in the face of frustration. On the other hand, the Israelis see the attack as an unprovoked, particularly when considering the factors of immediacy.

In both cases, when looking at the distant causal factors of the Israelo-Arab conflict, the Hamas attack cannot be rightly considered by Israel as unprovoked, because the violent genesis dates back to 1948. The Israelis took the attack as unwarranted and therefore decided to retaliate by seeking to wipe out the Hamas organization, if not the whole people.

And true enough, Israel kept its promise to seek the destruction of the Gaza of Hamas. In the process, innocent civilians, non-combatants, children, etc. have been recklessly killed. The recklessness is partly explained by the non-limitation of their assaults on the military wing of the Hamas, the Qassam Brigade.

The Israelis have indiscriminately assaulted civilians, including internationally-protected people. In fact, more than 6,500 Palestinians have been killed. Al Jazeera Bureau Chief, Wael Dahdouh, was killed in an air raid, and, at least, 22 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the new conflict began on October 7, 2023.

The reckless killing has generated international outcries and unreserved condemnation. For instance, the international community has called for ceasefire, but this has been to no avail. Ceasefire, which is of Latin origin (cessare, meaning ‘go slow’or ‘leave’), is a situation of temporary non-fighting or cessation of hot battles.

It is about suspension of aggressive attacks. In fact, ceasefire is also written as two words,‘cease fire,’which explains the meaning better: ‘cease the fire.’ As one word, it is a noun, but when it is written as two words, ‘cease’ becomes a verb. The question in this case is who really wants ceasefire? Which type of ceasefire are we talking about when seeking to bring about a permanent end to a conflict? Can the 2-State approach to the conflict be helpful? Whatever is the case, the international politics of the conflict does not point to an enduring peace but to a potential mutual tolerance that will be predicated on strong suspicions.

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Israeli air raid on Gaza

International Politics: the Domestic Level The most critical problem in the misunderstanding between the Palestinian Arabs and the Israelis is how to achieve a permanent ceasefire. Ceasefire, as we noted earlier, can be temporary, but it can also be made permanent, in which case a ceasefire will no longer be a temporary suspension, but a total stoppage of hot battles, and therefore meaning a truce or armistice. Put differently, a permanent ceasefire should be fashioned after the principles of armistice which is an agreement generally done to stop armed hostilities permanently. When cessation of hostilities is partial or temporary, it is often considered local, and when cessation of hostilities is general, it is considered to be total. In the context of international politics, which type of ceasefire precisely does the international community want? What do the regional Member States in the Middle East want? Why is the world community not working towards adoption of an armistice as enshrined in the 1907 Hague Conference and as contained in The Hague Land War Regulations?

Indeed, international politics of the Israelo-Palestinian conflict deals basically with condemnation, calling for a ceasefire, ignoring the obligations created by international humanitarian law, and ultimately ending up doing nothing. Whenever there are serious violations of humanitarian law, especially by Israel, hardly was there anything done to bring Israel to book. Even at the level of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the politics of application of veto is such that Israel has never been allowed by the United States to be sanctioned.

Most Muslims in Nigeria appear to have sympathy for the Palestinians based on religious solidarity. The same is also true of most Christians in Nigeria as they give open support to Israel. But which foreign policy is more adaptable to global questions? Should religion be an issue in Nigeria’s foreign policy designs?

Shouldn’t Nigeria’s national interest be the compass of every foreign policy endeavor, particularly as it is the requirement for the application of the principle of non-alignment in Nigeria’s foreign relations?

And true enough, the conflict between the Gazans and the Israelis is not stricto sensu about religious dispute.

Arabs are generally Muslims and always seek to assist one another. It is this religious solidarity that is being brought into the Israelo-Gazan dispute equation and which gives the wrong impression of a religious colouration. Nigeria has always supported the Palestinians, not only straining diplomatic ties with Israel, but also allowing the Palestine Liberation Organisation to open an office in Nigeria. Consequently, Nigeria’s foreign policy of supporting fairness and justice, and urgent humanitarian pause in the ongoing conflict in Gaza is a most welcome development, especially that there is no longer any room for foreign policy strategic miscalculation under the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is now a tenured President of Nigeria and no longer under threat

“

“

This is one major reason for the recidivist character of the Israelo-Arab conflict. Apart from the license indirectly given by the United States to the Israelis to continue to engage in violent recklessness in its relationship with the Palestinian Arabs, the Arabs themselves also constitute another noisome problem. They often keep quiet in the face of many Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza.

One rationale for this cannot be separated from the fact of the division of the Palestinians against themselves. The Hamas, without any whiff of doubt, are also Palestinians.

However, following the 2007 elections, the Palestinian Authority refused to recognize the Hamas group. The Palestinians were sharply divided against themselves in terms of attitudinal dispositions towards the resolution of the conflict. This is why it is quite easy for the Israelis to argue that they are not against the Palestinians but against the Hamas. It is also for this same consideration that the US President Joe Biden can also afford the luxury of sustaining the argument that the Hamas are a group of terrorists and should be fought tooth and nail. The Israelis are being presented as children of God as if the Palestinians are not also creation of God. It is against this background that the politics of the conflict should be explained and understood.

There are four categories of politics-playing in the mat-

ter of the Israeli-Hamas conflict: Internal Israelo-Hamas politics, international politics in favour of the Israelis, international politics in favour of the Hamas, United Nations politics, and international wait-and-see politics.The politics-playing is essentially about shared sovereignty over Palestinian territory that was partitioned following the end of the British Mandate over Palestine in 1947 and also essentially about disregard for the internationally-protected people when there are situations of belligerency or shooting wars.

As regards the first category, Israel and Hamas, both people have different strategic objectives. Both of them have a policy of mutual annihilation. When the Jews declared a State of Israel in 1948, the Arabs adopted the policy of pushing the Israelis to the Sea, in other words, pushing them to die in the High Seas. In reaction, Israel could not have also wished the hostile Arabs what is worst. Consistent with this mutual policy of hatred, Israel does not believe that there could be any international humanitarian obligation that could be superior to the survival and self-preservation of the people of Israel. The Israelis simply want a State of Israel for the Jews.

