SUNDAY 31TH OCTOBER 2021

ARISE NEWS Channel Holds Anambra Governorship Political Debate Tomorrow Supported by Enough-is-Enough, Nigeria Ejiofor Alike ARISE News Channel, in line with global standards will tomorrow host a first -of-its-kind -The ARISE NEWS Anambra Governorship Political Debate.

The debate, which is open to invited participation by leading candidates already cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC),

Will broadcast live in over 150 countries

Mr. Andy Uba; the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Chukwuma Soludo and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Continued on page 10

Soludo

Uba

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In Ordering Investigation, FG Denies Involvement in Raid on Justice Odili’s Residence Atiku, NBA, SANs, PANDEF, others seek prosecution of invaders Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha and Alex Enumah in Abuja The Attorney-General of the

Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), yesterday exonerated his ministry from the invasion of the residence

of a Supreme Court judge, Justice Mary Odili in Abuja, and ordered a full investigation into the matter.

Over 50 officers suspected

operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and members of the Joint Panel

Recovery unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice, had in Friday evening, invaded the house of the senior justice located at Imo

River Street, Maitama.

The security officials claimed Continued on page 5

In Plot to Retake Power in 2023, PDP Shows Strong Cohesion at National Convention

Prospects of southern presidential candidate brighten as Ayu emerges national chair Party inaugurates new NWC members December 9 Atiku, Tambuwal, Saraki’s loyalists flood venue with presidential campaign posters

Chuks Okocha in Abuja With the successful conduct of a peaceful convention and strong cohesion among its various organs and chieftains, the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday kicked off the process of retaking power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election.

The emergence of a former President of the Senate, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the new National Chairman of the party from the National Convention held yesterday in Abuja, has also brightened the prospects of southern Nigeria to produce the presidential candidate of the party in 2023.

At the Eagle Square, Abuja venue of the convention, party chieftains such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Chairman of the party’s Continued on page 6

PROMOTING LITERATURE… L-R: General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Nigeria LNG, Mrs. Eyono Fatayi-Williams; MD/CEO, Dr. Philip Mshelbila; Chairman, Board of Directors, His Royal Majesty Edmund M. Daukoru; Winner of the 2021 Nigeria Prize for Literature, Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia; Chairperson, Prize’s Advisory Board, Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo; members, Prof. Olu Obafemi and Prof. Ahmed Yerima, at the 2021 NLNG Grand Award Night in Lagos…yesterday

Siege By Insurgents, Bandits over, Osinbajo Declares Prophetically... Page 10

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ALL EYES ON 2023…

L-R: Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto); former Senate Presidents, Senator David Mark; and Senator Bukola Saraki, during the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, at the Eagle Square, Abuja… yesterday.

Ogoni Rejects Planned Pardon for Saro-Wiwa Opposes operation of OML 11 by Sahara Energy

Alex Enumah in Abuja The apex decision-making organ of the Ogoni people, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has rejected the planned pardon of the late Ogoni leader and sage, Mr. Ken Saro-Wiwa and others executed by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, in November 1995.

MOSOP insisted that the Ogoni heroes were innocent of the charge for which they were executed and should be exonerated.

It also opposed the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni, particularly by an indigenous firm, Sahara Energy.

Rising from a two-day meeting of the group’s executive Steering Committee in Port Harcourt on October 25 and 26, the group argued in its communiqué that their fallen heroes were innocent.

The communique was signed by the President and Publicity Secretary, Chief Nuyete Biira, and Publicity Secretary, Dr. Young Nkpah, respectively.

MOSOP called on the federal government to clear the names of her fallen heroes of culpability for murder.

“That Mr. President acknowledged rightly and described the processes and execution of the Ogoni activists as ‘unfortunate’ implies that the processes were not only flawed but ought not to have happened.

"The haste with which the execution was carried out even when the period of clemency has not elapsed and pleas from the international community ignored, expressed the bias of the then military government against our compatriots. Therefore, the best any civil government would do in this case is to clear their names by declaring them innocent and abolish the death penalty as practised in all civilised countries of the world".

While the committee commended President Muhammadu Buhari for committing to completing the Ogoni axis of the East-West Road, it urged Buhari to march this policy statement with action.

It also made a similar appeal to the president of the Federal University of Environmental Technology, Saakpenwaa, adding that the National Assembly should expedite action on the transmission of the bill to Mr. President.

The communique said that MOSOP would be setting up a technical committee that would carry out further and robust consultations with appropriate stakeholders in Ogoniland On the issue of oil exploration in Ogoniland, MOSOP insisted that before any exploration can resume in the area, the people must be consulted.

It said any attempt to resume oil exploration through the backdoor would be strongly resisted by the

people.

The communiqué read in part: "That while we are not opposed to the resumption of oil production in Ogoni, we are opposed to the primitive and conflict-laden approach

being adopted. We insist that for oil extraction to resume, it must be preceded by a broad-based consultation and agreements reached with the people".

The committee further said it

"rejects the confirmed understanding between NNPC, NPDC, and some top Abuja-based politicians and their collaborators to sublet OML 11 to Sahara Energy, which represents the economic interest of

the aforementioned groups.

"It vowed to mobilise the people to resist any attempt by any company to enter Ogoni through the back door to explore and exploit our oil and gas resources without our

social licence.

The committee maintained that for any discussion to commence, "the investor must be prepared to cede an acceptable percentage of its equity share to the Ogoni community".

IN ORDERING INVESTIGATION, FG DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN RAID ON JUSTICE ODILI’S RESIDENCE they were executing a court warrant to search the house.

The warrant was procured from the Federal Capital Territory Chief Magistrate Court by one CSP Lawrence Ajodo, who claimed to be attached to the Joint Panel Recovery of the Ministry of Justice.

But Chief Magistrate Emmanuel A. Iyanna had late Friday revoked the order of the court for the search of Odili’s residence, saying the order was based “upon misrepresentation” of facts.

Shortly after the invasion was made public, the anti-graft agency through its spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujiaren, denied the involvement of its operatives in the raid.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) yesterday condemned in strong terms the invasion and called for the investigation and subsequent prosecution of alleged perpetrators.

The NBA president Mr. Olumide Akpata specifically described the invasion of Justice Odili’s residence as an “affront” on the judiciary.

But Malami, in a statement by his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu said he "was not in any way connected with the fabrications and concocted lies linking him to the ensued imbroglio relating to news stories about the residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court; Justice Mary Odili".

He said the clarification to debunk the mischievous publication became imperative given the media hype and the dimension the story is taking.

"It is important to set the record straight that as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, Malami will not stoop too low to be associated with an apparent in-elegant and nasty court process on the strength of which the purported search warrant was procured", the statement read in part.

According to Malami, the media reports on the issue depict a too untidy process that could never emanate from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

"The general public needs to know that there was nothing called Joint Panel Recovery under the Ministry of Justice in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and by extension the entire Federal Ministry of Justice.

"What we have is Assets Recovery and Management Unit,

the mandate of which does not include stings operations," he said.

The minister maintained that numerous incongruities in the documents being circulated about the saga revealed traces of criminal actions with particular regards to: “The name as contained on the purported letter headed paper “Ghost’s Account For Local Whistle Blowers & Assets Tax Recovery Panel, the ambiguous reference to Ministry of Justice without clarifying as to whether it is Federal or State Ministry and of which state, the claimed office address which as revealed by the letter headed paper is not the address of the Federal Ministry of Justice and the email address used on the letter.”

According to the minister, all these deductions would have assisted a discerning mind to arrive at a reasonable conclusion of criminal undertones associated with the court process based on which the purported search warrant was procured.

The statement added that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had since reached out to the relevant authorities for an intensified wider investigation on the matter for necessary actions leading to the prosecution of anyone involved in the matter because the only names on record from the process filed in court are a purported police officer who claimed to be “O/C Assets Recovery Team” and one Aliyu Umar, a deponent in the affidavit.

"The claim of the Chief Magistrate as reported by a section of the media to the effect that he was being misled by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice into the issuance of the search warrant is equally forwarded to the relevant investigative agencies to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the purported association of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and which officer if any in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is associated with such claimed misrepresentation", he said.

The Chief Magistrate, Iyanna, had on Friday night revoked the search warrant, claiming he was misled by the government.

Iyanna had issued the search warrant on October 29, 2021, to the Joint Panel Recovery unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice to enable the panel to search Justice Peter-Odili's home.

One Lawrence Ajodo, a Chief Superintendent of Police, who was said to be a member of the panel had asked the court for the warrant to investigate alleged illegal activities reported to be taking place in the house by one whistleblower, Aliyu Umar.

The spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Wilson Uwujaren had on Friday distanced the agency from the invasion and advised members of the public to disregard any news to the contrary.

However, reacting to the situation via a statement yesterday, Akpata said the association will hold a meeting with heads of “relevant” security agencies to get more information on the issue.

He said the fact that the EFCC and Malami have denied their involvement in the operation, “suggests the inference that the residence of the second most senior judicial officer in Nigeria was raided by rogue security agencies”.

The association called on the federal government to ensure that all those responsible for this unfortunate incident are brought to book.

Atiku, Secondus, Kalu Condemn Invasion

Meanwhile, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and Chief Whip of the Senate, Chief Orji Kalu, have condemned the raid on Justice Odili’s residence.

A press statement issued by his media office quoted Atiku as saying that a continuation of the notorious behaviour of security operatives conducting a raid on residences of senior judicial officers negates the ideals of a democratic society and is an affront to the independence of the judiciary.

The statement called for an apology to Justice Mary Odili.

He also demanded a probe of the circumstances that led to the raid and sanction of those involved.

On his part, Secondus described the raid as a huge embarrassment and an insult to the judiciary.

He added that said nothing can explain the embarrassing act of the security operatives on a woman who has put in much in the service of her fatherland.

In a statement by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, Secondus called on the relevant authorities to come clean on what informed such ignoble

and dishonourable behaviour and render an unreserved apology to the judge and the judiciary.

Secondus frowned at the frequent harassment of the judiciary by the current administration, pointing out that it does not say good on the country’s democratic credentials and the respect for the doctrine of separation of power.

Similarly, Kalu described the invasion of the Abuja home of Justice Odili as a cruel, undemocratic, and uncivilised act.

Condemning the raid on justice's home, he called on the federal government to commence a full-scale investigation into the ugly incident, adding that the unwarranted invasion of the house of the judge was capable of causing tension in the country.

Kalu, who is a former governor of Abia State, stressed that in a democratic setup, the rule of law must be strictly adhered to for the sake of national progress and development.

While condemning the sad incident, he urged appropriate government agencies to discharge their duties and responsibilities in tandem with the constitution, noting that violation of human rights will set the country backward.

Equally adding its voice to the condemnation, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Hon Ken Robinson, said the raid, was not only crude and primitive but barbaric and dictatorial.

PANDEF submitted that the raid was another attempt by agents of the Buhari administration to further intimidate and humiliate the nation's judiciary.

It said: "And this one of such actions too many, against persons of Southern Extraction, particularly, persons from the South-South geopolitical Zone.

"PANDEF DEF recalls that it was in the same nefarious manner that the Abuja residence of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, was invaded in January 2019, which was considered by many as part of political machinations, leading to the 2019 General Elections. Justice Walter Onnoghen was later suspended, made to face a "kangaroo" trial over trumped-up charges, and was forced to retire.

"Earlier, in 2016, the DSS or SSS, in a Gestapo manner, raided the homes of John Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta, who is now deceased, alongside the residences of Adeniyi Ademola, and Nnamdi Dimgba of

the Federal High Court in Abuja".

PANDEF, therefore, called on all well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to rise in unison and condemn these atrocious actions against citizens by the federal government and its agents.

It also called on the International Community, especially the United Kingdom and the United States, not to remain indifferent to the oppressive actions of the Nigerian government against its citizens.

SANs Seek Prosecution of Invaders

On their part, some of the senior lawyers under the aegis of Concerned Senior Advocates of Nigeria of Southeastern Extraction, in a statement, described the raid as "another frontal attack on the independence and integrity of the judiciary".

The concerned SANs expressed worries that the action was part of a series of events aimed at systematically intimidating and emasculating the judiciary.

The position of the concerned SANs was made known in a statement signed by Professor Ilochi Okafor (SAN); Mr. Etigwe Uwa (SAN) and Mr. Chijioke Okoli (SAN).

While recalling similar raids by security operatives on the premises of some Justices of the Supreme Court in 2016, and residence of some Judges of the Federal High Court, in Abuja, they lamented that despite these security agencies publicly stating the raids were on mistaken identity of the premises, no one has been arrested and prosecuted for such brash criminal attack on the judiciary.

"We re-emphasise that it amounts to an executive infraction on the judicial independence to continue to harass, intimidate and humiliate judges. We want to further reiterate in clear terms that given the constitutionally guaranteed doctrine of the independence of the judiciary, no security agency or prosecuting authority in Nigeria has the power to investigate, arrest, or prosecute a sitting judicial officer without first referring the matter to the National Judicial Council, and await the directive of the council.

"We call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to immediately direct investigation of all security agents and other persons who played any role in this assault on the judiciary and any persons found culpable should be made to face the full wrath of the law", they said.

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INVESTITURE… L-R: First Vice President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Ken Opara; Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Kingsley Obiora; President, CIBN, Dr. Bayo Olugbemi; MD/ CEO, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Bello Hassan; and former Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, at the 2021 CIBN Fellowship Investiture in Lagos…weekend

Again, FG Extends NIN-SIM Verification Deadline to December Emma Okonji The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, yesterday conveyed the approval of the federal government to extend the deadline for the National Identity Number (NIN)Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification, from October 31, 2021 to December 31, 2021.

Pantami, in a statement jointly signed by the Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde and the Head, Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr. Kayode Adegoke, urged Nigerians and legal residents to complete the process before the

end of 2021.

According to Pantami, the decision to extend the deadline was due to the appeals by the Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders, for further extension to ensure better compliance with government’s directive and to avoid widening the digital divide.

He said the extension would also provide the enabling environment for the registration of Nigerians in remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, as well as foreigners, diplomatic missions, and those in other areas that were hitherto unreachable.

The minister added that the extension will also help to increase enrolments in countries with a

significant number of Nigerians.

Yesterday’s extension of the deadline was the ninth extension by the federal governmen since the directive on NIN-SIM verification and linkage was issued in December 2020.

Following the inability of Nigerians to meet up with the initial December 31, 2020 deadline, the federal government had continued to extend the deadline.

Giving the review of the progress of the NIN-SIM registration and verification exercise, Pantami said over 66 million unique National Identity Numbers (NIN) have been issued- an indication of progress achieved in the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage.

He however said a significant

part of the populace was yet to be registered into the National Identity Database (NIDB), which he said, may be due to some challenges which the federal government had looked into and had made efforts to alleviate, hence the need to extend the deadline.

“As of October 30, 2021, there were over 9,500 enrolment systems and over 8,000 NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country. This has significantly eased the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM. The NIN-SIM verification process is supporting the government’s drive to develop Nigeria’s digital economy, strengthen our ability to protect our cyberspace and support the security agencies.

“The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, has graciously approved the extension to accommodate the yearnings of the populace and make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country, and legal residents to obtain the NIN and link it with their SIM. The federal government will ensure that all innocent, law abiding citizens and residents will not lose access to their phone lines as long as they obtain and link their NIN. Government will also continue to provide an enabling environment for investors in the telecommunications sector,” Pantami explained in the statement.

“The unique 66 million NIN enrolments, with an average of three to four SIMs linked to the

NIN, is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the federal government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), to ensure the success of the project.

With the creation of additional NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country, and many more coming up, the remaining citizens and legal residents living in the country and the diaspora should be able to obtain their NINs and link them with their SIMs before the end of the year.”

Pantami therefore enjoined Nigerians and legal residents to make use of the opportunity of the extension to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs before the end of the year 2021.

IN PLOT TO RETAKE POWER IN 2023, PDP SHOWS STRONG COHESION AT NATIONAL CONVENTION convention committee and Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Ahmadu Fintiri; former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; and Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal spoke glowingly on the party’s chances to retake power in 2023.

The party affirmed Ayu; the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Daddy Anyanwu, and others as the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, who will be inaugurated on December 9 this year.

The main opposition party will also amend its constitution after the new Electoral Act is signed into law.

Chairman of the party’s convention committee and Governor of Adamawa State, Fintiri, who disclosed the affirmation yesterday at the venue of the convention, said the convention was aimed at rescuing Nigeria from the bad governance of the APC. Ayu and Anyanwu were affirmed as national chairman and national secretary following their nomination through consensus.

Ayu was nominated by the North-central, while Anyanwu was nominated by the Southeast and both candidates were unopposed at the convention.

As at press time last night, only two offices were being contested for at the convention, as other contestants for the position of National Auditor stepped down for Mr. Sam Ben Nwosu late last night.

The office of the Deputy National Chairman (South) was being contested by a former national secretary of PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and a former deputy national chairman

of the party in the South-west, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja.

The office of the Youth Leader was also being contested.

The zoning committee of the party headed by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State had zoned the office of the national chairman to the North.

Traditionally, when the national chairman emerges from the North, the presidential candidate of the party will emerge from the South and vice versa.

The emergence of Ayu from the North as the national chairman has raised hopes for a possible emergence of a southerner as the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 general election.

The development has also brightened the prospects of a southerner succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari as the APC is also favourably disposed to field a southern presidential candidate.

Governors Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State; Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State; Babagana Zulum of Borno State; Darius Ishaku of Taraba State; Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State; Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State – all elected on the platform of the ruling party, as well as Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State (PDP), among others, had all expressed their preference for power to shift to the South.

However, the venue of the PDP convention was flooded with the presidential campaign posters of a former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; former Vice President Atiku; former Senate President, Saraki; Bauchi State governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; his Sokoto State counterpart, Tambuwal, and former governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Muazu.

Meanwhile, Fintiri said that Ayu and other members of the PDP would be sworn in on December 9 this year, to enable the outgoing NWC members to complete their tenure of four years, having been elected and sworn in on December 9, 2017.

He said the party is aimed at rescuing Nigeria from the pangs of the maladministration it has been plunged into in the past few years.

Fintiri said since the APC was elected in 2015, the testimony of those who jumped into the party’s ship is a telltale of how things have worsened in the land.

“The political mutation of the party over the years has seen a few of foundational members veering off sometimes. The confessions of most of those who sojourned to any other party in the country are loaded with regrets. Most of them are lucky to stage a comeback and

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as a magnanimous family, we are always glad to receive them with all privileges, back into our folds.

“For those, who are still contemplating a return, but are held back by any other force less than Nigeria, I call on you to break the force and return to where you rightly belong. It is time to rescue Nigeria.

“This is a Nigeria rescue mission. This is the role PDP was invented to play.

“We have always been there for Nigeria at its perilous time of need. We are not just a vehicle for winning elections but a symbolism of a free, democratic, and prosperous Nigeria that works for every citizen. We have demonstrated our commitment to these time-tested ideals that Nigerians have every reason to trust us enough more than a contraption that was formed solely to win the election and

around the personal ambitions of certain individuals bereft of the knowledge of what to do with the victory,” Fintiri explained.

The Adawama State governor said Nigerians are yearning for the return of the party, particularly at the centre in 2023.

“That the people relish those golden moments when the PDP held sway at the centre is not in doubt. That citizens are yearning for the return of PDP at the centre as the 2023 elections draw nearer, is equally not in doubt.

“We, therefore have a duty not to disappoint our teeming supporters. We have to take back our country as we have always done. We have to save Nigeria. If we could force the country out of the clutches of the military, we can do this one huge task-push the people who don’t know the true definition of good governance and national co-existence out of power.

“This is a Nigeria rescue mission. This CONSENSUS LIST is the role PDP was Names Positions Status invented to play.

Dr. Iyorchia Ayu National Chairman Cleared “The 2021 national Amb. UmarIliya Damagum Deputy National Chairman (North) Cleared convention, presents Amb. Taofeek Arapaja Deputy National Chairman (South) Cleared a starting point for the Sen. Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu National Secretary Cleared Nigeria rescue mission,” Hon. Ahmed Yayari Mohammed National Treasurer Cleared he added.

Hon. Umar Bature National Organising Secretary Cleared He said that 34 Daniel Woyegikuro National Financial Secretary Cleared candidates indicated 7YVM :[LSSH ,ɈHO ([[VL 5H[PVUHS >VTLU»Z 3LHKLY *SLHYLK interests in various 4VOHTTLK 2HKHKL :\SLPTHU 5H[PVUHS @V\[O 3LHKLY *SLHYLK national positions in 2HTHSKLLU (KL`LTP (QPIHKL :(5 5H[PVUHS 3LNHS (K]PZLY *SLHYLK the party, out of which Hon. Debo Ologunagba National Publicity Secretary Cleared 28 were cleared, two Sam Ben Nwosu National Auditor Cleared withdrew voluntarily Hon. Arch. Setonji Koshoede Deputy National Secretary Cleared while four were 5K\IPZP ,ULO +H]PK +LW\[` 5H[PVUHS ;YLHZ\YLY *SLHYLK disqualified.

Fintiri said that there Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi Deputy National Publicity Secretary Cleared Chief Ighoyota Amori Deputy National Organising Secretary Cleared were 21 positions to be Hon. Adamu D.U. Kamale Deputy National Financial Secretary Cleared contested for and a total /HQHQH @HR\I\ >HURH +LW\[` 5H[PVUHS >VTLU»Z 3LHKLY *SLHYLK of 3,600 delegates to ;PTV[O` 6ZHKVSVY +LW\[` 5H[PVUHS @V\[O 3LHKLY *SLHYLK elect the officials.

According to him, 4Y 6RLJO\R^\ 6Z\VOH +LW\[` 5H[PVUHS 3LNHS (K]PZLY *SLHYLK Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed Deputy National Auditor Cleared “this convention will

also not allow us to make and adopt amendments to our constitution. This is because we are foreseeing a need for more amendments after the new Electoral Act passed by the National Assembly is signed into law.

“We are therefore deferring the votes on constitutional amendments to a special convention to be held on any convenient date to be decided by the NEC.” Earlier, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator. Enyinnaya Abaribe noted that Nigeria was going through difficult moments.

On his part, the outgoing national secretary of PDP, Senator Umar Tsuari said that the party encountered several challenges during their tenure.

Also speaking, the acting national chairman of the party, Mr. Yemi Akinwonmi, called on party members to “come together, bury our personal, individual and collective differences and put PDP and the interest of Nigeria above any consideration.”

In his speech, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu described the convention of the party as the engine for a new beginning He said Nigerians are yearning for freedom from the suppressive, incompetent, cold-blooded, arrogant, treasury looting and anti-people APC.

We Have a Chance to Set the Ship Aright, Says Atiku

Addressing the delegates and party officials, former Vice President Atiku charged all Nigerians to take the opportunity Continued on page 8

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ARISE WOMEN… L-R: Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Ibiyemi Bello; Wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazaq; Host, Convener Arise Women, Mrs. Siju Iluyomade; Wife of Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat; and Iyalode of Lagos, Hajia Binta Fatimah Tinubu, during the 13th Arise Women Conference in Lagos…yesterday

FG to Supply More Equipment to Military Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Minister of Defence, Maj. General Bashir Magashi (rtd), yesterday expressed the determination of the federal government to supply more equipment and logistics to the military for operational enhancement as they combat terrorism and insurgency in the North-east.

The Nigerian Army had on Thursday taken delivery of 60 newly acquired Tracked Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) manufactured in China

by NORINCO to be deployed to the war theatre.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Faruk Yahaya, inaugurated the 60 armoured carriers at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, Kaduna State.

Yahaya, who was represented by the Commander, Infantry Corps, Maj. Gen. Victor Ezugwu stated that the armoured vehicles were designed to tackle the security challenges facing the nation.

The army chief affirmed that the equipment underscored the strategic resolve to ensure that normalcy is restored across the country.

The minister gave the as-

surance during an operational assessment visit of the Joint Task Force Headquarters’ Theatre Command Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri.

A statement issued by the Nigerian Army Headquarters said the minister expressed the government's commitment to providing the necessary resources to bring hostilities to an end in the North-east.

It said the minister "assured troops of Joint Task Force North-east Operation Hadin Kai of supply of more equipment and logistics for operational enhancement, as they combat terrorism and insurgency in north east Nigeria.

"We are fully committed to providing all the necessary resources to enable you to do your job professionally to the best of your ability.

"We have all seen your commitment and we are proud of you", he said.

Magashi expressed optimism that victory was in sight, stating that with sustained determination and commitment, the insurgency would be brought to an end.

He commended the overall performance of the Nigerian

Northern States Owe NECO N2.8bn in Unpaid Examination Fees Dipo Laleye in Minna Northern states’ governments are indebted to the National Examinations Council (NECO) to the tune of N2.8 billion, Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, has said.

Wushishi appealed to the governors of the northern states to, as a matter of urgency, meet their obligations by settling their debts to enable NECO to diligently discharge its responsibilities.

“State governments offer to pay examination fees for candidates from their states but when it comes to the actual payment, they don’t do it, and that has strapped NECO. “Zamfara, Adamawa, Kano, Gombe, Borno and Niger state governments are owing to the examination body N1.8 billion debt for the students they registered in 2019”, Wushishi told journalists in

Minna, yesterday.

He lamented that most of the states owing the council a lot of money were yet to remit to it, even when the examination body had not withheld the results of the defaulting states in the spirit of mutual respect, togetherness, and understanding.

According to him, the council had engaged the affected states in dialogue towards the amicable resolution of the matter.

Wushishi reminded the defaulting states that it was with this money that NECO paid the staff involved in carrying out the examinations, in addition to buying needed materials for the smooth conduct of the Senior Secondary School Examination.

He, therefore, appealed to the governors of the Northern states to, as a matter of urgency, pay their debts to enable NECO to diligently discharge its responsibilities.

military in the fight against insurgency in the North-east.

Speaking further, the minister, who was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, Service Chiefs, and the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), disclosed that they were in the theatre to jointly assess ongo-

ing operations and facilitate the progress of other operations across the country for security, peace, and development.

The minister commended President Muhammadu Buhari for providing requisite logistics support to prosecute the war against insurgency in the North-east.

"We are fully committed to providing all the necessary resources to enable you to do your job professionally to the best of your ability. We have all seen your commitment and we are proud of you".

Operational briefs were presented by the Theatre Commander OPHK, Major

General Christopher Musa, and the Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

The minister also commissioned a set of twin buildings, newly constructed as transit accommodation for officers of Headquarters Joint Task Force North East OPHK.

Army Eliminates Four IPOB Fighters Who Killed DSS Officers in Anambra State police command arrests top ESN commander, recover six rifles David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of four fighters of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who killed officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Anambra State.

The Anambra State Police Command has also arrested a top member of IPOB, who also commands ESN. Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu announced the elimination of the four fighters in a statement issued yesterday.

He disclosed that troops of 82 Division conducting Exercise GOLDEN DAWN neutralized the ESN operatives in a gun battle on Friday evening at Nnobi Junction in Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.

Nwachukwu said the operation followed the attack on personnel of security agencies deployed at Ekwulobia Roundabout in Aguata Local Government Area.

The ESN fighters were alleged to have ambushed, shot, and killed two DSS officers.

Nwachukwu recalled that after the attack, troops swiftly mobilised to the scene and embarked on the pursuit of the criminals along Nnewi – Nnobi road.

The soldiers made contact with the fleeing gunmen, engaged them, and killed four. Several weapons and items were recovered.

These include two AK-47 Rifles, one GALIL Ace 5.56 x 45 Iwi Gun, one Avofeng Handheld radio, and one Black Highlander jeep.

He also said that troops foiled another attack by IPOB ESN at Umunze checkpoint, in Orumba South Local Government Area.

According to him, the troops overwhelmed the secessionists in the shootout that ensued, forcing them to take to their heels.

The gang abandoned one Pump

Action gun with nine cartridges, one dark blue Ford vehicle, and four motorcycles.

The Nigerian Army condemned the attempt by IPOB ESN to instil fear “and sabotage forthcoming Anambra governorship election”.

“Members of the public are reassured that the Nigerian Army, sister services and other security agencies will not relent in confronting all criminals intents against the citizenry and national interest”, Nwachukwu added.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command has arrested a top member of IPOB, who also commands its militant wing, the ESN. The commander was arrested yesterday in Ekwukobia in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the ESN operative, who has a bullet wound, was arrested in his house after a tip-off to the police by concerned individuals.

There was a gun battle between security agents and gunmen in Ekwulobia on Friday, in which there were casualties on both sides, with many of the gunmen said to have escaped with bullet wounds.

The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga could not confirm the arrest of the ESN operative, as his phone could not be reached, but a senior police officer confirmed the arrest.

The senior police officer who preferred not to be named said: “One Udebuan Sage Chubueze ‘M’, a top Commander of IPOB/ESN

was arrested today (Saturday).

