SUNDAY 11TH DECEMBER 2022

Emefiele: CBN, Banks to Promote Exports with over N500bn Says apex bank to continue FX sales to banks National Arts Theatre to receive additional $100m Masari backs cash withdrawal limit Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos

Emefiele, has said the apex bank and the Bankers’Committee would commit a minimum of N500 billion in loans to export-oriented firms in a bid to enhance non-oil export

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin

earnings.

Emefiele, who made this known at a press briefing to close the 2022 Bankers’ Committee Retreat yesterday in Lagos, also vowed

that the CBN would continue to support banks with the foreign exchange needs of their customers because of the gains recorded from the RT200 programme.

With this development, the CBN may have reversed its earlier proclamation to discontinue foreign exchange sales to banks by the end of this year.

The CBN governor also disclosed that the Bankers’ Committee, in its latest assessment of the works done Continued on page 5

Nigeria's Public Debt Stock Rises by N1.22tn in Three Months… Page 6 Sunday 11 December, 2022 Vol 27. No 10106

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At Abuja Rally, Atiku Reiterates Commitment to Restructuring, Increased Security Chuks Okocha in Abuja The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has promised to restructure Nigeria and give the

indigenes and residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) constitutional recognition if elected president in 2023.

He also promised to enhance security nationwide with special

attention paid to Abuja because of its special status as the nation’s capital.

Atiku made the pledge during the PDP Presidential Campaign rally, at Eagle Square Abuja, yesterday.

The former vice president who appealed to the people of the FCT to vote for him said: “If you give us your support again, we will do more than what we did between 1999 and 2015 for the residents

of Abuja.

“All your entitlements under the current constitution, all the appointments that belong to Abuja will be given to Abuja. You know that we have done so before and

we are going to do so again.

“If what you have demanded requires constitutional review, we assure you that we shall support Continued on page 5

Close Ranks to Avoid Defeat in 2023, Buhari Tells APC Members

Promises to hand over Nigeria free of insecurity Leaves for Washington DC to attend US-African leaders' summit Tinubu returns from UK

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday assessed the readiness of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 general election with a call on members of the party to close ranks ahead of the polls billed for the first quarter of next year.

Speaking while receiving Katsina State APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dikko Radda and his running mate, Faruk Lawal Jobe, at his Daura residence, the president urged members of the party to unite and cooperate as a prerequisite for victory in the coming elections.

This is coming as the presidential candidate of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, has returned to Nigeria from London, the United Kingdom, where he addressed the Chatham House, on his presidential ambition.

President Buhari said the party's leaders need “to sit together,” to avoid divisions and ensure unity to avoid defeat in elections.

He said he received frequent Continued on page 5

ROYAL BLESSING… Sitting L-R: Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi; Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun; Standing L-R: High Chiefs Eddy Oyewole (OsiOlubadan); Kola Adegbola (Ashipa Balogun); Hamidu Ajibade (Ekerin Olubadan); Tajudeen Ajibola (Otun Balogun); Owolabi Olakulehin (Balogun of Ibadanland); and Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe (Osi-Balogun), during Obi's courtesy visit to the Olubadan in his Alarere, Ibadan residence…weekend

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Osinbajo: Carbon Credit Market Can Create Positive Effect on Nigeria’s Economy Says Nigeria, other African nations ready to activate carbon plans Deji Elumoye in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has declared that participating in the carbon market would not only offer Nigeria and Africa the opportunity for growth, industrialisation and job creation for its teeming population, but also provide the right incentives for clean energy and climate action.

According to him, the Carbon Market pipeline could create 30 million jobs in the next decade, with the potential to create more than 100 million jobs through climate aligned projects by 2050.

Osinbajo made this disclosure in a keynote address at a highlevel international meeting on Africa Carbon Market Initiative (ACMI) hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation in New York City, USA, where he stressed the importance of building the carbon markets architecture in Africa.

He stressed that participating in the carbon market offers Africa the opportunity to pursue growth, industrialisation, economic value creation, with the right incentives for clean energy and climate action.

The meeting explored potential opportunities which carbon markets offer to generate resources for clean energy transitions while accelerating economic growth in Nigeria and other African countries.

Speaking against the backdrop of global rapid expansion of the carbon markets, the vice president noted that Africa currently only has a small share of this carbon market, but the current market can be scaled in a massive way – to reach FDI of $120 billion to $200 billion annually.

For a continent that needs $240 billion annually in mitigation investment alone, this carbon finance stream could be the

CLOSE RANKS TO AVOID DEFEAT IN 2023, BUHARI TELLS APC MEMBERS reports on the ongoing campaigns in Katsina State and felt happy that so much hard work was being put into the exercise.

The president for the umpteenth time reiterated his determination to allow the reign of free, fair and credible elections in the country, adding that the outcomes in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states were testimonies of that resolution on his part.

He added that he felt honoured by the visit and wished the party a very good outcome in the contests.

Buhari Leaves for Washington to attend USAfrican leaders' summit Meanwhile, President Buhari will today, December 11, 2022, depart for Washington, United States to join other African leaders at the United States-Africa Leaders’ Summit.

According to a statement issued yesterday by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, the High-Level Meeting which holds from December 13 to 15 is at the instance of the United States President, Joe Biden, who looks forward to “working with African governments, civil society, diaspora communities across the United States, and the private sector to continue strengthening our shared vision for the future of US-Africa relations.”

The event is expected to demonstrate the United States enduring commitment to Africa, and underscore the importance of US-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared global priorities.

On the first day, President Buhari will speak on the topic: Conservation, Climate Adaptation and a Just Energy Transition, dwelling directly on the ''Just Energy Transition'' component.

He will also address some of the other sub-themes of the Summit as well as participate in the US-Africa Business Forum (USABF) hosted by the US Department of Commerce which focuses on increased trade and investment between the United States and African nations.

On the sidelines of the Summit, the Corporate Council of Africa will host the Nigerian delegation to a US-Nigeria Business and Investment Forum Business Roundtable during which Nigerian organisations and businesses are expected to sign agreements with their American counterparts.

President Buhari is expected back in the country on Sunday, December 18.

Meanwhile, the presidential

candidate of the APC, Senator Tinubu, has returned to Nigeria from London, the United Kingdom, where he addressed the Chatham House, on his presidential ambition.

However, unlike his previous foreign trips, there were no airport ceremonies or photographs released to the public about his return from UK. Though the former Lagos State governor returned at about 5am yesterday, his campaign team did not release any airport ceremonies or photos to the public.

The APC presidential campaign council had announced that Tinubu would be embarking on a trip to UK, US and two other countries to campaign from December 4.

According to his campaign team, the essence of the trip was for him to meet global leaders regarding his presidential aspiration.

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the APC, Senator Tinubu, has returned to Nigeria from London, the United Kingdom, where he addressed the Chatham House, on his presidential ambition.

However, unlike his previous foreign trips, there were no airport ceremonies or photographs released to the public about his return from the UK. Though the former Lagos State governor returned at about 5am yesterday, his campaign team did not release any airport ceremonies or photos to the public.

According to his campaign team, the essence of the trip he embarked on December 4, was for him to meet global leaders regarding his presidential aspiration.

Buhari Promises to Hand over Nigeria free of Insecurity In another development, Buhari said he is ready to hand over Nigeria free of insecurity to the next administration.

Buhari made the promise yesterday at the 46th Convocation ceremony of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, at Oduduwa Hall Amphitheatre of the University, in Ile-Ife. Represented by the Director, Academic Planning at the National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr. Biodun Saliu, the president reaffirmed his commitment to the security of lives and property.

“We remain firmly committed to the security of lives, property and investment across the country.

“This administration will continue to confront all forms of banditry, criminality, terrorism and insurgency in the land.

“I promise to hand over a Nigeria that is free of insecurity to the next administration,” the president said.

difference between transitioning and not (transitioning).

Emphasising the market's benefits for the African continent at the Rockefeller Foundation meeting, Osinbajo said the combination of capital flows, job creation, and avoidance of long-term climate destruction are critical drivers of the interest of African leaders in supporting this effort.

“As all of us in this room understand well, the priorities of the African continent are not just to act decisively on the climate crisis, but to also create significant growth opportunities for our young and growing population.”

Commenting on the challenge of funding, Osinbajo noted that the investment required to advance the energy transition in Africa is huge as World Bank estimates suggest that Africa needs $6.5 trillion US dollars between now and 2050 for mitigation action alone to keep temperatures below 2 degrees of warming.

Lauding the positive Pan-African

efforts at developing carbon markets on the continent, he noted that the rapid progress recorded in Africa benefitted from the support of a very engaged Steering Committee with President Duque, the UN, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), USAID, and a range of other public and private actors, which resulted in the successful launch in Sharmel-Sheikh COP-27.

“The strong commitment and presence from fellow African leaders demonstrate the willingness and leadership of Africa. We already have seven African countries (Burundi, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria and Togo) signed up to develop country carbon activation plans and over $200 million in Advanced Market Commitments – which we must continue to further advance as this is going to be the critical driver of action on the Continent.”

Osinbajo then commended the support and assistance on the progress recorded so far on the

African Carbon Market Initiative, including from the US government, relevant UN bodies and other international organisations like the Rockefeller Foundation, and GEAPP. According to him: “I think it’s an auspicious moment for Africa to be participating more fully in the global carbon market conversation, especially in the light of the slowing pace of green investment flows into the continent.

“The work several of us have done together in the past few months, makes it clear that while other sources of flows are slowing down globally Carbon Markets are growing rapidly.”

The Vice President further observed that other initiatives demonstrate that there is growing acknowledgement of the role of carbon finance.

“One of the strong points of ACMI and the way we must structure it going forward, in terms of governance, is the flexibility to smoothly work with

other initiatives, and there will be many others".

Referencing the Energy Transition Accelerator announced at COP27 by the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, the Vice President said, “two days to the opening of Cop 27, Sen. John Kerry and I had a conversation about the proposed Energy Transition Accelerator and we both agreed that once the details were worked out, we would work out a collaborative framework with ACMI.” He further said: “The key really in the brave new world of energy transition initiatives is collaboration, and synergies. I look forward to speaking to Senator Kerry and aligning our efforts – especially on power sector credits, which will be central to keeping up and delivering on the momentum we’ve worked so hard on.”

Osinbajo noted that the single biggest thing standing in the way of making rapid progress on emission reductions is the absence of money dedicated to the cause.

AT ABUJA RALLY, ATIKU REITERATES COMMITMENT TO RESTRUCTURING, INCREASED SECURITY that constitutional review so that your aspirations are protected and guaranteed in our new constitution.

“More so, we have pledged to restructure this country, in the process of restructuring, we shall give you all that you are demanding.

I want to assure you that, and I want to promise you that.

“Currently we have challenges.

Can you imagine Abuja is not secured? Can you imagine Abuja the federal capital not secured? We shall protect Abuja and secure it for your safety,” he added The PDP candidate further said, “of course, you are aware of our five-point agenda. We shall unify this country. Every part of this country will be given a sense of belonging.

“No part will be sidelined; no part will be marginalised. That is how to bring a sense of unity to a country like Nigeria.

“We have pledged to restore security; it is very essential that we give everybody peace: a farmer peace to go to the farm, a trader peace to trade, peace to everybody.

“It is only when there is peace that we can undertake our different aspirations.

“We have promised that education is key to youth development. We

have the highest number of outof-school children.

“We will make sure that these children go back to school. Not only that, we will make sure that our universities reopen forever and ever.

“The people of Abuja - before anybody feels the impact of the government, you will be the first because you are in the federal capital. I promise that a PDP administration will fulfil all these obligations. We thank you very much indeed.“ Also speaking at the event, the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu urged indigenes and residents of the FCT to continue to keep faith with the PDP as they have done over the years.

He said: “We won AMAC, we won Kuje, we won Bwari, in other words, Abuja is PDP. We don’t need to come and campaign for you because we know what to do.

“More importantly vote for our president Atiku Abubakar, because he knows what you are going through, every citizen of Abuja is suffering.

“Our suffering is rising with the high cost of rice, a bag of rice is almost N50,000; most of us will not enjoy Christmas because of the

APC, we are suffering from the high cost of gas, a kilogram of gas we don’t know how much now?

“These people who came with lies to vote for them have created so much poverty that today Nigeria is the capital of poverty in the world.

He lamented that under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s debt profile has risen to a level that most Nigerians now hide in shame.

According to him, with Atiku as President, this trend will be reversed and the economy will bounce back.

Ayu also said: “We don’t want an experimental president, we don’t want a president who will come and deceive you and would not know what to do.

“You know we wake up one day here in Abuja and we were threatened that the whole of Abuja is going to be attacked, insecurity is affecting everybody many of you all over the country you can’t travel to your home states because the roads are blocked by bandits, the railways are blocked by bandits, the airports are attacked by bandits, we can’t run a country controlled by bandits. Return this country to the PDP and see what we will do

for you.“ On his part, the Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, said, “Atiku is the man that can speak to this economy and the economy will start jumping, the man that will speak to the economy of Nigeria and it will come back to life.

“Today even fuel - we don’t have fuel to come to this place, everything that PDP left has all vanished, Atiku is ready to tackle everything in this country, tackle youth unemployment, tackle the restiveness in this country, people will have other things to do.”

Also, the Director General of the Campaign and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, said, “Atiku Abubakar has experience of governance at the National level, at the federal level. He is very familiar with the issues of the FCT and I am sure, he will address all of that when he comes on stage.

“Let me reassure you that this team, being led by the unifier, is prepared from day one, to provide real leadership, for the reunification, for the restructuring, re-securing and the recovery of Nigeria from all its challenges.“

EMEFIELE: CBN, BANKS TO PROMOTE EXPORTS WITH OVER N500BN at the National Theatre, realised that an additional $100 million would be needed to complete the second phase of the project.

This is coming as Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has thrown his weight behind the new policy on cash withdrawal limit announced last week by the CBN. Emefiele said: “In an attempt to boost the volume of export repatriations, there is a need to continue to support our exporters who may need facilities either to bring in equipment with which they can process their goods and make them a high standard that can qualify for export abroad and earn higher value. So the bankers' committee decided that every year and it should be measurable, the entire banking industry must grant at least a minimum of N500 billion in loans to export-oriented companies that will generate measurable export receipts and non-oil export proceeds that will complement what the CBN is doing.”

“The CBN will come up with modalities where it will insist that bank A should grant a minimum of X amount in export loans and

naturally the big banks will have to take a bigger share of this pie.

But we also see that the big banks have made tremendous progress and contribution towards the repatriation that we have seen so far on RT 200,” he said.

The latest Bankers’ Committee meeting was themed ‘Increasing the Productive Base of the Nigerian Economy and Non-Oil Export Revenues’.

Emefiele noted that the RT200 had in its first-year experienced resounding gains, adding that with the commitment to the exportoriented business, there would even be larger non-oil earnings in the coming years. With this, he said the CBN would continue to supply banks with the foreign exchange need of their customers.

He said: “We highlighted the tremendous progress that has been made because we recall that in the year before we started the RT 200, the central bank had threatened the banks that they must begin to source their FX to meet the needs of their customers and not entirely rely on central bank sources.

“But seeing the progress that has been made so far, we're talking about $62 million plus $622 million

plus $850 million, we are talking of almost $2 billion so far. We think that with the progress and based on the progress that we have made so far, the CBN will continue to support the market with foreign exchange, albeit as hard as it may be.

“We will continue to support the market while the banks themselves continue to ramp up their own sources of non-oil exports that can earn FX through repatriation, which they can use to fund the needs of their customers. So, that is good news; I'm sure for those who are asking me ‘are you stopping?’ I'm sure this is the information that you'd like to hear,” he added.

On the National Arts Theatre, Emefiele noted that the Agribusiness/Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS), gets five per cent of profit after tax from banks to fund small businesses, adding that this will be the source of an additional $100 million needed to complete the national theatre.

“I must confess that when we started this project both phase 1 and phase 2 would be completed with $100 million but unfortunately when we took on the dimensions,

and the scope of projects yesterday, we found out that this was going to run through those $200 million.

This is presently being funded from AGSMEIS fund and the bankers' committee resolved that we would take the remaining part of that fund to complete this project because we believe that this is a viable project.”

Speaking on the progress of the RT200 programme, the governor said tremendous progress has been made in generating non-oil export revenues in 2022.

“Remember, the RT 200 programme started in February 2022. during the six weeks in February and March when the programme started, and rebates of N65 were being given, export proceeds or repatriation that earned rebate was about $62 million, during the second quarter export proceeds repatriation that earned rebate was about $622 million and in the third quarter, we saw almost about $850 million of export proceeds that earned rebate.

“This is not export proceeds that did not earn rebates. Let's not forget the rebate is only meant Continued on page 10

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NEWS

INVESTMENT EXPERTS… L-R: Managing Director, Afrinvest Capital, Mr. Suru Daniels; Chief Operating Officer, Afrinvest, Onoise Onaghinon; Group Managing Director, Mr. Ike Chioke; Managing Director, Afrinvest Asset Management, ETOP UKUTT Mr. Christopher Omoh; and Chief Investment Officer, Afrinvest Asset Management, Mr. Robert Omotunde, at the Afrinvest Investment Strategy Outlook 2023 in Lagos....yesterday

Nigeria's Public Debt Stock Rises

by N1.22tn in Three Months Domestic debt service gulps N820.59tn in two months Lagos increases stock by N80bn, Delta dips N106bn Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Nigeria's public debt stock rose by 2.85 per cent from N42.84 trillion on June 30, 2022, to N44.06 trillion as of September 30, 2022, the latest figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO), have shown.

According to the figures, Lagos State, which retained the number one position as the most indebted state in the country, increased its domestic debt burden by N80.33 billion in three months from N797,305,312,602.53 as of June 30, 2022, to N877,035,995,031.70

by September 30, 2022.

Lagos is trailed on the domestic debt stock by Delta State with N272.61 billion (N272,612,510,528.95), a decrease of N106.265 billion from the N378,878,236,830.75 it posted on June 30.

The debt management agency explained that the N1.22 trillion rise in three months was caused by the federal government’s borrowings to part-finance the 2022 budget deficit as well as fresh borrowings by the states.

A total of N26.92 trillion of

THISDAY Reporter Wins MTN Foundation Chairman's Award Peter Uzoho

A journalist with THISDAY Newspapers, Vanessa Obioha, has been honoured with MTN Nigeria Foundation Chairman's Award for her innovative reportage on the foundation.

A fellow of the MTN Media Innovation Programme, Obioha was presented with the award at the graduation ceremony held at Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, yesterday.

The inaugural MTN Media Innovation Programme kicked off in May with 22 media professionals selected from different sectors of the media.

The six-week MTN-funded programme, spread across six months, including a study trip to South Africa where participants visited the MTN's Group office.

In collaboration with the School of Media and Communication, PanAtlantic University, the MTN Media Innovation Programme is designed for innovative storytellers and media leaders to equip them with new skills needed to function in the rapidly changing media world.

"Our goal is to help you understand our industry better and advance your reporting skills," said the Chief Corporate Services Officer (CCSO), MTN Nigeria, Tobechukwu Okigbo, at the ceremony.

The MIP fellows engaged in intensive sessions on courses covering modern income streams for journalists, creativity and innovation, entrepreneurship and management principles, 5G, IoT and blockchain technology, business and media ethics, and strategic planning skills, among others.

Also rewarded at the ceremony was Mr. Mike Okwoche, the Senior Anchor and Head of Newscasters at Television Continental (TVC) who took the Chairman Award for his innovative project, and Elsie Godwin, the Marketing Manager of Cassava Network, who was recognised for diligence in studying three courses simultaneously.

A graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism with distinction in Mass Communication, Obioha joined THISDAY as a contributing writer in 2012 and became a staff member in 2016, covering lifestyle and entertainment.

However, she has ranged broadly across the newspaper pages, reporting on politics, business, sports, tourism, and other subjects.

Recently, she started contributing to the Gaming Week column of the paper.

In 2015, she was nominated for the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Awards.

Obioha recently took a screenwriting course with the New York Film Academy.

the N44.06 trillion public debt is the domestic component while N17.15 trillion is external debt.

Further analysis of the debt figures indicates that the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) accounted for N5.363 trillion (N5,363,848,402,749.44) of the domestic stock of N26.92 trillion, leaving the federal government with a balance of over N21 trillion.

A statement posted on the DMO website said: “Total public debt stock, which comprises the total domestic and external debt stock of the Federal Government of Nigeria, all the state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) stood at N44.06 trillion.

“In comparison, the total public debt figure as of June 30, 2022, was N42.84 trillion. The total domestic stock as of September 30, 2022, was N26.92 trillion while the total external debt stock as of September 30, 2022, was N17.15 trillion.

“The increase in the debt stock was largely due to new borrowings by the federal government to part-finance the deficit in the 2022 Appropriation Act, as well as, new borrowings by sub-nationals.”

Meanwhile, a state-by-state analysis of the domestic debt profile shows that Lagos retained the number one spot as the most indebted state in the country.

As of June 30, 2022, the total domestic debt stock of the nation’s economic nerve centre stood at N797.3 billion (N797,305,312,602.53).

However, the state increased its domestic debt burden by N80.33 billion in three months from N797,305,312,602.53 as of June 30, 2022, to N877,035,995,031.70

by September 30, 2022.

Lagos is trailed on the domestic debt stock by Delta State with N272.61 billion (N272,612,510,528.95), a decrease of N106.265 billion over the N378,878,236,830.75 it posted three months back (June 30).

Ogun has the third highest domestic debt with N241.782

billion (N241,782,021,304.96), the same figure it posted on June 30.

Rivers is fourth on the domestic debt scale with N225.5 billion (N225,505,011,356.00).

However, the DMO explained that the Rivers State figure was as of September 30, 2021.

The debt management agency's figures also revealed that the federal government’s actual domestic debt service payout between July and September 2022 stood at N820.59 billion.

The debt instruments for which the amount was used to service were the Nigeria Treasury Bills (NTBs), Federal Government Bonds, FGN Savings Bonds and Treasury Bonds.

Onaiyekan: Nigeria Hasn’t Reached Total State of Anarchy Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has said Nigeria has not reached a state of total anarchy, stressing that the country’s flag was still flying though it was dirty and tattered.

The cleric stated this yesterday while delivering a keynote address at the 70th anniversary and commemoration lecture of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) with the theme, 'The State of the Nation'.

Onaiyekan said it was also difficult to understand how the country got to where it is today and how it needed to turn a better page for her development.

He noted that he had no intention of going into details about the problems facing the nation, adding that the rays of light in the clouds should not be ignored.

The cleric said there might be a few people who are in and outside of government who might be quite happy with the present situation, stressing that this might be because they are beneficiaries of the performance of the government.

Onaiyekan pointed out that he believed there was large-scale grumbling on the part of the vast

majority of Nigerians.

He noted that the ongoing political campaigns for the 2023 elections are replete with catalogues of failures of the government, even from candidates in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He was of the view that this sense of dissatisfaction and grumbling was not without reason.

He said the state of insecurity was making almost every aspect of national life problematic.

He argued that the worst is the inability of the state to prove an answer to how to keep the nation safe.

His words: "The situation of our social services that have been running down is affecting almost everyone. In particular, social services that are under government control have suffered major neglect, whether in education or health services, roads or sanitation.

Often, Nigerians have to fend for themselves. But there is a limit to how much individuals can cater for all their needs.

"There is also growing poverty in the land. We are being told now that we are the “poverty capital of the world”. All the usual statistics point to the fact that Nigerians are being progressively impoverished.

This is not just a matter of dry

statistics. It is a question of quality of life and level of livelihood, right down to the basic needs of our lives. What do we eat? What shelter do we have? How do we take care of health needs?

"And undergirding all these negative factors is the major issue of mass pervading distrust of government on the part of citizens.

It is certainly a major problem if people can no longer trust their government to be looking after their interests. The government will need to do a lot to regain this trust which is necessary for any government to function."

Despite the above glooming scenario, Onaiyekan noted that he could not say that everything was all bad with the nation.

He added: "Many people, especially foreigners, have been predicting that Nigeria will soon become a failed state. I do not believe that we have reached that stage nor do I think that we shall reach that stage any time soon.

"The flag of the nation is still flying even though it is dirty and tattered. I am saying this because basic institutions are still functioning even though not at an optimal level. A bad or weak government is better than no government at all.

"I do not believe we have reached a state of total anarchy.

We still have a police force and armed forces and other security agents, once in a while performing their duties.

"There is of course the proverbial Nigerian resilience, constantly managing to survive under conditions that would appear unbearable,” he added.

Speaking further during the panel discussion session, Onaiyekan said the decision of the APC to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket was political.

The cleric reiterated that while the ruling party was entitled to take such a decision, it should also be prepared to bear the consequences of the political decision.

But, in a counter-argument, a former Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Juma'at Mosque, Abuja, Sheikh Mohammad Khalid, said Nigeria was sick and needed a healer irrespective of his religion.

He said having succeeded in fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket, the campaign ought to have shifted to the issue-based campaign, saying instead of security, healthcare system, and education, among others, the country was still discussing religion.

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UN Secretary-General Urges FG to Investigate Mass Abortion Report Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Despite strong denial by the Nigerian military authorities, the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, has called on the federal government to investigate allegations of systemic and coerced abortions reportedly perpetrated by its army.

Reuters had reported that the Nigerian Army was running a secret, systematic and illegal abortion programme in the country’s North-east since at least 2013.

The programme allegedly involved terminating at least 10,000 pregnancies among women and girls, many of whom had been kidnapped and raped

by Boko Haram, according to dozens of witness accounts and documentation reviewed by Reuters.

But the Nigerian Army had denied conducting a years-long "illicit programme" to carry out abortions among women and girls who have been victims of Boko Haram militants, calling the report "a body of insults on the Nigerian peoples and culture."

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, said the military would not investigate the allegation because the report was not true.

But Guterres speaking through the UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, called on the federal government to thoroughly investigate the allegations and punish those involved.

“The Secretary-General takes note with concern of the allegations of systemic and coerced abortions reportedly perpetrated by the Nigerian Army against women and girls who had already been victimised by Boko Haram,” Dujarric said in an email to Reuters.

He called for a thorough investigation and “immediate

remedial actions and accountability measures,” if such measures were necessary.

“We call on the Nigerian authorities to fully investigate these allegations and make sure there’s accountability,” Dujarric told reporters later at the weekend.

A US State Department spokesperson said the Joe Biden administration was “deeply troubled.”

“Our embassy in Abuja is seeking further information, including from the government of Nigeria and stakeholders working in this space,” the spokesperson said. “We have encouraged the government of Nigeria to take the allegations seriously and to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation, and we will continue to do so.”

The Nigerian military had

accused Reuters of trying to blackmail the Nigerian military through “fictitious and wicked” reportage.

“Wickedness really runs in the veins of some people and it surely runs deep in the veins of the Reuters team that concocted such evil for interrogation. The fictitious series of stories actually constitute a body of insults on the Nigerian peoples and culture for,

no people or culture in Nigeria practises such evil as dreamt up by the Reuters team,” the Director of Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, said in a statement.

“Irrespective of the security challenges we face as a nation, Nigerian people and cultures still cherish life. Hence, Nigerian military personnel have been raised, bred and further trained to protect lives, even at their own

risk, especially when it concerns the lives of children, women and the elderly. Hence, nowhere has the Nigerian military operated that, there hasn’t been any trace or allegation of infanticide. The Nigerian military will not, therefore, contemplate such evil of running a systematic and illegal abortion programme anywhere and anytime, and surely not on our soil,” Akpor stated.

WE COME IN PEACE YOUR EXCELLENCY… President Muhammadu Buhari (left), and son of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu, Mr. Seyi Tinubu, when the president received in audience members of the APC Youth Wing of the Tinubu-Shettima Campaign Council led by Seyi in Daura, Katsina State…yesterday

FG Approves Immediate Disbursement Presidency: Alleged Misappropriation of of Cabotage Fund by Five Banks N89.09tn Stamp Duties by FG Unfounded Gilbert Ekugbe President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate disbursement of the $ 350 million Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) by five banks.

The Minister of Transportation, Mu'azu Jaji Sambo, disclosed this yesterday during the flag-off of the third phase of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) TERRA II in Lagos.

According to the minister, the disbursement would increase the indigenous capacity in the maritime sector.

"The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has approved my request for the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund.

I believe that finally, we are going to break the 17-year-old jinx that has hindered the expansion of the industry.

"When we disburse these funds in days to come to the beneficiaries deserving of it, we have made a case that the funds belong to you, ship owners. Mr. President is a man who respects the law and he is on the same page with us that we should proceed with immediate effect," Sambo said.

He added: "We will be liaising with the minister of finance for budget implementation and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to work immediately with the approval.

We have pledged to the president

that they would continue to allow the funds to go into the treasury single account. However, whenever the money hits the threshold of $50 million, the CBN upon recommendation from NIMASA and the Federal Ministry of Transportation would inspect the transfer of the funds to the primary lending institutions.

"This milestone development, together with this ceremony, go hand-in-hand because there is a nexus between seafaring, ship, capacity building and making sure ships are available and with this approval, I am sure our indigenous capacity would grow higher and not even the sky will be the limit," he added.

Responding to questions about the primary lending institutions in charge of the funds, the minister listed Union Bank, Polaris, Zenith Bank, United Bank of Africa and Jaiz Bank.

He added that the guidelines for the funds are very clear, saying that applicants will contribute an equity of 15 per cent, NIMASA 35 per cent while the balance of 50 per cent would be provided by the approved banks.

"Other additional requirements or eligibility will include but not be limited to such things as a contribution to the fund. Other things we will be looking at will be the issue of off-taking. If you do not want your loan to go bad, the easiest way to guarantee payback is that the applicants show you

that they already have off-taker for their vessels," the minister said.

The CVFF is an intervention fund created by the federal government for the development of indigenous shipping capacity in Nigeria for the maintenance of existing vessels or the purchase of new ones.

The ministers, however, stated that the collapse of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) has no doubt created a gap in the manpower development of the shipping industry in Nigeria, especially in the area of shipboard training and manning.

He also said the implementation of the coastal and inland shipping policy increased the demand for Nigerian seafarers which at that time was in gross shortage.

"In addressing the aforementioned shortfall the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) midwifed the Nigerian Seafarers’ Development Programme (NSDP) in 2008. The programme as an intervention was designed to train Nigerian youths to become seafarers. The choice of foreign Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs) was mainly based on the capacity and certification of the Institutions in the area of maritime training Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping

Says entire networth of nation's financial sector less than N50tn Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The Presidency has reacted to allegations of misappropriation or embezzlement of Stamp Duties funds and cover ups by officials of the administration, made on Friday by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Gudaji Kazaure, saying it's a figment of his imagination.

Kazaure, who claimed to be Secretary of the Presidential Committee on the Reconciliation and Recovery of All Stamp Duties, had alleged a connivance by some critical operatives of the administration, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Protocol Department of the State House, to prevent him from briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on findings so far made.

Speaking with reporters in Hausa language on Friday, Kazaure said he was blocked from seeing President Buhari in order to brief him on progress report on efforts to trace trapped the said N89.09trillion.

Responding to Kazaure's allegations last night, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said it was unbelievable that a member of the Parliament Continued on page 10 would claim to be Secretary

of an Executive Committee, adding that such mix would be unconstitutional.

He further pointed out that President Buhari had since dissolved the Committee Kazaure is claiming to be its Secretary, but noted that there is another Committee, Chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, set up in June 2020 by the President, which is still executing the task of reconciling Stamp Duties accounts.

Shehu's words: "In the first instance, the committee on the alleged loss of stamp duty funds he is talking about is an illegal committee, it was dissolved on directive of the President.

"Anyone familiar with our constitution will find it curious that a member of the Parliament is the secretary of an Executive Committee. It suffices to say that the entire networth of the nation’s financial sector, the assets of the banking sector put together, is not worth N50 trillion, not to talk of the kind of money he is talking about.

"The central bank assures that there is absolutely no problem, whatsoever, with money from Stamp Duties.

"There is a committee duly set up by the President in June 2020, chaired by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and the Secretary is the Chairman of the

Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS) that is currently reconciling the stamp duty accounts. The job is not finished.

"As it is, there is nothing to give credence to wild accusations made against the administration.

"Following speculation and the many allegations, earlier investigations were commissioned by government departments and agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation and nothing sensational has been discovered by them.

"Issues of reconciliation are being handled".

On the allegation that Kazaure had been prevented from meeting with the president in his efforts to expose his findings to him, the presidential spokesman said there could be no truth in that as the legislator is known to be a friend of the president, with an unfettered access whenever he desires to see him.

He said: "As for Hon. Gudaji seeing the president, I'll like to assure that there is nobody that can stop him from seeing the number one citizen. Hon. Gudaji is a friend of the president. He sees him as many times as he wants and he is welcomed to come and see him again and again."

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OILY AFFAIR… L-R: Chairman, Petroleum Club, Mr. Austin Avuru; Guest Speaker and World Bank Country Director, Nigeria, Western and Central Region, Prof. Shubham Chaudhuri; Chairman, Board of Adviser, Dame MUBO PETERS Bridget, Mr. Uduimo Itsueli; and Member, Advisory Board, Petroleum Club, Dr. Godswill Ihetu, at the quarterly dinner 2022 of Petroleum Club in Lagos…yesterday

INEC Laments Stakeholders’ Poor Understanding of Electoral Act Warns politicians against provocative outbursts during campaigns Chuks Okocha in Abuja Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has lamented the poor understanding of the Electoral Act by key political actors and stakeholders in the country.

It cautioned politicians and political parties against using provocative and abusive words during campaigns in Katsina State.

The Director of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye, stated this at the weekend during a media/civil society organisations’ parley with the electoral body on identifying and mitigating flashpoints of electoral misinformation and disinformation.

Organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) with support from the European Union (EU), the event brought together eminent personalities, including the Chairman, Senior Fellow of the Centre for

Democracy and Development, Professor Jibrin Ibrahim.

Speaking in a keynote address, “Issues, Perspectives and Flashpoints of Electoral Misinformation and Disinformation,” Okoye said stakeholders were yet to transit from the Electoral Act 2010 to the new Electoral Act, 2022.

He also identified the poor understanding of the commission’s processes and procedures by those who ought to know some of the issues the public should be aware of and be guided accordingly.

Meanwhile, INEC’s Head of Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) in Katsina State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim-Umar, has cautioned politicians and political parties to avoid using provocative and abusive words during campaigns in the state.

Ibrahim-Umar gave the caution at a stakeholders’ forum at the weekend in Katsina.

According to the INEC official,

political campaigns should be conducted in a peaceful, orderly and mature manner.

He explained further that, “Electoral Act 2022 Section 92 (1-6) stipulates how political campaigns should be conducted.”

He said the law provides that “a political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly, especially as such is likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings.

“Also, Electoral Act 2022 Section 92 (1) says political campaigns, rallies and processions should not be conducted in places designated for religious worship, police stations, and other public offices.”

Ibrahim-Umar warned further that political campaigns should also not promote, propagate or attack political parties, candidates, and their programmes or ideologies.

“Political parties and contestants need to internalise what constitutes

FG APPROVES IMMEDIATE DISBURSEMENT OF CABOTAGE FUND BY FIVE BANKS (STCW) by International Maritime Organisation (IMO)," he added.

He noted that the initiative targeted training globally competitive officers that would erase the unfortunate discrimination that existed between local and foreign-trained officers in practice.

"However, efforts are ongoing in the area of upgrading local Maritime Training Institutions to enable them to take up the NSDP training shortly.

“It is worthy of note that the NSDP has so far been a success story and has further advanced the human capacity development programme of the federal government," the minister explained.

He added: "I have been made to understand that the programme had produced a female tugboat captain in the person of CANUS EBINIPRE ROBINSON and several deck mates and second engineers currently sailing in both coastal and international vessels. The NLNG has in the meantime employed more than 44 NSDP officers and still counting.

This is quite commendable and calls for more concerted efforts towards ensuring that the NSDP graduates are gainfully employed," he averred.

He pointed out that the success of the laudable policy cannot be over-emphasised

therefore the Federal Ministry of Transportation will continue to encourage and partner with NIMASA on NSDP and other policies on the development of a sustainable maritime-based economy (Blue Economy).

"We urge the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the nation and justify the massive investment in you. This programme is a rare opportunity that is highly sought after by your peers, but providence has placed it on you and must be guarded jealously for the development and benefit of the nation. We will continually monitor your progress in the programme and will not hesitate to discipline the recalcitrant ones among you," he urged.

