SATURDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2021

At UNESCO’s 75th Anniversary, Buhari Canvasses for Global Peace, Solidarity Says Nigerians competitive abroad due to good education acquired at home Deji Elumoye in Paris, France President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said despite mounting challenges facing nations, it was high time peace and solidarity “reign

supreme” across the globe.

The President, who spoke in Paris, France at a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation

(UNESCO), said the world “has an opportunity to count gains of the organisation in the last seven and half decades, while exploring the historic moment for building solidarity and enthroning peace.”

Earlier yesterday, Buhari, while receiving the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Shaikh Shakboot Alnahyan, on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum, praised

Diaspora Nigerians, saying their competitiveness “is a product of the good education acquired at home.”

At the UNESCO anniversary, Buhari canvassed global solidarity for the enthronement

of peace and development.

He said: “Our world is fast changing and so are the evolving challenges. There is, therefore, no better time to Continued on page 5

FG Set to Commence Sale of 5,000 Housing Units in 34 States… Page 10 Saturday 13 November, 2021 Vol 26. No 9714

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U.S. Secretary of State, Blinken, Expected in Nigeria Michael Olugbode

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (l) and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, after Lawan was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Onyentukwasi Obi 1 of Aba (The Leader We Can Trust) by Enyi 1 of Aba, HRH Eze I. A. Ikonne...yesterday

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken will arrive Nigeria next week on the second leg of his first official visit to Africa. He will first visit Kenya, before coming to Nigeria and end Continued on page 5

Stripped of Influence, Govs Fight Back over Direct Primaries, Consider Court Action Our Correspondents

Though, President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to sign into law the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, passed this week by the National Assembly, which, among other things, makes direct primaries mandatory for all parties for election of candidates, state governors across party lines are firming new plot to scuttle the amendment.

The governors, who felt the alteration would strip them of their power of deciding candidates for all elective positions in their parties, mounted pressure on the lawmakers to drop the

amendment. But the lawmakers refused to back down; they went ahead to add mandatory direct primaries to the bill.

For the lawmakers, the amendment would strip the governors of their massive influence over delegates and restore the powers of all the members of the parties, with regard to selecting candidates for elections.

“This amendment, if signed by the President, will also stop the governors from removing federal lawmakers at will. They just sit in their offices and decide who will return and who will not return. They have Continued on page 5

FG Raises Electricity Meter Prices by Over 30%... Page 6

THE JOY OF VICTORY...

Anambra State Governor-elect, Professor Chukwuma Soludo (r), receiving his certificate of return from the National Commissioner/ Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) in Awka…yesterday

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T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021

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Dogara: Nigerians Have Accepted Mass Killings as New Normal Declares country risks survival if people merely tolerate each other Charles Ajunwa A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has said Nigerians seem to have accepted mass killings in the country as the new normal.

Dogara, in a key note address titled, “Peace and Development in Nigeria: The Pragmatic Approach,” delivered at a summit organised by the Sultan Maccido Institute for Peace and Development Studies, University of Abuja, lamented that such killings no longer made headlines, adding that the situation had created a feeling that “nothing matters anymore.”

He said: “Today, Nigeria is faced with unprecedented crisis, so much so that nothing in our history prepares us for such a time as this. We seem to have accepted killings and mass murder as our new normal and so many cold-blooded murders of our brothers and sisters no longer make the headlines in the media.

“As students, lecturers and

political leaders, some of us are complicit, while the few who have dared to speak up are already outraged, fatigued and have surrendered to fatalism- a feeling that nothing matters anymore. It is like Nigeria seems to be suffering from some kind of God-ordained ineluctable fate.

“What we have done before doesn’t matter; all that matters is our present station. As long as we are not actively engaged in seeking solutions to these intractable issues, we are actually, wittingly or unwittingly, actively promoting it.”

The former Speaker said Nigeria runs the risk of not surviving if people merely tolerated each other, adding, “Our happiness cannot be the other groups’ unhappiness; our strength is not and will never be in our numbers but in our unity.”

He advocated a united Nigeria, saying, “We’ll be strong and when we strive to keep our bond and remain undivided, we will

be invincible. This is what should concern every patriotic Nigerian at the moment, not scheming for future elections.

All efforts of patriotic citizens must be geared towards stopping our dear country from the ongoing death by a thousand cuts.”

Dogara argued that Nigeria’s most immediate problem was the dangerous drift of the country into chaos and anarchy.

Apart from the rabid insecurity plaguing the nation, he said, “There are real or imagined charges of ethnic cleansing and domination of some sections by a certain section.”

The former Speaker said: “Attacks are unrelenting and there appears to be no end in sight. The situation has clearly gotten out of hand, following the repeated overrun of military formations by Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists, wanton killings and kidnap for ransom and mass abduction of school children in different parts of the country.

“For instance, we all know

that the North bears nearly 90 per cent of the insecurity brunt of the country. If estimates are anything to go by, not less than 50,000 northerners have been killed while over three million have been displaced in the Northeast alone.

“No one has the record of Northern lives lost to rural banditry, the farmer-herder clashes and ethno-religious conflicts. The number grows exponentially when we add the death occasioned by urban violence unleashed by an increasing army of mostly jobless youths suffering from substance use disorder.”

He said there was also the threat posed by school dropouts and out-of-school children: “A survey in 2015 put the number of out-of-school children in the country at 13.2 million. The latest MlCS data tells us that 69 per cent (9.1m) of out-ofschool children in Nigeria are in northern states. The problem is further compounded by the fact that the North, just like other parts of Nigeria, is in a demographic transition.

“The consequence of the ‘youth bulge’ is that there are so many young people competing for limited number of career opportunities. Those who lose out and fail to secure a place in society have become frustrated, angry and violent as predicted.

This set of young people easily surrender themselves for radicalisation, as the timeless adage goes, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

“Instead of the ‘youth bulge’ to be a blessing, it is fast leading to swapping of roles of our youths from productive labourers to disaffected rebels. What is left for us is to work out how to productively channel this restive energy. How do we warehouse this demography now and in the future? If we cannot find a place for them in society, how will they view us and the society they will live in? The situation is such that even the most incurable Nigerian optimist cannot sleep well in the face of these grim statistics. I hope this submit does not miss this point.

“There is no hiding place for us anymore because Nigeria is no longer the same. Structural injustices, mass illiteracy, mass poverty, mass unemployment and under-employment have all combined to pull out those we had pushed to the fringes of society to our streets and villages with heavy tolls on Nigerian lives and devastation at all levels. We now have a small percentage of highly educated Nigerian youths who are prepared to question everything including questioning the questions themselves.

“We succeeded in the past in decapitating oppressed Nigerians partly because they were largely illiterates and religion was used to keep them in check. Now we have seen that the frustration we fed them has reached a tipping point, the illiterates won’t take it anymore, much less the educated youths who have freed themselves from fictional constraints and are asking questions like never before.

State of UNESCO, Nigeria felicitates with all other Member-States, Associates and partners, who have walked the journey alongside UNESCO.” ‘Nigerians Competitive Abroad Due to Good Education Attained at Home’ Meanwhile, Buhari yesterday said the competitiveness which Nigerians display abroad “is a result of the good education they acquired before travelling out of the country.”

This is as he urged Nigerians in Diaspora to always abide by the rules of their host countries.

The President said this when he met with the Minister of State Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Shaikh Shakboot Alnahyan, on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum.

Buhari said: “Nigerians are all over the place, very competitive. And the competitiveness starts from home, where they have acquired good education, gone into businesses, and then take all that abroad.”

The President encouraged Nigerians in Diaspora to “subject themselves to the rules and standards of the country in which they live,

discuss furthering cooperation on global health, security, expanding energy access and economic growth, and revitalising democracy,” said the US embassy.

It explained further that the Secretary would deliver a speech on US-Africa policy in the capital of Africa’s largest democracy and also engage with Nigerian entrepreneurs in the digital sector.

The statement reads, “The Secretary will conclude his trip in Dakar, where he will meet with President Macky Sall and Foreign Minister

Aïssata Tall Sall to reaffirm the close partnership between our two countries.

“Given President Sall’s upcoming African Union chairmanship, Secretary Blinken looks forward to discussing regional issues and shared values.

“The Secretary will engage in events that highlight America’s strong commercial relationship with Senegal, amplify the role of female Senegalese entrepreneurs, and showcase the US partnership to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.”

either as working class, or doing businesses.”

He welcomed the offer

by UAE to partner with Nigeria in the areas of renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure logistics, and provision of vaccines to further control the COVID-19 pandemic.

On his own part, Alnahyan said his country “thinks very highly of President Buhari’s leadership,” noting that the Nigerian leader “is striving to build a better future for generations to come.”

He said there were many Nigerians in his country “who add much value,” assuring that the headwinds of the recent past in the relationship “are now behind us.”

Alnahyan said: “We want to secure, deepen and strengthen the association for the future.

We have a lot in common. We may be taking small steps, but they are leading somewhere.”

On proposed investments in Nigeria, Alnahyan said it would be a win-win situation, “which would bring hope and opportunities for people in both countries; we want to come and add quality and value.”

The Minister equally commended the Nigerian government for its robust tackling of violent extremism.

AT UNESCO’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY, BUHARI CANVASSES FOR GLOBAL PEACE, SOLIDARITY canvass for solidarity for the enthronement of peace and development.

“The anniversary cautions us not to overlook our achievements and challenges of the past and present; not to overlook how our journey together has shaped our world.”

Nigeria, he said, in felicitating with UNESCO, remained proud of its close association with the organisation since its establishment.

Buhari said: "Seventyfive years of building together a more advanced, knowledgeable and

prosperous world through education, science, culture, communication and information.

“Today calls to mind the words of Federico Mayor, Director-General of UNESCO from 1987-1999 and I quote: ‘any history begins when human beings have to draw from their knowledge of the past in order to better understand the present and look ahead to the future, when they come to realise that they must look into the facts, events and trends that have pre-figured their own era.’ These are profound words, and they stand the

test of time.

“As we mark UNESCO’s anniversary, we must acknowledge that it is a celebration of history; an occasion to remind ourselves of how far we have traveled, seeking to achieve the founding objectives of this great intellectual hub of the United Nations.”

The Nigerian leader further expressed happiness for being a part of the historic celebration, while congratulating UNESCO and its current leadership, for keeping the vision of the great organisation alive.

He added: "As a Member-

U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, BLINKEN, EXPECTED IN NIGERIA the visit in Senegal, in a trip that will run from November 15 to 20, underscoring the depth and breadth of the U.S. relationships with her African partners.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the US Embassy, Abuja, titled, “Secretary Blinken’s travel to Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal,” the top Joe Biden administration official will meet with Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Amb Raychelle Omamo.

The statement said during

the visit to Kenya, “the Secretary will advance USAfrica collaboration on shared global priorities, including ending the COVID-19 pandemic and building back to a more inclusive global economy, combating the climate crisis, revitalising democracies, and advancing peace and security.

“The Secretary and representatives of the Kenyan government will discuss their shared interests as members of the United Nations Security Council, including addressing regional security issues such

as Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan.

“The Secretary will advance US-Kenyan cooperation on ending COVID-19, improving clean energy access, and protecting the environment.

The Secretary will underscore US support for a peaceful and inclusive Kenyan election in 2022.”

Blinken would then travel to Abuja, where he will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama.

“They are expected to

STRIPPED OF INFLUENCE, GOVS FIGHT BACK OVER DIRECT PRIMARIES, CONSIDER COURT ACTION been doing this for over 20 years,” a Senator, who pleaded for anonymity, told THISDAY last night.

The Senator eagerly pointed to how Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State stopped all the state’s three senators in the Eight Senate from returning to the Ninth Senate.

But the state governors have not given up. They want their powers over delegates/selection of candidates retained and are ready to do anything to achieve this.

As a source put it last night, “the governors are ready for total war on this amendment.”

Sources close to one of the governors told THISDAY: “The governors are waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari to return from France,

so that they can pressure him to withhold assent to the bill.

They believe they can convince the President to stay on their side. They are very sure that the President will send this bill back to the National Assembly.”

Another source also said the governors “are not ruling out legal actions” in case the President decides to sign the bill.

He said: “This is a Constitutional issue.

Any law against the Constitution becomes invalid.

Constitutionally, the political parties have the right to decide their mode of primaries to select candidate. Making direct primaries mandatory is unconstitutional. In any case, democracy is also about choice in any selection process.

It is undemocratic to limit

the political parties to direct primaries.”

But one of the Senators, who led the mandatory direct primaries, said insinuations that it was undemocratic and unconstitutional “is a ruse.”

He adds: “Democracy is also about people having a say in selecting candidates for elections.”

Speaking with newsmen last Monday night at the end of the meeting held at Kebbi State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, Kebbi governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, PGF, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu said the governors were unhappy about the National Assembly’s resolution on direct primaries.

The Kebbi governor, who faulted the National Assembly’s

insertion of direct primary into the law, maintained that political parties should be allowed to pick the option best suited for them. Bagudu noted that the resolution was against the spirit of Executive Order signed by President Buhari, which frowns on large gathering in the wake of the global pandemic.

He further argued that direct primaries were too cumbersome, unwieldy and would overstretch the limited resources of INEC, statutorily mandated to oversee primaries conducted by political parties.

He said: “Direct primaries involve supervisory role

by INEC. So, if multiple political parties are doing their primaries, INEC resources will be overstretched, and I think

the chairman of INEC had even commented on that.”

The PDP leadership is also opposed to mandatory direct primaries.

The PDP said, “Our party holds that it is the inalienable right of each political party, within the context of our constitutional democracy to decide its form of internal democratic practices including the processes of nominating its candidates for elections at any level.”

The PDP also believes that no political party should force its own processes on any other political party, as the direct primaries amendment, “a practice the APC sought to achieve.”

The Director General, Progressive Governors Forum

(PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, also alleged that APC lawmakers pushing for direct primaries were out to hoodwink the party.

The APC chieftain said understandably, part of the sentiment informing the actions of members of the National Assembly was that “Nigerians have little or zero confidence on the disposition of party leaders, who are alleged to be under the direct control of governors.”

Lukman stressed that largely because of this perception, there was an ongoing media campaign blackmailing governors; that they were the ones perpetrating all the bad practices associated with the indirect methods and therefore the reason why they were against the adoption of direct primary.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾NOVEMBER 13, 2021

NEWS

News Editor Charles Ajunwa 09157401421 (sms only) Email charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

INEC Presents Certificate of Return to Soludo, Ekweremadu Congratulates Him David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented the Certificate of Return to Prof. Chukwuma Soludo as the winner of the Anambra State governorship election which was held on November 6 and 9.

The presentation took place at the INEC office in Awka, the Anambra State capital. His deputy, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim,

was also presented with his Certificate of Return.

Soludo was the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which is currently ruling the state with Governor Willie Obiano.

He won 19 of the 21 local governments areas including Ihiala Local Government Area which had its own election done last Monday.

Soludo polled 112,229 votes, thereby defeating his closest

FG: Fuel Subsidy to Go in Second Half of 2022 Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The federal government has explained that the current subsidy regime on petroleum motor spirit (PMS), which is covered under the ‘Cost Recovery’ mechanism of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would end in the first half of 2022.

The Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation (BoF), Mr. Ben Akabueze, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday during an interactive session with journalists, civil society organisations and other stakeholders on the 2022 budget proposals.

Akabueze explained that fuel subsidy exerts enormous strain on government finances and does not benefit the poor for which they are targeted, adding that the elite enjoy 80 per cent of subsidy.

The DG Budget stated that the revised 2022-24 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) was premised on a hybrid of January-June which is anchored

on the current fiscal regime with provision for cost recovery by the state oil company, as well as July-December based on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) fiscal regime.

According to him, by the second half of 2022, the NNPC would transit fully and operate as a full commercial entity funding its operations and maximising its gross revenues.

Akabueze, who spoke extensively on the proposed N16.39 trillion budget, noted that 34.8 per cent of projected revenues is to come from oil-related sources while 65.2 per cent is to be earned from non-oil sources.

He pointed out that the combined expenditure of the federal, state and local governments was less than 15 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to him, the biggest challenge stems from low revenue, lamenting that about 40 million of the 70 million Nigerians who should be in the tax pool were not paying taxes.

FG Raises Electricity Meter Prices by Over 30% Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has increased the price Nigerians will from next Monday pay for single phase and three-phase meters by between 30.6 per cent and 32.3 per cent respectively.

Making the announcement in a circular signed by the commission’s Chairman, Sanusi Garba, dated November 11, 2021, NERC stated that the new prices were exclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT).

The commission’s order which hiked the single-phase meter from the current cost of N44,896.17 to a revised price of N58,661.69 and the three-phase meter from N82,855.19 to a revised rate of N109,684.36 was addressed to managing directors of all electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) and all Meter Asset Providers (MAP).

By implication, it means that Nigerians will pay N13,766 and N26,829 more to get the 11 Discos to provide them with the single phase and three-phase meters, according to the new order.

The circular was marked NERC/REG/MAP/ GEN/751/2 and was titled:

‘Review of the Unit Price of End-use Meters Under the Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations’.

To make matters worse, NERC added that the prices were not inclusive of the 7.5 per cent VAT which the Discos and other meter providers are expected to include at the point of sale.

When the mandatory VAT is calculated along with the new prices, a single meter phase will now have N4,400 included to sell at N63,061.69 while a three phase meter will have additional N8,227 for VAT to sell for N117,911.36.

Cumulatively, the addition of the N18,166 and N35,227 plus VAT increases come ahead of the commencement of the Phase 1 of the federal government’s National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) and the MAP, the current metering schemes in operation in the country.

“Pursuant to the provisions of the Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) notes the recent changes in macro-economic parameters and hereby approve an upward review of unit price of meters. Note that all costs are exclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT).

rivals, Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 53,807 votes; Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who got 43,285 votes and Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) who polled 21,261 votes.

Party members, who trooped out to celebrate the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, have headed to Isuofia, his country home to continue the celebration.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated Soludo saying he possesses the experience and pedigree to

lead the state and contribute to development of the South-east in particular and Nigeria at large.

Ekweremadu, also congratulated the people of Anambra and critical stakeholders for the peaceful election, stressing that by electing Soludo, the people of Anambra State had upped the bar of leadership recruitment in the South-east, saying such was very important if Ndigbo must build the region of their dreams.

According to a post on his verified Facebook page, @iamekweremadu, the ranking Senator said: “Hearty congratulations to the governor-elect of Anambra

State, Prof. Charles Soludo, on his well earned victory.

“I commend him for his humility and magnanimity in victory manifested in his hand of fellowship to all, especially other candidates. No doubt, he has the experience and pedigree to provide leadership to Ndi Anambra as well as contribute immensely to the development of the South-east and the nation.

“Congratulations also to the people of Anambra State. They have spoken and they spoke in a credible, free, fair, peaceful, and transparent manner.

“I commend the Independent National Electoral Commission

(INEC), security agencies, media, Civil Society Organisations, Ndi Anambra, and the political leaders of the state, especially the candidates, some of who have already congratulated Soludo.

“In all, the peaceful conduct of the election against all odds, is a major victory, not only for Ndi Anambra, but also for Ndigbo and the nation’s democracy. Importantly, Ndi Anambra have raised the bar of leadership recruitment in Igbo land. It is a step in the right direction, for charity must begin at home if we must build the South-east and Nigeria of our dreams.”

TITLE ACROSS REGIONS. . .

L-R: Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu; Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Senator Theodore Orji and Senator Yakubu Oseni, after the Enyi 1 of Aba, HRH, Eze I. A. Ikonne, conferred Senator Lawan with the chieftaincy title of the Onyentukwasi Obi 1 of Aba.

Marwa Charges Military Officers to Engage in Book Writing Michael Olugbode in Abuja Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.

Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has charged military officers to venture into book writing to expand the frontiers of knowledge in the service.

“I would like to encourage officers to venture more into the field of writing to expand the frontiers of knowledge in the service,” he stated.

Gen. Marwa gave the charge in his remarks during the presentation of ‘The Marwa Awards’ to two Army officers who came first in order of merit in the

Lieutenant – Captain Practical Promotion Examination and Senior Staff Course Qualifying Examination during the Nigerian Army Infantry Biennial Reunion in Jaji, Kaduna State yesterday.

The merit awards were recently instituted by Marwa to encourage excellence and professionalism among military officers. While commending the two officers, Major AC Ogbuogu and Lt. OR Oyetunde, a female officer who won the awards, Marwa said “I know coming first in these examinations is a reward of hard work because I came first in my time in these exams so I should know.”

Speaking further at the event, he said, “I wish to commend the Armed Forces for its commitment, sacrifice, patriotism and gallantry in its fight to keep Nigeria safe. I trust we will prevail. I thank the Chief of Army Staff for approving the Buba Marwa Awards, with the two officers who stood first in order of merit in the Lieutenant – Captain Practical Promotion Examination and Senior Staff Course Qualifying Examination, as the first set of winners.

“I would also like to seize the opportunity to donate 20 copies of the revised Nigerian Army dictionary to the Headquarters Infantry Corps library.

I authored the first edition of the dictionary 38 years ago as a major, in 1983 and now revised by my son, Lt. Col Mohamed M. Marwa where he added 400 new definitions. Lt. Col Marwa also wrote two other books, War Is Not A Gamble and Ancient Era Of Warfare and I am presenting 10 copies each of those as well to the infantry corps library.”

Military chiefs at the event include the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya; Commander, Infantry Corps, Major Gen. VO Ezugwu; and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, among others.

Akeredolu Lifts Ban on Forestry Activities in Ondo Fidelis David in Akure The Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has lifted the ban on logging activities in forest reserves across the 18 local government areas of the state.

The governor had on the 31st of August, 2021, placed a ban on all activities in the forests including logging and flitching.

The ban lift was coming a day after timber traders under the auspices of Ondo State Timbers Trade Association (OSTTA)

protested over the continued ban on logging activities by the state government, saying the ban has led to over 300,000 job losses.

In a statement made available to journalists in Akure yesterday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, the ban has been lifted with effect from Monday, November 15, 2021.

“The measure was aimed at bringing sanity to the sector even as it was meant to engender enhanced revenue generation for the state.

“Ten weeks since the ban, government’s internal and administrative measures emplaced were carefully monitored with a view to charting a more enduring path towards the effective utilisation of the state’s vast forest resources for the general good.”

According to the Governor, “these mechanisms and measures are undoubtedly, effective enough to drive government’s vision for the sector. The review of the ban and subsequent approval by Mr. Governor to lift same, therefore, comes on the heels of an ap-

preciable level of compliance on the part of those saddled with responsibilities during the ban.

So far, the measures have yielded some commendable results.

“All permit holders as well as other legitimate stakeholders are hereby enjoined to commence their activities only from the approved date, Monday 15th November, 2021. State Forest Officers are equally, further mandated to ensure strict adherence to approved guidelines in the discharge of their duties for enhanced productivity.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾NOVEMBER 13, 2021

NEWS

Missing Vanguard Reporter, Tordue Salem, Found Dead Lawan, Omo-Agege, FCT Minister, Ortom, NUJ mourn Deji Elumoye , Kingsley Nwezeh and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Vanguard Newspaper reporter, Tordue Salem, who disappeared on October 13, 2021, without any trail of his whereabouts was found dead on Thursday night.

This is as the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), North-Central have expressed

shock and sadness over the death of Salem.

It was learnt that the Federal House of Representatives correspondent was last seen around Total Filling Station, close to the Force headquarters, Abuja.

Salem’s sudden disappearance prompted a massive search for his whereabouts.

The Nigeria Police yesterday said that the missing Vanguard Newspaper reporter, Henry Salem Tordue, was killed by a hit-and-run driver at the Mabushi District Highway in Abuja.

Parading the driver of Toyota Camry car with registration number BWR

243 BK, the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, said that Intelligence Response Team of the police, headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu, finally traced the corpse of the reporter to the morgue of the Wuse General Hospital and was identified by the family.

The suspect, a 29-year-old commercial driver, Itoro Clement, was paraded yesterday in Abuja.

He said three identity cards comprising that of the National Assembly, Nigerian Union of Journalists and Vanguard Newspaper along with two ATM cards were found on

Obaseki Launches 30-year Devt Plan, Unveils Centres for Economic Transformation Eromosele Abiodun and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, launched the state’s 30-year development plan and unveiled eight centres for the state’s economic transformation.

The governor unveiled the plan at the ongoing Alaghodaro Summit 2021, holding at the Festival Hall, Government House, Benin, the Edo State capital.

This is as the Edo State Government and private sector partners in the state, relished the impact of the annual summit

and its role in driving public policy reforms, investment inflows, institutional reforms and sustained economic growth in the state.

In its fifth edition, this year’s summit is themed, ‘Edo of Our Dreams: Building a Sustainable Future’.

Launching the 30-year development plan for the state, Obaseki said, “Planning is not a document, it has to be a process; we have to live it and that is what the Edo 30 years developmental plan is all about. It’s broken into five-year periods and we have six of these periods.”

The 14th Governing Council of the University of Jos has approved the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor for the University. He is Professor Tanko Ishaya who is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Jos. The process was not without intrigues and external interference as the federal government was at a time accused of undue influence. As the university could not come up with a substantive VC at the end of the tenure of the Prof. Sebastian Maimako, an acting VC had to be appointed to hold forth.

No fewer than 19 Professors eyed the position, and each jostled to be the favoured candidate.

Among the front runners were Ishaya, Prof. Yiltok Simon, Prof.

Wannang Noel, and Prof David Wonang Others were Profs. Bernard Matur, Dimis Mailafia, Daniel Dabi, Sylvester Shikyil, Dung Pam Sha, Uriah Alex Lar, Isuwa Jurmang, Patricia Lar, Pam Yakubu as well as Stephen Mallo, But with the emergence of Ishaya, the contest has been brought to an end.