“The suspect was arrested with a gunshot injury on 29th October 2021. A search was conducted in his house at Ekwulobia and Nnewi where four AK-47, two automatic pump-action, and ammunition were recovered.

“The suspect confessed to have led several attacks on police facilities and responsible for the killings of several policemen and Naval personnel. We commend this breakthrough as this will further weaken the strength of IPOB/ESN against the security men,” he said.

He also said that investigation has begun, adding that the arrested operatives have been making useful confessions to security agents that can aid the arrest of his colleagues.

IN PLOT TO RETAKE POWER IN 2023, PDP SHOWS STRONG COHESION AT NATIONAL CONVENTION presented by the PDP to set Nigeria aright.

He said that the convention is an opportunity to make decisions that would shape the future of the party for the benefit of all Nigerians.

Atiku said Nigeria was passing through the most difficult period of its existence, saying that he is over 70 years and had never seen the country in such a shape.

He said there was so much insecurity and social tension which were threatening the unity and corporate existence of the country.

PDP is Winning Despite Distractions, Says Tambuwal

Also speaking at the convention, the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Sokoto State,

Tambuwal expressed optimism that the party is set to reclaim its glory.

According to Tambuwal, despite the antics of detractors to roll back the 16 years' impressive credentials of the party, the party is still at the forefront and endearing.

“Analysts and observers agreed that there are attempts to scuttle our unity as a party and as a people. People are working to present us as weak and in disarray.

“But I am happy to report that contrary to the naysayers the PDP is today the strongest and most cohesive party in Nigeria.

“I am happy to report that those who want to divide and weaken us are the ones failing and we are winning,” Tambuwal told a joyous and tumultuous crowd.

Anyim Declares Interest for 2023 Presidency

Meanwhile, a former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has declared that he will contest for the office of the President in 2023, no matter any zoning arrangement by the PDP. Speaking to journalists in Abuja yesterday, Anyim noted that his ambition would not be tied to the zoning of the presidency to the South-east by the party.

“We presently have less than 18 months to the next elections and I feel the time was ripe to indicate my interest.”

He noted that the zoning committee constituted by the party was only saddled with zoning party positions and not elective positions ahead of 2023.

“Zoning of such positions was deferred but nothing stops anyone from the South-east zone from contesting the presidency even if it was not zoned to it,” he added.

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Siege By Insurgents, Bandits over, Osinbajo Declares Prophetically Nigeria to join global action against terrorism financing Ejiofor Alike Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State capital, joined the Plateau State Governor, Hon. Simon Lalong and other clergymen to declare prophetically that the siege of banditry, insurgency and kidnapping was over.

Osinbajo made the declaration in his message to the annual thanksgiving service of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Plateau State Chapter.

This is coming as the federal government has expressed commitment to enlist its membership of the global Financial Action Task Force on money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.

The theme of the PFN’s thanksgiving is: “It is good to give thanks unto the Lord.’’

The vice president urged Christians to always speak blessings to Nigeria.

“The word of God reminds us

that the glory of the later temple shall be greater than the former.

“The Church of God is coming to a season of greater glory; of peace and of victory, and you are coming to a time of elevation and victory in Jesus name.

“The Church of God is coming to a new season; a new season of glory, a new season of victory; we have seen that time; we have seen it and it is before us; and it shall be so in the name of Jesus.

“Let us repeat three times: `the siege is over; the siege is over; the siege is over; in Jesus Mighty name, Amen,’’ the vice-president prayed.

In his goodwill message, Lalong thanked the vice-president for attending the event.

The governor prayed that peace be restored to Nigeria.

He prayed God to expedite the end of the siege of evil forces on Nigeria.

In his exhortation, the National President, PFN, Bishop Wale Oke,

thanked God for being merciful to Nigeria.

According to him, it is a good thing to give thanks to God. “In times of our pains, we come to God; prayer is the solution; we can’t stop praying until we achieve the Nigeria of our dreams.

“I want to prophesy; Nigeria, the siege is over; whether it is the siege of banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram or others,’’ he prayed.

Earlier in his address of welcome, Chairman, Plateau Chapter, PFN, Rev. Stephen Dangana, thanked the vice-president for the value and honour he attached to the occasion.

He said that that irrespective

of circumstances confronting the nation, thanks should be given to God. Meanwhile, the federal government has expressed commitment to enlist its membership of the global Financial Action Task Force on money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.

The government said the measure aimed to address the challenges of money laundering and terrorism financing in the country.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, (SAN), according to a statement issued yesterday by his Special

Assistant (Media and Public Relations), Dr. Umar Gwandu, expressed the commitment during a virtual Extraordinary Ministerial Committee Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa.

The FATF monitors 39 membercountries to ensure full and effective implementation of its standards thereby holding nations that do not comply accountable.

Malami said Nigeria’s Financial Intelligence Unit has issued Executive Alert to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the implementation of the Action Plan on Nigeria.

The minister appreciated FATF, GIABA and member states of GIABA for reviewing and adopting the just concluded 2nd Mutual Evaluation Report of Nigeria.

The statement said: “He assured the member-states that Nigeria is willing and ready with highlevel commitment in addressing money laundering and terrorism financing in order to have a stable and peaceful nation.

“He added that where the implementation process and follow-up evaluation on the MER is concluded, Nigeria further requests the support of GIABA to commence the application for membership into FATF.”

ARISE NEWS CHANNEL HOLDS ANAMBRA GOVERNORSHIP POLITICAL DEBATE TOMORROW Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, is slated to hold tomorrow, November 1, 2021 in Anambra State.

Supported by Enough-isEnough, Nigeria, the debate will be broadcast LIVE around Nigeria and the world on the ARISE NEWS Channel and the Anambra Broadcasting Service Radio and TV as well as the Ogene FM. According to a statement by the management of ARISE NEWS Channel, the programme will also be live in over 150 countries.

It will also be available on all Social Platforms between 12 (Noon) and 3pm and to be anchored by multiple awards winning duo of Reuben Abati and Ngozi Alaegbu. During the debate, candidates are expected to show clearly how they understand the

plight of Anambra people and to provide solutions to issues of the day, including unemployment, security, economy, education, health, infrastructure and poverty.

ARISE News Channel is currently viewed in over 150 countries and territories, including the United Kingdom, West, East and Central Europe, Middle East, North Africa and the United States, telling global stories from an African perspective; compelling stories and experiences of underserved communities especially of the African people around the world.

“In Nigeria and Africa you can watch on DSTV Channel 416, and GoTV Channel 44. And in Europe of the Sky Platforms Channel 519.

Please check local listings,” the statement added.

AFRICAN ISSUES ON THEIR MINDS… Director General, World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (left), and President of Rwanda, Mr. Paul Kagame, during their meeting on vaccine manufacturing in Africa on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ meeting in Rome…weekend

Cooking Gas Price Indexed to International Pricing Model, Says NLNG Hike in price may hamper cleaner environment plan, ERA insists Gboyega Akinsanmi in Lagos, Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Following worries over the hike in the price of cooking gas, the Nigeria LNG has explained that the price of the domestic fuel is indexed to the international pricing model.

The price of 12.5 kilogrammes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), better known as cooking gas has averagely risen from N4,039 to N8,260 across all major cities in the federation between October 2020 and October 2021, representing an increase by more than 105 per cent, a price survey by THISDAY has revealed.

The price hike within a timeframe of 12 months, has caused a profound distortion in household budgets across all strata of the population.

The NLNG has however denied being responsible for the supply shortfall, insisting that the price of domestic cooking gas is indexed to the international pricing model.

Following the increasing switchover to the use of dirty fuels such as coal and firewood, the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN) said if the hike in cooking gas price is not addressed, the attainment of a clean and green environment would be a mirage.

Currently, Nigeria consumes about 1.2metric tonnes (MT) of LPG, also known as cooking gas.

However, the NLNG can only meet 450,000mt of the market requirements, leaving marketers to import the remaining 750,000mt.

Apparently, with the deficit of 750,000mt, the price of cooking gas

has been on the steady increase across all states of the federations since 2020 while the federal government has not been able to intervene decisively to cushion its effects on household budgets.

Apart from the deficit, the price disruption had been attributed to unavailability of foreign exchange for importation, naira depreciation, rising inflation, arbitrary charges by government agencies of the federal government, and implementation of 7.5 per cent Valued Added Tax (VAT).

In Lagos metropolis, for instance, 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas sold for N3,700 in most gas stations in October 2020, is being sold for N7,500 in October 2021, accounting for 102.7 per cent within one year.

The same quantity of cooking gas, which cost N4,500 in Federal Capital Territory in October 2020, is now sold for N8,500, representing an increase of 88.89 per cent.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, also, the survey revealed that 12.5kg cooking price across major stations was N3,440 in October 2020 and N7,250 penultimate week, indicating a 110.75 per cent increase.

Across the South-west states, 12.5kg cooking gas price increased by 122.2 per cent in Abeokuta, Ogun State; 110.5 per cent in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State; 132 per cent in Akure, Ondo State, and 94.44 per cent in Osogbo, putting pressure on household budgets.

Also, most gas stations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State sold 12.5 kg cooking gas at N3,500 in October 2020, and N7,800 in October 2021, representing a 122.85 per cent hike.

In October 2020, as shown in the price survey, most gas stations in Warri, Delta State retailed 12.5kg

cooking gas price at N3,600 but the price has since soared by 142.85 per cent, bringing the price to N8,500.

Within the same timeframe, the retail price of 12.5kg cooking gas rose by 100 per cent in Asaba, Delta State; 62.5 percent in Calabar in Cross Rivers State; 166.67 percent in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; 100 per cent in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, and 134.37 per cent in Benin City, Edo State.

In the case of Kaduna, also, the retail price of 12.5kg stood averagely at N3,500 in October 2020 across the metropolis, though rose significantly to N8,000 in October 2021 by 128.5 per cent.

Similarly, in Kano, the price maintained almost the same trajectory as 12.5kg cooking gas valued at about N3,700 in October 2020.

However, the same quantity now averagely costs N7,500, representing an increase of 102.7 per cent with the same timeframe.

In North-west, the price surged by 100 per cent in Sokoto; 50 per cent in Katsina; 87.5 per cent in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State; 105.25 in Dutse, Jigawa State and 100 per cent in Gusau, Zamfara State.

Compared with its retailing value standing at N3,750 per 12.5kg in October 2020, as shown in the survey, Bauchi in North-east recorded a price escalation of 150 per cent increase by October 2021 as cooking gas now cost N9,375 per 12.5kg.

In Yola, Adamawa State, however, the price trend was marginally lower when compared with price status in Bauchi. From N3,500 in October 2020, the price of 12.5kg cooking gas rose to N7,800 in October 2021, which accounted for a 122.85 per cent increase.

In North-east, largely, Gombe

recorded a 100 per cent price increase; Jalingo in Taraba State 73.9 per cent; Damaturu in Yobe State 112.5 per cent; Maiduguri in Borno State 97.67 per cent and Potiskum in Yobe State 112.5 percent.

In Onitsha, Anambra State, major stations retailed 12.5kg cooking gas at N4,000 in October 2020, and N9,000 in October 2021, representing an increase of 125 per cent.

In October 2020, the trend was relatively similar in Enugu with 12.5kg cooking gas price selling for N3,900 in October 202, and N8,700 during the period under review, representing a 123 per cent hike.

The trend was similar in other major cities in South-east as Aba in Abia State recorded a 134.28 per cent increase in the prices of 12.5kg cooking gas; 125 per cent in Awka in Anambra State; 100 per cent in Abakaliki in Ebonyi State and 89.13 per cent in Owerri, Imo State.

In the case of Minna, Niger State, the cooking gas price recorded a significant increase of 157.14 per cent, rising to N9,000 from N3,500 between October 2020 and October 2021.

In Ilorin, Kwara State, it rose from N3,250 to N7,350 during the period under review, indicating a 126.15 per cent hike.

In Jos, Plateau State, it rose from N4,000 in October 2020 to N8,200 in October 2021, increasing by 105 per cent.

The price also rose by 97.67 per cent in Makurdi, Benue State; 22.82 per cent in Lafia in Nasarawa, and 166.67 per cent in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Concerned about the price hike, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Association of LPG Marketers, Mr. Bassey Essien

blamed the federal government, citing the frustration experienced by the LPG marketers in accessing foreign exchange and the impact of the implementation of 7.5 per cent VAT, among others, as the major factors fueling the price escalation.

The executive secretary, therefore, noted that the federal government and people in authority “are not sincere with the populace, hence the carefree attitude.”

NLNG, in a statement by its General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Eyono Fatayi-Williams, and Head, Media Relations and Corporate Communications, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, claimed that it was inaccurate to state that NLNG produces 22 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of cooking gas.

The gas conglomerate clarified that it “is primarily an export company that produces 22 mtpa MTPA of LNG and 5 mtpa of Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs).

It disputed claims that NLNG contributed “to the supply shortfall of cooking gas in Nigeria and consequent price hike.

The price of LPG in the domestic market is dependent on several market factors, including the forces of demand and supply.”

On the supply side, according to the statement, NLNG plays a pivotal role in the Nigerian domestic LPG market in line with the commitment it made to help deepen the market.

The statement pointed out that the company recently increased the volume of its annual commitment to the market from 350,000 to 450,000 metric tonnes, which is about 100 percent of its Butane production.

It said: “Butane gas is less volatile and is, therefore, suitable

for cooking. By committing 100 per cent of its Butane production, NLNG has prioritised the domestic market, thus realising its domestic supply target safely.

“NLNG’s current maximum Butane production meets about 40 per cent of domestic demand.

The balance is supplied by other domestic producers or via imports.

Therefore, NLNG’s production alone is not sufficient.

“To achieve its aspiration for domestic supply, a dedicated 13,000 metric ton vessel, LPG Alfred Temile, delivers the product to the market through Lagos and Port Harcourt terminals.

“The vessel’s delivery to these terminals is occasionally hampered by challenges at the terminal, including storage capacity, terminal access, draft restrictions, and prioritisation of other products over LPG,” NLNG explained in its two-page statement.

The company buttressed the position of the marketers that cooking gas “is most competitive compared to all other alternatives (imported and domestic supply).”

NLNG, therefore, claimed that it had initiated a new drive towards deepening the domestic LPG market in line with its vision of helping to build a better Nigeria.

It added that the company is optimistic that the eventual completion of its Train 7 Project would further deepen the domestic LPG market.

Warning the federal government on the implication of the price hike, Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN) said if not addressed, it would hamper the drive for a clean environment.

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EDITORIAL

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

SUDAN AND THE HARVEST OF MILITARY COUPS The coups bode ill for the democratisation process in Africa

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udan’s history since independence in 1956 has been that of spells of democratic rule punctuated by coups and military autocracies that were also interrupted by fickle revolutions. Last Monday’s coup is precisely along this pattern. Following sustained popular protests in major cities especially the capital, Khartoum, Jihadist despot, Omar al-Bashir was toppled two years ago. Sensing the increasing popularity of that revolution, the military clamped down on protesters with the attendant loss of many lives. Under the guise of wanting to restore order, the military staged a coup to neutralise the revolt of the masses.

After weeks of a dangerous war of nerves between the military and the civil society, a political compromise was reached. A transitional power sharing government was formed consisting of civilian ministers under a Prime Minister, Hamdalla Hamdok, and top army generals led

by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan as Chairman of the Sovereign Council. The mandate of the council was limited to chaperoning a transition back to civilian democracy in a process that was meant to end in 2023 with elections beginning in 2022 .

While it lasted, there were fears that the more prominent militar y officers in the power sharing arrangement were perennially distrustful of their civilian counterparts. They feared that in the event of a slip in their hold on power, they too could go the way of al-Bashir with the prospects of being handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for trial for sundr y human rights abuses. It was therefore a matter of time before the militar y half of the Sovereign Council ousted the civilians. That is exactly what the latest coup is all about.

Although the militar y usurpers have insist-

ed that they remain committed to a transition to civil democracy by 2023, doubts abound that Sudan may have entered a new season of the familiar turnstile tradition of militar y coups. Meanwhile, the street protests that greeted the coup are continuing despite the brutal militar y clampdown. How such heavy-handed authoritarianism can be expected to lead to a return to democracy remains a matter of wild speculation.

The international response to the new situation in Sudan has been predictable.

The African Union (AU) has suspended Sudan. The World Bank has frozen draw-down on approved aid just as the United States and the European Union have held back on assistance to Sudan. It remains uncertain what position China and Russia will take but it is expected to be contrar y to what the West has done or said. For the rest of Africa, the fear is becoming increasingly palpable that the coup culture which ravaged the continent from the1960s to the 1980s is fast creeping back. Mali has witnessed two coups in less than five years. One each has occurred in Chad and Guinea. Attempts in Niger Republic failed.

For the rest of Africa, the fear is becoming increasingly palpable that the coup culture which ravaged the continent from the1960s to the 1980s is fast creeping back

Letters to the Editor

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

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

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combination of jihadism, increasing poverty and hunger plus climate change have been blamed for the discontentment that has bred most of these coups on the continent.

There is also a growing resistance to cynical attempts by elected presidents to elongate their terms through dubious constitutional amendments. Sadly, the universal condemnation of coups has been tempered by the reluctance of powerful states to sanction the generals who stage them. In the specific instance of the Sudan, there is a fear that the instability in the country could fuel wider military face-off between the country and its neighbors. Its relations with Ethiopia remain charged as troop presence along the border has been escalated in recent weeks.

Overall, these power grabs bode ill for the democratisation process in Africa in the past two decades and a minus for economic development on the continent. It is therefore expected that the opposition of the AU to this new development on the continent would be more spirited and stouter. We also urge the United Nations to adopt a more pointed attitude of opposition to the new coup culture before it overruns the modest progress of democracy in the great majority of African countries.

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

NIGERIA AND THE CIVIL SERVICE CULTURE

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t is not difficult to spot and the items are as diverse as the problems which plague government work in Nigeria: there are plantain chips; there are clothes; there is always powder of indeterminate origins, tightly sealed in containers.

Those who sell them are Nigerian civil servants. They sit behind their desks, countenances inscrutable, tight smiles escaping only to greet those who have greased their palms in the past, and most nonchalantly, they attend to their duties.

Most times, English, Nigeria`s official language, is jettisoned for the familiarity of native tongues and with the flight of language comes the replacement of competence with nonchalance, and even apathy.

Even before Nigeria`s death dance with unemployment

became more feverish, the government was the biggest employer of labour in the country.

At the federal, state and local government levels, government employment ensures that millions of Nigerians are able to take home one form of pay cheque or the other at the end of the month. It has been heart-warming to note that in most cases, working for the government guarantees that when age and the passage of time conspire to guarantee that one is unable to work no more, some form of support by way of pension and its appurtenances await.

It is sobering that over the years, workers, especially in some states and local governments have experienced the excruciating agony of working for months without being paid their salaries. Those workers, many of whom are breadwinners in large families, are often left at

the mercy of corrupt and clueless state and local governments who because they shockingly fail to get their priorities right put others through inexcusable difficulties.

There is an unavoidable question of what the civil service in Nigeria has become. For one, the assurance of monthly salaries keeps the ghosts of uncertainty away. There is at least the guarantee that at the end of the month, there is something to take home.

But with this guarantee has come the emergence of comfort zones where some civil servants feel they can do whatever they want with little or no consequence; there is the generally poor disposition to work; then there is the hydra-headed corruption that waltz through the civil service like a colony of termites chewing through a wooden edifice. Collapse is usually only a

matter of time.

Corruption has become an existential problem in Nigeria, and a lot of it is found in the civil service. It manifests in the varying sums patrons of government services have to part with to move their files from desk to desk; it manifests in the kickbacks civil servants draw off the back of bloated government contracts; it manifests in the shabbiness with which government services are dispensed. This is in spite of the fact that one always has to pay through the nose for them.

Nigeria`s institutional corruption has not existed in a vacuum all these years.

It is reposed in those who man these institutions. In this wise, wherever one turns to in the country, corruption has a foot soldier. The net effect is a gradual but granite disintegration of Nigeria`s core values and institutions.

Because nothing has worked in the country for many years, those who occupy public offices and those who

work in the civil service take to their jobs with as much apathy as they can summon. There is a pervasive culture of nonchalance which when combined with the invidious corruption in the country has reduced almost everything to dust.

There is in place in Nigeria`s civil service a work ethic that is difficult to describe as anything other than poor.

This is a fallout from the pervasive culture that emphasizes nothing other than benefits even undeserved ones as well as pointing out many sharp corners and washing away the consequences for cutting them.

As Nigeria continues to nurse a long-drawn dream for economic prosperity and efficiency, Nigerian civil servants must examine themselves and the manner in which they work. To move the country forward, they must ensure that they are free of blame.

Kene Obiezu, Abuja

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NEWS

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

Again, Fresh Crisis Tears APC Apart in Delta, Oyo Omo-Agege accused of planning to hijack party Omodewu emerges Oyo chairman amid protest Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan Fresh crisis has hit the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta and Oyo States, forcing prominent leaders in the two chapters to constitute parallel executive committees.

While the new parallel executive committee in Delta State accused the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie OmoAgege of attempt to hijack the party, four of the seven members in the committee in Oyo State opted out of the assignment and hurriedly returned to Abuja.

Unlike the case of Delta State, a former Commissioner for Lands and Housing in Oyo State, Mr. Ajiboye Omodewu controversially emerged the Chairman of Oyo APC after the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) deferred it by a fortnight.

A new executive committee emerged in Asaba, Delta State Friday due to factional leaders ascribed to attempt to hijack the party in the state by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

Findings revealed that the parallel executive committee emerged to pilot the party following the decision of its key leaders to distance themselves from the October 16 state congress of the APC held in Asaba.

The October 16 congress produced a former chieftain of

People Democratic Party (PDP), Omeni Sobotie as the Chairman of Delta APC alongside other officers chosen by voice affirmation.

Among others, Omo-Agege, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi and founding leader of Delta APC, Olorigun O’tega Emerhor spearheaded the exercise, which further complicated crisis in the party chapter.

However, a reconciliation committee of the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun Committee initiated by the national leadership of the APC Friday announced what it termed “authentic harmonised executive members at the ward, local government and state levels to run the affairs of the party in the state.

The council said in a statement that Delta APC executive officers include a lawyer, Mr Silas Buowe as Chairman; Mr Elvis O. Ayomanor, (Deputy Chairman); and Comrade Chidi Okonji as Soon, among other positions.

The statement was signed

by Chairman of the Leaders’ Council and Minister of State (Labour), Chief Festus Keyamo (SAN), Dr. Alex Ideh, co-Chairman; Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Secretary and former executive director, NDDC; 2019 APC governorship candidate, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru as well as former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Ochei, who is currently

Executive Director, NIMASA; and, Dr. (Mrs) Mariam Ali, foremost national woman leader of the APC. Other signatories to the document are Mr George Timinimi (Leader, Ijaw Nation); Chief Richard Odibo, Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission; retired AVM Terry Okorodudu (Leader Delta South); Dr. Eugene Okolocha (Leader, Ndokwa Nation); and, Hon. JoelOnowakpo Thomas, Leader Isoko

Nation, former Isoko APC House of Representatives Candidate.

In line with the Constitution of the APC and guidelines for the 2021 congresses stipulated consensus amongst party stakeholders, the statement said: “The Delta APC Council of Leaders resolved to release a harmonised list of state executive members who shall be recognised by all APC faithful in the State and will run the affairs of the Party henceforth.”

This, according to the state-

ment, came to be having met severally to consider the various and diverse interests within the party and after consulting widely with other stakeholders adding that the new state executive would work with the existing local government and ward executives already in place.

The council members hinted that they were not unaware of a few leaders who refused to join the arrangement of the council put together by the Congress and Extraordinary Conversation Planning

Committee (CECPC) of the party and who decided to be part of a one-man-show.

In a veiled reference to the members of the Omo-Agege faction, the council said their positions and spaces within the Council of Leaders “are still open anytime they are done with their solo runs.”

The new executive committee is coming on the heels a blanket rejection of different congresses of the APC in Delta State held under the leadership of Senator Omo-Agege.

REWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR… Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Abolade Adeniji; Guest Lecturer and Dean, College of Humanities, Tai Solarin University of Education, Prof.

Rasheed Ajetunmobi; Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University, Prof. Tayo Ajayi and Head of Department, History and International Studies LASU, Dr. Adewunmi Falode, at the presentation of a plaque to Ajetunmobi during the department’s first distinguished lecture series at the Makanjuola Lecture Theatre, LASU, Lagos…weekend

Four Students of Kaduna Baptist Students Still in Captivity, CAN Laments John Shiklam in Kaduna The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State, yesterday challenged well meaning Nigerians to help secure the release of the remaining four students of Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna.

The association noted that despite different security measures put forward by the

Kaduna State Government, four of the 121 students of Bethel Baptist High kidnapped three months “are still in captivity.”

The Chairman of Kaduna CAN, Rev. Joseph Hayab expressed these concerns yesterday in a statement, lamenting the plight of the kidnapped students in captivity.

On July 5, bandits invaded the school, abducting 121 students.

The bandits have been releasing the students in batches, with parents paying fresh ransom for each batch of students released.

So far, four batches of students, totalling 117, have been released from the captivity including those who escaped. But four are still in captivity. A total of over N200 million has been paid as ransom to the bandits before the students were released.

In his statement yesterday,

Hayab expressed sadness that the students “are still held in the captivity of bandits since their abduction over three months ago.

“It is sad to again remind us that despite different security measures put forward by the government in Kaduna state, our children of Bethel Baptist High School who were kidnapped since July 5 at the school premises in Damishi Kaduna have not all yet been released.”

“Parents, relations, school management and church leaders are worried about the condition of the four students. We have prayed and we are still praying.

“We have appealed and cried out to government and those who we thought are responsible for the security of our nation, but the journey to freedom for these children has been with a speed of a snail.

“CAN Kaduna state therefore,

wish to let Nigerians know that we still have four of our school children in captivity.

“The pains and trauma their parents are going through can not be described. We must not forget these children and we are pleading with all spirited Nigerians to join us to appeal to those concerned or do anything they can to help bring the four remaining children back home”, he said.

Court Detains Ship, 29 Suspects for Importing Cocaine

Greater Lagos Fiesta Commences December 1 Despite COVID-19 Regulations

Rite Foods Asks Court to Convict NBC MD for Flouting Injunction

Wale Igbitade

Sunday Ehigiator

Wale Igbintade

A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for the interim attachment of a vessel, MV Cha Yanee Naree used to import 32.9 kilogrammes of cocaine into Nigeria through the Apapa Port in Lagos.

Beside the attachment order, the court also granted NDLEA’s request to detain the Master of the ship, Mr. Tanahan Krilerk and 21 foreign crew members as well as seven Nigerians arrested in connection to the case.

The anti-narcotic agency had on October 13 intercepted the ship at the Apapa Port following intelligence from international partners and support from other security forces such as the Nigerian Navy, Customs, Department of State Services (DSS) and the police.

A thorough search of the ship led to the recovery of 30 parcels containing cocaine, which weighed 32.9kg.

Investigations into the seizure have been yielding more arrests of suspected local collaborators, as a result of which the Chairman/Chief Executive of the agency, Brig.

Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) directed that an application be sought to attach the ship and detain the suspects for two weeks pending the conclusion of investigation and filing of criminal charges against suspects in court.

The application in suit no: FHC/L/CS/1518/2021, which was filed by the agency’s Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Joseph Nbone Sunday on Thursday, October 28, was granted on Friday, October 29

by Justice A.O. Awogboro.

The Lagos State Government yesterday disclosed its resolve to commence its Greater Lagos Fiesta December 1 despite protocols and regulations put in place to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

The state government justified its decision to hold the fiesta on the need to promote arts, culture, entertainment and tourism in the state, stating that the fiesta would last for 31 days.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Yussuf made this disclosure at the official unveiling of the 2021 Greater Lagos Fiesta held on Victoria Island, Lagos yesterday.

Formerly called ‘The Lagos countdown’ and ‘One Lagos fiesta’, Greater Lagos Fiesta is an annual event held to showcase the peculiarities of Lagos state, especially as it relates to

entertainment, fashion, food, cultural diversity, sports among others, while also exploring its economic opportunities.

The 2021 edition, tagged, ‘Lagos Rocks’, was scheduled to commence from December 1 to 31 with a line-up of activities to excite its residents At the unveiling, Yussuf noted that the fiesta was in continuation of the state’s efforts to meet the yearnings of fun loving public, while also fulfilling the mandate of entertainment and tourism pillar of the current administration.

She said: “Having recorded an impressive success in the fight against the COVID-19 between 2020 and now, the state government has approved the gradual return of normalcy to the entertainment scene amidst adherence to all necessary safety protocols that will help us keep the virus at bay.

Rite Foods Limited has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to convict the Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), Mr. Mathieu Seguin for alleged flagrant disobedience to an order issued by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.

The beverage company made this prayer in an application filed by its counsel, Muyiwa Ogungbenro at the resumed hearing on October 27.

