SUNDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2022

Finally, Peter Obi Releases Campaign Manifesto Anchors campaign on security, production, institutional reforms, industrial revolution, three others Gabriel Emameh in Abuja The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has finally released his campaign manifesto for his 2023 presidential bid.

THISDAY gathered that the document may be officially unveiled to the public today, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

The 62-page manifesto document is titled ‘Our Pact With Nigerians:

Creating A New Nigeria.’

According to the document, Obi’s campaign is anchored on seven thematic areas of security, production, institutional reforms, industrial revolution, infrastructural development, human capital

development as well as a robust foreign policy.

Specifically Obi and his vice presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, pledged to “secure and unite our dear nation, and manage our diversity such that

no one is left behind in Nigeria.

“Move Nigeria from consumption to production and embark on comprehensive legal and institutional reforms and practicable restructuring measures, to fight corruption; ensure the

enthronement of the rule of law, and decisively tackle all forms of corruption.”

The LP candidates also promised to “prioritise Human Capital Continued on page 5

Oil Pollution: S’Court Gives Shell Go-ahead to Appeal $1.8bn Court Order… Page 9 Sunday 4 December, 2022 Vol 27. No 10099

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PDP: Tinubu Haunted by His Plan to Relocate FCT to Lagos Says his foreign trip a ploy to dodge ARISE TV debate APC candidate leaves for London

Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday stated that the presidential candidate of the All

Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was being haunted by his exposed scheme to relocate the federal capital from Abuja to Lagos.

The main opposition party, which will campaign for the 2023 presidential election in Lagos State tomorrow, also described Tinubu’s current foreign trip as a deliberate

ploy to dodge the ARISE NEWS Channel’s presidential debate scheduled to hold today.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) had denied rumour

that Tinubu planned to relocate the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from Abuja to Lagos, if elected.

The council said the falsehood being spread by the opposition was

in continuation of their campaign of calumny and character assassination of the former Lagos State governor.

Continued on page 5

Governors Fight Back, Say FG Responsible for Rising Poverty Accuse central govt of failing to protect farmers, others from terrorists Say FG also failed to lift 100m Nigerians out of poverty Chuks Okocha in Abuja The 36 state governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) have come down hard on the federal government and the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, over the minister’s claims that state governors were responsible for the rising poverty rate in the country.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had recently disclosed that 133 million Nigerians were poor.

In a statement issued yesterday by the spokesman of the NGF, Abdulrazaq Bello-Barkindo, the governors insisted that it was the federal government that abandoned its promise and primary responsibility to the citizens.

They cited the failure of the

federal government to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty as it had promised, as well as the inability of the federal government to protect farmers from terrorists.

Describing the minister’s assertions as diversionary, the governors said it was the responsibility of the federal government to provide security for the citizens.

The governors lamented the people in the rural areas abandoned their farms due to the worsening insecurity.

They said: “The tirade early this week by the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, on the 36 state governors, where he blamed them for the rising poverty index Continued on page 5

THE EXPERIENCE CONCERT… L-R: Group Managing Director/CEO, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje; his wife, Derin; and Metropolitan Senior Pastor, House On The Rock Church, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, at the 17th edition of 'The Experience' gospel musical concert in Lagos…weekend

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INEC Explains Inability to Prosecute Electoral Offenders Insists on conducting elections in troubled spots nationwide Another INEC office set ablaze in Imo Gboyega Akinsanmi in Lagos and Chuks Okocha in Abuja Barely three months to the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has blamed its failure to prosecute electoral offenders on the inability of the National Assembly to pass the National Electoral Offences Commission Bill, 2022.

This is coming as suspected arsonists have razed another office of the electoral body in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State.

INEC has also revealed that it planned to conduct the 2023 elections in 176, 846 polling units across the federation, including the areas ravaged by terrorists and kidnappers.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, who made the clarification at a one-day strategic interactive meeting with line editors in Lagos weekend, called on the federal legislature to expedite action on the passage of the National Electoral Offences Commission Bill.

He addressed the meeting alongside INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education

Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye; Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje; INEC National Commissioner, Legal Services, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu; and INEC National Commissioner, Outreach and Partnership, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, among others.

Speaking at the interactive meeting, Yakubu admitted that the power “to prosecute electoral offenders fully rests upon the INEC. But we are constrained to prosecute any electoral offender due to the deficit of legislation.”

He pointed out that the commission “is not responsible for the arrest of electoral offence suspects. Also, INEC does not have the power to investigate electoral offences. These are challenges we are facing in prosecuting suspects of electoral offences,” he added Until the two chambers of the National Assembly pass the National Electoral Offences Commission Bill, Yakubu argued that there was nothing the INEC could do if certain issues were not resolved.

The INEC chairman, therefore, appealed to the National Assembly to pass the National Electoral Offences Bill into law, saying the

Meanwhile, suspected arsonists have razed another INEC office in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State.

The attack brings to four the number of INEC facilities set ablaze in the last three weeks.

Similar attacks were carried out on the commission’s offices in Ogun and Osun states, on November 10.

A local office of the commission was last Sunday, set ablaze in Ebonyi State, by some unidentified persons. A yet-to-be-determined quantity of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) was destroyed in the attack.

However, the latest incident occurred on Thursday.

The INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, disclosed this in a statement weekend.

Okoye said the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof Sylvia Agu, reported the incident to the commission.

“The building, which is undergoing extensive renovation following an earlier attack, was vandalised and partially set ablaze,” he said.

The INEC spokesperson said three of the construction workers renovating the facility were initially abducted by the attackers, but were later released.Description: Description: Description: EXEM Advert “The damage would have been more extensive, but for the quick response of the Nigeria Police, which had deployed its personnel to the site,” he stated.

INEC Chairman, Yakubu said, last Monday, that the recent attacks on its facilities would not stop

the conduct of the 2023 general elections.

But Okoye said the attacks on the INEC facilities have now become “too many” and expressed the commission’s concern over the spate of the attacks on its facilities and the negative consequences on its preparations for the 2023 general election.

Although the attacks on INEC offices have been happening across the country, the commission has become a target of gunmen across the South-east in recent times.

The attacks have raised fears about holding the 2023 general election in the region.

About four months ago, some suspected arsonists razed an INEC office in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Also, two offices of INEC, in May 2021, were set ablaze by gunmen in Ebonyi State. The offices are located at Ezza North and Izzi local government areas of the state.

Another building belonging to the INEC, in May 2021, was also set ablaze in Imo State.

Again, in September 2021, the commission’s office was set ablaze in Awgu Local Government Area office in Enugu State.

more than 130 million Nigerians are living below the globally accepted poverty line of a dollar a day,” the governors said.

The governors argued that the country’s cash cow, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), had failed to remit statutory allocations to states in several months.

The situation, the governors explained, had compelled them to rely on other sources of revenue

like, the SFTAS programme and other interventions anchored by the NGF, to fund states’ activities while monies budgeted for such federal ministries as agriculture, rural development and humanitarian affairs are not being deployed in the direction of the people.

They also argued that last week’s directive by the House of Representatives that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk, should quit

office if she was not ready to do her work of alleviating poverty in the land was “a resounding vote of no confidence on the ministers among whom Mr. Agba serves.”

President Muhammadu Buhari had also on Thursday accused the governors of thwarting development in the country by tinkering with local government allocations, saying an unnamed state governor misappropriated half of local government funds.

country’s electoral process would remain ineffective without proper agency to deal with electoral offences.

Yakubu also emphasised the need to build a positive electoral culture in the country, noting that the INEC “is not happy that most electoral offenders are let off the hook because INEC lacks the legislative backing to prosecute electoral offenders.”

“Until a Bill for an Act to establish the National Electoral Offences Commission’’ becomes operational, INEC will not be able to expeditiously deal with electoral offenders,” Yakubu added.

He further disclosed that the commission had planned to conduct the 2023 elections in 176, 846 polling units across the federation, saying it ‘is the responsibility of the INEC to conduct election.”

He added that security agencies had the duty “to provide security across the federation. We have done it before. We did it in Anambra.

Edo is even more difficult because of insecurity. Like we did in Anambra and Edo, we are equally determined to do it now.”

He noted that the commission “is working with security agencies

under the auspices of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to ensure elections are conducted across the federation in 2023.”

In his remarks, Okoye challenged the media to continue to assist the commission to fight misinformation.

Okoye said with 84 days to the general election, the spread of fake news and misinformation on the electoral process had become worrisome l.

According to him, there is a need for the media to assist in tackling the menace of false information for a successful general election in 2023.

Another INEC Office Set Ablaze in Imo

PDP: TINUBU HAUNTED BY HIS PLAN TO RELOCATE FCT TO LAGOS in the country comes to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum as a surprise.

The minister got his message totally wrong.

The governors noted the minister’s attacks were not only unnecessary, but also a brazen descent into selective amnesia.

According to them, the minister, who should be responding to a question demanding to know what he and his colleague, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, were doing to ameliorate the hardship Nigerians were facing, attempted to defray the notion that rising levels of hunger and lack were peculiar to Nigeria.

“True as that may be, Agba went further to explain that their government, through many of its social security programs, has been dedicating resources to alleviating hardship, and then goes further to accuse state governors of misdirecting resources to projects that have no impact on the people.

“While rightly pointing out that 72 per cent of the poverty in Nigeria is found in the rural areas, the minister said the rural populace had been abandoned by governors.

“This assertion is not only preposterous and without any empirical basis, but also very far from the truth. It is Mr. Clement Agba’s veiled and deliberate effort, as a minister, to protect his paymasters and politicise very critical issues of national importance.

“Instead of answering the question thrown at him by journalists, Agba

veered his attention to soft targets that happen to be 36 governors.

“It is the opinion of the governors that the dereliction that the minister is talking about lies strictly speaking, at the doorstep of the federal government which he represents, in this scenario.

“First and foremost, the primary duty of any government is to ensure the security of lives and property, without which no sensible human activity takes place.

“But the federal government, which is responsible for the security of lives and property has been unable to fulfill this covenant with the people thus allowing bandits, insurgents, and kidnappers to turn the country into a killing field, maiming and abducting people, in schools market squares and even on their farmlands.

“This dereliction of duty from the centre is the main reason why people have been unable to engage in regular agrarian activity and in commerce. Today, rural areas are insecure, markets are unsafe, and life for the common people generally is harsh and brutish.

“The question is, how can a defenceless rural population maintain a sustainable lifestyle of peace and harmony when their lives are cut prematurely, and they wallow permanently in danger?

“How does a minister whose government has been unable to ensure security, law and order have the temerity to blame governors?” the governors queried.

The governors noted that many

other states have been implementing pro-poor programmes.

The governors said, "Although the minister committed the folly of tarring all 36 governors with the same brush, there cannot be a onesize-fits all reply to the minister’s misguided outburst.

"For example, it is the federal government that, in its campaign message in 2019, promised to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty. Today, records show that

PDP: TINUBU HAUNTED BY HIS PLAN TO RELOCATE FCT TO LAGOS A statement by the Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign council, Bayo Onanuga, clarified that Tinubu “does not contemplate any such plan and will not do anything that is so ultra-unconstitutional.”

But a statement by the spokesperson of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, insisted that the APC presidential candidate should face Nigerians with explanation for the exposed scheme instead of allowing his handlers to be playing to the gallery with disjointed denials and blaming other political parties for allegedly spreading the accusation that he planned to relocate the federal capital.

"The plan to relocate the Federal Capital was conceptualised and propagated by the Tinubu campaign and only became hysterical as a result of the public ire against such atrocious plot to sequester the nation’s capital for his personal

FINALLY, PETER OBI RELEASES CAMPAIGN MANIFESTO Development through robust investments in STEM education, health, and infrastructural development, with emphasis on wealth creation, distribution and sustainable development.

“Improve access to finance, particularly to MSMEs, youths and women, to significantly reduce unemployment and insecurity.

“Ensure that in policy and practice, governance will be made more inclusive, costeffective, transformative, and less transactional. No more sharing of the national wealth by a few,” among other promises.

He also promised to “Ensure that our diversity will be leveraged to give women and youths, the aged and persons with disabilities, an unfettered voice in governance, and a renewed sense of patriotism and faith in Nigeria.

While insisting that a new

Nigeria is still possible said, “Our vision is a secure, united and prosperous Nigeria that works for everyone and that realizes the hope of black people of the world as a city on the hill “We will run a government of national unity, bringing together for the task at hand, all competent, honest, and diligent Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliations.

“The new Nigeria we build will be truly ‘one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity” where “peace and justice shall reign.”

According to Obi, for long, the dream of a secure, united and prosperous Nigeria has been betrayed by those who lack the character and competence to achieve the dream.

He noted that at present, a new generation of Nigerian leadership has emerged, tested and tried,

honest and dedicated, united in a common mission to reverse the current ugly trend of endemic poverty, insecurity, and create a better future for every Nigerian.

Obi expressed confidence that “The new Nigeria that we will build is a society where political power will no longer be used to serve the interest of the ruling class and subject the people to chronic poverty and deprivation.

The spokesperson of the ObiDatti presidential campaign council, Yunusa Tanko, who confirmed the authenticity of the campaign document to THISDAY, however, noted that the manifesto document may likely be released today.

“The principal has made a summary release of the document in the Business School meeting he held in Lagos, but the formal unveiling will be done by him at a later date,” Yunusa added

selfish interest,” PDP alleged.

The main opposition party further argued that the foreign trip embarked on by Tinubu was a deliberate ploy to dodge the ARISE NEWS Channel debate scheduled to hold today.

PDP said the former Lagos State governor was apprehensive that “Nigerians will take him to task on the FCT relocation plot, alleged criminal indictments, perjury, forgery and inconsistencies in age, name, ancestry and education qualification.”

According to the party, the handlers of the APC presidential candidate are not comfortable to put him before the cameras because of his constant embarrassing gaffes that question his fitness for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"If Asiwaju Tinubu cannot face Nigerians as a candidate, because of his many baggage, he surely does not deserve their votes on February 25, 2023.

"Our campaign urges Nigerians not to relent for a moment in their continued support for Atiku until they elect him into office," the party added.

Tinubu Jets to London for Chatham Event

Meanwhile, Tinubu left Nigeria yesterday for London to speak at Chatham House on Monday.

The Director, Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement.

Onanuga said the APC presidential candidate would speak on security, economy and foreign policy on Monday, December 5, 2022 at Chatham House in London.

Atiku will Justify the Trust of All Nigerians, PDP Tells Northern Christian Leaders

In a related development, the Presidential Campaign Management Committee (PCMC) of the PDP has reacted to Atiku’s endorsement by the Northern Christian and Muslim Leaders within the APC, saying it was “excited, grateful and pleased to receive the well processed and justified decision.”

The Forum of Christian and Muslim Political Leaders from the 19 northern states and the FCT, headed by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, had Friday, adopted Atiku as the consensus candidate for the 2023 elections.

A statement signed by the spokesperson of the PDP Presidential Campaign Management Committee, Senator Dino Melaye, said the endorsement of Atiku came as an elixir for the PDP and its candidate, because it attested to the broadness, equalisation and nationalistic composition of the opposition party and its standard bearer.

“We have come to a stage in our national evolution, where attention should be devoted to what binds us together and not what breaks us. The promise, record and actions of Atiku Abubakar speak to this objective, and this is what he will pursue as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is also significant that the Northern Christian leaders reckoned with the cognate experience of Atiku Abubakar as the former vice president, who operated at that level of governance and was outstanding as a reformer, a talent hunter and a broad-minded leader, whose office was a microcosm of the different shades of nationalities within the Nigerian State. Atiku, whom we fondly and justifiably call the unifier, has over the years maintained friendship with thousands of Nigerians irrespective of their age, gender,

faith or geographical location.

“We note with deep gratitude and satisfaction the observation that Atiku has a well-articulated agenda. Without being immodest, the presidential candidate of the PDP has always armed himself with SMART goals. His vision is clear and the mission is grounded.

With his foresight he had long expressed the plan on how to manage Nigeria’s oil sector. Atiku remains the most experienced, most prepared and most acceptable candidate for the 2023 elections.

“Atiku will not only lead Nigeria out of the current economic, political and security crisis, he will give all Nigerians a sense of belonging, mend the fault lines and repair the broken confidence and social structures.

“We call on all Nigerians to give Atiku Abubakar the opportunity to take Nigeria to where it ought to be,” Melaye stated.

Meanwhile, at the inauguration of the Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWD) Presidential Campaigns in Abuja yesterday, the PDP presidential candidate pledged an inclusive federal administration with the involvement of persons living with disabilities.

He said that as he had earlier pledged to be sensitive to the 35 per cent Beijing declaration and an inclusive government with youths, he would ensure that PLWD are accommodated in his government.

Atiku charged the PLWD to go to their polling units, wards and local governments to ensure that they deliver and defend their votes.

Citing the records from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Population Commission, Atiku said there are over 19 million registered voters, who are PLWD. He urged them to come out en masse and vote for him as a unifier that he would run an inclusive government without discrimination.

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SEEKING A FRESH MANDATE… L-R: Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; and APC National Youth Leader, Mr. Dayo Israel, during the Lagos State APC gubernatorial campaign inauguration at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan…yesterday

Accelerate Ratification of LG Autonomy Bill, Osinbajo Tells State Assemblies Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on state Houses of Assembly to speedily ratify the bill seeking total autonomy and devolution of powers to the local government councils in the country.

The vice president made the call at the weekend while delivering the “Distinguished Annual Lecture” of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru, near Jos, the Plateau State capital.

The lecture was titled ‘Subnational Local Governance in Africa: Rethinking Policies, Frameworks and Institutions’.

Osinbajo, who was represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, said local authorities played key roles towards nation building.

He lamented the third tier of government had over time been neglected and undervalued.

He maintained the ongoing constitutional amendment seeking to allocate more powers to the local governments was a step in the right direction. ”While the roles of state governments and their scope of authority appear very well appreciated, local governments remain, in my view, quite undervalued, needing more attention from all of us, better funding, organisational and high quality leadership. ”As we speak, a bill for local government autonomy is striving hard to pass the threshold of 24 votes required from state Houses of Assembly, a key milestone towards its passage. ”I believe that efforts being made, through the ongoing

Anxiety in Universities as ASUU Holds NEC Meeting in Calabar Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

There is palpable fear of another round of strike across the Nigerian public universities as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is billed to conclude its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, today.

The NEC meeting, which started yesterday, according to the Premium Times, is to discuss the ‘No Pay, No Work’ policy, should the government fail to release their withheld March to September salaries and the remaining parts of their October salaries.

ASUU has been at loggerheads with the federal government over unfulfilled pledges and the continued refusal to pay the eight-month salaries of its members withheld for the period of the last prolonged industrial action by the union.

NEC is the highest decisionmaking body of the union and sources, who are members of the body, have confirmed the possibility of declaring another round of indefinite strike action

by ASUU at the meeting or later

in the month.

Meanwhile, university students, shop owners and other service providers on the campuses are agitated about the development, saying such action would dash many hopes.

A member of ASUU-NEC, who pleaded to be anonymous for not being authorised to speak on the matter, told Premium Times that the meeting was part of a quarterly meeting held by the union.

The official said: “I am not sure that’s an option before the NEC, but nobody can tell until during the meeting.”

In the past weeks, the lecturers declared a lecture-free day and carried out peaceful protests on their respective campuses.

During the protests, they threatened to invoke a ‘No Pay, No Work’ policy, should the government fail to release their withheld March to September salaries and the remaining parts of their October salaries.

After ASUU suspended its strike on October 14, the lecturers were paid a ‘mutilated’ salary for the month, and the remaining months’ salaries withheld.

constitutional amendment, to cede more responsibilities for control and management of resources to local governments across the country reflect our understanding of how crucial it has become for this tier of government to take full charge of their responsibilities and functions at optimal capacity. ”After all, it is often argued that local government is closest to the people and best placed to impact on their lives,” he said.

The vice president argued that local government’s fiscal autonomy would promote peace and security in the country, adding that people at rural communities understand their terrain better and know how to deploy resources towards

tackling security challenges.

He insisted the yearning for local government autonomy was a step in the right direction and called on state assemblies to expedite actions toward ratifying the autonomy bill.

He added the advantages that come with local government autonomy are obviously enormous, adding that it would further consolidate on Nigeria’s democratic system. ”Ratifying the bill that grants local governments fiscal autonomy in Nigeria is indeed a step in the right direction, and we encourage the yet-to-be decided voters from state assemblies to be considerate in this regard and speedily pass it.

”The issue of security for example which has posed significant challenge in the last decades cannot be effectively and consistently tackled with centralised security structure and resources.

“It is clear that Nigeria is too vast to be policed from the centre and the people at the grassroots know the intricacies of their communities better, they know the geography intimately, they understand the ebbs and flows of people and information in a greater deal. ”It is my firm belief that we must strengthen our sub-national administrative units via further devolution of powers and resources for effective performance,” he said.

On his part, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero, who chaired the occasion, said there was a strong nexus between effective local governance and sustainable development, insisting that Nigeria should not be left behind in this paradigm shift.

He maintained that an effective local authority would address poverty, hunger, inequality, insecurity, illiteracy, and other challenges currently facing the nation.

Earlier, the Director General of NIPPS, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, said the distinguished annual lecture was part of the activities for the graduation ceremony of the institute’s Senior Executive Course (SEC) 44.

UNICEF: 2022 Flood Killed 600 People, Displaced 1.3m Others David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said no fewer than 600 persons died in the 2022 flood in Nigeria, while 1.3 million others were rendered homeless.

Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, said this occurred in 34 out of the 36 states in the country, between September and October.

Chiluwe stated this yesterday during the official handover of some supplies from UNICEF to Anambra State government, for onward delivery to the flood victims.

She said: "We acknowledged that since September 2022, the worst floods in a decade affected 2.8 million people, of which an estimated 60 per cent are children, across 34 of the 36 states in Nigeria.

Of those affected, 1.3 million people have been displaced, and over 600 people have died in relation to flooding, according to government data.

"Continuous heavy rains have collapsed hundreds of public health facilities, water systems and sanitation facilities, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases, such as cholera, Diarrhea, and malaria.”

At the occasion, UNICEF officials handed over 100 drums of chlorine for disinfection of water sources, 40 cartons of Aquatabs for household water treatment, and 320 cartons of Ready to Use Therapeutic food (RUTF) to the Anambra State government.

Chiluwe added: "To contribute to the effort of government and other development partners, UNICEF, with funding the Central

Emergency Response Fund (CERF), has initiated a multi-sectoral response comprising Health, Child Protection and WASH sectors, to mitigate the impact of the floods support the early recovery-phase of the affected population in Anambra State.

"For child protection, the response will focus on protection concerns in three key areas: Provision of psychosocial support for flood-affected children; the prevention of family separation and the reunification of separated and unaccompanied children, as well as the strengthening of community-based protection systems related to GBV. "For health, the response will focus on emergency primary health care services to address waterborne and vaccine-preventable childhood diseases by ensuring continued

access to health services via mobile brigades, prepositioning essential medicines and supplies, support the restoration of basic health services and improving health-seeking behaviours through community engagement."

Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim, who represented the governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, received the items donated to the state.

Receiving the items, Ibezim noted that: "UNICEF has been a long-standing partner of the Anambra State government, and we are very happy with your interventions.

"We will make optimal use of the materials donated, and I wish to tell you that since the flood started, the government has done a lot to ensure the safety of the people in the affected areas."

Obasanjo in Closed-door Meeting with Okowa, Tambuwal, Lamido, Others Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday held a closed-door meeting with former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; Delta State Governor and vice presidential of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; former Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke, and former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

THISDAY gathered that the meeting was held at the Obasanjo

Presidential Library Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Although the outcome of the meeting was not immediately known, a close source at the meeting informed THISDAY that it centred on state of the nation and the 2023 general election.

The former governors at the meeting were generally referred to as ‘Obasanjo Boys’ when the former president was in power.

THISDAY could not ascertain if the meeting was an attempt to get Obasanjo to support his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar.

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CONVOCATION LECTURE… L-R: Minister of Works and Housing/ Guest Lecturer, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Vice Chancellor, Veritas University Abuja, Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku; and Founder, The Kukah Centre, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, during the school’s 11th convocation lecture and conferment of honorary dotorate awards in Abuja…yesterday

Osun 2022: Appeal Court Validates Oyetola’s Nomination, Dismisses PDP’s Case Tribunal admits Adeleke's certificates as exhibits as ex-gov closes case

Alex Enumah in Abuja The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the candidature and nomination of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the July 16 governorship election in Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, and his running mate, Benedict Alabi.

Oyetola and Alabi are the immediate past governor and deputy governor of Osun State.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal yesterday admitted in evidence the file with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) containing the secondary school certificate and testimonial of Governor Ademola Adeleke of the state.

The Appeal Court set aside the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, nullifying the nomination of Oyetola and Alabi as the APC governorship and deputy governorship candidates.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on September 30 nullified the nomination of Oyetola and his running mate, Alabi.

The nullification was on the grounds that Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, who submitted their names to INEC, violated the provisions of Section 183 of the Constitution and Section 82 (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

In his judgment, Justice Emeka Nwite agreed with the submissions of the plaintiff’s counsel and declared as null and void the nomination of Oyetola and Alabi by the APC. The PDP through its counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, had in the suit dragged Buni and four others before the court challenging the nomination and sponsorship of Oyetola and his running mate as the duly nominated candidates of the APC. But the Appeal Court in Abuja, on Friday, in appeal no: CA/ABJ/ CV/1099/2022 between Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola & Anor v PDP & Ors, authenticated the nomination of the duo.

In allowing the appeal filed

by Oyetola and his party, APC, the Court of Appeal held that the outcome of a governorship primary is a collective decision of a party through its congress.

It said constitutional challenge

or deformity of any officer of the party cannot render it illegal.

The court, therefore, held that notwithstanding the defects in the letter forwarding the nomination and sponsorship of Oyetola and his running mate to INEC, the fact that they emerged from a valid primary cannot be ruled out.

It maintained that the defect of Buni signing the letter conveying the nomination of the appellants cannot be a ground to reject the results and desire of the party’s primary election.

Regarding the question of immunity of Buni, who submitted the nomination of the appellants to INEC, the court equally held that Buni cannot be sued because the immunity enjoyed by him protected him against civil and criminal suits.

The court questioned Nwite for his failure not to consider a classical precedent judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in the Jegede v INEC case before he arrived at his judgment.

It also awarded the cost of N200,000 in favour of the appellants.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal yesterday admitted in evidence the file with INEC, containing the secondary school certificate and testimonial of Governor Adeleke.

This is just as the petitioners, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola and the APC closed their case yesterday, leaving respondents to state their defence.

The admission of the documents followed the appearance of INEC representative, Mrs. Joan Arabs, who brought Adeleke's original files containing the certificate he submitted to the commission in 2018.

At the last sitting of the panel, the commission had submitted a blank document as the secondary school certificate of the governor, a situation that compelled the panel to order that the original file be brought, and to threaten to invoke coercive power, if it fails to do so.

At the resumed hearing of the petition yesterday, counsel for Oyetola, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the hearing for the day was basically meant for the appearance of INEC representative to produce the Adeleke's file in line with the court order.

Counsel for INEC, in his response, said the commission’s representative was already in court with the files containing a clearer and legible certificate and testimonial in question, noting he would be willing to apply for the return of the documents to INEC, when the tribunal is done looking at it.

After the production of the documents, the tribunal, while discharging the INEC official, said, "You can now go if you wish to. No policeman will accost you again."

Subsequently, Oyetola's counsel sought to tender the documents which contain form CFO01 and its attachments, including Adeleke's credentials, saying the original file brought to court is

a primary evidence and he was comfortable with it.

Counsel for INEC, Chief Henry Agunedo (SAN), said he would be objecting to the admissibility of the documents on the grounds that the basis for the production of the whole file was because only two pages of the earlier-produced Certified True Copies were in contention, saying tendering the whole documents was out of place.

Counsel for Adeleke and PDP, Niyi Owolade and Alex Izinyon (SAN) respectively, said they had objection to the tendering of the said documents, but they would reserve their objections till final address stage.

Izinyon also observed that the only documents in contention

were only two pages, which are Adeleke's certificate and testimonial, saying the CTC earlier produced has not been tendered before the court.

Responding, Fagbemi said the practice everywhere was that INEC could only apply and get back the files after the dispensation of the cases, saying, "We asked for CTC and now that they brought this. We are fine, we will take it".

Ruling on the documents tendered, the tribunal led by Justice Tertsea Kume admitted the credentials and the Adeleke's nomination form as exhibit 'FILE D' and taken as read.

It was after the tribunal admitted the documents that Fagbemi informed the panel that he had decided to close his

case, saying, "My Lord, we rest our case".

When the tribunal asked INEC to open his defence, Chief Agunedo said it would be difficult for him to open his case on Monday, saying non-availability of his witnesses would make it practically impossible.

The panel then asked the counsel to meet and agree on adjournment date after which counsel for INEC briefed the panel the outcome of the meeting.

Subsequently, the tribunal adjourned the case till December 20, 2022 for the respondents to open their defence, saying the adjournment was based on another engagement by the tribunal somewhere else between 12th and 19th December 2022.

Sanwo-Olu Inaugurates Re-election Campaign, Promises Not to Take People for Granted Segun James Many parts of Lagos State were shut down yesterday as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu commenced his re-election campaign amid fanfare, with people from all walks of life trooping in their thousands to welcome him.

Sanwo-Olu, who arrived Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, the campaign venue, some minutes before 11am, went around the stadium to receive cheers from the crowd, even as the entire Lagos Island area of the event was totally at standstill.

The elated governor told the people that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state would not take their support for granted, saying a lot more would be done in terms of development for Greater Lagos to continue to rise.

Reacting to the massive turnout, Sanwo-Olu said the vast attendance further confirmed the strength of APC as the only party of choice in the state.

Clad in branded yellow shirts and Ankara brocade, the crowd dominated the city centre in a political carnival.

The governor mounted the rostrum to seek the mandate of the people of the state for another term in office, saying the “Greater

Lagos” he promised at the inception of his administration could now be visualised, given the achievements recorded during his first term.

Sanwo-Olu said the last three and half years had been challenging for his administration, pointing out that his government traversed difficult terrains to deliver on its development objectives.

"I greet you all, our supporters.

Truly, this is the day the Lord has chosen. We are happy God has given us good health. I'm happy for you to have come out in large numbers.

"Just last week, you came out in large numbers to witness the presidential rally. I want to thank you, friends, supporters and well-wishers. You have come out again today to show love and commitment.

"In Lagos, it is only APC that is in charge and we won't take you for granted. This is why my appreciation goes to every one of you.

"It's been an impressive three and a half years together with my deputy and the Lagos Assembly.

It was a time we saw a global pandemic, but we continue to remain resolute. We have all come out stronger.”

The governor said Lagos was rising because of the achievements

and the THEMES agenda.

"You have seen rails in Lagos, which you have not seen in about 40 to 50 years ago. It has been completed; we will be handing it over. You have seen new ferries; we now have up to 17 ferries. You have seen the completion of the Lekki Deep Sea Port.

"You have seen the construction of roads in Epe, regional roads, Ikorodo, Ibeju-Lekki, Alimosho, Ajeromi, Ifako-Ijaiye, Somolu and in every part of the State. It is about purposeful governance.

"You have seen the clearing of drains and over 200 drainages are being constructed. Over 1,000 new classrooms have been constructed, and over 1,000 school projects were done. Lagos had witnessed about 42 per cent performance in WAEC but today; we have about 82 to 83 per cent performance," he explained.

The governor, therefore, stated that, "Greater Lagos Rising,’ because we still have a lot to do. You have to deliver votes to all our candidates."

Sanwo-Olu also said the fact that Lagos State was not submerged by the flood that recently ravaged many parts of the country despite the fact that the state is less than two metres above the sea level was not a fluke, saying his administration took proactive measures to avert the disaster.

He urged them to re-elect him, the presidential candidate of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu and other candidates of the party for continuous and efficient service delivery.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of APC in Lagos State, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, said the party had been the ruling party in the state since the advent of democratic governance in the country, promising the electorate that the party would not disappoint them.

Director General of Lagos APC Campaign Council, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, said the party would have no problem taking its campaign to the electorate, given the “exceptional” performance of the party’s governorship candidate.

Solomon said the second coming of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat would bring the state to new heights of development and prosperity.

On his part, the Leader of Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Prince Tajudeen Olusi, said: “The combination of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat is the best a democratic society can get in delivering results of good governance. Anyone who wants the development of Lagos to continue, Sanwo-Olu must be allowed to continue the good work he started.”

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 4, 2022

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NEWS

ASIWAJU IN LONDON… All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu (left), and Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, on their arrival in London…yesterday

NRC: FG Lost N113m over Abuja-Kaduna Railway Closure Reopens route for full operation tomorrow Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja with agency report As the federal government reopens the Abuja-Kaduna railway for full operation tomorrow, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, has said the government lost about N113 million to inactivity in the route for over eight months.

Okhiria disclosed this yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He also said many Nigerians also incurred some losses indirectly due to the halt of operations on the route.

He said, “The last time we checked that was between the months of February to August. We have lost about N113 million.

“Using what we were earning between January and March; so, we had to use it as a working document.

“Although, when the trains were working, there were a lot of other

businesses that were going on.

“There were people selling on the train; there were people selling around the stations, and there were people that had opened shops and people were patronising them because the trains were running.

“So, those were indirect benefits and cost that have been lost to the Nigerian economy.

“More so, somebody, who would have travelled from Kaduna to Abuja via train for some form of transaction and couldn’t make it because the trains were not running would have also lost something.

“The economic benefits are also lost; so, we should not only look at the Naira and kobo that railway would have been able to make from it, but include all other losses by Nigerians.”

Okhiria assured Nigerians of the collaboration of the armed forces in the country to ensure safety of passengers and trains when the

Abuja-Kaduna train service would resume tomorrow December 5.

He said aside the security personnel involvement, the government had deployed technology among other things to ensure the incident of March 28, does not reoccur in the country.

“I appreciate the contributions of the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Air Force, and Inspector-General of Police.

“The way they have taken up this challenge, we are confident that such a thing will never happen on our rail system again based on the attention they are paying to the track now.

“We are human beings and we have done our own and they’ve contributed their own. We will ensure that we will not slack.

“The government has put forth some measures and this is the best we can do for now while we continue to improve on security and safety of the train.

Oil Pollution: S’Court Gives Shell Go-ahead to Appeal $1.8bn Court Order Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Supreme Court has said that Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) could appeal a judgment that directed the company to pay compensation for an alleged pollution of its host communities.

The legal dispute is currently delaying the oil giant’s efforts to sell some assets in Nigeria.

But the apex court allowed an application made by Shell’s local unit and its joint venture partner, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

Shell and NNPC are challenging a November 2020 ruling by a federal court ordering the Shell to pay N800 billion ($1.8 billion) to residents of the Niger Delta over an alleged oil spill.