In fact, Israel is hostile to having an Arab State as a contiguous neighbor.This is one major rationale for the difficulty in the proposed 2-Nation approach to the question. It is therefore not surprising that Israel has launched six major assaults on Gaza since the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Gaza in 2005, especially the 2012 assault in which the Chief of the Qassam Brigade, the military wing of the Hamas Organisation, was killed. More than 6,500 Palestinians have been killed, and for that matter, indiscriminately since the inception of the war on October 7. The family members of the Bureau Chief of the Al Jazeera’s in Gaza, Chief Wael Dahdouh, were killed during an Israeli air raid and while the Bureau Chief himself was actively engaged in covering the Israeli raid. In truth, not less than 22 journalists have been killed since the new war began.

And more importantly but disturbingly, the Israeli government has ordered more than 200,000 people in 105 communities near Gaza and Lebanon borders to evacuate. The Israeli government has also promised to pay 6,000 Shekels ($1,470) per month and per adult, as well as 3,000 Shekels per child for families who chose to evacuate independently or who cannot find a state-funded hotel room. All these measures are done within the framework of violations of international humanitarian obligations, especially bearing in mind that, for the first time in the anti-Gaza battles, tanks have been used.

At the level of the Hamas, in particular, and the Arab world, in general, the objective has shifted from pushing the Israelis to the Sea but to now have a convenient territory to exist in as a people for survival. Israel has made life very inclement in Gaza: it is total blockade. It is Israel that controls electricity and water supply and this is often done with the whims and caprices of the Israelis.

Even with the border with Egypt which escaping Palestinians still take advantage of, the survival of the Palestinians is still largely defined by and depends on the Israelis. It is therefore not a surprise if the Jordanian Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, has to warn the international community of the imminent consequences.

As warned by the Honourable Minister, Israel’s expanding ground operations ‘will be a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions for years watching every vote. History will judge.’The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has corroborated this observation. Mr. Phillipe Lazzarimi has noted in this regard that‘food and water are running out. The streets of Gaza have started overflowing with sewage. Gaza is on the brink of a massive health hazard as the risks of diseases are looming.’ And perhaps most importantly, he also said that ‘the last remaining public services are collapsing, our aid operation is crumbling and for the first time ever (our staff) report that people are now hungry.’

The warning by the UNRWA should also be seen against the background that Israel has not allowed the import of fuel into Gaza which the UN says is paralyzing its operations. In this regard, if Israel is blocking the inflow of aid to the Gazans, and the UNRWA is saying it might not be able to collect and distribute aid reaching Gaza, and by so doing warning that it will sooner than later begin to wind down, what purpose is international politics playing in the management of the conflict? This necessarily brings us to the international level of the politics. It is also against this background that the foreign policy implications should be discussed.

Global Level: the Foreign Policy Implications At the United Nations General Assembly, two draft resolutions, one proposed by Jordan and the other by Russia, both aimed at sustaining a humanitarian truce that could dovetail into cessation of the military hostilities, especially in light of Israel’s intransigence to expand its ground operations, were debated and voted for and against. 120 countries voted in favour and 14 countries against.

45 countries abstained. The United States and Israel expectedly voted against. In the eyes of the Israeli Ambassador to the UN, the resolution is nothing more than a passage of‘a day of infamy’ for the UNGA. As he further explained it,‘it is the duty of this body to call out murderous terrorists by name, not hide them behind empty words.’He even asked:‘why are you defending murderers?’

Whatever is the case, both resolutions failed because of US veto.

Austria, Hungary Marshall Islands, Fiji, Guatemala, Micronesia, Paraguay, Tonga, Croatia, Czechia and Tonga all voted against.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

37

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 29, 2023

ENGAGEMENTS

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

After Judgment Day

T

he subdued public anxiety over the final outcome of the 2023 presidential election petitions has ended.

Predictably, the Supreme Court has acted faithful to what has become its extant tradition. It has done the obvious and predictable. It simply just turned its back on the minutiae of evidence and went straight to ultimate classical jurisprudence. It simply avoided waste of time and reaffirmed the legitimacy of the incumbent sovereign order. While democracy feeds on the rule of law, order precedes law. The state must exist as an orderly sovereignty before we can all step forward to assert and claim our legal rights and citizen entitlements.

So, the argument goes, guarantee the legitimacy of the existing sovereignty according to law and let the nation move on.

Therefore, in affirming Mr. Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory, the Supreme Court side-stepped all the political and legal booby traps. In order to arrive at its verdict, it went the lazy route. It did not need to wade through a deluge of facts and figures all over again. The lower court has done that heavy lifting.

Supreme Courts are about the absolute principles of the law and justice. It is fair to assume that the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) has done all that. It just went straight to the domain of ultimate justice and constitutional finality.

In keeping with what has become its extant tradition, the Supreme Court, like all Supreme Courts, was doing the duty of national preservation. Any outcome that could undermine the incumbent order would inaugurate instant anarchy.

No need to go that route. Instead, it is safer to protect the fragile state and its democratic promise so that the aggrieved can fight another day in the future. Implicit in that verdict, the court had done some of the homework for Mr. Tinubu himself.

It would be foolish for him to ignore the contents of his opponents’ contentions. There was a bus load of problems with the 25th February presidential elections. Yes, there was rigging in abundance. There was voter intimidation. There was , in places, the invocation of primordial divisions to profile voters and deny them the franchise. INEC betrayed public confidence in its own impartiality. As an institution, it eroded its own confidence in its adopted BVAS technology. The technology itself exposed INEC’s own human frailties.

There was complicity on the part of some INEC and security agencies.

Some vote counts were dodgy at best just as the IReV reportedly uploaded pornographic images in place of election results in a few places! Admittedly, these grainy details were beneath the remit of a Supreme Court properly defined.

Mr. Tinubu would be missing the boat if he allows the euphoria and triumphalism of his judicial victory to shut his eyes to these pitfalls. They are the hard work that he needs to do in order to strengthen the foundations of Nigeria’s creaky democracy. His responsibility in that higher regard is above his own immediate personal benefit from the verdict of the Supreme Court.