Failure to obey the court order as directed by the judge implies that the party, who fails to obey it is in contempt of court, and this offence can be punishable with a fine or imprisonment.

At the hearing, Ogungbenro prayed the court to convict NBC’s managing director for failure to appear before the court, after months before the interim injunction was set aside

by Justice Aneke The counsel argued that since the case had been transferred to Allagoa’s court, there was a need for a hearing convicting NBC’s managing director on the premise that the alleged contemnor should have been punished before the contempt proceedings were set aside, taking into consideration the long period before the motion was discharged.

In its application for committal, Rite Foods through its counsel asked the court to commit the contemnors to purge themselves of the contempt of court.

According to the firm, NBC and its managing director are restrained from promoting or using any material for its Predator energy drink in a manner that infringes or passes off Rite Foods’ Fearless energy drinks.

14

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 31, 2021

OPINION

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU: THE GREAT MODERNISER OF INDIA Nehru ensured that India remained secular, writes Rajendra Aneja

P

andit Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India after independence, laid the foundation of a modern nation. He focused on industrial development, science and technology and reviving rural India. The various states in the country, were woven into a Republic.

A Constitution was adopted on 26 January 1950. Pandit Nehru had strong faith in parliamentary democracy. He believed in consultation and consensus. He tried to carry the opposition leaders with the government on key issues.

Nehru managed India for 17 years after independence.

He has always been highly respected and revered, not merely in India, but also globally. Nehru won serious admiration for his efforts to ensure global peace. President Dwight Eisenhower wrote him a letter dated 27 November 1958, saying, “Universally you are recognised as one of the most powerful influences for peace and conciliation in the world. I believe that because you are a world leader for peace in your individual capacity, as well as a representative of the largest neutral nation.”

Educated in England at Harrow School, Trinity College, Cambridge, he became a barrister and practised at the Inner Temple. He could have had a flourishing legal practice, yet he chucked it aside and immersed himself fully in the freedom struggle of India.

Nehru became the right man, the “go-to man” for Mahatma Gandhi. He led the various, non-violent agitations and “satyagrahas” (civil resistance) in the cities, streets and villages. Nehru was imprisoned nine times by the British Government. He spent 3,259 days in prison, which is almost 10 years of his life. However, he remained undaunted in his quest for India’s independence. He represented Gandhi and India in the negotiations with the British, for the freedom of the country.

After becoming the Prime Minister, Nehru laid a strong foundation of democratic institutions in the country. India was a poor country at the time of independence. Pandit Nehru realised that to propel the country forward it would be necessary to modernise rapidly. Very wisely he evolved the concept of a “mixed economy”, whereby the public and private sectors would play a parallel role in development.

He comprehended that investments in infrastructure industries like steel, coal, railways coaches, electric power, would yield profits only gradually. So, projects like dams, roadways, etc., which had long gestation periods, were spearheaded by the public sector. Consumer products like

automobiles, two-wheelers, textiles, foods, were left open to the private sector.

Indian agriculture went through a metamorphosis during Nehru’s era. Agricultural universities were established in many states, to focus on augmenting food production. These universities researched high-yielding seeds and mechanisms to boost production. High-yielding varieties of wheat and rice were being studied in Mexico and Philippines. Punjab state ushered a Green revolution in India, leading to increases in crop production.

Nehru also evolved and advocated the policy of “nonalignment” and peaceful co-existence. After the end of World War II, the world was ruptured by the Cold war between the Western bloc lead by the USA and the Eastern bloc led by the USSR. Most countries aligned with one of the two groups to receive foreign aid and military assistance. Nehru kept India away from global tensions and focused on economic and social development.

Nehru ensured that India remained secular. He realised that India was home to Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists. Jains, etc. With his modern, western exposure in his youth, he realised it would be perilous to have a state religion.

Thus, secularism was enshrined in the Constitution of India, to ensure that all religions coexist peacefully.

The policy of secularism, has paid rich dividends in India.

Temples, mosques and churches coexist next to each other in every village and town. Citizens of all religions work in the government, armed forces, police, etc. Government recruitments are based on competitive examinations. The public and private sector companies recruit on merit and not religion. Secularism has laid the foundation of a strong India.

Nehru was a learned and widely read person. He is the author of many widely read books. His books like Glimpses of World History, An Autobiography, Letters from a Father to a Daughter, Discovery of India, etc., reveal his astonishing

Nehru’s focus on parliamentary democracy, secularism, science, technology, infrastructure development, have applicability even now, in developing countries in Asia and Africa

knowledge and deep understanding of international history and cultures. Nehru was very refined and cultured.

He spoke Hindi and English fluently. He was always dressed impeccably.

Nehru was an immensely popular Prime Minister. He was respected for his integrity, wisdom and his pivotal role in the freedom struggle. Whenever he travelled to any town or village, thousands of people would flock the roads and streets to greet him. His fan-following was much more than that of any movie-star or a rock-star.

Nehru was India.

Whenever Nehru visited Bombay (now Mumbai), in the 1950s, he invariably addressed a public meeting, at the iconic Shivaji Park, in Dadar. The enormous park overflowed with people. I would accompany my father, to listen to Nehru’s speeches, even when I was only 10 years old. Nehru would explain the policies of the government, in simple, elementary language, so that even children could understand him. I also remember his motorcade passing several times through Gokhale Road, where I lived. The footpaths were jammed with people, waiting to see and wave to him. Police held back the frenzied fans.

Nehru travelled in an open-top car. He waved untiringly to the people.

Nehru connected spontaneously with Indians of all walks of life. Decades of working with Indians, during the freedom struggle had endeared him to his countrymen.

He understood and empathised with them. Nehru also knew rural India.

Nehru loved India passionately. He loved its people, mountains, rivers. After he passed away, his ashes were scattered across India to merge with its soil and seas, according to his wish.

Winston Churchill said in 1955, “Nehru is the light of Asia, and a greater light than Gautama Buddha”. This is an exquisite tribute, to a great believer of peaceful coexistence.

Nehru’s focus on parliamentary democracy, secularism, science, technology, infrastructure development, have applicability even now, in developing countries in Asia and Africa.

– Aneja was the Managing Director of Unilever Tanzania. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and the author of books entitled, “Rural Marketing across Countries and “Business Express”.

He is a Management Consultant.

SOLUDO, CENTRAL POLITICS AND THE REST OF US Chuks Iloegbunam urges ‘Ndi’ Anambra to keep faith with the most enduring political party in the South East zone I write this letter with a very heavy heart. For some time now I have watched events in Nigeria with alarm and dismay. I have watched particularly the chaos in my own state of Anambra where a small clique of renegades, openly boasting its connections in high places, seems determined to turn my homeland into a bankrupt and lawless fiefdom. I am appalled by the brazenness of this clique and the silence, if not connivance, of the Presidency.

T

he above is from a letter Chinua Achebe wrote to President Obasanjo on October 15, 2004, rejecting his nomination for national honours on the grounds that under the President’s watch Anambra State had become a political gangland. Anambra State is once more sitting precariously on the horn of a dilemma. The gubernatorial election is slated for November 6, 2021. There are over a dozen candidates, which, comparatively speaking is merciful. Ordinarily there should be more than 200 candidates, something close to the scenario of a church with more pastors than the congregation.

There is a matter of primary concern. Where are the election materials to be stored? The Awka branch of the Central Bank has vaults spacious enough to store all the materials necessary for the election. The place was previously used to store such election materials. Why might it not be used this time around? INEC says the election materials would, instead, be stored in Owerri, Imo State. Why? From Enugu to Awka is 7 2.9 kilometres (coverable in 1 hour 30 minutes). Asaba, Delta State, is 65.5 kilometres from Awka (coverable in 1 hour 21 minutes). Why is neither state capital an option for storing voting materials? Owerri in Imo State is 119.3 kilometres from Awka (coverable in 2 hours 12 minutes). Please bear in mind that the times specified for reaching Awka from any of the three state capitals are for ideal conditions. Terrible Federal roads sometimes make journeys of two hours last longer than two days. Therefore, could INEC’s illogical decision to store

voting materials in Owerri be because, logistically, it will favour those prejudiced enough to want to corrupt the outcome of November 6 ballot?

Now, take a look at the candidates. It is not rocket science to fathom that Chukwuma Charles Soludo is the quintessential candidate, the best prepared and by far the most exposed to direct with passion and vision the affairs of Anambra State.

Academically, Soludo attained his professorship in the 10th year of his lectureship. As a technocrat he has advised unilateral and multilateral institutions and financial organisations, including the African Union and the World Bank, to resoundingly successful effect. He acquitted himself creditably both as Economic Adviser to the federal government of Nigeria and as the Governor of the Central Bank. To Soludo’s eternal credit, the consolidation of Nigeria’s banking sector took place under his watch. His setting in 2005 of N25 billion as the minimum capital base for any bank reduced the number of banks from an unwieldy 89 to 24 viable financial houses that enhanced the national economy.

Unfortunately, Soludo has as fellow contestants some of those that turned Anambra State into a lawless fiefdom in 2004, folks that journeyed to the United States and stayed there for decades but came back home without as much as the academic equivalent of the ordinary national diploma.

People who incinerated the Government House in Awka, the Ikenga Hotel in Awka, the INEC offices in Awka, blokes that abducted a sitting governor and went scandalously unpunished are back 17 years after their villainy, wrapped in the effrontery and temerity to glibly declare the intention of governing Anambra State, a state that sired the likes of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alex Ekwueme, Dora Akunyili, Mokwugo Okoye, Kenneth Onwuka Dike, Roy Umenyi, Pius Okigbo, Modilim Achufusi, Francis Cardianl Arinze, Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi, Emmanuel Okala, Godfrey Ezekwe, Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu, Charles Nnolim, G. C. M. Onyiuke, and thousands more. The proposition swallows response, being innately and irreversibly sacrilegious.

In the Igbo country, only those not completely

together upstairs would abandon the panoply and sumptuous dishes of an Ozo title-taking ceremony for a ritual in propitiation of Agwu – the god of recklessness – that is performed with the sacrificial lame or blind chick.

Has Anambra’s imposed orphanage hit such a dismal nadir that it is being trumpeted from alien rooftops that it must be led by someone whose School Certificate the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) pronounced forged, who in the not too distant past arrived an American port of entry to the charge of currency offences, and whose sole distinction as a federal lawmaker is record-setting victories in sleeping matches inside the chambers?

There are things you tell a woman with the strident warning that her husband must never get an inkling of it. Ndi Anambra are today being subjected to moonlight tales regarding the wisdom in switching political parties at the drop of a needle. If a woman plundered the national treasury and is called upon to hold herself accountable for corruption, yes, she could hop into the Party of the Centre where mere membership exculpates even the most heinous of atrocities. If a man expected appointment to high political office or election to the National Assembly but drew blank on both scores, he could plunge into the Party of the Centre where the sheer acquisition of membership card could translate into the diversion of crumbs from the national purse to his pockets.

But neither the women nor the men primed by the impetus of personal aggrandisement should presume to cajole the APGA faithful into partaking in their nonaltruistic gambits. The Party of the Centre has nothing to offer Ndi Anambra and Ndigbo as a whole, being the flank trying to imprint on our scandalised senses the obnoxious lesson that a cow’s life is more valuable than that of a human being.

–– Iloegbunam is the author of Ironsi: Nigeria, The Army, Power And Politics

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 31, 2021

15

LETTERS

RELIGION, POLITICS AND THE NIGERIAN STATE

M

ahatma Gandhi once remarked that “those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is”.

However, Frank Herbert was of an entirely different opinion. According to him, “when religion and politics ride in the same cart, the whirlwind follows.” While Vinoba Bhave also described religion and politics as “obsolete”, and called for “science and spirituality to take over”, in Sam Erwin’s view, "political freedom cannot exist in any land where religion controls the state, and religious freedom cannot exist in any land where the state controls religion."

Arising from the foregoing, one can safely conclude that the contest for space between religion and the state for hegemony and prominence is far from being over. Yes, they are both but different institutions! Conventionally too, religion, as it were, is a wholesome part of culture, even as the people in politics are also ‘people of culture.’ Whereas, the state derives its supremacy and nourishments from extant laws in the Constitution of Nigeria, which is the Grundnum, religion is in a class of its own, deriving sustenance from its firm belief in the supreme extra-terrestrial omniscience force, which controls the affairs of mortal beings. Be that as it may, the only trouble is that both institutions are products of the society,

being managed by people from within the same society. Unfortunately, when the people talk about institutions, they always seem to have forgotten that the society that owns the religious institution also owns the political institution. The more reason they exempt themselves as if they are not part of that society.

Beyond Edward Tylor’s description of ‘Culture’ as ‘the totality of the ways of the people', it is doubtful if a society can survive without having a peculiar culture. For instance, Chairman Mao understood the import of socializing the minds of little Chinese children; and the results were not disappointing! Japan also developed because she closed her borders and ensured that, no matter what part of Japan he or she hailed from, a Japanese was always willing to die in the service of the king. Stated in clear terms, a Japanese would rather kill himself than for his country to go down! Here in Nigeria, whereas there’s hardly a Yoruba man who hasn’t been preached to, and has not decided, either for Islam or Christianity, only the smart ones among the politicians have succeeded in maximising the advantage of the platitudes that religion offers for their selfish reasons; of course, to the detriment of the state.

Religion exists and its focus at the beginning was the Heavenly Kingdom. In other words, religion at the outset didn’t have anything to do

with the government on earth – worldly kingdom.

Impliedly, though religion may have a large following in the society, with most of the citizens under its influence, it does not control the entirety of the society. When the state eventually emerged as an independent entity, carrying along with it the power of sovereignty, not only did it attract more people to its fold but the influence of religion upon the society also became weakened.

Whereas the state also has the monopoly of the use of power of violence, it is not so with religion, it is not so. In the most, the state operates on the principle of legal rational order while religion operates on a largely restricted order, prescribed only by the deity. Besides, the State must be seen as religionneutral; and must give all citizens formal and secular benefits, irrespective of their beliefs. Regrettably, in modern State situation,

the State has overreached its limits of prescribed obligations and responsibilities. Therefore, is it any wonder it’s now faltering in what, originally, were the responsibilities of religion before it (the State) came into being? How then do we separate the huge frustration within the society, which, for instance, led to the #EndSARS mass protests in Nigeria, from how the State has so far fared?

Looking at the issue as it affects our world, religion is now a twoedged sword. As the compromised religion becomes depleted, both in capital and strength, the State, which thinks it has succeeded in decapitating religion, is also wounded.

Not only that, as values are being attenuated by religion, so also is corruption being entrenched in the State. Thus, using the needle of religion as the oxygen to capture votes became another challenge on its own. Tragically,

CBN’S ENAIRA AND THE COMMON MAN

O

n October 25, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari officially launched the much-awaited Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) digital currency- the eNaira. The launch of the eNaira is a good and commendable initiative by the CBN. The CBN said “As technology evolves and advances, it is critical that Central Banks also evolve to continue to play their roles and the Central Bank Money adapts to take advantage of these opportunities provided by new technologies.

Today is one of those moments where new technology offers the Central Bank an enormous opportunity to play its role even better, thereby improving the society and economy of the nation.”

The CBN is right in taking advantage of new technologies. However, there is a problem - many common Nigerians are not aware of the eNaira and its advantages. The

CBN has done well in enlightening the alreadyinformed segment of the society on the advantages of the eNaira. The CBN boasts that the enaira is secured, tamper-proof, simple and reduces the cost of transactions.

But the majority of the common people are not aware of the eNaira and its advantages. The big question is - What are the innovative approaches through which the CBN can enhance the acceptance and usage of the eNaira and e-transactions, generally among common people in Nigeria?

First, the radio. Radio plays an important role in enlightening people – especially in the rural and semi-urban areas.

It is a major source of information and news.

The CBN can take advantage of the radio to create awareness on the advantages of the eNaira. Secondly, telecom services providers: with over 80 million Global System for Mobile Communications subscribers in Nigeria, the GSM creates a platform for the CBN to reach nearly half

of Nigeria’s population on the advantages of the e-naira.

The CBN can collaborate with Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHDSD), to create ewallet to all beneficiaries of the federal government social investment programme. Most of the beneficiaries are the poor with prior low financial inclusion. The FMHDSD have ensured these people have bank accounts. Recently, the federal government, through the ministry, announced the launch of the Mobile Money Agent Programme and the commencement of training for 1,850 beneficiaries in Nigeria. These are viable means for the CBN to disseminate the advantages of the eNaira.

The CBN may collaborate with businesses that have daily interactions with common people. Collaboration with filling stations, market associations and transport unions to use eNaira in their transactions will help to integrate more common people

on the eNaira platform, as the people can use it with phones that are not internet enabled. The eNaira should also be enhanced to allow banks to automatically transfer it into a regular bank account.

Bringing common people on board will for sure assist the CBN and the government in boosting the use and acceptance of the e-Naira.

A columnist, Gimba Kakanda wrote, “CBN needs to offer a layman’s explanation of the eNaira and break it down in various local languages to justify its usefulness, difference from cryptocurrency and what sets it apart from the electronic transactions Nigerians are used to.”

To bring millions of common Nigerians on the platform of the eNaira, the CBN should seek the help of experts in media, communication and public relations (PR) to develop programmes and models that will promote the acceptance of the eNaira. ;BZZBE * .VIBN NBE "CVKB

those who spoiled the show for religion neither went back to the river where they left their cloths nor contemplated the consequences of squandering its capital. Right now, in the minds of the people, ‘omo rere kan ko si ninu ibon' (there's no righteous being again)!

In the olden days, those who went into politics did so with their religious beliefs and inward attitudinal disposition.

In modern Nigeria, the general belief is that every other person who is in politics is a thief. After all, nobody comes into the political arena, empty; only that the smart ones play to the positive side of religion with a view to helping themselves. In those good old days, you wouldn’t come to God's House with stolen money.

These days, people steal from the government, then go to the church for thanksgiving. In the time of old, we were told that, if you didn’t have nice apparels, you could still go to the church and worship your God; and you must not be disrespected. Not anymore! Anyone who attempts such in this computer age will most likely have himself or herself to blame. What's more?

These days, it is not uncommon for a religious leader who says the truth to become an enemy to the government. Of course, that’s why majority of our ‘Lords Spiritual’ now find ways of accommodating the government, even when its excesses are quite obvious.

Basically, when we say that politics is about seeking the good of the majority, it does not mean that the interests of the minority should be jettisoned. What it

simply means is that the objective interests of the majority will, first of all, be satisfied - to boost the legitimacy profile of the local politician within a given geographical spread - before considering the demands and agitations of the minority. That said, the threatening reality is that compromise is now the rule of the game: the State extends the proverbial olive branch to the religious institution; and the later reciprocates with its cup of Goodwill Messages to the masses, urging peace and unity.

Apparently, the interests of both the government and the religious institution are coterminous – peaceful co-existence among the people so that both parties can prosper!

Any lessons? Well, as Nigeria is gradually moving towards another round of General Elections, it behoves Nigerians to gird their loins; for God is God; and He is for all! That a particular candidate is a Christian, or a Muslim, or a traditional worshipper should not determine the voter turnout. Instead, politics, based on issues, should determine who rules and governs well. With it, the scorecards become easier to monitor and politicians are conscious of the essence of an abiding legacy. Politics of issues will not only bring instant relief to the electorate but can also drive our politics to make it more interesting and more productive. And that will be fantastic!

May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria! t "CJPEVO ,PNPMBGF XSPUF GSPN *KFCV +FTB 0TVO 4UBUF

CENTRAL HOSPITAL NOT ICONIC INSTITUTION

I

have read a lot, especially on the furor generated

by Edo State government decision to turn a dilapidating hospital to a motor park. And to very quickly add that with this letter, we are not in any way holding brief for Gov.Godwin Obaseki but to say that there is nothing iconic about the Central Hospital in Benin, and nothing in its recent past gives that indication.

If truth be told, that hospital is the epitome of government neglect of the health sector over the years in Edo and Nigeria. The Central Hospital in Benin is a reflection on why our leaders choose to treat ear ache and knee problems abroad.

Its buildings, labs are in a state of rot like the Ministry of Education at Iyaro.

At the back of the building is where dangerous medical waste is carelessly dumped.

If you are pressed and you dare use any of the toilets,

chances are that you would leave that toilet infected. If you are poor or rich and you visited that hospital, there is the likelihood that you would pick up an illness or two in addition to the one that took you there.

So, while I respect the politics involved in the designation of that hospital as a motor park, let us be mindful that old age in itself is not what confers iconicity on a person or an institution. To be described as an icon means that the individual or institution has made such invaluable contributions over time, and has therefore earned respect from the impact those contributions have made. In that wise, can the Benin City Central Hospital qualify to be known as an icon in the health sector in Edo State?

I don’t think so. t #PC .BKJSJ0HIFOF &UFNJLV #FOJO $JUZ

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 31, 2021

BUSINESS

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

FIRS-Multichoice: The Twist in Tax Tribunal’s Ruling Last week’s decision of the Tax Appeal Tribunal to strike out an appeal by MultiChoice Africa Holdings against a disputed tax assessment by the Federal Inland Revenue Service a week after it ruled in favour of hearing an appeal by its subsidiary, MultiChoice Nigeria, in a similar case, has raised questions on the issue of fair hearing and avoidable burden businesses in the country will have to bear, reports Festus Akanbi

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or hardly obscure reasons, last week’s decision of the Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT) in the dispute between MultiChoice Africa Holdings and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has continued to dominate discourse in the media, attracting generous attention of the country’s business community.

MultiChoice Africa Holdings, the parent company of MultiChoice 1igeria, had Àled an appeal against the Companies Income Tax and Value Added Tax assessment notices issued by the FIRS. The company had objected to the $342million tax bill slammed on it by the FIRS and had Àled an appeal before the TAT. But in its ruling last Tuesday, the tribunal struck out the matter, upholding the preliminary objection of the FIRS to the appeal. The tribunal stated that MultiChoice Africa had failed to comply with Order 3 Rule 6 of the Tax Appeal Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 2021, recently approved by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed. Order 3 Rule 6 requires that an appellant deposits half of the assessed amount being disputed before it can be heard on appeal. In addition to depositing the sum, the appellant is required to Àle along with its appeal an a΀davit verifying the payment, which the tribunal said MultiChoiceAfrica Holdings also failed to comply with.

Curiously, just a week before its latest ruling, TAT had dismissed the objection of the FIRS to the appeal by MultiChoice Nigeria in a case that is a near-facsimile of the last week’s. In the case decided on October 20, the tribunal had ruled that MultiChoice Nigeria was free to continue its appeal and Àxed 1 November for the hearing.

MultiChoice Nigeria had objected to the FIRS assessment of N1.8trillion tax covering a 10 years period, which it alleged was based on presumed turnover Àgures.

The FIRS stated that in the absence of a proof of deposit, the tribunal should discontinue the hearing of the appeal and enter judgment against MultiChoice.

MultiChoice, however, stated that it had complied, as the referenced section of the FIRS Act does not compel it to pay N900 billion but an amount equal to its tax in the preceding year of assessment or one half of the disputed tax assessment under appeal, whichever is the lesser amount plus 10 per cent.

Ruling on the objection raised by FIRS and the counter-argument made by MultiChoice, the tribunal disagreed.

It held: “We have carefully examined the submission of both counsel and we are of the understanding that this tribunal has been called upon to give a ruling on the proper legal interpretation of the relevant sections of provisions of paragraph 1 of FIRS (stablishment Act 201 based on which the orders of this Tribunal of August 24, 2021, was made. It is our understanding that one of the major functions of this Tribunal is to interpret and outline tax law in speciÀc cases that will come before it. In doing this duty, we will be guided by the Superior Courts of Record.

In a plethora of cases, the courts have often held that in the interpretation of provisions of the law, the court must give meaning to the exact word used by the makers of the law without adding or subtracting. The tribunal is to declare what the law is and not what it ought to be.

“This tribunal is unable to agree with the argument presented by the respondent counsel because the said portion of the paragraph in the FIRS talks about the ‘preceding year’ and

Controversial Procedure Weighing the implications of the latest position of the Tax Appeal Tribunal, tax experts said the scenario created by the decision of the tribunal on the appeal brought by MultiChoice is dangerous to the nation’s economy as it sets controversial precedence for conÁict resolution between companies and Nigerian tax authorities.

Atax expert, Kenneth Erikume, speaking on an ARIS NEWS Channel programme, shortly after the latest ruling of the tax appeal tribunal, said jettisoning the provision of the FIRS Establishment Act for the TaxAppeal Tribunal’s Procedure rules is injurious to the health of corporate organisations in Nigeria.

The FIRS Establishment Act 200 , paragraph 15 of the Àfth schedule says you pay a deposit of 50 per cent or the last year of assessment tax liability, the lower of the two, while the Tribunal procedure rule 2021, which replaced the 20210 rules says that a taxpayer who intends to appeal must Àrst pay 50 of the disputed tax into an account designated by the TAT as security for the appeal. In addition, the taxpayer must Àle a deposition along with the appeal to that eͿect.

Shedding light into the inconsistency of the rule being followed here, the foremost tax audit Àrm, PricewaterCoopers (PwC) argued that “this provision is inconsistent with similar provisions in the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 200 which gives the TAT discretion to order payment as security where a taxpayer failed to Àle returns, or the appeal is frivolous or abuse, or it is expedient for a taxpayer to pay a sum as security.

not ‘preceding years’. The paragraph under the portion of the FIRS in reference also talks about assessment and not assessments. This tribunal cannot reduce anything from the paragraph as intended by the makers of the law. The paragraph under consideration also talks about ‘assessment’ and not ‘assessments’ therefore this Tribunal will not add or reduce anything from the said paragraph.

“On the objection raised by FIRS that MultiChoice has not complied with the orders of this court made on August 2021, which is to the eͿect that the Appellant must comply with paragraph 1 , sub of the th schedule of FIRS 200 , by depositing the tax assessment under appeal for the preceding year of assessment or one half of the assessment charge under appeal.

“In compliance with the orders of this tribunal, the applicant (MultiChoice) has Àled two a΀davits of compliance. The Àrst a΀davit is dated September 9, 2021, sworn to by one Oseni Okunola showing payment of N2billion and N 00million. The second a΀davit also showed a payment of N5billion and N300million by the same Oseni Okunola totaling N8billion. The payment as explained by the appellant is to satisfy whatever interpretation adopted by this tribunal.

This payment has been acknowledged by the tribunal concerning its order.

“We must emphasise that fairness and impar-

tiality is the hallmark of this Tribunal. Therefore, we will be failing in our duties if we close our doors and allow technicalities to stand in their way against justice.

“The appellant has complied with the orders of this tribunal given on August 24, 2021, and is therefore entitled to be heard on merit. It is hereby directed that this matter proceeds to hearing.”

The Twist The drama, however, came with the appeal Àled by MultiChoice Africa Holdings, which saw the FIRS object to the hearing of the appeal on the grounds that Multichoice had not complied with the earlier order of the tribunal.

Watchers of the unfolding developments were shocked when the tribunal changed its position by striking out the matter in favour of the FIRS. The tribunal, while delivering its judgment on the appeal Àled by the company last week, upheld the preliminary objection of the FIRS against the appeal of Multichoice.

It stated that the South African company did not comply with Order 3 Rule 6 of the Tax Appeal Tribunal (Procedure) Rules, 2021, which requires that an appellant is to deposit half of the assessed amount it is disputing before it can be heard on appeal.

Compromising Access to Fair Hearing “Therefore, the provision may be challenged on grounds of inconsistency with a statute. Furthermore, there are concerns that the provision is a bar to access to justice which is contrary to the constitutional right of fair hearing and a fair trial.”

Erikume, who is also a staͿ of PwC, explained that by insisting that companies seeking redress over disputed assessment should pay half of such a controversial Àgure is already disadvantaged because it will be at the mercy of the tax authorities.

Herecalledtheexperienceofaminingcompany in Tanzania, Acacia Mining Company which, in 201 , was issued with a tax assessment to the tune of $190billion.After a series of reconciliations, the Àrm eventually paid $30million, with Erikume saying that if the case had happened in Nigeria under the current dispensation,Acacia would be expected to deposit $95billion, an amount which he said could be used to Ànance the 'angote ReÀnery Àve times.

According to the tax expert, if the rules were to be applied, it means a lot of companies will be disadvantaged.

He said: “They will not be able to take issues to the tribunal. It means the tax authorities will be in a stronger negotiation position and they may even abuse that opportunity because they can issue an assessment of any amount knowing that before you can get to any tribunal, you have to cough out that amount.