Earlier, the Director General, of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said the disbursement of the funds would be in two folds, which he described as the naira and dollar components.

For the naira component, he said the fund is about N60 billion while the dollar component is about $350 million.

He said the flag-off marked another milestone on the human capacity development drive of the maritime industry as championed

by NIMASA. He said the programme was designed to train Nigerian youths up to degree level in Marine Engineering, Nautical Sciences and

Naval Architecture in some of the best Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs) abroad and to position them to compete effectively in the global maritime industry.

He lamented that the number of Nigerian seafarers on oceangoing vessels had depleted over the years and the urgent need to boost it adequately for effective implementation of the coastal and inland shipping policy of the government, informed the initiative.

"At some point, it was said that Nigeria had less than 10 seafarers on ocean-going vessels, while countries like the Philippines had over 400,000 and currently earn over $6 billion in forex inflow from their seafarers employed around the world.

He said countries like India, Indonesia and China also have their nationals all around the world working in the maritime industry, expressing the hope that with continuous progress made and better projections in the NSDP, Nigeria will soon be among the major players in the global maritime sector.

"It is important to note that from inception to 2020, the programme has enrolled 2,041 students, while 892 are now licensed deck and engine officers including naval Architects, the rest are in their final stage of the programme," he said.

campaign regulations or restrictions as contained in the Electoral Act 2022, to avoid committing an offence that is liable to conviction to fine, imprisonment, or both.

“As the saying goes, ‘ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

Transparency in these areas boosts confidence in the election processes on the part of contestants and voters.

“This may serve to shed light on any unfair practices or potential abuses of state power where they exist,” Ibrahim-Umar, said.

He said the Electoral Act directed and empowered the Commissioner of Police in each state and the FCT to provide adequate security for the proper and peaceful conduct of political rallies and processions in their jurisdictions.

He said: “And for this purpose,

the police may be supported by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and any other security agency of the federal government.

“Therefore, no registered political party in Nigeria, its aspirants or candidate shall be prevented from holding rallies, processions or meetings at any time for their constitutional political purposes.

“And also, the police shall in a consultative manner, resolve any conflict of time and venue between and amongst parties where such arises.

“A political party shall for political rally or procession, issue in writing a notice to the commissioner of police of the state, indicating the exact venue and time of the rally or procession and pledging peaceful conduct and

control against violence or public nuisance.

“Political parties shall transmit to the commission, through the Electoral Officer at the Local Government Area and the Resident Electoral Commissioner at the state.

“Both should be in hard and soft copy, details of the schedule of their political rally or procession, at least 10 days to the date of the procession or rallies.”

He pointed out that the notice shall be jointly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the political party for national campaign rallies and processions.

According to him, in the case of state campaign and procession, the notice should be jointly signed by the state chairman and secretary of the party.

EMEFIELE: CBN, BANKS TO PROMOTE EXPORTS WITH OVER N500BN for processed goods. So, by the time we add both processed and unprocessed goods like cocoa and cashew to the processed goods, we ran into almost $1 billion during the third quarter and we are beginning to think that we should be able to continue to ramp up. We are looking hopefully for the fourth quarter; we hope that we should be able to hit over a billion dollars in export proceeds and repatriations that will qualify for a rebate.”

He also stressed that for the success of RT200, some verticals such as transportation, and infrastructure needed to have immediate solutions to promote exports.

“At the RT200 summit in April, we agreed we will collaborate with many of the state governments that are willing to roll-up export terminals; unfortunately, we did not see any remarkable response from the states. Only two states wrote, Delta State, Lagos and Ogun states also discussed with us.”

“However, because we can't wait for long gestation programmes, we are looking at low-hanging fruits because there is no time. We must make sure that those who want to conduct export activity should be able to do so with minimal problems.

“We are working with Lagos Lekki Ports, which is currently going through pre-commissioning or test running and enjoyed some facilities from our banks through our intervention facility and all that.

We'll be talking to them about how

we can use them at least for now given the congestion at Apapa and Tincan and how exporters can divert their cargo for export through the Lekki Port.

“In the area of airports, we would be working with the Ogun State government which has completed an air cargo export terminal for items to be airfreight.

“Our interest is that exporters conduct their activities in a very seamless manner.

“On infrastructure, we are working with Infraco to fund the road projects from Lekki to Ondo to help facilitate the transportation of goods from Lekki ports to other parts of the country.”

Masari Backs Apex Bank’s Cash Withdrawal Limit Meanwhile, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has thrown his weight behind the new policy on cash withdrawal limit announced last week by the CBN. According to him, the policy is good and would hasten the development of the country's economy.

Speaking with journalists yesterday shortly after paying a courtesy call on President Muhammadu Buhari in his Daura home, Masari said, "the new cash limit policy will help the economy.

"Now, all the money has not been in the banking sector. The central bank governor said that they have mopped over N1 trillion into the banking sector which was starched

in soak-ways and other places.

"We believe by the end of the transition to the new currency, the remaining trillion will be back in the banking sector. I think it is very good for the economy," he said.

On why the governors have not said anything about the policy, Masari said, "What is wrong with it except one who stockpiles millions in his house and is afraid to bring it."

Asked if the governors were happy with the cash withdrawal limit, Masari said "because I am...".

On the purpose of his visit to the president, he said: "When you have a president visiting your state, you need to come and see how well he has been since his arrival.

“So, fundamentally, that is what brought me here and also to find how he is coping with his two or three days holiday here in his hometown in Daura, Katsina State.

So it's essentially a private visit."

On what Nigeria should expect from Katsina in the 2023 elections, the governor said APC will have more votes than ever because they have worked and empowered the people.

"Well, I think it will expect more votes for APC here in Katsina state.

APC has performed well at the national, state and local government.

"We have done well in Katsina State; we have been able to touch the lives of millions of people in Katsina State; we have been able to have a presence in all the 361 wards of Katsina State and the social intervention has cut across and in Daura.”

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11 , 2022

BUSINESS

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

Fuel Subsidy Drama Raises Spectre of Hardship 7KH FXUUHQW HSLVRGH RI IXHO VFDUFLW\ LV QRW HQWLUHO\ GLͿHUHQW IURP WKH SUHYLRXV VXSSO\ FULVLV LQ 1LJHULD +RZHYHU ZKDW LV GLͿHUHQW LQ WKH FXUUHQW VLWXDWLRQ ZKLFK EULQJV LQ LWV ZDNH DQ LQGLVFULPLQDWH SULFLQJ of petrol and the attendant hardship to Nigerians, is the seeming acquiescence of the authorities, raising suspicion about the collapse of fuel subsidy arrangement, writes Festus Akanbi

I

n Nigeria and virtually all over the world, the month of December is usually heralded with a profound sense of tranquillity associated with the Yuletide season. As a harbinger of a new year with the attendant hope for a better life, December is usually considered a period of celebration devoid of the stress and anxiety which might have characterised the earlier part of the year.

It is in December that most corporate organisations decide to close their accounts DQG UHZDUG WKHLU VWDͿ VKDUHKROGHUV DQG customers for a good performance in the course of the year.

For manufacturers of household goods including promoters of small-scale businesses, December is usually a period of bumper harvest as families make last-minute purchases to celebrate the end of the year.

Unfortunately, the prevailing fuel scarcity in the country has turned the 2022 yuletide season into a period of extreme anguish and pain for Nigerians who are left at the mercy of the twin problem of rising insecurity and devastating fuel scarcity.

Expectedly, costs of living have shot up, UDLVLQJ WKH VSHFWUH RI D KLJKHU LQÁDWLRQ UDWH for the month of December.

In Lagos, with its attendant infrastructural gaps, transport fares are becoming prohibitive as well as the cost of food and other essential items, and ditto for other urban areas as movements are painfully curtailed.

6RFLRORJLVWV IHDU WKDW DV IDPLOLHV ÀQG LW Choatic situation on a Lagos road as fuel scarcity bites harder LQFUHDVLQJO\ GL΀FXOW WR FRSH ZLWK WKH ULVing cost of living, crime rates may be on the LQFUHDVH DV SHRSOH EHFRPH FRQÀQHG IUXVWUDWHG been blamed by the Independent Petroleum The Politicisation of Subsidy Removal and hopeless.

Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) :LWK WKH SRVLWLRQ RI ,30$1 ZKLFK KDV for the fuel crisis across Nigeria. never been controverted by the NNPC, As Fuel Nozzles Dry up Explaining the situation in a statement last analysts said it’s obvious the current crisis It is indeed a period when car owners have week, the Ogun State chapter of IPMAN said in fuel distribution could be blamed on the to keep vigil at fuel stations, which are dotted the federal government and NNPC have failed politicisation of the fuel subsidy programme. with endless queues as many fuel stations to make the product available for IPMAN at Although President Muhammadu Buhari, could not dispense the products as a result DͿRUGDEOH SULFHV who also doubles as the Minister of Petroleum of disruptions in the supply chain. This has Astatement signed by the branch’s chairman Resources had told Nigerians that fuel subsidy led the marketers to the choice of waiting for at IPMAN’s Mosinmi Depot, Femi Adelaja, would be removed in the second half of 2023, supply from the Nigerian National Petroleum indicated that PMS is not available in any of the current scarcity, according to watchers of Company (NNPC) Limited or to source the the NNPC depots, forcing the oil marketers the unfolding development, should be taken product from alternative markets. as a precursor to subsidy removal. to patronise private depots.

For almost a month now, relying on the They wondered why the federal government Unfortunately, relying on private depot NNPCL for supply is like waiting for the owners means Nigerians will be compelled ÀQGV LW GL΀FXOW WR UHPRYH WKH FRQWURYHUVLDO proverbial camel to pass through the eye of to buy fuel at a very high cost. It was learnt subsidy outrightly instead of postponing the the needle as most of NNPCL fuel depots are that IPMAN members purchase petrol at a evil days. empty. The only alternative is to go elsewhere premium price at private depots compared to They maintained that the silence of the where fuel is sold far above the target prices. the price of the commodity in NNPC depots. federal government on when the current This has resulted in a hike in transportation Adelaja in the statement said, “Leader- scarcity and indiscriminate pricing of the costs and the loss of man-hours by businesses, ship of IPMAN in Ogun State has noticed product would end should be taken as a particularly those within the transportation with serious concerns, the scarcity of petrol signal that the government can no longer sector who have to wait for long hours to get commonly referred to as petrol across towns sustain the subsidy programme and that it the product. and cities in Ogun State, with its attendant is silent because of the possible backlash of As of last week, a litre of petrol was sold hike in the dispensing price above the federal such disclosure on the 2023 general election. at varying prices between N200 and N300 government stipulated price.

IPMAN also attributed the current problem in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and “Be informed that this crisis was not caused WR WKH GL΀FXOW\ LQ DFFHVVLQJ IRUHLJQ H[FKDQJH many other states of the federation.

by IPMAN, but rather, the federal government by marketers.

The spike in price and the attendant dif- and the NNPC, who have failed to make The Operations Controller of lPMAN, ÀFXOW\ RI JHWWLQJ IXHO QDWXUDOO\ UHÁHFWHG LQ the product available for our members at Mike Osatuyi, in a report said it had become the transport fares, making it extremely costly DͿRUGDEOH SULFHV necessary to inform the general public that to embark on inter-state journeys.

“As we speak, petrol is not available in any the lingering scarcity of petrol was due to For residents of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo who of the NNPC’s depots across the country. the unavailability of the product.

KDG KHDYHG D VLJK RI UHOLHI RYHU WKH DͿRUGDELOLW\ He alleged that the NNPC had stopped “The few litres being sold to members of of the train services, it was a shock when the the public by our members were secured importing enough petrol to meet demand UDLOZD\ PDQDJHPHQW DQQRXQFHG GLͿHUHQW from the management of private depots in in the country.

OHYHOV RI IDUH LQFUHDVH HͿHFWLYH 'HFHPEHU Lagos, who would sell the product to us at Osatuyi was emphatic that marketers 2022.

DQ H[RUELWDQW SULFH RI EHWZHHQ 1 DQG could no longer sell at the regulated price THISDAY gathered that the service increased N220 per litre. because the unsteady supply of petrol had WKH UDWH IRU LWV ÀUVW FODVV FDELQ IURP 1 “Prior till now, IPMAN members do get our UHVXOWHG LQ KLJKHU SULFHV DW WKH GHSRWV ´:H to N9,000, its business class from N4,000 to supplies from the NNPC depots at N148.17k, are experiencing scarcity because the product 1 ZKLOH LWV PRVW SRSXODU VLGH PRYHG but since it’s not available in these depots, is not available.

IURP 1 WR 1 Over the years, policies aimed at removthe private depot owners in Lagos now sell WR XV DW D SULFH RI 1 N H[FOXGLQJ WKH LQJ IXHO VXEVLGLHV KDYH EHHQ PHW ZLWK VWLͿ The Blame Game cost of transportation and other handling opposition and have sometimes led to The federal government and NNPC have and overhead costs. widespread public protests. For instance,

in 2021, the International Monetary Fund RͿHUHG VRPH UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV WKDW 1LJHULD needs to remove subsidy for the country to PDLQWDLQ ERWK ÀVFDO DQG PRQHWDU\ EDODQFHV IROORZLQJ WKH DIWHUPDWK HͿHFW RI WKH JOREDO pandemic.

According to a newspaper editorial, most of the arguments for the removal of fuel subsidy have always bordered on the need to free resources for education and healthcare and take necessary steps towards long-needed reforms since the country can no longer sustain the cost.

Despite the validity of the arguments against the subsidy, the legitimate criticism against the Nigerian government is that it has done a poor job in planning for the subsidy removal and in communicating the huge costs of the IXHO VXEVLG\ DQG WKH EHQHÀWV RI LWV UHPRYDO WR WKH SRSXODWLRQ $PLG WKH WUXVW GHÀFLW WKH public perception is that of a government binging on corruption, cannot implement compensation programmes and has not made good its promises over the years.

And in a country with a poor electricity supply, most of the fuel consumed is for generating sets in many households. At 1 1 SHU OLWUH SUHVHQWO\ WKH PDMRULW\ of Nigerians are barely surviving. So, what ZLOO EH WKHLU ORW ZKHQ SULFHV DQG LQÁDWLRQ VRDU ZLWKRXW D EXͿHU" As Nigerians approach the yuletide with trepidation, the question is why is no one taking responsibility for the avoidable hardVKLS RQ WKH JHQHUDO SXEOLF" :K\ LV WKH VROH importer of petrol – the NNPC – opaque, LQVLQFHUH DOO WDONV ZLWKRXW UHPHGLDO DFWLRQV" At this time of scarcity, petrol marketers are also said to be pushing for a share of the VXEVLG\·V VXSSOHPHQWDU\ EXGJHW RI 1 trillion.

Analysts said it is clear that the laid-back disposition of the current administration is at the heart of the perennial energy crisis and why subsidy has remained an albatross on the government that promised change.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11 , 2022

CAPITAL MARKET

Some carbonated drinks

As FG Plans Additional 20% Excise Tax on Soft Drinks The proposed additional 20 per cent ad valorem excise tax on nonalcoholic beverages is likely to have unintended consequences on the operators and consumers of soft drinks if implemented and the federal government may have to review its position to avoid a crisis in the industry. Kunle Aderinokun reports

A

crisis may be brewing in the soft drinks industry with the recent proposal of an additional 20 per cent ad-valorem excise tax on non-alcoholic beverage products by the federal government, which covers the widely consumed Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSD).

The tax increase, being planned by the government, is coming with dismay to the operators in the carbonated ’soft drinks subsector of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and they have already raised a discomforting alarm.

Following the introduction of an earlier N10 per litre ad-valorem excise tax regime, an industry study shows a revenue decline of eight per cent and 10 per cent between June and August 2022 as a direct result of the tax regime implementation, and the decline is projected to hit -25 per cent by the end of the year, if not reviewed. This excludes the cost RI ZULWH RͿV RI SURGXFWV SURGXFHG H[FLVHG but not sold. With the introduction of the proposed additional 20 per cent ad-valorem tax, the collapse of the soft drink market may be imminent.

As it stands, industry sources revealed that the manufacturers are grappling with issues in their operations, a development that would OHDG WR ZRUNHUV OD\RͿ DQG SRVVLEOH VKXWGRZQ RI SODQWV DPLGVW RWKHU PXOWLSOLHU HͿHFWV RQ the entire already staggering economy.

According to recent research by Proshare, D ÀQDQFLDO LQIRUPDWLRQ QHZV VHUYLFH ÀUP with the N10 per litre levy alone, the industry ZRXOG ORVH UHYHQXH RI 1 WULOOLRQ LQ ÀYH \HDUV which may result in a 39.5 per cent decline

LQ GLͿHUHQW JRYHUQPHQW WD[HV VXFK DV personal income tax (PIT), corporate income tax (CIT) and value-added tax (VAT).

The belief in the industry is that the ad-valorem proposal is a negative sum play. The absence of tax incomes in subsequent years will destroy the ÀUVW \HDU JDLQV LQ WKH JRYHUQPHQW·V tax incomes. The loss of companies’ UHYHQXHV DQG SURÀWV LV ERXQG WR OHDG WR a reversal of foreign direct investment (FDI) and a fall in production and sales.

It was gathered that one of the large carbonated soft drink producers has placed a hold on its intended added local investment of 500m Euros for 2023 in anticipation of the proposed additional 20 per cent ad-valorem tax regime.

This disturbing development has continued to generate reactions from analysts and market watchers, who predicted that a bottle of soft drinks may go as high as N600 per bottle while a bottle of beer may be sold for as high as N1,000 in the coming months.

Therefore, it was not surprising that the accompanying reaction that greeted the displeasure by the sectoral group recently assumed the status of a volcanic eruption, as the sectoral heads cried out over the harsh N10 per litre ad-valorem tax regime they are struggling with and wondered how they will cope with the proposed additional 20 per cent excise tax the federal government is planning to introduce, which may spell doom

for the industry. $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH &RUSRUDWH $ͿDLUV DQG Sustainability Director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), Ekuma Eze, the proposed additional 20 per cent excise tax would cripple the operations of companies in the soft drinks industry which has already been over-burdened with a recent N10 per litre of beverage drink produced.

Also commenting, the Director-General of 0$1 6HJXQ $MD\L .DGLU D΀UPHG WKDW WKH new tax regime is likely to cause a 0.43 per cent contraction in output and about a 40 per cent drop in total industry revenues in the next ÀYH \HDUV +H IXUWKHU H[SODLQHG WKDW UDWKHU than the estimated revenue increase of N.8 trillion, the directive will cause the beverage sub-sector to lose up to N1.9 trillion in sales revenue between 2022 and 2025.

“The government is estimated to generate an excise tax of N81 billion between 2022 and 2025 from the group, but this will not be VX΀FLHQW WR FRPSHQVDWH WKH FRUUHVSRQGLQJ government’s revenue losses in other taxes from the group. This will have an unpleasant impact on employment, households, and consumers, a further cut in jobs for an industry that employs over 1.5 million people, directly and indirectly,’’ he said. ,Q KLV DQDO\VLV LQYHVWPHQW DQG ÀQDQFLDO analyst, Olufemi Awoyemi, asserted that the new ad-valorem or percentage tax would put downward pressure on sales by an estimated SHU FHQW DQG LQFUHDVH LQYHQWRULHV RI ÀQLVKHG goods and input costs. The weighted industry average decline in volume as of the third quarter of 2022 was -10per cent. For example, investigations show that the plastic raisins needed to produce PET bottles would have

increased by 40 per cent in 2022. The tax’s LPSDFW KDV XQVHWWOHG RSHUDWRUV· SURÀW PDUJLQV which have continued to be chiselled thin.

But the question is: Is the government wrong in raising tax rates?

While taxing to discourage the consumption of certain products may be persuasive, doing so to carbonated soft drinks in Nigeria LV FRQVLGHUHG RͿ WKH PDUN 6RIW GULQNV FRQsumption in Nigeria does not constitute any threat as Nigerians’ sugar consumption rate is considered the lowest in the world and it is below the globally recommended.

Corroborating this position, the Chief Economist, Proshare Limited, Teslim ShittaBey said: ‘’Nigeria is one of the lowest consumers of sugar on the planet. United Nations Development Planning approved 9.1 as the ideal [decent level]. Nigeria does 8, United Kingdom does 3.6 per person, United States of America does 40 per person respectively.’’

But more importantly in Nigeria, soft drinks remain the only connection for the majority poor when on the move or celebrating.

The excise tax is considered an indirect tax, meaning that the producer or seller who pays the levy to the government is expected to recover their loss by raising the price paid by the eventual buyer of the goods.

Many feared the federal government appears to be putting the non-alcoholic beverages subsector in a familiar terrain in the economy, alleging that it is taking the industry on the same path as the defunct textile, tyre manufacturing, and paper milling industries in Nigeria Today, Nigeria, which used to boast nearly 200 textile mills, does not have up to 20 mills that are still in operation. Moreover, the sector that used to employ 500,000 workers across the nation in its heydays could no longer boast up to 20,000 workers due to the huge tax burden.

Shitta-Bay, while analysing further the HͿHFW RI WKH SURSRVHG DGGLWLRQDO SHU FHQW excise tax on soft drinks during a TV business programme, asserted that “In government policies, taxes are expected to stimulate growth and not do otherwise.”

According to him, the scale of the tax in the carbonated soft drink sector is too high. The proposed additional 20 per cent ad-valorem tax on the value of the product plus a recent 1 SHU OLWUH H[FLVH WD[ ZRXOG FUHDWH GL΀FXOWLHV for manufacturers in the sector. Albeit, the position of the government is understandable; the government has been in a tight situation LQ WHUPV RI LWV ÀQDQFHV VR WKHUH·V UDWKHU D need for them to pursue other windows of revenue generation.

Corroborating this position, Awoyemi described the proposed ad-valorem tax as a very unwise decision that will not only leave the carbonated drinks industry and the entire economy in a conundrum but also destroy the increase in taxation that is envisaged. This means the government would see a short-term rise in revenue, but losses in subsequent years and the eventual closure of factories will result in zero tax for the government in the future.

For growth and market stability, analysts expect government and its development partners to advance tax increases with an XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKH RSHUDWLRQDO HͿHFWV RQ the corporations and their social impact on the economy, to strike a delicate balance that would allow the soft drink manufacturers to cope adequately.

The ad-valorem tax could be done in a way that recognises the rate of economic UHFRYHU\ E\ WD[DWLRQ FRQFHUQLQJ H΀FLHQF\ and productivity while considering the social DQG ÀVFDO LPSOLFDWLRQV RI LW ZKLFK LQFOXGHV the timing of the tax and the rate of increase.

Interestingly, a report by Kingsley Moghalu’s Think-Tank discussed the level of poverty in the country and the social connection that exists between the people at the base and carbonated drinks. Soft drinks are used for social events such as birthdays, Christmas celebrations, and even weddings. The relative XQDͿRUGDELOLW\ RI VRIW GULQNV DV D UHVXOW RI the ad-valorem tax spells a frightful future for the entire polity.

Buttressing the current realities, the Multidimensional Poverty Index Report (MPI) released recently by the National Bureau of 6WDWLVWLFV FRQÀUPHG WKDW PLOOLRQ 1LJHrians are poor. This suggests more than half of Nigerians are already deprived of health facilities, education, and a daily intake of food and amenities. To be realistic, a bottle of soft drink sold above N150 is a big deal for the common man and right now it is even sold above that price.

17

T H I S DAY,, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 11, 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)

WEALTH REPORTS

How Banking Stocks Created Wealth for Investors FCMB The return on investment in the bank has been the most impressive even though the financial performance of the bank has been relatively modest. This indicates that the performance is largely due to an increase in market sentiment for the bank which led to a higher share price.

T

HISDAY ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE UNIT (TEIU), working with Capital Assets Limited, a leading investment house based in Lagos, decided to focus its binoculars on wealth-creating abilities of banking stocks, tracking how much an investment of N1 million would have fetched an investor in each of the banking stocks over five years.

The report looked beyond financial results released into the public space by the nation’s banks to show how much value each of the banking stocks added to the simulated investment of N1 million. The accompanying tables below shed more light on the report.

HOW WE EVALUATED THE BANKING STOCKS In evaluating the wealth-creating abilities of the banking stocks, we used three fundamental measuring indices namely: the gains from price appreciation, dividend income and bonus shares accrued in the last five years (2018-2022). Corporate action such as a share reconstruction exercise for instance was also considered in estimating the total return on investment of N1 million on these shares between January 2018 and November 2022.

The methodology was adopted to simulate the performance of an actual portfolio that has been structured to hold these banking stocks in equal proportion without restructuring. This methodology also provides an opportunity to compare the performance of the respective banking stocks, identify the outliers, either as best performing or otherwise, and the possible factors for such performance or otherwise.

A total of 14 banking stocks were evaluated for this report. The analysis shows that four banks had negative returns while 10 had positive returns. The performance can be further reviewed as follows: FCMB, WEMA AND FIDELITY: OVERALL WEALTH MASTERS When all three wealth-creation indicators were combined, we found that three banking stocks: FCMB, Wema and Fidelity, created the most wealth for investors. An investment of N1 million in FCMB over five years would have earned the investor about N1.7 million, a gain of about 106.9 per cent. A similar investment in Wema Bank would earn the investor N1.3 million or 132.69 per cent while Fidelity showed a total return of N1.05 million or 104.88 per cent.

With a total return of N1.7 million on an N1 million invested, FCMB’s performance was about N1.3 million more than the industry average, which stood at N391,000 while Wema Bank performed above the industry average by N935,000. Overall, only seven of the 14 banks covered performed above the industry average in total return.

ETI, GTB, UBN and Unity Bank, however, had negative returns of 37.06 per cent, 17.3 per cent, 10.26 per cent and 5.66 per cent respectively.

WEMA BANK LEADS IN PRICE APPRECIATION Our analysis showed that within the review period, Wema Bank topped as the bank with the highest gain from price appreciation with a gain of 488.46 per cent, followed by FCMB with a gain of 119.59 per cent.

A review of the gains from price appreciation

FCMB CEO, Yemisi Edun

Wema Bank CEO, Ademola Adebise

Fidelity Bank CEO, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe

TOTAL RETURN (N)

WEMA BANK While the bank is one of the smaller players in the sector, its financial performance has been impressive, possibly because of its new focus on digital strategy. Recently, Wema Bank embarked on a Share Reconstruction Exercise via a Scheme of Arrangement so that the bank is appropriately positioned for a capital raising exercise of up to N40 billion. One share was retained for every three shares held in the Share Reconstruction Exercise.

This exercise is responsible for the significant increase in the bank’s share price from 52 kobo in 2018 to N3.06 in 2022.

It is expected that the injection of additional capital will further improve the already impressive performance of the bank. It must be noted that while there was a significant increase in price as a result of the reconstruction exercise, the value of the portfolio was retained.

FIDELITY BANK The bank has continued to enjoy business and financial growth over the years. This is reflected in the asset base and profitability and overall return to shareholders through consistent and increasing dividend payments. The bank now ranks as one of the leading Tier-2 banks in the country.

STERLING BANK The bank has continued to restructure its business and operations with a key focus on technology. The positive impact of the strategy has been reflected in the sustained positive performance of the bank.

The potential for further improvement in growth can, however, be further explored.

Infographics: THISDAY ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE UNIT(TEIU) showed that only six banks recorded an increase in share price while eight banks recorded a decline in share price as of the closing period. Guaranty Trust Holding Plc declined the most by 52.27 per cent, followed by ETI at 41.18 per cent and UBA at 30.58 per cent. Price appreciation evaluates the gains in the current price compared with the purchase price.

ZENITH BANK IS THE DIVIDEND KING Zeroing in on the dividend component of the evaluated total returns, our analysis showed that Zenith Bank paid the highest dividend income with N563,572.54 amounting to 56.35 per cent on invested funds followed by FCMB with N493,243.24 and UBA with N409,439.02. The bank with the least dividend payment was ETI with a dividend income of N41,176.47, while Unity Bank did not pay any dividends during the period.

It can be deduced from this review that banking stocks give good cash returns to investors and are, therefore, suitable for portfolios with cash

return objectives.

The total returns on the investments of N1 million each on these banks have been compensated for by the dividends accrued in the last five years.

Thirteen of the 14 banks paid dividends within the last five years.

STANBIC-IBTC, THE LONE BONUS ISSUER Only Stanbic IBTC issued bonus shares during the period. The bank issued a bonus of 1 for 6 shares during the period. The dearth of bonus issues from the banks in the last five years indicates a change in the policy of giving back to shareholders through bonus issues by the banks, a common corporate action observed by the banks in the past.

This mixed performance is similar to the performance in other sectors though banking stocks have given a higher dividend income when compared to companies in other sectors.

JAIZ BANK The bank is the pioneer in the non-interest banking sector. The bank, which struggled in the past, has now recorded an increase in its customer base, asset growth and profitability. The bank commenced dividend payments in 2021, and it is poised to continue its growth path into the future.

FIRST BANK The bank’s performance has improved lately following the clean-up of its non-performing loan portfolio. This has put the bank on the path to increased profitability and business growth. It has also driven a positive sentiment for the shares of the bank in recent times.

ZENITH The bank is one of the top-tier banks with increasing top-line and bottom-line growth over the years. The bank was the first to report N1 trillion in total assets. The improved performance is evident in the bank’s dividend payout to shareholders.

Despite the good performance, its share price movement has been sluggish.

Read the full article at https://www.thisdaylive.com

BRIEFLY ON THE BANKS

H O W T H E Y S TA N D BANK

OPENING PRICE 01/01/18

CLOSING PRICE 21/11/22

PRICE APPRECIAT ION

PRICE APPRECIAT ION(%)

OPENING VALUE

ACQUIRED SHARES

CCURRENT HOLDING

CURRENT VALUE

TOTAL DIVIDEND

DIVIDEND VALUE

CLOSING VALUE

TOTAL RETURN(Value)

TOTAL RETURN (%)

FCMB

1.48

3.25

1.77

119.59

1,000,000

675,676

675,676

2,195,945.95

0.73

493,243.24

2,689,189.19

1,689,189.19

168.92

WEMABANK

0.52

3.06

2.54

488.46

1,000,000

1,923,077

641,026

1,961,539.56

0.35

365,384.70

2,326,924.26

1,326,924.26

132.69

FIDELITYBK

2.46

4.05

1.59

64.63

1,000,000

406,504

406,504

1,646,341.46

0.99

402,439.02

2,048,780.49

1,048,780.49

104.88

STERLNBANK

1.08

1.42

0.34

31.48

1,000,000

925,926

925,926

1,314,814.81

0.2

185,185.19

1,500,000.00

500,000.00

50.00

JAIZBANK

0.63

0.9

0.27

42.86

1,000,000

1,587,302

1,587,302

1,428,571.43

0.04

63,492.06

1,492,063.49

492,063.49

49.21 44.20

8.8

11

2.2

25.00

1,000,000

113,636

113,636

1,250,000.00

1.69

192,045.45

1,442,045.45

442,045.45

ZENITHBANK

FBNH

25.64

21.35

-4.29

-16.73

1,000,000

39,002

39,002

832,683.31

14.45

563,572.54

1,396,255.85

396,255.85

39.63

ACCESS

10.45

8.1

-2.35

-22.49

1,000,000

95,694

95,694

775,119.62

3.55

339,712.92

1,114,832.54

114,832.54

11.48

UBA

10.3

7.15

-3.15

-30.58

1,000,000

97,087

97,087

694,174.76

4.22

409,708.74

1,103,883.50

103,883.50

10.39

STANBIC

41.5

30

-11.50

-27.71

1,000,000

24,096

28,112

843,373.49

14.5

227,803.64

1,071,177.14

71,177.14

7.12

UNITYBNK

0.53

0.5

0.00

-5.66

1,000,000

1,886,792

1,886,792

943,396.23

7.8

6.5

-1.30

-16.67

1,000,000

128,205

128,205

833,333.33

0.5

40.75

19.45

-21.30

-52.27

1,000,000

24,540

24,540

477,300.61

17

10

-7.00

-41.18

1,000,000

58,824

58,824

588,235.29

UBN GUARANTY ETI

•Report, computations and analysis by THISDAY ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE UNIT in conjunction with Capital Assets Limited.

-

943,396.23

-56603.77

-5.66

64,102.56

897,435.90

-102564.10

-10.26

14.25

349,693.25

826,993.87

-173006.13

-17.30

0.7

41,176.47

629,411.76

-370588.24

-37.06

18

SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2022 • T H I S D AY

SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2022 • T H I S D AY

19

20

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11 , 2022

SUNDAY INTERVIEW BALA WUNTI:

We Have Succeeded in Stopping Crude Oil Theft Over the years, crude oil theft has remained a major source of concern to the federal government. This KDG VHULRXVO\ OHG WR XQGHUVXSSO\ %XW WKH &KLHI 8SVWUHDP ,QYHVWPHQW 2΀FHU RI WKH 113& 8SVWUHDP Management Services, Mr. Bala Wunti, in this interview with ARISE NEWS Channel, speaks on how WKH HͿRUW RI WKH 1LJHULDQ 1DWLRQDO 3HWUROHXP &RPSDQ\ /LPLWHG DQG LWV SDUWQHUV LV KHOSLQJ WR ERRVW production. Emmanuel Addeh presents the excerpts

W

hatexactlyisthequantumofcrudeoiltheft, JLYHQ FRQÁLFWLQJ VSHFXODWLYH ÀJXUHV in the public space?

A lot of data has been quoted, some out of context but in essence at the NNPC, based on all the calculations that we do, we are losing an average of 700,000 barrels, and perhaps the meaning of loss should be put in context here.

In hydrocarbon accounting algorithms, there are three types of losses.

There is what we call engineering loss which is usually what is accepted by material balance and range between 0.01 to 0.05. Nobody accounts for them; it is part and parcel of the engineering process.

The second type of loss is that you produce the hydrocarbon but the hydrocarbon gets stolen by vandals and oil thieves. Those are called actual losses and the last one is what we call opportunity loss. Those opportunity losses arise from the fact that we are unable to produce what we planned to produce.

The budget is anchored on the basis of our 1.88 million barrels per day production and what that means is that if we recorded about 1mbpd LQ $XJXVW LW PHDQV WKH GLͿHUHQFH EHWZHHQ million and 1 million barrel is what we are losing and that is what the treasury sees.

Now those losses I think where people get it messed up is whether the 700,000 barrels or 800,000 barrels is being stolen or some of them are opportunity loss and that is where the discrepancy comes in.

From our records, before we recovered, we were losing 700,000bpd translating to 21 million barrels per month, and if you consider an average price of this year at $90/barrel that will translate somewhere around $1.8 billion or $1.9 ELOOLRQ ORVVHV WKDW ZH VXͿHUHG The Chief of Training and Operations, Naval Headquarters of the Navy mentioned to the Senate that the NNPC has not been honest in WKH ÀJXUHV EHLQJ UHOHDVHG DQG ZKDW WKH\ WHOO 1LJHULDQV DERXW WKH FDXVH RI RLO WKHIW +RZ ZLOO \RX UHVSRQG WR KLP VD\LQJ WKH ÀJXUHV DUH EHLQJ exaggerated?

I don’t know the basis for that statement. Let me say one thing. We planned to be producing 1.8mbpd. This media house alongside other media houses including Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC) have recorded that Nigeria’s production went as low as 1.1mbpd. ,W LV YHU\ FOHDU WKDW WKH GLͿHUHQFH ZLOO JLYH you around 700,000bpd loss. I referred you to the algorithm of losses: the engineering loss, the actual, and the opportunity loss.

Secondly, I think Solomon Agada himself, a YHU\ UHVSHFWHG 1DYDO 2΀FHU KDV FRPH WR FRXQWHU that statement whereby he said he was quoted out of context. And thirdly I would like to register our appreciation to all the armed forces including WKH 1DY\ SDUWLFXODUO\ WKH &KLHI RI 1DYDO 6WDͿ IRU their collaboration.

They have even reported in their advert that they have arrested over 68 vessels doing bunkering and illegal activities. They also reported that a VLJQLÀFDQW TXDQWXP RI FUXGH RLO DQG SURGXFWV have been recovered by them.

What I would like to say is that all the security together with the operators are now working in sync to address this menace. But the question

Wunti as to whether there is stealing, I think it is not in contention.

