SUNDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2023

Dangote Refinery to Reach 650,000 Bpd Production Capacity by End of 2024 Facility to generate $25bn revenue annually Africa’s richest man says it’s shameful Nigeria imports fuels Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report

The $20 billion Dangote Refinery, which is expected to transform the continent’s biggest economy, will

fully come online with the refining of 650, 000 barrels per day by the end of 2024, its owner, Aliko Dangote,

has said.

Dangote, whose personal wealth is estimated by Forbes at $10.5 billion,

told the Financial Times that by next month the first cargo of about 6 million barrels will be ready for

refining.

Continued on page 5

See eCopy of THISDAY Style on www.thisdaylive.com Sunday 26 November, 2023 Vol 28. No 10455

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Shettima: Nigeria's Diversity Must Be Our Source of Strength Deji Elumoye in Abuja Vice President Kashim Shettima

L–R: Mr. Fahed Khoury of Lambert Electromec; Mr. Souheil Abboud of VFuels Oil & Gas Engineering; Group Chief Executive Officer, Waltersmith Group; Mr. Abdulrazaq Isa; Minister of State for has stated that Nigeria’s diversity Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Simbi Wabote; and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Industry, Dr. Olasupo Olusi, during the official visit of the minister to Waltersmith Refining & Petrochemical Company Limited facility in Ibigwe field, Ohaji-Egbema, Imo State...recently Continued on page 5

In Defence of Judiciary, Fagbemi Warns Politicians to Stop Unfounded Insinuations against Judges Asks aggrieved parties to bring evidence of perversion of course of justice Says he won’t succumb to blackmail Akpata tells Appeal Court president See story on page 5 to provide clarification on ‘clerical error’ in Kano judgment

PROMOTING CULTURE...

L-R: Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abass; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Vice President Kashim Shettima; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, at this year's Akesan Day festival in Iperu Remo, Ogun State…yesterday

Shell to Face Human Rights Claims over Oil Pollution in Niger Delta… Page 6

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NOVEMBER 26, 2023 • T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

NEWS

Tinubu Vows to Crash Petrol Price, Eliminate Hardships Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed to find a lasting solution to the tough times facing Nigerians, saying that he was quite aware of the myriad of socio-economic and political problems Nigerians are grappling with.

He stated this yesterday at the 11th Convocation Ceremony of the Michael Okpara University of

Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, where four sets of graduands participated in the ceremony.

Tinubu, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Professor Garba Sharubutu, said he was not resting on his oars in his efforts to eliminate the current hardships in the country.

"Our policy instruments are being fine-tuned with the view to dealing

Senate to Stop Gender Violence with Five Bills as Women Rally in Abuja Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Senate has promised to fight violence against women through the passage of about five bills that are currently before the National Assembly.

This is coming just as women in their numbers, including civil society organisations yesterday gathered at the Unity Fountain, Eagle Square, and other parts of Abuja to raise awareness against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

The Senate Committee Chairman on Women Affairs, Senator Ireti Kingibe, said everyone must support the fight against GBV. Kingibe, who is also representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the red chamber, said the ugly trend of violence against women must stop.

Speaking to journalists during a “Walkathon,” in solidarity with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Kingibe said women are the backbone of

every nation.

She expressed optimism that the gender bills that suffered setbacks during the 9th Assembly would be considered by the 10th Assembly.

According to her, legislators in the 10th assembly are unanimous in condemning any form of violence in the country, particularly, GBV. "Without any exaggeration, women are the backbone of this country. We are the backbone of any country. We are the backbone of the home. Can we survive with a broken backbone?

"Nigeria is a country that is lagging in all our human development indices "Therefore, gender-based violence must stop, and how will it stop? It is going to stop when there is proper reporting, proper consequences, and collective responsibility, male and female. As you can see from the number of the organisations represented here, we have decided that women are going to unite to fight Gender Based Violence (GBV).

DANGOTE REFINERYTO REACH 650,000 BPD PRODUCTION CAPACITY BY END OF 2024 “Dangote, 66, said he believed the refinery could reach its capacity of 650,000 barrels a day by the end of 2024,” the report said, adding that “We’re starting with 350,000 barrels a day.”

At full production, the refinery, the world’s largest “single train” facility with just one distillation unit, could save Nigeria billions in foreign exchange currently spent on imported fuel.

It was “shameful”, Dangote said, that Nigeria, a major oil producer for more than 50 years, could not refine its own crude in anything like sufficient quantity.

Head of the Africa practice at political risk consultancy, the Eurasia Group, Amaka Anku, said the refinery was “a massive, complicated undertaking”.

In a country where most business people looked for short-term profits, she added, it was a blessing “that we have someone like Dangote who is willing to spend billions of his own money on long-term projects”.

Dangote conceded there were times when he thought the massive project - long delayed and about $8 billion over budget - might jeopardise his business empire.

“The challenges that we faced, I don’t know whether other people can face these challenges and even survive,” he said. “It’s either we sink or we sail through. And we thank the Almighty that at least we’ve arrived at the destination,” he added.

In the interview, Dangote complained that rivals were carping because they did not understand what it took to run a business that was the country’s biggest private-sector employer and its biggest taxpayer.

“Sometimes when people talk about us, Dangote, it’s like the government is holding everybody down and allowing us alone to fly,” he stated.

He did not want to discuss in detail a tussle over the supply of crude with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), which owns 20 per cent of the refinery after a $2.76 billion equity purchase in 2021.

Nigeria produces about 1.4 million barrels of oil a day, well short of its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota of 1.74 million barrels, with much pre-sold in forward contracts.

“Let’s not have the blame game here,” he said of NNPC’s reported difficulties in meeting the refinery’s requirements. “We have resolved all the issues of supply,” he stressed.

Dangote rejected suggestions NNPC was playing hardball to negotiate a bigger share of the refinery, which he said would generate revenue of $25 billion a year at full capacity. “I don’t think NNPC needs to buy more shares. I think they’re okay with what we’ve given them,” he added.

The refinery would eventually be floated as a separate company, he said, initially on the Lagos stock exchange.

To build the massive project on 2,500 hectares of swampland, Dangote had to construct his own port and road to take delivery of heavy equipment, establish his own trucking company to move it and his own industrial welding facility to put it together.

He said he had laid enough cable to stretch twice around the globe and had moved 65 million tonnes of sand. “You will not see this kind of project in Nigeria in the next 20 years,” he said.

No outside contractor had been willing to take on Nigerian risk, he said, so he had to design and build the whole thing in-house.

“We didn’t cut costs. We didn’t cut corners,” he said. “We didn’t do it for people to clap for us. We did it for posterity,” Africa’s richest man pointed out.

Dangote would not be drawn on his fight with BUA Chief, Abdulsamad Rabiu or his relationship with the president. But he said nothing should distract from the refinery — a “national project” that was “bigger than Dangote”.

After years of promises, he was adamant that everything was ready.

“The refinery is done,” he said. “The baby can come out at any time,” he added.

firmly with the causes and not the symptoms of the problems," he said.

“Mr. President promised that very soon the current exorbitant prices of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol would be "greatly reduced," he added.

The president hinged his optimism on crashing fuel prices in no distant time on his belief that "very soon, some of our local refineries will start production."

“He said part of the supplementary budget already approved by the National Assembly "will be applied to bring interventions at critical segments of the agricultural sector."

On the persisting insecurity, which Tinubu identified as "a burden and a major challenge in

Nigeria" the president assured the nation that "in no distant time, it will become history."

However, he stated that his government needed sustained support and cooperation from Nigerians to realise the various solutions being g applied to address the present hardships.

"Bear with us and remain resolutely in support of this administration as we would leave no stone unturned in reversing the severe hardships that our people are currently passing through."

Tinubu who expressed delight at performing his maiden duty as a Visitor to MOUAU, commended the institution for its exploits on academics and infrastructural development despite the many challenges facing the nation.

He underscored the critical role of the universities of agriculture in the nation's quest for food security, which, he said, informed the establishment of additional universities of agriculture.

Tinubu urged private organisations to join hands with universities of agriculture "in forming partnerships and linkages to scale up agricultural research findings with a win-win target".

"I strongly believe that we become a very strong nation by developing the natural, human, and material resources God has endowed us with," he said.

In his address, the Vice Chancellor of MOUAU, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, announced that the combined 11th Convocation produced a total of 8,229 graduates

at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, out of which 121 graduated with first class.

He said that under his watch, the university has achieved many landmarks in its digital transformation drive, research, infrastructural development, staff and students welfare, among others.

Maduebibisi, who is the 6th VC of MOUAU, noted that the institution "is still grappling with the challenges posed by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the instability of the academic calendar" caused by industrial unions.

He also identified the paucity of funds as "a major brick wall" to be surmounted hence "the critical need for substantial financial support to improve our environment."

IN DEFENCE OF JUDICIARY, FAGBEMI WARNS POLITICIANS TO STOP UNFOUNDED INSINUATIONS AGAINST JUDGES Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Worried by the widespread criticisms against the judiciary over a series of judgments in recent times, particularly on election petition cases, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagemi (SAN) has warned politicians against making unfounded allegations against judges.

The minister’s admonishment is coming as a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olumide Akpata, has called on the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, to provide “cogent clarifications” on the “clerical error” in the Kano State governorship election judgment.

Fagbemi, who urged those criticising the Nigerian judiciary to bring evidence of the perversion of the course of justice against judges, vowed that he would not succumb to cheap blackmail.

Speaking yesterday with journalists in his Ijagbo country home in Oyun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State on the sideline of the special prayers organised in his honour by the people of the town, AGF also advised politicians that lost out at election petition tribunals not to throw caution to the wind.

He added that anybody who has concrete evidence against any judge should feel free to bring forth such evidence.

"You lost at the tribunal; you lost at the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court, yet you are insinuating foul play.

"I think even apart from law, morality also demands that you take the outcome as it is," Fagbemi said.

He added "I am not saying that judges cannot be wrong because they are human beings.

"Where anybody sees or feels that the course of justice has been perverted, the person should feel

free to bring it forth rather than making unfounded insinuations.

"Unless you can bring forth concrete evidence, I will not succumb to blackmail. Nobody will shield an erring judge.

"One thing about justice is that the man who wins will praise the judgment. The person who loses will never agree that he has lost fairly unless you give him the judgment.

"Don't forget, when you make unfounded insinuations, you are dragging the name of the nation in the mud," the minister added.

He urged "all and sundry to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship."

Speaking on judiciary reforms at the venue of the prayer session organised by his siblings and the entire Fagbemis, the AGF revealed that he had used the platform of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to make the governors come on board.

He added that the federal government would also engage judges at both federal and state levels.

"What I have done is to seek the platform of NGF to address all the governors in Nigeria as to what they are required to do if anything is being done at the level of the federal government.

"We expect that the state within their limited resources will let into it.

"Another thing is that we need to engage the judges because it is one thing to make laws; it is another thing to administer it.

"We also need to engage the chief judges, especially at the state level. We need uniformity without necessarily turning the country into a unitary system," Fagbemi explained.

The minister, however, enjoined Nigerians to give President Bola Tinubu a chance to turn around the fortunes of the country.

He added that President Tinubu is not looking at the immediate benefits of his efforts but the

long-term benefits.

"That is why I appeal to all and sundry to give him the chance.

"He is a man who is ready to do the thing. It takes a while to see the full effect of his efforts.

"He (Tinubu) is not the one who created these problems in Nigeria, but he is not complaining. President Tinubu is somebody who wants to work. He is prepared to do the job. He is not somebody who is just learning the job. He has done it before in Lagos State. I am not equating Lagos with Nigeria.

"Immediately after his swearingin, he has been all out to seek investors' buy-in. As a result, positive responses have been trailing his discussions with foreign investors.

"The only thing we need is to exercise some patience. Even if you plant a tree, it won't grow into fruition until after a while," he added.

Akpata Tells Appeal Court President to Provide Clarification on ‘Clerical Error’ in Kano Judgment Meanwhile, a former President of the NBA, Akpata, has called on the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dongban-Mensem, to provide “cogent clarifications” on the “clerical error” in the Kano governorship election judgment.

The appellate court in Abuja had affirmed the verdict of the Kano State governorship election petition tribunal, which sacked Governor Abba Yusuf, candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), as the governor.

However, the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment contained contradictory resolutions, with the judge ruling in favour of, and against the governor, at the same time.

However, the Chief Registrar

of the Court of Appeal, Mr. Umar Bangari, said the purported discrepancy was a clerical error that did not affect the court’s final decision.

Reacting in a statement yesterday, Akpata stated that during his tenure as NBA president, he had openly queried the “sub-optimal manner” in which potential justices of the Court of Appeal were being screened and had warned of the potentially negative and detrimental consequences.

The former NBA president said since the end of his tenure, he had at different times revisited the issue of the sub-optimal recruitment process.

He said his position had been vindicated by recent occurrences in the judiciary, with the latest being the discrepancy in the CTC of the Kano State governorship election judgment.

He said while the court’s Chief Registrar has attributed the discrepancy to clerical error, which is a possibility, the fundamental nature of the error and “the impact it has on such a consequential part of the judgment, make it extremely difficult to accept”.

“It is for this reason that I urgently call on the PCA (President of the Court of Appeal), My Lord, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, as the Head of the Nigerian Court of Appeal to provide, for the benefit of Nigerians and, indeed, the world, a hopefully cogent explanation and clarification of this quagmire,” the statement said.

“It is the very least My Lord can and should do in the circumstances.

“It is imperative that His Lordship makes a categorical statement on this matter because the stakes are way too high and the current situation in the judiciary (and indeed the country) too dire for the issue to be left in the hands of Registry officials,” Akpata added.

SHETTIMA: NIGERIA'S DIVERSITY MUST BE OUR SOURCE OF STRENGTH should be a source of strength and not of division, just as he urged Nigerians to keep imbibing the lessons firmly fixed in the country's cultural tapestry.

He further disclosed that traditional institution and its leaders are at the top of President Bola Tinubu’s list of priorities in his administration's bid to navigate the complexities of Nigeria's diversity.

The vice president who spoke yesterday during the 37th Annual Akesan Festival in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, expressed delight with the way Nigeria's noble traditions serve as poignant reminders of the origins and identities of its people.

Delivering his address titled, ‘Learning from the Past: Unity and Tradition in the Akesan Festival,’ at the event, Shettima said, "I am further delighted by the significance that the Akesan Festival has achieved, even though I expected nothing less.

So, I must, once again, express

my gratitude to my brother, our industrious Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and His Royal Highness, Oba Adeleke Idowu Basibo, the Alaperu of Iperu Remo, for inviting us to witness this festival and participate in shaping this historical narrative.

"Your Royal Highness, this festival serves as an opportunity to reinforce President Tinubu’s commitment to giving priority to our traditional leaders in navigating the intricacies of our diversity. The commitments articulated by our administration stand firm, and we pledge to honor these assurances, ensuring positive transformations in the lives of our people".

Like previous festivities, the vice president noted that the 37th edition of the Akesan Festival is imbued with the essence of the unity Nigerians have forged as a nation, even as he described Ogun State as a template for the complexities of the nation's cultural practices.

Applauding the state for investing a good dose of time and resources to establish Iperu Remo on the global map, the vice president urged Nigerians to take a cue from the spirit of unity, cooperation and determination in the community.

According to Shettima: "As we revel in the festivities, let us not forget the lessons ingrained in our cultural tapestry. This diversity within our nation is a source of strength, not division. It is a testament to our adaptability as a people. So, we must thank all those who’ve made this happen, from bottom to top.

"We must acknowledge the artisans, the craftsmen, the historians, the cultural custodians and the everyday people who have devoted their lives to preserving our heritage, passing down traditions from one generation to the next."

Earlier in his welcome address, the Akarigbo/Paramount ruler of Remo Kingdom, HRH. Obama

Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, Torungbuwa II, hailed President Tinubu, saying despite the current challenges in Nigeria, the visions and programmes of his administration would definitely wriggle the country out of the woods.

He urged the indigenes to remain peaceful and law-abiding.

Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello who spoke for the Chairman of the occasion, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara State, called on the people of Ogun State to continue in their peaceful coexistence and cohabitation as existing amongst the people of the state.

Also speaking, Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said Akesan Day was an unending heritage that is fast boosting the tourism potential of the state.

He pledged further commitments to the festival, saying it was fast becoming a uniting event among Ogun people as well as people of its neighbouring states.

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NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS… L- R: Former Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN); Mr. Osaro lsokpan; Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; his wife, Betsy; and Senior lawyer, Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan (SAN), after they were conferred with honorary doctorate at the 48th Convocation and 53rd Founders Day ceremony by the University of Benin in Benin-City…yesterday

Shell to Face Human Rights Claims over Oil Pollution in Niger Delta Criminality is major cause of pollution, oil major insists

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A United Kingdom High Court presided over by Mrs. Justice May, has given the go-ahead to more than 13,000 farmers and fishermen from Ogale and Bille communities in the Niger Delta to proceed with their claims against Shell.

But in a swift response, Shell has said that the stealing of crude oil on an industrial scale in the Niger Delta was a major source of pollution and the cause of the majority of spills in the affected communities.

The claimants had argued that the chronic pollution of their water sources and destruction of their means of livelihood constituted a breach of their right to a clean environment under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

The ruling means that the Nigerian communities will now prepare for a trial, which will take

place on December 12 and 13 this year, for more legal arguments.

However, Shell maintained that its Nigerian subsidiary, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), accepted responsibility for the spills it caused and compensated affected parties where required by relevant Nigerian regulations.

It said it also remediates all spills from its assets, regardless of cause.

However, the company denies that it owes a duty of care directly to the claimants.

The Guardian of UK quoted Shell to have said in response to the judgment that the claimants had failed to identify the particular spill or spills that allegedly caused the damage despite the court having ordered this to be done.

“We strongly believe in the merits of our case. Oil is being stolen on an industrial scale in the Niger Delta.

This criminality is a major source of pollution and is the cause of the

majority of spills in the Bille and Ogale claims.

“Irrespective of the cause, SPDC cleans up and remediates areas affected by spills from its facilities or pipeline network, working closely with regulators, local communities, and other stakeholders.

“We believe litigation does little to address the real problem in the Niger Delta: oil spills due to theft, illegal refining, and sabotage, with which SPDC is constantly faced and which cause the most environmental damage,” a Shell spokesman said.

On the allegation before the court that the company was leaving Nigeria after several decades of its operations in Nigeria, Shell said it wasn’t entirely true.

“Shell has no plans to leave Nigeria. As previously stated, Shell’s intent is to reduce its involvement in onshore oil production in Nigeria while remaining in its deepwater and integrated gas positions in the country,” the oil giant said.

A statement by Leigh Day, the international legal team representing the communities obtained by THISDAY described the ruling as a “significant moment” in the eight-year battle.

The leader of the team, Matthew Renshaw, maintained that Shell had repeatedly resorted to using technicalities to try to block and delay its clients’ claims.

Renshaw said he and the clients hoped to move without further delay towards a trial, where the claims for a full clean-up and compensation for the destruction of their means of livelihood can be fully heard.

“The move is a major development in the landmark legal claim by the Ogale and Bille communities, who have been fighting the oil giant for a clean-up and compensation after the pollution devastated the area, leaving them without clean water and unable to farm and fish.

Fashola, Komolafe, Obaseki, Others Bag Honorary Doctorate Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Senate and Council of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) yesterday conferred honorary doctorate to seven distinguished Nigerians.

The conferment was bestowed on the awardees at the 48th Convocation and 53rd Founders Day ceremony of the institution in Benin City, capital of Edo State.

Among the beneficiaries are former Lagos State Governor, and immediate Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fasola (SAN), who was honoured with Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa; the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, who was honoured with Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa; Wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Doctor of Business Administration, Honoris Causa; and Mr. Paul Enebeli, Doctor of Science Honoris Causa.

Others are Chief Charles Edosomwan (SAN), Doctor of Laws,

Honoris Causa; Mr. Osaro Isokpan, Doctor of Business Administration; and the Chief Operating Officer, Green Energy International Limited Mr. Olukayode Dorun-Adegbulugbe, Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa.

Conferring the degrees on the recipients, the Chancellor of the university and Chairman of the Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Prof.

James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, Tor Tiv, said the honours were a call for more work on the part of those honoured.

He thanked the awardees for making the university proud with their services and philanthropic gestures not only to their communities but their respective states, Nigeria, and the entire humanity.

The Chancellor used the occasion to draw the attention of the federal government to the precarious funding situation of tertiary institutions while congratulating all graduates of the institution for working very hard to acquire the degrees awarded to them.

On her part, the Vice Chancellor,

Prof. Lilian Imuetinyan Salami said the award of honorary degrees to the seven eminent personalities was in appreciation of their unique and outstanding contributions to the progress of the university and national development.

She said the university was proud that four of the honorees are illustrious alumni of the institution adding: "Not only did they excel in their academics as students, they have also exemplified the give back spirit which has earned them this coveted honour."

According to her, "the University of Benin is well positioned to deliver on its mandate on the training of the critical manpower needs of the country, taking into consideration the pedigree of staff and infrastructure."

Speaking on behalf of the honorees, the former Lagos State Governor, Fashola, said the awards call for more service as clearly displayed in the University of Benin Motto: "Knowledge for Service."

Meanwhile, the Visitor, President Bola Tinubu said his administration

is poised to change the narrative of higher education for the better and to place the institution of higher learning on a pedestal that would compete with their counterparts in the world.

Represented by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh, the president added that the federal government is working towards the introduction of the policy of full university autonomy.

"University autonomy transfers the responsibility performance directly to individual institutions rather than the state of uncertainty.

This administration believes that this is the right step in the right direction.

"We will do all that is possible to reposition tertiary institutions and the education sector in the country for excellency service delivery," Tinubu stated.

Also speaking, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, said the 178 students who have graduated with First Class will be given automatic employment provided they are of Edo State indigenes.

“The judge found it could be argued the pollution has fundamentally breached the villagers’ right to a clean environment under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter and those constitutional rights were directly enforceable and can be relied upon against companies like Shell.

“Importantly, such claims have no limitation period, meaning Shell would not be able to evade liability

on the grounds the communities did not bring their claims within a narrow time frame,” Leigh Day stated.

The law firm maintained that the “company, which plans to leave the Niger Delta after 80 years of highly profitable operations”, has offered the Ogale and Bille communities no remedy or compensation and left the communities chronically polluted.

Tribunal Orders INEC to Provide Materials in Kogi’s Governorship Election Within 48 Hours Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 48 hours to issue certified copies of election materials on the November 11 off-cycle election in the state to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

It also ordered INEC to allow SDP’s forensic experts to examine some electoral materials.

The materials include the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result sheets for Adavi, Okene, Okehi, OgoriMagongo, Ajaokuta, Lokoja, Kogi and Bassa Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The tribunal ruled yesterday in Lokoja that the SDP requested the materials to prove its case in the petition it filed against the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu gave the order following two ex-parte motions filed on November 19 by the SDP and its governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka.

Justice Birnin-Kudu said the orders became imperative given the time constraints the tribunal had to discharge its mandate.

“The order is in compliance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and with the Electoral Act (2022).

“INEC is hereby ordered to produce all the documents being

sought by the plaintiffs within 48 hours to enable proceedings to go smoothly and without hitches,’’ he declared.

SDP and Yakubu-Ajaka had earlier filed seven ex-parte motions to support their demand but withdrew five.

Lead counsel to the petitioners, Mr. John Adele (SAN), had earlier told the court that efforts made to obtain certified copies of materials used in the six local government areas from INEC had been fruitless.

“Time is of the essence in this matter, and that is why we filed the motions to your lordship to help salvage the situation.

“Each time we approached INEC since November 13, its officials failed to avail us with even one of the electoral materials for which we requested.

“We believe that if your lordship grants our application, INEC will do the needful to enable us to prosecute this case within the time limit,’’ he prayed the tribunal.

Justice Birnin-Kudu adjourned the case to Wednesday, November 29 for the submission of a report of compliance by INEC and continuation of hearing.

The SDP and Yakubu-Ajaka are challenging the victory of APC and its candidate, Alhaji Usman Ododo at the election petition tribunal.

INEC declared Ododo as the winner of the election with 446,237 votes, while his closest rival, Yakubu-Ajaka got 259,052 votes.

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HUMILITY IN VICTORY… L-R: Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; Governor-elect, Usman Ododo; President Bola Tinubu; National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, when the governor-elect presented his Certificate of Return to the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja…weekend

Nigeria’s 2024 Budget Faces OPEC Test as Negotiations to Raise Quota Continues Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The implementation of Nigeria’s 2024 budget will this week face a major test as negotiations between the country and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to raise oil output allocation for next year continue.

Last Wednesday, the Senate approved the Medium-term

Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2024-2026 and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), which contained projections for budget appropriations over the next three years.

Specifically, the lawmakers approved $73.96, $73.76, and $69.90 per barrel, respectively as benchmark oil prices for daily crude oil production of 1.78 million bpd, 1.80 million bpd, and 1.81 million

bpd for 2024, 2025, and 2026.

However, THISDAY can report that the figures may be unrealistic, given that OPEC’s quota for Nigeria for next year was in June pegged at 1.38 million bpd, following its inability to meet its current allocation for about three years.

But Bloomberg reported that OPEC is close to resolving the dispute over the output quotas,

Baze University Barred from Admitting Law Students for Five Years Alex Enumah in Abuja The Abuja-based Baze University, said to be owned by the running mate of Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, has been barred by the Council of Legal Education (CLE) from further admitting students into its Law Faculty for next five years.

The decision by the CLE, it was learnt, was informed by the university’s alleged consistent abuse of its admission quota for Law students.

The Acting Secretary and Director of Administration of the Nigerian Law School, Aderonke Osho, said in a statement, that Baze University was banned for consistently violating its admission quota of 50 students per session as approved by the CLE. The Chairman of the CLE, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) also confirmed the development.

Osho, in the statement, added that the ban resulted from the findings of the CLE, to the effect that the university’s Law Faculty currently has a backlog of over 347 law students waiting to be admitted into the Nigerian Law School.

She said the university runs a three-year LL.B programme for some UTME candidates without the approval of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and CLE. Part of the statement reads: “At its quarterly meeting held on November 23, 2023, the Council of Legal Education (CLE) presided over by its Chairman, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, OFR, considered the report of the Accreditation Panel to

the Faculty of Law, Baze University, Abuja.

“It emerged from the findings by the panel, led by the DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Law School, Prof Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, that Baze University consistently and most flagrantly had contravened its admission quota of 50 students per session as approved by the Council of Legal Education with the result that the faculty is currently having a backlog of over 347 law students waiting to be admitted into the Nigerian Law School.

“Since 2017 the Council of Legal Education has grappled with the excesses of Baze University by admitting over 750 law students which ordinarily would have taken about 15 years of admission based on the quota allotted to the university.

“Under the NUC Minimum Benchmark Academic Standard (BMAS) for law degree programme in Nigerian universities, Law is a five-year programme for UTME candidates and four (4)-year for Direct Entry students.

“The Council of Legal Education, after thorough consideration of these infractions, resolved as follows: *The imposition of a moratorium on admission of law students to the Faculty of Law, Baze University, Abuja, with immediate effect; *The moratorium will last in the first instance for a period of five years and may be renewed if no satisfactory action is taken to remedy the situation. *The Council, in the interest of the innocent students, parents and guardians, will use the five year period to find ways to deal with the backlog of law students admitted

by Baze University in excess of its

admission quota. *Follow-up visits will be paid to the university to ascertain the extent of the measures it has taken to remedy the anomalies observed during the accreditation visit. *The National Universities Commission (NUC), Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), parents, guardians, prospective applicants and members of the public are hereby put on notice on the status of Baze University Abuja and its Faculty of Law.”

which forced the group to postpone a pivotal meeting during the week, as it reviews the demands made on Nigeria and Angola in an earlier deal.

The group is working to tweak the 2024 targets set for both countries to allay the unease they expressed in recent days, a delegate told Bloomberg.

Deadlock on the issue compelled Saudi Arabia and its partners to postpone their policy-setting gathering in Vienna this weekend to next week. Talks continue and agreement looks within reach, officials said.

The spat dredged up a disagreement from June, when Angola, Congo, and Nigeria were pushed by Saudi Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, to accept reduced output targets for 2024 that reflected their diminished capabilities.

The African exporters have struggled in recent years with under-investment, operational disruptions, and aging oil fields.

A compromise now would allow OPEC and its partners to focus on whether they need to agree on steps

to tighten supplies in 2024, amid the threat of slowing demand — and falling prices.

OPEC+ leaders Saudi Arabia and Russia are expected to at least extend just over 1 million barrels-a-day of output curbs through the first quarter, to pare a looming surplus.

In the past two months, Brent crude futures have slumped by about 15 per cent to trade around $81 a barrel at the weekend, eroding revenues for the cartel.

At OPEC's latest meeting in June, Angola and Nigeria were pressed to accept considerably lower limits for 2024, at 1.28 million barrels a day and 1.38 million a day respectively.

The countries had reluctantly acquiesced to the new quotas with the caveat that they’d be revised higher again if an external audit by three firms — Rystad Energy A/S, Wood Mackenzie Ltd., and IHS — proved their capacity was larger.