According to a statement signed by a Principal Assistant Registrar of the university, Mr. Abdullahi Abdullahi, his emergence was from the Council’s consideration of the recommendation of

2021 Entrepreneurship: Tony Elumelu Foundation Funds 5,000 African SMEs from 54 Countries The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy empowering African entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, has selected 4,949 entrepreneurs from across Africa for its 2021 Entrepreneurship Programme.

The 2021 beneficiaries were selected from a pool of over 400,000 applications, based on their innovation, performance, and growth potential to create jobs and eradicate poverty on the continent. Consisting of both new start-ups and existing small businesses, the 2021 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs have undergone world-class business training, mentorship and coaching and will have a life-time access to

the Tony Elumelu Foundation alumni network.

Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu shared, “To you young African entrepreneurs – work hard, dream dreams, and be very disciplined.

You must continue to think of impact. The entrepreneurship journey is not linear – there are ups and downs, but by staying focused and resilient, ultimately success will come your way. The future of our continent is in your hands. What you do as entrepreneurs will go a long way in lifting Africa out of poverty. I am happy that our female entrepreneurs are doing very well, with 68 per cent representation this year.”

of the National Assembly, when the Senate and the House of Representatives passed separate motions over the disappearance of Salem, was that he would be quickly found and reunited hale and hearty with his family and colleagues.

“It is therefore shocking to hear that the journalist had all the while been killed by a hit and run driver in an accident.

“This is a very unfortunate and heart-rending development,” Lawan said.

The Senate President also condolence with the family of Salem, the management of Vanguard Newspapers, the National Assembly Press Corps and the Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ)

over this sad loss.

He prayed God to comfort all the loved ones of the departed and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

On his part, Omo-Agege charged the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing of Salem.

Omo-Agege in a release yesterday, expressed regret over the unfortunate incident and emphasised the need for conclusive investigations that will unmask all those involved in the journalist’s death.

The story making the rounds that one Itoro Clement - a commercial driver who allegedly knocked down and killed the journalist - has raised further questions on the circumstances leading to his demise.

The centres for the state’s economic transformation, according to the governor, include Benin River Port, the proposed Airport in Edo North Senatorial District, Edo State Oil Palm Programme, Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub and the Edo Production Centre.

Others are the Edo Tech Park, Innovation Centres across the state and various oil palm projects in Edo. According to the governor, “The Benin River Port project, for us, is going to be a gamechanger. Our feasibility studies show so much potential and viability in that project.

After Intriguing Contest, Ishaya Emerges New VC of UNIJOS Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

his body.

Speaking on the incident, the driver told journalists that the deceased was crossing the road when he was hit by the vehicle.

He said the area in the Mabushi was notorious for armed robbery activities.

There were, however, gaps in the police narrative as there was no mention of who picked the corpse and who deposited it at Wuse Hospital.

The driver stated that after he hit him, he was in a panic and reported to a police checkpoint nearby where he was advised to report to Wuse Police Station but he never did.

The late journalist was missing for one month before the body was found.

Reacting to the development, Lawan said the concern

the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board at the Council’s Special Meeting held on Friday 12th November, 2021.

REWARDING EXCELLENCE… L-R: Retired ACG Segun Adegoke receiving on behalf of his Son, Deji Adegoke, the Nigerian Rising Star Award from Lere Fashola, the C.E.O of ESQ, the organisers of the Nigerian Legal Awards 2021 which recognises 40 under-40 lawyers who will shape the future...reently.

Ugwuanyi Assures Support for Woman Whose Son was Killed by Husband for Money Ritual The Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has assured Mrs. Augustina Ifebuchechukwu Eze, whose seven-year-old son was allegedly killed by her husband, Chidi Onyishi, for money ritual that the state government will do everything within its power to ensure that she and her children do not suffer.

Speaking when he led a delegation from Ugwuanyi to commiserate with the mourning woman and her children, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, Steve Oruruo, stated that the state government will stand vigorously behind them to overcome the shock

and mitigate their suffering.

Oruruo who disclosed that the governor was saddened by the news of the unfortunate incident, condoled with the woman and her children and prayed for the repose of the slain child’s soul, stressing that the act perpetrated by the father of six (her husband) was “unimaginable and unthinkable by all standards.”

Consoling Mrs. Eze and her children, Oruruo who presented Ugwuanyi’s initial cash donation to them for interim upkeep said: “We want to reassure you that the state government will stand vigorously behind you and

mitigate the suffering of your kids and contribute immensely to your recovery from this shock.

“And it is the wish of the government to use all legal means to ensure that there is diligent investigation and that the course of justice cannot be subverted. The government is poised not to allow it to be truncated. “Everything that needs to be done will be done by Enugu State Government to ensure that you find justice and overcome this challenge.

“Our governor is a goodminded person who is interested in your well-being and that of

your children. So he has sent us to come and commiserate with you and reassure you that you will not stand alone.

Government will be with you and will give you support as we pray that God will give you stronger reason to find comfort.

“The governor has delivered the sum of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000.00) to you and your kids in the interim and every other thing that should be done will be done and this interface will continue between you and the state government to ensure that you and your children are comfortable.”

Advertising: Omojafor Lauds AISOP The Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Sir Steve Omojafor has lauded the recently announced Advertising Industry Standard of Operating Procedure (AISOP) launched by the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), the sector regulator, Sir Steve Omojafor made his view on the AISOP known in

Lagos yesterday in a statement released by the AAAN Press Office.

The AAAN BOT Chairman, also commended Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Chief Executive Officer/Registrar of APCON, for signing off the proposed procedure, saying It will be of immense benefits to the industry.

“This is long overdue, and the members of AAAN are

convinced it is in the interest of the industry and to the benefit of all advertising practitioners, whether they are on agency side or client side’’, said Omojafor.

He specially commended APCON CEO/Registrar for the role he played in the process that birthed the AISOP, which he said will result in increased professionalism in the industry.

He said it was most gratifying

that almost all the Heads of Sectoral Groups in the Advertising and Marketing industry have signed off on the document.

He urged all the Groups to urgently commence the sensitization of their members and clients on steps towards the full implementation of the new Operating Procedures towards restoring sanity to the Marketing Communication Industry.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

NEWS

FG Set to Commence Sale of 5,000 Housing Units in 34 States Launches online application portal, promises fairness EmmanuelAddehinAbuja The federal government yesterday officially launched an online platform for its National Housing Scheme (NHS), effectively preparing the ground for the sale of over 5,000 housing units in 34 states of the federation.

Speaking at the event in Abuja, Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, noted that the new portal was expected to facilitate home ownership and rental schemes in both urban and rural areas.

Of the 36 states, it was learnt that while Lagos State is yet to provide the government with land for the scheme, Rivers State is expected to join in the phase three of the project.

The minister called on Nigerians to leverage the opportunities granted by the federal government under the programme to own apartments in any parts of the country of their choice.

While stating that the over 5,000 houses across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are currently at different stages of completion, the minister noted that that access to affordable houses had

remained a challenge for many Nigerians.

He said: “As you know, we have houses scattered across the country that are not occupied. This is because people have a preference for different building styles. In the North, the people there prefer bungalows, while the South prefers blocks of flats.

“So first, what we did was to carry out a survey to know what kind of houses Nigerians want to live in and that helped us to formulate relevant policies for the project.

We currently have over 5,000 units at different stages of completion.”

Stressing that the size of the houses range from between 1 to 3 semi-detached bungalows and 1-3 bedroom, the minister noted that the flats will be sold for between N7 million to N16.19 million each, adding that payment can either be made through a mortgage or any financial system of choice.

He added: “The least selling price for each of these houses will be N7.222 million, and the highest will be N16.19 million. The highest is a 3-bedroom bungalow, it is not just the house but it also has land

along with it. The bungalows are a little more expensive than the blocks of flats which do not have additional land.

“There are some slight price differences in the blocks of flats built in the riverine and swampy areas, for example, houses in Edo, Bayelsa.

“This is the first time we have a platform that every Nigerian has access to. This provides an opportunity for all Nigerians to apply and ensure a fair process of allocation. We will soon start the official handover and tape cutting as the subscribers come in. We have maintenance and facilities managers in all the estates.

“We introduced the online portal from which the national housing programme will be offered to members of the public.

The forms are online and allow for more openness, limits human interventions, and hold us more accountable. The endgame is an economic objective.”

He said that the research done by the ministry was instrumental to the implementation of the federal government’s Economic Recovery

and Growth Plan (ERGP), explaining that contractors handling the projects are wholly Nigerian.

“No international contractors were involved. We have 1,000 contractors from Nigeria. It also gave the contractors an opportunity to sustain their staff. Also, all materials for the project were locally made materials,” he said.

The minister urged Nigerians to register online via nhp.worksandhousing.gov.ng, listing the requirements for the application as a passport photograph, current tax clearance payslip, letter of recommendation, means of identification and evidence of 10 per cent initial deposit, which he said was for mortgage subscribers only.

He added: “Applicants can also take a virtual tour of the property they are interested in. They can apply and register with email and phone number. Upon verification, they can complete their application.

“We have included the abridged drawings of each estate. When an allocation is booked on the online portal, it will show that it is no longer available. This way we will avoid duplicity.”

IPC, NUJ, Others Seek Urgent Review of Undemocratic, Anti Press NBC Code Peter Uzoho and Oluchi Chibuzor The International Press Center (IPC), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and civil society organisations (CSOs) have called for urgent review of the 6th Amendment in the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)’s Code, describing it as “undemocratic” and “anti-press”.

The media stakeholders said the revisitation of that code was necessary and that the NBC needs to consult all the stakeholders to get their contributions for the production of a code that would serve the best interest of the Nigerian broadcasting profession, protect and encourage investments, and

guarantee the rights of journalists.

They spoke yesterday in Lagos at the official presentation of a report titled, ‘Questions Marks on the 6th NBC Code Amendments’, which contains media stakeholders’ analyses of the said code, resentments, and recommendations.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said it had become imperative to stop arbitrariness and excesses of the NBC. According to him, there are many other objectionable provisions in the revised code that may discourage further investment in the Nigerian broadcast sector, while compelling those who have already done so to have a rethink.

Unlimited Excitement Ahead Glo Battle of The Year Nigeria Emma Okonji Excitement is building up across the country as hundreds of dance lovers move to register for the world’s biggest dance reality television show, Glo Battle of the Year Nigeria.

In a press statement in Lagos on Friday, Globacom provided updates on the closure of the call-to-enter phase of the competition and the commencement of regional auditions nationwide.

Since the unveiling of the competition in October, talented dancers and dance groups have uploaded their dance moves in a race to qualify for the auditions. According to the company, “Young Nigerians have camped on www.globotynigeria.com

since the website went live last month. The opportunity to win mega millions of naira and other mouth-watering prizes, including the chance of representing Nigeria at the international Battle of the Year, has motivated many to apply”.

Glo Battle of the Year Nigeria has been among the popular topics discussed on top social media platforms such as Twitter and Nairaland, within the last month. The proud sponsor reminded interested dancers and dance crews to go to www. globotynigeria.com to enter the competition. Participants will be required to upload a 60-second entry video, after which the top 20 entries per region in each category will be selected.

Upstream Commission, PwC Collaborate to Curb Arbitrariness in Oil Sector Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

FOR IMPROVED HEALTH… L-R: Medical Officer for Health, Onigbongbo LCDA; Dr.Tawak Folashade; President, Rotary Club of Ikeja, Rtn.Gbenga Badejo and Foundation Director; Rtn.Olanrewaju Lawal; at the Keep Polio@Zero Forever Initiative which was held at Oregun Health Center, Lagos State... recently.

N’Delta Ministry: FG to Set up Monitoring NOSDRA Visit Crude Oil Team to Ensure Quality Housing for Staff Well Leak Site in Bayelsa NdubuisiFrancisinAbuja The federal government has expressed its resolve to set up an independent monitoring committee to ensure that the houses built for the staff of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA) are of good quality.

The minster, Senator Godswill Akpabio, stated this at the official groundbreaking ceremony of the MNDA’s Staff Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Housing Estate held in Karshi, Nasarawa State.

Akpabio, who was represented by the Minister of State, Senator Omotayo Alasoadura, commended the Staff Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society for initiating a laudable venture of developing 500 housing units to promote staff welfare in the ministry.

Astatement issued by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Patricia

Deworitshe, stated that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had shown greater concern for the welfare of its citizens, adding that every good government will naturally endeavour to promote welfare policies of which, housing is an important one.

He expressed delight that the Head of Service of the Federation had keyed into Buhari’s initiative by building and distributing houses to civil servants through the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Project (FISH), which he noted, is undoubtedly a motivating factor to all federal civil servants.

According to him, the housing units being jointly developed by the ministry’s Cooperative Society and Haleem Integrated Limited would avail the staff the opportunity to live in their own houses before their retirement.

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has said the oil spill reported from an oil well within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 was yet to abate, according to feedback from officials deployed to the site.

Director General of NOSDRA, Mr. Idris Musa, who reacted to the development said the intensity of the leak was hampering investigations at the incident site.

“A Spill was reported by AITEO at her Santa Barbara well 1 well head on November 5, 2021. Joint Investigation Visit to the site was carried out on November 6, 2021.

“Due to the continuous spraying of crude oil from the well head, the cause of spill was not determined by the joint investigation team

which comprised NOSDRA, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), State Ministry of Environment and Community representatives.

“AITEO was directed to shut in the well so that proper JIV will be conducted on this facility.

“Recovery of free phase oil was ongoing as at the time of this visit. AITEO was also directed to deploy more booms to contain the spilled crude oil.

“As at today, November 10, 2021 and according to AITEO, efforts are still ongoing to ensure the well is shut in within the shortest possible time,” Musa said.

Meanwhile Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production in a statement on Wednesday said it was yet to ascertain the volume of the crude discharged into the surrounding environment.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) will collaborate to ensure that standards are set in the oil and gas sector, the new Chief Executive of the commission, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, has said.

Speaking when the management team of PwC visited him in his o΀ce in Abuja, Komolafe noted that working together with the Àrm would help further his quest to build a 21st century

upstream regulator for the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

He said that the commission, an autonomous regulatory body created with the signing of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari, would continue to work with industry stakeholders to streamline the operations of the sector.

Komolafe added that the proposed collaboration with PwC was geared towards creating a “new organisational culture that will evolve into a 21st century regulator.”

NBCC Advocates Coherent Monetary Policy Framework for National Development

Mary Nnah

The Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) has advocated for a coherent monetary policy framework for national development.

The NBCC President and Chairman in Council, Bisi Adeyemi, in her opening speech at a recent virtual roundtable, advocated for the building of a coherent monetary policy framework strategically targeted at improving economic growth and national development.

She highlighted that Nigeria’s

economy before now was highly dependent on oil as the major source of government revenue and foreign exchange earnings.

“Over the years, for various reasons, we have witnessed significant depletion of the country’s foreign reserves. But things are changing,” she said.

Two experts Dr. Marco Hernandez, Lead Economist for Nigeria, World Bank, and Dr. Hassan Mahmud, Director, Monetary Policy Department, Central Bank of Nigerian, were specially invited to dissect the issues.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

ORITSEJAFOR: A FIERY ‘DEFENDER OF FAITH’ Michael West pays tribute to Ayo Oritsejafor, charismatic preacher and founder of Word of Life Bible Church

O

ne thing anybody cannot deny about the immediate past President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Joseph Ayodele Oritsejafor, is his voice, courage and passion in defence of Christian faith in Nigeria. The foremost charismatic preacher represents different personality to different people.

He’s torn between two extreme loyalties: those who accept and follow him passionately and those who virulently dislike his guts. The latter class of people often see Oritsejafor from the prism of ostentation, unflinching faith activism and the audacity to tell truth to power. Like a general in the army of the Lord, his actions and utterances are anchored on the principles of his call as a priest of God and a prophet to the nation of Nigeria.

Like any other man, Oritsejafor has been through his own phases of challenges in ministry, as well as in his personal and public life.

That’s why it is convenient for him to identify with the needy and the vulnerable members of the society and responds to their situation as he’s led to do. The father of triplets is a passionate lover of children and supporter of talents. Known for firmness and courage, Oritsejafor gave the Nigerian Church the much needed leadership that scared and curtailed the oppressive and aggressive onslaughts against Christians at the time. Despite his numerous obligations, Oritsejafor sacrificially spent his personal resources to fight oppression of his constituency – the church, provided relief for the victims of natural disasters like he did when floods wreaked havoc in parts of Sokoto State in October 2012.

He was very vocal against the undue advantage of one religion over the other as demonstrated in the official patronage over the years. Oritsejafor was despised in some quarters for being audacious by cutting-to-size the larger-than-life image of the ‘feudal lords’ in national affairs at any given opportunity. Even in the face of threats to his life at the peak of the Boko Haram onslaughts, Oritsejafor used the weapon of his tongue to protect and defend his people while holding the federal government, northern political elite and Muslim leaders responsible for the havoc wreaked by the insurgents because of leadership failure on their part. These were the reasons why those uncomfortable with his unrelenting and fearless disposition silently employed acerbic media attacks against him.

Last year, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, a notable Christian activist and Executive Secretary of Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN), in his tribute describes Oritsejafor as a rare gift in leadership to the Body of Christ. Emmanuel was privileged to be close to CAN leadership to know and evaluate the contributions of Oritsejafor while in the saddle. “In contemporary Christianity in Nigeria, only one Christian leader has distinguished himself as corporate leader willing to surrender the resources of his ministry for the common good of all, irrespective of Church group, denomination, ministry or tribe. Only His Eminence, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has accomplished this feat.

“Christianity in Nigeria is yet to raise another corporate leader that would fearlessly confront the adversaries to defend the flock of Christ. He was bold, fearless, and inspired many Christian professionals to rise to support CAN. His tenure as President of CAN witnessed the introduction of some landmark policies that would not only have prevented the current persecution of Christians but would have enabled Christianity to transform Nigeria,” he stated.

November 10 every year is Oritsejafor’s birthday. In a tribute exclusively made available to me on Wednesday, Bishop Abraham Olaleye, an evangelist, one of the leaders of the Pentecostal Fellow-

ORITSEJAFOR WAS DESPISED IN SOME QUARTERS FOR BEING AUDACIOUS BY CUTTING-TO-SIZE THE LARGER-THAN-LIFE IMAGE OF THE ‘FEUDAL LORDS’ IN NATIONAL AFFAIRS AT ANY GIVEN OPPORTUNITY. EVEN IN THE FACE OF THREATS TO HIS LIFE AT THE PEAK OF THE BOKO HARAM ONSLAUGHT, ORITSEJAFOR USED THE WEAPON OF HIS TONGUE TO PROTECT AND DEFEND HIS PEOPLE

ship of Nigeria (PFN), Olaleye described Oritsejafor as a charismatic leader who demonstrated the “qualities of a good leader” not just by himself but also he possesses “the ability to see the leadership qualities in others and give them responsibilities and this is why he delegates authority to others.” He further expressed his opinion on the person of the former President of CAN. “I will describe Pastor Ayo as a great charismatic leader, a fiery preacher who easily warms himself into people’s hearts. I encountered him first time in 1979 on his popular TV program called ‘Hour of Deliverance.’ Wherever I was, on Sunday afternoon, I make sure I head home so I won’t miss that fiery preaching which was aired at 5pm. It was a delight for me when I met him personally in 1982 during R. W. Schambach’s crusade held at TBS Lagos. He hosted the crusade in which Evang. Dr. Ebenezer Obey was actively involved.

“Our next meeting came in 1986, when he gave me accommodation during the Church of God Mission Convention of that year in Warri; that was before the inception of Word of Life Bible Church.

He is also the spiritual father to my sister-in-law Bukky Omolu and her husband, Abel. After nearly two decades, I had the honour of meeting him again, but this time as the National President of the PFN. This was 2006, when he came to inaugurate the newly appointed Exco in Lagos State. I was appointed the vice chairman to Pastor Wale Adefarasin - chairman, and it was a great pleasure working with this charismatic leader.

“After Archbishop Benson Idahosa, Pastor Ayo is the next person I came close to, that loved and served the Body of Christ the way he did. This unusual commitment was evident to all, and it no doubt led him to becoming the President of CAN, the highest Christian position in the nation. This elevation made him the first Pentecostal pastor to become the head of the umbrella body. Pastor Ayo may come to many as flamboyant, but one cannot deny the fact that he is a lovable personality, especially when one comes into close contact with him. I believe that God had used him to put a shine on Christianity and the gospel ministry in Nigeria.

“One of the qualities of a good leader Pastor Ayo amply demonstrated is the ability to see the leadership qualities in others and give them responsibilities and this is why he still delegates authority to others. For instance, he sent me to mediate in feuds between leaders at the national level on two occasions during his leadership in the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria. He related with other leaders in the body without any semblance of discrimination.

This he did to promote fellowship and foster the healthy relationship and unity among God’s people.

“Pastor Ayo is a detribalized Nigerian and leader. I remember meeting him in 2009 to discuss ministers and ministries related issues and my concerns in that respect. He listened attentively and gave me a response with the following words, ‘someone has to take up the challenge and help many of these young ministers so they can have a God-focused ministries’. That is apostolic and the heart of a true leader. Shortly before the end of his tenure as PFN president, and in one of our NEC meetings held in Jos, Plateau State, he appointed me as the National Vice Chairman of Evangelism Committee.

“In summary, Pastor Ayo is a great leader, a faithful husband and father. I pray for long and fulfilling years ahead for him. I wish him an awesome birthday celebration.”

• West wrote via mikeawe@yahoo.co.uk

GBAJABIAMILA, LAWYERS AND NATION-BUILDING The Speaker of the House of Representatives urges his colleagues to ensure that Nigerians live in a just society, writes Grade Olomu

H

e is one of them. House of Representatives Speaker, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila feted fellow learned colleagues at the recently concluded Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Gbajaabiamila, an erudite legal professional who plied his trade in the United States before his foray into Nigerian politics is a public delight any day.

The Speaker who has been mobilizing Nigerians including political elites to forge a common, bipartisan front against the myriad of challenges facing the nation, also challenged his professional colleagues to take the lead in rebuilding Nigeria.

“I am delighted to address this distinguished gathering on the occasion of the 2021 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association. While I make this address as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, it is important to note that I also speak today as a Lawyer and I consider it a great honour to speak in such a great gathering of my colleagues.

“Let me thank the leadership of our association for the invitation to address my distinguished colleagues and the opportunity to enforce my hope that this Conference will light the fire in our profession and prepare us all to take the lead and consolidate the position of the NBA as a critical stakeholder in our affairs as a nation.

“Our nation and the world are slowly recovering from the pangs of the Covid-19 Pandemic and while this affected the physical gathering of lawyers in the AGC last year, we as a people and

a nation have shown that we cannot be defeated.

Our association was at the risk of a severe breakdown during the pandemic but Nigerian lawyers are resilient, tough, inventive, and resourceful even in the face of daunting odds and challenges and the association came up with creative and ingenious ways of hosting our traditional and much-cherished annual conference virtually and remotely, taking account of COVID-19 while not submitting or resigning to it.

“As we gather this year, We should pride ourselves in the reality that this is the largest gathering of lawyers anywhere in the world and this is a feat worthy of commendation. This year, the NBA as its theme has chosen to TAKE THE LEAD’’.

“This theme is not only timely but timeless in light of the challenges we face as a nation. This theme presents a fierce urgency for Lawyers to capture the moment and take the driver’s seat in the conversations surrounding our collective patrimony,” the Speaker said at the conference to the admiration of hundreds of lawyers.

It was a patriotic call to his fellow learned colleagues; he wanted their thoughts on nationbuilding to align with his. As a worthy ambassador of the bar, Gbajabiamila has been making the legal profession proud in a manner he has been handling the national assignment entrusted to his care and his informed, timely interventions on burning national matters.

He said, “We answered the call to serve and

commit to the cause of the downtrodden and to rebuilding our nation and raising it from the ruins. If we are poised at taking the lead, we must be ready to do more, do better and do so with haste that shows our understanding of challenges and promise of this moment in history and our determination to succeed against the odds.”

The Speaker charged his colleagues to keep faith with the pledge to ensure that Nigerians live in a just society free from abuse of power and protected by a justice system built on fairness and the rule of law.

Gbajabiamila reminded them that nationbuilding is a joint task and all have roles to play as small pieces in the big puzzle. “As legislators, we are committed, now more than ever, to promote policies and institute measures that will ensure that the practice of law thrives.

Lawyers also have a role to play individually and collectively as an association in promoting social justice and respect for the rule of law and if we all play a part and intentionally contribute, we will pull our country from the deepest trenches of strife and systemic failures to the mountain top of peace and prosperity”, he said.

Many who have been watching the Speaker closely since 2019 when he assumed the position of the speaker will attest to his passion to see a new Nigeria. He has redefined public service with his deft inter-governmental relations which has ultimately resulted in the benefits to Nigerians.

Rather than engaging in needless power tussle with the Executive, he maintained a harmonious relationship with the Villa without compromising the independence of the legislature. Despite being a leader in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he has never kept quiet when the leadership dropped the ball or failed to live up to the expectations of Nigerians.

At various challenging periods in the nation, just as the speaker galvanized lawyers, he is always a rallying figure in times of crisis. When university lecturers under the auspices of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), shut classrooms over poor welfare, or when health workers went on strike, among others, the speaker was among the leading national figures that broke the truce.

In the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gbajabiamila showed the stuff he is made of. He championed the cause of the downtrodden and challenged the elite to give to the poor who were adversely impacted by the pandemic.

The speaker led his colleagues in the House of Representatives to donate salaries to the poor.

He didn’t fail in his legislative duty either. For the first time, the speaker with the support of the members of the house ensured the return of the budget to the January to December cycle.

Life and nation-transforming bills also scaled through in his chamber. Far-reaching motions and resolutions were reached on critical matters of national importance especially insecurity.

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NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

A triumph of reason...

Adamawa, Witch-Hunting Judges and Magistrates

Federik De Klerk: Hero?