People attribute the increase in oil production to Shell’s return to Forcados Terminal and you talked about security strategies adopted by regulators, NNPC, among others. Can you take us through those strategies beyond Shell returning to Forcados?

I think the key question to ask is where were Forcados, Brass Terminal, and where was Bonny during the force majeure? The reason is simply that we were unable to deliver crude to those terminals. And why were we not able to deliver crude to those terminals? It is simply because of the security vulnerability. As I speak to you, Brass is in force majeure, Bonny is in force majeure.

That is about 300,000 barrels deferred already.

We have been working hard with the private security contractors to return the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) and we have succeeded to some extent, but not where we want to be. We are hoping we will open Bonny very soon.

The security situation is now restored together with certain activities that have been carried out to revamp what we see in Forcados. Forcados is back producing, Bonny will soon be back. Yes, indeed we are back, but up to today, one of our major trunk lines we can’t use because of security.

Trans Forcados is back, Trans Escravos is back, Trans Ramos is back.

Now when you are talking about why we are talking about the security architecture, I think we need to look at ZK\ LQ WKH ÀUVW SODFH ZH QHHG WR SXW XS D GLͿHUHQW DUFKLWHFWXUH :KDW ZDV WKH security architecture? Was it working? It wasn’t working.

We had to carry out a very robust diagnosis. And the diagnosis revealed about ÀYH PDMRU LVVXHV WKDW QHHGHG WR DWWDFN 1XPEHU RQH LV WKDW ZH KDYH YHU\ GL΀FXOW terrain and we can’t do anything about it.

The consequence of that is we can’t have much visibility, particularly in our maritime zone what you see in the blue water is not connected to the brown water, nor is it connected to the backwater.

Also, there was a lack of coordination with all the players whether regulators, security, and in the private sector. The community was absent, but most importantly, we were using technology sub-optimally DQG EHFDXVH RI WKDW LW ZDV GL΀FXOW IRU XV to get end-to-end visibility.

The new security architecture is structured on laid-on technology. What it does is to bring together the security and

intelligence agency in one table, the regulators in the other, and then bring in what was zero, the community into the other angle and without the community, we can’t achieve that.

Today we have visibility, and we are able to detect,deterandweareabletorespond.Thesuccess that we recorded today was essentially because of this improved security situation. We are now almost at an average of 350,000 to 400,000 barrels/ day increase. At a certain level, we recorded up to 450,000 barrels/day increase in the given year.

That is why you can see we are now from 1.1mbpd daily to about 1.59bpd as of this morning.

So, these are some of the things that we are able to record based on the new security architecture.

:LWK UHJDUGV WR WKLV QHZ DUFKLWHFWXUH ZKDW DUH WKH PHDVXUHV WR HQVXUH WKDW WKLV QHZ VHFXULW\ architecture is not open to sabotage? What is GL;HUHQW IURP WKH SUHYLRXV DUFKLWHFWXUH WKDW you have on the ground? What are you doing to ensure that oil theft is totally and decisively GHDOW ZLWK" As we speak now, I can assure you that we are still identifying new ones and this is an ongoing and very dynamic crime activity that we are dealing with.

Second is the fact that I did mention to you what we didn’t have before. We now have an MTN

21

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11 , 2022

SUNDAY INTERVIEW We Have Succeeded in Stopping Crude Oil Theft technology capability that we can do whatever we need to do. But how do we deal with some RI WKRVH WKLQJV WKDW ZH KDYH LGHQWLÀHG" , WKLQN the numbers you mentioned are growing every day and as they grow, we are improving our capability of deactivating and removing them. $QG WRGD\ , FDQ WHOO \RX LQ WHUPV RI WKH LOOHJDO UHÀQHU\ ZH KDYH LQFDSDFLWDWHG DOPRVW DERXW SHU FHQW RI ZKDW ZH KDYH LGHQWLÀHG DQG ZH ZLOO NHHS LGHQWLI\LQJ VRPH RI WKHP ,W LV PLQG ERJJOLQJ ZKDW ZH GLVFRYHUHG HYHQ DV RSHUDWRUV DQG HYHU\ RQH RI XV VDZ WKH NLQG RI sophistication where illegal connections are put RQ YHU\ PDMRU WUXQN OLQHV LQFOXGLQJ GLUHFW H[SRUW OLQHV RQ )RUFDGRV ,W FRXOGQ·W KDYH EHHQ SRVVLEOH without the collective resolve of the private se curity guards anchored by the communities. We KDYH VKRUW PHGLXP DQG ORQJ WHUP YLVLELOLW\ :H VD\ VWRS LW ÀUVW DQG VHFRQG FDQ ZH QRZ GHYHORS IXUWKHU" , FDQ WHOO \RX ZH KDYH VXFFHHGHG WR DQ H[WHQW WR VWRS WKLV PHQDFH The question now is how to stop its growth. :H LQWURGXFHG FKHFNLQJ WKH FKHFNHU DQG ZKR LV FKHFNLQJ WKH FKHFNHU" :KDW WKDW PHDQV LV WKDW ZH KDYH IRXU OD\HUV RI VHFXULW\ ,·P WKH FRRUGLQDWRU RI WKH LQGXVWU\·V VHFXULW\ , DP RQO\ DW WKH VHFRQG OHYHO DQG , GRQ·W NQRZ ZKDW LV KDSSHQLQJ DW WKH WKLUG OHYHO DQG WKH IRXUWK OHYHO , GRQ·W HYHQ NQRZ ZKR WKH\ DUH EXW , NQRZ WKH\ H[LVW 6R HYHQ PH , DP EHLQJ PRQLWRUHG DV , VSHDN 6R , PRQLWRU RWKHU SHRSOH DQG WKH RWKHU SHRSOH have those who they monitor. The technology has come to stay. Our control centre is built to last and we are improving it every day. Thirdly, we do recognise that any security architecture that GRHV QRW LQYROYH WKH FRPPXQLW\ ZLOO QRW ZRUN ,Q WKH RSHUDWLRQ ÀHOG WKHUH DUH WKUHH SHRSOH DW play: the operators, the security agencies and the host communities. The communities were in those GD\V QRW FRQQHFWHG WR WKDW DQG WKH\ GLGQ·W IHHO D VHQVH RI EHORQJLQJ :H DUH QRZ WDNLQJ WKRVH ER\V who were being used as criminals and bringing WKHP EDFN WR JLYH WKHP LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ D YHU\ legitimate ground platform.

So, that is why we institutionalised it and today it is forming parts and parcels of organisation design that are going to last as long as we are going to continue to operate recognising that crime will be dynamic and people will upgrade WKHLU RZQ ZD\ DQG ZH WRR KDYH WR WKLQN DKHDG RI the criminals. A lot of things are going on.

Can you share with us the selection criteria for choosing private security contractors, what their role has been so far and whether there is a mechanism in place for evaluating their performance?

As a very strong corporation with strong corporate governance and whatever we do, we comply with whatever we have to. But let me say the fact that the security architecture was LQWHQWLRQDOO\ GHVLJQHG XQGHU WKH 6,0(6 :KDW LW means is that we sectorise the country into three regions based on vulnerability. We now integrate them with technology.

When we integrate them, we monitor them. We have a lot of monitors all over the place includ ing visuals using drones and the rest of them and then we impose what we need to impose to ensure there is no violation of those processes and lastly, we sanction. We have achieved some of those things.

To be able to get those integrations and intel OLJHQFH ZH NQRZ WKDW WKH FRPPXQLW\ QHHGV WR come in. The communities are many so what we did was to put them in a structured format.

That structured format follows the three thematic UHJLRQV WKDW ZH LGHQWLÀHG ZKLFK ZH FDOO WKH :HVW &HQWUDO DQG (DVW $QG ZH VHOHFWHG WKURXJK RXU very transparent procurement process three contractors. ,QFLGHQWDOO\ RQH RI WKHP EHLQJ 7DQWLWD 6HFXUL ties and associated with Tompolo happens to be the most visible and there is no gainsaying the fact that most of the successes recorded were recorded under him. We have another contractor FDOOHG 0DWRQ (QJLQHHULQJ ZKR LV UHVSRQVLEOH IRU Brass and all the central areas and we have the 3LSHOLQH ,QIUDVWUXFWXUH 1LJHULD /LPLWHG 3,1/ UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH (DVW So, there are three contractors based on the sectorisation of the regions and each one of them is reporting and obviously, there are more and more activities happening especially in the maritime economic zone towards the West than what \RX KDYH LQ WKH (DVW ZKLFK LV PRVWO\ DURXQG WKH LOOHJDO UHÀQHULHV DQG HYHU\ERG\ WKLQNV WKDW all the contract was given to Tompolo. ,Q WHUPV RI WKH SURFHVV ZH ZHQW RXW WR ORRN for which company is involved in the security service that we need and we came across these three through a structured procurement process.

Wunti :H GLG QRW VNLS DQ\WKLQJ We had to screen the companies by all the intelligence and security agencies because the steering committee of the whole industry security DUFKLWHFWXUH LQYROYHV WKH &KLHI RI 'HIHQFH 6WDͿ WKH WZR UHJXODWRUV DQG WKH ,2&V WKH 1DWLRQDO Security Adviser, DSS and everybody. They VFUHHQHG WKH FRPSDQLHV EHIRUH ZH ZHQW WR 0U 3UHVLGHQW 0XKDPPDGX %XKDUL DQG ZH JRW KLV DSSURYDO ,W ZDV WKH SUHVLGHQWLDO DSSURYDO WKDW was based on all the security recommendations that brought about these three companies. Are ZH PRQLWRULQJ" <HV ZH DUH PRQLWRULQJ , GLG PHQWLRQ WKDW WKH VWUXFWXUH LV LQ VXFK D ZD\ WKDW ZH DUH FKHFNLQJ WKH FKHFNHU ZKR LV FKHFNLQJ WKH FKHFNHU ,QFLGHQWDOO\ 7RPSROR RU 7DQWLWD LV EHLQJ PRQLWRUHG MXVW OLNH , DP EHLQJ PRQLWRUHG and also there is every reporting structure that we have today. We have our incident report format.

They are compelled under the contract to report every incident that they see.

7KH\ VXEPLW GDLO\ ZHHNO\ DQG PRQWKO\ UHSRUWV and not only that, we have the right to monitor and interrogate what they are doing and because we are also monitoring what they are, we compare what we heard from them and what we see. ,Q WHUPV RI WKH VHJUHJDWLRQ RI IXQFWLRQ , WKLQN when we started there was a lot of confusion but that has been clearly delineated. Today, gov ernment security agencies and private security FRQWUDFWRUV DUH ZRUNLQJ LQ V\QF (YHU\ RQH RI them understands his limitations. Today, we have everybody under one wrap.

Don’t you think it will be a deterrence naming the oil thieves, and beyond that after detection what is the punishment for it? Is there a clear policy as to how these individuals will be dealt with?

6LQFH WKH WLPH WKH *&(2 VSRNH DERXW WKH arrests, much more has been done by people ZKR KDYH WKH EDFNLQJ RI WKH ODZ WR DUUHVW DQG when you arrest them, there are still protocols you have to follow.

6RPH RI WKHP DV , VSHDN WR \RX DUH XQGHU SURV ecution. The government particularly the security DJHQFLHV LQFOXGLQJ ÀQDQFLDO LQWHOOLJHQFH DJHQFLHV are following the money. Sometimes when you JR RXW TXLFNO\ \RX WHQG WR FRPSURPLVH FHUWDLQ WKLQJV DQG , EHOLHYH WKH GHWDLOV DQG GLOLJHQFH WKDW DUH EHLQJ LPSOHPHQWHG ,W LV QRW ZKHWKHU RU QRW those people will be named. The people will be QDPHG 7KH TXHVWLRQ LV ZKHQ" , WKLQN ZKHQ JRYHUQPHQW DJHQFLHV DQG LQWHO ligence agencies have concluded what they are GRLQJ , DP VXUH HYHU\ERG\ ZLOO NQRZ HYHU\ERG\ who is involved. As to who and who, you will EH VKRFNHG WKDW WKHUH DUH D ORW RI SHRSOH The security agencies have the power to an QRXQFH 7KH\ ZLOO GR WKH DQQRXQFHPHQW 7KDQNV WR WKH MXGLFLDU\ WKH\ KDYH DSSRLQWHG VSHFLÀF judges across the regions to deal with this. The high court is also trying to bring technology to these dedicated courts. These things were not in H[LVWHQFH :H DUH WU\LQJ WR EXLOG WKHP :H DUH JHWWLQJ D ORW RI FRUSRUDWLRQV IURP WKH R΀FH RI WKH

Attorney General together with the court system.

The high courts in particular that have ap pointed judges, we are trying to properly equip them with technology to deal with this.

You mentioned a holistic approach to dealing withallthesethefts-operators,securityoperatives and communities. I would like you to detail your community approach. Is there a process of reporting incidences, around whistle-blowers, how are you engaging the communities on these incidences? , GLG PHQWLRQ WKDW WKH SULYDWH VHFXULW\ FRQWUDF tors, their primary jobs were to operate in their communities, they are community contractors.

And so, what they do is that they go to every place and they recruit people in that community. $QG WKDW·V ZK\ ZKHQ ZH VWDUWHG ZH KDG D ORW of problems, but as every community discovered that their people were being recruited to do these NLQGV RI MREV DQG WKH\ ZHUH EHLQJ UHZDUGHG legitimately, you see that the situation has now become normal.

The community has to be brought in under a structured organisation. So, if you go to the western community, they are anchored under Tantita, if you go to the central communities which DUH IURP %D\HOVD ,PR DQG 5LYHUV DUH DQFKRUHG DURXQG 0DWRQ They are all engaged there, before going live, VLJQLÀFDQW FRQVXOWDWLRQ ZDV GRQH LQFOXGLQJ YLVLW LQJ HDFK RI WKH VWDWH JRYHUQRUV LQ WKH RLO SURGXFLQJ UHJLRQ :H DUH WDONLQJ ZLWK WKH VWDWH JRYHUQRUV H[SHFWLQJ DFWLRQV IURP WKH VWDWH JRYHUQRUV QRW RQO\ WKH VSHFLÀF FRPPXQLW\ EXW HDFK RI WKH VWDWH·V governors are properly consulted and engaged.

We provide them with the report and they have VHHQ WKH EHQHÀW DQG LPSURYHPHQW LQ WKH GLUHFWLRQ ZH DUH JRLQJ %HFDXVH ZH FDQ·W UHDFK HYHU\RQH LQ the community as it will be chaotic, we decided to recruit forces that will be able to put things in FKHFN DURXQG WKH FRPPXQLW\

What is your mode of communication and consultation with these communities?

We based it on trust. We lost trust before, but we Vessels leaving with stolen crude, we were have recovered our trust. We visit everywhere, and told, were destroyed. Won’t that amount to \RX KDYH VHHQ XV 8QOLNH EHIRUH ZKHQ ZH VLW GRZQ destroying the evidence. Is it a wise thing to LQ /DJRV DQG WU\ WR PDQDJH ZKDW LV KDSSHQLQJ do, to destroy stolen crude? Or even destroy LQ <RNUL 7RGD\ ZH ZHQW WR <RNUL ZH LQWHUDFWHG the facility and destroy the evidence? Because ZLWK WKH FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV LQÁXHQFHUV DQG this has been done again and again, why is that young people and we had open doors.

0RVW LPSRUWDQWO\ ZH QRZ KDYH D SODWIRUP a good strategy you have adopted? $JDLQ WKH\ VD\ KLVWRU\ DQG H[SHULHQFH PXVW EH ZKHUH WKH\ UHSRUW ZKDWHYHU WKH\ VHH DV ZKLVWOH brought on board when you want to do certain blowers, and people are rewarded handsomely WKLQJV ,I ZH KDYH EHHQ GRLQJ VRPHWKLQJ DQG for that. Just go to www.crudeoiltheft.com and we have not been getting the results, we need report whatever you want to report. And if the to change tactics. We are not just destroying; we intelligence is good enough, you will be rewarded have to deter. The way the military or the security handsomely for it. And we have been receiving LQVWLWXWLRQ ORRN DW WKLV WKH\ ORRN DW LW DV D ZDU tremendous reports on that platform. on the nation. They view it as a war against the Are these strategies short-term or are there state, and therefore when they get there, they must do whatever they have to do including structures in place to ensure it is long-term?

Secondly, the big elephant in the room, about destruction as legitimate. $V FLYLOLDQV ZH FDQQRW GR LW ,I \RX QRWLFH \RX a week ago NNPC promised two billion litres will see it was the military that did the destruc of fuel that will be made available, but there is tion. Before they destroyed it, all evidence was still fuel scarcity in Lagos. When is the fuel in collected including the people. The people were NNPC custody going to be available? , ZDV D 0DQDJLQJ 'LUHFWRU RI WKH WKHQ 3HWUROHXP paraded, and interviewed by journalists, and WKH\ ZHUH WDNHQ WR EH SURVHFXWHG %HIRUH WKHQ DOO 3URGXFWV 0DUNHWLQJ &RPSDQ\ 330& , FDQ WHOO investigation was done and facts and documents \RX KRZ LW ZRUN WKH FKDOOHQJH DERXW PDNLQJ LW available and accessible in an acceptable format. collected so there are no two ways about it.

7KDW LV ZKDW 113& GRHV EHFDXVH LI WKH\ GRQ·W 7KDW LV KRZ ZH FDPH WR NQRZ WKDW WKDW SDU WLFXODU YHVVHO KDV EHHQ RSHUDWLQJ ZLWK D GLͿHUHQW do the security of supply, everything will be chal QDPH 'LͿHUHQW QDPHV DQG GLͿHUHQW WLPHV DQG lenged. We have supply, we have distribution ZH NQRZ WKHLU GHVWLQDWLRQ $OO WKHVH WKLQJV ZHUH and we have retailers.

The challenge has always been around distribu anchored and we got it. Some of them involve VRPH FRXQWULHV DQG , WKLQN GLͿHUHQW ERGLHV LQ WLRQ WKDQ VXSSO\ ,I \RX KDYH D VXSSO\ SUREOHP WKLV FRXQWU\ DUH WDNLQJ WKDW LQWR FRQVLGHUDWLRQ it lasts longer. So, we have learned from that fact 1RZ ZKHQ \RX GHVWUR\ ZKDW ZH KDYH IRXQG and we never go out of supply. The problem is LV WKDW EHFDXVH RI WKH GL΀FXOW WHUUDLQ VRPHWLPHV GLVWULEXWLRQ QHHGOHVV WR VD\ SHU FHQW RI WKH HYHQ ZKHQ \RX DUH DUUHVWHG KRZ FDQ \RX WDNH FRXQWU\ VRXUFH WKHLU SURGXFW IURP /DJRV $W WKH LW WR WKH FRXUW IRU HYLGHQFH" ,W FRXOG EH YHU\ ODVW FRXQW WKDW ZH FKHFNHG ZH RQO\ KDG GL΀FXOW DQG ZH KDYH WR GR D ORW RI WKLQJV WR WUXFNV FURVV WKLV FRXQWU\ 7KH\ JR WR 0DLGXJXUL 6RNRWR DQG &DODEDU 7KH FKDQJH WKH ODZ $QG ZH GRQ·W HYHQ KDYH WKH capability to drag some of those things and UDWH DW ZKLFK WKHVH WUXFNV PDNH WKHLU WXUQDURXQG KDV FKDQJHG VLJQLÀFDQWO\ IURP RQH ZHHN WR use them as evidence.

Secondly, we have seen time without number, days and they hardly do once a month. While assets are reported to have been arrested, two roads are bad, they ride about in the rainy season GD\V ODWHU \RX KHDU GLͿHUHQW NLQGV RI VWRULHV and so many other constraints.

7R WHOO \RX ZH DOO NQRZ WKH WKLQJV KDSSHQLQJ HLWKHU WKH YHVVHO VLQNV RU WKH YHVVHOV ZHUH discovered to have legitimate papers and were DURXQG WKH $SDSD D[LV 7KHUH ZDV D EORFNDJH allowed to go. And you see the same vessel ORDG WUXFNV RI DQ\WKLQJ LQFOXGLQJ SURGXFWV UHDG\ to leave were not allowed, and because of that, it FRPLQJ EDFN LQ D GLͿHUHQW QDPH , WKLQN ZKDW WKH PLOLWDU\ GLG WKLV WLPH LV created a problem. ,I \RX VWD\ RQH GD\ ZLWKRXW GHOLYHULQJ WKH to send some strong signal, that everybody we see on our maritime border is coming for SURGXFW LQ /DJRV \RX QHHG D PLQLPXP RI RQH war, and because you are coming for war, we ZHHN VXSSO\ DW D KLJKHU UDWH WR FRQWURO WKH HͿHFW will confront you in that same manner. The ,I \RX ZDLW WZR GD\V LW ZLOO WDNH DOPRVW WKUHH military in its own wisdom, gave the directive ZHHNV DQG LI \RX ZDLW WKUHH GD\V LW PD\ UHTXLUH you to do one month, and this is a major problem. that this asset be destroyed.

6R WKH IDFW WKDW ZH DUH GHVWUR\LQJ LW GRHVQ·W , FDQ WHOO \RX WKDW , VHH WKH GDVKERDUG HYHU\ GD\ 7KHVH WZR ELOOLRQ DUH VXSSRVHG WR EH LQ RXU VWRFN mean we are destroying evidence. Before destruc tion, we have done everything including arresting GHSRW ZKHWKHU 113& GHSRW RU DQRWKHU SULYDWH the crew, getting all the documentation around sector depot. These have been reported transpar WKH YHVVHOV DQG NQRZLQJ H[DFWO\ ZKDW WKH '1$ HQWO\ E\ WKH PLQLVWU\ DQG E\ HYHU\ VWDNHKROGHU We also have those in the marine. of that vessel is.

22

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11 , 2022

EVENTS Retired Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Director, Pastor Julius Abegunde and his wife, Olufunke, a school administrator, last week in Abuja gave out their daughter, Oluwatosin, in holy matrimony to Olaoluwatosimi Samuel Adebisi, at The Everlasting Arms Parish (TEAP) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Abuja. Here are a few of the important personalities in attendance.

Bride’s parents, Pastor Julius Abegunde and wife, Olufunke

The couple at traditional wedding ceremony

2ႈFLDWLQJ 0LQLVWHU 3DVWRU (YDULVWXV $]RGRK DQG ZLIH 1JR]L

Olusegun Adeniyi and wife, Oluwatosin

Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili and wife, Oby

L-R: Mrs Doyin Kolawole, Mrs Adeyemi Idowu and Mrs Bolanle Agunbiade

Pastor and Mrs. Remi Abioye

Groom’s parents, Pastor and Pastor (Mrs.) Paul Kolawole Adebisi

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The new couple, Mr. and Mrs. Adebisi

Mrs Azubuike, Mrs Odangla and Mrs Dupe Ogundimu with Bride’s parents

Bride’s sister, Dr. Tolu Abegunde (left) and friends

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2022 Sunday 11 December, 2022 Vol 27. No 9986

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See page 24 TINUBU’S CHATHAM HOUSE OF HORROR PDP strategist, Don Pedro Obaseki, X-rays the APC presidential candidate’s performance at Chatham Housen

See page 24

EDITORIAL EKITI ASSEMBLY CRISIS AND MATTERS ARISING

See page 49

& R E A SO

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

IT ALL BEGINS AT THE FAMILY UNIT AISHA SHUAIBU on how charity must begin from home, even if it doesn’t end there

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PAUL OBI writes on the centenary anniversary of St Patrick Kakwagom - Boki and the coming of Irish missionaries to the then old Ogoja Province, Cross River State

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St Patrick's Kakwagom and its Centenary History

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24

T H2I S D AY SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2022

AISHA SHUAIBU on how charity must begin from home, even if it doesn’t end there

IT ALL BEGINS AT THE FAMILY UNIT from many grassroot communities.

3DUW RI WKH IDFWRUV DͿHFWLQJ WKH FXUELQJ of mental health challenges in Nigeria LV ORZ DZDUHQHVV DFFHVV WR DͿRUGDEOH mental health services, mental health ÀQDQFLQJ GUXJ DEXVH DQG WKH KDVWLQHVV to blame psychological episodes on the possession of evil spirits. With a ratio of 1 mental health professional to 700,000 Nigerians, the very few we have are mostly urban-based and lack the expertise to cover the wide range of unique mental health challenges Nigerians face caused by our genetics, environmental conditions, lifestyle and trauma. The care for the mentally ill is left in the hands of their family members who may have been the cause of the PHQWDO GHUDLO LQ WKH ÀUVW SODFH Terrorist groups grew in strength between 2011 - 2019 as they continued to employ poor, uneducated, and illiterate youth to join them. Weak family structures are a major contributing factor to the recruitment and radicalization of these youth. Armed groups can psychologically brainwash and train them to be bandits, kidnappers, and suicide bombers. A means to weaken these terrorist groups is to reduce the rate at which they recruit by beginning at the YHU\ ERWWRP WR FXW RͿ WKHLU VXSSO\ FKDLQ an internal struggle that manifests Addressing the conditions that make into interpersonal issues when their it possible to access vulnerable youth developmental environment is begins within the family units; improving compromised. Families develop through the conditions they live in, granting patterns and life cycle events where access to education and healthcare, and parents with unresolved issues from monitoring their traditional and religious their own childhood pass on traumas structures. The most dangerous person and traits to their children, who are in the world is one with nothing to do, primarily shaped by what happens nothing to look forward to and nothing to them and contributing external to live for. Children that are raised in conditions. A person’s upbringing is an environment that aids learning, responsible for whom they become, how development, social collaboration, they think and how they approach life. capacity building and gives access to Creating a safe and stable environment basic needs have a higher chance of a for children early is of utmost priority stable mental and physical condition for the kind of society we want to create than those without. because it is easier to raise strong-willed Traditionally, Nigerians are collectivists FKLOGUHQ WKDQ WR À[ EURNHQ PHQ who are accustomed to residing with According to the World Health or around multiple family members, Organisation (WHO), one in four friends, and community members. By 1LJHULDQV VXͿHU IURP VRPH VRUW RI extension, all elders in these settings are mental illness. Nigeria has the highest responsible for the younger ones but caseload of depression in Africa and when it comes to the basic provisions for a child, the main duty falls on the parents. The physical, mental, and emotional well-being of a person’s With less than 10 federal child is the responsibility of those neuropsychiatric hospitals who birthed them and/or raised Parents who insist on birthing in the entire country, Nigeria them. children that end up vulnerable is far from well-equipped to and in the wrong hands of society must be brought to account for their manage the growing mental irresponsibility and recklessness.

The contribution, both positive health crisis and negative that youth make to the progression of a nation is too great to neglect how that child is brought ranks 15th in the world in the frequency up and conditioned. Until we begin to of suicides. With less than 10 federal prioritize the family unit and channel neuropsychiatric hospitals in the DOO DLG DQG GHYHORSPHQW HͿRUWV LQ WKDW entire country, Nigeria is far from well- direction, we will not fully utilize the equipped to manage the growing mental potential of Nigerian youth and save the health crisis. Although the birth rate in ones that have already lost their way. the country has seen a -1.130% decrease between 2021 - 2022, Nigeria is still the Shuaibu third highest in Africa with a recorded is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board 36,440 births, excluding the data of births There is a strong association between childhood experiences and how we turn out as adults. Other than genetics, the way that families function and the experiences they face shape the behavioural and psychological patterns of the children. The sensitive development period of a child begins when they are born up to the age of six, where their capacity for movement, language, order, and sensorial perception is developed. A positive sensitive period allows for a child to explore the full extent of these capacities, while a negative period hinders it usually based on their environment failing to correspond to the needs of the sensitivity.

A child is forced to go through

PDP strategist, Don Pedro Obaseki, X-rays the APC presidential candidate’s performance at Chatham House

TINUBU’S CHATHAM HOUSE OF HORROR Chatham House, while trying to repackage and market Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ended up de-marketing itself. While trying, albeit strenuously, to rebrand Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chatham House ended up eroding its own brand personae. Its brand equity went bearish like a bad stock cascading down the index on a bad day on the FTSE or the New York Stock Exchange. Tinubu’s handlers not only rubbished Chatham House, but also ridiculed the Nigeria nation and her peoples before the global community.

At best, Tinubu’s Chatham House odyssey ZDV D 35 GLVDVWHU +LV OHJHQGDU\ JDͿHV JRW DPSOLÀHG EHIRUH D JOREDO DXGLHQFH ZKR either watched the horrid display of Tinubu on Television or via LIVE streaming on the internet. Tinubu’s infamous, yet half-expected comedy of errors turned an otherwise revered platform into a “Chatham House of Horror” or (to bring the adjective nearer home), it was the “Chatham House of Commotion”.

One good thing though; while millions of Nigerians awaited another “bullaba blablabloo” verbal misadventure, the APC’s ÁDJ EHDUHU ZKR LV QRZ PRUH OLNH D ´ÁDJ stainer”) added more “words” (if you can call his trademark ramblings and incoherent, inchoate verbal defecations “words”) to an already swelling lexicon. Some of the new words were so incoherent that they cannot even be written down.

Tinubu on the Chatham house stage was like a caged pigeon that has been slammed by a pickaxe. Was there a physician close by?

Nobody needed an MRI scan to diagnose a PDQ VXͿHULQJ IURP DFXWH GHPHQWLD 7KLV LV no exaggeration. Tinubu has consistently and persistently displayed signs of Amnesia, and Dementia: maybe a case of a progressively deteriorating Alzheimer’s (a degenerative EUDLQ GLVHDVH WKDW FDXVHV GHPHQWLD $V GHÀQHG by medical experts, Dementia often includes memory loss. It also often involves problems with thinking that leads to a decline in daily functioning. These problems include having trouble with language, judgment and visualspatial skills. All these have been displayed in no little measure by Tinubu, day in and week out!

A few friends sat in my living room to watch yet another episode in Tinubu’s unedifying soap opera series. A handful of those who ZDWFKHG ZLWK PH IHOO LQWR ÀWV RI KDUG WR control laughter each time Tinubu hits a new chord in his rhythm of mental and verbal misadventure. It was like watching a badly scripted “B”-rated movie or a sad melodrama.

From all indications, Tinubu will compete well for comic ratings with Mr. Bean! “Na Tinubu be dis? Jesu! Make dem save this man from himself na, I beg”, a friend quipped close by.

As the audience jeered, and laughed, I could not join the laughter. I could barely watch the sad melancholic display of a man who, like ‘Elesin Oba’ in Wole Soyinka’s classic “Death and the King’s Horseman”, was too far gone in his hubristic decline. I watched a man who, LQ KLV VHOI HͿDFLQJ ´HPL ORNDQµ LV QRZ D KXVN His aged shell is now a sad reminder of a man who once rode princely on a king’s horse.

Sadly today, Tinubu now holds tenaciously to the horse’s tail, covered in the stench and smell of the horse’s faeces.

At the Chatham House of Commotion, the APC candidate repeatedly punted himself. He was the butt of his own comic satire. The Guest Speaker morphed into the Moderator, albeit to the embarrassing chagrin of a global audience.

When Tinubu wasn’t parrying questions, he was delegating the task of answering them to subordinates and minions who are NOT on the

presidential ballot! The Mephistophelean bunch of El Rufai, Dele Alake, Kayode Fayemi and their co-journeymen suddenly became presidential candidates by Tinubu’s singular substitution! And when he deferred to answer himself, he had to read his answers (including his date of birth) from hurriedly scribbled notes which were handed to him by another subordinate. All in the full glare of a global audience! What excuse do APC’s litany of propagandists and spinners must explain away the actions of a man who had to read his own Date of Birth from a slip of paper handed to him! Such was Tinubu’s.

Age is not a crime. To age and grow old is the last curve on life’s graph. We all, if God grants, shall grow old. Unfortunately, the All Progressives Congress (APC) are not a God-fearing bunch. With Tinubu, APC mocks God daily on the campaign trail. In Tinubu, APC challenges God. Daily, and agonizingly, APC brandishes the limitations that age forces on us all. They continue to “package” an octogenarian whose mental state and physical wellbeing DUH LQ REYLRXV GHFOLQH ZKRVH JDͿHV DQG vituperations have become comic relief in a nation many have declared a failed state.

They window-dress and wallpaper his thwacks as the messianic vituperations of a saviour. This is the worst disservice APC can mete out on a hapless fragile old man.

For how long shall the APC dwell in its throes of monumental deceit? For how long shall the men (and Women) of the APC lie to Nigerians? As the Bible admonishes “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 12:22). God may forgive Tinubu, but God may never forgive Tinubu’s handlers, his battalion of cronies and army of liars.

The Chatham House scam highlights in no little measure one incontrovertible fact: %ROD $KPHG 7LQXEX LV QRW ÀW WR RFFXS\ WKH H[DOWHG R΀FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW RI WKH )HGHUDO Republic of Nigeria. As clearly stated in our Constitution, we cannot elect anyone adjudged… “or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind”. Evidentially, Tinubu has consistently displayed this unfortunate condition. If Buhari was bad, Tinubu is worse. To borrow the viral parlance on social media, “Tinubu is Buhari Pro Max”!

The February 2023 Presidential Elections will be a watershed moment for Nigeria and her peoples. For on that day, Nigerians VKDOO LQ D XQLYHUVDO VKRXW FRQÀQH WKH APC to the dung-heap of our collective yesterday.

May God help Nigeria and her people.

Obaseki, Director, Research, Strategy and Documentation (PDP Presidential Campaign Council), writes from Benin

T H4I S D AY SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2022

T H I S D AY SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2022 4

49

EDITORIAL

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

EKITI ASSEMBLY CRISIS AND MATTERS ARISING Executive interference has not allowed the legislature to mature in many states of the federation

T

he simmering crisis in the Ekiti State House of Assembly has once again thrown up the issue of the overbearing disposition of politicians in the executive branch who lord themselves over the legislative arm of government which they seek to emasculate. The message unwittingly being sent out is that politicians could engage in any reckless, unlawful, improper, and questionable activities if their interests are served. It is then little surprise that we are being marked down as a country where anything goes, and where a constitutional instrument meant to enhance good governance can easily be abused and desecrated.

The sordid drama in Ekiti State started following the death on 19th October 2022 of the Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye. The remaining 25 members of the House converged on 15th November 2022 to elect his replacement. At the end, a member representing Ikole State Constituency 1, Gboyega Aribisogan, scored 15 votes, defeating Olubunmi Adelugba of Emure-Ekiti State Constituency who recorded 10 votes. Aribisogan was subsequently inaugurated. But the next day, rather WKDQ $ULELVRJDQ DVVXPLQJ GXW\ LQ KLV QHZ R΀FH WKH +RXVH RI $VVHPEO\ &RPSOH[ ZDV VHDOHG RͿ RQ the order of the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Moronkeji Adesina. He claimed to be acting on ‘intelligence’ that some hoodlums were planning a violent attack on the complex. Events that followed exposed his excuse as a ruse meant to achieve a political objective.

7KDW SROLWLFDO REMHFWLYH EHFDPH DSSDUHQW ÀYH GD\V later when, in the early hours of 21st November 2022, $ULELVRJDQ ZDV SXUSRUWHGO\ UHPRYHG IURP R΀FH and Adelugba, (whom he defeated a week before) was purportedly elected in his place. Aribisogan and six colleagues (his supporters) were also suspended IURP OHJLVODWLYH DFWLYLWLHV LQGHÀQLWHO\ ([SHFWHGO\ Aribisogan has resisted his removal and suspension, dismissing them as a violation of extant rules. He has a valid argument. Two-thirds of members, the threshold

UHTXLUHG IRU WKH UHPRYDO RI D SULQFLSDO R΀FHU ZDV QRW met as only seven of the 17 members carried out the exercise.

It is noteworthy that leading Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) from the state, including Afe Babalola, Wole Olanipekun, Dele Adesina, Femi Falana, Olu Daramola, Dayo Akinlaja and Gboyega Oyewole, have waded in. They agree that Aribisogan’s removal was in contravention of not only the House rules but also Section 92 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

But the House has since replied that there would be no going back on their action even as both Aribisogan and Adelugba continue to lay claim to the speakership of the hallowed chamber.

Mercifully, things have not degenerated into a street ÀJKW DV WKH HPEDWWOHG speaker has approached the court for a resolution of the matter.