That assessment has been submitted, but the trio pushed back against its findings, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Nigeria has shown recently that

it can surpass its new limits. It pumped 1.416 million barrels a day last month (secondary sources) or 36,000 barrels a day above its target for 2024, according to data from OPEC’s Vienna-based secretariat.

The postponement of the meeting of OPEC and allies such as Russia, known as OPEC+, from November 26 to November 30 sent oil prices sharply lower on Friday, it was learnt. But they have since recovered, with Brent crude prices trading above $81 a barrel.

One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he felt "with 99 per cent confidence" that OPEC+ could reach an agreement on November 30.”

A second source said that an "understanding has been reached" over the African producers’ issue.

Two other sources said that an agreement was near.

But Nigeria's governor to OPEC and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, Gabriel Tanimu Aduda told Reuters that he was not aware of any disagreements with other members of OPEC+ over the country's production targets.

Reprieve for Akeredolu, Aiyedatiwa as Tinubu Resolves Ondo Political Crisis Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa will now experience relief following the resolution of the political crisis in the state by President Bola Tinubu.

However, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has said the intervention of President Tinubu in the political crisis was a mere window dressing, saying the crisis was not yet over.

Worried by the prolonged absence of Akeredolu, the opposition party in the state, the deputy governor’s loyalists, and some senior lawyers had asked the governor to resign if he was unable to perform the functions of his office as governor.

The governor returned to Nigeria from Germany after a medical vacation on September 7, 2023, and since then, he has been at his private residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

While the governor’s critics said they are not begrudging him over his state of health, as anyone can suffer from health challenges, they have however, urged him to boldly declare his medical state to the people of the state.

As pressure was mounting on the governor to return to office or resign, his loyalists had also initiated failed moves to impeach the deputy governor.

However, the lingering political crisis appears to have been settled for good as President Tinubu on Friday night intervened and amicably resolved the months-long face-off between the warring

camps of Akeredolu and his deputy, Aiyedatiwa.

This was a sequel to the marathon negotiations between the President, the deputy governor, representatives of Governor Akeredolu, federal and state lawmakers of Ondo, officials of the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and other stakeholders in the state at the State House, Abuja.

President Tinubu, according to a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, at the meeting advised all opposing parties to bury the hatchet and embrace peace, eliciting commitments to this effect.

This in essence, means Governor Akeredolu remains Chief Executive of the state, Aiyedatiwa still deputy governor, while the members of the State

Executive Council continue their respective duties, even as the leadership of the state’s House of Assembly and the APC chapter in Ondo State is preserved.

In the resolution brokered by the president, while the deputy governor agreed to carry members of the cabinet and other senior government officials along, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Oladiji Olamide, agreed to halt ongoing impeachment proceedings.

Giving the assurance to carry all along and calling for cooperation to move the state forward, Aiyedatiwa said: “I want to say that I pledge to all of you that I embrace every one of you. I put behind all that has happened before now. I’ve let go, just as the President has advised us.

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WITH DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS… L-R: A member of staff of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Chidinma Obiadono; Head of Human Development and Demography, British High Commission, Dr. Nadeem Hasan; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Abiola Arogundade; Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Johnny Baxter; and Senior Political Adviser, British Deputy High Commission, Wale Adebajo, shortly after a strategic meeting with the British High Commission Nigeria in Abuja…recently

PDP, Obi, Oborevwori, AkpotiUduaghan Celebrate Atiku at 77 Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party presidential candidate in the last election, Mr. Peter Obi, Governor of Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the lawmaker representing Kogi Central senatorial district, Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan, yesterday congratulated the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, on the occasion of his 77th birthday.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party described Atiku as a quintessence of humility, a kindhearted, humane, and people-focused

leader; a forthright administrator and courageous statesman, who remains unwavering in his love and commitment towards Nigerians and the unity, stability and development of the nation.

According to Ologunagba, "Our party remains proud of Atiku Abubakar’s record of performance in the service of our nation, especially in bringing his capacity and competence to bear as the Chairman of the National Economic Council under the Obasanjo/Atiku-led PDP administration between 1999 and 2007, which achieved unprecedented national productivity in all sectors and grew the economy to become one of the fastest growing economies

in the world.

"His role in the National Economic Council (NEC) is always recognised and celebrated for helping the administration achieve vast infrastructural development, massive employment and business opportunities among other initiatives that made the PDP years in government the Nigerian Golden Years."

He said Nigerians across all persuasions recognised Atiku as the embodiment of national unity and hope for economic recovery and they demonstrated this in their overwhelming support and massive vote for him in the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections, which mandates

were sadly subverted by suppressive and exploitative forces.

Also, Obi in a post on X, described Atiku as his elder brother and leader, commending him for his many contributions to the socio-political and economic development of Nigeria “and in particular your unique role in deepening our nation’s democracy”.

Obi wrote: “You have undoubtedly positively impacted the nation’s economic growth through your various business establishments which not only create jobs for our people but add to our overall national productivity.

“You have also through your educational institutions continued to add to the growth of education

Alleged N156bn Debt: Court Fixes December 22 for Ruling on UBA, Stallion Group's Suit Wale Igbintade A Lagos High Court has fixed December 22, for ruling in a suit filed by United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc against Stallion Group of Companies, over alleged debt of N156 billion.

Justice Akintayo Aluko fixed the date after taking arguments on different applications filed by parties in the suit.

It would be recalled that Justice Aluko had on October 20 ordered UBA Plc to take over the assets of Stallion Nigeria Limited and its subsidiaries in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Kano, due to the alleged indebtedness.

Some of the company's assets affected by the order were: Mortgaged property known as

“all that piece or parcel of land together with any building thereon” at Plot 371, Trans Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

“Plot 353, Trans Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Plot 370, Trans Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; KM17, Lagos Badagry Expressway, Lagos State; and No. 54, Challawa Industrial Estate, Kano State, Nigeria.”

Also, the company's funds totalling N156,026,032,804.84 in commercial, microfinance, and other financial institutions across the country.

The judge made the order while granting an ex-parte application filed by the bank's lawyer, Temilolu Adamolekun.

In urging the court for the orders,

while moving the ex-parte motion, Adamolekun, supported his claim with an affidavit deposed to by Mr. Anthony Chilaka.

Defendants/respondents in the suit are; Stallion Nigeria Limited (in receivership), Von Automobile Nigeria Limited, Popular Farms And Mills Limited, Havana Nigeria Limited, KRBL Food Industries Limited, Qingqi Motorcycle Manufacturing Limited, Stallion Auto Keke Limited, Stallion Motors Limited, The Honda Place Limited, Yokohama Construction Limited and Mr. Sunil Vaswani.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Friday, the defendants' lawyers, Wahab Shittu and Mr. Joseph Mbadugha, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) in their separate applications, urged the

court to vacate the ex-parte order and to strike out the entire suit, for lack of jurisdiction.

The two senior lawyers, while citing a plethora of legal authorities, stated that the receiver/manager cannot institute the suit in his name, adding that if the receiver/manager must institute the suit in his name, he must first seek leave of court.

They argued that the applicants failed to register the mortgage with the Corporate Affair Commission (CAC), within 90 days, and that there is no evidence attached to the summon when the Deed of Mortgage was delivered to CAC. They therefore urged the court to hold that the applicants/plaintiffs’ suit is incompetent and to set aside the ex-parte order granted on October 20, 2023.

Bandits Attack Zamfara Communities, Abduct over 150 Residents for Failure to Pay imposed Levies Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto At least 150 people, including women and children, were said to have been abducted with one person killed in a coordinated attack by gunmen on four villages in Zamfara State, residents said yesterday.

Kidnapping for ransom has become rife in the North-west in recent years with bandits targeting villages, schools, and travellers, demanding millions of naira in ransom and making it unsafe to travel by road or to farm

in some areas.

The state police command spokesperson did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment on the attack, which took place late on Friday.

But the residents told Reuters that gunmen on dozens of motorcycles stormed the villages of Mutunji, Kwanar-Dutse, Sabon-Garin Mahuta, and Unguwar Kawo in the Maru Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

A resident of one of the villages,

Dankandai Musa, told Reuters he managed to slip away unnoticed during the chaos, adding that 20 members of his household were taken.

"I managed to escape after they were regrouping us and the people from the three other villages that were attacked," he said. "I fled while they were dragging us to the bush."

A local village head said the leader of the gunmen, Lawali Damana, had demanded N100 million from the villages as retribution after Nigerian troops killed four of his men earlier.

"So, yesterday, he came in the company of his boys and took away over a hundred people with him and we haven't heard anything from him since. One person was shot dead in the process of taking the hostages," said the village head, who didn't want to be named for fear of being targeted.

Nigeria faces numerous security challenges, including a 14-year Islamist insurgency in its North-east, separatist violence in the South-east, and frequent deadly clashes between farmers and herders in the central region.

and man-power development in our country.

“In this field you have added tremendous value to all tiers of education through your investment in institutions at all levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Your many scholarship awards to students have expanded opportunities to the indigent.

“You have contributed to pulling people out of poverty through your business establishments which not only create jobs for our people but add to our overall national productivity."

Also, in a congratulatory message by the Delta State governor, through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Festus Ahon, the governor commended Atiku for his extraordinary political and economic endeavours that have contributed to the nation's prosperity and togetherness.

The governor remarked that Atiku’s unwavering commitment to freeing Nigeria from the chains of underdevelopment and bad governance was admirable and deserving of praise.

According to Oborevwori, Atiku is still unquestionably a detribalised Nigerian and a unifier whose kindness has improved many lives by bridging

socioeconomic class, party boundaries, gender, ethnicity, and religion.

The governor said: "On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I congratulate our great leader and former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON), as he celebrates his 77th birthday anniversary.

"You have amply demonstrated what you preach by creating opportunities for people to make a living through your massive investments in education, agriculture, media, hospitality, water, and oil and gas and these have continued to add to our nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and poverty reduction in the country.

"As a generous benefactor and exceptional statesman, you dominated Nigeria's political scene like a behemoth by garnering widespread support throughout the nation.

“As our beloved former vice president clocks 77 years old today, it is my prayer and that of all Deltans and Nigerians that God continues to strengthen him in his devotion to ensuring better peace, good governance, and long-lasting democracy in Nigeria and beyond".

NAF Jets Kill 100 Terrorists in North-east Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday struck terrorist enclaves in the North-east, killing 100 terrorists.

A war update issued by the NAF said the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, carried out air strikes on an isolated location consisting of three structures in the midst of several trees in Borno State.

It said the air interdiction was one of the most successful strikes undertaken by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai on November 24, 2023.

The update signed by the Spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said "from the footage, it was evident that the terrorists were massing up at the location for either a well-planned meeting or preparing for a major attack on our own troops.

"Over 100 heavily armed terrorists were observed throwing banters and moving randomly around the structures, which also had four troop carriers", it said.

"The aftermath of the air strike revealed that two out of the three structures as well as the entire troop carriers were destroyed.

"There are also indications that Abu Asad, a key figure in the Ali Ngulde group under Boko Haram, as well as other terrorists like Ibrahim Nakeeb, Mujaheed Dimtu, Mustafa Munzir and several fighters were among the several terrorists eliminated in the air strike", it said.

The update affirmed that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has since commended the air component commander and his men while urging them to continue to synergise with the land component as they maintain the momentum in, “keeping the terrorists on their toes.”

“We must continue to justify the trust and confidence the federal government and our people have bestowed on us by ensuring that we go all out in making life unbearable for these terrorists and criminals until they surrender or are completely eliminated," he said.

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KIND HEART… L-R: Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Monisade Afuye; former President, Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Wole Olanipekun; a beneficiary of the 2023 Wole Olanipekun Foundation Scholarship Scheme, Youth Empowerment and Aged Widow Support Programme; Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; and Governor Biodun Oyebanji, during the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State …yesterday

FG Sets up National Education Databank, Targets $9.5bn Market Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The federal government has approved the establishment of the National Education Repository and Databank (NERD) system.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, at the stakeholders’ engagement and sensitisation programme for the project at the Conference Hall, Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters, Abuja.

The minister said apart from the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the establishment of the National Databank for the education sector, the council has also approved the national policy for its operation.

Mamman described the unveiling of the NERD project to the stakeholders as “a pivotal moment in the history of post-secondary and tertiary education in Nigeria

Akwa Ibom Governor’s Wife Reads Riot Act to Rapists Okon Bassey in Uyo Wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairperson of the State’s Gender-Based Violence Management Committee, Mrs. Patience Umo Eno, has warned that henceforth the state would nòt take it kìndly with rapists, paedophiles, and abusers, as it will not be business as usual.

She also called on all hands to be on deck in the quest to rid the state of all forms of gender-based violence.

The governor’s wife gave the warning Saturday in Uyo, during the flag-off of the 16 Days Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in the State.

She frowned against rape and molestation saying, those crimes must not be treated with kid gloves.

According to her, anyone found to be a rapist or shielding rapists and paedophiles would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“I am here today as the Chairperson of this Committee to flag off this 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence in the State. Henceforth, it will not be business as usual.

“I am calling on our men to support this advocacy by saying no to rape and all forms of abuse against women and the girl-child. Let’s put a stop to this menace,” she said.

She charged parents not to cave in when being pressured, but rather to demand and stand for justice, averring that the state government through the GBV management committee has put in place measures to curb the ugly trend.

The Governor’s Wife noted that the ‘16 Days Activism’ was an advocacy targeted at raising awareness on the alarming rate of rape and abuse in society, saying, “No one should feign ignorance when the law catches up with him or her.”

and a ground-breaking initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

He said: “In the next five years and beyond, the Federal Ministry of Education, with

the support of the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), the Na-

tional Library of Nigeria and other key stakeholders will be leading the NERD project as an unprecedented digitalisation and the digitisation effort aimed at capturing from as far back as

1932 every single past academic report and publications ever generated in any of our institutions regardless of ownership type, whether public or private, military or civilian.”

Ibom Air Takes Delivery of First New Airbus 220 Plane Chinedu Eze Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and founder of Ibom Air, Mr. Udom Emmanuel was among those present at the weekend, when the state made history in Nigeria’s aviation industry with the delivery of the first of its 10-brand new Airbus A220-300 series aeroplanes.

Emmanuel was with top management staff of the airline on Friday in Montreal, Canada, where they inspected and received the first aircraft at the Airbus’

Mirabel facility.

The Chief Executive Officer of Airbus, Benoit Schultz; VicePresident, Daniel Wenninger; Head Of Airbus A220 Delivery Center, Marc Arpin; and Cyrille Picard, Sales Director Middle-East & Africa made the presentation of the new Airbus aircraft.

Leading top management officers of Ibom Air were the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Air, Captain Mfon Udom, and the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Mr.

George Uriesi.

Speaking at the occasion, Emmanuel said Ibom Air is the first airline to take delivery of the all-new Airbus A220 in Nigeria.

He said during his time as governor, he had envisaged Ibom Air becoming a dominant player in the aviation sector within the West African and African aviation hub and commended Governor Umo Eno for sustaining the aviation development project of the state.

The Airbus A220-300 stands at

the forefront of modern aviation technology, garnering global recognition for its revolutionary fuel efficiency, cutting-edge technology, and top-notch passenger comfort and safety features.

The aircraft is adaptable for short and medium-haul commercial operations, with a range of up to seven hours (up to 3,450 nautical miles).

The addition of the Airbus A220300 to Ibom Air’s fleet positions the airline for expanded service across diverse destinations within the African continent.

Gas Flaring: Stakeholders Advocate Stricter Punishment against Erring Oil Companies Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Stakeholders at a one-day roundtable on the negative impact of the activities of oil companies in the Niger Delta have called for strict enforcement of punitive measures against oil companies indulging in gas flaring.

The meeting, held yesterday

in Asaba, was organised by ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), a nongovernmental organisation working to check environmental challenges in the Niger Delta region.

Participants at the meeting, which was attended by civil society organisations (CSO), representatives of host communities and government officials as well as the media,

brainstormed on several nagging issues around climate change and environmental degradation.

In a communique at the end of the meeting, participants observed with dismay the negative implications of Western banks funding the activities of multi-national oil companies for oil exploration in the Niger Delta

thus exacerbating the incidence of environmental degradation in the region.

They noted that community leaders were largely compromised due to poverty as resulting from the divide-and-rule strategy adopted by the multi-national oil companies in their dealings with their host communities.

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North-east Governors Reaffirm Commitment to Tackle Insecurity, Pursue Social, Economic Integration Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi and Daji Sani in Yola The North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) has reaffirmed its commitment to foster a common ground and pursue a collective course on matters of security, and social and economic integration of the region.

Similarly, the forum noted that climate change and environmental degradation are still major issues affecting the sub-region, and therefore resolved to strengthen its collaboration with all initiatives such as the Great Green Wall and the Global Initiative of Carbon Credit financing.

This is contained in a communique issued yesterday at the end of the 9th Meeting of NEGF held in Yola, Adamawa State.

The communique, which

was signed by the Chairman NEGF and Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, also noted that although the security situation is improving positively in the region, there is a need for more collaboration among member states in the design of the security architecture for the region.

It resolved to work more with the security agencies to have a common security roadmap for the North-east.

According to the forum, there is a need for a robust platform for regional economic development.

It thus resolved to work as an entity in strengthening the human capacity and socio-economic development of its people.

“Forum appraised the compliance of the states with the

decision earlier taken at the eighth meeting in Maiduguri to domesticate the Education Law 2022, as recommended by the North-east Education Council. It thus called on states that are yet

to domesticate the law to do so as a matter of strategic regional integration.

“Forum is continuously disturbed about the poor infrastructural base of the region.

More concerned that the federal roads within and between the states in the region have been neglected. It thus calls on the Federal Ministry of Works to follow through with

road contracts awarded in the region. Poor road network is fuelling insecurity and stalling development and making life more difficult for our people in the region.”

Ogun Governorship: Don’t Rejoice Yet, Adebutu Tells Abiodun Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has described the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun at the Court of Appeal on Friday as “only temporary,” saying the governor should not rejoice yet.

The Appeal Court sitting in Lagos had on Friday affirmed the election of Abiodun as the validly elected governor of Ogun state in the March 18, 2023 governorship elections.

Two of the court justices, J.S. Ikyegh and Muhammed Mustapha, in their judgement held that Adebutu’s appeal lacked merit and subsequently dismissed it, while the third judge, Justice Jane Inyang in her judgement ordered INEC to organise a rerun within 90 days in the affected 92 polling units where election was cancelled due to violence and election malpractices.

Reacting to the court’s judgement on Saturday, Adebutu who spoke through his Spokesman, Afolabi Orekoya, hinted that he

and his party will approach the Supreme court to seek justice.

The PDP chieftain said the Appeal court judgment was an indication that “true justice is on the way and the hope of reclaiming the mandate of the good people of Ogun state is drawing nearer”.

Adebutu said, “The appeal judgement that can be described as the pathway to victory. It resolved unanimously, five out the eight issues in our favour, only one issue in favour of the respondents (Dapo Abiodun and APC) while the other two issues were resolved in ratio two to one.

“We are indeed glad and hopeful that the judiciary at higher level is gradually considering the merits of the petition unlike the lower court that chose to address technicalities in place of merit.

Obviously, that human decision has no place in our rule of law and cannot stand. It is however heartwarming that the appeal court resolved all the issues.

Obaseki’s Deputy Declares Governorship Bid Monday The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, will tomorrow formally declare his intention to run for the governorship race in the state.

The deputy governor’s plan was contained in a letter issued by the Philip Shaibu Campaign Organisation which was dated November 23 and signed by the deputy governor.

The letter which was titled ‘Special Invitation,’ read, “On behalf of Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu Campaign Organisation, I invite you to honour me with your esteemed presence as I offer myself to serve as the Chief Servant (Governor) of Edo State.”

As stated in the letter, the event is scheduled to be held on Monday, November 27, at the

Eterno Hotels, by 8 a.m.

Shaibu’s ambition has put him at loggerheads with his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is believed not to be disposed to his deputy taking over from him.

At the height of the face-off, Shaibu approached an Abuja High Court to stop Obaseki and the Edo State House of Assembly from impeaching him.

He later withdrew the case after the intervention of well-meaning individuals.

However, Shaibu remains ostracised and currently has his office outside the Government House in the GRA in Benin, the state capital.

Shaibu has been consulting and meeting with politicians and the media on his intentions.

COMMITTEE OF FRIENDS… L-R: Senior Vice President, The Arch Group, Mr. Paul Okwaraoha: Managing Director, Waltz Consult Limited and Groom, Mr. Christopher Nonso Ibeanusi; Senior Officer, Standards Organisation of Nigeria and Bride, Isioma Emmanuella Ibeanusi; and Managing Director, Full Page Communications Limited, Chief Ingram Osigwe, at the wedding reception of the newly wed in Lagos…recently.

Mbah Inaugurates Ninth Mile Water Scheme in Enugu Gideon Arinze in Enugu Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has inaugurated the Ninth Mile Water Scheme in keeping with his campaign promise of providing potable water to households within Enugu metropolis in the first 180 days.

The water scheme, according to the governor, has the capacity to deliver 70 million litres of water daily to businesses and families in the first phase.

Inaugurating the project

yesterday, Mbah said it was fundamental to the achievement of his administration’s objective to take the state’s GDP from the current position of $4.4billion to $30billion within the next four to eight years.

Mbah said that his administration would also inaugurate new pumps in Oji water scheme to enable the delivery of another 50 million litres, taking the total amount to 120million litres which is about twice the daily demand of Enugu urban.

The governor explained that

there was disbelief in several quarters when his administration communicated the promise because successive administrations have made unsuccessful attempts to address the widespread water scarcity in the state.

“For over 20 years, families had to queue endlessly to fetch water from tanker trucks who supplied in a very unreliable and epileptic fashion,” Mbah said. “Businesses such as hotels, hospitals were also forced to invest in extensive water infrastructure.”

He, however, noted that with

the project, businesses in Enugu can now connect to public water and pay monthly water rates like is the practice in other advanced environments, adding that those who have invested in water tankers can put them up for sale and free up capital for other uses.

The governor explained that everything that has been achieved so far on the project was done through the state internally generated revenue, adding that the $50 million grant from the French Development Agency (AFD) would be used for further expansion.

Onaiyekan: Most Nigerians in Remain Calm, Governor Mutfwang Need of Psychological Attention Appeals to Agitated Plateau Indigenes The retired Catholic Archbishop of Abuja and former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has said lots of Nigerians need psychological attention because of the problems facing the country.

According to Onaiyekan, Nigerians are battling socioeconomic crises and depression as never before and require the Church to step in to avoid a total breakdown of the fabric of the nation.

Onaiyekan made the remarks in Abuja during the foundation laying ceremony of the Building and Remodeling of the Dominic Cardinal Ignatius Ekandem Villa which houses the Gaudium et Spe Institute, Asokoro Abuja.

The Abuja Catholic Arch.

Bishop, Kaigama Ignatius performed the foundation laying ceremony of the building which would cost the Catholic Community about N1.6 billion.

Speaking with newsmen,

Onaiyekan said Nigerians are going through lots of challenges and difficulties beyond spiritual, health, educational, and physical problems which had over time engaged the attention of the Church.

According to him:” People are facing difficulties, and there are many problems in our country now, so beyond spiritual support, we need to provide psychological support for the people.

“The church has always impacted the lives of the people in many ways, we build schools to educate children and adults, health facilities to give physical treatment in hospitals, even the major job we do as religious leaders, we deal with the spiritual problem of the people.

“This particular project is beyond, health, education, spiritual and physical because it is also for psycho-spiritual work to help people who do not have only spiritual problems but have psycho problems.”

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Indigenes of Plateau State yesterday turned out en masse to receive Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heipang, Jos, reaffirming their total support for the governor.

Mutfwang was returning to the state one week after the verdict of the Court of Appeal that nullified his election.

The mammoth crowd who converged at the Airport and other strategic locations in Jos expressed confidence in the Supreme Court for fairness and justice.

Mutfwang polled a total of 525,299 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, who scored 481,370 votes. His victory was reaffirmed at the election tribunal, but a panel of the Court of Appeal nullified it. The Supreme Court is now the beacon of hope for Plateau citizens who are

eagerly waiting.

Addressing journalists at the airport, the governor described the sack as a temporary huddle and reassured the people that God would restore the mandate they gave to him.

He said: “I am excited to be back home, I feel so loved by the people and I have come to say thank you to the Plateau people. I have come back home to say thank you to the good people of Plateau State for their prayers, and for standing with us. I want to also thank our friends across Nigeria and the world who have stood with us, they have shown interest in what is happening on the Plateau and I want to say a very big thank you.

“I want to assure you that we began this project with God on our side and I want to assure you that God is still on our side and that by his grace, Plateau people will smile; by his grace, Plateau people will rejoice.”