Above all, the aftermath of the Supreme Court verdict places a reorientation burden on the Tinubu administration. The president must quickly retire and restrain his campaign ‘attack dogs’.

People like Fani-Kayode, having earned their copious keep, should go home and remain silent or only speak if they have something sensible to say. Similarly, Mr. Festus Keyamo should face the many challenges of our dying aviation sector and quit his insulting habit of abusing

Tinubu

his superiors. The Minister of Information and presidential spokespersons should now step forward and be the ones speaking for the government and the president.

Government must quickly exit the campaign propaganda mode and slide into a factual strict governance and accountability mode. Partisan affray is over.

Responsible governance is in.

The nation is no longer a political battlefield but an inclusive and united nation. We are all Nigerians now, not APC, PDP or Labour or whatever other partisan acronym there may be out there.

In a fragile polity such as ours, a hard fought and vicious presidential election campaign divides the nation. The mob sees political partisanship as warfare.

In the aftermath, the task in hand is to reunite the nation through acts of supreme statesmanship.

That is Tinubu’s task and the hour is now.

Above all else, Mr. Tinubu and his team have a nation to govern.

That nation is broken and bruised all over. Our nation is in economic ruin and social desperation.

Our people are in the depths of poverty and the edges of desperation and unparalleled distress.

The poor are merely holding on to a thin thread of survival.

A bad economy is at the risk of upturning the nation in violent protests. If the dam breaks, it will not be because of political

differences but a desperate urge to live.

Our insecurity remains unaddressed. In the words of Mr. Tinubu himself, “let the poor (majority) breathe.”

The task of rescuing the economy from collapse is urgent and demands our very best. Propaganda is no substitute for sound economic policy making. The current flip flop approach will not help.

Serious thinking by experts needs to replace sporadic guesswork and knee jerk actions. Sustainable social alleviation policies and sustainable programmes must now replace populist palliatives.

There is an obvious slide that Mr. Tinubu must halt. In the choice between running a slimmer government and a large one, our current situation should have dictated a choice for reduced government. Tinubu seems to have opted for a large government. A cabinet of 48 ministers with a reckless splintering up of ministries is hardly the way to go. Already the cost of government has been compounded by the inflationary trend sparked off by the devaluation of the Naira. Legislators and cabinet ministers are spending billions of Naira in new SUVs priced at stratospheric costs. Other costs are bound to ensue.

Foreign travels with large entourages of officialdom have taken place and may continue.

Most importantly, the politics of incumbency should not be used to undermine opposition political parties.

Political parties are institutions of the democratic state. Their health and competitive presence and virile existence is the highest indication that a democracy is alive and well. President Tinubu must resist the pressure from the hawks in

his ruling party and h is government to weaken or ‘kill’ the main opposition parties to strengthen his ruling party.

A predominance of an all conquering ruling party is a route to autocracy and absolutism. That will endanger democracy and further divide the nation along dangerous lines.

INEC must now discharge its constitutional responsibilities to the parties.

It needs to review their internal mechanisms and levels of compliance with the requirements of the electoral law. It must hold the parties to accountability for failings experienced during the last election season.

More crucially, the president must enlarge and expand his conception of the diversity of the nation. Reservations are currently being expressed about the increasing lopsidedness of his key appointments. That is negative and must stop and be quickly remedied. He must reach out and feel the pains of all sections and segments of the nation.

Acts of inclusive statesmanship have become imperative and urgent.

Although the apex court has ruled on the contentious presidential election, that verdict merely helps to calm the nerves of a troubled nation. It does not wipe away some of the reservations that informed the challenges of Tinubu’s election by the opposing parties. This is the time to soberly reflect on the pitfalls of that election. We need to see the task of perfecting our democracy as a national priority, one that transcends individual incumbents and their partisan affiliations. This is the hour to heal the nation. Nigerians are easily the best followers if they can find a capable, credible and visionary leadership. Reuniting the nation and giving it direction is a service to the nation as a perpetual patrimony.

The two most important contenders, Mr. Atiku Abubakar Our public deserves The two most important contenders in this race, Mr. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), have earned commendation as mature politicians and exemplary citizens.

They followed the path of legal redress in line with the laws of the land and the dictates of the rule of law. They meticulously followed due process and eschewed a recourse to violent alternatives in spite of public pressure from their followers and partisans. No one can underestimate their restraint on their followers in the aftermath of an election that was closely fought and fraught with heightened emotions. Their resolute commitment to democracy must be saluted and recommended to future aspirants to high public office.

In the overall calm disposition of our public to the verdict of the Supreme Court, we may be witnessing a gradual maturation of our public in their response to democratic outcomes. The implicit respect for judicial outcomes indicates a gradual absorption of the finer points of democratic culture. No effort should be spared in strengthening our fledgling democratic culture.

In a way, last Thursday was Judgment Day for Nigeria in many ways. For the political gladiators, it was judgment day as the end of their quest for legal justice over the 2023 presidential election. The road ends there. It time dust up and hang your gloves to fight another day perhaps in another four years. For the Nigerian judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, it was another judgment day, perhaps another squandered opportunity to assert some independence and reclaim its credibility in the eyes of the ordinary people. For the masses of ordinary Nigerians, this Judgment Day was yet another day to reconfirm our faith in our nation as a resilient and indestructible patrimony.

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • OCTOBER 29, 2023

38

B AC K PAG E C O N T I N UAT I O N PRAY, WHO WILL LOVE THIS COUNTRY? the GSPA. The officials had, not surprisingly, skewed the agreement against their own country. The MoU that transformed to the GSPA had been altered to give P&ID an incredible advantage over Nigeria.

In short, Nigerians worked against Nigeria. People who became billionaires courtesy of their “service” to Nigeria did not have any scruples betraying their fatherland. Pray, who will love this country?

The discoveries by the EFCC helped Nigeria enormously as Justice Ross Cranston of the English Commercial Court granted us respite in September 2019 — meaning the enforcement of the award was put on hold. Nigeria got an extension of time to challenge the decision of the arbitration tribunal based on previously undiscovered evidence of corrupt payments. The case was thereafter referred to trial before Justice Knowles. But there were more miracles on the way. During trial, it emerged that P&ID’s lawyers and officials were (unethically) in possession of several of Nigeria’s confidential internal legal documents, which gave away our strategies as well as our underbelly.