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or the sake of the future generation, let’s stop the canonization of Frederik de Klerk. I have watched with keen interest how media organizations are praising FW de Klerk after his death. If you read the Financial Times yesterday, you will think he was a saint, but far from it. De Klerk was another National party leader like P.W. Botha but the difference was that he was an opportunist. The ethnic violence had reached a crescendo in the late 80s. There had been killings everywhere in South Africa, there was a zeitgeist of revolution, the iron curtain was falling and de Klerk read the tea leaves. He calculated that what happened in Rhodesia might happen also in South Africa. He saw the only resolution to the tension in the air was a preservation of his fellow Afrikaans and that could only be achieved with the release of Mandela.

He further orchestrated a government of National unity to keep himself relevant. We all forget that De Klerk participated in the first government to still give the Afrikaans relevance after all the destruction. We all forget in a hurry that apartheid has not ended because the Afrikaans still hold the economic power and this was done over the years with racial segregation and bantustanization of economic resources with draconian law.

When people celebrate de klerk I get irritated because de Klerk opposed the removal of the Cecil Rhodes statue in Oxford and Cecil Rhodes played an important part of the economic segregation.

Up till 2017, Mr de Klerk still enunciated those apartheid views and he had been challenged on his convictions many times. It is sad that between 1989-2003 over 4000 people mostly blacks were killed.

De Klerk never said anything about those deaths. It is also noteworthy that de Klerk was greatly opposed to the truth and reconciliation commission of Nelson Mandela.

I have always argued he shouldn’t have been given a Nobel Prize. But the Nobel Prize givers have always made terrible decisions just like the Ethiopian Prime Minister hasty award.

In everything I will only salute his clairvoyance for choosing the path of “forced peace” because South Africa could still be in war today if he decided to do otherwise. But is South Africa really peaceful today, with no economic emancipation for the blacks? It would take many years of economic empowerment to bring peace. At least De Klerk started the process. In his last message to the world released after his death, he said he was sorry. I forgive him but we must not forget.

Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

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he Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) urges the chief judge of Adamawa to sanction judges and magistrates that try suspected witches. This call has become necessary following a recent disturbing report over the trial of three suspected witches in Song Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were accused of killing one person and torturing another through witchcraft. The magistrate went to the extent of inviting a native doctor who made the accused confess in court and then remanded the suspected witches in custody until November 9. The trial of suspected witches in state courts in this 21st century is shocking and embarrassing.

Unfortunately, this incident was an isolated case. There have been other reports of witch trials in courts across the state. The chief judge of Adamawa should bring an end to this miscarriage of justice. The trial of accused witches as we have witnessed in Song ended in Europe centuries ago.

Magistrates and other misguided court officials are taking the court system in Adamawa and by extension Nigeria, back to the medieval and early modern European times. The Adamawa chief judge should not allow this to happen.

AfAW asks the chief judge to sanction and suspend the magistrate and other witch-hunting court officials without delay. These magistrates and judges should be sent for retraining and be retired forthwith. The trial of suspected witches has no basis in Nigerian law. Witchcraft is not recognized by the law of Nigeria. So, those prosecuting suspected witches in Adamawa are acting ultra vires. And the chief judge should not allow this illegality to continue.

The idea of inviting a native doctor to help in the trial and prosecution of alleged witches in a state court is unheard of. Such a dangerous trend and development should be nipped in the bud. The chief judge should order the unconditional release of the suspected witches from prison custody and tender an unreserved apology to these innocent citizens. The chief judge should liaise with other state agencies to combat witchcraft accusations and persecution of alleged witches.

They should work to ensure that state courts are places where accused witches could come to seek redress, relief, and protection, not places where they would be subjected to further abuse and violations.

Leo Igwe, nskepticleo@yahoo.com

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU 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

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In Praise of Bright Ikechukwu

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r. Bright Ikechukwu owns the first indigenous digital television in Nigeria. I was at Dulux office, close to Utako Modern Market in Abuja. Dr. Ikechukwu came in with a man to purchase paint. As he contemplated on what to buy, I advised him to use an expert that was trained by Julius Berger to paint his buildings. He gave the job to a colleague with whom I came into the Dulux office on that fateful day.

It was obvious that Dr. Ikechukwu has a listening ear. He is a leader; the kind of man that Nigeria needs, going into the future. An epitome of humility and simplicity, he is a detribalised Nigerian who has in his employ people from different tribes in the country. Dr. Ikechukwu is a trained medical doctor by profession and biomedical engineer by practice. He is the MD/ CEO of Brick and Athews Limited, owner of AHTV Health Television and Chairman of Breichberg Investment Limited, owner of Bright FM. He once served as the executive director, New World Foundation and the program coordinator, New World Summit on infectious disease (NWSID).

He belongs to many professional organisations including the Nigerian Biotechnology Society, Nigerian Society of Genetic Engineers, Global Youth Coalition on Aids Volunteers, UNICEF Voice of the Youth, the World Parliament and other notable organisations. He has won many awards including 3rd Africa Young Scientist Award in South Africa, Youngest Physician Award of Excellence. The TSTV CEO has managed his businesses effectively and efficiently and has made indelible marks in the area of journalism and broadcasting. He has transformed the lives of many youths within his vicinity, in addition to being voice of the voiceless in the country.

Anjorin Adeolu, anjorinadeolu75@gmail.com

Bird Brained Trolls

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t looks like Big Bird is the latest ‘person’ to get vaccinated and like most he is glad to tell everyone that he has done the right thing. He has also been trolled by some yellow cowards on social media because he has protected himself and his friends and family. This seems odd given that he is not old enough to be on most social media platforms and so their efforts are wasted.

It seems that there are always a few birdbrained individuals out there who look for their wisdom on social media rather than listen to scientists but it is their democratic right to be wrong.

It’s time to give the anti-vaxxers the bird.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

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NEWS COP26: Philanthropies Set to Kick-start $3M Funds to Support Vulnerable Countries Chiemelie Ezeobi in Glasgow, Scotland As the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) wound down yesterday, at the UN Framework Convention on Climate (UNFCCC), leading philanthropies expressed a wish to kick-start funds for prospective Glasgow Loss and Damage Facility to support vulnerable countries suffering from climate change.

In the offer, they pledged to contribute aligned kick-start finance of $3m USD if the facility is established, thus taking responsibility for climate change impacts.

At the moment, this is currently

BUILDING TALENTS… L–R: Pioneer MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Academy Director, Mr. Femi Odugbemi; Executive Head Corporate Affairs, MultiChoice Nigeria, Ms. Caroline Oghuma; CEO MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe; Executive Head Content and Channels West Africa, MultiChoice Nigeria, Busola Tejumola; Head of HR, MultiChoice Nigeria, Dayo Ogedengbe at the welcome event of the MTF Class of 2022 students...recently

Nigeria’s Oil Production Falls Further, Libya Now Africa’s Top Producer

Bennett Oghifo

Nigeria is no longer the largest crude oil producer in Africa. It lost its Africa’s top oil producer status to Libya following further fall in its crude oil production last month, amid lingering supply disruptions.

According to a new report by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Nigeria disclosed that its oil output fell to about 1.23 million barrels per day in October from about

1.25 million bpd in the previous month.

Libya, which overtook Angola as the second-biggest producer on the continent in December last year, saw its oil production rise to 1.24 million bpd in October from 1.16 million bpd in September, based on direct communication, revealed the cartel’s latest report released midweek.

OPEC uses secondary sources to monitor oil output, but also publishes a table of figures submitted by its member countries.

According to secondary sources, Nigeria’s production declined by 45,000 bpd to 1.35 million bpd in October from about 1.40 million bpd in September.

It recorded the second biggest drop in output in October among its peers in OPEC, after Iraq. The country’s production fell the most in the month, according to secondary sources.

The 13-member oil cartel said its total crude production averaged 27.45 million bpd in October, higher by 220,000 bpd month-on-month,

according to secondary sources.

“Crude oil output increased mainly in Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, the UAE, and Kuwait, while production in Nigeria, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea declined,” the sources said.

OPEC said crude differentials of light and medium sweet crude rose in the Mediterranean and West African markets in October on good buying interest from European buyers, strong refining margins, supply disruptions in Libya and Nigeria.

Some APC Leaders, Power Blocs Pushing Direct Mode of Primary to Hoodwink Party, Says PGF DG Adedayo Akinwale inAbuja The Director General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, has alleged that some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were pushing for direct mode of primary to hoodwink the party.

The National Assembly recently passed direct mode of primary in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill that would soon be transmitted to the President for assent.

But Lukman in a statement

issued yesterday said beyond the sentiments in favour of direct primary therefore, there was need to properly outline a clear administrative framework under the law, which would guide the process and guarantee that all the bad practices associated with the indirect method are eliminated.

According to him, the whole scheming pushing party leaders to use structures outside the statutory organs of the party may not be even about addressing challenges facing the party but perhaps about

realising political aspirations of some party leaders and power blocs.

The APC chieftain said understandably, part of the sentiment informing the actions of members of the National Assembly was that Nigerians have little or zero confidence on the disposition of party leaders, who are alleged to be under the direct control of Governors.

Lukman stressed that largely because of this perception, there was an ongoing media campaign

blackmailing governors that they were the ones perpetrating all the bad practices associated with the indirect methods and therefore the reason why they were against the adoption of direct primary.

He stated: “The whole debate about adopting direct method as part of the Electoral Act is mainly an APC agenda. There may be a calculated attempt by a section of APC leadership whose interest is to hoodwink APC members and Nigerians with the direct primary dummy.”

Alleged Financial Misappropriation: Court Imposes Fine on FUOYE’s VC for Stalling Proceedings Wale Igbintade Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos has imposed Àne on Professor Abayomi Fasina, the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, (FUOYE), for stalling the hearing of a fundamental rights enforcement suit he instituted against the police and others.

Professor Fashina alongside Mrs. Bridget Oyaola and Mr. Sulaiman Olajide Usman, both the University’s Acting Director

The Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the National Assembly for their unflinching support to made-in-Abia shoes and garments, saying that apart boosting the national economy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry has created over one million jobs for the youths whom he said were directly or indirectly involved in the production of the products.

Governor Ikpeazu, who made the commendation at the official inauguration of the Enyimba Automated Shoe Company (ENASCO) in Umukalika in Obingwa Local

Government Area of the state, said the Ariaria Independent Power Plant which was inaugurated by the President in 2019 had ensured that there was uninterrupted power supply to those involved in the production of shoes and garments, adding that the residents of the commercial city of Aba and environs would soon start having uninterrupted power supply from the Geometric Power Plant Aba. The governor who revealed that the shoes and garments produced in Abia were in a high demand in America, some countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, said shoe business alone from the state generates two million dollars annually while globally, it contributes up to 250 billion dollars annually while Africa

alone contributes 96 billion dollars from the global production chain.

According to him, the penetration level of the shoe business was at 2.5 per cent presently noting that it would be 23 per cent by 2025.

The governor who implored Nigerians to continue to patronise made-in-Abia products, said the automated shoe company in Obingwa had the capacity to produce 5,000 pairs of shoes daily with the present 120 man-power while the garment factory which will soon take off has capacity to employ up to 500 youths.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan who inaugurated the automated shoe company, commended Ikpeazu for his vision and resilience to set up the business

despite the dwindling resources occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic.

Lawan said that at the budget defence which was still ongoing, he would ensure that all standing committees of the National Assembly mandate the federal government agencies and the paramilitary especially army, navy and airforce to buy their shoes and garments from made-in-Abia products which he acknowledged were of high quality.

“As we conduct our budget defence, don’t take our scarce foreign exchange outside the country”, adding “some agencies already are making requests for made-in-Abia products. We as Nigerians must ensure there is employment for our people.”

of Works and Chief Internal Auditor, have dragged the Commissioner of Police (PSFU); CP Anderson A. Bankole and Supol Sunday Akeregun, before the court in a suit marked FHC/L/ CS/684/2021.

The Vice-Chancellor and others have prayed the court to stop the respondents from investigating them over alleged Ànancial misappropriation.

They are also seeking for a declaration that they are entitled to know and be informed of the details of any investigation against them by the police.

Anambra Guber: Metuh Pleads With Andy Uba Against Electoral Litigation ChuksOkocha inAbuja Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has made a passionate appeal to Senator Andy Uba, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded Anambra State governorship election, to rescind his moves rejecting the results and setting the stage for a prolonged legal tussle over the outcome of the exercise.

Metuh said though he was not contesting the inalienable right of a participant to protest the outcome of any electoral process, in the case of this recent Anambra election such would appear counter-productive and against the overwhelming opinion of Anambarians.

‘Anyim’s Declaration Gov Ikpeazu Commends Buhari, N’Assembly 2023: No Threat to Umahi’ Ugo Aliogo for Supporting Made-in-Abia Products Charles Ajunwa

being negotiated at COP26 to support vulnerable countries most hit by the losses and damages resulting from climate change.

According to the philanthropies, the support, which is currently being discussed by negotiators in Glasgow at COP26, is intended to provide technical and financial assistance to alleviate climate impacts and prioritise the most vulnerable communities, particularly small island developing states and least developed countries.

The philanthropies followed the pledge from the Scottish Government which announced £2 million in funding for loss and damage.

The recent decision by former Senate President and Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, to take the lead as the Àrst aspirant to declare interest in the 2023 presidential race poses no threat and would not diminish Ebonyi State, Governor Dave Umahi’s chances of success if the race were to be decided purely on proven track records of accomplishments.

Speaking in Lagos recently, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Uchenna Orji said, “if the 2023 presidential race is to be decided purely on the pedigree of aspirants, the fact that Anyim is from the same state and geo-political zone as our governor.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾NOVEMBER 13, 2021

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Rent Seekers’ Desperation to Grab $418m from States

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ent seekers. This aptly describes the so-called consultants that want extra $418 million paid for supposedly facilitating refunds of over-deductions against states and local governments, in obligations to Paris Club, an association of Western creditors. I have spent quality time looking at the meaning of the word “rent seekers.” It’s an economic concept that occurs when an entity seeks to gain wealth without any reciprocal contribution of productivity. So, I can confidently say that these consultants seeking $418 million payments are rent seekers.

On this war, I’m firmly with the governors.

The services the consultants claim to have offered are contained in a FAAC Reconciliation Committee Report constituted in 2005 and submitted in 2007, with recommendations on how states and LGAs should be refunded the excess deductions from the Paris Club repayments. This is the truth that must be told. The documents are still there. So, which useless services did these consultants render? These guys, in conjunction with some people in the Buhari government are just fleecing Nigeria.

They worked with some dangerous elements in government, arm-twisted the governors and got $205 million in 2018. Now, they want extra $418 million. At current official exchange rate, it would amount to another N168 billion of public funds.

The governors these consultants claimed to have worked for don’t even know them. The local governments don’t know them. They can’t show any evidence of contractual agreement before embarking on the weird job they claimed to have done. Suddenly, they came up with bills running into millions of Dollars, after the refunds to the states had been made.

The role of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, in these shenanigans has left me bemused. This minister has been issuing statements in support of the consultants. This was after getting President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the $418 million extra payments.

I will come back to Malami later.

A lot of weird things surround the demands of the consultants. They went to court and obtained series of judgements for the payment.

Governors say the purported judgements being bandied by Malami/consultants show that the states and local governments were not parties to the court action which resulted in the judgement debt. Is this not bizarre? According to the governors, “the purported contract claimed to have been executed for the states are not known to any of the 36 state governments and it is therefore, a phony contract.” I concur with the argument that the federal government was the only party to the court case that led to the judgements and therefore such judgements are not binding on the state governments. There

Malami

are no documents to the contrary.

It is decent that the governors are in court to challenge the bills of the deceptive consultants.

The good news is that after listening to the arguments of the states, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja ordered the federal government not to go ahead with any deduction from the accounts of the states in respect of the purported judgement in favour of the consultants until all issues relating to it were fully determined.

Back in October, based on Malami’s recommendations and Buhari’s concurrence, the Federal Ministry of Finance directed the Debt Management Office to commence issuance of promissory notes to the consultants. This is also weird. Why the rush to make such payments when there are litigations on them? The consultants are relying on court judgements that are being challenged by the 36 governors in several actions in various courts across the country. The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, the DG of DMO, and Malami were duly notified of these court actions. Why should the finance minister then direct that Promissory Notes be issued in favour of the consultants? I see a long chain of corruption here.

Honestly, I agree with the governors that

the decision by Malami to throw his weight behind the consultants battling desperately to grab $418 million from the accounts of states and local governments raises questions of propriety and the spirit of justice.

My dear Malami has suddenly become “Attorney General” of the consultants. He argues that the consultants obtained four judgements, “two of which are consent judgements” and that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum/ States and LGAs “consented, expressed no objection to the payments and had already paid part of the debts to the said contractors and consultants.” But he failed to indicate that the governors were already in court to appeal the judgements.

Besides, if indeed Malami is Attorney of the Federation, he should have initiated appeals against the judgements immediately he got wind of them, because huge public funds are at stake.

The governors aptly stated, “The AGF is supposed to be the chief arbiter in all matters concerning Nigerians, especially the poor masses of this country. It is incumbent upon him to, not just ensure that justice is done, but that justice is seen to have been done. It is even more curious that the AGF also recommended payments to some contractors allegedly based on judgements that did not make any monetary award or on claims that were struck out.

“The undue haste, with which the statement (Malami’s press release) was issued even before the service on the AGF of the court processes and the order dated November 5, 2021, restraining the federal government, seems to suggest that there is a special relationship between the Office of the AGF and the consultants over and above Nigerian citizens, whose interest the AGF as the chief law officer of the federation is statutorily bound to always protect.”

Still on Malami’s grumpy defence of the consultants, he said the federal government decided to intervene in the “negotiated settlement” because the consultants made federal government a party to the action against NGF and ALGON, “the implication of which was that the judgement may be executed against the interest and assets of the federal government over liability that was incurred exclusively

by NGF and ALGON in respect of which the federal government is not responsible.”

So, Malami is telling this country that for years, he was aware of judgements that were threats to huge public funds and he did not take actions to appeal and thwart them? This is frightening. It means that the governors were right to claim that this minister has a special relationship with the consultants.

This minister is so happy to celebrate initial payments to the consultants. Malami must shape-up-or-ship-out. If he wants to

Governor Ayade’s Callousness to Civil Servants

Ayade

State and local government workers in Ben Ayade’s Cross River State finally called off their strike last Thursday after 31 days.

While the strike lasted, public institutions were paralysed across the state. Schools were shut and students sent home. I doubt if governor Ayade was perturbed for just

one day.

Well, the civil servants suspended their strike following the intervention of monarchs.

The labour leaders were obviously stressed to end the strike because most of the issues raised were not properly addressed. Frustrated Labour signed a crooked memorandum of understanding with the Cross River State Government that did not even address the issue of endless non-remittance of deductions from workers’ salaries. The governor agreed to set aside a miserable N50 million monthly with effect from January 2022 for the payment of gratuities to both state and local government retirees.

Other agreements were that full implementation of minimum wage for Cross Rivers’ workers would commence “when the economy improves.” The balance of 27.5 per cent to teachers will also be implemented when the economy improves. All these are ridiculous.

Virtually every demand was tied to “when inflows increase.” I wonder if payments to Ayade’s retinue of aides are tied to “when inflows increase.”

It’s so sad that the Ayade administration has spent over six years pummeling public servants. There is hardly any good news for

civil servants in this state. These drivers of government policies and programmes are persistently treated shabbily. Promotions have become history. The retired ones spend years waiting for pensions and gratuities.

That was why nine days ago, the retirees blocked the entrance to the Government House, Calabar.

The Chairman, Nigerian Union of Pensioners, (NUP), Calabar Branch, Eyo Eyo captures the plight of the senior citizens thus: “Interestingly, many of the pensioners collect as low as N4,000.

Why are we still being owed? We have brought ourselves to Ayade’s doorpost.

We need money for upkeep, many have died, countless are bedridden, we are dying daily.”

Another retiree, Francis Henshaw, adds: “The governor has no regard for either old or senior citizens. Many of the people he retired are either dead or bedridden.”

The pain in Cross River is unprecedented.

This governor should at least show a bit of love to civil servants. Ayade must cut the cost of governance in his state. He should start by drastically reducing his retinue of aides.

continue working for the uncanny consultants, then, he should just resign. Throwing his weight behind consultants battling desperately to illegally grab $418 million from the accounts of states and local governments evidently raises questions of scam. For the consultants, I challenge them to make public the contractual agreement entered into with the states and local governments, the terms of references for the said consultancy service and when they were engaged. I rest my case.

Zulum

A Plea for Abducted Askira Uba’s Royals The situation in Borno State remains critical.

This is contrary to the false stories persistently peddled by languid Governor Babagana Zulum.

Boko Haram and ISWAP are still enjoying a free rein. Honestly, I see this Zulum as a man who lacks ideas about what a government should be doing. My dear Zulum, government should always be about the security and welfare of the people. A governor must not be seen endangering his people. Last week, I listed eight gory attacks by terrorists just within two weeks. Yet, somebody gets up and says that peace “has returned” to Borno State.

ISWAP’s new leader, Wali Shuwaram, and his boys are everywhere, kidnapping and killing hapless people. Boko Haram is also alive and kicking.

Many of their atrocities are never reported. The abduction of three Askira Uba royals by ISWAP terrorists eight days ago is just one of the numerous daily atrocities by these terrorists. Mohammed Askira and his brothers were picked on their way to Maiduguri after attending a function in Askira Uba town. They are all brothers to the present Emir of Askira Uba. The terrorists are asking for N100 million ransom. I have never supported payment of ransom. But what can we do when our security agencies are incapable of doing the needful?

Terrorists have been emboldened by the failings of our security agencies. Just five days ago, ISWAP attacked a military base in Tamsukawu, a village in Kaga LGA of Borno. The attack was the second within a week, in the same Tamsukawu.

Last Wednesday, ISWAP returned to another part of Askira Uba (Chan Chan Dana) and inflicted pain in the place. Several blocks of classroom were burnt. Chan Chan Dana is the village of the Deputy Speaker, Borno State House Assembly, Abddullahi Musa Askira.

Also during this week, the terrorist boldly attacked soldiers in Pulka and in Ngwom, Mafa LGA. They entered Ngwom with six gun trucks. Troops from 195 Battalion Operation Hadin Kai in Jere were able to push them back.

What has been giving the terrorists this kind of confidence? Your guess is as good as mine.

What is the way out of this unending mess?

My position remains the same. Nigeria needs military contractors, precisely from Israel, to help us end this security mess.

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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

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Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Teaser for ‘Superstar’ Stars Nancy Isime,Timini Egbuson Ferdinand Ekechukwu

T

he end of the year is looking really great for movie buffs and fans of Nollywood as it promises exciting ride this December with an interesting list of new movie debut, one of which is the romantic drama, ‘Superstar’. The teaser is out and captivating, starring Nancy Isime and Timini Egbuson.

Scenes from the teaser show the rise to stardom of an up-and-coming actress Queen (played by Isime), as she plows through life and love but seemingly torn between two hearts.

A joint production by Inkblot and FilmOne, the movie is set for a cinema debut on December 29. The film follows the story of Queen, an actress who struggles to navigate life and love in 21st century Nollywood. Queen must find the balance between artistry and stardom whilst surviving the demons of her past. It also stars, Eku Edewor, Daniel Etim Effiong, Deyemi Okanlawon, and Lord Frank.

Director Akhigbe Ilozobhie shared a post with the teaser on his Instagram. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the teaser of my third feature film ‘Superstar’”. Popularly known as Akay Mason, Ilozobhie said “Making this movie has been dream come true, a chance to tell a story that has been dear to my heart for so long. I really can’t wait for the audience to see this movie as it promises to be a cinematic experience like no other.”

Ilozobhie shares writing credits with Uyouyou Adia. Also on the scriptwriting credits for ‘Superstar’ is Chinaza Onuzo, an Inkblot co-founder. Zulumoke Oyibo, another Inkblot co-founder, said: “We first employed Akay as a Production Assistant in 2015. “We are so proud to see his growth and how he continues to break new ground in his writing and directing career. ‘Superstar’ is a testament to his vision and talent. The audience is in for an exciting ride this December.”

‘Superstar’ marks Inkblot’s ninth collaboration with FilmOne Entertainment.

Together, their collaborations are acclaimed to have generated over N1 billion in the box office. Speaking of their latest film, Moses Babatope, managing director of FilmOne Entertainment, said: “Our collaborations with Inkblot Productions are known to have produced exceptional content for the big screen. “With ‘Superstar’, our ninth project, it looks like the writers, cast, and crew have put their hearts and souls into an amazing story.”

Nancy Isime in one of the scenes

...Isime and Timini Egbuson on set of the movie

Dunnie Moves out with ‘Amazon’ Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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ollowing her collaboration with South African star artiste, Busiswa in ‘Love Song’ and the success of ‘Overdose’ which features Oxlade, fast-rising singer and songwriter, Dunnie is back with a five track EP ‘Amazon’ which was released yesterday. The album contains songs listeners and lovers of the Afro-fusion artiste would find interesting to add to playlists.

“I’m super excited that I finally get to share this project with you guys, it’s been many months of writing, recording, producing, deleting and re-recording some of these songs”, she wrote in her Instagram post.

Born Oladunni Lawal, Dunnie has had an interesting run in the past months; with ‘Overdose’ having amassed about three million streams across streaming platforms while enjoying heavy rotations on radio and TV. On the new ‘Amazon’ EP, are songs like ‘Rich Aunty Vibes’, and Déjà vu, a record that sees the singer yearn for love in its sincerest

expression. ‘Déjà vu’, produced by Dunnie and Brainz, was her last single release shortly before her latest project. Build up to the ‘Amazon’ project, Dunnie had dropped ‘Mosafejo’ the lead single off the new EP. Written by Dunnie, the amapiano record is an expression about seeking love elsewhere but finding it right where you were running from. Remarkably, 2021 gets more interesting for the singer as she’s nominated for her collaboration with Busiswa at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). In August, Dunnie was profiled as one of the nine kick-ass women to know in the Nigerian music scene

by Global Citizen. In April, she produced Shontelle’s comeback single House Party, a reggae number that was minted as NFT (Non-Fungible Token).