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 26, 2023

BUSINESS

15

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

Harsh Economic Realities Take Toll on Real Estate Sector As operators in the Nigerian real estate sector lament the rising cost of business which is compelling contractors to either renegotiate existing contracts or settle for their suspension, the planned SURYLVLRQ RI DͿRUGDEOH KRXVLQJ XQLWV E\ ERWK WKH IHGHUDO DQG VWDWH JRYHUQPHQWV HVSHFLDOO\ IRU WKRVH LQ WKH ORZHU UXQJ RI WKH ODGGHU ZLOO QRW RQO\ UHPDLQ D PLUDJH EXW WKH DWWHQGDQW IUXVWUDWLRQ will further drive the citizen to slum and crime, reports Festus Akanbi

A

s much as the current administration pushes the QDUUDWLYH RI DQ HFRQRP\ responding to a series of reforms put in place since 0D\ REVHUYHUV VDLG WKH UHDOLW\ WKHVH GD\V LV WKH SDLQ DQG GLVORFDWLRQ EURXJKW DERXW E\ WKH LPSDFW RI VRPH RI WKHVH SROLFLHV RQ PDQ\ VHFWRUV RI WKH HFRQRP\ For the real estate sector, where operators DUH VWLOO FRPSODLQLQJ DERXW WKH HͿHFW RI WKH UHPRYDO RI IXHO VXEVLG\ DQG WKH FXUUHQF\ GHYDOXDWLRQ WKDW IROORZHG WKH QDLUD·V ÁRDWLQJ operators said this is a period to count losses and re-strategise with the hope of a better RSHUDWLQJ HQYLURQPHQW QH[W \HDU This was the focus of discussion at the recent 15th annual lecture series of the Lagos State %UDQFK RI WKH 1LJHULDQ ,QVWLWXWH RI 4XDQWLW\ 6XUYH\RUV ZKHUH RSHUDWRUV SDLQWHG WKH SLFWXUH RI D GLVWUHVVHG LQGXVWU\ ZKHUH PDQ\ ÀUPV had been forced to abandon projects, while others had to adopt survival mechanisms to survive the harsh economic consequences of SHWURO VXEVLG\ UHPRYDO DQG QDLUD GHYDOXDWLRQ /LNH RWKHU VHFWRUV RI WKH HFRQRP\ UHDO HVWDWH operators are complaining over increased running costs spanning logistics, labour, and EXLOGLQJ PDWHULDOV DPRQJ RWKHUV With the development, housing developers DQG FRQWUDFWRUV VDLG WKH\ DUH ÀQGLQJ LW GLIÀFXOW WR GHOLYHU DͿRUGDEOH KRXVLQJ IRU RYHU 75 per cent of Nigerians, who lack access WR GHVLUHG DFFRPPRGDWLRQ 7KHUH KDV DOVR EHHQ D VSLUDO HͿHFW RQ WKH SULFHV RI KRXVHV HVSHFLDOO\ QHZO\ FRQVWUXFWHG EXLOGLQJV DV ZHOO DV GHOD\HG GHOLYHU\ RI SURMHFWV

Rising Costs of Building Materials

7KH LQGXVWU\ LV H[SHULHQFLQJ LQFUHDVHV LQ WKH costs of cement and other components, such as blocks and rings, which utilise cement as D PDMRU LQJUHGLHQW IRU SURGXFWLRQ 3ULFHV RI SDLQWV UHLQIRUFHPHQW DQG VDQLWDU\ ÀWWLQJV VDQG URRÀQJ VKHHWV WLOHV DQG JUDQLWH ZHUH VDLG WR KDYH ULVHQ E\ RYHU SHU FHQW 7KLV SHUKDSV H[SODLQHG ZK\ WKH QHZV RI the recent announcement of price reduction E\ %8$ FHPHQW VSUHDG OLNH ZLOGÀUH DPRQJ 1LJHULDQV ZKR KDG KHDYHG D VLJK RI UHOLHI +RZHYHU D PDUNHW VXUYH\ ODVW ZHHN VKRZHG that the price cut remains an illusion as a bag of cement is still being sold at between 1 1 LQ /DJRV 2JXQ DQG 2\R VWDWHV DOWKRXJK %8$·V SURGXFW FRXOG QRW EH IRXQG LQ PRVW RI WKH PDUNHWV YLVLWHG The rising cost of raw materials such as OLPHVWRQH FOD\ DQG J\SVXP LV DWWULEXWHG WR SULFH LQFUHDVHV IURP KDXODJH DQG ÁXFWXDWLRQV in exchange rate, according to producers, DOWKRXJK DQDO\VWV GLVPLVVHG WKH H[FXVH JLYHQ the fact that most of the raw materials are SURGXFHG LQ 1LJHULD Also, the price of granite moved from 1 SHU WULS WR 1 SHU WULS JLYLQJ DQ LQFUHDVH RI 1 LQ PRQWKV VKDUS VDQG QRZ VHOOV IRU 1 SHU WULS XS IURP 1 SHU WULS JLYLQJ DQ LQFUHDVH RI 1 SHU WULS LQ WZR \HDUV For cement-based blocks, a nine-inch block SUHYLRXVO\ VROG DW 1 1 LV QRZ 1 ZKLOH WKH VL[ LQFKHV EORFN LV QRZ 1 IURP 1 1 7KH DYHUDJH SULFH SHU WRQQH RI LURQ URGV PP LQ WKH EXLOGLQJ PDWHULDO PDUNHW LV 1 6LPLODUO\ WKH SULFH RI

An estate in Lagos SDLQW VDQLWDU\ ÀWWLQJV DQG RWKHU LWHPV KDYH DOVR KLW WKH URRIWRS 2WKHU NH\ EXLOGLQJ PDWHULDOV OLNH VWHHO URGV FRQFUHWH ODWHULWHV URRÀQJ VKHHWV ZLQGRZV GRRUV WLOHV QDLOV SO\ZRRG DQG DOXPLQLXP URRÀQJ VKHHWV DPRQJ RWKHUV KDYH EHHQ RQ WKH ULVH LQ UHFHQW WLPHV )RU GHYHORSHUV WKDW have been able to keep pace with the rising cost of building materials, the cost of delivering UHDO HVWDWH SURMHFWV LV KLJK WKHUHE\ PDNLQJ WKH KRXVHV DYDLODEOH EXW QRW DͿRUGDEOH WR investors and real estate consumers who QHHG WKH EXLOGLQJV

Urgent Intervention Needed

$ SURSHUW\ PDUNHW DQDO\VW 0U 3DWULFN 2JXQMREL H[SODLQHG WKDW WR DGGUHVV WKHVH aforementioned challenges, the economic climate in Nigeria must be brought to normal E\ WKH JRYHUQPHQW DW DOO OHYHOV WKURXJK LWV DJHQFLHV 7KH FXUUHQW FDVK FUXQFK ERWK LQ foreign and local currencies, according to him, PXVW EH DGGUHVVHG E\ WKH &HQWUDO %DQN RI 1LJHULD &%1 WKURXJK WKH PRQH\ GHSRVLW EDQNV 7KH ÀQDQFLDO LQWHUPHGLDWLRQ IXQFWLRQ RI 0RQH\ 'HSRVLW %DQNV 0'%V RWKHUZLVH NQRZQ DV FRPPHUFLDO EDQNV VKRXOG EH IXOO\ carried out in addressing the challenges of FDVK FUXQFK He added that measures to regulate the H[FKDQJH UDWH VKRXOG EH SXW LQ SODFH E\ WKH &%1 WKURXJK LWV PRQHWDU\ SROLFLHV ´)RUH[ should be made available to importers of building materials”, he said, adding that tax KROLGD\V DQG ZDLYHUV VKRXOG DOVR EH JUDQWHG IRU WKH LPSRUWDWLRQ RI NH\ EXLOGLQJ PDWHULDOV He challenged mortgage institutions like WKH )HGHUDO 0RUWJDJH %DQN WR TXLFNO\ FRPH up with a product aimed at addressing the PDQ\ FKDOOHQJHV WKDW DUH IDFLQJ UHDO HVWDWH GHYHORSHUV LQ 1LJHULD ,Q WKH H[SODQDWLRQ JLYHQ E\ &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU RI 5DLQRLO /LPLWHG *DEULHO 2JEHFKLH

the number one impact of the fuel VXEVLG\ UHPRYDO RQ WKH FRQVWUXFWLRQ LQGXVWU\ LV WKH ULVH LQ FRQVWUXFWLRQ FRVWV DQG KRXVLQJ SURMHFWV )RU FRQVWUXFWLRQ ÀUPV SULFH KLNHV of this nature present a challenge of delivering on pre-agreed prices sold to subscribers who paid for projects RͿ SODQQHG EHIRUH WKH UHPRYDO RI IXHO VXEVLG\ &RQVWUXFWLRQ LQGXVWU\ H[SHUWV further explained that the rising cost of business stemmed from the QDWXUH RI WKH LQGXVWU\ ZKLFK UHOLHV RQ LPSRUWDWLRQ WR D YHU\ ODUJH H[WHQW ´,W is natural for prices of these imported LWHPV WR VN\URFNHW JLYHQ WKH UHFHQW slide in the value of the naira and the VKRUWDJH RI I[ IURP WKH R΀FLDO FKDQQHO µ D FRQVWUXFWLRQ ZRUNHU VWDWHG

Reassessing Construction Projects

2SHUDWRUV VDLG WKH GL΀FXOWLHV EHLQJ HQFRXQWHUHG PD\ OHDG WR DQ XSVXUJH in the number of abandoned projects because of the contesting demands, ZKLFK PLJKW LQ WXUQ IRUFH ÀUPV WR slow down on major projects, and this might also lead to the use of VXEVWDQGDUG PDWHULDOV A report quoted the Managing 'LUHFWRU RI ,QWHUVWDWH $UFKLWHFWV /LPLWHG 2OXVHJXQ /DGHJD DV VD\ing that subscribers to some housing SURMHFWV PD\ KDYH WR UH DVVHVV WKHLU EXGJHWV DQG KRZ PXFK PRUH WKH\ FDQ DͿRUG WR DGG WR WKH LQLWLDO EXGJHWV vis-a-vis the additional project cost QHFHVVLWDWHG E\ WKH QHZ HFRQRPLF UHIRUPV ´7KHVH FULWLFDO ÀQDQFLDO decisions will then determine the eventual value engineering decisions

WKH FOLHQW ZLOO DSSURYH WR EH LPSOHPHQWHG E\ FRQWUDFWRUV µ KH VDLG He further stated that developers who had DOUHDG\ VROG RͿ SODQQHG SURMHFWV WR FOLHQWV QRZ face the dilemma of reviewing prices to make XS IRU WKH VXEVWDQWLDO KLNH LQ GHOLYHU\ FRVWV

More Pressure on Low-income Earners

While construction materials often gulp the highest spending in building production, GHYHORSHUV DFURVV PDMRU FLWLHV DUH QRW HQMR\LQJ WKH EHVW RI WLPHV DV WKH\ ÀQG LW KDUG WR PD[LPLVH SURÀW 7KLV KDV DͿHFWHG WKH FRQVWUXFWLRQ RI new houses and the decline in rental accomPRGDWLRQ LQ PDMRU FLWLHV VXFK DV /DJRV 3RUW +DUFRXUW $EXMD .DQR ,EDGDQ DQG (QXJX ,Q UHPRWH DUHDV OLNH $EUDKDP $GHVDQ\D LQ /DJRV 6WDWH DQG 2ODPEH LQ WKH ,IR /RFDO JRYHUQPHQW DUHD RI 2JXQ 6WDWH D WZR room self-contained apartment now goes IRU 1 LQFOXGLQJ DJHQW IHH SHU \HDU ZKLOH D WZR EHGURRP ÁDW JRHV IRU 1 LQ WKH DUHDV For average renters, getting a two-bedroom ÁDW DW 1 KDV EHFRPH D PLUDJH DV VXFK DQ DSDUWPHQW HVSHFLDOO\ IRU QHZO\ FRQVWUXFWHG EXLOGLQJV FRXOG EH DV KLJK DV 1 DQG 1 PLOOLRQ 7KH GHYHORSPHQW KDV SXW SUHVVXUH RQ PDQ\ Nigerians, who fall within the low-income HDUQHUV VRPH FDQ KDUGO\ DͿRUG VXFK DFFRPPRGDWLRQ UDWKHU WKH\ VHWWOH IRU UHPRWH DQG GLVWDQW ORFDWLRQV WKDW RͿHU DͿRUGDEOH UHQW The expectation is that the government DW DOO OHYHOV ZLOO LQYHVW KHDYLO\ LQ KRXVLQJ SURJUDPPHV WR HDVH WKH SUHVVXUH HVSHFLDOO\ on the low-income earners who form the bulk RI WKH SRSXODWLRQ 'RLQJ VR ZLOO QRW RQO\ HQFRXUDJH WKHP WR FRQWULEXWH PRUH SRVLWLYHO\ WR WKH HFRQRP\ SURYLVLRQ RI VKHOWHU ZLOO DOVR reduce the current level of economic frustration ZKLFK LV SXVKLQJ PDQ\ WR FULPHV

16

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 26, 2023

ECONOMY

BSU Sets Agenda for Promoting Good Governance, Strong Institutions Given its tremendous natural and human resources, Nigeria has no business being labelled as a poor country, save for the gaps in leadership. The second international conference of the faculty of management sciences of the Benue State University aims to reverse this trend, writes Ofoyeju Mitchell

T

he second international conference, organised by the Faculty of Management Sciences of the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, has called on leaders at various levels to promote good governance through DQ HͿHFWLYH DQWL FRUUXSWLRQ FDPSDLJQ DQG WKH building of strong institutions in the country.

7KH VLJQLÀFDQFH DQG UHOHYDQFH RI WKH DFDGHPLF gathering with the theme: ‘Unlocking the Potential of Management Sciences for Sustainable Good Governance’ in contemporary society lie in its ability to address critical issues and provide solutions related to governance and management.

Good governance is essential for the smooth functioning of societies and organisations, and it directly impacts societal well-being and long-term development. In today’s complex and interconnected world, the challenges related to governance are multifaceted and require innovative approaches. Hence, one of the objectives of the conference was to shed light on these challenges and explore how management sciences can contribute to the development and implementation RI VXVWDLQDEOH HͿHFWLYH JRYHUQDQFH SUDFWLFHV The Vice Chancellor of Benue State University, Professor Tor Joe Iorapuu, who declared the twoday conference opened on November 2, 2023, urged participants to take full advantage of the meeting by providing durable and pragmatic VROXWLRQV WR LGHQWLÀHG OHDGHUVKLS JDSV PLOLWDWing against good governance in the country.

In his words, “let us bring back the academic culture of research and the provision of solutions to diverse challenges plaguing society by engaging in critical thinking. This will help us cope with the global high speed of academic development.” Professor Iorapuu, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academics, Professor Mike Odugbo Odey, also thanked the faculty of management sciences for taking the GDULQJ VWHS RI UHGHÀQLQJ DFDGHPLF SULRULWLHV Equally speaking at the opening ceremony, the host and dean of the faculty of management sciences, Professor Timothy T. Alabar, pointed out that holding the conference at a time when the university was marking its 30th anniversary of academic excellence was apt. He therefore enumerated some of the characteristic traits that the nation must urgently exhibit.

“Nigeria as a country needs to entrench good management principles in all tiers of governance that emphasise transparency, accountability, inclusivity, sense of community, tolerance, and responsiveness. This will help in creating trust, fairness, and respect for human dignity,” Alaba stated.

The chairman of the central organising committee, Dr. Kwaghfan Aondoakaa, explained that the ultimate objective of the conference was to develop practical solutions that transcend theoretical frameworks, thereby contributing to HͿHFWLYH JRYHUQDQFH QRW RQO\ ZLWKLQ RXU QDWLRQ but also on a global scale.

By unlocking the potential of management sciences, the conference provided a platform for researchers, experts, and practitioners to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and propose strategies to enhance good governance. This interdisciplinary approach is crucial as it explores GLͿHUHQW SHUVSHFWLYHV WR DUULYH DW D FRPSUHKHQVLYH solution. The lead paper presenter and guest lecturer, Professor Tomola Marshal Obamuyi, fascinated participants as he provided valuable insights into the challenges of good governance and the way forward.

Furthermore, the summit highlighted the urgency of adopting governance practices that are environmentally, economically, and socially responsible. Sustainable good governance practices can contribute to mitigating climate change,

Some participants at the conference reducing inequalities, promoting social justice, DQG HQVXULQJ WKH H΀FLHQW XVH RI UHVRXUFHV $PRQJ those in attendance were Professor Linus Chia, provost; Dr. Mrs. Mfaga Modom, registrar; Dr. Amos Egwurube Otse, bursar; Professor Innocent Isa Ekoja, Liberian; and Dr. Ochugudu Ipuele, Head of Department, Management Sciences; research fellows; and students.

Expectedly, the meeting displayed enormous potential to catalyse positive change in governance by fostering collaboration and inspiring stakeholders to implement the recommended solutions. This will ultimately enrich the overall well-being and long-term development of contemporary society. Some of the challenges of good governance include corruption and fraud, insecurity, political instability, a weak institutional framework, resource mismanagement, and a lack of citizen participation, among others. &RUUXSWLRQ UHPDLQV D VLJQLÀFDQW REVWDFOH WR good governance, hampering development efforts and undermining public trust. Insecurity compromises good governance by eroding WUXVW DQG FRQÀGHQFH LQ WKH JRYHUQPHQW DQG LWV ability to maintain law and order. Social unrest, FRQÁLFW YLROHQFH DQG RWKHU IRUPV RI LQVHFXULW\ disrupt the functioning of institutions and hamper JRYHUQDQFH ,Q DUHDV DͿHFWHG E\ LQVHFXULW\ LW EHFRPHV GL΀FXOW IRU JRYHUQPHQWV WR HͿHFWLYHO\ provide essential services, enforce regulations, and maintain functioning public infrastructure.

Furthermore, insecurity often creates conditions conducive to corruption, as individuals may exploit the unstable environment for personal gain. This can further impede good governance by eroding transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. It also hinders economic development by deterring investments, businesses, and tourism. It creates an uncertain and risky environment that discourages both domestic and foreign investments, leading to reduced economic growth and job opportunities. Insecurity not only directly impacts the safety and wellbeing of citizens but also threatens the foundations of good JRYHUQDQFH KLQGHULQJ HͿHFWLYH SROLF\PDNLQJ servicedelivery,andsocioeconomicdevelopment.

Weak institutions create an environment where corruption, a lack of accountability, and LQHͿHFWLYH GHFLVLRQ PDNLQJ SURFHVVHV WKULYH This hinders the ability of governments to make LQIRUPHG DQG HͿHFWLYH SROLFLHV OHDGLQJ WR D ODFN

of trust in the government and a decline in public services. It often struggles to enforce the rule of law, resulting in impunity for those in power and a lack of justice for citizens. This again erodes public trust and endangers the legitimacy of the government.

In addition, weak institutions also hinder economic development. They create barriers to business growth and investment by creating an unpredictable and risky environment. This leads to reduced job opportunities and economic growth, as businesses may be hesitant to invest in countries with weak institutions. As a result, ZHDN LQVWLWXWLRQV KLQGHU HͿHFWLYH SROLF\PDNLQJ service delivery, and socioeconomic development and contribute to a cycle of poverty, corruption, and instability.

Resource mismanagement can lead to a lack of transparency and accountability in public administration. When resources are not properly PDQDJHG LW EHFRPHV GL΀FXOW WR WUDFN ZKHUH WKH\ are allocated and how they are being used. This lack of transparency can create opportunities for corruption and nepotism, undermining good governance principles. It can hinder the equitable distribution of resources. When resources are not H΀FLHQWO\ DOORFDWHG FHUWDLQ UHJLRQV RU JURXSV may be disadvantaged and left without access to basic services and development opportunities.

This can lead to a feeling of marginalisation and social unrest and further undermine trust in the government’s ability to manage resources fairly.

Additionally, resource mismanagement may result in the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. When resources are not sustainably managed, their depletion can have serious environmental consequences, jeopardising the long-term wellbeing of both current and future generations. Apart from weakening the foundations of good governance by eroding transparency, equity, and sustainability, it hampers HͿHFWLYH SROLF\PDNLQJ DQG FDQ OHDG WR QHJDWLYH socioeconomic impacts, exacerbating poverty and instability.

Unstable political environments can hinder the LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI HͿHFWLYH JRYHUQDQFH SROLFLHV leading to the inconsistent application of rules and regulations. Limited citizen engagement and participation in governance processes prevent the inclusion of diverse perspectives, resulting in a disconnection between the government and

the governed.

After extensive deliberations, participants XQDQLPRXVO\ RͿHUHG NH\ UHVROXWLRQV WR DGGUHVV the challenges of good governance with sustainDEOH EHQHÀWV IRU KXPDQLW\ 2QH RI VXFK PHDVXUHV is the strengthening of the anti-corruption campaign. They emphasised the need for robust anti-corruption mechanisms, including good remuneration and better working conditions, transparent procurement processes, enhanced ÀQDQFLDO DXGLWLQJ DQG VWULFW HQIRUFHPHQW RI anti-corruption laws.

It is critical for the government to invest in building and strengthening institutional frameworks, ensuring the independence of oversight agencies, and encouraging collaboration across various institutions to achieve good governance.

Participants emphasised the importance of establishing stable political environments WKURXJK UHVSRQVLEOH OHDGHUVKLS HͿHFWLYH FRQÁLFW UHVROXWLRQ PHFKDQLVPV DQG LQFOXVLYH governance practices.

Similarly, the creation of platforms for citizen involvement in decision-making processes, such as town hall meetings, public consultations, and the use of technology for e-governance initiatives, was espoused. By including diverse perspectives and experiences, citizen participation promotes more inclusive and representative decision-making processes.

Besides, citizen participation fosters greater transparency and accountability.

Participating in decision-making makes it HDV\ WR KROG JRYHUQPHQW R΀FLDOV DFFRXQWDEOH for their actions, preventing corruption and ensuring that policies and actions align with the needs and interests of the people. This ultimately strengthens the social contract between citizens and the state while fostering a sense of ownership and cooperation.

Over 70 academic articles were presented and analytically discussed at the conference. The resolutions reached provide a roadmap for building sustainable, good governance. Stakeholders can contribute to the establishment of sustainable good governance practices by scrupulously implementing the resolutions while respecting constant monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

This will ultimately lead to improved societal well-being and long-term development.

17

NOVEMBER 26, 2023 • T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

SOFT FINANCE

INVESTMENT | ECONOMICS | FINANCE | MONEY | E-COMMERCE

with

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

Dissecting Cadoso’s Presentation to CIBN Last week, the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr Olayemi Cardoso was at the annual dinner of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, where he shared the policy trusts of CBN. In a discussion group coordinated by Mr Foluso Phillips, Chairman of Phillips Consulting, the CBN governor’s speech was in focus following a summary by a member. Enjoy the summary and the thread of discussions. is no hope for us if we cannot attract private sector dollars into the market, and the key to that is a lower inflation rate differential between Nigeria and the US, which provides an incentive for switching to naira-denominated holdings.

Banks are making less profit than they would like to but they are still making good money relative to most other sectors in the economy.

By the way, we need to watch this idea of big capital for banks and the banks being the basis for the $1 trillion GDP in a short period so that we do not repeat the errors of the past famous “consolidation”, which created paper tigers with fake and bubble capital that collapsed on us in just two years. Safety before size.

COMMENT # 1: WE NEED TO LOOK DEEPER

This is a good summary, but my reading on the state of the bank is more like current capital levels cannot support the $1 trillion economy the government aspires to.

Capital ratios are indeed lower on account of recent devaluation as well as historically high unremunerated reserves, which has kept industry ROE below inflation, but loan growth has also been moderate.

The pathway to attracting the capital we want into the banks goes through discontinuing some of the exoteric taxes like sterilising a third of bank’s deposits with zero interest or even penalising banks for falling short of 65% loan-to-deposit ratio when we already have 62.5% unlendable deposits (30% liquidity ratio and 32.5% CRR).

The nearly impossible equation of 127.5% of deposits has contorted many in us, especially where, due to lowered CAR, you cannot continue to lend.

In the same way, the CBN is unwinding some of its stranglehold on its balance sheet and reserves, it has to let the banks breathe so that potential investors can forecast the future of the companies that they might be investing in.

And there’s a need to rebuild CONFIDENCE with investors, too. The capital has to come from somewhere.

Of course, financial services are overburdened across the world due to sharply rising interest rates, and that pressure is about to be felt by Nigerian banks.

But no other country has tested the impact of 32.5% unremunerated CRR with a sharp rise in interest rates and a call to raise capital.

Yet I don’t see a universe where we return to the traditional CRR anytime soon - the government just can’t afford to give up the N2 trillion it saves in interest-free OMO (that’s what the CRR is).

We can’t keep squeezing the oranges and hoping to excite investors in what is left. Capital is scarce, and Nigeria can be scary. We need to spice up banking stocks to raise the capital we need to achieve our $ 1 trillion economy.

COMMENT #2: NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY

As much as one agrees that the determination of the CRR debits to banks

by CBN needs to be more empirical and transparent, I don’t quite agree that both Liquidity Ratio and CRR cumulatively sterilise 62.5% of Loanable Deposits.

This is predicated on the fact that most of the components for determining the two ratios are overlapping like cash and bank balances, T-Bills, other qualifying assets, etc.

In this circumstance, the determination of the two ratios does not cumulatively suck out 62.5% of Loanable Deposits as the banks’ narrative tries to make us believe.

The determining components are largely overlapping, interwoven and interrelated, and therefore, well below the touted percentage cumulatively in reality.

Indeed, if we assume without conceding that 62.5% of Loanable Deposits are sterilised, the question will be: From what sources are the banks funding their Loan Books and consistently declaring mouthwatering profits despite the downturn in the real sector of the economy?

COMMENT # 3: WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE BIC PICTURE

I sympathise with the banks here, but

COMMENT # 4: FINANCIAL SERVICES RETURNS NOT ATTRACTIVE

Cardoso

Summary Of CBN’S Governor’s Presentation Bank Recapitalization We must evaluate the adequacy of our banking industry to serve the envisioned larger economy. It is not just about the stability of the financial system at the present moment, as we have already established that the current assessment shows stability.

However, we need to ask ourselves: Will Nigerian banks have sufficient capital relative to the financial system’s needs in servicing a $1.0 trillion economy in the near future? In my opinion, the answer is “No!” unless we take action. Therefore, we must make difficult decisions regarding capital adequacy.

As a first step, we will be directing banks to increase their capital.

1 TRILLION ECONOMY IN 7 YEARS, NOT 2-3 YEARS The administration, as outlined in the widely circulated Policy Advisory Council report on the national economy earlier this year, has set an ambitious goal of achieving a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $1.0 trillion over the next seven years, with we also need to look at the big picture. It is not the fault of the banks, but we have had almost nine years of CBN printing money excessively for FG. Unwinding a substantial amount will take time, and the cost has to be shared around.

This means FG must pay higher interest on its debt, CBN must bear higher costs of open market operations, and banks will have to forgo some profit in the form of interest on deposits and reserves with CBN. These are the costs of irresponsible management of money supply, which all must bear to rein in inflation and stabilise the exchange rate.

So long as inflation is running north of 25%, it will take those kinds of interest rates plus a premium on gilt to convince investors to switch from dollar to naira assets. In the absence of substantial dollar reserves, there

clearly defined priority areas and strategies.

BANKS MIGHT NOT PASS A PROPER STRESS TEST Nigeria’s financial sector has demonstrated resilience in 2023, with key indicators of financial soundness largely meeting regulatory benchmarks. Stress tests conducted on the banking industry also indicate its strength under mild-to-moderate scenarios of sustained economic and financial stress, although there is room for further strengthening and enhancing resilience to shocks. Therefore, there is still much work to be done in fortifying the industry for future challenges.

CBN GOVERNING BOARD APPOINTMENT DELAYED THEREFORE NEW MPC ALSO DELAYED THE NEW FX SYSTEM IS NOT READY, SO FOR NOW NFEM REFOCUS ON CBN CORE MANDATE AND PROPER GOVERNANCE

By the way, we need to watch this idea of big capital for banks and the banks being the basis for the $1 trillion GDP in a short period so that we do not repeat the errors of the past famous “consolidation”, which created paper tigers with fake and bubble capital that collapsed on us in just two years

Mouth-watering is a Nigerian investment analysis term rarely used elsewhere.

It’s either the return on equity that is competitive (and this is/can be seen via the trading multiples or the inflow of new investment), or it is not.

If we believe the return on investment in banking is great (mouth-watering), we need not bother - once the new capital requirements are determined, investors will jump in to capture some water.

I believe that referencing risk-free yield/ inflation is the better way to establish if we are likely to attract the capital we need.

As for whether or not the sterilised deposits add up to 60% of local currency deposits, the data is public. Not much to debate.

I am of the view that capital currently does not find financial services return attractive, especially foreign capital facing our recent history of currency devaluation.

COMMENT #5: CBN AND OUR $1trillion ECONOMY

As much as one endorses the long overdue change in policy deposit back to orthodox monetary policy, inflation control and price stability; and the aspirational statements towards a $1 trillion economy; there is still a question hanging: where will he get the $20bn-$30bn that I suspect he needs right away to balance his accounts and give him (and the country) a breather?

That said, even if he somehow obtains the funds he needs so urgently, our path to a $1 trillion economy is very much rough and filled with potholes unless we can get our energy and transportation infrastructure base truly sorted out and away from being the disablers that they are today …issues that he can do little directly to affect.

COMMENT # 6: ACCESS OF THE 43 ITEMS TO FOREIGN EXCHANGE: NEED FOR BALANCE

Over the years, import substitution created positivity: Rice Mills all over the country including the involvement of some state governments, but when the import pipes were opened, these rice mills were strangulated. Some of them must have accessed funds from the money market.

The eventual fallout would be job losses.

I remember in the 80s when the Ibrahim Babangida Administration banned the importation of vegetable oil. Some investors, notably Ferdinand Enterprises, took advantage of this ban to set up vegetable oil factories with funds borrowed from Union Bank. Within two years of this investment, with the lobby of some local and international “hawks”, the administration unbanned importation. The rest is history as Ferdinand’s securities used for the loan were FORECLOSED.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R NOVEMBER 26, 2023

PERSONALITY

Udom Inoyo: A Deserving Honour for a Humble Titan Despite the remarkable achievements of Udom Inoyo, the former Vice Chairman of ExxonMobil Nigeria, his humility and modesty continue to define him. His distinctive demeanour sets him apart as an individual widely admired by those who interact with him. Recently, the University of Uyo bestowed on him an honorary doctorate of law, a testament to his outstanding contributions, writes Vanessa Obioha

Federal University of Uyo, Prof. Nyaudon Ndaeyo, conferring honorary doctorate on Inoyo

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hen the Council and Senate of the University of Uyo convened to acknowledge and honour iconic Nigerians at its recent combined convocation ceremony, a unanimous decision was reached to include the retired oil executive and philanthropist, Udom Inoyo, on the distinguished list. This choice stands as a clear testament to Inoyo’s outstanding leadership and remarkable achievements. Consequently, at the ceremony, his philanthropic endeavours and corporate leadership resonated prominently as he was bestowed with an honorary doctorate of law.

Hailing from Ikot Okoro-Ubium, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Inoyo commands deep respect in the region, thanks to his substantial contributions that have left a lasting impact on various communities.

An exemplary instance highlighted during the ceremony underscores his role in elevating the state’s status amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Inoyo facilitated the donation of a $100,000 Molecular PCR testing equipment to Ibom Specialist Hospital in Uyo, a gesture that distinguished Akwa Ibom as the only state in Nigeria with two PCR machines for testing suspected COVID-19 cases. His generosity not only saved numerous lives but also addressed various health challenges. Notably, Inoyo was enlisted in the post-COVID-19

Economic Reconstruction Committee by the state government, underscoring his active involvement in shaping an economic roadmap for the state’s recovery.

A holder of degrees in political science and law from the University of Calabar, Inoyo served as the Executive Vice Chairman of ExxonMobil until his retirement in 2020.

His professional journey began in the administrations of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states. However, his career experienced a meteoric ascent within Nigeria’s Upstream Oil and Gas industry, where he spent approximately 16 years on the Board of ExxonMobil Companies before ascending to the role of Vice Chairman in 2018.

The accomplished professional commenced his oil and gas career in the industry at Mobil Producing Nigeria in 1989. By 1998, he had moved to Mobil Exploration and Production in New Orleans, followed by assignments at ExxonMobil Inter-America in Coral Gables, Florida, and ExxonMobil Production Company in Houston, Texas, USA. In 2000, Udom transitioned to Belgium, contributing to the Center of Expertise for Compensation and Benefits at ExxonMobil Petroleum and Chemical BV in Brussels.

He returned to Nigeria in 2001, taking on the role of Manager of Human Resources Policies and Programs. Inoyo was appointed General Manager of External Relations in 2002, which enabled him to interface with critical stakeholders to

mitigate the crisis in the oil-producing region. These engagements would also occur outside Nigeria, providing him with the platform to engage with relevant US Government departments, members of Congress, and non-profit groups to inform and elicit broad-spectrum support to resolving the restiveness. In 2007, he was identified by President Olusegun Obasanjo as one of the country’s Economic Drivers and Bridge Builders. Udom was elected to the Board of Mobil Producing Nigeria as an Executive Director in 2004.