Given that the dispute has been submitted for adjudication in the court of law, this newspaper would be restrained in its interrogation of the crisis. However, it is important to state that what has played out so far in Ekiti State is the habitual tendency of the executive arm of government to wrest control of the legislative arm by imposing a pliant leadership. Sadly, this trend has not yielded good governance at the sub-national levels as governors continue to operate unchecked. The ultimate victims of this unfortunate situation are people RI WKHLU VWDWHV ZKR DUH GHQLHG TXDOLW\ DQG HͿHFWLYH representation.

We commend the peaceful approach by Abisogun and supporters as they await the outcome of the case in court. We also hope that the judicial process will be speed. If democracy is to be meaningful and deliver tangible dividends to the people, it is necessary that the principle of separation of powers be strictly adhered to.

This will not be possible if the executive is allowed to continue to dominate the legislature through this type of interference in their internal processes. It is therefore our hope that the judiciary, which is the constitutional arbiter between the other two arms of government, would help in resolving the crisis in the Ekiti State House of Assembly on the side of decency and rule of law.

If democracy is to be meaningful and deliver tangible dividends to the people, it is necessary that the principle of separation of powers be strictly adhered to

T H I S D AY EDITOR DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN DEPUTY EDITORS FESTUS AKANBI, EJIOFOR ALIKE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

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They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS THE APC MARGINALIZATION OF GOMBE SOUTH That the word “marginalisation” has continued to be prominent in the political lexicon of Gombe State since the 2019 general election remains an incontrovertible statement. The 7DQJDOH :DMD FRQVWLWXWHV DERXW ÀIW\ VL[ SHUFHQW RI WKH total population of the State with nearly ten ethnic groups. In other words, the people of Gombe South are predominant in the population index of Gombe State. This creates an obligation to treat them with diligence and reasonableness. But they have not been so fairly treated.

To also say that the impact of this marginalisation has continued to be felt mostly by the people of Gombe South is to state the obvious despite the claim of change in the state by the present Inuwa-led administration where there has been absence of equitable distribution of political appointments so far rolled out by his government. A scrutiny of political appointments so far made within at Gombe and at the federal level under the present political dispensation will make political pundits to wonder if Gombe South is part of the state and Nigeria, going by the glaring lopsided appointments skewed to shut them out of relevance in the scheme of things at the two levels of gover-

nance.

Given the change mantra and the existence of the Federal Character Commission, it is expected that the marginalisation of the people of Gombe south at the federal level should have become a thing of the past, but this is not to be. Rather, the marginalisation has continued to be tightened around the neck of the people in the area. All political appointments so far made by the federal government as far as Gombe State is concerned, came from two out of three senatorial districts in Gombe State namely Gombe Central and Gombe North, leaving out Gombe South Senatorial district, where the Tangale-Waja people with four out of the Eleven local government areas reside.

Such appointments include both career and non-career ambassadors, chairmen of boards of federal government parastatals, ministerial appointments. This lends credence to the cry of marginalisation of the people of the area at the federal level.

It was with the hope that the Gombe State governor would, in the spirit of equity and justice under the change mantra and federal character, consider our people for political appointments both at state and at the federal levels as is being done for

the other two ethnic groups in the state.

The fact remains that Tangale-Waja people who once stood out as the engine room of the defunct Northern region under the regional system of government in Nigeria are now being sidelined despite their past contributions to the development of WKH GHIXQFW 1RUWKHUQ UHJLRQ DQG WKH FRXQWU\ LQ YDULRXV ÀHOGV of human endeavour.

As a people and community of origin, Tangale-Waja is bigger than an individual. We are determined therefore not to allow ourselves to be consumed by any deceit or political hush-up.

The APC under Inuwa administration have done their worst to us. We have been marginalized in all spheres of life, from the setup of his cabinet and his recommendations for federal appointments and a lot more. The present administration’s promises to us in Gombe South are all Kept in View, KIV. Even lawful positions have been denied and our right and freedom to speak against the injustice has been hacked.

Comrade Yakubu Meshack writes from Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

11.12.2022

Prince Yemisi Shyllon

A Collector’s Craving for Culture

As famous and wealthy as he appears, Nigeria’s foremost art collector, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, considers himself a very comfortable and confident human, but with a core interest that lies in helping humanity, Vanessa Obioha writes 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 11, 2022

51

COVER

No Matter How Rich I Get, I will Never Acquire a Private Jet or Ride a Rolls Royce When any society values only money, that is what happens to the youths. Our society has become highly monetised. When I was growing up, there was pride in calling yourself a lawyer or a doctor or an engineer. You are respected in the society.

Today, if you have those kinds of things, they don’t respect you.

They respect how much is in your pockets. That is what I mean by monetization. And the fact that our society has been monetized, youths definitely are moving in that direction”

Shyllon

B

efore he clocked 50, Prince Yemisi Shyllon was already concerned about his legacy.

Will he just be remembered for his cerebral talents? Will his art collections be the only memory of him left behind?

Having evinced his artistic talents from a young age and collecting art as early as 19, Shyllon’s concerns are understandable. Not a few artists are remembered only in outdated textbooks. Surely, there is more to Shyllon that would keep him relevant for many generations.

A royal Prince of Ake in Abeokuta,

Ogun State, he wears many hats that speak volumes about his intelligence. He is a lawyer, an engineer, a sales marketer, an artist, a famed art collector and a culture custodian. Combine all of these and you’d find yourself sitting in front of a towering figure whose contributions to the art world and tourism traversed beyond the shores of Nigeria.

Shyllon is tall, not only figuratively but physically. His towering physique can be intimidating to a few and give the wrong impression that he is haughty. To avoid the erroneous interpretation of his confidence, he tries as much as possible to greet others first. He played this out

during our meeting at the Oriental Hotel for the Impact Mission Initiative where he was the Chairman of the occasion and honouree.

Even though the event was scheduled for midday, Shyllon arrived before the doors were opened. He sat in the lobby until the organisers were ready. It was no surprise that he was flocked by many when he finally came upstairs. Yet, when we passed a couple of youngsters, Shyllon was the first to say hi. It does not bother him that they may be old enough to be his grandchildren. He has no interest in the greeting culture of the youths.

What bothers him most is how we are preserving our culture, that is, our music, dance, customs and traditions, spiritual beliefs and language.

“The average young person these days cannot speak his language. That is a greater element of who you are. We should think of how to restore that.”

Moreover, he works with different kinds of people and does not judge people by age.

As he neared 50, Shyllon made up his mind that he was going to build a museum as part of his legacy. That museum is the fascinating edifice occupying a conspicuous spot at the PanAtlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

To date, he still holds dear the memory of embarking on the project.

“The day I signed the agreement to establish the museum with the PanAtlantic University was the highlight of my day. That was my greatest day on earth,” he said.

The museum has a tripartite function as an educational, cultural and tourism centre.

As an art collector, Shyllon believes that professionals in his field play a major role in nation-building.

“Art collectors help to create employment for artists and in the process of creating employment for artists, they help to create creativity. Creativity is seen in terms of its use in tourism. Tourism cannot thrive without creativity. If you go to Italy today, you will be pleased to see in Florence the works of Michaelangelo, Da Vinci, etc…

“But you come down to Nigeria and you find that the use of art by our collectors still has some gaps. I have tried to fill that gap by funding the establishment of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art and it is now one of the tourist attractions in Nigeria, particularly for foreigners who visit this country. So I’m contributing as a collector to not only revenue in terms of foreign exchange or international tourism, but also domestic tourism.”

Nigeria’s domestic tourism has not recorded much impact given the state of insecurity. However, Shyllon pointed out other contributing factors for its snail pace.

“Domestic terrorism can really thrive in an environment where there is cultural homogeneity. In Nigeria, where you have tribal groupings, people tend to keep within their tribal enclaves and not go around to other tribal enclaves. So

you find that it’s difficult for a northerner to go to the East, for instance, to go and enjoy tourism because he feels alienated. He doesn’t feel a sense of belonging.

“Now, domestic tourism also thrives when tourism edifices are developed, not only in terms of the natural existence of such places but developed to introduce events around it, developed to introduce things that will attract tourists and create leisure for tourists to enjoy. We have not developed those facilities. Take, for instance, the Zuma Rock in Abuja is a beautiful place but you need to create activities around it to make people want to see the place. You need to find a way to build a theatre or do a weekly festival.”

When Shyllon started collecting art, there were few in the field but today, he is somehow intrigued that art collection has become a fashion. On the flip side, there are fewer younger people thirsty for knowledge today compared to his time. He attributes this decline in knowledge acquisition to a highly monetised society.

“When any society values only money, that is what happens to the youths. Our society has become highly monetised.

When I was growing up, there was pride in calling yourself a lawyer or a doctor or an engineer. You are respected in the society.

Today, if you have those kinds of things, they don’t respect you. They respect how much is in your pockets. That is what I mean by monetization. And the fact that our society has been monetized, youths definitely are moving in that direction.”

As a concerned citizen, Shyllon is taking practical steps to prevent the degradation of our values by sponsoring television programmes that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM). He goes a step further by bringing successful individuals in the fields and children can phone in and win prizes on any of the programmes: ‘Engineering and You’, and ‘Art World’.

Shyllon has given out many artworks in various forms. Contemporary, modern, ethnography arts, name it, he has given them all out. Perhaps this explains why he is known as a donor, particularly with the establishment of the museum.

Notwithstanding, he revealed that he still has about 6,000 artworks in his possession.

Whether he plans to give them out or not is yet to be known. He however has other plans which he did not immediately divulge.

The art collector has other legacies he hopes to build. One of them is giving out his books in his law firm to a private university in his hometown. Just like he collects artworks, he is also a book lover. He has in his possession a large collection of law books that dates back to the 19th century.

He recalled going to London to buy books about law. Now at 70, Shyllon’s quest for knowledge is still astonishing.

“I wake up every day by 3am to read.

I read every day on any subject. Take me on any subject and I’m available,” he said glowingly.

When this reporter took him on fashion, he pointed out that he sketches his wife’s dresses to date. He considers himself not a wealthy person but very comfortable. His understanding of money is instructive.

“Money is just a means of exchange. It should not form the basis of your interaction with people. Money should be collateral and a return to a more important drive or vocation of your life. In other words, I have been giving and giving and giving for decades, and I derive a lot of reputation, and self-esteem that you cannot buy with money. That is more important to me than money.

“Money is just a means of exchange and you get to a point in your life where you have enough and the next is just greed. You should measure your level of satisfaction and give out whatever is extra, as much as you can to humanity. Set out a goal that can have maximum effect on humanity .

You should not acquire money for money’s sake, it is all emptiness. No matter how rich I get, I will never acquire a private jet or ride a Rolls Royce. I will rather buy something modest and use the rest for humanity.” he said passionately.

Shyllon is already doing that by training artists in residence to be a better version of themselves through his foundation, the Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF).

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R DECEMBER 11, 2022

52

HighLife A Tale of a Proud Father

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

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

Tony Elumelu: The Banker Shattering Glass Ceilings from All Angles Since stepping onto the African stage to carry out his dreams, Tony Elumelu has experienced one victory dance after another. Elumelu has once again broken into a new rank of business achievement, thanks to the recognition of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who recently recognised his various contributions across African nations, especially through his Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF); and the promotion of regional integration, peace, and socio-economic development.

Elumelu was awarded the ECOWAS Prize of Excellence.

The award which saw Elumelu obtaining two more plaques to add to his shelf was held at the Heads of State

Summit in Abuja with many dignitaries present. The event came at just the right time as TEF was preparing to begin new batches of empowerment across the continent.

Of course, those familiar with Elumelu’s methods understand that he is not a laggard but someone who is wholly committed to the satisfaction of his objectives. And with his progressive commitment to Africapitalism, there is very little anyone can do to persuade him that the African economy is not worth saving or investing in. And so, Elumelu continues to invest in the continent’s economy, first empowering the people in chunks and expecting them to deliver on their potential.

L-R: Senator Kalu, his daughter Barr. Zina and Mum

Ahead of the New Year, the Kalus of Abia State have gotten a new high-influence person into their family. That person is Zina, the happy daughter of the even happier former Abia Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu. As Zina made her way from somebody who studied Law to somebody who has now been called to the bar, the excitement in the Kalu household is palpable but also understandable.

Lawyers are glorified people, Emefiele although some of them are The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has more fortunate than others. set a limit on the amount of money that But the Kalus have struck gold, an individual or business organisation can withdraw over the counter and how much one might say, with Zina’s call to the bar. The man of the household who is also the Chief There is a saying that good people Whip of the Senate, cannot be have their own special place in society and will not be mass-guided as everybody more excited than he is now as else. That saying is gradually showing he shared the news online. its fangs while favouring the wife of Oba According to Kalu, his Saheed Ademola Elegushi, the hallowed daughter’s hard work has Sekinat. Based on recent news, Sekinat finally paid off and the entire is getting herself a book—and she is neither the person writing it nor the household feels very proud of person that commissioned or conceived her. Undoubtedly, even Zina it. feels very proud of herself and The publisher of The ELITES just as proud of her family.

Magazine, Kemi Akinyemi, has taken Zina graduated from the it upon herself to praise Sekinat for being an amazing individual and University of Buckingham, representative of an entire people.

United Kingdom. Even though Akinyemi demonstrated her desire to she was among more than 1,000 hallow Sekinat when she released a new others who were to be inducted book titled “Sekinat Aramide Elegushi: into the law profession, she Royalty Meets Style and A Heart of Gold.” stood distinguished with her In the book consisting of 240 pages, smiling father and mother by her side.

Among those who were present at the induction ceremony were the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria The All Progressives Congress (APC) (CJN), Justice Olukayode is shining all around. Compared to their counterparts, they seem to have it better Ariwoola; Chairman of the with a strong foundation and a lot of political Body of Benchers (BoB), Wole eunuchs willing to give all they have and all Olanipekun; former Justice of they are in the name of the party and what it offers them (and will continue to offer them the Supreme Court and Viceshould they win the presidential election).

Chairman of BoB, Justice Mary Over at Lagos State, getting everyone into Odili; and the Director-General the same boat in solidarity is not going of the Nigerian Law School, as well. After all, former Lagos governor Akinwunmi Ambode continues to hide Professor Isa Chiroma, to name a in the shadows, content to let everyone few. And yet, Kalu’s wide smile else take the glory of having contributed made it so that these dignitaries to the coming success (or defeat) of APC were just along for the ride rather presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

“Once beaten, twice shy” goes the than the hosts of the ceremony. proverb. By every indication, Ambode has One can only salute Kalu’s learnt his lesson and is not willing to be fortune in having a daughter like taught again. This is the lesson of being loyal Zina. The coming days will be to someone, offending the person, losing your job and dignity, and having to start even more glorious.

Elumelu

Nigerian Politicians Jittery over CBN’s Decision can be gotten from ATMs. According to the new policy, individuals can only withdraw a total of N100,000 over the counter, and this is on a weekly basis. In other words, someone who wants to withdraw N1 million and goes into the banking hall instead of using an ATM would have to wait 10 weeks and withdraw N100,000 per week.

CBN has stolen the attention of Nigerians everywhere with the new policy.

If it all goes as the apex money-related agency intends, then there would be a lot of aggrieved politicians starting January 9, 2023, the day that the policy would take effect. As a consequence, all those that turned up their noses at the news of CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele doing his best to reduce vote-buying in the coming elections have had to revise their opinion.

As things stand now, politicians are already more afraid of CBN than the Economic

The ELITES Releases New Book on Sekinat Elegushi

Elegushi

and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

After all, EFCC comes knocking on doors after funds have been stolen. But CBN seems set on preventing these bad people from positioning themselves where they can steal.

Therefore, they would have to take it up with their handlers at the Senate, and that is the latest news reaching the streets—that the senators are concerned about the policy and wish to advise CBN on reducing the ‘death sentence’ withdrawal as it would affect small business owners.

Of course, corrupt politicians do not have a care in the world for small business owners but for themselves. Nevertheless, the Senate has a point about the policy affecting small business owners. So, now, it is a question of ensuring that the next president of Nigeria is elected in a free and fair manner or having small business owners suffer for a little while.

Akinyemi narrated the life and times of Sekinat, especially the parts about her raising the poor and putting smiles on the faces of the needy. The book chronicled how Sekinat is a force of change, a force willing to go against the grindstone of the Nigerian elite social establishment as she helps people, whether these people are her people or strangers.

The Head of Service (HoS) of the Lagos State government, Hakeem MuriOkunola (HMO) wrote the foreword to the book. In his usual straightforward manner, HMO stated that “Olori Elegushi’s style and fashion escapades and her footprints in the sands of philanthropism have inspired this book about her.” And indeed, even as she inspired the book, she has also inspired many women across Africa, which is another target that Akinyemi wanted to demonstrate with the book.

Not Again as Ambode Stays Away from Political Activities building your political portfolio from scratch.

Ambode’s story really would make a good Nollywood movie.

Ambode is one of the few one-term governors in recent years across the country.

Curiously, he is also one of the few that can call one of the most strategic politicians in the country—who is codenamed ‘Jagaban’—his godfather. But, as news houses have been reporting all this time, it was because the godfather withdrew his blessing that Ambode fell out of favour with Lagos State and Lagos people. Now that godfather needs him, Ambode is difficult to grasp.

Apparently, Ambode has no interest in political activities. The man is taking it easy with his life and dignity. Some troublemakers wanted to get him involved and therefore claimed that he had joined the Labour Party (LP). But even that did not get Ambode to come out of the closet to play.

So, in the matters of bad political lessons,

Ambode

Ambode should write a book and title it, “An Old Politician Goes Home to Roost: The Life and Times of Lagos State’s One-Term Governor.”

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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 11, 2022

HIGHLIFE

A Governor’s Dilemma: Who is the New Osun State First Lady?

The victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke at the Osun State gubernatorial polls has brought a lot of benefits and complications to the administration of the state. For one, because of the immense battle that Adeleke fought before his emergence, he is still in the glow of his David-slays-Goliath experience. Therefore, it has not been altogether surprising to see him uproot certain things and shake up others. Ultimately, the Dancing Senator has to be the one that makes the music in Osun. If there is one problem with this, it is that he has not yet smoothened over the question of who the First Lady is.

When it comes to the household of Adeleke, there are two women whose voices have that commanding matriarchal tone: Mrs. Titilola Adeleke and Erelu Ngozi Adeleke. The women are naturally different and have their own dispositions.

However, they love their husband

dearly and have been at the forefront of his governorship ambition and campaigns.

Thus, Osun people know them to be the First Lady, which is its own pack of troubles.

Not long after Adeleke obtained the governorship mantle from his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, he attended a function with Titilola. In that function, she was addressed as the First Lady of Osun and she made many promises, capping them with her intentions to represent the interest of the women, youths, and children in the state.

Interestingly, just a few days before, Ngozi also took time out to hail Osun women for coming out to support her husband during his inauguration as Governor. She also promised, on behalf of her husband, to see their needs met and their hopes and aspirations secured with good works.

So, while everything checks out on the surface, one cannot help but wonder if both Madam Titilola and Ngozi wear the First

Abdul Rabiu: Another Presidential Handshake

Rabiu

Things are happening at such a fast pace in the industrialists’ verandah. BUA Chairman, Abdul Rabiu, has once again

climbed over the heads of his peers with the recent award from President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference recently took place in Sokoto and the Nigerian Army used the event as an opportunity to thank and honour Nigerians that have committed their resources to support the Army. Thus, Rabiu obtained the recognition of the Army with many smiles going around, especially because the award was handed to the BUA man by the president.

This is the fourth award that President Buhari would be handing over to Rabiu in

Break up Tales Trail Oritsejafor and Wife Social media is currently experiencing shock over the recent news about the former President of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

According to the reports, the man who is currently the founder and Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church has decided to call it quits with his wife of 25 years, Helen. But separation is one thing; the motivation for separation is something else entirely.

This is not the first time that tidings about a crisis in the marriage of the Oritsejafors reached the ears of Nigerians. Many times, it seemed as if the marriage was on the verge of falling apart, only to spring back into shape.

People have even used that as a sign that people who were meant to be will remain together after 25 years. Alas, all that is no longer tenable.

Although the news of the divorce of the Oritsejafors has not been announced by either

Oritsejafor with estranged wife, Helen

Rosemary Mku-Atu: The Philanthropist Extraordinaire

Adeleke

Lady’s robes. If so, Adeleke should be lauded considering that there has been no public conflict showing that there is a contest between the women. the last 12 months. The first award was the Nigeria Productivity Awards which President Buhari presented to Rabiu in May 2022. That was followed by the national honour which saw Rabiu become a Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). Then there was the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service which Rabiu got for his philanthropy and interventions in education. That was in October. Now, barely two months after, Rabiu has been awarded again.

Of course, there is no conspiracy afoot, no intention to magnify Rabiu above every other industrialist, businessman, or philanthropist. It is simply a case of the best person being recognised as the best person. And considering all that Rabiu has done in Nigeria and for Nigerians in the last two years, he is certainly deserving of even more awards. party, sources are certain in their report.

One source noted that Helen has left their matrimonial home and relocated to the UK with their children, while Oritsejafor has only returned to the house after abandoning it for a long while.

There are many stories about why the alleged divorce happened. One such unverified story is that Helen has allegedly been unfaithful for the past 10 years. Another is that she has been overly aggressive towards Oritsejafor, to the point where his church members noticed and raised concerns. Another is that they have been engaged in a long and bitter quarrel and the separation is just the collapse of the last card in their house of cards.

Essentially, whether online in-laws cast Helen as the devil or Oritsejafor as the next worst thing, the rumour is already a bad sign.

And if it is true, then one can only sigh. But marriage has ever only been a thing between two people, so only they know what they faced and are facing.

Thinkers and Workers Announce Osifeso as Grand Patron

Osifeso

Lekan Osifeso has once again been handed the limelight. This time, the presenters of the eye of the society are none other than the group called Thinkers and Workers, the people working to ensure that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gets a second term in the Lagos State House. The same people have gathered to announce that Osifeso is their grand patron, raising the Olotu Olowa and Madasa of Ijebuland into a new rank of glory and virtue.

Many Lagos socialites are green with envy at the decision of Thinkers and Workers to anoint Osifeso as the grand patron of their group. The group’s representative seemed to know this and had to explain the choice of Osifeso. According to them, Thinkers and Workers had Osifeso become their grand patron because they share many core values but two in particular that tipped the scale in the Ijebu man’s favour: the first is that he is passionate about seeing Governor SanwoOlu re-elected, and the second is that he is

giving his best to impact humanity.

Responding to the honour, Osifeso stated that he had been watching Thinkers and Workers for a while now and is very impressed with their doings. He was especially impressed with the way they did not go around begging politicians and giving them false titles such as grand patrons to get more money. Instead, Thinkers and Workers simply raised money among themselves which they then gave to the underprivileged of society. Because Osifeso is also like that, he did not hesitate to accept the title of grand patron, determined to guide them into even more glory than they have now.

Right now, Thinkers and Workers are at the forefront of Sanwo-Olu’s campaign for a second term. Whether or not they were brought together by an individual seeking his own, one must admit that they are gradually gathering momentum and might become a strong force to contend against before the 2023 gubernatorial elections.

With individuals like Princess (Dr.) Rosemary Mku-Atu on the prowl, there will always be something to celebrate about women and their unrestrained influence over the hearts of men and children. Mku-Atu’s influence is not that of a familial mother, but a mother nonetheless, one wearing the cloaks of generosity and philanthropy. Even as she continues with her commitment to handling the needs and demands of the underprivileged in society, Mku-Atu’s person will be drowned out by a deluge of accolades.

More details are emerging regarding the philanthropic activities of Mku-Atu. In fact, her philanthropic side has completely left her entrepreneurial and socialite sides in the dust. Today, even though people remember her as one of the most successful entrepreneurs to have ever been born in Edo, it is her generosity that comes to mind first when people think of her.

Considering her prolonged and continuing philanthropic gestures, one can only conclude that Mku-Atu is not shaming her Bini royal family even as she serves humanity to the best of her ability and resources. Any other person would have rested by now, but Mku-Atu has been at it for 25 years.

Through her Rosula Foundation, a non-profit, Mku-Atu has created a setup that ensures that the underprivileged can live their dreams. The foundation uses multiple initiatives to reduce the effects of economic difficulties on the poor and needy, thereby offering much-needed care and support to these people.

Whether it is in financial empowerment, providing access to quality education, or simply offering humanitarian services, Mku-Atu’s foundation has and is doing them all. Thus, it is not out of character to describe her as a philanthropist extraordinaire, a woman of true compassion, reaching forward to help others up and earning their gratitude.

Mku-Atu

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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 11, 2022

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Chatham House of Horror I used to sha wonder what it is about this Chatham House that everybody will be rushing to. I first came upon it during Muhammadu Buhari’s time.

He was going there to speak English.

Now, Tinubu has carried his ‘teamship’ and gone there to do drama. After all the bulla ballu, they went to eat in a nearby Buka and someone said, “Baba you will have to dance ‘Buga’ so that the youths will be inspired,” and with all the creakiness, Daddy stood up and was attempting to raise shoulder.

The scene outside was very funny.

First, we saw a motley crew of Baba’s supporters all looking swollen with the plenty jackets and cardigans they had to wear because of the cold. Mbok, before you could say ‘Okon Calabar’,

Reno jumped in o.

Reno looked like an out-of-work Hollywood star going for his first audition after a terrible sex scandal.

Mbok, he dressed well o. Beautiful trench coat, black pants, trendy turtleneck, black glamming boots and finally killing us with dark ‘bones’, the type that Jim Iyke used to wear when he is spitting on people in the name of acting.

Reno jumped into the crowd and immediately, the Bulla Ballu people swallowed him. They out-screamed him, they out-jumped him, they outdanced him, they out-did everything he did. You know say Reno no dey gree — he continued to shout and jump even though he was drowned

and the scene was jumpy, chaotic and embarrassingly disgraceful.

You know me, I am a ‘racist’. Be looking, me I am a confirmed racist o. If I was a white man, I go really be better racist. Are we a serious people? See that kind of display on the streets of London. The white people walking past will just be looking and, in their minds, will be saying, ‘what is happening with the monkeys today?”

Yes na, abi no be monkey dey behave that way – prancing on the streets, humping the air, fist in the air and shouting, ‘Asiwaju – Ole,’ ‘Asiwaju for President’,?

Na confirmed baboon and gorilla behaviour. Na wa.

OLAIYA IGWE: THE ‘BOTTOM’ OF THE MATTER My own is always sha different. While the whole world is screaming, me I am analysing the video. This two-bit irrelevant actor suddenly burst on my phone with a multi-coloured skin type and speaking very feverishly in Yoruba with his hands in the air and walking towards what was looking like an Ocean. With added effects, we saw thunder and heard storms.

I cannot understand what exactly he is saying, but I keep hearing ‘Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.’ He is apprehensive as if he is in a state of shock with eyes glazing and pouring spit everywhere.

Mr. Olaiya has just made history. He has taken political campaigning to the highest level. Now, let’s not get carried away o.

Our women have been protesting naked for centuries. In fact, the debate on my new Play – Ufok Ibaan which depicts the Ikot Abasi women’s riot which led to the Aba Riots of the 1920s is on if we should show naked boobs or not. The director is asking to show naked ‘boobs’ on the stage and I am all for it being a major expert in the field.

But Senator Udoma Udo Udoma whose great grandmother led the revolt and lost her life in the process, thinks otherwise.

“Edgar, can you protect my grandmother’s dignity?”

So, you can see that Mr. Olaiya is a product of history. He has not done anything wrong or unprecedented. My own in the matter is that I have not been able to eat

Afang since I saw that video.

How can a man have such a small’ ‘yansh’?

It is so mysterious o. The bottom is so small that I wonder how he sits. Then the various colours that make up his skin type and then the knuckles. Mbok, don’t let me go on about that before they say I am body shaming him. I am not o. I am just thinking what millions are thinking but don’t have the guts to say out loud.

Cowardly Mr. Olaiye now stopped short of showing us his ‘pecker’. Now this is hypocritical because if as he said later that he had to go naked because the ‘spirits’ told him to, in order for him to show appreciation to Mrs. Tinubu for saving his life when he had pile, then he didn’t do it well and must refund whatever funds Madam spent on him so we use it on other more appreciative morons.

For me that video was vile, gut wrenching and sadly very ‘stupid’ to say the least.

Please pardon my language because I have to really come down hard on this mimicker if we are to have sanity returned to the process.

Mr. Igwe kindly spare us the bitter experience of your naked butt next time and instead learn to show your ‘appreciation’ in a more matured and responsible manner.

My sympathy goes to your Madam if there is one, for having to suffer the indignity of it all. Sorry mummy, e ma bi nu si. Agba lon shey.

I am just looking at President Jonathan and hoping that he will behave like a real vexed Ijaw fisherman. PDP sent a ‘strong’ delegation to go and beg him to ‘forgive and forget’ and put in a word for them during this electioneering season.

PDP is right now suffering. As Asiwaju has declared at Chatham House – I am the front leader. PDP recognises the fact and their delegation has gone to beg a man that they shamed and derided in 2015.

They arrived at the decision after their very disgraceful rally in Lagos. From the videos, I think na only 30 people came out. I did not see Funke Akindele’s famed 12 million social media followers. The rally was pathetically ‘useless’ showing the Jandor/Akindele combo for what it is – a porn show.

After it all, they decided to go and beg Jonathan. Now my grouse. From the video, I do not know who was hosting who. Not sure if they came to Jonathan’s house or if it was on neutral grounds or if it was Okowa that was hosting.

No matter who was hosting, the refreshment was disgraceful and very far from presidential. If na Okowa present those refreshments, then he is not ready to be vice president. If na Jonathan, then maybe PDP have their answer there, that the man no get their time.

Let me describe what I saw on the table.

Plenty bottled water, iced cold, three packs of pure water, guguru, groundnut, dates and tiger nuts for those with erectile dysfunction problems, cracker biscuits and ‘agbalumo’. They spread some on the

table and left the rest on the floor.

If this is what PDP used to come and beg a whole President Jonathan after calling him clueless, then na them clueless. If na Jonathan use these things to entertain them, then the man is still vexing from the disgrace they gave him in 2015.

Even me, when I used to go and beg Duchess after catching me with the very lovely and curvy damsel down the street, I no use pure water beg, talk less of a whole husband of the legendary Patience. There is God ooooo. Lol.

Igwe

Jonathan

Tinubu

EX-PRESIDENT JONATHAN, LET’S IGNORE THEM

Ahmed

DATTI AHMED, RUN AWAY FROM FANIKAYODE It is very clear that this Datti BabaAhmed does not read my column and if it is so, then he just may not get my vote as he no want make I chop. If he reads this column, he would have seen that I had put my Egbon Femi FaniKayode in an elite grouping of expert political yabis merchants. Fani-Kayode, Dino Melaye and Festus Keyamo, SAN. These elite yabis merchants have honed their trade and carried it to another level. They form the very first entrants into Nigeria’s Yabis Hall of Fame.

That is how amateur and impish Datti carry fight go where the fight dey fear to enter. Like Saddam and his dud scud missiles, Datti came to Fani-Kayode – “when Obi was being a successful trader and me building a private university, you were busy sleeping with women…”

Popoola

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LOUD WHISPERS Kai, immediately I saw this one, I screamed ooo. Oh my God! Who advised this man o. It’s like me entering the most popular whore house in Shomolu – Juliet Hotel and happening on the putrid and ugly nakedness of the Madam and asking her in my innocence, “Mummy, why your breast come flat like that?” Oh my God, I got the beating of my life and ended up at the nearby Military Hospital in intensive care.

That was just how Datti was dealt with by the master. Mbok, I cannot use my words, let me quote Fani-Kayode ooo. Kai, master. He captioned it ‘A love Letter to Datti Ahmed’ “…each of my children is worth more than 100 million of that bogus, classless, empty and 419 contraption that you call a university…”

Kai, Fani-Kayode was just starting, my head was swelling. Kai! “...unlike your brood of ill-bred desert rats and inconsequential piglets that you calyours…”

Someone should arrest Fani-Kayode. This is too much. By this time, I was rolling on the floor with tears in my eyes. Who send Datti ooo. Who send Datti ooo. Kai! Oya one last one before I go chop “…I had decided to limit my response to you to the above words and tweet but given the fact that you are not gifted with much intelligence, I decided to give you a little more…”

Ogbeloooooooooo. Fani Power don finish Datti o.

My honest advice to Mr. Datti when it comes to yabis is – don’t do it. You do not have the flexibility, character or colour to engage in this. Leave it for the experts.

Them Wike and Fani-Kayode and Keyamo are born ‘jagudas’. They understand the science of yabis, the timing needed for maximum impact and the understanding of the flexibility of words. But you, you are just stiff with no delivery skills. So why go look for trouble.

Please, why not do like Asiwaju the Delegator-in-Chief and look for someone in your team and delegate the yabis to.

So, when my brother Dr Rueben Abati or Rufai ask you a question on ARISE TV: “Mr. Datti what do you think of Chief Fani-Kayode, he just called you an imbecile.”

You will look squarely at Rufai and say, “I believe in teamship, so I will ask my brother, Akpororo, to take that question.”

Then after the interview, you grab Rufai in that scrawny neck and say, “are you crazy?

Do you want me to hear that my father was a bushman from the Kalahari Desert?”

Run away from Fani-Kayode ooo. He is lethal.

SEUN KUTI, COUNT ME OUT You know how some people will just jump into matters that do not concern them? This one just waking up from slumber and reeling in whatever it is that he takes and eating buka rice, posts a video shouting – “Aisha Buhari you are fattttt, come and arrest me.

You have chopped all the money, come and arrest me ooo.”

You see, even watching this video makes you complicit and guilty, deserving of a trip to Golgotha with an ankle slammed on your neck.

The boy has recanted. After seeing his great grandfather’s scrotum, he has come out to say, “Mummy don’t vex o. It was the devil and hunger.”

Now Seun don come add him own, not only talking about the fatness but also trying to educate us on the constitutionality or otherwise of the office of the First Lady.

You see, it is this kind of thing that used to make someone jump up and shout, I am not there ooo. I don’t know him ooo, I did not send him ooo.

Please Mummy, you know that I have been a very big fan. All these talks of fatness are just stupid. Where I come from in Akwa Ibom, we spend good money to take our sweet women into the fattening room. I have looked at your before and after pictures and I think these ones that they are calling you fat is far better from an Akwa Ibom man point of view sha o.

So Seun carrying his big head and brown

people. Get Bundi.

Charly Boy

CHARLY BOY’S DESPERATE SEARCH FOR HIS ‘MANHOOD’ Did you see the video clip? If you did not, reach me privately and let me send it to you. The great maverick had screamed – my p..ck no dey stand again o. This cry resonated because at that moment I was going through a rare circle of erectile dysfunction.

The thing was not standing o. I ran to Dr Nwabuoko who said, “Edgar, there is nothing wrong with you. You just panic a lot. Go and eat well, exercise and don’t worry.”

The worry will even kill it one day, Doctor.

I know myself, the thing is not standing.

Me that even by looking at women at the bus stop I will stand like ADC. Now nothing.

Then my brother Patrick Doyle said, “see Edgar at 50, be expecting a cyclical power failure.”

I screamed and went to report him to teeth and be shouting you are fat is just water off the back of a chicken. Then also the matter of chopping money. Let me give him the great Tinubu retort – is it your money, fool?

This Seun comes from a long line of busy bodies. His forebears have been irritating power since time immemorial. From that their grandmother – Funmilayo down to his father, they have not been minding their business.

So, I am not surprised that this one, who needs to go do DNA, is now shouting after smoking vegetables that you are fat and have chopped money.

Please, in case your people miss their way on the way to go and arrest him, he lives in Ikeja. Let them enter a bus at Orile, the one that is shouting Ajah and drop at Coscharis bus stop and walk past the Aladura church on the street and enter one house painted black. You go see am there.

If you can’t find him there, please don’t ask me again, I have tried as a law abiding citizen. Seun, foolish boy…

OSITA OPARAUGO: DEMOCRATISING EDUCATION This my brother is a passionate Nigerian.

Everything he touches must have an

Yemi Shodimu and he concurred. Now I don’t know if they are both in the matter but the way they look ground to tell me this matter, he come be like say we been all dey the same political party.

So, I went into research and found out that erectile dysfunction is the real pandemic o. Wetin be Covid when we cannot rise o. Let the Covid gerrout. So, in throwing this issue up, I have written a whole play about it.