Dunnie was also enlisted alongside Focalistic by Gemini Major for ‘Ewele’, while doubling as producer for Nigeria’s Wande Coal, Yemi Alade; South Africa’s Focalistic, Gemini Major, Rowlene amongst others.

Dunnie was recently listed by YNaija amongst the top 50 most influential Nigerians in music as well as being handpicked as one of the Nigerian producers to watch out for in 2021 by French publication, Pan

African Music. Dunnie’s ingenuity with music production has been tapped by critically acclaimed artistes like Niniola, Sean Tizzle, Becca, Busiswa and brands such as Ciroc, Oppo, Maggi, Kotex sanitary pad etc.

Dunnie is one of Nigeria’s indie artistes making and promoting their music independently with most staying away from mainstream sounds. Her first single, “E go better” topped Cool FM Abuja’s Top Ten for three weeks in 2012. She has been actively making and pushing her music.

Dunnie kicked off her career in music as an alumnus of The Sarz Academy alongside producers like P-Prime, Tempoe etc. Since then, she’s garnered reverence as one of the few talents in the Nigerian music scene finely balancing being a commercial artist and producer.

Two years ago, Dunnie emerged as one of the beneficiaries of Mr Eazi’s Empawa initiative through which she shot and released her first ever music video, ‘Foolish.’ In 2020, she was one of the regional judges at the Access All Stars competition with Seyi Shay, Tee Y Mix and Kaffy as main judges. That same year, she featured in Busiswa’s third studio album, ‘My Side of the Story.’

Dunnie

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

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SHOWBIZFLAIR Made Kuti

I Draw Inspiration from My Heritage and Legacy Ferdinand Ekechukwu and Sunday Ehigiator caught up with Made Kuti few hours to his performance at the fourth edition of ‘A Night with Made Kuti and the Movement’ held last week at the New Afrika Shrine, Ikeja Lagos. A composer and multi-instrumentalist, Made, the son of Femi Kuti, and grandson of Fela Kuti, gave an interesting account of his musical journey, noting among other things, how he found music in his father’s enclave and how being the grandson of Fela Kuti, makes him strives to become greater as afrobeat musician. Excerpt...

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ell us about your show happening tonight, and how longs has it been for you?

Tonight we had a very good friend and great musician, Shalom, and another very great musician, Ric Hassani performs to the delight of everyone present. Before that in our Friday shows at the shrine we have had Lady Donli, we’ve had the cavemen, Olusegun, Tony Thomas, Yega, Hola, and generally we are a young group of people that play on this particular days, because it’s really much about the progression of the culture and movement of the music, and everything that comes around it.

This is our fourth edition, it’s been very amazing and very great and I hope it continues to be so. I’ll be playing from our first single, free your mind, and some of our very new numbers that we have not yet recorded our best live numbers. I’ll be doing a few covers of my grandfather and father’s songs, and a lot of my songs. And it’s a beautiful thing to be able to play songs that takes people through different generations of music from the same family. It’s always very special.

How did you found music?

I found music by being around an environment where music was really overwhelming. I used to wake up to school on Friday mornings and still catch my dad playing from the previous night.

He used to play four times a week, every week at the shrine, and the amount of music I took in was so beautifully direct and raw. I have seen the musicians practice, see them perform, and put so much passion into everything they were doing, walking into the studio with them, and see the end product of the recording. This was what really triggered my passion for music, being able to experience it at the very direct level.

Where do you draw your inspiration?

I draw inspiration from reality, the things I experience on a daily basis, what Nigeria has been what Nigeria is, and is becoming. I draw inspiration also from my heritage, my legacy and the people that have come before me.

What does being a Kuti mean to you?

Been a Kuti instills in me a very significant level of healthy pride to make me feel like I belong to something that is so great, with so much integrity, and strive to become better in each generation that comes through, to really grow and explore yourself to become a better version of yourself, and to do the best you can before you pass on to the afterlife. So, we have really been striving

Made Kuti

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

SHOWBIZFLAIR I Don’t Consider Myself a Legend Yet… to, not necessarily be exceptional human beings, but to be the best we can be. And it’s very nice that I’m part of this family.

I learnt you will be going on a tour, tell us about it?

The tour starts on November 17, and it’s a tour with Femi Kuti. So he has a tour this year, and a couple more next year.

We haven’t travel out for a while because of the Covid-19 regulations. Now that the doors are opening up and flights are a lot easier, and it’s now easier to have a venue with a lot of people, so it’s great, especially to go on tour with my father.

It’s always a very beautiful experience; always a learning experience for me.

How would you rate the exporting of Nigerian music culture, and its global acceptance?

I think Fela was one of the biggest pioneers in pushing African music to the rest of the world, in a way that he connected to them through his political message. Maybe due to the time he was in, the message was liberal, and everything he spoke about Nigeria translated in a very clear way to the rest of the world.

So people that like Fela didn’t only like his music, they love his personality, they like that he was a man of integrity, even when he was controversial, he always spoke his truth and stood by what he believed.

That level of honesty and the way he projected it for so many years, I think we all got inspired by that, I mean people that understood him the way that we do.

And from then on, the many generations of music that came after that, and how it sparked, and how the movement of Afrobeat has spanned across the globe, this is something Nigeria as a whole should be proud of. To know that there is something Nigerians are doing on a world scale. So I’m proud of that.

At Felebration, you performed with your father on stage at some point, how do you feel about that?

As you know, my father is a legend. I don’t consider myself a legend yet. I have not done anything remotely close to my father’s accomplishment, so whenever I climb the stage with him, everything from the moment he steps on and the moment he steps off, is education.

Do Nigerians still listen to the knowledge songs pass across or we are now more interested in beats and sounds?

I don’t think we listen to music the way we used to. I think everything, due to globalisation, commercialisation, things have not necessarily reduced in value, but have reduced in content. And when that happens, in order for things to be more generic, because they can make more money, sell more, it dampens creativity, and inspiration. It doesn’t allow for the amount of liberty that an artiste can have to really experiment with things, and really go deep in things, because he is worried that if it’s not generic or simple enough, or if it’s too complicated or too deep, then nobody can connect with it.

So I feel that, that is happening, but I think there is a form of recovery coming up now. I think people are more or less starting to be triggered by music that is heavy on content, and have started to investigate more on it.

Several musicians seems to have attached their songs and lifestyle to the Fela brand, some not even projecting him well, what would you say about this?

I think before anything, not just Fela, anything you endeavor in, claim to be or understand, do research. And if you say you are Fela’s son or heavily inspired by him, but you can’t name 10 of his numbers from the 80’s for instance, then really you are not someone who can claim to be a

Made Kuti part of his movement. If you don’t understand and go deep into his biography where he spoke about his life, his personal views and how he approaches his music, if you don’t endeavour to really investigate Fela, to see the musical, the music, to read the books, and listen to all the music of him you can, then absorb the type of man that he was, he was a man of honour, integrity, braveness at a time nobody was willing, risk taker for so many others, if the only thing you identified with is Indian-helm, then you are not remotely on his mental level.

There have been several mix of Afrobeat, how do you react to this?

I think to a degree, every society has to have music that is easy to listen to, music that is commercial and are danceable. I mean music that can be played at clubs, listen to when you aren’t trying to investigate anything, or be heavily inspired per say, but just to feel good, dance and groove. Truly, these sounds are still under the umbrella of Afrobeat, because a lot of it was influenced by Fela, even if it’s not necessarily or deeply musical in the sense of the complicity of harmony

and arrangements, the way he write his songs, or the structure of the music. It’s still influenced by Afrobeat. My hope is that, there is balance. That people can see Afrobeat, and see Afrobeats, and understand that they are connected but are also not the same thing. And there should be a reasonable balance of interest and endorsement from the people that are allowed to have that power to put music out through radios and televisions.

To also give opportunities to musicians that play music instruments, that practice every day, that try to be the best and most skilled as much as they can, and represents not just themselves but their country on the global scale.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Africa Film Festival Opens with Promises Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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t was a spectacular start to an exciting week-long celebration of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) 10th anniversary in Lagos on Sunday, November 7. One of the biggest showcases for African film and filmmakers, the opening ceremony of the 2021 edition of the AFRIFF had several stars in attendance. The night witnessed celebrities turn up, looking their very best in different stylish ensemble. It was a night to behold as several Nollywood stars slayed. From the Afrocentric outfits to chic and edgy pantsuits, guests at the event definitely showed up and showed out.

This year, AFRIFF competition will reward Africa films by African or foreign directors as well as African Diasporan films that speak of African issues and stories. Foreign films are also showcased in a panorama section.

This 10th anniversary promises to further develop the film industry to a level where the products compete favourably with their contemporaries all over the world.

This edition which runs from November 7 to 13 at Filmhouse Cinemas, Landmark Retail Village, Lagos, has lined up several industry panel discussions and programmes of interactive session with the cast and crew of blockbuster movies. Top individual stakeholders within the industry, from Moses Babatope, Ayanna Lonian to filmmakers Obi Emelonye, Kunle Afolayan, and Moses Inwang to Wale Ojo, have stirred meaningful conversation since the opening event.

The Multi Choice Showcase on ‘Creative Exchange with African Film Makers’ with the likes of Femi Odugbemi presented robust exchange on issues of filmmaking.

The festival chats and vibes around the venue is brimming with excitement that is in synch with AFRIFF’s founder and executive director, Chioma Ude. “I am super excited to announce our 10th anniversary edition, following the global pandemic! It is with the greatest pleasure that we once again bring our varied programme of the very best of cinema and film content to the forefront”, Ude, said at the media launch to announce

the continental event.

She continued: “We are proud to theme this year’s festival as one dedicated to Africans for Africa, those who enable us to dream and to celebrate storytelling which challenges society. “I am also very excited to announce that we will dedicate a day to animation and gaming to continue our vibrancy and innovation. We will continue to focus our efforts on training and supporting more filmmakers than ever before, as well as building global bridges, and promoting further cross-cultural exchanges.”

She announced the festival sponsors are Access Bank, US Diplomatic Mission Nigeria, Konga, Afreximbank, Landmark, Pan African Capital, Pernod Ricard and Filmhouse Group. The festival film screening opened with Michael Pearce’s sci-fi thriller, Encounter which stars Emmy award winner and Oscar and Golden Globe nominee Riz Ahmed and Oscar-Winning actress, Octavia Spencer.

The festival will close with Bolanle Austen-Peters’ Collision, a heart thumping story that explores the seedy underbelly of rogue law enforcement officers and the atrocious results as they collide head on with a frustrated young man and a conflicted member of the police force. According to the Creative Director of AFRIFF, Jenny Alonzo, the festival received over 4000 submissions from over 100 countries.

This is the highest the festival has received and will screen almost 150 projects, including features, shorts, documentaries and much more selected by its team of programmers, who watched over 2000 hours of footage. The festival is a world class showcase that presents a complete immersion into the world of film making from key players all over Africa and the diaspora.

With participation from local and international actors, directors, scriptwriters, cinematographers, sound engineers, musicians, editors, light engineers, students, equipment manufacturers and businessmen, AFRIFF is set once again to make a huge difference in the film industry.

Chioma Ude

TJWHO Unveils Spring-Summer Collections at Lagos FashionWeek Bennett Oghifo

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JWHO, a contemporary Men’s wear brand and design company, recently unveiled its spring-summer collection at the 2021 Lagos Fashion Week, held at Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Creative Director, TJWHO, Taju Ibrahim is one for detail-oriented garment construction which comes from his Architecture background.

He stated: “TJWHO is exhibiting a preview of our Spring-Summer collection, that is, SS 21 and SS21 collection.

Our collection for this year is themed Avant-garde Minimalism, an extension of the SS’21 Infrared Collection which combines homegrown style aesthetics with international standard and design techniques.”

Ibrahim said the exhibition delves into a deeper understanding of timelessness.

“The reason for this chosen subject was to acknowledge how timelessness has become part of our brand identity. The brand showcased an offsite with artistic installations to give a complete TJWHO brand experience. which basically means experimenting. We are for now basically experimenting and getting feedbacks, so we test the waters and get people’s reactions,” he said.

He stated that the constant evolving visibility of the Nigerian Fashion industry had

Men’s wear

provoked emerging designers to innovate from a modern narrative. TJWHO has shown a growing demand and acceptance for more complex designs in menswear.

TJWHO was fully established in November 2018, though had been around since 2015. It is a minimalist luxury brand, which bridges similarities between the African continent and other regions.

Ibrahim said: “We do a lot of things and fashion is just one of our co-medium of expression. We noticed a gap in the Men’s wear space and African fashion in general and we are trying to retail men’s wear in such a way that we can create a uniform for everyday wears that is more stylish, elevating basics, reinventing, and making wears fresher.

“At TJWHO, we analyse the needs of people and integrate multi-functionality into everything we create.

Functionality is basically one of our ideology and methodology in design.

We give details to pockets, reversibility of shirts, which can be worn inside out, hidden pockets, detachable collars, just to make it fun, but still keep it in order as well.

“I want people to understand the level of sophistication that goes behind the making of our collections, from hidden detailing in the garment, and highly attentive stitching,” he said.

“We continuously challenge staple designs by re-inventing them to ensure our garments transcend seasonality which is an integral part of our sustainable approach towards fashion. The collection revitalised interpretations of native and urban basics that can withstand time and trend for any generation,” he said.

“Our collection also accentuates detailing by focusing on plain fabrics with intricate embroidery inspired by the Japanese and West African culture.

“Our end goal is to cater to every kind of man, who needs to look good and smart.

Projecting into the future, we are looking at participating and collaborating with fashion industries in Japan, France, England, and the UAE. “Reaching out to our clients, we are present on the social media, we have a website with subscription platform, where clients could call in and book for an appointment.

Our clothes are bespoke and tailored to fit each individual, as well as made-to-order for general wears. Issue newsletters on shows on events coming up “We are 100% local contents users, though we still have challenges like infrastructure in the fashion industry.

Financing is a major challenge, putting up a show is not cheap, and getting sponsors is not that easy too, we are happy to have Chivas Regal as our exclusive partner brand for this exhibition. On textiles, sourcing of quality fabrics is very difficult in Nigeria.

We do rigorous laundry test with all our fabrics before tailoring them, which is a lot of work.

“I am working towards shifting my workshop to being almost 80% solar -powered, maintaining sourcing fabrics from eco-friendly manufacturers and leading a modern approach in showing artisans new techniques to adapt to.”.

He gave an exclusive peek into what to expect next by addressing the brand as having some big things planned in the international markets, soon, hinting at Paris.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

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FEATURE Addressing Nigeria’s Healthcare Challenge: The Dr. Okobah Initiative There seems to be a general agreement among professionals and ordinary Nigerians that the worrisome challenges in the country’s healthcare system have culminated into an exodus of qualified doctors, nurses and the related healthcare practitioner. Omon-Julius Onabu writes that the decision by internationally recognized family physician, Dr Isioma Okobah, to set up a hospital in Asaba, Delta State, is a practical step towards addressing the country’s healthcare challenge, including the resultant brain drain

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he challenges confronting the healthcare system in Nigeria are as complex as they are numerous. They range from institutional problems and dearth of relevant infrastructure to human resources inadequacy, including poor training and service delivery conditions. These numerous problems have constituted a push-factor for the expdus of thousands of Nigerian-trained doctors, nurses and other categories of paramedical personnel to countries in America, Europe and Asia in an increasing fashion especially in the last two decades.

For example, in a report in 2020, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) noted that over 33,000 of the 75,000 doctors registered officially in the country, left Nigeria, which implies that just about 50 percent of the registered medical doctors were left behind to cater for the healthcare needs of about 200 million people!

And, quoting reliable World Bank development statistical development indicators, a 2018 report showed that there were 0.3806 doctors to 1,000 persons in the country. Moreover, dependable records showed that last year a total of 5,407 Nigeria-trainedvmedical doctors are currently in the service of the British National Health Service (BNHS). The prevailing atmosphere of insecurity in the country has combined with the problems of poor condition of service and inadequate facilities in the country’s healthcare system to exacerbate the negative effect of the brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with THISDAY on the conception of First Delta American Hospital in the Asaba metropolis, the CEO/Chairman of the healthcare facility, Dr (Mrs) Isioma Theresa Okobah, identified brain-drain as a major issue and challenge in Nigeria’s health sector today.

She, nevertheless, admitted that the problem of brain-drain was so enormous and profound that the government must brace up and play the rquired pivotal role in addressing and reversing it.

However, inspired by her belief in the axiom that it is better to light a candle than to dissipate energy cursing the darkness, she decided to step out of her abode for decades in Atlanta in Georgia, United States of America (USA) by returning to give back home, as it were, where she began her professional career as a medical student of the University of Benin in Nigeria.

Global collaboration and healthcare funding Okobah disclosed that FDAH is an offshoot and affiliate of the First Lithonian Medical Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America (USA) which has continued to sponsor her Nigerian whose management she also heads, adding that it was born out of the need to strengthen the local healthcare system in the country. She assured that facilities at the hospital were of global standard and the service delivery truly personalized across all strata of the hospital, from the management down to the supportive staff of the facility.

She underscored the fact that FDAH was also conceived as means of discouraging medical tourism among the people of Delta State and Nigeria in general. The said operations at the hospital started in 2019 at a three-bed space, adding that there would be need to expand from the present 20-bed space in order to to continue to deliver quality and efficient healthcare to the people.

Moreover, she said that since the benefit of hindsight has taught her that funding was crucial to efforts aimed at addressing the plethora of challenges in the sector, the FDAH has begun talks with

Dr. Isioma Okobah

FDAH Asaba building

a reputable commercial Bank in Nigeria and also fine-tuning plans to access the various opportunities offered by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in forms of grants and loan facilities.

“We decided to move from a three-room personalized facility, which we established here in 2019 to a 20-bed space facility because we saw real growth; and, we give God Almighty thanks for the growth and expansion that we have achieved.

The collaboration we have at the moment is with Lithonia Medical Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, which sponsors a lot of activities here at the FDAH, in addition to the fact that we can also do telemedicine.

“Currently, we have the digital X-ray machine coming in, so we’re looking at at funding from banks; and, we have been talking to Zenith Bank.

We all know that healthcare service is not cheap and something that an individual will be able to bear alone.”

Sharpening intervention strategies and meeting future challenges

By the admission of the stakeholders, particularly the medical practitioners and others in related disciplines, there are many hurdles in the way of improving the healthcare delivery capacity of Nigerian health authorities. The search for greener pasture overseas has led to nearly 50 percent of medical doctors, who are officially registered with the Nigerian Medical Association, leaving the country. However, Dr Isioma Okobah maintained that there is a ray of hope, going forward. According to the CEO of FDAH, the way to go, aside inevitable government intervention in the operating environment, is the “massive adoption and deployment of appropriate technology” by medical professionals as well as increased international collaboration.

She warned that the lessons from the COVID-19 experience should not be lost on Nigerians, adding that the country must embrace telemedicine and virtual medical practice. “With COVID-19, it brought to the front burner the need for us to really improve on our healthcare system in Nigeria because it will

get to a point where no one can leave their country, and you will then be depending on the healthcare you have in Nigeria.

“So, that also brings into focus and use telemedicine or what we call virtual-medicine. With telemedicine, we are able to consult with patients via either telephone or video, and we can actually prescribe medications or have them go to the nearest hospital if there is the need for it. This, with the advancement of telemedicine, you don’t have to have a physical contact with some of your patients; though some need to come in or have physical contact and you can examine them. But most of this (telemedicine) has really helped with patient management and healthcare delivery services across the world. Telemedicine or virtual-medicine is really helpful, and that is what we have embraced in FDAH.” Responding to the COVI-19 challenge and brain drain Okobah noted that with the COVID-19 pandemic actually served as an eye-opener for medical professionals like herself especially in the Diaspora.

Dr Okobah said that there was need to pay more attention to the healthcare system particularly in the communities in order to build confidence among Nigerians who usually seek medical attention outside the shores of the country.

“When we had the lockdown, nobody could travel, we were all here. So, if we have healthcare facilities which we run outside to access abroad, there would be no need to do that. “I want to appeal to my colleagues in the Diaspora to come back home and join to build the system. We cannot sit in America, Canada or London and continue to condemn the system in Nigeria. I know the government needs to play a big role in all this especially by creating an enabling environment, but professionals outside the shores of the country must do something.”

She admitted that the problem of brain drain was a big one that requires the intervention of the Federal Government because of existing unsatisfactory condition in which the medical professionals were working vis-a-vis inadequate facilities and numeration for healthcare services but urged those in the Diaspora to be willing to come in and support the government while it makes effort to fix the healthcare system.

“In being in America for over two decades, it became important that I heeded the yearning to return home and to give back to the community; and, that is how, about a decade ago, I started the Stephen Uche Okoh Memorial Hospital under the Dr Isia Okobah Foundation in my village in Igbodo, Ika North-East Local Government Area. That is totally free and a charitable outlet for people with medical ailments.

“In the cause of doing that, I thought that it would be a good thing to have a place where people can actually come to and, that way help to reduce medical tourism that exist in Nigeria today. The situation where people have the money to access medical healthcare and are looking forward to going to America, Canada or England, you need to understand that the doctors you see there are people like us who are still there practising. And, in those countries or the civilized world, healthcare is very, very expensive. So, if you can bring such quality healthcare services nearer home, where it is much cheaper - I can tell you that healthcare in Nigeria is much cheaper than what you can get anywhere in the world - then you are offering that same quality of service, it will be great.

“Then, I can actually reach out to my colleagues in Diaspora to let them know that, like Her Excellency (Dame Okowa) would say, Changing the world one person at a time. So, we can all,bin our own different ways, change and throw in our own different contributions. We can’t all be consultants in America, Canada or England and forget home.

You know that you can come back home and do something for Nigeria and be part of the healthcare system. We can all be merely engaged in the blame game and we don’t do anything to help to improve the healthcare.”

Need for better service delivery Following approval by the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the 2017 Winner of the prestigious American Academy of Family Physician Fellow’s Award was appointed as the Chairman of the Delta State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, a responsibility that also placed on her shoulder the supervision of the Delta State E-Health Programme. Dr Okobah also acknowledged that the assignment has been both challenging and inspiring and expressed her appreciation to the governor for reposing such confidence in her.

Read full Feature online - www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

BY

Invasion of, Not ‘On’

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ARD fact: “That crude invasion on (of) Justice Odili’s house: A metaphor for a failed state (1)” “Saudi Arabian-led consortium, (needless comma) bought the club last month and sacked manager Steve Bruce few (a few) days later.”

“Ugwuanyi directs immediate intervention on erosion ravaged Atavu Bridge…” a rewrite: Ugwuanyi directs immediate intervention in (not on) erosion-ravaged (take note of the hyphenation) Atavu Bridge…

“The intervention on (in) road infrastructure by entities such as….” (DAILY Sun Editorial, November 10) “I…congratulate…for (on/upon) his election as the new Imo State speaker….”

Let us go polling: “Anambra guber: Candidates plea (plead) for Kanu’s release” Verb: plead; noun: plea “….who disclosed this at a press briefing, yesterday, said the two events are (were) convocation ceremony and the 50th anniversary of the institution.” ‘Ceremony’ is otiose in the extract!

“Alleged plot by legislators to scrap 13% oil derivation invitation for (to) anarchy, Niger Delta group warns” (NATIONAL NEWS, November 3) News around the city: “South Africa (African) firm, Multichoice, loses legal battle on $342m tax to FIRS” “Lagos demolishes property against court (court’s) order” “Nokia C30: Big, bold and beautiful display up to 3 day (3-day) battery life” “Recent terrorists attacks (terrorist attacks or terrorists’ attacks) in Sokoto State” DAILY Trust of October 31 adumbrates the agenda this week: “The handwriting was on the wall, but Gaddafi, in self-delusion, could not

read.” Panorama: The writing (was) on the wall.

Wrong: handwriting on the wall; right: writing on the wall “Police arrest man over (for) wife’s death” (THE NATION Headline, October 26) “Gaddafi’s sad end as a lesson for African leaders” (THISDAY, October 26) Midweek Politics: a lesson to (not for) African leaders The next two egregious blunders are from National News of October 25: “Most of the stakeholders are suspicious of themselves.” Language insurance: they are suspicious of one another (not themselves)!

“The NTC should not follow the precedence (precedent) of the Egyptian military rulers….”

(DAILY INDEPENDENT Politics, October 25) “People in the community can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed.” True reflection: their eyes shut/closed. Is there anyone with three eyes?

“The decision of the governor to develop the rural areas was born (borne) out of the fact that….” (Nigerian News, October 24) “N30m for grab. You win, we win!” (The DAILY TRUST Entrepreneurship Award) Fixed expression: up for grabs “In times like this when it may be tempting to gloat….” (THISDAY SUNDAY COMMENT, October 24) Gaddafi’s tragic end: either at times like these or at a time like this.

“Buhari condoles Saudi king over death of heir” (Sunday Tribune, October 24) This way: condole with or simply console.

From SATURDAY TRIBUNE of October 23 come these two headline solecisms: “New National ID Card Scheme: Another multibillion naira white elephant project?” Just white elephant: ‘project’ is otiose.

“Nigerians row over N30bn New ID Card Scheme” Weekend Feature: Nigerians rue.

“Restoring confidence in (to) the judiciary”

(Back Page of the above edition) “For Ikhana: its (It’s) goodbye to football coaching” “Senator Bob’s democracy dividend to Nigeria universities” (Source: as above) Get it right: Nigerian universities “Bayelsa: Any silver linen for Sylva” (THISDAY Headline, October 22) POLITICS TODAY: silver lining!

“ISPON visits minister, advocates for N5bn Innovation Fund” (THISDAY, October 20) Delete ‘for’.