In 2006, he assumed the In-Country Human Resources Manager position and, beyond numerous strategic representations at various industry and government platforms, also served as the Chairman of the Human Resources Sub-Committee of the Oil Producers Trade Sector of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce (OPTS). He utilized this platform to educate critical stakeholders about industry issues and peculiarities, promote Oil and Gas project resourcing, facilitate Nigerian Workforce Development, and secure a stable work environment through positive National Labour Union engagement. In 2017, Udom was appointed by the Presidency to serve on a committee for the interview and selection of would-be Federal Permanent Secretaries in Nigeria. He also served as the National President and Chairman of the Council of the Country’s Human Resources

regulatory body, The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM).

Inoyo holds memberships in the Nigerian Bar Association, the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria, the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria, and the Danne Institute for Research Board, and serves as a trustee for the Women in Energy Network. Recognized with numerous professional and community awards, in 2012, the ExxonMobil Cooperative Society honoured Udom for his leadership and commitment to corporate governance by naming a one-hundred-unit Housing Estate at Ajah-Lagos “INOYO HAVEN” in appreciation of his contributions.

He is also an alumnus of the Lagos Business School and Thunderbird School of Global Management, USA. He is currently studying at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Inoyo’s passion lies in education, human capacity, and development. In 2007, he founded the Inoyo Toro Foundation in response to the private sector’s role in the education field. The foundation has garnered acclaim for its substantial impact, including a noteworthy investment of N500 million in the enhancement of teaching and learning in Akwa Ibom. A standout achievement was identifying Mr. Ephraim Jacob Inyangudo, a young Physics teacher, who, after receiving multiple awards from the Foundation, went on to earn the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Award in September 2022.

Additionally, the foundation sponsored the 2021 Akwa Ibom Tech Week Pitch Competition, fostering innovation in the state.

Still demonstrating his commitment to quality education, Udom established a library in his village of Ikot Okoro-Ubium, providing valuable learning resources and development opportunities for students.

His influence is prominently evident at the University of Uyo. In 2014, he served as the Guest Speaker at the 19th/20th Convocation, and the following year, played a pivotal role in the creation of the International Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Research (ICEESR) at the University. Continuing his support, in 2017, he backed the University’s Live Theatre Performance ‘’Adiahaobong,’ a stage adaptation of Effiong Johnson’s play, ‘Install The Princess.’

Additional efforts he endorsed for human capacity and development involved collaborating with the Royal Arts Academy to launch Akwa Ibom’s first film monotechnic. This initiative provided training in various aspects of the film industry, including script writing, cinematography, and film editing. Furthermore, he established the Ray Ekpu Annual Award for Investigative Journalism in 2021, aiming to enhance the capabilities of journalists in Akwa Ibom state.

Additionally, he fostered an interest in creative writing among the youth of Akwa Ibom State by hosting Professor Joseph A. Ushie during his conferment with the Fellowship of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).

Despite his remarkable achievements, Inoyo remains humble and modest. His demeanour sets him apart as an outstanding and admired individual by those who interact with him.

This quality was evident in his speech at the convocation ceremony where he underscored the importance of Nigerians embracing timetested values such as discipline, hard work, and honesty for the revitalization of the nation.

He illustrated this point using the analogy of a mirror reflecting one’s true status.

“We all have our roles to play. This university must peep into its mirror and drive only activities that elevate it as a citadel of learning.

The graduating students must also act on the school’s motto: Unity, Learning and Service, just as our political, religious, and traditional leaders must be conscious of the place of history in their lives and lead with integrity. Then, the almighty followers must awaken to supporting only credible leaders.”

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2023 • T H I S D AY

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20

T H I S D AY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2023

ABIODUN KOMOLAFE urges leaders to live up to their promise

DILEMMA OF UNENDING PROMISES IN DEMOCRACY

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t is a glorious thing to have a tested leader as the president of a country. It is also a blessing when the president means what he says and when what he says is not just believable but also approved by the people. Such a society is bound to swim in an environment of enormous possibilities because the question of trust is taken care of. The question of purpose is also sorted. Be that as it may, it is a two-edged sword: the leader will have to be conscious of time and calculative of his achievements while the mass of the people must remain critical in terms of the goals and objectives of the government.

As for the people, that’s what will give them the leverage in terms of the measurement of performance of the critical goals and objectives of the government.

As for the government, to achieve its goal, no Ministry is sacrosanct; no policy is a no-go area. In other words, there should be no sacred cows. So, a leader worth his designation must be exceptionally bold.

Promises are good when they are implemented. They create an atmosphere of trust and a political capital that is difficult to deplete. But when promises are made but broken, they deplete the political capital faster than a bullet. It is like thunder and lightning.

Integrity also wanes. The more the believability of a gladiator wanes, the faster the credibility and the ability to win elections fly away. If one tells the people something and that thing wanes, so is a certain percentage of one’s political capital waning.

The more reason a leader has to guide the currency of his or her promises, because nobody wants to trade with a currency that’s under suspicion. In other words, once it gets to a point where the people are no longer eager to listen to their leader’s voice, trouble looms.

It is no longer news that President Bola Tinubu has promised to let the poor breathe!

He has promised to banish poverty! He has also promised to fight insecurity to a standstill! As a matter of fact, Nigerians have lost count of the promises made by this administration since May 29. Early this week, Tinubu vowed that no student would drop out of school on his watch! The point is: Nigerians are tired of unending promises from their leaders. In the 80s, Nigerians were promised houses, stable power supply, affordable and qualitative education and ‘everything for all’ by the Year 2020. This is 2023 and … here we are! So, Tinubu needs to prove to the world that he is different from the abnormal norms. He should learn, especially from our recent past, because examples of people who started well but ended badly abound.

Successive governments have taught Nigerians how to get weary of unending promises. It’s a bad experience which they don’t want to relive. On May 29, 2015, Muhammadu Buhari assumed office as Nigeria’s president. Buhari came into office standing on a tripod: security, fight against corruption and infrastructure development and job creation. By the time he was leaving office on May 28, 2023, life in Nigeria as a Nigerian had become extremely hard. So, only God can rate the former president’s performance and thank him on behalf of Nigerians.

For instance, Buhari had promised to recover every Chibok girl captured by Boko Haram. He had also promised to lead Nigeria ‘from the front.’ But that’s what they were: unfulfilled promises. Mention the economy under Buhari and Nigerians would be quick to recount how he acted King Rehoboam.

On the war against corruption, some of those who were around between December 31, 1983 and August 27, 1985 would have by now concluded that those who impishly said that Nigerians were being ruled by one funny ‘Jibrin from Sudan’ might not have been sincerely wrong. So, when Femi Adesina said that his principal fulfilled all his promises to Nigerians, one could not but marvel at the height of insult on the collective intelligence of Nigerians.

‘If the foundation be destroyed …?’ The problem with Nigeria has been a dearth of forthright and insightful leaders; and that’s why dear country has been in this sorry pass. The late Obafemi Awolowo was too elitist in his time; and he ended up being sandwiched by anti-elitist elements! It was a serious issue but, even at that, Awolowo did some things which clearly distinguished him as a forthright leader. For example, when the then University of Ife was to be established, the Ikenne-Remo-born politician resolved to make it the best university on this part of the planet. To achieve this, he ordered the hiring of the best brains from across the globe, even if it would cost the Western Region a substantial amount of resources.

Reports had it that it was Awolowo who personally looked for Professor Hezekiah Oluwasanmi as the university’s pioneer Vice Chancellor. Decades after its establishment, the institution, now rechristened Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), still retains even its powerful aesthetic appeal.

Tinubu as an individual is determined and he’s working. But where are the Ministers?

Where are the Ministers of Agriculture and Power for instance? The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has not uttered a word or made a policy statement since his inauguration. On his part, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari has refused to take advantage of the low-hanging fruits that the sector presents, both in terms of the massive food production advocacy and provision of employment opportunities to mitigate the stress on the economy. In fact, what is only known about ‘Penkelemesi’ is his running upandan, crisscrossing between Ibadan and Abuja; and it’s as if his destiny depends solely on the governorship seat of Oyo State, come 2027.

Without doubt, too many promises are a panacea for loss of focus. Therefore, Tinubu should let Nigerians know which among his promises are achievable before this first term expires.

For instance, if he is going to provide electricity, let it be that Tinubu has said that electricity is his main focus. In any case, two terms of eight years can’t even be enough to resolve the many challenges bedeviling the sector. But at the end of the day, Nigerians won’t have to go back to it again.

Komolafe writes from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State

The Tinubu administration should prioritise the improvement of security to instill confidence in potential investors, argues SONNY IROCHE

ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY AND NIGERIA’S FOREIGN POLICY In my article titled “Steps Needed to Attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into Nigeria” published in THISDAY, July 15, 1999, I highlighted the importance of positioning the Nigerian economy as an attractive destination for FDI. Today, in the face of ongoing economic challenges, these steps remain relevant and urgent.

Unfortunately, not much has changed, and certain aspects of our national life have even deteriorated further.

One of the most pressing issues is the alarming increase in insecurity. Violent attacks on communities, the actions of militant bandits, and the overall state of insecurity have created a hostile environment for potential investors. Addressing this issue should be a top priority for the government, DV LW LV FUXFLDO IRU LQVWLOOLQJ FRQÀGHQFH DQG attracting FDI. Additionally, the sharp drop in the exchange rate of the Naira against foreign currencies DQG WKH VWDJÁDWLRQ VWDWH RI WKH HFRQRP\ KDYH IXUWKHU GDPSHQHG LQYHVWRU FRQÀGHQFH To reverse this trend, the government must implement effective economic policies that promote stability and growth. This includes DGGUHVVLQJ LQÁDWLRQ LPSURYLQJ WKH H[FKDQJH rate, and implementing measures to attract foreign investors.

Nigeria, as the largest economy and powerhouse of Africa, is currently facing VLJQLÀFDQW HFRQRPLF FKDOOHQJHV ,Q RUGHU WR address these challenges and maintain its leadership position, it is crucial for the Tinubu administration to continue to drive economic diplomacy as the focus of its foreign policy.

Since his inauguration as the president, President Bola Tinubu has been crisscrossing the world, marketing the country in India, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, the UK and a few African countries. While the Vice President, Kashim Shettima has visited, Russia, Italy and South Africa, promoting and marketing Nigeria.

Economic diplomacy, which focuses on promoting economic interests through diplomatic means, can play a pivotal role in attracting FDI into the country. However, to effectively ramp up FDI, Nigeria must address various domestic, economic and socio-political challenges. Because a country KDV WR ÀUVW EH VWURQJ LQ PRVW VRFLR HFRQRPLF sectors, to be in a position to embark on international economic diplomacy. It is therefore essential to explore the key areas of our national life that need to be addressed, including security, ease of doing business, consistent and predictable government policies, market-driven economy, sanctity of contracts and upholding the rule of law, repatriation of dividends and capital, infrastructure, and human capacity development.

One of the primary concerns for foreign investors is the security situation in Nigeria.

The Tinubu administration must prioritize the improvement of security measures to LQVWLOO FRQÀGHQFH LQ SRWHQWLDO LQYHVWRUV %\ effectively combating insurgency, terrorism, and other forms of criminal activities, Nigeria can create a conducive environment for economic growth and attract more FDI. Another crucial aspect that needs attention is the ease of doing business. Nigeria must streamline its bureaucratic processes, reduce red tape, and simplify regulations to make it easier for both local and foreign businesses to operate. By implementing reforms that facilitate business activities, such as faster company registration, review RI WKH /DQG 8VH $FW HIÀFLHQW WD[ V\VWHPV and transparent procurement processes, Nigeria can enhance its attractiveness as an investment destination.

Consistency in government policies is also vital for attracting FDI. Investors seek stability and predictability in the business

environment. The Tinubu administration should ensure that policies are not subject to frequent changes, as this can create uncertainty and deter potential investors.

By providing a stable policy framework, 1LJHULD FDQ EXLOG WUXVW DQG FRQÀGHQFH among investors, encouraging them to invest in the country.

A market-driven economy is another crucial factor for attracting FDI. Nigeria should focus on creating an enabling environment that promotes competition, innovation, and entrepreneurship. By reducing government intervention in the economy, encouraging private sector participation, and promoting fair competition, Nigeria can attract more foreign investors who are seeking opportunities in a dynamic and marketoriented economy.

The sanctity of contracts and upholding the rule of law are fundamental for attracting FDI. Investors need assurance that their contracts will be honored and that they will have legal recourse in case of disputes. The Tinubu administration should prioritize judicial reforms, strengthen the legal system, and ensure that contracts are enforceable. By upholding the rule of law, Nigeria can build a reputation as a reliable and trustworthy investment destination.

Repatriation of dividends and capital is another critical aspect that needs attention. Investors need to have FRQÀGHQFH WKDW WKH\ FDQ UHSDWULDWH WKHLU SURÀWV DQG FDSLWDO ZLWKRXW DQ\ restrictions. The Tinubu administration should implement policies that facilitate the repatriation process, ensuring that investors can easily transfer their funds out of the country.

Infrastructure development is a key driver of economic growth and FDI. Nigeria must invest in improving its infrastructure, including transportation networks, power supply, and telecommunications. By developing PRGHUQ DQG HIÀFLHQW LQIUDVWUXFWXUH Nigeria can attract more investors who require reliable and well-connected facilities to operate their businesses.

Lastly, human capacity development is essential for sustaining economic growth and attracting FDI. The Tinubu administration should prioritize investments in education, skills training, and research and development. By developing a skilled and educated workforce, Nigeria can enhance its competitiveness and attract high-value investments that require specialized knowledge and expertise.

Iroche is 2022/2023 Senior Academic Visitor, African Studies Centre, University of Oxford, UK

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2023

EDITORIAL

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

AN ERA OF FRIVOLOUS BUDGETS It’s time to halt the rising profligacy in public office

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The indices of poverty everywhere make it difficult for us to understand the recklessness that drives this recourse to profligacy, especially at a period when prices of goods and services in the country have skyrocketed S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN DEPUTY EDITORS FESTUS AKANBI, EJIOFOR ALIKE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

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A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

26.11.2023

ROGERS OFIME Wura and Its World of Adaptation In just a few days, ‘Wura,’ the spellbinding Nigerian telenovela on Showmax, known for its intriguing storyline and compelling characters will return. As the premiere of the second season beckons, Vanessa Obioha encounters its executive producer, Rogers Ofime, who revealed the intricacies of adapting the South African award-winning drama ‘The River’ for the series while building momentum for the upcoming season ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/victoria.olaode@thisdaylive.com.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R NOVEMBER 26, 2023

23

COVER

We were very intentional about ‘Wura’ being uniquely Nigerian

W

ith the conclusion of the first season of ‘Wura’ in July on Showmax, avid fans were left teetering on the edge of their seats.

What lies ahead for Wura in the upcoming season? Will Kanyinsola succeed in her mission to dismantle her? And what twists await in the intricate love triangle involving Tumi? These nail-biting questions have heightened anticipation, setting the stage for the much-awaited second season premiere on Showmax, scheduled for Monday, December 4.

For renowned filmmaker, Rogers Ofime, who serves as the executive producer of the series, the buzz surrounding Showmax’s first Nigerian original telenovela is nothing short of surreal. While accustomed to the accolades that often accompanied his TV productions, what set ‘Wura’ apart for him was the widespread embrace and acceptance the show had garnered.

“I wasn’t expecting the outcome that we got from ‘Wura’ in terms of viewership and the buzz,” he said in a recent encounter. “The fact that the positive reviews have been way higher than the negative for me, feels very good, fulfilling and humbling.

That you can get to do something although you want to tick all the boxes you know, of course, you can’t get 100 per cent, yet people are willing to overlook the flaws because the positive outweighs the negative.”

‘Wura’ is an adaptation of the compelling 2018 South African telenovela ‘The River,’ an original M-Net production that spanned six gripping seasons, set against the

portfolio boasts the longest-running TV show in Africa, ‘Tinsel,’ the captivating telenovela ‘Hush,’ the comedic gem ‘The Johnsons’ and the gripping 2015 thriller ‘Oloibiri.’

Armed with multiple degrees in Theatre and Dramatic Arts, including a Master’s in Business Administration, Ofime found inspiration in mentors such as Nigerian film producer Tade Ogidan and Erika Klopper. According to him, these mentors played a pivotal role in providing his initial breakthrough in the television and film industry.

Being an adept filmmaker, he recognised the imperative of leaving an indelible mark with the ‘Wura’ production. First, he travelled to the original set of ‘The River’ in South Africa, immersing himself in the ambience to capture its unique feel and tone. Two weeks later, having absorbed the nuances of South Africa’s production style and quality, Ofime made a pivotal decision to shoot ‘Wura’ using the sophisticated RED camera.

“We told ourselves that every episode should be a film.”

Together with his crew, they embarked on this mission, engaging in a series of meetings, ensuring that every element from set to wardrobe seamlessly fit into the unfolding story of ‘Wura.’

“We actually got a 35-acre rundown hotel in Osun State. We tore it down and rebuilt it. We had the opportunity to build other sets too. We were very adventurous with the project,” Ofime explained.

Like ‘The River,’ ‘Wura’ is premised on a mining factory. Ofime, in his quest for authenticity, scoured locations with active mining operations. Fortune smiled upon him when Iperindo, a mining community nestled in Osun with a gold mining company, seamlessly aligned with the

backdrop of the South African envisioned mining industry. setting, In this Nigerian providing the iteration, the spotlight perfect canvas for shines on the titular the unfolding narrative. character, ‘Wura,’ Scarlet Gomez stars as ‘Wura’ in the Nigerian Telenovela on Showmax “We were portrayed by very intentional Scarlet Gomez. about ‘Wura’ being uniquely Nigerian.

Her character embodies a captivating From the setting, wardrobe, dialogue to the duality — ruthless and ambitious in mannerisms,” he disclosed. the pursuit of maximising profits for This was in line with Showmax’s her gold mining company, yet a stark mission to tell authentic local stories that contrast as a loyal and protective wife resonate with the audience. and mother within the confines of her “We’re incredibly proud and home. excited about the reception Wura With the international acclaim of garnered over the course of its first the award-winning ‘The River’ and season,” said the Executive Head, its successful franchising to other Content and West Africa Channels, countries such as Portugal, Ofime Multichoice, Busola Tejumola. “The faced a formidable task when he positive engagement the show acquired the rights to produce the received reaffirms our stance on the show for Showmax: how does he make power of local storytelling.” this a uniquely Nigerian production?

She added, “As Africa’s Original Notably, this was not the first streaming service, we will continue to occasion the filmmaker, who invest in telling impactful stories, as commenced his journey in movie, well as nurturing the next generation television, and commercial production of Nollywood stars.” back in 2001, was steering such Another distinctive element of significant projects. His impressive ‘Wura’ was Ofime’s decision to open

Ofime

with a symbolic shot of fire, deviating from the river motif used in the South African original production.

An integral part of ‘The River’ that made it successful was the queer narrative.

Adapting this angle to the Nigerian iteration where topics revolving around the LGBTQ community are often muted in film and TV productions posed a bit of a challenge to Ofime. He admitted his initial apprehension, acknowledging the complexity and potential controversy surrounding such a character.

“I was a bit scared at the beginning because ‘The River’ has been adapted in Kenya and Portugal and they did not go the queer route. But that narrative was part of the reason ‘The River’ was successful. So there was the issue of whether we should go that route or not,” he said.

After much deliberation with his team, they arrived at the realisation that embracing a queer character in ‘Wura’ was a risk worth taking. While anticipating potential backlash from the audience, the team recognized the importance of acknowledging the existence of the LGBTQ community in Nigeria. Moreover, they understood the responsibility placed upon them to present this narrative with sensitivity and the right perspective.

“It depends on the frame with which we are presenting the narrative.

We could be saying to parents to give their children the liberty to choose who they want to be. We could also be saying to parents that there is a change in the world we live in today and that requires them to pay more attention to their children instead of being consumed by work and other financial obligations.”

Finally, they boldly introduced Lolu (Iremide Adeoye), a closeted gay character and the son of Wura, into the storyline.

“Some people talked about it, some didn’t but the amazing thing is that the show was accepted in its totality,” Ofime said.

Much of the buzz around ‘Wura’ is centred on Gomez who recalled in a chat the divided opinions among viewers— some offering unwavering support, while others express disbelief, questioning the intensity of her character with remarks like, “How can you be so wicked, you’re just a woman.”

Speaking about her character, Gomez shared that embracing the various facets of Wura was both challenging and intriguing.

“I drew inspiration from several

strong female society figures from our culture and iconic female Nollywood characters. I also studied the fantastic execution of the South African lead but I had to keep in mind that due to the unique cultural differences, translation will need to be different,” she explained.

Much like the fans, Gomez admitted to occasionally supporting Wura and found herself making excuses for every one of her character’s misdeeds.

“That was the part I found most interesting because at some point I had to be in denial to be able to play the role convincingly.”

With these varied reactions, the decision to cast Scarlet Gomez as the lead in ‘Wura’ emerged as a triumph for Ofime. While acknowledging the abundance of notable actresses fitting the role in Nollywood, Ofime opted for a breath of fresh air, seeking a unique perspective and a portrayal that would add a distinct flavour to Wura’s character.

“I didn’t want an actor who would play this very easily and is also familiar with the audience. I wanted someone who could grow with the character. Someone that people would not associate her performance before now to what she’s bringing to the table. I think that worked for Gomez. It was a little tough at the beginning, but she got into it.

And I’m glad that she proved herself worthy of the character.”

Indeed, Gomez’s outstanding portrayal earned her a nomination in the Best Actress in a Drama, Movie, or TV Series category at this year’s Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA).

With the first season culminating in its 100th episode, Ofime hopes that the audience’s attention, captivated thus far, will seamlessly transition into the eagerly awaited second season.

“It’s very difficult to hold viewers’ attention, but I’m glad for one thing: we have done it successfully with 100 episodes. It’s amazing when I hear someone say they watched 100 episodes in four or two days. It takes a show to be captivating enough to be able to do that. We hope we can implement this in the second season because it is breathtaking.

Without giving away too much, Ofime tantalisingly hinted at an upcoming twist that promises to captivate the audience, particularly in the development of Wura’s husband, Tony, portrayed by Yomi Fash Lanso.

For Gomez, she hopes the new season will delve into the intricacies of Wura and explains why “she made some of the most controversial decisions that were seen in season one.”

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R NOVEMBER 26, 2023

24

HighLife

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

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

The Otedolas Celebrate Elegant and Beautiful Mama Attah at 90

Aregbesola

Aregbesola on Political Hiatus?

Politics in Osun State is almost as tedious to watch as in the neighbouring regions.

The reason for this is the inconsistencies of the players. At present, the All Progressives Congress (APC) heavyweight of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, has disappeared from view. His replacement is none other than his erstwhile gubernatorial successor, Gboyega Oyetola. But what does that say about the former Minister of Interior?

Deciding to restrategise away from peering eyes would be a smart choice for the immediate-past Interior Minister. After all, it was under his watch that Ademola Adeleke of the PDP won the governorship election in the state. Despite putting in the efforts, Aregbesola could not manage the hopes of the people in the APC, culminating in near-total abandonment after that glorious election.

Furthermore, even though Aregbesola inaugurated a political group which he named the “Omoluabi Caucus” in an attempt to maintain the might of his party, that group is nowhere to be found now.

Instead, the faction bearing the weight of the party’s trite conquests in Osun is led by Aregbesola’s successor-turned-opponentturned-nobody-knows, Oyetola, the current Minister for Marine and Blue Economy.

With these contrary winds billowing against him, is there any chance that Aregbesola will rise from darkness and silence to possess the limelight of Osun’s political vigour? Will Aregbesola’s confidence ever be recognised as valour as in the past and will this recognition bring him to the national scene?

Nobody can answer these questions until Aregbesola leaves his shell. Who knows how long that will take?

The family of billionaire businessman and Chairman of Geregu Power PLC, Femi Otedola came out a few days ago to celebrate their matriarch, Madam Cecilia Abosede Attah, the mother of Otedola’s beautiful wife, Nana. It was a colourful party, with friends and relatives at hand to gladden the hearts of the birthday celebrant.

One can never tell the distance that Otedola would travel to celebrate his birthday or those of his loved ones. For his mother-in-law’s, it was a surprise to many that the genius business investor decided to settle in Lagos. However, once the location was decided and decorations completed, it became obvious that the Otedolas intended to break away from the conventional birthday celebrations.

The entire family came out in bright red, blue, and pink, with Otedola garbed in his usual white. The lady of the house, Lady Nana, had her daughters around, and she similarly hung around her mother, the 90-year-old celebrant. Each smiling in their shared happiness, the Otedolas demonstrated their commitment to each other and the way of familial harmony, unstained by controversies and contention.

While Madam Attah enjoyed her 90th birthday celebration party organised by her son-in-law and granddaughters, guests could only mill around, basking in the joyous atmosphere. It helped that Lady Nana looked her usual best, with skin looking softer than milk and the

L-R: Son-in-law of the celebrant, Femi, Florence, Temi, daughter of the celebrant, Nana and Tolani.

unrestrained gait of a girl in her late teens. Madam Attah undoubtedly went to bed Even with Otedola looking on in pride, that night with bubbling bliss in her heart.

Gbenga Ashafa Set to Redefine Federal Housing Authority … How His Sterling Stewardship Put Nigeria on Global Map

Ashafa

Commitment is one of the determinants of progress and eminence.

Knowing this, Senator Gbenga Ashafa has given everything within his power to discharge his duties as the MD of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). With old goals met and new goals in view, Ashafa might have what it takes to bring Nigeria’s housing problems to a downright

termination, earning a good place in the history books.

Since 2020 when Ashafa arrived at FHA as MD to steer it forward, the agency has gone the extra mile in meeting the expectations of the government and people.

Despite the necessary alliance with sister agencies, FHA under Ashafa has achieved much in the area of housing, repairing the government’s image regarding sincerity and speed.

At present, the cheers for FHA are set to reach an all-time high due to Ashafa’s plans. According to reports, the FHA boss intends to address the issue of homelessness in Nigeria once and for all. Focused on reducing the number of homeless individuals across the nation, FHA is reportedly putting together the necessary human and financial capital to meet this goal.

Ashafa’s goal might not have appeared in the public viewing domain, except that he reportedly requires the assistance of the government. The former Lagos East senator believes that with N500 billion, FHA will be able to provide affordable housing for Nigerians.

In the 50 years since FHA has been in operation, this is the first time it has stirred the reservoirs of reverence among Nigerians.

After all, few individuals would dare to ask the federal government for such voluminous funding, defying commonsense as they promise to account for every penny. But Ashafa is no ordinary man as he has shown in times past, helping to relocate Nigeria’s housing crest on the global map.

Ashafa has set out to change the housing narrative in Nigeria. With a N500 billion funding, his wits, and the prompt response of his FHA team, anything is possible.

Dr Awele Elumelu: Woman at the Top League of Extraordinary Champions: As Beauty is only one of the many marks of an amazing woman. Included in this constitution are elements such as intellect, diligence, and vision. Dr. Awele, the wife of Tony Elumelu, has these marks in a healthy balance. As she exercises them even more frequently these days, it is not surprising that her fortune is gradually catching up to that of her husband.

Dr. Awele is turning out to be a toptier Amazon among the female players of the corporate game in Nigeria. Initially only publicly invested in the medical field, Awele is coming out of her shell. 2023 saw her climb out of corporate obscurity and reach a height that many big players in the country are still struggling to cross.

It is true that her husband, Tony Elumelu, is a business and investment giant.

His shadow reaches across industries.

Nevertheless, Dr. Awele has not been benching on his influence alone. Instead, her guts have brought her this far, culminating in familiarity and experience, as well as a springboard for even greater things in the future.

the World Celebrates Goodluck Jonathan at 66 It’s a few weeks to Christmas, but many are happily wishing the darling of democracy, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, eight maids-a-milking, representative of the eight beatitudes.

And why not—when the former President of Nigeria is the best thing the country has had since independence.

Now 66 years and counting, Jonathan’s existence is a blessing to the people of Bayelsa state, Nigeria, Africa, and the civilised world.

The deeds of Jonathan as president continue to resound to this very day, even though two different presidents have been admitted to office since his departure. It might be how Jonathan left Aso Rock Villa, composed and unattached, that won him the respect of sane minds, affixing his name on the marble

Jonathan

plaques of Honourable Statesmen.

Leaving aside many of the accomplishments of Jonathan while in office, the man embodied the interests of the people. During the election that saw him vacate the GCFR role, Jonathan warmly congratulated his rival on the latter’s victory even before the results were announced. By doing so, Jonathan shielded the nation from unnecessary bloodshed, long hours in court, and general unrest.

That action of Jonathan was the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa. Every other course of action bearing resemblance to it has been categorised as an imitation, including the most recent in Liberia. But this is how legends live, creating paths for others to follow.