Burden on Companies The fear is that any company that dares to challenge FIRS could be run out of business via a constriction of cash Áow. Tax industry analysts contended that by the time such a company is slammed with a hefty sum of money to pay before the appeal could be heard, then its future will be in jeopardy. This scenario is described as dangerous to investment inÁow and the economy.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 31, 2021

CAPITAL MARKET

Analysts Weigh Pros, Cons of Jostling for FBNH’s Controlling Shares Although the struggle for the controlling shares in First Bank Holdings Plc is rubbing positively on its share price, capital market watchers said the role of regulatory authorities in clarifying the positions of the contenders is non-negotiable, writes Festus Akanbi

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he rally in the shares of First Bank Holding Plc which manifested few weeks ago, leading to the appreciation of the share price of the company was sustained last week, even after a clearer picture of the shareholding structure of the bank were put in the public domain.

As at the close of trading on Friday, October 29, FBN Holdings Plc (FBNH) closed its last trading day at N11.05 per share on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX), recording a 5.2% drop from its previous closing price of N11.65 and the volume traded was 57 million as against 163 million unit of shares of FBNH traded the previous day. FBN began the year with a share price of N7.15 and has since gained 62.9% on that price valuation, ranking it 18th on the NGX in terms of year-to-date performance.

However, the sustained appreciation of the bank’s shares notwithstanding, watchers of the unfolding development said it is too early to decide who is the majority shareholder in the bank given The Exchange’s queries on the status of the shareholding of the chairman of the holding company and the majority shareholder, Tunde Hassan-Odukale, who currently holds 50.36 per cent stake.

Regulatory Approval Some analysts also believe that capital market regulatory authorities hold the key for the determination of who the majority shareholders of the bank at the end of the veriÀcations.

The indirect shares in FBNH are owned through entities like Leadway Assurance and its related companies. Leadway Assurance the privately-held and largest insurance company in Nigeria is owned and run by Tunde Hassan-Odukale.

An analysis of First Bank’s annual report shows that Hassan-Odukale’s direct stake in FBN Holdings was 8,854,003 units while his indirect stake was 360,961,091 units as at the end of 2020.

As at October 26, Hassan-Odukale’s direct interest in the bank is 26,231,887 units while entities he controls indirectly own 1,897,280,212 units in the Ànancial holding company.

In one of the queries about why they classiÀed the shareholdings of Mr Tunde Hassan-Odukale and his related parties into two parts of 4.16% and 1.20% respectively, the bank claimed that while Mr Tunde Hassan-Odukale held shares of 4.16% directly and indirectly, the 1.2% was “ascribed” to him (Mr Odukale) due to “his inÁuence and having signiÀcant control” over the companies holding the shares.

Some capital market operators however, faulted the claims of FBNH in its defence of the spread of Odukale’s shareholding. One critic, who declined to be named, for instance, explained that investments by Pension Funds Administrators in quoted companies are usually done on behalf of the Custodians. Typically, the funds are classiÀed in the name of the Pension Fund Custodians and that of the PFA. Another analyst added that the operators of the PFAs are not directors of companies that they invest in to avoid conÁict of interest. For example, a PFA will not invest in a company where one of its directors or related parties has shares.

According to Section 6 6.1 iii under the Regulation on Investment of Pension Fund Asset of February 2019, “The PFA or any of its agents are prohibited from investing Pension Fund Assets in the shares or any other securities, issued through public or private placement arrangements, by the following Related party/ person of any shareholder of the PFA.” This is perhaps the reasons for not assigning shares

holders like FBN Holdings Plc, a 5% stake is signiÀcant enough to attract a board seat and to inÁuence board decisions. No doubt, the existing shareholders would prefer that this control and inÁuence is exercised by one or some of them rather than a new investor. ‘ “However, as a publicly quoted, there is no much the shareholders can do to prevent the entry of new investors. While it is di΀cult to be exact on what the bank would beneÀt, it can be expected that the presence of more inÁuencers on the board of the bank would help better decision making from diverse ideas and suggestions from board members.

“The bank can also beneÀt from having to do more businesses with the associated companies of the new investor and thus increase proÀtability, ”he stated.

FBHN Headquarters, Lagos

owned by the PFA as “indirect shareholdings” of Mr Odukale.

In addition, Section 6.3 of the same guideline also “prohibits PFAs from selling their assets to related party/person of any shareholder of the PFA,” suggesting that shares of the Pension Fund cannot be sold to a related party of Leadway Group.

As it is, all eyes are on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to vet the various claims by the major shareholders of the bank.

A pointer to the readiness of the regulator to halt the descent into squabbles over the controlling structure of the bank was the appointment of Meristem Registrars as its new registrars replacing First Registrars and Investors Services Ltd. Market sources quoted by Nairametrics, an only medium said the latest move to take out First Registrars is connected to the recent shareholder squabbles and may have been instigated by the bank regulators who are embarrassed by the degenerating situation.

The source explained further that First registrars had to be taken out due to the conÁict of interest it has since it is a subsidiary of First Bank.

One of the Àrst tasks for Meristem Registrars will likely be to review the register of shareholders of FBN Holdings and determine who the majority shareholders are. They will also determine the quantum of direct and indirect shares owned by the current directors of the bank holding company.

The Game Changer FBNH became a news maker two weeks ago when the company, in a letter to the Stock Exchange conÀrmed the report which had Àngered the Mr. Femi Otedola as the new investors behind the recent mop-up of the company’s shares in recent times.

Having ramped up his shareholding to 1.82billion units of shares amounting to 5.07per cent of the total share capital of the company.

However, his stake in the company fell short of that of the incumbent chairman and majority shareholder, Hassan-Odukale, whose direct and indirect shareholding in the bank total 1.9 billion units.

Put together, all the shares linked to HassanOdukale bring his stake equivalent to 5.36 per cent of First Bank’s total outstanding shares and makes him the single largest shareholder.

FBN Holdings has outstanding shares of 35,895,292,792 units valued at N418.180 billion as at Wednesday October 27.

Some analysts who spoke with THISDAY last week said with the announcement of the appointment of former Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo as the Group Managing Director of FBNH will increase the rally in the shares of the holding company in the weeks ahead.

The announcement, which was described as a masterstroke, is said to be capable of reducing tension created by the recent jostle for the control of the bank. Okonkwo, who resumes in January next year, is taking over from U. K. Eke, whose tenure expires in December this year. ,QYHVWRUV· &RQÀGHQFH Analysts also believed the new struggle for the controlling shares in FBNH will engender investors’ conÀdence, going further. The struggle for control, according to Executive Director, Cordros Capital Limited, Mr. Olufemi Ademola is caused by the vacuum created by the current travails of former Chairman of the holding company, Oba Otudeko.

“In my opinion, the current jostling that we are seeing between the bank’s majority shareholders is due to the void created by the exit of the former board chairman, Oba Otudeko.

Every organisation requires at least a signiÀcant personality, individual or institution that try to control the aͿairs of the company and inÁuence things. Such inÁuence brings focus and stability in the positive ways. Although, such control could also be used negatively, the real beneÀt of a signiÀcant or control shareholder lies in the provision of strategic direction and constancy.”

He maintained that the inÁuence hitherto provided by Mr. Otudeko is what is up for grabs among the remaining signiÀcant shareholders in the bank.

“For an organisation with diverse share-

The Fear Ademola said unless the major shareholders are aligned in their interests, avoidable rivalry could polarise the board.

He said as a foremost bank in Nigeria with very strong pedigree, diverse signiÀcant shareholders can beneÀt FBNH immensely.

However, the most signiÀcant fear is that of destructive competition among the majority shareholders. Rather than collaborate to move the bank forward, if they compete to outwit each other, it may become injurious to stakeholders of the bank. However, positive competition in terms of business development and contribution to sound decision making is a welcome development.”

By committing their resources to the bank, analysts believed the majority shareholders are sending the right signals to the investing community that the bank is solid. This was the view of the Managing Director/Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Management Limited, Mr Idakolo Gabriel Gbolade. According to him, “First Bank Holdings will deÀnitely beneÀt from the battle because of the renewed interest in its shares by the major shareholders of the bank. With the entrance of Mr. Femi Otedola into the major shareholders category, it will bring more conÀdence to the investors and shareholders of the bank.

“The bank also stands to beneÀt from the wealth of experience of Mr. Otedola who is a turnaround expert having done that with his previous oil company and other investments.”

6KDUHKROGHUV &DOO IRU &DXWLRQ Reacting to the media frenzy over the statuses of two majority shareholders in the bank, founder and former National Coordinator of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr. Sunny Nwosu, said it is not in the interest of the organisation for anybody to engage in media war.

“What are they struggling for? Whether you have what you have now or not, considering the way the Companies and Allied Matters Act and the Board Charter work, the management will have to make recommendations because they (the management) are there on a daily basis to see the way the business is going for the board to either approve or disapprove.

“The way these things are going, the kind of noise that is being made over the claims of being the largest shareholder will have negative eͿects on the bank,” he said.

“When depositors start pulling out their money that they do not want to be caught in the web of Àghting for the control of the bank, you will see that the bank’s assets will be eroded and as a result of that, whatever you must have put there as investment will also be at risk. So, they should stop all these media war. Issues about banks are always very conservative. It is not a kind of issues to be treated on the pages of newspapers.”

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 31, 2021

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MEDIA

AISOP: Will Media, Local Agencies Have the Last Laugh?

In line with best practices, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria has ordered that payment for media and other advertisement services should be done within 45 days, but the directive has been rejected by the Advertisers Association of Nigeria. Raheem Akingbolu, reports

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n what looked like the strongest move taken to sanitise and enforce standards in the nation’s advertising industry, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), a few weeks ago, had an engagement with major stakeholders in the advertising industry and presented the outcome of a business regulatory framework which was mandated by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

APCON Registrar, Dr. Lekan Fadolapo, who addressed the leadership of the various sectoral bodies, thus unveiled a new Advertising Industry Standard of Practice (AISOP), which he said would deepen the business relationship among advertising agencies, their clients, and the media. It was also stated that the industry-standard practice would unravel the lingering debate surrounding credit policy as well as payment of pitch fees in the industry.

According to the APCON Chief, the process started with the setting up of an all-inclusive committee made up of all sectoral groups in the industry to produce a suitable framework that deÀnes a minimum standard, to have equal and fairly represented opinions that will form the guidelines of the entire advertising ecosystem. He added that the committee was set up in April 2021 and was chaired by a former President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Funmi Onabolu, which after a thorough joint brainstorming, in collaboration with APCON, presented a minimum acceptable standard of practice framework that is suitable and is globally acceptable.

Highlights…

The Àrst area of the advertising business, which the new reform addressed, is the media rates deregulation. It pointed out that no sector of the industry should cap or determine what media houses should charge as media advert rates, going forward. It however indicated that media houses should give 30 days’ notice before implementation of the new media rate. In conclusion, the AISOP stated that advertisers and agencies should accord Nigerian media houses the same mutual respect they accord foreign media, operating in Nigeria and align with best practices.

Another area touched is credit policy where it was stated that in line with best practices, payment for media and other advertisement services should be done within 45 days. It however put a caveat that payment after 45 days will attract interest at prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria interest rates. It was also stated that advertisers and agencies should honour advertising and marketing communications invoices politely and that all parties must be transparent in their dealings.

In his words, Fadolapo said AISOP is “A business framework that seeks to improve mutual respect, eradicate unfair advantage, unethical competition, and inequitable policies between relevant stakeholders in the advertising and marketing communications industry in Nigeria.”

He added that it speciÀcally provides a regulatory framework of critical areas of concern to stakeholders, the areas include engagement policy, payment terms and method, media rates and commission, remuneration model, disengagement protocol, returns on advertising investment and measurements, dispute resolution, and other related business protocols.

According to the regulator, AISOP takes immediate eͿect from October 2021 and shall become enforceable by APCON in the bid to ensure standardised operations,

the issue of media debt has remained a reoccurring development that the government is trying to solve once and for all. If followed to the latter, the new directive will make it impossible for multinationals to owe their agencies and media companies more than the agreed days of payment.

It will also encourage payment of pitch fees to agencies and will make local agencies and SMEs viable. On a Ànal note, to forestall unnecessary downsizing among the agencies, AISOP must get the buy-in of all stakeholders``.

APCON Registrar, Lekan Fadolapo

ADVAN President, Bunmi Adetiba

in line with global best practices.

Fadolapo explained that the execution of the guideline will put the country on a global map as one of the best destinations where advertising and marketing communications practices are done professionally.

“It is expected that with the implementation of this guideline, Nigeria will be placed among the most progressive advertising and marketing communications industries across the globe.”

He, therefore, urged stakeholders to support the initiative and abide by the standard of practice in the interest of growing the industry, creating jobs, and growing the economy.

“Stakeholders and industry players are implored to support this guideline and to ensure the success of this eͿort. We trust that the faithful application of the Advertising Industry Reform in Nigeria will not only grow the business of advertising and marketing communications but will also create well over 100,000 jobs directly and indirectly in the next 12 months.”

“We are not oblivious of the fact that the AISOP may generate diͿerent degrees of sentiments but we are conÀdent that the guideline serves to protect the best interest of the Nigerian advertising and marketing communications industry in particular and that of the general public.

“APCON is committed to constantly improving the practice and business of advertising in Nigeria and shall always welcome productive ideas that will enable her to deliver the best business environment in Nigeria in line with her mandate.”

The sectoral body as principal benefactors of Advertising services stated that its role and input with regards to the Advertising Industry Standard Of Practice (AISOP) by the regulatory body has not been fully unbounded, thereby declaring that the current AISOP is void of critical elements that protect the rights and interest of the ADVAN community.

“It is the submission of ADVAN and all its members that the current AISOP does not serve the collective interest, but rather permits unfair authority of certain parties over others and creates an unfriendly business framework: the body stated.

APCON Maintains Position…

In a swift reaction to the rejection by ADVAN, APCON had recently placed advertorial in major national newspapers, reminding ADVAN that CBN, SEC, NCC, NAICOM, and other regulatory agencies moderate their respective sectors and set guidelines for operators in line with their establishment Act and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as promote economic growth and development. The advertising regulatory body pointed out that what it had done was in line with the Act that established it as a regulator of the industry. APCON also reminded the leadership of ADVAN that other sectoral bodies and some respected multinational companies have endorsed the new order. It pointed out that the position of ADVAN in the unfolding development is being seen as a gang up by a few multinationals and conglomerates against the Federal Government of inclusive growth in the SME sector in particular and the Nigerian economy in general.

While concluding that ADVAN’s position implied that the current challenges plaguing the industry should continue unabated, APCON was quick to add that the rejection would lead to loss of jobs in the industry, promoting the unethical practice and unhealthy rivalry.

Speaking with THISDAY on the new twist to the development, Fadolapo expressed disappointment to what he tagged as ‘unpatriotic moves’ by ADVAN. He said, “It is rather sad that ADVAN has chosen to be a stumbling block in the move to rebound the marketing communications industry and make it strong enough to contribute well to the economy. The position of the government is that terms of engagement must be of international standard. Over the years,

ADVAN Kicks…

While other sectoral bodies applauded the new development, the Advertisers Association of Nigeria had a varied position.

To this end, ADVAN had recently issued a statement supporting the plan to create a Standard of Practice for the advertising industry and echoed its willingness to be a part of any initiative towards the development of industry best practice which will facilitate business and economic growth but was quick to point out that the Supreme Court had in many decisions, pronounced that the rationale for freedom of contract is founded on public policy: i.e., parties of full age and competent understanding are deemed to have the utmost liberty of contracting, and that their contracts, when entered freely and voluntarily, must be held sacred and be enforced by courts of law.

Stakeholders’ Views…

Meanwhile, the Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN), the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), and the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) have declared full support for the new code of conduct and urged APCON to go ahead with its implementation.

President of AAAN, Steve Babaeko, while welcoming the development, noted that he can now heave a sigh of relief, adding that it is long overdue. “It is a good one coming from APCON; I think it is long overdue. As the president of AAAN, these are some of the things that keep me awake, where members complain about some of these issues that the law has tackled. I am looking forward to the enforcement and execution of the laws,” Babaeko said.

As a major stakeholder in the Media Broadcasting Ecosystem, EMCOAN said its members have carefully considered and reviewed the AISOP Policy document and believed strongly that proper implementation and monitoring would go a long way in charting a new positive course and better opportunity for the Content Owners, other Industry stakeholders and the Media Advertising Industry in general.

The association assured APCON that EMCOAN and all her members would not only comply with this new guideline of AISOP, which is ensuring globally accepted best practices and standards in the industry but would also support with stakeholders orientation and publicity of the beneÀts of AISOP to the Media Advertising/Broadcast Industry as a whole.

EMCOAN said it would avail the Registrar and the APCON team the needed support to ensure proper implementation and compliance with the AISOP policy within the rank and Àle of the stakeholders in the Industry. The association pointed out that this is important because if there are no serious measures to check the violators of the new policy, things will go back to “business as usual”, hence, proper orientation, implementation, and continuous evaluation will be key to ensuring the success of the new AISOP guidelines.

However, a Marketing Communication scholar, Dr. Jide Johnson has called on APCON to deepen its stakeholders’ engagement before the implementation to get the support of all.

“It is a known fact that the businesses of top players in the marketing communications industry and other vendors working for multinationals are on the decline following rising debt profiles of media buying agencies and multinational companies and all stakeholders have consistently called for proper review of terms of engagement. This is why one is excited about this recent development.

However, I think APCON should tread with caution and deepen its stakeholder’s engagement as some of the conditions can only apply for quoted companies and not just any dick, tom, and harry in the Nigerian marketing environment,” Johnson said.

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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 31, 2021

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

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 28Oct-2021, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS

AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 165.24 166.69 2.08% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 7.98% Nigeria International Debt Fund 319.59 319.59 -15.98% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 106.02 107.07 -4.21% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.88% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.32 3.38 -3.86% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 8.78% Anchoria Equity Fund 142.75 144.56 7.32% info@anchoriaam.com Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.14 -14.14% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 20.63 21.25 13.73% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 450.17 463.74 12.44% ARM Ethical Fund 39.53 40.72 17.26% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.08 1.09 -1.04% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.98 0.99 -5.95% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.28% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 106.99 106.99 5.19% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,047.52 1,047.52 4.75% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.06 2.06 -4.45% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.22 2.27 4.25% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.03 1.03 4.19% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.07% Paramount Equity Fund 17.43 17.75 8.98% Women's Investment Fund 141.69 143.35 6.48% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.53% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 123.91 124.73 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.44 109.44 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.25% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.23 1.25 2.80% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.42 1.42 -10.44% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 7.60% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.18% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,159.38 1,180.03 0.81% assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-assetmanagement-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.10% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 2.58% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.13 Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 103.97 FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price FBN Bond Fund 1,435.73 FBN Balanced Fund 197.81 FBN Halal Fund 113.89 FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund

127.41 172.99 Bid Price 1.00 3.99 1.71 1.19

1.13 12.24% 103.97 3.93% invest@fbnquest.com Offer Price 1,435.73 199.26 113.89 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 11.46% 5.40% 9.31% 8.91%

127.41 4.05% 175.26 14.43% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Offer Price 1.00 3.99 1.75 1.19

Yield / T-Rtn 6.67% 3.01% 12.43% 5.11%

FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.58% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.89 2.96 1.31% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 154.42 154.69 -0.70% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.28 1.32 1.70% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.06 1.06 3.71% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.05 12.15 15.29% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.07% enquiries@norrenberger.com NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 100.53 100.54 7.20% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.27% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.59 1.61 13.12% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.40 11.41 -6.20% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.94% PACAM Equity Fund 1.47 1.48 -7.04% PACAM EuroBond Fund 112.10 114.20 2.17% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 135.23 139.58 10.38% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.07 1.07 10.08% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,399.21 3,432.17 5.79% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 234.14 234.14 4.13% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.28 1.30 9.32% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 309.58 309.58 5.06% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 236.27 239.87 8.28% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.47% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,064.69 11,224.68 5.45% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.28 1.28 4.44% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 116.15 116.15 4.56% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 104.81 104.81 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.35 1.37 5.15% United Capital Bond Fund 1.93 1.93 5.55% United Capital Equity Fund 0.92 0.95 15.57% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.81% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.19 121.19 5.85% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.11 6.98% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 6.68% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.15 13.27 10.84% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 14.73 14.89 20.70% Zenith Income Fund 24.58 24.58 2.45% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.31%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 53.90

10.62% 6.67%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.96 131.61 103.62 17.80 21.77

14.06 134.88 105.89 17.90 21.87

5.61% 9.45% 4.44%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.00 5.67 17.88 1.00 21.60 157.58

4.10 5.77 18.08 1.00 21.80 159.58

6.71% -0.19% 10.39% 6.58% 5.24% -15.11%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.28

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

31.10.2021

H

OLUKUNLE AKINOLA @ 90 CHRONICLES OF FIRST SURVEYORGENERAL IN LAGOS STATE He is a living legend whose love for the bush struck a coincidence in his first employment opportunity at the Federal Ministry of Works in the 50s. His passion for his job aside, his dedication and commitment to duty saw him traversing the entire South-west where he rose to the pinnacle of his career in 1975 as the first Surveyor-General of Lagos State. Olukunle Akinola recounts his grass-to-grace story culminating in a fulfilling career as a civil servant, in this interview with Funke Olaode

is gold wedding ring sparkles on his fourth finger. The white apparel sits perfectly on his fresh looks. The silver frame of his glasses which he intermittently adjusted shone above his sharp eye balls. Accomplished and fulfilled, Olukunle Akinola is a human repository of the history of Lagos State.

An exceptional professional, Akinola in his active career life traversed the length and breadth of the South-west displaying his professional skills.

Although he retired in 1987, he remains a role model and an exemplary civil servant with a track record of integrity.

Akinola, the first of three children was born on October 31, 1931 in Ipaja, Ikeja Division of Western Region now in Ayobo-Ipaja Local Development Council Area of Lagos State. His father was a farmer and his mother-a petty trader.

The conversation began on a thankful note as he expressed gratitude to God for the gift of longevity.

“I constantly thank my God for sparing my life,’’ he began. “I look at my life and I ask myself why I am so blessed with longevity. I don’t know how old or what my dad’s age was when he died in 1954 and my mother died in 1985. But in my case, it is the grace of God. Again, I don’t over burden myself, I don’t stress myself, and my home is comfortable with supportive, caring and loving wife of 66 years.”

That Akinola is one of the outstanding public servants is an understatement. He rose through various ranks to attain the number one man in his department in Lagos controlling directors. Although he retired 24 years ago, he is not tired. He still attends meetings, goes to the office and does consultancy regularly. This reporter actually caught up with him at his Ikeja office.

“I am not chasing money at this point in time,” he points out. “When I meet people like you, I talk and exercise myself. I am the President-General of the Christian Unity Band of Nigeria, (CUBN) Central Council. I have just relinquished that position last month. I gave an appointment for 12 o’clock for example, because they are coming here for some information. So I do come here to meet people, we talk and then my wife is on the other side, she is 86 years old now. So people come to me for information, for advice and that is how I spend the whole day. In a way, this is our own form of relaxation.”

Akinola might have traversed many parts of Nigeria and abroad but he remains true to himself as a one with humble beginnings. “I was told that I was born in 1931 in the kitchen.

I think probably the only hospital in Lagos that was existing then was on the Island. They could not carry me from that place to Lagos. My parents had a kitchen and one side was prepared for my delivery,” he recalls.

Akinola was raised by a father who was a farmer and Lay Reader in the Anglican Communion. The spiritual foundation and self-determination

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

50

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

31, 2021

COVER

I Once Dropped Out of School for Being Caned by My Teachers

Akinola Aki l with i h his hi wife, if GGrace FFolake lk

rubbed off on him as he journeyed through life. “My father was a church man, he was a Lay Reader in the church and so every Sunday, we would go to church. And as a farmer, he would go to the farm. And when I was old enough to go to the farm, I accompanied him.’’

His Elementary School days were spent at St. Andrew’s Primary School, Ipaja. He proceeded to CMS Grammar School in 1946 when the ‘old’ campus was still situated at Odunlami Street. He stayed with his Uncle on Lagos Island till he graduated in 1951.

Though a focused young man, he wasn’t immune to youthful exuberance that would have derailed him. At 12 and 13, he dropped out of school for being caned by his teachers and also walked away during vaccination exercise.

“I decided to drop out of school because of the treatment I was receiving from the teachers. They used to cane us a lot if we didn’t behave well in church and in school.

I didn’t enjoy it. One day, I told my parents that I wasn’t going to school again. But fortunately, my aunt convinced me that I should go back and I went back.”

And for the vaccination? “In those days, health officials used to go to schools and churches for vaccination exercise. When I was told that the people were here and for fear of the injection, and the pain, some of us including me will just jump out of the windows. And because the place from Akinyele to Ipaja was bushy, we would to go inside the bush and trek home later in the day.”

Akinola left his secondary school exactly 70 years ago. Out of the 31 students enrolled in his class, only three or four are still alive.

“Some of my classmates then include Tom Duncan, a Ghanaian;

Segun Bako, who is still very much alive, Prof. Femi Pearse, who passed away recently, Olukoga, Adenuga, etc. We entered the school as teenagers and went through the laid down policy. It was during the tenure of the late Rev. Irunsewe Kale, the principal who later became Bishop of the Anglican Communion. You must get to school by 8 o’clock, we had the normal morning prayers in school. The teachers were disciplinarians. Apart from standard academic discipline inculcated in us, the extra activities in a way defined my career trajectory. I was a Boys Scout and I was a patrol leader of the First Lagos Troop.”

As a Grammarian, Akinola found affinity with the Boys Scouts because of its predilection for life in the bush which pushed him to the association in the first place. And by the time he left the famous school in 1951, his career choice was already laid out albeit unconsciously.

Moving forward, there was a problem which would have truncated his career choice. There was a policy then which stated that failure in English Language was an automatic failure in all subjects. And students had to repeat the subjects in the next sitting. “I passed out with a Grade ll Overseas Senior Cambridge School Certificate but didn’t have a good grade in Mathematics. I had to take examination by correspondence organised by the Rapid Results College to be able to meet up.”

His life as a surveyor began immediately after his school certificate. Having been influenced for his love for bush life and an in-law, a licensed surveyor Ogunbiyi who was married to his relation, Akinola joined in the exploits and never looked back.

He joined the Federal Ministry of Works in Lagos. Fortunately for him, he was sent to the Federal School of Survey in Oyo in the then old Western Region on scholarship.

He passed out from Survey school in Oyo between 1952/53 and immediately sent out to carry out survey activities in different part of the region. That was how his career started. To further develop himself in order to be grounded, he headed

to the then Nigerian College of Art, Science and Technology, Enugu branch for Advanced Level after which he proceeded to South West Technical College in London. His insatiable knowledge in survey also took him to Japan. All those trainings were sponsored by the government.

Having passed the final examinations of Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in 1964, Akinola became a chartered surveyor. He joined an exclusive list of the first set of Nigerians to become Chartered Surveyors. Today, he is fulfilled as a pioneer but Akinola has had his fair share of the profession. Talking about the occupational hazard experienced in the cause of profession, he remembers a few scary experiences.

“I had an encounter with a snake which lived under the same tent with my wife and a young son while I was working in Apomu, now in Osun State.

The survey department had tents, so when we went to our field, we put down our tents and that is where we would sleep. So my wife used to go with me but this time around she came to see me. When we wanted to move from that one to another station, we found that we were sleeping with a snake in the tent.”

Another unpleasant experience was when he was attacked by the ‘Omo Onile.” “Yes, these were omo onile, the land grabbers. They came when we were set to go and work. I think there was a conflict between the owners of the land. When we got there we were attacked. I told my labourers then that they should just be civil. I think they carried our instruments away but later we got them back. It is one of the hazards of the job.”

No doubt, Akinola has had a fulfilling career reaching the pinnacle of his career by becoming the FirstSurveyor-General of Lagos State. “It has been an exciting journey,” elated

Akinola says.

In 1974, I acted as surveyor general for one year. In 1975, I was promoted as surveyor-general coordinating directors who were in charge of housing and survey services. The ministries have been separated now with permanent secretaries directing their affairs. Back then, everything was under my control. He retired in 1987 from the Lagos State service.

Speaking about the revolution in the profession, Akinola is delighted that the profession is evolving from analogue to digital. “I am dazed at the revolution going on in my profession. And I thank God that I have tried my best to improve what I met on ground and still exists now. You know these days, technology has changed. I was involved in a discussion a week ago, and in one of the discussions I was lost because if I don’t even read books again, I cannot call myself a surveyor. Back then, we carried chain and everything but these days you don’t need to do that. You can just stay there and measure whatever you want to measure without disturbing anybody on the road to get your result. So, that is an improvement in terms of survey. I am satisfied that whatever I left behind is still developing.”

On his view on how government can improve on limited land to accommodate all. “It is possible. For example, when the government built developed estates with so many blocks of flats, they can assign each block to whoever wants it. So, you can do a survey and you will describe what belongs to A, B, C, and D. And the plan will show you what belongs to you and then you can register it in your name. The same thing applies to skyscrapers. In the developed world like New York which is surrounded by water, several owners can own a building.”