Nigerians!

Some Nigerian officials were actually selling out their country to P&ID by leaking these critical documents for a mess of pottage! Copies of the confidential documents ended up in P&ID’s custody the moment they were shared by government officials. That was an ultimate betrayal of fatherland, but this appears to be a culture in Nigeria. After all, in one of the American cables that were published by Wikileaks in 2009, an official of Shell boasted that within minutes of any decision being taken in Aso Rock Villa, the information was always leaked to them. Up till tomorrow, there are

Judases in the corridors of power. Their God is their bellies. Pray, who will love this country?

Things got better for Nigeria when it turned out that the evidence given to the arbitration tribunal

by Mr Michael Quinn, co-owner of P&ID, was full of lies. It is called perjury. Quinn, who died in 2015, had claimed that P&ID had already obtained finance for the project, that it had done 90 percent of the engineering design, and that it had expended $40 million before the default. In fact, the engineering design was not financed by P&ID. It was for another project and was unfit for the GPFs under the GSPA. And even though P&ID was allocated land for the project in Calabar, Cross River state, it didn’t pay for it and never acquired it. In essence, there were no processing facilities.

Justice Knowles, relying on section 68 of the English Arbitration Act 1996, said he was satisfied that the awards (liability and quantum) were obtained by fraud and contrary to public policy. He made some barely disguised uncomplimentary remarks about the arbitration tribunal. He wondered how the tribunal identified “the sequencing of obligations with the apparent confidence it did”. The tribunal had concluded that it was impossible for P&ID to build the GPFs when Nigeria had not made arrangement for gas supply — but ignored the reverse fact: could Nigeria have built a gas pipeline to GPFs that did not exist?

Clearly, both parties defaulted but the tribunal chose the sequence it liked.

P&ID had argued that “…any perjury that took place did not cause any substantial injustice within the meaning of s. 68 as it did not bring about the

Awards (or any of them)”. In his judgment, Justice Knowles said: “I respectfully disagree. The Awards were the result of the Arbitration that happened. There is no question to my mind that the Arbitration would have been completely different, and in ways strongly favourable to Nigeria, had the fact of bribery of Mrs Grace Taiga when the GSPA was being made been before the Tribunal. It would have brought in the issue [of] whether the GSPA was procured by fraud, and as a result voidable.” The tribunal had relied on Quinn’s perjured evidence.

With Knowles now setting aside the enforcement of the award, I would say the rest is formality. In deciding the way forward, he wants to listen to both sides. Section 68 gives three options: (1) remit the award to the tribunal, in whole or in part, for reconsideration; (2) set the award aside, in whole or in part; (3) declare the award of no effect, in whole or in part. Having fully established that the awards “were obtained by fraud” and were procured in a way “contrary to public policy”, Justice Knowles knows there is only one option left: to set it aside in whole. The foundation is fraudulent. The GSPA is a “poisonous tree” — as Americans call it — and its fruits are automatically poisonous.

I am taking many things away from this judgment.

First, this is good news for Nigeria. Many agreements are foisted on us by traitors who hope to benefit through judgment debts. Nigeria has now secured a leeway for judicial intervention over agreements obtained through corruption or under fishy circumstances.

This has raised my hope on the $2.3 billion arbitration filed against Nigeria by Sunrise Power over Mambilla

hydropower. How was the contract awarded a day after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had stepped down the memo? What work did Sunrise do? How could Sunrise have spent millions of dollars, as it claims, when its declared total assets was N1 million?

Second, government officials who collude to skew agreements against Nigeria should be on notice that even decades after — when they should be enjoying retirement and playing with their grandchildren and great grandchildren — they can be called upon to answer embarrassing questions. Nigeria is generally a society where there are no consequences for bad behaviour, but I am sure some of those called to answer questions on P&ID did not find it funny. A Pharoah who does not know Joseph will arise one day and the privileges and protections enjoyed by these Judases will be taken away. I hope traitors in Tinubu’s cabinet who are already cutting deals will understand this.

Finally, I am happy that there are still government officials who love Nigeria — never mind the sad tone of this article’s title. They could have colluded with P&ID agents, got the judgment arrested and shared from the blood money. It is easy to cite the example of how a whole former chief justice helped P&ID secure the award against his fatherland and conclude that every Nigerian is like that. But there are still a few people who do not worship money and would not sell out their country. They may not be in millions, as we wish, but they exist. I know some of them. No, they are not perfect. But, yes, they are decent. Their consciences are not so dead that they can no longer differentiate between what is haram and what is halal.

And this makes me believe Nigeria is not finished.

And Four Other Things…

SUPREME VERDICT For practical purposes, the 2023 presidential poll is finally over — with Thursday’s verdict by the Supreme Court affirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner. Some precedents have now been set. One, when it comes to the 25 percent threshold, FCT will be regarded as one of the states. Two, failure to use iRev does not invalidate an election. The court also ruled that any evidence that exists during trial cannot be introduced on appeal. It further ruled that only a certified true copy of a deposition is acceptable in court, and warned litigants against holding roadshows in a case that is sub judice. Not that there will now be peace, but at least this piece of business is concluded.

Officially.

REALITY BITES To put it mildly, Nigerians are having it rough.

Prices of goods and services are heading for the skies. The naira has continued its downward journey since the ill-thought-out and poorly implemented unification policy of the Tinubu administration. Things are all over the place. I admit that the current economic hardship is global — even rich countries are battling with the cost of living crisis. I also admit that the problems of Nigeria did not start today and we are partly paying for key decisions we failed to take years ago. But this only reinforces my point about election promises: anybody who claims to have a quick fix for Nigeria’s problems is lying. Things are simply too complicated. Reality.

LAW AND ORDER Abdulrasheed Bawa, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), have finally been released from DSS detention after several months. No matter what their perceived offences might be, there is no doubt that the government could have handled this matter much better than it did. If there were legal grounds to keep them for so long, the government should have made them clear to the public. Nigerians should not have been left guessing. This is a democracy and under no circumstances should we create the impression that our laws can be applied as government pleases. Imperative.