At 66, Jonathan has affected the world.

He has reached a height of recognition as an honourable figure that even he might never have imagined. To call him an icon and champion of democracy is not too much.

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HIGHLIFE

The Comedy Politics of Dino Melaye … What Next for the Fashionable Politician?

Melaye

Kogi State politics is not for the faint of heart. An ill-prepared individual might lose his composure, dignity, money, or whatever else

they entrust to the political engines. Senator Dino Melaye, despite his wisdom in these things, still failed to achieve his aim of being the state governor for the next four to eight years, even after restraining his comedic style of politics.

Melaye, the tiger of Kogi State as to politics is not in the highest of spirits. After losing the gubernatorial election to a newcomer, Usman Ododo, proxy candidate for the outgoing Governor Yahaya Bello, things have taken a downturn. It hurts all the more because Melaye was on his best behaviour throughout the exercise, never dancing, hawking, or climbing trees to scramble from kidnappers and assassins.

The 2023 gubernatorial election in Kogi was surprising this time because Melaye did not engage in any of his usual antics. Readers would recall how he brought out his inner Michael Jackson during the presidential campaigns, mocking everybody but his principal. Nobody was shocked at his demonstrations, merely pushing it aside as classic Dino.

However, it was a big shock when

the senator did not perform any such dance during his campaigns for the Kogi governorship position. Instead, he maintained a sober disposition, successfully displaying the demeanour of someone with the burdens of the people’s interest on his shoulders. Unfortunately, it did not work.

Even though Melaye is not convinced of his defeat at the hands of Bello or the All Progressives Congress (APC), there is not much he can do. The momentum of the APC is too strong, especially taking into account the outcomes of judicial interventions in election results.

But the future is bright for the carloving and glitzy man. His charming personality qualifies him for top roles across the entertainment industry in Nigeria and abroad. Asking him to become a comedian is too much, but he can definitely chair a new industry, evolving his comedic disposition with his amusing political intrigues, manoeuvres, and tactics.

Will Kingsley Kuku Return to Nigeria after Many Years of Hiatus?

Time heals all wounds, physical, economic, and social. Foremost politician and environmental rights activist, Kingsley Kuku subscribes to this ideology. Therefore, after spending some time away from the limelight, the once-influential man is returning to the public eye. Whether or not he will successfully integrate himself with the powers that be remains a matter of speculation.

Kuku is likely the most sweet-tongued individual in his generation of political figures, having seamlessly transformed his activist passions into matters for the public, resulting in the nation recognising him. As far back as many can remember, Kuku’s distinctiveness did not come from being eloquent, although he is, or being of fervent spirit. Instead, people loved Kuku because he could relate to others, seeing past circumstances to arrive at the core of a thing.

This aspect of the 53-year-old activist enabled him to earn the respect of the founders of the Ijaw Youth Council, where he is recognised today as a pioneering member of the

group. This paved the way for his involvement in politics, including his election into the Ondo State House of Assembly where he was made the Chairman of the House Committee on Information.

The peak of Kuku’s political career might have been the Special Advisory role to former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria on Niger Delta Affairs, or his becoming the chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. However, things got a bit messy and Kuku deliberately left the spotlight.

Today, Kuku looks ready to return. He has started speaking on national issues, the most recent being the health condition of Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu. Even though the latter is now mostly back on his feet, it is on record that Kuku reached out at his time of weakness and offered emotional support.

Perhaps, when Akeredolu is back to the strength of his power, Kuku will be included in his blueprint. Even if Akeredolu forgets, other power players are at least aware that Kuku is still in the game.

Kuku

Are Wike and Fubara Back for Good?

Wike and Fubara

There was a time when critical political crises in Rivers were clearly understood. Now, with Nyesom Wike wielding authority from a distance and Governor Siminalayi Fubara rubbing shoulders with him, one cannot say whether the duo is back to being in each other’s

good books.

Previously, Governor Fubara was believed to be waging war against his predecessor, Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. So serious was the alleged conflict that loyalists of Wike at the state House of Assembly initiated the proceedings to impeach Fubara. Simultaneously, the latter’s loyalists fought back, attempting to rid the state of Wike’s influence.

However, everything was eventually settled.

Both Fubara and Wike were summoned to Aso Rock Villa by President Bola Tinubu, shook hands, and supposedly buried the hatchet. This soap opera was reinforced by the duo appearing together to canvass for foreign investment in Abuja, with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo joining the campaign.

There is only one issue with all of these: while Wike and Fubara are fidgeting over foreign investors, the Rivers State House of Assembly

allegedly remains knee-deep in controversy and crisis. According to reports, the factions of Wike and Fubara continue to lock horns, going so far as holding sittings in different locations.

One would assume that once the herders have settled, the herd would follow suit. But this is not the case with Wike and Fubara’s people. This indicates that the reconciliation may not have been finalised or that the honourable members of the Assembly are acting independently, no longer pursuing the interests of their chiefs.

The current powers in the state have blurred out party lines, as nobody from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could settle the rift between Wike and Fubara despite the duo being the immediate past and present flag bearers. It was Tinubu, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who sorted out their issues.

Ayodele Subair: The Taxman Making a Difference in Lagos There is no better combination of impact than diligence with skill. The people of Lagos State have picked up a gem this time in the person of Ayodele Subair, the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). With Subair making moves left and right, it is only a matter of time before Lagos takes the lead in developing sustainable tax initiatives among Nigerian states.

Subair’s expertise is being put to great use at LIRS. The state government is enjoying praises from every corner on this account, as Subair and his team roll out more initiatives to counteract the gaps in the state’s taxation engine.

Given the breakneck speed for the implementation of these initiatives, Nigeria as a whole might usher in a new era in levies and tariff models.

Subair’s latest initiative rollout revolves around the collection of the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurants Consumption Tax (HORCT).

According to reports, LIRS has arranged a modernisation of this tax process, duly employing available technological measures for this upgrade.

Named the Eco Fiscal System (EFS), the upgrade to HORCT includes an automated solution for invoicing for involved businesses. These include hotels, event centres, restaurants, bars, and other

facilities in Lagos. With this upgrade, the tax process will be easier, ensuring greater compliance with the state’s tax laws.

This achievement from Subair is well-thoughtout. Informed observers are already praising it for being the biggest addition to LIRS in recent years, indicating a significant change in the way things are done. But this is expected since Subair’s erudition cannot go to waste, the same with his experience.

Given the pace at which Subair is transforming LIRS for the better, Lagos is set to climb to the peak with no other state to compare with it on the subject of tax compliance and convenience.

Subair

Tinubu

The Return of Siemens Project President Bola Tinubu will be remembered by generations to come for many things, including the speed of his doings. One of the most recent of his dealings is the potential resurrection of the Siemens Power project, an initiative conceived by the previous administration. Now that the opportunity has presented itself, President Tinubu intends to animate the project.

Public commentators have nicknamed President Tinubu the junketing president due to his many travels. But these travels are proving useful, especially the one to Berlin, Germany, in which the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, received Tinubu. And since the occasion was the G20 Compact with Africa conference, President Tinubu pressed on all opportunities.

According to Tinubu’s spokespersons, the president made sure to bring up in discussion with Chancellor Scholz the Siemens Power project. In return, Scholz reportedly promised the support of the German government as long as the project’s momentum went beyond the initial stage.

The Siemens Power project was first brought up in 2019. It was one of the pincers of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) believed to be capable of reversing the power supply issues in Nigeria. However, despite setting goals for power generation for 2021 and 2023, as well as approving funds to get the ball rolling, the project handlers started to dawdle, citing the cost of materials.

With President Tinubu’s interest, the project handlers will likely pick up the pace. After all, the German government needs to see some sincerity before committing themselves to the project. On this front, Tinubu has much to do, especially since electricity generation is a big issue in the country, with businesses relying on it for dear life.

But a genuine implementation of the Siemens Power project blueprint could really change the adventure for Nigeria. Once that happens, Tinubu’s name would be carved on the roll of presidents who helped to fix the nation’s electricity structure, preparing the foundations for modern life for the nearly 300 million citizens.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R NOVEMBER 26, 2023

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

A FERVENT PLEA FOR NIGERIAN JUDICIARY This whole thing is now becoming a huge shameful joke. From Abuja to Kano to Imo, everywhere, the judiciary is on its knees, hobbled by incompetence, corruption and lack of principled leadership. I watched the other day when the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, my brother Olu Akpata, lamented at a session at the International Bar Association. As he spoke, shame was my companion. He said so many shameful things about the judiciary, leaning very heavily on his experience while at the NBA which gave him a front row seat in the tyranny of incompetence that seems to have ensconced the judiciary.

One remarkable thing that he said was that it was a very difficult thing to get a very competent judge because the process is so corrupted and skewed.

Competence in that space is a rarity and has now become a thing that now relies on luck – my words.

You see, the demise of this democracy will be the doing of the judiciary.

We seem to have lost all hope in its ability to uphold the tenets of democracy. The tenets of fair play and justice now seem very alien to these ones.

They carry their big heads and are sending judgments that leave the rest of us scratching our heads in bewilderment.

To say it in the mildest of tones, the judiciary has gone to the dogs. It is no wonder that a candidate in a recent state election said he was not wasting his time going to court because he had lost all confidence.

The judiciary has been captured, it is now a “kobo kobo” judiciary and this is sad. See

this Kano own, I just weak - as we say it in Shomolu. I just weak. How do you toy and play clannish games with the lives of over 200 million people?

I don’t know how we can resolve this one o, because it looks like “ebola has really catch our judiciary.” What we have now is not a judicial system but a systemic mockery of it. As it is, it’s better to approach the famed “Icheokwu” court to seek redress than to work into any court in the land.

Yes, this is a deliberate general statement. I challenge the whole Nigerian judiciary from the Supreme Court in Abuja to the Magistrate at the Oyingbo Magistrate court to rise up and prove me wrong. I am waiting.

Ariwoola

Duru

Akpabio

Doherty

Otti

FOR GENERAL DURU, JOY COMES IN THE MORNING I walked into his office here in Lagos.

He stood up to shake me and offered me a seat. He had called to ask me to “calm down” in my quest to be the first Akwa Ibom President of the alumni of our great school, Command Secondary School Lagos. He was an officer and a great gentleman. He listened very carefully to me and at the end of my long and boring speech, said something: “See, Edgar I have served the Nigerian Army for about 35 years, these are the last few days of my service and I would like to leave in a blaze of glory. Do not let this your campaign affect that because I have received a signal from headquarters asking me what exactly is going on.”

My people, me? Army Headquarters?

For the small alumni president I wanted to be? I just stood up and said, “My General, please help me tell them at the headquarters, that I am very sorry to have disturbed their sleep and that I have stepped down…”

He laughed and I said, “General, make we go chop afang, leave the alumni thing, na play.”

This is the same General who wanted to leave in a blaze of glory that has

been kidnapped a few months after leaving in a blaze of glory. He was reported to have been kidnapped while having a casual drive in Imo and has not been seen since then, almost two months plus.

Just as I was about to fire and scatter the army authorities for allowing such a strategic and high-ranking retired officer in the den of kidnappers for this long, I got a call: “Edgar, I hear you want to write something, please note that the Army is in close contact with the captors and are doing everything very possible to make sure the General is released.”

I said: “My brother, is he still alive?” and he assured me that he is very much alive and that a two-way communication has been established and is ongoing. This now softened my approach to this write up.

But if it is very clear that a “Raid on Entebbe” kind of thing cannot happen, we can at least offer the kidnappers a “victim swap deal”. I know some people who have been sending prayers to their colleagues’ emails and who have been accused of turning their colleagues to slaves that we can swap General Duru with so that we can rest.

General Duru has served this nation with verve. He has operated in so many theatres of war and joined the Army right from secondary school, meaning that he has known no other life than that of service and it is in this regard, that I state very urgently that the authorities should do whatever is in their capacity and beyond to ensure the very safe return of this great Nigerian hero from the hands of his captors.

Court has not given judgement. So Mr. Akpabio has now turned into a prophet to see into the very near future as to dimension an Appeal Court judgement on a matter that has not been concluded.

My people, this Akpabio is just rolling in the deep. His tenure continues to be an embarrassment, showing the very browning backside of Nigerian politics in its most unattractive manner. Just as we were about to move on from that one, another clip emerged of a senator screaming – are we your slaves?

Mbok, the impunity with which this our Senate President is rolling is unprecedented. This man, if not carefully managed at this point, may end up upturning democracy. I tell you.

Does he even know what it takes to be a Senate President? I am afraid we may have put a skit maker in the third most powerful job in the land.

GODSWILL AKPABIO ROLLING IN THE DEEP Over the weekend, someone sent me a video clip of this our Senatorin-Chief at a thanksgiving service in Akwa Ibom. If you watch the clip very well and at the end, you will see a place where he was congratulating the governor, Pastor Eno on his recent victory at the Appeal Court. Now shebi there is nothing wrong with that abi?

Well, before you all will now come and say, this Duke of Shomolu has come again and before his media man come and accuse me of being bitter because he scattered my “ekwong” business while he was in Uyo, just pause and take it in that the Appeal

FUNSO DOHERTY AS A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK Shebi they used to say that we should “fear quiet people.” This one looks very quiet but very wicked o or how do you explain what he has just done to Governor Sanwo-Olu. You see that his letter weak me o. Me that I am a very

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staunch supporter of the governor.

This one tire me. I read the letter from different angles and so many times, looking for which angle to attack Mr. Doherty, but my people, I did not see any loophole o.

The man did his homework. He took the department of public procurement to the cleaners, leading them to hurriedly go and “tweaking” the website and making the deputy governor rush out to shout that it is not N2 billion for rechargeable fan o, that it is only N2 million. Kai, N7million for perfume for governor? My people, Doherty do the homework.

I remember meeting him once. It was at the Olu of Warri’s Ikoyi home in Ikoyi. I had gone there to pay my obeisance and walked into him and his very beautiful wife which I later learnt is an Itsekiri woman. I had written a scathing commentary on his ambition which didn’t go down too well with the couple.

As a gentleman, he greeted me with a handshake and a smile, but madam could not hold back, she gave me a slight frown and a nod of her beautiful head like say, you see yourself.

Well, the elections came and Mr. Doherty “carried” almost bottom of class but has now reemerged as the voice for accountability, putting the government on its toes and ensuring that things are done very well.

Kudos to him for his courage which will now begin to put some level of “fear” in public expenditure.

ALEX OTTI AS HUNGRY MAN IN POWER This my brother shock me o. Not only me, but millions who have just learnt from reports in the media that in less than three months in government, he has spent close to N900 million on food and welfare.

Although they have come out to clarify that the amount was what was spent in total by agencies, ministries and all others but for the governor’s office they claimed about N300 million.

My people, it’s looking like na food this one come chop for government.

You know that he has been out in the cold for a while. After leaving banking, he has been trying for this position severally each time jamming roadblock. Finally, he has emerged and he must eat. Hungry go don catch oga, so he must reenergise and eat.

Well, the only problem is that he is not opening the bazaar for the rest of the state but only for his cronies who will sit down and wickedly eat between N200 to N300 million worth of food and welfare in three months according to their own admission.

This is a new one o, usually we hear of perfumes, rechargeable lamps, prayer mats but just food? This Mr. Otti must have been very, very hungry.

Please can Abia people stand up and ask more questions o, or should we borrow them Mr. Doherty to come and write a letter before this their vertically challenged governor come and eat up all their destiny. It’s not as if they are even eating Afang, shebi it cannot pass Isi Ewu and beer. Na wa Mr. Otti.

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, I BEG TO DISAGREE You know in Nigeria, we like shortcuts. Everything is “wuru wuru” to the answer. So because we cannot reform the judiciary as we are being faced with gangster judgements, we should now go to the fundamentals of democracy which is separation of powers and destroy it?

The judiciary is very key in this equation and it must remain independent and above the fray as it adjudicates the democratic process. So

today we now have “amala judiciary” and instead of us querying it, we are asking why only “three men” will take decisions that affect millions.

Mbok, when the electoral process has long gone to blazes, what with the malfeasance that we see dailydid you guys even just see the Kogi fiasco? We will now come and remove the powers of the judiciary to adjudicate? Then it is over.

My Lord, I think what you should be leaving your very heavy weight on right now is how to hold the judiciary accountable. How do we clean the Augean stable that has become our judiciary? How do we weed out the

“craw craw” infested operatives who mask as judicial officers and replace them with astute and God-fearing people who will now help us rebuild our country.

It is not to uproot it or seize its role but to reform it and this must be done very quickly. Thank you, sir.

OLUBUNMI TUNJI-OJO: A PRISONER’S FRIEND Is this not the same minister that cleared the passport backlog? It is now looking like this minister is now the only silver lining in this administration o. Have you heard that he would be reducing the general prisoner

Buhari

MUHAMMADU BUHARI: CAN WE MOVE ON? Abeg, can we just move on?

Who has time for this General Muhammadu Buhari? Is he even worth the data I used to watch that nauseating interview on NTA? I suspect that this Buhari interview would have been the only interview that all Nigerians would have loved for Rufai Oseni to handle.

Rufai would have smacked that cheeky laughter out of his lean face. See, I respect elders a lot, especially elders who are almost as old as Methuselah and who have, by a freak of luck, emerged a two-time leader of this great country after attaining the highest post in our military.

But this particular leader has lost whatever visage of respect that I have for him. For him to laugh about the question on corruption is the lowest anybody can go to, talk less of someone who led us for eight years. I

don’t know how you guys see this but I see it as the very worst you can do to a people who have given you so much.

You dragged the country for eight years into an abyss, turning us into a zoo and bankrupted us and when asked what you thought of corruption, you say it is our problem amidst a huge clownish laughter.

It is not his fault na. Shebi we have a penchant of choosing our worst to rule us abi? If we were normal people, why and how would he now come and rule us? How for the life of me will Muhammadu Buhari come and rule a country that has sense?

Well, the country is bankrupt but still intact, we can only just pick up the pieces from hurricane Buhari and rebuild ourselves.

The question to be asked at this juncture is, have we learnt any lessons from this fiasco? Have we?

population by five per cent, clearing the fines of about N500 million which have kept many people in prison and rehabilitating them?

With this, he would be releasing about 4,000 prisoners and not only that, he would be giving them some stipends and training to rehabilitate them before they are re-integrated into society. The remarkable thing in all of these is the fact that all of these are not costing the government a dime as he had raised the funds through a corporate responsibility initiative.

My people, these are the people that have sense. This man has come to government with a different mindset and has begun to show a very powerful sense of purpose.

Well-done sir and God bless you for this. Can we do this annually and see if we can achieve a 10 per cent year on year reduction if not, with the kind of judiciary we have that your five per cent will be wiped out with no time and for the rest of you Nigerians, this is the best time to go to prison, I tell you. Just try am.

SO&U: THIRTY PLUS THREE HEARTY CHEERS Let me quickly send a “thirty-three plus three” hearty congratulations to my brother Udem Ufot and his team at SO&U. The massive agency has survived several coups, economic meltdown, Buhari and is now doing well under Tinubu to the point that it just rolled out the red carpet to celebrate its 33rd year in business.

No wonder, I saw a chat from Mr. Ufot the other day asking for my address. Me that I am thinking they have hacked his account, looked very well at the picture on his DP before I sent the address. You know you have to be very careful in this country. For them to kidnap a whole retired Army General and we have not been able to release him for the last two months, is it me that will have hope?

Anyways, I started seeing things that showed that Mr. Ufot, who is very legendary for his goat meat pepper-soup, was about to send me a gift in celebration.

SO&U is a piler player in that space. They have worked very closely with the biggest and brightest brands in the country.

Recreated and headlined the renaissance of an industry that has expanded so many times into fragmented but equally profitable sub sectors which have driven very succinctly market dimensioning all within this same 30 year period.

I hear the agency was set up by three friends, Udeme, Julia and Sagay, three very vision driven young people. I send my hearty cheers and do wish them another thirty years of dutiful engagement with the markets.

ELVINA IBRU AND OKAFOR’S LAWS That was how my big sister, Ruth Osime, once again invited me to her very powerful programme ‘Perspectives.’ This time to discuss Okafor’s law and brought my everlasting crush, the very beautiful Elvina Ibru. The topic was very engaging and pulled in a lot of viewers. Okafor’s law has been with us for generations and it simply says – once you have had a woman you will always have her again. As expected, the debate was heated and as the only man in the room with three super beautiful, super gorgeous women, I was defeated. In my heart of hearts, I know that Okafor’s law stands and will stand forever but the bewitching beauty of Elvina, Ruth and Oniru weakened me as I was not up to my usual top-notch performance.

I ask for a rematch.

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Orikolade Karim Rejoices at 55 There is no better concrete definition of a man born under the proverbial lucky star for the Nigerian billionaire businessman Orikolade Karim.

Since childhood, his path has been laced with more roses than thorns.

It is a well-known fact that Karim, who is also the Agbaboye of Ibadanland, didn’t attain his towering status and position by chance or mere luck. With dedication, hard work and prayers, he was able to climb the ladder of success within a short while.

Highly cosmopolitan and blessed with the demeanour of a perfect gentleman, Karim, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Shoreline International, is now a world-class consummate businessman,

Karim

Kunle Soname: Quintessential Businessman with the Midas Touch

Afolabi

Yet Another Feather for Olori Janet Afolabi Olori Janet Afolabi, CNN award-winning journalist and Queen of Apomu Kingdom, has forever proven that milk of kindness runs in her. Since her husband ascended the throne of his forefathers, her humanitarian gestures have been felt by many around the kingdom, particularly, women and school children.

So, it was not surprising when recently she emerged as Most Outstanding Innovative Humanitarian Personality of the Year, at the 7th Prestige Excellence Award and Lecture.

The award was given to Olori Afolabi for the innovative nature of the financial aid she gives to indigent and vulnerable market women in Apomu, headquarters of Isokan local government area of Osun state.

Since 2020, Olori Afolabi has been assisting many women with no-interest loans for them to expand their businesses or start new ones. The financial aid began after the Covid-19 lockdown when many businesses were devastated.

Olori Afolabi said she started the programme as a simple act of kindness. “But today it has become my flagship project.”

She dedicated the award to God for using her as a vessel to drive financial development in her community.

The award, which was held on November 12, at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, is the brainchild of Prestige News Online and Prestige International Magazine. It is dedicated to extolling the virtue of hard work and uncommon achievements.

Wale Abiodun, Executive Director, Prestige Excellence Award and Lecture said the award is also aimed at celebrating and honouring deserving individuals, corporate bodies and professional institutions that have made remarkable impact on society.

investor, and oil and gas guru.

Last Friday, the amiable mogul clocked 55. The Oyo State-born businessman, whom Providence has granted the grace to get the best out of life, appreciated God’s grace and for sparing his life so far.

Not given to loud and elaborate birthday celebrations, Society Watch gathered that the birthday boy celebrated the new age touching lives with his usual goodness and munificence.

Expectedly, he also enjoyed a flood of greetings, and goodwill messages poured on him by his friends, fans, business associates as well as admirers who described him as a friend and brother of a rare kind.

Soname

That Kunle Soname has crested his name in the list of investors in Nigeria with the Midas touch is simply stating the obvious.

The Ogun State-born billionaire businessman is a go-getter whose audacity is simply out of this world. His convictions moved mountains, his determination shattered ceilings, while his confidence dared in the strangest of places.

Despite the risk involved in business in Nigeria, he believes so much in his country and his economic growth. The politician, soccer enthusiast and head honcho of Soccer Gaming Company Bet9ja, upped his ante when he delved into the aviation industry last year October, and in one year he has become one of the

industry’s top players.

As a calculated risk taker, he studied the industry carefully, capitalising on the Achilles heel of his competitors by providing an aviation experience that has not been witnessed in the country.

Today his ValueJet is the delight of many air travellers for its sartorial comfort, time consciousness, skilled onboard team and neatness of its aircraft.

He is said to be enjoying impressive patronage because he is a stickler for an excellent business mindset and unmistaken eyes for details. If there is anything you can say with certainty about Soname, it is the fact that he has his eyes fixed on the future and greater heights.

Hat off to Nigeria Customs Czar, Adewale Adeniyi

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men”, says Proverbs 22: 29.

This Biblical quote encapsulates the life of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi.

The story of the Osun State-born would make a compelling read and inspire the younger ones, most especially for his hard work, dedication to work and the uncommon integrity and honesty that he showcased in his career. These rare attributes, as gathered, helped him to worm himself into the hearts of many.

According to the source, his appointment came at the right time, just as many Nigerians have cast doubt about the good image of the Nigeria Customs Service.

The graduate of International Relations from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife comes across as a strategist and one of the

most intelligent officers in the agency and also one of the few officers who can brandish intimidating and impressive academic profiles.

No less is expected from those around when such a man is promoted. Applause, commendations, and of course loud ovations have been pouring in torrents since his elevation to the position of CG. Adeniyi has made a big difference and justified the applause that has trailed his appointment as a thoroughbred career officer and the helmsman of the agency.

He has been described as one of the most reliable, loyal and dedicated professionals in the history of Nigeria Customs. He attaches great value to integrity and quality with his disruptive leadership mindset.

Adeniyi brings an unrivalled wealth of experience, expertise, and leadership skills into the esteemed position having served in

Adeniyi

different positions in his sterling career in the Nigeria Customs Service. A professional that is conscious of the need to build a solid image for the agency.

Princess Fifi Ejindu’s Under-reported Oratory Power

Ejindu

Elegant, sophisticated, highflying! These are a few of the many sterling words that fit into the description of Princess Fifi Ejindu. No one can deny the fact that the name is essentially synonymous with success.

This woman of substance has successfully engraved her name in the hearts of the generality of her compatriots. Even across the globe, she is not a colourless personality!

Her name also evokes a lot of images in the minds of her fans: success, wealth, ambition, power, philanthropy and fellow-feeling, among others.

The life of the beautiful architect, who was born with blue blood in her veins would inspire any ambitious soul any day and any time.

From a young age, she had a clear vision of what she wanted to do in life, and she pursued it with unwavering doggedness. She loves to create her own path, little wonder she has scored many firsts in her business trajectory.

Over the years, this amiable woman, who has expanded her coast beyond her chosen field of practice, has displayed a unique ability to also translate those pristine ideas into concrete reality.

However, this seems not to be news anymore. But one thing that has been underreported about the very pretty and stylish woman is her powerful oratory skill, perhaps, it has never caught the attention of news-hounds. The businesswoman, as gathered, showcased this to the world recently when she was inducted as the President of the Angola-Nigeria Business Council by former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, alongside other eminent members at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja.

The founder of StarCrest, while delivering her speech, spoke extensively on how to deepen the relationship between both countries beyond government-togovernment interactions by bringing together business leaders to explore opportunities that both countries have to offer.

She was also a spectacle to behold when she was a guest speaker at an event organised by the Viva L’Amour Lions Club held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja Lagos. She mesmerised the audience with her speech as she spoke on entrepreneurship and the risks involved.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R NOVEMBER 26, 2023

29

GLITZTRIBUTE

Atiku: A Man for All Seasons Phrank Shaibu

C

hampions are made from something they have deep inside of them – a desire, a dream, a vision, says the great Mahatma Gandhi.

This typifies clearly the life and times of Waziri Atiku Abubakar, who, despite the odds against him from early childhood, overcame all the hurdles and vicissitudes of life.

Born on November 25, 1946, to the family of Garba Abubakar – a Fulani trader and farmer – Atiku was the only child as his sister died at infancy.

Before adolescence, his father died by drowning while crossing a river to Toungo, a neighbouring village in Jada. He was thus raised by his widowed mother, Aisha Kande, and his maternal relatives. As the man of the house, he did menial jobs while also schooling at the same time to provide for the family. He was a herder, a trader, and a farmer.

Of course, his life changed when he joined the Nigeria Customs Service in 1969 and quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the most senior officers within just 17 years of service. And through it all, Atiku never forgot his humble beginnings.

This is one of the reasons he has continued to support several causes and foundations and has awarded dozens of scholarships to indigent students so that they can also have a chance of a bright future.

In the late 80s, he joined partisan politics even though he did not need to having fulfilled his immediate dream of lifting his family out of poverty. But out of this burning desire to lift millions more out of poverty so that they could achieve the Nigerian dream just like he had achieved his, he decided to join partisan politics.

Despite winning the governorship election of Adamawa State back in 1991, his victory was questionably annulled by the powers that be.

He contested the presidential primary of the Social Democratic Party and lost. But he soldiered on.

Even though he was not directly affected by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election since he was not on the ballot, he put everything he had on the line in order to fight for democracy and was almost killed

by General Sani Abacha’s goons in the mid 90s. Despite getting his fingers burnt in politics, he decided to contest again in 1999 for governor of Adamawa State and won. But he was picked as running mate to General Olusegun Obasanjo and subsequently became Vice President.

As Vice President, he fought against attempts to amend the constitution and extend the tenure of executive office holders even though he could have been a beneficiary of such a move. By this move, he played a role in not just entrenching democracy but preventing Nigeria from becoming a failing state like some African countries that have removed term limits for their heads of state.