‘The Duke has Gone Mad Again’ inspired

by Charly Boy, will be showing this Saturday at the Muson Centre. Kai, he go don show pass by the time you read this. Anyways, this is in solidarity to the millions who can’t get it up. Don’t worry guys, take date, tiger nut blended with banana and small watermelon every morning, na wetin I use and now ‘small girls’ are begging for mercy. Kai. impact. One day, he called me to his Banana Island posh apartment. “Duke, I want to show you something.” He opened his laptop and ‘get bundi’ jumped at me. My people Osita with what this Get Bundi will achieve in no time in education the whole continent have not been able to achieve in centuries. Let me give you the gist.

Get Bundi provides STEM courses for secondary school JSS 1-SS3 with three years of revision for WAEC and JAMB. 4000 multiple choice questions as assessment and weekly live Q and A. It also offers digital skill courses.

From programming, graphics, video editing, cybersecurity with 12 assignments and a final practical examination for the diploma certificate.

He is presently working on getting the federal government certification meaning that we will now have school out of school. For just N2,000 per session you can imagine just how this will revolutionise education. It’s penetration and the balancing of quality. This is mad I swear. Osita is mad and I like mad

TEMI POPOOLA SHINES WITH THE NGX The NGX is Nigeria’s biggest stock exchange. During the week, it decided to honour some of its listed companies and active stakeholders in its bid to deepen corporate governance among others. The event, which was held at the prestigious Civic Centre in Victoria Island, pooled in very influential members of the capital market community and leaders in the economic space.

My brother Temi shone like a million stars. In a black tux that made him look like a dark and bald-headed Brad Pitt, he welcomed guests to the high octane event while also asking them to sit back, relax and have fun.

For me, I had fun o. First I broke the dress code. They had said – black tie and me no dey wear tie again, I entered the place with white linen looking like Angel Gabriel going to have a discussion with Joseph.

I saw so many great people o. From my brother Asue and his brother Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, to the great Aig-Imoukhuede, the legendary banker, to Gabriel Ogbechie who is one of the most influential investors in the market today. The boys who are running the incredibly successful CSCS were there looking like American Hollywood royalty. Jallo Waziri and Yinka Shonekan who just became Executive Director. Others like Ike Chioke, a very brilliant man and the Chairman of all Chairmen, Kwairanga were all in full bloom. Wow, I saw my great mentor who doesn’t even know he is my mentor, Bolaji Balogun. I hugged him and ran away.

I refused to go and greet Oscar for fear that he might knock me. I had yabbed him too much recently but all is well now. Things are now normalised and the Exchange is on the path to great strides.

Kai, I almost forgot to mention that I sat with the purple boys. Laide and Obinna. They just launched a N10 Billion IPO- audacious and bold. Great guys.

Had fun. Ate two plates and asked for the numbers of the caterers, the pepper soup was out of this world.

FOR D’BANJ, NO COMMENT The news of his arrest or whether na invite has hit the airwaves. D’banj has been skirting dangerously for some time now so I am not really that surprised by this news.

You see the moment the career started waning and he started dabbling into things he had no competence on, I began to pray for him. Now we are hearing stories on N-Power and the rest.

He is my friend. We hung out together in his house and he cooked okro soup for me so I will not put down a man that fed me. I stand by him even as we await the final conclusion of the investigations.

My prayers remain with my brother, no worry, we no go chop beans.

YINKA SHONEKAN’S WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION Yinka is my friend and brother. When his father, the late Chief Ernest Shonekan, passed, I sent him my condolences and mentioned that the trek from the church to the final resting place in Ikoyi was quite a distance. That was my own contribution to that national event.

So, when I heard that he had been elevated by the Board of the CSCS Limited, I screamed. Well-deserved. Yinka is courageous, determined and brilliant.

Kind-hearted and a lover of a good life.

He is the only friend wey no dey bring anything for me when he travels. The rest like Femi Tejuoso will call and say, “Duke, as you no get money to travel again, wetin be your size?”

But Yinka will just say, “I dey come, I dey London.” The following week, he will announce, “I don come.”

If not for his brother, Jallo Waziri wey don give me better food for him house, I for release Yinka’s nude and no be that Olaiya type of apparition o.

But anyways, he is a good man. Highly cerebral and a force. Congrats my brother.

Congrats.

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Wike’s Flamboyant Garb of Arrogance

Odumeje

Of Pastor Odumeje’s Hedonism Anambra State-born clergyman, Chukwuemeka Ohanamere, also known as Odumeje, is the General Overseer of The Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry.

Famously known as Indaboski Bahos, he makes no pretense about winning more souls into the vineyard of God. The “Liquid Metal”, as he often boasts, loves to be in the news both for good and bad reasons. His attitudes and lifestyle continue to set tongues wagging because they are believed to be obviously out of sync with the divine teaching in Matthew 6: 19-21: “Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourself treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Though he is said to be generous, the pastor comes across as a hedonist of sorts.

It was gathered that he has a fleet of exotic cars in his garage. Besides, he goes out with a large retinue of aides and heavy security.

Odumeje seems to love worldly things and flaunts them without caring a hoot. Surprisingly, he does not seem to be bothered about the barrage of criticisms daily hurled at him by some members of the society, including some Christian faithful.

He has not done anything, consciously or otherwise, to disabuse the minds of his critics who have tagged him as controversial. His actions and farcical displays in public are said to be giving many grave concerns, as it is giving Christianity a bad image.

Last Sunday, the fair-complexioned clergy held a special Sunday service on the occasion of his 40th birthday in style. During the celebration, his church members gifted him assorted items and “sprayed” him crisp Naira notes that littered the floor of the church. The celebrator entertained his congregation with his musical skill, as he sang in the Igbo language while money rained on him.

If the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, had been more circumspect, he would have heeded the advice of several chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and backed down on his endless political battle with the party’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and its National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu. But he has shunned wise counsel from all quarters. His actions and inactions seem to have betrayed him as one who has a pathological hatred for Atiku.

Today, the number one citizen of Rivers, who does not have any shame or scruples wearing his flamboyant garb of arrogance, is rueing his actions. This is because he is fast losing the battle and his supporters have begun to thin away.

Shortly after Atiku won the PDP primary, defeating Wike and many others, the trained lawyer threatened fire and brimstone, saying that he would never work with the Adamawa-born politician unless Ayu is removed as the party’s helmsman. Initially, many met with him for a

Wike

who had earlier admired him in the past.

Now, the party elders have reportedly called his bluff and moved on without him.

When the World Remembered Harry Akande

Late Akande

How time flies! It was exactly two years ago on Monday, December 5, when billionaire businessman, Harry Akande, breathed his last.

His death, after a protracted battle with Covid-19, had, quite expectedly, sent his family, friends, associates, fans and beneficiaries into prologue

mourning.

In commemoration of his passing, his family, friends and business associates held prayer sessions for him.

The late Agbaoye of Ibadanland lived a lavish and colourful lifestyle that many, including his peers in the ultra-wealthy class, fantasised about.

There used to be a myth, at a point in time, that no Nigerian could rival Akande’s charming extravagance. In fact, long before the arrival of Forbes’ Rich List or Fortune 100 on the continent of Africa, Akande was one of the first set of Nigerians to have been described with superlatives as a billionaire.

When the news of his passing broke, many, including those who only knew him through the pages of newspapers and social media, were shell-shocked. It was not because the flamboyant businessman didn’t live a fulfilled life or that he didn’t live to old age, but it was

because his colourful lifestyle even beat a kingly living.

The late international businessman cum politician, it was gathered, had some unfulfilled dreams, despite his wealth, power and influence.

Till his death, Akande never gave up on his ambition of ruling Nigeria- his love for his country was the motivating factor for his adventure into partisan politics which made him contest the presidential election unsuccessfully in 2007. He was said to be working quietly at contesting the 2023 presidential election. But he could not achieve this before he breathed his last.

Despite his pedigree as a first-class business strategist, Akande’s major bid to introduce a new vista of business ideas into his home country suffered some disappointments.

Not Yet Uhuru for Ogun Guber Hopeful, Ladi Adebutu At last, it is a happy time for Hon. Ladi Adebutu, son of billionaire and bet-game king, Kessington Adebutu, as he has been declared the Ogun Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate by a court.

With this landmark victory at the court, all is now set for the man of the people to prove his preparedness for the number one job of the gateway state, particularly as the contending and disapproving forces to his formidable candidature have all sheathed their swords to work collectively for his unprecedented victory at the polls.

Since the court’s victory bells rang, Adebutu has been putting all strings together to ensure a smooth-sailing and overwhelming victory

Happy Moment for Prince Samuel Adedoyin Billionaire businessman, Prince Samuel Adedoyin, Chairman, Doyin Group of Companies, can’t be happier now, as he had the grace to celebrate another birthday last Sunday.

The Kwara State-born businessman played host to friends, business associates and fans in his palatial Victoria Island residence.

The birthday shindig, a source disclosed to Society Watch, was well attended by top business tycoons, top civil servants, captains of industries, government, powerful and influential individuals as well as revered and first-class monarchs.

Providence, no doubt, has literally lavished its favour on him. Even as he gracefully turned 87, it is evident that he still has a lot to contribute to humanity. But success, greatness and fame were never thrust on his laps on a platter of gold. He has had his own fair share of the vicissitudes and lassitude of life. His is an intriguing story of a man who has glided from zero to hero.

While he was growing up, he had the picture of how rich he wanted to be in his head, but was slightly unsure of how to actualise it, particularly when he faced some teething challenges. Indeed, if anyone had told him that he would someday become one of the gladiators in the nation’s business sector, he would have sneered at the fellow.

He started his business on a shoestring budget and made a success out of it. The

truce on several occasions, all to no avail.

It is doubtful if anyone has forgotten how he had boasted that his wish should be granted or he would expose many secrets that would shake the party to its very foundation or dump the party. Wike had reportedly issued this threat during meetings with some party leaders and his loyalists across the nations, where he lambasted and insulted some of the party leaders.

In fact, Wike’s stubbornness really unsettled leaders of the party, who had mounted pressure on him to place the interest of the party above his interest.

“Governor Wike has been blinded by his over-bloated ego. He has allowed himself to be deceived by political jobbers or hangers-on and started thinking too highly of himself,” a source revealed.

Consequently, he has now become the anvil of criticism in the political circle of the state, as well as an object of ridicule by those

Adedoyin

company that started as a small trading business in Lagos in 1968 has grown tremendously over the years diversifying into various sectors of business.

Call him a restless spirit, and you would not be wrong. His lifestyle, to many around him, was like a riddle that could not be easily cracked.

He believed God had given him almost limitless talents or abilities, which must be deployed to good use. Perhaps, this was the impetus that goaded him into different sectors of the economy many times and he always came out with smiles.

No wonder, his friends and admirers call him Prince of Commerce; he is, indeed, a gladiator and a maestro in that field.

over the major opponent to his aspiration, a development that is already causing ripples and jitters in the ruling party of All Progressives Congress (APC).

No doubt, Adebutu is a man of the people and loved by many in the state, on account of his exceedingly gregarious and generous disposition to his people across all boards, having been active since his days at the House of Representatives in Abuja.

However, some sources disclosed that it is not yet Uhuru for the Iperu-born politician, as he has a mountainous and herculean task before his dream could be realised.

It was further hinted that he is in the eyes of the storm, as the battle is not totally over.

Adebutu

Ex-Ogun Governor, Gbenga Daniel’s Groundswell of Recognition Former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, seems to be enjoying a groundswell of recognition in the state.

Recently, OGD, as he fondly called, who is contesting to represent Ogun East in the 2023 election, was honoured with chieftaincy titles by three respected monarchs across the state.

He was bestowed with the Agbaakin of Ago-Iwoye by Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, His Royal Highness, Abdul-Razaq Adenugba.

Also, he was bestowed with the title of Baba Oba of Oru-Ijebu by his HRM Olufemi Adebanjo, while he also received the title of Aroludotun of Ijebu Igbo from Oba Jayeoba Adebajo.

Against the backdrop of his faceoff and humiliation at the hands of the immediate past governor of the state, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, it may be safe to say that OGD is literally a cat with nine lives.

Apart from being the first governor of the state to complete a second term, he was also the first governor of the state to align with the government at the Centre. Until 2019, he was a strong member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one of those who kept the structure of the party for so long. His tenure as the state governor brought about unprecedented

developments in the state. Although he failed in his bid to install his preferred successor when he was leaving office in 2011, this singular act became an albatross to his political career, as he was humiliated and embarrassed by his successor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who was before then his political partner and friend.

He fought many wars that would have drowned an ordinary man. But for divine grace, he sprouted out and refused to be ‘buried.’

Luckily, he escaped the claws of those who allegedly wanted to make him yesterday’s man.

Daniel

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

11. 12.2022

A Poet and Dilemma of Squeezing Water from Stone Even without an academic background in poetry, Dike Chukwumerije has wormed his way into the industry’s consciousness as a leading Nigerian spoken-word and performance poet and author. This stood him in good stead for his recent role as one of the judges of this year’s edition of the NLNGsponsored Nigeria Literature Prize, an experience he shares with Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

I

t appears that something else, possibly exhaustion, lurks behind that serene demeanour that is frequently thought to be the hallmark of great thinkers. That probably explains why Dike Chukwumerije's demeanour seems to have an air of stoicism about it. Or, could it simply be his reaction to the oppressive sultriness of that sun-drenched Thursday afternoon? Given the circumstances, it is quite a commendable HͿRUW E\ WKH OXPLQDU\ RI WKH 1LJHULDQ OLWHUDU\ landscape, who until recently was one of the two non-ivory tower judges at this year’s 1LJHULD /LWHUDWXUH 3UL]H WR VLW WKURXJK WKH over-an-hour-long interview at the poolside bar of the Stratton Hotel in Abuja's upmarket Asokoro neighbourhood.

Well, didn’t he recently sift through over 200 SRHWU\ FROOHFWLRQV³ WR EH H[DFW³WR ÀQG D ZLQQHU IRU WKH OLWHUDU\ SUL]H ZKLFK rotates annually among the literary genres of SURVH ÀFWLRQ SRHWU\ GUDPD DQG FKLOGUHQ V literature this year? This is even when the initial elimination process seems to have been made easier by the poor publishing and editorial quality of some of these poetry collections, which bordered mostly on grammatical errors, page numbering, and how amateurish they were.

1RQHWKHOHVV &KXNZXPHULMH LV LPSUHVVHG by the sheer number of entries—the highest VLQFH WKH SUL]H V LQFHSWLRQ LQ DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH SUL]H V VSRQVRUV 1LJHULD /LTXLÀHG 1DWXUDO Gas. This, he says, indicates the vibrancy of WKH 1LJHULDQ OLWHUDU\ VFHQH DW WKH JUDVVURRWV level. There was, for instance, the diversity of themes and styles, which made the judges’ tasks less monotonous. “So, you don’t just have one dominant theme with everybody writing about the same thing,” he recalls. ´3HRSOH DUH OHWWLQJ WKHLU LPDJLQDWLRQV UXQ IUHH DQG ZLOG DQG FRPLQJ DW SRHWU\ LQ GLͿHUHQW ways. So, you have some that are writing in WKH WUDGLWLRQDO ZD\V³VWDQ]D YHUVH DQG DOO that—some people writing poetry in a prosaic way, some who are futuristic, some historical, some religious, and some non-religious.”

A quick rewind to his school years. He recalls a few themes, largely post-colonial in nature, being explored in poetry. "But now you have people writing poetry about everything.

So, the ones that eventually made the cut were really impressive on account of the sheer diversity of their themes."

1RZ FDPH WKH KDUGHVW SDUW RI WKH MXGJLQJ process: deciding the eventual winner from the lot. And among the works that made the cut, many showed a lot of promise. Here was when it became obvious that being a judge was hard. Even selecting the 11 who made the ORQJ OLVW WXUQHG RXW WR EH GL΀FXOW DQG PDQ\ were the times the judges debated over their choices. There were times when a book had to be eliminated because it contained more errors than another. "Sometimes it comes down to that, editing errors, publishing errors, things OLNH WKDW <RX KDYH WR ÀQG D UHDVRQ IRU WKLV one to advance over that one. So, many of the

Dike Chukwumerije books showed great quality; you know, a lot of them, and I was impressed." /RRNLQJ EDFN WKH FHOHEUDWHG 1LJHULDQ spoken word and performance artist shudders at the thought of having had to bear the EXUGHQ RI DGMXGLFDWLRQ ´,W ZDV YHU\ GL΀FXOW µ he confesses. “I don’t think I would want to be MXGJHG DIWHU WKLV ,W ZDV YHU\ GL΀FXOW EHFDXVH sometimes you have agonising moments because you know how everybody is desiring to win.”

1RZ WKDW WKH FKRLFH RI D ZLQQHU KDV ORQJ since been made, he doubts the result would KDYH EHHQ UDGLFDOO\ GLͿHUHQW HYHQ ZLWK D GLͿHUHQW VHW RI MXGJHV )RU LQVWDQFH 5RPHR 2ULRJXQ·V 1RPDG ZKLFK HYHQWXDOO\ ZRQ WKH ÀUVW SUL]H ZDV D IDYRXULWH WKURXJKRXW the judging process. The objective criteria of

the process will likely make it certain to be picked by any set of judges. Then, of course, the judging process was so rigorous that even the judges had to explain why they liked a particular book and persuade their colleagues to support their decision. This usually came in the form of robust conversations and very heated debates. “So, in that sense, you can have one or two books that wouldn’t have come up ZLWK D GLͿHUHQW VHW RI MXGJHV EXW ZRXOG KDYH with another set of judges.” ,W V QRW GL΀FXOW WR VHH ZK\ QDUURZLQJ GRZQ the entries from 11 to three and then to the HYHQWXDO ZLQQHU VHHPV VR GL΀FXOW $Q\ ZRQGHU ZK\ WKH \HDU ROG OLNHQV WKH H[SHULHQFH WR VTXHH]LQJ ZDWHU IURP D VWRQH" But the adjudication was not on poetry alone.

The judges also chose a winner for the literary

FULWLFLVP SUL]H ZKLFK ZDV ZRUWK 1 Apparently, most of the entries—over 90 per cent—had nothing to do with literary criticism.

3HRSOH GLGQ·W HYHQ UHDG WKH UHTXLUHPHQWV IRU this. Some even sent in poems and short stories.

If you are entering a competition, make sure you know what it is about and what it requires of you."

Then, there is also the problem of poor publishing quality, which Chukwumerije thinks needs to be addressed as a way of imSURYLQJ WKH TXDOLW\ RI WKH SUL]H ,W ZRXOGQ W be unreasonable to expect a publisher who wants to win $100,000 to invest in the publishLQJ SURFHVV +HUH KH DGGV WKH 1/1* PD\ need to intervene by introducing a kind of recognition for the best publisher, albeit in the form of a plaque. "Something that says, 'We see you, we recognise you.' It could even be a workshop for that publisher. But I have a feeling something is intervening in the publishing space."

He also calls for more recognition for the OLWHUDU\ FULWLFLVP SUL]H DGGLQJ WKDW WKHUH LV WRR PXFK GLVSDULW\ LQ WKH SUL]HV $QG WDONLQJ about literary criticism, he adds that it is a very important part of the industry. "The industry cannot grow without a robust criticism sub-industry," he argues. "I think that that sub-sector needs to be encouraged. Because you get quality writing when you have robust criticism. And then your writing is better ‘mined’ by society for academic purposes. It is also the critic that brings it up and shows you how it's relevant to you and society. So that’s D VXE VHFWRU WKDW , WKLQN WKH 1/1*³LI WKH\ so desire— can perhaps support a bit better."

Then, there is the diversity in the composition of the members of the judging panel.

Chukwumerije thinks it is an innovation that should be continued because literature is very diverse and dynamic. “You shouldn’t have just academics, you should also have practising creatives on the judging panel, and you should DOVR WU\ WR UHÁHFW GHPRJUDSKLFV OLNH DJH JHQGHU and those sorts of considerations.”

Also, given the overwhelming number of entries, he warms up to the idea of a possible increase in the number of judges, even when he concedes that the decision is up to the organisers.

This could be necessary whenever there are more entries than usual.

But then, aren’t there scenarios where a MXGJH·V SHUFHSWLRQ RI SRHWU\ LQÁXHQFHV KLV RU her preference for an entry? And would he, a YHU\ GHGLFDWHG PHPEHU RI WKH $EXMD /LWHUDU\ Society and a self-proclaimed socially conscious poet, favour an entry that aligns with his creative GLVSRVLWLRQ" 1RW QHFHVVDULO\ KH VD\V EHFDXVH there are other factors to consider, such as delivery and who the entry is competing against.

Trained as a lawyer, Chukwumerije never studied literature beyond secondary school, nor is he a "serial attendee" of creative writing ZRUNVKRSV <HW WKH 1LJHULDQ VSRNHQ ZRUG DQG performance poet and author of eight books LV XQDUJXDEO\ RQH RI WKH OHDGLQJ ÀJXUHV LQ WKH FRQWHPSRUDU\ 1LJHULDQ OLWHUDU\ VFHQH

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

58

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11, 2022

ARTS & REVIEW\\POTPOURRI

Milestones of Ablade Glover’s Creative Odyssey At 88, the Ghanaian artist and educator, Ablade Glover, travels down history in an encounter with him and his works at The HourGlass Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos. Yinka Olatunbosun reports

+

is renown had travelled ahead of him: at auction houses, group shows and public places where his works had been featured.Ablade Glover is one of the leading grandmasters of art in Africa, having made his mark with his deft use of the palette knife, a technique he imbibed right from his younger \HDUV LQ WKH VWXGLR +H FDOOHG LW KLV ¶WUDGHPDUN · ,QWHUHVWLQJO\ KLV VRMRXUQ LQWR becoming an artist was punctuated by a teaching career. Born and raised in Ghana at a period when colonialism was losing its steam, Glover was one of those ZKR HQMR\HG WKH IUHH WHDFKHUV· training programme instituted by the Ghanaian government.

Kwame Nkrumah, a foremost nationalist and president, establishedtheGhanaNationalCollege amongst others to produce the human resources needed for the country’s development. +RZHYHU *ORYHU GLGQ·W WKLQN he belonged in the classroom.

Still, he proceeded to obtain his teacher training education at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology between 1957 and 1958.

“I didn’t think I had the personality to stand before 45 children and start asking them questions,” he said. “I thought that I could train as an art teacher. I could do some art. So, I decided that I wanted to be an art teacher so that I could avoid the classroom.

I was teaching in middle school in 1959. Then I saw an advert in the newspapers that was seeking for young men and women with some background in arts to be trained as textile designer at London’s Central School of Art

and Design.”

Upon the completion of the course in 1962, Glover returned to Ghana immediately. “When I returned, disaster struck. They hadn’t built the factory for the textile designers,” he said.

Saddened by the situation, he began to invest his time into studio work, drawing and painting with the hope of raising some money to return to the UK. Then, he met the wife of W.E.B Du Bois, a Pan-Africanist civil rights activist named Shirley Graham Du Bois. In a show done in honour RI 1NUXPDK DV WKH ÀUVW SUHVLGHQW of a newly-liberated country, some of Glover’s works caught the attention of many including 1NUXPDK·V +H DVNHG WR VHH Gloverimmediatelywhoshivered at the thought of the encounter. +LV IHDUV ZHUH VRRQ DOOD\HG XSRQ ÀQGLQJ RXW ZK\ 3UHVLGHQW Nkrumah wanted to see him.

After Glover revealed to him his intention to return to the UK, the President gave him a scholarship to study art education at the University of Newcastle. When he completed the programme, he was reluctant to return to Ghana for fear that he would be stranded. +H GLG HYHQWXDOO\ Glover went on to further his HGXFDWLRQ LQ WKH 86 ÀUVW DW .HQW State University and earned his PDVWHU V GHJUHH DQG WKHQ DW 2KLR State University where he was awarded a PhD in 1974.

For someone whose career grew at the time when there was a wave of nationalism in Africa, Glover was more concerned about cityscapes, cultural life, nature than the political. ´, ZDV MXVW ZRUNLQJ KRSLQJ WR PDNH PRQH\ UDWKHU WKDQ MXVW being a teacher,’’ he explained.

“The encouragement was good.

The greatest thing for the artist

EXHIBITION LASUE Holds Exhibition to Bolster Art Scholarship Yinka Olatunbosun

Glover, left, with the Hour Glass Gallery curator Dozie Igweze

EXHIBITION is to have a window to show his works,forpeopletosee.Nkrumah then opened what was called the Arts Centre. The government encouraged every part of the arts at the centre: painting, sculpting, dancing and singing.

Anyone who showed small talent was encouraged. That was why I would say I was lucky. I took advantage of that. ´, ZDV LQÁXHQFHG E\ P\ LPmediate environment. My environment in Ghana was vigorous, unplanned unlike the US or the UK. If you go to the bank in the UK, everyone stays in line. But in Ghana, it is not like that. Those are things I tried to capture in my works, the crowd, the unstructured nature of the African community. I saw my work as the order in the disorder. The society around me is in disorder. So, I paint markets, streets and cityscapes.’’

Glover had always had an engagement with Nigeria even

though he currently lives and ZRUNV LQ *KDQD +LV FRQWHPporaries in Nigeria have shared the African spirit of hospitality with him on occasions that are still etched on his mind. Once, he was invited to participate in a seminar held at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

“I started meeting artists like Bruce Onobrakpeya and Kolade Oshinowo. It was Oshinowo who organised an exhibition many years ago that I came to. Also, I led the Ghana delegation to )(67$& ¶ DQG , VWD\HG DW WKH (NR +RWHO LQ 9LFWRULD ,VODQG µ KH reminisced.

Upon his retirement, he founded Artists’ Alliance Gallery to provide a platform for African artists to showcase their works and artistry. For over 20 years, he has been friends with Dozie Igweze, the curator for his new Lagos exhibition, The Passage of 7LPH +H ZDV H[FLWHG WR VHH WKH works, collected over a period of time telling a beautiful story.

“Dozie has some paintings of mine that I would like to take back.

Read full Article online - www.thisdaylive.com

The Return of Peace Advocate Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

A

ll of a sudden, it’s as though the acrylic on canvas painting teleports the viewer to those years when there was, relatively speaking, peace in the land. Before the 2022 painting, titled “Memories of Liberty,” he palpably senses this quiescence oozing from the depicted rustic scene. And the setting, a street market winding through a lessD΁XHQW QHLJKERXUKRRG QHVWOHG on a hillside in Abeokuta, could have been any of southwestern 1LJHULD V DQFLHQW WRZQV ZLWK rusty zinc roofs.

This painting, Lara Ige-Jacks explains, was inspired by one of her numerous road trips across Nigeria before her relocation to the UK with the rest of her family. These road trips, she adds, were necessary because she would rather experience the scenes reproduced in her SDLQWLQJV ÀUVWKDQG WKDQ UHO\ RQ photographic and video images.

Similarly, the painting next to it in the exhibition hall of the 9LFWRULD ,VODQG /DJRV EDVHG

EXHIBITION Didi Museum, titled “Passage to Ungwan Rimi,” inspires a wistful longing in the observer for those less turbulent years.

Ige-Jacks, last seen on the local exhibition circuit in 2018 as part of the group show titled In and Out of Africa, returns with this VROR VKRZ WKH ÀUVW VLQFH which she titled A Glimpse.

Through the exhibition, which opened on Saturday, December 3 and ended on Friday, December VKH RͿHUV D JOLPSVH LQWR KHU portfolio, which, in her artist statement, she calls “my portfolio of delightful memories of explorations through home; life in the slums, towns, and cities are places that are no longer safe

to explore.”

The 2002 University of Arts, Camberwell College, London MA degree holder in printmaking has hitherto featured in 12 solo and over 60 group exhibitions not only in Nigeria but also in South Africa, Italy, the UK, and the USA. But the MXVW FRQFOXGHG H[KLELWLRQ LV an eloquent testimonial of her painterly skills, which she owes to her training at the Yaba College of Technology, where she graduated as the “Best Overall Student.”

In her trademark impressionistic style, life in the Lagos ÁRDWLQJ VOXP RI 0DNRNR³DV LQ WKH SDLQWLQJV ´+HDUW RI D &KLOG µ “Fun in the Slums,” “The Catch,” DQG ´6WLOO 7KULYLQJµ³VSDUNOHV

with sanguine freshness. Then, there is an obvious geopolitical spread in her documentation of traditional festivals with the paintings “The Durbar Mood,” “The Igue Rhythms,” “The Ofala Rhythms,” and “Peace in the Land.”

When it comes to peace, IgeJacks is a tireless peace advocate who has dedicated many of her works to bringing attention to the plight of vulnerable and marginalised children. In KHU HͿRUWV HDUQHG KHU WKH 2XU +HURHV $ZDUG ZKLFK LV dedicated to community campaigners in London.

An incurable optimist, she tends to see the light at the end of the tunnel even in the most dire scenarios. This explains why a solitary white spot gleams with hope and promise in the midst of other colourful spots representing the coronavirus in her mixed-media abstract painting, titled “The Outbreak 2020.”

This is also why she enthuses, towards the end of her artist statement, that the current bleak scenario in Nigeria is not “hopeless” and adds, “I strongly believe that there is enormous potential in the Nigerian child.”

The members of the faculty at the Department of Fine Arts, Lagos State University of Education (LASUE) are mounting a group exhibition of works spread across several areas of specialty. $W D UHFHQW SUHVV EULHÀQJ LQ /DJRV WKH DFWLQJ +HDG RI 'HSDUWment, Dr. Abiodun Kafaru revealed that as an institution, freshly upgraded to a university, the show is to build awareness on the art programme as a distinct course of choice. LASUE is an amalgamation of the former Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education and Michael Otedola College of Education.

“We are an art institution that has existed for over 16 years as college, technical college, college of education before transmitting to a university of education,’’ Kafaru began. “Since I became a lecturer there, my passion has been to set a standard and it is evolving and manifesting as time goes on. Governor Babatunde 6DQZR 2OX IHOW WKDW WKHUH DUH D ORW RI TXDOLÀHG KDQGV LQ PDQ\ areas of endeavor in the institution and felt we could upgrade into a university. We have over 80 PhD holders spread across the faculties.’’

The process of the upgrade which began in 2003 almost reached its climax in 2008, the year many thought that the announcement would be made.

“In 2018, it did not happen,’’ he continued. “Eventually, in 2022 February, we were given the approval by NUC to run Bachelor in Fine Arts, pure arts programme without the education courses.’’

7R UHÁHFW WKH PRWLYDWLRQ IRU WKH VKRZ WKH WKHPH LV ¶7UDQVPXWDtion.’ 16 members of the faculty including Dr. Kunle Adeyemi will participate at the show which runs run December 10th to 17th at the National Museum, Onikan.

In his intervention, Kehinde Jagun, one of the participating artists/lecturers revealed the variety of expressions awaiting the art audience to feast on.

“We will be showing all our areas of specialisation: painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking and more. We are expecting feedback from other schools of arts and critics,’’ Jagun said.

Twenty per cent of the proceeds received at the show would be donated towards the development of the department.

An Immersion in Forest of a Thousand Daemons Yinka Olatunbosun The site of the reimagined forest was bedazzling. Right in the centre of the exhibition hall at the Freedom Park, Lagos was a sound installation accentuated by psychedelic lighting. It almost felt like a night at the club, except for the cracking sounds of the forest and the voiceover reading some parts of the classic work that inspired this show, created and curated by culture activist and archivist, Oludamola Adebowale.

That was the memory of the 5th Edition of the "Timeless Memories: (ODVWLF (ͿHFWV 3URMHFW GHVLJQHG WR LQWHUURJDWH DQG FHOHEUDWH WKH OLIH and works of Professor Wole Soyinka who clocked 88 this year.

The curator of the show revealed that the show is a continuation of the tradition of creating immersive experience around the history and works of the Nobel Laureate, Professor Soyinka which has been WKH PDMRU REMHFWLYH RI WKH 7LPHOHVV 0HPRULHV ([KLELWLRQ 3URMHFW "As regards the Igbo Irumole, I have always wanted to do something around the works of D.O Fagunwa, and this year gave me DQ RSSRUWXQLW\ WR VOLJKWO\ EULQJ WKDW GUHDP LQWR IXOÀOPHQW HYHQ though though the main plan was to turn the entire gallery space into a forest,” he explained. "Due to lack of funds, I could not do much, but even with that, I was able to create the immersive experience of the Igbo Irumole with the demons all around. It was such a refreshing experience."

Using experimental installation, the works interrogate the literary framework of the fantasy for a better understanding of the texts. :LWK WKH WKHPH &RQQHFWLQJ WKH OLQHV EHWZHHQ 6R\LQND DQG )DJXQZD the show turned out to be a celebration of the legacy and works of Chief Daniel Orowole Olorunfemi Fagunwa MBE who wrote WKH FODVVLF <RUXED OLWHUDWXUH 2JERMX 2GH 1LQX ,JER ,UXPROH translated into English language by Soyinka with the title A Forest of a Thousand Daemons. The curator eulogised Fagunwa for being a trailblazer in Yoruba literature that is steep in cultural ethos.

"As an author who told stories with a fantastic tilt as far back as the 1930s, he was one of those who documented what can be regarded as fairy tales heavy with elements of Yoruba folklore – spirits, gods, PDJLF DQG PRUH +LV VNLOIXO XVH RI &KULVWLDQ FRQFHSWV DQG WUDGLWLRQDO proverbs mark him as one who had a healthy knowledge of classical Yoruba ethos and spirituality.

59

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11, 2022

BOOK REVIEW

Favoured by Benevolent Gods…

Wole Olaoye

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or some inexplicable UHDVRQ WKH ÀUVW WKRXJKW that came to my mind when I saw the title of 'U <HPL 2JXQEL\L·V memoirs, “The Road 1HYHU )RUJHWVµ ZDV D TXLFN WKURZEDFN WR :ROH 6R\LQND·V ZRUOG DFFODLPHG SOD\ ´7KH 5RDGµ 7KH ZRUG URDG KDV KDG D ORDGHG PHDQLQJ IRU PH RQ YDULRXV metaphorical levels since I acted in D SURGXFWLRQ RI WKH SOD\ LQ WKH HDUO\ · V DW WKH 66 3HWHU DQG 3DXO 0DMRU 6HPLQDU\ %RGLMD ,EDGDQ XQGHU the directorship of the inimitable DPD]RQ RI WKHDWUH VFKRODUVKLS =XOX 6RIROD %XW 2JXQEL\L·V URDG LV D PXFK happier one than that portrayed in 6R\LQND·V 7KH 5RDG )URP KLV ELUWK LQ .DQR WKURXJK KLV WKULOOLQJ VRMRXUQV LQ OLIH WR KLV WK ELUWKGD\ 2JXQEL\L WDNHV XV RQ DQ H[FLWLQJ MRXUQH\ WKURXJK WKH URDG RI OLIH SRSXODWHG E\ IDPLO\ IULHQGV IRHV DQG VXQGU\ VWUDJJOHUV 8QGHUO\LQJ KLV UHQGLWLRQ LV D ÀUP EHOLHI LQ KLV LPPXWDEOH destiny in which others have been asVLJQHG E\ 3URYLGHQFH WR SOD\ VSHFLÀF UROHV IRU JRRG RU IRU LOO WR VWHHU KLP WRZDUGV IXOÀOOLQJ WKH SXUSRVH IRU which he had been sent hither.

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· Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11, 2022

60

INTERNATIONAL China-Africa Infrastructural Cooperation: The Physiognomic Implications of the ECOWAS New Secretariat

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Parliamentaro-Infrastructural Support Of the many areas of cooperation between China and Africa, the educational and Infrastructural sectors appear to be the most noteworthy. At the level of educational support, there is the interesting case of the University of Liberia in Monrovia.When a former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Osita Eze, led an NIIA research team to Liberia, the then President of Liberia, Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who was the first elected female Head of State in Africa, received the delegation and some other visiting guests in audience. She related her governance challenges. One of them is the issue of how to refurbish the University of Liberia.

The University of Liberia had been destroyed by the civil war in the country: several walls of the university had been perforated by the bullets of war. In fact, the war seriously devastated the university. The devastationpromptedtheLiberiangovernmenttoseekforinternational assistance. As told by the Liberian president, the Monrovia government first sought assistance from the Washingtonian authorities but the conditional authority given by the United States was very difficult for Liberia to meet. This was in spite of the special ties and historical links between the United States and Liberia.