“We believe in the merits of our case and are encouraged that the Nigerian Supreme Court is hearing this matter,” a spokeswoman for the Shell subsidiary said by email.

“We look forward to the hearing

of our main appeal,” she added.

An appeal court ruled in March that Shell could not sell onshore and shallow water oil blocks it was trying to offload until its appeal against the compensation order is determined.

The oil major announced it was suspending the divestment process in June, pending the outcome of the Supreme Court case, Bloomberg reported.

However, the Supreme Court ruled that it had jurisdiction over the matter and would hear the substantive case. The court did not immediately set a date for the hearing.

The case started with a Federal High Court ruling in November 2020 that ordered Shell to pay the sum to communities of Egbalor Ebubu in Rivers State, who accused the firm of an oil spill that damaged waterways and farms.

Presiding over the matter, Justice Rita Pemu, had earlier in the year, ordered that Shell Nigeria and its parent companies, should deposit

the judgment debt of N8OO billion in an interest-yielding escrow account controlled by the court.

She also halted any further sale of the company’s onshore and offshore assets, pending the determination of the substantive appeal.

The court ordered that Shell: “Whether acting by itself or through its agents, officers, employees, servants, privies, representatives, subsidiaries or otherwise howsoever called or described from selling, allocating, vandalising and or disposing off any of its assets/properties including official structures, oil wells, oil fields, installations, vehicles, equipment, investments, offshore or onshore or any of its properties of Nigeria, pending the hearing and determination of this appeal.”

In the case between Chief Isaac Obor-Ntito Torchi & 87 others, the court urged the oil giant to deposit the said judgment sum into the court's interest yielding account, pending the determination of the appeal.

“The best thing is for us to open our eyes and report anything we suspect. We cannot disclose all what we have put in place as I said earlier.

“And security is the duty of everybody , you don’t need to carry guns or arms to be a security man, if you report any suspicious thing, perhaps you can save lives,” Okhiria said.

The NRC boss reiterated that every passenger willing to board the train must be profiled with the use of the NIN so as to obtain the

passenger’s information on NIMC platform.

He said, “The information will be displayed, you can see it yourself. If your picture is not displayed when you put your ticket to get to the platform you cannot gain access.

On patronage, the NRC boss expressed optimism that there would be influx of customers as passengers were eager for the trains to commence operation on the route.

“From what I have seen and from the people calling my phone, even

before we tried to commence the train, people are still very enthusiastic about using the train.

“So, many people have been calling to ask, when are you starting?

“But we are going to start gradually, by deploying two trains up and two trains down and we will ensure that we don’t run night for now.

“We expect that in no time, people will sit back and watch and the normal services will commence on the route,” Okhiria said.

We Expended 13% Oil Derivation, Others on Salaries, Capital Projects in Ondo, Says Akeredolu Fidelis David in Akure Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, yesterday confirmed the receipt of 13 per cent derivation, subsidy and SURE-P refunds from the Federation Account in the last two years (2021-2022).

A statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, explained that the refunds received by the state were expended on capital projects and payment of accumulated salary arrears.

The statement also disassociated Governor Akeredolu from those alleged to have been stealing funds meant for the local governments from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Akeredolu explained that the refunds received from the federal government were judiciously expended on some key capital projects across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The statement read: "Some of the impactful projects undertaken and completed by this administration include the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of the 32.6km Araromi-Alape road in Ilaje Local Government Area; 16.65km Ikaramu-Akunnu-Chainnage 7-Oke Agbe Road in Akoko Northwest Local Government Area; 4.5km Agadagba Obon-New Ajapa Road in Ese-Odo Local Government Area; 3.0km Oke Igbo Township roads in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local

Government Area, among others.

“Recently, the governor commenced the rehabilitation of over 35 kilometres of roads in Akure, the state capital. The roads being rehabilitated are the existing ones built by past governments several years ago and which are already in bad shape with potholes and failed sections. The 9.5km Emure- Iporo Road and rehabilitation of 15.2km kilometre Akure phase “D” road networks have all begun.

“The 10km Okitipupa-Igbokoda virgin road, which will be inaugurated by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is another evidence of Governor Akeredolu’s commitment to infrastructural development. These intensive capital projects are financed from these refunds and internally generated revenue," he explained.

According to the governor, the monthly FAAC receipts are devoted to the payment of salaries and pensions as agreed by labour leaders at the monthly meetings presided over by the Head of Service and Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council (JNC).

“Despite Governor Akeredolu’s vow to always pay salaries and pensions as and when due, the financial crisis across the country occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic resulted in non-payment of salaries in full for some months. As at January 2022, government owed four months’

salary arrears as against seven months inherited.

“Governor Akeredolu, having promised the civil servants in the state to prioritise payment of salaries, has continued to clear these backlogs of arrears. On three occasions this year, the government has paid double salaries in a month, thereby reducing the number of arrears. All salaries will be cleared before the year ends.

If the amount expended on these infrastructural projects and payment of salary arrears is juxtaposed with the refunds, it is crystal clear that the monies were not mismanaged in Ondo State.

“The administration of Governor Akeredolu stands on the tripod of Transparency, Accountability and Integrity. We will continue to hoist the flag of transparency in governance while pursuing excellence in the journey to transform the state for the better,” the statement said.

On the allegation that some governors are stealing local government funds, Akeredolu said his administration has not tampered funds meant for local governments since its inception.

“As a matter of policy, monies meant for local governments are shared at their monthly Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC).

Mr. Governor doesn’t touch local governments’ funds. The local government chairmen can attest to the fact that they have total freedom in the management of their funds,” the statement added.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4 , 2022

BUSINESS

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

GDP: Addressing Structural Impediments to Economic Activities 7KH WKLUG TXDUWHU *'3 ÀJXUHV ZKLFK SXW WKH RLO DQG PDQXIDFWXULQJ VHFWRUV RI WKH HFRQRP\ LQ the negative territory at a period when sectors like agriculture and information and communications technology are among those in the positive category have underscored the urgent need for economic reforms as a panacea for the current economic challenges in Nigeria, writes Festus Akanbi

W

ithbarelyamonthtothe end of the year, there are concerns that the underperformance of some key sectors of the economy as UHÁHFWHG LQ WKH UHcently released Gross Domestic Product (GDP) GDWD PD\ EH D VHWEDFN WR WKH HͿRUW RI WKH FXUUHQW administration to bequeath a stable economy to the new government come 2023.

GDP is the standard measure of the value added created through the production of goods and services in a country during a certain period.

As such, it also measures the income earned from WKDW SURGXFWLRQ RU WKH WRWDO DPRXQW VSHQW RQ ÀQDO goods and services (minus imports).

According to data recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics for the third quarter of 2022, the real GDP growth dipped to 2.25 SHU FHQW DV DJDLQVW WKH ÀJXUH RI SHU FHQW performance in the second quarter of the year.

However, the NBS data showed that in nominal terms, aggregate GDP stood at N52.26 trillion in the quarter under review, representing a 15.83% JURZWK FRPSDUHG WR 1 WULOOLRQ UHFRUGHG in the corresponding period of 2021. Q3 2022 JURZWK LV KLJKHU FRPSDUHG WR DQG recorded in Q2 2022 and Q3 2021 respectively.

The real growth (not nominal) is the true UHÁHFWLRQ RI WKH HFRQRP\ DV LW PDNHV URRP IRU LQÁDWLRQ DGMXVWPHQW $QDO\VWV VHH WKH JURZWK GHFOLQH DV D UHÁHFWLRQ of the diverse headwinds that have been bedevilling the Nigerian economy. Such headwinds include macroeconomic instability, heightening LQÁDWLRQDU\ SUHVVXUHV FXUUHQF\ GHSUHFLDWLRQ foreign exchange illiquidity, surging energy cost, weakening purchasing power, legacy structural constraints, lingering insecurity, and crippling trade facilitation issues.

Low Hanging Fruit According to the NBS data, the low-hanging fruit in the Nigerian economy for the third quarter was the non-oil sector. The sector was driven mainly by information and communication (telecommunication); trade; transportation URDG WUDQVSRUW ÀQDQFLDO VHUYLFHV DQG LQVXUDQFH ÀQDQFLDO LQVWLWXWLRQV DJULFXOWXUH FURS production) and real estate, accounting for positive GDP growth.

“In real terms, the non-oil sector contributed WR WKH QDWLRQ·V *'3 LQ WKH WKLUG TXDUWHU of 2022, higher than the share recorded in the third quarter of 2021, which was 92.51% and higher than the second quarter of 2022 recorded as 93.67%,” NBS noted.

The list of the non-oil sector that recorded positive performances includes the agriculWXUDO VHFWRU ZKLFK JUHZ E\ FKHPLFDO and pharmaceutical by 11.09%, Iron and steel, by 2.99%, electrical and electronics – by 2.56%, motor assembly - by 2.69%, construction - 5.52%, WUDGH ,&7 0HWDO RUHV QRQ PHWDOOLF SURGXFWV TXDUU\ RWKHU PLQHUDOV LQVXUDQFH UHDO HVWDWH DQG PRWLRQ SLFWXUHV DQG PXVLF Meanwhile, some other sectors that witnessed remarkable rebounds include the motor assembly sector, which moved into positive territory from a contraction of 6% of the non-metallic in the VHFRQG TXDUWHU WR D SRVLWLYH JURZWK RI LQ the third quarter; metal ores rose from a negative growth of 25.5% in the second quarter to a positive growth territory of 36% in the third quarter. Other impressive sectoral rebounds are the insurance sector from 7% growth in Q2 to 19% in Q3, the quarry from 22.2% in Q2 to 39.6% in Q3; motion pictures and music from a contraction of 6% in 4 WR SRVLWLYH JURZWK RI LQ 4 Others with a slower pace of growth but whose growth rates were still in the positive

WHUULWRU\ LQFOXGH FHPHQW DW ZRRG DQG wood products at 2.19%, road transportation DW DLU WUDQVSRUW DW ÀQDQFH LQVXUDQFH DW HGXFDWLRQ ÀQDQFLDO institutions – 12.03%.

Negative GDP Growth 7KH *'3 ÀJXUHV IRU WKH WKLUG TXDUWHU DOVR VKRZHG VHFWRUV WKDW VXͿHUHG FRQWUDFWLRQV 7KHVH are sectors that posted negative GDP growth, and which according to analysts, happened to be victims of the diverse headwinds in the economy. They include crude oil and gas which FRQWUDFWHG E\ RLO UHÀQLQJ FRQWUDFWHG E\ FRDO PLQLQJ ² DW WKH PDQXIDFWXULQJ sector – at 1.91%, food and beverage sector which LV RQH RI WKH PRVW VKRFNLQJ FRQWUDFWHG DW textiles contracted by 3.98%, the manufacturing sector- 1.91%, electricity and gas – 3.56%, plastics and rubber Products – 3.92%.

Oil Sector The oil sector recorded -22.67% (year-on-year) DV RI 4 LQGLFDWLQJ D GHFUHDVH RI points relative to the rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2021.

Also, the growth rate decreased by 10.91% points compared to the 11.77% contraction recorded in the previous period.

The oil sector contributed 5.66% to the total UHDO *'3 LQ 4 GRZQ IURP WKH ÀJXUHV recorded in the corresponding period of 2021 and the preceding quarter, where it contributed DQG UHVSHFWLYHO\ In the third quarter of 2022, Nigeria recorded an average daily oil production of 1.20 million barrels per day (mbpd), lower than the daily average production of 1.57mbpd recorded in the same quarter of 2021 by 0.37mbpd. It is DOVR ORZHU WKDQ WKH PESG UHFRUGHG LQ WKH previous quarter.

Real Sector Real GDP growth in the manufacturing sector in the third quarter of 2022 was -1.91 per cent (year-on-year), lower than the same quarter of 2021 and slower than the preceding quarter by

SHUFHQWDJH SRLQWV DQG SHUFHQWDJH SRLQWV respectively.

The real contribution to GDP in the 2022 third quarter was 8.59 per cent, lower than the 8.96 per cent recorded in the third quarter of 2021 and lower than the 8.65 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2022.

Analysts are particularly worried by the contraction in the food and beverage sector which FRQWUDFWHG E\ LQ WKH WKLUG TXDUWHU ,W ZDV WKH ÀUVW FRQWUDFWLRQ VLQFH ZKHQ WKH HFRQRP\ slipped into recession.

7KH IRRG DQG EHYHUDJH VHFWRU LV WKH ÁDJVKLS RI the Nigerian manufacturing sector, recalling that for several decades, it was the toast of investors in the stock market. However, the sector contributed N2.2 trillion to GDP in the third quarter of 2022.

According to the observation of the Chief ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU RI WKH &HQWUH IRU WKH 3URPRtion of Private Business Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. 0XGD <XVXI ´7KLV GHYHORSPHQW LV D UHÁHFWLRQ RI D PDMRU VHWEDFN IRU WKH 1LJHULDQ PDQXIDFWXULQJ sector which calls for emergency response by the government.

“The plunge in the manufacturing sector performance has profound implications for food LQÁDWLRQ IRRG VHFXULW\ DQG HPSOR\PHQW 7KH food processing sector has the biggest impact RQ MREV EHFDXVH RI WKH VWURQJ EDFNZDUG LQWHJUDWLRQ FRQWHQW DQG KLJK PXOWLSOLHU HͿHFW LQ WKH agriculture value chain.” ,Q KLV UHDFWLRQ WR WKH 1%6 ÀJXUHV D )LQDQFLDO ,QFOXVLRQ :HDOWK 0DQDJHPHQW H[SHUW 0U ,GDkolo Gbolade. said 2023 would be a challenging year for Nigeria.

He said: “The growth is likely to decline further LQ 4 EHFDXVH WKH VORZLQJ HFRQRPLF JURZWK LV VLJQLÀFDQW GXH WR LQDFWLYLW\ DQG VOXPS LQ RLO production and other critical productive sectors of the economy.

“The sluggish growth can also be attributed to the non-oil sector, whose growth covers the oil sector. This report also shows that the governPHQW·V VLJQLÀFDQW SROLFLHV DUH QRW \LHOGLQJ WKH GHVLUHG RXWFRPH DV IRRG LQÁDWLRQ HQHUJ\ FRVW and cost of production are expected to rise.

“Nigerians should be prepared to face tougher times this yuletide as the cost of food experiences a higher percentage increase in 10 years. ´:LWK LQÁDWLRQ ELWLQJ KDUGHU DQG WKH FRVW RI goods and services increasing, the impact will bring untold hardship on the people coupled with elections next year. The present government might not achieve much before its tenure expires.

“The Year 2023 will be a challenging year for our economy, and budget implementation might not be achieved.”

Reforms and Interventions In his opinion, Yusuf, who was also a former Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of ComPHUFH DQG ,QGXVWU\ /&&, VDLG WR À[ WKH HFRQRP\ and address sectors that are in recession, sectors that slowed and those that have contracted, there is a need to put in place reforms and intervention measures.

Someofthemeasuresrecommendedincludethe following: Fixing the macroeconomic headwinds RI KLJK LQÁDWLRQ DQG FXUUHQF\ YRODWLOLW\ DGGUHVVing the structural impediments to production and other economic activities; reforming the foreign exchange market to inspire invesWRUV· FRQÀGHQFH DGGUHVVLQJ WKH FKDOOHQJHV of insecurity; addressing the challenges of ORJLVWLFV WDNLQJ XUJHQW VWHSV WR WDPH LQÁDtion and boost the purchasing power of the citizens; accelerate the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act; reform the monetary SROLFLHV WR IDFLOLWDWH ÀQDQFLDO GHHSHQLQJ LQ WKH economy; creative support for small businesses to promote economic inclusion; accelerating HͿRUWV WR HQVXUH GRPHVWLF UHÀQLQJ RI SHWUROHXP products and Fiscal reforms which prioritise infrastructural development and transparency in the budgetary process.

As data for the last quarter of the year are being collated, analysts say there is a need for the FXUUHQW DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ WR PDNH D ODVW GLWFK HͿRUW to address all the negative issues highlighted in the third quarter report if it is serious about its touted desire to hand over a robust economy to the next administration in 2023.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4 , 2022

CAPITAL MARKET

As Foreign Investors Shed Stakes in Nigeria’s Equities Market As foreign portfolio investors continue to exit the Nigerian stock market in response to the prevailing challenges in the nation’s foreign exchange market and the spike in interest rates, Kayode Tokede, in this piece, says the emerging development has created ample opportunities for local investors to take strong position’s in the market

I

n 2014, foreign investors dominated transactions on the Nigerian equities market, trading over 57.52 per cent of the total transactions, while domestic investors recorded 42.48per cent.

The stock market’s total foreign and domestic participation was put at N2.68 trillion with N1.54 trillion contribution by foreign investors and N1.14 trillion in domestic investors’ participation.

Foreign investors continued to dominate the equities market till 2015 but the trend changed in 2016 when the global stock market succumbed to some challenges which included falling stock markets, low commodity prices, risks of debt crises in GHYHORSLQJ FRXQWULHV DQG ULVNV RI GHÁDWLRQ Between 2016 and 2021, domestic investors made up of retail and institutional dominated the stock market, outpacing foreign investors.

In 2022, a report by the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) revealed that domestic investors still dominate the stock market in its Year-till-Date performance, trading at over 83.19per cent, the highest so far in many years.

As of October 2022, data by the NGX revealed that domestic investors’ portfolio participation in stock trading stood at 83.19per cent while foreign investors stood at 16.81 per cent.

The report stated that both foreign and domestic investors’ portfolio participation increased to N2.08 trillion in 10 months as against N1.54 trillion in 10 months of 2021.

The report disclosed that “Over 15 years, domestic transactions decreased by 58.80per cent from N3.556trillion in 2007 to N1.465trillion in 2021 while foreign transac-

tions also decreased by 29.38per cent from N616billion to N435billion over the same period.

“Total domestic transactions accounted for about 77per cent of the total transactions carried out in 2021, while foreign transactions accounted for about 23per cent of the total transactions in the same period.

The transaction data for 2022 shows that total domestic transactions were N1.729 trillion, while total foreign transactions were put at N349.59 billion.”

According to the CEO of Wyoming Capital and Partners, Mr Tajudeen Olayinka, “The domestic investors’ participation in the stock market has always been there, except that it is now proportionally higher than what it was in the past because of the absence of a VLJQLÀFDQW QXPEHU RI IRUHLJQ SRUWIROLR investors in the market.

“That is one of the reasons for domestic investors’ dominance in the market. Another factor driving domestic investors’ dominance is the LPPHGLDWH EHQHÀW RI EX\LQJ VWRFNV at extremely low prices, with some fundamentally sound stocks trading at a PE ratio of between 3 and 4. Buying stocks at today’s prices is like enjoying a free ride.”

He said the sole reason for the reduction in the stake of foreign portfolio investors in the domestic stock market is the volatility in the nation’s foreign exchange market, due largely to poor exchange rate

management and dwindling foreign reserves.

Mixed Performance This stock market so far this year has witnessed mixed performance amid a hike in WKH LQÁDWLRQ UDWH DQG 0RQHWDU\ 3ROLF\ 5DWH 035 RI WKH &HQWUDO %DQN RI 1LJHULD &%1 In a desperate attempt to tame the growing LQÁDWLRQ UDWH WKH &%1 KDG UDLVHG WKH 035 to 16.5 per cent from 11 per cent, and the world economy, according to the World Bank may be edging towards a global recession DQG D VWULQJ RI ÀQDQFLDO FULVHV LQ HPHUJLQJ market and developing economies in 2023.

On the backdrop of impressive corporate earnings by some key companies and low \LHOG LQ WKH À[HG LQFRPH PDUNHW DPRQJ other factors, the stock market segment of WKH 1*; DGGHG 1 WULOOLRQ LQ WKH ÀUVW half (H1) of 2022.

Consequently, the NGX All-Share Index (ASI), which tracks the general market movement of all listed companies on the Exchange rose by 21.31 per cent or 9,101.15 basis points to close at 51,817.59 basis points in H1 2022, the highest performance in 14 years from 42,716.44 basis points it opened for trading.

The stock market in H1 2022 has maintained positive momentum as domestic investors outpace foreign investors in active trading DPLG VSLNLQJ LQÁDWLRQDU\ SUHVVXUH DQG D challenging environment.

However, in July, the stock market started dropping as mostly high-network investors and foreign investors began to swing interest WR À[HG LQFRPH PDUNHWV The stock market in July 2022 plunged

by N772 billion to N27.163 trillion, and in

August, it dropped further by N283 billion.

The stock market between June and AuJXVW ZLWQHVVHG D KLNH LQ WKH LQÁDWLRQ rate (19.64 per cent as of July 2022), and a scarcity of foreign exchange that has led to WKH RXWÁRZ RI IRUHLJQ LQYHVWRUV 6SHFLÀFDOO\ IRUHLJQ LQYHVWRUV· LQÁRZ dropped from N16 billion in July to N12.43 billion in August. It dropped further to N9.59 billion in September 2022 and it dropped by N2.57 trillion in October 2022 as escalated global energy and commodity crises triggered massive foreign investors’ portfolio realignments.

Capital market analysts have expressed that WKH 035 LQFUHDVH XQFHUWDLQW\ WRZDUGV WKH SROLWLFDO HOHFWLRQV LQÁDWLRQ UDWH DQG PRVW especially the scarcity of foreign exchange have contributed to foreign investors’ exit.

Findings by THISDAY revealed that Naira at the Investors & Exporters (I & E) Foreign Exchange Market depreciated to N443.87/ Dollar as of November 28, 2022, from N412.99/ Dollar it closed in 2021.

Speaking with THISDAY, the Vice President of Highcap Securities, Mr. David Adnori attributed the foreign investors’ decline in the stock market to foreign exchange scarcity, stating that domestic investors have increased their holding in some listed fundamental stocks on the Exchange.

According to him, “Foreign investors are not investing again in Nigeria’s stock market, leading domestic investors to dominate the market. The decline in foreign investors’ FRQÀGHQFH LQ WKH HFRQRP\ RI 1LJHULD LV DOVR another key issue.

“If you consider the debt area, a lot of foreign investors usually invest in Nigeria’s public debt. As it is now, a lot of them have stayed away over looming fear that the government may not be able to service those debts.”

He noted that foreign investors are critical in the global stock market.

He explained, “With more foreign investors, you will have more foreign currencies in an economy. What is happening now is that our macro economy has been mismanaged by the debt crisis. The federal government needs new debts to service existing debts. It is a worrisome situation for foreign investors and it is contributing to their exit from the stock market.”

7KH &KLHI 2SHUDWLQJ 2΀FHU RI 6XSUD Commercial Trust Limited, Mr. Charles )DNURJKD H[SODLQHG WKDW ´5HFHQWO\ domestic institutional investors have dominated the stock market. I will not blame foreign investors for exiting the market as they are here for a short time.

Once there is any negative report in the domestic stock market, the next thing is for foreign investors to move their portfolio to another market.

“We all want foreign investors but at the same time, we have been canvassing retail/institutional investors on the market.

With domestic investors surpassing foreign investors, it now shows they are aware of the need to develop their stock market.”

He noted that economic parameters must be favourable for domestic investors to invest in the stock market and drive liquidity.

“However, we have witnessed retail investors losing money during the global PHOWGRZQ DQG LW ZLOO EH GL΀FXOW WR DWWUDFW them to the market right now. High network and institutional investors always diversify their portfolio to another market and they are well poised to remain in the market.”

In addition, a stockbroker and capital PDUNHW SOD\HU 0U 5RWLPL )DND\HMR H[plained that the instability of the value of the naira is eroding foreign investors away from the stock market.

He said, “Foreign investors are exposed to the stock market currently at its lowest rate. We might not see foreign investors returning until the last quarter of 2023.”

On what is driving domestic investors’ participation in the stock market, he said the market has witnessed price stability.

“The volatility we used to have before is no longer there. Most of the volatility seen before was caused by the foreign portfolio investors.”

Although market watchers might have expressed anxiety over the reduction in the stake of foreign investors in Nigeria’s equities market, a school of thought believes the development bodes well for the Nigerian economy as it allows local investors to avail themselves of the current impressive performance of the stock market.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4 , 2022

17

AVIATION

+XUGOHV %HIRUH 1LJHULD·V 1DWLRQDO &DUULHU Many Nigerians agree that the country needs a national carrier to benefit from the huge international air travel market dominated by foreign airlines, but many criticisms trail the mode of the national airline the federal government plans to establish, writes Chinedu Eze has been provided that there are undue privileges that are going to be given to this new carrier, which the current domestic operators are not enjoying.

“For instance, the government is proposing or the Minister is proposing to have a 15- year tax moratorium to the national carrier. And again let’s be very clear; this is not a national carrier in the context in which it is being presented; WKLV LV D ÁDJ FDUULHU 6LPSO\ EHFDXVH LI you are bringing in a strategic investor at 49 per cent stakes and you have all the institutional investors one of which is 60 per cent owned by a foreign entity, in the long term what you putting together is a foreign airline being allowed to come into the Nigeria airspace to operate, which is at variance with article 7 of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) convention which is a cabotage,” he said.

AON in the interview insisted that the structure of the planned national carrier was not in the overall interest of 1LJHULD EXW ZDV EHLQJ H[HFXWHG WR EHQHÀW individual interest groups and foreigners instead of Nigeria.

Air Nigeria

I

n the aviation industry, there is QRVWDOJLD DPRQJ WKH IRUPHU VWDͿ of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL).

Industry analysts said that beyond the fact that the airline provided the platform for manpower development, it also made it posVLEOH IRU 1LJHULD WR EHQHÀW HFRQRPLFDOO\ from the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) and guided the government’s policies on air transport.

They recalled that NAL competed effectively with other national airlines in many parts of Africa and would have risen to become one of the best airlines on the continent today if it was not bogged down by maladministration and corruption.

Those who hold this view yearn for the re-enactment of a new national carrier and agree largely with the government that it would be private-sector driven; so that what happened to NAL which set the tone for its liquidation in 2003 would not happen to it.

THISDAY investigations revealed that while many agree that a national carrier is desirable, they question the method in which the current one, Nigeria Air is being established. Those who do not agree that Nigeria should have a national carrier also gave their reasons, which include the fact that Nigeria already has existing DLUOLQHV ZKLFK KDYH EHHQ SURYLGLQJ ÁLJKW services for years, since 1988 when the sector was deregulated. They also insist that national carrier is no more in vogue in the world and that explains why many countries privatised their hitherto national airlines like British Airways, Air France, KLM, and Lufthansa.

7KH\ H[SODLQHG WKDW WKH GLͿHUHQFH LV that while these airlines get good support from their governments, Nigerian airlines seemed to have been denied the needed VXSSRUW WR HQDEOH WKHP WR RSHUDWH HͿHFtively, which includes using diplomatic intentions to insist that Nigerian airlines that have the capacity must be allowed to operate to destinations of airlines that also operate into Nigeria.

For example, if Nigeria allows US airlines WR Á\ WR 1LJHULD WKH 86 VKRXOG DOVR DOORZ

1LJHULDQ FDUULHUV WR Á\ WR WKH 86 Such push, they said, should not be left to the airline alone.

Government’s Intention on Nigeria Air Like the previous administrations, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration made it clear from the beginning that it would establish a QDWLRQDO FDUULHU ,W VHW LW RͿ DORQJ ZLWK other programmes, which formed the Aviation Road Map. The federal government in September announced that it had taken Ethiopian Airlines as its strategic/ technical partner, which was given 49 per cent equity. The objective was that the airline would anchor the new national carrier and build it up to become a viable entity.

A few days ago the federal government announced it would start sending out Request for Proposals to investors interested in owning shares in the proposed national carrier.

It also expressed hope that the airline would be quoted on the stock exchange, adding that Nigerians would be allowed to buy shares in the airline that was being planned to commence operations with three leased aircraft.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi 6LUND GLVFORVHG WKLV DW D EULHÀQJ recently in Abuja, where he explained that 46 per cent stake in the airline ZDV H[FOXVLYHO\ IRU 1LJHULDQV ÀYH per cent was for the government, and 49 per cent was for strategic equity partners, which were assumed to be foreign investors.

Sirika said discussions with prospective investors had been ongoing and that a Request for Proposals would be sent out.

Legal Tussle But a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Thursday last week, stopped the establishment of the proposed national carrier – Nigeria Air, by the federal government.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa

reordered the federal government and domestic airlines to maintain the status quo in their suit relating to the establishment of the airline.

The judge made the order pending WKH GHWHUPLQDWLRQ RI WKH VXLW ÀOHG E\ the Registered Trustees of the Airline 2SHUDWRUV RI 1LJHULD DQG ÀYH RWKHUV in the aviation industry.

7KH IRXU RWKHU SODLQWLͿV LQFOXGH $]PDQ Air Services Limited, Air Peace Limited, Max Air Limited, United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited and Topbrass $YLDWLRQ /LPLWHG ZKR ZHUH WKH ÀUVW WR VL[WK SODLQWLͿV *URXVH RI 'RPHVWLF $LUOLQHV In seeking the court to stop the full implementation of the new national carrier, Nigeria Air, eight domestic airlines under the aegis, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) explained why they had to go to court to stop it.

The CEO of Top Brass Aviation Limited and former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Captain Roland Iyayi, who spoke to the media on behalf of the airlines, explained that AON was not averse to having a national carrier but was against the structure, which it insisted was at the detriment of Nigeria’s interest.

“What we have said and what we are saying is that the structure and the design that is being put together currently by the Honourable Minister of Aviation is a bit of an issue which we believe is not going to help the Nigeria state in the long term.

“He has come out to tell us that this is intended to be a public-private partnership. And indeed if that is the case, we have a situation where we need to query, as a matter of questioning all the issues that have happened to date. We have found the need to question the transparency of the project because we believe that most of the issues that have been raised or that are coming up are not entirely transparent, so we have issues ZLWK WKDW :H KDYH DOVR FRPH WR ÀQG RXW going through all the documentation that

%HQHÀWV RI 1DWLRQDO &DUULHU Many Nigerians, including those who oppose the process of establishing one, agree that Nigeria needs a national carrier to check the outrageous fares foreign airlines charge Nigerian travellers, to have a favourable balance of agreement in the Bilateral Air Service Agreement, to enhance training in the aviation industry and also to have a well-developed sector in the area of maintenance, aircraft leasing and a more stable premium in aircraft insurance.

They agreed that if Nigeria has a national carrier, the country would have full weight behind it and would be given a pride of place by international aviation organisations like the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and others.

What AON and many Nigerians worry about the national carrier being established by the current Buhari administration is the control shareholding given to Ethiopian Airlines, which has controlling shares of 49 per cent, while the Nigerian governPHQW KDV RQO\ ÀYH SHU FHQW DQG RWKHU Nigerians including MRS and Skyway Aviation Handling PLC (SAHCO) have 46 per cent. They express worry about the ownership structure, which seems to have ceded control to a foreign carrier, which is also a competitor in the Nigerian market.

Nigerians who condemned this arrangement insist that it is opaque; that the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika must have carried Nigerians along by making all the facts about the national carrier public.

They want to know who owns the 46 per cent, how much the federal government’s ÀYH SHU FHQW LV ZRUWK DQG KRZ PXFK Ethiopian Airlines is bringing in terms of funds, whether in equipment or cash.

Ethiopian Airlines Ethiopian Airlines is rated as one of the best airlines in the world and the pride of Africa. For example, the airline is ranked DV RQH RI WKH WRS DLUOLQHV Á\LQJ WR WKH 86$ ,W UHPDLQV WKH PRVW SURÀWDEOH DLUOLQH in Africa and one of the best top 10 airlines; even rated before Emirates Airlines in the world.

Many industry stakeholders believe that with a fair deal with the airline that does not jeopardise the collective interest of Nigeria, Ethiopian Airlines would help 1LJHULD EHJLQ WR EHQHÀW IURP LWV KXJH LQWHUQDWLRQDO SDVVHQJHU WUD΀F E\ SURYLGing capacity for the national carrier.

18

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4 , 2022

SUNDAY INTERVIEW RABIU KWANKWASO:

:H $UHQ·W $QWLFLSDWLQJ 5XQ R; in 2023 Presidential Election Since 1991 when he emerged Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, the presidential candidate of New 1LJHULD 3HRSOHV 3DUW\ 'U 5DELX .ZDQNZDVR KDV QR GRXEW EHHQ D OHDGLQJ ÀJXUH LQ 1LJHULD·V SROLWLFDO VSDFH )URP ZKHQ KH ZDV ÀUVW HOHFWHG WKH JRYHUQRU RI .DQR 6WDWH WR ZKHQ KH ZDV DSSRLQWHG WKH 0LQLVWHU RI 'HIHQFH ZKHQ KH UHWXUQHG DV WKH JRYHUQRU RI .DQR 6WDWH DQG ÀQDOO\ ZKHQ KH HPHUJHG WKH 6HQDWRU IRU .DQR &HQWUDO .ZDQNZDVR KDV VHUYHG LQ YLUWXDOO\ DOO SROLWLFDO R΀FHV WKDW PDWWHU LQ WKH IHGHUDWLRQ H[FHSW WKH 2΀FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW ,Q WKLV LQWHUYLHZ ZLWK Gboyega Akinsanmi, Kwankwaso discusses the rationale behind his presidential aspiration; his strategies to guarantee security of lives and assets nationwide; KLV DFWLRQ SODQ WR GHFLVLYHO\ DGGUHVV HFRQRPLF DQG ÀVFDO KHDGZLQGV WKDW KDYH SUDFWLFDOO\ XQGHUPLQHG SXEOLF governance in the last seven and half years and the reasons he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress, two leading political parties he helped establish in 1998 and 2013 respectively

Y

ou have been migrating from one political party to another in the last 23 years—from PDP to APC, now in NNPP. What informed your movement WR GL;HUHQW SROLWLFDO SDUWLHV DW GL;HUHQW times?

In 1998, we started the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party was not in any way based on any ideology. Rather, it was based on the fact that we were sick and tired of military rule. So, we brought people together from all sides of the divide, ideologically. When we started running the government in 1999, we realised this gap. We also realised that given the opportunity again, we should not have been on the same political platform with so many people. This is purely because these are the people, who only believe in themselves alone. They believe that whatever the government has belongs to them. But some of us believe otherwise. We believe that the resources of this country belong to all of us. We then had running battles to the extent that in 2003, I lost elections in Kano State. Of course, that was one of the reasons I lost elections in Kano State in 2003 as a sitting governor. When I left Kano for eight years. The good people of Kano State noted that the four years I was in the government were better than the eight years of my immediate predecessor. In 2011, therefore, with all the support of the federal government, then the PDP government, the good people of Kano State came out in good numbers and voted for me based on my SHUIRUPDQFH GXULQJ P\ ÀUVW WHUP 'R QRW IRUJHW WKHQ WKDW the local and state governments were under the opposition party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, now defunct. I went back to the Government House in 2011. The lesson learnt there was that the situations then brought or forced us together. I believe that the arrangement was not the best because the reality was that we could not work together.