During his trying days as Vice President, his official privileges were revoked by the powers that be. But this did not stop the Waziri from paying salaries and allowances of his personal aides. He continued to

Atiku

look after them and tried as much as possible to shield them from persecution.

Many in government today are products of Atiku’s benevolence, including some in the country’s ruling party today who have gone on to become senators and governors.

Simply put, he is a leader amongst leaders.

He also believes in the power of education as a liberating force for the individual and the country. He often says that education gave him all the advantages he had and that he will also stop at nothing to make sure that quality education becomes a priority in Nigeria. Atiku, also, is a deliberate

educationist As a family man, he is almost immaculate. His belief about family is that discipline should be the watchword. His children, of course, are well educated, and he enjoins them to be good ambassadors of the family who must not be associated with any immoral conduct that will tarnish the family name.

As a principal, I say without hesitation that Atiku Abubakar is a father figure. He is compassionate and humane. He is affectionate, too.

It is almost impossible to be around him and not feel the energy of the goodness of his character.

He is also a deliberate politician.

Atiku has made several unsuccessful attempts at the presidency, which have cost him money and comforts but he continues to do so in the service of motherland. He has made mistakes but has also been a victim of the fraudulent nature of Nigeria’s elections and the judicial malpractice associated with election cases.

Despite his string of defeats, not a single life has been lost on his account

He sees political power as an instrument to create a progressive society. He is very deliberate about everything he does and takes time out to reach out to associates in their great moments and sad ones Atiku has made several unsuccessful attempts at the presidency, which have cost him money and comforts but he continues to do so in the service of motherland.

He has made mistakes but has also been a victim of the fraudulent nature of Nigeria’s elections and the judicial malpractice associated with election cases. Despite his string of defeats, not a single life has been lost on his account. This is because he continues to have faith in Nigeria and its people and also believes that his ambition to serve the people of Nigeria cannot be done at the expense of human life.

This cannot be said of other politicians who have promoted violence because of electoral defeat.

For some, Atiku’s many attempts at the number one seat in Nigeria smacks of desperation. They think he should remain a private businessman and retire from politics. He may not have succeeded at becoming president, but he has tried and has done so for the most altruistic of reasons.

Some had even argued that he should not have challenged the result of the presidential election in such a vociferous manner but congratulated the winner of the fraudulent election so that he could continue to enjoy government patronage. But he stood his ground and pursued the truth and made sure that Nigerians knew it. This is the height of bravery even though our courts decided to dwell on technicalities rather than substantial justice.

There are no regrets whatsoever.

Because as Theodore Roosevelt once said, “It is not the critic who counts…

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming. If he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Without a doubt, the story of Atiku Abubakar is one of victory, success, and beating the odds. It’s about a man who was dealt a bad hand early in life but refused to be limited by his background and rose from the ashes like a phoenix. It is about a man who, despite his many defeats, has refused to lay flat on the canvas like a defeated boxer but continues to rise every time he falls. He is a man who has lifted others and has continued to trust in humanity despite the many betrayals he has faced.

His, indeed, is a life well spent. It is only fitting to conclude that Atiku Abubakar is a gift to the world. Waziri, your birthday deserves to be a national holiday, because you are a special treasure for all that you’ve done.

May the love you have shown to others return to you in manifold measures.

I wish you the happiest of birthdays, Your Excellency t 4IBJCV JT 4QFDJBM "TTJTUBOU PO 1VCMJD $PNNVOJDBUJPO UP UIF 'PSNFS 7JDF 1SFTJEFOU "UJLV "CVCBLBS

30

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R NOVEMBER 26, 2023

GLITZ ENTERTAINMENT

Are You a Thief?

Stories by Vanessa Obioha This was the crucial question posed by the President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Victor Okhai, during the antipiracy roundtable organised by MultiChoice Nigeria. The event, which aimed to dissect the pervasive piracy ecosystem, brought to light the ongoing challenge of intellectual property theft in Nollywood.

Piracy has long been a thorn in the side of Nollywood, and with technological advancements, the problem has migrated to digital spaces like Telegram. Here, pirated creative works are readily available for free download, exacerbating the impact on the industry. But are pirates the only culprits? How prompt are regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in tackling these crimes? Is the judiciary well-equipped to convict perpetrators? These were some of the questions tackled by the panellists which included legal practitioner and intellectual property expert Obafemi Agaba, Deputy Director, Operations, NCC, Charles Amudipe, and Channels Head, Africa Magic, Evi Odafe, at the session moderated by Arise News TV presenter Ojinika Okpe.

For Agaba, intellectual property piracy is simply stealing.

“Once you’ve taken whatever does not belong to you, without the permission of the owner, you are a thief,” he said.

“What the pirate does is to exploit a creative work without the permission of the owner in different forms, whether by reproduction of the work or by making the work available to the public, or an adaptation of the work. In whatever form you have exploited that work without the permission of the owner of the work, you have become a pirate and therefore a thief.”

In response to Okpe’s question on why piracy fuels, Okhai explained that “ pirates fill a gap. It could be a price gap, which means there are certain people who can’t afford a creative product or are not willing to pay the amount. The pirates

L-R: Legal Practitioner and Intellectual Property Expert, Obafemi Agaba; Deputy Director, Operations, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) Lagos, Charles Amudipe; Television Presenter, Arise, Ojinika Anne Okpe; Executive Head of Content and Channels West Africa, MultiChoice, Dr Busola Tejumola; President, Directors Guild of Nigeria, Victor Okhai at the MultiChoice Antipiracy Roundtable event held in Lagos.

therefore take advantage of it. Again, when demand is not met by the filmmaker, pirates fill in that demand.”

For filmmakers Chichi Nworah and Uche Ikejimba, the financial and mental toll of seeing their works pirated cannot be understated. They called for more punitive actions and regulation by bodies like NCC. While Amudipe acknowledged the NCC’s efforts in securing convictions, Agaba argued that the judiciary is not well equipped to pass judgment on intellectual property crimes. He, therefore, advocated for a specialized intellectual property court to handle such cases effectively.

But the filmmakers are not the only victims of piracy as Odafe Odafe revealed that even industry giants like MultiChoice Nigeria are not immune to piracy, with

Jimmy Jatt, Omawumi, Emma Nyra, Others To Headline Afrobeats In America Festival Renowned disc jockey, Jimmy Jatt, and other Nigerian artists like Omawumi, Emma Nyra and Kelly Hansome have been confirmed as headliners of the Afrobeats in America Festival.

Organised by Epic Media Enterprises, the familyfriendly event conceived as part of activities to celebrate Black History Month next year will run for a weekend and is packed with lots of entertainment.

The weekend will open on Friday, February 16, 2024, with a pre-party at the Z on 23 Rooftop. The main festival will take place on Saturday, February 17, at the Discovery Green, and will be followed by an after party the next day.

Jatt CEO of Epic Media and founder of the festival, Akpor Gbemre, emphasised that the project aims to promote Afrobeats brand of music, as well as celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria on a global stage. He noted that the festival would feature a blend of Nigerian artists from both home and abroad.

“We took our time to carefully choose the artists that will perform during the festival.

I’m particularly happy that legendary DJ Jimmy Jatt will be with us at the festival; he’s a veteran in the industry,” he said.

Iyke Bede

Shaffy Bello’s Debut Masterclass ‘What I Know’ Garners Acclaim

Renowned Nigerian actress Shaffy Bello recently shared the blueprint of her success in her debut masterclass titled ‘What I Know.’ The masterclass which was held at Ecobank Pan African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, attracted dozens of young aspiring individuals seeking to draw influence from Bello’s journey.

Hinged on five principles — Gratitude, Intention, Discipline, Humility, and Kindness — the charismatic speaker held participants spellbound with her life’s story. She shared various facets, from her early life growing under the guidance of her older siblings to excelling at new challenges, transitioning from studying as a certified nursing assistant to assuming various job roles in the fashion industry, culminating in her noteworthy position at MAC Cosmetics.

Her foray into singing in the choir also provided a platform for her to showcase her unusual talent, transforming her into a well-sought-after singer representing her community church in Europe and other parts of the US. In a candid exploration of her career, she delved into the pivotal Bello

elements that shaped her remarkable journey to stardom in Nollywood following her return from the US trying out various ventures that were fairly successful at the time. To a large extent, she credited the growth spurts in her career to consistency in applying shared foundational principles.

“After my 50th birthday, God dropped it in my heart to do this, and I had been nurturing it because I was scared — scared of coming out and doing it. At a point, I started doing it for free, but then everyone around me noted that value costs something.”

She added, “I just wanted to impact people and ignite something within them. I have been acting for so long that it is time to do something else.

This is my purpose.”

Bello disclosed that she plans on taking the masterclasses on a national tour, visiting different states with hopes to “spark fulfilment and hunger to do something different.”

The ‘What I Know’ masterclass boasted notable attendance, featuring prominent figures like actresses Kate Henshaw and Bimbo Ademoye, along with online content creator Adeoluwa Enioluwa.

productions like Big Brother Naija being pirated. She shared the company’s proactive approach, including engaging a cybersecurity firm. “We do not commission content to companies that are not audited or registered,” added the Executive Head of Content and Channels West Africa, MultiChoice Nigeria, Busola Tejumola as part of the steps taken by the company.

The discussion underscored the collective responsibility to combat piracy, acknowledging that end-users who patronise pirates are also culpable. Therefore, they need to be targeted in anti-piracy campaigns.

The panellists concluded that a united front is essential to mitigate piracy’s far-reaching impact on the creative sector, emphasizing the need for stringent measures to discourage offenders.

486 Films from Over 80 Countries Selected for ESIFF Second Edition film industry. The governor, Godwin Out of the 3000 submissions received Obaseki is keen on making the state for the second edition of the Edo State a prominent player in the global film International Film Festival (ESIFF), 486 space by committing to infrastructure films have been selected for screening at the festival. The films were received from over 80 development and talent cultivation.

“The strategy is to make sure we countries globally, notably Nigeria, Iran, India, develop Edo as a hub for production by the United States, and Brazil, according to a making it easy for producers to come and statement by the organisers. work there — make it more convenient “ESIFF continues to be a beacon for and cost-effective,” said Obaseki. filmmakers globally, and this year’s Additionally, the festival will selection of 486 films from over 80 feature masterclasses and panel countries underscores the festival’s sessions on the art and business commitment to showcasing the diverse of filmmaking from film executives like tapestry of global cinema,” said Festival Founder/CEO of Rok Studios, Mary Njoku; Director, Violet Okosun.

Scheduled to take place in Benin City Chairman of Genesis Group, Nnaeto Orazulike; and Trevor Pillay, Managing from November 30 to December 2, 2023, Director of Kada Cinemas.

ESIFF is the state’s commitment to the

Ahead of the 2024 Atlanta Afrobeats Festival, PMAN Forges Alliance with SloweGanzi

L-R: National President, PMAN, Pretty Okafor and Executive Producer, Atlanta Afrobeats Festival, Wole Akande.

Iyke Bede SloweGanzi USA, organisers of the eagerly anticipated Atlanta Afrobeats Festival set for August 2024, recently marked their introduction in Lagos with a visit to their strategic partner, the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) at the Nigerian Music House, Lekki, Lagos.

Their visit is a tribute to the foundational roots and origins of afrobeats.

Executive Producer, Atlanta Afrobeats Festival and Partner at SloweGanzi, Wole Akande expressed gratitude for the warm reception by the music association while elaborating on their strategic partnership.

“We believe that this collaboration is essential for the continued growth and elevation of afrobeats on the global stage. Our commitment to fostering a strong alliance with PMAN, led by its esteemed National President, Pretty Okafor, signifies our

dedication to supporting local artists, creators, and the entire ecosystem that contributes to the vibrant afrobeats culture,” Akande noted.

The National President of PMAN, Pretty Okafor welcomed the initiative, highlighting its testament to the unifying power of music. “Afrobeats has transcended borders, and we are excited to work together to elevate the genre even further,” stated Pretty Okafor.

In a concurrent announcement, the CEO, Inspiro Productions and the Executive Consultant to the Atlanta Afrobeats Festival, Ayoola Sadare expressed delight at SlowGanzi’s move to the origins of afrobeats.

He commended the initiative as a celebration of creativity that taps into the pulse of Lagos and showcases the vibrancy and talent embedded in Nigeria’s cultural DNA.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

26. 11. 2023

Transmitting Messages to Surfaces in Angry Brushstrokes Legendary for his expressionist spontaneity, Lagos-based leading contemporary Nigerian artist, Duke Asidere, takes swipes at Nigeria’s insensitive leadership not just with his words, but also through his art. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

O

bviously, it’s not just about skills alone, as Duke Asidere, curling up his imposing frame on a sofa in his host’s living room, points out. Otherwise, that wouldn’t be art. “We are dealing with emotions and an economy that is almost comatose,” he further reminds his interlocutor, citing a slew of additional woes that the majority of Nigerians are currently groaning under. $SSDUHQWO\ WKLV LV DOO WKH MXVWLÀFDWLRQ WKH heavily-built 62-year-old needs—indeed, all the more reason—to deploy his art as a tool to distil some coherence from the dense cloud of disillusionment and the frustrations looming over the populace. “My art is subject to anything that I think about,” he nicely sums it up, even as he continues to take potshots at Nigeria’s inept leadership throughout that late Sunday, November 19, morning and early afternoon discussion.

The heavy sultriness of this sun-drenched day, meanwhile, hasn’t yet quite fully kicked in, as Asidere, as brutally frank as ever, takes a surgical cut at the Nigerian dilemma.

Somewhere along the line, nature has to intervene and demand a break. But, in the meantime, none of the artist’s ebullience and coherence seem to have diminished thus far. Perhaps even more confounding to the Delta State native than the fact that the country’s economy has not so far been run well is the unabashed greed of the Nigerian politician, whose quest for wealth for its sake QXPEV KLP WR WKH VXͿHULQJ RI WKH PDVVHV “How much do these Nigerian politicians really need?” he wonders, in a futile bid to ÀJXUH RXW ZK\ DPLG ZLGHVSUHDG SRYHUW\ and wanton neglect of public infrastrucWXUH DOO WKHVH R΀FLDOV VHHP WR FDUH DERXW LV buying expensive SUVs and living opulent lifestyles. As a result, meritocracy becomes an inadvertent casualty, and all the pleasant talk about public naming and shaming falls ÁDW EHFDXVH QR RQH KDV VR IDU EHHQ QDPHG let alone shamed. “The ones who know are the ones drinking beer at the beer parlour, while the ones who know nothing are the ones running the country.”

Art, he therefore concludes, should confront all of the evils ailing Nigerian society and question how the government could have spent $12 billion on power while the populace still languishes in darkness. “When you take from the poor, you are draining the energy to live in them.”

Really, it’s not hard to imagine that the artist is often preoccupied with these thoughts, whose forms whirl around his head in a frenzied medley while he is stuck in one of WKRVH QRWRULRXV /DJRV WUD΀F MDPV RU ZKLOH he is pacing about either of his two studios: the one on the mainland or the one on the island.

Spontaneity—unpredictability, maybe— KDV PHDQZKLOH EHHQ WKH GHÀQLQJ FKDUacteristic of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria double alumnus. One clear example of this is his expressionist depictions of images, which he manipulates to better

Asidere at work in his studio

One of the artist's paintings, titled Wear Your Scar

Asidere beside one of his paintings

convey his feelings or inner stirrings. To an often-asked question bordering on why many of his paintings are about women, he gives a sharp riposte: “Why not women?”

This is despite having acknowledged in an earlier encounter that his mother and WKH ZRPHQ LQ KLV KRPH JUHDWO\ LQÁXHQFHG him, which is why the female sex, for him, represents a symbol of grit and inner strength.

For this extensively exhibited artist, letting his canvases suggest ideas to him rather than approaching them with preconceived notions is the way to go. “Colour is the only thing that drives me when I paint,” he discloses, adding that each pigment in his palette seems to be in competition with each other, vying for his attention and begging to be used. It eventually all boils down to engaging the known as well as the invisible and unknown.

Then, there is also the mind-boggling unpredictability of his daily routine, which sees him sometimes waking up to paint at odd hours or spontaneously deciding to sleep in his car. This deeply non-conformist lifestyle, obviously bohemian, somewhat corresponds to the concept behind naming his studio “Play.spot”. For him, time spent

working in his studio can always be likened to having fun, just as children would while playing.

But the most poignant aspect of his story is his steadfast dedication to his studio practice, which he began in 1999, more than a decade after receiving his bachelor’s degree from Ahmadu %HOOR 8QLYHUVLW\ +LV VSLULW KH RͿHUV by way of explanation, holds the reins of his physical abilities; hence, he feels driven from somewhere in the depths of his being on a daily basis. “I’m a messenger,” he declares, “someone who has been sent on an errand, who is transmitting messages to surfaces.”

Talking about surfaces, he recalls having painted on all imaginable surfaces possible, including ceiling boards. As his mediums, he has, besides oils, also made use of graphite, pastels, crayons, and done engravings and collages (using newspaper clippings). Ultimately, he adds, the artist will always be drawn to the things that he likes. Vibrations, the form in which the driving energy is expressed, remain his prompters

EHIRUH KH VHWWOHV GRZQ WR SDLQW ´, ÀUVW SDLQW for me, and when I’m done painting for me, I start thinking about what next.”

As for the local art scene, in which he has been one of the big players, it has, by the artist’s own assessment, experienced a “360-degree change for good.” Now, he adds, things are better organised than they were before 1995. “More galleries are investing directly in artists.”

In this kind of scenario, the younger generation of artists is ever more ambitious about the pricing of their works, sometimes even pricing them above those of the industry’s acknowledged masters. But, aside, even as he acknowledges the fact that the artist’s growth needs to be gradual—embracing his growth in skills, emotions, and intuitions as well as his accumulated experiences—he VKUXJV RͿ WKH WUHQG LQ RQH VHQWHQFH ´7KHUH DUH QR VWLͿ UXOHVµ DQG DGGV ´)LQDQFLDO VXFcess is not a judge of art! It’s not the job of the collector or the gallery to determine the price of art.”

This scenario also fuels his optimism about the local art scene, which he believes will ÁRXULVK VSHFWDFXODUO\ RYHU WKH QH[W GHFDGH

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

32

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 26, 2023

ARTS & REVIEW\\POT POURRI

Soyinka's New Play as a Guerrilla Intervention Stories by Yinka Olatunbosun

P

reparing the audience for the visually arresting guerrilla musical, titled The Wheels of Justice, was the whole of the one and a half hour virtual encounter with Professor Wole Soyinka, which was largely muted for the audience in the rear of the auditorium. The auditorium, which is the Agip Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan Lagos hosted an audience that converged to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Pyrates’ Confraternity, who had the privilege of watching the new play written by the esteemed Nobel Laureate and directed by Tunde Awosanmi.

Starting with the narrator technique, the biographical drama captures the humanistic framework upon which Pyrates' Confraternity was founded at the University of Ibadan where Soyinka was an undergraduate student. Through the plot development, the misconstrued role of Soyinka as a catalyst for campus cultism was FDUHIXOO\ GHP\VWLÀHG :LWKRXW WKH NQRZOHGJH of history, many have blamed Soyinka for the ruthless phenomenon in many campuses.

Whereas the play demonstrates how Pyrates' Confraternity was formed as a response to corruption, oppressive regimes, elitist structures and abuse of human rights.

In the directorial interpretation of the play, the

A scene from the play

DRAMA entire Confraternity is portrayed as a guerrilla force in disguise using activism in the form of sieges, rallies, charity causes, lecture series, town hall meetings, street kids' project and gyrating sessions.

The Wheels of Justice is yet another brilliant interplay of sarcasm and satire by the playwright to address socio-political as well as cultural

issues in our contemporary society. Although the drama is set in colonial Nigeria, a parallel is seen in the subject matters raised then and now in the polity.

Awosanmi, in his directorial note observed that the author has not only created Pyrates as characters and inserted them into the plot of WKH GUDPD EXW KDV FODULÀHG WKH PDMRU VWUDWHJ\ of the Pyrates protest.

With a set design executed by a leading visual artist, Olu Ajayi who also doubled as the event's

moderator, the performance was a renaissance of sorts in its technical interpretation. Instead of using the usual digital backdrop adopted by most musical productions, the one-tier stage design was a convenient multi-scenic production WKDW JDYH WKH DXGLHQFH D EHÀWWLQJ VSHFWDFOH 7KH constant ant-like motion of the Pyrates on stage through the stairs and downstage is illustrative of their action against injustice of the time.

One interesting tool used by the playwright in this piece is accessible language. Unlike his other ritual plays like Death and the King's Horseman, The Bacchae of Euripedes, The Strong Breed and The Road, the simple language alongside emphatic delivery of lines in The Wheels of Justice LV UHÁHFWLYH RI WKH WHPSHUDPHQW RI WKRVH SHFXOLDU characters in a university environment.

However, a major challenge with this stage design is the constraint of replicating this visual dynamics in an actual guerrilla theatre performance. Instead of replicating this, a rare degree of ingenuity would be used to excite the audience.

Aside from the few anti-climatic lengths of the songs infused with the drama, the performance conveyed the youthful vigour and the spirit of brotherhood permeating the Pyrates. The auditorium echoed with the sound of drums as a handful of the audience sang along to some of the songs.

In consonance with its obvious thematic preoccupation, The Wheels of Justice is a dramatic exhibition of comradeship, the kind required to ZDUG RͿ RSSUHVVLRQ DQG EXLOG D JUHDW QDWLRQ

At Culturati, Stakeholders Amplify the Industry's Potentials

A

fe Babalola Hall, University of Lagos, Yaba was abuzz ODVW ZHHN ZKHQ WRS LQÁXencers and investors gathered for the 17th edition of the Culturati Symposium.

With the theme "Enhancing Africa’s Development Through Investment in Culture, Arts and Tourism," the symposium was an eye-opening experience for many youths drawn from the university environment and other nearby institutions. Amongst other things, the stakeholders highlighted some of the huge economic potentials in the sector which has fast become a leading employer of labour. ,Q WKH NH\QRWH DGGUHVV WKH ÀOPPDNHU DQG media entrepreneur, Samuel Olatunji popularly known as Bigsam revealed that youths have the power to attract investors to the culture sector through their skills and creativity. "It is not just about the money that external investors can bring to the table," he said. "People need to see what is on the ground to invest. Look at your skill as something you can sell within the marketplace of culture."

In the same vein, Chioma Ude, the Founder, African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) spoke extensively about how AFRIFF has contributed to talent development and economic growth. "Eighty percent of you all will end up in the entertainment industry. Don’t be

Charles Emembolu, Chioma Ude and Obi Asika

SYMPOSIUM surprised when it happens. Bolanle AustenPeters studied law but today she is playing in WKH ÀHOGV RI WKHDWUH DQG ÀOP 6KH ZRQ WKH EHVW IHDWXUH ÀOP DW WKH ODVW $)5,)) ZKLFK LV D UDUH IHDW IRU VRPHRQH ZKR HQWHUHG WKH ÀOPPDNLQJ space just a few years ago.”

Over the course of 12 years, AFRIFF has trained over 5000 students and sent 10 percent

of those students abroad. The festival serves as a hub for networking and skills GHYHORSPHQW FRQWULEXWLQJ VLJQLÀFDQWO\ to youth empowerment and job creation.

During the panellists’ session, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, the host of Your View RQ 79& WKH WHUUHVWULDO SODWIRUP RͿHUV potential for content distribution. With over 17 years in media practice within and outside Nigeria, she has deep insight into uncharted territories in content distribution. "There are people who do not have access to digital television and video streaming sites but they are still very strong in the terrestrial market,” she said. “People outside those three cities still watch the local television stations and they need content. We need to make our culture more endearing through our content."

Obi Asika, a creative entrepreneur and CEO, Storm Records, noted that there is still in gap in capacity. "If we have to make four shows with the same magnitude of Big Brother Naija at once, we don’t have enough crew members,” he said. “That is a problem of capacity.

That is an opportunity for anyone in this room who is looking for jobs in the nearest future. The opportunities in this industry will provide jobs for anybody

who has an interest. Your background could be law and accounting, engineering but you can VWLOO ÀQG D KRPH LQ WKLV LQGXVWU\ 7KH SHRSOH who graduate from Ivy League schools in America often go to Wall Street or Hollywood. %H WKH ÀUVW YHUVLRQ RI \RXUVHOI %H RULJLQDO Everybody in this room has the potential in this creator economy. It isn’t just about the creatives. The creator economy is such that from your phone, whatever it is that you do and you excel at, you can build an audience."

The former blogger turned media personality Oluwatosi Ajibade told the story behind Olori Supergal, a media platform she created during ASUU strike as an undergraduate with no media experience. With 13 years experience in digital media, she advised the youths to be proactive in learning more about how to become independent storytellers. "Your probOHPV VKRXOG QRW GHÀQH \RXU IXWXUH <RX FDQ learn those several skills for free on Google, Udemy, Coursera and other platforms,” she VDLG ´7KHUH DUH VR PDQ\ UROHV WR EH ÀOOHG You need to get started."

The Head of Communications, Culturati, Funmi Ojo noted that the symposium is a foregleam of the highlights of the looming festival which opens at Sol Beach on November 30 and climaxes on December 3 at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Dreams Rekindled for Winners of Art X Prize 2023

I

n step with its annual tradition, Access ART X Prize winners for 2023 have emerged in the two categories. Julius Agbaje won the Nigeria Award while Asmaa Jama won in the Africa/Diaspora category. Drawn from a pool of 3,500 applicants who showcased artistic prowess, vision, and potential for global impact, the winners have joined the league of dreamers whose vision for international recognition have been met with a timely opportunity.

Both awardees will receive $10,000 grants towards solo exhibitions at ART X Lagos 2024, providing them with a platform to showcase their evolving artistic narratives and ideas.

Additionally, the Nigerian winner will embark on a three-month residency at Gasworks, London, while the African/Diasporan winner will enjoy a three-month residency at Yinka Shonibare’s GAS Foundation in Lagos. In DGGLWLRQ ERWK UHFLSLHQWV ZLOO EHQHÀW IURP tailored mentorship and an invaluable op-

VISUAL ARTS portunity for cultural exchange.

Prior to the announcement in Lagos held at the Access Bank Plc Headquarters in Oniru, the WHQ ÀQDOLVWV SDUWLFLSDWHG LQ D WZR GD\ ¶)LQDOLVW Forum’ designed to equip them with vital SUHVHQWDWLRQ VNLOOV DQG RͿHU YDOXDEOH DUWLVWLF insights. This immersive initiative featured a series of interactive workshops, expert and peer review opportunities under the guidance of esteemed facilitators and industry experts.

7KH ÀQDOLVWV WKHQ SUHVHQWHG WKHLU ZRUN WR WKH Prize Jury, after which the eventual winners were selected.

The 2023 edition of the prize garnered an overwhelming response, with over 3,500 applications received from 40 countries around the world during the 4-week application SHULRG 7KLV VXUJH LQ DSSOLFDWLRQV UHÁHFWV the growing importance of the Access ART X Prize in the art ecosystem and its ability

to attract diverse talent from all corners of the globe.

Having faced a challenging task in selecting the winners, given the exceptional level of talent and creativity on display, the jury also selected Roanna Tella (Nigerian category) and Lawrence Mwangi (Africa/Diaspora category) for honourable mentions. Both artists will receive prizes of $2,000 and tailored mentorship.

We also acknowledge the hard work and WKDQN WKH RWKHU ÀQDOLVWV &KLGLPPD 1ZDIRU Chinwe Chigbu and Wale Matuluko for the Nigeria Award and Anne Mutema, Dior Thiam and Edward Prah for the African/Diaspora Award for their participation in this years Prize and wish them the very best in their growing careers.

The Founder and Creative Director, Art X Lagos, Tokini Peterside-Schwebig expressed her appreciation for all who contributed to the success story of the prize.

“We thank the distinguished jury for the 2023 Access ART X Prize which comprised

Access Art X Prize Winners Agbaje and Jama

of luminaries such as Babajide Adeniyi-Jones (Documentary Photographer), Barthélémy Toguo (Artist), Daudi Karungi (Founder of Afriart Gallery), Emeka Ogboh (Artist), Gabi Ngcobo (Artist, Educator, and Curatorial Director of the Javett Art Centre), Yesomi 8PROX 'LUHFWRU RI &XUDWRULDO $ͿDLUV DQG Public Practice for the Serpentine Galleries) and Jumoke Sanwo who served as the curator of the prize for the second year running.

33

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 26, 2023

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

As Adeleke Dares NJC over CJ Removal An attempt by Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke to remove the state’s Chief Judge has again raised the question of whether a governor can appoint, discipline or remove any judge from office without the approval of the National Judicial Council, Wale Igbintade writes

O

sun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke was recently in the news for the wrong reasons when he suspended the state Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo following a resolution by the State House of Assembly.