AND FINALLY… Whether we like it or not, our federal lawmakers will still buy the multibillion naira “committee cars”, although their monetised benefits already make provision for personal cars. I won’t be surprised if state lawmakers are also giving themselves a similar treat.

Those ones always get away with murder as we focus all our attention on Abuja. The choice of luxury cars, we are told by the lawmakers, is because they are durable — at a time millions of Nigerians are struggling to feed. Reminds me of what Senator Chuba Okadigbo said in 1999 when we complained about their (then) huge allowances: “We’re here to alleviate poverty, not spread it.” Someone will soon say the “good old days”. Nigeria!

such an outlandish ransom, they may have found themselves in the same place as the myriad other invisible contractors who all too often quietly take Nigeria for many millions in out of court settlements.

Sterner sanctions are indicated for Nigerian public officials who have been proven to connive with foreign criminals to defraud our country.

Nigeria has won this battle with corruption, but the war is far from over. As Justice Knowles concluded: “This case has also, sadly, brought together a combination of examples of what some individuals will do for

money. Driven by greed and prepared to use corruption; giving no thought to what their enrichment would mean in terms of harm for others. Others that in the present case include the people of Nigeria, already let down in so many ways over the history of this matter by a number of individuals in politics and administration whose duty it was to serve them and protect them.” Well said.

A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE a huge amount of evidence, not all of which Justice Knowles was to accept. But he agreed that P&ID had paid bribes. He agreed that one of P&ID’s founders had committed perjury. And he agreed that P&ID had somehow found in its possession a steady supply of Nigeria’s privileged internal legal documents, outlining our plans, strategies and problems.

My own view is that this whole, sorry affair shows how important it is to follow the legal process in resolving a dispute. It shows that given time and opportunity for each side to present their case, the temple of justice

can satisfactorily resolve all disputes without resort to extra-judicial measures. It was definitely worth the struggle: this was an attempted heist of historic proportions, an attempt to steal from the treasury a third of Nigeria’s foreign reserves.

But even at this moment, we should note what the English judge cautioned. The arbitration process in London “was a shell that got nowhere near the truth.” We need better contracts, in the public and private sector. And we need greater transparency: the reality is that, had P&ID not conjured up quite

•Buhari served as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2015-23

TINUBU AND THE URGENT CHALLENGE OF NATIONAL HEALING Fourth Republic, it is not entirely unprecedented in our experiment with presidentialism.

The 1979 presidential poll, our first, was actually more competitive, with the winning candidate securing only 33.77% of the votes cast and the other four candidates who participated in the election garnering 29.18%, 16.75%, 10.28% and 10.01% respectively. However, the major difference between 1979 and 2023 was the extent to which regions, ethnicity, religion and individual/group entitlements were crudely, openly and dangerously mobilised by the leading candidates for political gain during the 2023 election cycle.

For the sake of clarity, I want to underscore that ethnicity, religion and regions featured in the 1979 presidential election too. The three leading candidates represented the three of the four regions of the 1960s and the three major ethnic groups of the country (Alhaji Shehu Shagari, old Northern Region/Hausa-Fulani; Chief Obafemi Awolowo, old Western Region/Yoruba; and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, old Eastern Region/Igbo).

Two of the leading parties in 1979 presented same-faith tickets (Azikiwe/Professor Ishaya Audu for NPP and Awolowo/Chief Philip Umeadi for UPN) and one party actually presented a same faith and same-section combo (Awo and Umeadi were both Christians and both from the southern part of the country).

But these ordinarily combustible identity markers didn’t generate as much political heat or produce as much resonance with significant segments of the electorate in 1979 as they did with some voters 44 years later. To be sure, Awo and Zik enjoyed comprehensive home support in 1979 but Shagari of NPN was able to nick the presidency largely on the basis of the political spread of his party, even when he had to share sizeable portion of the north with two other strong northern candidates (Mallam Aminu Kano of PRP and Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim of GNPP who, respectively, polled 10.28% and 10.01%

of the total votes across the country).

After taking account of some positive outliers like youth, elite and urban revolt against the establishment, the 2023 electoral map is largely a religious/ethnic one.

The dark imprints of the following divisive tropes cannot be missed on the eventual outcome: ‘It is my turn’; ‘It is our turn’; ‘Your own is your own’; ‘Two Muslims are better than one’; ‘He is the candidate of the Church.’

Let’s be clear: these dangerous narratives did not create the growing cleavage in Nigeria. But they built on what already existed, amplifying and aggravating our national fault lines, and siring after-shocks that further threaten inter-group relations and put the projects of democracy and development in harm’s way.

Given how the election played out, whoever had emerged as the president out of the top three candidates would have had to deal, in different ways, with the negative legacies of the underhand campaigns of 2023.

Having been declared the president by the electoral commission and the courts, Tinubu (who, by the way, cannot successfully feign ignorance of or claim innocence in the deployment of divisive rhetoric and tactics to get to power) has the responsibility not only to fix this growing problem but also to prioritise it as the first order of business.

To be sure, there are other pressing challenges. For one, the economy has been south-bound, with negative implications for businesses, livelihoods, employment, productivity and poverty. It is not in doubt that Tinubu inherited an economy headed for a crash but was unsustainably propped up with high debts, artificial reserves, deceptive subsidies and unrealistic exchange rates.

However, Tinubu’s two signature interventions—petrol subsidy removal and floatation of the Naira—have introduced two devastating shocks in rapid succession.

It is clear that he and his team didn’t get the memo about the imperative of pacing reforms.

A majority of Nigerians, especially the poor, are currently reeling not just from the impacts of high petrol prices but also from the constant yo-yoing of the Naira, and the corresponding and almost daily spikes in prices. According to NBS figures, headline inflation and food inflation were 26.72% and 30.64% respectively in September 2023—and both are projected to rise even further. The only upside so far is the increase in government revenue, which is more likely to go into funding the profligacy of tone-deaf officials across the arms and tiers of government than in providing immediate relief to the hurting populace. The two reforms are now at risk. More and more Nigerians get pushed into and locked in the tunnel of penury.