Akinola has been married to his childhood sweetheart, Grace Folake Akinola whom he met during his sojourn in Ibadan.

She was a student of St. Theresa’s College, Ibadan when their path crossed. The lovebirds have been married for 66 years and blessed with six accomplished children.

“We have three females and three males. One is a medical doctor, Professor Oluwarotimi Akinola of (LASUTH).

His wife is also a professor. The other two following him are females and then I had a set of twins. The last one is a pharmacist. We supported our children in terms of education. We are role models to them. They watch us and see what we do try to emulate us. So as a church man I try to be humble and it has helped us a lot.”

On tips on how to run a successful home, he remarked that his marriage is rooted in the word of God. And that spiritual foundation has been the bedrock that has helped his family till these days.

Nevertheless, he said there is no perfect marriage as couples disagree to agree.

“We disagree to agree. My wife is a person that satisfies me with regular food. She is a church woman and I am also a church man. So, our foundation of being a church couple really helped because we follow ourselves here and there so there is a close bond between us. You see what you like me to do I will do. What I don’t like, don’t do it.”

And the only life lesson that has remained with Akinola in his 90 years is ‘Make hay while the sun shines’ which means work while you work and play while you play because procrastination is a thief of time. Never leave till tomorrow what you can do today.

At 90, is Olukunle Akinola afraid of death? “Any time death comes I am ready to go and heaven is my landing station. I am fulfilled as a professional, husband and father. So, if I die today, I have no regrets.

Although I read in the papers of people who are over 100, 105. If you are lucky and God allows you to stay so long it is okay, otherwise when you have peace of mind and there is no problem at home, your house is good, your family is well, when the time comes you go to be with your maker,” he concluded.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 24, 2021

51

GLITZ ENTERTAINMENT

Is Love Island Still Coming to Nigeria?

Stories by Vanessa Obioha

The official announcement last June that the first all-Black cast of the UK reality TV show, Love Island will be debuting in Nigerian screens this October was greeted with fanfare. Speculations about the show started circulating in 2020 with a few casting doubts on its execution.

Love Island Nigeria was projected by businessman Toyin Subair and his associates as the next big thing to hit the Nigerian entertainment landscape. At the stylish press conference last June, he said that the show perfectly sums the expectations Nigerians have of entertainment as the programme offers a rich mix of fun while still touching on the subjects of friendship, love, romance and enduring relationships between

Love Island UK 2021 winners

Lolo 1 Endorses Gtext Land’s Green Housing Initiative Nigerian actress and on-air personality Omotunde Adebowale, popularly known as Lolo 1, has endorsed the sustainable housing initiatives rolled out by Gtext Land, a subsidiary of Gtext Global. The real estate agency recently opened its headquarters in Lagos.

Located in Omole Phase 1, along the Berger axis, the real estate brand has experienced steady growth since its inception five years ago. So far, it has spread its tentacles to other cities like Abuja, Oyo, Ogun, and Delta States.

Helmed by Dr Stephen Akintayo, the organisation reveals that its geometric growth is an indicator of its integrity in the real estate space. The claim was backed by Lolo 1 who said: “Before I would put my name or face behind a brand, I want to be sure of their integrity. Lack of integrity is one of the things that deter a lot of investors

because they cannot trust the people that they are investing with. This company ticks that box of integrity.

“I also love the fact that Gtext Global is a onestop shop for investors to diversify their investments.

Currently, I am advocating for financial freedom, and that means that one needs a company that is not only investing in land and landed properties but also channelling investors’ minds to diversify through its other subsidiaries,” she stated.

The subsidiary of Gtext Global continues in its pledge of redefining the lifestyle of Africans through its series of affordable smart and eco-friendly homes.

With the new headquarters in Lagos, Gtext Land hopes to amplify visibility and reach to better inform the living choices of individuals who need to adopt the green lifestyle.

Leveraging a series

Ekulo Partners Cubana Group for Laurent-Perrier

of strategic partnerships with real estate developers like the Berkeley Group, it began operations in the UK four months ago; however, expansion plans to acquire shares in the international market began this January with its launch into Dubai, where it achieved record sales. This acceptance by the international community is

also what has inspired its prevailing expedition to the United States.

With the rate at which it is scaling, the firm not only prides itself on the millstones it has achieved but also in its significant contributions to the nation’s GDP through the empowerment of youths using employment.

Big Brother Naija Brings All the Behind-the-Scenes Gist in New Documentary

BBNaija host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu

islanders.

For the Nigerian iteration, the organisers Digital Play Africa said the dating reality TV show was going to feature 20 singles, living in the Love Island Villa for seven weeks. Themes on friendship and romance were to be explored.

Today is the last day of October, and Love Island Nigeria is yet to debut. A visit to the show’s Instagram page indicated that casting was underway. However, the last update on the show was on October 7 with a call for applications. The website also did not provide any updates.

Perhaps, the organisers are tying up loose ends to ensure that if and when the show premieres, it will give Nigerians an unforgettable experience.

The 18 contestants who kicked off the Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) season 12 will continue their search for Akolo’s secret on tonight’s episode. Already, they are confronted with obstacles on their way into the jungle.

GUS is known for its adventure format. This season’s Age of Craftsmanship is centred on a small town called Ijuka, which existed many centuries ago. Ijuka attained fame when a mysterious craftsman named Akolo settled down amongst the blacksmiths and woodcarvers. Equally talented, Akolo taught his contemporaries his skills and soon his name began to pool many to the town. But many came to learn about his special brew which was compared to none. Akolo sourced his ingredients from trading his great works with European merchants. The king soon heard of his fame and appointed Akolo to be a member of his advisory council.

Although Akolo formed a close bond with the king, he never revealed the recipe of his brew.

As the fame of his brew grew, trading routes began to pass through Ijuka, and many sought to taste his brew. Ijuka became a prosperous town, and soon enemies began to gather. Several attempts to take Akolo’s life were made but to no avail. Akolo would later leave town for the mangrove forest with his secret brew recipe and all his knowledge, never to be seen again. Ijuka suffered Akolo’s absence and was soon laid to waste by foreign invaders. The 18 contestants will now have to retrieve the iron chest containing Akolo’s secrets and be crowned the ultimate champion of the season. GUS airs every weekend on Africa Magic channels on DStv and GOtv.

Holders of the sole franchise for Laurent-Perrier Champagne in Nigeria, Ekulo International Limited has signed a partnership deal with the Cubana Group, owners of Cubana bars, Lounges and hotels.

Synonymous with top-notch alcoholic brands, Ekulo International Limited is one of the leading indigenous FMCG companies.

The Cubana Group is superintended by socialite and entrepreneur, Obinna Iyiegbu popular as Obi Cubana, who recently received the Sun Award as the Hospitality Icon of The Year. Laurent-Perrier is the latest entry into Cubana’s stable. The world-class Champagne has five variants: Laurent-Perrier Brut, Laurent-Perrier Demi-Sec, LaurentPerrier Brut Millésimé, Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé, LaurentPerrier Grand Siècle.

The Laurent Perrier house is the pioneer of Rose Champagne. Before 1968, making Cuvée Rose was virtually unthinkable, however, this innovation has opened doors for Rose worldwide.

The Champagne house was founded in 1812 and exports to more than 120 countries worldwide.

Sitting L-R: Maurice Ozoemena, Obi Iyiegbu, Golda Okonkwo Standing L-R: Ugo Okonkwo, William Kouton, Uzoma Eziokwu, Chibuzor Nnaebue, at the signing of Partnership between Cubana Group & Ekulo International for Laurent-Perrier Champagne in Lagos…recently

Evidence Mounts against Naira Marley A recent court hearing further indicted Nigerian artist Naira Marley of the charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The anti-graft agency had on May 14, 2019, slammed an 11-count charge on the singer which included conspiracy and possession of counterfeit credit cards belonging to different people, with intent to defraud which amounted to theft.

According to EFCC, Naira Marley whose real name is Azeez Fashola committed the offences on different dates: between November 26 and December 11, 2018; and May 10, 2019.

At a Federal High Court in Lagos last Wednesday, the EFCC through its second witness, a forensic analyst, virtually projected a Compact Disc (CD) with 51,933 pages analysis of Marley’s iPhone. The CD displayed credit numbers, chat, and incoming and outgoing messages from the singer’s mobile phone. The witness identified the “message trafficking” between the numbers +447426343432 and +447548061528. Following the new evidence, the presiding judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo adjourned the trial until November 30, December 13, and December 14.

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 31, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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HighLife

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

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

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Jonathan

No Fanfare as Dame Patience Faka Jonathan Turns 64 All things eventually come to an end, but new beginnings are always on the horizon. This contrast of odds is an appropriate portrait to capture the status and shadows of Dame Patience Faka Jonathan, the former First Lady of Nigeria. A few days ago, she clocked 64 and celebrated her new age. Absent from the celebrations, however, was her nest of old friends.

October 25, 2021, marked the 64th year of Dame Patience’s life on the earth. At 64, the native of Bayelsa State has achieved far more than the majority of her mates in Nigeria, having climbed to one of the highest administrative steps possible for a citizen. Conversely, she has also marched across the depths of valleys, low points in the public eye that very few women have ever fallen to. Nevertheless, Dame Patience remains one of a kind.

For most presidents of Nigeria, their wives are usually forgotten far quicker than any white-elephant project that they promised to complete but somehow overlooked.

Not so for immediate past President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Due to Dame Patience’s signature refusal to hide her emotions behind the bureaucracy of stoic governance, she remains in the heart of every adult Nigerian. But, her old friends that once sang her praises and accompanied her everywhere are no longer there.

Back when she was First Lady, she was invited to nearly every big social event, especially when the celebrant was female. Every event that Dame Patience graced was one that automatically made her the special guest of honour. Alas, those days are a thing of the past now.

The fact that she clocked 56 did not resonate much, except within her household. The old town criers have moved to new persons and opportunities. They returned to her briefly a few months ago when it was rumoured that Jonathan might reemerge as a presidential candidate. However, they left not long after. An ignorant person might even conclude that it was Jonathan’s rumoured comeback that led Dame Patience’s friends back to her, if only briefly.

The days as an ordinary citizen of the country pass in silence for the former First Lady. It is a far cry from her daily life when her husband was president.

Nigerian billionaire and Chairman, Geregu Power, Femi Otedola is a prophet of enterprise.

No doubt, he’s one of the illustrious popes of commerce, robed and mitred in the resonance of their exploits. He is the artist who paints beautifully on canvas with his feats even as he spins poetic lines about his conquests.

In top business schools across the continent and beyond, the corporate exploits of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, are veritable case studies for academic research. There seems to be unanimity of opinions that Otedola has created phenomenally businesses and changed the world in significant ways.

Of course, it is often said that to succeed in the banking sector, you must have the heart of Hercules, the fearlessness of Achilles, the grace of Terpsichore, the memory of Macaulay, and the hide of a rhinoceros, Otedola conveniently exudes the aforementioned attributes and more, thus his ascension to the top of the banking industry’s greasy pole.

Now, billionaire Femi Otedola has sent seismic waves around the banking industry in Nigeria nay Africa with his recent acquisition of a 5.07 per cent equity stake in First Bank Holdings, the parent company of First Bank of Nigeria. Curiously, when the news first broke, the company denied knowledge of the takeover, saying it had not received any such notification of a significant holding by Otedola from the authorities.

However, in a follow-up communication to the Nigerian Exchange Limited last Saturday, the firm said it received notification from APT Securities and Funds Limited that; “Mr Otedola Olufemi Peter and his nominee, Calvados Global Services Limited have acquired a total of 1,818, 551,625 units of shares from the company’s issued share capital of 35,895,292791.

“Based on the foregoing, the equity stake of Mr Otedola Olufemi Peter and his nominee in the company is now 5.07%,” the notice signed by Seye Kosoko, company secretary, affirmed.

In the 2020 annual report and accounts, the bank stated that “According to the Register of Members as of December 30, 2020, there is no shareholder with 5% of the shares of FBN Holdings Plc.” Otedola, therefore, becomes the bank’s second single largest shareholder on record. To underscore the positive reception of Otedola’s acquisition by the industry, FBN

Holdings witnessed unusually massive trading in its shares and the cumulative number of units traded within the period surpassed 2.1 billion.

The uptick in trading catapulted its share value by 62.3 per cent from the level it was three weeks ago.

The Lagos native is not new to such corporate derring-do; it may as well be for him like another day in the office. Lest the world forgot, he successfully rebranded and transformed a loss after tax of US$123m African Petroleum Plc in 2011 to a vibrant profit-making Forte Oil Plc with an average Profit After Tax of US$35m from 2012 to 2019.

Otedola also oversaw the successful reorganisation of Forte Oil’s capital structure in 2013 because of accumulated losses through a scheme of arrangement for the company to be able to resume dividend payments in 2014 after five years of not paying dividends to shareholders. In 2016, the company, under his leadership, announced the closure of a N9 billion corporate bond raise to shore up capital in the face of multiple devaluations and an increase in capital requirement. This instrument is listed both on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange.

He also superintended the rehabilitation and commissioning of 30,000 metric tonnes lubricants blending plant to drive the growth of annual lubricant sales from six million litres of various grades to 27 million litres while investing in storage assets rehabilitation, which enabled the availability of 60 million litres of white products, 800 MT LPG and six million litres bitumen storage capacity. He did not stop there.

Otedola shored up the product distribution fleet with the purchase of 100 Mercedes trucks with 45,000 litres, triple compartment tank capacity giving the company 4.5 million immediately available and deployable rolling stock and delivering a two-year ROI and average annual net freight income of USD1.639 million He also ensured that the company filed all its regulatory financial returns as and when due and consistently achieved early filer status with the Nigerian Stock Exchange from the 2012 financial year. Among other feats, he led Forte Oil Plc to the second-largest major marketer by market share from the sixth position on appointment.

By 2014, Forte Oil was listed among the Top 100 most respected companies in Nigeria and one

Otedola

of the top 50 brands in Nigeria based on the brand strength measurement index by the Top 50 Brands Nigeria. Other recognitions include the Most Innovative Retail Outlet of the Year 2016 by the Nigeria Innovation Summit; Best Corporate Social Responsibility marketing company of the year 2015; and Best Customer Service Retail Award 2016 by Oil Trading & Logistics Expo among others.

At the 414-MW Geregu Power Plant, which he acquired during the FGN Power Privatisation exercise of 2013 under a joint venture partnership with the State Grid Corporation of China/Shanghai Municipal Electric Corporation, the largest utility company in the world by size and market capitalisation, Otedola has revamped, transformed and increased the overall efficiency of the plant through a major overhaul exercise at USD 100 million thus increasing its capacity from 414 to 435 MW while operational capacity increased to 90 per cent. Instructively, current production from Geregu Power Plc accounts for 10% of the total power uptake of the National Grid.

Union of the Fayoses and Abduls: A Model Wedding Ceremony There is much in this life that wealth and influence can accomplish. Unbelievers of this fact would not have been invited to the wedding ceremony of the Fayoses and Abduls. As Oluwanigba Fayose and Olamide Abdul tied the knots of wedlock, dignitaries from all over Nigeria bore witness to the union with happy cheers.

Saturday, October 23, 2021, will be remembered as a special day for months to come. It was the day that saw The Monarch Event Centre in Lekki Peninsula II, Lagos, overflowing with aristocratic grace and panache. It was a day that saw political battle lines erased as wine glasses clink in the festive October afternoon. A day when grandeur was renamed after the order of the Fayoses and Abduls.

The event that saw Oluwanigba win Olamide to his side forever had the groom’s father, former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, dancing without a care in the world. His wife, Feyisetan and his in-laws, Adekunle and Moji Abdul, were no less ecstatic about the union of their two families.

Both the former governor and his prominent businessman in-law were joined by a rich company of luminaries. These included Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi and former Governor Segun Oni of Ekiti State; Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers; former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State; Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife; Senator Ademola Adeleke, a gubernatorial aspirant for Osun State; Senator Biodun Olujimi of Ekiti State, and several others.

There were also captains of industry, including Aare Dele Momodu, super media boss and publisher; Taiwo Afolabi, founder and CEO of SIFAX Group; Hajia Tai Elemesho Okesanjo, Montai boss; Madam Folake Ojelu, the Iyalaje of Ijora kingdom, to name a few.

Such a large and diverse assembly of dignitaries has not happened in a long time in Nigeria, not one that crosses ethnic, religious, political and even regional lines. Obviously, the

Mr. and Mrs. Oluwalonigba Fayose

union of the Fayoses and Abduls played the role of a grand event.

It will be difficult to repeat this level of grandeur in the months to come. In fact, Olamide’s wedding to Oluwanigba might be the most deafening ceremony for the last quarter of 2021.

...Son’s Wedding Unites Fayose and Makinde

Dr. Kayode Fayemi,Governor Wike,Couple, mr & mrs Ayo Fayose and Governor Seyi Makinde

Nigerian music artiste, D’Banj advised his audience to not get it twisted, that love is a beautiful thing.

Recent events would have smart people believe that weddings and marriages are even more beautiful. This idea is brought to life when weddings and marriages bring together seemingly irreconcilable political rivals.

Besides the colourful ceremony of Fayose son’s wedding, guests noticed the amiability between Fayose and his erstwhile rival, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. They were seen happily chatting and chummy.

There was a time when the name Fayose could not be uttered in the same sentence as Makinde. Although they

are both described as visionary leaders and progressive politicians, they never seemed to be able to get along with each other. This seemingly boundless difference in perspective overruled their mutual love for the people of the South-west and membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But, thanks to the wedding ceremony of Fayose’s son, the ostensibly burnt bridges are back in place.

It has to be said that the wedlock of Oluwanigba and Olamide is definitely going to outshine their parents’. For the wedding ceremony to unite Fayose with Makinde is an indication that the newlyweds are a match made in heaven.

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HIGHLIFE

Celebrating Betta Edu, a Commissioner and Influential Philanthropist Recently, the Vice-President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, advised youths in Nigeria to get themselves involved with politics. He implied that there is a level of change that Nigeria will not see until young people in the country emerge to bear the banners of their destiny themselves. This suggestion may only be described as golden seeing as it has set Cross River State far ahead of its peers.

There is only one person responsible for this position that Cross River occupies.

That person is Dr Betta Edu, the Honourable Commissioner for Health in the state. Aside from politics and administration, Edu doubles as likely the youngest public figure whose name has been written on the towering pillars of philanthropy with indelible ink.

Findings reveal that within a year of Edu becoming Commissioner for Health, she had redefined the boundaries of charity and generosity to Cross River children. Before now, Edu was already a household name for her many endeavours in the education sector. She has not only become a noteworthy character for bearing the burden of the 5,000

Edu

pupils across the state, but also for her being a prestigious medical doctor and a healthcare expert.

Edu has become even more noticeably prominent since December 2019. Her status within Nigeria has climbed beyond that of an ordinary doctor as she is the Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners’ Forum.

All of this has ensured that Cross River is mentioned in any discussion about quality health delivery and the contributions of young people to efforts aimed at sustainable growth and development in the country.

Edu has continued to fulfil her dream of helping people preserve their health and dignity. It is this dream—and her diligent pursuit of it—that attracted the First Lady of Cross River, Dr Linda Ayade.

From then on, the willing hands of Edu has reached thousands of the underprivileged in the state.

Today, Edu is a model of good work and industry. Her superiors value her greatly and those that have not yet climbed to her level love her immeasurably.

New Lease of Life for Erastus Akingbola at 71 Human life has been likened to a number of things; from a stage upon which all humans are actors, to a marketplace where every individual is only here to trade and will be off when it is time. Former Group MD of the now-defunct Intercontinental Bank, Erastus Akingbola, has been on this stage and marketplace for 71 years now. While he has been besieged by the occasional twists and turns, the man is doing rather well.

There are a few business people and bankers that have managed to imprint their names on the history books as partly responsible for any banking revolution in Nigeria. Akingbola happens to be one of these individuals. Dominating the industry as the face of Intercontinental Bank back then, analysts believed that he was going to be on the front lines of any other transformation that the banking industry might undergo with the advancements in modern technology. That prediction nearly came true.

While his time at the top shelves of the banking industry came to an abrupt end due

to the muddled waters that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is still trying to clear up, Akingbola did not remain idle as some of his peers were. The man has remained relevant, influencing lives through social entrepreneurship, a radio broadcast project and the Amazing Inspiration Foundation that has ensured that the future of Nigeria remains something to look forward to.

At 71, Akingbola has faced enough storms to be considered a water walker. Even so, his focus is still on the improvement of lives through inspiration and encouragement. Many families have emerged from the depths of despair because of Akingbola’s work on Inspiration 92.3FM, Nigeria’s first and only family radio.

For all of these reasons, Akingbola is the subject of prayers at the moment.

The case that the EFCC has against Akingbola could land him in jail. Even though he has been involved with them for over 12 years, the court case has reached a frightening crescendo that could go either way.

At 71, Akingbola sits between the honour

Akingbola

of lives uplifted and the horror of burst bank accounts. Truly, a new life is in view.

Princess Oladunni Odu: Top Ondo Female Politician Bounces Back

Odu

There is a time for everything, the Bible says.

There is a time to follow and a time to lead, one time to hide behind the shadows of other people and another to dazzle. This principle has come to play once again in the life of Princess Oladunni Odu. One might argue that she has come full circle, a complete revolution that has ended with her returning to the peak of her trade and talents.

A few months ago, Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, shook the table of governance and tradition in his state when he appointed Princess Odu as Secretary to the State Government (SSG). The appointment made headlines all over the country because Odu was taking over a position that has never before been occupied by a female. In other words, she was making history.

However, that was not all the reason her name resonated across the top news platforms of the day. She made the news because she had managed to bounce back to relevance after a

long time away from the centre of power.

The last time Princess Odu was firmly in the thick of things in Ondo was while late Governor Olusegun Kokumo Agagu was in power. Reports claim that Odu was the go-to person in his administration, a trustworthy aide that handled every assignment and project with unusual brilliance and efficiency.

However, upon Agagu’s vacation of the seat, Princess Odu also seemingly faded from view.

As is the case with these things, losing grasp of the present mechanics of governance often heralds an irreversible fall from such political circles. Not so in the case of Princess Odu. Her qualifications and experience, not to mention peculiar perspectives of issues have granted her a second life in Ondo State governance.

One can only say that this is the time of Princess Odu, again. It is her time to shine as she did back then.

Legacy Road Projects: As Seyi Makinde Assures Indigenes of Fresh Vistas for Oyo State There is nothing more satisfying for the people of a region than to have their leader fulfilling the terms of their appointment.

Similarly, there’s nothing as rewarding to a leader as the praise and support of the people.

This is the dynamics in Oyo State at the moment.

Having been celebrated by outsiders for being a progressive and deeply committed governor, Seyi Makinde has won the sincere accolades of his people.

Scholars say that transportation is the maker and breaker of cities. For Oyo, it is the beginning of an age of satisfaction. All of this jubilation has to do with the recent move by Makinde which saved billions of Naira on top of guaranteeing the completion of an important road project.

The story behind the Ibadan Circular Road is that it was in the heart of Makinde’s predecessor to fix up the stretch of roadway. However, the plan was a bit costly, and so the government intended to work on 32 kilometres of the road,

bringing the construction cost to about N70 billion. However, Makinde with his team of progressive minds has found a way to do more on the project with considerably less money According to the reports that have gladdened the hearts of the Oyo people, Makinde will construct the entire 110 kilometres of the road, with expenses reaching N138.2 billion. Using the former estimate as a yardstick, 110 kilometres would have cost about N240 billion. In other words, Makinde’s idea is to save N100 billion and still fix up the entire roadway.

The contract has, in fact, already been reawarded since Makinde does not intend to waste any time. The road will serve as the link to the new central business district that the governor is making arduous efforts towards establishing.

There are leaders and there are leaders.

Makinde, by the reckoning of his own people who know him best, is an A-list governor.

Makinde

Akinlade

Ex-Beauty Queen, Chinenye Ochuba’s Hubby, Akinlade in the News The period before the general election in Nigeria is usually one of the best times to get inspiration for political novels and television shows. There is almost always something happening that never happened before or happens all the time. In Ogun State, it is the latter and the gist is that a prominent gubernatorial candidate has lost the sponsorship of his prominent backer.

Reports have begun making the rounds that Adekunle Akinlade, the 2019 Ogun gubernatorial representing Allied People’s Movement (APM) has allegedly lost the support of his main political guarantor, former Governor — now Senator — Ibikunle Amosun. The reports hold that Amosun decided to shelve his support of Akinlade’s governorship dream once he considered the pros and cons, as well as the resources required to pull it off.

Akinlade, who is as popular for his mandate in 2019 to outperform Governor Dapo Abiodun, as he is for being the husband of former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Chinenye Ochuba, is not having it easy. Some folks who are familiar with the ABCs of gubernatorial politics have gone on to say that Akinlade is not only royally screwed but has had his governorship fate sealed.

Anybody who knows anything about politics, in Nigeria especially, understands that godfathers are called so for a reason. Amosun’s presence behind Akinlade two years ago was greatly felt. Folks insist that Amosun wanted his successor to come from Ogun West and Akinlade just so happened to satisfy this criterion. Alas, Abiodun rode on the tall waves of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and became governor of the state.

Now that Amosun has allegedly stepped out from Akinlade’s camp, one wonders if he will still pursue his ambition and what will come of it. While many people are convinced that there is no power broker on the same level as Amosun behind Akinlade, a few are hoping for a miracle.

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Diezani Alison Madueke’s ‘Bra’ as Reparation Well, in my over 30 years working experience involving unhooking bras, I have never engaged a bra with the purported value being bandied all over the place. We have heard some monstrous figures running into millions of dollars enough to take us out of this forever debt slavery to the Chinese.

Mbok, as I read all these reports, what comes to my mind is what kind of breast will be behind that kind of bra. A $12m bra must be protecting very valuable ministerial breast o.

The list allegedly released by the EFFC has been designed to cause maximum damage to Madam. Her image running into tatars as Nigerian’s drool over the nakedness of the vanity displayed. If this list is authentic, you know this our government na magic people, but if this list is true, then this Madam has really slapped us in the face o.

How can she embark on such a campaign of vanity? But then again one wise man whispered in my ear about the money laundering angle and I shouted o. Yes, so how else would you

VALENTINE OZIGBO: MY CANDIDATE Let me come out boldly and declare my full support for this candidate – Valentine Ozigbo for the governorship of Anambra State. I boldly stand and state my preference for him over all other candidates. This is my personal prerogative and my right as an individual. You will now want to ask me why I am taking this stance. Simple: when I dey greet the man for road, he dey answer me.

Seriously, my position in Nigeria today is for us to begin to fill these positions with entrepreneurial leadership. Leaders who understand the current dynamics of world economy and the need to galvanise private resources as we begin to rebuild the nation.

The era of the grass-root leader or the career candidate who just needs the positioning for some ego boosting or selfish and shallow reasons is over. Government, today, can no longer play the role it has stupidly given itself since 1960. It can no longer be the all and end all in the system and even if it wanted to be, it has been shackled with inept policy, daft leadership and an aggressive global economic space that is moving with dizzying space pushing aside the red tapes’ that is government.

So, when I take a cursory look at the candidates for this very important state election, I see a motley crowd of jokers, comedians, career candidates, academics and purveyors of ill-fitting skit all banding

Ozigbo

move that kind of cash across international boundaries. Answer is very simple, buy a million-dollar bra and just walk past.

Which customs officer will dare to ask to ‘press’ Minister Breast? Even if that machine at the airport is screaming like it always does, will you stop madam and say, ‘Please distinguished Minister, can I touch your breast? This thing is shouting.”

You see why the customs will need people like me with brazen boldness in the service.

Me, as the breast is coming towards me, I will just push my female colleagues aside and say, ‘Madam Minister, I have touched many breasts in my life, in fact breast to me is like cash to cashier, he no dey move me. Can you allow me to inspect only your left breast? That is all that is needed now. I tell you; all this noise would have ended because I am expert in these things. With one hand, I will unhook the ministerial bra and seize it once and for all.

Anyways, my problem in all of these, I did not see on the list, the nipple piercing. That is

the valuable metal they use to pierce their nipples that one is very sexy. That is the one I would like to sell my father’s house in Anyiam Nsit to buy.

Please, anybody that has the connections, kindly contact me. Thank you.

To better understand these matters, please buy my book ‘Anonymous Nipples’ and see how I have dissected breast, bras and their owners. I strongly recommend the book to the Chairman of EFCC and their team as they embark on this brazier selling jaunt.

around, causing disaffection and mayhem as they jostle for the premier position in the state.

This is why I have stood by Valentine.

He is a consummate gentleman, levelheaded and a thorough professional who understands the role of private Capital in stabilising the economy and by extension stabilising the polity. What we must realise is that the seeming political instability we face today is as a result of the continued fight for control of dwindling resources being controlled from a power epicentre.