The lawmakers had levelled allegations of misconduct, abuse of power, corruption and disregard for the rule of law against Justice Ojo. Though it did not state in detail what the offence of Justice Ojo was, her supporters claimed that her offence was not unconnected with the fact that she chose to be patriotic by following the rule of law when she was allegedly asked to set criminals free.

On their part, Adeleke’s loyalists claimed she was sympathetic to the cause of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Ojo was said to have resisted alleged pressure from the agents of the state government to free Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, owner of the Ile-Ife hotel where a master’s degree student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Timothy Adegoke, was killed last year and insisted that no sinner should go unpunished.

She consequently sentenced him to death for being responsible for Adegoke’s murder, a judgement that did not go down well with some powerful forces in the state.

Announcing Justice Ojo’s suspension, in a statement, the governor’s spokesperson, Rasheed Olawale said Adeleke approved the resolution of the state House of Assembly passed on November 16, asking Justice Ojo “to step aside pending investigation of allegations” against her.

Olawale, in the statement, reproduced the state assembly’s resolution in which it was stated that asking Justice Ojo to step aside was “not for any disciplinary action, but to allow for proper investigation of the allegations.”

The lawmakers tasked its Committee on Judiciary, Public Petitions and Legal Matters of the House of Assembly, to investigate the petitions against Justice Ojo. It asked the committee to invite the chief judge and report to the House within seven

Adeleke days.

On the same day, the governor, in another statement by his spokesperson, announced the appointment of Justice Olayinka David Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge, in line with the assembly’s resolution that “the next in order of seniority to Justice Ojo be sworn in immediately to avoid any vacuum in the third arm of government in Osun State.”

But Justice Afolabi, realising that accepting such an offer, could lead to his compulsory retirement from service, rejected the appointment.

The action by the Osun State government sparked reactions from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and many civil society organisations which not only rejected the move but described it as illegal.

The action again rekindled the question of whether a state can appoint or remove the Chief Judge from office without the approval of the National Judicial Council (NJC), the body statutorily empowered to play the central role in the appointment and discipline of

Nigerian judges.

On many occasions, instead of appointing the most senior judge of the state High Court, some state governors on account of gender, religion, favouritism and other political considerations, had attempted to alter the order of seniority by sometimes appointing junior judges or those outside the state High Court as Chief Judges.

Whether in Rivers, Abia, Kogi, Gombe, Cross River or Kwara State, the NJC has consistently been warning state governors and their Houses of Assembly that they cannot appoint or remove a chief judge without its input. But the governors have continued to make failed attempts to flout this constitutional provision.

The strongest judicial imprimatur to vindicate the NJC came from the Supreme Court in May 2009 when the then Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, sacked the state Chief Judge, Justice Raliat EleluHabeeb, from office over alleged corruption, misconduct, as well as high handedness in handling the crisis in the judiciary. Rather than notifying the NJC, Saraki wrote a letter to the state House of Assembly, complaining about the chief judge and the need to remove her from office.

Upon receiving the governor’s letter, it took the lawmakers just 45 minutes to deliberate on the issue and give unanimous approval to the governor’s request.

Justice Elelu-Habeeb then went to the Federal High Court in Ilorin which ordered that she should be reinstated. But the state government appealed the judgment and won. Consequently, Justice Elelu-Habeeb approached the Supreme Court.

In 2012, the seven-man panel of justices of the apex court led by Justices Walter Onnoghen, Christopher Chukwumah-Eneh, Muhammad Muntaka-Coomassie, Olufunmilola Adekeye, Mary Peter-Odili and Olukayode Ariwoola, in a unanimous decision, declared all the actions taken by the Kwara State government and the state House of Assembly on Justice Elelu-Habeeb’s removal as a nullity.

Citing Section 271(1) of the 1999 Constitution, the apex court said: “It is not difficult to see that for the effective exercise of the

powers of removal of a chief judge of a state by the governor and House of Assembly, the first port of call by the governor shall be the NJC. Although the governor of a state has been vested with the power to appoint the chief judge of his own state, that power is not absolute.”

Justice Mohammed said: “The NJC is the body that has been assigned the duty and responsibility of recommending to the governors of the states of the federation suitable persons for appointments to the offices of chief judges of the states and other judicial officers in the states. The same NJC is also empowered under Subparagraph (10 of paragraph 21 to recommend to the governors of the states the removal from office of the chief judges of the states and other judicial officers of the states, and also to exercise disciplinary control over such chief judges of the states and other judicial officers of the states. Therefore, from these very clear provisions of the constitution, which are very far from being ambiguous, the governors of the states and the houses of assembly of the states cannot exercise disciplinary control touching the removal of chief judges of states or other judicial officers in the states.”

Based on the backlash that followed the purported removal of Justice Ojo from office and the refusal of Justice Afolabi to accept his appointment, Governor Adeleke last weekend made a U-turn. In a statement through his Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Alimi, Adeleke said he forwarded the resolution and recommendation of the state assembly to the NJC for decision and action.

“Governor Adeleke has only duly notified the Chief Justice of the Federation as the Chairman of the NJC in writing about the resolutions of the House of Assembly following a series of petitions made against the sitting Chief Judge of Osun State,” the statement read.

“To that end, the governor in the same letter recommended to the CJN, the appointment of the most senior judicial officer, Justice Olayinka Afolabi for thorough consideration and further processing by the same NJC through the CJN.”

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

Supreme Court’s Integrity at Stake

Uzodimma

Gagdi

A member representing Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke federal constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives, Yusuf Gagdi, came under attack last week after bragging that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State, will influence the decision of the Supreme Court on the petitionchallengingtheoutcomeofthegovernorship election in the state.

In a video trending on the social media, Gagdi was heardboastingatarallyinthestatelastSundayabout theAPC’sabilitytoswayvictoryattheSupremeCourt.

The Court of Appeal had last Sunday, sacked Governor Caleb Mutfwang, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared the APC candidate, Nentawe Goshwe, as the winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.

The court had overturned the judgment of the

state Governorship Election Tribunal last month which affirmed Mutfwang’s victory in the election.

Mutfwang, who described the Court of Appeal judgment as a temporary setback, has since said he would appeal it at the Supreme Court.

But the dispute took a strange twist when Gagdi boasted that the outcome of the governorship election at the Supreme Court would be based on who both parties know.

“We have gone to the Appeal Court and the final destination is the Supreme Court and we will meet there. That is where we will know who they know and they will know who we know,” he said in the 18-seconds video clip.

Whilethelawmakerspoke,somepeoplesuspected to be APC supporters could be heard in the background hailing him.

Gagdi’s comment is a big blow to Nigeria’s democracy.

By making this claim, Gagdi has insinuated that his party won at the Appeal Court based on who they know.

Gagdi’s comment has apparently lent credence to Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa’s confession that he influenced court judgments, through his wife.

The comment has sent a dangerous signal that winning election in Nigeria is no longer determined in the ballot box but based on who the political parties know in the courts.

Many Nigerians have criticised the Plateau lawmaker for attacking the integrity of the judiciary.

With a comment like this, it is left for the Supreme Court to prove him wrong by ensuring not only that justice is done but also seen to have been done.

34

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 26, 2023

BRIEFINGNOTES When Appeal Court Drags Judiciary into the Abyss The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has again dragged the Nigerian judiciary whose image is already battered into the abyss with the ridiculous inconsistencies discovered in the Certified True Copy of the court’s majority judgement in the Kano State governorship election, Ejiofor Alike reports

I

ndications that the election petition disputes in Kano State would be mired in controversies that could taint the integrity of the judiciary had emerged in August when the Chairperson of one of the panels of the Kano National and State House of Assembly Elections Tribunal, sitting in the state, Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge raised the alarm that some lawyers were attempting to bribe judges in her team.

She stated in the open court that, “money is flying”, adding that “it’s being rumoured that a staff collected N10 million.”

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had vowed to launch a probe into her allegation.

The lawyers passed the resolution at the August edition of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting presided by its President, Yakubu Maikyau, according to the statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal.

Unfortunately, similar allegations and counter allegations continued to trail the judgments of the election petition tribunals in the state and nothing was heard of the NBA’s probe.

In the heat of the allegations and counter allegations, the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the state had accused the state governorship election petition tribunal of compromise.

The dispute took a dangerous dimension when the Kano State Commissioner of Lands, Adamu Aliyu, issued a death threat to the judges of the tribunal.

Speaking during a solidarity protest by NNPP supporters, which also doubled as a prayer session for a favourable judgement for the party at the tribunal, the commissioner who alleged that the judges may have been bribed to rule against his party, threatened that if the tribunal judges ruled against his party, they might pay with their lives.

“I am sending this message to the tribunal judges; any judge that allows himself to be used and collect bribes and pass judgement that is not right, we want to tell him he must choose between his life and the bribe money he collected,” the commissioner said in a video posted by both the NNPP and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But Governor Abba Yusuf acted promptly and sacked the commissioner for issuing death threats to the tribunal judges.

The governor also sacked his Special Adviser on Youth and Sport, Alhaji Yusuf Imam, “for making unguarded and disrespectful statements” on Vice President Kashim Shettima, according to a statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Baba Dantiye.

The tribunal in September, sacked Governor Yusuf and declared the candidate of the APC, Nasir Gawuna, winner of the March 18 governorship poll, and the judgment escalated the tension in the state.

The decision of the three-man panel, led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, was transmitted virtually from Miller Road, Kano venue of the sitting.

Justice Dongban-Mensem In what seemed like its complicity in what the NNPP had described as surreptitious moves to frustrate its appeal to the Appeal Court and rob it of victory, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rescinded its decision to appeal against the tribunal decision.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary of Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, and signed by the Head of Department (HOD), Legal, INEC, Suleiman Alkali, on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, the electoral umpire said it had no reason to appeal the tribunal judgement.

But following the criticisms that trailed this display of partisanship by the commission, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the letter written by the commission’s Legal Officer of Kano State Office

was not authorised.

“We wish to state categorically that the letter was not authorised. It has since been withdrawn and the officer reprimanded,” Olumekun said.

However, INEC did not disclose the nature of the reprimand, strengthening the suspicion that the commission was actually behind the decision of its Kano office.

The dispute took a very shameful dimension when the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja sacked the governor and released Certified True Copy (CTC) of its majority judgement that was full of inconsistencies seen in doctored documents.

In a face-saving effort, the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Mr. Mohammed Umar Bangari, described the embarrassing inconsistencies as mere clerical errors.

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), was

the first to raise the alarm over the inconsistencies, saying that he was surprised when he read a copy of the judgement, and discovered that the majority judgement set aside the judgement of the lower tribunal and awarded cost in favour of the governor Falana, who spoke on ARISE NEWS Channel’s Primetime, said the judgment was in favour of the governor, contrary to reports.

The circulation of the controversial CTC heightened political tensions in the state.

The three-member panel of the appellate court had in their majority judgement, dismissed the governor’s appeal against the ruling of the tribunal for lacking in merit.

But in the CTC released to lawyers, some contradictions appeared, which gave verdict in favour of both the governor and the APC candidate.

On page 67 of the extant judgement, the presiding judge declared: “I resolve all the issues in favour of the Appellant (Gov Yusuf Abba Kabir)’ the judgement of the tribunal in petition No: EPT/KN/GOV/01/2023 between the All Progressives Congress (APC) Vs INEC & 2 others delivered on the 20th day of September 2023 is hereby set aside.

“The sum of N1, 000,000.00 (one million naira) only is hereby awarded as costs in favour of the appellant (Gov Abba Kabir Yusuf) and against the 1st respondent (APC),” the judge added.

But in his conclusion, he dismissed the governor’s appeal for lacking in merit.

Supporters of Governor Yusuf and some lawyers alleged that the judges delivered the judgment in favour of Yusuf and the NNPP but were pressured and manipulated to change it favour the APC candidate.

They added that in the process of changing it at the last minute, the arguments they canvassed didn’t align with the final conclusion.

In its reaction, the NNPP urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to review the verdicts.

It alleged that the appeal court judgement was doctored in favour of the APC. On its part, the APC said it expected the Appeal Court to provide explanations on the errors.

But speaking with some journalists in Abuja, Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Bangari dismissed the contradictions as nothing serious.

He argued that the contradictions did not in any way invalidate the findings and conclusion of the court.

Despite the chief registrar’s face-saving effort, the CTC showed that the contradictions might have resulted from the doctoring of the judgment to favour one candidate after it was written in favour of another candidate.

The Appeal Court has dragged the judiciary whose image has already been battered into the abyss with these suspicious contradictions which ordinary law school students could have avoided.

The judgment shows the level of degeneration the Nigerian judiciary has sunk.

NOTES FOR FILE

Brazen Attack on Adamawa Police Headquarters

Lagbaja

Many Nigerians were shocked last Wednesday when the Adamawa State Police Command Headquarters inYola, was invaded by soldiers, who killed an inspector of police identified as Jacob Daniel.

The Nigerian Army’s continued attacks and killing of policemen and other soft civilian targetshavepersistedovertheyearsbecause soldiers notoriously take laws into their own hands without any consequences.

Though soldiers had attacked police stations and Police Area Commands, including OjuelegbaAreaCommandinLagos,thebrazen assaultonastatecommandheadquarterswas the height of this depravity and lawlessness.

Apart from killing policemen, soldiers have set ablaze communities on several occasions under the guise of searching for the weapons of their colleagues killed by

criminals around the vicinity as if an entire community conspired to commit the crime.

Whilepolicementhatengageinextrajudicial killings are always publicly sanctioned by the police high command, military authorities often cover their officers and men involved in similar crimes with the promise of investigation.

Reacting, the helpless Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, Afolabi Babatola, called on his men to be careful and guard against any attack on fellow security personnel.

In its characteristic style of defending the acts of brigandage of its officers and men, the Nigerian Army, through the Brigade Commander,23ArmouredBrigade,Brigadier General Gambo Mohammed, claimed that one of his men was shot and hidden by the

police, and his men went to rescue their own.

Has the Adamawa Police Headquarters become a Boko Haram or bandits’ enclave that the military should attack to rescue their own? Is the military too big to use the instrumentality of the Nigerian laws to secure the release of their own and ensure that the policemen involved in the shooting are sanctioned?

Inhisreaction,theAdamawaStateGovernor,Ahmadu Fintiri, instead of calling on President Bola Tinubu to order the Chief of Army Staff to fish out and prosecute the soldiers involved in this criminality, merely urged the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police in the state to peacefully resolve their differences.

Comments like Fintiri’s embolden soldiers to take laws into their hands. PresidentTinubu should stop this despicable conduct of the military, which has become a tradition and force its officers and men to subject themselves to the Nigerian laws. This is the practice in advanced democracies.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 26, 2023

35

CICERO/ISSUE

Lagbaja

Musa

Army and Its Two-faced Justice System By following due process in the trial and conviction of the former Group Managing Director of the Army Properties Limited, Maj. Gen. Umaru Mohammed, and resorting to arbitrariness and impunity in the compulsory retirement of 38 senior army officers without subjecting them to any query or indictment by any panel, the Nigerian Army condones double standard in its justice system, Wale Igbintade writes

A

Nigerian Army Special Courtmartial sitting in Abuja recently sentenced the former Group Managing Director of the Army Properties Limited (NAPL), Maj. Gen. Umaru Mohammed, to seven years imprisonment. The court also ordered him to pay back $2,178,900 and N1.65 billion to the Army and NAPL. Mohammed was tried on 18 counts. The charges included stealing, forgery, conspiracy, theft, misappropriation of funds, and unauthorised diversion of Army property, among others.

Although he pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against him, Mohammed was found guilty of 14 out of 18 counts brought against him, which are all contrary to service laws.

In one of the charges on which he was found guilty, Mohammed was alleged to have collected the sum of $1, 045,400 paid by shipping companies for the use of Nigerian Army Jetty located at 6 Marina, Victoria Island, Lagos. He was also found guilty of a theft of $430,800 being monies paid into the Nigerian Army Domiciliary account at Unity Bank, Abuja, for use of Nigerian Army Jetty, Marina, Lagos. The court martial also found him guilty of withdrawing and confiscating the sum of N74 million out of N75 million paid for a property belonging to the Nigerian Army at Ikoyi, Lagos.

Not even the convict’s confession and testimony during cross-examination that the allocation of houses to civilians and other malfeasance were on the directive of a former Chief of Army Staff could save him.

While many observers have hailed the new Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, for giving Gen Mohammed a fair hearing, describing it as a positive step towards ensuring justice in the Army, they however condemned the tenure of Lt. General Tukur Buratai (rtd) as Chief of Staff where injustice, lack of fair hearing and arbitrariness reigned supreme.

They specifically urged Gen. Lagbaja to revisit the compulsory retirement of the 38 senior Army officers who were eased out of service in 2016 to give the officers and men

confidence in the service and also enthrone the principles of justice, equity and fairness.

In 2016, the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Buratai, forced out of service 38 senior army officers without recourse to due process, fair hearing and rules of disengagement in the Nigerian military.

Most of the affected officers, who are still young and have a lot to offer Nigeria, were neither queried nor indicted by any panel or charged before any court-martial, were flushed out for reasons that smack of high-level arbitrariness and witch-hunting by authorities of the army.

But while being court-martialed, Gen Mohammed was being held in secret detention since January 2022.

The 38 officers subsequently petitioned the then President Muhammadu Buhari, in line with the military’s rules to seek redress.

But even after petitioning the president, seven years on, their fates still hang in the balance.

Having lost confidence in the ability of the military authorities to give them justice, several of the officers approached the National Industrial Court (NIC) to clear their names and rebuild their careers. As of the last count, the Army had lost all the cases as it could not provide any shred of evidence to substantiate the false accusations against the officers.

But despite various court orders, the Nigerian Army and former President Buhari refused to ensure justice by reinstating the soldiers, who are some of the country’s brightest in internal and external security operations. One of the officers, Ojebo Ochankpa, died in 2017 while awaiting justice, leaving a widow and three children.

A security expert, Labaran Saleh, regretted that the stories of the personnel “remain a cautionary tale for the country.” He decried that none of them faced any formal charge issued to them, or a court-martial panel before their dismissal.

Saleh said the Armed Forces Act prescribes steps to be taken in punishing offences but doesn’t empower the Army Council to arbitrarily

punish or retire officers. He warned that if the 38 officers do not receive justice, “the direct and proximate result is the destruction of the morale of those still in service, with the resulting impact on efficiency and commitment. The impact on the effectiveness, cohesion, and dedication of the Army is best imagined.”

“That act was a clear example of injustice meted out on the officers.

But now we have a serving general accused of stealing, yet he was formally charged and granted a fair hearing via a court martial to prove his guilt. So why will the army give some officers a fair hearing, and others will be denied a fair hearing? Is that not a clear example of an Army of double standards? Several of these officers went to court to prove their innocence and won their cases before a competent court of law. Why will the Nigerian Army not obey court orders? Are they above the law? Do the army authorities not have a sense of responsibility and moral courage to correct the wrongs and injustices of the past to give their fellow officers/ colleagues justice?” Saleh queried.

Recently, in his Democracy Day address, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said, “Democracy is about the rule of law and a vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions.”

Also, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) had stated that this government will obey the rule of law and ensure justice and fairness to all. Many feel that these promises to ensure the rule of law and justice in government should start from the military by ensuring that the Army respects and obeys court orders or judgments.

On July 27, 2023, one of the affected officers, Lt. Col. Abdulfatai Mohammed submitted a letter to Tinubu’s office,

urging the president to prevail on the army to obey the court orders that declared his retirement illegal. Mohammed said he wrote the letter based on the “avowed commitment to justice” the president indicated in his “inauguration speech.”

“I am confident in your leadership and steadfastness for justice/rule of law and optimistic that you will grant me full restoration to put my career back on course as I never deserved the ill-treatment of over 7 years of compulsory retirement that was meted to me,” the letter read.

His letter revealed a harrowing tale of woes, pain, hardship, difficulties, and injustices he and his colleagues had experienced. It displayed particularly the insensitivity and indifference of the Nigerian Army to the plight of him and others.

Mohammed is one of several officers who went to the NIC to clear his name. Others who obtained judgements ordering their reinstatement include Generals Ijioma and Saad, Colonels Hassan, Suleiman, Arigbe, Dazang and AS Mohammed.

Stakeholders have remarked that the Army 38 is a litmus test for this administration to curb corruption in the military, and enshrine the rule of law and justice in the military by ensuring the Nigerian Army complies with the valid and subsisting court orders.

With the Army exhausting its appeal on the judgments in favour of the officers, stakeholders have urgee the Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, in his capacity as the chief law officer of the country to compel the Force to comply with the decisions in the interest of justice and fairness.

“The AGF just has to sound a strong note of warning to the Nigerian Army. He also needs to let it know in clear terms that it cannot continue to be above the law of the land. It has to obey the judgments of the courts. He equally needs to let the Army know that it is ridiculing the courts by not obeying its decisions, and this is sending a dangerous message across,” said one of the analysts.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 26,, 2023

INTERNATIONAL The Dream of Regional Integration in Africa:Beyond the Challenges of Abdourahamane Tchiani’s Coup

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bdourahamane Tchiani is the Army General that toppled the administration of President Mohammed Bazoum in the Republic of Niger on July 26, 2023.ThecoupoffendedtheEconomicCommunity of Western African States (ECOWAS), in particular, and the African Union (AU), in general. More importantly, the coup has the great potential to seriously taint Nigeria-Niger bilateral relations in the foreseeable future.

True, Nigeria initiated the establishment of the ECOWAS in collaboration with the Republic of Togo. Besides, Nigeria pays more than one-third of ECOWAS assessed dues. And perhaps most importantly, but also more disturbingly, the ECOWAS is currently chaired by Nigeria’s leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT), hence at the time the General Abdourahamane Tchiani’s coup took place. PBAT was encouraged, at the instance of President Alassane Ouattara of the Côte d’Ivoire, to accept to chair the ECOWAS and quickly find an enduring solution to the imbroglio created by General Tchiani’s coup.

In other words, PBAT is required to enforce the release of President Bazoum, detained by General Tchiani, the Commander of the Presidential Brigade who led the coup against President Bazoum.Tchiani is considered an illegitimate successor to the ousted President Bazoum because of ECOWAS and AU’s non-acceptance of unconstitutional change of government in Africa. Malian and Burkinabé coups have been condoned. Niger is angered because it is being treated differently by the ECOWAS of which it is an original member.

More saddening, Niger is the only immediate neighbor of Nigeria with which there is no border dispute. Nigeria-Niger ties are without irritants.The two countries established the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation in 1971. It is therefore considered unbelievably true that Nigeria is the one leading other ECOWAS countries to wage war on the people of Niger. Considering it unbelievable, the de facto government of Tchiani decided to refer the ECOWAS sanctions to the ECOWAS Court of Justice for possible review. It is against this background that the quest for regional and continental integration is being made difficult.

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

ECOWAS and Nigeria’s Ties with Niger

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Bazoum and solidarity needed in an ECOWAS already divided against itself.

And true enough again, the dream of African unity dates back to the time of the Conference of Independent African States in the late 1950s and particularly to 1963 when the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was established. Since the advent of the OAU, efforts have been consistently made to unite Africa and promote economic cooperation. OAU resolutions and declarations adopted in Algiers in September 1968, in Addis Ababa in August 1970 and May 1973 all provided that ‘the economic integration of the Continent is a pre-requisite for the realization of the objectives of the OAU.’ No wonder therefore that, in July 1977, the OAU Council of Ministers endorsed the Kinshasa Declaration on the establishment of an African Economic Community.

Additionally, the OAU considered the Monrovia Declaration of Commitment on the Guidelines and Measures for National and Collective Self-reliance in Economic and Social Development for the Establishment of a New International Order which called for the creation of an African Common Market as a prelude to the African Economic Community. This was the background to the making of the African Economic Community. This was also why the OAU considered‘the various factors which hinder the development of the Continent and seriously jeopardise the future of its people,’in finally deciding to have an Economic Community as a catalytic instrument of continental growth and development in Africa.

And true enough again, for the purposes of the continental integra-

The problem in the ECOWAS is more than the challenge of the Abdourahamane Tchiani coup. Al Jazeera has reported that ‘children are unable to return to school because of limited supplies.

Businesses are shutting down because of rising costs.’ The Nigeriens see the ECOWAS as punishing them, especially in terms of financial transactions. Even though the Nigerien government wants the relaxation of the sanctions pending the final determination of the case, which has been fixed for December 7, 2023 for hearing, the ECOWAS lawyer, Mr. François Kanga-Penond opposed the request on the basis that the Tchiani junta does not have the power and mandate to institute any case in the court because it is not recognized under the ECOWAS protocols. The Court will rule on November 30, 2023 on the request of the ousted President, Mohammed Bazoum. The most critical challenge remains how to reconcile the request of the de jure President, Mr. Bazoum, to return to power when Nigeriens are not only in support of the Tchiani junta, but also against France, on the one hand, and the de facto military junta, enjoying the people’s support. Tchiani is not likely to cede power to Bazoum. Tchiani has the potential to withdraw Niger’s membership from the ECOWAS, if not from the AU. In fact, he can open its doors more widely to the Sino-Russians if the court does not rule in its favour. How will the ECOWAS manage the crisis of conflict of interests?

“

ECOWAS relationship with the Republic of Niger, as a supranational authority, has been generally cordial since the time of independence.

Niger Republic, along with other Member States of the ECOWAS were members of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the AU which laid the foundation for regional integration as a first step to take in the quest for continental integration. If the Tchiani coup in Niger is now threatening Nigeria-Niger ties, this cannot but be a resultant of some military mistreatments from which PBAT might have suffered in the past. Tinubu took active part in the struggle for true democracy and was forced into exile by General Sani Abacha in 1993.

Consequently, he is likely to have reservations about military juntas.

PBAT also prefers an offensive-defensive strategy in relating with the Tchiani junta: offensive strategy in order to prevent new coups, or send notices of deterrence. This strategy is aimed at weakening the junta to the extent that any future coupists would think twice before contemplating another coup in the region.The adoption of a defensive-offensive strategy is to use the first offensive attacks on the junta, if successful, as a means of further strengthening self-defence in preparation for future attacks.

Besides, PBAT needs regional support and recognition as the new legitimate leader of Nigeria, especially in light of the many court cases challenging his academic qualifications and eligibility to contest the presidential election. Probably in his thinking, nothing should be wrong with seeking the use of foreign environment to address his domestic challenges in Nigeria. And perhaps more interestingly, if the PBAT-led ECOWAS could succeed in Niger Republic, the likelihood of the use of the same ECOWAS cannot be ruled out in dealing with the many internal contradictions and struggles for separation in Nigeria.

Thus PBAT’s prompt interest in giving one week ultimatum to the junta to return to democratic rule and release President Bazoum is quite understandable. He wants to be seen as an action president but this does not resolve the problem of national and regional unity

tion, the June 3rd, 1991 AbujaTreaty Establishing the African Economic Community, which entered into force in May 1994, divided the whole of Africa into five regions contrarily to the United Nations’definition of the whole of Africa as a region. Article 1(d) of the Treaty stipulates that a ‘Region shall mean an OAU region as defined by Resolution CM/Res.464 (XXVI) of the OAU Council of Ministers concerning the Division of Africa into five (5) regions namely North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa. In this regard, a ‘Sub-region shall mean at least three (3) States of one or more regions as defined in paragraph 1(d).’

As such,West Africa as a region, and not as a sub-region in the eyes of the United Nations, necessarily encompasses the Republic of Niger which is therefore pretty bound to comply with the supranational obligations arising from Niger’s membership of the ECOWAS. The problem is not that Niger Republic is contesting the supranational authority of the ECOWAS. The problem is that the ECOWAS and the AU, by insisting on non-acceptance of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa, have limited their considerations to coupsmaking by the military. They ignore constitutional manoeuvres that enable sit-tight presidents. They also ignore people-involved coups and the atrocities committed by elected presidents under the pretext of protection of liberal democracy. It is precisely this act of ignorance that has prompted the Malian people and the Burkinabé to revolt against France and their elected leaders who the AU and the ECOWAS are seeking to protect, but to the detriment of the interests of the people.

Without any whiff of doubt, the purpose of the 1980 Lagos Plan of Action, officially referred to as the Lagos Plan of Action for the Economic Development of Africa, 1980-2000, is to create an African common market and improve intra-African trade at the national and regional levels. More important, the Plan identified lack of resource development as a major obstacle to economic development. This partly explains why the Plan wanted to integrate the youth into agriculture and, why it also, as from 1980 through 1985, wanted to lay the‘foundation of self-sufficiency’and embark on the‘immediate improvement in the food situation’: reducing food waste, increasing food security, increasing and diversifying food supply, etc. The belief is that economic development has become a desideratum.

The Plan was to further consolidate the 1963 OAU objectives by promoting self-reliancism and minimizing‘Africa’s links withWestern countries by maximizing Africa’s own resources,’ especially in the areas of agricultural, industrial, human resources planning, trade and energy, sectors.

Even though the cardinal objective of the OAU-AU is to promote continentalpoliticalunityandeconomiccooperation,thetruthremains that the unity is increasingly only taking the format of a manu militari.