Equally important, terrorists and sundry criminals have not stopped robbing, kidnapping, maiming and killing Nigerians across the country. The frequency and the magnitude might have reduced, but insecurity is still a major national challenge. We are still dealing with generalised insecurity, as every zone of the country is wrestling with one form of insecurity or the other. And insecurity imposes a grave cost on prices of goods, especially food, and on the quality of life and on life itself.

Addressing the economic meltdown and taming insecurity deserve all of the attention of the Tinubu administration. But focusing intensely on these two should not be at the expense of the equally important task of national reconciliation. Nigeria cannot make much progress without meaningfully addressing its growing division. The good book tells us that a house divided against itself cannot stand. This remains a truism.

Pursing good governance and advancing healing are not mutually exclusive. In actual fact, the latter reinforces the former.

It is important to look at both the immediate and remote causes of growing alienation in the country and to think about what should be done in terms of

symbolism and substance within different timeframes, especially in the immediate. In prioritising this stream of work, it will be necessary to acknowledge that diversity and difference are not the problem. The problem is at two levels: one, the mismanagement of diversity; and two, the twinning of identities with opportunities.

It is the mismanagement and the twinning that fuel alienation, and make difference politically mobilizable and potentially destructive. We need to deepen a sense of inclusion in our country and we need to ensure that some of our citizens stop feeling that they cannot realise their potentials and aspirations merely because of where they hail from and the God they worship.

It is also important to expand our conception of exclusion beyond just the ethnic, regional and religious.

We need to incorporate the generational and gender dimensions as well. And lastly, Tinubu needs to address how some of his actions and inactions in the last five months, especially his obviously lopsided appointments, have further reinforced the growing sense of alienation in some parts of the country and among some demographic groups.

He needs to make amends. He needs to proactively reach out and provide credible reassurance, not just with comforting words but through concrete deeds. He needs to make meaningful concessions. He needs to initiate reforms aimed furthering the cause of national accommodation and healing. He should not do these for political purposes or as a favour or to buy respite from his fiercest critics and implacable opponents. He should undertake this course of actions because they are the right things to do and the balm that Nigeria direly needs now. The commander-in-chief is also the healer-in-chief.

This is where Tinubu’s expressed commitment to be the president of all Nigerians, irrespective of what they think of him or how they voted, will be critically tested.

Will he pass the test?

39

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R OCTOBER 29, 2023

NEWS

I COME IN PEACE …

L-R: Member representing Federal Capital Territory in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibrahim Jisalo; his wife, Binta; and Acting Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Caroline Adepoju, when Jisalo visited NIS office in Abuja...yesterday

Supreme Court Ruling: Tinubu will Now Focus on Nigeria’s Challenges, Say Adeleke

Governor Eno pledges to work harmoniously with president Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has said it is time for President Bola Tinubu to focus on tackling Nigeria’s numerous challenges, following the affirmation of his election by the Supreme Court.

This is as Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, pledged his administration’s commitment to work harmoniously with President Tinubu following the affirmation of his victory in the presidential poll.

Adeleke said this in a statement

by Malam Olawale Rasheed, his spokesperson in Abuja.

He congratulated Tinubu for the affirmation saying it was time to come together for Nigeria.

“The governor made the congratulatory remarks in the presence of the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Folasade Ojo-Tinubu who was at Ede to attend the 8th Day Fidau prayer of the father of Osun State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Alhaji Wahab Ayofe,” he said.

He lauded the main opposi-

Combating Gender-based Violence will Help Nigeria Meet Devt Challenges, Says Lulu-Briggs Yinka Olatunbosun A leading industrialist and philanthropist, Dr Seinye LuluBriggs, has said that combating gender-based violence (GBV) and placing it at the core of its development agenda will help Nigeria meet growth challenges of the 21st century.

Citing a World Bank report that indicated how countries can only meet the development challenges of the 21st century with the full and equal participation of all male and female citizens, the philanthropist noted that reducing gender-based violence has to become a priority if Nigeria

would meet set targets.

Lulu-Briggs made this observation as the guest speaker at the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), Rivers State branch event organised to commemorate the 2023 Pan African Women’s Day and 16 Days of Activism to end gender-based violence in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, October 25.

At the event themed ‘African Women in the 21st Century: Challenges and Prospects’, her NGO, the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation received a Distinction Award for protecting the rights of women and children and selfless service to humanity.

World Polio Day: Total End of Polio in Sight in Nigeria, Says Rotary Governor Nigeria should be optimistic and hopeful that an end to polio is in sight, the District Governor (DG) of Rotary International in District 9125, Rtn. Sagab Ahmed Sani, has assured.

Ahmed said Rotary International aims to see a polio-free world with the efforts that began in the early 1980s with 200 endemic countries.

The District consists of all Clubs in 23 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to him, with Rotary’s Polio Eradication Initiative’s houseto-house campaign, a lot of ground has been covered in the endemic countries, except two.

He said only Afghanistan and Pakistan are still experiencing Wild

Polio Virus infection in the world.

He said: “A lot has really been achieved, we are saying now that 99.99 percent of polio has been eradicated around the world. Even in those two countries, we can see that polio is at the end “The government is heavily involved in the efforts. Governments of countries that have taken on the Polio Eradication Initiative that Rotary initiated and the government of Nigeria particularly has been doing well because all the main relevant government agencies have identified with it and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) is doing all it can to ensure that polio is eradicated,” he noted.

tion candidate in the election for deepening the country’s electoral jurisprudence by testing their complaints at the law court.

“Our judicial system has once again proven itself in tackling disputes that arise from our elections.

“On behalf of the good people of Osun, I congratulate President

Tinubu on his judicial victory at the apex court.

“It is my hope that your presidency will bring progress, unity, and prosperity to our nation, and I want to restate my commitment to partner you in offering good governance for our people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Eno of

Akwa Ibom State has pledged his administration’s commitment to work harmoniously with President Tinubu following his victory at the Supreme Court.

Eno penned the vow in a message yesterday to felicitate with the president on the final affirmation of his victory, saying the development ends the litiga-

tions that trailed the outcome of the February 25 elections.