Once, we decentralise the forces of economic control, you will see that we will get political stability.

In taking this position, I have taken into consideration that the only Anambra girl, I have chased in my life left me after two weeks in 1997, I do not need to cross the Onitsha bridge on my way to Akwa Ibom and their Afang is not as sweet as our own. So, I really do not have much to lose if my candidates do not emerge.

So, here is wishing Valentine a good run even as I pray that he emerges. Jokes apart, we really do not need all these masquerades anymore. Let’s get serious.

This is my friend and brother and some of you would have known that he was a Vice Presidential candidate running with the great Al Mustapha in the 2019

elections. He was also a gubernatorial candidate at some point too.

When he told me, I felt like crying at the same time. I just look the bobo, say with all your expertise in international communications and a great scholar of the national project na Al Mustapha you see do running mate. He engaged me with his team over plates of Afang and Fufu on the issue and his take on Nigeria. As he chewed on the goat meat, he spoke on the radicalisation of decision-making processes from the top in a bid to achieve a top-down engagement.

I like him so I listened and after all I said, bro when you decamp, we talk. This morning as I was writing this column, he dropped something really engaging and thought-provoking on my phone.

He said: “It is a brazen political immorality if the presidency is zoned to the South-west in 2023. He continued, “It will confirm the cheeky assertion that the South-east remains a conquered territory that can’t be trusted with power at the centre. He concluded by saying that having a President from the North or South-west will be a travesty.

Just as I was about to nail him, he dropped another one. ‘I blame the political class from the South-east for the deliberate lack of development in the zone that is arguably living with the highest unemployment rate in the country’.

He further enjoined the leadership of the zone on all fronts, political, economic and socio-cultural to close ranks and come up

Opara

Ukpanah

ROBERT OPARA: HEAVY THINGS ON HIS MIND

Madueke

with an economic blueprint that should create socio-economic impact in the zone.

Need I say more. This is his second paragraph na the koko of the matter. I keep quiet.

ANIEKAN UKPANAH – DUKE, YOU WILL GET YOUR AFANG That was cosmopolitan and excessively brilliant Aniekan Ukpanah, the Managing Partner of the prestigious Udo Udoma and Bello Osagie Law Firm to me as we discussed varied issues pertaining to this our country.

You know I have said that the fundraising run of this my new play – Ufok Ibaan which is a depiction of the Ikot Abasi women’s Uprising in 1929 has really opened me up to some of the most cerebral Nigerians I can find.

Normally, when I am looking for money for my play, I will be chasing corporate sponsors but this one, because of its deep intellectual and historical influences, I have begun to see that the kinds of people who are talking to me are deeply engaging and prominently cerebral. How do you explain, meeting with Gbenga Oyebode and Senator Udo Udoma on the same day on the same matter?

Anyways, that is how I entered Aniekan’s lair the other day. The St. Nicholas building offices of the law firm strategically and proudly standing beside my former office -BGL. The ambience of

Akindele

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LOUD WHISPERS the office is a story for another day, but let me just say this, the place na oasis.

Very meticulously apportioned with fitting images of our Icons – Fela, Chinua Achebe, Ladi Kwali all scripted by famed Lemi Ghariokwu the guy that did most of Fela’s album art.

Aniekan is a handsome man who comes at you with the sweet breeze of intelligence. He took me down some very deep incursions into leadership, history, economics and the evolving modern-day law firm especially in its strategy, identification of the dynamics of the market and its engagement with the arrowhead of economic movements.

I just sat there, mouth opened drinking from the well of this knowledge and the sweet pride exuding from this well dressed gentleman.

After the long and incisive engagements, it was time for me to talk. Mbok, what can I say to such an erudite gentleman. I just ask, ‘Mbok don’t vex, madam had invited me to Afang in the house. Please, help me greet her and remind her of the offer’. He smiled and said, ‘Don’t worry, we are all in Akwa Ibom, this December, Afang in the village would be perfect’. I said, ‘Magic’ as I moved towards the elevator wondering just what kind of breast milk did these ones take wey dem come brilliant like this.

Kai.

KAYODE OLUWU JNR: WHO DID YOU OFFEND? This is a very painful story I am about to tell. So, braze up and listen. Kayode Oluwu is one of those dreamers, those people who really believe not only in the system but also on the need for us to create opportunities outside of leveraging on governments and its warped patronage system.

When you listen to him, you begin to wonder if this is a second generation ‘connected’ Lagosian. His late father was in the Government Advisory Council with almost everybody in the state from the highest level to the lowest in power on his speed dial. He even sat on the great Awolowo’s laps as a child that is how ingrained he is to the mainstream ‘Yoruba ethno-political millie’. Na me form that one sha.

Anyways, after coming back into the country, he started off with the baggage wrapping system still being used in our airports. He then went to work for the Lagos State Government in various agencies including being the Project Manager of BRT with LAMATA. He was also instrumental to the Lagos Refrigerated Van Project along other such laudable initiatives like the Lagos City Cabs amongst others.

Seeing opportunities, he decided to go into Marine Transport and built one of the most enviable Marine franchises in the country along the Lekki Corridor which saw the President of Yamaha worldwide attend the launching with my Governor Sanwo-Olu sending a representative.

The business supported the revolutionary water transport initiatives that is taking over Lagos and other corporate and individuals who have sort water transportation as a viable alternative to the chaos of Lagos traffic.

Now the wahala, me I don’t understand the details, you know I no be lawyer or government official. Anything land for Lagos, I no put mouth o. The only time I enter EFCC problem na on land matter since then I move far on anything that has to do with land.

But from what I have heard, the struggle between his landlord and the government on the land got to a head that despite a court injunction that came two days earlier, his N200m business franchise complete with spare parts, boats and all were destroyed at 4 a.m. one morning. All the calls to all the top government officials that morning could not save the franchise which had over 100 people under employment.

The man stood there that morning in his

Pajamas to see half-drunk officials gleefully wreck his dream. He sought tears but could not be consoled. All he wanted to do was to support the government with their plans of turning the water into a powerful resource instead of a point for dropping faeces.

As he spoke to me, I could feel his pain.

He asked, ‘Edgar, they didn’t even give me notice. The court injunction came at 4a.m. the next day, my life was in rubbles.

I say my brother, ‘Please take heart’. Abi what else can I say at this juncture. This one pass me o. He even strong sef. If na me is it not to tie my naked body on the tractors and they will be using my scrotum to be smashing the boats.

The question he kept asking and which I am asking at this point is, ‘Couldn’t we have found at least a middle ground?

If for nothing else but for the economic service, the jobs created and all? I hear the whole thing could have been dismantled

in 14 days, so the hurry to pull down is kind of confusing.

Anyways, my advice to him is not to use juju and pursue anybody, he should not be like Fela who carried casket to Dodan Barracks and carry ‘Ebo’ to Alausa.

Even though I can provide advice on that one. You know in Shomolu we used to see plenty. I even know the ones that will come from Apata. That one used to have eggs and palm oil, the one that comes from Igbo Igunnu will have kola nuts.

I said, ‘Bro, be an inspiration. Go to the site of the wreckage with a Press crew and proclaim to the world that see where I am now, down. But wait and see me rise again. Tell the whole world that you will build a bigger and better jetty and from the ashes of this wreckage, you will emerge.

He smiled and said, ‘Duke, the thing dey pain me. I say my brother he reach to pain. Na so I nearly die when Banji

UDEME UFOT RALLIES THE TROOPS I have recently written about this Lord.

I had captioned it ‘Udeme is a great man’. But let me crave your indulgence and write again. I promise after this one, I will not write again until he either wins whatever is the global awards in his industry or he gives me his goat meat again. I have heard that Udeme’s goat meat is world acclaimed and that it is one of the very few things that a lot of big Akwa Ibom people fly all the way to come and munch on.

Mr. Ufot has been a God sent as I struggle to deliver on my vision of retelling the Ikot Abasi Women’s Uprising that happened in 1929. The story is so rich, that listening to Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, whose grandmother was the central figure and the inspiration of the William Benson written epic, tears almost came out of my eyes. The part when the senator said his 12year old father was called from school to come and identify his mother’s body touched me. I imag-

ined the boy falling over the body of his mother who had just given him pap that morning. I bowed my head. By the way, that boy grew up to be one of the most distinguished legal luminaries of this century rising to the bench of the Supreme Court and emerging as the AttorneyGeneral of Uganda amongst others.

Anyways, that is how Udeme Ufot has opened up his wide and very rich network to me o. Come and see great Akwa Ibom men like the aforementioned Aniekan Ukpanah, Larry Ettah former Head Honcho at UAC, Richard Esin, Aniekan Etiebet, Gabriel Ukpe, Captain Udom of Ibom Air and many moreGod walks through messengers. Udeme is a real messenger of God on this matter. This story will redefine my people, it will engage 500 youths and over one million people will see it globally.

Please anybody that has Udeme’s phone number help me call him and just say ‘thank you.’

one stupid boy snatch my girlfriend for University, I almost die. But from that wreckage na Russian halfcaste I hit. So, if I can do it, you sef can do it.

My brother, God will work with you no worries. Even as I console him, the words from a stranger keep haunting me.

The young man had said, ‘Dad if this can happen to you a second generation well connected Lagosian, what hope do the common man and the rest of us have?

My brother na that kind question dem dey answer with, ‘the answer my friend, is blowing in the wind….

SAM IWUAJOKU: THE MILLIONDOLLAR MAN I had passed through his terminal. It is the private jet wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. You know when you are big, you are big. I was with a client who I will not mention his name just yet. We were headed to Abuja for a quick meeting with Dr. Bukola Saraki, then Senate President. That is how traffic catch us on Maryland o. My client just made three calls and we were on a Private Jet to Abuja. On our return journey, I surveyed the terminal and the adjoining Legend Hotel and they said, “It is one man that own the place.”

Today, I met the man. Sam Iwuajoku says he is a Nigerian. He has built this franchise to the point where his aircraft maintenance business services aircraft for four major outposts including Dornier. He also provides packing services for almost all the people that matter in this country with private jets.

His Legend Hotel- apart from being managed by the Hilton-perfectly takes advantage of its proximity to the International Airport and the legendary gridlock on Lagos roads to pull in 100% occupancy. Hence, the ambitious $35m expansion project which is expected to move it from a 60 room edifice to over 231 sand a massive conference centre that can seat about 2,000 people.

As he speaks, I see the strength of a man that has built from scratch with his bare knuckles a business that has redefined his essence and continues to give fillip to the fact that Nigeria is still a very great country. Welldone sir. I hail and bow.

AKINTOYE AKINDELE SPEAKS ON DIASPORA REMITTANCES

Ufot

Have you met this gentleman before? He is dandy, almost playful but deeply engaging. I have had a series of engagements with him and found him to be too robust and passionate in his approach to the Nigerian question. Anybody wey still believe in this country, I stand with him. So, when I saw the presentation he made on Diaspora remittances recently to an American audience, I quickly invited him to come speak to us on thealvinreport.com My people let me show you some facts he spewed in that report so you see why if the man ask for my pikin in marriage I will say, ‘Annette, please forget the over 70-year age difference; give this a try.’

In his presentation, ‘Value before remittance,’ he said that 17m Nigerians live in the diaspora with 54% of them holding down managerial positions, 61% in the US hold a first degree, remittance per diaspora capita is $988 higher than the average African per capita of $535 and over 90,000 students abroad with us coming in as the 5th in overall global foreign study. This presentation and the implication of its content on our immediate economic development was not lost on me and should not be lost on any right-thinking Nigerian.

This is why I have given Dr. Akintoye the platform to speak to us on the prestigious The Alvin Report Platform that has the largest conglomeration of PhD holders in Africa as contributors. Mbok call me if you want to be part of this session.

It’s on zoom and holding today.

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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 31, 2021

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Siju Iluyomade’s Charitable Heart

That the beautiful and elegant woman, Siju Iluyomade, has chosen charity above any other thing, is an understatement. The pretty wife of Pastor Idowu Iluyomade has vowed to give all that she has in the service of humanity.

Yesterday, Saturday, October 30, she fulfilled the promise of assembling powerful and influential female professionals for the 2021 Arise Women Conference. The 13th edition, which was held at the Recreation Complex of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, Lagos attracted millions of viewers.

It was televised on Channels TV and was also streamed live on all social media platforms of Arise Women.

It was gathered that six wives of serving governors participated in the Conference.

They include Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; Mrs. Bisi Fayemi of Ekiti State; Mrs. Olunfunke Makinde of Oyo-State; Mrs. Chioma Uzodinma of Imo State and Dr Zainab Bagudu of Kebbi State.

Others are the wife of Deputy Governor of Lagos, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat; Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, among others.

Arise Women has played a major role in contributing to the empowerment of the less-privileged in Nigeria and has been involved in the provision of several social amenities.

Iluyomade

Businesswoman Folasade Omotade-Odumosu Remembers Late Husband An American children’s author, political cartoonist, illustrator and poet once said: “Sometimes, you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

Everyone remembers their first love, and it is only natural to feel sentimental when thinking about them. Such was the feeling in the heart of Mrs Folasade Omotade-Odumosu for her late husband, Ayodeji Olaseni Omotade.

On that faithful Saturday, October 22, 2005, Omotade who was then the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industries and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was leaving Lagos for Abuja. He never envisaged that it would be his last flight. The Bellview flight he boarded that day had crashed at Lisa village in Ogun State shortly after taking off.

To say Folasade was distraught and devastated is, to put it mildly. She was inconsolable, as her world seemed to have crashed before her eyes.

Sixteen years later, the billionaire businesswoman, who is now married to the Lagos Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, has not hidden the fact that her late hubby is still indeed a part of her memories. Consequently, on October 22, 2021, she took to social media to pen beautiful words in memory of her late husband, writing “My late husband, my closest friend and confidant. Thank you for watching over our children from heaven, may your soul know everlasting peace.

“Happy birthday, My husband. I miss you more and more every day. Today, you are 70. I wish you were alive to see your children and celebrate with us, but God chooses the time we are ready to die and for you, it was 16 years ago. We wish you a happy birthday wherever you are and accept our best wishes.”

The couple had three children.

Oando Boss, Jubril Adewale Tinubu’s Glad Tidings When in November 2011 Forbes Magazine named him King of African Oil, it was only an affirmation of his giant strides and daring exploits in the oil and gas business. The celebration by the international business magazine had come barely eight years after Jubril Adewale Tinubu rebranded Oando.

Though Tinubu, who is the Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, had ventured into the oil business from the background of legal practice, where his forte was in corporate and petroleum laws, he did not have to grope his way for too long, because he was already armed with a bright torch of academic excellence that illuminated his paths, to the admiration of all.

As a businessman, he has had some bitter-sweet experiences that would take some pages of his memoirs, whenever he chooses to knit them in black and white.

It is not often we see a wealthy man with a good head, a good heart and a literate tongue or pen alongside his wealth.

Interestingly, industry watchers agree that 54-year-old Tinubu must be studied like a book by anyone coming into the industry, as he is acknowledged to know the ABC of the oil and gas business. One of the reasons is that he has always survived even the harshest of attacks and most inclement circumstances in the industry.

Indeed, his stories of triumph have confounded many, leaving even his worst critics to acknowledge the abundance of God’s grace in his life. A good pointer to this was during the peak of the pandemic last year. While many of his competitors were gnashing their teeth, following the outbreak of the Covid-19, Tinubu seems to be ending the year on a happy note.

Another development that has confirmed his business acumen is that, at the end of his company’s war with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC),

Adedoyin-Alao

Tinubu

his reputation was not dented in any way.

He shamed his critics when the war that many had thought would consume him was settled amicably in July.

His crowning glory was when the shareholders, at the company’s 42nd Annual General Meeting at the Wings Office Complex, Victoria Island, Lagos, passed a vote of confidence in him. The company’s AGM had come in the wake of an out-of-court settlement with the SEC that had suspended the company’s AGM in 2019.

After delivering such a resounding

slap to the face of his numerous doubters who insist on remaining blind and deaf to his incontestable greatness, the trained lawyer has already set bigger targets for the current year which he is working harder than ever to achieve, as his primary objective is to keep putting smiles in the face of shareholders.

But one side of Tinubu’s life that is under-reported is his philanthropy. He gives without inviting the cameras, as his life in entirety is guided by the Quranic teachings.

Olori Olusola Adedoyin-Alao, the beautiful daughter of billionaire businessman, Chief Samuel Adedoyin, has tasted the seriocomic side of life, almost in equal measures.

When the former Managing Director of City Express Bank was hovering between life and death, having been battling cancer, no one, including her doctors, believed she could survive it. One of the best doctors in Europe predicted in 2006 that she had just four days to live. She was expectedly traumatised, but she held on to her faith in God. Miraculously, she survived the ailment.

Shortly afterwards, her career was threatened when City Express Bank failed to survive the new regulations of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). But the graduate of Marketing/Accounting from St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia did not despair, as she kept her head up and moved on.

While she went through all this, she learnt a great lesson about life, which has now drawn her even closer to her Creator.

She believes so much in the deathless quotes of Roy T. Bennett that ‘’Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.’’

In fact, many have benefitted from her magnanimity.

She has saved so many from the jaws of the dreaded cancer through her foundation, MariaSam Foundation, which she founded shortly after her own bitter encounter.

Since the foundation was established, she has been spending her hard-earned money for the treatment of cancer patients, except occasionally when she gets corporate sponsorship and donations from well-meaning individuals.

Speaking with journalists recently, she disclosed that it had been tough for her, but that her love for humanity had taken a better part of her. She also revealed that the government had not supported her in any way since she started.

According to her, “The government is not forthcoming in too many things. If the government is not forthcoming in feeding its people, which is an everyday essential, or on electricity, water that you need to survive, isn’t it a bit strange expecting them to be forthcoming when it comes to cancer treatment?

“Every house in Nigeria is a factory.

You are basically providing everything you need. Why would you be expecting them to be forthcoming when it comes to medicals?”

Nevertheless, if for anything else, she is happy that she is having the best in her marriage to Oba Francis Olushola Alao, the Olugbon of ile’gbon Kingdom in Oyo State.

The marriage has just been blessed with a set of twins (two boys). Why this is news is that she was blessed with bundles of joy at 59!

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

31.10.2021

NOW, THAT NIGERIA HAS TURNED UP THE HEAT ON THE LOOTERS… The official handover of the Benin bronze objects by two British universities as well as the submission of Nigeria’s official demands for the return of its looted objects herald a brighter prospect for the retrieval of other antiquities in the custody of Western museums. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

R

ecent landmark events of the just-concluded week should be a morale booster for advocates for the return of Nigeria’s looted artefacts. First, there was the Wednesday, October 27’s formal handing over of the Benin Bronze cockerel, called “Okukor”, to the o΀cials of the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments by the Jesus College of the University of Cambridge, England on in its premises. Then, following closely on the heels of this event, the following day, was the return of a Benin bronze head by the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

There was, of course, also the British Museum’s hosting of the Benin Dialogue Group for a discussion with museum administrators in Europe and Nigeria on how to repatriate Benin bronzes strewn all over the world. Perhaps, the major highlight of that event was the delivery of Nigeria’s government’s demand for the return of the country’s antiquities in the British Museum.

The seven-page letter, signed by the Information and Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was delivered by the National Commissions for Museums and Monuments director-general Professor Abba Isa Tijani on Monday, October 25. This was to the British Museum’s Trustees and its chairman, Sir Richard Lambert, through a director of the museum, Dr Hartwig Fischer.

Back to the historic handover of Okukor by Jesus College.

Hopes that it would bring other repatriation ceremonies in its train are further buoyed up by the Nigerian government’s tenacity to keep the concerns over the ethics of plundered historical artefacts on the front burner. The college had earlier reiterated its commitment to returning the stolen bronze cockerel to its original owners. A statement by the Master of Jesus College, Ms Sonita Alleyne, had described the gesture as “historic”, adding: “We look forward to welcoming representatives from Nigeria and Benin to the handover ceremony and to celebrating the return of this Bronze.”

Events that climaxed to this handover, which had since been hailed by the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, dated back to February 2016. This was when student campaigners demanded in an 11-page report it had presented to the college's student union, urging that the statue, which was later removed from public display the following month, be returned to the “community from which it was stolen.”

The bronze cockerel was believed to be among the objects acquired by George William Neville, a member of the Legislative Council of the Colony of Lagos and a businessman who had accompanied the British Expedition to Benin City in 1897.

Neville had, upon his return to the UK, displayed in his home in Weybridge.

Neville had in 1905 gifted Okukor to Jesus College, where his son was studying. The college’s records corroborate the fact that it had “agreed gratefully to accept” the “gift of the bronze Àgure of a cock which formed part of the spoil captured at Benin, West Africa and to thank Mr Neville for making this appropriate gift.”

Thus, until March 2016, when the college removed it from the display and agreed to consider its future, the statue used to adorn its dining hall. Three years later, in 2019, it acknowledged the fact that it “belongs with the current Oba at the Court of Benin” and should be returned to Nigeria. This was backed up by an authorisation by the Charity Commission for England and Wales in December 2020 for the bronze statue to be transferred to the Oba of Benin. This was after the college’s application by under s.

106 of the Charities Act 2011.

As for the University of Aberdeen’s return on Thursday, October 28 of the Benin bronze head, it was in fulÀlment of a promise it made days after the Humboldt Forum Museum in Berlin had said it was pursuing the return of its Benin bronzes.

This was a fallout of a conversation the university had instigated in 2020 through a Babcock University law professor Bankole Sodipo with the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments through its legal adviser Babatunde Adebiyi, the Edo State Government through the state’s then attorney-general and Commissioner for Justice Professor Yinka Omoregbe and the Oba of Benin’s royal court through Prince

Prof Tijani hands over Nigerian government's demands to the Director of the British Museum Dr Hartwig Fischer, who represents the Chairman of the Trustees of the British Museum Sir Richard Lambert

or el Okuk e cocker z n o r b Benin

Professor Gregory Akenzua.

The conversation, which led to the Scotland-based university becoming the Àrst institution to agree to the full repatriation of the Benin bronze in its custody, was also endorsed by the Nigerian government through its Information and Culture Ministry and its minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The bronze sculpture, which depicts an Oba, was acquired by the university in 1957. It attests to the high-quality metalworking skills of the ancient Benin Kingdom, which was sacked by the 1897 British military expedition. A review of the university’s collection, according to its Head of Museums and Special

C Collections, had identiÀed the bronze head of an Oba as having b been acquired in a way they considered “to have been extremely iimmoral”.

This led to the university initiating a meeting with the possible claimants. After a deliberation of a panel of experts, which iincluded academic specialists, curators, the university’s court’s rrepresentatives, the o΀cials of the University of Glasgow’s H Hunterian Museum and the Nigerian claimants, it was unanim mously agreed that the looted object be returned to Nigeria. This w was a move welcomed by both the Information and Culture M Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the University of Aberdeen’s p principal and vice-chancellor, Professor George Boyne.

While Alhaji Mohammed hailed it as “a step in the right direction”, Professor Boyne said: “It would not have been right to h have retained an item of such great cultural importance that was acquired in such reprehensible circumstances.”

Meanwhile, excerpts from the letter, delivered by the National Commissions for Museums and Monuments director-general P Professor Abba Isa Tijani at the instance of the information m minister on Monday, October 25, explicitly called on the British M Museum “to return Nigerian artefacts in the British Museum tto Nigeria so that our museums and palaces can have things to show the present generation.”

The letter also alluded to the previous demands made by N Nigeria to the British Museum at diͿerent fora. An example was w when a replica of the Queen-mother Idia mask had to be used as the FESTAC ’77 (the second edition of the Festival of Black A Arts and Culture) o΀cial mascot after when the British Museum rrefused to lend or sell the original to the Nigerian government.

While acknowledging the di΀culties and constraints that m might be faced by the British Museum in the event of relinquishiing the stolen objects in its possession, the minister argued that the tthoughts leading to the said provisions were mooted in the era of tthe British Empire, hence the “British Museum cannot hold on to tthe arts and antiquities of other friendly nations now under those tterms.”

The letter further echoed the calls, canvassed over the years by activists, that source-nations be allowed to derive some beneÀts f from their patrimony. Among other proposals, it insisted “that new agreements must be wrought which eͿect is Àrst, the legal transfer of Nigerian antiquities in the British Museum to Nigeria and second, the physical return of Nigerian antiquities from the British Museum to Nigeria. Thereafter, agreements on joint travelling exhibitions, loans and other similar arrangements which are commonplace in the museum world can be discussed.”

In a related development, Nigeria is closing in on the tracks of stolen the Ife bronze head, known as “Ife 2”, which was stolen in a break-in at the National Museum Jos, Nigeria in 1987. “It was stolen alongside eight other very important antiquities of high value,” a document signed by Adebiyi disclosed. “The guard at the museum was beaten and was almost killed.”

According to Adebiyi, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) duly reported this theft to the local police and the INTERPOL. “Nigeria also reported to the UNESCO, this prompted UNESCO to announce the loss of the object to the world through its Quarterly Report of 1987.”

This explains Nigeria’s ongoing submission ² presented by Adebiyi as its counsel ² against Britain and Belgium before the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP), which was heard on Monday, September 27. Alhaji Mohammed had alluded to this case at the press conference he held in Lagos on Saturday, July 17. “We are currently before the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to it Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation (ICPRCP) in Paris, where we have instituted a claim against a Belgian who wanted to auction an Ife Bronze head valued at $5 million, at least,” he had said. “This Ife Bronze antiquity has been seized by the London Metropolitan Police, pending the decision on who the true owner is. Of course, we all know that the true owner is Nigeria.”

Similarly, Nigeria looks forward to December when the agreement for the repatriation of Benin bronzes held in Germany (which should be concluded by August 2022) would be signed.

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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SUNDAY OCTOBER 31, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 31, 2021

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Anambra Guber Poll: How Prepared are Security Agencies?

Despite the unprecedented militarisation and over-policing of their space with the secessionist tweak ahead of the November 6 governorship poll, citizens of Anambra State are still uncertain of their safety, Louis Achi writes

C

learly, what is unfolding in the nation’s sociopolitical space is comparable to an Athenian tragedy but lacking the majesty of a Greek drama. This poetic verdict delivered over two decades ago by the late erudite economist and scholar, Dr. Pius Okigbo, incidentally from Ojoto, in Idemili South LGA of Anambra State, also holds true for his undeniably illustrious home turf.

Cut to the bone? Okigbo’s position simply captures the damming failure of the national, regional and Anambra State political leaderships. And despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s assurance and confirmation of his agency’s readiness for the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State, significant uncertainty pervades the air.

“We have recovered from the series of attacks on our facilities and I am happy to say that we have deployed all the nonsensitive materials to all the local government areas. As far as INEC is concerned, we are good to go on November 6. We have trained the requisite number of ad-hoc staff for the election and mobilised members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for efficient distribution of materials on Election Day,” Yakubu reportedly added The INEC boss spoke mid last week, at a meeting with the Joint National Assembly Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters. The meeting was aimed at engaging with the commission over the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State..

Almost a month before Yakubu’s speech, on Monday, October 4 2021, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Faruk Yahaya, flagged off a new military operation codenamed Exercise Golden Dawn, in the country’s South-eastern region which, according to him, will curb rising cases of insecurity. He said the operation would tackle insurgency, kidnapping and rising banditry in the South-East, which had led to wanton killings and burning of government facilities. Previous such exercises evoke a bad memory for the region.

Meanwhile, still on the same governorship poll, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Usman Alkali Baba mid last week also ordered an unprecedented overhauling of the security landscape in the state ahead of the election scheduled for this weekend.

According to a statement signed by the Force spokesperson, CP Frank Mba, the overhauling includes the deployment of selected, and seasoned Strategic Commanders from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and above to the state for effective supervision of security personnel and operations in the election.

In the new security scenario, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Joseph Egbunike, was deployed to Anambra State as

Usman the Coordinator of the security component for the election.

“DIG Egbunike is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment, to ensure a peaceful environment devoid of violence and conducive enough to guarantee that law-abiding citizens freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation,” the statement clarified.

It further added that, “DIG Egbunike will be assisted by the DIG in-charge of Operations, Acting DIG Zaki Ahmed. Other strategic commanders deployed to Anambra State include five (5) Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), fourteen (14) Commissioners of Police (CPs), thirty-one (31) Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and forty-eight (48) Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs). The Senior Officers are to coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three (3) Senatorial Districts, twenty-one (21) Local Government Areas and the 5720 polling units in Anambra State.

“The IG reassures the nation that the Force is adequately prepared for the gubernatorial election in Anambra State

come November 6th, 2021….and will do everything within its powers to work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all stakeholders to protect democratic values, provide level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC personnel and equipment, accredited observers and other key players in Anambra State.”

The unprecedented security preparations ahead of the poll, among other imperatives have linkages to threats issued

by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the effect that the election would not hold if its leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu was not unconditionally released by November 4.