That was why we thought of a change in 2013 because the PDP was not working. In the name of progressives, we brought people together; formed the All Progressives Congress (APC) and won the elections on this platform.

Unfortunately, the situation, based on all assessments, was that many people were of the opinion that the PDP we left was even better than the APC we formed. So, that ZDV ZKHUH WKH FRQIXVLRQ ÀUVW VWDUWHG :H IHOW ZH QHHGHG a political party, which is based on new thinking, new Nigeria. That is why we decided to pitch our tent with the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). I am happy that within a short period of time, the leadership that we have from top to bottom was able to do our membership registration within one month or two. We were able to elect the leaders of the party from the ward to the national level. We were also able to have credible candidates now, almost 100 per cent, across the federation. We are happy that people share our vision. That is why our party today is the most peaceful party in the country. When you compare it to all the known VHULRXV SDUWLHV ZH UDQN ÀUVW LQ WHUPV RI SHDFH 3HDFH LV key because if you do not have peace, you will destroy yourself like we saw in Kano State in 2003. Now, we are so happy. We are good to go. Even when many people believe that if there will be an election today or tomorrow, there will be no straightforward winner. This may be true.

But in NNPP, we believe in the next few months from now to February 25, the NNPP will be above all other SDUWLHV :H DUH QRW DQWLFLSDWLQJ DQ\ UXQ RͿ HOHFWLRQ LQ WKH 2023 presidential poll. That is why we left APC and PDP

Kwankwaso because they were not based on any ideology. They are not based on any belief. We have so many people who are anti-progress in their ranks.

What actually distinguishes the NNPP from the other SROLWLFDO SDUWLHV \RX RQFH EHORQJHG WR DW GL;HUHQW WLPHV in our recent history?

First, the manifesto of the party clearly separates us from other political parties in the country. Second, our own blueprint is a major distinguishing factor. Third, the SHRSOH ZKR DUH LQ WKH SDUW\ DUH FRPSOHWHO\ GLͿHUHQW :H left those parties because of the nature of the people there.

I am sure they will not join us because they do not believe in what we believe. For example, you may not know these people closely. Many of them have big names. If you are talking of water supply, however, they are thinking of water supply to their houses or their guest houses. If you are talking of education, they are thinking of their children, not even their neighbours’ children. If you are talking of electricity, they want to take all the money to buy generators to power their houses, even if it is the only house in their ward or local government. If you are talking of security, they are just after their own security. They want to take

DOO WKH PRQH\ DQG SD\ WKH 'LYLVLRQDO 3ROLFH 2΀FHU RU Commissioner of Police to give them a battalion of police R΀FHUV 6R ZH DUH FRPSOHWHO\ GLͿHUHQW LQ DSSURDFK EHOLHI and nature. Now that all these things have happened, I see the wisdom in creating many parties so that people of similar beliefs, ideologies or visions can be in the same SDUW\ 7KRVH ZKR KDYH GLͿHUHQW RSLQLRQV RI FRXUVH FDQ go to other parties. That is the beauty of democracy. Before 2019, we were having close to 100. Probably, there are too PDQ\ 1RZ ZH KDYH ,I \RX DUH VDWLVÀHG ZLWK DQ\ RI the parties, you can join it. For us, both APC and PDP are the same thing, especially now that they have common achievements: failing our people and failing our nation.

For us, those who want to maintain the status quo should go to APC or PDP.

You are contesting the presidential poll at a time when most Nigerians think the presidency should return to the South in the interest of fairness, justice, and peace.

Don’t you share a moral burden that no northerner should contest the next presidential poll? As a northerner, why do you want to replace an outgoing president from the North?

19

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4 , 2022

SUNDAY INTERVIEW :H $UHQ·W $QWLFLSDWLQJ 5XQ RͿ LQ 3UHVLGHQWLDO (OHFWLRQ sponsible for the security challenges in the FRXQWU\" +RZ GR \RX LQWHQG WR À[ WKHP if eventually elected?

7KH VHFXULW\ VLWXDWLRQ LV XQDFFHSWDEOH DFURVV WKH IHGHUDWLRQ 1R SDUW RI WKLV FRXQWU\ LV FRPSOHWHO\ VHFXUH %XW ZH ZLOO KDQGOH RXU VHFXULW\ FKDOOHQJHV DGRSWLQJ GLͿHUHQW DSSURDFKHV )LUVW ZH QHHG WR HQJDJH DGGLWLRQDO VHFXULW\ RSHUDWLYHV 6HFRQG ZH QHHG WR DSSO\ WHFKQRORJ\ WR ÀJKW LQVHFXULW\ 7KLUG ZH ZLOO XVH RXU ORFDO LQWHOOLJHQFH EHFDXVH ZH ZLOO FDUU\ HYHU\ERG\ DORQJ LQFOXGLQJ SROLWLFDO SDUWLHV :H KDYH RXU RZQ ZD\ RI WDNLQJ FDUH RI RXU SHRSOH DFURVV WKH FRXQWU\ EHFDXVH WKDW LV RQH RI WKH DUHDV RXU JRYHUQPHQW LV QRW GRLQJ ZHOO :H DUH OLNHO\ WR JHW D ORW RI LQIRUPDWLRQ HYHQ IURP WKH 1LJHU 5HSXEOLF EHFDXVH WKH\ ZLOO KDYH FRQÀ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What is the guarantee you can win the presidential contest, especially because your political platform is relatively unknown nationwide until your emergence as the presidential candidate of NNPP some months ago?

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In Nigeria, most people believe votes do not count. This has been a major source of concern for most Nigerians, especially candidates contesting on the opposition platforms. Do you share the same concern?

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Some leaders believe Nigeria may break up without re-organising its federal governance structure or ceding more obligations and powers to the sub-national governments. Do you share the fear of these leaders? Are you receptive to restructuring?

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20

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 4, 2022

SOFT FINANCE with AYO AROWOLO The only column you may need to read on everything personal finance, money, investing -and other life matters

EMAIL: AYO.AROWOLO@THISDAYLIVE.COM PHONE: 08086447494( SMS ONLY)

REFLECTIONS FROM A WEALTHMASTER

Oyemade: Your Wealth is in Your God-Ordained Path Once in a while we ask a member of our league of Wealth Masters, those individuals who have achieved mastery over financial matters, to share their thoughts on their pathways to wealth creation. In this edition, we feature Mrs. Susan Oyemade, a trained teacher and wellness entrepreneur who together with her husband brought the Fovever Living Business to Nigeria.

She says everything we need to create wealth is on the path God has ordained for everyone but it requires staying on the lane. She also shares her thoughts on how couples should handle their personal finances.

STAY ON YOUR PATH Every single person on this planet earth has a path marked for him or her by God almighty and on that path he has put our helpers there.

Everything we would ever need is on that path.

This is why I suggest that we should not turn away from that path. Don’t switch the lane because you see someone else doing something you like; follow your own path. I am writing a book in Yoruba language that addresses that point. The key point in the message is that once you miss that road , you cannot get to the correct destination. Unless you turn back and locate that path, you would be running in circles. As I said, everything you would ever need to fulfil your purpose has been put on that path specially marked out for you. I was teaching in a local school and I was certain to remain there for God knows when. But one day, a lady from Ghana came to Nigeria and we got connected, while I was still on my path. She asked me a series of questions that pulled out the best in me. Through those probing questions, I discovered some few interesting things about myself. I took on her challenge not to remain a local champion and ultimately I travelled to London where I did most of my educational stuff. That was one helper God used. Without travelling to London may be I would not have encountered Forever Living which I eventually brought to Nigeria and through which I have been able to train a lot of individuals on how to build wealth and release their potential.

When I travelled to London , I still focused on my teaching career. I went to the best secretariat school in London because I knew the only thing that would make me happy was to continue to be a teacher. You know and choose what makes you happy. Don’t choose a career because of money. Some people would say the rewards for teacher are in heaven but that is for those who are not really born teachers. My own rewards are right here on the earth and I have been reaping them ever since. Let me say this very boldly: if what you are doing is what you told your creator you were going to do and you resolve to put your best into it, ultimately, you would become a multi-millionaire. Make what you are doing, what God has assigned you to do a mission and you would never get tired doing it. Be consistent . Stay on it. Don’t jump from one place to another. Your wealth is within you and it is in doing what God has assigned you to do that you locate it.

KNOW WHAT YOU WANT AND GO FOR IT When I came back to Nigeria from England, I ended up working for Texaco as the executive secretary. But the very first day I entered that office, I asked myself a question: what do I really want and I came to two options: either to work hard and become the managing director of the company or to save money and set up a school, not just a school, but the very best in speed writing . I knew I did not want to become a managing director of an oil company, so I went all out.

I started to save money. I was combining jobs which included transcribing interview manuscripts for NTA and also recruiting secretaries for those who needed them. You must know what you want right from the first day you step into doing something because nothing is permanent . I wanted to set up a school, not just a school but the best speed writing school and that was exactly what I did. If you don’t decide what you really want to do, you would be stagnant.

DON’T BE ATTACHED TO POSSESSIONS. I have learnt a very big lesson that has revolutionised my view about wealth and

Oyemade

possessions. We actually do not lack anything.

Everything you need to achieve your purpose is available and there is no scarcity in the Source from where that wealth comes from. So when you see an individual attaching himself or herself permanently to what God has created through him or her, that person lacks understanding. We do not own anything. As the money comes to me I look for channels for distributing the wealth and the interesting thing I have discovered is that the more I give, the more I receive. Even though my husband and I helped to establish Forever Living Business in Nigeria, we did not hold on to it; we have moved on. When we brought Forever Living to Nigeria I told my husband that we were going to spend only six years but unfortunately we spent 10 years because we decided that the organisation must have a building of its and we had to wait extra four years to ensure that everything was okay . But we left Forever Living. For every venture you step into you must have a clear exit strategy. Don’t hold to a position because you were instrumental in building that position or the organisation. We left Forever Living but it is still running long after we have left. People started to come to me to ask why would you leave after building such a big organisation and I told them that I had already mapped the next step I would take after leaving Forever Living . The wealth inside us is enormous. I often say that if they put me in the desert I will thrive there.

YOUR BODY IS YOUR BEST PHYSICIAN I did not get to know that until I ran into a very serious health crisis. It was in the process of finding a solution to that crisis that I stumbled on this lesson I am sharing. I have since discovered that when it comes to health, the God has created us with everything in us. Given half a chance, the body will heal itself. But a lot of people are ignorant about this fact. We know about everything, our computer, our phone, our television, but this body, that we need to continue to exist on earth, we don’t know anything about it. Ignorance and disobedience are the major problems we have with our health, most of the times. The body talks, if

you listen to your body, your body will tell you what it needs and what it doesn’t need. If I put sugar in my mouth within few hours, my mouth will be bleeding, my gum will be paining me and I will be feeling terrible in my mouth. So what is my body telling me? Sugar is not good for me. If you listen carefully, your body would tell you what is not good for it and what you should put in it.

If we know about our body, we won’t treat it anyhow. Whatever you don’t know, you misuse. If you can just look at the car we drive, you can see that the car is patterned after the body. I always tell people that when you put adulterated oil in your car, what happens? You knock the engine. So the food that your body is not supposed to eat, if you put it there, your body will be breaking down.

Look at the radiator, if you don’t put water into it, what happens? The car begins to overheat and the car will spoil. If you don’t drink enough water, the same thing will happen to your body. The car cannot move without petrol, the same thing if your body is deficient in nutrient, it will become weak.

If the oil pump in the car is blocked, the car will not start and the same thing if the arteries in your body are blocked, the blood in your body will not flow and you are dead. Our blood carries oxygen and nutrients to all our vital organs and if this is not happening, the organs will die and we die too.

So the first thing we need to know as individuals is to know the body, to know the systems in the body. We need to know about the body, know that the body needs proper nutrition. If our body is deficient in nutrients we are going to have health problems. It is like planting on a soil that is not good, what happens to the plant? So if you look at that, if your body is not having all the nutrients it is supposed to have, the body will not function properly. The human body is chemical composition of 16 principal elements, oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, magnesium, iodine, iron, fluorine, manganese, and silicon. It is replenishing these elements in sufficient quantity in the body through live foods that will keep the body functioning properly, maintain the body, and rejuvenate the body. if these are not there in sufficient quantity, what happens? You are aging and you will have

Wealth Master’s Words On Marble

“Every single person on this planet earth has a path marked for him or her by God almighty and on that path he has put our helpers there. Everything we would ever need is on that path”

“You must know what you want right from the first day you step into doing something because nothing is permanent”

“So when you see an individual attaching himself or herself permanently to what God has created through him or her, that person lacks understanding. We do not own anything” “We know about everything, our computer, our phone, our television, but this body, that we need to continue to exist on earth, we don’t know anything about it”

“Couples who desire to take control of their personal finances should ensure to write their WILL to avoid complication and loss of assets in case of death”.

a lot of health problems. Proper elimination of wastes from the body also is very important for good health. Healthy digestive system is crucial as it is well known that ‘Death begins in the Colon’.

Here is my point: your good health is in your hands. Don’t give authority to anybody to control your health. Doctors are knowledgeable, wonderful, and they are very essential, but they didn’t learn nutrition in medical schools, they learnt what is wrong with you and then this is the prescription. All over the world, people are running away from medication because of the side effect of drugs. So Integrative Nutrition Health Coaches are now helping people to make good food choices, modify their diet, and live a healthy lifestyle. A lot of people eat junk foods, drink a lot of alcohol, coffee, and soft drinks. These are damaging to our health at the end of the day. A lot of people, old and young feed on sugar; sugar is the food for cancer cells and is the reason for the increase in the cases of obesity, diabetes and hypertension. According the title of Don Colbert, MD, book, “Let Food Be Your Medicine”.

Then, you need to sleep adequately for your body to be charged. We must be sleeping by 10pm till 4am. The body is charged between 10pm and 2am, it has been proved.

HOW SHOULD COUPLES HANDLE THEIR FINANCES? In answering this question, one must first consider the following points: One, is the marriage of the couples based on love or material things (money, properties etc.)? Two is it built on sincerity, honesty, integrity and trust . Once those elements are established , the rest of the equation is simple.

I believe very strongly that where there is genuine love, sincerity, honesty, integrity, trust, respect, fairness and contentment couples should maintain joint accounts.

JOINT PROJECTS Again, this can be sorted out easily .Through discussion and mutual agreement, joint projects are easily financed by couples.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONLY ONE OF THE COUPLES IS WORKING? Once the marriage is based on love coupled with the virtues stated above, one of the couples not working will not cause any problem. Where there is genuine love, there is patience, understanding, tolerance compassion, physical and spiritual support.

ADVANTAGES OF COUPLES MAINTAINING A JOINT ACCOUNTS One of the greatest advantages is that it is easier to access the funds when the spouse passes away. If a spouse has a personal account, the account is frozen and the other spouse may not have access to funds. A joint account allow the surviving spouse to access the account easily.

Joint Accounts can be a good way for couples to combine and grow their money to work toward their common goals.

It can also help couples to keep each other in check on spending carelessly and irresponsibly.

GENERAL TIPS FOR COUPLES WHO DESIRE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR PERSONAL FINANCES Apart from separate individual account, joint bank accounts is very necessary. If you do have separate accounts and one partner becomes incapacitated, the other may not be able to access his/her assets and there would be need for a financial Power of Attorney.

Couples who desire to take control of their personal finances should ensure to write their WILL to avoid complication and loss of assets in case of death.

OPI NION

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T H I S D AY MONDAYSunday MARCH 14, 2022 2022 4 December, Vol 27. No 10099

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

Debates help voters in making informed choice of candidates who have character, competence and capacity to solve problems, argues FRANK OJEME ANYASI

MUSIKILU MOJEED: BEARING WITNESS TO HISTORY There are leadership lessons to glean from Olusegun Obasanjo’s remarkable life, writes KAYODE FAYEMI

SUSTAINING THE CULTURE OF PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES IN NIGERIA

D See Page 22

WINDING DOWN THE YEAR IN REFLECTION AISHA SHUAIBU argues that Nigerians should do the right thing always

See Page 22

EDITORIAL

DESPERATE MIGRANTS AND POROUS PORTS

See Page 51

ebates among Presidential candidates in a presidential democracy are neutral and dignified fora where candidates competing for the office of the president respond to the same questions, as posed by a moderator, or voters. Candidates agree on rules, regarding response and speaking time, to ensure fairness.

The debates normally include some interactions among candidates through rebuttal or follow on questions. Former United States Presidents J. F. Kennedy and Nixon were the first to formally debate for a national audience in 1960.

Although the media may not be able to provide an entirely comprehensive means of evaluating the candidate’s fitness for the office of the presidency, sophisticated voters certainly take such debates into consideration when making their choice. Studies have shown that giving voters access to information through debates between rival candidates can significantly improve their knowledge of the candidates and increase democratic participation.

Given how recently, presidential debates have come to be hallmark of the modern presidential campaigns, it is important to emphasize some of the advantages. First and foremost presidential debates are educational. They give voters an opportunity to make comparisons and avail candidates a chance to say why they are best suited for the elected office. Debates afford candidates the opportunity to provide informative, concise summaries of their major policy positions and viewpoints. They provide one of the indicators as to how the candidates might respond under pressure. This is because debates require candidates to be able to think on their feet and be able to respond to unanticipated events.

In this sense they serve as national “job interviews” for the highest office in the country.

If a candidate gets easily flustered trying to answer a simple question in a debate, it suggests that the candidate may not be able to handle the rigors of the pressure and unpredictability of the office. In contrast, when candidates are able to keep their cool during high-stakes events like live debates, it engenders confidence that they will be prepared when emergency wake up comes. Debates also force candidates to do what they should be doing, if they want to be president: be able to speak intelligently about a wide range of issues. Moderators sometimes throw questions that reward the candidates who are better prepared and informed to speak on a wide range of topics.

The chief gain of the public in debates is that, for that brief hour or two, they get to observe the candidate free of the media filter. Certainly, a wave of analysis will follow the debates, but some percentage of the voting public would have watched the debates first-hand. Debates improvevoter’sawarenessofspecificcandidates, their policies, and general political knowledge.

They are more likely to vote for the ones who shared their policy priorities and for higher quality candidates. Debates play important role in aiding the deliberation of voters and

consequently strengthening young democracies due to the fact that political information can be difficult to access in developing countries because of fledgling democratic structures and poor media penetration. If not guided, citizens may vote for candidates with little knowledge of their policy stance, qualifications or previous performance.

Since 1999, Nigeria’s democracy has faced series of challenges in the political, economic and educational sectors. The elections were considered as work in progress with a lot of room for improvement. Nigeria continues to be a mono-economy based on oil and the political class has not been able to change the situation. This challenge is replicated in all the sectors of the Nigerian economy and has not attracted permanent solution. It is therefore, very important that the voters are properly guided to make informed choice of candidates who have character, competence and capacity to solve the problems. One of the ways of doing it is through debates, which affords the electorate the opportunity to hear the candidates and ask them questions on how to solve the above problem.

It is not sufficient to organize debates; the citizens should have a clear understanding of the essence of the debate particularly, the youth and the women who constitute the largest voting population. Debates among competing electoral candidates have become a campaign centerpiece in elections worldwide. Many countries have developed a debate tradition, and civil society groups have been critical in making that happen. In an environment like ours, debates give political rivals a chance to show that, despite their differences, they can treat each other with respect. While they disagree on the issues, debates provide a chance for candidates to commit publicly to a peaceful election. Citizens view debates as an indication of open, transparent electoral process where all candidates can complete equally. This is because debates address issues not person, religion or ethnicity. They promote political tolerance, constructive dialogues and service to the people.

During a debate, a candidate’s statements, policy positions become part of the public record.

Once winning candidates take office,

civic groups and the media can hold them accountable by citing press coverage of the debates.

The media play a vital role by providing a platform for candidates to debate with each other by ensuring that as far as possible, inflammatory language is avoided. The task of the media especially national media outlets is not and should not be to function as the mouthpiece for any government body or particular candidate.

Its basic role is to enlighten and educate the public and act as a neutral, objective platform for the free debate of all points of view.

Regrettably, the presidential candidates of our leading political parties have decided to be speaking directly with communities, professional bodies and relevant stakeholders in town hall meetings, which cannot sufficiently replace debates. This lends credence to the speculation that some of the candidates fear open encounters with their more articulate competitors. In societies where great emphasis is put on the ability to communicate ideas and plans, that is a huge minus. One requirement that should not be neglected in the quest for leadership position is the confidence level of the candidates. Though eloquence is not the only requirement for leading a people but it is extremely important because it defines the candidates. The same goes for mental alertness, emotional stability and track record of previous important political jobs.

Therefore, candidates should make themselves available for media scrutiny, a practice since adopted as a convention in many successful democracies, with outstanding results. Nigeria should not be stuck to how preparation for elections were done by the founding fathers and expect to reap current, would-standard dividends. Any candidate who refuses to make this critical contribution should be considered unwilling to participate in the democratic process.

Though, neither in the nation’s constitution nor Electoral Act is it explicitly stated that participation in such exercise is mandatory, meaning there cannot possibly be violation of legal provision by any political office seeker in this regard. The argument therefore, should be about its morality, desirability and suitability.

An applicant seeking to be hired as the chief executive officer of an organization has the moral duty to explain to his prospective employers how he intends to manage the organization if offered the job. If we must practise democracy, we must also accommodate its values which includes submission to the will of the electorate.

Although, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not have the power to force any candidate to participate in any debate, it should become a convention because of the huge benefits to voters.

Mr. Anyasi is a retired Director in the Ministry of Defence

22

T H I S D AY SUNDAY DECEMBER 4, 2022

There are leadership lessons to glean from Olusegun Obasanjo’s remarkable life, writes KAYODE FAYEMI

MUSIKILU MOJEED: BEARING WITNESS TO HISTORY

At the time I gave my word to be present at the public presentation of The Letterman on December 1st, 2022 - exactly two months ago, little did I know that my new responsibilities as Head of the Forum of Governors in Africa will take me all the way to Sao Paolo, Brazil to the Brazil - Africa Forum on this day. I’m happy though that I was able to lay my hands on an advanced copy of The Letterman and it was a beautiful companion all the way from Abuja to Sao Paulo.

Musikilu Mojeed has done us a huge favour by putting these letters together in a single volume with excellent annotations. To many of us, some of these letters are not new.

They were indeed the subject of dinner table discourses in many homes ZKHQ WKH\ ZHUH RIÀFLDOO\ UHOHDVHG RU stealthily leaked. At the time, reactions ranged from those who saw them as Baba’s supposed penchant for self JORULÀFDWLRQ WR WKRVH ZKR UHJDUGHG them as his obsessive predilection for painting his successors black to very rare commendation for speaking truth to power and approximating the feelings of the people in periods of stress and angst as the voice of the voiceless.

Read together with other letters seen IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH LQ WKLV YROXPH RQH is bound to have a renewed sense of respect and admiration for our former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

For me, if one is in any doubt, these letters written over a period of 60 years demonstrate a high level of remarkable consistency of thought and action. Even when you disagree with the logic of his argument in his letters, you cannot doubt the courage of his conviction.

Musikilu was also able to demonstrate indubitably through this published volume Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s prodigious intellect, his attention to detail and tireless capacity for record keeping, his native intelligence, his transparency and accountability, his generosity of spirit which runs contrary to the widespread impression of Obasanjo as a stingy man who won’t give shishi,

his religious piety, his ability to show appreciation as a person who never forgets a favour nor forgive a slight, his unquestioning patriotism and loyalty to Nigeria and his irrepressible PanAfricanist inclinations.

One is also astounded often by the speed with which he churns out these letters. But then maybe one should not be surprised. After all, I once travelled from Addis Ababa to Lagos on an (WKLRSLDQ $LUOLQH ÁLJKW VLWWLQJ QH[W WR him. Baba wrote all through the four DQG D KDOI KRXU ÁLJKW QRQ VWRS $QG KH went on to deliver the paper he wrote in Lagos same evening.

What is clear from the language of the early letters to the most recent ones is that they are uniquely Baba’s. These are not letters written by aides with him only appending his signature. They are correspondences that carry Obasanjo’s imprimatur whether written in the war front in the 60s or as a retired President in 2020. The language, proverbs, selfdeprecating humour, outright abuse of the subject, wise cracks and jokes are unmistakably Baba’s.

In the last few months, I’ve had cause to ask myself - how does he do it? I’ve encountered Baba in Oslo, New York, Nairobi, London, Addis Ababa, Abuja, Dubai - not having fun but always working in the service of humanity, the latest being the remarkable feat he accomplished with the Ethiopian Peace Settlement between the Tigrayan rebels and the Ethiopian State. Many of us thought it was a futile effort when he started but for Baba - once he puts his mind to something - he gives it his best VKRW +LV VHOI FRQÀGHQFH DQG DELGLQJ faith in God pulls him through against all odds. It is no exaggeration to venture to suggest that Baba has achieved more IRU RXU IRUHLJQ SROLF\ SURÀOH DV D QRQ state actor in the last decade.

What Musikilu also achieved with this publication without necessarily meaning to do so is the manner he surreptitiously exposed Baba’s softer side through insightful revelations in some of the letters. Especially how his prison years brought him closer to God to the point of rescuing many offenders who would have been worse off in prison. Or expressing heartfelt condolences to the widow of the man who threw him in jail, Hajia Maryam Abacha at a time that the late stormy petrel, Gani Fawehinmi, roared on the BBC that the hottest part of hell should be reserved for the late maximum ruler.

As our country proceeds in search of a new leader, there’s a lot of leadership lessons to glean from Baba Obasanjo’s remarkable life - from his success and also from his foibles. While many of us may not appreciate the worth of Obasanjo now, just the way Winston Churchill was rejected at the polls in the aftermath of his World War Two victory, only for him to be reelected Prime Minister later and crowned “Man of the Century” by the BBC, there is no doubt that history and posterity will be kind to Olusegun Obasanjo.

Thank you Musikilu for bearing witness to history. Thank you for bringing out the essence of letter writing as a window to the world of Olusegun Obasanjo.

Dr Fayemi is the immediate former Governor of Ekiti State

AISHA SHUAIBU argues that Nigerians should do the right thing always

WINDING DOWN THE YEAR IN REFLECTION

“The road to a happier, more successful life starts with your attitude, and your attitude is within your control”- Mohammed Jammal Nigeria is a no-nonsense country when it comes to religious beliefs. The dominant Islam and Christian faiths share similar messages in their holy books on the importance of working on ourselves to welcome God’s intervention in our lives. The Qur’an says “Verily, Allah will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as that they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves.” (Surah Al-Ra’d 13:11), while the Bible says “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2). Surely, if we practiced as much as we prayed, Nigeria would be a country of much more tolerance, unity, and peace. But as with many other places around the world, we are yet to allow the powerful words from our beloved faiths pierce our hearts to help us turn our deeds into daily habits. We remain mentally enslaved into discriminating against one another, and willing to cause harm to the next man to get ahead, which is far from what the faiths promote. While we cannot SLQSRLQW RQH VSHFLÀF SUREOHP RU VROXWLRQ WR alleviate Nigeria of its bad eggs, we must begin E\ SXOOLQJ EDFN WKH ÀQJHUV ZH SRLQW RXW WR blame others and pointing thumbs back toward ourselves instead.

Leadership is easiest on the outside of it. It LV GLIÀFXOW WR LGHQWLI\ H[DFWO\ ZKHQ 1LJHULDQV became most critical of their government, but it so happens that as the digital age advanced and more people found their way to social media platforms like Twitter, hot takes became the order of the day. Many Nigerians seem to believe they will make better leaders in public RIÀFH WKDQ WKRVH DOUHDG\ WKHUH ZKHQ LQ UHDOLW\ WKH GLIÀFXOW\ RI WKH MRE PD\ LQVWHDG IRUFH WKHP to bow to the pressures and quit before the sun JRHV GRZQ RQ WKHLU ÀUVW GD\ 7KH FXUUHQW VWDWH RI WKH FRXQWU\ LV XQGRXEWHGO\ D UHÁHFWLRQ RI the mindset and attitude of its people. Taking a W\SLFDO 1LJHULDQ WUDIÀF VLWXDWLRQ DV DQ LQVWDQFH LW is always most chaotic when there is no regulator coordinating drivers to wait their turn to move.

In the absence of a watchful eye is total madness WKDW JRHV DV IDU DV ÀJKWLQJ RQH DQRWKHU ZKHQ DOO everyone wants to do is move forward toward their destination. This is the reality of today’s Nigeria; failing to realise that we do not need to be regulated the whole way, we just need to be responsible but we have a long way to go

in adopting this.

How then, can we channel the patriotism we know we have into progressive action that heals us of our mentality crisis and brings out the best in the masses? One way is admitting that we are indeed the object RI RXU RZQ GHVWUXFWLRQ 7KDW ZH DIÀUP RXU biases through tribalism and ethnic divide and the seat of the country cannot solely take the blame for every misfortune that befalls the Nigerian people. To experience any sort of positive change, we are left with no choice but to be more responsible. If we truly fear God and His wrath, then surely we believe that we will be held accountable for every action we aided and abetted. The airport example is another scenario many have regularly noticed, where Nigerians departing from or arriving in the country SURPRWH FKDRV E\ MXPSLQJ TXHXHV ÀJKWLQJ ZLWK DLUSRUW RIÀFLDOV PDNLQJ ORXG SKRQH calls, and exhibiting other kinds of uncouth behaviour. The same Nigerians arrive on IRUHLJQ VRLO DQG ÀQG WKH GHFRUXP WR FROOHFW themselves, abiding by instructions with no debate or delay. We must give our country and each other the respect we demand in order to stand proudly, and claim we have done everything we can to represent our country in the best of character.

As we strut into the new year and into the general elections in February, let us demand more from each other before we look to the incoming leaders. Do not so quickly critic labour that you have not fully understood or attempted yourself, do not bully because you have learned some new grammar and need a scapegoat to practice on, and let us not demand more than we are willing to offer ourselves. An attitude, as well as a mentality adjustment, is urgent and necessary for the future Nigeria we want to see. The chaos that we have been accustomed to has turned us into untameable animals, giving no hope or encouragement to those sworn in to serve and protect the country. Until we are as good as the leaders we want, we are undeserving of compassion. Judgement belongs to God alone, but if we must wait until we return to Him for redemption, it may be too late.

Shuaibu is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

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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 DECEMBER 4, 2022

GLITZ ENTERTAINMENT

AMAA Calls for Entry, Clarifies Criteria for Submission Stories by Vanessa Obioha To ensure that filmmakers do not misconstrue the eligibility guidelines for its Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), the Africa Film Academy devoted quality time to explaining the criteria for participation as it calls for film submissions for the 19th edition at a recent press briefing.

The convener Peace Anyiam-Osigwe emphasised that the award is not a popularity contest but a professional competition that rewards professionalism across Africa.

“One of the aims for creating AMAA is to provide and create a networking platform and avenue for African filmmakers and practitioners to interact while getting rewarded for their creativity, uniqueness, authenticity and professionalism. We are not a popularity contest, we are a professional contest that rewards professionalism, hence, why AMAA has two faces to it, which is the critical look and judgment of professionalism and the glamorous part,” she said.

The Head of AMAA’s College of Screeners, Dr. Shaibu Husseni added that most filmmakers do not read the rules before submitting their entries.

“So you find someone sending us a film that has been produced two years prior to the award review year. For instance, you cannot submit a film produced in 2021 for the 2023 awards. It has to be in 2022. We have had a situation where people changed the copyright dates just to participate in the awards.”

Some of the guidelines clarified by Husseni included submitting all films to FilmFreeway, the official portal for submission; films to be submitted by filmmakers, and not by

proxy.

“The filmmaker has to submit the film because he has to sign off that the film is completed. Some of our Nigerian filmmakers submit films that are in the works for the competition. You can’t send a 30 per cent ready film to the AMAA, it has to be fully completed. We are not going to look at popular faces or how much the film made to consider you for the awards. They have to be deliberate about entering for their work.”

Others include the non-acceptance of films with commercials or trailers (trailers are submitted differently); all films must be submitted before the deadline and filmmakers should provide the correct credits for their works.

Husseni further clarified the difference between the country of film and the origin of the film, stating that they only encourage films that have Africans or filmmakers of African descent. While he praised Nigerian filmmakers for raising the bar in technicality, he advised that filmmakers entering the awards for the first time should preview past entries. He also hinted at plans to expand the College of Screeners and expressed optimism about the number of entries for the 19th edition.

“We are expecting to record a high number of entries in 2023 because COVID is almost gone.”

Revealing further plans for the upcoming edition, Kingsley James who serves as AMAA’s Chief Operating Officer revealed that the edition will be a seven-day creative week that will celebrate every form of the creative arts, that is, from fashion to music. He disclosed that there will be a monthly dialogue with the stakeholders in the film industry to tackle critical topics. Such discussions according to Anyiam-Osigwe

YouTube Shorts Records over 1.5 Billion Views Monthly Since Launch New data from the video-sharing and social media app YouTube showed that over 1.5 billion logged-in users watch YouTube Shorts monthly since its global launch in 2021. The data contained in its End-of-Year Lists for 2022 showed that on average, 30 billion views are recorded daily for the product.

YouTube shorts are user-generated videos that are about 15 to 60 seconds long and allow creators to edit and interact with viewers by responding to comments with additional videos.

For 2022, the top YouTube Shorts list

includes, ‘She used witchcraft to take our money (Baby almost cried) uploaded by TOV Family, Kizz Daniel ft Tekno’s ‘Buga’ (official) #bugachallenge uploaded by CJ The Dancer, Mummy G.O addressed Tiwa Savage, uploaded

by Maraji’s world, and Traffic in Lagos, Nigeria, uploaded by Joe Ijo, among others.

Other End-of-Year Lists include Top Music Videos where the Mavin Crew emerged on top with the song ‘Overloading’ (Overdose) and Top Creators where Nigerian creators Oga Sabinus, Taaooma’s Cabin, HouseofAjebo made the list.

What’s Next Now that PMAN Has Acquired a New Corporate Office?

PMAN House with Pretty Okafor

The long dream of the president of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Pretty Okafor finally became a reality. The buzz throughout last week was Okafor’s acquisition of a corporate office for the body in Lagos, finally breaking the 40-year jinx that had bedevilled the association.

The multi-million-naira corporate edifice located in Lekki, according to

with Zenith Bank.

He maintained that the decision to acquire a property in highbrow Lekki is borne out of good business sense to reposition and rebrand the union as well as bridge the gap between PMAN and the new generation artists.

“We consider it necessary to have a business office that is accessible to the artistes community and corporate sector in Nigeria.