He said though Akwa Ibom State government is led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there was need to connect with the All Progressives Congress (PDP)-led government at the centre to attract developments to his state.

Senate is Probing PIA Implementation, Says Lawmaker The Senate has mandated its Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Downstream and Gas to probe the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act regarding the potential exits of International Oil Companies from Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement from the Press Unit of the office of the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East, Aniekan Bassey.

According to the statement which was made available to our correspondent in Uyo,

Akwa Ibom State on yesterday, the development followed a motion brought before the Senate by the Akwa Ibom senator during Thursday’s plenary.

Bassey, in his motion titled “Urgent Need for Enquiry into Implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 with Regards to Potential Exit of International Oil Companies from Nigeria: Case of ExxonMobil in Akwa Ibom State,” prayed the Senate to get involved and salvage the

situation.

The senator expressed concern about “the potential adverse effects of the exit of ExxonMobil from Akwa Ibom State including high loss of jobs, exit of professionals and service companies from Akwa Ibom, loss of revenue as well as abandonment of certain yet to be satisfied obligations.”

He added that “the new company taking over the assets and liabilities of ExxonMobil may not have

sufficient capacity to successfully step into the ExxonMobil footprints and/ or muscle the pending obligations hitherto managed by ExxonMobil in the oil-producing states and host communities. For instance, where clean-up is required or where capital-intensive corporate responsibilities were commenced.”

He prayed the Senate “to get involved. The processes regarding the exit of ExxonMobil in Akwa Ibom State cannot be left in the hands of the NNPCL.

Why Africa Must Embrace Harm Reduction in Public Healthcare Policy Alex Enumah in Abuja The need for African leaders to embrace Harm Reduction in the initiation and implementation of public healthcare policies was a consensus of a gathering of healthcare practitioners and journalists from across Africa.

Besides, owing to the critical role communication play in behavioral change, journalists have been tasked to spread and deepen the gospel of harm

reduction both as a concept and practice.

Harm reduction is a new phenomenon which refers to interventions aimed at reducing the negative effects of health behaviours without necessarily extinguishing the problematic health behaviours entirely or permanently.

While the initiative is fully operational in some other continents of the world, in Africa, it still remains a challenge due

to misconception, religion and morality as well as absence of relevant and adequate research in Africa’s public healthcare sector.

Speaking at a two-day conference on Harm Reduction Exchange in Nairobi, Kenya, participants came to the conclusion that African governments must begin to look at and embrace other alternatives, besides stringent laws in tackling challenges of drugs and substance usage,

especially by adults.

Speaking during the third annual Harm Reduction Exchange themed: ‘Amplifying the voice of Harm Reduction advocacy across Africa’, the president of the African Medical Association and the Association of Medical Councils of Africa Dr. Kgosi Letlape challenged African governments to adopt harm reduction approaches when regulating public health challenges.

Third Mainland Bridge: Comprehensive Rehabilitation Begins November 1 The Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi, yesterday said comprehensive rehabilitation of the 11.8-kilometer Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos would begin on Nov. 1 for three months.

Umahi said this during an inspection of the under deck, lagoon sections of the Third Mainland Bridge, and other bridges.

Umahi, a team of engineers, directors of the Federal Ministry of Works, and journalists inspected the lagoon sections of the Third Mainland, Carter, Independence,

and Falomo Bridges.

Umahi also inspected the deteriorating Marina shoreline, the failing portions of the Five Cowries Bridge located inside Zone Two Police Headquarters in Onikan, Ijora Bridge, and Marina Bridge in Apapa.

He said the entire stretch of the Third Mainland Bridge would undergo total resurfacing with minimal discomfort to road users, and the repairs would be carried out by midnight during the weekend.

He said he inspected the top surface of the bridge on Friday before embarking on an inspection of the Lagoon portions.

The minister explained that patching various sections of the top surface of the bridge had led to undulating surfacing, which was not healthy for its safety, hence the need to remove and relay the entire asphaltic covering.

“We are going to mill out the excess asphalt and retain only two millimetres,” he said.

The minister said the proposed maintenance of Third Mainland Bridge, which would last three months was the first phase meant to secure the integrity as well as aesthetics of the upper deck components of the bridge.

He explained that the maintenance of the aesthetics would include the replacement of the railings, and the installation of solar-powered lights and CCTV cameras for optimal security of the bridge.

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Sunday 29 October, 2023

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MISSILE

Messing Tasew to Federal Government “At one point, the leadership of Nigeria Air, which doesn’t include Ethiopian Airlines, asked us to bring aircraft painted with Nigerian logo to facilitate the progress of the Air Operators’ Certificate... we took out one of our aircraft, painted it with Nigerian logo, and flew it for demonstration by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for their inspection. After two days, we brought back the aircraft, repainted it with Ethiopian logo and it is flying” – Ethiopian Airlines Managing Director, explaining their role in the ‘Air Nigeria’ launched by President Buhari in his last days in office.

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Pray, Who Will Love this Country?

P

hew, what an escape! Senior officials of the federal ministry of justice must be thanking their stars by now. As the Commercial Court of England and Wales prepared to deliver its verdict over whether or not to set aside the $11 billion arbitration award against Nigeria, agents of P&ID Ltd reportedly reached out to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to arrest the judgment and enter a settlement agreement. With the way the Nigeria legal team, led

by Mr Mark Howard KC, had argued its case before The Hon Mr Justice Robin Knowles — and with P&ID failing to dispute the corruption allegations or even prove the honesty of its witnesses — the pendulum was swinging our way.

It looked like a scenario of “all or nothing” for P&ID, with things tending towards nothing. The only way to get any monetary compensation was the mooted settlement agreement. The details were

not very clear but having initially proposed $2.5 billion in 2015 before agreeing to $850 million in the dying days of President Goodluck Jonathan’s government (before it was rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari), P&ID would expect a delicious figure from Tinubu. And the Nigerian traitors putting the agreement together were already calculating, as it were, their thirty pieces of silver. The settlement scam had almost been successfully sold to Tinubu. Pray, who will love this country?