“Candidates in last minute move for votes” (THE PUNCH, October 20) Get it right: last-minute move “UI Alumni meets over flood disaster” (THISDAY, October 20) For how long shall we dwell on this? Alumni meet, but alumni association meets.

“Lack of funds threaten (threatens) corrective heart surgery initiative at LASUTH” (Vanguard Features, October 19) “…especially with regards to the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry (THISDAY, October 19) This way: as regards the deregulation or with regard to the deregulation.

“Bizzare: Man sets father’s house ablaze for touching his car’’ (Leadership, October 18) Spell-check: Bizarre and Man sets…

“Banks capital adequacy ratio dips 5.92% in 2021—NDIC” (Source: as above) This way: Banks’ capital…

National News of October 17 disseminated two major infelicities: “The succeeding BPO partners…decided not to absolve (reabsorb) the staff whose contract expired….”

“The National Assembly should investigate the role of Asian and other foreign businesses in Nigeria with a view to determine (determining) their culpability on the casualisation question and expatriate quota violation.”

“No Delta State commissioner arrested

FAME’s Untold Stories: The Genesis

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mooched by the aroma of our 60th birthday, we have elected to open a few pages of one of four books launched on Saturday, October 30 with friends and families in remote attendance. Something akin to a piece of the “customary” birthday cake. Here goes ..: “Somewhere in mainland Lagos, sometime early in 1989, a press conference was coming to an end. As usual, the ‘boys’ were prepping for the rush for food, souvenirs and “keske” (a byword for “transport fare”, but really a grease applied by promoters of events who wanted maximum coverage of their events in the weekend pages of newspapers and magazines). And as usual with me, that was my cue to bail out of the swanky room, as I had long positioned myself to abhor anything that smelled of gratification or inducement in the cause of doing my work as a journalist.

At that moment, I was less than a year as a staff writer with the Punch Newspapers. Though there was no formal directive to refuse or resist monetary inducement in the line of duty, it was a natural obligation, perhaps honed from some undefined righteous indignation planted by my poor, but straight-as-a-jack, and hard-working parents - and possibly my extensive forays into African, western and sundry literatures. Their ennobling influences could have wrapped up for me some sort of moral code; I just couldn’t stand hustling to collect food or cash, or even ‘releases’, like vultures fighting over carrion.

So on that day in 1989, I left my colleagues behind to do the ‘needful’ as they deemed fit, and hugged the

road to the Maryland bus stop - if my memory holds true. I was alone with my bag across my shoulder, in my usual baggy ‘Adire’ (batik) kaftan, and ‘Kembe’ tongs. The bohemian dress, a style largely seen as rebellious or nonchalant, had always been my favourite... bleached in sun-kissed colours of blue, brown and green... splashed on different fabrics. I’ve never been a lover of bright, glowing and incandescent hues.

See, in life and what have you, do not be afraid to seek what makes you comfortable, what speaks to your desires...do not bow to the expectations of others who are not relevant to your history or trajectory; who do not determine nor frame how and where you express your gift, talent, enterprise or industry. But I was not really alone.

I noticed a young good-looking chap, who was also at the press conference, now walking, a few meters behind me, towards Maryland. He seemed different from most because of his quietness and dressing. He was smartly dressed, as I recollect, and walked in a singsong manner - like someone whose gait was tempered by the music in his head. Instinctively, we began chatting when I found out he also didn’t want to partake of the ‘messy manoeuvres’ of our colleagues. Yet, he was working with one of the general-interest magazines that we, newspaper puff-adders, regarded somewhat poorly. And we hit it off smoothly. A new friendship was born.

His name was Olakunle Sikiru Bakare.

He didn’t want to be called ‘SB’...rather, he chose the more tonal ‘KB’ (meaning Kunle Bakare).

Meeting Isiaka Mayowa Abiodun Akinpelu (better known as Mayor Akinpelu) was a little woolly, simply

because I met him as Kunle’s friend and senior colleague. On a few occasions that we met at parties, Vintage offices or on assignments, he gave off a stand-offish, flighty and unpretentious image. I was not a quick judge, for I had been called pompous, arrogant and scheming, essentially because I would not be dragged into needless public arguments, would not start a conversation with a friendly stranger, nor engage in raunchy ribaldry… for whatever reasons. Well, so I assumed.

However, perhaps because we had similar temperaments, we didn’t seem to gel at the beginning - that was mid 1989. When they say it’s not right to judge a book by its cover, they probably didn’t have in mind the books of this millennium. Subsequent descriptions would prove clearly whether that aphorism is true or not.

What stood out for me was Mayor’s garrulous confidence in his art-form, and the surprising steady flow of cash that he had no problem flashing while paying for this or that. He also appeared reluctant to embrace me as a friend until much later, after repeated contacts, and several chats - a cautious approach that was mutual.

IDEATION PROCESS There may be the possibility that three stories emerge on how the idea or the concept of FAME began; but to the best of my recall capacity, this is the story. I had been a little amazed how news bits and ‘gossips’ that would only take a maximum of three inches across two columns (of a six-column newspaper page) in our weekly strip (earlier called Whispers, that I later changed to ‘Goldfish’ and ‘Basketmouth’ respectively), the same

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

over drugs” (Statement by Delta State Government) I will arrest these Asaba officials for (not over) lexical assault and charge them with alleged drug trafficking!

“Operations of the agency in Nigerian seaports over the years have successfully curtailed influx of counterfeited drugs.” (National News, October 17) Formal view: counterfeit drugs.

“Chelsea grabs Nigerian teenager” (Source: as above) ‘Grab’ smacks of roughness and rudeness. The contextualization here is utterly wrong. Why not ‘Chelsea takes/gets…?’

“Re: Of ‘leaks’ and beer parlour gossips” (THE NATION, October 15) Knucklehead: pub gossip (not beer parlour gossips) “…that left a once-happy family of four in shambles.” (SATURDAY TRIBUNE, October 15) Features: in a shambles.

The next five blunders are from THISDAY, October 15: “…they are free to roam about their immediate environment and source for food themselves.” Saturday Plus: remove ‘about’ to avoid lexical disorderliness “American voters are more interested in well (a hyphen, please) articulated programs (American spelling) and policies as laid out in each of the political parties’ platforms.” Diaspora: on each of the political parties’ platforms.

“The state of origin and ethnic considerations has (have) no place in civilized countries.”

Nigerian Tribune of October 15 circulated multifarious errors: “PFAs battle to regain contributors confidence” Little things that matter: contributors’ confidence.

“Police smash Lagos-Cotonou car snatching syndicate” Again: car-snatching syndicate.

“When we moved in here, you wouldn’t dare break a wall because you want to fix an air condition unit.” Either air-conditioning unit or air-conditioner

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON

fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

story - with a little embellishment and some interrogatories - would be splashed across the cover pages of Vintage People, or its older rival, Prime People. And they were mostly hot potatoes at the newsstands! Of course, my newspaper, the Saturday Punch was a staple, and the centre spread entertainment pull out (called Saturday Highlife, SH) was the starlight!

A peculiar story would explain my dilemma quite vividly. Sometime in 1989, a good source hinted to me that the boisterously popular former civil war leader and leading politician, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu (then 56) was romantically entangled with the then current Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, and Miss Africa, Bianca Onoh (who was barely 21). It was a massive gist for anyone else, but it would still not take more than three inches, and a little more, on the sidelines of SH. In one of our chats, I let Kunle into the secret, and like ants on sugar, he swarmed over me and the gist; he wanted more info, details I didn’t bother to drag out from my source.

He pleaded with me to step down the story, and introduce him to my source.

He must have promised me something refreshing: like my favourite bottles of Stout and Coke, plus a large wrap of Suya....

(Excerpts from my latest memoir, ‘FAME: Untold Stories of its Rise & Fall’ - November, 2021 - Amazon/ Kindle/Lulu - 354 pages)

23

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

TRIBUTE

Eze Kanu, the Mighty Iroko Tree Falls Sam Ekpe

T

he President of the less privileged, The one man riot squad, Dikde na Ogbo ogu, Odogwu nwoke, Mgborogwu Oji, Ogba Ogu nwanne, Onyiri Dike na Mba, Omepuru Onyeodiiri. These are few of the fond titles and names associated with the late Eze Maxwell Omeire Kanu, the traditional ruler of Ejezie Autonomous Community, Arondizuogu in Imo State and Chairman of Agura Hotel Abuja, whose final rites of passage have been announced by the family.

Since the announcement, tributes in his memory have been pouring in from personalities from all over the country. This man of great wisdom, intelligence, extensive business prowess and contacts, warmth and hospitality, a great lover of the Igbo nation and above all a most patriotic Nigerian affected thousands of lives in Nigeria in several ways. Maxwell Okoli Kanu, aka Okoli Ahumaku was born into the family of Kanu Onwubiko of the larger Okoronkwo Clan of Umuejezie Autonomous Community, Arondizuogu, Ideato LGA Imo State on 12th April, 1932.

His mother Ahumaku hailed from Umuezeaga village in Akokwa, a neighbouring community to Arondizuogu. Ahumaku was the 12th of the 16 wives of Mazi Kanu Okoronkwo, aka Kanu Ogaranya, a very wealthy farmer in those days with large yam barns. Because Western Education was not in vogue in those days, young Okoli lived with his father in the farm for well over school age. He later enrolled in Ikpoku Primary School, Arondizuogu where at a stage he became classmates with Mazi Frederick Kanu, another Kanu from a different mother, who was three years younger than him. Even in his primary school days Okoli displayed spectacular courage and boldness, feats that would characterize his life pattern in future.

One day he came back from school and met some policemen in the house of his elder brother, Mazi G.N Kanu, aka Omerekokwuru. The policemen were on a mission to arrest his brother for being in possession of unlicensed gun and illicit drugs. As young as he was then, he maneuvered the police and escaped with the guns and drugs thereby freeing Omerekokwuru from problems.

He had since then been remarked as a unique character, whose life would affect humanity positively, an assessment that turned prophetic.

On completion of his primary school, the young boy veered off the schooling line and went into private business. He had an only sister from his mother Justina Udeona, his other brother Nwabueze having died early. On the marriage of Justina to Mazi Anthony Nnadi Okonkwo, £10, proceeds of the dowry paid on his sister while living with her and her husband. He started with buying oranges at Ibura and travelling to Aba to sell them. The petty trader later traded in different merchandise from buying and selling bicycle parts, spokes and tyres, grinding tomatoes and pepper until fortune came his way.

While trading on grease on a particular rainy day, young Maxwell, in his nature of compassion and concern for humanity neatly packed the wares of Ibukun Oluwa, his neighbor in the market, who was trading in iron tonic tablets in his own store, to prevent the wares from the effects of rain . This action marked a turning point in Maxwell’s life as Ibukun Oluwa’s apprentices reported his kind gesture to their boss who instructed that the Good Samaritan should visit him in his Lagos base. On arrival in Lagos, he stayed with Ibukun Oluwa for some time and joined in the marketing of Ibukun Oluwa’s iron tonic tablets and Aboki balm both in Lagos and Ibadan.

He stayed in this business for some years in Ibadan and was blessed and later disengaged from his Principal to start his own. Having now become his own master in the iron tonic and balm wholesale business, he returned to Aba and developed his own brand Omeire Iron tonic tablet, and Omeire Balm. The business boomed and he started importing his own brand of the goods in containers. The petty trader in bicycle spokes and other minor articles of trade of yester years later became a major importer and an established business man in Aba. Before the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967, he had built houses- Nos 119 and 142 Cameroon Road and 120 Obohia

Eze Maxwell Omeire Kanu

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The Nigerian Civil War also saw Chief Kanu playing a very supportive role as he was one of the business men engaged by the Biafran Government to mobilize food items and other forms of support for solders and refugees in the Aba Sector of the war. Luck also smiled at Omeire immediately after the Civil war as one of his 4 Containers arrived Apapa Wharf during the hostilities and his friend and benefactor Ibukun Oluwa sold the goods and kept the proceeds for him. Two weeks after the war ended in 1970, Ibukun Oluwa utilized the money realized from the sale of the goods to buy bales of stockfish, salt, tyre and bicycle tubes and dispatched them to the East through PortHarcourt Wharf.

While several other businessmen and colleagues of Omeire were still managing to survive the hunger and penury of the Civil War and the

economic down turn of the paltry €20 paid to every bank depositor, no matter how much he had in the bank, Chief Kanu had become a very wealthy man. He then veered into other businesses, becoming a major stockfish importer in Aba. His stockfish importation business developed so rapidly that he later became President of the Stockfish Importers Association of Nigeria.

On the social scene, Omeire became one of the best known names as he also became Chairman of Aba City Fathers, an elite club of the very wealthy men in Aba. He built Ochiriozuo House located at no 62/64 Ehi Road by Asa Road Aba, a seven storey edifice, a major land mark in the commercial city. He was so entrenched in the business community in Aba, adding to the development of the town’s economy that his longtime friend His Royal Highness Eze I.A Ikonne Enyi 1 of Aba honoured him with a chieftaincy title Ochiriozuo of Ngwaland in the early 1970s, a title also conferred on him in his native Arondizuogu in 1987 by his

Royal Majesty Eze J.A Dike Ezediohamma II of Arondizuogu.

Ochiriozuo was a firm believer in and an advocate for the unity of Nigeria. Hence as a detribalized Nigerian, he never played local or regional politics but only associated with political parties that preached and enhanced national unity. In the Second Republic, he was a strong pillar of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in Imo State and provided the resources that ensured the emergence of Sir Onyeso Nwachukwu as the Chairman of the NPN in Imo State, succeeding the late Chief Nnanna Kalu. In fact he, along with the late Sir Joe Nwankwu pledged five personal properties as security to enable the NPN obtain bank loan to prosecute the 1983 gubernatorial elections in the Old Imo and Anambra States.

The military coup of December 31, 1983 was historic in the family of the late icon. That was the very day that his son Geofrey was to wed his wife in church and the reception was to hold in his residence at Arondizuogu. The National Chairman of the NPN Chief A.M.A Akinloye was to be the Chairman of the Wedding Reception. All was set for the D-day before the Military struck in the early hours of the morning of that day. Ochiriozuo went to the residence of his political leader the late Dr. K.O Mbadiwe (Agadagbachiriuzo) in Arondiuzuogu to brief him on the arrangements for the wedding. He was with K.O when some soldiers arrived Mbadiwe’s Palace of the People to arrest him as they did other top politicians of the Second Republic.

Ochiriozuo had a lucky escape from the scene.

If there had been any untoward development then, Chief Kanu may also have been affected.

Having seen it all in business in Aba, Chief Kanu felt that it was time to arrive at the National scene to also play some role in the development of the new Federal Capital. In the early 1980s, when businessmen were still reluctant to invest in the Abuja Federal Capital project, Chief Kanu sunk hundreds of millions of naira of his personal funds into the first hospitality industry in Abuja, Agura Hotel. This project, which is the manifestation of Chief Kanu’s belief in One Nigeria, is located in a prime area of Abuja Central Business District, directly opposite the Defence Headquarters and the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, Police, Navy and Air Force.

Arondizuogu Clan in Imo State is a community which traces its origin to Amankwu village in Arochukwu in Abia State. It has many other communities living in and around it. One of such communities is Ejezie whose ancestor also hailed from Amankwu village in Arochukwu. A number of communities within the Arondizuogu Clan including Iheme, Awa Izuogu, Uche Izuogu, Akaeme and Akunwanta have all become autonomous communities, having their own traditional rulers installed and issued Certificates of Recognition by the Imo State Government.

EJezie Autonomous Community achieved same status in 2003 and Ochiriozuo was crowned and recognized by the Imo State Government as the Traditional Ruler of the community in the same year.

The community benefitted immensely from the tremendous and pioneering development efforts of Ochiriozuo and his son Prince Daniel Kanu. They include the Beatrice Kanu Primary School and the Ultra-modern Civic Center both built and donated by Prince Daniel and the Ejezie Police post built by His Royal Highness, and also recently refurbished by Prince Daniel Kanu. One expects the members of this community to embrace peace and appreciate the substantial contributions of this icon of theirs to their development and that of the larger Arondizuogu community.

Late Kanu achieved fame and honour in his life time. His grass to riches story will fill over 100 pages of a book. One cannot but assert that this great man has in his 86 and half years of life on earth impacted on the lives of millions of people, lifting many out of poverty, and also impacted on the social and economic life of Ndigbo in particular and Nigerians generally.

Sam Ekpe is a Media and Public Relations Read full Perspective online - www.thisdaylive.com

24

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾NOVEMBER 13, 2021

Lessons from Anambra Election One of the biggest stories to come out of the South-east geopolitical zone in recent times is the successful conduct of Anambra election and the emergence of one of the most credible candidates, Prof. Charles Soludo in the race to the government house.

Indeed, in the run up to the election, there were so many odds stacked against the conduct of the poll. The build up to the crises started with agitations by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for self determination. The federal government reacted by deploying federal forces to quell the agitation. Rather than reducing the tension, the militarization of the zone backed by excessive force and killing of some innocent citizens by the military further inflamed passion and emboldened IPOB to dig in and match the federal forces with force.

Adopting guerilla styled warfare operations, members of IPOB embraced hit and run strategy, torching and killing policemen and military personnel within the vicinity and capability. As casualties on both sides mount, economic and other social activities in the zone grinded to a halt.

When IPOB said the Anambra election would not hold and went ahead to declare a sit-at-home to press home its point, the die was certainly cast. What was more? The federal government fortuitously captured and repatriated the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya back to Nigeria and quickly charged him to court. Tension was at the highest boiling point and no one was sure if the election would go ahead or not.

However, a frenzy of back door negotiations involving the South-east governors and the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo led by Prof. George Obiozor succeeded in dousing the tension and brought IPOB to the negotiating table where it agreed to give peace a chance and allow elections to hold. As a demonstration of its commitment, it cancelled the subsisting sit-at-home order and urged its members to go out and vote.

In the end, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Charles Soludo emerged victorious with Valentine Ezigbo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as runner up.

There are certain takeaways worth noting in the just concluded Anambra election. The first is the apparent voters’ apathy which could be attributed to the fear already instilled in the electorate

by both the federal forces and IPOB. Many people were afraid of venturing out to exercise their civic responsibilities.

Worthy of commendation is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Although the exercise witnessed initial hiccups in the early hours when voting started with complaints of late arrival of materials and malfunctioning of the BVAS, the commission rose to the occasion and ensure that complaints were sorted out and people voted within the extended voting period.

One notable innovation in the Anambra election was the introduction of The Anambra Debate

by ARISE NEW CHANNEL. It would be the first of its kind since the creation of Anambra state and a novelty that has come to stay. The most significant part of this success story is that even with the heightened security challenge, ARISE rose to the challenge and successfully held the debate for the leading candidates to ventilate their manifestoes to the people of Anambra state.

Another significant development was the resolve by the people of Anambra to stick with an indigenous party that they identified with.

It was the highest display of nationalism and patriotism to jettison other parties and settle for APGA which incidentally is the ruling party in the state.

Without a doubt, the credentials of those who aspired to lead Anambra were commendably formidable and it goes to show how the state has succeeded in carving a niche for parading its first eleven team.

T h u s t h e e m e rg e n c e o f S o l u d o i s n o t only an icing on the cake, it is in line with a well established tradition in the state w h e re a l l i t s p a s t c h i e f e x e c u t i v e o ff i c e r s p a r a d e d s o l i d c re d e n t i a l s .

F ro m D r. C h u k w u e m e k a E z e i f e , H a rv a rd t r a i n e d , D r. C h i n w o k e M b a d i n u j u , D r. C h r i s N g i g e , P e t e r O b i , Vi rg i n i a E t i a b a ( b r i e fly) Peter Obi and Willie Obiano. Each of these men and woman are accomplished performers in their respective rights.

Soludo would be stepping into Obaino’s shoes whose tenure expires very shortly. He would be inheriting a highly endowed state in crises. His first baptism of fire would be how

THEFRONTLINES JOSEPH USHIGIALE jushigiale@yahoo.co.uk, joseph.ushigiale@thisdaylive.com 08023422660 (sms only)

to rein in IPOB and return Anambra to its past glory where peace and economic activities reign supreme.

The governor-elect is a tested and proven hand whose wealth of experience and footprints dot the Central Bank of Nigeria where he was governor and also the World Bank where he has consult anted for decades.

Soludo, who is also an accomplished academic, a lecturer and an orator in his own right would be expected to start walking the talk presently and turn around the fortunes of Anambra. He has his job already cut out for him right there.

Now that APGA has won in Anambra, could this be the beginning of the party resurgence in the zone? Can this feat equally be replicated in the entire five South-eastern states? If what happened in Anambra is replicated by Igbos in their respective states, it is right to conclude that the Igbo renaissance is finally here.

Imagine that APGA controls the entire states in the zone, the talk or horse trading for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction would carry a lot of weight and other zones would be forced to listen and cut a deal with Igbo nation.

This may have been the dream of the Ikemba of Nnewi to establish an Igbo party in the mould of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group, Nnamdi Azikiwe’s National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons/National Convention of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), Aminu Kanu’s, People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), Northern People’s Congress (NPC), Muhammadu Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) to give each zone a formidable political position with which to negotiate power sharing in the Centre.

Although regions on which old parties were aligned no longer existed, there is nothing wrong with rekindling such parties along geopolitical lines. It is political theory worthy of practice because it would go a very long way in breaking the dominance and remove the danger of an imminent one party state which the All Progressives Congress (APC) is gradually assuming today.

Kaduna Partners Local Firms for Supply of Essential Medicines Olaoluwakitan Babatunde

T

he Kaduna State Government through the Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency (KADHSMA) has signed a final Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with local pharmaceutical companies under the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN), to ensure the supply of quality and affordable essential medicines to the citizens of the State.

The signing of the MoU for this Public-Private Partnership (PPP) was concluded on Thursday, October 7, 2021, at the manufacturing facility of Fidson Healthcare Plc, located in Ota, Ogun State.

The ceremony was followed by a tour of the facility.

The first MoU signing ceremony took place on Thursday, September 23, 2021, during the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADINVEST), one of the key investment forums where investors showcase and promote their major investments in Africa towards a sustainable knowledge-based economy.

The Kaduna State Government, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Mohammed Baloni, expressed her gratitude to the local pharmaceutical companies for trusting the government and committing to support the vision of the state government.

She was supported by the Executive Secretary of KADHSMA, Pharm Aisha Tukur, who reassured the pharmaceutical companies that the agency will ensure it fulfils its financial obligations as expressed in the MoU. The pharmaceutical companies represented by the chairman of the PMG-MAN, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, appreciated the Kaduna State Government for keying into the partnership initiative, emphasizing the commitment of the pharma companies to addressing the health agenda of the country, applauded the State government for

Officials of the Kaduna State Government and that of Fidson Healthcare Plc, during the signing of the MoU in Ota Ogun State.

adopting the PPP model for successful patronage of the Local Pharma Companies and commended the Africa Resource Center for Excellence in Supply Chain Management (ARC_ESM) for “midwifing” the partnership.

Through this initiative with the local pharmaceutical companies to gain access to a steady supply of high-quality and affordable health commodities, the Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency aims to increase access to high-quality health services for its citizens by ensuring the constant availability of basic health care commodities across all of its health facilities. The distribution of these commodities to the health facilities across the State will be channelled through a distribution network to be handled by KADHSMA.

This partnership was brokered by the Africa Resource Center for Excellence in Supply Chain Management (ARC_ESM) who will continue to support the Pharma Companies and the Kaduna State Government by ensuring both parties adhere to the terms of the MoU. The MoU signing was witnessed by the CEO, ARC_ESM, Azuka Okeke; the Executive Secretary of KADIPA, Hajia Umma Aboki; the Executive Secretary of PMG-MAN, Pharm Frank Mounemeh; representatives of donor agencies and other representatives from the local pharmaceutical companies involved in the partnership - Fidson Health Plc, Juhel Nigeria Limited, Orfema Pharmaceutical Industry Limited, Bond Chemical Industries Limited and Nemel Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾NOVEMBER 13, 2021

25

POLITY

Jaiz Bank Boosts Education in Katsina Francis Sardauna writes that the inauguration of an ultra-model school in Katsina State by Jaiz Bank will complement government’s effort in revamping education in the state

T

here was jubilation galore in the Kambarawa community in Katsina, the Katsina State capital following the construction and commissioning of Kusharahama Academy (Nursery and Primary school) in the community by Jaiz Bank PLC to bridge the gap in Nigeria’s education sector and enable it contribute effectively to economic development.

The history of the school began in 1989 when the former Director of Katsina State Library Board, Hajiya Hadiza Shitu Fawibe, initiated the construction of a children’s library and mosque for the Kambarawa community within the Katsina metropolitan area.

The historic project was, however, donated to Jaiz Bank through her Charity and Development Foundation (JCDF) in 2012 by the initiator (Fawibe) as “Waqf” in the spirit of “Sadaqatul Jariya” according to the Islamic tenets. The donor also requested that the project, when completed by the foundation, should be named as Kusharahama Education Centre.

Consequently, the Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation completed the humanitarian project through the provision of a eight classrooms and befitting toilets, staff offices, computer room, reconstruction and furnishing of the mosque and provision of library.

The JCDF, in a bid to implement the corporate responsibility of the bank, also provided other items such as office cabinets, refrigerator, water dispensers and safes as well as the teaching and learning materials and children’s sporting facilities for efficient and effective learning to thrive in the elementary school.

Qatar foundation also supported JCDF’s effort in the school with the construction of the school’s mosque and toilets while the borehole was constructed by an anonymous philanthropist. Thus, the JCDF engaged Muhide Education Consults Limited, Katsina, to provide comprehensive educational services for the smooth take-off of the educational centre for 2021 and 2022 academic session.

The Kusharahama Academy was established to provide among others, quality and functional basic education with Islamic orientation and training on entrepreneurship and empowerment of youths including women.