We want to ensure that musicians are receiving proper remunerations for their creative works both at home and abroad. Through the acquisition of this property, we are sending an important message to Nigerian musicians and the corporate sector that PMAN, the Nigerian music industry powerhouse, is back Okafor will have different in business,” he said. ultra-modern components The association’s office was formerly in a including the president’s rented apartment in Ikeja. office, digital music library, “Lekki is the new hub for the Nigerian conference rooms, VIP lounge, music industry. It is the hotbed for the new membership registration wave of Afrobeats culture. Lekki is where the booth provided by Zenith Gen Zers of Nigerian entertainment reside,” he Bank, and other necessary added. offices.

With this new building, PMAN has vowed Okafor further disclosed to enhance its presence in all the six geothat building acquisition is political regions of Nigeria, as the association part of the union’s strategy would soon embark on data capturing of its for the ongoing biometric over six million potential members across the card registration drive being country. implemented in conjunction

Hussein, Anyiam-Osigwe and James at AMAA’s press briefing

include the mystery behind the streaming numbers that do not really tally well with the revenue generated. Additionally, AMAA plans to screen the five biggest films in AMAA 2022 to the media so they can understand why these films were nominated and won big.

While Lagos State remains the host for next year’s awards, the organisers are planning to host other activities outside the state.

The call for entry opened on Dec 1 and will close on March 30, 2023. The extended deadline will run till June 30, 2023. Pre-selection of the films will begin in February 2023 while nominations for the 19th edition will be unveiled in August 2023.

Bernard Okoma’s Management Company to Develop New Artistes

By Rebecca Ejifoma From Nollywood to talent management, there is much you don’t know about Bernard Okoma. His passion for the entertainment business as one who manages top celebrities like Emmanuella, Mark Angel and (The Mark Angel Comedy Crew), Funnybone, and Kolaboy among others, has grown in leaps and bounds.

Today, he is on the quest to develop new talents in the Showbiz industry.

“As I grew older, I realised that I harboured a strong passion for show business,” says Okoma, a graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan. “Couple that with the fact that acting came naturally to me and it didn’t take much brainstorming to decide that this was what I wanted to do with my life.”

On his new plans for artistes under his management, Okoma announced that he is currently promoting an EP ‘Kola’ from the East by Kolaboy, a sensational act under his management. “I have quite a few other projects I’m working on behind the scenes which will all be unveiled in due time. I have other plans to help develop new artistes that will change the narrative soon.”

Indeed, Okoma has built his management career by understanding the nitty-gritty of the entertainment terrain which has made him rise to fame.

“It has been a tough journey so far because the brand grew from zero to its present position and is still moving. I thank God so far,” he says.

While recalling his track record, Okoma cited the parlance that things become clearer when you know yourself, hence, his decision to shelve his other ambitions in pursuit of acting instead.

He went down memory lane. “I was an army brat and my family lived in the military cantonment at Ikeja. As a kid living in such a condition, you don’t usually get what you want except what is handed out to you.”

Okoma

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY DECEMBER 4, 2022

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

EDITORIAL

DESPERATE MIGRANTS AND POROUS PORTS

I

Government must do more by addressing the deepening crisis of poverty

n a nation where mindless killings, mass QRW WKH ÀUVW E\ 1LJHULDQV UDLVHV FRQFHUQ DERXW WKH abduction, banditry and terrorism have become causal factors driving such extremely dangerous the new normal, Nigerians are hardly bothered LUUHJXODU PLJUDWLRQ $ UHFHQW UHSRUW E\ WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO by strange occurrences. But not a few were 2UJDQLVDWLRQ IRU 0LJUDWLRQ ,20 GLVFORVHG WKDW VLQFH shocked last week following Twitter post by 2014 a minimum of 29,000 migrants, dominated by the Spanish Coast Guard showing an oil and $IULFDQV KDYH SHULVKHG ZKLOH XQGHUWDNLQJ VXFK ULVN\ chemical vessel, bearing three migrants crouching PLJUDWLRQ WR (XURSH $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH ,20 UHSRUW WKH on its rudder. The emaciated young Nigerian men, VHFRQG GHDGOLHVW SDWK ZDV WKH $WODQWLF URXWH IURP :HVW famished, and dehydrated were subsequently taken $IULFD WR 6SDLQ·V &DQDU\ ,VODQGV ZKHUH PRUH WKDQ WR KRVSLWDO IRU WUHDWPHQW 7KH 0DULQH7UDIÀF D ZHEVLWH deaths have been recorded since 2021. The IOM report WKDW WUDFNV VKLSV VDLG WKH 0DOWD ÁDJJHG $OWKLQL ,, OHIW OLVWHG RYHU $IULFDQ GHDWKV UHFRUGHG LQ WKH ODVW WZR Lagos on 17th November and arrived in Las Palmas years along dangerous routes. on 28th November, after an 11-day journey, covering Unfortunately, even with all the security apparatus at roughly 3,000 kilometres. Unfortunately, there has been its disposal, the federal government appears helpless.

QR RIÀFLDO UHVSRQVH WR WKH Such is the new low that development that affects the government gleefully three of our nationals and ÁDXQWV WKH UHSDWULDWLRQ RI speaks to the challenge of stranded Nigerians from Left with frustration, and little hope of a better future in the country, national security. different parts of the world, Despite the best efforts especially from Libya and many of our young people are being tempted to flee abroad via of the Nigerian Maritime WKH 8$( (YDFXDWLRQV irregular migration, often facilitated by smugglers and human $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ DQG 6DIHW\ from these countries $JHQF\ 1,0$6$ DQG are frequently hyped traffickers, with the attendant consequences 1LJHULDQ 3RUWV $XWKRULW\ and passed on as huge 13$ DFFHVV WR WKH SRUWV accomplishments. There is and terminals is virtually hardly any consideration or open to just about anyone who claims to have a business effort to redress factors responsible for such irregular WKHUH 1XPHURXV UHSRUWV KDYH LGHQWLÀHG /DJRV ZKHUH PLJUDWLRQV LQ WKH ÀUVW SODFH Nigeria boasts of three major seaports and numerous $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH 5HG &URVV $IULFD·V PRVW SRSXORXV terminals, as departure point for risky and fatal journeys. country is plagued by poverty, inequality, violent Crowd control measures to check or stop unrestricted FRQÁLFW DQG WKH TXHVW IRU MRE RSSRUWXQLWLHV RYHUVHDV ,Q movement of unauthorised persons are minimal. recent times, Nigerian health workers have been leaving &KDLUPDQ RI WKH 1DWLRQDO $VVRFLDWLRQ RI *RYHUQPHQW the country in droves to seek better opportunities $SSURYHG )UHLJKW )RUZDUGLQJ 1$*$)) $OKDML DEURDG &DQDGD 8. DQG 86$ KDYH EHFRPH FKRLFH Tanko Ibrahim, recently lamented about the porous destinations for such labour migration because of better state of the seaports, which he described as haven for all wages and welfare, to the detriment of the country. Left manner of criminal elements. with frustration, and little hope of a better future in the $SDUW IURP WKUHDWHQLQJ WKH OLYHV RI JHQXLQH SRUW country, many of our young people are being tempted operators through robberies and killings, these criminal WR ÁHH DEURDG YLD LUUHJXODU PLJUDWLRQ RIWHQ IDFLOLWDWHG elements establish syndicates with smugglers and E\ VPXJJOHUV DQG KXPDQ WUDIÀFNHUV ZLWK WKH DWWHQGDQW JRYHUQPHQW RIÀFLDOV WR SDYH WKH ZD\ IRU KXPDQ consequences.

WUDIÀFNHUV DQG LOOHJDO PLJUDQWV WR RSHUDWH 7KDW SHUKDSV Meanwhile, there are reports that the three migrants explains how some individuals could gain access to would be deported back home “based on stowaway the rudder of a massive vessel anchored in a Lagos laws,” but they may also be able to remain in Spain if they port. The security implication is that they could easily claim asylum, according to Helena Maleno, Director of have planted a bomb on the rudder with devastating Migration of Walking Borders, a non-governmental consequences. Several times in recent years, the RUJDQLVDWLRQ 1*2 :H XUJH WKH IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has made calls for to employ all diplomatic means to assist them. There improvement of security at the ports. is also an urgent need to embark on enlightenment The adventure of these three stowaways, though campaigns on the implications of such adventure.

Letters to the Editor

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

LETTERS TUBERCULOSIS IS DEVASTATING GOMBE STATE Gombe State has had over 130 cases of tuberculosis since January, 2020 which cut across men, women and children of DOO DJHV $ WRWDO RI PLOOLRQ people died from TB in 2020 LQFOXGLQJ SHRSOH ZLWK +,9 :RUOGZLGH 7% LV WKH 13th leading cause of death. The state has neglected this agent of mortality, most especially in the rural areas, where active case ÀQGLQJV RI 7% LV ORZ DQG D KLJK number of suspected cases are ignored or wrongly diagnosed.

Tuberculosis is a disease

caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. $ SHUVRQ ZLWK 7% FDQ GLH LI KH does not get treatment.

When one member of a household is a carrier of the disease, all other members are DW ULVN EHFDXVH RI WKH GLVHDVH·V contagious nature.

Here in Gombe State, especially the northern part of the state where an average household consists

RI PRUH WKDQ PHPEHUV GXH to the polygamous marriage system in addition to extended families, this shows that treating one patient of tuberculosis is not enough as it is normally GRQH 5DWKHU DOO PHPEHUV RI D household should be tested and treated accordingly.

The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.

The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, and the coughing of

blood.

One of the major reasons why TB thrives in the state is due to the knowledge gap amongst the people. TB is mistaken for the normal cough and it is treated with antibiotics which will only soothe the ailment for a while before it comes back. $V ZH VSHDN *RPEH LV LQ QHHG of a new ways of doing things.

Gombe State needs newer methods of tackling health issues beyond the present rhetoric.

Nasiru Usman, Gombe

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

4.12.2022

T

MUYIWA IGE ELEVATING ARTS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE Wondering what an architect does in the world of arts? Muyiwa Ige, the scion of Cicero of Esa Oke and late Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,Chief Bola Ige, SAN has the answer. “There is poetry in architecture, there is architecture poetry, and then again architecture is really art. So we need to sensitise the consciousness of Nigerians using art.”The recently staged Muyiwa Ige Arts Festival themed ‘The Arts Against Insurgency’ attests to Ige’s quest to use the arts as machinery for tackling societal ills, writes Funke Olaode

he late Cicero of Esa-Oke and former Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Ajibola Ige, SAN might have gained renown for his oratory skills and political sagacity but his intervention in the arts is quite legendary. He was a grand patron of art with footprints in the Association of Nigerian Authors, Abuja Literary Society and many others.

Following this footprint is his son Muyiwa Ige, a trained architect who treats arts as more than just a pastime. Recently at the Rotary Club Hall in Iyaganku, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the Muyiwa Ige Arts Festival themed, “The Arts against Insurgency” tugged at national conscience. The occasion, which coincided with Nigeria’s Independence celebrations, was a showcase of talents mostly drawn from the younger generations, with strength in spoken words and other performances. A book titled “Rhythms for the Architects,” a collection of poems written in his name was also launched.

Initiated and directed by Anthony Ebika, Muyiwa Ige was in high spirits as various talented artists mounted the stage to thrill the audience.

Muyiwa has been in the forefront of arts activism for sometime now and being celebrated not as an architect or politician brought back old memories of his father and his delight in keeping his legacy of being a ‘doyen of the arts.’

“Honestly, I feel humbled and honoured being celebrated. The reason being when the request for this celebration was brought in, initially I had to turn it down, that there is really no need. But Anthony Ebika who used to be former president of Nigerian Association of Authors, Oyo Chapter started rolling out some of the things that I have done, that is captivating to the art and adding value to humanity. I have never really sat down to ever catalogue any of my participation or contribution towards the arts. And while he was listing them, he was even talking about the fact that my wife and I had a children’s theatre, Alo’s Children’s Theatre, a 44-man crew and we were showcasing performances to children.”

Muyiwa’s journey into the arts didn’t start today. His house in Ibadan has always been the epicenter of folktales. Together with his amiable wife, Oyinda, a lawyer, they have been impacting morals and values into children’s lives

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 DECEMBER 4, 2022

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COVER I’m Honoured to Keep an Incredible Legacy of My Father Who Had Always SupportedYoung Artists through folktales.

“My wife will tell folktales to children and we will set up a stage even in the compound and we have 50 to 100 kids coming, coupled with the Kaduna boy play that I produced, which was my father’s story. So, all of these were catalogued and I thought, okay, well no problem.

Initially, it was supposed to be a poetry event because Ebika had written a collection of poems in my honour, titled “Rhythms for the Architects.” I thought that rather than it just being a poetry event, let’s make it a celebration of arts and culture. We picked the first Saturday in October which coincidentally was October 1st.

And thankfully October 1st has now come to stay as the day for Muyiwa Ige Arts Festival. So, everything worked out for good.

I have been getting a lot of phone calls from people wanting to partner with us, also wanting to showcase their craft.”

For Muyiwa Ige, while he cherishes his profession as a reputable architect, his involvement in the arts is etched on his DNA. “There is poetry in architecture, there is architecture poetry. And then again architecture is really the art. And again it has always been in my DNA. I recall my father was grand patron of the art in terms of the Association of Nigeria Authors, Abuja Literary Society and coincidentally even after he had passed, they published a book, Uncle Bola’s Promise, which is a collection of poems.

And so art has been in our DNA ever since I was young. Again, like I mentioned, my wife is also a creative person and so it is just a natural thing to support the art.

And there is a huge talent pull in the country that we really must harness and showcase. And so if Muyiwa Ige Arts Festival is a platform to showcase the talents that we have in this country, all the better.”

For him, the core message mustn’t be lost in performance, given the state of the nation.

The art against insurgency is actually a wakeup call in response to these perilous times.

“I think it is all preknowledge, that theme came out of the discussion, that if we are going to do this programme, then we must encourage young people to participate. And then what is current nowadays, everybody is worried about their security and their safety, with all the insurgency that is going on. Some people even called that insurgency is too mild, that it should be the art against terrorism. But when we picked insurgency, the train has already been out of the station.

And I say the train, incidentally, again the last of the 23 abductees have been released.

And so we need to sensitize the consciousness of Nigerians using the art. And you could tell that in the rendition of

Muyiwa with late father, Bola Ige, SAN

the poem tagged ‘the art against insurgency and the presentation was targeted at sensitizing the populace and encouraging us that this country will be the better.”

Muyiwa made a reference to the poetry titled ‘Black Pentecost Sunday’ set against the backdrop of the Owo massacre in Ondo State with vivid mental pictures of the sanguine experience.

In retrospect, he remarked that the Muyiwa Ige Arts Festival was created to also mold young and upcoming artists.

“I figured that there is a lot of talent out there in our young people and they need a platform to showcase these talents. Those that are grounded in their skills in terms of the spoken art or the spoken word. It is a platform that allows them to practice their craft in different areas. Yes, we invited primary and secondary

students from private schools. But next year, going forward, we will be opening it up to public schools.

And I have been getting a lot of phone calls from people that want to partner us. We will be more than happy to have people partner us.

Corporations, sponsors and we can blow this up and have a three, four, five, six and seven day festivals, even add food to it so it can be like a mini taste of Ibadan. You know there was a taste of Chicago, that was a one week event which culminated on July 4, celebrating the art and food culture. It will also be a platform to encourage support for charities. It will just be a brilliant opportunity for people to get involved in promoting and adding value to humanity.”

Looking at the Ige’s dynasty, the burden of carrying on a good name and legacy weighs on Muyiwa and

he relishes it.

“Why not?” he said proudly. “I mean it is an incredible legacy. Let me just say this. My father had always supported young people, young artists like Lagbaja. And if you recall, he actually analysed Lagbaja’s album that came out in 1990. Since then, Lagbaja really took an interest in him.

In ‘Praying for the Youth’ which is a track in Lagbaja’s album, the voice from it actually was the voice of my father, Bola Ige. I mean the prayer was rendered by my father.

Commending his late father’s unwavering devotion to the arts and youths, he praised his ingenuity.

“Yes, it is prayer for the youths, the album came out in 2000. And also my father wrote the foreword to the Beautiful Nubia poetry collection. And when he performed, my father was on stage with him. If you Google it, you will see about a two minutes extract of my father’s rendition of the song. My wife is an absolute creative person as well. Like the Alo Children’s Theatre that I mentioned earlier, we have culture messages where we showcase young people and tell folk tales. And she has written so many books. The Kaduna Boy illustrated book, we are putting that together now, to let people know the story of Bola Ige. Yes, it is the same play staged last year to commemorate his 20th anniversary but it is going to be an illustrated book for children.”

Muyiwa has not been active in politics lately by seeking political office, his ‘siddon look attitude’ is not being aloof but just finding out who really mean well for the polity. He explained his position.

“A whole lot of characters have emerged on the political state lately but very soon the cloth will be lifted up from their faces. The political climate is so unsavoury. Everybody is tense, the economy is taking a spiral, there is unsettlement in the land, insecurity is heightened and nobody is really talking about what they want to do. There is really no manifesto that is unveiled for the betterment of the common man. Presently, I am a ‘siddon look.’ But ‘siddon look’ is not being aloof, it is basically giving time to explain and finding out who really means well for the polity and how are we going to emancipate ourselves out of the mess that we are in right now. I have my PVC, I will decide what to do with it on election day.”

If there is anything that gives him joy right it is his first son, Ajibola Olumayowa Ige, a young man in his early 20s who has made him proud.

“He is an architect like me. He has graduated and has got a very good job in America. He did very well, he got a leadership scholarship. Even though he is working now he is putting together an Ige Leadership Initiative.

He is trying to spearhead leadership qualities in young people. Getting them young from secondary school.

So, you can Google Igelead.com and you can see what he has done. He is a brilliant young man and he is going to do exploits.”

The high point of the event was the unveiling of collections of poem titled ‘Rhythms for the Architects’ written

by Anthony Ebika. It is a compilation of poems celebrating Muyiwa Ige, the son of Bola Ige as the architect, a public servant and a promoter of the arts.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R DECEMBER 4, 2022

54

HighLife On Onochie’s Lady Luck

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

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

Abdulkabir Aliu Adds Another Year

One person walks down the path of mediocrity, happy to tag along with the rest of the world and afraid to cause a ripple in the world. There is someone else that bravely walks the span of life, steps brisk and confident, undaunted by the things behind and unafraid of the things in front.

The latter description captures Abdulkabir Aliu to the tee. Even as he prepares to add another year, folks are reminded of how far he has come and how further he has set himself to walk.

Aliu is the kind of person who prefers things to be done in a low-key manner.

However, it recently got out that he will add another year to his age on Monday, December 5, 2022. As a result, he is inundated with a deluge of good wishes.

After all, to get Aliu to celebrate his birthday along with everyone outside his family and immediate friends is a big deal indeed.

Aliu can only be described as one of

those people whose genius has always been hidden deep under them. He studied Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and proudly graduated, but also made sure to keep his mind alive to graduate and training programs. Because of that decision, Aliu was able to climb to the peak of Nigeria’s corporate industry.

The majority of people that know Aliu know him only as the pioneer Group CEO and founding member of Matrix Group. A few more people would know him as the person that almost single-handedly raised the company to its current height. All that accolade is because Aliu continues to show himself proficient in more than one thing, including, but not limited to, engineering, finance, trading and logistics.

To have such a person as a model is the fortune of many. To celebrate his birthday along with him is just as precious.

Aliu

Aisha Buhari’s Gender Equality Stand Onochie

Great things always come to those who are fortunate and can take the time to wait.

Lauretta Onochie is truly one of the fortunate ones and the time has come for her to receive national recognition and serve Nigeria in a bigger capacity than she is used to. After President Muhammadu Buhari nominated her as the substantive Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board, it became clear to watching eyes that Onochie’s time has come.

First of all, somebody has to say it: President Buhari is not very predictable. Counting the position of NDDC Chair, quite a number of people were on the minds of some informed Nigerians, many of whom published what is now clearly an educated guess. However, nobody expected the president to ask the senate to confirm his aide on social media as the wielder of the NDDC staff.

Without a doubt, the president’s confidence in Onochie being able to deliver comes from her having worked for him.

Despite being nothing more than a glorified secretary, Onochie was able to prove to President Buhari, who is known for his high standards, that she is someone committed to serving Nigeria. As a result, she was the first person that he deemed worthy of the NDDC Board Chairman position.

What most people know of Onochie is that she was a very competent Special Assistant to the President, something that should have counted as her practice days after she obtained her postgraduate degree in Post Compulsory Education and Training from the University of Greenwich. Now, practice days are over and it is time for Onochie to return to her Niger Delta region to serve the interests of her people.

The days of favour and service are here for Onochie. Indeed, her lucky star, if there is such a thing, has outshone the sun in her corner of the sky. This is true fortune and providence at work.

Buhari

Marriage is one of the biggest blessings of life. Two strangers meet and decide to walk the length of human life and time together, turning their lives into mirrors for each other.

Such is the case for Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) and his wife, Olufunke. Despite being married to a man who is always at the centre of things, Olufunke has managed to preserve herself, untouched by controversy and stranger to delusions. Recently, she clocked 59 and had many songs written about her.

If described in the truest terms, Olufunke is amicable to the point of representing amicability. It is one of the reasons she is so popular and easily wins the hearts of the people. Even after reaching 59, it is a fact that she will continue to shine, blazing a path of peace and gentleness that her husband’s charismatic methods were never able to accomplish.

Another thing that makes Olufunke

Gender equality in politics is one issue that many political leaders in Nigeria have attempted to fix, to varying levels of success.

The current administration is also doing its best while adopting an operational model that requires special individuals to spearhead its endeavours. This is where the First Lady of Nigeria, Hajia Aisha Buhari, is doing a good job.

Some days ago, leaders from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State paid a courtesy visit to the First Lady.

One of the main points of the visit was to employ Mrs. Buhari’s help in securing a strong position for women in Adamawa and the rest of the North. Without a doubt, the First Lady was delighted with their visit, especially after knowing a bit about anticipation for women’s participation in political leadership.

Tagging her response on social media “My stand on Adamawa politics,” Buhari shared her concern for the sad absence of female-oriented

Celebrating Olufunke Daniel at 59

Dani

leadership in politics in northern Nigeria.

Noting that their counterparts in the Southwest had started to share political power with women, happy to let the latter bear the mantle of guidance and governance, Buhari was resolute in her call to northern leaders to give women a chance to lead.

Nothing is surprising about the First Lady’s impassioned speech. Even before becoming First Lady, Buhari already began making moves to make life better for women and female children in the northern regions of Nigeria. And she has found some success in this endeavor, including the emergence of her Future Assured initiative which has been celebrated many times for its focus and actions.

So, the First Lady’s position on gender equality in the home and politics have not changed. In fact, it seems as if her conviction has only grown more progressively solid.

special is the number of chieftaincy titles she has been awarded over the years.

These include Yeye Fehintade of Omu Ijebu, Erelu Olu Nla of Egbaland, Yeye Asoludero of Makun Sagamu, Yeye Obalofin of Ijebuland, Yeye Oba of Imeko, Olua Aememre of Uokhai in Edo State, Yeye Fesojoye of Ile-Ife, Suada of Ifo, Yeye Atunluse of Ogbere and Yeye Akogun of Okun Owa, and the most recent Yeye Oba of Iperuland.

A true woman, Yeye Olufunke was born a normal child but grew up into a peace-loving lady. Even as an Ogun State First Lady, she wore her heart on her sleeves and helped to cushion some of the aggressiveness associated with leadership in her home. This is another reason many people continue to sing songs to her, celebrating her authenticity and perspective of ease to life.

Between Fani-Kayode and Dino Melaye Some people will never understand what it means to have a political persona.

Granted, to be so open and sincere as to expect others to be the same has its own kind of charm. But life does not work that way, not in politics anyway. This fact was played out by the recent face-to-face meeting of the spokesperson for the People Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Organisation, Dino Melaye with the Director of Special Media Projects, Operations and New Media for the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK).

Since the battle for karmic luck in the name of presidential campaigns started, FFK and Melaye have always been at each other’s throats. Using unprintable names to report each other’s character, history, and loyalty, FFK and Melaye have really cursed each other out. And while people generally wrote

this off as necessary for their political offices as spokespersons for opposing parties, others believed that both men said what they believed and believed what they said.

However, recent events have proven that this is not the case. During the memorial held in honour of the late Olusola Saraki, the father of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Melaye and FFK met publicly. And while onlookers expected a fight to break out and Melaye to use his village skills to physically dominate and suppress FFK, nothing of that nature happened.

Melaye and FFK related to each other as if they were their biggest benefactors. Shaking hands, chatting, and hugging, both men were being very chummy, even taking the time out to pose for pictures. If they had supporters of their war of words around the vicinity, said supporters would have likely fainted out of

Melaye and Fani-Kayode

anger.

But it is what it is. Once they get back to the comfort of their homes, Melaye and FFK will likely return to entertaining Nigerians with slurs thrown at each other. Or maybe something is different this time?

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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 DECEMBER 4, 2022

HIGHLIFE

For Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, the Good Times are Here Irrespective of what we all like to believe, no human being has a perfect handle on life. Instead, the slippery nature of control is best left to the Creator who is unmatched in wisdom and strength. One of the people that understand this fact is the Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo. Knowing it, Fatoyinbo does not struggle to make sense of life. He simply lives it. And things are looking better and better for him as a result.

Very recently, Fatoyinbo was captured delivering a sermon at the COZA Manchester Special Sunday Service in the United Kingdom. Looking his usual way sharp, handsome, and charismatic, he did not only blow the minds of his audience away but also the minds of those who saw the photos. These photographs were also a relief considering recent rumours that he

had been battling a life-threatening ailment.

For the longest time now, Fatoyinbo has been in the light as one of those Nigerian pastors who dare to believe the scriptures about divine health and wealth. Thus, it was a big deal when pictures started making the rounds showing Fatoyinbo as thin, aged, and sickly. Some people even reported that although they don’t know the name of his alleged ailment, they know that he has been down with it since April 2022.

Whichever the case, all these rumours can now be laid to rest. From the photos taken from his live ministration in the UK, Fatoyinbo is back on the pulpit and will do many great things for the Kingdom in the years to come. And as if to prove the veracity of this claim, he recently opened two new international branches in Birmingham and Manchester.

There is always that secret side to us that nobody but our closest friends knows about. For Senator Iyiola Omisore, that secret side has been exposed to the light and it is not as frightening as some people would have thought. In fact, the exposure of Omisore shows him to be a human being with dreams and aspirations that did not see the light until old age.

It is a well-known fact that Omisore has capabilities that evidence him as wearing a gown of many colours. He is a businessman, an engineer, and a politician, and he managed to be successful in all three domains of his talent. But how about being a priest? Indeed, legends hold that the former Osun State deputy governor wanted to be a priest back in the day. And although those dreams were dashed for many reasons, things are starting to return to that trajectory once more.

Very recently, Omisore was seen at

The Other Side of Senator Iyiola Omisore

Omisore

Olamiju Alao-Akala in His Father’s Shoes

Fatoyinbo

So, yes, great times are here for Fatoyinbo. In fact, one might say that going by his current trajectory, the best is yet to come. one of the parishes of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC). As at when he was captured in the photograph, Omisore was impassionately delivering a sermon, and he got a standing ovation by the time he was done.

This calls to mind an interview that he granted more than half a decade ago.

During the interview, Omisore revealed that he was an altar boy back during his childhood and that he wanted to be a Reverend Father. And now, looking back, it would seem as if Omisore had what it takes to commit to God. Alas, he took the highway to personal prestige instead.

Of course, things are not so bad that they cannot be fixed. With the sermon at CAC, Omisore shows that there is still that element in him. Perhaps it is time for the former Osun deputy governor to come out of his closet and lead his followers to a life of grace and truth.

Dancing Time is over, It’s Time to Get Serious for Gov. Adeleke For any sensible individual, the period before exams is always sober and only after victory is guaranteed from doing very well is there a celebration. Osun State’s new governor, Ademola Adeleke is one of the most sensible individuals in power right now, and he knows that the time has come to put his hands on the plough. Thus, even though he is known for his dancing skills, it is almost certain that Governor Adeleke will put those skills aside for now until he makes some very big accomplishments.

Few people can compare to him right now.

For as long as some have known him, he has wanted to be governor. Now that that dream has seen daylight, Adeleke’s true intentions for the people of Osun State will also soon see daylight. Whether or not Adeleke will do all that he promised to the people and thus sustain their trust in him is something that we will now begin to see.

Although Adeleke was just sworn in,

Adeleke

one can say that his popularity has already eclipsed some of his predecessors. The contest over who won the July 16 governorship election has raised his value to the Osun people even further. This is even before his five-point promises: that he would look after public workers; that he would strengthen Osun’s economy through business loans to serious people; that he would ensure the operation of a homegrown infrastructural policy; that he would implement people-focused social policy through skill-based education; and that he would guarantee affordable health care, job provision, security, and all the many other good things one expects of a governor.

The time has now come for Adeleke to show the people the stuff he is made of, and because nobody is interested in a dancing governor, Adeleke’s show of grace begins with his commitment to his people.

Musa Danjuma’s Private Lifestyle

Danjuma

There will always be Nigerians that nobody will ever be able to get a good grasp on to have a feel of. Musa Danjuma, the younger brother of former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus

Danjuma, is one of such deliciously slippery characters. Due to his private lifestyle, Danjuma always furnishes the public with mystery tales, with some of these narratives painting him out to be a strong businessman with a quiet personality.

Perhaps, if Danjuma had not married the lovely Caroline Ekanem, a popular actress and public figure, he would have remained the little aboveaverage businessman in the public’s eye. But Danjuma did marry Caroline and was divorced from her, bringing him even deeper into the limelight.

As a result, the Danjuma of today is not only the Executive Chairman of Nigeria America Line Limited and Cornet Shipping Agencies Nigeria Limited, but a Non-Executive Director of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc. He is also a strange character, clearly an excitable person in private, but a very reserved individual in public.

Once again, it was after he married

Caroline, that many people came to know that his past was littered with marriages, one that had ended because of the death of the wife (his first wife), and others that had failed miserably for one reason or another.

Danjuma’s marriage to Caroline was certainly high-profile when it started. With the actress’ personality and a strong sense of social media, their separation obviously opened even deeper wounds in their hearts than normal. Nevertheless, both Danjuma and Caroline seem to have gone past this situation.

And with things properly settled between them, Caroline has gone back to being a flower girl of society, whereas Danjuma has returned to the serenity of his private life.

Nevertheless, perhaps another marriage will show Danjuma to the public once again. Only then would it be possible to let light into his very private lifestyle.

Walking in one’s father’s shoes can be both a thrilling and frightening experience. The constant need for self-assessment and evaluation can drive the average person crazy in the shortest time. Knowing this, one must doff the hat to Olamiju, the first son of the late former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala. Even after he has started to retrace his father’s political steps, Olamiju is doing well for himself.

The passing of Alao-Akala shook Oyo the same way the passing of a household head shakes the household. But the strength and distinction of AlaoAkala’s presence have continued to tarry, thanks to the efforts of his son, Olamiju, to keep the ball rolling. Currently, he is the candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ogbomoso North, South, and Oriire Federal Constituency.

Despite having nothing but his business acumen to go on, Olamiju has managed to keep his father’s political structure well.

He clinched the APC Reps ticket in Ogbomoso and contested the ticket with Feyintola Onabanjo against the votes of 150 party delegates. At the end of the day, Olamiju won all 150 votes, meaning that his character had convinced all of the delegates that he was the best choice for the people of Ogbomoso North, South, and Oriire Federal Constituency.

Of course, Olamiju’s brilliance is well-documented. The Lead City University graduate has always been celebrated for inheriting his father’s brains and charm. That was likely why he was able to easily convince Hadiza, one of the beautiful daughters of Eleganza’s boss, Rasaq Okoya, that he was a treasure to be kept. And then she agreed to marry her.

The days are here for Olamiju to continue to test the validity of his father’s political career. If all goes well, he will be a well-known figure in Nigeria’s politics in no time.

Alao-Akala

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LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Aminu Adamu: As a Matter of ‘Fat’ I have tried to ignore this story unsuccessfully. They say this impoverished boy who happens to be a student somewhere and with scabies had the temerity to tweet something.

They said, he said, ‘they have chopped our money and have become fat’.

As the story goes, immediately the tweet came out, he found himself under the feet of her royal fatness and since then, reports indicate that he has been remanded. The whole thing is beginning to look like the fabled Humpty Dumpty because all the king’s men and all of the population could not stop this scabiesriddled urchin from going to prison.

For me, I think the boy lacks sense, because if he had sense, he would have said whatever they have said he said, without putting the body shaming part of it. We all know just how sensitive our women can be with body foibles. That must have been a brutal wake up call to our Queen whose ladies in waiting

would have been telling her daily that she had the shape of a regal Genevieve Nnaji.

Too many people will suffer for that tweet. In fact, his own is even small.

From make-up artist, to tailor, to house girl to Special Assistant Domestic Affairs and to even some state governors and their hypocritical First Ladies who would have been saying, “ohhh mummy, you look eternally slim,” the tweet has collapsed a whole industry, I tell you.

So, as we are begging for the tweep, let’s not also forget in our prayers the others who had built a veritable industry of lying to Madam about her size.

Anyways, me I think the boy deserves what he got. You never say a woman is ‘FAT’. Never. I have received slaps for that, so a stint in prison no matter how brief would go a long way in slapping sense into his malnourished head.

The great lesson in all of this is that, it is only your birth mother you can call fat and still hope to be alive, NEVER call any woman fat, let alone the most powerful of them all. Never.

Una see say na me get sense pass.

I have commented on this story in a rounded way, saving myself the real possibility of becoming that boy’s roommate because it is looking like some people who should have played a motherly role in this matter have suddenly developed thin skin.

Na wa.

This was nothing. It was just a harmless tweet like the millions that get tweeted daily. He should have been ignored or at best invited and fed and that would have been that.

Instead of chasing legacy at this tail end of the most historic ‘regime’ ever, it is this type of draconian thing that we are seeing. Some people don’t get it sha.

ADEMOLA ADELEKE: DANCING PRINCE OF OSUN I used to be a big fan but I am beginning to lose interest in all these jumping up and down by the newly-minted Governor of Osun State. The dancing during the campaigns and the various tours of duty through all the Owambe parties from the Lagos Lagoon and throughout the Southwest is enough.

Osun people face real and clear issues.

It is one of the poorest states in the country which have suffered severe maladministration. Surprisingly, the immediate past governor has announced that he has left about N14 billion in the kitty and this, if true, should serve as a very strong platform to start work.

Mr. Governor, please stop dancing in public. It is becoming irritatingly imbecilic.

Let’s get serious and face the very difficult task of governing. I like the fact that you seem to have hit the ground running with the strategic appointments, and the review of recent appointments and decisions of your predecessor, among others.

By the time the euphoria of your emergence is over and reality kicks and the usual disenchantment of Nigerians with governance sets in, you will be looking like an overfed Malaysian cat, if you keep dancing.