At one reception, the Liberian Ambassador to China was exchanging banters with his Chinese Ambassador to Liberia and the conversation led to the discussion of the issue of difficult U.S. conditionality for assistance to Liberia in refurbishing the buildings affected by the

“

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Onyeama Charles Taylor war. The Chinese ambassador expressed surprise at the US conditionality and asked if the Liberian government still wanted help.The Liberian ambassador responded‘yes,’with much enthusiasm and his Chinese counterpart said he would inform his home government and report back on the possible way forward.

Andtrueenough,theChineseAmbassadorcamebacktoreport about the Beijing authorities’preparedness to assist Liberia, but with different, but more encouraging conditionality.The Chinese AmbassadorsaidhisGovernmentwasnotinterestedinrefurbishing any building donated by another country or maintained by the funds of any foreign country, but will be prepared to provide a replica of the affected building if the Liberian government was prepared to provide land for it. The Liberian ambassador, who was quite happy, went to report to the President of Liberia who quickly arranged to provide another land.The quick response of Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf was quite understandable. Refurbishing an oldbuildingandhavinganothernewbuildingcannotbethesame.

An additional building is another expression of expansion. The old building could still be upgraded by the Liberian government with or without international help.

However,withoutdoubt,landwasgivenandtheChineseorganised the construction of a new building entirely and also equipped the new building with computers.The new building was specially digitised. President Johnson-Sirleaf could not easily understand why the United States could not help and still was complaining about the Chinese intervention.This was an expression of Chinese largesse which helps to explain why the Chinese are increasingly beingabletowidenitsinfluenceinAfrica.Severalconcernsarebeing shown in the Western world about an emerging recolonization

The Russo-Ukrainian war has the potential to create a new Cold War rivalry which will require struggling for alliance support. In Africa, the ECOWAS is the most advanced of the economic regional groupings. Who will the ECOWAS support? The ECOWAS is most likely to be sharply divided. The Francophone will be divided with Mali, Burkina Faso and French military presence in West Africa and their invitation to Russians to replace the French in the fight against terrorism. As the making of the New World Order is also likely to have Russia and China on the same side, there is the likelihood for majority of African States to support Russia. For China, South Africa, Nigeria and Angola are most likely to have their policy stand moderated by where China stands. This cannot but be in disregard of US policy threat of sanctioning any African country that supports Russia against Ukraine. Consequently, Chinese offer of help to build an ultra-modern and integrated new secretariat will undoubtedly strengthen her influence to the detriment of the westerners. The offers of help constitute a solidification of the foundation of future Chinese presence during the next Cold War

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hinese relationship with Africa, speaking grosso modo, is quite interesting. First, China relates with every African country bilaterally. China also relates with regional groups, such as the Economic Community of the Central African States (ECCAS) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This is the plurilateral aspect of the ties.

There is also the simultaneous bilateral-multilateral dimension in which China, on the one hand, and the whole of Africa with 54 countries, on the other, hold summits. It is bilateral, because African countries sometimes act together as one. It is also multilateral, because during such bilateral discussions, other meetings are still held on the margins with individual countries.Thus, several layers of conversations are put in place to deepen the relationships.

Secondly, the relationship is conducted within the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which was initiated in 2013 and from which various economic opportunities are created for many African countries. For instance, the BRI cooperation is predicated on five main pillars of policy coordination, financial integration, trade, people-to-people understanding, and facility connectivity. Several cooperation agreements are being signed under the BRI. As noted in 2019 by Charles Onunaiju, the Director for China Studies,‘the deliberate pursuit of green development, embodied in the Belt and Road Strategy, canhelpreconciletheurgentnationalneedofsustainabledevelopment with the preservation of our ecosystem, a balance that is not easy to maintain in any quest for fast development.’

InthecontextofChina-Nigeriarelations,bothcountrieshavesigneda MemorandumofUnderstandingonCooperationwithintheframework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative.Additionally,inJanuary2021,NigeriaandChinasignedanother MoU to coordinate their cooperation and relations which is co-chaired by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries.

When the Chinese State Councillor embarked on a 5-country official visit to Africa, he came to Nigeria first. In the eyes of Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama,‘this visit by the State Councillor is a very important one, … [w]e agreed to sign an MoU on establishing an intergovernmental committee that will be in charge of coordinating all aspects of cooperation between the two countries in many areas and in many sectors in which we are cooperating with the Chinese.’Nothing and more interestingly, at the end of the bilateral talks, Foreign Minister Onyeama announced a donation to Nigeria of 100 million Renminbis (about $US 50 million or N6 billion; vide News Agency of Nigeria).

Thirdly, and most importantly, Chinese ties with Africa are particularly noteworthy in the areas of infrastructural development. It is within this regard that the analysis of the Chinese offer of infrastructural assistance to the ECOWAS in building its new secretariat is undertaken.

by China but which African leaders hardly see as recolonization. They simply see the whole scenario as shared interests.

Nigeria also benefitted from Chinese educational support with the establishment of Confucius Institute at the University of Lagos campus, Akoka and University of Nnamdi Azikiwe in Awka.The Chinese have the October 1st Scholarship for China-Nigeria Friendship and the Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African villages project under the people-topeople connectivity.

Atthelevelofinfrastructureconnectivity,Nigeriaalsohasmanystories to tell.The Abuja-Kaduna railway, inaugurated on 18 April 2019, is one of the expressions of infrastructure connectivity. Other good illustrations include the Lagos-Ibadan railway laid in November 2018, the Ogun River Bridge of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway that was connected on 20 November 2018, as well as the Abuja rail mass transit project.These are manifestations of the infrastructure connectivity identified as one of the five pillars of the cooperation between China and Africa.

Anotheraspectofinfrastructurecooperationisthefacilitationconnectivity.The Chinese were awarded the contract for the construction of the new international terminal project of the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airportbyPresidentMuhammaduBuhari(PMB).Theconstructionofthe airport was completed and inaugurated by PMB on 25 October, 2018.

The Chinese are also responsible for the construction of the Lagos Light Rail, which has two ends of the cross-sea bridge and is the first of its kind in West Africa. There are the projects for the livelihood of local communities, such as the deep well drilling at the depths of 550 metres in Borno, Zobe irrigation project in Katsina, the Gombe State Treatment Plant, and the China-aid Agricultural Demonstration Centre Project in Nigeria.

TheLekkiDeepSeaPortProjectisexpectedtobethebiggestcontainer portofWestAfrica.ItisbeingconstructedbytheChinese.Thereisalsothe Dangote Refinery Project, which is one of the biggest oil refineries in the world.The ground-breaking ceremony of the refinery was attended by theVice President, ProfessorYemi Osinbajo, on 19 December 2017.The anchor piles for the pile layer barge were completed in November 2018.

The Zungeru Hydroelectric Project that grants the university students in Niger State of opportunities of internship is noteworthy. With the oil refinery, there is no disputing the fact that the People’s Republic of China is much engaged in the very critical sectors of Nigeria’s national economic life.

In fact, more visible is the road development sector: the Chinese have been much involved in the development of road infrastructure in the whole country.Township road projects include the Abuja Outer Northern Expressway, the KatsinaTownship Road Project, and projects for the livelihood of local communities, such as the deep well drilling at the depths of 550 metres in Borno. More interestingly too is the aspect of trade connectivity: Lekki FreeTrade Zone (LFTZ), Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ), the Sun ceramic FZE, the CNG Glass Nigeria FZE and the Skyrun products and the welding work on freezers.

Similarly interesting is the pillar of financial connectivity. In September 2011, Nigeria decided to diversify her foreign exchange reserve by including the Chinese Renminbi. By the end of 2018, Nigeria had over a reserve equivalent of $2.04 billion. This was about 4.8% of the national foreign exchange reserves. Additionally, the Governor of the People’s Bank of China and his Nigerian counterpart, Godwin Emefiele co-signed a bilateral currency swap agreement on 27 April 27, 2018 which‘containsacurrencyscaleofRMB15billionequivalentto7.2trillion Nairaandbearsavalidationof3yearsextendableonmutualagreement.’

ECOWAS Secretariat and Physiognomic Implications InunderstandingthephysiognomicimplicationsoftheChineseoffer of a new integrated secretariat, it must be recalled that the Chinese are already actively engaged in other regions of Africa. For example, China has assisted the Kenyan Foreign Ministry, public institutions in DemocraticRepublicofCongo,andannouncedtheconstructionofaUS $80m Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Ethiopia. In fact, the offer of assistance to the Kenyan Foreign Ministry was announced on 13 May 2021 and two Chinese buses were also donated for use by the Ministry.

China built a USD 230 million new secretariat for the African Union and also provided an additional US $10m for maintenance for the first ten years. It is useful to note that African countries found it difficult to fund their own secretariat. It was China that had to bail out the whole of the African Union.The secretariat is often referred to as the‘AU Building that China built for Africans.’ If the whole of African continent could not afford the luxury of building a befitting secretariat for itself, why should the ECOWAS be expected to be solvent enough to build one for itself? True, Nigeria contributed the current ECOWAS secretariat.

However, apparently because of the bad economic shape of Nigeria, she cannot venture to assume responsibility for the construction of the new integrated secretariat.

Without doubt, the ECOWAS, which is the leader in regional integration efforts in Africa, is the newest recipient of Chinese parliamentaroinfrastructural support. Earlier recipients of the Chinese largesse include Zimbabwe where China built a six-storey parliament building at a cost of $200 million in Mt Hamden, which is about 18 km (11 miles) west of Harare.Whatshouldbenotedaboutthebuildingisthearchitecturalstyle.

As noted byFarai Mutsaka,theChinesebuilding,whichis veryimposing, ‘marks a departure from the colonial-era Victorian-style parliament in central Harare.’This observation clearly suggests that there is now an interesting architectural design that is peculiar to the Chinese and that can be exported to the world. Which type of architectural design is China trying to offer to the ECOWAS? Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11, 2022

CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Is APC Afraid of INEC’s BVAS, IReV? The Independent National Electoral Commission’s decision to deploy both the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and Election Result Viewing Portal in next year’s elections may have unsettled the All Progressives Congress, Adedayo Akinwale writes

W

ith 75 days to the 2023 elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to be uncomfortable with the insistence by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for the elections.

Both BVAS and IReV were introduced by the electoral body to promote the credibility of the electoral process.

The introduction of the initiatives by INEC may not be unconnected with what was experienced in the 2019 general election when some states in the North-east ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency churned out more astonishing figures than most of the peaceful states in the South. Also, in some cases like the North-west, child voters were caught at polling boots.

BVAS is a technological device used to identify and accredit voters’ fingerprints and facial recognition before voting. The device is also used for capturing images of the polling unit result sheet (Form EC8A) and uploading the image of the result sheet online.

IReV on the other hand is an online portal where polling unit-level results are uploaded directly from the polling unit, transmitted, and published for the public. At the front end of the online portal, members of the public can create personal accounts with which they can gain access to all uploaded results stored as PDF files.

IReV was first introduced by INEC in 2020 when a by-election was conducted in Nasarawa State. The BVAS was also used in the Ekiti and Osun states’ governorship elections, with the electoral body and stakeholders in the electoral process describing it as a success story.

Both technologies have since been given legal backing with the signing into law of the Electoral Act 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The immediate past Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Mike Igini recently said that the Electoral Act 2022 had created moral panic among political parties and their candidates ahead of the 2023 elections.

Iginni noted that the reality of what was passed was that power has now been returned back to the people.

He said: “With the 2022 Electoral Act that has secured INEC innovations, if only the people are aware

other countries to reach them. So, during the election, I don’t see how the transmission of results will work. I see it coming.”

Expectedly, the Coalition of Union Political Parties (CUPP) said the reservations expressed by the ruling party had confirmed its intelligence report that APC allegedly wanted to carry out digital vote buying in the 2023 elections.

In a statement by the spokesman of CUPP, Ikenga Ugochinyere, the coalition said with the emergence of BVAS and IReV, “those in power who connive with electoral officials to recklessly cancel manual votes on their way to collation centers will be disappointed.

He threatened that CUPP would not tolerate any plot to sack the INEC chairman.

After immense backlash, the ruling party said it was not against the deployment of BVAS and IReV in the 2023 elections. The party insisted that its government remained committed to the highest levels of electoral transparency and democratic consolidation in our country.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka while addressing a press conference recently in Abuja said media reports that APC was against BVAS and IReV were false and constituted an unfair misrepresentation of the chairman’s comments.

He said: “To be clear, Chairman Adamu did not kick against the deployment of BVAS or electronic transmission of results as erroneously reported by sections of the media. The Chairman only expressed concern about electricity or telecommunication networks, he was not in any way kicking against BVAS or electronic transmission of results. Our party is in full support of BVAS and the electronic transmission of results, that doesn’t mean if there are concerns it shouldn’t be expressed.”

However, the uncompromising electoral body has told anyone that cares to listen that there was no going back on the deployment of BVAS and IReV in next year’s elections.

The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, told journalists in Lagos recently that INEC was set to transmit the 2023 poll results in real-time from 176,846 polling units across the country.

He said the commission had identified telecommunications “blind spots” in some areas and was already in touch with the Nigerian Communications Commission with a view to finding a solution to them.

Will APC use power of incumbency to sabotage INEC’s planned use of BVAS and IReV in 2023 elections? Nigerians and the international community are watching.

Adamu that power has been taken back to them, that the polling unit is now the centre of the universe in our electoral process. Elections are now won and lost at the polling units, no longer at Ward collation centres, local government collation centres. This is the basis of the moral panic in the land today. Today, that legal framework is the basis of the moral panic in the land.”

A recent statement by the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Adamu Abdullahi may have justified Iginni’s claims. Adamu had expressed strong reservations over the deployment of modern technology in the next year’s general election.

The APC chairman made his views known when he received a delegation of the Commonwealth PreElection team at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja. He was of the opinion that the federal government was yet to give Nigerians stable electricity, adding that it would be a gamble to allow electronic transmission of results.

He said: “Our concern is how ready are we to deploy some of these technologies as regards transmission because we are taking a major step in transmitting election results in real-time. To transmit results, every part of the nation Nigeria I’m not sure that the network covers it, I know that even in parts of Abuja there is no network and we have from now till February when in substantial parts of the country there is

no electricity.”

The presidential candidate of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, while speaking at Chatham House, London last week, also echoed Adamu’s sentiments when he said INEC was yet to assure Nigerians of the workability of the BVAS. “We are still building confidence in our democratic and voting system. INEC is yet to assure us during this election that electronic transmission, the technology being used for accreditation and the total vote count is reliable, dependable and assuring in our democratic process before we introduce a complicated element of ballot counting,” he reportedly said.

Similarly, the National Organising Secretary of the APC, Suleiman Argungu also claimed that electronic transmission would not work in his home state of Kebbi.

“As a rider to what the national chairman just said about INEC transmitting results directly during the coming election, apart from the issue of electricity that is unstable, a lot of the villages and communities bordering other countries, for instance, my state Kebbi that is bordering two nations during the previous elections the network of Nigeria for all the networks, Glo, MTN, Airtel, you can’t get them. If you want to get them you have to use the number of the

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

Where are the Police?

Baba

Many Nigerians can’t help but wonder if there are police at all in the country. Or have they been compromised? This is due to the reckless manner somepoliticianshavebeenconductingthemselves ahead of the 2023 general election without any challenge by the police.

For instance, recently the Majority Leader in the House of Representatives is Alhassan Ado Doguwa, was caught on video threatening to deal mercilessly with Nigerians who would not vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.

“It is either you vote for APC or we deal with you mercilessly,” Doguwa said while campaigning in a viral video seen on social media In the video, the lawmaker repeated the threat as hordes of his supporters chorused in support of him.

In a similar manner, the Kano APC chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, had earlier threatened that the APC would win the forthcoming elections by hook or crook.

“People are saying that I should stop saying the APC will capture Kano by hook or crook. I want to tell this gathering that the APC will capture Kano by hook or crook,” Abbas threatened.

In Rivers State, the residence of the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council in the State, Senator Lee Maeba, was attacked last Thursday.

Other PDP chieftains supporting Atiku Abubakar in the state are being attacked and threatened and yet the

police are looking the other way.

The police cannot say that they do not know the law. Section 93(1) clearly states: “A party, candidate, aspirant or person or group of persons shall not directly or indirectly threaten any person with the use of force or violence during political campaign in order to compel that person or any other person to support or refrain from supporting a political party or candidate.”

This is what is clearly happening in these states and many others, yet the police have not arrested anyone. The police have ignored the politicians who are contravening the law of the land and threatening democracy. Politicians who are contravening the laws governing elections in Nigeria should recall what happened to previous civilian administrations in the country.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11, 2022

BRIEFINGNOTES Tinubu’s Controversial Outing at Chatham House Last week, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu, stirred another controversy when he delegated Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State and other members of his team to respond to questions posed to him at the Chatham House in the United Kingdom, Ejiofor Alike reports

T

he presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, incurred the wrath of his political opponents and traducers last week when he delegated some members of his team to respond to questions posed to him at the Chatham House in the United Kingdom.

Tinubu was in Chatham House to speak to Nigerians in the Diaspora on why he should be elected in 2023.

After his presentation which was streamed live on ARISE NEWS Channel, he was asked some questions on how he planned to address insecurity, oil theft, education and economy if elected president in 2023.

As he was asked by the moderator to respond to the questions, Tinubu apparently turned himself into another moderator and assigned some members of his entourage to respond to those questions.

While he assigned Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State to speak on how his government would address insecurity, he asked the Director of Strategic Communication of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Aleke, to respond to the question on oil theft.

Tinubu also delegated a former Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, Wale Edun, to respond to a question on how he would boost the economy if elected.

Others, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade; former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; APC National Women Leader, Dr. Betta Edu, also answered questions.

Apparently aware of the potential controversy his decision would generate, the former Lagos State governor had tried to justify his action.

According to him, he adopted the delegation method “to show team-ship”.

Tinubu said: “Let me demonstrate here one of those philosophies and doctrines that I believe firmly in, it is team-ship, unbreakable team. To demonstrate that, I will assign it to my team.”

Many believe that what the APC presidential candidate did has never happened in any interview session anywhere.

Though Section 5 of the Nigerian Constitution empowers the president to delegate powers to the vice president, ministers, aides and other public officers to act on his behalf, many have also reminded Tinubu’s team and supporters that the former governor of Lagos State is not yet the president and should not be talking of delegating powers to a non-existent team.

Despite the attempt by Tinubu himself to justify his decision, the Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation insisted that answering questions through proxies was a national disgrace.

In a statement by one of its spokespersons, Kola Ologbondiyan, the campaign organisation said, “Nigerians including supporters of the APC presidential candidate were thoroughly

Tinubu embarrassed to watch Tinubu, who earlier showboated with a scripted speech went blank on the world stage in tragic display of emptiness and inability to personally address questions that were put to him on economy, security and other challenges facing our nation.

“Our campaign finds it very appalling that a candidate aspiring to be the president of a nation as complex as Nigeria exhibited an embarrassing inability to coordinate his own thought process to the extent that he could not personally think through issues and address them but had to direct questions put to him, including those on his health and policies to others to answer,” the campaign organisation explained.

Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation added that Tinubu had confirmed to Nigerians and the world he is completely unprepared for leadership and intended to transfer the onerous task of leading the country to proxies and a cabal that did not seek votes from Nigerians.

“Of course, Nigerians cannot afford to have president, who cannot take responsibility to lead

but intend to shift burden to others apparently to find scapegoats to blame for his inevitable failures,” the campaign organisation added.

The Atiku Support Organisation (ASO) also took a swipe at the former Lagos State governor, describing as a colossal disgrace his conduct in Chatham House.

ASO said watching Tinubu delegate questions directed at him to his party men at the conference room was proof that he has no atom of capacity to govern a country as Nigeria.

In a statement by the support group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Victor Moses, the group argued that the “fact that Bola Tinubu couldn’t provide answers to basic questions, especially on how to improve bilateral ties in the area of defence with the United Kingdom, but called on El-Rufai, Gbajabiamila, Betta Edu and co to rescue him shows that Nigeria may be in for a major calamity ahead.

“It is now clear to all Nigerians why Tinubu dodged the ARISE TV Town Hall debate. His mental facilities have shown a complete mark of deterioration, and he cannot face a one-on-one

debate or conversation about his plans for Nigeria.

A continuation of the APC government will be a major disaster for Nigeria,” the group added.

Also, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu said Tinubu bungled the opportunity to redeem himself.

“Six long months after emerging the candidate of the party, the self-styled Lagos godfather has continued to avoid any public engagement with other candidates because his intelligence pales in comparison to them. The Chatham House event was therefore an opportunity to redeem himself but once again he fell short,” he said.

Shaibu argued that Tinubu knew that he lacked the capacity to respond to easy questions, and claimed his style was to delegate members of his campaign to answer questions for him.

The Director of Strategic Communication for the PDP Campaign Council, Mr. Dele Momodu had also in a statement, criticised Tinubu’s performance, saying he was expected to “sell” his vision and not to use proxies.

“The Bola Tinubu handlers fumbled, and bungled it big time. They showcased him like a packaged invalid. It would have been better to present him as a brilliant politician and administrator, warts and all, who’s capable of independent thoughts,” Momodu said.

“No man is perfect. His gaffes would have been more pardonable and acceptable. He was expected to sell his own vision and mission.

“But what we saw yesterday was a theatre of the absurd,” he said.

“All those around Tinubu yesterday knew the bitter truth but chose to fool Nigerians.

One of them was heard in a viral video telling Tinubu to dance to the popular song BUGA

by Kizz Daniel because ‘that’s what the youths want to see’ and lo and behold Tinubu instantly transfigured into an accomplished choreographer,” he added.

However, Momodu met his match in the Minister of State for Labour and Employment and Spokesperson of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who was quoted in the media as saying that Momodu has no moral right to pass judgment on Tinubu’s performance.

Keyamo reportedly said Nigerians have been rejecting Atiku Abubakar at every election cycle having realised that he is a “well-packaged and whitewashed crook”.

“Unfortunately, Dele Momodu is not the moral barometer by which Asiwaju can be judged. So, we can simply ignore his rantings”.

“He should simply ask himself why Nigerians continue to reject his candidate in different circles of election: the simple answer is that Nigerians know that Atiku Abubakar is a well-packaged and whitewashed crook”.

Tinubu’s interview at the Chatham House has added to the many controversies that have been trailing his statements and actions since he emerged as the presidential candidate of the ruling party.

NOTES FOR FILE

The Arrest, Detention of Journalist in Taraba

Ishaku

The difficulty in practising journalism in Nigeria again came to the fore last week when news filtered in that the publisher of Taraba Truth and Facts newspaper and the Chief Executive Officer of Rock FM 92.3 in Jalingo, Taraba State, Ayodele Samuel Oloye, had been remanded on the orders of the Taraba State government.

The state government was said to be angry with some reports by the newspaper, particularly where it stated that Governor Darius Ishaku had planned to sell the Taraba liaison office, and possibly the state-owned Mambilla Beverages Company.

When Oloye got wind of the governor’s plan to arrest him, he promptly released a statement to his colleagues on September 30.

But this did not deter the state government

from arresting him hours after. He was secretly arraigned before a magistrates’ court without due process and legal representation and thereafter remanded in prison.

He has since remained in solitary confinement without access to his lawyers, family members, food and friends.

As if that is not enough, a statement by a human rights activist, Bako Benjamin, alleged that Governor Ishaku is planning to woo the state House of Assembly members to enact a law that would indict Oloye within the state’s jurisdiction and further repress the press and intimidate journalists.

Benjamin lamented that there was

a deteriorating climate of rights abuses, corruption and poor governance ongoing in the state and the need to beam searchlights into the activities of the outgoing governor.

Last week, Oloye’s wife, Mercy, pleaded with the governor to direct the release of her husband unconditionally, saying his absence was tolling on the family. But this has fallen on deaf ears.

Ayodele was simply discharging his constitutional obligation to the society, and Governor Ishaku has no reason to arrest, detain or subject him to any form of hardship.

It is high time state governors desist from treating journalists as endangered species in Nigeria.

Governor Ishaku should therefore release him without any further delay.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11, 2022

CICERO/ISSUES

Aitku

Wike

Can Wike Decide Choice of Rivers’ Voters?

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, may have arrogated to himself the powers he does not have when he told the people of the state to wait for his pronouncements on who they should vote for in the 2023 presidential election, Vanessa Obioha writes

F

or Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, there is no limit to what he can do to make the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to secure any vote in 2023. Penultimate week, he told members and supporters of the PDP in the state that a decision on who they would vote for president in the 2023 presidential election would soon be taken.

While inaugurating the Rukpokwu-Igwuruta Link Road in the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state, the governor enjoined the people to vote for the candidates of the PDP for governorship, House of Assembly and the National Assembly.

“We have started doing Eneka internal roads, phases one and two – Eneka to Igbo Etche. We are doing the SAARs Road, going straight to Rikpogbodu. Remember from Eledo down to Rikpogbodu and Obirikwere road, I was the one who did it. I have now done Rumuakwu – Eneka road; Rumuakwu – Igwuruta link road.

“So, you are the ones owing us now. You did first for us and we retaliated by doing for you.

Now, we have come to ask you again to come and do for us. If you do it for us, it means we will come and do it for you again. You will vote for our governor, our senatorial candidates, House of Representatives candidates and Assembly candidates. Then, for the other one, I will come and tell you where you will vote. Don’t worry, calm down. These ones I have mentioned now make sure you come and vote for them. Very soon, we will meet at our houses and make a decision about where we are going. We are still talking,” he said.

Wike asked the people, “will you vote for our governor? Will you vote for our senatorial candidate? Will you vote for House of Representatives candidates? Will you vote for the House of Assembly candidate?”.

The Rivers State governor and his colleagues in the G5, also known as the Integrity Group – Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Okezie Ikpeazu

(Abia) – are locked in a protracted feud with the party’s leadership over the refusal of the National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, to resign, contrary to his alleged promise to quit, if the candidate was picked from the North.

The group has been at loggerheads with Atiku whom they accused of reneging on his alleged promise to ensure the exit of Ayu if the party’s presidential flag bearer emerged from the North. They have insisted that Ayu’s resignation is a condition for supporting Atiku in next year’s election. They have also refrained from campaigning for Atiku.

With Wike’s pronouncements on the PDP crisis and the potential choice of the people of the state, many believe he is playing God. With the limitless resources at his disposal, the governor believes he can influence the choice of voters in his state.

His continuous campaign for inclusiveness in the national leadership structure of the party and his portrayal of Atiku; Ayu; the party’s running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa and other Atiku’s men in the state as betrayers, liars, haters of Rivers State and divisive leaders, are some of the deceptive tactics he uses to deceive the people of the state to vote for the presidential candidate of his choice.

It was gathered that any attempt to mention the name of the PDP presidential candidate in the state is viewed as an abomination. Atiku’s photographs have also disappeared from all campaign materials of the PDP in the state and anybody found with any material promoting Atiku is considered an enemy of Rivers.

Rivers youths across the state, including the ones in rural areas are incited daily to comb their areas to identify and remove campaign materials belonging to Atiku and Okowa. It is unlikely for anyone to see any Atiku’s billboard, posters or other campaign materials in the state unlike in 2019 when Wike supported the Adamawa-born politician.

The recent appointments of 200,000 advisers on polling units and over 300 local government liaison officers by the governor were said to

have been made to frustrate any plan

by Atiku and his men to penetrate the state. Atiku’s loyalists in the state, such as former National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus; former governor, Celestine Omehia, as well as other leaders like former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Austine Opara, Senator Lee Maeba, and Farah Dagogo, have all since been declared enemies of the state with their businesses being threatened.

Suspected political thugs last Thursday morning invaded the residence of Maeba in the GRA, Phase 3 axis of Port Harcourt, the state capital. Maeba is the chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in the state.

The hoodlums reportedly shot sporadically at his entrance, and eventually broke into the former Senator’s compound, where they reportedly destroyed about five cars, including a jeep, while three persons in the compound, including Maeba’s relative scampered for safety.

Many pro-Atiku chieftains of PDP in the state have fled the state and are said to be hiding in Abuja without any plan to return home to campaign for their presidential candidate. The ones that are in the state are inactive for fear of being attacked.

For now, it is not clear if it is the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu or Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) that would be Wike’s choice.

While Obi has visited Wike frequently, Tinubu sent some emissaries to the governor, soliciting support.

Obi visited the state recently to inaugurate a flyover, and Wike used the occasion to promise that the state government would provide all the logistics support for the LP candidate during his campaign in the state.

A few days later, Ebonyi State Governor,

David Umayi, who was visiting the state to inaugurate a project, told Wike that the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu needed votes, and not logistics support.

Though Atiku has consistently directed members of his camp not to join issues with or attack Wike and other members of his G-5 governors or Integrity Group, the group has continually been unleashing attacks on the PDP presidential candidate to diminish his electoral fortunes ahead of the elections. Many believe the Rivers State governor is playing God because of the huge resources at his disposal.

However, a PDP campaign spokesman told THISDAY that Wike cannot solely decide the choice of the people of Rivers State. He argued that the governor does not possess the superpowers to solely decide which presidential candidate the people should support or not support.

The spokesman who did not want his name in print also argued that Wike has demonstrated by his misconduct that he is not the people’s moral compass to determine the suitable presidential candidate.

He added that the people have been voting for PDP since 1999, insisting that they will still vote for all PDP candidates in 2023, including Atiku.

Also reacting, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) reminded Wike of his assertion when he visited Edo State last May to campaign for the PDP presidential ticket.

The BoT member who spoke on condition of anonymity recalled what the Rivers governor told journalists when they asked him why he did not visit the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, during his visit.

“Governor Wike told the journalists that votes are not warehoused in the Edo State Governor’s House and that the votes are with the people on the streets. So, by the same token, Governor Wike must also realise that the votes in Rivers are not warehoused in the Rivers State Government House and that they are with the people on the streets,” the BoT member said.

64

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11, 2022

CICERO/ISSUE

Agbakoba’s Agenda for Presidential Candidates Emmanuel Addeh writes on the recent attempt by a senior lawyer and veteran human rights activist, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), to draw the attention of stakeholders to the ‘big issues’ and set the agenda for politicians and the electorate as the 2023 general election approaches

L-R: Dr. Kemi Folawiyo, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN and Mr. Collins Okeke at the public presentation of OAL’s Policy Report 2022 titled: Big Issues for the 2023 General Election, in Lagos…recently

A

former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) needs no introduction whether in the civil society space or in the expansion of the frontiers of the legal profession in Nigeria.

The legal luminary and Senior Partner of Olisa Agbakoba Legal (AOL), believes that Nigeria is in an extremely fragile state and therefore requires someone who will carefully untangle the many issues.

In seeking to refocus the issues that are relevant to Nigerians, Agbakoba, at a recent presentation to the public of OAL’s Policy Report 2022 titled: ‘Big Issues for the 2023 General Election’, he authored with Collins Okeke, said that he believes that Nigeria has continued to exhibit characteristics of a failing state and therefore needs to be rescued.

“There are conflicts and agitations everywhere; feelings of marginalisation and exclusion, rise in political and criminal violence, loss of control of borders, rising ethnic, religious, and cultural hostilities,” he said.

In addition, the maritime lawyer submitted that there are the issues of weak institutions, food shortages, unemployment, inflation, crumbling infrastructure, deteriorating human development indicators such as infant and maternal mortality and literacy rates.

“These troubling realities make the 2023 general election a defining moment for the country which, in turn, raise the need for a thorough and insightful search for who will preside over the affairs of the country after President Muhammadu Buhari,” he added.

For Agbakoba, the report essentially reviews a few of the big issues that should engage the mind of any presidential candidate interested in leading Nigeria. It also recommends innovative legislation, policies, and executive order. He noted that the candidate who emerges as president next year must understand all the issues and have a clear vision of where to take the country.

From matters of national unity, the economy to insecurity, he argued that his abiding hope in releasing the report which comprises two parts, namely: challenges and solutions, was to contribute to the political and economic transformation of Nigeria.

Under the mounting challenges, the senior lawyer posited that the first big issue confronting the new president will be to handle the current disunity, disorder, and insecurity bedevilling the country. If these are not resolved, he argued, there will be no peace and the president cannot deliver on his mandate.

“This is an issue all presidential candidates correctly identify as an existential threat but are not quite clear on how to resolve it. Nigeria has never been this disunited and disordered. The International Index of failed states says Nigeria is in a low-grade civil war.

“There is insecurity, conflict, and agitation every-

where. The South-west of Nigeria is plagued by a surge in cybercrime, armed robbery, kidnapping, domestic crime, extrajudicial killings, herder-farmer conflicts, and banditry.

“The South-east is a haven for killings, commercial crime, secessionist agitation, kidnapping, herderfarmer clashes, attacks by unknown gunmen, and banditry. The South-south remains threatened by militancy, kidnapping, and environmental agitation.

“The North-east has been subject to a humanitarian crisis lasting over a decade and caused by the Boko Haram insurgency and the Islamic State in West Africa Province. Meanwhile, the North-west is enmeshed in illegal mining, ethno-religious killings, and banditry. How will the presidential candidates address these issues,” he queried.

He also cited the humongous economic issues, with the Nigerian economy already in a technical recession.

“This is complicated by high-interest rates, lending and exchange rates, unemployment, poverty, structural defects caused by budget deficit, debt crisis, and shrinking revenue.

“Apart from disunity, disorder, and insecurity, a weak economy must challenge all presidential candidates. “Unfortunately, whilst most presidential candidates refer to issues relating to the economy generally, there are no specifics. The new president will be confronted with a massive debt burden of close to N80 trillion,” he explained.

In his breakdown of the debts, Agbakoba noted that this includes a current debt stock of N41.6 trillion in March 2022, ‘Ways and Means’ borrowing at over N19.9 trillion, FGN debt bonds at N5.1 trillion issued since April 2022, and a projected deficit of over N11 trillion to finance the budget of 2023.

Already at risk of borrowing to pay interest on its debt obligations, he quoted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as having predicted that Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio would jump to 92 per cent in 2022 from 76 per cent in 2021.

Added to all these, he cited the admission by the Debt Management Office (DMO) that the country was unable to secure any foreign loan in the second quarter of 2022, leaving very little room for manoeuvring by the new government.

Another very serious issue which the next Nigerian leader will have to confront, Agbakoba noted, is the alarming unemployment figure in the country.

Citing available data, he disclosed that the number of unemployed Nigerians is over 20 million, stressing that poverty rate being the single biggest issue confronting the presidential candidates.

Apart from general statements, he argued that most presidential candidates have not revealed how they intend to reverse Nigeria’s alarming poverty which the National Bureau of Statistics

(NBS) has put at 133 million Nigerians who are multi-dimensionally poor.

For Agbakoba, the matter of weak and inefficient judicial, legal, institutional and regulatory frameworks remain very important and must be resolved. He noted that it is generally agreed that a country with a weak legal, institutional and regulatory framework cannot develop economic opportunities.

“Unfortunately, Nigeria suffers from legal, institutional and regulatory failure. Any Nigerian president that comes into office will be confronted with weak institutions and impunity, a cost of governance that is too high, and a presidential system that leaves the task of developing legislative agenda to the National Assembly. Regrettably, this is not top of the agenda of most presidential candidates,” he lamented.

He stressed that the judicial system remains vital to the development process, adding that unfortunately, most presidential candidates have failed to talk about this.

“This is a big missing link in the manifestoes.

The impact of an inefficient judiciary on development cannot be overstated. In our practice, many international clients are reluctant to come to Nigeria as they say that the legal and judicial process is sluggish.

“Unfortunately, most presidential candidates have not dealt extensively with the issue. Many presidential candidates are unaware of the scope of legal failure. A president must work with the Judiciary to give urgency to the justice sector and reverse legal failure. Legal failure must be converted to legal sanctity with no impunity in respect of rule of law,” he pointed explained.

According to Agbakoba, other big issues include Nigeria’s foreign policy and international relations and the energy crisis.

In proffering solutions to the disunity and disorder in the country, Agbakoba suggestd three key areas namely: The challenge of a legitimate constitution, the issue of restructuring, and lastly, strengthening the local government system.

He explained that a legitimate constitution is the most vital political framework, stressing however that to succeed, four vital elements must exist including inclusivity, authority, validity, and legitimacy.