IPOB vowed they would put the entire South-East on a weeklong lock-down, starting from November 5, that is, a day before the election. For good measure, they have warned the people of Anambra State, that for the safety of their lives, they should remain indoors for the duration of the sit-at-home order! Kanu has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) after he was renditioned from Kenya to Nigeria by the federal government.

According to Professor Chidi Odinkalu, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, “The IPOB commandand-control structure - if it existed - is broken down. So there isn’t one IPOB. There are multiple IPOBs. And you’ve got political IPOB.” X-raying this weekend’s governorship election during a recent interview on ARISE NEWS Channel, Odinkalu observed that, “In Anambra State for instance, I think one of the challenges in the election is knowing which IPOB you are talking about. There are political IPOB owned by partisan political actors in Anambra State. There is a faction in Anambra Central who are masquerading as IPOB. You’ve got a set of cults that are from somewhere in Ebonyi State and parts of Abia State as part of the political IPOB in Anambra State for instance.

And then, you’ve got the Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB. All of them are competing for space.”

In navigating this quirky haze, it could be recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan experienced a similar challenge in 2015 and had to delay the presidential election by six weeks to enable the military secure the North-east region from Boko Haram and guarantee the safety of voters in that region! Is Jonathan’s intervention a viable option or applicable model here? In the South-east region, the fundamental variables and underlying philosophy driving dissent are different from the North-eastern scenario.

It is against the backdrop of this tumultuous canvas that governorship aspirants are seeking to succeed Governor Willie Obiano and occupy Agu-Awka. Meanwhile, for the stressed out citizens of Anambra, it’s morning yet on creation day!

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

Secondus’ Scar of Indiscretion

Secondus

It’s actually a lot easier for an average person to see the logic in the decision by the suspended national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, to seek justice and right the alleged wrong meted out to him. But, in politics, there’s a limit to which anyone can seek to right any wrong. It doesn’t make it correct or sound, but often, it is politically expedient, especially, in a third world environment.

If Secondus were to be honest, he would be able to acknowledge that becoming chairman must have cost some others their supposed right. But, in the spirit of give and take, such events have become almost an integral part of the black politics, which is largely crude. Therefore, discretion and the ability to understand the nuances are strength.

It was one thing to take the party to court, it was another to be ready to damage the party and undo some of the feats it has achieved in re-calibrating its current standing. Knowing that his suit could shatter the proposed national convention and by extension, unsettle the party as well as vitiate its chances in 2023, was enough for Secondus to have had a rethink and saved the day.

But, obviously, he lacked the wisdom to see the bigger picture and would rather listen to the sound of his own voice and those of the people goading him on. It was okay to have an implicit confidence in the system, but what about the political correctness of the road he chose to travel in larger and collective interest? Clearly, it was a highway to nowhere.

Truth is that, while a majority of the people shared

his sentiment and the manner he was being treated at inception, it soon got to a point that the fate of the party became the issue and overriding all other personal considerations. Yet, Secondus and his tiny clique didn’t get it or rather, chose to look away and damned the consequences.

Unfortunately, for him and his cohorts, if the plan was to puncture the proposed national convention, they just lost out. So, what has it profited him and his advisers? The party is bigger and supreme and there’s no debating that. However, coming from one, who had spent most of his time as chairman preaching sacrifice in leadership, he simply had been insincere about his supposed ideals and worldview. Well, he just got bruised and might have sustained a terrible scar as a result of poor choices and thoughtlessness.

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BRIEFINGNOTES Will Atiku Swim against the Tide in 2023?

After his two previous attempts to pick the presidential tickets of the Social Democratic Party in 1992 and the Peoples Democratic Party in 2011 against the popular clamour for southern presidency, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar seems to be determined again to swim against the tide and contest the PDP ticket for 2023 general election, Ejiofor Alike writes

F

ormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar is known to have contested the presidential primary election on two occasions when the mood of the nation favoured power shift to the southern part of the country.

In 1992, he contested for the ticket of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and came third after Chief Moshood Abiola and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe.

He repeated the same gamble in 2011 when he contested the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with former President Goodluck Jonathan and lost.

Armed with the ticket of the Action Congress (AC) in 2007, Atiku had contested the presidential election with the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (PDP) and the then Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the All Nigeria’s Peoples Party (ANPP).

He came third with 2.8 million votes after the late President and Buhari.

In 2019 he secured the PDP ticket but lost to President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, in both 2007 and 2019 when Atiku contested the presidential elections, it was actually the turn of the North to the produce the president in line with the unwritten agreement on zoning.

But with his current body language, the Waziri Adamawa may attempt to clinch the PDP ticket in 2023 against the popular clamour for the two major parties – the APC and the PDP, to produce southern presidential candidates in the 2023 general election.

Strong indications that he would not abide by the zoning principle had emerged when a socio-political group, Atiku Support Organisation, rejected the recommendation of the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led PDP’s zoning committee, which zoned the party’s national chairmanship position to the North.

In a swift reaction, the pro-Atiku group, in a press statement signed by the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. El MoVictor, and made available to journalists, inWarri, stated that the recommendation, “negates in all fairness the entrenched principle of equity, fairness, and justice in the party as captured in article 7, Section 7.2C of the PDP’s constitution.”

Without providing enough justification for its claims, the group simply stated that the PDP presidential ticket should be zoned to the North, “in the interest of equity and fairness”.

Atiku has also re-echoed the position of his support group that power should not shift to the South when he recently urged the PDP to be guided by the spirit of fairness and equity in determining its Presidential candidate in 2023 rather than zoning

Atiku the ticket along ethnic consideration.

When the PDP came up with the idea of zoning, the spirit behind it was to ensure that power rotates between the North and the South every eight years.

Since another political party, the APC has challenged the supremacy of the PDP and retained power in the North for eight years, fairness and equity simply imply that power should shift to the South, irrespective of the political party.

The argument by the pro-Atiku group that the PDP should zone the presidency to the North, therefore negates the principle of fairness and justice.

Atiku made his position known at the 94th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja where he argued that what Nigerians are out for, is a President that will stand for the South and North of the Nigerian divide.

He practically dismissed the debate on zoning of the party’s presidential ticket as the solution to Nigeria’s leadership crisis.

The former vice president further argued that the zoning of the 2023 presidential ticket has never been the cause of the country’s problem nor

will it be the solution.

“The PDP has the right to determine its rules on how its party should be governed.The people of Nigeria also have the right to determine who governs them.

“Where the president comes from has never been the problem of Nigeria neither will it be the solution.There is no such thing as the president from Southern Nigeria or president from Northern Nigeria.There is only one president from Nigeria, by Nigeria and for Nigeria,” he told the NEC members in attendance.

Atiku further stated that the decision of the NEC on zoning would “either see the PDP into the Villa in 2023 or not.”

There is no doubt that with the zoning of the PDP chairmanship ticket to the North by the Governor Ugwuanyi- led committee, the party’s presidential ticket, going by tradition, should go to the South.

All the 17 southern governors had resolved that power should shift to the South.

Prominent northern leaders, including Governors Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State; Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State; Babagana Zulum

of Borno State; Darius Ishaku ofTaraba State; Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State; Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State; Samuel Ortom of Benue State, among others, have individually endorsed the aspiration of southerners to produce President Muhamadu Buhari’s successor in 2023 .

This development will hurt Atiku’s 2023 ambition and he appears to be determined to swim against the tide, going by his body language.

The Waziri of Adamawa is an astute politician of repute, and a detribalised Nigerian.

The former vice president is one of the two or three northerners with contacts across the length and breadth of the country. He is also a very liberal, widely trusted and tested politician with no history of religious bigotry.

Above all, his deep pocket can oil any presidential political project to a successful completion.

But since all eyes seem to be on the southern Nigeria to produce the presidential candidates of both the APC and the PDP to ensure justice, fairness and equity, only the events of the coming months will determine Atiku’s capacity to successfully swim against the tide and withstand the storm.

NOTES FOR FILE

Endless Harassment and Extortion by Policemen

Usman

Despite measures put in place by the Nigeria Police High Command to ensure that officers and men of the force obey the rules of engagement in the discharge of their duties, many unscrupulous elements in the police have continued to dent the image of the force.

These elements have ignored the level of anger exhibited by Nigerians in the October 2020 #EndSARS protest and continued to harass and extort the youths after labeling them as fraudsters.

Some of the policemen that indulge in these criminal acts wear mufti or police uniform without name tag and police number to conceal their identities and escape the long arm of the law.

Some also patrol with commercial buses without number plates to cover their tracks.

The Imo State Police Command had on Wednesday arrested some police officers who allegedly collected a bribe of N60,000 from the indigene of the state travelling from Sam Mbakwe Airport in Imo State, to his Mbaise village.

Executive Director of non-governmental human rights organisation, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Center (RULAAC), Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, who had brought the incident to the public notice, alleged that a young man travelled from Lagos to Owerri, en route to Mbaise for a burial. According to Nwanguma, the young man, who is also a computer scientist alongside his relatives who had gone to pick him up was stopped by police officers at Enyiogugu Mbaise, and all of them were immediately labelled as fraudsters.

The officers ordered the young men into their vehicle, lying that they were taking them to the police station, but were driven to a spot at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, and asked to pay a sum of N500,000 to secure their release.

The young men said they paid N60,000 to secure their release after which their mobile phones, which had been confiscated by the officers, were returned.

The policeman that collected the money changed to mufti and followed one of the young men to a POS terminal where the transaction was made.

It is unfortunate that many policemen have defied all the reforms put in place by the successive IGs to make their operations conform with international best practices.

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CICERO/ISSUE

Soludo

Ozigbo

Uba

Ubah

Okonkwo

On the Road to Anambra Govt House David-Chyddy Eleke identifies top contenders in the Anambra State governorship race, their strengths and weaknesses

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ith litigations over, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of governorship candidates for the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.

In all, 18 political parties are presenting candidates for the election. Some of the candidates have emerged from popular rating as top candidates by virtue of the strength of their political parties, while others have joined the league of top contenders, from smaller platforms, by dint of their personal recognition, popularity and perceived ability to spring surprises.

Three political parties are already dominant in the state, and they include the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which is the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which prides itself as the most dominant political party in the state since the return of the new democracy, having produced two governors, within the period, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is the ruling party at the national level.

Besides these three, there are some personalities who are in the race on platforms that cannot be said to be very popular in the state.

However, these smaller political platforms are being reckoned with because of their candidates, who have been adjudged to be strong contenders.

Such political parties include: Young Democratic Party (YPP) which is fielding Senator Ifeanyi Ubah; Accord (A), which is fielding Dr. Godwin Maduka and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), which is fielding Dr. Obiora Okonkwo. Candidates in this category can be said to be contesting on less known political parties, but can be said to be very popular, to the point of being more influential than their platforms.

Chukwuma Soludo The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and professor of Econometrics, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo is the candidate of the APGA, and unarguably, he is the most popular of the contenders. His popularity stems from his past position as the CBN governor, his political party which is the ruling party in the state and the strong support of the governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano.

At the moment, he is a subject of attack by other political parties, who see his aspiration as an attempt by the incumbent governor, to elongate his

tenure. He is also being attacked over a lecture he delivered in 2017, during the re-election bid of Obiano, in which he declared that Anambra was not broken, and as such, there was no need to mend what was not broken.

Opponents of Obiano then believed that Anambra was already messed up, and that there was need to change him, but that lecture, during the anniversary of the state had shored up Obiano’s worth in the eye of voters, to the extent that the caption of the lecture was advertised on giant billboards across the state.

Soludo is a strong contender, and also believed to have the capacity to lead the state to glowing heights, and is believed to be exceptionally intelligent, and radical with ideas.

Valentine Ozigbo Mr. Valentine Ozigbo is the immediate past Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Transnational Corporation (Transcorp), which is known to be a leading African conglomerate.

He resigned his position to return to Anambra for the contest. He was thought by many to be a greenhorn politician, but that tag has been conveniently taken care of, after he beat 14 other aspirants of the PDP, most of who are known political bigwigs.

Even though he was said to have won the PDP ticket in a clean contest, his then opponents still alleged that something went wrong, for them to have lost to him.

As a form of protest, some of them have abandoned the party for others, but for a man like Ozigbo, such was not enough to dampen his spirit as he is still determined to make it to the government house.

Ozigbo within the short period he has been around in the state for his aspiration, has proven to be a man no one can afford to hate, unless the person is just determined to hate him without any reason.

Very humble, accessible, and easily accepted, Val as he is fondly called does not carry any air of superiority around him. He has successfully accessed and gained acceptance in places other candidates may find it difficult to reach out to.

He is known to be full of ideas, and has used his youthfulness to connect well with the young people.

The spirits of most politicians would be broken by the division that hit the PDP in Anambra since his emergence, but Val has remained undaunted, focusing his eyes on the ball. On a daily basis, he is winning more supporters with his simplicity.

He is principled, determined, dogged, young and very connected. He finds a way to connect with people of all classes. His enormous energy is incomparable.

billionaires, where he is the leader of Anambra Progressives, with over 1,000 billionaires as members.

The senator has no doubt shown what he can do. In the 2019 general election, he emerged from nowhere and floored contestants from big political parties to win a seat in the senate, using YPP. He is very prepared for the election and has vowed to ensure victory in the election.

He is from Nnewi, and is said to have the support of the Nnewi billionaires.

Andy Uba Former presidential aide, a 17-day governor and two term senator, Andy Uba is a master planner when politics is the subject. Despite the controversy that trailed his emergence as governorship candidate, his party, APC has sealed every discussion about the primary contests. Not only have most of his co-aspirants joined him in the campaign to win the election, but on a daily basis, politicians from other parties have been defecting to APC. How he does it is still a wonder.

He hardly speaks as he is obviously not blessed with the gift of words, but the things Andy Uba cannot say with the words of mouth, will be said with his actions. Suffice it to say that Uba is greatly feared in the contest, to the level that many believe that there is more to the Uga, Aguata-born politician.

Uba has rarely spoken to anyone, or even struggled hard enough to convey his manifesto to anyone, but the things he is not saying, his many supporters are saying them, and daily he keeps winning members.

The greatest fear in Anambra State is the allegation that he plans to rig the election, but he has long disabused the minds of the people, pledging that with the people on his side, he will win the election.

Godwin Maduka Godwin Maduka was formerly in the race on the platform of the PDP, until he lost to Ozigbo. He is running on the platform of Accord, and has attracted large supporters to the once unpopular party. Maduka is running on the strength of the evidence of the projects he has been able to execute in his community, Umuchukwu,.

He has transformed the community from a sleepy agrarian one to a town with every infrastructure and amenities found in any modern city.

He believes that governance is not about living on the people’s common patrimony, but adding value to them through the position. He is known to be very rich, and even though he is new in the game of politics, he has been able to pull most strong politicians into his party.

Ifeanyi Ubah Any contestant who ignores Senator Ifeanyi Ubah will be doing so at his or her own risk. Young, ebullient, accessible and highly loved, Ubah is one man who will spring a political surprise in any contest. Running on the platform of YPP, Ubah has grown a cult following that cuts across all level of people. He is very much loved by the youths, market women and the downtrodden. He also has the support of a group of elites in the state, who constitute a big percentage of the state’s

Obiora Okonkwo Foremost businessman, owner of United Nigeria Airline, Dome Event Centre in Abuja, a Russian trained political economist and a traditional chief, Okonkwo is very well loved, and well sought after by the people too. He also ran on the platform of the PDP, but later moved to the ZLP, where he is the candidate.

He is fondly called Dikeora, his traditional title, and has also taken his own share of members of the PDP, who are today working for his emergence as the governor. He is a man who believes in making men, and through his foundation, Pro-Value Humanity Foundation, he has touched lots of lives, and his following cuts across all ages and ranks in the society. He prides himself as a consensus candidate, having been adopted by several political parties that failed to produce governorship candidates, and many political groups, who believe that he is the right man to lead Anambra State to the desired height.

With this array of personalities, the November governorship election will be quite interesting.

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INTERNATIONAL Negotiability of Nigeria’s National Unity: Beyond the Babagana Kingibe’s Postulations

“I

n a Dramatic Shift, Kingibe Says Nigeria’s Unity Negotiable.’This was the title of a report by Festus Akanbi and Onuminya Innocent in ThisDay on Sunday of 17 October 2021. The report is very interesting and significant in many ways.

First, the report raises the question of national unity: is it negotiable or not? This question has been generating a lot of intellectual and political debate.

President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) is the chief apostle of indissolubility and non-negotiability of Nigeria’s national unity.

He has even turned it into sloganeering. One possible rationale for PMB’s position may be because it is constitutionally provided for. He therefore constitutes one school of thought.

Another school of thought to which Alhaji Babagana Kingibe now belongs, argues that there is nothing like non-negotiability and indissolubility of Nigeria. This school predicates its belief on the very 1999 Constitution that also serves as foundation for the PMB school of thought. The 1999 Constitution, either as it was ab initio, or as amended, is fraudulent in design, intention, and content, simply because its opening statement purported that it is a people-initiated and people-driven constitution, when the truth is the contrary. Besides, even people who were elected and were to have the Constitution applied to them never had access to the Constitution until the last minute or when they got into office. In the eyes of the general public, the 1999 Constitution is, at best, a fraudulent military constitution.

Second, Akanbi and Onuminya talked about ‘a dramatic shift.’

This implies that, before now, the position of Alhaji Kingibe was non-negotiability of Nigeria’s national unity. If this was so, the natural question that arises is how to explain the dramatic change in position. What informed the change in perspective?

What really does the new position of negotiability of Nigeria’s national unity mean? Some public commentators have noted that Alhaji Kingibe is simply seeking political relevance with his dramatic change. This may be true.

However, we strongly believe that Alhaji Babagana Kingibe is a man of honesty, conscience, dignity and objectivity of purpose, which should not be simply explained off in the context of 2023 presidential politics and national unity debate.

One empirical illustration of his character to which I am a witness shall suffice here before our exegesis of the debate.

Kingibe and Public Integrity If there are any ten good political leaders in Nigeria, I believe, and strongly too, that Babagana Kingibe must be one of them. In 2003, Mrs. (Professor) Uche Joy Ogwu was the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA). In that year, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, CON, was the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He invited and appointed me as his Special Assistant, on the basis of which I applied to the NIIA Director General for permission to go on secondment or leave of absence. After waiting for about three months for a reply from the Director General to approve or disapprove, but to no avail, I reported my challenges and inability to accept the appointment to the Foreign Minister.

Foreign Minister Oluyemi Adeniji took the matter up with the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Obong Ufot Joseph Ekaette, another perfect gentleman of honour and dignity. Ufot Ekaette not only wondered much why it should be difficult to release a public servant to serve under the same Federal Government, but also simply authorized the Foreign Minister to ask me to resume duty as his Special Assistant.

He explained that by the time I would have served as Special Assistant, Mrs. Joy Ogwu might not be there as NIIA Director General. This was how I left the NIIA to take up appointment as a Special Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The understanding of the difference between a Special Assistant and a Special Adviser in the Public Service is necessary in understanding the logical rationale behind the decision of Ufot Ekaette. The position of a Special Adviser is necessarily political.

That of a Special Assistant is not. It is professional. If, and when an individual is already an employee in an MDA (Ministry, Department or Agency) of government, and he or she is seconded or appointed to another MDA and call of duty, he answers Special Assistant. The implication is not far-fetched: assist your principal in the attainment of his or her policy objectives. Such assistance is not driven or defined by whether one agrees with one’s principal. As a Special Assistant, the one and only functional duty expected is to ensure the attainment and success of Govern-

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Kingibe ment’s objectives. The functional duty of any Special Assistant is therefore supportive and unidirectional as may be required by one’s principal.

Unlike a Special Assistant, a Special Adviser is a political appointee and functions as made clear in the name-designation: to advise. An advice can be taken or rejected. Advice is expected to be given based on expertise and professionalism. After the tenure of a Special Adviser, he or she leaves government office while a Special Assistant returns to his or her former office.

In my specific case, I served as Special Assistant to Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji as Foreign Minister and as Minister of the Interior. I also served Chief Ojo Maduekwe, CFR, as Special Assistant when he was Foreign Minister. While Ambassador was a career diplomatist, Chief Ojo Maduekwe was an astute politician and a nationalist. The problem from the foregoing was that when I returned to the NIIA to continue my duty as a Research Fellow, as rightly predicted by Ufot Ekaette, Mrs. Uche Joy Ogwu was no longer the NIIA Director General. But she had simply facilitated the appointment of Professor Osita Eze as her successor. Professor Eze’s appointment was designed to have a temporary character because Mrs. Ogwu had the ultimate objective of possibly returning to the NIIA as the Director General. Considering that her appointment as Foreign Minister might be for a short period.

Perhaps more problematic is what was recorded in my file when I returned to the NIIA and on which Professor Eze officially acted. It was recorded that I had ‘absconded’ from office.

Absconded from where to where: from the NIIA to the Foreign Ministry? Regardless of one’s status before appointment as a Special Assistant or as a Special Adviser, the grade level always given to a Special Assistant and a Special Adviser is Level 16, Step 4, which is that of a Deputy Director. And perhaps more disturbingly, there is nothing like salary increment or promotion. For about eight years that I served as Special Assistant, my salary and status was static. There is nothing like promotion In the wrong belief that that I had absconded, for almost one year, no salary was paid to me at the NIIA, even though I was always in the office. In this same period of almost one year, I was

The ground norm of the country is the 1999 Constitution which is faulty, fraudulent, protective of military interests and not the interests of the people. When people seeking national unity ask for a complete review of the Constitution, PMB is against. When the same people ask for the implementation of the Reports of the 2014 National Conference, PMB not only refuses but insultingly told Nigerians that the reports are gathering dust in the drawers and that he does not have time to look at such reports. In this regard, whose national unity are we talking about? Is it PMB the military, or the people of Nigeria that should define national unity? Even if the 1999 Constitution were not to be faulty and fraudulent, does it ever mean that any provision on compulsory national unity cannot be amended? Intellectually, non-negotiability in any given case or issue is when there is a lull, a brick wall, but this does not mean that efforts at negotiation will stop. Consequently, rather than for Babagana Kingibe appealing to anyone to respect and love one another, his challenge should be engagement in politics of fairness and justice. It was Kingibe’s attitudinal fairness and justice, openly shown in my persecution at the NIIA for being patriotic, that should be preached in the quest for national unity. It is illogical to engage in manifest nepotism against which public opposition is vehement, on the one hand, and then take the Bible or the Koran to be preaching the gospel of national unity or indissolubility and non-negotiability of Nigerian unity.

shuttling between Lagos and Abuja to sort out the allegation of abscondment. This was a case of manifest injustice. I went to the Office of the then new SGF, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe to complain.

He could not believe my story that I was a legitimate research staff of the NIIA and was asked to come and serve as a Special Assistant to the Foreign Minister and the NIIA Director General could have the effrontery not to comply with a governmental request, more so that the NIIA was, and still is, under the supervisory authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Babagana Kingibe directed his Special Assistant to investigate the matter and to report his finding. The inquiry took time, but the ultimate outcome was that nothing incriminating was recorded against me. No record of any previous query or act of gross or serious misconduct, but that of patriotism and hard work. Put differently, my offence was being a patriotic research fellow. My offence was that I was always engaging in dint of hard work and was fighting all forms of anti-Nigeria sentiments.

And true enough, I was being sanctioned for my belief that NIIA should not be funded by foreign organisations to undermine Nigeria’s national interests. My persecution for these offences made me to believe that it is wrong to be patriotic, to be honest, to be faithful, and to be hardworking in Nigeria. Nigeria is a terra cognita for anything anti-progress, anti-unity, anti-democracy, fraud, chicanery and ungodliness in all ramifications. Nigeria is noted for religious devotion, but God does not appear to have shown any readiness to look at Nigeria and Nigerians with compassion.

But thanks to Alhaji Babagana Kingibe who read the findings of the panel of inquiry and discovered that there was no justification for the allegation of my having absconded and non-payment of my salaries, I was able to see that it is not every Nigerian leader that is mentally deficient and subjective. Babagana looked at the matter very dispassionately and concluded that my case was that of mistreatment, unfairness and injustice.

He directed that ‘Dr. Bola Akinterinwa should be reinstated’ and that both the NIIA and the Foreign Ministry ‘should report immediate compliance.’ It was on the strength of this directive that the NIIA began to run helter-skelter, that everybody was trying to exonerate himself/herself from any involvement in the decision of my alleged abscondment.

But note, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe is not a Yoruba man which I am. He acted to defend anyone, though not a Hausa or a Fulani like him. His intervention, like that of Ufot Ekaette, was a manifestation of exemplary leadership and objectivity of purpose and in national interest. I have always suffered from deliberate persecution for insisting on the truth, for defending Nigeria, for patriotism. It is against this background that whatever Babagana Kingibe might have said or might have reviewed in the context of the debate on negotiability of Nigeria’s unity should always be explained and understood. His position cannot but be in his belief in the truth, the need for patriotism and the need to truly have a system of institutional justice and fairness. His character, his personality cannot but be a major factor in understanding of whatever position he takes. This brings us to the issue of his dramatic change in position regarding the negotiability of Nigeria’s national unity.

Kingibe’s Arguments of Non-negotiability Arguments of non-negotiability are interesting. PMB always declare that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable, and that Nigeria is not dissoluble, but without offering any explanation as to why.

His Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, explained in January 2021, at the National Christian Centre in Abuja, on the occasion of the 2021-Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration why Nigeria’s unity is a desideratum. In his words, ‘the struggle to ensure a more perfect federation is a lifelong enterprise to which each generation must resolutely commit? In this regard, why should the quest for a perfect federation be a lifelong struggle?

If it will take an entire life to struggle, what benefit is the life struggle to the struggler? Why should commitment of the people to the struggle be resolute and for a lifetime?

Professor Osinbajo also noted that ‘Nigerians must, at every opportunity, insist that every great multi-ethnic and multireligious nation has, through thick and thin, fought to realize the great dividends of diversity and pluralism’ (vide Adejumo Kabir, ‘’Why Nigeria’s Unity is Non-negotiable,’ (Premium Times, January 11, 2021).

In the same vein, former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), noted in an interview with the Arise Television, that there were settled principles and policies in Nigeria. The principles include Nigerian unity. He explained that Nigerians agreed to live together as one indivisible entity before independence. IBB said he was ‘bound by the agreement.’This type of argument is very flimsy. Can the modern-day generation of Nigerians prescribe what should be done and what not should be done for the generation of Nigerians that will live in the next century? Will the environmental conditionings that prompt such prescriptions today remain valid in the next 100 years?

What did the Nigerians who wanted to live together before independence consider in arriving at their decision? Why should the pre-independence dynamics of the decision be permanently sustained?

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 31, 2021

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with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

ENGAGEMENTS

Standing with Anambra Chidi Amuta

S

ome Nigerians may feel that next weekend’s governorship elections in Anambra State do not concern them. But somehow, the polls are an all -Nigerian enterprise. This will be the first isolated state governorship election in Nigeria to be held literally in a state of undeclared nationwide war. The spate of insecurity all over the country has found a peculiar colour in Anambra State. Rival gunmen of unknown origins and unclear motives are feared to be parading the entire space. IPOB has declared a sit at home regime that is designed to sabotage the election.

Contestants have literally been campaigning under a canopy of mortal fear of real danger of either being kidnapped or killed.

The federal authority has countered the threat of IPOB and other trouble makers with a stern re-assertion of its ultimate responsibility to guarantee security, law and order for this ritual of democracy to proceed unhindered. Over 35,000 police officers and a copious number of their big bosses decked in brass and medals are scheduled to protect the Anambra election process. The exact strength of the military, State Security goons and Civil Defence and other uniform wearing contingents is yet to be disclosed.

From the projections, it promises to be one of the most garrisoned and regimented election in the nation’s recent history. Local and international election observers may have difficulty deciding whether indeed this was an election for civil voters or a roll call of military and police personnel in attendance. But the consolation is in the fact that the objective of this fortress corridor is to protect one of the cardinal rituals of democracy, the conduct of periodic elections to choose leaders.

In nearly every sense, the Anambra governorship election is a national contest. Nearly all the challenges confronting present day Nigeria are fully on display. A nation wracked by widespread insecurity and spiraling violence and uncertainty will need to prove itself a viable democracy. Nigeria’s ability to contain rival armed contestants for power prevalence will be tested in Anambra next weekend. Specifically, the capacity of the federal government to overwhelm the annoying affront of the IPOB secessionists will be on trial. There is an even trickier dimension; the government will have to demonstrate a precarious capacity to guarantee the security of voters, election officials as well as the entire electoral process to ensure it is credible, free and fair. It has to do all this while ensuring that the entire electoral process remains a civil undertaking in which ordinary people can freely go out to choose their leaders free from harassment and intimidation. How to present this veneer while retaining a solid core of real security is the challenge of the moment.