So, my brother, it’s ok. Let’s get serious.

Thank you.

BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU: AS ‘BLUE’ AS THEY COME My next story on Wike will be me justifying my lampooning of him for weakening the structures that berth PDP. But here I am, going against that grain and heaping praise on this gentleman who represents a party, I really cannot stand.

The other day, I saw a report where he was quoted as saying that developmental work is ongoing despite the electioneering campaign. I believed him and truly the next thing I saw was the inspection of the blue line in Lagos. Governor Sawno-Olu was reported to have said that the project was 90% complete and should be commissioned early 2023.

You see, he makes life kinda difficult for me. I am not APC. I run away from that thing and do not really even want to have anything to do with it. The other day, I saw Duchess with an APC flag and t-shirt all over the place and I refused to enter her room for the usual ‘bend bend’ sleep. For me to refuse the offer that comes ‘once in a decade’ because of APC paraphernalia, then you can imagine what I am talking about.

Sanwo-Olu makes it very difficult for me to continue to ‘hate’ APC. His style continues to intrigue me and his passion for governance remains a watershed in an otherwise weak field.

The day he won his primaries - even

though my candidate, the great ‘Wale Oluwo’ was locked out - was quite historic. As he came out of the grounds, he danced to Kizz Daniel’s ‘Buga’ and I was really impressed at his youthfulness and popularity.

From housing, to my space – entertainment – and now to infrastructure, the Bobo has tried and this is why despite my huge misgivings about his Bulla ballu party, he has my vote and full endorsement.

Yes, he has wobbled in some instances like the #EndSARS fiasco, in health- I really do not see anything there and in development of inner cities – if you go to Shomolu, you will cry, he still would record more than 80% in performance if I am to rate him.

Sanwo-Olu, you will need to come over to Shomolu so I can endorse you properly for a second term which would make Shomolu a priority in your second coming. Well-done Your Excellency and whenever you are less busy, let’s do Afang at your very convenience and also at your cost. I no get power abeg.

NYESOM WIKE: WHY NOT HIM? I always love a very powerful argument.

It’s like goat meat in my Afang. Some years ago, when I unleashed on Amaechi, his aide called me and we argued about Nigeria for one hour. I love the feeling I

get at the end of a session like that. Far better than sex I tell you.

So that was how one Wike person ‘tried’ me last week. The call came in and I took it. “Why are you always so hard on Wike?” he asked. I said, “Oya, let’s go there.”

As I started my justifications, he dropped the call. I call tire, the man no pick. I say which kind mumu be this na.

The next minute, I see text. ‘I am an avid reader and I follow your column but why are you always so hard on Wike?

I replied that he should pick na make we talk. I call, call, call, the man no pick again.

Now I do not know if he is on Wike’s team or if he is the one that used to sing ‘pepper dem’ when Wike is dancing or he is just a bus-stop newspaper reader or even from the Republic of Bulla, wulla, balloo. He should just stop being a coward and pick his phone and let’s debate mbok.

How can you come and tempt me like that and run away. The debate is hungering me, you cannot imagine. I am sure you are reading, “Mr. Runaway Wike defender”. Let me tell you very clearly that I am always very hard on Wike because his activities continue to weaken structures, demean institutions while showing arrant disregard for

Adeleke

Sanwo-Olu

Wike

Essien

Adamu

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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 DECEMBER 4, 2022

LOUD WHISPERS process and party loyalty.

So you are not happy about certain issues – party appointments to be precise, your recourse as a loyal party man, is to form a group and start pushing for the implosion of the party, among others, offering ‘logistic support’ to other party candidates and daring to be suspended or expelled?

No na, it doesn’t and shouldn’t work that way. This is why I come hard on his bald head. I have fired the shot here now, oya, if you are ready, call again or let’s even do a Zoom on this matter. If I win, I give you Afang, but if you win, I go celibate for a day. One day o, no be me do Wike. Thank you.

AYIRI EMAMI: BMW, PAJAMAS AND ‘BAT’ You see, there are some people wey you no dey carry play go meet. This gentleman from all I have heard and seen is one of those people. When we were growing up in Shomolu, there was one school field we used to go and play football. Everybody assembled there o, from the ‘ogbologbos, through the omo onile, to the arugbo and the ‘aje butter’.

So, the aje butter will concentrate and be playing football while the other ones will be in one corner doing what they do best. Then all of a sudden, the alagbara will appear and everybody in whatever category will bow in full worship and obedience and he will stroll round the field like a peacock and we will be hailing him and singing various songs.

That was the way I felt when I saw the video of this gentleman as he sang in very clear tones where his loyalty stood in the coming elections. First, he stood by a gleaming BMW -you know that is my favourite car, so that caught my attention.

Wearing something that looked like his pajamas but with the Asiwaju famed insignia of glasses and cap on it, he started walking very slowly and deliberately and saying, “na we dey run this town.”

Me I no argue with am o. He just reminds me of those ‘alagbara’ for Shomolu those days.

He really looked scary o. I was ‘fearing’ in my bedroom as I watched the video. I was now asking myself, if this is the politics I want to go into.

Kai, when I announce my candidacy for the Senate and a person like this announces support for my opponent, I will just resign and run back to my mama house o.

My brother, na with respect I write o. No vex o. Na with big fear I write o. But that video I no go lie scared me o. Put fear in my heart and make me rethink my political career make chicken pox no go catch me for soap box. Kai. “Na we dey run this town.” Na wa.

DOMINIC ESSIEN’S SENATE AMBITION Dominic is an extremely brilliant young man. He is running on the platform of the Labour Party for the Senate seat in Eket in my state, Akwa Ibom. Dominic is very passionate and a new breeder.

Feelers I am getting is that he is the man to be beaten. He has tried severally in the past without success but if what I am hearing from the ground is anything to go by, then the Nigerian Senate should start getting ready to welcome a tornado.

Dominic is ‘mad’. We grew up in Shomolu together. He lived on Oluwadare Street, while I stayed up ground in Bajulaiye road. While we were still struggling with the girls who hawked bread and akara, Dominic had already been named a Chevening scholar. We didn’t sha know the meaning, all we knew was that Dominic was on his way to the UK. It is that passion and ‘focus to goal’ that Dominic is using to pursue this his latest ambition. On a weekend retreat at the Obasanjo Library where I had taken about 100 ‘next level’ leaders to spend time with the legendary Statesman, Dominic and I spent hours talking about the debilitating leadership our State was facing.

He spoke ever so strongly about his plans for the state, why he was going into the senate and how he will tackle mainstream structure that will bedevil his path.

Why I am excited about this push, is

Magnus Onyibe.

I call am immediately. Lord, what are you doing there? Are you too related to Donald Trump, make I know o because na for the man time dem cancel my visa oo.

He laughed and offered an explanation.

The groom’s father is or was the Chairman of SCOA, one of Nigeria’s leading conglomerates and Magnus has been the Chairman of the Audit Committee for years making him work very closely with the Chairman. Now I understand what Mr. Onyibe was doing at the wedding.

Well, let me wish the ‘Nigerian’ couple a very successful marriage even as I hope that they will come and live with us here.

Dem go hear am. Lol.

The Olu of Warri, FIFA President and Amaju Pinnick

OLU OF WARRI AND AMAJU PINNICK AT THE WORLD CUP That the gentleman, Amaju Pinnick, is an influential international football administrator is not in doubt. His tenure at the Nigerian Football Federation has gone down in history as one of the most remarkable ever. This is why FIFA, the international body, does not joke with him.

At the ongoing World Cup in Qatar, the FIFA Council who is saddled with the totality of the organisation, administration and technical bits of the World Cup have found his competence highly needed, hence their decision to hand over some very strategic assignments which will impact very positively on the general success of the tournament to him.

It is in this regard, that Amaju facilitated the invitation of one of Nigeria’s most regal and well-regarded traditional rulersthe Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III to the World Cup. Now the Olu is not only well regarded but carries himself with the respect and majesty deserving of his very wellbecause of my firm belief in the virility of the National Assembly populated by very credible Nigerians. This is why I think that the National Assembly must be ‘captured’ by very critical and principled Nigerians. The oversight function that a virile National Assembly will bring to the table is just the elixir we need and with people like Dominic and myself – if Ayiri go let me- the National Assembly will be revamped and turned into a powerful tool for development instead of the rehabilitation centre it has become now.

MAGNUS ONYIBE ‘TRUMPS’ IT ALL You know how Nigerians used to sha get excited about little things. That was how the lines were busy with the news of Donald Trump’s daughter marrying a Nigerian. Mbok, before the pictures came out, me I was thinking it was one black Yoruba boy complete with Ijesha tribal marks that scored this goal.

My prayer was for a bowlegged Akwa Ibom boy who will tie wrapper for the wedding and serve Afang. But my bet was on a Hausa/Fulani person. You know those ones know how to be strategic and will go and present all of Buhari’s 150 cows as dowry.

respected throne. The charisma he exudes will just make you fall on your knees without prompting. His height, gait and good looks mark him out as heads and shoulders above mere mortals. The way he walks, talks and carries himself, your head will just be swelling like a balloon.

I got the pictures of the great Olu of Warri, Amaju and the FIFA President and I almost shed tears. The respect the FIFA head honcho gave His Majesty was evidenced in that picture. As a special guest, he carried himself so well that I am sure in the next World Cup, FIFA will ask him to give the opening speech.

It is these kinds of major international PR coups that we need to redeem our tattered image on the world stage I tell you. Welldone my brother Amaju for making this happen and major gbosa to my favourite traditional ruler the immortal Ogiame Atuwatse III for making us so proud.

Kai! My next career, na praise singer. E no easy o.

I knew it would never be an Igbo boy.

Those ones would rather ask for a license to open chemist or Ebeano in Trump’s famous Resort the Mar-A- Lago or whatever it is that he called it.

So, you can imagine my disappointment, when the pictures came out and I saw so many Nigerians dancing ‘buga’ in different traditional attires. Oya wey the lucky boy o, let’s see which tribe conquers.

My people, I shock when I see blond oyibo boy complete with blue eyes.

Where is the Naija boy na, I asked?

Someone now said, “he is a naturalised Nigerian.”

I shouted, “is this what we are claiming?” This be like those Lebanese wey dem born for Kano who will be saying, I am Nigerian because they can speak Yoruba as a result of selling at Idumota but when the die is cast they are on the next flight to Paris. This no be Naija boy o, this na Brad Pitt dem people.

Anyways, as I looked more at the pictures, I saw my egbon. The great developmental economist. Harvardtrained and one of the most brilliant essayists of our time – the indefatigable

FOR SAMMIE OKPOSO, WE FALL DOWN The sad news hit the airwaves last week.

The legendary gospel singer had slumped.

Shock was the currency all over the country. The news hadn’t sunk in when I suddenly remembered that a friend had told me that he had sighted Sammie with his beautiful wife in a highbrow hospital in Lekki. That the wife was the one running around and he didn’t know who was ill out of the two.

As he told me, both went to see the doctor and when they came out, they didn’t look too happy. He felt the doctor must have delivered some very bad news.

Now one week later, Sammie slumped.

Well I have stopped asking for explanations for these things as my brother Cyril once told me, “Edgar, I am shocked that you are praying to God. My son died in my hands and that shook my belief in him…”

My brother, these things more than shake our belief in the Most High but what is the alternative to our firm hold on him. I don’t know o. Sammie was gifted; he was a tornado who held down the gospel genre in a way no other person had ever done.

We will miss him and can only pray that his Maker who needs him more will bless him and give him eternal solace. Sleep well bro.

THE DISRESPECTFUL GIRL IN CANADA During the week, one brat who only just recently migrated to Canada released a vile video. She stood in that video with dirty hair and called a whole generation of Nigerians animals and old hags. She claimed to be 18 and had lived in Nigeria for 16 years and as such was ‘still in touch’ with reality on the ground, and as such could speak for a whole generation of Gen Z. Hence her decision to call us the older generation those unimaginable names.

She was so downright rude and abusive that her message was lost in the vitriol. I responded with a 100-word article which immediately went viral. My article reached all the ends of the globe. In my response, I took her on for her huge disrespect for elders. So even if I am an armed robber and adulterer, is it ok for my child to call me an animal like she did?

This girl claimed to represent a whole generation of young Nigerians and I beg to disagree. She stands alone in her disrespect, lack of home training and disregard for our culture and traditions.

Her baggage is on her parents or those who have failed in the task of instilling in her very strong virtues.

I dug deeper and went to her page and what I saw didn’t surprise me. She had all sorts of apparitions all over her and in these other videos her vileness and lack of upbringing was very apparent. She is already a lost cause as she was railing on almost everything and anyone that she found as an easy target.

These are the unexpected consequences of this rush to a better living by Nigerians. We are now a country that exports economic refugees and in the same vein, our children are exposed to not only the good sides of those cultures but also the very bad sides of the same cultures they are running to.

So, the ‘animal’ in Canada, no be you I blame, na your parents who have obviously failed in their duties of bringing up a classy lady. If I catch you ehnnn…

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Glad Tidings for Air Peace Boss, Allen Onyema

Ayodele with his bride-to-be, Ashley Robert

Celebrity Naturopath, Quincy Ayodele’s Son Weds His Heartthrob When they met in the United States a year ago, Temi, the handsome son of the celebrity naturopath, Quincy Ayodele, promised Ashley Robert that his love for her is not from the lips but from the depth of his heart. He never departed from that vow.

At the moment, the young love birds are getting set to hold what may eventually be tagged the last biggest wedding of the year in Lagos. This is because the wedding will be attracting the high and the mighty from all walks of life.

The church wedding ceremony will be held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David Parish, Oniru, Lagos on Saturday, December 17, 2022. It will be followed by a reception at La Madison Place Event Centre, Okunade Bluewater Scheme, Lekki, Lagos.

Society Watch gathered that it will be streamed live on various social media platforms. It was also gathered that a former President of Nigeria, will be chairing the occasion alongside the Ooni of Ife, HRM Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Senator Daisy Danjuma, among others.

A source further revealed that the Arise Women Convener, Mrs. Siju Iluyomade, who is one of the Mothers of the Day, is playing a major supportive and moral role towards the success of the wedding. She is said to be mobilising members of Arise Women, which Temi’s mother is also part of, to attend the wedding as well as the Thanksgiving the following day.

Ace standup comedians, Gbenga Adeyinka D 1st and MC Ajele will be anchoring the event, while Fuji’s King Wasiu Ayinde will be on the bandstand.

Enugwu-Ukwu Honours Captino Global Boss Enamoured by the philanthropic strides of the industrialist who silently puts smiles on the faces of many, Chief Chizoba C. Ayika, the Enugwu-Ukwu Community Development Union ( ECDU), Lagos branch will today, December 4, 2022, confer on Chief Ayika, the Entrepreneurial Role Model.

Ayika is recognised as one of the illustrious sons of the town who has consistently and selflessly contributed to the socio-economic and infrastructural development of the town. He is the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Captino Global Group, a business conglomerate with an Ayika interest in hospitality, manufacturing, and cosmetics among others.

Already, friends and associates are singing high praises of the industrialist whom they believe is worthy of the award.

“The honour bestowed on Chief Ayika by the Enugu-Ukwu community in Lagos is an enchanting result of his hard work, philanthropy and efforts at community development,” said a member of ECDU’s organising committee.

His conferment will coincide with the Enugwu-Ukwu Day celebration taking place at the chapter’s secretariat at Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.

Your morning will break only when you are ready, and it will surely come with good tidings. For Allen Onyema, his morning broke when he founded Air Peace in 2013.

That moment would be described as lifetransforming.

Undoubtedly, his decision to choose the airline business over his first love, law, can be described as one of the best he has taken in life. Since he ventured into the commercial enterprise that provides scheduled flights for passengers about a decade ago, he has never trivialised integrity in all his actions.

No wonder, his profile has been on the rise and he has won acclaim, within and outside the country, for his uncommon feats in the industry.

That the outgoing year has been a good one for the businessman is stating the obvious.

While some of his competitors have been gnashing their teeth, Onyema has been smiling to the banks simply for his innovation

and unique way of doing business. This is evident in the number of deals he has brokered for his airlines, while also expanding its routes every other time.

Nevertheless, the indisputably influential businessman has refused to relax in his comfort zone; rather, he is hitting for the sky and ready to conquer his world. Though his great achievements have continued to endear him to industry watchers, he is not resting on his oars to build an intimidating profile that will be difficult for anyone to beat in this part of the world.

Call him a risk-taker and you would be dead right. Of course, you can’t deny the grace of God in his life. More importantly, he is endowed with the Midas touch; so, he has always made a success of all that he has ventured into.

His story in the aviation industry is well documented. As he is gradually establishing his mark on the sands of entrepreneurship.

Real Estate Merchant, Segun Abolaji’s Passion

Abolaji

In the real estate and property world, Segun Abolaji’s name has steadily become a recurring decimal in recent times, especially in Abuja. At least, those who have their ears to the ground in the competitive industry can attest to the fact that his real estate firm, Leisure Court is rapidly growing and expanding while becoming a household name in Abuja and its metropolis, particularly for his innovations.

The Osun State-born real estate merchant started almost with nothing but has become one of the most sought-after in the real estate world. He has continued to support his people by providing

Onyema

It is also a known fact that he has assumed the position of the to-go-guy in the sector.

This is simply for his leadership quality and uncommon and never-seen-before innovations that have once again helped launch Nigeria into the world map. them with employment opportunities, empowerment and donation of cash and food items.

If you think he gives a toss about this, you are wrong. To him, all he does is give back to society and also appreciate God for His kindness over his life.

He has also vowed to contribute his own quota to the development of humanity.

This is one of the major reasons he started Leisure Court to put smiles on people’s faces, which he described as his passion.

Abolaji, who is currently pursuing a PhD, is a corporate member of the Nigerian Institute of Building; a member of the Chartered Institute of Building, United Kingdom; a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Builders in Facility Management; Fellow of the Occupational Safety and Health Association, United Kingdom; and a member of the Institute of Safety Professional Nigeria, among others.

Billionaire Businessman, Tayo Amusan’s Earth-shaking Deal When you think of businessmen who deserve commendations for their shrewdness and brilliance, Tayo Amusan will certainly make the long list with a generous mention. His firm, Persianas, built the first mall of international standards in Nigeria and currently owns several others in Lagos, Ibadan, Kwara, Enugu and Abuja.

His wizardry spanning over 25 years is evident in The Palms, a property situated in the Lekki Peninsula of Lagos.

As if he had plans to own the brand from day one, Amusan made Shoprite the anchor tenant for all his malls across Nigeria. And the relationship has been symbiotic.

When news broke in 2021 that Shoprite Holdings Ltd, the South African owners of the retail chain, was planning to exit Nigeria, Amusan’s Ketron Investment firm naturally moved in to fill the vacuum that might exist.

And after a series of negotiations, the property mogul successfully acquired the

100 per cent stake in Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited, the Nigerian subsidiary of South Africa’s retail behemoth.

He not only bought the majority stake in Shoprite Nigeria, but he also retains the management, brand name, trademarks and supply chain with 25 stores nationwide.

Though some naysayers had expressed pessimism about the deal, Amusan, just a year into the deal, has been counting his blessings, as he is planning a new strategic expansion roadmap to drive the Shoprite brand.

As part of the move, his team recently organised its first Suppliers and Partners Forum in Lagos, where over 200 suppliers and partners were engaged to drive the retail giant’s sustainable growth.

This parley is coming on the heels of a N3.5 billion investment the Ogun Stateborn billionaire recently pumped into his newly acquired assets. The multi-billion

Sowemimo Alex is many things rolled into one: computer programmer, financial technologist, diplomat, internet entrepreneur, domain broker, computer media applications and online reputation management mogul.

The President and Chairperson of the African Chamber of Innovation Internet Governance and Digital Inclusion is currently in the news for a good reason, as his CapitalMetriQ Swift Bank has changed the stereotypes woven around modern technology banking.

Alex, who is also the head honcho of iNet Telecommunications and InfoMetriQ Data Network, is a man destined for greatness.

An alumnus of The Rome Business School, he is busy building a business empire that will outlive him.

For his contributions to the African continent, he was honoured by the Egyptian President and Chairperson of the African Union, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, as the Most Promising Youth in Africa on September 25, 2019, at the World Youths Forum during the 74th UN General Assembly. He

Sowemimo Alex’s Meteoric Rise

Alex

Amusan

naira capital injection is to help drive the growth of underperforming Shoprite outlets across Nigeria to regain its leading spot in the retail business ecosystem.

was also awarded the 2019 SDGs #9 honours in industry, innovations and infrastructure alongside Alicia Keys.

On January 26, 2019, he was conferred with an honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) in Information Technology Management by the Prestigious ICON University of Management Science and Technology.

Those close to Alex disclosed that he is a man destined for greatness because of his ferocious approach to work and his doggedness. While many of his peers were busy given to frivolities, the Rome Business School Alumni is having sleepless nights to engrave his name in the sand of time.

Today, in the list of youths putting Nigeria on the world map globally, Sowemimo has distinguished himself with his uncommon and outstanding demeanour with numerous laurels and awards to show for it both locally and internationally.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

4. 12.2022

A Writer’s Stony Path to Choosing Nigeria Literature Prize Laureate Besides good writing, high-quality editing and publishing, among others, are crucial factors in winning the Nigeria Literature Prize. Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, one of the annual literary prize's non-ivory tower judges, tells Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

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o think that the winner of this year's Nigeria Literature Prize was announced on October 14 and that everything appears to be quiet on the literary front! None of the often-anticipated torrents of discontent seems to be forthcoming. Curiously, not even a dissenting comment from any of the most vociferous critics in the scene has been heard ever since the advisory board of the prize—which was instituted in 2004 and VSRQVRUHG E\ WKH 1LJHULD /LTXHÀHG 1DWXUDO Gas Limited—announced Romeo Oriogun’s Nomad as the winner of its 2022 cycle, which focused on poetry, during an award ceremony at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Could this have anything to do with the composition of the judging panel, which had one poet from academia and two non-academic poets (one of whom is a performance poet)?

Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, one of the jurors of the just concluded edition, thinks so, and she also believes that the diversity of the judging SDQHO ZDV UHÁHFWHG LQ WKH FKRLFH RI WKH LQLWLDO shortlist of 11. “It was a nice balance,” the renowned Nigerian female poet was telling her interviewer. They were at the poolside bar of the Asokoro, Abuja-based Stratton Hotel. “Just look at the choice! You could see the full range of Nigerian poetry! That initial shortlist was UHÁHFWLYH RI WKH GLYHUVLW\ RI 1LJHULDQ SRHWV µ And come to think of it, weren’t all styles of poetic expression and a wide range of trending issues represented in the choice of these 11?

Hence, it made sense to her interviewer when she said that their selection represented the diversity of the literary genre in Nigeria. This was after she highlighted the prize's integrity as one of its qualities earlier in the conversation.

Talking about the prize’s integrity, she disclosed that the sponsors, the NLNG, had gone to great lengths to ensure that. Aside from the fact that the entries were read by both the judges (led by Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State-based Sule Emmanuel Egya) and members of the advisory board, as well as an international consultant, each judge was given the chance to defend his or her choice of an entry. “If you won it, it means that you deserved to win, not because of who you know.”

Being shortlisted for or even winning the prize, according to Adewale-Gabriel, made the Nigeria Literature Prize a platform for launching fresh talents. She also said that the “badge of the prize” would enhance the reputation of the books in the literary scene.

But then, isn’t it sad that out of the 287 books submitted for the 2022 competition, quite a number fell by the wayside just because of poor packaging and poor editing? She recalled that the judges had about 88 entries at one point, from which they sifted 25 and eventually the 11 that made the initial shortlist.

“It was quite a rigorous process, and I think the entries were robust.” This was an allusion to the relevance of the themes, some of which bordered on climate change, insecurity, and SRYHUW\ ´,W ZDV GL΀FXOW JHWWLQJ D VKRUWOLVW

The announcement of Romeo Oriogun as the winner of the Nigeria Literature Prize ... recently

Adewale-Gabriel with co-judge Dike Chukwumerije from 25 writers. A lot of good entries fell by the wayside. So many good writers couldn’t PDNH WKH FXW ,W ZDV HYHQ PRUH GL΀FXOW WR get 11 out of the 25. There were also writers I admired who did not make the shortlist of 11. The standard was very rigorous. It was heartbreaking that there were so many good writers who couldn’t make that shortlist.”

This was what made the choice of the three RQ WKH ÀQDO VKRUWOLVW ZKLFK LQFOXGHG 7KH &DOO

of Water by Su’eddie Vershima Agema and Your Crib, My Qibla by Saddiq Dzukogi, a cakewalk. Having battled with 25 to get 11, it was quite clear to the judges who the eventual three would be. It also helped that she had kept all of the collections that made it to the 11 DQG VRPH RI WKH ÀUVW FKRLFHV ´7KHUH were some new writers I thought were promising because of the range of the

subjects,” explained the literary critic, who once worked for The Guardian, Post Express and Daily Times. “These are writers I thought I would be going back to from time to time.”

She highlighted organising seminars for publishers as one approach to potentially enhance the literary prize, which alternates annually between the four literary genres of SURVH ÀFWLRQ SRHWU\ WKHDWUH DQG FKLOGUHQ V literature. “You couldn’t have won a prize like the Nigeria Literature Prize on the basis of your good writing alone. Because of poor packaging, some big names were knocked RͿ WKH UDFH ,I \RX ZDQW WR ZLQ WKH SUL]H WKH book must really be worthy of the prize. If it's worth $100,000, no expense should be spared in terms of packaging.”

Still on the poor publishing quality, AdewaleGabriel disclosed that this was not peculiar to only Nigeria-based writers. There were also many diaspora-based writers, whose packaging knocked them out of the reckoning.

On the poor quality of editing, she recalled seeing books with long prefaces. “It was so EDG WKDW VRPH ERRNV KDG GLͿHUHQW IRQWV 7KH editorial process is very important when it comes to putting the book together. The creativity may be strong, but it has to be helped by good editing and publishing. The talent cannot shine if it is not supported by high-quality editing and publishing.”

The Obafemi Awolowo University M.A. Lit. degree holder, who described poetry as “a friend,” had been penning down verses since she was 13 years old. “For me, poetry has always been about heart and soul. It is the ability to provide a vehicle to convey meaning and emotion in a very concise form. A single poem can convey the same meaning as a 500page novel.”

Among Adewale-Gabriel's seminal works DV DQ DZDUG ZLQQLQJ SRHW DQG VKRUW ÀFWLRQ writer are Naked Testimonies, 1995; Breaking the Silence, 1996; Inkwells, 1997; Die Aromaforscherin, 1998; Flackernde Kerzen, 1999; 25 New Nigerian Poets, 2000; Aci Cikolata, Gunizi Yayincilik, 2003; and Nigerian Women Short Stories, 2005. For her, things to look out for in a good poem are imagery, metaphors, things WKDW PDNH WKH UHDGHU VHH WKH ZRUOG LQ D GLͿHUHQW light, and lines that never leave the reader’s consciousness, among other things.

The 2022 Nigeria Literature Prize-winning entry, Nomad, was deemed the most technically accomplished for rendering the topical subject of migration in a language laced with lyrical ÀJXUDWLRQV $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH DQQRXQFHPHQW “the 67 poems in the collection were held together by a travel motif, marshalled in each poem with equal intensity, and linked to the African past, including the Middle Passage, and the African future.”

Three times since the inception of the literary prize, for three non-consecutive years, the panel of judges was unable to reach a conclusion on a winner, which resulted in the prize not being awarded in 2004, 2009, and 2015.

Back to Adewale-Gabriel: Her advice for poets and aspiring poets was to read a lot.

“You don’t have any excuse. Poems can be found on the internet.”

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4, 2022

ARTS & REVIEW\\POTPOURRI

Emotional Ending for 2022 Access ART X Season Yinka Olatunbosun

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he heartwarming announcement of the Access Art X Prize in Lagos drew a curtain on this season of Art X Lagos. It kicked RͿ ZLWK D FDOO IRU DSSOLFDWLRQ LQ October, a grand return from the pandemic for Art X Lagos from November 4 to 6 and the unveiling of winners for the two categories of Access Art X Prize done in a hybrid ceremony to en- Tokini Peterside-Schwebig (centre) flanked by Chioma Afe and DEOH ÀQDOLVWV LQ GLDVSRUD WR ZLW- Jumoke Sanwo at the Access Art X prize ceremony in Lagos ness the moment everyone had been waiting for. Dafe Oboro, now have over 40 exceptional a 28-year-old artist won in the galleries from all over the world: Nigerian category while Belinda Dakar, Luxembourg,Accra,AbiKazeem-Kaminski won in the artists.”

African/Diaspora category.

7R D΀UP WKH LQWHUQDWLRQDO VWDWXV djan, Madrid, Barcelona, Cape In her characteristic nature, of the fair, many new African Town and more,’’ she added.

Tokini Peterside Schwebig, the galleries were featured, some for The emotional moment when founder and Creative Director WKH ÀUVW WLPH DW WKH IDLU WRXWHG Peterside-Schwebig casually anof Art X Lagos delivered warm to be the largest in West Africa. nounced her pregnancy might opening remarks to usher in the “We brought artists from not have caught many unawares fair in its seventh season.

Tanzania, South Africa, Benin especially with her new rounded “This year, we have been as Republic,Angola and all over the ÀJXUH ZHOO FRYHUHG LQ D ÁRZLQJ ambitious as we’ve always continent. We even have Spotify emerald dress. Without lingering been,’’ she began. “We are here as a partner this year for ourART on the joy of a widening famto use art to uplift, to inspire. We X Live. In Nigeria, without the ily tree, she declared that Art X very much believe that Art X support of our sponsors, this Lagos is in dire need of a bigger LAGOS Is a place for inspira- experience will be impossible,’’ venue to meet the growing detion, banters and very important she said mands of its widening audience Meanwhile, hundreds of uni- and participants. conversations.

“We have a robust programme versity students visited the fair The Group Head, Corporate ÀOOHG ZLWK VR PXFK 7KLV \HDU from outside Lagos to have a Communications, Access one of the things we have tried taste of over 120 featured art- Bank Plc, Amaechi Michael to do is to double down on LVWV D VLJQLÀFDQW LQFUHDVH WR WKH Okobi promised thatArt X Lagos emerging talents especially in existing record for Art X Lagos. would get a new venue. He reitthis challenging time. We have “For our debut edition, we had erated why the bank continues doubled the impact for Africa’s 60 artists showcasing and over to support the arts over the years best artists and the diasporan the years, that has increased. We as the lead sponsor.

ART X

“In an increasingly dehumanising world, one of the greatest things that we have and that provides comfort is art. One of the safest places to be all over the world is Africa. You may be angry with Nigeria but guess what, it is a safe place to be compared to other places,’’ The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu commended the organisers of ART X Lagos for putting the city on the global map for arts and pledged free documentation for the proposed new venue for ART X Lagos.

“We now know that ART X Lagos is a choice art destination every 11th month of the year,’’ he declared.

Recently, at the Access Bank Plc Headquarters in Oniru, Lagos, Peterside-Schwebig also expressed her joy at the growth of the ART X Prize which traditionally preceded the fair. But for the 2022 edition, the Access Art X Prize winners were announced three weeks after the fair.

“For us at art x, we are really thrilled to have sustained this platform for seven years, ably supported by Access Bank and now Access Corporation. This year we received six times the number of applications we received last year from emerging residents in Nigeria and from over 50 countries across the world.

“We and Access corporation have designed and developed a really strong and remarkable development opportunity for artists of African heritage and

Once Upon a Sad Story…

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ere is one tale of horror whose echoes will never fade. On October 7, 1967, twodaysaftertheNigerianfederal forces succeeded in forcing the separatist Biafran troops back to the side of the River Niger, they murdered several Asaba male indigenes in cold blood after they had gathered in an open square at Ogbe-Osowa village to show support for “One Nigeria.”

Five years after the Asaba community marked the 50th anniversary of the massacres with a two-day commemoration, a group exhibition in its memory opened on Sunday, November 27, at the Red Door Gallery in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The exhibition, which ends on Wednesday, December 7, as the ÀUVW RI LWV NLQG DLPV DW LQVWLWXWing a memorial park in honour of the victims. Curated by South Africa-born Otsholeng Poo and convened by the Isama Ajie of Asaba, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze, LW RͿHUV D UDUH LQVLJKW LQWR WKH tragic event through a selection of the works of over 20 leading contemporary Nigerian artists.

Titled Asaba Memorial, it is produced by AWhitespace CreativeAgency and features works, which include "In Memoriam," a monumental canvas piece with the names of some of the victims by 12-year-old Kanye Tagbo-Okeke,and"BlackPeace,"a 2022workbyVictorEhikhamenor, part of whose series was used on the cover of Elizabeth Bird’s and Fraser Ottanelli's book titled The Asaba Massacre: Trauma,

EXHIBITION Memory, and the Nigerian Civil War. There was also a body of workdonatedbyEnotieOgbebor, whose late father was a senior PLOLWDU\ R΀FHU LQ WKH 1LJHULDQ army who provided an eye-witness account of the atrocities and renowned fashion designer Ade Bakare’s Ogbueshi - a Guipure cotton lace with red paint and soil that depicts the fate of Chief Mariam Babangida's father - Late Ogbueshi Leonard Nwanonyei Okogwu, who was to give the welcome address to the soldiers onbehalfoftheAsabacommunity on that fateful day. Among the works of the older generation of artists are a 1967 painting about the Civil War by Ben Enwonwu, titled “War Dreams” and “Ayo Players”, a Bruce Onobrakpeya’s 1972 painting.

The rest of the exhibiting artists are Olumide Onadipe, Kelani Abass, Sadiq Ajibola Williams, Joseph Ogbeinde, DukeAsidere, Kainebi Osahenye, Rom Isichei, Stacey Ravvero, Juliet Ezenwa Maja-Pearce,Adekusibe Odunfa, Ozangeobuoma, Prince Orlu, AdizaNzekwe,AnthonyNwalu-

SXH (OL]DEHWK (NSHWRUVRQ 7LͿDQ\ Annabelle-Davies, Ayoola Gbolahan, Phillip Nzekwe, Naomi Oyeniyi, Marcia Martins DaRosa and Lekan Onabanjo.

The exhibition is a part of a series of commemorative events to help fund the creation of a permanent physical location—a topnotch nature park, monument, and artistic and cultural hub—in honourofeveryonewhoperished or was displaced as a result of the massacre. As a tribute to all the lives lost, the Memorial Park will be built on a foundation of 1,000 trees.