The senior lawyer stated that previous attempts at constitution-making have failed on the issue of legitimacy because the constitution was generally perceived as imposed by the military. He called for restructuring or devolution of powers, describing Nigeria’s federalism as over-centralised, which explains the continued agitation for the political restructuring of the country.

Also important, he added, is empowering the local governments as the source of power at the base of the federal structure.

“This can be achieved through the principle of subsidiarity which is ensuring that governance is delivered at the lowest level,” he notes.

On insecurity, Agbakoba opined that Nigeria has spent over $1 trillion on resolving the matter with no significant result, stressing that the country needs a completely new security architecture, a smart army, navy, coast guard, and a revamped National Intelligence Agency.

“Nigeria also needs to massively deploy satellite technology for intelligence. Satellite technology and drones have the capacity to produce a detailed mapping of Nigeria, especially the security-challenged areas like the Sambisa Forest.

On the economy, he insisted that the next president should have an economic vision that harmonises the five critical aspects: The hard economy (infrastructure like roads, bridges), the soft economy (laws, rules, regulations, and institutions), the blue economy (the vast ocean resources like marine, fish oil, tourism, renewable energy, etc), the green economy (forestry, biodiversity, or reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and brown economy (industrial and extractive activities like mining, oil exploration, etc.).

He argued that Nigeria as it is, does not have a coherent trade policy or legislation, explaining that is important to enact legislation that will support the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiation (NOTN).

“Trade remedies legislation that imposes anti-dumping duties on dumped products should also be introduced. There are also countervailing special duties measures imposed on exports into Nigeria subsidised by a foreign country. The trade remedies legislation will also prohibit imports if it is judged that they will cause material injury to local industries, for example by impeding growth.

“It is also vital to develop a national local content policy to complement trade policy. A vibrant national local content policy will grow our local produce and make us self-sufficient in rice, maize, cassava, cotton, cocoa, tomato, oil palm, poultry, fish,” he said.

He also argued that the Land Use Act should be reformed while agriculture, mining, oil and gas and maritime should be improved.

“Maritime is potentially the largest economic sector outside oil and gas. Nigeria’s maritime sector is estimated to be capable of generating N7 trillion annually and four million jobs over five years.

“Most of this revenue is lost to neighbouring ports, especially Cotonou port. The existing port infrastructure needs massive overhaul. Nigeria needs small smart ports with emerging technologies like Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) and electronic Bill of lading (eB/L).

“This can only come from strong private sector participation and a legal framework that encourages investments,” he argued.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11, 2022

65

CICERO/INTERVIEW

Umo Eno: We’ll Connect the Dots to Birth New Akwa Ibom Astute industrialist, pastor and governorship candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, shares with Louis Achi, his five-pillar vision of transforming ‘The Land of Promise’ through upscaling his predecessors’ remarkable contributions. Excerpts

Y

ou’re a prominent shepherd of Christ. Today, you’re seeking to govern men.

Is there a fundamental conflict between these two roles?

There is no conflict.

Before God brings you to a larger audience; before He puts you on the stage, he would have tried you like gold, refined you in the furnace before he showcases you.

In pastoral work, God would call you and give you a simple assignment to pastor people. I have been pastoring for 23 years.

I have been in business for the last 25 years. So I pastor side by side with my business. Pastoral work is a calling. God calls you and you’re living the life of a child of God. First you’re called a child of God. Then God commits a few things to you and the Bible says he that’s faithful in little shall be faithful in much.

David said he fought the bears and lions in the forest. While confronting Goliath, he said that God that was with me when nobody was watching will help me to defeat this Goliath, who is defying the army of the God of Israel. The truth is that God trains you behind and then brings you to the fore. God told David, I made you a shepherd of flocks in the bush before I made you to come and be a shepherd of my people Israel. So for me I think it’s still the same calling.

A pastor should have the fear of God. A pastor should have compassion. A pastor should be Christ-like. A pastor is a shepherd of God’s people. So, from shepherding maybe a few flocks, God is bringing you to shepherd his people in Akwa Ibom State.

So there really is no conflict. It’s a higher responsibility in God’s vineyard. After all, Akwa Ibom is God’s own state. And Akwa Ibom has God’s own people. So rather than remaining the pastor of a few, you’re now a pastor of over seven million people. You are expected to lead with compassion. You are expected to be focused. You are expected to lead with the fear of God. At the heart of the human development story is quality governance. Can you share what your conception of governance is?

Governance generally provides security and welfare to the people governed. In that, you have to look at a number of ways which I have enunciated in the five pillars of my vision for Akwa Ibom State - the ARISE Agenda. ARISE comprises - Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance/Advancement, Security Management and Educational Advancement.

All of those aspirations have fifteen focal goals, which touch on health, tourism, human development and others. Through these, you will begin to actualise them with specific timelines. So the whole totality of governance in this case is to ensure that people that live within that territory or space called a state have that realisation that those services are provided for their welfare; for their security, be it health, education, economic advancement, tourism.

All of those work together to give the people a sense of belonging, good wellbeing and a sense of security so that they can thrive and their own purpose can be achieved in the overall interest of the people of the state. That to my mind is good governance.

You are a servant leader basically.

Let’s take a closer look at the fourth pillar of your ARISE agenda, which is security management. You don’t have an army, control the security agencies

or whatever we are able to produce here.

That is connecting those dots. In effect, you are building on what your predecessor has done. So your vision is to scale up what he has done.

Five key areas are identifiable in your life story and these include public administration, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, faith and finally politics. Would you say these areas fundamentally address human development?

Completely. It’s only in this country that people wake and find themselves in politics. You can only have outcomes without processes that way. It’s not done that way and this explains our quandary. These people have no exposure whatsoever in the private sector. They don’t see the other side of life.

You know in other climes, people come to the government to render service from the private sector. They can say this is what I am coming with to be able to render service.

But in Nigeria, this is hardly obtainable. If you are coming from corporate Nigeria, you are a stranger. A man who does not understand how the public service operates cannot run public service because he is not going to think about coming wastages.

He is not going to think about honesty.

There is no room in the private sector for dishonesty. Everything is moderation and circumspection. In those days we worked in the bank, you can’t afford to be flamboyant even in your dressing. They know how much you earn. You can’t afford to give somebody a bounced check. We were taught moderation and circumspection in the things you do. So you bring all of that into public service. People know there are things you will never do.

Eno

or have state police. How would you deal with insecurity against this background?

So far, Akwa Ibom has remained one of the most peaceful states in the country.

It takes a lot of sacrifice to get to that; it takes a lot of compromise; it takes a lot of negotiations and discussions. So you continue in that path and you seek peace.

You also encourage people that live within your borders to seek peace. The Bible says you pray for the peace of Jerusalem and those that dwell inside it.

This is because it is in the peace of Jerusalem that the dwellers will have peace. So, everybody living with your state must come to understand that peace is something we must deliberately seek after. The other day somebody asked me how are you going to deal with the herdsmen? These herdsmen are controlled by people. These herdsmen have settlements around. So you talk to their leadership; you call their leadership.

If there is a problem in the state today, nobody will be able to operate, including the herdsmen. So why don’t you sit with them; dialogue with them; provide for them.

Let them see the need to be able to have a better place to pasture their animals. The truth about life is that no matter how much we fight, we sit at the table and discuss. So my attitude is why don’t we sit and discuss instead of fighting. If we are going to end up discussing after destroying and killing, why don’t we discuss and sort out our differences.

To have peace is not just about security.

You have insecurity because you are fighting kidnapping and other disruptive criminalities.

Those are direct confrontations that you can deal with the security agencies. Even if you don’t control them as such that is their primary assignments and why they are deployed to states in the first instance. We will also leverage technology, planning and

dialogue to stem evolving insecurity.

In seeking a major executive political office, the common understanding is that the seeker is offering an alternative or better vision of governance. In this case, the man you’re seeking to supplant, Governor Udom Emmanuel, is one you have called “a political father and mentor”. Are you then offering a superior governance vision, so to speak?

We’re providing a vision to build on what he has done. It’s a vision of continuity. We have the ARISE agenda. He campaigned on infrastructure and industrial development which he has done. The ARISE agenda seeks to connect the dots. I keep using the words – connecting the dots. Infrastructure is everywhere.

We need to put them together to begin to have economic benefits.

For instance, we have the Ibom Air. It flies into Akwa Ibom State and brings in people.

When people fly into our state, what are they coming to do? We need to develop our tourism sector.

So we need to ensure that when we scale up tourism people can come in and we can earn income. So that is connecting those dots. At the airport, we have the new terminal building.

We have an MRO. So aircraft come in and can be maintained in the facility and we earn foreign exchange.

We are planning to add a cargo terminal so that as Ibom Air increases its fleet and begins to do regional flights we can begin to move cargo – export agricultural products

Which philosopher influenced your thoughts most?

Jesus Christ.

Why are you called “the Golden Boy”?

Is it because of your colour?

I credit that to my wife. She made that popular. When we started out, you know all jabs are thrown at you and hate speeches.

One of the hate speeches was that I am an Albino. So on one of my birthdays, my wife was asked to make a remark in church and so she said that though people say you are an Albino, you remain my golden boy!

That gave a new definition. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, people evade issues and talk about non-issues.

What is your message to the people of Akwa Ibom and Nigeria at large?

To Akwa Ibomites, I humbly offer myself by the grace of God to be a servant-leader and that’s why I am running this race for the office of governorship of Akwa Ibom.

We have put out our agenda and I appeal to them to look at it, read it and let’s talk about it. I can engage and I am engaging the Akwa Ibom people that we will have a government of inclusion. We will do what we said we will do because I am not given to so many words.

I have built an organisation in the last 25 years and I have succeeded by God’s grace.

I am a focussed person and I can say that if they vote for me, they are voting for job creation and empowerment of our young people through small, medium enterprises.

They are voting for continuity in governance, transparency in government and honesty.

I am appealing to the Akwa Ibom people to please vote for the People Democratic Party and voting for me Umo Eno. And to Nigerians, please vote for Atiku Abubakar.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11 , 2022

GAVEL

Lawan

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

Gbajabiamila

As CBN Cash Withdrawal Policy Unsettles Lawmakers Udora Orizu writes that the National Assembly is kicking against the Central Bank of Nigeria’s new cash withdrawal policy for some suspicious reasons

T

he Senate and House of Representativeslastweekexpressed concernsovertheCentralBank of Nigeria’s (CBN) new cash withdrawal policy introduced for banks and other financial institutions.

The apex bank had in an apparent move to tackle vote buying as the 2023 elections draw closer, and controltheamountofcashincirculation,introduced a limit on cash withdrawal.

Thenewpolicyfollowedtheapexbank’srecentcurrencyredesigninwhichithadexpressedconcernsover thehighvolumeofcashoutsidethebankingsystem.

Underthenewdispensation,thecentralbankrestricted themaximumcashwithdrawaloverthecounter(OTC) byindividualsandcorporateorganisationsperweek to N100,000 and N500,000, respectively.

Since the return to civil rule in 1999, Nigeria’s politics has been characterised by monetisation through vote buying and financial inducement of voters.Money-basedpoliticshasbecomedominant themes in Nigeria’s electioneering process.

The 2022 political parties’ primary elections yet againbroughttotheforetherealityof‘dollarisation’of votebuyinginNigeria.Accordingtoreports,delegates totheprimaryelectionsofthetwomajorpartieswere paidthousandsofdollarstoinducethemtovotefor certain candidates.

DuringtheJune2022governorshipelectioninEkiti State,electionobserversandthemediareportedthat somevotersreceivedbetweenN5,000andN10,000 each, to vote for certain candidates. A civil society organisation,CentreforDemocracyandDevelopment (CDD),saiditsfieldobserversdocumented41bribery cases in six local government areas of the state.

Whileanalystshavethrowntheirweightbehindthe latestdecisionoftheCBNtolimitcashwithdrawalsby individualsandcorporateorganisations,thefederal parliament however is of a different view.

AttheSenate’splenarylastWednesday,theSenate President,Dr.AhmadLawanwhilerulingonamotion bytheSenateMinorityLeader,SenatorPhillipAduda, on the issue of the newly announced CBN policy on withdrawallimit,saidthetwonomineesfortheposition of deputy governors of the central Bank would addressthematterduringtheirscreeningexercise.

Adudahadinhismotion,askedtheSenatetodiscuss theissueoftheplannedN100,000cashwithdrawal byanindividualperweek.Hispositionwassupported

by Senator Gabriel Suswan, who urged the Senate President to allow the debate on the matter.

Lawan said debating the matter without much information or fact on the policy could amount to exercise in futility.

TheSenatePresidentsaid,“wehaveanopportunity to screen two nominees for the position of Deputy GovernoroftheCBN.Ithinkitisaftertheirscreening weshouldtakethismotion.Thesepeoplearetherein the CBN, why can’t they come tomorrow?”

ButSuswam,disagreedwithLawan,saying,“Ithink youshouldhaveallowedustodiscussthismotionfor the sake of Nigerians.”

Lawaninsistedonhisearlierpositionandreplied:“No, distinguished,thereisamisunderstandinghere.Itold youwhatmypersonalopinionis.Mypersonalopinion isthisweekendisoffbutwehaveanopportunity;the CommitteeonBankingwillbescreeningtwodeputy governors of the CBN. This is one major issue they shouldraisewiththem.OnTuesdaynextweekwecan take a motion but let’s have something solid.”

But at the House of Representatives’ plenary on Thursday,thelawmakersdirectedtheCBNtohaltthe implementation of the new cash withdrawal policy, pending compliance with the provisions of the Act establishing the apex bank.

ThelawmakersalsosummonedCBNGovernor,Mr. GodwinEmefieleinaccordancewiththeprovisions oftheCentralBankActtobriefthemonseveralpoliciesofthebankinrecenttimes,particularlythenew currency and the withdrawal limit policy.

The angry lawmakers took turns to condemn the new cash withdrawal policy, while contributing to a motionofurgentnationalimportancesponsoredby theChairmanoftheHouseCommitteeonPower,Hon. Magaji Da’u Aliyu.

Aliyu had while moving the motion, said the new policybytheCBNshouldnotbeallowedtostandasit wouldadverselyaffecttheNigerianpeople,especially those running small-scale businesses.

According to him, while the country was trying to come to terms with the decision to redesign the currency, the CBN was coming up with yet another policythatwouldadverselyaffectthemasseswithout proper advocacy.

But, the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu supported the CBN policy, saying that it would curb banditry, kidnapping and reduce corruption.

Elumeluadvisedthatthemotionshouldbestepped down, till the committee chairman of banking and

financebrieftheparliamentaftertheCBNgovernor has briefed his committee.

Hesaid:“Nomatterhowbadwefeel,nomatterhow wefeelthatourpeoplewillbeendangered,Ithinkthe rightthingistoamendtheexistinglaw.Ontheissueof cashless policy, I think that is the best thing that can happentothiscountryeventhoughthetimingmight bedifficult;wemayaskforanextensionoftimeforit to be well implemented.The policy will help, stories are going round Abuja, even when people go to use thePoStowithdrawmoney,therearepeoplewaiting to cut off their hands to collect the money.”

Onhispart,Hon.MarkGbillahraisedapointoforder ontheprovisionsoftheCentralBankAct,sayingthe CBNwasyettoexplaintoNigerianshowtheredesigning oftheNairawasfunded,astherewasnoapprovalof such expenditures by the National Assembly.

Corroboratingthisposition,anotherlawmaker,Hon. Aminu Suleiman described the CBN’s new policy as draconian and heartless.

He urged his colleagues to look into the CBN Act and see how they can diminish the bank’s powers to prevent a situation like this.

Hesaid:“Mypeopleareterriblyaffectedbythispolicy changeofCBN.Severalgovernmentchiefexecutives have out-lived their stay in office. Creating this kind of draconian policy and giving Nigeria just a month?

Mostvillagesdon’thavebankingsystemcoverage.The CBNunderEmefielewokeuptocreatethisheartless policy.Thiswillwipeouttheprogresswehavemade in creating small- scale businesses. Let’s search our booksandimposenecessarylawstodiminishCBN’s excessivepowers;weshouldlookintoCBNlawsand ensure it’s not done.”

Similarly, Hon. Julius Ihenbvore chided Emefiele forallegedlytoweringabovetheNationalAssembly.

Ruling on the matter, the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who felt convinced after confirming from some members of the relevant Committees oftheHousesuchasHon.VictorDanzariafromGombe State of the absence of Emefiele for the briefings overtime,reliedonthesectionsofthelawssoquoted to sustain the point of order.

Gbajabiamila eventually heeded the prayer of the substantive motion and ruled that Emefiele be summoned to brief the House on Thursday this week and that the implementation of the policy be haltedpendingtheoutcomeofthemeetingwiththe national assembly.

Despite the opposition of the lawmakers, the

CBNlateonThursdaystatedthattherewasnoplan to reverse the policy slated for take-off on January 9, 2023.

It, however, hinted that necessary reviews of the details of the policy would be carried out after implementation.

Emefiele,whodisclosedthesetoStateHouseCorrespondentsinDaura,KatsinaStateafterameeting withPresidentMuhammaduBuhari,alsosaidthepolicy isnottargetedatanyparticularpersonbutaimedat developing the economy.

But Emefiele said he has the President’s backing forthecurrentmonetaryredirectionefforts,saying Buhari“wasvery,veryhappyandsaidweshouldcarry onourwork,noneedtofear,noneedtobotherabout anybody”.

Responding to questions after his meeting with thePresident,Emefiele,amongothers,said:“Well,the SenateoftheFederalRepublicisNationalAssembly, theyarelegislativearmofthegovernmentandfrom timetotimewebriefthemaboutwhatishappening and about our policies and I’m aware that they have asked for some briefings and we will brief them but I think it’s important for me to say that the cashless policy started in 2012”.

Meanwhile, following the lawmakers decision to haltthepolicy,NorthernYouthshaveurgedtheapex bank to ignore the resolution.

TheyouthsspeakingatajointmeetinginAbujaled by co-convener, Comrade Godwin Meliga, accused Gbajabiamila of allegedly working for his political godfathers against the CBN cash limit.

Theyouthswhiledescribingthelawmakers’resolution as illegal and provocative, said the aggrieved lawmakers ought to head to court if they were not comfortable with the apex bank’s transformative policies.

Theyouthssaid:“ThedecisionoftheSpeakerHon. FemiGbajabiamila-ledHouseofRepresentativesto orderCBNtohaltthecashwithdrawalpolicyhasbeen condemnedandrejectedbyus.Wedescribethedecisionasillegalandcaseoflegislativerascality’takentoo farinabidtoprotectinterestofgodfatherswhowant touseillicitfundstobuyvotesandlaunderill-gotten wealth,andurgedtheCBNtoignoretheresolutions.”

There are strong indications that the concerns of the lawmakers are not for the well-being of their constituentsbuttheeffectsofthenewpolicyonthe plannedfinancialinducementofvotersintheupcoming general election.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11 , 2022

ENGAGEMENTS

with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

Democracy and Its Discontents

I

n his most recent book, Liberalism and its Discontents, leading American political philosopher,FrancisFukuyama,throwslight on the imminent crisis of democracy. The historicallogicofdemocracy’sdevelopment isleadingliberaldemocracyinparticulartowardsadisastrousunravelingworldwide.But theunfoldingcatastropheofdemocracywillimpact nations according to the stage at which they are in their individual democratic development.

The advanced Western democracies have since coupleddemocraticfreedomwithindividualrights ofchoiceinordertoqualifyasliberaldemocracies.“I choose for myself, therefore, I am” seems to be the cardinalaxiomofliberaldemocracy.Liberaldemocracy is therefore the highest form in the development of democracy. In a liberal democracy, citizens are firstrecognizedasfreeagentsentitledtothefullest expressionsofdemocraticchoiceandrights.Butin addition, those rights are rooted in the individual’s freedom of choice as an individual that is different from all other individuals. In liberal democracy, the individual’s choice is not encumbered by tribe, tongue,faith,ethnicity,regionandskincolour.Itisthat free entitlement to subscribe to democracy as an animalofchoiceinaliberalcontextthatdistinguishes liberaldemocracyfromotherstagesofdemocratic development.

However,significantpartsoftheworldlikeNigeria and the new democracies of the developing world remainstuckatthelevelofjustnominaldemocracy.

They merely swell the number of nation states that areadjudgeddemocraticsimplybecausetheychoose orchangetheirpoliticalleadershipthroughperiodic elections. By counting nations that hold elections, thepercentageoftheworldpopulationlivingunder democracy is swollen. Triumphal advocates of the victory of the liberal international order can order a beer and be happy!

These nominally democratic countries restrict themselves to the right of citizens to troop out in periodic electoral rituals to select new leaderships or renew the mandate of old leaders. The rights of individualslivinginthesocietyarehardlyrecognized let alone respected by the state. In such nominal democracies, the observance of the full freedoms and rights of individual citizens living in society is left for another day, an indeterminate future that no one can fathom.

A third version of ‘democracy’ has recently established itself as an instrument of leadership legitimation. It is a tool for the domestication of authoritarianism to make it acceptable in the more distinguishedcompanyoffreesocieties.Thisisilliberal democracywhichisaversionof nominaldemocracy sustainedwiththetoolsofauthoritarianism:suppressionoffreespeech,policebrutality,controlledjudges andafrightenedpopulacefedofficialpropagandaby thestate.Inrecenttimes,illiberaldemocracyhascome to shunt itself into the broad ranks of ‘democracy’.

Autocratsindisguiseusearoughcombinationofsham electionsandjackbootpretensionstolawandorder to gain and maintain legitimacy. The claim is usually that each society adopts a form of democracy that is ‘appropriate’ to its circumstances!

Countries as far flung as Russia, Hungary, Iran, Syria, Rwanda and Uganda are in this sense also democraciesbecausetheirleadershipsareselected or renewed through periodic elections. Like in the othernominallydemocraticcountries,individualrights and freedoms are kept in the back burner. Literally, freedomisnotpredicatedontheindividual’srightto choose but rather on the freedom to vote because everyone else is trooping out to vote. Otherwise, the state decides and enforces what is ‘good’ for the individual. The institutions of a free society are securelytuckedinthebackpocketsofthestateand its managers.

The thrust of Fukuyama’s argument in the new book is that liberal democracy is the highest form of the democratic enterprise because it combines freedomofindividualchoicewithrespectfortherights of individuals as citizens to decide and choose for themselvesinmattersofpoliticsandotheraspects oflife.Butinitsfullliberalmanifestation,democracy has evolved to enable forces that now threaten its very foundation and survival.

Newforcessuchasrightwingextremism,leftwing identity radicalism, micro nationalism and outright militantchallengestothestatehaveemerged.Hidden under the canopy of the multiple individual rights allowed by liberal democracy, these forces are the newthreatsravagingthestateinmanyplaces.Before our every eyes, even the most hallowed traditions and institutions of democracy are being assaulted and desecrated. All manner of fringe groups with

Yakubu

wildconspiracytheoriesarecreepingoutofthewood work. Some of the extremist groups are armed with dangerous weapons to do harm to fellow citizens, assault the institution of the state and challenge its supremacy of force and authorized violence. From the right, Trump’s QAnon and Proud Boys and other WhiteSupremacistgroupsareoutontheprowl.From theleft,BlackLivesMatterandsundrymilitiafactions have erupted.

Recently, Donald Trump, the enfant terrible of America’s democratic deviance has called for an abrogation or total scrapping of the US constitution in order to allow for the kind of lawlessness that will allow for his revalidation as the winner of the 2021 presidential election. Unsurprisingly, his followers haveechoedhisanarchicadvocacyevenasmainstream Americandemocracyforgesaheadwithmaintaining the dictates of democratic decorum and order.

Only last week, the world was shocked when Germanywitnessedarealcoupattempt. Atleast25Right Wing extremists representing a broad spectrum of professions, occupations and callings have so far been arrested for planning a coup to overthrow the German government. Among those so far arrested include a judge, some soldiers, an aristocrat, medical doctors,somefarrightanti-establishmentmilitants and theorists. It was a real attempt to breach the parliament, arrest and handcuff key legislators, declare themselvesasthenewgovernmentofGermanywith thearistocratasleader.Theplanwassoelaborateand grotesquethatthecoupplannersevenhadoneofthem being responsible for ‘spiritual’ affairs. Another was the group psychic, responsible for psychic vetting of prospectivemembersofthegrouptodeterminetheir suitabilityforgroupmembership.Clearly,thelasthas notbeenheardofsuchattemptsintheadvancedliberal democracies.

Even nominal democracies are not immune to the prevailing discontent with democracy around the world.Electoratesarebecomingboredandfrustrated with repeated cycles of electioneering that re-cycle the same set of leaders. More worrisome is the fact that the citizens are getting frustrated with periodic elections that do not bring about tangible changes in their lives. Elections take place every four years but thepercentageofpoorpeoplekeepsincreasing.Living

conditionsworsen.Hopesdimandexpectationsare dashed. The rituals and institutions of democratic realitybecomefixturesinarituallandscape.Nothing changesforthebetter.Everythingremainsthesame or changes for the worse.

Legislaturesfrustrateexecutives.Judgesmangle justice and rule in favour of the rich. In the process, citizens are overwhelmed by a sense of stasis and despair. In general, there is increasing frustration with democracy as a means of bringing about the changes that citizens are urgently demanding. As a consequence, nominal democracies are witnessing shock waves hitherto unknown. The nation state in such fragile places has come under the pressure of sundry forces and threats. Militancy, banditry, terrorism, cartels, rackets, organized crime syndicates masquerading as government, monumental corruption etc. Those elected through the rituals of nominal democracy occasionally try self -help in desperate search of solutions to urgent social and economicproblemsplaguingthosewhoelectedthem intooffice.Yet,noonehasquitefoundareplacement for democracy as a system of government.

In Peru, a democratically elected president has just overthrown himself in a foolish constitutional coup. Pedro Castillo, a monumentally incompetent presidentonDecember7thannouncedthedissolution of parliament and the convening of a new one with powers to write a new constitution and hand down a new code for judges. The coup attempt failed as parliament ousted him with a vote of 107 to 6. The policemovedintoarresttheerrantfleeingpresident forrebellingagainstthestate.Heisunderhousearrest ,replacedwithhisdeputy.Streetmobsonbothsides haveoverwhelmedthecapitalinprotestonbothsides.

Castillowasonlystaginganamateurishversionofthe 1992episodeinwhich theelectedpresident,Alberto Fujimori,rolledoutmilitarytankstostageacoupthat sackedparliament.Hesucceededinsecuringhimself 8 years if unperturbed rule as an autocrat. Fujimori was a competent and astute politician. Castillo was a political idiot!

InfragilenominaldemocracieslikeNigeria,thegreatest danger to democracy is the assumption that the feverofanelectionseasonreflectsthepopularityof democracyoritsuniversalacceptancebycompeting

elites.Inaplacewheredemocracyhasnotyetpermeatedtheculturalfabricofsociety,itisfutiletoassume thateveryfactionoftheeliteisanxiouslyawaitingthe next election and its outcome. Far from it. Partisan divisions are merely intra elite schisms dressed up as democratic options. There are no options. There is only a feverish scramble for access to the keys of the presidential lodge. This may be the situation in Nigeria as the nation preps for the 2023 elections.

In today’s pre election Nigeria, the major current of public expectation is that the 2023 elections will goaccordingtoplan.Thelogicofthisoptimismisthe hopethatthepresidentialelectionwillbepeacefuland apeacefultransitionofpowerwillproceedtherefrom andculminateintheswearinginofthenextpresident on 29th May, 2023.

Butlisteningcloselyinrecentweeks,thereisahint intheutterancesofsignificantpublicvoices,wehave reasons to worry about the fate of the elections and the future of the nation. Chief of Defense Staff, Mr. Lucky Irabor, is an eloquent soldier of not too many unnecessarywords.SpeakingtojournalistsattheState HouseinAbujaonThursday,hemadeaninconvenient disclosure. The Nigerian military is under pressure from unnamed quarters to compromise the 2023 elections. Soldiers are being tempted with inducementstopossiblycompromisethedemocracytrainby unnamedforces.ThealarmisnotstrangeinNigeria’s political history.

Yet,itwasaconvenient opportunityfortheDefense Chieftoreiteratetheextantfactofthesubordination of the armed forces to the primacy of civil authority as a cardinal guardrail of democracy. It was also an opportunitytoemphasizetheimperativeforsecurity forcestoremainloyaltoandobeyPresidentBuhari’s injunctionforthearmedandsecurityforcestoremain neutral in the prevailing season of partisan political frenzy.

Lessthanafortnightago,PresidentBuharihimself hadcausetoreiteratetheobviousfactthathewillhand overpowertoasuccessoradministrationcome29th May, 2023. On the surface, this reassurance looked unnecessaryandsuperfluous.Itisarestatementofthe obviousthatwascomingfromnowhere.Butthepresidentistheultimatereceptacleofallhighintelligence.

Taken together with Mr. Irabor’s alarming warning, thereisreasontosuspectthatthehighexpectations about the outcome of the 2023 elections may have comeundergreaterscrutiny.Thepresidenthashimself readjustedhispoliticalrhetoricfromarabid“APCby allmeans”to“Nigeriansarefreetovoteforanyparty or candidate of their choice” earlier this week.

There has been a more consequential expression of concern about the 2023 elections and their outcome.AtapubliclectureinAbujarecently,former INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, had cause to sound a note of concern and dire warning. Jega was deeply concerned about the undercurrents of the election and the possible outcome. Given his experience in managing what would have been Nigeria’s most catastrophic election back in 2015.

The spate of violent attacks on INEC facilities in the South East especially does not make things any betterforournominaldemocracy.Otherseparatist factionsandtheirmilitiasarenolessdangerous.INEC has itself warned about the consequences of these episodes of violence for orderly polls.

In fractious states like Nigeria, the risk to nominal democracy are magnified if nothing binds political contestantswiththeelectorateandgeneralcitizenry.

The survival of democracy is often underwritten by an elite consensus on the urgent indices of national survival. Election campaigns become a means of securingcitizens’buy-inintothatconsensus. Elections have meaning for as long as they will guarantee the survivalofthenationandaminimumlevelofsecurity, peace and orderly life.

Brazil’s last presidential election illustrated this poignantly. The tenure of Jair Bolsonaro tilted Brazil in the direction of catastrophic illiberal democracy.

Bolsonaro was deriving his model from the Donald Trump anarchy in the United States. But a national consensus on Brazil’s dire economic situation and the worsening climate change consequences of the destructionoftheAmazoncreatedanationalnostalgia for a return to the social welfare strides of former Lula da Silva. Brazil voted for national survival and returned Lula to power to save the country.

Nigeria’s survival as a nation state has become tiedtowhetheritsurvivesasademocracy.The2023 presidentialelectionisinmanywaysareferendumon whetherNigeriasurvivesastheimperfectunionthat we have come to know. Therefore, all those covertly schemingtosubverttheelectionmustcometoterms withtheexistentialimperativethatif2023fails,Nigeria falls into pieces.

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • DECEMBER 11, 2022

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NEWS

WORTHY HONOUR… L-R: Managing Director, Full Page Communications Limited, Chief Ingram Osigwe; Mrs. Amarachi Ayika; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Captino Global Group, Chief Clement Ayika; and Chief Peter Aniakor, at the conferment of Entrepreneurial Role Model Award on Chief Ayika at the Enugwu-Ukwu Day celebration in Lagos…recently

Local Investors Lead Nigeria’s Equities Market in 10 Months Festus Akanbi Amid the mixed trail of investors' activities and the volatility witnessed in the local equities market this year, available data has shown that the strong appetite of domestic investors has continued to out-perform the sentiments of foreign investors in the Nigerian stock market.

Stock market analysts attributed the upper hand of local investors to their decision to take a bet on domestic bourse since the beginning of 2022.

However, the general market activity has been in a lull from the beginning of the second half of the year due to risk-off sentiment ahead of the 2023 general election and a lacklustre macroeconomic environment.

According to transaction numbers quoted by the investment and financial firm, Cowry Asset

Management Company, in its weekly review issued at the weekend, the total FPI transactions in the local bourse rose to N2.08 trillion in 10 months (Oct. 22) and up 34.6 per cent year on year from N1.54 trillion in the same period of 2021, signaling an upbeat in investor activities in portfolio investment through equities trading.

“Thus, analyses of the trading data polled from the NGX showed that year-to-date, domestic investors accounted for the bulk of transactions which printed N1.73 trillion with a share of 83 per cent, while foreign investors’ participation remained low at 17 per cent (N350 billion).

“Since the capital flight triggered by the pandemic, foreign participation is yet to attain pre-pandemic levels; this is due in part to legacy issues of FX liquidity amid the fragile

Adamu: I Wasn’t the One Stripped Naked in Viral Video Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has debunked insinuations making rounds that he was stripped naked at the palace of the Emir of Lafia in Nasarawa State as recorded in a video that has since gone viral.

Adamu, through his Personal Assistant on New Media, Malam Nata’ala Mohammed, in a telephone interview yesterday in Keffi, said those making such allegations were not honest to themselves and were mischievous, adding, ”they are only seeking relevance.”

“A viral video of a man that was stripped naked on Thursday, December 8 at the Emir of Lafia’s palace, which was also insinuated and suspected to be the APC National Chairman is false.

“It was the mere imagination of mischievous people who are unfamiliar with the physical looks of Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

“This unfortunate misplacement of the true physical look of the person of Adamu is not in any way to be linked to him,”

Mohammed said.

Also, a pro-democracy group, A A Sule Progressives Forum, has vehemently condemned the dastardly act that occurred to their Grand Patron, Alhaji Abubakar Giza, who holds the traditional title of Ciroman Giza.

The state Coordinator of the forum, Mr. Jonathan Samuel described the incident as barbaric and unbecoming.

He stated that Giza was an elder statesman and an APC stalwart who has been a very strong pillar of support to the government of Nasarawa State.

According to Samuel, Giza is a peace-loving man, urging that “the evil act done to him by some unscrupulous elements should not be played down.

“The perpetrators of such a dastardly act should be identified and brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.

He emphasised the need for all and sundry to be security conscious at all times, saying, “these bad eggs are lurking everywhere.”

Samuel also urged the security agencies to intensify efforts in apprehending the culprits.

macroeconomic landscape. Thus, the performance highlights of transaction trend point that foreign portfolio investors' activities have continued to dwindle from the N1.22 trillion reported in 2018 to N435 billion in 2021.

In October, the total FPI transaction value represents a year-on-year decline of around 48 per cent. This can be attributed to the risk-off sentiment which pervaded the bourse since the close of June. A closer look reveals that foreign investors’

interests accounted for 26 per cent while domestic investors were responsible for 74 per cent of total transactions at the exchange which rose 34.42 per cent from N81.90 billion in September 2022 to N110.09 billion in October 2022.”

The report from the NGX highlighted that the activities of institutional investors were higher than that of retail investors by a difference of 42 per cent as the institutional composition of the domestic market surged 105 per cent to N57.5 billion in October

from N28.05 billion in the prior month.

Meanwhile, a sharp comparison between the current and previous months showed that domestic transactions in the current and prior months (September 2022) revealed that retail transactions decreased by 29.64 per cent from N34.18 billion in September to N24.05 billion in October 2022.

Foreign participation in total equity transactions has steadily been on a decline over the years on the back of the lack of incentive to trigger sentiments as we also

approach the election year.

According to the Cowry Asset report, the fact that these foreign counterparts control a minimal 25 per cent of the market may be a reason for the apathy on equities following the upward rate trajectory by the Nigerian apex bank chief. But we reckon that local institutional investors may have more incentive to remain in the market despite the rate hike while the risk-averse investors will continue to exhibit apathy towards risk assets in the face of the rate hike.

Africa Has Resolved to Implement Single Air Transport Market, Says Sirika NCAA seeks removal from public service Chinedu Eze The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has said that Africa had resolved to implement a Single Air Transport Market in Africa (SAATM) to advance liberalisation.

This is coming as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) disclosed that it was seeking its removal from the public service sector.

Sirika made this known at the weekend during his closing remarks at a five-day International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN2022) in Abuja.

He said that SAATM, being a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063, would boost the continent`s economic integration agenda.

According to him, SAATM will ensure aviation plays a major role in connecting Africa, promoting its social, economic and political integration and boosting intraAfrica trade and tourism as a result.

The minister noted that SAATM was created to expedite the full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision.

“I am very excited as you spent about a week with us. I was equally excited for Nigeria to host this very important event.