The elementary school was commissioned by the state

commissioner for Education, Badamasi Lawal Charanchi, on November 9th, 2021.

The current staff strength of the school include a headmistress, five teachers, an accountant and secretary, administrative officer, two nannies and caregivers, three cleaners and fully engaged security personnel to enhance the safety of pupils, teachers and instructional materials.

Currently, no fewer than 20 pupils have been admitted into the center for the nursery and primary one classes with fixed school fees of N12,000 per term. The school also intends to admit quite a number of orphans and other vulnerable children who are expected to be sponsored by philanthropists, especially from the numerous internally displaced persons (IDPs), who are victims of attacks by bandits in the state.

Being an Islamic commercial bank, the Jaiz Bank, through the JCDF, places emphasis on strong Islamic nurture and culture such that the pupils shall turn out to be God-fearing citizens well- grounded in science, art and appreciative of their Nigerian citizenship irrespective of tribal or political inclinations. The Kusharahama Academy operates under the general guidance of the Jaiz/Waqf foundation as sole proprietors and funders of the school until when the institution is capable of sustaining itself. Furthermore, the school board is constituted by the Jaiz and Waqf foundations for a successful implementation of its activities.

While the school management committee is headed by the headmistress, to ensure the day-to-day running of the affairs of the school, the management ensures the maintenance of facilities and resources of the school.

Speaking during the ceremonial commissioning of the school, the Chief Executive Officer of JCDF, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, said Katsina State was the pioneer benefitting state for the JCDF’s intervention programme.

He explained that Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation was established by the first Non-interest Bank (Jaiz Bank) in 2012 as a non-governmental organisation to compliment government’s effort in assuaging the plight of vulnerable people across the country.

The thematic areas of the foundation, he said, included interventions in areas of education, public awareness,

Kusharahama Academy

water and sanitation, health, agriculture, economic empowerment, humanitarian as well as “Zakat and Waqf”. He said: “As we know Islamic Banks always set up charity organisations to channel funds that are non-permissible (Interest and other doubtful incomes) that cannot be used by the bank.

“Our objective is to complement government effort, and in doing so, make life better for the society’s less privileged. We operate in Nigeria and are concerned about delivery on our Corporate Social Responsibility”.

According to the JCDF chief executive officer, most of the foundation’s projects are aimed at societal upliftment, especially for the society’s most vulnerable either directly or indirectly.

Earlier, the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Jaiz Foundation, Abidu Yazid, said N55.3 million had been disbursed directly and indirectly to the poor and the needy in Lagos, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Taraba and Katsina States, including the Federal Capital Territory.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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L-R: Communication Consultant, Mr. Rufus Oloyo; Business Development Manager, Smart DNA

L-R: Council member, The Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Tajudeen Olayinka; Nigeria, Mrs. Bukola Ijeoma Ogunsanwo; and the Client Liaison Officer, Smart DNA Nigeria, Betty ICAN President, Comfort Olujumoke Eyitayo; winner, 2021 Accounting Day Essay Competition, Otupur at the Launch of Covid-19 Antibody and Immunity Test by Smart DNA Nigeria in Partnership SUNDAY ADIGUN Andrew Kennedy; and the Registrar/Chief Executive ICAN, Ahmed Kumshe during the interna- with Leading UK Lab Press Conference in Lagos …. yesterday tional accounting day celebration in Lagos… yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

L–R: Assistant Financial Secretary, The Youth Fellowship, Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Brother Olasanmi Ajayi ; Publicity Secretary, Brother Bamigbala Adekola; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Religion Matters Christian ,Reverend Bukola Adeleke, Chairman, The Youth Fellowship, Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Brother Muyiwa Odedin; and Convention Chairman 2021, Brother Olusegun Odufuwa during the 22nd Annual Youth Convention of Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria , Lagos State Chapter at Seraphim Land ,Maba, Ogun State …

L-R: Chairman, Association of Radiographers of Nigeria, Lagos State, Mrs. Ope Oduwole; Director Radiography, Federal Medical Center , Ebute-Meta, Mrs. Uwem Umonnan; Pionneer Head , Radio Diagnostic Dept, Federal Medical Center, Ebute- Meta, Lagos; Mrs. Kehinde Omiyi and Retired HOD Radiography, Lagos State University Teaching Hspital (LASUTH), Ikeja/former HOD Radiography, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Gbolahan O.G Awosanya, during a reception in honour of Awosanya at Luth, Idi-Araba, Lagos . . . recently KOLAWOLE ALLI.

26

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

PERSPECTIVE Amosun Underdeveloped Ogun State Femi Ogbonnikan

N

owadays, political manifestos no longer stand convincing proof for the average Nigerian electorate. No matter how embellished the policy document is, an aspirant, whether fit or misfit, often commissions professionals in the art to craft the design. But it doesn’t usually sail through, as the electorate are wiser, more enlightened and informed to be hoodwinked. This scenario reinforces the belief in the continued clamour for independent candidacy in order to change the narratives for electing qualified, capable and competent candidates into political offices, in sharp contrast to the previously held tenets of saddling political parties with the responsibilities.

It is curious that after the near completion of two terms, eight years in office, of the then Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) prior to the 2011 gubernatorial election in Ogun State, he had incurred more political foes than he could imagine, owing to the succession crisis in the polity. There was an intra-party leadership crisis which almost swept him off and eventually caused a massive crack in the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), culminating in the formation of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), all in a bid to field his godson, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (aka GNI) as his successor.

On another flank, his arch-rival, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on the platform of the Action Congress (AC), wasn’t giving him a breathing space, as he continued to face oppositions on all fronts.

OGD was called all sorts of unprinted names, just to discredit and crucify him. That is politics for you in the name of our own home-grown democracy.

What were his offences? In fairness, OGD brought his rich wealth of experience to bear on governance as an engineer. He thought outside the box and governed the state as a family unit.

OGD introduced various welfarist programmes and lofty projects to ameliorate the living conditions of the people. Chiefly, he introduced the Ogun State Road Maintenance Agency (OGROMA) which was scrapped when Amosun came on board in 2011, purely for no plausible explanations, except political vendetta.

It is the scrapped Ogun State Road Maintenance Agency (OGROMA), which the current administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun has resuscitated, rebranded, and christened Ogun State Public Works Agency (OGPWA) to rehabilitate and fix roads across the state. Also, OGD touched the rural communities and breathed life into them, just to give them a sense of belonging. His political appointments cut across every section, regardless of ethnic and religious affiliation; a man who was a toast of the people with an appellation, “Ogidi Omo”, turned around the fortunes of the state but subsequently became an enemy who could no longer walk freely on the streets of Abeokuta, for fear of being stoned.

“A king that reigns and his domain thrives, his name will not be forgotten; ditto the one that rules but brings hardship and sorrow on his people, his name will not be erased from history books,” so goes a popular saying.

Amosun

By sheer providence or design, Amosun warmed himself into the hearts of all and sundry, with his electoral promises to do better than his predecessor (Daniel) in office and also to unleash the full God-given potentials to the maximum benefits of the citizenry. He took up the gauntlet and addressed the issue of insecurity that was the order of the day. He ordered for the procurement of Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), vehicles, AK-47 rifles, crash helmets and ammunition from overseas in response to the orgy of bank robbery attacks in the state.

Before anyone could sense it, the real game – political vendetta – had started. Amosun rubbished and erased the last vestiges of Daniel’s legacies and replaced them with his own agenda. He suspended in some parts and also discarded other noble projects and programmes initiated by Daniel. A good example was the multi-billion naira turbine gas plant projects which the administration of Daniel imported into the country to light up the state capital, as parts of the moves to give a befitting status to Abeokuta. The purported equipment is now moribund where it is stored at the Governor’s Office, Okemosan, Abeokuta.

Sounding real and touring every nook and cranny of the state, one would have had the impression that his major preoccupation was genuine in the reconstruction and expansion of existing roads that would enhance and facilitate accelerated development and growth. On the

contrary, ancient family homes and shrines, which happened to fall close to the roads were not spared, and were made to pave way for the new face-lifts.

Although the action of the government was not met with stiff opposition, only those affected in the demolition of their structures could live to tell the pangs they were made to go through. While a few of those rendered homeless could survive it, at the mercy of good Samaritans, others were sent to their early graves when compensations which ought to follow weren’t forthcoming.

In rural areas, the administration opened up new road projects. In taking cognizance of the investment in education which Ogun state is noted for, Amosun justified the premium placed on the sector to promote the legacy of the forefathers of the state for their pioneering excellent works, but the concept behind the establishment of Model Colleges in remote and bushy locations, prone to kidnapping, ritual attacks and other vices, was a misplacement of priority on the part of the administration.

The common saying, “health is wealth”, found no place in the heart of the helmsman, because the administration was missing in action. The only government-owned health teaching institution, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Shagamu, was untouched throughout the eight-year tenure, but only remained a shadow of its old self, as it turned out to be a mere “consulting clinic”. Conditions of service and

motivating remunerations for resident doctors which ought to make them stay on job weren’t in place and what became of them was a mass exodus of the personnel on a “brain-drain syndrome” to Europe and the United States of America.

Lest we should forget, the construction of a 250-bed State Specialist Hospital situated along IBB Boulevard, Okemosan, Abeokuta, was hurriedly commissioned without completion by President Muhammadu Buhari on the invitation of Amosun few days to vacating office. This was one of the white elephant projects embarked upon by Amosun. Surprisingly, he claimed the project had been fully funded only for Prince Dapo Abiodun, upon his assumption of office, to inherit a huge debt profile on the project in question.

Instead of wasting taxpayers’ money on the project, however, the current administration now shops for investors to develop the hospital into a world-class health facility capable of providing quality healthcare services to the people.

In the days of yore, agriculture which used to be the mainstay economy of the state took a backseat, without a corresponding impetus to promote both existing and potential farmers.

Government’s intervention, especially in boosting rice production, tagged “Mitros Rice”, soon afterwards suffered a setback within a space of two years of its birth when the exercise was fraught with irregularities and it became a mirage.

Little wonder the news media was awashed with reports of incidents of sand bagged into bags of rice at the silos plant located at Obantoko, Abeokuta.

Such a dubious tendency simply lends credence to the prevalence of shenanigans during Amosun’s administration in Ogun State. What could have been responsible for the underdevelopment of the state during the eight-year tenure was a mystery shrouded in secrecy but which beg for an answer from the immediate past Governor.

However, as a promise-keeping administration, Prince Dapo Abiodun came onboard at a critical time in May 2019 when the morale of the workforce was at its lowest ebb and he rescued governance from its near collapse.

Obviously, overwhelmed by the deplorable condition of the roads and other projects bear economic benefits, but unperturbed nonetheless, the governor at inception of office, pledged his administration’s best efforts at completing all the abandoned projects inherited from his predecessor, despite the financial strain.

In comparison, the administration is not sectional in its approach to qualitative and balanced governance and in tandem with the current realities on ground, and it has demonstrated fairness in the sharing of equitable distribution of resources, across the three senatorial districts that make up the state.

It is crystal clear that, an era of half-truths, lies and deceit has given way for a more dedicated and committed administration that sees the entire state as an indivisible family unit for even development and growth, with due respect to the interest for the principles of equity, justice and fairplay.

Ogbonnikan wrote from Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Akinfeleye Calls for Urgent Review of NBC’s Code

R

enowned communication scholar, Professor Ralph Akinfeleye, has called for an urgent review of the National Broadcasting Code, describing the extant edition, issued last year by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), as inconsistent with democracy.

Akinfeleye, a former head of the Mass Communication Department of the University of Lagos, made the call yesterday at the public presentation of “Question Marks on the 6th NBC Code Amendments”, a publication by Consortium of Independent Broadcasters and Free Press Advocates.

At the event, which held at the Lagos office of the Independent Press Centre (IPC), Akinfeleye stated that the code is an attempt by the govern-

ment to over-regulate the broadcast space, adding that many of the provisions in the 6th NBC Code are unnecessary as they had already been addressed by previous laws.

“The first thing is that we have existing laws that address the concerns of the NBC. The NBC is trying to over-regulate the media in a way that is inconsistent with democracy, which is oiled by free press. A free press is required to make the government accountable at all times, not sometimes. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a revision of the NBC Code,” he said.

The publication, co-edited by Lanre Arogundade, IPC’s Executive Director; and Dr. Akintunde Akanni, acting head of the Mass Communication Department of the Lagos State University, described the NBC Code as a change from regulation to strangulation. Arogundade noted that the Code contains provisions that could undermine

democratic norms and standards and jeopardise the values of broadcast sector liberalisation as well as free enterprise.

“Consider the fact Section 2.127.2 of the Code seeks to confer arbitrary powers on the NBC to, among others, shut down a station for violating the provisions relating to web/online broadcasting without making any provision for stations that may be concerned to seek redress,” he said.

He also identified Section 5.6.1 as dangerous.

The section, he noted, prohibits the use of user generated content (UGC) that may “embarrass individuals, organizations, and the government.”

Arogundade warned that the section is capable of limiting citizen’s input into media content.

“By including the government among those that should not be embarrassed, the provision is capable of intimidating the media while encouraging public officials to dodge the responsibility

of accountability since they can always resort to the claim of being embarrassed.

“In other words, the provision is capable of undermining the obligation imposed on the media

by Section 22 of the Constitution to monitor governance and hold government accountable to the people and therefore should be expunged,” he contended.

He similarly stated that Section 5.6.5, which requires a broadcaster to identify the source of UGC, will constitute an erosion of the privileges conferred on the media to protect sources that wish to be anonymous, branding it a violation of Section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act. The media rights activist equally slated the provision of the code that seeks to compel broadcast rights holders to sub-license their content to competitors, saying it has the potential of discouraging investment in the sector.

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

13. 11.2021

NEWS

NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY PAGE. 29

DAVID OKEREKE Bonded with The Winged Lions

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾NOVEMBER 13, 2021

28

GLOBAL SOCCER

David Okereke

Bonded with The Winged Lions David Okereke celebrates his winning goal in Venezia’s 3-2 victory over Roma last weekend

After what seems like a turbulent season with Club Brugge, David Okereke went on a season loan to Venezia. With three goals in 11 games, the last of those in the 3-2 comeback victory over Roma last Sunday,the Nigeria forward has found comfort at the Stadio Per Luigi Penzo and according to him, he would love to stay put inVenice if he could have his way

S

ince his days with Serie B side Spezia, David Okereke had always prayed to play in Italy’s topflight but his team failed to gain promotion to Serie A. After rumoured interest from Turin and Milan giants- Juventus and Inter for his signature failed to materialise he eventually pitched tent with Club Brugge. His dream however came to fruition this summer when newly promoted Serie A club Venezia came calling.

In the summer transfer window Venezia completed the signing of the Nigeria youth international on a season-long loan from Club Brugge, with the option to hand the 24-year-old a permanent contract at the end of the 2021-22 campaign and Okereke seems to have found a home with the Venice side already.

Last Sunday, the Nigeria international found the back of the net in the last quarter to help his team bag maximum points at home after he scored the winner to steer Venezia past AS Roma.

Okereke had had an earlier opportunity to punish Roma after he made a solo run using his individual brilliance to get into the danger zone, but his effort narrowly missed the target.

However, with about 15 minutes to the end of proceedings and the scores at 2-2 the 24-year-old wrong-footed the opponent’s goalkeeper before firing into the back of the net to hand his team maximum points at the expense of the Jose Mourinho men.

It was his third goal in 11 Serie A matches for his team.

Venezia coach, Paolo Zanetti later revealed the reason he handed Okereke the role of playing as a lone striker during the game.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia as quoted by Football Italia, Zanetti explained the Super Eagle’s role.

“I tend to change the centre-forward depending on what we need for the characteristics of the opposition, so this time I wanted Okereke to attack the space with two players in support.”

On the team’s overall performance, Zanetti said; “Aside from the result, I would still have been proud of this performance.

“My players showed they could suffer against a top club and worked hard, we never held back from attacking and creating, we turned the game around from a losing situation and when my players show this spirit, a coach can only be proud.

“The group is coming together now. We have a core of the team that did well last season, they are helping me to bring the 20-or-so foreign new players to settle in and today we really were a team, even regardless of the historic victory,” Zanetti said.

Okereke indeed insisted that he’s happy at Venezia, but doesn’t know what the future holds for him at his club, Club Brugge.

Okereke struggled for a game-time before leaving Club Brugge, but, he’s playing regularly at Venezia and there is a suggestion that he might want to remain in Italy beyond this season.

Reacting to the reports, the former Spezia man said, he’s enjoying his time in Italy, but, stated that only Club Brugge has the final say

over his future.

“At Venezia, the coach is patient with me.

He doesn’t ask for things I can’t do. He just wants you to give your heart to the team.”

“Club Brugge will decide whether I still have a future with them,” he said. “I am like a moving train: I don’t know what my next destination will be,” he told Belgian tabloid.

The Nigeria international who moved to Belgium in 2019, won back-to-back Belgian top-flight titles with his contribution of 13 goals in 50 league appearances.

He joined Club Brugge in the summer of 2019, becoming their record signing in history, and has scored a total of 15 goals for Blauw-Zwart in 71 matches.

In his second season with Club Brugge, he fell out of favour with manager Philippe Clement, making only nine starts from a possible 51 in all competitions.

Okereke’s most productive season to date was in 2018-2019, netting 10 goals and chipping in with 12 assists in 30 matches, leading to a call-up to the Olympic national team and Super Eagles.

He joined on-loan Benfica defender Tyronne Ebuehi as the second Nigeria player in Paolo Zanetti’s team.

“Venezia FC is pleased to announce the signing of Nigerian attacker David Okereke, 23, on loan from Club Brugge,” read a statement on the club’s website.

“Okereke came through the youth academy at Spezia, before ultimately reaching the first team and making his professional debut in April 2016.

“After three seasons of increasing experience and progress, including a half-season loan at Cosenza, Okereke had a breakout season with Spezia in 2018/19, leading the team with 10 goals and 12 assists in Serie B. “Okereke’s form at Spezia prompted a move to Club Brugge in July 2019. In his first season with the club, Okereke made 22 appearances, starting 13 of them and scored nine goals to help Club Brugge win the Belgian league, while also making eight appearances in the Uefa Champions League and one appearance in the Uefa Europa League Round of 32.”

He was an unused substitute for the Super Eagles in an international friendly match against Egypt in March 2019, which ended 1-0 in their favour.

Before joining Brugge, Crystal Palace turned their direction at the former Spezia striker with Palace having been looking to add goals to their squad, with Palace among the lowest scorers in the Premier League.

The Eagle were interested in the then 21-year-old forward who had lit up Serie B last season with Spezia.

Palace were said to have sent scouts to watch Okereke in action during Spezia’s thrilling 4-4 draw away at Brescia and Nigerian forward did not disappoint as he scored one and set up another at the Mario Rigamonti Stadium.

Serie A side Inter Milan also tracked him in view of signing him with the option of leaving him at Spezia on loan before a decision will be made on his involvement.

Though no bid was tabled but it was believed that Inter were confident of their strong relationship with Spezia and a deal could be done if all goes according to plan.

According to Italian outlet Il Secolo XIX, as cited on Inside Futbol, Turin giants, Juventus also kept a close eye on Okereke’s development.

Born in Lagos, Okereke began his career in Italy with Lavagnese before his shift to Spezia in 2016, he rose through the ranks before making his professional debut against Novara on April 9, 2016.

Okereke is a product of Football College Abuja.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾NOVEMBER 13, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

2022 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Super Eagles Target Victory against Liberia to Boost Qatar Chances

Victor Osimhen was a torn in the flesh of Central African Republic’s defence

S

uper Eagles of Nigeria would be looking to extend their lead at the top of Group C and boost their chances of progressing into the final qualifying round of the World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying match against the Lone Star of Liberia today at the Grand Stade de Tanger, Morocco.

The hosts, who are rooted to the bottom of the group, will be looking to upset the visitors and pick up just their second win of the qualifiers.

After booking their place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria got their quest for a seventh World Cup appearance underway on a winning note as they saw off Liberia in the reverse fixture before making it two wins from two four days later against Cape Verde.

This fine run however took a slight halt in their subsequent outing, when they were stunned to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Central African Republic, but Gernot Rohr’s men got their qualifier campaign back on track last time out as they cruised to a 2-0 win over Les Fauves in the second of their two successive meetings thanks to first-half strikes from Leon Balogun and Victor Osimhen.

With nine points from four games, Nigeria currently sits top of the pile in Group C, two points ahead of second-placed Cape Verde, having scored six goals while letting in two.

Meanwhile, all 24 players invited by Rohr have arrived in Tangier and trained on Thursday ahead of today’s match against the Lone Star of Liberia.

Commitment, focus and absolute dedication oozed from the session at the training pitch of the Grand Stade de Tangier, with goalkeeper John Noble and forward Odion Ighalo, who were the last arrivals, having the side spectacle with Jean-Luc Royer, one of Rohr’s assistants.

Delivery, marksmanship, spiritedness and creativity were the underlying themes as the possibles squared up against the probables ahead of the Day 5 encounter that the Nigeria side sees as a must-win,

before flying into Lagos in the early hours of Sunday to prepare for the final group phase clash with the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde.

Captain Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho fired from all cylinders to the delight of the technical and administrative staff in moderate weather in Morocco’s principal northern city during Thursday’s training session.

“I am happy to be able to make it here.

Good to be back with the group and the spirit is excellent,” Odion Ighalo told thenff.com after Thursday evening’s session.

Rohr added: “It’s a good feeling here and we hope the weather stays nice as it has been since we got here. Everything is calm and the team has been able to concentrate very well.”

There was vibrancy and go-go spirit as the group welcomed back Ighalo, as well as midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, and forward Samuel Chukwueze.

Yesterday, the Super Eagles had a feel of the turf of Grand Stade Tangier during the official training in the evening.

Meanwhile, after missing out on a place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations by just two points, Liberia were denied a dream start to their World Cup qualifiers as they fell to a 2-0 loss against Nigeria in September’s reverse fixture.

Peter Butlers’s men quickly moved on from that result as they edged out Central African Republic 1-0 three days later.

However, Liberia failed to build on that performance as they crumbled to successive defeats against Cape Verde in their most recent two outings.

This slump in form sees the Lone Stars sit rock-bottom in Group C, and while their chances of making it into the final qualifying round are effectively over, they will fancy their chances of causing an upset on home turf, where they have won four of their last five games and are unbeaten in all but one of their last eight.

Interestingly, Butler has expressed confidence that his players will prove a

Liberia national team coach, Peter Butler set to play spoiler’s role

point and play for pride against the Super Eagles today.

Speaking to the media at a pre match press conference, Butler expressed optimism of his players readiness for the game following their training session.

“I think with the Arrival of Jamek, Mark, and Boison we got players who came in with good attitude and I think the new guys have good attitude.

“I think the important thing for my perspective is you playing for pride you playing for your country and we still playing for points I get lot of respect for the Nigerian national team but we going to be competitive and we have been competitive in every game we played.

According to Butler the goalkeeping department has been a problem for his team with the goals his team conceded in their previous games something he said has been addressed with the coming in of Nathaniel Sherman as goalkeeping coach and the inclusion of Boison who has a bit of experience.

Butlers said though his team has not played at home in the competition, he is proud of his players the way they worked over the time and is of the conviction that the team and players will get better and whoever that will take over from him will benefit from a very good team.

“Noting Playing at home has an effect on us is where you get your points from if Nigeria was playing away from home, they will be struggling too but it is not my problem, my problems are to rebuild this team and play a branded football and put good lads out there with good discipline and we’ve done that and if we had been a little more disciplined and professional going into the depth of games in the last minutes we could be here with five points,” he said.

Team’s Captian Allen Njie said they were unlucky during the first leg against the super Eagles but will keep pushing for the needed result.

“We Came here for victory and I trust my boys and the coaches have done a lot

of work on the players and we came here to get a victory for the country,” Allen said.

The Lone Stars have struggled to get going at the defensive end of the pitch and it is expected that Butler will make a few changes and take a defensive approach to the game to repel the rampant Super Eagles attackers.

Super Eagles List Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho Daniel Akpeyi Maduka Okoye Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem Kenneth Omeruo Leon Balogun William Ekong Olaoluwa Aina Jamilu Collins Abdullahi Shehu Zaidu Sanusi Kevin Akpoguma Midfielders: Frank Onyeka Joseph Ayodele-Aribo Wilfred Ndidi Alex Iwobi Kelechi Iheanacho

TODAY’S FIXTURES

Zambia v Mauritania 2:00 pm Malawi v Cameroon 2:00 pm Cabo Verde v CAR 5:00 pm Liberia v Nigeria 5:00 pm I’Coast v Mozambique 8:00 pm

THE STANDING Team.

Nigeria C’ Verde CAR. Liberia.

P. 4.

4.

4.

4.

Group W. D. L. 3. 0. 1.

2. 1 1 1. 1. 2.

1. 0. 3.

C F. 6.

5.

2.

2.

A. GD. PTS 2. 4. 9 4 1. 7 4. -2. 4 5. -3. 3

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾NOVEMBER 13, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

L-R: CEO of Halogen Group, Wale Olaoye and the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, at the National Youth Conference, convened by the Ministry in Abuja where Olaoye was guest speaker.

Kun Aguero being taken off the pitch against Alaves

Pinnick Charges Eagles to Leave No Room for Errors against Liberia President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick has told the Super Eagles to leave no room for errors when they square up against the Lone Star of Liberia in their penultimate match of the group phase of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying race in Tangier today .

Speaking to the players after yesterday’s official training at the impressive Grand Stade de Tangier, Pinnick charged the players to work assiduously as a team to earn the win that would lift the pressure off their shoulders going into the final group phase encounter against Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks in Lagos on Tuesday.

“I have seen the training

and I am impressed by the level of seriousness, fitness and commitment. The spirit is great and I believe you will do the job tomorrow. Let us leave very few room for mistakes; in fact, no room for errors at all. I don’t need to start telling you how much Nigerians from all walks of life are looking forward to you picking up the three points here.