Therefore, we all in the diversity of our interests in the Nigerian undertaking have a stake in the Anambra elections. Those who insist that the existing state structure holds the promise of Nigeria’s future will be waiting to see how Anambra State holds out in stability after this election. Those like me who are unrepentant federalists are anxious to see how the federal behemoth defends its mandate over a vital part of the federation as a responsible and stout guarantor of national sovereignty. The diehard democrats in our midst will be waiting to see how the power of democracy prevails over the fears of mob fear and the stampede of garrison jackboots. Those who however believe in the rising power of regions and micro nationalities and self determination as a credible challenge to the overbearing will of the federal behemoth will obviously be interested in seeing how the braggadocio of IPOB fares in this psychological operation against the federal hegemon.

These contending high national ideals cannot however conceal the real local issues at stake in Anambra. The truism that all politics is first local will be tested in Anambra. There are strong local forces and peculiar tendencies at play which will condition the outcomes in the election and beyond. Since the return of democracy in 1999, the contest for the governorship of the state has been a series of pitched battles among unruly factions of desperate political hustlers. It has been a tale of high drama, crude machinations and the deployment of violence, even dark juju

Obiano and cultic mindlessness. People have not yet forgotten the drama of the ‘civilian coup’ against former governor Chris Ngige who was temporarily overthrown by rival forces and held in detention for hours. Not to be easily forgotten is the tale of how Mr. Ngige was forcefully compelled to take an oath of allegiance before his sponsors in the unnerving presence of the famed Okija shrine.

Thereafter, political struggle in Anambra have progressed to more dastardly terrains.

Rival political gangsters are known to engage the services of lethal thugs to intimidate and even kidnap their rivals. In the course of the current season, Mr. Charles Soludo, candidate of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was attacked by gunmen who killed his police security guards while he luckily escaped by the skin of his teeth.

Other politically-motivated attacks and assassinations have taken place just as major political actors have been found with frightening tranches of arms and ammunition.

The sum of it all is that in the current Anambra scene, we are dealing with a highly dangerous political space in a state that should be one of our most enlightened and peaceful.

The cause is inherent in the nature of current Anambra society. Nowhere else in Nigeria are we likely to find big money in the hands of such a large number of relatively young citizens. Recent surveys by valuation agencies suggest that the total value of real estate in terms of palatial private country homes, factories, hotels, resorts, hospitals and community buildings in Anambra State is perhaps only next to Lagos and Abuja.

The cash component of that huge quantum of wealth is now threatening to procure state power with nearly as much vicious ferocity as some of the unprintable sources of the money itself. Anambra people are among the most hard working, creative, enterprising and wealthiest Nigerians you can find today. They are unstoppable engineers of wealth both at home and in the diaspora. A large portion of Nigeria’s diaspora home annual remittance of $35 billion is coming from Anambra indigenes in the diaspora especially those in private business all over the world. Try a random sampling of Nigerians living in Houston Texas and measure the percentage of Anambra people among Nigeria’s demographics of over 150,000 in the Houston area alone.

Most of them own and run multi million dollar businesses in all fields.

A combination of a long tradition of entre-

preneurship and aggressive sense of business conquest and achievement motivation has made the acquisition of humongous wealth a religion among these people. The strange combination of such aggressive entrepreneurship in a state dominated by a Roman Catholic ethos is a curious and interesting part of the Anambra phenomenon which requires closer study. The conventional wisdom in studies of the religious basis of capitalism used to be that a protestant Puritan work ethic was the most fertile ground for the emergence of a wild entrepreneurial spirit and restless innovation.

From my private research, I reckon that Anambra State has the highest number of billionaires per square kilometer of territory in today’s Nigeria. A great deal of this money is ironically held and controlled mostly by young citizens who are not the most enlightened or educated people. Even if he has college education, the average Anambra trader/billionaire imbibes a certain mentality that sees money as the ultimate enabler of all human actions. Nearly everything has a price tag and can be purchased. Since political power confers the ultimate power of life and death on the governor, money can be deployed to secure it. If human life stands in the way of the money man who wants power, he can hire hit men to do the needful. All is fair in this war! In this atmosphere, nearly everything can be purchased. Politics becomes first and foremost a transactional undertaking.

The person who has political influence but little money can trade some of his power to secure sponsorship at election time. In some instances, elaborate Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) are sighed between politicians and their big money God Fathers. Such documents specify the terms of repayment of return on investment, appointments to key government positions to be reserved for nominees of the God Father, juicy contracts to be ceded to the financier/God Father. To renege on the terms of these agreements is to invite the anger of the witness deity as well as the ire of the gangster money man which takes various forms. These range from assassination plots to instigations of unrest and other elaborate blackmail schemes. This feature is not localised to Anambra alone.

It describes a prevalent Nigerian political aberration.

Yet Anambra ought to be one of the most politically sophisticated, enlightened and refined states in the federation. It is

equipped with a long tradition of illustrious political pioneers, intellectuals, bureaucrats and technocratic pathfinders. This is the home of the legendary Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nwafor Orizu, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Alex Ekwueme, Chuba Okadigbo, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Peter Obi etc. In business, the state boasts some of the most illustrious names in original Nigerian entrepreneurship: Sir Louis Ojukwu, Chief Augustine Ilodibe, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, Cosmas Maduka, Emeka Offor, Arthur Eze etc. In Nigerian art and culture, Anambra has blazed the trail in the life of Nigerian letters and the plastic arts, giving us Chinua Achebe, Christopher Okigbo, Ben Enwonwu, Cyprian Ekwensi, Onuora Nzekwu, Ossie Enekwe, Chimamanda Adichie, Okey Ndibe etc. Among the leading lights of Nigeria’s new generation of world class technocrats, Anambra has more than its fair share of bright stars: Charles Soludo, Obiageli Ezekwesili, late Dora Akunyili, Kingsley Moghalu and many others.

For those with a mindset fixated on ethnic stereotypes, there is a sense in which Anambra furnishes the readiest material for profiling the Igbos in Nigeria. Such unproductive stereotyping is ultimately counter productive because it merely fails to give the wider national society the benefit of harnessing the strengths of our diversity to grow the nation. Anambra and its gifts belong to Nigeria. It is what it is. It is at once the home of cultural accomplishment and intellectual sophistication as well as a rough jungle of untamed capitalist energy waiting to be galvanised into a modern potential.

In its present state of mind and material culture, Anambra risks degenerating into a bedeviled hellhole of violence and fruitless recriminations if not checked. Like all mercantilist enclaves of old, it could be commandeered by gangs of gangster families only intent on mutual self destruction. I fear that if not saved from itself, Anambra could degenerate into early Sicily in the heydays of the crime family war lords and the birth of the Mafia, the infamous Cosa Nostra. The streets of its towns could become more unsafe. Its palatial country homes could become deserted and its city neighbourhoods rendered dangerous as rival gangs clash over control of government patronage, sharing formulas of proceeds of bad trade and the monopoly of profitable nefarious enterprises abroad. Before the IPOB menace, some of the patterns of murders in Anambra looked like reprints of early Mafia senseless killings.

Onitsha is the unscripted canvas of both the past and the future of Anambra. The cacophony of Upper Iweka, the unplanned streets and multi -storey monstrosities of a city with neither sewage nor drainage, This is the signature tune of a disaster waiting to happen. It is the blighted past and the promise of the future shining city by the banks of the River Niger. It is the promise of prosperity waiting to be rescued with a modern plan for urban renewal so that this jungle of brick and mortar can become a reservoir of future wealth. It can be made attractive to millions of commercial visitors intent on exploring opportunities in a new African miracle commercial city. Its wealth and that of the state would come from the synergy of a market surrounded by satellite manufacturing towns and villages.

Dubai was a desert a short while ago which has been converted into a modern jungle of skyscrapers and modern infrastructure with an economy that boasts cutting edge applications and systems. Anambra is, on the other hand, a different jungle of often misdirected energy and untamed decoration mistaken for investment, crying for a direction informed by modern economics and the laws of science and technology. In order to advance and take Nigeria with it, Anambra needs to undertake a rapid political baptism of fire. Its big money population needs to be taught to waste less money and effort announcing to Nigeria that it has arrived.

Adopting the wasteful culture of old Nigeria will not bring the development Anambra needs. The young money people of Anambra need to learn new investment strategies and the wisdom of more modest homes and life styles. No one is impressed by how many carats of gold bedeck the casket of your dead parents or how many barrels of champagne you drown the rest of Nigeria in just to announce your arrival.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 31, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 31, 2021

NEWSXTRA Obiano Unveils Anambra Airport as NCAA Declines Flight Approval David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano yesterday inaugurated the Anambra International Passenger and Cargo Airport, Umueri for commercial use, amidst fanfare by indigenes of the state.

However, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) declined take-off approval of the two commercial flights that were billed to land at the

airport from Lagos and Abuja respectively.

At the inauguration yesterday, Obiano said: “I thank Buhari for approving this Airport, also Sidika for the oversight activities he did here and also Nuhu of NCAA. The governor noted that the airport had been certified and has met all needs for commercial purposes.

Unfortunately, according to him, the flights that were fully

booked for today, both from Abuja and Lagos could not come because the regulatory authorities said the commercial airlines that will operate here will need to have counters here before operations will start.

He explained that the airlines that will operate in this airport “are Air Peace, Ibom Air, Dana Air, United Nigeria Air and Anab Jets. They will have to set up their counter before flights will commence.

“The dreams we have nurtured for 30 years has come true today. We fought many battles to be here today, including COVID lockdowns. Aviation experts have assured me that this is going to be the most viable airport in Nigeria.

“The NCAA has before now approved the landing of seven planes here. We need a man whose vision is greatly acclaimed to take over the state and be able to steer the ship, and that man is Soludo.

“Our state is on the runway

and we need a competent hand to pilot it, and with Soludo in the cockpit, our state is in safe hands,” Obiano said.

There have been reports in the state that the inauguration of the project had been called off by the NCAA, and that it was engineered by the candidate of a political party who was afraid that the inauguration might drive voters for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and her candidate, Prof Chukwuma

Soludo. Former chairman of the APGA, Chief Victor Umeh who spoke during the commissioning alluded to some sabotage in the landing of the already booked commercial flights.

Umeh said: “Tickets had also been sold out three days ago. If they are people who think they will lose an election if planes land here today, then they should know that whether plane lands or not, they have already lost the election.

We Rejected FG’s Plan for N1m Undergraduate Tuition, ASUU Reveals Uche Nnaike The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, has revealed how the union, during its last negotiations, rejected the federal government’s plan to increase school fees of all university students to N1million.

He said the federal government’s plan was to open an education bank and give each student a loan of N1 million annually at five per cent interest rate to sponsor themselves in school and then pay back when they graduate and start working.

Osodeke stated this while answering questions from participants at a one-day ‘state of the nation summit’ organised for ASUU

members by the Bauchi zone of the union.

He said: “At the last negotiation, the first thing they told us was that we should negotiate for our allowances and salaries but we said no, let’s discuss funding first.

When we know how much you’re going to pay, then we can negotiate salary. Reluctantly, they went on.

“Then, they raised another issue which was why we delayed for four years, that students must pay N1 million as school fees every year; the government said 70 per cent will be paid to the university while the student keeps 30 per cent.

“We asked them where and how the students would source the money and they told us not

to worry. They said they would open an education bank and the students would go there and take the N1m every year.

“And by the time you are graduating, you would have been owing N5 million or N6

million. If it takes you 20 years to get a job, that five per cent interest on that loan would be building.

“We said we will never allow that, and that was why we went on strike and we delayed calling

off the strike.

“If we had accepted that students pay N1 m i l l i o n as school fees, they w o u l d h a v e i n c re a s e d our pay easily and who would the public and

the students blame? It is ASUU,” he added.

Osodeke said that if they had accepted the offer, people would have accused them of fighting for their personal interest and not the collective good of Nigerians.

Seek Foreign Assistance to Tackle Banditry, Abidoye Tells FG Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Spiritual Father, Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church (CSMC) Worldwide, Prophet Samuel Abidoye yesterday asked the federal government to seek foreign assistance to tackle banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities across the federation.

Abidoye made this call at a

news conference he addressed yesterday to mark 81st International Conference/Convention scheduled to commence at Galilee Land, Orilegbon, Oyo State At the conference, the cleric explained that there was nothing shameful for the federal government to seek foreign assistance or collaboration towards stopping this wanton killing.

He said: “We, as a Church, are not unmindful of the continuous bloodshed in some states across the country which is very worrisome.

Boko Haram, kidnappings, armed robbery and other insurgents continue unabated across the federation. “These have led to the shedding of blood of innocent citizens of the country. There is nothing shameful for the federal

government to seek foreign assistance or collaboration towards stopping these wanton killings.

Nigerians now find it difficult to travel at their convenience.

“We can no longer sleep with our two eyes closed, there is fear of going to our various Offices and other businesses just because of the fear of the terrorists,” Abidoye said.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER OCTOBER 31, 2021

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Match Fixing: Siasia Fails in Fresh Bid to Quash FIFA Ban in USA Duro Ikhazuagbe

B

anned former Super Eagles Head Coach, Samson Siasia, has failed in his fresh bid to quash the lifetime ban (later reduced to five years by CAS), slammed on him by FIFA for attempting to fix matches.

Last Friday, a U.S. District Judge, Alvin Hellerstein, ruled that he had “no conceivable basis” to exercise jurisdiction in Manhattan federal court because the dispute took place outside the United States and was decided under Swiss law, while Siasia lived in Atlanta.

Siasia’s lawyer, Nitor Egbarin, had no immediate reaction to the pronouncement, having yet to review the decision of the court.

FIFA had in 2019 found Siasia guilty of violating its code of ethics by accepting to work in the Australian League to the dictates of a serial match-fixer, (the contract didn’t eventually happen).

In June, the Court of Arbitration for Sport shortened Siasia’s ban and lifted his 50,000 Swiss franc (US$54,585) fine, calling the lifetime ban too severe for a first offence.

Although the life ban was reduced to five years by CAS, Siasia sued FIFA in August, saying the case against him was based on “grossly insufficient

Samson Siasia...soldiering on with getting justice against FIFA

evidence” consisting exclusively of emails that were “never explained” to FIFA, and that he was not allowed to cross-examine witnesses.

He said FIFA’s probe was an improp-

er exercise of “government function,” violating his rights under the U.S. Constitution, federal civil rights law and state law.

But in defence, FIFA said Siasia’s law-

Solskjaer Survives Man Utd’s First of Three-game Hurdles ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱȘ ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ę ȱ Cristiano Ronaldo yesterday showed why he remains an idol to Manchester United’s fans as he brilliantly powered the Red Devils past Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 to give respite to under-fire manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer in North London.

The Norwegian gaffer has escaped the first of three ultimatum given to him to shape up or ship out after penultimate weekend’s 5-0 humiliation of United at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo provided a brilliant goal of his own as well as a stylish assist for Edinson Cavani, with substitute Marcus Rashford also netting to offer Solskjaer some muchneeded respite.

Elsewhere, Wilfried Zaha became the first player to score 50 top-flight goals for Crystal Palace as 10-man Manchester City suffered a shock 0-2 defeat at Etihad Stadium.

Zaha struck after just six minutes when Conor Gallagher robbed Aymeric Laporte inside his own half before Gallagher wrapped up the points when he fired home two minutes from time.

Laporte was red-carded by referee Andre Marriner in first-half stoppage time when he committed a professional foul by bringing down Zaha 35 yards from the City goal.

Even a man down, the hosts remained a goal threat and Gabriel Jesus thought he had levelled when he turned home Phil Foden’s superb far-post cross, only for video assistant referee Lee Mason to rule the England forward was offside in the build-up.

At Anfield, Brighton came from two goals down to secure a deserved point in 2-2 draw and deny Liverpool victory in an incidentpacked game.

Captain Jordan Henderson fired the Reds ahead from 18 yards moments after Alisson had denied Solly March at the other end following Leandro Trossard’s defence-splitting pass.

Yves Bissouma, making his first start since 19 September after recovering from a knee injury, then had an effort tipped on to the post before Sadio Mane headed Liverpool into a 2-0 lead after a cross by Alex OxladeChamberlain, on for the injured Naby Keita.

Brighton’s comeback started through Enock Mwepu’s first Premier League goal, a stunning attempt from 25 yards which deceived Alisson.

Graham Potter’s side were impressive and they equalised when Trossard slotted home after an assist by former Liverpool player Adam Lallana.

In an entertaining game, Mane and Mohamed Salah both found the back of the net either side of half-time, but both attempts were ruled out for handball and offside respectively.

Cristiano Ronaldo (right) made Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, to picking balls from his own net...yesterday

World Championship Experience Will Help Nigeria Qualify for 2024 Olympics, Says Massari Olawale Ajimotokan and Joel Ita in Abuja

The President of Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), Giandomenico Massari, has expressed hope that the points which Nigerian cyclists gathered at the just concluded 2021 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in France will aid their quest in qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

He stated this while speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Team Nigeria’s outing at the world showpiece in France.

Massari said Nigeria’s cyclists despite making their debut at the world track championships will gain from the exposure.

“We have been able to gather points that would help our quest to qualify for the 2024 Olympics Games in France, the athletes

themselves have gained a lot of experience and have competed with former and present world champions. ”Getting four of our athletes to qualify for the World Championships alone is a big achievement, because we are rated the best in Africa.

“Countries like Egypt, South Africa presented one and two athletes respectively, also our jersey was rated the best in the world championship”, he said. He called on corporate organisations and private individuals to support the growth of cycling at the grassroots in the country while commending the athletes and the cycling stakeholders for the great contribution so far.

On her part, Ese Ukpeseraye Lovina, Nigeria’s captain to the Championship said that with more training and equipment, the team would deliver medals at the next world championships.

suit did not belong in any U.S. court, and that his claims were meritless.

Siasia, 54, was a striker for Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles before turning to coaching.

Osimhen Injured, Ruled out of Action for a Fortnight Nigeria’s quest to have Victor Osimhen lead Super Eagles attack against Liberia on November 11 in Morocco hangs in the balance as the forward has suffered injury setback.

Now, Osimhen has been ruled out of Napoli’s Serie A clash with promoted Salernitana today and is not likely to return until a fortnight.

Napoli sources hinted that because of the muscle strain the former LOSC Lille forward coped at training at the weekend, he is now likely to be replaced by comebacking Dries Mertens for the Sunday showdown.

It is left to be seen whether he will be back in action in time for Nigeria’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde early next month.

So far this season, Osimhen has scored nine goals in all competitions this season – 5 in Serie A and 4 in UEFA Europa League.

He has also won three penalties for table toppers Napoli.

Victor Osimhen...injured, doubtful for next fortnight

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The Naira and Its Many Enemies

W

hen you sow the wind, you reap the whirlwind.

This always comes to mind anytime there is an outbreak of debate over the naira. It is a discussion we have been having since, I think, 1986 when Gen Ibrahim Babangida, then military president, launched the structural adjustment programme (SAP) essentially to develop the non-oil sectors.

Nigeria was facing a debt crisis and a crippling revenue shortfall and wanted to take a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). After a nationwide debate in which Nigerians opposed it, Babangida, if I recall well, said we would not take the loan but would implement the conditionalities — which bordered on economic restructuring.

Until then, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) fixed the exchange rate. The naira was always stronger than the dollar. From the advent of the oil boom of 1973 up till the introduction of SAP in 1986, a dollar was sold for between 60 kobo and 80 kobo at various points. There was no magic to it: we were swimming in dollars. Let me be more accurate: we were drowning in dollars. Petrodollars.

The October 1973 attack on Egypt and Syria by Israel had led to the boycott of international oil market by Arab countries in protest and solidarity.

This caused a cut in production by over five million barrels per day. The shortage saw global oil prices tripled between October 1973 and March 1974.

The crude oil that was selling for $3/barrel in 1973 was going for $12/barrel by December 1974.

While our oil earnings in 1970 amounted to just $200 million, we started averaging $4bn per year from 1973 to 1978. The jump was intoxicating. That was the beginning of our problem, even though we thought we were having fun. Nigeria was hit by the Dutch Disease — an economic concept that describes a situation where a glut of petrodollars leads to a strong local currency, making imports cheaper and exports more expensive, and ultimately leading to deindustrialisation. It became cheaper to import a bottle of water than to make it in Nigeria.

Our exports became uncompetitive.

After a fall in oil prices in 1978/79 as a result of many developments — for instance, fuel-efficient cars were introduced by Japanese manufacturers, the US started exploring oil in the Gulf of Mexico and companies started a scheme of buying pool cars for their staff to reduce fuel consumption — the black gold was back on its feet in 1980. Nigeria earned $22.4bn that year alone and exchange rate was 55 kobo/$1. Of course, we resumed our extravagance and forgot about tomorrow. After all, are we not Nigerians? The global economic crisis of 1982 bit us badly. Oil revenue was down to $9.6bn. With the Dutch disease, we had become import-dependent and local factories were dying.

There is also this issue: torrential revenue from a natural resource crowds out other sources (such as cocoa and groundnuts) and creates a harmful dependency on one source. This seriously distorts an economy where everything revolves around government. Oil went from being 57.2% of our exports in 1970 to 92% in 1974 — and till this day.

If we were earning forex from multiple sources, the fall in oil prices would not have hit us that hard. Oil wealth encourages lazy, wasteful and extravagant behaviours: from expanding the size of government to acquiring tastes for foreign goods.

When oil prices rise, we lose our heads. When they fall, we gnash our teeth. This is the story of our lives.

While the trouble went on, exchange rate remained at roughly 60 kobo/$ while our reserves were getting depleted to keep the naira alive. From a fairly handsome reserves kitty of $10bn in 1980, we had only $1bn by 1982. We were no longer creditworthy to import goods, particularly food items. A country with massive arable land that should be producing and exporting things like rice and milk had become hopelessly dependent on food imports. Manufacturers had little or no forex to import raw materials and spare parts.

Shutdowns and retrenchment were inevitable.

President Buhari The import licensing regime — introduced to allocate forex to manufacturers — was hijacked by politicians and cronies.

What happened next? Many of the favoured receivers of forex from the CBN diverted it to the streets for the arbitrage — and the black market, or parallel market, was born. We have been living with this anomaly since 1982. Why? The fundamental problems have remained the same: we are import-dependent and we do not earn enough forex to import and the forex coming into the economy are mainly from oil exports and the revenue goes to the government and government is virtually the only source of forex supply and the CBN remains the central figure in determining the allocation and the rate at which the forex will be bought and sold. And so on and so forth.

The introduction of the second-tier foreign exchange market (SFEM) by Babangida in 1986 was an attempt to cage the black market. The first-tier rate, fixed at N1/$ (99 kobo actually), was solely for the government. The second tier was for other forex users. Officially, the government wanted a currency that would be traded freely at SFEM to eliminate arbitrage. In reality, the naira lost value. It started trading at N4/$ on its debut.

It has not stopped losing value since then. It is now N411/$. Why? The fundamental problems have remained the same: we are import-dependent and we do not earn enough forex to import and the forex coming into the economy are mainly from oil exports…

Now that the naira is seriously challenged yet again, the question for me remains: has anything changed to give us hope that we will reach stability at a point? You cannot be earning $1 from exports and needing $2 to pay your import bills and think your currency will be stable, especially as you are stuck with one major export whose price you don’t determine. That is why many economists insist the naira is overvalued: when demand is higher than supply, price adjustment is a natural consequence. The government knows this and has been adjusting the rates, albeit not at the pace and rate some would want it. The exchange rate was N155/$ in 2014. It is now officially N411/$.

There would never be an end to devaluation as long as the economic structure remains as it is. The naira will continue to be severely challenged as long as the relationship between forex outflows and forex inflows is unhealthy. Cost of living will keep rising as we keep depending on imported goods, especially food. And except we improve the standard of living of Nigerians, poverty, unemployment, disease and crime will continue to hurt us. Inequality will worsen. We need to be clear on this. That is why it breaks my heart that, confronted with this dire situation, we are still enmeshed in wasteful spending and

brazen corruption. Nobody should be surprised that Nigeria is like this.

What I have observed is that per time, there are many enemies fighting the naira. I put the blame squarely at the feet of the government. Or, more appropriately, leadership. I am not going to sit here and start lamenting over the errors we made in the 1970s when we started drowning in petrodollars. There is nothing we can do about that. We mismanaged the opportunity. We cannot turn back the hand of time. But some of our policy failings since we started facing economic crises in the 1980s have not be helpful. We need to seriously address these failings, otherwise the value of the naira will continue to tumble without much benefits to the economy and the people.

I will pick just three “enemies” for discussion in this article. One, local refining. The biggest pressure on forex today is from importation of petroleum products — petrol, diesel and aviation fuel in particular. What we are doing, essentially, is export oil and then use most of the forex earnings to import refined products. How on earth can the naira not keep losing value? Take away the fuel import component of forex demand today and there would be a huge relief for the naira. In the past, some of us advised that the government should build refineries so that we would stop importing products. We were told it was the job of the private sector to build refineries. Here we are.

I understood the deregulation and privatisation bits of the argument very well, but I was pursuing what in my opinion was a more realistic position: private sector investors wanted the pricing mechanism of petroleum products free of government control, otherwise they would not sink their capital into building refineries. Yet, freeing fuel pricing was going to be at heavy social and political costs. My proposal then was that to kickstart the process, government should build refineries, lease out the management, fulfil local consumption, and even start exporting to earn forex from both crude and products, and then sell off the refineries to core investors and on the stock exchange.

A very influential oil company executive called and “tutored” me that there was little difference between importing petroleum products and local refining. “Simon,” he said in a clearly patronising tone, “the difference is just in shipping cost, which is negligible. Shipping is the cheapest mode of transportation in the world.” But when you spend about 50% of your oil income to import petroleum products, of course there is a huge difference: your forex reserves will get depleted and the naira will come under attack, minus the fact that you are shutting out manufacturers and other forex users.

If we were not importing products but refining locally, the story would be different.

The second enemy is the state of our education and third is the health care system. According to the CBN, these two items gulp billions of dollars every year. We all know that the quality of education and health care in the country has gone down over time because of poor, inept and selfish leadership at different levels. This is worsened by the constant strikes. Anyone who can afford to school abroad or seek foreign treatment will not miss the chance. The forex demand for these two items puts significant and avoidable pressure on our forex reserves and humiliates the naira. I can go on and on, but I have chosen these three items because I believe we can easily relate with them.

Ironically, it wouldn’t really matter if the exchange rate was N1000/$ if we were productive. The real issue would be the quality of life the currency can give to Nigerians and that goes to deeper structural issues and the size of the economy against our population. The Indonesian rupiah is 14,228/$1 but the GDP per head (purchasing power) is $12,800.

Ours is $5,250. Indonesia is industrialised, produces most of what it eats and exports palm oil, steel, textiles, and automobiles, etc. Apart from oil, what else can Nigeria sell to the world? How can we become better educated, healthier, secure and more productive? Our journey to development is still a very long one.

And Four Other Things…

POLICE POLLS They say politics is a game of numbers.

So also is security for elections in our troubled country. Ahead of the November 6 governorship poll in Anambra state, the deployment of security personnel is massive in view of the situation in the south-east which curtailed campaign rallies and led to low-key electioneering. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it will have 20,000 officers on the ground.

The police have announced the deployment of five AIGs, 14 CPs, 31 DCPs and 34,587 officers. While this is intended to assure residents that they are safe in the midst of threats by the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), it can equally scare voters away. Catch-22.

COVID COST The federal government will have to review its international travel protocols because something just doesn’t sound right, except there is a financial motive. The United Kingdom has finally recognised the integrity of our COVID-19 vaccination and no longer requires a pre-departure PCR test for those travelling on Nigerian passports. They are only required to do a Day 2 test on arrival. Curiously, Nigeria has failed to reciprocate this gesture.

Fully vaccinated travellers to Nigeria are still required to do pre-departure tests as well as Day 2 test on arrival. For a country that wants to get more people jobbed, full vaccination for international travels can be an incentive for some. Rethink.

PUBLIC PROPERTY Now, wait for this: the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has recovered 301 “illegally acquired” houses from two public officials in the federal capital territory (FCT). I don’t think Mr Bolaji Owasanoye, ICPC chairman, needed to put the “illegally acquired” phrase in his revelation. There is no way they would have acquired 301 houses legally and legitimately. We generally know that real estate is the biggest arena for money laundering globally. What we don’t know is what will happen to these two public officials.

It would be very good for ICPC to be making these startling revelations in court, supported with diligent prosecution. Imperative.

DRUG DEVILS Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, the director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), recently lamented that “cabals”, capitalising on the removal of the agency from the ports between 2011 and 2016, are behind the influx of fake and substandard drugs into the country. Unfortunately, by the time these drugs leave the ports and end up in pharmacies, they cannot choose their victims.

It could be the same Customs officer or Ports official that will end up buying or using the fake and substandard products. The innocent will suffer too, I know, but I’m just saying maybe these criminal cabals can also buy themselves some sense. Devils.

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