“There are new developments that we derived from this, in particular, our resolve to implement Single Air Transport Market in Africa (SAATM).

“This is in the spirit of actualising Agenda 2063, which will unify and integrate Africa and connect its people, future and posture.

“It will also open the borders to connect the whole world.

“Aviation ought to play its role in connecting our markets, places, friends and families among others,” the minister said.

He said the series of engagements and negotiations during the event indicated that the “ICAAN 2022 was delivered objectively. “ Sirika said achievement in human and services, improving some Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) within the states during the event, would eventually co-increase air connectivity in Africa and globally.

Also speaking at the weekend, the Republic of Seychelles’ Minister of Transport, Mr. Anthony Derjacques, said that SAATM would open up Africa’s skies and promote the value of aviation throughout the continent.

Derjacques further said that opening air arrangements would boost traffic, drive economies and

create jobs.

In his own part, Mr. Mohamed Rahma, the Director, Air Transport Bureau of International Civil Aviation Oganisation (ICAO), commended Nigeria and other stakeholders for their contributions towards a successful ICAAN 2022 event in Nigeria.

According to him, 63 states (47 in-person and 16 virtual), 417 participants (321 in-person and 96 virtual), were involved in the various meetings during the event.

Rahma said that ICAO’s long-term vision for international air transportation liberation was to improve social and economic needs, expand markets and states' collaborations across the world.

Meanwhile, the NCAA has disclosed that it was seeking the removal of the agency from the public service sector.

The Director General NCAA, Capt. Nuhu Musa, disclosed this weekend at the closing ceremony of the same event held in Abuja.

According to Nuhu, this had become necessary because the members of staff of the agency were supposed to be earning at least the same or even better than the people they were overseeing, adding that NCAA being a public sector organisation was therefore under the public service rules.

He, however, noted that the

NCAA was communicating with the Ministry of Aviation and the National Assembly to see how the process could be achieved, adding however that it was a very long process.

He said they were also speaking with relevant industry experts to seek advice and experience in other to attract young people in the right number and quality in other to significantly impact the aviation industry.

Fielding questions from journalists on how the agency can help improve the numeration of their staff, Nuhu said, “That’s a very important issue the industry has raised; they are the ones that suffer the most when we do not have adequate staff to cater for the services they require from us.

“Several ICAO documents recommendations reveal that inspectorate division, inspectors and all those serving the industry are supposed to earn at least the same as the people they are overseeing but the NCAA being a public sector organisation is under the civil service rules.

“We are communicating with the relevant authorities, the Ministry of Aviation and National Assembly so that we can see how the NCAA can be removed from the public service sector.”

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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 11, 2022

NEWS

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

Osoba: S’West Has Highest Number of Uncollected PVCs Nationwide &ODLPV ÀYH PLOOLRQ 39&V \HW WR EH FROOHFWHG LQ WKH UHJLRQ &DQYDVVHV VXSSRUW IRU 7LQXEX $ELRGXQ RWKHUV James Sowole in Abeokuta As the collection of permanent voters cards (PVCs) takes off tomorrow, former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba yesterday revealed that South-west had the highest number of uncollected (PVCs) nationwide.

Osoba, also the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC), canvassed support for the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun in the forthcoming elections.

He expressed grave concerns about the uncollected PVCs in the geo-political zone yesterday at the inauguration and unveiling of the APC Campaign Council in Ogun State.

At the unveiling are former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Ad-

esegun; Chairman of Ogun APC, Chief Yemi Sanusi and the governorship candidate of APC in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin, among others.

After unveiling the party secretariat yesterday, Osoba observed that the PVCs “are the real votes. About five million PVCs are yet to be collected in the South-west.”

While talking about voter’s education, the former governor specially called for the education of voters in the state through the showcasing of the party emblem.

Osoba also called for the support of everyone “to actualise the victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun during the next elections.

“Elections start on Monday.

From Monday, December 12, PVC is the real vote, collection of PVC starts on Monday. How many of you are ready for the exercise?

Anti-graft Agencies Vow to Tackle Vote Buying Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Inter-Agency Task Team (IAAT) at the weekend pledged to use their offices to reduce the incidences of vote buying in the 2023 general election.

The Chairman, IAAT, Mr. Olusegun Adekunle made the promise at the 2022 International Anti-Corruption Day in Abuja on Friday.

The day, marked annually to raise awareness of the negative effects of corruption on all areas of life, was commemorated under the theme, “United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) at 20: Uniting the World against Corruption.”

The global programme focuses on strategic approaches to combating corruption to enable sustainable development.

Among others, members of IAAT include Bureau for Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) , Central Bank on Nigeria (CBN), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) At the commemoration Friday, Adekunle said: “If Nigeria is to make significant progress on developmental issues, corruption must be reduced to the minimum.”

Adekunle, also Chairman of the National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), urged members to resist anything that can constitute an impediment to the attainment of the goal.

At the national level, he said: “We will also be focusing on the upcoming 2023 general elections and the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2022–2026 recently approved on November 23.

“These discussions are apt at this time as it creates the opportunity for greater synergy in the processes in preparation towards a smooth transition to the next government in 2023.”

While admitting that the country has some corruption challenges, Adekunle said the anti-graft agencies have not been idle in their bid to combat the menace.

“We have continued to strengthen our dedicated institutions to ensure data–policy nexus and inter-agency coordination and collaboration especially via the IATT platform.

“We must exercise our rights as patriotic citizens by engaging in the election process. we must all rise up and play our roles by ensuring we vote and report corruption and any vices we observe to the relevant government agencies.

Pinkberry Joins Youngchief as KG Enas Water Brand Ambassador Beauty Aesthescian, Fashion entrepreneur and Brand influencer, Pinkberry, has been appointed the brand ambassador of KG Enas Water, one of the leading water bottling companies based in Warri, Delta State.

Pinkberry will join Youngchief, the youngest international comedian as KG Enas Water official brand.

Reacting to her appointment, Pinkberry expressed appreciation for her appointment to be one

of the brand ambassadors of one of the leading water bottling companies in the country.

She said: “I’m so excited to let this out of the bag. I am feeling the love and energy already. Shout out to my new family KG Enas Water.

“Life without water is impossible as we all know. This is more than love for nature. It’s love for good water, health, for purity, awesomeness and premiumness,” she added.

“This election is at the grassroots. In the South-west, we have the highest uncollected PVCs. We have almost five million to be collected in all states of the geo-political zone.

“This is very disgraceful. I therefore urge all registered voters in the region to come out to ensure that our people go and collect their PVCs. The

collection of the PVCs is the beginning and end of the election.

“For the next election, the broom is vital in all that we do in APC because the broom is the symbol you are going to see on the day of election, not all your fine faces.

“I am not saying you should not use your pictures on the

posters. Let the broom show in our posters, because it is the broom we are voting for,” Osoba advised candidates standing for different elections in Ogun State.

Also at the unveiling of the secretariat, Abiodun described the Bola Tinubu/Kassim Shettima ticket as the best deal for the country, observing

that the duo when elected would bring on board good governance.

He said: “Our presidential candidate and his running mate are the best. They both served as governors and senators in their states. They have implemented programmes that have transformed and propelled both states that they governed.”

STANDING FOR JUSTICE …

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; former Attorney-General of Ekiti State, Mr. Adewale Obafemi (SAN) and former Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (SAN) at the call-to-bar ceremony of new lawyers by the Body of Benchers in Abuja … recently

NSIA Unveils Initiative to Spur Technological Innovation Obinna Chima The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) yesterday launched the maiden edition of its Prize for Innovation Programme (NIPP) aimed at stimulating innovation and technological developments in Nigeria.

The launch was held in Lagos.

In his speech, the Managing Director, NSIA, Mr. Aminu Umar-Sadiq, said the intention of the programme was to assist the Authority to establish direct access to the Nigerian technology

sector.

He pointed out that for centuries, prizes in various fields of human endeavour have served both as a reward and tool of encouragement for ideas that solve critical challenges for the human race.

He noted that in modern times, such innovation programmes have helped to nurture novel ideas and ingenious innovation in science, technology, and many other fields.

He said the NPIP was the NSIA’s rationale for choosing to leverage innovation as a tool

to stimulate developments in Nigeria’s fast-growing digital ecosystem.

The new NSIA CEO said, “Some may ask, ‘why an Innovation Prize?’ Our answer is simple.

‘Why not?’ We have over the past decade explored various strategies to deliver our vision, which has seen us play an ever-increasing role in promoting investments for Nigeria’s economic development.

“We see the innovation prize as another vertical under our strategy.

We have explored the route of sponsor, co-developer, and financial

investor on a number of projects.

“The prize approach is a different but equally potent path.

With this, we aim to serve as not just a catalyst for the fastgrowing domestic technology and innovation industry but also as a deliberate enabler across the various tiers of the ecosystem.

“Our Board is convinced that this approach will mobilise participants and capital, spread the burden of risk, set a problemsolving agenda, and serve as an effective accelerator for viable projects.”

Africa Has Resolved to Implement Single Air Transport Market, Says Sirika Chinedu Eze

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has said that Africa had resolved to implement a Single Air Transport Market in Africa (SAATM) to advance liberalisation.

This is coming as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) disclosed that it was seeking its removal from the public service sector.

Sirika made this known

at the weekend during his closing remarks at a five-day International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN2022) in Abuja.

He said that SAATM, being a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063, would boost the continent`s economic integration agenda.

According to him, SAATM will ensure aviation plays a major role in connecting Africa,

promoting its social, economic and political integration and boosting intra-Africa trade and tourism as a result.

The minister noted that SAATM was created to expedite the full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision.

“I am very excited as you spent about a week with us. I was equally excited for Nigeria to host this very important event.

“There are new developments that we derived from this,

in particular, our resolve to implement Single Air Transport Market in Africa (SAATM).

“This is in the spirit of actualising Agenda 2063, which will unify and integrate Africa and connect its people, future and posture.

“It will also open the borders to connect the whole world.

“Aviation ought to play its role in connecting our markets, places, friends and families among others,” the minister said.

Shekau Left 83 Concubines Behind, Says Ex-Boko Haram Commanders Michael Olugbode in Abuja Some surrendered fighters have disclosed that late Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, left behind 83 concubines.

Shekau died during the battle of supremacy with another insurgent faction in Sambisa forest, Borno State in May 2021.

Speaking in Maiduguri yesterday, Special Adviser to Governor on Security, Brig-Gen. Abdullahi

Ishaq (rtd), said some of Shekau’s associates told him about Shekau’s concubines after they surrendered and embraced peace.

“We started this non-kinetic approach 16th months ago, the model started shortly after the death of Abubakar Shekau and the state government didn’t want Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) to continue using the Shekau’s fighters; we knew it would be deadly.

“So, the first fighter that I received in Bama told me that Shekau had 83 concubines, just imagine he left behind 83 concubines.

“They said he is now in hell because he committed suicide during his clash with other fraction. He always told them to go out and fight, if they die in the process several virgins are waiting for them,” he said.

He further added that many fighters regretted their actions,

saying Shekau misled them and that many of the fighters did not know how to perform ablution.

“Let me say this, many of his commanders were bitter after he committed suicide because that act contradict what he preached.

“I can tell you that many of these fighters do not know how to perform simple ablution, not to talk of how to do prayers. We had to start teaching them after we brought them to Maiduguri.”

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NEWSXTRA Nigeria, Others Face $50bn Annual Loss to Climate Change Gboyega Akinsanmi Amid its devastating effects on the global economy, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has projected that climate change will cost Nigeria and other African nations between $45 billion and $50 billion per annum by 2040.

Consequently, AfDB, a multilateral development finance institution headquartered in Cote d’Ivoire, unveiled the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa “to speed up the development of green infrastructure in Africa.”

The President of AfDB, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina released the projection in a speech he delivered on Friday at the 2022 African Economic Conference (AEC) currently holding in Balaclava, Mauritius between December 9 and 11.

AEC, a three-day conference

scheduled to end today, was jointly organised by AfDB, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The conference is planned with the theme, “Supporting Climate-Smart Development in Africa” at a time when the continent’s challenge of climate change has been aggravated by the war in Ukraine and Covid-19.

Speaking at the conference Friday, Adesina underscored the urgency of Africa adapting “to climate change. Africa is suffering from the devastating effects of climate change, from droughts, floods, irregular rainfall, locusts, and armyworms.”

Adesina, represented by Acting Chief Economist and

Vice-President, Prof. Kevin Urama, said: “Supporting climate-smart, environmentally friendly development is one step in the right direction.”

He said: “Estimates show that Africa suffers $7-15 billion per year in GDP losses to climate change, which are projected to rise to $45-50 billion per year by 2040.

“Supporting climate-smart development in Africa is extremely pertinent. Climate change is a looming threat to Africa. Africa is the most

vulnerable region to climate disasters.”

He stressed how the rise in petroleum prices caused by the war in Ukraine should quicken Africa’s motivation to shift away from fossil fuels and become self-sufficient in electricity production.

“In order to face the challenges of climate change more effectively, Africa needs the support and assistance of development partners,” the prime minister explained.

Also at the conference, the

Deputy Executive Secretary of UNECA, Hanan Morsy called for investment in climate-smart development for Africa to achieve economic transformation amidst economic and environmental challenges.

According to Morsy, climatesmart development in Africa is the only development model that will unleash the continent’s potential to achieve its development aspirations.

At the opening of the conference, Morsy said Africa risked reversing progress to-

wards some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

She noted that African countries were the most vulnerable to climate change while they contributed the least to global greenhouse gas emissions.

She said: “Africa needs to close huge development gaps by investing substantially in climate-vulnerable key sectors such as energy, agriculture, transport, water and cities.

Zulum Promises to Deliver 95% Votes for Tinubu, Shettima Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Borno State Governor, Prof.

Babagana Zulum has vowed to secure 95 percent of the state’s votes for the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) and his running mate, Alhaji Kassim Shettima.

Zulum gave the assurance in Maiduguri, the Borno capital yesterday when Senator Oluremi Tinubu led the APC women’s wing presidential campaign team on a courtesy visit to him.

Tinubu led the team to unveil the North-east APC Women’s wing presidential electioneering campaigns in Maiduguri.

After unveiling the women’s wing Friday, Zulum said: “I have no other alternative than to deliver the state to the Tinubu/Shettima presidential team and the entire APC. I will not let Senator Kassim Shettima down.”

He recalled how, while he was lecturing at the University of Maiduguri, Shettima appointed him Rector of the State Polytechnic; after which he appointed him commissioner in his cabinet, and then picked him to succeed him.

“We shall work assiduously to deliver more than 95 percent of the state to APC,” the governor assured.

He, however, urged the

Tinubu/Shettima presidential team to accord greater support to the empowerment of North-east women, especially in education and gender development.

At the flag-off of the women presidential campaign group, Tinubu promised to work together to accelerate girl child education, upscale charity for the vulnerable population and provide employment to the youth.

Tinubu disclosed that youths and women in the region “will be accorded the desired attention and given the necessary empowerment to make them more productive in their communities.

“There is a need to urgently reposition Nigerian youth and make them more resourceful to the nation and engage them positively “I believe between myself and Nana Kashim-Shettima. If God gives us the opportunity, we are promising you that we will make you proud. I have worked with youths most of my life and I have always done charity work.

“I believe that we have a lot of work to do, especially to reposition our youths, make them more resourceful for the nation and also engage them positively,” Tinubu explained.

Ezekwesili: Why I’ll Vote for Peter Obi Former Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has said the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi scores highest in the rating among the top two candidates in the 2023 presidential race and she will vote for him ahead of others.

Ezekwesili said this during a television programme, adding that Obi and the presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party PDP) – Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar respectively can easily be rated.

The former Vice President for the African Region of the World Bank said the top three candidates

can easily be rated with public information available and having done her ratings, Obi is ahead of two other contestants.

“To the specific issue of a presidential candidacy, what I said and which I repeat everywhere that I am asked is that I look at the other two candidates and I rate them immediately on the basis of what we know, and for the three candidates there is publicly available information with which to do the rating.

“So after I have done my rating, there is absolutely no way I would leave a Peter Obi and vote for any of the other two candidates,” Ezekwesili said.

REWARD FOR HARD WORK… L-R: Chief Corporate Services Officer, MTN Nigeria, Tobechukwu Okigbo, THISDAY journalist, Vanessa Obioha; and General Manager, Corporate Affairs, MTN Nigeria, Omasan Ogisi, at the MTN-MIP graduation ceremony at Pan-Atlantic University... yesterday

Crude Production Increased by 177,000bpd in November, NUPRC Reveals Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja New data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have shown that crude production increased by 177,000 barrels per day in November.

By implication, this increased the total production in November to 1.185 million barrels per day

as opposed to the 1.014 million bpd drilled in October this year.

The figures were obtained yesterday from the official website of the NUPRC, an institution responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of upstream petroleum operations in the country.

When condensates usually

excluded from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota calculations are included, the latest data revealed that the total oil drilled for the month of November was 1.41 million barrels per day.

While blended condensates stood at 40,691 barrels per day during the month under review,

unblended condensates were 187,799 barrels per day, raising the entire daily production to a total of 1,414,093 barrels per day.

The data, however, differed from the figures released by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), which put Nigeria’s total daily production at 1.59 million barrels per day.

NHIA Seeks Dedicated Oil Bloc to Fund Health Insurance for Indigent Nigerians Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has revealed that it has approached the federal government to approve an oil block to fund health insurance cover for indigent Nigerians.

NHIA, established to promote, regulate and integrate all Health Insurance schemes in Nigeria, also

revealed that the subscriber base of the agency had hit over 15 million nationwide.

The Director General of NHIA, Prof. Mohammed Sambo revealed the proposal at the sixth annual conference of the health journalists in Akwanga, Nasarawa on Friday Speaking on the alternative funding for the agency, Sambo: “You can’t have universal health coverage

without making it compulsory.

The Act gives hope to 83 million vulnerable Nigerians that cannot afford to pay for healthcare.”

Sambo, represented by the Public Affairs Manager of NHIA, Emmanuel Ononokpono, questioned why the government could not allocate at least an oil block to the 83 million vulnerable to fund health insurance in the country.

He said: “If the government could give oil blocks to individuals, why can’t it give to 83 million vulnerable Nigerians? A retired General told us some time ago how he sold his oil block for $500 million.”

He said the agency “has also employed no fewer than 190 health professionals to boost operations since his appointment in 2019.

Abiru Secures FG’s Guarantee to Rehabilitate Ikorodu-Itoikin Road Sunday Ehigiator The Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru yesterday disclosed that he had secured the federal government’s guarantee to rehabilitate 32-kilometre Ikorodu-Itoikin road and complete 30-kilometre Ikorodu-Sagamu road next year.

Abiru, currently representing Lagos East in the Senate,

also disclosed that he had authorised N150 million direct credit transfers to no fewer than 2,500 vulnerable persons within his constituency in the last 23 months.

He made the disclosure in separate statements by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Enitan Olukotun yesterday, highlighting his key achievements since his election as the senator on December 6,

2020.

As indicated in the statement, Abiru explained how he secured the federal government’s assurance on the two roads during a visit to the Minister of Works & Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

During the visit, the statement said the senator extended the gratitude of his constituents to the minister for his support

and efforts on the rehabilitation of 32-kilometre Ikorodu-Itoikin road and accelerated work on Ikorodu-Sagamu road, which is almost completed.

The statement added that the minister informed the senator that the Federal Executive Council had approved the complete rehabilitation of the Ikorodu-Itoikin road, which would commence in January 2023.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER DECEMBER 11 , 2022

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SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

QATAR 2022... QATAR 2022... QATAR 2022.. .QATAR 2022...

FIFA Condoles Family of Dead US Journalist at Qatar 2022

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Youssef En-Nesyri (left) scored the goal that has made Morocco first African team to play in the semi final of the FIFA World Cup here in Qatar

Morocco Becomes First AfricanTeam to Reach World Cup S’final, End Ronaldo’s Dream

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oussef EnNesyri scored Morocco’s only goal against Portugal on Saturday eveninghereatthe Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar to become the first African team to reach the semi final of the FIFA World Cup. Morocco are to play champions France in the semi final on Wednesday.

That 1-0 victory for the Atlas Lions ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest for a World Cup medal in his sterling football career. At 37 at this first edition in an Arab nation in the Middle East, it is very unlikely that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner will still be fit and in shape to be part of the Portuguese team in 2026 when USA, Canada and Mexico will jointly host the next edition.

En-Nesyri who plays his professional football with Sevilla in the Spanish La Liga leapt highest to beat Portugal goalkeeper, Diogo Costa, for the lone goal in the

42nd minute that set the entire 44,000-capacity Al Thumama Stadium on wild celebration.

Yahya Attiyat-Allah crossed the ball from the flank to set the tone for the evening celebration.

Although Portugal piled pressure on Morocco, limiting them to their own half of the field for the much of the second half with Ronaldo coming on for Ruben Neves in the 51st minute, the Atlas Lions’defence marshaled by skipper Romain Saiss, simply refused to bulge. CR7 had nothing to show for equaling the men’s all-time appearance

record of 196 in international matches.

Surprisingly too, Goncalo Ramos who was devastating when he replaced Ronaldo in the annihilation of Switzerland in the Last 16 round, was effectively caged and denied the chance to roam freely in yesterday’s quarter final with Morocco.

The Benfica forward could only manage one miserable attempt on target.

Morocco’s fairytale run at this World Cup has continued without conceding a goal yet from any opponent. The only

goalMoroccohavesufferedhere so far was scored by their own player, Nayef Aguerd, in their last group match against Canada which they won 2-1.

Now, the coachWalid Regragui side who saw off Spain in the Last 16 round will play defending champions France in one of the semi finals on Wednesday.

Argentina have already booked the other semi final clash against Croatia who sent away‘almighty’ Brazil in similar penalty shootouts on Friday night.

RESULTS Morocco 1-0 Portugal England 1-2 France SEMIFINALS (Tuesday) 8pm Croatia v Argentina (Wednesday) 8pm Morocco v France

...France Edge England to Set up S’final Clash with Morocco Reigning champions France defeated England 2-1 in a thrilling quarter final fixture at the Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday night to set up a semi final clash with Africa’s history makers, Morocco, on Wednesday here in Qatar.

AC Milan’s Olivier Giroud fired thewinner in78thminuteshortly after Harry Kane equalised Aurelien Tchouameni’s 17th minute strike from a distance through a spot kick in 54th minute.

TheEnglandcaptain’sequalizing strike was his 53rd international goal which equalled Wayne Rooney’s tally of 53 goals all-time England scorer.

ButwhatwouldhavetakenKane beyondRooney’stallytobecome the new owner of that all-time England scorer was ballon over thebarfromanotherpenaltyspot given to the Three Lions.

Without doubt, the Three

Lions were the better of the two teams for long spells and created chances. England have been accused of making timid exitsatmajortournamentsinthe past but this charge cannot be levelledatGarethSouthgateand his players here.

They matched France well with Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice outstanding, so this will be a painful loss as a route to their first World Cup final since 1966 appeared to be opening up, with the winners here facing a semi-final against underdogs Morocco.

Sadly for England and Southgate, they were unable to take the chances that came their way, and they ran into France keeper Hugo Lloris at his best.

And it will be Kane who feels the disappointment most acutely after missing that second Eng-

land penalty six minutes from time with the all-time England goalscoring record at his feet.

There was a palpable sense of disbelief around the stadium as this most reliable of penalty

takersfiredhisspot-kickhorribly high into England’s fans behind the goal.

France will meet Morocco in thesemi-finalatAlBaytStadium on Wednesday.

L-R: Secretary to Delta State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah; Sports Minister, Chief Sunday Dare; Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, Deputy Governor of Delta State who represented Governor Ifeanyi Okowa; and Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa, shortly after Delta State was presented with the overall winner’s trophy of the 21st National Sports Festival at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba...on Saturday

n American football journalist, Grant Wahl, was confirmeddeadlateonFridaynightaftersuffering whatdoctorstermed“acutedistress”whilecovering theWorld Cup match between the Netherlands and Argentina at the Lusail Stadium here in Qatar.

Wahl, a former Sports Illustrated sportswriter who moved to the Substack online publishing platform,hadbeentweetingabouttheNetherlandsversusArgentina match live on Friday.

WhileconfirmingWahl’sdeathonSaturdaymorning,FIFAPresident, Gianni Infantino expressed his sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the late sports journalist.

“It is with disbelief and immense sadness that I have been made aware of the passing of renowned sports journalist Grant Wahl, whilst reporting on a quarter-final match during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar,”the FIFA President said.

“Only some days ago, Grant was recognised by FIFA and AIPS for his contribution to reporting on eight consecutive FIFAWorld Cups, and his career also included attendance at several FIFA Women’s World Cups, as well as a host of other international sporting events.

His love for football was immense and his reporting will be missed by all who follow the global game.

“On behalf of FIFA and the football community, we express our sincerest condolences to his wife Céline, his family, and his friends at this most difficult time.”

Wahl first reported on the FIFA World Cup in the United States in 1994 and had reported on every subsequent tournament, and he was recently honoured at a joint FIFA-AIPS Journalists on the Podium event in Doha, where he received an award from two-time FIFA World Cup winner, Ronaldo de Lima.

Wahl said in late November he was briefly detained when he tried to enter aWorld Cup stadium in Qatar while wearing a rainbow shirt in support of the LGBTQ community in a country where same-sex relations are illegal He saidWorld Cup security denied him entry to the United States’ opener against Wales at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan and asked him to take his shirt off.

GOtv Boxing: Esepor Admits London Training Has Made Him a Better Boxer

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headofhisWorldBoxingFederation(WBF)titlefight against Filipino Richard Taruc Pumipic, Nigeria’s highly rated Taiwo“Esepor”Agbaje has declared thatmovingtotheUnitedKingdomhasmadehim aware of what home-based boxers lack.

Esepor and Pumicpic will fight for the WBF Intercontinental featherweight title at GOtv Boxing Night 27 on 26 Decemberin Lagos.

The fight, which holds at theTafawa Balewa Square, is the biggest of the six fights scheduled for the event.

Speaking of his experience in the UK, where he has won the two fights so far, Esepor said the dearth of facilities is hampering talent developmentlocally.“Itrainedinamoderngymwithrealequipment, which has helped improve me as a boxer. I’ve also learnt how to coach and I’m delighted for the opportunity,”he said.

About the fight with Pumicpic, Esepor said he was sure of victory and dismissed the Filipino’s chances.“I wish to state again that Pumicpic will be defeated by knockout. I’m ready, willing and able to make that happen,”he said.

Sponsored by GOtv and supported by Supa Komando and Aquafina, GOtv Boxing night will feature six bouts and live musical performances by top Afrobeat artiste, Ruger, Pheelz, 9ice, Chinko Ekun and internationally recognised dee jay, DJ Xclusive.

Sunday December 11, 2022

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INEC to Politicians “Political parties and contestants need to internalise what constitutes campaign regulations or restrictions as contained in the Electoral Act 2022, to avoid committing an offence that is liable to conviction to fine, imprisonment, or both” – INEC cautioning politicians and political parties against using provocative and abusive words during campaigns.

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Why Do Politicians Buy Votes?

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early 10 years ago, my childhood friends and I bought land in the village. My thinking was that I would, once in a while, spend the weekend at the countryside to experience a different ambience away from the hustle and bustle of Lagos — my home for the past 33 years. I had to abandon the project because of the advent of kidnappings, as well as the collapsed and unsafe roads. Gone are the days when I looked forward to spending time in the village, waking up to the crowing of cocks at dawn, soaking in the clean and fresh air, going with my peers to the Oyi River to “swim” (more like walk inside water), fish and roast yam by the banks. It now looks like these things never happened.

I have an uncle in the village, a local politician, who has been on my neck that I should come home and develop my land. He said politicians were beginning to lust after our plots. I didn’t want to give him my real reasons for abandoning the project because I didn’t want to get into any argument with him. Afterall, I reasoned, he only wishes me well. Because his pressures in the last one year have been much, I finally told him weeks ago that it was not my priority for now, that I would revisit it later. He read me wrong, judging by his message. “Please move close to one presidential candidate. After election, appointments will come.

I pray you get an appointment by God’s grace,” he said.

At the time, I was planning to write on ‘Why Do People Sell Their Votes?’ (THISDAY, December 4, 2022), but I got additional motivation for a follow-up piece from my uncle’s prayers. My previous article was heavily inspired by ‘The Voter’, a short story written by the legendary Chinua Achebe in 1965 on the adventures of Rufus Okeke. Umuofia villagers who would ordinarily cast their ballots without monetary inducement suddenly realised the power of their votes: they had seen a lowly teacher become stupendously rich after being elected as a parliamentarian. They wanted a piece of the action. As far back as the First Republic, Achebe had captured the game of cash-for-vote.

My uncle apparently thought that I did not have the means to develop the land and that I was trying to hide my “situation” from him. He began to pity me. He believes the fastest way to make money was to join politics or get a political appointment. That is the mindset of millions of Nigerians.

“Appointment ke? Why?” I replied with a deep laugh.

“It will give you more connections and more money,” he said, ignoring my laughter. “A Senior Special Assistant at the federal level is richer than some state commissioners.”

“Uncle, the highest paid political appointee at the federal level does not earn up to N1m a month,” I replied again, pretending not to understand his unsaid words. “A minister takes home roughly N900,000 per month.”

“But the entitlements—” I interrupted him. “That figure is everything consolidated, including the monetised benefits.”

“They control the ministry and this gives them more money,” he went on, refusing to surrender.

I thanked him for his concern but said I do not have any interest in public office, either by election or appointment, either today or in the future. I told him the offers I have turned down in the last 20 years, some of which people would kill for.

I said as a journalist, I believe I can make good impact on the society and be fulfilled at the end of my life journey. We cannot all be politicians, I declared. To calm him, I said I may not be rich as he prefers but I am comfortable enough to build

INEC Chairman, Yakubu a house in the village without a bank loan. I was talking to a brick wall. The more I resisted, the more he persisted.

He gave me a long list of politicians he was close to and how they had built houses in Lokoja, Ilorin, Kaduna and Lagos. He was even reeling out the value of each property. In his mind, political offices are the best route to making quick money and living a fulfilled life. How on earth are you going to persuade such a person that he has got things twisted? How would you convince him that the purpose of politics is better seen in the number of children taken off the streets and enrolled in school, the number of households with clean water or the number of women who survive childbirth?

Success in office, to him, is the number of property a politician has accumulated.

As long as this mentality pervades our society, votes will continue to be bought and sold. The first target for a serious politician is to win elections.

I know there are politicians who are out just to make a statement. I would excuse them from this discussion. For a politician who thinks he or she has a realistic chance of being voted into office, the aim is to win, not to make a mere statement.

How would they get the needed votes to take the coveted first position? Some think ideas can convince the voters. They market their pedigrees and resumés and outline a beautiful development agenda for their constituency: “I schooled in Yale.

I have two PhDs. I will do this. I will do that.”

However, different things work for different categories of voters. I did identify the different motivations for voting in an article, ‘What Will Determine Your Choice in 2023?’ (THISDAY, November 13, 2022). I tried to analyse the psychology of the Nigerian voter. I said there are four broad interests among the voting population (which are not mutually exclusive): one, some vote because of the material gain; two, some because of the ideological bent; three, some because of the primordial emotion; and four, some because of the political affinity.

Nigerians who are impressed with PhD from Yale do not appear to be in the majority and they are the least likely to demand cash.

What most politicians have found out is that, like Chief The Honourable Marcus Ibe in ‘The Voter’, people have expectations before casting their votes. If you do not play the game, your opponent will play it. More so, voters have figured out that most politicians will make plenty money in office, so they expect upfront payment. Many politicians too have figured out that they would

make plenty money — “free money” as we call it — if they get elected to office. So, they have concluded, either consciously or unconsciously, that contesting for an election should be seen as an investment. It is like setting up a company or buying shares. Put in the capital: there is risk and there is reward.

In an Interview with Sunday Punch in June 2004, Senator Adolphus Wabara, then senate president and currently chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was brutally honest about this. He said that “membership of the National Assembly is an investment because most of us sold our houses to get to the Senate… the maturity is there but it is the ability to recoup whatever you spent legitimately that is the problem.”

He was widely criticised for saying the obvious.

Why would anybody sell land, houses and cars to run for an election if there is no chance that he or she would recoup the money? How many contest elections in Nigeria for God’s sake?

The benefits of holding political office in Nigeria are enormous. You will have the coat of arms on your business cards. That is a licence to do and undo. You can run the red lights. You can drive against traffic. You can park beside “No Parking” signs. The perks of wielding political power are unlimited: 4WD vehicles wailing with siren everywhere; police orderlies helping to carry your mobile phones and polish your shoes; your bills picked up by the public treasury; first pick of choice jobs in government agencies; plus the little matter of billions at your disposal. As icing on the cake, there is little or no accountability.

These are more than enough motivations to win elections by any means.

A senator who was elected to the National Assembly in 2011 went there with a list of what he called “legislative agenda for national development”. A very brilliant man, he articulated his vision impressively to his friends and said he was going to make a difference and inspire a new thinking in the federal legislature. After his first three months in the National Assembly, he came back defeated. “Ol’ boy,” he told his pals, “Nigeria is not ready for development. Since I got into the senate, all we have been discussing is money. The most common expression is: have you got the alert? If this is the road to development (he pointed to his right), this is where we are facing (he pointed to his left)!”

Back to the question: why do so many politicians buy votes? No matter the number of perspectives we bring to bear, the fundamental answer is: because they want to win an election. Since winning is a licence to a wonderful world, some would do anything it takes, even if it means selling their mothers. Some are also thinking “everybody does it” so why should they be left out and classified as stingy by the voters? For as long as voters are ready to sell their votes — to satisfy existential needs, for instance — there would always be a booming market. For as long as political offices offer wealth without work, politicians will always be desperate to win elections by any means necessary.

We can come to some compromise that spending money does not guarantee winning. Many political analysts would argue that the role of money is overrated. More often than not, most voters have made up their minds on who to vote for before the D-Day. They would naturally expect the candidate to cater for logistics, feeding and “voting allowance”. I agree. But that does not diminish the fact that votes are still bought and sold and the buyers think it is an investment whose reward would be huge. If my uncle thinks I will start building houses by getting a political appointment, that says a lot. Therefore, in designing campaigns against voter inducement, we must not ignore this fact.

And Four Other Things…

SECOND NIGER BRIDGE I have been hearing “we will build Second Niger Bridge” for ages, from the days of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Finally, it is expected to be opened to traffic on December 15. This is one of the legacies of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Kudos to all who worked politically, bureaucratically and economically to make this all-important bridge a reality. What I have learnt is that if we really want to get things done in this country, we can. It is all about the will. When the will is there, everything will fall in place. I hope the next president, whoever he is, will complete the East West Road, whose state has been an embarrassment to all and sundry for decades. Possible.

WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has rolled out policy measures ostensibly to encourage cashless transactions, although some of us suspect that it is all about curtailing votebuying in the 2023 general election. The limits on cash withdrawals at a time the technological backbone of electronic transaction is unstable will surely create problems for traders and their customers but let us hope things improve with time. However, if the CBN thinks limiting physical cash and high denominations in circulation will tame inflation, I confess I am lost there. For as long as the CBN continues to create money for government not backed by productivity, inflation will keep tagging along.

Economics.

FORCED ABORTIONS Reuters has published a damning investigative report on how 10,000 pregnancies were allegedly aborted under a Nigerian army-run programme started in 2013. The women and girls were believed to have got pregnant for Boko Haram insurgents. Those who resisted were reportedly beaten up or drugged into submission. They were allegedly kept in military custody for days and weeks. The army has vehemently denied these allegations, taking the unusual step of reacting to the story one week before it was published, apparently to pre-empt it. The army even accused Reuters of blackmail. Reuters is not a frivolous news agency, so this must be independently investigated. Important.

CITIZEN JUNK-ALISM So somebody visits an INEC office in AmuwoOdofin and videos the staff harvesting voter identification numbers (VINs). He posts on social media as another piece of “concrete evidence” of the “planned rigging” in 2023. The video goes viral. The internet catches fire. This is what they call “citizen journalism”. Speculation is fact. A phone call to INEC would have helped but is it not “citizen journalism”? Why verify when ignorance can help mischief? According to INEC, the staff were taking inventory of uncollected PVCs. The VINs from pre-2022 registrations were harvested manually to be uploaded to a portal for registered voters to check for information on PVC collection.

Hysteria.

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