It will be a legacy project that ÀQDOO\ SD\V WULEXWH WR WKH YLFWLPV and their families, as well as a location for Asaba indigenes and all 1LJHULDQV WR UHÁHFW RQ KHDOLQJ Comments by stakeholders on the importance of this initiative include those of the authors of the book on the Asaba Massacre ElizabethBirdandFraserOttanelli and the Head of GCF’s United Nations Independent Integrity Unit Ibrahim Pam. Bird and Ottanelli said: “This new initiative will take the memorial process to a new level, bringing visibility throughout the nation and the continent.Thisnewvisibilitygives

KRSH WKDW $VDED ZLOO ÀQDOO\ VHH DQ R΀FLDO DFNQRZOHGJHPHQW RI UHVSRQVLELOLW\ IRU LWV VXͿHULQJ %XW above it, this spectacular memorial will honour those who died, ensuringtheywillnotbeforgotten and leading the way to a better future.” While Pam wrote in a blog post: “The Asaba Massacre Memorial Monument Project as a memorialisation initiative could thenbecomethatessentialcatalyst for the promotion of national reconciliation that is anchored on an honest discussion of historical grievance, that leads to acknowledgement and recompense, and promotes genuine appeasement and national unity. Therein lies the eternal value of this project.”

By dredging up unpleasant memories of these crimes, the exhibition seeks to not only prick the conscience of a Nigerian administration that seems oblivious to its heinous past but also to criticise the world community for its apathy. “As a South African who calls Nigeria home, I understand the importance of this exhibition on a very personal level,” said Poo. “I am inspired by the people of Asaba’s continued survival and resounding call for theMassacretobegivenitsproper place in the telling of Nigeria’s history. I’m also hopeful that as this project gains supporters from across the continent and the world, we can keep telling the story of Asaba through art and community.”

Meanwhile, there are plans to invite more artists’ contributions and keep expanding the memorial park’s collection as the exhibition travels across locations.

descent uniquely designed to meet emerging artists at their point of need.

As far back as 2016 when we launched Art X Lagos, we were unequivocally clear of the need to support emerging artists who in our part of the world were lacking the infrastructure they needed and the support to deliver their best. This led to winners of whom we are very proud.’’ ,Q RUGHU WR UHÁHFW WKH WUXH 3DQ African identity of Access Art X Prize, two categories of winners were created, one for the Nigerian artist and the other for African/Diaspora artists. Over 1500 applications were received.

“Our winners will receive a three month fully funded residency at Gasworks London for the Nigerian winner and the Yinka Shonibare’s G.A.S Foundation in Lagos for the African/diaspora. They will also receive a $10,000 grant each towards their exhibition for the Art X fair exhibition in 2023,’’ Peterside Schwebig said.

Chioma Afe who represented Access Corporation revealed how close to tears she was to see the tears of joy on the faces of the two unsuspecting winners of theAccessArt X Prize 2022/2023.

“You are all winners and that is because you took pride in your craft and what you presented is excellent. Our vision is to provide that platform and to connect the communities to the globe. The partnership with Art X Collective is one of those ways in which we do that. We wanted to represent Africa in Nigeria. The access corporation is not a Nigerian story; it is an African story that is rooted in Nigeria and set to inspire the world. This partnership with DFFHVV WUXO\ H[HPSOLÀHV ZKDW we believe.”

The curator for the prize, Jumoke Sanwo noted that the results were the product of a jury which included Prof. Peju Layiwola, and Victor Ehikhamenor.

The winners would present their works at the next edition of ART X Lagos in 2023.

FESTIVAL A Return of Creative Energy at Ake Arts and Book Festival Yinka Olatunbosun

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he three-days of cultural feasting at theAkeArts and Book festival may have ended but the literati would not forget its grand opening ceremony marked by celebratory drums, dance performances, music, poetry and loads of goodwill messages. Now in its 10th year, the festival was a treat buoyed by WKH HQHUJ\ RI JXHVWV IURP GLͿHUHQW SDUWV RI WKH FRQWLQHQW DQG indeed the world. The Founder, Ake Arts and Book Festival.

Lola Shoneyin, in her opening remarks observed a moment of silence for all those who started the festival with then 10 years ago but did not live to see its tenth anniversary edition. She explained why ‘Homecoming’ was the appropriate theme for the festival.

“When it was time to choose a theme forAke Festival 2022, I didn’t KDYH WR WKLQN WRR KDUG WR GHFLGH RQ +RPHFRPLQJ 7KH MXVWLÀFDWLRQ for the theme was that we were going back to Abeokuta where it all began and that it was a time to reconnect with our ancestral roots. This is all true but the main reason why Homecoming was so perfect is that we couldn’t wait to have you back at Ake.” In the same vein, the lead sponsors of the festival, Sterling Bank Plc has reiterated their support for the festival which was held at the Strong Tower Event Centre, Falomo, Ikoyi. The Executive Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Yemi Odubiyi disclosed this in a goodwill message at the opening ceremony.

“Nigeria enjoys a comparative advantage in the arts and culture domain and Sterling being focused on promoting the development of human capital and improving national competitiveness is thrilled to have been a part of the festival for the past six years and plans to continue to do so,’’ he said.

The session was followed by book chats with veteran journalist, scholar and author ‘Born in Black,’ French Howard and the author of Uncommon Wealth, Kojo Karam based on their latest OLWHUDU\ RͿHULQJV 7KH ZULWHUV EHDPHG OLJKW RQ WKH SRVW FRORQLDO relevance in their narratives about Africa and the urgent need for Africans to march towards decolonisation.

Another interesting session at the festival opening was the moment where an all-male panel comprising Nigerian rapper, MI born Jude Abaga, Nnamdi Elhuma, Derek Owusu and Ciku Kimeria spoke on vulnerability. While discussing the sub-theme “Navigating Vulnerability in a Macho World,’’ the panelists revealed how indigenous African culture and some aspects of popular culture might have fueled the spirit of machoism.

During the audience participation part, a fan of MI questioned how he intends to change public perspective through his music despite having a portfolio of works that celebrate masculine ego.

MI, in response, laid bare his dilemma as an artist to stay true to his transformed inner self and the need to simply entertain the public with outrageous lyricism that is largely associated with the rap genre.

Brymo’s reverberating performance of ‘Olumo’ a song dedicated to Abeokuta, the ancestral roots of the festival thrilled the audience at the concert which featured iconic artists like the Waka Queen, Salawa Abeni, Bantu, Ria Sean, and Adunni Nefertiti.

One of the most captivating moments at the festival was the session hosted by Kunle Ajibade with the Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah as guest to discuss his new book ‘After Lives.’

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4, 2022

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Who’s after INEC’s Critical Infrastructure?

Beyond the Independent National Electoral Commission’s defiant stance against the incessant attacks on the agency’s critical infrastructure, a sterner pushback is needed from the security agencies to pre-empt derailment of the 2023 general election, Louis Achi writes

W

ithin the past three weeks, three crippling attacks were carried out on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) local government facilities in Ogun, Osun and Ebonyi states by yet-to-be-identified hoodlums.

While the Ogun and Osun states’ incidents occurred on November 10, 2022, the Ebonyi and Imo states attacks took place on November 26 and December 1 respectively. These seemingly wellcalculated attacks resulted in the loss of critical materials needed for next year’s elections. In the Ogun State arson, 904 election boxes and 65,699 uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), 29 voting cubicles, 30 megaphones, 57 election bags and three electric power generators were burnt.

In the razed INEC office in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, unidentified persons were fingered. The incident which reportedly occurred around 10am, left the main building and all the movable and immovable items inside it burnt.

According to disclosures by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye, the razed items include 340 ballot boxes, 130 voting cubicles, 14 electric power generators, large water storage tanks, office furniture and fixtures and yet-to-be determined quantity of voters’ cards.

Significantly, notwithstanding the serial attacks on INEC facilities the commission has maintained a brave face, promising Nigerians that the ominous offensives won’t deter it from conducting free, fair and credible polls in 2023.

INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, assured the people of Ogun State, most especially those in Abeokuta South, of credible election despite recent burning of the commission’s office in the area. He gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to the new INEC office which is now at Okelewo area of the town.

He noted that it is the obligation of the commission to ensure all is well during election and said the commission is going to replace all materials and equipment that were lost during the attack.

In an international forum, Prof. Yakubu, repeated the assurance, during the visit of the African Union (AU) Special Pre-Electoral Political Mission to the Commission in Abuja, though he expressed legiti-

Yakubu mate concern over the incessant attacks on its offices across the states, pledging that the commission would recover its losses.

“In the three attacks, though there are no casualties, quite a number of the materials acquired and delivered for the 2023 elections have been lost. The good thing is that, so far, we can recover from all the losses, but it is a source of concern, which should not be allowed to continue.

“We will continue to engage security agencies to make sure our offices, personnel and facilities are protected ahead of the election. We may express some concern about the attack on these facilities but it will not deter the commission from conducting the election as scheduled.

“I want to assure you that yes, we may suffer little hitches here and there but overall, the commission is ready to proceed with the election in the manner that the law requires us to do, using the deployment of technology for the purpose of accreditation and uploading of polling units results,” he reportedly said. Brave words.

Hitting the nail on the head, in his goodwill message, Mr. Deryck Fritz, the Chief Technical Advisor, UNDP, said the peaceful transfer of power was in-

extricably linked to processes and outcomes that were accepted by the political actors, civil society and the populace at large.

According to Fritz, “INEC, as the constitutionally mandated electoral management body, must be and also be seen to be the impartial and neutral arbiter of the electoral contest. “In line with SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and strong institutions, UNDP continues to support inclusive, transparent and credible electoral processes for peaceful and cohesive societies.”

Beyond these recent attacks on INEC’s critical infrastructure, it could be recalled that these depredations are not entirely new. In 2019, hoodlums brazenly targeted INEC offices in Abia, Plateau, Rivers, Anambra, Osun, Akwa Ibom and Jigawa states.

In 2020, four similar incidences were recorded in Anambra, Imo, the FCT and Ondo states.

Yet again, in 2021, the attacks were carried out on the commission’s facilities in Akwa Ibom and Abia states. Similar attacks were also carried out twice in Ebonyi and Enugu states, respectively.

For the current year 2022, attacks from yet-tobe-identified arsonists have been carried out in Zamfara and Enugu states. The last were the ones

in Ogun, Osun and Ebonyi states.

A very worrisome dimension to these unsettling attacks is their huge cost factor to the commission.

It could be readily recalled that in the February 12, 2019 arson incident at the INEC headquarters, Awka, Anambra State, a two-container load of 4,695 smart card readers were destroyed together with other sensitive materials.

On May 2, 2021, in the arson at the Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, more than 345 ballot boxes, 135 voting cubicles, megaphones, water tanks and office furniture were destroyed.

Not an agency given to permitting grass grow under its nimble feet, INEC is fighting back. Following the attacks on Ogun and Osun states, the INEC Chairman convened an emergency meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

To further safeguard INEC critical assets and facilities ahead of the 2023 election, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Usman Baba, convened a meeting with chairmen of leading political parties at the force headquarters, Abuja, penultimate week. At the meeting were the National INEC Commissioner, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Samuel Adebayo and representatives of Department of State Services and other paramilitary agencies.

IG Baba stated that to stop the setting ablaze of INEC offices, the federal government had deployed personnel of Armed Forces of Nigeria, DSS, Nigerian Civil and Security Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Federal Fire Service personnel to INEC offices nationwide.

He also revealed directing the security services to enhance intelligence gathering, sharing and utilisation of the same to curtail acts of political violence which have unacceptably spiralled recently.

Beyond President Muhammadu Buhari’s repeated assurances of leaving an important electoral legacy, the emerging consensus is that he needs to step up as the commander-in-chief and read out an enforceable riot act to the cheeky shadowy crisis entrepreneurs.

And just as Deryck Fritz, the Chief Technical Advisor, UNDP correctly observed, the peaceful transfer of power is inextricably linked to processes and outcomes that are acceptable by the political actors, civil society and the populace at large.

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

Ariwoola in the Eye of the Storm

Ariwoola

For the better part of last week, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, was at the centre of the storm after he was perceived to have breached the principle of judicial neutrality – an essential factor for the preservation of the integrity of the judicial system. A loose comment he made as a joke in Port Harcourt penultimate week came back to hunt him. Before the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reacted to it, many who watched the event live on television or saw the video were simply disappointed.

Speaking in Port Harcourt as the special guest of the Rivers State Government, Justice Ariwoola said: “That is why we should not be scared to have these men of the Integrity Group. And I am happy that my governor is among them because he would try to imitate

his friend and in-law because we came here to marry for my governor.”

Even when it was obvious that he made the comment and there was video evidence, the Supreme Court issued a statement on his behalf to deny it.

Many argue that the statement was the first mistake he made. What it meant was that the CJN didn’t even know that he didn’t need to attend the event in the first place.

To know that it was the same CJN who after his swearing-in ceremony, urged politicians to allow the judiciary to function properly that could not do what he preached was unfortunate.

No matter the interpretation, Justice Ariwoola’s comments were not tactful. He delved into the political arena. By virtue of his exalted position, he should avoid social dealings that are capable of eroding public confidence in the judiciary.

Being constitutionally expected to transcend petty political partisanships, the CJN ought not to be seen in any form of fraternity within the dispute-prone murky waters of politics or any matter at all.

A judge who doesn’t know that he should guard against being seen as supporting a partisan political cause - can’t be trusted to be impartial to people who are not in his good graces. This incident should serve as a lesson to him before he gets his fingers burnt.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4, 2022

BRIEFINGNOTES Is Ugwuanyi Overwhelmed by Insecurity in Enugu?

With the upsurge in cases of kidnapping and attacks on communities in Enugu State by terrorists and herdsmen, which have forced some lawyers and judges to boycott the courts, Ejiofor Alike reports that the Coal City state is gradually losing its revered status as the most peaceful in South-east

A

fter the April 2016 massacre of indigenes of Ukpabi, Nimbo, in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had put in place effective security measures to secure the state and ensure that it sustained its position as the most peaceful in the South-east. While other states were all over the news for setting up Ebubeagu security outfit, which turned out to be personal militias used by some governors to hound their opponents, Ugwuanyi had silently set up and fully equipped the Neighbourhood Watch, Forest Guards, and other local security outfits to complement the efforts of security agencies in the state.

Determined to secure lives and property, his government also purchased 360 security patrol vehicles made up of 260 Siena vehicles and 100 Hilux vans, which were distributed to security agencies, vigilance groups and forest guards in the state.

Another batch of 260 vehicles, as well as motorcycles and bicycles were also distributed to the Forest Guards and Vigilante/Neighborhood Watch groups for community policing.

Ugwuanyi won numerous accolades for his efforts to tackle insecurity in the state. He also received commendations from prominent indigenes of the South-east, successive Inspectors General of Police (IGs) and heads of other security agencies.

With his efforts, the state had initially enjoyed peace and provided comfort to the indigenes of neighbouring states, who fled their states due to insecurity.

However, the situation has since deteriorated as the security agencies appear to have abandoned the governor to his fate despite all he had done to improve security.

Terrorists now have free reign in the once peaceful state, kidnapping travellers and residents and pocketing millions of naira in ransom. Herdsmen have also launched renewed armed assaults that are deadlier than the Nimbo massacre.

The activities of terrorists, who kidnap for huge ransom, have forced some judges and lawyers to boycott courts in majority of the local government areas in the state.

Some judges now sit virtually over some cases because they can’t travel out of the state capital.

THISDAY also gathered that abductions within the small forest surrounding the old Enugu - Udi road have forced the closure of that major highway at the 4-Corners area in Enugu town from 6pm to 7am daily.

While the road going to Nkanu axis is a den of kidnappers, the one from 9th Mile to Ukehe in Igbo Etiti LGA is a no-go area.

The failure of the security agencies to arrest high-profile terrorists that make Enugu highways unsafe has fuelled speculations that some security agents are complicit in these heinous crimes.

Some of the most recent victims of abductions in the state include some students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), who were returning to

Ugwuanyi school after the ASUU strike; a former Secretary to Enugu State Government, (SSG), Dr. Dan Shere; a female Senior Magistrate, Mrs. Dorathy Uchechi Odo of Magistrate Court 2, Nsukka; a former commissioner in the state, Mr. Matthew Idu, among many others.

Some Catholic priests who have suffered in the hands of kidnappers in the state include the parish priest of Ihuonyia Amansiodo in Ndiagu Oghe, Ezeagu LGA, Rev Fr Ndulue; Deputy Rector of Queen of the Apostle Spiritual Year Seminary, Imezi Owa in Ezeagu LGA, Rev Fr Arinze Madu; a priest from Diocese of Nsukka, Rev Fr Malachy Asadu, who was kidnapped along Imilike-Nsukka Road; Parish Priest of St. Patrick Ihuonyia, Amansi-Odo, Ezeagu LGA, Rev Fr Theophilus Ndulue; parish priest of St. Paul Catholic Church, Ogbosu Umulokpa in Uzo-Uwani LGA , Rev Fr Cyprian Ugwuanyi, who was abducted by suspected herdsmen; Rev Father Titus Ogbu, who was abducted in Isi-Uzo LGA and

the Parish Priest of St. Jude’s Catholic Church, Eburummiri, Ibagwa-Aka, Igbo-Eze South LGA, Rev Fr Victor Ishiwu, who was kidnapped 12 days ago right inside his church.

Others are the parish priest of the church of San Marco, Rev Fr Don Clement Rapuluchukwu Ugwu, whose dead body was found in Obinofia Ndiuno, in Ezeagu LGA; and the parish priest of the church of St. James the Great in Ugbawka in Nkanu East LGA, Fr. Paul Offu, who was killed by herdsmen while driving along the Ihe-Agbudu Road in Awgu LGA. The heads of security agencies in the state and the state governor recently visited the dreaded Nsukka-UgwogoNike-Opi road, following the daily cases of abductions on the road.

During the visit, the General Command-

ing Officer (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Umar Musa, who spoke on behalf of other heads of security agencies, promised that “these criminals will be fished out and they will be dealt with.”

But no kidnapper was arrested and the state government only used bulldozer to clear a portion of the forests. However, the abductors and their collaborators may have realised that with the ongoing naira redesign by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), it will be impossible for the relatives of their potential victims to raise the huge amount of cash they demand as ransom.

As terrorists are kidnapping people, suspected herdsmen have launched deadly attacks on communities in the state.

No fewer than 25 persons were killed within the last two weeks, by suspected herdsmen who invaded Agu-Amede, Mgbuji and Eboh communities, in Eha-Amufu, in Isi-Uzo LGA of the state.

Though the spokesman for Mgbuji community claimed in a media report that he personally alerted the governor and the heads of the security agencies before the attacks, no security operatives were mobilised to the communities to avert the carnage.

After the attacks, a helpless Ugwuanyi sent N10 million to the survivors in IDP camps. Enugu, the once peaceful state, has already set up IDP camps to cater for the welfare of victims of armed herdsmen. Few days later, the governor; the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani, and the Garrison Commander of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig Gen MK Ibrahim, were said to have “stormed” the Eha-Amufu forests on a fact-finding visit.

But barely two days later, the bandits returned to the communities and killed three more persons.

One week after the security chiefs stormed the forests, no suspect has been arrested by the security agencies for the massacre.

Many have suggested the transfer of all security agents who have served in the state for two years and the transfer of all those posted from the bandits-ravaged parts of the country, who are allegedly aiding kidnapping.

The question on many people’s lips is: Has Ugwuanyi surrendered to bandits, having been allegedly abandoned to his fate? Many believe that the governor still has enough time to restore the state’s glory. Observers believe that the security situation worsened since he started following Governor Nyesom Wike about like an errand boy. They advised that he should stop following Wike who is pursing a personal agenda about and address the critical issues facing the state.

It is expected that the governor should use the next few months to mobilise local security outfits to comb the forests in all the communities just as Amotekun operatives are doing in the South-west.

Also, since every land, including the thick forests are owned by families and communities, the governor should direct traditional rulers and local government chairmen to ensure that land owners monitor every inch of their lands and all ungoverned spaces.

NOTES FOR FILE

Oromoni’s Family Still Crying for Justice

Sanwo-Olu

Who is behind the delay tactics to deny justice to the family of the 12-year-old Junior Secondary School student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos State, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, who was purportedly tortured to death by some senior students that wanted him initiated into a cult group?

This is the question on the lips of many who have been following the case with keen interest since the young Oromoni died on November 30, 2022.

Despite the promise by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu that he would ensure that justice was served on the case, the state government has been dragging its feet on the matter.

Even when the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had recommended in the DPP Advice of December 30, 2021 that some identified members of staff of the college be charged to court, all the indicted staff are still walking free without being

prosecuted.

It has also been alleged that the same delay tactics are being used to frustrate the ongoing coroner inquest, which commenced since January 21, 2022.

Dowen College has also reportedly refused to provide the two witnesses who are currently in the school, as recommended by the Coroner.

The father of the deceased student, Mr. Sylvester Oromoni, had in a signed statement released on Tuesday, threatened that if the inquest was not concluded before the end of this year, he would be compelled to withdraw from it “in order to take a different legal step to seek justice.”

He noted with concern that the coroner inquest of the Ikoyi building collapse of 2021 where 52 persons died did not take this protracted time.

Also, the inquest on the Ojota Yoruba rally where

one Miss Jumoke Oyeleke died had since been concluded, he added.

“Today, November 30, 2022 makes it a year since the demise of my son and the body is still in the morgue, yet to be buried. This one-year memorial being held today is to tell Nigerians and the entire world about the current position of the inquest and the antics of Dowen College,” he said.

“At this point, I wish to call on the Honourable Coroner to please do the needful by urgently bringing the inquest to an end as Nigerians and the entire world are waiting for the dispensation of justice in this case as justice delayed, justice denied,” he added.

The question is: If the powerful politicians behind Oromoni family’s frustrations escape man’s justice, will they escape the wrath of God?

63

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4, 2022

CICERO/ISSUES

Tinubu Waxing Stronger 'HVSLWH 0DQ\ *D;HV Adedayo Akinwale writes on some of the gaffes made by the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu, since the commencement of the campaigns for the 2023 elections

S

ince he made his intention to contest for the presidency public, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu has been under strict scrutiny by Nigerians for his alleged poor health condition . His many public gaffes, which critics say are symptoms of dementia, are constantly being highlighted as Nigerians get ready to elect a new leader on February 25, 2023.

Before the commencement of political campaigns, many Nigerians had expressed reservations about Tinubu ‘s state of health, wondering whether he would be able to withstand the rigours of the campaign activities or not.

However, to the surprise of many, the former Governor of Lagos State has turned up for all the political engagements and activities of the party. The political engagements, which included rallies, and various town hall meetings, have been a success to a large extent.

Nevertheless, some gaffes made by Tinubu have overshadowed his sterling outings.

Maybe it was based on this that Tinubu admitted in a video that trended on social media last week that he has stopped using social media due to a series of abuse and insults hauled at him.

A dose of what to expect at the campaigns of the ruling party was first served in October during the 7th edition of Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADInvest 7.0), where Tinubu said the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai “turned a rotten situation to bad one”.

“We’re not going to let you run away, your vision, creativity and resiliency in turning a rotten situation to a bad one is necessary at this critical time, that’s why we are here today,” he had said.

Moreso, while speaking at the flag-off of his campaign in Plateau State, Tinubu concluded his speech by saying, “God bless PD…APC.” At the same event, Tinubu made another goof when he referred to the DirectorGeneral of his campaign council, Simon Lalong, as Solomon Dalong. The latter is a former Minister of Youth and Sports Development. He hails from the state.

To many, it was unpardonable that APC presidential candidate did not know the name of the DG of his campaign council, At a meeting with private sector stakeholders in Owerri, Imo State recently, Tinubu uttered some words that arguably sounded gibberish as he tried to justify his shunning of town hall and debates organised by media organisations during his remarks.

He said: “A town hall is different from ‘balabloo-blu-bulava’” to the consternation of the audience. It was clear if the APC standard bearer was struggling to pronounce ‘hullabaloo’, but the apparent gaffe elicited much criticism among Nigerians, with many pointing it out as further evidence that he may not be able to cope with the pressures that are inherent in the presidential position he is aspiring to occupy if he wins come 2023.

Similarly, the presidential candidate of APC who appeared not to be relenting, committed another gaffe while speaking in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, when he said the deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who is the APC gubernatorial candidate in Delta State, would be the next governor of “Niger Delta State.”

Tinubu while acknowledging dignitaries in the audience said, “I equally recognise today the deputy senate president and he will be the governor of Niger Delta State.”

Tinubu

In the same vein, while addressing a crowd of supporters penultimate Saturday in Lagos, Tinubu asked his supporters to go and take their “APV”.

Although the context showed he meant Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), the presidential candidate adjusted by saying APC. “Do you love me? Do you love me? Go and take your APV…APC and you must vote,” Tinubu reportedly said.

Last Thursday, critics of the APC presidential candidate were having a laugh on him as the video of his campaign outing in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State where he promised to bring high prices made the rounds of twitter.

The faux pas was another comic addition from a man who has gained a reputation for verbal gaffes in his campaign outings.

While speaking to enthusiastic party supporters, Tinubu vowed to bring high prices to the country. Even more, he was also being mocked on Twitter after a difficult time pronouncing technology. He said: “Let us retiae-recreate Techno-LoLiCal-Up” Earlier in April, Tinubu had told Nigerians that their Permanent Voter Cards had “expired,” a claim refuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While Tinubu himself has consistently dismissed criticisms about his health, claiming physical strength is not the most important in leading the most populous African nation, given the experience with Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who died in office and President Muhammadu Buhari’s series of medical vacations in the United Kingdom that took many months of inactivity off his eight years in office, many Nigerians have tended to link Tinubu’s verbal falls to the assumed deterioration in his health, the actual state of which, like most Nigerian politicians, he has kept closely to himself.

Though analysts have said the former Lagos State governor is a candidate to beat at the election featuring co-septuagenarian and former vice president Atiku Abubakar,

former Anambra and Kano states’ governors, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, respectively, many Nigerians are however worried about handing over the country in need of a strong and present manager to another medically unfit leader after incumbent Buhari had left the country in quandary for many months to attend to his medical needs abroad.

But reacting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council, described the continuous gaffes of Tinubu as indicative of another pattern of unfitness for the office of the president.

The main opposition party pointed out that the period of campaign was not just for activities that political parties could design to fill the void before election, but part of the building blocks for leadership selection.

In a statement by one of the spokespersons of the PDP Presidential Campaign, Senator Dino Melaye, the main opposition party said, “the manifestation in Jos is a further consolidation of a pattern in the physical and psychological composition of Tinubu, who a few weeks ago, shocked his host, Governor Nasir el-Rufai, when he said Nigeria would go from rotten to bad. Analysts, who put both events in context have leaned on the Biblical aphorism that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

PDP described the campaign season as a period of assessments for choices and decisions by the electorate.

The party said it was important that Nigerians take full advantage to mark the scripts of various candidates and their parties. PDP argued that a man

like Tinubu, who could not have the presence of mind or who required support to move around has obviously marked himself down.

On his part, an aide to the presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu said the recent gaffes of Tinubu are content for skit makers and TikTokers.

He said Tinubu should not be allowed to get close to power because he “will make Nigeria a by-word for scorn among the comity of nations. Without mincing words, Tinubu’s gaffes already supply comedians, skit makers, meme-makers, and TikTokers with content.”

But a member of the APC Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council Public Affairs, Dr. Ronke Bello believed that the so-called gaffes videos were doctored According to her, “this is the age of technology; people doctored it and threw it out there, what do you want us to do?

We are not going to leave our campaign and start pursuing people whose job is to sit in their bedroom, take a video, doctor it and throw it out. I have been at some of the rallies, I have compared some of the events, which means I was in the hall with the man and I didn’t see those signs that are in the video. And don’t forget one thing we take from this man is that he has a sense of humour and sometimes he says things and we laugh over it and we move on,” she explained.

However, her position was contradicted by the Director, Public Affairs and the Spokesperson of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo who said there was nothing wrong in a few slips made

by Tinubu.

To Keyamo, making gaffes has nothing to do with age.

He argued that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has been making gaffes without anyone making a fuss about it.

He added that famous speakers such as former President of the United States, Barack Obama and the incumbent, Joe Biden have made gaffes during campaigns and as such Tinubu’s own was not peculiar.

Keyamo argued: “I haven’t seen any headline anywhere about Peter Obi describing Nasarawa as a country. When he (Obi) said Nasarawa is a country and not a state, did anybody make any news out of it? Obi has been fact-checked so many times and has been caught lying openly about statistics, is it because of age?”

“The best speakers in the world, the most intelligent people, once you are on the campaign trail, you can make mistakes. Go and check candidates of the most civilised countries of the world including Britain make gaffes. Barack Obama made a lot of gaffes, US President Joe Biden made a lot of gaffes”.

“When you are on the campaign trail of four to five months and you are speaking every day, every minute to every people, you are bound to make slips here and there.

There is nothing serious about it. As long as you are sure of what you are saying and not saying something totally off-key, there is no problem at all” “They are so much interested in Asiwaju that the moment he begins to talk, every single member of the opposition parties is tuned to listening to whatever he wants to say. They listen to every sentence, alphabet and every word he pronounces. We in the APC are happy about that. It shows the level of interest they have in our candidate”.

Despite the slips, the former Governor of Lagos state is not ready to look back till he achieves his life ambition, which is to rule this country.

64

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4, 2022

CICERO/ISSUE

Some senior advocates during a court session

Concerns over Dwindling Value of SAN The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee is under pressure to reform the process for the selection of lawyers to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria to avoid making a mockery of the prestigious title, Alex Enumah writes

T

he Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, last Monday swore in 62 lawyers into the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. The lawyers were recently elevated to the rank by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC).

The successful candidates comprised 53 in the advocacy category while the other nine are of the academic category.

The rank SAN is awarded as a mark of excellence to members of the legal profession who have distinguished themselves as advocates and academics. Members of the Inner Bar, as SANs are fondly called, enjoy some privileges including having seats reserved for them in the front rows of all courts with priority accorded their cases in court. They are also distinguishable from other lawyers by their attire which is styled differently from the gown other lawyers wear. Theirs is called “silk”.

The LPPC had in June shortlisted 129 lawyers for the conferment of SAN rank this year. Among the list were 73 practising lawyers and 56 academic applicants.

Since the committee released the list of shortlisted lawyers, not a few lawyers have raised concerns over the new conditions for lawyers wishing to attain the rank.

This is because, for three consecutive years, the number of lawyers being churned out by the LPPC for the award keeps bloating.

The LPPC in an advertorial published on January 5, 2022, announced that the application for this year’s SAN rank would be made through its website which opened on January 1 and closed on April 1. It also stated that applicants should pay a non-refundable processing fee of N600,000 into the account numbers of the committee and upload the evidence of such payment to the portal.

This immediately sparked worry among lawyers who have decried “commercialisation” and “politicisation” of the bar’s highest honour and privilege, which is similar to the UK’s rank at the inner bar known as the Queen’s Counsel (QC). They are concerned that the award is becoming too expensive and beyond the reach of most lawyers without connection and financial muscle.

While people have different views about the rank depending on which side of the divide they stand; some want it abolished completely, reasoning that it is unfair trade practice to confer special privileges on certain persons

by way of ranking. Others believe that it is good to encourage healthy competition but that a lot of reform is required to make it more merit-based.

Many lawyers who spoke with THISDAY said the award of the SAN rank was supposed to be based on proven integrity by those who had developed the hard work and legal skills required. They lamented that the way and manner the award is being conferred now leave much to be desired.

Some of the lawyers who did not want their names in print called for a review of the guidelines for the award of the prestigious rank. They bemoaned the huge sums involved in applying for the rank of SAN. “N600,000 is just the amount made public, when the committee comes to inspect the offices of applicants and their libraries, they do get much more than that,” said a lawyer.

As of 2019, Nigeria had just 526 senior advocates with the first two being late Chief Rotimi Williams and Dr. Nabo Graham-Douglas who were conferred with the title on April 3, 1975. Today there are over 700.

“The number of those being given the SAN rank is becoming alarming. The prestigious award has been bastardised and compromised. It is losing its value because it is now given to all Tom, Dick and Harry. Like every other thing, it is now given to the highest bidders. It has also been tribalised and based on quota, and this has reduced the prestige attached to the rank. I remember during our time, we were challenged to work very hard.

We were grilled by icons like Chief Afe Babalola. Today the situation is different, and when one sees the calibre of those being conferred, it makes a mockery of the entire elevation process,” a SAN told THISDAY. The sharp increase in the number of senior advocates has not gone down well with the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN). After the release of the list of lawyers shortlisted for SAN rank in 2020, BOSAN wrote a letter to the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, praying him not to elevate any lawyer to the premium rank until 2024 to enable them to revamp the elevation process.

BOSAN criticised the LPPC for making a mockery of the elevation process with the conferment of the rank on an unprecedented number of 72 senior lawyers in the 2020 exercise. It warned that unless a holistic review of the process is undertaken by the LPPC, the rank stands the risk of losing its prestige and standing among stakeholders.

Noting the urgency of its Save-Our-Soul letter, BOSAN pledged their commitment to providing its expertise and support at every stage of the review process.

Last year, the Supreme Court placed what were supposed to be fresh hurdles ahead of lawyers seeking to be conferred with the SAN title for the year 2021 and beyond. Among others, the SAN rank seekers were to face a panel of selected serving and retired Supreme Court justices and senior lawyers for an oral interview as part of the last leg of the screening process. The applicants were to during the oral interview, be subjected to rigorous interrogation to verify and confirm the authenticity of claims made in their individual application forms.

But THISDAY gathered that despite this, the process is still a sham as it is subjected to influence such as favouritism, bigotry, and bribery, among others.

Recently, the retiring justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Addu Aboki, called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the LPPC to review the requirements for the conferment of SAN rank to the extent that it will reduce unnecessary pressure on the court.

To confirm the undue pressure mounted on justices of the Supreme Court by lawyers seeking SAN title, their parents and others, Justice Aboki said there was a need for the justices of the apex court to note that the Supreme Court of Nigeria is a policy court, which should only deal with matters of complex legal nature.

Last week, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), proposed some far-reaching reforms to both the Supreme Court and LPPC. According to him, for those who are to be conferred with the rank as advocates, the court cases to be relied upon should cut across many areas of legal practice, including, civil cases such as land law, chieftaincy, commercial law cases, election petitions, matrimonial causes, constitutional law, etc; criminal trials and other areas of law.

Adegboruwa advocated that “We should not have a Senior Advocate who only conducted election petitions or one who only attended to NDLEA or EFCC cases with only one witness who pleaded guilty and was summarily

convicted or those who handled only political cases. How do we have a SAN who cannot conduct a criminal trial? In the same vein, the cases should cover all the superior courts of records, such as the High Court, Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court and indeed the appellate courts.”

He further said: “In the last exercise for the rank of SAN, over 50 applicants were reported to have applied for elevation from the academic community. It is my own personal view that the award of SAN to law teachers should be abolished outrightly. The silk cannot be an inheritance, whereby the SAN does not appear in court 10 years post conferment, as the job of advocacy is not in the classroom but the courtroom. But if the award to law teachers must continue, then they are either given another designation or they must frontload at least five trials in contested cases in the High Court, three contested cases in the Court of Appeal and two contested cases in the Supreme Court.