Even at that, great achievements have been recorded: establishment of an AU on 26 May, 2001 in Addis Ababa and launching on 9 July 2002 in Durban, South Africa; the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which was adopted at the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU in Lusaka, Zambia in July 2001. However, the main objective of the OAU, which is to enhance economic cooperation and integration and evolve continental unity, is yet to be accomplished. It is only integration of leaders, and not that of peoples, that has been attained.

There is the achievement of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) which held its inaugural session in March 2004. There are also the 2018 Pan-African Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC) in Tunis, Tunisia and the Pan-African Statistical Training Centre (PANASTAT) in Yamoussoukro in Côte d’Ivoire whose headquarters’ negotiations are still ongoing. The establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2018 is similarly noteworthy. In light of the foregoing, is unity and integration in Africa a myth?

The Dream and the Challenge The dream of the OAU, as noted above, is unity as instrument to achieve continental development. As provided in the OAU Charter, promotion of unity, solidarity of African States, coordination and intensification of their efforts and cooperation, safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States, as well as ridding Africa of the remaining vestiges of colonization and apartheid are the declared main objectives of the OAU. With all the aforesaid achievements, however, how do we explain the fact that the ECOWAS would want to declare war on another African state because of democracy or a so-called elected president that the people do not want? Is African unity or African integration not a myth?Will theTchiani coup in Niger not serve as a major setback on the path to continental unity? From the list of achievements, it can be rightly posited that AU’s efforts at continental unity and integration is to a great extent a reality. If we consider the increasing discontent of the many peoples of Africa in reaction to the liberal democracy-driven political governance in many parts of Africa, the objectives of continental unity and integration appear to tilt towards a myth. Several issues point to this observation.

First is the issue of non-interference as a principle.The OAU adopted in its Charter the principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of other Member States of the organization. Non-interference in this case included non-intervention as provided in Article 2(7) of the United Nations Charter. Normally, the notion of non-interference does not imply the use of force like non-intervention does. It is when force is applied that the word, intervention, is used to differentiate it from interference in which there is no use of force.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 26, 2023

ENGAGEMENTS

with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

How Country Now?

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fterthefirstsixmonthsinoffice, theBolaTinubupresidencyhas spent enough time to acquire a definable footprint and an evolving identity. It now has a character, style and flavor.

There is no point rehashing what names people of the street have started calling the new administration. After all, they calledBuhari“BabaGoSlow”,“Mr.StopandSlow” etc. It is now up to the judgment of history to decide Buhari’s most apt characterization. I will return to Tinubu’s growing nicknames at some point in the future. For now, however, I can say theadministrationhasqualifiedformyfavourite state of the nation casual street assessment.

It is what I call the “How Country?” test. It is an informal test that updates itself annually.

It is not an opinion poll. It is not even a statistical measurement by any known definition. It hardly segments our national experience into compartments to pass judgment. It is a sort of primitive snap poll among the most ordinary of citizens on the streets.

Itisanancientoff-the-cuffmethodofmeasuring the mood and state of the nation where it matters most: on the streets and among the most unprepared. It is mostly a casual greeting in normal Nigerian street parlance. Simply put, it is just a simple greeting cast in the mould of a universal non- committal question: “How Country?” You throw it around at familiar people at the roadside, in barbers’ shops, on the driveway or as you walk into a gas station, shopping mall or suya spot. You just throw it at the next person who cares to return your greeting.

You do not expect any in- depth answers. All you normally get is at best a reflexive response that quite often gives you a quick snapshot of the way things are in the country at any given time. The responses are snapshots from a sort of everyman’s instant ‘state of the union’ address. No partisanship. No contemplative choreographed answers. Just straight from the hip responses.

Taken together, the answers you get reflect everything. It is a summation of the misery or prosperity index. Price of gasoline, price of garri, rice or cooking gas etc. It can also hint at more serious issues like the state of security, the ease of finding work, prices of essential drugs, bus fares or just getting by on a daily basis. Most importantly, the answers are a function of how ordinary people are faring and how they generally view the prospects of our commonwealth under the government of the day.

Linguistically, ‘how country?’ hovers as a hybrid between bad English and pidgin, dangling between serious enquiry and a casual conversational greeting. The answers you get are also mostly in variants of hybrid popular lingo as well. In normal times, you get responses like: “We dey o!”. In times of political turmoil, you are likely to get: “Country bend small!”. In times of economic desperation and extreme hardship, you are likely to get: ”We dey manage!” When economic hardship joins political confusion to create uncertainty and looming anarchy, you get: “We dey look God face”. When the prevailing mood is one of helplessness and near hopelessness, you get the philosophical resignation: “This, too, shall pass!”

Somehow, it has always worked for me in journalism as a public mood gauging technique.

It also works as a way of expressing cordiality and fellow feeling, a reaffirmation of shared feelings as members of a national community of feelings. At the moment of “How country?”, class divisions temporarily take a back seat. We allboardthesamelifeboatonashipinprecarious turbulence. What irks me probably pains you.

What pains me gnaws at your innermost feelings. Thrown at a troubled soul, ‘how country?’ suggests that perhaps there is someone out there who shares your pains or feels your hurt even without your telling them. But in the end, it is a way of saying that we are partakers in a national community of feelings, caring about each other in a common patrimony whose state of health resonates in our private lives.

As compatriots, we share something intangible, a common concern for the state of the nation and the state of the state that presides over us all. We look out for each other ultimately.

Onagivenday,Iwouldthrowthefriendlygreeting or question at a cross section of ordinary

Tinubu

strangers irrespective of class, ethnicity, circumstance or countenance. By the end of the day, I am likely to have greeted a cross section of fellow countrymen and women ranging from my gate man, cook, steward, secretary, driver, managers, the policeman at the checkpoint, labourers at my building site or my ‘customer’, the woman who roasts corn or unripe plantains (year in, year out!) at the same spot on the roadside on my way from work.

When I come home in the evening and in the quiet of my privacy, I would recall and rewind from the rough barometer of memory the findings of the day. I get a rough idea of the way things are at least from the eyes and gut responses of ordinary people, uncoloured by partisanship, self interest or the arrogance of status.

At other times in past years, I would alter my field of ‘how country?’ sampling. I used to go out to unusual places where ordinary folk gather for the same sampling. Ikeja Bus Stop newspaper stand used to be my favourite spot.

It used to be the venue for a daily meeting of “The Free Readers Association”. We used to gather every morning to read newspapers that the news vendors had spread out on the bare floor without paying the local government for space. The vendors did not pay for retail space so we ,too, did not need to feel guilty for reading the front pages of their newspapers free of charge.

There was an understanding that no one dared state. Our reading skills are first rate because you needed to get a quick glance of the day’s trending headlines before the news vendors asked you to pay orleave. Thatwas our way of catching up with the news, our unique windowtotheday’strends.Thatwasbeforethe internet of all things began to deliver the news and more to the smart phones in our jobless hands! This was before I lost my anonymity

to the middle class prosperity of cars and the prominence of media exposure. A ‘big man’ does not belong to ‘free readers association’ was the assumption that alienated me from this lively assembly.

At Ikeja Bus Stop on an average morning, you will encounter some of the most knowledgeable Nigerians on matters of politics, public affairs, civics, national history and crude mangled versions of world affairs. There, above all, you encounter the unvarnished soul of our nation in its unfiltered essence. These were just simple people. I once encountered a cross section of them.

One had spent decades working as a factory hand at textile factories in Kaduna that have now shut down. Another man, a train ticket assistant had followed trains on the old railroads on endless journeys from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, from Lagos to Kaura Namoda and from Enugu to Zungeru. These men were mobile encyclopaedia of current affairs. They came to Lagos and other towns when our people shared life in ‘face-me-I face -you’ yards irrespective of nationality.

HereattheBusStop,thehungerfornewsused to unite us in an endless and perhaps aimless quest for something in the midst of nothing.

We engaged each other often in fruitless arguments peppered with half-truths and glorified hearsay. Someone would occasionally deliver an impromptu lecture or sermon on nearly every regime and administration that has ruled over our country. These were unaccredited reporters, uncertified experts on nearly every subject under the sun with travel histories that spanned Accra, Libreville, Luanda and Freetown!

One man had spent his productive years in the Gold Coast, later Ghana, playing and travelling as a session man with the band Ramblers Dance Band of Ghana. He had many stories including descriptions of Kwame Nkrumah’s famour mansion with the ‘golden bed’.

These men were grand arbiters and judges of history. They would apportion blames and pass verdicts with neither fear nor favour. They would casually recall past scandals, past heroes and villains and generally deliver judgments not coloured by partisanship or ethnicity. On most days, they had this uncanny ability to read through nearly every newspaper title on the stand with amazing rapidity in no time.

They could make cross references across time and point out who killed who, who stole more money from the common till or who betrayed who in the macabre dance we call politics and national history.

I must confess that the Ikeja Bus Stop crowd is often predictably biased against successive governmentsinourcountry.Forthem,itisa‘they’ versus ‘us’ equation, which I find excusable but disturbing. They justify their anti government stance by insisting that our present rulers have not been different from the whites who were on the ‘other’ side before independence. “The whites have gone. Independence has been here for decades. Look at us!” No one dared answer.

On the recurrent guiding question of “how country?”, the answer you get at any given time haskeptchangingwithsuccessiveregimes.Most times, however, it is a function of what policies touch the people where it matters most, the back pocket. Let us take the contrast between a past administration and the present one for illustration.

Under an elected Obasanjo presidency, the introduction of the GSM cellphone revolution gripped the popular imagination. The new technology suddenly put a lot of power in the hands of the masses. Ordinary people in the villages, in the farms, in the markets, simple artisans and the army of youth on campuses and street corners suddenly found themselves armed with this powerful tool of communication and infinite possibility. Nothing like it had happened previously. Added to it was a policy of financial inclusion through the banking consolidation and the popularization of the stock market. Market women and simple traders in the markets were encouraged to measure their net worth not just in the quantum of cash under their mattresses or underpants and bras.

People were encouraged to take ride in their bank accounts and balances as well as in their stock holdings. More common people began to operate bank accounts and to invest in shares and the bond market. Telecommunications and bankingexpansionprovidedthetwogrowthsectors under Mr. Obasanjo with infinite multiplier effects that sucked up a sizeable percentage of the unemployed. Apart from sporadic and isolated disturbances such as Odi, Shagamu and Zaki Biam which were decisively put down with a level of ferocity that offended the human rights community, threats to national security were few and far between.

These incidents did not however graduate into nationwide insecurity. Nor did they douse the momentum of economic upliftment that swept the nation and put smiles on the faces of ordinary people. If you asked most of the people in the Bus Stop crowd then: ‘How Country?’, the resounding answer was most likely : ”We dey kampe!” or they simply showed you their new cell phone with pride and a smile. This was a reaffirmation of confidence in national stability and the abilities of the national leadership of the time and the possibility of hope in the horizon.

Fast forward to the period between 2015 and 2023, the now famous Buhari 2 era.. The prospect of a Buhari return to power elicited the resurrection of all sorts of populist myths in the popular imagination. The essential outlines of that leadership, I daresay, derived from a nightmarish past that most Nigerians would rather forget but chose to forgive.

Undoubtedly, President Buhari had a retrospective fixation, constantly relishing his brief tenure as military despot as his brightest legacy in our history. We all bought the scam and are now wiser for it after the nightmare of the past eight years. He ruined the national economy, divided the nation, supervised an unbridled carnage of killings and disappearances. While Buhari prevailed over us, the ready response to ‘how country?’ became: “This, too, shall pass!”

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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • NOVEMBER 26, 2023

B AC K PAG E C O N T I N UAT I O N THE DEMOCRACY OBASANJO WANTS Thus, many Africans are clamouring for “benevolent dictatorship”. I always argue that countries develop because of competent and patriotic leadership, not necessarily because of democracy or dictatorship.

Since Africa’s adoption of democracy in the 1950s, many elected leaders have been behaving like monarchs and despots, treating the commonwealth as personal asset, crushing opposition frontally or via co-optation, and toying with elections. To justify this self-serving culture, some African leaders have been campaigning for “homegrown democracy” — which Obasanjo has now christened “Afro democracy”. It is not new. The argument would be that most precolonial African societies were ruled by kings without term limits, without elections, and without opposition. It is argued that we should build our democracy around this. Well, let’s stop kidding: democratic principles are universal.

If we randomly peruse Obasanjo’s history, we will realise that his “Afro democracy” — as contrasted with “liberal democracy” — has been hidden in plain sight all along. He does not believe in plural democracy. He has been an advocate of one-party state for decades and this he tried to implement when he was elected president in 1999. One of his earliest moves was to emasculate the opposition parties — known then as the All Peoples Party (APP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He co-opted the APP chairman, the late Alhaji Mahmud Waziri, and the AD chairman, the late Alhaji Ahmed Abdulkadir, by making them his aides. This threw the opposition into endless crisis and commotion.

Obasanjo’s “Afro democracy” nearly reduced Nigeria to a one-party state and almost installed him as life president. There was the failed attempt in 2006 to amend the constitution to give him a third term, which many saw as the first step to life presidency.

Billions of naira went into the failed project.

He has consistently denied it. There is no need to argue over that. However, in “Afro democracy”, life presidency is common.

Mobutu Sese Seko of Congo, Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe all did life presidency and “Afro democracy” but did not turn their countries to Singapore. I repeat: countries develop because of quality leadership, not democracy or dictatorship.

With the third term project thrashed and trashed, Obasanjo’s strategists did not give up on “Afro democracy”. The PDP constitution was amended in the dying days of his tenure. The PDP board of trustees (BOT) was given the power to enforce “party supremacy”, with a clear provision to the effect that the positions taken by the BOT would be binding on the Nigerian president.

President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania invented this after he left office in 1985. One more thing: the BOT chairman must be a former president democratically elected on the PDP platform. You got it: Obasanjo was the only one qualified to hold the position. It was going to be life presidency through the back door.

The idea was that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, whom he installed as his successor, would start taking instructions from him.

Yar’Adua, of course, got the PDP constitution amended at the earliest opportunity. The

word in town then was that he had stopped picking Obasanjo’s persistent calls. But “Afro democracy” was back on track in 2010 when Yar’Adua fell terminally ill.

Obasanjo worked round the clock to help Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan become president. “Afro democracy” stopped working when Jonathan tried to become his own man. Obasanjo openly attacked him and shifted support to Candidate Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

But his “Afro democracy” still failed with Buhari. Obasanjo attacked him several times in the media before returning to his vomit, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, whom he endorsed in 2019 without success. This time around, he endorsed Mr Peter Obi. If Obi had won, I doubt Obasanjo would now be canvassing “Afro democracy” — except Obi stopped picking his persistent calls. Not being in control triggers Obasanjo’s disenchantment with “liberal democracy”. Archaeologists could dig into the second republic and unearth parchments of Obasanjo’s sayings against President Shehu Shagari, our first elected president, after Shagari stopped kowtowing to him. I am determined not to go that far.

In fairness to Obasanjo, he did not pretend to be a practitioner of “liberal democracy” when he was president from 1999 to 2007.

In 2003, his goons falsely imprisoned Dr Chris Ngige, then Anambra governor, and tried to force him to resign for failing to sign away the state’s revenue. Obasanjo thereafter withdrew Ngige’s security, saying he had resigned in the eye of the law. The state assembly complex was burnt

in order to engineer the declaration of state of emergency and the removal of Ngige.

Nobody was arrested, tried or jailed for this.

“Afro democracy” is the rule of impunity: there is no rule of law and the president can say, like King Louis XIV, “I am the state”.

Obasanjo, using state powers like other “Afro democrats”, wantonly orchestrated the unconstitutional removal of governors by deploying security agencies and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A governor was removed by six members of the 24-member house of assembly. State lawmakers were arrested by the EFCC and forced to impeach their governor. A Supreme Court judgment declaring Senator Ifeanyi Araraume as the legitimate PDP candidate in the 2007 governorship in Imo state was undermined by Obasanjo, who directed that PDP should instead forfeit the state by not presenting a candidate. This is “Afro democracy”.

The closest success story of “Afro democracy” today is Rwanda, with President Paul Kagame as the “benevolent dictator”.

Nigerians praise Rwanda a lot but I have noticed that when they want to “japa”, they head for “liberal democracies” such as the UK, the US and Canada. They don’t go to Rwanda to enjoy “Afro democracy”. I am, thus, encouraged to conclude that the way forward is for Africans to improve their democracy so that elections will be credible, citizens will have space and voice, rule of law will prevail, and voters will have multiple choice. In other words, we need more of “liberal democracy” as “practised in the West” since “Afro democracy” has not served us better.

And Four Other Things…

‘NAUGHTY’ DOHERTY May I specially commend Mr Funso Doherty, the former governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos state, for taking time to go through the expenditure of the state government and writing a probing letter to the governor.

Something worries me about Nigerians: our understanding of democracy starts and stops with elections and the fall-outs. We often neglect the critical aspect of democracy: promoting transparency and accountability.

This is what makes democracy work for the people. It helps the cause of good governance.

How I wish there would be Dohertys in all states and LGAs. As things are, elections are the main thing that excites us. Sigh.

POLLS AND PETITIONS I have been hearing complaints over the upturning of election results by the courts.

This, it is argued, has usurped the power of the people to choose their leaders through the ballot. I am genuinely unsure of the aim of this argument. Are we saying that aggrieved parties should not approach the courts for remedy — as provided for in our laws? Or that the courts should throw out all petitions and insist on the INEC-declared results only?

It is more baffling that those who went all the way to the Supreme Court seeking to upturn elections and lost are complaining about the courts upturning elections. I need someone to make me understand so that we can debate it properly. Confusing.

CLIMATE CALAMITY I am not that much into environmental issues but I started developing keen interest after listening to a message in a UK church over 10 years ago. The pastor said when God created the Garden of Eden, he charged Adam and Eve to take care of it. His message was that we have a God-given responsibility to care for our environment. On Wednesday, I attended a forum on ‘Nigeria, Climate Change and the Green Economy’ organised by Agora Policy, a think-tank led by Mr Waziri Adio. The grim statistics and trend mapping in the Agora Policy Report on the impact of climate change on Nigeria woke me up to reality yet again. We know we are already feeling the heat, but this may just be introduction. Scary.

NO COMMENT In the 1970s and 1980s, there was a Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) owned by the federal government and boasting of 24 ships. While other shipping companies were making good money from maritime business, the NNSL was busy accumulating liabilities — as is typical of government-run commercial entities in Nigeria — until it went caput. Fast forward to 2023. Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy, has announced government plans to re-establish the shipping line. This is said to be a “bold move” aimed at “enhancing internally generated revenue”. It is projected to bring $10 billion annually into government coffers. Like yesterday. Hahahahahaha.

NEED TO TAKE CLIMATE CHANGE MORE SERIOUSLY alter its geographical, social, and political trajectory for decades or centuries. Therefore, it should be evident that climate change is not a marginal or peripheral issue that the government and the people of Nigeria can take lightly.”

The people at the helm of affairs do not seem to have got this memo yet. Climate change is already exerting a heavy toll on us. And the toll is likely to get heavier if we do not act quickly and strategically. But it is not all bad news. Titled ‘Climate Change and Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria,’ the 84-page report by Agora Policy adds: “Even though climate change poses significant threats to Nigeria’s economic development, it also presents an opportunity to diversify the economy, expand the country’s energy portfolio, address energy security concerns, and increase global economic competitiveness.

To transform climate change from a significant threat into an opportunity requires deliberate planning supported by immediate, bold and courageous action.”

With facts and figures, the report makes a compelling case about the climate crisis at the global and national levels, and lays out how Nigeria can minimise the negative impacts of climate change and maximise the opportunities of energy transition. The report was formally presented midweek in Abuja at a high-profile event with the theme “Nigeria, Climate Change and the Green Economy”. From the various contributions made by the speakers, panellists and other participants at the event organised by Agora Policy and its partners, I will highlight three points that that I think policy makers should take seriously.

One, it is important for all actors, especially

Abubakar Suleiman the government, to embrace the reality and the urgency of climate change. Neither denial nor defiance is particularly helpful. Speaker after speaker at the event emphasised that the fact

that Nigeria and other African countries are the least emitters of Green House Gases in the world does not insulate these countries from the disproportionate impacts of a warming planet. The earlier Nigeria and others start focusing on how to adapt and how to be resilient, the better for them. An all-of-society approach is needed, but government has to take the lead. The government needs to rouse itself, move from policies and plans to concrete action, prioritise proper coordination, use state levers effectively to incentivise desired behavioural changes, then mobilise the rest of the society, especially in a language and manner that is not exclusionary and does not further marginalise the poor and other vulnerable groups.

Two is the need to be proactive in engaging the transition from the old order to the rapidly evolving and clearly unstoppable new order.

The transition away from fossil fuels will have implications for government revenue, especially for states and communities that depend almost exclusively on revenue from oil and gas, and for vulnerable and marginalised segments of society. It is necessary to be ready or risk being further left behind.

The following will be needed: evolving frameworks for handling ongoing and future remediation efforts in extractive host communities; developing policies in inclusive, collaborative, just and fair ways; investing current earnings from oil and gas to deepen opportunities in the new economy; learning from and avoiding the mistakes made with management of the oil and gas sector; linking climate change to national development plans, rather than as a standalone issue; and fashioning ways to ensure that Nigeria can improve its energy deficit and achieve its

development objectives in a way that aligns with the global shift toward a low-carbon environment.

And the third and last point I want to emphasise is the imperative of understanding the economics of alternative energy. It is not surprising that this point was underscored by the commercial banker on the panel, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, the CEO of Sterling Bank who also trained as economist. (Incidentally too, the corporate headquarter of his bank is powered by solar energy.)

“One language everyone understands is their bottom-line,” Abubakar stated. “So, the conversation should be about the bottom-line for everyone.” In short, it is important to make it make sense. Preachments about saving the planet will not make as much sense to most people as the concrete benefits that will accrue to them in terms of reduced costs, increased profits, improvement in quality of lives, and the potentials for jobs and economic growth. How and what we communicate will also matter.

To optimise the opportunities of the green economy, government will need to work on stimulating demand for renewables and investing in the alternative energy eco-system.

This is the way to unlock capital flows into the sector and ensure that the country benefits from every point of the value chain of the renewable economy.

We cannot wish away the reality and the impacts of climate change. Both the policy makers and the larger populace need to show more seriousness and more urgency. And we need to be better prepared for both the unremitting challenges and the emerging opportunities. Doing otherwise can only be at our peril.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 26,, 2023

39

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

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“Let us pray that, the presidential intervention will not go the way of the Bello Masari Reconciliation Committee set up by APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje. After several trips to Abuja at taxpayers’ expense, both parties returned to court despite promises to withdraw all cases” – Ondo State chapter of PDP describing the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the political battle in the state as a mere window dressing.

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SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

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The Democracy Obasanjo Wants

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et me say I took former President Olusegun Obasanjo lightly when he told me that “liberal democracy is not working in Africa” in an interview a while ago. I did not read much into it. I even thought he was still recovering from what hit him in the presidential election (won by his old enemy) and he wanted the military to wade in. I asked him: “What type of democracy would work?” He replied: “I don’t know. But the liberal type of democracy as practised in the West will not work for us. We have to put our heads together. You can give it any name. This is not working. Out of the six (African) countries that have experienced coups, three of them are directly from elections.”

I went away thinking that, like Brutus, Obasanjo does not know what he wants but he wants it badly. Maybe I am wrong. Last week, he came out forcefully at a two-day event organised by the Africa Progress Group.

He not only repeated his misgivings with “liberal democracy” but also suggested the invention of “Afro democracy” by Africans to suit — as it were — their temperature and humidity. “The weakness and failure of liberal democracy as it is practised stem from its history, content, context and practice,”

Obasanjo he said. “We have a system of government in which we have no hands to define and design and we continue with it, even when we know that it is not working for us.”

His conceptualisation of “Afro democracy” appears to still be at the teething stage. Maybe he is making things up daily or deliberately releasing the details of his political philosophy in bits and pieces. But he said something that forms the fulcrum of his thinking: “Once you move from all the people to representatives of the people, you start to encounter troubles and problems. These few people are representatives of only some of the people and not full representatives of all the people. Invariably, the majority of the people are wittingly or unwittingly kept out.” I would glean from this statement that he is most probably against electoral and representative democracy. I may be wrong.

To be sure, there are several issues with representative democracy. There is the “principal-agency” problem. Elected representatives hardly represent the people.

They are representing either themselves or vested interests. This is not peculiar to Africa: it is also a big problem in Western countries. An option is a return to the good old “direct democracy” — where every eligible citizen votes on every decision. But it is complicated. Populations have exploded and it will be a logistical nightmare subjecting every government decision to popular vote.

More so, some policy decisions are highly technical and require expert understanding

which the majority of the citizens may not have.

For instance, most Britons who voted for Brexit did not understand the ramifications.

They voted out of anti-immigration sentiments.

Ironically, the immigration they thought they were voting against has risen far above preBrexit levels, according to the latest statistics.

Also, if you ask Nigerians to vote on petrol price today, most will probably say it should be free “because we are blessed with oil”.

They will surely vote for the exchange rate to be N1/$1. Direct democracy has limitations and implications. To improve representative democracy, there has been a campaign to re-insert the people via decentralisation and participatory governance. This is to promote more — not less — democracy.

Obasanjo’s major grouse is with “liberal democracy as practised in West”.

Encyclopaedia Britannica defines “liberal democracy” as a form of democracy “in which the power of government is limited, and the freedom and rights of individuals are protected, by constitutionally established norms and institutions.” Obasanjo’s position aligns with the thinking of leaders like the late Lee Kwan Yew who practised “dictatorial” democracy in Singapore with good outcomes.

Continued on page 38

WAZIRIADIO POSTSCRIPT

Need to Take Climate Change More Seriously

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he 2023 general election, because of its landmark nature, provided a great opportunity to surface and dissect the obvious and the non-obvious but critical challenges facing our country.

It was an opportunity to test the proposals by the candidates on the key issues of the moment and the future, to crowd-source solutions, and to build elite and societal wide consensus about what needs to be done to reposition our country.

To a large extent, it was another opportunity that we allowed to slip.

The electioneering period was more a season of hollow soundbites and strident attacks than a real festival of ideas.

One of the key issues loudly absent during the long campaign period was climate change. It barely registered as a major or even marginal issue to Nigeria’s social and economic development. The glossy manifestoes hardly had anything major to say about it. And on the few occasions that the candidates entertained questions about climate change, their responses betrayed an appalling level of ignorance or vacuity.

The fact that shortly before the elections

most parts of our country were almost under water from one of our worst episodes of perennial flooding should have raised the interests of the candidates and the populace about one of the side effects of shifts in weather patterns. According to official statistics, more than 1.4 million people were displaced, over 2,400 people were injured and at least 603 people died in the 2022 flood in Nigeria. It was the worst flooding episode since 2012, itself a national record.

Yet, neither the damaging effects of flooding nor the overwhelming impacts of other effects of climate change and global transition away from fossil fuels focussed our minds on the necessity of having a decent conversation on the most significant issue in the world during the most consequential election in decades. We didn’t think it was necessary to examine and plan for what the shifts in the environment and the global preference for energy mean for Nigeria now and in the near and distant future.

Even with a new government in place, not much has changed. Expectedly, there will be a flurry of activities in official circles as COP28 starts in United Arab Emirates on Thursday. The Conference of Parties (COP) is

where governments, businesses and activists gather yearly to discuss climate change and agree to key decisions. Expectedly, Nigeria will not miss the opportunity to show up, make statements, and seek concessions and supports.

Beyond showing up for the party, top Nigerian officials need to start treating climate change with the seriousness and the urgency that it deserves. And that urgency is not just by having laws, agencies, policies, programmes and plans, or by mouthing, occasionally, the right words. It is about undertaking concrete actions based on evidence and consultation, resourcing climate interventions adequately and smartly, and mobilising Nigerians across the board and our international partners to play their parts.

There is enough evidence that climate change, even if it still appears invisible to most members of our political class and the populace, is Nigeria’s most critical development challenge today because of its wide-ranging impacts and implications.

Most of us may think climate change is distant or is not our problem. But nothing can be farther from the truth. The impacts of shifts in weather patterns are all around

us: in perennial flooding, in drought and desertification, in coastal erosions, in rising temperature and rising sea level and in the ways all these in turn affect social and economic development and human welfare in country.

A recent report by Agora Policy, a think tank that I lead, puts it grimly: “climate change is increasing hunger, poverty, diseaseburden, migration, conflict and insecurity in Nigeria. It is damaging infrastructure, changing Nigeria’s coastlines, fuelling desertification, producing water scarcity, facilitating erosion and resulting in the loss of revenue for states and the national government.

“The total economic cost of climate change to Nigeria was estimated to be about USD100 billion cumulatively by 2020 and is projected to reach $460 billion by 2050.

Climate change may also cause Nigeria to lose trillions of dollars in stranded assets.

With these far-reaching negative effects on the country’s human and natural systems, climate change has the potential to jeopardise the country’s economic development and Continued on page 38

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