The three points are important and we should put them in our bags as we fly back to Nigeria tomorrow night.”

The FIFA Council Member addressed the players after another vibrant and energetic training session, this time on the turf where they take on the Lone Star in tomorrow’s encounter.

He was joined by NFF 2nd

Vice President, Mallam Shehu Dikko; Chairman of Technical Committee, Alh. Ahmed Yusuf; Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, NFF Executive Committee Member and; Mr Augustine Eguavoen, NFF Technical Director.

Victory in today’s game, and failure by Cape Verde to amass all three points against Central African Republic on the island of Mindelo also tomorrow, will send the Super Eagles to the knockout round of the qualifying series with a game to spare.

Nigeria are on nine points, two more than Cape Verde, meaning another three points and any form of stumble by the Blue Sharks will make the Super Eagles unassailable going into the final match on Tuesday.

Aguero Positive Amid Retirement Rumours Due to Heart Condition Sergio Aguero has addressed reports he could be forced to retire due to a heart condition by insisting he is “always positive”.

The Barcelona striker has been ruled out of action for three months after suffering chest pains during a match against Alaves at the end of last month.

He underwent cardiac tests at hospital as a precautionary measure but Catalunya Radio has recently reported he may need to consider retiring given the seriousness of the issue.

Responding on Twitter, Aguero said: “Amid the rumours, I’m telling you that I’m following the indications of the club’s doctors, undergoing tests and treatment and seeing my progress within 90 days.

Always positive!”

The 33-year-old was withdrawn before half-time during the 1-1 La Liga draw with Alaves on October 30 after receiving treatment for several minutes.

He left the ground in an ambulance and in a

later statement, Barcelona said: “He is unavailable for selection and, during the next three months, the effectiveness of treatment will be evaluated in order to determine his recovery process.” Aguero has scored one goal in five appearances for Barcelona since signing from Manchester City on a free transfer this summer.

Argentina manager Scaloni hopes a full recovery can be made by a player that is going through “something no-one deserves”, with well wishes from South America being sent to the Barcelona striker on the back of retirement talk surfacing.

Scaloni told reporters when asked if he has been in contact with a man that has 101 caps and 41 goals for Argentina to his name: “Regarding Kun, yes, we’ve talked and we’ve sent each other messages.

“Besides him being a player, he is a boy we appreciate a lot.

“We are sad because he is going through something no-one deserves.

“We hope he recovers and could be playing as soon as possible. We send him all our support.”

Aguero could be forced to hang up his boots after suffering a heart arrhythmia which was detected by doctors following some chest discomfort he experienced during Barcelona’s 1-1 draw with Alaves at the Camp Nou on October 30.

The Argentine striker signed for Barcelona in summer, but an injury sidelined him at the start of the season and he has managed to make just five appearances for the club.

According to Catalunya Radio, Aguero’s health issue could force him to retire, and he is already aware that his situation in serious.

Following the incident against Alaves, Barcelona released a statement to inform fans that Aguero will be sidelined for three months.

“Sergio Aguero has undergone a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure by Dr. Josep Brugada,” read the statement.

Agbonlahor Acknowledges Okocha’s Legendary Status Former Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor has called ex-Super Eagles captain Austin Jay-Jay Okocha a legend of the game.

Okocha is one of the greatest players from the African continent and one of the most talented players to play the beautiful game.

The former Bolton Wanderers midfielder was known for his dribbling skills, step-overs, magic and set-piece quality on the ball during his playing days.

Agbonlahor played against

Okocha in the Premier League, and the former England international has showered praises on the Nigerian, saying he is a legend.

Speaking in his Talksport breakfast program with Ally McCoist, the ex-Aston Villa striker praised Okocha for what he did at both club and international football.

“Jay-Jay, it’s Gabby here, I just wanna say you are a legend,” Agbonlahor said on his show.

“Obviously myself, half-

Nigerian, my dad Nigerian, just wanna say everyone thinks you are a legend.”

“What you’ve done for the country, what you’ve done in the Premier League, so thank you for that,” Agbonlahor concluded.

The 35-year-old is not the only former footballer to have praised Okocha. Brazil legend Ronaldinho once revealed Okocha is among the players he has always admired, while Peter Crouch also said he could watch the Nigerian all day.

Halogen Group Partners Sports Ministry on Youth Development Leading security risk and personal safety solutions company, Halogen Group, is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development to announce a youth empowerment scheme in which Halogen will be sponsoring a national cyber security competitionamongsttheyouths.

The Chief Executive Officer, HalogenGroup,Mr.WaleOlaoye hasthereforechallengedNigerian Youthstodevelopstrongnational character anchored on courage, commitment and conviction in theirpursuitofself-development and career growth.

Mr. Olaoye, who spoke along with other key national leaders ofthought at the first-ever National Youth Conference which took place at the Federal Capital

Territory, Abuja, noted that Nigeria was blessed with a huge population of hard-working, creative and innovative youths who could make a huge difference when their energies were well channeled to productive enterprise.

AccordingtotheGroupManagingDirectorofHalogen,“Tocreate an inclusive environment for the Nigerianyouthtothrive,leadersat alllevelsmustshowcommitment, integrityandembraceinnovation.

The youths themselves, said Olaoye, must understand that buildingalifeofpurposerequires self-awareness,commitment,and conviction.”

Olaoye told the youths, who were drawn from all walks of life that despite challenges in the nation’s economy, there

are exciting opportunities to be explored by enterprising and goal-oriented youth in new frontiers of technology and in a new open and connected world where traditional borders are no longer a barrier to advancement.

The Halogen boss, after his speech to the youth, announcedayouthempowerment scheme in which Halogen will be sponsoring a national cyber securitycompetitionamongstthe youth in collaboration with The Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development. He noted that Halogen had employed thousands of youths in the area of technology, telematics, access control, engineering and technical installations among other opportunities offered by Halogen Group.

Sala’s Flight Organiser Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison The businessman who organised a flight that crashed, killing footballer Emiliano Sala, has been jailed for 18 months for endangering the safety of an aircraft.

David Henderson, 67, was convicted by a majority verdict of 10 to two at Cardiff Crown Court last month.

Emiliano Sala: Flight organiser David Henderson found guilty of endanger...

Emiliano Sala was flying from Nantes to Cardiff after signing for the club from the French side; the Piper Malib...

The plane carrying 28-yearoldSalacrashedintotheEnglish Channel on the evening of 21 January 2019, killing the striker and pilot David Ibbotson, 59.

The player had been travelling to his new club, Cardiff City.

Henderson, a father-of-three and former RAF officer, had arranged the flight with football agent William ‘Willie’ McKay. He had asked Mr. Ibbotson to fly the plane as he was away on holiday in Paris with his wife.

Mr Ibbotson, who regularly flew for him, did not hold a commercial pilot’s licence, a qualification to fly at night, and his rating to fly the

single-engine Piper Malibu had expired.

Just moments after finding out the plane had gone down, Henderson texted a number of people telling them to stay silent - warning it would “open a can of worms”.

He admitted in court he feared an investigation into his business dealings.

A lawyer representing the Sala family welcomed Henderson’s convictions in a statement and said they hope the Civil Aviation Authority will make sure that “illegal flights of this kind are stopped”.

“The actions of David Henderson are only one piece in the puzzle of how the plane David Ibbotson was illegally flying came to crash into the sea on 21 January 2019,” said Daniel Machover.

“We still do not know the key information about the maintenance history of the aircraft and all the factors behind the carbon monoxide poisoning revealed in August 2019.”

He said the answers to these questions can only be established at the inquest due to start in February next year, calling on PiperAircraft andAir

Accidents Investigation Branch to provide full disclosure of material without delay.

“This should ensure that the inquest can fulfil its function of fully and fearlessly examining the evidence so that all the facts emerge,” he said.

“Only if that happens will Emiliano’s family finally know the truth about this tragedy enabling all the lessons to be learned, so that no family goes through a similar preventable death.”

Although this is the end of the trial with David Henderson, it is not the end of the legal arena concerning Emiliano Sala.

There is an inquest to be held next February and Sala’s family are expected to come over from Argentina to attend that.

There is also the ongoing dispute between Nantes and Cardiff over who is responsible for the payment of the £15m transfer fee.

Football’s authorities - UEFA and FIFA - have both ruled on that already and said that Cardiff would have to pay that £15m. Cardiff have appealed that decision and it will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport next year.

Brazil Becomes First Country to Book Qatar Ticket

Brazil became the first South American nation to qualify for the 2022 World Cup with a 1-0 home win over Colombia.

Lucas Paqueta scored the only goal at Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo for the five-time World Cup winners.

The Lyon midfielder, 24, fin-

ished off a move involving Paris St-Germain pair Marquinhos and Neymar on 72 minutes.

Brazil still have six qualifiers to play, but have dropped just two points from their 12 games and are nine points clear of second-placed Argentina.

“This is the result of all the

hard work we’ve been putting in,” Paqueta told Brazilian television network SporTV. “Qualifying for the World Cup was our main objective and we achieved that today.”

Brazil’s next qualifier is away to Argentina in San Juan on Tuesday.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾NOVEMBER 13, 2021

GLOBAL SOCCER

Maduka Okoye Contract Extension couldn’t Ward Off Predators With the rate at which top European clubs are monitoring his progress, it was obvious that Sparta Rotterdam would need more than a contract extension to keep Maduka Okoye at the Het Kasteel. It therefore came as no surprise when Premier League side, Watford signed the Nigerian safe hand during the week

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fterascintillatingperformancelast season Sparta Rotterdam talked Maduka Okoye into signing a contract extension which will keep him at the club till 2025, but that did not stop the Vicarage Road side from snatching away the Nigerian from the Sparta faithful.

Watford on Monday agreed a deal to sign Maduka Okoye from Sparta Rotterdam for £5million.

The Sparta’s player of the year, has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal that will begin on January 1. However, the 22-year-old will spend the rest of the 2021-22 season back with Sparta Rotterdam on loan.

‘Watford FC is pleased to announce that it has reached agreement to sign highly-rated young goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, on a five-and-a-half-year deal that will begin on January 1, 2022,’ read a statement on the club’s website.

‘A regular starter for the Dutch club, Okoye has lined up between the sticks in each of their games so far this season, while he has made 13 appearances for his country since debuting in a 1-1 draw with Brazil in 2019.

‘The 6ft 6in shot-stopper’s consistent displays for both club and country have seen him linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs, but he has now put pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Golden Boys.

Okoye has played every minute this season but only kept his first clean sheet in the Eredivisie this term last Saturday, with Sparta Rotterdam 16th in the standings with 10 points after 12 games.

“I’m overwhelmed to sign for Watford FC, to play in the Premier League is something I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little boy.”

“I can’t wait to get started with the team upcoming 22/23 season and I wish the club all the best for the rest of the season”. Okoye posted on his Twitter account.

Rumour was rife during the summer window that French Ligue 1 side, OGC Nice have a opened a line of communication with the Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper over a transfer in the near future but it was later debunked.

On the back of his excellent performances in 2020-2021, Sparta Rotterdam extended Okoye’s contract in August and they are hoping to make a tidy profit if he is sold before June 2025.

The German-born goalie played for the youth teams of Bayer Leverkusen and Fortuna Düsseldorf prior to his transfer to Sparta Rotterdam in July 2020.

Okoye however said he holds a special affection for German lower division side Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Okoye’s career has been on the upward trajectory following a string of eye-catching displays for Sparta Rotterdam. Still, the youngster insists he would not hesitate to make a return to Fortuna should the opportunity present itself.

Born in Dusseldorf, Germany, Okoye grew up dreaming of one day featuring for his hometown club. It was going according to plan when the young gloveman left Bayer Leverkusen’s youth team to join Fortuna Düsseldorf II in the summer of 2017.

His talent was hard to hide, and he quickly became the Regionalliga West side’s firstchoice goalkeeper, and there were plans in place to hand him a long-term contract.

But Uwe Klein replaced Lutz Pfannenstiel at Fortuna, and the new Sports Director was not keen on keeping Okoye at the club.

The Super Eagles goalkeeper eventually departed for the Netherlands in 2019 to join Sparta Rotterdam, and it has been nothing short of a successful move.

Rated as one of the best goalkeepers in the Eredivisie and established as the Super Eagles’ number one shot-stopper, the sky seems to be the starting point for the 21-year-old.

Still, it is hard for Okoye to forget Fortuna Dusseldorf, and he admits he has unfinished business with the German club.

“Düsseldorf is my home, Fortuna is my heart club,” Okoye said “If I ever have the opportunity to return to Fortuna, I wouldn’t have to think twice.

The heart would decide – and of course for Fortuna.”

The German-born goalie’s profile has been on the rise since the youngster became a Nigerian international. He made his debut for the Super Eagles against Brazil in October 2019 when he was valued at €150,000 and still struggling at Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Okoye switched to Sparta Rotterdam in 2020 and has since become the number one goalkeeper for the Super Eagles.

Okoye has featured eight times for Sparta this term, conceding 16 goals.

Just days before Nigerian senior football

team Coach, Gernot Rohr named his squad for the Super Eagles’ final two games of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign, he declared Okoye as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper “No. 1 is Maduka,” Rohr told ESPN. “These decisions, I take them with goalkeeper coach Alloy Agu because he is a specialist for goalkeeper training.

“Myself and Alloy, we agreed that it’s actually Maduka. We have the experienced Daniel Akpeyi doing well with this club in South Africa.

“We have the young Francis Uzoho coming back after injury, but he has to play also now not only on the bench. We have also Matthew Yakubu. There’s a good potential now because this position was a big problem for us so we have more now.”

Rohr’s comments then provided official confirmation of Okoye’s current status but it is by no means the end of the journey, as Nigeria have been on a goalkeeping merry-go-round since Vincent Enyeama’s abrupt retirement in 2016.

Reacting to the news that he is Nigeria’s number one goalkeeper, Okoye said: “I was very delighted and honoured because representing this beautiful country as the number one goalkeeper is something special.

“I am happy that Gernot Rohr chose me and I am going to pay back with good performance.”

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMIFULA OGBU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

AUTO WORLD

Bennett Oghifo 07052343083 Email:bennett.oghifo@thisdaylive.com

TIPS OF THE WEEK

How to Find Correct Driving Position Many drivers and car users profoundly underestimate the significance of a proper driving position. A thoroughly thought after and adequately set driving position can let you have much better control of your car and translate into a significant bump in comfort as well. Many people do not recognise that a good driving position can help preventing accidents while also improving safety in case of a crash occur, and enhance driving comfort. Here we talk about how to find correct driving position.

Renault Kwid

Coscharis Motors to Present Ford, Renault at Abuja Auto Fair

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ollowing her successful outing at the Lagos Auto fair, Coscharis Motors Plc is set to replicate another show stopper to delight the Abuja and Northern automobile enthusiasts by participating in the Abuja version of the auto fair which is scheduled from 15th – 20th November 2021 at the International Conference Centre, Garki, Abuja.

Coscharis’ participation at this edition of the auto fair is part of the planned marketing activities to avail its numerous loyal customers and stakeholders alike to partake in various end of the year promotional offerings and most especially availability of new variants that will be showcased at the auto fair.

Commenting on the participation of Coscharis, Abiona Babarinde, General Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, confirmed that Coscharis will be attending the Abuja Auto Fair specifically to showcase the latest auto models of both the Renault and Ford brands respectively. To equally

give the opportunity to those that visit their stands at the fair very exciting discounts on every purchase.

Babarinde said, “Our presence at this year’s Abuja Auto Fair is to give the opportunity to those discerning auto enthusiasts, most especially representatives of corporate organisations, government agencies that are potential fleet buyers to either round up the year or for future procurement ahead of a new business year that will visit our stands some compelling price discounts specially for the fair especially on our new variants like the Ford Edge and Ford Figo. While we are equally extending our ongoing promotions on the Renault Kwid and Koleos that goes with a brand new Abro Generating set on purchase of any of these Renault variants. It is exciting to note that part of the highlights of our presence at the fair will be the display of our locally assembled Renault Logan and Duster respectively to the delight of everyone that comes around the Coscharis pavilion for a good deal”.

Babarinde further expatiated that since the middle of the year, Coscharis Motors has continued to offer

credible finance schemes to help customers cushion the impact of the harsh economic environment. “We have overtime partnered with credible financial institutions starting with one of our sister firms (Coscharis Mobility) to deliver a seamless finance back up for whoever wants to purchase any of our brands with a minimum of 10% deposit of the principal amount while you spread the other balance payment over a period of time. We’ve been delighting our numerous customers with this ease of owning a brand new vehicle with partners like the Polaris bank and of recent, Sterling bank respectively.”

The Brand Manager, Felix Mahan reiterates the brands commitment towards ensuring that Coscharis Motors continues to bring both the Renault and Ford brands closer to the customers as they are at the heart of everything the brands represents. He said, “Despite serious competition from several other brands, our aim is to continue to position the brands as customer - centric, which is why Coscharis will always promise to deliver value for money at all times.”

Gas-powered Eco Bus for Abuja Motor Fair

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ustrian Technologies Nigeria Limited, promoter of Eco-Green bus in Nigeria, has promised to storm the Abuja motor fair with its gas-powered mass transit bus along with its technical team.

Chief Executive Officer of firm, Mr Johann Rieger said in a statement that it was part of measures to make Nigerians experience the uniqueness of the eco-friendly vehicle with its specially built exclusive features.

“We are coming to the Abuja motor fair in a big way with our technical crew. It is the first time we’re taking the Eco-green bus out for a public view and ride.

“Visitors have the rare opportunity of seeing the many unique features that are exclusive to the gas-powered eco-green bus.”

Rieger had while announcing the introduction of the eco-friendly vehicles to Nigeria some weeks ago said the buses were built with European standards for critical climate and infrastructure, while being considerate towards price sensitivity of developing nations like Nigeria.

He also said visitors to the eco bus stand at the Abuja motor fair holding between November 15 and 20, 2021 at the International Conference Centre Annex, would be given a number of gift items/souvenirs.

He said the introduction of the eco-green bus to Nigeria could not have come at a better time when the world is worried about the debilitating effects of climate change and seriously considering the elimination of carbon emissions by stopping the production and use of fossil-fuel vehicles.

Only last week, President Muhammadu Buhari

Eco-Green bus

had pledged that Nigeria would cut its emissions to net zero by 2060. The President made the promise in a speech he delivered at the COP26 Leaders’ Summit held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Rieger said the eco-green buses had been rated among the safest and most economic mass transit vehicles globally and could reduce carbon footprints by 95 per cent and operating cost by 30 per cent.

He said the buses had been equipped with gas

engines of higher emission standards (Euro 5) with no toxic, smog or smoke, guaranteeing reduced noise and lower fuel costs.

He gave some of the unique features as speed limiter, alcohol test and driver’s fatigue detection with driver’s biometric identification, CCTV camera system that can be directly integrated into the city surveillance system; reverse camera; handicapped ramp and wheelchair area.

How to Find Correct Driving Position Wear proper clothing: It might sound strange, but what you are wearing can affect your driving control and comfort. The best driving comfort and control arrives when you are not in clothing that restricts you while driving. Try to wear light and comfortable clothes as much as you can. Then there is the matter of footwear which should be of paramount importance for anyone who loves driving. The shoes you wear while driving should be placed snugly on the feet and should also fit nicely on the control pedals. The perfect driving shoe would be something that has a thin but slightly dense sole. On the pants front, try to wear pants that run all the way down to the knee, it would go a long way to keep you comfortable.

Position yourself correctly in the seat itself: Sitting straight with your buttocks and back making a square while being squeezed into the seat is the best way to position yourself into your car seat.

This would also help you to avoid backaches and keeps you awake during long journeys.

Adjust the seat distance. The position of the seat should be adjusted with regards to the pedals. Try to maintain a 120 degree bent angle in your knees when you depress the pedals entirely. Keep in mind that a fully extended leg might result in the knee locking up, leading to much effort in operating clutch, brakes and accelerator. On the other hand, a knee which is bending too much can hinder normal blood flow. The feet should be placed in a way that the heels are on the floor and the balls of the feet press against the pedals. Your right foot should be able to pivot between the throttle and brake pedal while the heel is placed roughly in front of the brakes.

(Source: Cars24)

Adebyo flags off 21st Abuja International Motor Fair The Minister of Trade, Industry & Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo will lead other dignitaries from the public and private sectors to declare the 21st edition of the Abuja International Motor Fair open on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

The Fair which kicks oͿ on Monday November 15, 2021 at the International Conference Centre Annex, Area 10, Garki, Abuja will parade over 30 participants from Nigeria and abroad.

Disclosing this during a media brieÀng, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu-Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Fair announced that Choice International Group [CIG] Motors, the authorized dealer and manufacturer of GAC brand of vehicles in Nigeria, is one of the o΀cial Sponsors of this edition. According to him, CIG said that they have to play a major role in this edition in other to further its vision and mission of oͿering Nigerians the best and enhancing the rapid development of the automotive sector in Nigeria. “GAC since its entrance into the Nigerian market in 2014, has remained one of the most consistent participants at both the Abuja and Lagos Motor Fairs. For it to come out to be one of the o΀cial sponsors of this edition is an indication that CIG identiÀes strongly with what we are doing and sees the Nigerian market as very important to the global automotive business.

The organizing committee head, said that having the fair declared open by the Minister whose Ministry directly oversees the activities in the Industry, underscores the seriousness of the Federal Government in encouraging and supporting every eͿort geared towards developing the automotive industry in Nigeria; especially now that it is seriously working towards diversifying the economy.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

AUTO WORLD

TNL Pays Appropriate Duty, Says Customs

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oyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) pays appropriate duty on the vehicles it imports, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said.

“Toyota Nigeria Limited has been consistently compliant with extant Àscal policies regarding their importations, paying appropriate duty always,” stated the Assistant Comptroller General, Headquarters, Muhammed Abba-Kura, who represented Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd), by the at a ceremony TNL orgnised in Abuja to honour NCS as its Customer of the Year 2019.

In recognition of this remarkable patronage in 2019, TNL presented two units of brand new Digital Sharp photocopiers AR-6031N to NCS. This was corroborate by NCS in a statement issued by DSC Abdullahi Maiwada, Public Relations Headquarters.

“The special package was presented in recognition of the Service emergence as Customer of the year 2019 by Mr Olaleye Ige, branch Manager, Northern Operation, Elizade Nigeria Limited at the Service Headquarters in Abuja.

“While receiving the items on behalf of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd), the Assistant Comptroller General, Headquarters, Muhammed Abba-Kura appreciated the

Toyota Hilux 2021 gift and commended the cordial relationship between the two organisations.

“The ACG reiterated the commitment of the Service to sustain such partnership

in the interest of national growth and development.”

JAC Motors Offers 13th-month Bonus for New Pick-up Trucks Christmas has arrived early for individuals and businesses desirous of owning the array of trucks assembled by JAC Motors, as the company is delighted to launch an end of year promo featuring amazing discounts and special service offers.

Beginning from November 2021 and running till the end of the year (while stock lasts), JAC Motors is offering existing and potential customers interested in purchasing its JAC T6 brand new pick-up trucks and others in the N-series range of light-duty trucks unbeatable offers including free servicing and repairs, free comprehensive insurance and an additional T6 pick-up truck for free. Yes, you read that right.

In what is themed the 13th-month Pick-up Bonus Offer, the leading vehicle assembly company will gift an extra JAC T6 Pick-up truck upon the purchase of 12 units, making the yuletide truly remarkable and memorable for customers with the offer to drive out of the JAC showroom with 13 T6 pick-up trucks for the price of a dozen. Isn’t that amazing?

However, the good tidings from JAC Motors for the Yuletide do not end with the T6 truck as disclosed by the Head, Brand Marketing and Development, JAC Motors, Franklyn Okotie, while further breaking down the exciting offers to reward customers for their loyalty, “Remarkably, the ‘end-of-year’ freebie doesn’t end with the JAC T6 4X4 truck, we also have pocket-friendly

offers on the other four trucks: 1-ton, 3-ton, 4-ton, and 5-ton.”

“A customer who buys two units of any of the four models or a combination of the trucks will get either complete servicing free up to the year, 2023 or get Comprehensive Insurance absolutely free,” he added.

Explaining why JAC Motors is offering the unique end of year special offers, Okotie said the company appreciates its loyal customers for staying the course with the company and demonstrates that it is a caring brand to potential customers.

“Our customers are the cornerstone of all our operations at JAC Motors and offering them value is a priority. This end of the year promo affirms that we are serious about assisting Nigerians to acquire rugged and durable assembled in Nigeria trucks that will boost their operations.

“The deeper motive behind our offers of Free Servicing and Free Comprehensive Insurance covers is to help in some little ways, lift some of the heavy burdens that come with owning vehicles, off our customers to enable them focus on their core businesses while enabling durable mobility for Nigerians.

“We care about our customers and all Nigerians at large. We are always looking for ways to support and positively impact their lives. We want to give customers a yuletide filled with joy in our own little ways with

JAC T6 pick up truck these fantastic offers,” Okotie said.

Have you been thinking about getting trucks to start that business or adding to your fleet? Now is the perfect

time to do so, with the JAC Motors year-end offer. The sweetener on the deal is that you get to test drive any of the trucks you want to buy.

A Road Crash is No Accident I once did a piece titled, Road Crash Not Road Accident. The piece was not an original piece but was culled. The aim of that piece was to increase the vocabulary of motorists and align their views with global developments. Today, I wish to look at our road safety trend and compare them with similar trends in other clime. But before I dwell on my focus for today, please permit me to run part of that piece as it provides the introduction to our new focus. The piece will among others, show you how inconsistent some government across the world are in according priority to road safety, whether in terms of policy formulation, or even funding.