“Why should a law teacher apply for the rank of SAN if he has never practised and has no intention to ever practice law? This does not derogate from the value of law teachers but that career path is totally different from courtroom advocacy. Law teachers who also practice law as advocates should only apply for the rank as advocates.

“In my set, we were about 40 applicants and it has subsequently ballooned to 70 and above. The question that I have been asking myself ever since is this: where are the Senior Advocates? I go to court virtually every day and I see the same sets of people in court.

Does it not then mean that there are young, active and dynamic Senior Advocates who are no longer in active legal practice? That has defeated the purpose of the award. The LPPC should fix a five-year mandate upon Senior Advocates such that if after five years of the award, no single trial is conducted then the Rank should be withdrawn until there is compliance, except in exceptional cases of health challenges or old age.

“For all categories of awardees, none should be considered for the Rank if he/she is not an active member of any of the sections of the Nigerian Bar Association, has not attended at least five consecutive meetings of his local NBA and provided concrete evidence of active participation in NBA affairs.”

With a new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, on the saddle, it is hoped that he would bring sanity to the process.

65

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4, 2022

CICERO/INTERVIEW

MUHAMMAD BARDE:

I’ll Leverage Courage, Integrity and Technology to Change Gombe’s Story A financial services industry guru and governorship candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Gombe State, Muhammad Jibrin Barde, writes off the incumbent administration and lays out an alternative vision to accelerate the transformation of his home state - ‘The Jewel in the Savannah’. He speaks with Louis Achi

A

s a key member of the Northern political intelligentsia, what is your concept of governance?

First, the imperative of creating a new nation state defined by a genuinely progressive template of justice, fairness and inclusive development cannot be overstated. It is important to our future development - both for my state Gombe and Nigeria at large. It requires proper visioning, planning, commitment and courage.

Dealing with your specific question, I would rather focus on good governance instead of governance as a general term.

Good governance has to be participatory, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective, efficient and equitable. It has to follow the rule of law. It assures that corruption is minimised, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making.

It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society. Deficits in these areas give rise to conflict and set back human development. Incidentally, these deficits encapsulate the human development challenges confronting Gombe State today.

As the governorship candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Gombe State, you are essentially pushing an alternative vision of governance. Can you share the fundamentals of this vision?

First, for the sake of acquisition of updated first-hand information that cannot be controverted, I have undertaken a comprehensive journey of Gombe State and I am deeply worried and saddened by what I have found in my travels. I have seen widespread misery and desolation. Our state leadership have mismanaged our resources and unconscionably sown the seeds of discord. Never before in Gombe State have we lived in fear of the future as we do today.

Nearly N300billion of revenues accruing to the Gombe State government in the last three years has been shockingly mismanaged. The current government has failed in its most basic responsibility of ensuring the security and welfare of our people. There is puzzling lack of compassion and love for the people of Gombe State. There is an absolute failure of leadership. But things do not have to be this way. The people must take charge of their destiny.

I have arranged into seven themes the strategic pillars of my vision for Gombe State, to help sharpen the focus of the needed quantum leap in the fortunes of the state. These are: Governance, Infrastructural Development, Human Capital Development, Agricultural Revolution, Industry and Digital Economy, Rural Development and Urban Regeneration.

Having already defined what good governance means at the outset of this interview, I would simply, additionally, state here that governance fundamentally represents the enabling

Barde

environment for growth and innovation to flourish.

Looking at the other six components of my development vision for Gombe State, while infrastructural development captures the physical foundation for development, human capital development will be actualised under my administration through quality education, quality healthcare, training and skills development.

Our agricultural revolution will maximise our land resources to feed our people, add value to farm products, create jobs and attract large scale entrepreneurs while the envisioned industry and digital economy will leverage leadership from the government to jumpstart the emergence of an industrial and technology base for our state.

My administration will deal with the rural development by improving the lives and economic wellbeing of rural communities while urban development will enhance the status of our urban centres as ideal places to live and work.

You are not conceding any noteworthy development grounds to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) currently in power? Why have you emphatically written off the incumbent administration?

Let me repeat this - despite earning over N300billion in the past three years, 62 per cent of our people are

living in poverty, hunger and deprivation. In Gombe today, there is collapsing infrastructure of schools, healthcare et cetera. 700,000 of our children are out of school. Our farmers are struggling to farm without any support from the government.

Gombe people are tired of empty promises and they have every right to be. We need fundamental changes. So despite the many challenges involved, I am committed to contributing towards rebuilding and transforming our state as a governor come 2023. Together we will work to deliver stability, opportunity and prosperity for our people.

In the first 100 days in office of our administration, we will fix dilapidated healthcare facilities with a focus on equipment, drugs and staffing.

To reduce maternal and child mortality across the state we will build economic and climate-smart infrastructure.

We will create an education fund to reinvent financing and commence rebuilding an equipping 500 primary and secondary schools to world class standards.

We will reopen all state-owned tertiary institutions including the State University of Science & Technology, Kumo. In addition, we will build technology hubs including enabling infrastructure - power and broadband internet leveraging on reinvigorated educational institutions.

I will work for the accelerated emergence of a prosperous Gombe State where all residents live in dignity in an environment that enables them to pursue and fulfil their potentials. Together, we will deliver stability, opportunity and prosperity for our people.

The agenda I earlier enunciated, which I call “The Wheels of Progress,” is built on effective leadership that understands the urgency of the tasks at hand. It possesses four key attributes: Competence, capacity, character and courage.

Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari kick-started oil drilling in the Upper Benue Trough’s Kolmani River field straddling Bauchi and Gombe States, estimated to add 1billion barrels, 500bcf of gas to national reserves.

What’s your view on this?

The development is of course important in Nigeria’s economic history as she progresses to production of oil and gas in the Upper Benue Trough. According to the provisions of the Production Sharing Contract (PSC), while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) is the concessionaire of the blocks, the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) and New Nigeria Development Company Limited (NNDC) are the contractor parties.

Gombe is a stakeholder in NNDC. The first phase of the integrated development project would entail an oil refinery of up to 120,000 barrels per day capacity, a gas processing plant of up to 500 million standard cubic feet per day, a power plant of up to 300-megawatt capacity and a fertiliser plant of 2,500 tons per day. You can imagine the job creation potential of this for Gombe State folks and Nigeria at large.

More importantly, this oil find with Gombe as a co-host state is accommodated in my enunciated development plan for the state in the areas of exploration and exploitation of solid and liquid minerals and the mining industry within subsisting constitutional templates.

Let’s have your message to Gombe State and Nigeria at large.

I offer myself in the first instance as a servant of my state and a servant of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. When I am elected governor next year, Insha Allah, I shall humbly and totally commit myself to use the good office to ensure that Gombe State as a whole genuinely benefits from the true dividends of democracy, not mere rhetoric. I intend to bring a sharper focus on pivotal human and physical development to drive the transformation I have envisioned for Gombe State. For Gombe and Nigeria, the future is indeed bright. We are stronger together.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4, 2022

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INTERNATIONAL Nigeria’s Manu Militari Governance and Detention of Aminu Adamu: The Foreign Policy Dimensions

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PMB’s Manu Militari Governance Mrs Aisha Buhari’s mistreatment of Aminu Mohammed Adamu, through her security agents before incarcerating him is an example of the manu militari governance under PMB. It is a serious abuse by a First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Without any whiff of doubt, Mrs Aisha Buhari has the right to be annoyed, especially if she believes that she had not been feeding fat on the people’s money. However, Aminu Mohammed Adamu might have simply looked at the First Lady’s new weight and her looking good and great and, therefore begin to compare her good situation with his own apparently frustrated situation, particularly bearing in mind that he is a final year student but and has been delayed for almost one year by the ASUU strike and for which PMB has not shown effective responsibility.

ItcannotbutbetheperceptionoftheFirstLadyasaverygood-looking person, with an attractive new weight that must have prompted the description of the First Lady as possibly eating the people’s money.

If the First Lady were to be lean and looking very impoverished, the likelihood of her being seen and described as eating money would not have arisen. It would have been, at best, very remote and unthinkable. But also true enough, the environmental conditionings of life in Nigeria under PMB are very deleterious in effect, very inclement in coping with, and hostility-inducing in temperament.

Good enough again, PMB is currently wrapped up in the glory of providingbetterinfrastructurewhileNigerianlivesarebeingincreasingly impoverished. Recidivist terrorist attacks in every nook and cranny of Nigeria, endemic institutional corruption, political chicanery and jots of socio-political irrationalities here and there, all remain the hallmark

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VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Baba of political governance under PMB and for which he has been showing a don’t care attitude. One typical illustration of this don’t care attitude is his policy of nepotism. In this regard, every Aminu Mohammed Adamu in other parts of Nigeria cannot but have the same feeling like the original Aminu Mohammed Adamu.

Consequently, there can be many ways of looking at the saga created by Aminu Adamu. The challenge to address is why the tweet, why the opinion? Is the opinion helpful to fostering better inter-personal relationships? Is the mania of handling the saga helpful to the image of PMB? Whatever is the case, the choice of ‘embezzlement’by the police or security agents in prosecuting student Aminu Adamu is not and cannot be in tune with‘eating money, and the use of‘satisfaction’as translation for being‘full’is at best a‘magouille.’People should not be incriminated by using other methods that are also criminally in character. Thus, both PMB and the First Lady appear to share the same philosophy of governance by manu militari and this may not be unconnected with their military background as a couple. In Nigeria, the military has been civilianised while civilians have also been militarised in various ways of attitudinal dispositions.

More specifically, PMB’s manu militari governance is first visible in the mistreatment of journalists who are required by the 1999 Constitution as amended hold Government accountable to the people. Section 22 of the Constitution specifically requires that ‘the press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter (Chapter 2) and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.’It is important to put the understanding of this provision in its

Thirdly, and perhaps most significantly, the First Lady reportedly accepted three days ago to withdraw her case against Aminu Adamu for various reasons: being the Mother of the Nation, public pressure and petitions asking for unconditional release. True, withdrawing the court case against Aminu is commendable, but completely ignores the fact that he had already suffered severely from the mania of his detention. Aminu was detained incommunicado. Because of him, no visitation to the correctional centre was allowed. When he was admitted into the correctional centre, he had only N2000= with him. No relation of his could come with food. Aminu could not have full time to prepare for his final examination.

Offence was committed in June 2022, but arrest of Aminu took place at the time he was preparing for his final examinations, why? Was the timing of the arrest, incarceration and keeping him incommunicado a matter of coincidence or deliberate special punishment? Whatever is the case, Aminu Adamu was tortured mercilessly contrary to the 2017 Anti-torture Act. The torturing makes the First Lady also guilty like Aminu. What Mrs Aisha Buhari should be engaged in is to seek to bring all Black First Ladies to Abuja, in her capacity as the First Lady of Nigeria. This will be more helpful to strengthening Nigeria’s foreign policy which does not

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minu Mohammed Adamu is about 23-years old.

He is a 500-level student of Environmental Management at the Federal University, Dutse (FUD). He reportedly made defamatory remarks on Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, in his tweet in June 2022 and was therefore picked up by security agents on 21 November 2022 reportedly in a Gestapo manner. As reportedly quoted, Aminu Mohammed Adamu said‘Su mama anchi kudin talkwa ankoshi,’ in Hausa, meaning ‘Mama has eaten poor people’s money and is now full.’

This translation is what has been generally reported in the media.

However, in the charges brought against him by James Idachaba on November 21, 2022, the translation was different and weightier in implication. The charge says‘you, Aminu Adamu, male of Anguwar Sarakuna, Bauchi State, sometime between May and June 2022, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally open a Twitter Handle with the name @aminullahie a.k.a. Catalyst, and also gave‘mama has embezzled monies meant for the poor for satisfaction’as the translation for the above tweet in Hausa language.

As such, Aminu Adamu was charged as having committed an offence punishable under Section 391 of the Penal Code.

In this regard, is eating poor people’s money the same as embezzling monies meant for the poor? First, no one can eat money. At best, eating money should be taken figuratively. Eating money is simply implying ‘benefitting from’ poor people’s monies. On the contrary, embezzlement is necessarily a criminal offence. It cannot be rightly argued that eating money is synonymous with embezzlement. The framing of the charges, especially if the general translation reported in the media is correct, is necessarily very fraudulent and only reflects an abuse of privilege and power. Obviously, because the photograph of the First Lady was also included as part of the Tweet, Aisha Buhari opted to take the bad end of the stick’She cannot be faulted here. But she displayed a self-arrogated power in dealing with Aminu Adamu.

The incident is therefore most unfortunate because the alleged defamation is really not a big deal. Feeding fat on poor people’s money cannot but be a tip of the iceberg in the eyes of a former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who said Nigeria and Afghanistan are‘fantastically corrupt.’ When the Prime Minister made the observation before the Queen, heaven did not fall.The responsibility of the British High Commissioner to Nigeria was not even called to question. If it is a Nigerian that says the Government of Nigeria is fantastically corrupt, a manu militari style of governance and autocracy within a democracy will follow.

appropriate context.

Put differently, when is the press and the other agencies of the mass media required to uphold the fundamental objectives of Chapter 2 of the Constitution?‘At all times’is the answer.What are the fundamental objectives to be upheld by the media professionals? Sections 13 and 14 provide the first immediate answers. Sovereignty is not only considered under Section 14 (a) to belong to the people from whom the Government of Nigeria derives all its powers and authority, the security and welfare of the people is considered to be the primary purpose of government under Section 14 (b).

Additionally, the Constitution says, in upholding the fundamental objectives, media professionals‘shall at all times be free.’In other words, nothing shall constrain the media men in the exercise of their obligation to uphold the fundamental objectives of the Constitution.This means that the Constitution has made the media professionals to be the repreentatives of the people to police the Government.

It is also useful to note the use of ‘shall’ in both Articles 22, on the one hand, and Sections 13 and 14, on the other hand. Section 14 (2b) says ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the…’ while Section 14 (2c) says ‘the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.Thus, the role of the press, radio and other agencies of the mass media is quite clear cut: obligation to assist the people to ensure that their security and welfare is always ensured and that the same peoples of Nigeria participate in their own governance processes and also ensuring that such participation is in conformity with the Constitution. This is the extended implication of Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution. It is particularly against these constitutional provisions that the unwarranted mistreatment of media men should be explained and understood.

And true, the constitutional requirement to hold the Government accountable to the people does not give any stipulation on the modus operandi. For sure, when Nigerian journalists do seek information and make strenuous efforts to make people in government to talk, to clarify an issue, they are hardly respected and attended to. But when such journalists present their version of the truth in the print and audio-visual media, it is then government officials are always prompted to give their own explanation, but not without having attached the operational tools of the journalists and mistreating them. Government officials in Nigeria prefer to first grant interviews to foreign media professionals rather than to journalists back home.

The modus operandi of the various security agencies is another case of manu militari governance under PMB. Recall how the Nigeria Police Force and the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invade houses of suspects. On August 23, 2022 the EFCC, for example, invaded the house of Dorathy Bachor, aTV star, around 4.45 am reportedly in pursuit of a suspect who escaped into her estate.

Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC spokesperson, said they knocked at the door of Dorathy Bachor, but she did not open, and hence, they‘force their way.’This forceful entry is to a great extent consistent with Section 146 of the ACJA (Administration of Criminal Justice Act) 2015, which enables a judge to assent to a request for search warrant; Section 148 which says that a search warrant can be executed anytime of the day; Section 149 which requires resident of a building to allow unhindered access of law enforcement agents to execute a search warrant using reasonable force.This lawful gangster style of administration is a major feature under PMB, and yet insecurity has not abated and corruption is always on the rise.

The military invasion of the houses of Nnamdi Kanu and Chief Sunday Adeyemo, alias Igboho was more of a military aggression, which prompted them to flee the country. Nnamdi Kanu jumped court bail as a result, Sunday Igboho was arrested at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, but later released from prison to his medical practitioners under an agreement that he must not leave the hospital or Cotonou.

Manu militari governance cases abound under PMB. Selective implementation of court judgments is one. The refusal to release Nnamdi Kalu from detention contrarily to court judgment speaks volumes. Invasion of the house of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mary Odili, on Friday, 29th October, 2021 is another case in point. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad had to note that ‘no law permits anyone to invade, subdue or overawe any Nigerian citizen in his or her residence with a flimsy, fraudulentlyobtained search warrant’(cable.ng) But how are these cases perceived internationally? What is the foreign policy implication?

The Foreign Policy Dimensions The first foreign policy dimension is the neglect of the implications of whatever the First Lady does for foreign policy by the handlers of the affairs of the First Lady. The First Lady must never neglect the fact that Nigeria in not simply the most populous country in Africa and the consideration by the international community as the most important African country in Africa, particularly from the perspective of the vibrancy of her people, potential material resources and democratic size, and most importantly because of her policy of making Africa the centrepiece of Nigerian foreign policy.

The First Lady must always remember that Nigeria is also the world capital of the whole black people of the world. There is no jot of braggadocio in this observation. By implication, therefore, Mrs. Aisha Buhari is necessarily the primus inter pares, that is, first of all the First Ladies. She is first among equal, and must therefore always allow her global status reflect in all her attitudinal dispositions at home and abroad.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4 , 2022

with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

ENGAGEMENTS

Education: From Bumbling to Babel

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resident Buhari’s Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu, is a man who likes to take himself seriously. In ordinary circumstances, he should pass as one of the islands of some enlightenment in the arid cabinet of the outgoing administration. A long standing regional newspaper columnist and commentator on public affairs who finds himself at the helm of a strategic federal ministry should minimally arouse some excitement and legitimate grand expectations.

But after a prolonged tenure (seven and half years and still counting) at the helm of a ministry that has grave national importance, Mr. Adamu is literally in a wilderness, left alone to determine whether he has not wasted his and everyone else’s time.

The nation’s education sector under Mr. Adamu’s watch is arguably in its most tattered state since after the civil war. No one knows when the public universities are open or shut.

Standards in public schools and colleges are at an abysmal low. There is now a chasm of standards and quality between private and public institutions at every level. An insensitive national elite has opted to educate their offspring mostly in the West. The foundations of a segregated society of the future has been laid. Perhaps only Mr. Adamu and his boss can, in good conscience, look at the current carnage in the nation’s education system and nod with satisfaction.

Perhaps out of a self righteous indignation and political expediency, Mr. Adamu recently tendered what amounts to a public apology to the nation for his dismal performance as minister of education. In his estimation, he had failed tragically in two core areas. First is the virtual collapse of the public university system following a series of protracted strikes and work stoppages by various unions in the university system.

He regretted the protracted strikes and infinite closures of public universities under his watch. The brickbat with the university teachers trade union, ASUU, lasted almost the entire length of his tenure. While the ASUU crisis lasted, students were at home, swelling the ranks of the aimless and the jobless free agents of criminality and raging army of the unemployed. Otherwise respectable academics and scholars were rendered destitute and dirt poor. Minor technical arguments about simpleaccountingandarithmeticwereallowed to delay negotiations with the teachers while the system died in installments.

The ASUU imbroglio may not have been strictly Mr. Adamu’s sole making. His colleagues in the Ministry of Labour never understood or respected the different nature of the work of university teachers. Nor was the government in itself ready to explore alternative templates for public university funding and operation. Yet the universities remain a educational enterprises and therefore fall squarely under Mr. Adamu’s portfolio.

The long period of university closure was a golden opportunity for any sensible minister of education to have mounted serious public campaigns on how best to reform and salvage the nation’s public university system. Mr. Adamu did practically nothing in this direction. Instead he stood by and watched the fire fights between ASUU and the Ministry of Labour more like a spectator than as an active and engaged participant. There is no evidence that the Minister of Education rose to the occasion of defending the integrity of the universities. Nor is there any record of innovative problem solving from Adamu’s ministry of education. Instead, the Ministry of education was in an observer role while Labour treated the ASUU matter purely as a trade union matter. All through, the core educational challenges were relegated to the hazy backdrop. As a result, Mr. Adamu is likely to go down as the nation’s worst Minister of Education under whose watch Nigeria’s public universities were shut perhaps for the longest stretch of time in national history.

A second leg of his public apology was the astronomical increase in Nigeria’s out of school population in recent years. According

Adamu Adamu to UNESCO figures, the population of out of school children in Nigeria now stands at a staggering 20 million as at October 2022 . This indicates that 40% of Nigerian children aged between 6 and 11 years are out of school mostly in the northern half of the country. The UN has estimated that Nigeria’s out of school population accounts for 20% of the global total.

Former President Obasanjo recently said the crisis of Nigeria’s burgeoning out of school population was laying the foundation for the next wave of terrorists upsurge.

Here again, there is little or no evidence that the Ministry of education under Mr. Adamu was in any case engaged or concerned about how to stem the tide of what is easily a global embarrassment. It does not matter that primary education remains mostly the responsibility of state and local governments. But national policy and the kind of initiate we required to end the scourge of out of school children remains a federal national responsibility. On this critical matter, Mr. Adamu maintained a stone silence.

The recourse to a public apology on matters that are so strategic and central to his portfolio is a curious strategy. The appearance of humility and good intention does not address the patent lack of competence in so vital a department of state responsibility. The elite could grudgingly accept Mr. Adamu’s apology but the damage has already been done.

Whole generations of Nigerian children are out of school, denied the only right that should liberate them from poverty and darkness for life. Hundreds of thousands of undergraduates have failed to enter the labour market even if it has few opportunities for them. Some have dropped out. Many ambitions have been truncated, dreams amputated and livelihood killed.

While the nation’s human asset rotted away

during the ASUU absences under Mr. Adamu’s watch, the minister, like the rest of our national elite, was content with ferreting his offspring to foreign universities to benefit from more sensibly run systems. When protesting NANS students trooped to his office in protest to draw his drew his attention to this anomaly, Mr. Adamu felt so slighted that he rudely walked out of a meeting with a delegation of Nigerian students.

As a parting gift and perhaps some legacy initiative, the Minister has just announced Cabinet’s approval of a new language policy template for the nation’s public primary schools. Under the proposed policy, which is still a rough draft, all instruction in Nigerian primary schools will be in the child’s ‘mother tongue’. In effect, all Nigerian children from age 6 will be instructed in their ‘mother tongue’. No one has yet told us the definition of ‘mother tongue in the context of this strange policy proposition. The children will only begin to learn in English from the secondary school, presumably from age 11.

In a nation that has well over 600 languages, no one knows what will be the ‘mother tongue’ of children in different locations. Not to talk of the fact that in most Nigerian locations, cultural interfacesandcrosscurrentshasproducedchildren of mixed linguistic parentage and whose mother tongue cannot easily be defined. Nor is there any evidence that there exist enough teachers with language proficiency in these languages to be able to instruct children in them. Not to talk of whether our educational system has developed enough teacher capacity and proficiency in even the major national languages to be able to base primary education instruction on those languages.

Even the determination of what constitutes a child’s mother tongue can be a herculean task in a diverse, multi lingual and composite federation such as this. Is the child’s mother tongue that of where his/her school happens to be located? Or is the mother tongue that of where his parents originated from? Or is

it the language spoken at home or the one in which the child communicates with his two parents who happen to hail from different nationalities?

The new draft policy may have disciples among advocates of linguistic nationalism.

The ancient argument is that a child is more likely to internalize knowledge when it is imparted in his ‘mother tongue’ or local language.

Concepts are clearer and lose their strangeness or foreignness when imparted in a language that the child uses in his natural interactions and social communication. Those who parrot this advantage are quick to insist that English or any other foreign language is part of a colonial foreign cultural orientation which has alienated homegrown knowledge and bred generations of alienated citizens far removed from their roots. They quickly point to the strides of other cultures like the Japanese and Chinese who for centuries have instructed their citizens in their local languages and achieved great cultural, scientific and technological feats.

But these are nations that are mostly homogeneous in ethnic and linguistic composition. They have the additional advantage of having witnessed long periods of historical and civilizational pre eminence and continuity as monolithic cultures for many centuries.

Language and national culture have fused.

In our instance, we are dealing with a multicultural, multilingual and highly diverse society. One of the bonds that holds our nation together is the use of English as an instrument of education and social communication. The history of our nationhood is the story of ancient tribes brought together by English speakers and held together by the legacy of a unifying pan-Nigerian language. The business of Nigeria will not survive for a day after we stop communicating in English as a national community.

Our children are better Nigerians when they are able to communicate and interact with each other in English. In that uniform mould, they shed their ethnic identities and fuse into one uniform national identity. We are by far better off when a uniform national identity is part of the educational process from the onset.

To insist otherwise as Mr. Adamu’s envisaged policy template does is to deliberately use the education system to enshrine division. Moreso, to educate our primary school children in local ‘mother tongues’ is to lock them up, early in life, in enclaves of nativity where their immediate embrace is with superstition, backwardness and decadence. That zone of our national life is now the bastion of ritual, superstition and antiquity. We left our homegrown potential for authentic development behind in the villages decades ago. It is too late in the day to retreat from the rest of humanity to rediscover paradise lost.

The local ‘mother tongues’ may indeed have their intrinsic knowledge and cultural values in diverse fields. But little or ne effort has been made to develop these languages to the level where they can become tools for instruction in different subjects at such an early stage in the child’s development process.

There is a need of course to develop the local languages alongside English. Children should be able to communicate in their relevant local tongues alongside English. But the imperative of national integration and the pull of global integration and belonging demands that we start early to prepare citizens to be able to compete with their peers in the rest of the world. Such competitiveness should be in the areas of basic universal literacy and numeracy as well as basic science and technology.

Even as Mr. Adamu and his principal prepare to leave their dismal legacy in our educational system, there remain clear and urgent questions and challenges that confront us as a nation. How do our children rank in maths, basic science, functional literacy as against their opposite numbers in other countries?

What is the state of health and nutrition of the average Nigerian primary school kid? In what kind of environment are we raising the children in terms of access to basic social services?

These are the fundamental challenges of Nigeria’s early childhood education. It is not the initiation of a confusing babel of mother tongues among children in a nation that desperately needs integration and unity.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R DECEMBER 4, 2022

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NEWS

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

2023 May Be Tougher on Vulnerable People, UN Reveals Signs framework with FG to tackle Nigeria’s humanitarian challenges Michael Olugbode in Abuja The United Nations (UN) has said 2023 may not bring relief to millions of vulnerable people in Nigeria as they are expected to continue a daily struggle to survive.

The United Nations assessment is based on the just-launched Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO), which predicted that there would be prevalent of violent conflict, the climate crisis, disease, and other risks, which would make lives difficult for many.

The GHO provides an annual assessment of global humanitarian needs and how best to respond to them.

In 2023, it is predicted that 339 million people across the

world will need humanitarian assistance - an increase of nearly 24 per cent from last year.

According to the GHO, some $51.5 billion - 25 per cent more than in 2022 - is needed to assist the most vulnerable - 230 million people - in 69 countries, including in Nigeria.

Humanitarian needs have increased dramatically partly because of the war in Ukraine and the impact of the climate crisis in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, Pakistan, and Nigeria.

Looming famine in the Horn of Africa, and elsewhere, unprecedented flooding in Pakistan and Nigeria, are some of the manifestations of climate change, requiring urgent action.

In the West and Central

Africa region alone, up to 69 million people are expected to need humanitarian assistance in 2023 amid concerns that north-east Nigeria and Burkina Faso, which are experiencing extreme hunger, could slip into famine if conditions worsen.

North-east Nigeria remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with at least 8.3 million people in need of assistance in 2023.

The scale of suffering borne every day by women, men and children across Borno,

Adamawa and Yobe States remains undiminished; urgent action is needed now more than ever. Addressing the needs of 5.4 million people will require close to $1.2 billion.

According to a statement

by UN, the humanitarian

community in North-east Nigeria continues to work with government and humanitarian partners to address these needs and advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of all people affected by the crisis in the region.

Be Creative to Tackle Unemployment in Africa, Haruna Tells Graduates Alex Enumah in Abuja The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammad Sani Haruna, yesterday asked varsity graduates to be creative to tackle the rising unemployment in Africa.

He said life outside school is no longer about the theories or the education received but using skills to solve problems.

He also asked s academics to use their talent and know-how to solve African problems.

He said many African nations need help to overcome their socio-economic challenges.

Haruna offered some recommendations in a commencement lecture for postgraduates in multidisciplinary sectors at the 9th Convocation of the African University of Science and Technology in Abuja.

He said: “AUST degrees are not about the theories or the education but what you are able to do that exemplifies the skills you have learnt in the classroom and the research which takes education into utilities and practices.

“There are no jobs waiting for you in your countries anymore.

You are graduating at the most difficult period of our history.

The reality is your lives will not be a straight path. You will fail at one time of your life; you will lose, there is no doubt about it; but every failed experiment is a step forward.

“If you don’t fail, you are not even trying. To get something you never have, you have to do something you never did.

Thomas Edison was said to have conducted over one thousand failed experiments before succeeding in one trial to invent the Electric Bulb.

“A popular American proverb which is similar to one in my native language says: If you hang around a Barbershop, sooner or later you are going to get your hair cut.

“The point is that every one of you, every graduate here today has the training and the talent to succeed. Remember that nothing is impossible to a willing heart. An Anonymous says impossibilities are only to be found in the dictionary of fools. Undoubtedly the best way to figure out your direction is through failure.

Even when you are successful, there could be vicissitude in your life.”

Group Laments Nigeria’s Poor Contribution to Cancer Research Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja A non-governmental organisation, Project Pink Blue (PPB), yesterday lamented the poor contribution of Nigerian scholars to cancer research in Africa despite its records of 120,000 cases and 72,000 deaths annually.

The Executive Director of PPB, Runcie Chidebe expressed the concern alongside its Programme Coordinator, Ms Gloria Okwu at a news conference at the National Hospital, Abuja recently.

At the conference, Chidebe said: “Of the 23,679 cancer research papers published in different peer-reviewed journals

by African scientists and academic

over a 12-year period, only 5,281 were from sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria’s contribution were only 997.

“Contributions from Nigerians only represent 19 percent of the sub-Saharan Africa total and 4 percent of entire Africa.

Clearly, Nigeria contributed only 19 percent of the entire cancer research in sub-Saharan Africa and only 4 percent of the cancer research in Africa.

“As a patient-oriented organisation, Project PINK BLUE understands that cancer research is crucial to improve the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of all forms of cancer, and ensures that cancer survivors live longer with better quality of life.

PROMOTING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE… L-R: Chairman, Board of Trustees, African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Mr. Estigwe Uwa (SAN); Guest Speaker/Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Prof. Mohammed Haruna; and AUST’s Acting President, Prof. Azikwe Onwualu at the ninth convocation of the university in Abuja…yesterday

UNECA Pushes for COVID-19 Vaccine Production in Nigeria, S’Africa Gboyega Akinsanmi The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has canvassed the need to scale up the domestic production of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Egypt and morocco.

UNECA equally emphasised the need “to increase vaccine supply chains in Africa and advance equitable access to vaccines across the continent.”

The Director of the African Centre for Statistics at the Economic

Commission for Africa (ECA), Oliver Chinganya made the call at a recent webinar held under the theme, “Equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccines in Africa (ECOVA).”

ECOVA is a collaborative project between the African Health Economics and Policy Association (AfHEA), the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the ECA, funded by the International Development and Research Centre (IDRC).

At the virtual meeting, Chinganya said the Covid-19

had exposed our continent’s pre-existing development deficits, but also presented opportunities for an economic and social resilient recovery, which he said, would reinforce regional integration, coordination and partnership.

He said: “Africa needs to learn lessons from other parts of the world to increase vaccine supply chains, strengthen health infrastructure, and enhance access to finance and credible communication, including vaccine campaigns.

He further noted that the announcement of local manufacturing

expansion in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, as witnessed in South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, Ghana and Egypt, demonstrated the capacity and feasibility of vaccine manufacturing in Africa.

“Vaccine manufacturing in Africa can be enhanced by the establishment of technology hubs, research and development facilities, targeted education intervention to address skills deficit, policy formulation and implements to harmonize regulatory framework provides feasible framework that can be tailor-made to Africa’s specificities.”

Troops Kill 20 Bandits, Rescue Kidnapped Victims in Niger Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The operatives of the Joint Security Task Force have killed 20 bandits and rescued five kidnap victims during a clearance operation in Gaskiya Bana, a border community between Niger and Kaduna States.

Likewise, the Department of State Services (DSS) promised to deal ruthlessly with terrorists,

bandits and other subversive elements threatening the peace of the country.

The kidnapped victims were said to have been in the custody of the bandits for over one month.

The bandits were said to be working for a notorious bandits Kingpin Alhaji Leyi who has his operational base at Gaskiya Bana in Munya LGA. The operation lasted for about five hours.

Niger State Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Umar confirmed the incident.

He said saying the taskforce invaded the terrorist hideout who abandoned their victims and loot.

According to Umar, the task force ran into an ambush by the terrorists at Unguwan Aboki but were able to repelled them as scores were neutralised and others

forced to retreat.

The commissioner identified the rescued victims as Yakubu Abuba, Susan Sunday, Patience Sunday, Lazarus John and Bulus Yahaya adding that they were all abducted from Chukun village in Kaduna State about a month ago.

“All the victims have been debriefed and since reunited with their families after medical examination,” he said.

FCDA Revokes Diplomatic Plots of Ghana, Malaysia, Thailand

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has revoked the plots granted to the embassies of Ghana, Thailand and Malaysia for obstructing the construction of a major highway in the nation’s capital.

The affected plots were domiciled in the Diplomatic section of Abuja. They were marked for replacement many years ago to allow the construction of Ring Road One interchange on the arterial Inner Southern

Expressway (ISEX).

The Executive Secretary FCDA, Shehu Ahmad, confirmed the development while briefing the media on the efforts of the FCDA management to provide critical national infrastructure.

He said replacement plots were offered at some of the new layouts, which the authority was developing at Guzape ll to assuage the embassies affected by the major infrastructural project.

He noted that the issues had been resolved at the diplomatic level while the affected missions

had also accepted the offer of replacement plots to pave way for the construction of an interchange on that section of the road.

“We had some challenges with diplomatic plots. At Ring Road One we supposed to have an interchange there, but we had challenges there due to diplomatic plots.

“When you have an issue with an embassy it is like having an issue with the government of that nation. There were a lot of diplomatic moves made to ensure the resolution, but we have got

replacement plots and they have indicated readiness to accept this, and we will soon develop our interchange there,” Ahmad said.

ISEX otherwise known as the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Expressway is a strategic carriage that traverses Galadimawa and Games Village in Abuja.

It runs through Area 1, Area 2, the National Christian Centre, the CBN Headquarters and the Police Headquarters; down to the Villa Bridge before terminating at AYA Bridge as Inner Northern Expressway (INEX).