In the absence of a substantive attorney-general, the lot fell on officials of the ministry of justice to give legal advice to the president on the proposed scam. They reportedly made a passionate case to the president that the judgment should not be arrested and that Nigeria had a solid chance of winning based on how the court proceedings went. Thankfully, Tinubu listened to them and made up his mind that P&ID should go to blazes, despite the pressure from the buccaneers. Now, just

imagine what would have happened to those ministry officials if Justice Knowles had ruled against us and upheld the $11 billion award. They would have been roasted, or, in the least, skinned alive.

To be honest, when I first read up on the P&ID award, my initial proposal was an out-of-court settlement. The case looked bad. I did not see a way out. Nigeria had entered into a gas supply and processing agreement (GSPA) with P&ID in January 2010 and defaulted. In my article, ‘That $9bn award against Nigeria’ (August 18, 2019), I argued that Nigeria could not hope to escape liability by claiming sovereignty. Such rights are waived when a sovereign entity enters into a business venture. The redeeming feature, I argued, was that P&ID itself did not fulfil its part of the GSPA: that is, to build a gas processing facilities (GPF). How could Nigeria have built a pipeline to an invisible GPF? After Nigeria repudiated the GSPA in August 2012 under a new government headed by Jonathan, P&ID

went to the London Court of International Arbitration and won two awards: one, affirming Nigeria’s liability; two, getting a final “quantum” fine of $6.6 billion plus seven percent interest — about $1 million a day — backdated to March 2013. Nigeria’s argument that P&ID did not do any work to warrant the $6.6 billion liability failed. Our position that Nigeria’s assets could not be “attached” because of its sovereignty did not hold water either — with Justice Christopher Butcher of the English Commercial Court ruling in August 2019 that P&ID could enforce the judgment.

At this stage, it had become hopeless based on available evidence. But God loves Nigeria.

An investigation ordered by Buhari and led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) uncovered several corrupt payments made

by P&ID to some Nigerian officials who worked on Continued on page 38

MUHAMMADUBUHARI A Matter of Principle GUEST COLUMNIST

R

arely in modern times can so few have tried to take so much from so many. If Nigeria had lost its arbitration dispute with Process & Industrial Development in a London court on 23 October, it would have cost our people close to USD15 billion.

We won, and all decent people can sleep easier as a result. Justice Robin Knowles said Nigeria had been the victim of a monstrous fraud. But it was a close-run thing. As the judge said: “I end the case acutely conscious of how readily the outcome could have been different, and of the enormous resources ultimately required from Nigeria as the successful

party to make good its challenge.”

But ordinary Nigerians never took the decisions that ended up before Justice Knowles. Had Nigeria lost, it would have required schools not to be built, nurses not to be trained and roads not to repaired, on an epic scale, to pay a handful of contractors, lawyers and their allies - for a project that never broke ground.

How did it get to this point? How did Nigeria prevail? Was this a one-off, or par for a shabby and distasteful course? What are the lessons for the future?

The ‘P&ID Affair’ was already firmly set by the time I came into office in 2015. A company registered in the British Virgin Islands that no one had heard of, with hardly any staff or assets, had won a contract

to build a gas processing plant in Cross Rivers. The company was owned by Irish intermediaries who knew Nigeria well and had done business in everything from healthcare to fixing tanks.

The previous government could not supply the gas. The plant was never built. Construction was not started. P&ID did not even buy the land for the facility.

But the contract, incredibly, was clear: P&ID could sue Nigeria, and claim all the profits it might have made over 20 years as if everything had been completed.

Nigeria was in court in London, trying to talk down liability and costs. Back at home, fixers were looking to work out a quiet settlement. This is often the way. A lot of contracts end up in dispute. P&ID

won a settlement in 2017 of USD6 billion, with compound interest. People, including out of work ex-British Cabinet Minister Priti Patel, were queuing up to insist we paid, or risk Nigeria becoming an untrustworthy trade pariah.

It was clear that far from the whole story had been told. I tasked Abba Kyari, my chief- of-staff and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, with finding a way, even at that late stage and despite so much conflicting advice, to get us a fair hearing. Working with a number of different agencies and senior officials of government, we began to find Continued on page 38

WAZIRIADIO POSTSCRIPT

Tinubu and the Urgent Challenge of National Healing

I

n a swift response to his victory at the Supreme Court on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu expressed, among others, a renewed commitment to serve all Nigerians irrespective of their political persuasions and electoral preferences. These are necessary and reassuring words. But the taste of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating.

Tinubu’s words and expressed commitments will be severely tested in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Given the peculiar temper of the 2023 presidential election, it can safely be projected that the unanimous verdict of the Supreme Court will not be enough for the political class and the electorate to unanimously draw the curtain on the fiercely and bitterly contested

poll. Some of the voters are likely to continue to contest Tinubu’s victory, his legitimacy and his qualification for the office. For various reasons, including early and consistent positioning for the next election, some of his main opponents will probably ramp up their campaign against him, and with their ardent supporters in tow, heckle and taunt him at every turn, and even make inflammatory statements.

If Tinubu expects a respite after the Supreme Court verdict, he is not likely to get any. Here’s where the test sneaks in.

Tinubu may be tempted to respond in two ways: one, lapse into a triumphalist mode; and two, return the favour, not just with words, but with the full weight

of the state. He should strongly resist both temptations.

Succumbing to these temptations will put the country in a perpetual campaign mode, generate needless heat and distractions, deepen bitterness, undermine freedoms, and lead to work avoidance. There is work to do. Plenty.

And there is little or no time.

And the main work of the moment is that of national healing. Tinubu needs to consciously pursue a programme of genuine national reconciliation. It should be said upfront that no matter what he does, he will not necessarily win everyone over. He should come to terms with the fact that some people will never accept him as their president and some can never stand his person and politics. But this should not stop him from

trying, and trying with all sincerity.

Today’s Nigeria is a country crying for healing. Our country is at present more divided than probably at any other point of its history, save for possibly the civil war and the June 12 eras. The principal task of reconciling the country with itself lies with the man at the helm.

One oft-quoted indicator of the growing division in the country is that almost two-thirds of those who voted in the 2023 presidential election did not vote for President Tinubu or any of his two main opponents.

But while this level of competition is alien to the Continued on page 38

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