You will also read the opinion of concerned road safety professionals over the continued use of road accident in describing road crashes. You will be amazed to know that even individuals treat road safety as accident. The same is the case for corporate organisations that would rather budget billions to fight crime than worry about road safety. I do hope that you will find this rehash interesting. Meanwhile, do you know that in both low income and high income societies, less attention is paid to traffic enforcement even though over four times as many lives are lost through road crashes compared to crimes. This is in spite of the strategies by the United Nations through its Decade of Action for Road Safety meant to tilt global commitment in tackling the road pandemic.

Did you know we can actually make sustained progress in redressing road crashes through prioritising road safety challenges, especially as exemplified by the huge support the federal government has been

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa Assistant Corps Marshal Zonal Commanding Officer Federal Road Safety Corps.

giving to the Federal Road Safety Corps? Did you also know that if we must make progress in causing a drop in road mishap, we must focus on changing human behaviour? Did you know that the first step to changing human behaviour must be to stop thinking of road traffic crashes as accidents but to talk exclusively of crashes? As we gradually draw the curtain to exit 2021, we must reflect on the avoidable crashes that occurred since January. As the year snails, every motorist must ponder on his bad driving habits and determine to make a change for the better.

Please permit me to take you back to the issue of Road Crash Not Accident. In his photo documentary, When Lives Collide, involving Road Peace members, Paul Wenham Clarke explains why he used the term ‘incident’ rather that ‘accident’. Paul observed that observers and road users will not truly understand the difference between these words until the day comes when someone knocks at your door to give you devastating news of a loved one. An accident, he noted, is something that could not have been

prevented; it is one of those things that no one is to blame. How many of the stories you will read in this book fall into this category?

Road Peace and road crash victims want everyone dealing with or reporting on road safety and collision issues, including the media, road safety and law enforcement processionals, not to use the term ‘accident’ when referring to road traffic crashes. Road Peace as a result updated its briefing sheet for the first UN Global Road Safety Week. It also responded to the multi-million-pound investigation, led by Sir John Stevens, into the road crash in which Diana, Princess of Wales was killed. This investigation concluded that it was simply an accident while, perversely, at the same time confirming the involvement of a driver excessively over both the drink drive and speed limits.

It may not have been a premeditated assassination, but the crash involved criminal behaviour and was certainly no accident.

In his submission, Ian Roberts of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine notes that the Oxford Dictionary defines an Accident as an event that is without apparent cause or that is unexpected. Its use in the context of child road deaths could not be more inappropriate. He further argued that more is known about when, where and why child pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions occur, and who will die as a result, than from almost any other disease in childhood. It would make more sense to talk of a case of accidental meningitis or accidental leukaemia.

The causes of many crashes are well known. We know that there is an increased risk of a collision

when drink driving or speeding are involved. Yet despite two decades of enforcement and education, one in six UK fatal crashes still involves a drink driver and twice as many fatal crashes involves speeding. While speeding is on the decrease in the UK, half of all drivers admit to breaking the 30mph speed limit. Endemic, he further notes, is a more accurate description for speeding than is accidental. The story is the same in our clime where despite increasing speed related road crashes, there are road users who still brag or boast about being speed freaks.

Fatigue is believed to contribute to 10 per cent of all fatal crashes. Fatigue is a condition that comes on gradually and with clear warning signs, and cannot be considered unexpected. In 2001, the British Medical Journal banned the use of the word ‘accident’ to avoid the connotation of unpredictability, since ‘most injuries and their precipitating events are predictably and preventable events’. Fifteen years ago, leading epidemiologists described the belief that injuries are accidents as the last folklore subscribed to by rational men. This perhaps explains why Rita Taylor of the Road Peace Bristol Group, wonders why is it an ‘Accident’ when someone dies or is injured on our roads, arguing that someone actually took a decision to flout the laws. The laws flouted could be driving excessively above the approved speed limit or it could be driving and using the mobile phone despite its inherent risk. It could be driving impaired, among other infractions that are committed at will by road users.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

SUPER SATURDAY Damilola Adegbite

I Am Open to a New Marriage as Long as it Brings Joy, Fulfillment Whenever you talk about awardwinning television series, Tinsel, actress Damilola Adegbite pops up. She rarely graces the screens, but regarded as one of the few young talents in the industry. Today, she is reinventing herself quietly, growing her list of achievements and ready to unveil the next chapter of her life in her new book titled ‘Reset’. Ferdinand Ekechukwu writes

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ctress and Television personality, Damilola Adegbite is gradually coming out again. She’s opening up about her past, present and future. In the last couple of weeks, the most wanted Tinsel star has graced a couple of shows online and on television where she opened up on her absence.

“I’m here today because I trust you, you know… Ordinarily I don’t need to say anything to anybody except I want to. And I want to with you,” Adegbite said grinning.

It’s been over three years since she went hibernating, following her botched marriage to her on-screen love interest and Ghanaian hunk, Chris Attoh, whom they both have a male child. Beset by her matrimonial misfortune, Adegbite had closely kept mum despite getting interview prods.

Her mood at the time was averse to any sort of media spotlight which she says was causing her more harm than good. She needed to strike a healthy balance.

If love was all that matters, her marriage would have thrived. “My marriage didn’t work but I learnt a massive lesson from that experience and it is that love is not enough…

Damilola Adegbite

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

SUPER SATURDAY My Career, Previous Marriage, Huge Turning Points in My Life the only regard I have for him now is that he is the father of my son, I don’t regret anything.” Recently in an exclusive chat with this reporter, Adegbite, responded on her absence in the industry and on giving marriage another chance going by her experience and all from it. “Hibernation would not be the right word to use in my case”, she said.

“I would say I have been “settling into my new realities” and rediscovering my true self. As regards getting married again, I am open to new possibilities in my future, as long as it brings me joy, fulfillment, and peace.” Moving on with her life, the award-winning actress is charting a new course, breaking new ground and shaking things up in the creative space with poise, easy grace and tunnel vision.

Today she is reinventing herself, quietly growing her list of achievements and ready to unveil the next chapter of her life in her upcoming book. The new author, Adegbite will launch her book this November, titled: “Reset: The Mind-Body Approach to a New You”.

The six chapter book is a self-help, wholeness, and wellness manual for anyone who feels like they have been or are still being knocked down by life, and needs motivation and guidance on how to get back up or stay up. “I share many of my experiences and how I have greatly benefitted from the practices I talk about in the book”, Adegbite revealed, adding that: “My career and previous marriage have been huge turning points in my life. So yes, I do talk about them in my book.”

On the inspiration behind the book, she said: “It all started at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. I was spending a lot of time talking to family and friends. Friends I hadn’t spoken with in years were reaching out to check on me and vice versa, and for some reason, quite a number of them were opening up to me about their deepest and darkest struggles.

“To encourage them, I also shared some of my experiences and the ways that I have kept my mind and body strong enough over the years. I was surprised at the positive feedback I was getting from them after they had imbibed some of these habits, and their responses also kept me happy and motivated. Indeed we rise by lifting others.

“After the lockdown, I spoke to a friend about my intentions of handing out little motivational pamphlets and free home exercise E-books, on how to get our minds and bodies in better shape, as my little contribution to humanity, and she said to me, ‘Stop being modest. You know more than enough about fitness and wellness to write a full book!’ And here we are today.”

Back to her acting exploit, Adegbite may not be a regular on screen during her active moments, but the thespian is regarded as one of the few talents in the industry. However, working with prominent entertainment stars like OC Ukeje, Beverly Naya, Desmond Elliot, to mention a few, in 2015 was a year that revealed a deeper side to the actress when she starred in the Nigerian psychological drama film, ‘Heaven’s Hell’.

From then on, her brilliance translated into a myriad of challenging silver screen projects which she took on with as much gusto as possible, revealing parts of her that were beautiful to see. A good number of other feature films and television series, including blockbuster movies like ‘6 Days to Christmas’, ‘Merry Men’, ‘Banana Island Ghost’, and ‘The Arbitrator’, followed, and further upped her acting status. She would also appear in critically acclaimed movies like ‘From Lagos with Love’,

Damilola Adegbite

I would say I have been settling into my new realities and rediscovering my true self. As regards getting married again, I am open to new possibilities in my future, as long as it brings me joy, IXOÀOOPHQW DQG SHDFH ‘Coming from Insanity’, among other feature films.

Known for her captivating screen presence, Adgebite featured in the brilliant TV series “Before 30” and has starred in stage plays such as ‘The Vagina Monologues’, ‘Iya Ile’ and ‘Wedding Blues’. Her role in the widely acclaimed movie, “Flower Girl”, in 2011, won Best Actress in a TV Series at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards. To

the chic, her appearance on Tinsel remains one of her most amazing life (changing) experience.

Fresh out of school from Bowen University, Damilola hadn’t had much experience of the acting world. All she had was dream, like most newbies venturing into the movie industry. “Because it happened at a time when I was fresh out of school and I was expecting humble beginnings; I was expecting

the hustle (laughs) that you are out of school and you must start small. I was actually on another set out of Lagos.

And it was a much smaller production when they called me to come for the audition. And I got there (Tinsel set) I couldn’t believe the magnitude of what I was getting on as my first job.

“I was earning a lot monthly, I was balling! Monthly! And other bills were being taken care of you know... And I made some amazing life memories, some amazing friends. It just showed me that you don’t necessarily have to struggle. Honestly. I mean I understand, you know, to do not despise the days of small beginnings but aim higher every time, it may just be possible. So let’s not have the mentality of ‘oh I have to start small’ no, not all the time…” Adegbite recounts in an earlier interview.

Soon after that stroke of luck which marked her entry in 2006, Adegbite promptly shot to fame.

But she wanted to have a feel of different roles. She was becoming uncomfortable being stereotyped which she believes minimized her acting potential. She felt boxed up in romantic roles. This forced her initial retreat from the industry years after her award-winning acting debut as Thelema Duke in M-net’s acclaimed longest television series, ‘Tinsel’, where she stole hearts.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 13, 2021

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MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

L-R:: 1st Vice President/Chairman, Board of Fellows & Practice Licence, Chartered Institute of Bankers CIBN, Dr Ken Okpara; President/Chairman of Council, CIBN, Dr Bayo Olugbemi; MD/CEO of SystemSpecs Nig Ltd/Awardee, Honourary Fellow, CIBN, Mr John Obaro; and former Minister of National Planning/ Special Guest of Honour, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, at the 2021 CIBN Fellowship Award ceremony held in Lagos....recently

L-R: Publisher/Executive Editor, Money Report, Mr. Nik Ogbulie; Wife of the Publisher of National Business Extra, Mrs . Bose Aideloje; Head, External and Media Relations, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Ramon Nasir; Publisher of National Business Etra, Mr.Odion Aideloje;and Guest Speaker, Dr. Abiodun Adedipe, at the 4th anniversary lecture/ award of National Business Extra in Lagos.. .recently

IBPLC, NCF Charge Consumers on Smart Drinking Beverage brand, International Breweries Plc. has strengthened its push against harmful use of alcohol through its “Smart Drinking” initiatives.

This was as the brand joined the global society to commemorate this year’s “Sustainability Month” with the theme “Better World for All” In observing the Month also, the organisation, in collaboration with Nigeria Conservation Foundation, NCF, initiated an array of activities to promote e΀cient use of assets and resources, improve human welfare, maintain business proÀtability,

and preserve natural capital (air, water, land, and minerals), amongst others.

To drive these objectives, the company embarked on a tree planting project, beach clean-up and school beautiÀcation projects to consolidate their eͿorts in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs. Speaking, Managing Director of IBPlC, Hugo Rocha explained that the activities were in line with the company’s vision of bringing people together for a better world.

He said, “It was important for the

company to demonstrate its unÁinching commitment to managing environmental resources eͿectively through volunteering.

We are determined to build a company to last, but we know we can only do that with a healthy, natural environment and thriving communities.

“With our 2025 Sustainability Goals, we are proud to be contributing to the SDG and the broader global sustainable development agenda while ensuring holistic environmental and social impact” The organisation also observed its “Global Smart Drinking Week Campaign”

where employees and consumers pledged to abide by the company’s smart drinking goals which included not drinking while driving and discouraging underage drinking.

In spreading the message further, the company visited the Tra΀c Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) o΀ce in Ogun State, erected Àve billboards across three major cities in Nigeria to reach over 10 million consumers, social media activation and direct engagement with consumers, oͿering smart drinking tips.

Firm Delivers Luxury SystemSpecs MD Bags CIBN Homes in Lagos Award, Urges Tech Adoption A real estate Àrm, Mixta Africa has unveiled a new set of apartments in Lekki Lagos, targeting high-end consumers with penchant for luxury.

Branded “Lakowe Heights”, the apartments are sited at Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate, on the Lekki axis of Lagos State.

Speaking at the launch of the project, Country Manager for Mixta Africa, Mrs. Shade Hughes a΀rmed that beyond the aesthetic composition and view, the building construction met with every requirement of quality and standard.

She said, “We have upscaled the existing prestige of Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate by elevating your experience and providing views that are otherwise not available within the estate.

“We have also included sustainable guidelines in the build of the apartments to ensure a green environment and sustainable living.”

According to Hughes, the project comprises of 10- Áoor blocks ranging from studio apartments to

one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartment. She added that the project also boast facilities for leisure and recreational activities.

She said, “There’s also access to our hospitality and outdoor event venues, the golf course, and an opportunity to join the exclusive golf club and other sports facilities like an adult swimming pool, a children’s swimming pool, and an Olympic-size tennis court”.

On the brand’s eͿorts to fulÀll safety and regulation requirements, Hughes said, “We have invested billions in creating adequate drainage and good roads that stand the test of time. We have also invested funds in creating 14 man-made lakes with a 15th one coming up for this project.

We do not spare any eͿort to ensure that our infrastructure is top-notch.”

“In over 12 years of existence, our initial infrastructure for the estate still stands. This enforces our commitment and reliability in creating long-lasting buildings and infrastructure.”

Managing Director of SystemSpecs, John Obaro has urged actors in public Ànancial management to embrace technology for e΀cient performance.

He stated this at the 2021 Fellowship Investiture programme of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, held in Lagos recently Obaro who was among the fellowship awardees, called for more usage of technology to eͿectively manage the country debt and increase its revenue base.

Other awardees at the event included Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala; Managing Director of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr Hassan Bello; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor, Dr Kingsley Obiora and six bank chiefs.

SystemSpecs has been prominent for

its exploits in Nigeria’s e-payment system landscape, with Remita among its iconic Àntech solutions.

Other prominent products of the Àrm included: Human Capital Management solution, HumanManager and eCommerce platform, Paylink.

In his address, President of CIBN, Dr Bayo Olugbemi, urged stakeholders not to relent in supporting government’s initiatives targeting inclusive growth and development.

Speaking on the theme “Nigeria’s Rising Debt ProÀle: Issues and Implications for Sustainable Economic Development”, Olugbemi urged government to do all to minimize excessive borrowing.

A total of 237 individuals were conferred with awards- 14 Honorary Fellows, 77 Elected Fellows and 146 Honorary Senior Members.

Group Engages Children E-Settlement Concludes on Innovation Challenge Deal to Acquire OuickCash A non-government organisation, Threefold Impact has called for the spread of knowledge on food preservation to enable Nigeria overcome the challenge of food insecurity now or in the future.

Chief Executive O΀cer of the Foundation, Remi Odunsi made the call at a programme organised for students in Epe Lagos, recently.

The programme tagged, “Epe Innovation Challenge” engaged students in brain-tasking exercises aimed at developing them academically and intellectually.

The students, selected across schools in the community proved their ingenuity and creative ability in a tough spelling bee session and innovation challenge that borders on food security.

According to Odunsi, the goal of the initiative is to motivate children into learning and supporting the cause for a sound quality education.

She added, “More importantly, we aim to build the cognitive ability of our children and encourage them to be innovative and creative.”

Speaking emphatically on the innovation challenge, Odunsi said the focus was apt given that over nine million Nigerians are currently faced with food insecurity.

She said, “It’s high time we paid attention to food preservation in the country. We can’t be talking about hunger while food items are wasting away somewhere. At this juncture, everyone needs the knowledge of food preservation which is the thrust of our innovation challenge. To let the students have the knowledge from childhood, so it will live with them as they grow up.

She informed also that plans are in top gear to build a virtual learning centre in the community as part of eͿorts to promote quality education.

Indigenous Fintech Group, E-Settlement (E-SL) has signed an agreement to acquire QuickCash, an Ivorian electronic payment and money transfer company.

QuickCash provides Ànancial, agricultural, and educational digital services to underserved populations, particularly those living within rural areas with less frequent access to electricity or mobile phone connectivity.

According to E-SL, the deal will extend its payment service oͿering, supporting the intent to expand its footprint across the continent and grow the group’s agent banking network to 200,000 agents by the end of 2022.

With the acquisition, QuickCash will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary.

It noted that the new move leveraged the company’s technical expertise and deep sector

knowledge to strengthen QuickCash’s agency infrastructure and deepen its coverage of the West Africa region and Francophone West African markets.

Commenting, Chief Executive O΀cer of E-SL, Olaoluwa Awojoodu said, “QuickCash is deepening access for agricultural-dominated areas, rural populations, the underbanked and unbanked. We are very excited to join forces with a game-changing provider that aligns with our mission and purpose which is committed to unlocking potential and prosperity among the underserved.

“At E-SL, we want to empower all by accelerating access to payments, Ànancial services, and jobs. We are conÀdent that our expansion plan for QuickCash will support the company’s long-term growth and enhance our collective ability to deliver positive impact to many more.”

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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Saturday, November 13, 2021

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MISSILE

Victor Oye to Obi “Obi was in APGA and when he was with APGA, he performed well. The moment he left APGA, the APGA spirit left him. He has never achieved anything politically ever since. If he wants to achieve anything politically, he should come back to APGA” –National chairman of APGA, Victor Oye, mocking former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi

PENDULUM President Buhari and His Love of Global Stage DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

F

ellow Nigerians, I don’t know if you saw the interesting picture I received and posted about two days ago. It was a photograph of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari standing in front of the Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris and seemingly having a discussion with her. No one is sure of the topic of their discussions, whether they were just exchanging pleasantries or talking about serious affairs of state.

Or even whether they understood each other or whether it was a mere photo-op.

All I know is that both leaders met in France at the opening ceremony of the Paris Peace Forum, where World Leaders gathered to discuss issues regarding how to foster peace in the world.

It is obvious that President Muhammadu Buhari loves the global stage and craves being under the spotlight of the klieglights and the flashing bulbs. President Buhari looks most happy whenever he is climbing into his Presidential jet and flying abroad. His look of sullenness when he returns is sometimes a pretty picture. Home doesn’t look like paradise for him. Not that I blame him though.

Nigerians can be tiresome, and Nigeria is obviously tiring to rule particularly if you are really a fish out of water like our President is. Whatever you may feel, the President clearly appears much more relaxed and comfortable and less taciturn when he is overseas. He hardly misses any opportunity to fly out of the country which compares to his abysmal record of internal flights to visit places that a President should normally visit, especially in times of disaster and calamities. The President’s penchant and love for foreign travel you will recall that even when South Africa was rude to Nigeria by slapping and beating our citizens black and blue, and worse still, maiming and killing them, our very own President Buhari flew to South Africa to inspect military parades, enjoy gun salutes, and personally received whatever apologies President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa and his people had to offer for the unprecedented hostility, humiliation and murders suffered by our people at the bloodthirsty hands of the natives. In the same vein, our President had no time to resolve the debilitating and economically damaging issues of the Nigerian shops that were shut down in Ghana, but he found time to attend ECOWAS meetings which should have addressed such flagrant breaches of the right of free movement, commerce and trade between member nations and their citizens. Our President only grants Press interviews at home once in a blue moon but prefers to speak to foreign media at every opportunity even if such occasions lead to gaffes and goofs. The Reno Omokris attempt to make the President’s stay abroad uncomfortable and miserable are not enough to deter him from embarking on his traveling spree. Such is his love for foreign trips which understandably oftentimes also serve as clandestine forays to visit his doctors.

To be quite honest with you, President

Buhari

Buhari was the last person I expected to attend such a world conference on peace and unity. How can a man who has blatantly and studiously refused to promote peaceful options at home find the temerity to attend such an event?

How can our President stand confidently, and with a straight poker face, tell the world about how Nigeria has been more peaceful than he met it in 2015, or how he has worked tirelessly to unite Nigerians?

I don’t get it. To be quite frank, a lover of peace would never do what President Buhari has been doing to fellow Nigerians in the last six years. A few examples of his unbelievable and unfortunate transgressions and flagrant trampling on peace and unity will suffice.

In President Buhari’s first term, the attacks against the National Assembly which is supposed to be the second tier of government and one of the bastions of democracy was so rampant and blistering.

It was so bad that at a point many of us feared for the life of the then President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

Such intolerance and malevolence are uncommon in a Democratic setting, but our President appeared unaware, unperturbed and unconcerned. Yet Saraki was one of those who had worked day and night to get him back into power after his long hiatus and sojourn in the cold and dark political wilderness. Thank God for Saraki’s calmness, resilience and cosmopolitanism, he absorbed all the darts thrown at him with equanimity to the very end. And when they couldn’t get him in Abuja, they pursued him to his homestead and made sure he did not return to the Senate and have even the slightest degree of power, possibly as leader of the opposition in the Senate.

Such was the venom, vindictiveness and ingratitude, of the ruling government of President Buhari.

Please, step forward Omoyele Sowore.

The New York based Publisher of Sahara Reporters remained in Buhari’s gulag

for such a lengthy period of time until the overwhelming voice of the people necessitated his release. Nonetheless the radical Presidential candidate in the 2019 election has remained virtually under arrest and restriction in Abuja and is unable to leave to express himself within Nigeria or to even join his family in America.

His simple offence is that he dared to say that there would be a revolution in Nigeria. It matters not to Buhari and his goons whether Omoyele was being metaphorical, intentional, or just being hyperbolic. It mattered less whether he even has the capacity or ability to spearhead any kind of revolution. The Government’s paranoia about the word revolution is all too obvious for us to see, notwithstanding that in a democracy it is a simple and harmless word except to those who have become too jittery of ordinary shadows. For this innocent, innocuous, and vacuous offhanded remark, Sowore has since literally been chained to the city gates of Abuja on the excuse that he might jump bail and escape back to America and stir up this revolution.

Images of Nnamdi Kanu perhaps! The truth is that the god that is Buhari is not that easy to appease. Thus, the man who flew all the way to Paris to discuss peace and unity finds it difficult to reach out to his imaginary or real enemies and offer an olive branch. For him, even ants must be crushed with a sledgehammer.

Let’s bring forward an entire race before returning to individuals. The people of South East Nigeria were alleged to have contributed only about five percent of the votes won by Buhari and they were simply marked down as enemies of our maximum ruler in civilian garb. The President said it openly that they did not deserve his mercy and largesse, as if government money was a personal fortune. No race in Nigeria has suffered so much in the hands of this government than the Igbo nation. Soldiers are drafted to the scene at the flimsiest of excuse. Military exercises with dreadful and fearsome codenames are unleashed on the unsuspecting and unwitting Igbo people. Watching the videos is like watching horror movies. Their only supposed offense is that some of them said they are tired of being an integral part of Nigeria and therefore want a new nation called Biafra. The IPOB Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been calling for a referendum which the Buhari government does not want to hear about. The demand for a referendum is a legitimate right of the people and is sanctioned both domestically and internationally. Kanu has since been kidnapped from God-knows-where and spirited back home to face a trial. Instead of inviting him to dialogue like President Olusegun Obasanjo did with Asari Dokubo and some other militants in those days, Buhari stubbornly refuses to be democratic and is not ready to hold any conversation with anyone. For him, might is always right and his goons are best pleased to move to South East instead of the many evil forests where the bandits hide.

As if this is not bad enough. The people of South West Nigeria have also been

registered inside President Buhari’s black book. The reason is not far-fetched. Some Yoruba people had the effrontery and audacity to say some marauding herdsmen should stop destroying their farmlands, raping their wives, daughters and sisters, kidnapping them, and making insane and insatiable demands, and murdering them.

A brave gentleman by the name Chief Sunday Igboho Adeyemo, who was so enraged by the apparent culpability of government security agencies who refuse to arrest the criminals, threatened to revenge the killing of his people. How he proposed to do this was not stated. Despite this obvious failing the Government assumed the worst. He immediately became the enemy of the Buhari government. His home in Ibadan was invaded in the dead of the night and the government security left their sorrow, tears and blood in their trail. Sunday has also been pursued to Bénin Republic where he was arrested but the courts have been more merciful by not deporting him to Nigeria to be eaten alive by political gods.

Meanwhile, in this same country and under the same watch of this same government, some terrorists and bandits have been sauntering in and out of their forests of a thousand daemons. In addition, Governors, Sheikhs and others have been busy over pampering them and giving irrational excuses on their behalf. This is obviously how not to lead and build a nation, when we are not living in George Orwell’s Animal Farm where “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others…”

Now that Baba has gone to listen, hopefully, to genuine peace talks, I hope he will return home to free Nigeria and Nigerians from the shackles of absurd dictatorship in a Democracy. I hope he will call terrorism by its real name and draw the lines that must not be crossed. I pray he will invite all agitators to a peace conference and for once find out their demands and make amends. Like joke like joke, the tenure of this government is drawing to a close. In less than two years, this Buhari government would have become history. What position it would occupy in the story of Nigeria will be determined by history. It would have frittered away many opportunities in eight years that can never be recovered. That will be most unfortunate for a Leader that God loved so much by giving him a second chance as well as a second life after many had feared the worst. At the moment, the prospect of an enduring legacy seems very dim. In all honesty, Buhari has squandered all the goodwill that he enjoyed at the beginning of his administration. The hopes, aspirations and expectations of millions of Nigerians have been spectacularly dashed. The second coming was prophesied to be beginning of light at the end of the tunnel, the beacon and ray of hope that all Nigerians had clamoured for. Instead, it has been gloom and doom and the President’s traducers have apparently been proven right.

This is not how to repay God’s undeserved kindness and benevolence.

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