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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 DECEMBER 4, 2022

NEWSXTRA

Afreximbank in Talks With Geregu Power to Aquire Equity Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Geregu Power Plc has notified the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public of its discussions with the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) for the acquisition of a portion of Geregu Power Plc shares.

FEDA is the impact development arm of the Africa Export

and Import Bank (Afreximbank), Bloomberg reported.

“The discussions are currently on going and where these talks progress to a more advanced stage, the Company will notify the Exchange and the investing public in line with the rules of the Exchange,” Geregu Power said.

For the year ended December 2021, Geregu Power’s net

Wife of Detained Journalist Begs Taraba Gov to Release Husband Ayodeji Ake The Wife of the remanded journalist, Mercy Samuel has pleaded with Taraba State Governor, Mr. Darius Ishaku to direct the release of her husband unconditionally, saying his absence is tolling on the family.

Mercy made the call at a news conference she addressed in Lagos recently alongside the leadership of the Coalition of Journalists of Conscience (CJC) At the conference, Mercy noted that the absence of her husband, Ayodele Samuel “have been grave effects on the family.

Our children have not been going to school because the situation.”

Consequently, Mercy plead with the Taraba State Government “to release my husband if not for anything, but for the sake of the family.”

At the conference, also, the General Secretary of CJC, Akinwale Kasali called on the Nigerian Police, Taraba State

Police Command and Taraba State Governor, Mr. Darius Ishaku to kindly honour the court ruling and free Ayodele Samuel.

He said: “Samuel was arraigned at a court in Jalingo, presided by Garba S. Garba on a two-count charge of defamation and injurious falsehood. The charge was filed against him through the office of the Attorney General of the state.

“It comes as a reaction from nurtured grievance over a publication on page 5 of the Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper, dated September 17 with the theme, Taraba for Sale.”

“The publication alleges a possible sale of the Taraba state-owned Mambilla Beverages Company and state properties, including the liaison office in Abuja. Similar publications had appeared on other prominent Nigerian media publications on Taraba Truth and Facts without rebuttal.”

Oborevwori Promises to Ensure Good Governance Come 2023 The governorship of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has assured the people of the state that he would ensure good governance if elected governor next year just as he appealed to all and sundry to exercise their civic rights in the forthcoming general elections.

He made the promise at the 58th birthday anniversary of Pastor Triumphant Olorunfemi in Warri, describing himself as a politician with a mission of happiness and welfare

for all Deltans.

He said: “I asked God to bless my mission before I stated my purpose. Therefore, I am sure the pastor has graciously granted me the permission to use the occasion of his birthday to ask for your votes.

The people of Delta state deserve to be happy.

“God has endowed us with Material and Human Resources. I want to use the grace of the Almighty to extend the blessing of God to all Deltans through good governance come May 2023.”

Freddy Hirsch Introduces Texture, Stabiliser Systems for Food Industry Emma Okonji A leading producer and distributor of spices, ingredients and flavours for the food, dairy, confectionary and related industries, Freddy Hirsch Nigeria has introduced food texture and stabiliser systems to the Nigerian market.

This was revealed in a statement by its Managing Director, Kojo Brifo at the weekend.

Brifo said the current food situation globally and in Nigeria particularly “makes it imperative for the food industry to become increasingly innovative, if we are to achieve the objective of staving

off hunger and poverty in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.”

He said the Freddy Hirsch texture and stabiliser solutions would help to preserve food and minimize wastage and in so doing, help to optimize value for every Naira spent on food.

“They help to make food more enticing and therefore more appetizing. These features impact positively on all segments of the overall food value chain, translating to enhanced value for all the operatives – from food producers and distributors to caterers and most importantly, consumers.

income surged by 45.53 percent to N20.54 billion from N14.12 billion as at December 2020.

It earns sizable profit from business function for a given period as operating profit soared by 54.55 percent to N29.52 percent in December 2021 from N19.10 billion the previous year.

The Benedict Oramah-led bank stressed that it plans to buy shares in Geregu Power Plc, a leading power-generation company majority owned

by Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola.

“Geregu Power Plc hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public of its discussions with the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) for the acquisition of a portion of Geregu Power Plc shares,” the company’s secretary said in a statement.

The move, announced on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) at t.ge weekend, comes nearly two months after the Otedolaled power-generating company successfully listed its shares.

Although the specifics of the proposed transaction are currently unknown, discussions are ongoing as both parties move negotiations to a more advanced stage.

Geregu, a spin-off subsidiary of Otedola’s now-defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, successfully listed its shares on the Nigerian Exchange on October 5 at a price of N100 ($0.231) per share, giving it a market capitalization on the local bourse of N250 billion ($579

million).

The company’s shares have increased by 22.8 per cent since they were listed on the Nigerian Exchange, from N100 ($0.225) on October 5 to N122.8 ($0.276) on December 3 as retail investors, investment banks, and hedge funds continue to buy into the power company.

Geregu has grown into one of Nigeria’s largest powergenerating enterprises under Otedola’s ownership, using gas turbines as a clean energy source to generate power.

WE SHARE IN YOUR GRIEF …

L-R: The candidate of All Progressives Congress for Ogbia Federal Constituency in Bayelsa State, Chief Eddie Orubo; Chairman of Challawa River Farms Limited, Chief Inyang Etim-Inyang; governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, and his wife, Mrs. Bariyah Abe at the funeral of Orubo’s mother in Baylesa… yesterday

Police Confirm Eight Killed in Farmers, Herders Clash in Borno Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Police in Borno State have said that eight lost their in a clash between farmers and herders over alleged land encroachment in Bayo Local Government Area of in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Abdu Umar confirmed the incident at a meeting with leaders of farmer association and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), on Friday in Maiduguri.

He said report indicated that

violence erupted on Nov. 30, over alleged encroachment of farmlands and murder of a farmer by unidentified assailants in the area.

“Eight persons killed including children while 47 houses and six motorcycles burnt,” he said.

He said the police had restored normalcy to the area and arrested some suspects in connection with the disturbances, adding that the state government had provided relief items to the affected persons.

“This is a source of concern to the government and security agencies, the meeting is aimed at providing lasting solution to the problem.

“At the end, we shall come up with modalities to check movement of wandering herders into the state, especially in areas that witnessed violence,” he said.

According to him, a committee will be set up to enhance surveillance and monitoring as well as promote peaceful coexistence between farmers

and herders.

He said membership of the committee would comprised representatives of security agencies, farmers and herders associations.

In his remarks, Ahmadu Musa-Karube, Chairman of the MACBAN, called for proactive measures to address the root cause of the problem.

Musa-Karube said that lack of cattle routes and encroachment of farmlands were largely responsible for farmer/herder clashes in the state.

Sanwo-Olu Inaugurates 140-bed Hostel in Baptist Academy Oluchi Chibuzor Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has inaugurated a 140-bed hostel in Baptist Academy in Obanikoro donated by an old student of the1988 set, Mr. Ayodeji Fadoju.

Speaking at the inauguration, Sanwo-Olu noted the140-bed hall of residence, a single-storey dormitory, which was named “Kikelomo Hall” after the donor’s mother, Mrs. Kikelomo Fadoju,

represented a “befitting intervention”, which alumni associations could use to support their alma maters and provide platforms for academic advancement.

He said: “This is a clear testament to the can-do spirit of Lagosians and everyone who see themselves as partners of Government in expanding progress and ensuring that we can leave behind legacy that will outlive us.

“This is one of the ways we

can use our resources and talents to better our communities; and leave enduring endowment behind.

“I feel highly encouraged to come and identify with this noble cause when I saw the pictures of this beautifully designed edifice.

This is a landmark intervention from an old student to boost education access at his alma mater.

“This is a clear example for everyone of us, as interventions such as this can be identified

by Old Students’ Associations across our schools to change lives of students,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu used the opportunity to list investment and interventions provided by his administration to raise physical and learning standards in Lagos public schools.

He pointed out that his government had delivered over 1,000 new classrooms to bolster access to education and make learning easier for pupils.

Itsekiri Leader Faults New NDDC Board Appointment Sunday Okobi Itsekiri Leader, Chief Rita LoriOgbebor, yesterday charged President Muhammadu Buhari to review the new nominees for Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board in order to ensure justice, equity and fairness.

Lori-Ogbebor, a human rights activist, pointed out that the

Itsekiri Nation, being the ‘highest oil-producing ethnic group’ in Delta State, was left out of the nomination.

She expressed the concern at a news conference held in Lagos yesterday, lamenting that the new appointment did not reflect equity, fairness and justice.

She said: “Going by the NDDC Act, it is the turn

of Delta State to produce the leadership of the board.

The Itsekiri were rightful beneficiaries.

“Mr. President, we need justice and fair play. A list has just been released of the nominees for the NDDC board.

Mr. President, I don’t want to believe this list came from you.

“I hold this idea very strongly because they did it before. I am

not afraid of calling those who did it before your enemies and enemies of this country. They work for themselves and do not work for this country.

“Mr. President, I believe that nobody in your position will allow the list that was forwarded to the Senate. They did it before by sending a list of nominees to the Senate when you were away.

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 4, 2022

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B AC K PAG E C O N T I N UAT I O N WHY DO PEOPLE SELL THEIR VOTES? work out well and are not sabotaged, we stand a chance of experiencing one of the most credible elections in recent memory. Politicians may be forced to rely more on vote-buying than other standard forms of rigging.

Why do people sell their votes? The general tendency is for us to blame the voters. I have observed that there is a pattern of public enlightenment campaign asking people not to “sell” their votes because they would be selling their future and the future of their children. This is a fantastic campaign. It should be preached by clerics at every service. Artistes should sing about it. Journalists should hammer home the message at every turn. Truly, when you vote for someone because you have been induced with money or rice, you are throwing away your birth right in exchange for a mess of pottage. You have no right to turn back and complain that you are being misgoverned.

But the issues are deeper than heaping all the blame on the voter. It may amount to blaming the victims. I will explain by using Achebe’s story. We have to understand the nature and structure of politics and how it works in an underdeveloped country like ours. People do not play politics for nothing anywhere in the world. Why our case is slightly different, as I have said in a number of articles, is that our patronage system, with its low levels of accountability, has made government the centre of amassing wealth for yourself and your cronies. To be in government is like being awarded a mining licence to accumulate wealth without work and flaunt opulence in the midst of poverty.

People play politics with different motives and for different rewards. While there are those who genuinely want to help build a better society, some just want to take control of the levers of patronage. Some aim for appointments.

Some target contracts. Some want to protect their businesses. Also, there are those who vote for altruistic reasons. But there are people on the ladder who are only interested in the cash and the rice during elections. The next time they will get anything from the candidates again is in another four years when another election is due. All promises of roads, water and electricity may not materialise but at least they got vegetable oil.

When we say 70 percent of Nigerians live below the poverty line, we do not necessarily think this has implications. But there are people in this country who wake up in the morning with no idea of where their next meal would come from. This I know. There are people who have lost loved ones because they could not afford drugs as cheap as N1,000 or pay for diagnostic tests, which are even more expensive.

There are homes where parents and all the children are crammed into one room. That is the definition of poverty. When some of those who cannot feed their families get a small bag of rice at election times, we hope they would turn it down so that they won’t be selling their future.

Many voters are asking: what future are you talking about? Won’t I survive today first?

Does it even mean if I vote for a candidate that does not give money, he or she would automatically do well in office? There is no

such evidence. I recollect how the Alliance for Democracy (AD) swept the south-west in the 1999 elections. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shared plenty money but the voters either rejected the inducement or collected it without voting for them. In the end, only a few AD governors and lawmakers did well in office although they did well for themselves. As in the case of Chief The Honourable Marcus, AD supporters started demanding money in subsequent elections.

This brings me to the point at hand. Marcus was an ordinary son of Umuofia before he joined politics. He was a not-too-successful mission school teacher. Five years later, Chief the Honourable had acquired two “long cars”.

He had built the biggest house in the community, which he named “Umuofia Mansions”. He slaughtered five bulls and countless goats at the “housewarming” presided over by the Archbishop. There was no running water or electricity in the village, so Chief the Honourable installed a plant in his mansion. Everyone praised him. “Our son is a good man; he is not like the mortar which as soon as food comes its way turns its back on the ground,” one old man said.

But this made people discover the power of their vote. You mean our vote can turn a school teacher into an owner of “long cars”? Actually, voters are not blind: they see all these things.

They see how politicians who used to live in their family houses start acquiring property in Banana Island after getting into office. They see people who used to take night buses to Abuja now flying private jets. They know that

their votes matter. When these guys come around during elections, many voters expect frontloaded rewards because that is usually where the intercourse ends. Voters who are vulnerable think they can at least attend to existential needs for now; the future can wait.

We started this story with Roof and we must end it with Roof. After collecting Maduka’s money and swearing to the iyi deity, he was confronted with a dilemma when he entered the polling booth to cast his vote on the election day. How could he betray Marcus, even in secret? But why would he return the money to Maduka? The whole of five pounds? He took so long in the booth that the policeman had to ask the presiding electoral officer: “Abi na pickin im de born?” Roof eventually folded the ballot paper, tore it into two and dropped one each into the boxes for Marcus and Maduka. That way, he thought he had satisfied his conscience and pleased both sides.

Today’s voters do not seem to suffer the Rufus Dilemma. Some will collect money from whoever offers it. Some will attend any rally to share from goodies. But I am convinced that most already know where they are going, with or without inducement. In fact, inducement is just an icing on the cake for them. Thus, to my question, “Why do people sell their vote?”, my takes are: one, many really need the money; two, they can still vote for their preference; three, they want upfront dividend from the would-be political billionaires. Hence, campaigns against buying and selling votes may continue to yield little results. Still, it’s a message we must keep preaching loud and clear.

And Four Other Things…

RULE OF LAW Something is happening and I am eager to see where it will end. On Thursday, a court in Minna, Niger state, issued a warrant of arrest against Lt-Gen Faruk Yahaya, the army chief, for contempt. On Tuesday, a court in Abuja had sentenced Mr Usman Baba, the inspector-general of police, to three months in prison for disobeying an order. Weeks ago, a court ordered that Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), be remanded for contempt. They have all exercised their right to appeal, which is good for the constitution.

The orders may look like an academic exercise in an underdeveloped country, but they are still worth it. Progress?

TONGUE WAGGING Primary school pupils will now be taught in mother tongue, according to a policy of the federal government announced on Wednesday

by Mallam Adamu Adamu, the minister of education. It brought back memories: I was actually taught in Yoruba in primary school.

It was when we got to secondary school that Yoruba became “vernacular” and we were punished for speaking it within school premises. I believe government needs to show its workings in order to get the buy-in of Nigerians, else this policy will hit a brick wall. People are already tongue-lashing the government over the policy, asking what qualifies as mother tongue in a multi-lingual society. Sensitive.

STATE OF OSUN One thing that amuses me about my beloved country is the elevation of symbolisms into an art of governance. Osun state woke up one day and decided, in the spirit of “true federalism”, to change its name to “State of Osun” because that is what the federating units in the United States are called. And, you know, the US offers the ultimate definition of federalism to the Nigerian advocates. Since the name change more than 10 years ago, Osun has not proved to be more developed than any other state. I will keep saying this till I draw my last breath: it is good governance that develops a country — not symbolisms, not federalism, not presidentialism, not parliamentarianism. Fact.

WORLD ‘CUPSETS’ Qatar 2022 World Cup is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic ever, full of upsets. Saudi Arabia overcoming Argentina?

Cameroon beating Brazil? Germany losing a qualification spot to Japan, who (trust me, I am not joking) defeated Spain? Korea outscoring Portugal? The shock results were everywhere.

Meanwhile, this is the first World Cup since 1994 that no single team won all its group matches. My heart bleeds for the star-studded Belgian team who must now go into history as one of the most underachieving ever. In other news, only Senegal and Morocco are carrying Africa’s flags in the second round. I am now quietly hoping that the drama will keep unfolding. Phenomenal!

HOW OIL DOLLARS GUSH BECAME A TRICKLE per barrel and just $755 million in June 2022 when Brent crude sold for $122.71 per barrel?

As said earlier, many factors are at play. I will highlight three inter-linked factors that have impacted revenue and forex inflows from the sale of Nigeria’s crude oil. The first is the precipitous decline in our oil production. From a peak of 2.5 million barrels of oil per day in 2005, we are now struggling to produce one million barrels per day. Many people, including those in government, are eager to blame oil theft for the decline. This is not the full picture.

Oil theft has been a feature of the sector for a while. It is only more noticeable now because overall production has shrunk by more than 50%. The reason why we are struggling to meet our OPEC goes beyond oil theft. The humbling fact is that our oil industry has been on a slow but steady decline overtime on account of under-investment, aging infrastructure, policy flip-flops, incessant vandalism, and fiscal uncertainties. Focusing on only oil theft will necessarily dispose decision-makers to awarding pipeline protection contracts and increasing security budgets while leaving other important issues unattended to.

The second factor is that the share of oil that goes to the Federation has also been falling both as an absolute number and as a percentage. It is worth saying that not all the oil produced in the country goes to the government because there are different production arrangements. Apart from the Joint Ventures (JVs) under which the government gets equity share in oil produced and the Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) under which government may receive profit oil and gets PPT and royalties in oil (called in-kind payments), companies operating under other production arrangements keep their oil. Under these arrangements, companies’ obligations to government are taxes, royalties and other fees

Emefiele

which they pay in cash. This should be pretty obvious, but I have encountered not a few highly placed Nigerians who think the country keeps and sells all the oil produced here.

Federation’s share of oil produced in Nigeria has been adversely affected by two developments. The first is the changing structure of oil production in the country. Most of our production used to come from the JVs, which gives government more share of oil produced, as the country owns between 55% and 60% of the JVs. The production balance has shifted from JVs to the PSCs, which favour the companies more. According to a 2019 analysis by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), JVs accounted for 98% of oil produced in Nigeria in 1998 but only 32% in 2018.

The second related development is that over the time, some substantial and prolific Federation assets have been divested to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the upstream arm of NNPC. NPDC has a curious ownership structure: it is owned 100%

by NNPC, and not by the Federation. What this means is that even when the assets are not fully paid for, the oil produced from them belongs to NPDC and not to the Federation. Ordinarily, this should be a moot point since NPDC is owned by NNPC which in turn is owned by the Federation. But there is a Chinese wall here that doesn’t allow for a Pareto equilibrium: NNPC’s gain is the Federation’s loss.

These two factors have combined to slice Federation’s share of oil produced in the country from 56% of the 828 million barrels produced in 2000 to 28.2% of the 682 million barrels produced, according to NNPC figures, between July 2020 and July 2021. This shows that the Federation received 465 million barrels of the share of oil produced in 2000 but only 192 million barrels produced in the thirteen months between 2020 and 2021, a decline of almost 60% in Federation’s share.

But the decline in quantum and share of oil production doesn’t explain zero or near zero revenue and inflow from oil sales. The rub is in the significant change in how we allocate whatever the Federation receives. The oil belonging to the Federation is typically split into two: Domestic Crude Allocation (DCA) and Federation Export. The DCA is intended for local petrol needs. NNPC pays for this in Naira since the petrol is sold in Naira, and makes upfront deductions for subsidy, repairs/ maintenance and crude losses. As the name implies, Federation Export is exported, and sold and paid for in dollars. The Federation used to receive full value in dollars through

its account with CBN. DCA accounted for only 7% of Federation oil in 2000. In 2005, the government decided to allocate the 445,000 barrels per day, the installed capacity of the four government refineries, as DCA. This increased DCA’s share of Federation oil to 35%. In short order, the allocation to DCA and Federation Exports were about 50:50. At some point, some portion of DCA used to be exported and paid for in dollars too. The increase in allocation for domestic consumption created a perverse incentive and laid the ground for the current mess.

With the introduction of the Direct Sale and Direct Purchase (DSDP) arrangement to bring in refined products and the massive decline in government’s share of oil, Federation Export started the journey to oblivion. Currently, all the oil the Federation receives as its share (and sometimes plus PPT and royalties paid in oil) now goes to the barter arrangement to bring in petrol, which is sold locally beneath landing cost. This means that even in the best of circumstances, we can only receive Naira and not dollars from crude sales as everything now goes to DCA. The cessation of federation oil export is a double whammy: no accretion to foreign reserves from a major source of forex inflows and no remittances to the Federation from a major source of income. Ordinarily, the Federation should earn more money from high oil prices.

But we now barter all our oil for petrol and petrol is sold at a subsidised price. The higher the price of oil, the higher the subsidy, and the more NNPC will deduct for subsidy and sundry costs. FAAC records show something more interesting than the well-known fact that NNPC has not made remittances to the Federation for some time: the Federation is actually owning NNPC subsidy arrears. Amazing stuff!

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 4 , 2022

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SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Fear Heightens as Pele No Longer Responds to Cancer Treatment ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ğ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢

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Lionel Messi celebrating scoring against Australia which is his record 1000th game in his football career

Battle of Lions at Al Bayt as England, Senegal Gun for Q’ final Ticket

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head of t o n i g h t ’s Round of 16 clash between England and African champions Senegal at the Al Bayt Stadium, Three Lions’ Manager, Gareth Southgate yesterday warned his players never to take theTeranga Lions for granted as that could prove disastrous.

Southgate agreed that his England have been tagged one of the favourites to win the tournament here in Qatar after finishing as semi finalists in Russia four years ago as well as emerging runners up at the Euro 2020 hosted on home soil.

“We don’t forget that Senegal are African champions and have some excellent individual players who can cause problems for us,”observed the former England international who insists he has no intentions to underestimate the Senegalese tonight.

“We have been very impressed with Senegal. We know they are African champions and are very proud and have great spirit and belief in their team,”Southgate said at the pre-match briefing on Saturday.

“We will be considered the favourites and Senegal the

underdogs but that doesn’t really mean anything in a one-off game.”

Despite the absence of injured Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane, Aliou Cisse’s men have won as many games as England in the tournament, with both teams earning two victories in the group stage.

Senegal are also fresh from winning their maiden African Cup of Nations crown last year in Cameroon.

“Sadio is an incredible player and every team would want to have him but Senegal have become very strong in his absence,” Southgate further stressed.

“They have shown great spirit through losing him. We have got to be at our very best to win the game. Cisse has done a fantastic job. We know the size of the job ahead of us.”

After coming close to silverware at the last two major tournaments, England are hoping to take the final step

in Doha.

Southgate believes the experience his players gained during those runs to the latter stages will stand them in good stead as they chase England’s first trophy since the 1966 World Cup. “We learned a lot from playing seven matches at the last two tournaments and the need to keep the players involved emotionally,”he said.

“The biggest thing is the expectation levels. In Russia when we qualified from the group stages we were probably more excited than this time.

“There was an awful lot of noise after our draw against the United States, but we’ve stayed on track and qualified as well as anyone else.”

Southgate must decide whether to retain Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford in England’s attack after both impressed with goal-scoring displays in the win over Wales.

Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount were all left out of the Wales game, underlining England’s strength in depth in forward areas.

“It is a good position to be in, you want your players to be in a confident mood and our forward players certainly are,” Southgate said.

“Of course you want to make the best possible decision but in some respects I am not sure there is a right or wrong. Whichever players we start with we’ll need the bench as well.”

England captain Harry Kane remains without a goal at the tournament after finishing as top scorer in the 2018 edition.

But Kane said:“I’d love to be sitting here with two or three goals by now. Going into the knock out stage, I feel really good. I feel as match fit as I’m ever going to feel. Only time will tell. I can try and come into the best form with these knockout games.”

RESULTS Netherlands 3-1 USA Argentina 2-1 Australia

TODAY France v Poland England v Senegal

(4pm) (8pm)

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when Christian Pulisic was denied the lead by the legs of Dutch goalkeeper, Andries Noppert, and the failure to take that opportunity proved highly expensive.

Louis van Gaal’s ‘Orange Gang’ responded in the finest Dutch traditions in the

10th minute when Memphis Depay crowned a magnificent 21-pass move by turning in Denzel Dumfries’ cross.

The US battled hard but lacked a cutting edge and were punished once more in similar fashion with the final kick of the first half when Daley Blind arrived with perfect timing on the end of another Dumfries cut back.

under palliative care, being treatedonlyforsymptomssuch as pain and shortness of breath.

His manager and the Albert Einstein hospital, in São Paulo, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A medical report released on FridaysaidPeléhadanadequate response to an antibiotic treatment and was in a stable condition“withgeneralimprovement in health status”.

Hehadatumourremovedfrom hiscoloninSeptember2021and has been receiving hospital treatment on a regular basis.

Pele... stops responding to chemotherapy treatment

National Sports Festival: Dare Salutes Delta Govt, LOC

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he Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, has heaped praises on the Delta State Government and the Local Organising Committee for the ongoing 21st National Sports Festival for staging an amazing opening ceremony for the event.

Dare told newsmen at the weekend that he was elated with the commitment and professionalism exhibited by the officials of the LOC and the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration.

The Minister said: “I was in constant touch with the entire LOC but my surprise is the commitment demonstrated by the government to ensure the games take off as planned.

“The LOC had the full support of Governor Okowa and it made the operational preparations very smooth. We all knew any further shift could mean that the competition will not take place till say April next year, but we all saw what Delta has presented to us here in Asaba.

“As Nigerians, we should all be proud of the facilities of the Delta 2022 Sports Festival. We expect fresh talents to emerge from there and we are also going to take all the events seriously with a view to identify future champions in the country.”

Dare also expressed delight over the activities of the opening ceremony of the games.

“The entire process was good. This is our own Olympic Games, and I am impressed that the LOC gave us a good show on Wednesday. It was colourful and exciting. This is a huge standard for the next host to chase and we expect the events to also go on smoothly till the final day on December 10 in Asaba,” the minister noted.

It’s Argentina, Netherlands Q’final Clash ȱ ȱ ȱŗŖŖŖ ȱ ȱ ȱ

The Netherlands Hit USA 3-1 to Reach Last Eight he Netherlands survived a late scare against the United States to move into the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals with a ruthless 3-1 display finishing at the Khalifa International Stadium here in Doha, Qatar.

The US had the game’s biggest early chance

orld football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento otherwise known as Pele, is in the twilight of his life sojourn as he’s no longer responding to treatment for the colon cancer he has been battling for years.

News out of Brazil yesterday reportedthattheglobalfootball icon, is now receiving palliative care after chemotherapy treatment for colon cancer stopped having the expected results, it has been reported.

Pelé, 82, who is widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, was admittedtohospitalonTuesday to re-evaluate his cancer treatmentandlaterdiagnosedwitha respiratoryinfection,according to medical reports.

Folha de S. Paulo, a Brazilian publication reported that chemotherapy had now been suspended and that Pelé was

The Dutch were given anxious moments when the US pulled a goal back in the 76th minute as Haji Wright’s freak deflection from Pulisic’s cross looped in at the far post.

But they restored their two-goal lead five minutes later when creator Dumfries turned scorer, side-footing in a volley at the far post from Blind’s cross.

L

ionel Messi’s dream of the World Cup trophy remained on course yesterday as he led Argentina to defeat Australia 2-1 and set up a quarter final clash with The Netherlands.

Australia were content to frustrate their opponents at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, but Messi carved the Socceroos open in trademark fashion as half-time approached – picking out the bottom-left corner to net.

If Argentina’s first goal was sublime, their second bordered on the ridiculous as Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan gifted possession to Julian Alvarez, who made no mistake to seal the win.

Australia halved the arrears when Craig Goodwin’s effort deflected off Enzo Fernandez and beyond Emiliano Martinez, but Argentina never looked likely to be pegged back as they teed up a quarter-final clash with the Netherlands.

Sunday December 4, 2022

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PDP to Tinubu “If Tinubu cannot face Nigerians as a candidate, because of his many baggage, he surely does not deserve their votes on February 25, 2023” – The PDP berating the presidential candidate of APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, for always turning down town hall meetings.

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SIMONKOLAWOLE Why Do People Sell Their Votes?

SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

I

n ‘The Voter’, a short story written by Chinua Achebe in 1965, the legendary novelist narrated the adventure of Rufus Okeke (“Roof for short”), a famous little man in the fictional village of Umuofia.

The village’s most illustrious son, Chief The Honourable Marcus Ibe, of the People’s Alliance Party (PAP), was contesting to return to the parliament. He was the minister of culture in the outgoing (and definitely incoming) government. Roof, and the entire village, naturally had to support him. Roof was Marcus’ keyman in the campaign. But villagers had seen how Marcus’ fortune changed within five years of being in government. They were no longer going to vote for him for free.

Marcus was prepared. He gave Roof jute bags full of coins to share. On the eve of the election, Roof made a rousing speech to the elders. “We have a Minister from our village, one of our own sons. What greater honour can a village have? Do you ever stop to ask yourselves why we should be singled out for this honour? I will tell you: it is because we are favoured by the leaders of PAP. Whether or not we cast our paper for Marcus, PAP will continue to rule. Think of the pipe-borne water they have promised us,” he said and dropped two shillings for each elder. They were

INEC Chairman, Yakubu

not as enthusiastic as he had expected. After all, Marcus did not give them money in the previous election.

Ezenwa, one of the elders, got up and declared: “We believe every word you say to be true. We

shall, every one of us, drop his paper (vote) for Marcus. Who would leave an ozo feast and go to a poor ritual meal? Tell Marcus he has our papers, and our wives’ papers too.

But what we do say is that two shillings is shameful.” Roof thought they didn’t see the money clearly because the room was dark, so he shined the lamp on the coins. Ezenwa was unmoved, retorting: “Yes, two shillings is too shameful. If Marcus were a poor man which our ancestors forbid, I should be the first to give him my paper free, as I did before. But today Marcus is a great man and does his things like a great man.”

He concluded: “We did not ask him for money yesterday; we shall not ask him tomorrow. But today is our day; we have climbed the iroko tree today and would be foolish not to take down all the firewood we need.” Roof retreated, put his hand in the bag and added one more shilling each, which he put on the floor. “I am through,” he said, pretending to be defiant. “Go cast your paper for the enemy if you like!” The elders knew they had reached the end of the bargain and quietly picked the coins from the floor. Pretending to still have some dignity left, they spoke in turns to calm the temper and rekindle the brotherhood — of course, with three shillings nestling in their pockets.

Now the twist. The “enemy” Roof spoke about, the Progressive Organization Party (POP), reached out to him shortly after with something greater than shillings: five pounds. Placing the notes on his table, they pitched: “We want your vote.” Roof said, feebly: “You know I work for Marcus. It will be very bad…” But they replied: “Marcus will not be there when you put in your paper. We have plenty of work to do tonight; are you taking this or not?” No need to narrate what happened next.

“It will not be heard outside this room?”

Roof asked.

“We are after votes not gossip,” they replied, and then made him swear to the powerful iyi deity that he would vote for Maduka, the POP candidate.

Vote-buying, the art of inducing voters to cast their ballot in favour of a candidate, did not start yesterday. It has been with us for decades.

In every election season, it is a major topic. It may yet be the most dominant topic in the 2023 elections because with the measures being put in place by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), multiple voting, ballotsnatching, ballot-stuffing and vote-padding may become much more difficult. If these measures Continued on page 70

WAZIRIADIO POSTSCRIPT

How Oil Dollars Gush Became a Trickle

T

he recent disclosure by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, about the drying up of Nigeria’s oil dollar inflows has generated different kinds of reactions, ranging from surprise to recriminations.

According to Emefiele, monthly receipt from crude oil sales has dwindled from an average of $3 billion in 2014 to ‘an absolute zero dollars presently.’

This appears counterintuitive, unbelievable even, in a year when oil prices have touched historical heights. But the disclosure will not be a total surprise to those who have been paying close attention to Nigeria’s oil sector. There has been, expectedly, a lot of finger-pointing.

And to be sure, there is enough blame to go round.

But before and beyond dishing out blames, it is important to understand how and why Nigeria has landed in this terrible patch.

Some commentators have harped on a single reason. But while one or two factors may have played major roles, the simple fact is that there are many factors at play and they act in concert. Some have been around for a while and some are recent. What we have

now is a perfect storm. And unfortunately, a perfect storm at a time when we should be reaping massive windfalls from historically high oil prices, and which should translate not just to increased revenue for all tiers of government but also to improved savings and greater accretion to our foreign reserves. None of these is happening.

A few quick clarifications will be necessary before we delve into the reasons why oil dollar inflows have almost dried up. This is not the first time that the CBN will be saying this. In July this year, the CBN issued a report titled ‘the Forex Question in Nigeria: Factsheet’ where it claimed that “domestically, there has been zero dollar remittance to the country’s foreign reserve by the NNPC”. NNPC quickly rebutted with a half-clever claim that it had indeed remitted $2.7 billion into its CBN account in the first half of 2022. The national oil company provided monthly breakdown and the categories of remittances to its CBN account. Lost in the claim and counter-claim is the tragedy that has befallen crude oil sales, which used to account to a significant portion of revenue from the oil and gas sector and of forex inflows into the country.

It is important to also clarify that total revenue

to government from the oil and gas sector has not diminished to zero, even with the fact that NNPC has not made remittances to the Federation Account for some time now.

Revenue flows to the Federation Account from the sector include royalties, fees and fines, concession rentals, signature bonuses, NLNG dividends, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and sale of crude oil and gas. Save for crude oil sales, the other sources of revenue have not disappeared, even if they are shrinking too because they are mostly tied to volume produced. The claim by the CBN governor is about inflows from sales of crude oil.

While CBN’s claim is an attempt to extricate itself from being held accountable for the plunge in the supply of dollars and can be seen as self-serving because some of its actions also negatively impact forex inflows from other sources, available facts back up the claim by the CBN governor on oil sector forex inflows. A dataset compiled from CBN’s Statistical Bulletins from 2008 shows that oil inflows through the CBN have been moving in tandem with oil prices, until very recently. This means that oil inflows through the CBN are usually high when oil prices are high and usually head south when oil prices plummet. But consistently, oil

sector inflows used to account for more than 70% of total forex inflows through the CBN. In June 2008, for example, oil forex inflows amounted to $3.16 billion or 96.04% of the $3.29 billion total forex inflows through the CBN. The oil inflows crashed to $1.99 billion or 86.52% of the total CBN forex inflows of $2.30 billion in January 2010. A highpoint was in March 2014 when oil inflows hit $4.79 billion or 98.15% of the total $4.88 billion CBN forex inflows. However, the precipitous decline started in February 2015 when both the quantum and proportion of oil inflows began a downward spiral. Oil inflows came to $1.52 billion or 59.6% of total CBN inflows that month, then plunged to $574 million or 30% of CBN inflows in June 2016.

But the datapoint that should focus minds and should serve as a segue to the topic at hand is that as at June 2022, oil inflows plunged to $755 million or a mere 18.06% of total forex inflows through the CBN. Even when we make allowance for time lag in remittance of oil revenue, how come oil inflows through CBN were $4.79 billion in March 2014 when average price for Brent crude was $107.48 Continued on page 70

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